BACKGROUND Topical therapies are the mainstay of treatment for psoriasis vulgaris. The fixed combination of calcipotriol (Cal) 50 μg/g plus betamethasone 0.5 mg/g (as dipropionate; BD) is a first-line topical treatment and available as a gel or ointment. The use of these fixed combination products was compared in PRO-long, a long-term noninterventional study, for which interim results (4 and 12...

Post-irradiation morphea (PIM) is a rare but well-documented under-recognized complication of radiotherapy (1, 2). To our knowledge, cases of PIM after radiotheraphy for prostatic carcinoma have never been reported in the literature. A 74-year-old overweight Caucasian male referred to our clinic for sclerotic cutaneous involvement of the abdominopelvic region. He reported a history of radical s...

BACKGROUND Becocalcidiol is a vitamin D(3) analogue which has not caused hypercalcaemia or significant irritation in preclinical trials. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy and safety of two dosing regimens of becocalcidiol ointment (low dose = 75 microg g(-1) once daily for 8 weeks; high dose = 75 microg g(-1) twice daily for 8 weeks) in the treatment of plaque-type psoriasis. METHODS One ...

BACKGROUND Fixed-combination calcipotriol 50 μg/g plus betamethasone 0.5 mg/g (Cal/BD) aerosol foam is a new topical treatment for psoriasis. Although moderate-to-severe psoriasis is typically treated with systemic/biologic therapies, a topical treatment that is efficacious in these patients may be a significant cost-saving alternative to systemic therapy. OBJECTIVE The objective of this stud...

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an emerging global problem with the rapid increase in its incidence being associated with an unhealthy lifestyle. Epidemiological studies have shown that decreased levels of vitamin D3 significantly increases the risk of CRC. Furthermore, negative effects of vitamin D3 deficiency can be compensated by appropriate supplementation. Vitamin D3 was shown to inhibit growth...

BACKGROUND Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a major impact on the quality of life of affected individuals. Topical therapy has an important role in the treatment of psoriasis. Poor treatment outcomes from topical therapy regimens likely result from poor adherence and ineffective use of medication. METHODS A cost-minimization analysis was performed with the purpose of asse...

Granular parakeratosis is an acquired disorder of keratinization characterized by keratotic papules and plaques located in the intertriginous areas. Its etiology is unknown. Some cases have been related to the application of deodorants and antiperspirants, local irritation or increased sweating; in other cases no precipitant factors have been found. We report a case of axillary granular paraker...

Bullous morphea is a rare form of morphea characterized with bullae on or around atrophic morphea plaques. Whereas lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA) is a disease the etiology of which is not fully known, and which is characterized with sclerosis. Coexistence of morphea and LSA has been identified in some cases. Some authors believe that these two diseases are different manifestations which a...

Etanercept, a subcutaneously administered fully human soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor, was initially approved for the treatment of psoriasis at a dose of 25 mg twice weekly in repeated 24-week cycles with the possibility to double the dose in the first 12 weeks of the first cycle. During intermittent treatment, patients retain their ability to respond to etanercept. Recently, a new...