19th Congress of the Latvian Dermatovenerologists Association, Riga, Latvia, November 8-9, 2024: the latest achievements in dermatology, venereology, oncology and aesthetics!

The 19^th Congress of the Latvian Dermatovenerologists Association (LDVA) convened on November 8–9, 2024, in Riga, the Latvian capital, where dermatology professors from around the world as well as medical students and residents enthusiastically participated in person or remotely. It was a truly international event, with more than 25 speakers from Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Romania, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine and the United States providing lectures. This educational event focused on more than 30 lectures on the latest achievements in dermatology, venereology, oncology and aesthetics while reflecting on the backdrop of war and its effects both in battlefield casualties and with sexually transmitted diseases.
The Congress President Andris Rubins welcomed attendees alongside the Minister of Health of the Republic of Latvia, Dr. Hosams Abu Meri, and the President of the Latvian Academy of Sciences Prof. Ivars Kalviņš (fig. 1). Special appreciation was proclaimed for the efforts of Kirovs Lipmans. Under the inspired leadership of the Congress President Andris Rubins, Professor of Dermatovenerology of the University of Latvia, and Scientific Committee Chairman and University of Latvia Dermatology Chair Silvestrs Rubins, this event utilized a hybrid format facilitating participation by 320 individuals, 162 in person and 158 remotely (fig. 2). The opening lecturer, Axel zur Hausen (the Netherlands), provided an enlightening presentation on Merkel cell carcinoma, emphasized the cellular origin of Merkel cell carcinoma including challenges in determining its true lineage (fig. 3). He stressed this tumor is not of neuroendocrine origin, but probably of hematologic, a B cell lineage.
Six splendid plenary lectures began with Ilona Hartmane (Latvia), who explored the clinical challenges of erythroderma. Sebastian Yu (Taiwan) illuminated how epidermal melanocytes may influence the brain function via blue LED light exposure of melanocytes in pigmented skin in a hairless mouse model, highlighting a novel pathway through which environmental light influences brain function. George-Sorin Tiplica (Romania) covered the latest challenges with syphilis, noting its alarming increase, including among newborns, and that doxycycline post-exposure-prophylaxis may be effective utilizing a single dose of 200 mg within 72 hours of exposure. Torello Lotti (Italy and Switzerland), now Rector Magnificus of the Leonardo da Vinci...


View full text...