The international EAACI/GA²LEN/EuroGuiDerm/APAAACI guideline for the definition, classification, diagnosis, and management of urticaria

This update and revision of the international guideline for urticaria was developed following the methods recommended by Cochrane and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) working group. It is a joint initiative of the Dermatology Section of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA²LEN) and its Urticaria and Angioedema Centers of Reference and Excellence (UCAREs and ACAREs), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF; EuroGuiDerm), and the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology with the participation of 64 delegates of 50 national and international societies and from 31 countries. The consensus conference was held on 3 December 2020. This guideline was acknowledged and accepted by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Urticaria is a frequent, mast cell-driven disease that presents with wheals, angioedema, or both. The lifetime prevalence for acute urticaria is approximately 20%. Chronic spontaneous or inducible urticaria is disabling, impairs quality of life, and affects performance at work and school. This updated version of the international guideline for urticaria covers the definition and classification of urticaria and outlines expert-guided and evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the different subtypes of urticaria.

Exoscope-based videocapillaroscopy system for in vivo skin microcirculation imaging of various body areas

The capillary system immediately responds to many pathologies and environmental conditions. Accurate monitoring of its functioning often enables early detection of various diseases related to disorders in skin microcirculation. To expand the scope of capillaroscopy application, it is reasonable to visualize and assess blood microcirculation exactly in the areas of inflamed skin. Body vibrations, breathing, non-flat skin surface and other factors hamper the application of conventional capillaroscopes outside the nailfold area. In this paper, we propose an exoscope-based optical system for high-quality non-invasive computational imaging of capillary network in various areas of the body. Accurate image matching and tracking temporal intensity variations allow detecting the presence of blood pulsations, precise mapping of capillaries and photoplethysmogram acquisition. We have demonstrated the efficiency of the proposed approach experimentally by in vivo mapping and analysis of microvessels in wrist, forearm, upper-arm, breast and hip areas. We believe that the developed system will increase the diagnostic value of video capillaroscopy in clinical practice.

[Sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling system and the innovative mechanism of action of fingolimod in treatment of multiple sclerosis: review of foreign literature]

Over the last years, sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling function (S1P) is thought to play a key role in the development of immunological and neurological components of multiple sclerosis (MS). Modulators of the S1P-system are highly effective in MS treatment. Fingolimod, a structural analogue of endogenous sphingosine, is a first generation drug of a new class of medications known as "modulators of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors". The inhibition of S1P receptors by fingolimod in MS reduces the recirculation of autoreactive central memory T-cells and their infiltration of the CNS where they cause a damage that clinically reveals in the decrease in the number of MS exacerbations and less severe inflammatory brain changes in MRI.