Topical Tretinoin in the Management of Thick-skinned Rhinoplasty Patients.

Background: Despite the increasing popularity of cosmetic surgeries, some patients still experience skin problems, particularly those with thick nasal skin. Isotretinoin is a commonly used drug for severe acne, and its effects on rhinoplasty aesthetic results have recently been studied. This placebo-controlled clinical trial aimed to investigate the effects of topical tretinoin gel on the cosmetic outcomes of rhinoplasty in patients with thick nasal skin. Methods: Forty-nine individuals were randomly allocated to either the treatment group or the control group in Mashhad, Iran from 2019 to 2021. The treatment group received topical tretinoin gel (0.05%) beginning on the 31st postoperative day and continued for six months, while the control group received a usual dermatological recommendation as a placebo. Patients were assessed during the first, third, and sixth months after the intervention, and their cosmetic results were evaluated by an expert surgeon and dermatologist. Results: There were no significant differences in baseline features between the two groups. The median score given by the surgeon was not significantly different between the groups. However, the median score given by the dermatologist was significantly higher in the treatment group during the first, third, and sixth months (P<0.001). Patient satisfaction scores were also significantly higher in the treatment group during the third and sixth months compared to the control group. (P=0.02 and 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: Topical tretinoin gel could effectively reduce acne in patients with thick nasal skin after rhinoplasty and increase patient satisfaction in the early months following surgery. However, it did not significantly affect final cosmetic outcomes.

Evaluation of the Status of Patients with Autoimmune Bullous Diseases (Pemphigus and Bullous Pemphigoids) in Dermatology Clinics of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences During the COVID-19 Pandemic Using Telemedicine.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the growth of telemedicine. The challenge was in the way of dermatologists, who needed a comprehensive examination of the lesions. Here, we tried a tele-management of patients with autoimmune bullous diseases. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on confirmed bullous disorder cases. Demographic data and the status of COVID-19 infection were assessed in the patients. Some of the cases were provided online, and some with office visits. Drug and treatment plan changes were compared between these two groups. All statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 20. Result: Totally, 100 patients, including 46 males (46.0%) and 54 females (54.0%), 48.15 ± 11.11 years old, were studied. Among them, 73 were pemphigus vulgaris (73.0%), 11 were bullous pemphigoid (11.0%), 10 were pemphigus foliaceus (10.0%), and the other 6 (6.0%) were categorized as other autoimmune bullous diseases. During the pandemic, 38 cases (38.0%) had COVID-19 infection. 72 patients had office and 28 had online visits. Treatment plans after visits during the pandemic (p = 0.588) and drug dose change (p = 0.297) showed no significant difference between office and online visits. Conclusion: Our patients tended to plan office visits more than online; however, we found no differences regarding the plan or treatment changes. Online visit has good efficacy, but further investigation in case of provision of a suitable platform and getting the attention of the patients is needed.

Immunohistochemical Evaluation of C4d and C3d Markers in Bullous Pemphigoid as a Substitute for Direct Immunofluorescence Technique.

Background: There are several methods for the diagnosis of autoimmune bullous disease. Direct immunofluorescent (DIF) testing is an important diagnostic method in the diagnosis of immunobullous disease but requires skilled pathologist, fresh tissue and well-equipped laboratory to perform the procedure. The immunohistochemistry analysis of C4d and C3d is easily compared with other methods. This study was conducted to assess the value of immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis for expressions of C3d and C4d in the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid (BP). Aims and Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the value of immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis for expressions of C3d and C4d in the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid (BP). Materials and. Method: We applied C4d and C3d immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue on 30 cases of bullous pemphigoid that was confirmed by direct immunofluorescence (DIF) evaluation as well as 16 cases in control group (12 cases of herpetiform dermatitis, 3 cases of linear IgA dermatosis and 3 cases of bullous lichen planus). Results: Mean and SD of age were 68.13 ± 14.00, female to male ratio was 1:3. In cases where both C3d and C4d staining were positive, the intensity of C3d staining was higher than C4d. Twenty-two cases showed C4d-positive staining in IHC study, such that in seven cases focal staining and in 15 cases diffuse staining were observed. Also 26 cases showed C3d-positive staining in IHC study such that in four cases focal staining and in 22 cases diffuse staining were observed. In cases with C3d-positive staining, there were 21 cases of deposition only on the bullous floor, one case on the bullous roof and four cases on the bullous roof and floor. In cases with C4d-positive staining, there were 17 cases of deposition on the bullous floor, two cases only on the bullous roof and three cases on the roof and floor. All control cases were negative for C3d and C4d staining in the dermoepidermal junction. For C3d immunohistochemical staining, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 86.66%, 100%, 100% and 80%, respectively, and for C4d immunohistochemical staining, respectively, were 73.3%, 100%, 100% and 66.66%. Conclusion: The immunohistochemical specificity of C4d and C3d on tissue blocks is the same as that of direct immunofluorescence test on fresh tissue, but it is less sensitive, so positive results for C3d and C4d immunohistochemical staining on paraffin blocks can be used to confirm the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid.

