Psoriasis, Botox studies top dermatology reads for week

Study findings that success rates vary when switching to another anti-TNF therapy for psoriasis was among the most-read articles of the past week on Healio.com/Dermatology.

Other widely read articles included results from two phase 3 clinical trials indicating that Botox can be used to treat crow’s feet lines safely and effectively:

Success rates vary when switching to another anti-TNF therapy for psoriasis

Although some patients show improved quality of life when switching to a second anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment for psoriasis after initial treatment failure with another anti-tumor necrosis factor agent, the rate of success varied by study, according to results from a recently published systematic review.

“Switching patients who are not responding to treatment with an anti-[tumor necrosis factor (TNF)] agent to another TNF antagonist can be considered as a therapeutic option that may produce clinically meaningful responses in a substantial proportion of patients, with improved quality of life,” Paul S. Yamauchi, MD, PhD, from the division of dermatology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, and colleagues wrote. Read more

Botox safe, efficacious for crow's feet lines

Results from two phase 3 clinical trials indicate that Botox can be used to treat crow’s feet lines safely and effectively, and researchers noted that two injection patterns are possible to customize treatment based on a patient’s crow’s feet lines pattern.

Alastair Carruthers

Alastair Carruthers, FRCPC, from Carruthers Clinical Research in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and colleagues analyzed 1,362 patients with crow’s feet lines in two phase 3 studies who were treated with a 24 U dose of Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA, Allergan) or placebo. Read more

Mucocutaneous findings, lesional skin associated with Zika virus infection

Papular eruptions and other mucocutaneous findings were linked to confirmatory testing for Zika virus infection, according to study results recently published in JAMA Dermatology.

Researchers observed a man, aged 44 years, who returned from a vacation in Puerto Rico and experienced headache and lethargy within 3 days of his return. One day later, an erythematous eruption appeared on his arms, dorsal side of the hands and palms, which became more apparent and spread to his trunk 1 day later. Itching was not significantly noted, and the patient’s eyes appeared “bloodshot.” Read more

High glycemic index, load values seen in patients with acne

High glycemic index and glycemic load values and low adiponectin levels were associated with acne vulgaris, according to recent study results published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Aslı Aksu Çerman, MD, from the dermatology department at Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul, and colleagues measured the glycemic index values, glycemic load values, milk consumption, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3, fasting glucose and adiponectin of 50 patients with acne vulgaris and 36 healthy controls. Read more

Sienna Biopharmaceuticals completes Series A financing for aesthetics, dermatology technologies

Sienna Biopharmaceuticals, a development stage company with a focus on aesthetics and medical dermatology, recently announced completion of a $34 million Series A financing.

Silver Plasmonic Therapy (SPT) is Sienna Biopharmaceuticals’ lead proprietary technology, which is being studied for treating acne and permanent hair removal, according to the release. Clinical trials are underway, with additional potential indications being studied. Read more