Increased Th17 functions are accompanied by Tregs activities in lupoid leishmaniasis.

The immunopathogenesis of lupoid leishmaniasis is challenging. Although an appropriate immune response is critical for controlling these parasites, inappropriate inflammatory reactions can also promote increased pathology. The role of immune modulatory effect of the main transcription factors and cytokines of T regulatory and Th17 cells in pathogenesis of leishmaniasis chronicity was investigated in this study. The gene expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß1), forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), interleukin-17(IL-17A) and retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma t (ROrC) was assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of eighty blood samples from cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients with usual lesions (n = 31), lupoid lesions (n = 29) and healthy volunteers (n = 20). Quantitative relative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed using the Taqman and Sybergreen methods for expression of target genes. Expression of Foxp3 (P = .013), IL-10 (P < .001) and IL-17A (P < .001) was significantly higher in lupoid patient compare to the nonlupoid group. Expression of Foxp3 (P < .001), IL-10 (P < .001) and IL-17A (P = .033) was significantly more in nonlupoid subjects than in healthy volunteers, except for RORγt. These findings suggest that Foxp3+ cells, IL-10 and IL-17 play important roles in the immunopathogenesis of CL and that these roles differ depending on the causal leishmania species and different body compartments.

Efficacy of 80% phenol solution in comparison with cryotherapy in the treatment of common warts of hands.

INTRODUCTION: The common wart is a common infectious disease caused by human papilloma virus. A variety of therapeutic modalities are available. Cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen) is one of the most common treatment forms. It freezes the tissue and destroys warts. Phenol is a caustic agent. Our purpose was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of cryotherapy and 80 percent phenol solution on common warts of hands. METHODS: This single-blinded clinical trial study was performed on 60 patients with common warts referred to the dermatology clinic of Ghaem Hospital Mashhad, Iran, in 2002. Patients were randomly divided into two groups; 30 patients were treated with cryotherapy and 30 patients were treated with 80 percent phenol, on a once-weekly basis until complete clearance of the lesions or a maximum duration of six weeks. RESULTS: Complete clearance of warts after six weeks was observed in 70 percent of patients who were treated with cryotherapy, and 82.6 percent of patients in the 80 percent phenol group; there was no statistically significant difference between the two methods (p-value is 0.014). CONCLUSION: Our data indicates that 80 percent phenol and cryotherapy are effective and simple treatments for common warts of hands, and patients do not experience any pain during the treatment.