Combination of infra-red light with nanogold targeting macrophages in the treatment of Leishmania major infected BALB/C mice.

PURPOSE: In the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), developing drug resistance, existing toxic effects of drugs and failure respond to treatment cause the need to try different treatment methods. We investigated the effect of gold-conjugated macrophage-specific antibody on amastigotes under infra-red light for the treatment of CL. METHODS: Female BALB/c (4-8 weeks old, 20 ± 5 g weight) mice were used in the study. The L. major strain was inoculated on the soles of mice in amastigote form and subpassed. Nanogold (Au), Au + macrophage-specific antibody (MSA) modification and near infra-red (NIR) (5 seconds) were applied to mice groups that developed cutaneous leishmaniasis on their soles. On the 5th and 10th days of the treatment, the lesions were examined clinically and pathologically. RESULTS: When the erythema values were examined, the highest decrease was calculated in the Au + MSA + NIR group in the measurements made on the 10th day (p < 0.014). The best improvement in 10th day measurements is in the NIR and Au + MSA + NIR groups when area values were examined (p = 0.011, p = 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of parasite load (PL) (p < 0.005) in pathological evaluation. According to PL grouping, the best result is NIR (p = 0.002). When both main titles (clinical and pathological) are examined, the Au + MSA + NIR group is thought to have an optimal therapeutical feature. CONCLUSIONS: Au + MSA + NIR combination could be a new treatment approach for CL treatment.

A multicentre prospective analysis of the incidence of pemphigoid diseases in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The differentiation between the pemphigoid diseases is essential for treatment and prognosis. In Turkey, data on the incidence of these diseases are insufficient. Our aim in this study is to determine the incidence, demographics and clinical characteristics associated with diseases of the pemphigoid group. METHODS: We prospectively analysed 295 patients with pemphigoid who visited dermatology clinics of tertiary referral hospitals in 12 different regions of Turkey within a year. The diagnosis was based on clinical, histopathological, direct immunofluorescence (DIF) and serological (multivariant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], indirect immunofluorescence and mosaic-based BIOCHIP) examinations. Clinical and demographic findings, aetiological factors and concomitant diseases observed in the patients were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 295 (female/male ratio: 1.7/1) patients with pemphigoid were diagnosed in 1-year period. The overall incidence rate of pemphigoid diseases was found to be 3.55 cases per million-years. The ratio of pemphigoid group diseases to pemphigus group diseases was 1.6. The most common pemphigoid type was bullous pemphigoid (BP, 93.2%). The others were epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (3.1%), pemphigoid gestationis (2.4%), linear IgA disease (1%) and mucous membrane pemphigoid (0.3%). The most common (26.8%) possible trigger of the bullous pemphigoid was gliptin derivative drugs. The most common concomitant diseases with pemphigoid were cardiovascular (27.8%) and neurological diseases (23.7%). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the increased frequency of bullous pemphigoid reversed the pemphigoid/pemphigus ratio in Turkey. Further studies are warranted regarding the reasons for this increase.

A retrospective assessment and comparison of the effectiveness of benzoyl peroxide; the combination of topical niacinamide, gallic acid, and lauric acid; and the combination of benzoyl peroxide and erythromycin in acne vulgaris.

Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that mostly develops during adolescence and continues throughout adulthood. It affects the face, the main location of cosmetic appearance. Despite many developments in acne treatment, various combination therapies are needed to create the best option. Ninety patients were included in this study. We used the global acne grading system (GAGS) and the lesion counting and photographic standards that were used by Hayashi et al., to assess acne severity. The patients were randomly divided into three groups as group 1 (using only 5% BPO, twice a day), group 2 (using only the combination of 5% BPO + 3% erythromycin, twice a day), and group 3 (using only the combination of 4% niacinamide + 1% gallic acid + 1% lauric acid, twice a day). Thirty patients were included in each group. The scores were evaluated at weeks 0, 2, 4 and 8, and compared with each other. As a result of the study, all three treatment types were found to be effective. The combination of 4% niacinamide + 1% gallic acid + 1% lauric acid can be used as an alternative topical treatment for acne vulgaris to prevent resistance against topical antibiotics and the side effects of some other treatments.

