Clinical characteristics of 47 children with pigmentary mosaicism: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Pigmentary mosaicism (PM), also known as Blaschkoid dyspigmentation, is a rare pigmentary anomaly. Although several case reports have been published describing extracutaneous manifestations associated with PM, there are very few studies on the clinical characteristics of patients with PM. AIM: To describe the clinical characteristics of patients with PM. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 47 children examined by a dermatologist and a pediatrician. The pattern and location of the PM, type of pigmentation and extracutaneous manifestations were documented. RESULTS: The most common pattern of PM was narrow-band PM, followed by broad-band and checkerboard patterns. The trunk was the most affected region, followed by the legs and arms. PM manifested as hypopigmentation in 51.1% of cases, as hyperpigmentation in 27.6%, and as hypo/hyperpigmentation in 21.2%. Accompanying diseases were present in 40.4% of patients: neuropsychiatric diseases were the most common, followed by endocrinological or hematological diseases and growth/developmental delay. CONCLUSION: PM has been associated with several extracutaneous findings but there is still some debate whether these associations reflect different PM phenotypes or whether they are simply coincidental. Our study suggests that extracutaneous involvement in PM patients is frequent, thus warranting careful examination of PM patients.

Vitamin D levels in patients with seborrheic dermatitis

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Seborrheic dermatitis is a common papulosquamous skin disease with unknown pathogenesis. The aim of our study was to determine the serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in patients with seborrheic dermatitis SD. METHODS: A total of 53 patients and 60 healthy controls were included in the study. Serum vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, and parathormone levels were measured in the patient and control groups, and a comparison was made between the two groups regarding these parameters. RESULTS: Severe vitamin D deficiency was more frequent among patients with seborrheic dermatitisSD compared to controls (52.8 vs. 25.8%, p=0.003). In patients with severe vitamin D deficiency, seborrheic dermatitis SD was detected more frequently at an early age (p=0048) and in women (p=0.015). No correlation was found between the seborrheic dermatitis skin involvement site and vitamin D level. CONCLUSION: The fact that vitamin D levels decreased in patients with seborrheic dermatitis SD and patients with severe vitamin D deficiency develop seborrheic dermatitis SD earlier suggests that the low levels of vitamin D are related to seborrheic dermatitis.

Association of CYP2J2 polymorphism with susceptibility to psoriasis in Turkish population: a case-control study

Abstract Background: Cytochrome P450 2J2 is mostly expressed in extrahepatic tissues; it metabolizes arachidonic acid to epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, with various cardio protective and anti-inflammatory effects. CYP2J2 polymorphism has been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, but its association with psoriasis remains unknown. Objective: To evaluate CYP2J2 polymorphism as a risk factor for psoriasis in the Turkish population. Methods: There were 94 patients with psoriasis and 100 age- and sex-matched healthy controls included in the study. Detailed demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded, and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores were calculated for psoriasis patients. Venous blood samples were collected from all the participants and CYP2J2 50G>T (rs890293) polymorphism was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Both T allele and TT + GT genotype frequencies were increased in psoriasis vulgaris patients compared to the control group (p = 0.024 and p = 0.029 respectively, OR = 2.82, 95% CI: 1.11-7.15) No association between CYP2J2 polymorphism and clinical features of psoriasis was identified. Study limitations: A limited number of patients were included in the study. Conclusion: CYP2J2 50G>T (rs890293) polymorphism was associated with an increased risk for PsV in the Turkish population.

Serum IL-36α, IL-36ß, and IL-36γ levels in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa: association with disease characteristics, smoking, obesity, and metabolic syndrome.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory, and relapsing skin disease. Pathogenesis of the disease is not well understood, but many studies revealed the potential role of cytokines and interleukins. IL-36 expression was increased in tissue samples of HS patients with conflicting result regarding serum levels. To investigate serum IL-36 levels in HS patients and evaluate their relation to disease characteristics, 44 patients diagnosed with HS and 44 age and sex-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum IL-36 concentrations. Serum levels of IL-36α, IL-36ß, and IL-36γ were significantly elevated in HS patients compared to healthy controls (all three p < 0.001). IL-36α, IL-36ß, and IL-36γ levels were significantly higher in current smokers compared to non-smokers and positively correlated with number of packs/year (p = 0.002, r = 0.402; p = 0.042, r = 0.242 and p = 0.001, r = 0.391, respectively). IL-36α, IL-36ß, and IL-36γ levels were also elevated in obese patients and patients with metabolic syndrome (p = 0.007, < 0.001, 0.038, 0.004, 0.006, and 0.048, respectively). After stratified and restricted analyses for smoking, obesity, and metabolic syndrome IL-36α, IL-36ß, and IL-36γ increased the risk of HS 11.0, 1.79, and 4.5 time, respectively (95% CI 1.7-71.28, p < 0.001; 95% CI 1.04-3.06, p = 0.005 and, 95% CI 1.007-20.106, p = 0.040, respectively). Elevated serum IL-36 levels may contribute to pathogenesis of HS and may be a candidate for future biological treatment of the disease.

Total maxillectomy with prosthetic reconstruction techniqueprosthetic reconstruction technique: A case report of a patient who underwent a total maxillectomy.

The prosthetic treatment of patients with total maxillectomies is an enormous reconstruction challenge because of insufficient support and retention from the residual tissues. It is not possible to place the bulb in the presence of unfavorable undercuts throughout the nasal cavity floor and borders. The purpose of this article was to describe a prosthetic reconstruction technique which accomplishes optimum sealing, retention, stabilization, and easy placement of an open-hollow acrylic resin obturator using a spring with a resilient liner for a patient who underwent a total maxillectomy. The springs were placed in the resilient liner to facilitate the placement of the obturator prosthesis because of unfavorable undercuts. It was possible to fit the prosthesis in two stages by means of springs. The objective of this technique is to improve the patient's psychological, functional, and social well-being by producing a stable, retentive, leakproof, comfortable, easy-fitting prosthesis. This technique is appropriate for patients who have undergone total maxillectomies when implant placement is not possible.