Effect of Rodent Control Program on Incidence of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Iran.

We report the effect of a rodent control program on the incidence of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in an endemic region of Iran. A 1-year interruption in rodent control led to 2 years of increased incidence of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. Restarting rodent control led to a decline of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis.

New-onset or flare-up of bullous pemphigoid associated with COVID-19 vaccines: a systematic review of case report and case series studies.

Background: Numerous cutaneous manifestations have been associated with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and vaccination, but new-onset bullous pemphigoid (BP) or flaring up of pre-existing BP is a rare side effect of COVID-19 vaccines that has been mentioned to a lesser extent in the literature. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a systematic review focused on the association between the new- onset or flare-up of BP and the COVID-19 vaccination. Method: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and the Web of Science databases up to 11 March 2023. The search aimed to identify English-language studies reporting new-onset or flare-ups of BP as a potential side effect of the COVID-19 vaccination. The search terms included bullous pemphigoid and COVID-19 vaccination-related MeSH terms. Results: The systematic review of 40 articles investigating the incidence of BP in individuals who received various COVID-19 vaccines revealed pertinent findings. Among the 54 patients with new-onset BP, the median age was 72.42 years, and most were men (64%). Conversely, the median age of the 17 patients experiencing a flare-up of BP was 73.35 years, with a higher proportion of women (53%). Regarding vaccination types, a significant number of patients (56%) developed new-onset BP after receiving the BNT162b2 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech). Conclusion: This study indicates a potential association between COVID-19 vaccinations, particularly mRNA vaccines, and the occurrence of BP. It suggests that this rare autoimmune disorder may be triggered as an adverse event following the COVID-19 vaccination. However, it is important to note that the majority of BP patients in our study were unaffected by the COVID-19 vaccine, and even those who experienced worsening of their conditions were managed without significant consequences. These findings provide additional evidence supporting the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. Physicians should be mindful of this uncommon adverse event and encourage patients to complete their planned vaccination schedules.

Comparing the efficacy of topical hydroquinone 2% versus intradermal tranexamic acid microinjections in treating melasma: a split-face controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Melasma is a benign, acquired and chronic hypermelanosis. Topical hydroquinone (HQ) is a conventional choice to treat melasma. Tranexamic acid (TA) is a relatively new brightening agent that interferes with keratinocyte-melanocyte interactions. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy and safety of TA intradermal injections with HQ in treating melasma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this split-face controlled trial, 37 patients were randomized to receive three monthly sessions of TA intradermal injections either on the right or the left side of their face and topical HQ once a night for three months on the other side. Melanin and erythema were measured for each side of the face at the baseline and at the end of each month. RESULTS: A reduction in melanin value was observed for TA and HQ separately (p value <.001). Monthly TA injection was better than daily HQ in reducing the melanin value during the first four weeks (p value =.013); but after 20 weeks, the overall changes was not different between the two groups (p value =.17). CONCLUSION: Monthly TA intradermal injections can be an effective treatment for melasma. Further studies are required to support our results.