Analysis of clinical characteristics and factors affecting treatment responses in patients with pyoderma gangrenosum: a multicenter study of 239 patients☆.

BACKGROUND: Pyoderma Gangrenosum (PG) is a chronic disease characterized by recalcitrant skin ulcers. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical characteristics, treatments and factors affecting the treatment responses of patients with PG. METHODS: We performed a multicenter study of 12 tertiary care centers. We analyzed the data of the patients who were followed up with a diagnosis of PG between the years 2012‒2022 retrospectively. RESULTS: We included a total of 239 patients of whom 143 were female and 96 were male, with an average age of 54.2 ±â€¯17.4 years. The most common treatment was systemic steroids (n = 181, 75.7%). Among these patients, 50.8% (n = 92) used systemic steroids as the sole systemic agent, while 49.2% (n = 89) used at least one adjuvant immunosuppressive agent. The independent factors determined in regression analysis to influence response to systemic steroids positively were disease onset age ≥ 30-years, negative pathergy, absence of leukocytosis, negative wound culture, presence of a single lesion, and absence of upper extremity involvement. Biological agents were used in 18.4% (n = 44) of the patients in the present study. We also analyzed pathergy positive PG and early onset (onset age < 30) PG separately due to their distinct clinical features which were revealed during statistical analysis. STUDY LIMITATIONS: Retrospective nature of the present study. CONCLUSIONS: Analyses of the factors influencing treatment responses are addressed in this study. Also, we concluded that investigation for accompanying autoinflammatory diseases of pathergy positive PG and early onset PG is necessary and the patients in these two groups are more resistant to treatment, necessitating more complicated treatments.

Evaluation of the Quality of Life and the Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Patients With Pemphigus With Oral Mucosal Involvement: A Multicenter Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune disease primarily affecting the oral mucosa. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the demographic, clinical and treatment characteristics of PV patients with oral mucosal involvement and to assess the impact on their quality of life. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study among 106 patients diagnosed with PV and presenting oral mucosal involvement. Demographic data, clinical and treatment characteristics, and quality of life questionnaires were recorded. RESULTS: The study included 106 patients, 55 (51.89%) were male and there was a predominance of the mucocutaneous subtype in 83 individuals (78.38%). Oral mucosa was the initial site of manifestation in 44 patients (41.51%). Bilateral buccal mucosa was the most frequently affected site. The predominant symptom reported was a burning sensation, noted in 91 patients (85.85%). Oral mucosal examination revealed erosions in 85.85% of the patients. Systemic steroids were the most commonly administered treatment, and rituximab was used in 18 patients (16.98%). A positive and significant correlation was found between pemphigus severity and Oral Health Impact Profile-14, Dermatology Life Quality Index and Dermatological Quality of Life Scale scores (P < 0.05). The presence of superficial ulcers, flaccid bullae, lesion diameter ≥1 cm, and >10 lesions were factors that markedly diminished quality of life. Complete response to treatment was noted in all patients administered rituximab. CONCLUSIONS: The most common area of involvement was bilateral buccal mucosa, and the severity of PV closely correlated with a decline in quality of life measures. These results highlight the need for careful clinical oversight of PV, taking into account its effects on patients quality of life.

Investigation of the relationship between inflammatory blood parameters and seborrheic dermatitis.

OBJECTIVE: Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a chronic inflammatory disease. The etiology of the disease is still unknown. The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), red cell distribution width (RDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), C-reactive protein (CRP), monocyte to HDL cholesterol ratio (MHR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) have all been reported as inflammatory markers in recent studies. However, these inflammatory markers have not been explored in SD patients. This study aimed to explore inflammatory and hematological parameters in SD patients with healthy controls (HCs) and evaluate their possible relationship with disease severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients who presented to our hospital were diagnosed with SD and 74 HCs were retrospectively included in our study. The seborrheic dermatitis area severity index (SDASI) score was used to assess the severity of the SD. RESULTS: The patient group's mean PLR, MPV ve CRP levels were statistically significantly higher than the HCs (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the patients compared with the control group regarding RDW, NLR, MHR, and SII levels (p > 0.05). There was no statistically significant correlation between NLR, PLR, MPV, monocyte/HDL cholesterol, SII levels with age, and SDASI in the patient group. There was a significant correlation between CRP with age and RDW with SDASI score. CONCLUSION: Hematological parameters and CRP are low-cost tests. These tests can be used to define inflammation levels in inflammatory diseases. This study shows that PLR, CRP, and MPV may be used as novel inflammatory markers in SD.

