Vol 98, No 1 (2022)

The purpose of the review. Consideration of the most controversial issues regarding the possibility of sexual transmission of BV-associated microorganisms (bacterias) in women and men.

Basic provisions. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common disease associated with an increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (including human papillomavirus and human immunodeficiency virus) in women and their male sexual partners. BV is characterized by polymicrobial transformations caused by Gardnerella vaginalis, which is the main etiological microorganism of this disease. G. vaginalis has a proven ability to form microbial biofilms on the mucosal surface. As a rule, from 10 to 12 different G. vaginalis genotypes can simultaneously reside in one biofilm, which provides it with a longer lifespan and viability. It has been shown that microorganisms in the biofilm acquire properties that reduce sensitivity to standard etiotropic therapy even at high doses of antibiotics. It was found that the cause of BV is a polymicrobial gardnerella biofilm, all components of which are transferred as a whole (for example, with the help of “key” cells), including during sexual contact. In this regard, the article discusses the possibility of using a new term — “biofilm gardnerellosis”, which more accurately reflects the essence of this problem. Microbial biofilms organized by G. vaginalis are found in a significant number of women with BV and their sexual partners.

Background. Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder that impairs patients’ health-related quality of life. It is associated with patients’ need in specialized medical care and with essential medical costs. Psoriasis may be the reason for temporary or permanent disability. Patient registries are important sources of epidemiological and clinical data on patients with psoriasis and medical care provided.

Aims. To describe demographic characteristics, characteristics of the disease, prevalence of concomitant and past diseases in adult (18 years and older) patients with moderate and severe psoriasis included in the patient registry of the Russian Society of Dermatovenereologists and Cosmetologists.

Materials and methods. The data of 3,268 patients with psoriasis aged 18 years and older were analyzed as of inclusion in the registry. Data lock point was June 3, 2021. Descriptive statistics methods were applied in data analysis.

Results. The mean (± SD) age of adult patients at inclusion in the registry was 46.1 ± 14.4 years. Male patients accounted for 60.5%. The mean age of onset of psoriasis is 31.1 ± 16.1 years. Most of the patients (89.5%) have psoriasis vulgaris. The mean body surface area at inclusion was 43.3% ± 24.7%. 28.9% of patients had psoriatic arthritis at inclusion in the registry.

A high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases was revealed: arterial hypertension — 28.5%, coronary heart disease — 5.4%, myocardial infarction and acute cerebrovascular accident — 0.9% each.

More than half of patients are pre-obese or obese according to the WHO body mass index classification. 2.2% of patients have impaired glucose tolerance, 6.7% of patients have type 2 diabetes mellitus. 3.8% of patients have diseases or dysfunction of the thyroid gland.

The prevalence of diseases of the digestive system is high: any disease of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum was noted in 10.2% of patients, any disease of the liver, gallbladder, biliary tract and pancreas — in 11.8% of patients.

The prevalence of viral hepatitis C among patients with psoriasis was 2.6%.

Conclusions. The prevalence of comorbidities is high among Russian patients with moderate and severe psoriasis.

Background. The postacne symptom complex occurs in the outcome of vulgar acne in 40% of cases. Recently, there has been a tendency to “grow up” acne. Currently, there are many methods in the arsenal of a dermatologist and a cosmetologist for correcting post-acne elements, but most of the procedures for correcting postacne elements have age restrictions, some of the procedures are accompanied by severe pain and the presence of a rehabilitation period, and the economic component of these procedures is also of great importance. Therefore, for the treatment of the post-acne symptom complex, there should be methods that are highly effective and accessible to patients. In most cases, the assessment of the clinical effectiveness of treatment is subjective, both for the doctor and for the patient. Photo documentation is also not in all cases a reliable way to represent the quality and effectiveness of treatment. Consequently, the use of hardware methods for quantifying the severity of disease indicators to confirm the effectiveness of treatment increases the patient's compliance.

Aims. Evaluation of the effectiveness of Postacnetin gel in the treatment of postacne symptom complex, using the ANTERA 3D device.

Materials and methods. 12 patients aged 18 to 28 years with the presence of postacne symptoms were under observation. The study was conducted on the basis of the Department of Dermatovenereology of SibSMU and the medical center “Estetik” in Tomsk. During the entire study period, patients applied Postacnetin gel to one half of the face. Treatment regimen: Postaknetin gel was applied in a thin layer, point-by-point on the postakne elements 2 times a day. The duration of treatment was 28 days. To assess the clinical effectiveness, photo documentation, three-dimensional analysis of the skin surface on the ANTERA 3D device and statistical analysis were performed.

Results. The average level of redness in 12 patients on the side of using Postacnetin gel before the study was 117.200 ± 0.424, 1 month after using the gel, there was a significant decrease in the level of the indicator to 95.900 ± 0.849 (р < 0.05). The average value of the pigmentation level before using the Postacnetin gel and 1 month after use was 56.950 ± 0.919 and 46.600 ± 0.424, respectively (р < 0.05). This indicates a significant decrease in the level of pigmentation. The average value of the volume index before the study was 9.350 ± 0.212, after 28 days the volume index decreased to 6.750 ± 0.071, respectively (р < 0.05).

Conclusions. As a result of the conducted research, it was established with the help of the ANTERA 3D device that the use of Postacne gel for 28 days leads to a regression of the indicators of postacne elements.

The article is devoted to a rare variant of skin sarcoidosis — the so-called follicular sarcoidosis. According to the literature, the follicular form of sarcoidosis is extremely rare, several isolated cases are described in foreign literature, there are no publications in the russian literature. A 30-year-old female patient came to the clinic of the Military Medical Academy with a skin rash of the upper extremities, trunk and neck that lasted for one year. Anamnesis: repeated use of topical corticosteroids for the treatment with a temporary positive effect. The skin process was represented by common follicular papules; a histological examination of one of the elements revealed granulomas of the sarcoid type, which were located perifolliculary, mainly around the infundibular sections of the hair follicles. The rash resolved after a course of external corticosteroid therapy. The clinical case described by us illustrates the need for histological examination to verify the diagnosis.

The COVID-19 vaccine often well tolerated in healthy adults at the same time, different cutaneous reactions have been reported. Two cases presented of developed a first episode of Herpes zoster (HZ) following the first dose of vaccination against COVID-19. The pathogenetic mechanism suggested that SARS-CoV-2 infection can induce a decrease of blood absolute lymphocyte number, especially CD3+ CD8+ lymphocyte. The COVID-19 vaccine, by stimulation of inflammatory cytokines, may negatively affect the antigen expression and contribute to HZ reactivation. It is also possible that the vaccine induces some kind of immunomodulation that allows VZV to revert an infectious state.