Clinical and Histological Assessment of Combined Fractional CO2 Laser and Growth Factors Versus Fractional CO2 Laser Alone in the Treatment of Facial Mature Burn Scars: A Pilot Split-Face Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of growth factors combined with fractional carbon dioxide (CO2 ) laser in comparison with fractional CO2 alone in a sample of patients with facial mature burn scars. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen Egyptian patients with bilateral facial burn scars were treated with six sessions of fractional CO2 laser at 6-week intervals. Following each laser session, a topical growth factors cocktail was applied to one side of the face in a split-face manner. Clinical evaluation by Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (PSOS), and photography before and 2 months after the last laser session was done. Three millimeter punch biopsies were obtained from each side of the face pre- and 1-month posttreatment to measure the mean area percent of collagen. RESULTS: Posttreatment, both VSS and PSOS scores decreased on both sides of the face being more significant on the growth factors treated side, showing more scar pliability and shorter downtime (P = 0.001). A significant difference in the mean area percent of collagen was also noted on both sides. CONCLUSION: Adding topical growth factors to fractional CO2 laser treatments is effective and safe with better results as regards scar pliability and shorter downtime than fractional CO2 laser alone. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Gene expression of osteopontin in alopecia areata? A case-controlled study.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To study the expression of osteopontin (OPN) in alopecia areata (AA) lesions in a trial to clarify its possible role in the pathogenesis of such a disease. PROCEDURES: Tissue level of OPN was measured in 28 AA patients as well as 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls using both real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The tissue level of OPN by real-time PCR (4.5-12.8, 8.93 ± 1.9) and immunohistochemical expression of positive OPN mean area percent (7.1-21.2%, 12 ± 5.5%) were significantly higher in patients compared to controls (1-4.6, 2.11 ± 0.93; 3.9-12.02%, 6.8 ± 2.8%, respectively; p < 0.0000). The Severity of Alopecia Tool score showed no significant correlation with the OPN mRNA expression (r = 0.11, p = 0.55). CONCLUSION: High OPN mRNA expression is associated with AA. OPN might play an important role in the pathogenesis of AA.