Perianal Linear Syringocystadenoma Papilliferum: A Case Report with Review of the Literature.

Syringocystadenoma papilliferum is a rare benign adnexal tumor that originates from the apocrine and eccrine glands. It mainly manifests as a solitary lesion in the head and neck; however, rarely, it may involve the trunk and limbs, typically with a linear pattern. Here, we report an extremely rare case of congenital linear syringocystadenoma papilliferum on the left buttock near the anus in a 6-year-old girl. This lesion should be considered in the list of differential diagnosis of linear lesions in order to prevent complications with proper diagnosis, treatment or follow-up.

Quality of Life, Body Image and Personality Traits Among Women Receiving Botulinum Toxin Type a for Cosmetic Purposes.

BACKGROUND: The demand for minimally invasive cosmetic procedures has rampantly increased in recent decades. The aim of this study was to evaluate the body image, personality traits and quality of life (QoL) in women consuming botulinum toxin type A for cosmetic purposes. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted on 89 participants referring to outpatient dermatology clinics in Mashhad from 2019 to 2021. All participants completed a checklist of demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as three other questionnaires, including the World-Health-Organization Quality of Life-Short Form, Big 5 Inventory-10 (BFI-10) and Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale modified for body dysmorphic disorder (Y-BOCS-BDD). A control group of 101 sex and age-matched people from the general population also completed the questionnaires online. RESULTS: All participants were females, and most of them in the case group were 31-50 years old (n = 68, 77.1%). Among the case group, QoL was reported higher in all domains; however, this was only significant in 'physical' (P = 0.003) and 'psychological' (P = 0.036) aspects. After considering the confounding factors, the case group was able to significantly predict increased QoL in the 'physical' (P = 0.019) and 'environmental' (P = 0.015) domains. In terms of BFI-10 scores, conscientiousness was notably higher among the case group (P < 0.001), while the control group scored slightly but significantly higher than the case group in neuroticism (P = 0.019). The control group scored significantly higher in Y-BOCS-BDD (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In clients receiving botulinum toxin injection for cosmetic purposes, QoL was higher than in the control group. No signs of body dysmorphia or pathological personality traits were found in these individuals. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Nevus Comedonicus with Epidermolytic Hyperkeratosis: A Case Report.

Nevus comedonicus (NC) is a rare developmental anomaly of the folliculosebaceous apparatus, which appears as numerous dilated papules containing firm, darkly pigmented, horny plugs. It appears shortly after birth and mostly before the age of 10; however, late-onset cases have been reported. There is no gender or racial predilection. Moreover, NC can be a component of nevus comedonicus syndrome, a neurocutaneous disorder with skeletal, ocular, and central nervous system abnormalities. EHK properties in NC are not a common finding and are rarely seen in association with each other. This paper reports a healthy, 27-year-old young woman who has been developing numbers of asymptomatic unilateral linear skin lesions on her chest, waist, right thigh, and popliteal fossa in a unilateral linear pattern over ten years. Skin biopsy revealed dilated follicular ostia with orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis, columns of parakeratosis, cornoid flagellation, epidermolytic hyperkeratosis, and mild acanthosis on its wall.

PCR-Based Diagnosis of Leishmania Species in Chronic Granulomatous Dermatitis in Mashhad, Iran.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a chronic granulomatous dermatitis (CGD). Approximately, 90% of CL patients are from seven countries including Iran. We explain polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic technique for chronic granulomatosis dermatoses including CL in Mashhad, Iran. Methods: This study enrolled 64 patients within 2009-2013 with chronic granulomatosis dermatitis referred to dermatology and pathology departments of Imam Reza Hospital, affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS), Mashhad, Iran. We gathered demographic data from archived folders. Histological light microscopic evaluation and parasitological tests were done on selected specimens. We used PCR diagnostic test on specimens. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS version 15. Results: Generally, 7 out of 64 specimens had Leishmania DNA and other samples had no Leishmania DNA. The mean age of patients was 46 ± 18.77 years; disease duration was 7 ± 6.73 months ranging from 1-24 months. Most of the lesions were located on face and upper limb. Totally, 5 out of 7 samples were Leishmania major and 2 out of 7 samples were L. tropica. Tuberculoid granuloma was present in L. tropica samples and 3 of L. major samples. Other light microscopic changes were as follow: 42 suppurative granuloma, and epidermal changes including atrophy, pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, and parakeratosis with dermal changes including, plasma cell, involvement of papillary and reticular dermis, and distribution of granuloma to hypodermis. Conclusion: Our results addressed PCR-based diagnosis of chronic cutaneous leishmaniasis, which is resulted from L. major and L. tropica.

Dermatological Findings in Glaucoma Patients: Comparison Between Pseudoexfoliative and Primary Open-angle Glaucoma.

