No / Although p53 has long been known as the “guardian of the genome” with a role in tumor suppression in many tissues, the discovery of two p53 ancestral genes, p63 and p73, more than a decade ago has triggered a considerable amount of research into the role of these genes in skin development and diseases. In this review, we primarily focus on mechanisms of action of p53 and p63, which are the best-studied p53 family members in the skin. The existence of multiple isoforms and their roles as transcriptional activators and repressors are key to their function in multiple biological processes including the control of skin morphogenesis, regeneration, tumorigenesis, and response to chemotherapy. Last, we provide directions for further research on this family of genes in skin biology and pathology.

No / Propionibacterium acnes is the target of antimicrobial treatments for acne vulgaris. Acquired resistance to erythromycin, clindamycin and tetracyclines has been reported in strains from diverse geographical loci, but the molecular basis of resistance, via mutations in genes encoding 23S and 16S rRNA, respectively, has so far only been elucidated for isolates from the U.K. The study set out to determine whether similar or different resistance mechanisms occur in resistant P. acnes isolates from outside the U.K. The phenotypes and genotypes of 73 antibiotic-resistant strains of P. acnes obtained from the skin of acne patients in the U.K., U.S.A., France, Germany, Australia and Japan were compared. Antibiotic susceptibilities were determined by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) measurements, and polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing were used to identify mutations in genes encoding rRNA. Most erythromycin-resistant isolates (MIC90¿ 512 ¿g mL¿1) were cross-resistant to clindamycin but at a much lower level (MIC90¿ 64 ¿g mL¿1). As in the U.K., resistance to erythromycin was associated with point mutations in 23S rRNA in 49 of 58 strains. An A¿G transition at Escherichia coli equivalent base 2058 was present in 24 strains. This gave a unique cross-resistance phenotype against a panel of macrolide, lincosamide and type B streptogramin antibiotics. Two further point mutations (at E. coli equivalent bases 2057 and 2059) were identified (in three and 22 isolates, respectively) and these were also associated with specific cross-resistance patterns originally identified in isolates from the U.K. However, nine of 10 erythromycin resistant-strains from Germany did not exhibit any of the three base mutations identified and, in six cases, cross-resistance patterns were atypical. Consistent with previous U.K. data, 34 of 38 tetracycline-resistant strains carried a base mutation at E. coli 16S rRNA equivalent base 1058. Tetracycline-resistant isolates displayed varying degrees of cross-resistance to doxycycline and minocycline, but isolates from the U.S.A. had higher MICs for minocycline (4¿16 ¿g mL¿1) than isolates from other countries and, in particular, Australia. All the P. acnes isolates resistant to one or more of the commonly used antiacne antibiotics were sensitive to penicillin, fusidic acid, chloramphenicol and the fluoroquinolone, nadifloxacin. All but one isolate (from the U.K.) were sensitive to trimethoprim. This study shows that 23S and 16S mutations identified in the U.K. conferring antibiotic resistance in P. acnes are distributed widely. However, resistant strains were isolated in which mutations could not be identified, suggesting that as yet uncharacterized resistance mechanisms have evolved. This is the first report of high-level resistance to minocycline and is of concern as these strains are predicted to be clinically resistant and are unlikely to remain confined to the U.S.A. Epidemiological studies are urgently required to monitor how resistant strains are selected, how they spread and to ascertain whether the prevalence of resistance correlates with antibiotic usage patterns in the different countries.

<p>Hereditary ichthyosis is a collective name for many dry and scaly skin disorders ranging in frequency from common to very rare. The main groups are autosomal recessive lamellar ichthyosis, autosomal dominant epidermolytic hyperkeratosis and ichthyosis vulgaris, and x-linked recessive ichthyosis. Anhidrosis, ectropion and keratodermia are common symptoms, especially in lamellar ichthyosis, which is often caused by mutations in the transglutaminase 1 (TGM1) gene. The aim of this work was to study patients with different types of ichthyosis regarding (i) the patho-aetiology (TGM1 and electron microscopy [EM] analysis), (ii) skin signs and symptoms (clinical score and subjective measure of disease activity), (iii) quality of life (questionnaires DLQI, SF-36 and NHP and face-to-face interviews) and (iv) a search for new ways of topical treatment. Patients from Sweden and Estonia with autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (n=83) had a broader clinical spectrum than anticipated, but a majority carried TGM1 mutations. Based on DNA analysis and clinical examinations the patients were classified into three groups, which could be further subdivided after EM analysis. Our studies indicate that patients with ichthyosis have reduced quality of life as reflected by DLQI and by some domains of SF-36, by NHP and the interviews. All the interviewees reported that their skin disease had affected them negatively to varying degrees during their entire lives and that the most problematic period was childhood. All patients with ichthyosis use topical therapy. In a double-blind study creams containing either 5% urea or 20% propylene glycol were found inferior to a cream formulation containing lactic acid 5% and propylene glycol 20% both regarding clinical improvement and thinning of the skin barrier. Improved topical therapy may reduce the need of more toxic, oral drugs. Future studies should elucidate whether this increases the quality of life of ichthyosis patients, especially if combined with more detailed information about the aetiology and inheritance of the diseases.</p>

