Serum collagenase-2 and BMI levels in pregnant women with striae gravidarum.

OBJECTIVE: Striae gravidarum is a form of scarring on the skin observed during pregnancy and can cause serious cosmetic problems. Striae gravidarum may be influenced by hormonal changes, although the etiology is not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether body mass index (BMI) and serum collagenase-2 levels in pregnant women are related to the development of striae gravidarum. METHODS: Thirty pregnant women with striae, 30 pregnant women without striae, and 32 health controls were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: BMI and serum collagenase-2 levels were measured in the participants. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with striae gravidarum had increased serum collagenase-2 and BMI levels when compared to pregnant women without striae gravidarum and healthy controls (P < 0.05). The increase in serum collagenase-2 levels was related to the development of striae gravidarum alone, or secondary to BMI increase.

Oxidative Stress Biomarkers and Adenosine Deaminase over the Alopecic Area of the Patients with Alopecia Areata.

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune, T-cell mediated, and chronic inflammatory disorder. The pathological mechanisms of disease are unclear, but oxidative stress may be involved. To our knowledge, no studies have examined the oxidative stress levels or biomarkers within the lesional area and skin surface in patients with AA. Similarly, adenosine deaminase (ADA) has not been characterized in AA. AIMS: Therefore, we aimed to define ADA levels and the factors involved in oxidative stress from scalp-scrapes of patients with AA. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study. METHOD: A total of 60 patients (30 diagnosed AA patients and 30 healthy controls) were included in the study. ADA as well as oxidative stress factors, including malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were analyzed from scalp-scrapes in both groups and quantified by spectrophotometry. RESULTS: Activities of SOD (p=0.000), CAT (p=0.033), and ADA (p=0.004) as well as levels of GSH (p=0.000) and MDA (p=0.032) in patients with AA were higher than the controls statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, factors associated with oxidative stress were elevated in AA patient scalp-scrapes compared to controls and may have a defined role the disease pathogenesis. Alterations in the activities of antioxidant enzymes from AA patient scraping samples may be a local effect of elevated oxidative stress levels. In this disease, oxidative stress may affect not only hair follicle but also any layers of the skin.

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis induced by iodixanol (Visipaque): a serious reaction to a commonly used drug.

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is an acute sterile pustular eruption most commonly induced by medications. Although antibiotics are the most commonly accused drugs in AGEP, non-antibiotic agents may also cause this disease. We present a case of AGEP following use of iodixanol for coronary angiography in a 61-year-old woman. Given the wide use of this substance in cardiology, clinicians should be aware of this potential complication.