Summary During the 2011 International Pigment Cell Conference (IPCC), the Vitiligo European Taskforce (VETF) convened a consensus conference on issues of global importance for vitiligo clinical research. As suggested by an international panel of experts, the conference focused on four topics: classification and nomenclature; definition of stable disease; definition of Koebner’s phenomenon (KP); and ‘autoimmune vitiligo’. These topics were discussed in seven working groups representing different geographical regions. A consensus emerged that segmental vitiligo be classified separately from all other forms of vitiligo and that the term ‘vitiligo’ be used as an umbrella term for all non-segmental forms of vitiligo, including ‘mixed vitiligo’ in which segmental and non-segmental vitiligo are combined and which is considered a subgroup of vitiligo. Further, the conference recommends that disease stability be best assessed based on the stability of individual lesions rather than the overall stability of the disease as the latter is difficult to define precisely and reliably. The conference also endorsed the classification of KP for vitiligo as proposed by the VETF (history based, clinical observation based, or experimentally induced). Lastly, the conference agreed that ‘autoimmune vitiligo’ should not be used as a separate classification as published evidence indicates that the pathophysiology of all forms of vitiligo likely involves autoimmune or inflammatory mechanisms.

The risk of skin metastases depends largely on the characteristics of tumour cells, which is similar among different ethnic groups. In terms of prognosis, a subset of breast cancer patients has superior prognosis, even among breast cancer patients with stage IV disease. Physicians should consider this finding in clinical situations to avoid possible misinformation about the prognosis of the disease.

Under hyperglycaemic conditions, keratinocytes demonstrate reduced migration and decreased proliferation capacities. These impairments of keratinocyte functions are likely to result in inadequate re-epithelialization. These defective physiological events provide a reasonable explanation for the poor wound healing commonly observed in patients with DM.

Our study provides in vitro evidence demonstrating that direct interaction between FK506 and KCs creates a favourable milieu for MC growth and migration. Furthermore, our findings provide a possible mechanism explaining how tacrolimus ointment induces repigmentation in patients with vitiligo.

CXCR4 expression may play a critical role in tumour progression and angiogenesis of certain subtypes of BCC with more aggressive nature, and functional blockade of CXCR4 could be a potential therapeutic strategy for these tumours.

Severe morbidity and significant HCRU are associated with HZ in Taiwan, supporting the need for early intervention and preventive strategies to reduce the HZ-associated burden of illness.

No abstract

As hBD2 plays multifaceted roles during the wound healing process, the inadequate expression of hBD2 during diabetic conditions contributes to impaired wound healing.