Hereditary ichthyosis is a collective name for many dry and scaly skin disorders ranging in frequency from common to very rare. The main groups are autosomal recessive lamellar ichthyosis, autosomal dominant epidermolytic hyperkeratosis and ichthyosis vulgaris, and x-linked recessive ichthyosis. Anhidrosis, ectropion and keratodermia are common symptoms, especially in lamellar ichthyosis, which is often caused by mutations in the transglutaminase 1 (TGM1) gene. The aim of this work was to study patients with different types of ichthyosis regarding (i) the patho-aetiology (TGM1 and electron microscopy [EM] analysis), (ii) skin signs and symptoms (clinical score and subjective measure of disease activity), (iii) quality of life (questionnaires DLQI, SF-36 and NHP and face-to-face interviews) and (iv) a search for new ways of topical treatment. Patients from Sweden and Estonia with autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (n=83) had a broader clinical spectrum than anticipated, but a majority carried TGM1 mutations. Based on DNA analysis and clinical examinations the patients were classified into three groups, which could be further subdivided after EM analysis. Our studies indicate that patients with ichthyosis have reduced quality of life as reflected by DLQI and by some domains of SF-36, by NHP and the interviews. All the interviewees reported that their skin disease had affected them negatively to varying degrees during their entire lives and that the most problematic period was childhood. All patients with ichthyosis use topical therapy. In a double-blind study creams containing either 5% urea or 20% propylene glycol were found inferior to a cream formulation containing lactic acid 5% and propylene glycol 20% both regarding clinical improvement and thinning of the skin barrier. Improved topical therapy may reduce the need of more toxic, oral drugs. Future studies should elucidate whether this increases the quality of life of ichthyosis patients, especially if combined with more detailed information about the aetiology and inheritance of the diseases.

We present a system for data-driven therapy decision support based on techniques from the field of recommender systems. Two methods for therapy recommendation, namely, Collaborative Recommender and Demographic-based Recommender, are proposed. Both algorithms aim to predict the individual response to different therapy options using diverse patient data and recommend the therapy which is assumed to provide the best outcome for a specific patient and time, that is, consultation. The proposed methods are evaluated using a clinical database incorporating patients suffering from the autoimmune skin disease psoriasis. The Collaborative Recommender proves to generate both better outcome predictions and recommendation quality. However, due to sparsity in the data, this approach cannot provide recommendations for the entire database. In contrast, the Demographic-based Recommender performs worse on average but covers more consultations. Consequently, both methods profit from a combination into an overall recommender system.

We present a system for data-driven therapy decision support based on techniques from the field of recommender systems. Two methods for therapy recommendation, namely, Collaborative Recommender and Demographic-based Recommender, are proposed. Both algorithms aim to predict the individual response to different therapy options using diverse patient data and recommend the therapy which is assumed to provide the best outcome for a specific patient and time, that is, consultation. The proposed methods are evaluated using a clinical database incorporating patients suffering from the autoimmune skin disease psoriasis. The Collaborative Recommender proves to generate both better outcome predictions and recommendation quality. However, due to sparsity in the data, this approach cannot provide recommendations for the entire database. In contrast, the Demographic-based Recommender performs worse on average but covers more consultations. Consequently, both methods profit from a combination into an overall recommender system.

Cílem této práce je vyvinout metody simulací poškozování otisků prstů. V první části je kladen důraz na shrnutí stávajících znalostí v oblasti generování syntetických otisků prstů a jejich poškozování. Dále jsou uvedeny informace o otiscích prstů obecně, jejich rozpoznávání a vlivy, které otisky poškozují, včetně onemocnění kůže. Práce obsahuje návrh a implementaci aplikace SyFDaS pro generování a modulární poškozování otisků prstů. Další částí je popis metod pro poškozování vlivem průtahového režimu, zúženého snímače, poškozeného snímače, přítlaku a vlhkosti, zkreslení pokožky, bradavic, atopického ekzému a lupénky. Dále je analyzováno několik dalších typů poškození včetně falzifikátů otisků prstů. Celkově je uvedeno 43 základních poškození, která jsou vizuálně verifikována. Díky kombinování poškození je využito 1 171 typů poškození a vygenerováno 348 300 obrázků otisků prstů, které jsou vyhodnoceny čtyřmi různými metodami posuzování kvality.