Demodex infestation as a cause of sensitive skin in a dermatology outpatient clinic.

BACKGROUND: Sensitive skin is subjective cutaneous hyperreactivity to environmental factors. Demodicosis is a skin disorder caused by Demodex mites. There may be a link between demodicosis and sensitive skin. AIM: This study aimed to examine facial Demodex mites density and other factors associated with sensitive skin in patients. METHODS AND METHODS: A total of 349 randomly selected patients presented to the dermatology department. The research data were collected using a questionnaire form that included the participants' sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, a sensitive skin questionnaire, the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and European Health Interview Survey (EHIS). Patients underwent standardized superficial skin surface biopsy of 4 areas of the face. D. folliculorum count greater than 5 mites/cm2 was considered positive. RESULTS: In relation to Demodex, there was an increase in skin sensitivity with higher Demodex density (p = 0.04). There was a statistically significant, weak positive correlation between skin sensitivity and DLQI score (r = 0.33, p = 0.00), and there was also a significant but very weak negative correlation between skin sensitivity and EUROHIS (r = -0.164, p = 0.002). Skin sensitivity was more common in patients with a concomitant dermatological disease (p = 0.01) and increased with more frequent cosmetic use (p = 0.00). CONCLUSION: Alongside other risk factors, for the patients presenting with complaints of sensitive skin, investigating Demodex population density may help alleviate sensitive skin symptoms with appropriate therapies and preventive measures.

Research on Hotair and 7SL-RNA Gene Expression Levels in Psoriasis Vulgaris.

Backgrounds: Mutation of protein-coding genes and non-coding genes is a factor in psoriasis etiology. Non-coding RNA (ncRNA), which does not have protein-coding capacity, is available in the human genome. HOTAIR (HOX Antisense Intergenic RNA) and 7SL-RNA are known as ncRNA. They may play a role in psoriasis pathogenesis. Aims: In our study, we aimed to investigate the level of HOTAIR and 7SL-RNA gene expression in the lesional and perilesional healthy skin of psoriasis patients. Methods: Total RNA isolation from the skin samples was achieved by modifying the RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen, Cat No: 74104) protocol. Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) phase was performed in accordance with the protocol of the relevant brand (WizPure qPCR). Results: 7SL-RNA gene expression decreased in the skin with psoriatic lesions (FC: 0.01; p: 0.028), and this decrease was statistically significant. HOTAIR gene expression decreased (FC: 0.92; p: 0.218), but this decrease was not statistically significant. Conclusions: lncRNAs may play a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis disease.

Metabolic syndrome may be an important comorbidity in patients with seborrheic dermatitis.

INTRODUCTION: Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. One of the components of metabolic syndrome is inflammation, and many inflammatory cytokines play a critical role in the disease. The aim of this study is to investigate metabolic syndrome and to evaluate the relationship between the parameters of the disease and disease severity in patients with seborrheic dermatitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-seven patients with seborrheic dermatitis and 36 healthy controls were included in the study. The parameters of metabolic syndrome were recorded in both groups. In the patient group, disease severity was determined with the seborrheic dermatitis area and severity index (SDASI). All the venous blood samples were taken at 8 a.m. after 10 h of fasting. RESULTS: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in the patient group were statistically significantly lower than in the controls. There was no significant difference between groups according to other parameters. In terms of history of metabolic disease in first degree relatives (diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and dyslipidaemia), 78.7% of those in the patient group (n = 37) and 55.6% of those in the control group (n = 20) had a history of metabolic disease in their families, and the difference between the patient and control groups was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between disease severity and plasma HDL levels (p = 0.033, r = -0.312). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of seborrheic dermatitis may be a predictive factor for metabolic syndrome.