Active clinical trials for "Eczema"

Atopic dermatitis is a skin disorder with an itchy, red skin rash. This may be because certain proteins are increased in the skin of AD patients. The increased expression of these proteins play an important role in the development of AD and may increase the risk for persons with AD to get skin infections and allergies. There are very few non-invasive ways to diagnose and monitor the development and progression of atopic dermatitis. The goal of this study is to develop laboratory tests, done on skin samples collected by tapy stripping, that can be used for early detection and monitoring the response to treatment for a variety of skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis.

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a skin condition characterized by symmetrically distributed widespread, pruritic nodules that occurs in patients with chronic pruritus. There are 2 subtypes of PN depending on the association with an atopic dermatitis (AD) : atopic PN (Besnier) and non-atopic PN (Hyde). There are no approved therapies, and treatment options currently used have limited efficacy and their long-term use carries the risk of potential severe toxic effects. The mechanisms triggering PN are still unknown. However, recent findings suggest a major role for the Th2 inflammatory pathway. Beyond advancing the basic understanding of PN pathophysiology, our study might also pave the way for developing novel Th2-targeted therapeutic strategies for PN and AD. The primary objective of this study is to characterize the transcriptional profile of the T lymphocytes isolated from skin samples from patients with PN. This study will allow a gain a deeper understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanism of PN, a better classification of its subtypes, as well as their physiopathologic link with AD. Moreover, it will help shape new effective and safe therapeutic approaches in these diseases which are important for optimal therapeutic management.

The Departments of Paediatrics and Child Health, Obstetrics/Gynaecology and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, and the Department of Dermatology, Trinity College, Dublin have a unique and urgent opportunity to form a birth cohort of over 2000 children whose growth and maternal health status will have been closely monitored from early pregnancy. Longitudinal monitoring of these infants will allow direct investigation of several research areas in a way which has not previously been possible in Ireland, or abroad. The investigators propose to focus on three main research themes: the effects of intrauterine growth restriction, the incidence and prevalence of food allergy and eczema in early childhood and the incidence and effects of maternal and infant vitamin D status on the growth and health of Irish children. Although the investigators initial proposal will focus on these important areas, the formation of this birth cohort will offer many opportunities for further research as the cohort grows older. It will form a unique bio-bank of information from Irish children collected longitudinally from soon after their conception. The mothers of these infants are currently being recruited, which leaves us with a narrow window of opportunity to put in place a pathway of investigation for these children. To ignore this opportunity would be to lose access to a wealth of information regarding child health and disease. The potential for this cohort to provide definitive answers to current, and future, theories of disease causation is enormous.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease. Clinical studies have demonstrated a link between staphylococcal skin colonization and the pathogenesis of AD, but the implication of bacterial virulence factors remains largely uncharacterized. Finally, AD is often associated with herpes simplex skin infections. The aim of this project is to investigate the role of staphylococcal toxins in the exacerbation and maintenance of atopic skin inflammation and in the occurrence of infectious complications such as eczema herpeticum.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, affecting 20% of all babies and children around the world. Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis is clinical and depends on the existence of at least two out of the four following criteria: itching, a chronic disease course with exacerbations and remission ,rash with characteristic distribution and shape , atopia of the patient or family by history. Initial treatment is based on keeping skin moist and avoiding a flare-provoking stimuli and allergens. The research product A-1 COOL is a skin cream approved by the Israeli Ministry of Health for cooling down of skin irritation. A-1 COOL is rich in herbal medicine ingredients and does not contain steroids.A-1 COOL can be beneficial in Atopic Dermatitis patients due to its following action mechanisms: sealing of the inflamed skin and retention of water, prevention of the itching cycle by keeping the skin moist, disinfection of the skin by the herbal ingredients.

The aim of this study is to assess the influence of kind of allergic disease, allergic profile, allergen exposure, treatment method on lung function parameters, fractional exhaled nitric oxide level in children suspected and being diagnosed due to allergic diseases.

Objectives: Eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterised immunologically by T cellmediated inflammation. The pathogenic mechanisms involved in its development are incompletely understood and targeted treatment options are limited. The investigators will study the Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)/IL22/IL17 pathway which plays an important role in murine model chronic skin inflammation. The investigators wish to identify subtypes of human eczema in which this pathway may be involved and to determine whether manipulation of this pathway may offer effective new treatments. Design, tissue/cells, techniques and measurements: To address these objectives, the investigators will measure the expression of IL22, IL17A and PGE2 synthases and receptors in skin biopsies from eczema and psoriasis patients using immunohistochemistry (confirming this with RT-PCR). IL22/IL17 producing Tcells (from peripheral blood) and their skin-homing capability (by ex-vivo cell culture and flow cytometry) will be measured. Deriving immune cells from skin biopsies using Villanova's technique1, the investigators will determine the T-cell response to PGE2 looking at PGE2 receptors and cytokine expression, interrogating these cells by flow cytometry. To determine the sequence and kinetics of activation of the PGE2/IL22/IL17 pathway the investigators will measure each immune mediator at specific time points by recruiting healthy volunteers inducing irritant and allergic contact dermatitis using dithranol and DNCB respectively. The investigators will repeat the experiment dividing volunteers into two arms, one pre-treated for one week with a non-specific prostaglandin inhibitor (aspirin) and the second with a placebo control.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic pruritic inflammatory skin disease of unknown aetiology. Global prevalence rates range from 1%-20%.AD is often worsened by stress and anxiety.Plasma levels of 5-HT were found to be positively correlated with the disease severity.

The physiological states of the skin are characterized by a certain homeostasis linked to the balance of the metabolic pathways. When these pathways are deregulated, the proteic, lipidic and metabolic is affected. It is thus possible to follow a change in the state of the skin by looking at change in the associated molecular profile. The PRISM laboratory (INSERM U1192) in Lille has developed an innovative system laser called SpiderMass composed of 4 parts: A laser used for the micro-sampling of material in vivo, A transport transfer line of the ablated particles, A mass spectrometer that analyzes them in real time and generates the molecular profiles of the epidermis, A data analysis procedure. The SpiderMass(TM) is of great interest for the study of the skin because it allows non-invasive vivo characterization, and therefore without biopsy or sample preparation. In addition, it will complement techniques already used in the research center such as FTIR spectroscopy. Indeed, in acne studies the FTIR allows to obtain only the Fatty Acid Triglycerid ratio while the SpiderMass permits to detail these lipid classes by each observed molecule on the surface of the skin and follow their evolution.

The aim of this study is to measure the serum levels of CCL17, CCL18, CCL22 and CXCL10 and their expression levels in epidermis in AD and ND patients.