Cieľom tejto diplomovej práce je vygenerovanie datasetu syntetických snímkov odtlačkov prstov, ktoré vykazujú známky kožných ochorení. Práca sa zaoberá poškodením spôsobeným kožnými ochoreniami v odtlačkoch prstov a generovaním syntetických odtlačkov prstov. Odtlačky prstov s prejavom kožných ochorení boli generované s využitím modelu založeného na Wasserstein GAN s penalizáciou gradientu. Na trénovanie GAN modelu bola použitá unikátna databáza odtlačkov prstov s prejavom kožných ochorení vytvorená na FIT VUT. Daný model bol trénovaný na troch typoch kožných ochorení: atopický ekzém, psoriáza a dyshidrotický ekzém. Sieť generátoru z natrénovaného WGAN-GP modelu bola použitá na vygenerovanie datasetov syntetických odtlačkov prstov. Tieto syntetické odtlačky boli porovnané s reálnymi odtlačkami s využitím NFIQ a FiQiVi nástrojov na určenie kvality spoločne s porovnaním rozložení lokácií a orientácii markantov v snímkoch odtlačkov prstov.

Hintergrund: Im Zuge der Eindämmung der COVID-19-Pandemie mitsamt der einhergehenden erhöhten Hautbelastung wurde bei Beschäftigten in Pflegeberufen im Gesundheitswesen eine erhebliche Zunahme von beruflich bedingten Handekzemen verzeichnet. Zielsetzung: Entwicklung und Exploration eines Konzeptes zur Prävention beruflich bedingter Handekzeme im Gesundheitswesen während der COVID-19-Pandemie. Methoden: Durchführung einer kontrollierten, prospektiven Interventionsstudie mit 302 Beschäftigten in Pflegeberufen im Gesundheitswesen. 135 Teilnehmende wurden der Interventionsgruppe (IG) und 167 Teilnehmende wurden der Kontrollgruppe (KG) zugeteilt. Die IG erhielt eine Online-Schulung und wurde für die Beobachtungsphase von Dezember 2020 bis Juni 2021 in der Hochphase neuer beruflicher COVID-19-Infektionen im Gesundheitswesen ad libitum mit einem Hautreinigungs- und Hautpflegeprodukt ausgestattet. Der Hautbefund wurde zu Beginn (T0) und nach 6 Monaten (T2) dermatologisch erhoben. Zudem wurde zu T0, nach 3 Monaten (T1) und zu T2 in beiden Gruppen der Hautzustand, das Hautschutz- und Hautpflegeverhalten und das Wissen zu Handekzemen mit Fragebögen erfasst. Die Anwenderakzeptanz der Produkte wurde in der IG zu T2 mit einem Fragebogen erhoben. Ergebnisse: Die Drop-out Rate betrug 16,9%. Im Beobachtungszeitraum traten in der IG bei keinem der 115 zu T2 Teilnehmenden und in der KG bei 12 (8,8%) der 136 zu T2 Teilnehmenden neue Handekzeme auf. Bei gleichem Ausgangsbefund (1,5 Punkte zu T0 in beiden Gruppen) zeigte der Osnabrueck Hand Eczema Severity Index zu T2 signifikant bessere Werte in der IG als in der KG (0,6 Punkte vs. 2,1 Punkte, p<0,001). Zu T2 lagen in der IG im Vergleich zur KG signifikant bessere Werte hinsichtlich der täglichen Eincremefrequenz der Hände im beruflichen (4,5 Mal vs. 2,9 Mal, p<0,001) und privaten Bereich (4,1 Mal vs. 2,6 Mal, p<0,001) vor. Für den Berufsdermatosen-Wissenstest lag eine stärkere Verbesserung in der IG als in der KG vor (Interaktion zwischen Bedingung und linearer Zeitvariable, p=0,003; Interaktion zwischen Bedingung und quadratischer Zeitvariable, p<0,001). Zu T2 konnten sich 91,3% der 115 Teilnehmenden der IG vorstellen, das im Sinne eines proof of concept erprobte Handpflegekonzept weiterhin anzuwenden. Fazit: Die Wirksamkeit des Interventionskonzeptes hinsichtlich einer Verbesserung des Hautzustandes, einer Optimierung des Hautschutz- und Hautpflegeverhaltens sowie einer Zunahme des Wissens über die Pathogenese und Prävention von beruflich bedingten Handekzemen wurde nachgewiesen. Es ist als belegt anzusehen, dass sich das vorliegende Interventionskonzept zur Prävention von beruflich bedingten Handekzemen in der Berufsgruppe der Beschäftigten in Pflegeberufen im Gesundheitswesen unter COVID-19-Pandemiebedingungen eignet. Das Interventionskonzept kann zukünftig im Rahmen der Prävention von beruflich bedingten Handekzemen bei Beschäftigten in Pflegeberufen im Gesundheitswesen Einsatz finden und somit einen dauerhaften und nachhaltigen Beitrag zur betrieblichen Gesundheitsförderung leisten. Die Hautschutz- und Hautpflegeempfehlungen können ferner für weitere Risikoberufe für berufliche Hauterkrankungen sowie für die Allgemeinbevölkerung in Pandemie-Zeiten adaptiert werden.