Purpose: To compare the frequency of dermatological manifestations between patients with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma and those with primary open-angle glaucoma. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done on all consecutive pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEXG) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients evaluated in a tertiary eye hospital during the study period. Eligible patients were referred to the dermatology department for complete skin, hair, nail, and mucosal examinations. Results: Twenty-one patients in the PEXG group and 26 patients in the POAG group were included in this study. The most common skin manifestations in the study were seborrheic dermatitis, dry skin, and cherry angioma. The frequency of lentigines was significantly higher in the PEXG patients than in the POAG group (P = 0.013). More than half of the study population had seborrheic dermatitis (57.1% and 61.5% in the PEXG and POAG groups, respectively); however, the difference between the groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.775). Similarly, the frequencies of skin dryness, cherry angioma, nevus, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, itching, seborrheic keratoses, notalgia paresthetica, and vitiligo in the two groups were not statistically significantly different (P > 0.1 for all comparisons). There was no significant association between the frequency of the investigated skin manifestations and patients' age, visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and cup-to-disc ratio. Conclusion: Integumentary system disorders are pervasive in glaucoma patients, and dermatologic evaluation in glaucoma patients should be considered for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Evaluation of High-Efficiency Image Coding algorithm for dermatology images in teledermatology.

BACKGROUND: Currently, teledermatology assumes a progressively greater role in the modern healthcare system, especially in consultation, diagnosis, or examining lesions and skin cancers. One of the major challenges facing teledermatology systems is determining the optimal image compression method to efficiently reduce the space needed for electronic storage and data transmission. OBJECTIVE: To the objective and subjective assessment of HEIC compression method on dermatological color images and benchmarking the performance of High-Efficiency Image Coding (HEIC) with different algorithms to a feasibility study of the method for teledermatology. METHODS: Twenty-five clinical and five skin histopathology images were taken in department of dermatology, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran. For each image, a set of 24 compressed images with different compression rates, which is composed of eight JPEG, eight JPEG2000, and eight HEIC images, has been prepared. Compressed and original images were shown simultaneously to three dermatologists and one dermatopathologist with different experiences. Each dermatologist scored quality and suitability of compressed images for diagnostic, as well as educational/scientific purposes. An objective evaluation was performed by calculating the mean "distance" of pixel colors and peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR). RESULTS: All compression rates for HEIC were objectively better than JPEG and JPEG2000, particularly at PSNR. Moreover, mean "color distance" per pixel for compressed images using HEIC was lower than others. The subjective image quality assessment also confirms the results of objective evaluation. In both educational and clinical diagnostic applications, HEIC compressed images have the highest score. CONCLUSION: In consideration of objective and subjective evaluation, the HEIC algorithm represents an optimal performance in dermatology images compression compared with JPEG and JPEG2000.

Unusual clinical presentation of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a patient with corticosteroid-induced immunosuppression.

Clinicians should always consider rare, atypical, and opportunistic infections in patients undergoing long-term systemic corticosteroid therapy. Diagnosis needs further evaluations and special consideration.

Evaluating the efficacy and safety of vascular IPL for treatment of acute cutaneous leishmaniasis: a randomized controlled trial.

Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) continues to be a health concern, and alternative therapies with fewer side effects are substantially needed. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of intense pulsed light (IPL) with wavelength spectrum affecting vascular lesions on acute cutaneous leishmaniasis. In this randomized clinical trial study, 30 patients with acute CL were enrolled. Baseline clinical and demographic data were recorded in the checklist after obtaining written informed consent. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either IPL fortnightly (intervention group) or intralesional meglumine antimoniate (MA) weekly (control group) over 10 weeks. Patients were assessed every 2 weeks to determine the size of induration and improvement rate of lesions. Follow-up visits were arranged at 3rd and 6th months. Overall, 15 patients (21 lesions) in the intervention group and 15 patients (22 lesions) in the control group were studied. The size of lesions in the control group was significantly higher at the baseline (P = 0.014) and the second week (P = 0.034), and significantly lower in the eighth week (P = 0.009), compared with the intervention group. The size of lesions in the control group changed during the study (P < 0.001), whereas changes were not significant in the intervention group. The trend of changes in size of lesions was faster in the control group (P < 0.001). More patients in the control group had higher improvement rate at the sixth (P = 0.005) and tenth (P < 0.001) weeks. At the end of study, the cure rate was 35% (7 out of 20 lesions) in intervention group and 81.8% (18 out of 22 lesions) in the control group. Complete response happened earlier in the control group (P < 0.001). None of the lesions that were cured before the tenth week relapsed after 6 months. The frequency of blistering was significantly higher in intervention group (P = 0.001). Our results indicated that IPL with wavelength spectrum affecting vascular lesions was inferior to intralesional MA in treatment of CL. However, it can be considered as a second-line option, especially in patients with limitations for use of MA. Trial registry:  https://www.irct.ir/trial/34246 IRCT20140414017271N5.

Immunomodulatory effects of topical diphencyprone for the treatment of acute urban cutaneous leishmaniasis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Efficacious and safe treatments are lacking for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). This study investigates the efficacy of adding diphencyprone immunotherapy to conventional meglumine antimoniate (MA) treatment for acute urban CL. METHODS: This randomized controlled pilot study included 46 patients with acute CL. They were randomly allocated to receive either combination of diphencyprone immunotherapy with intralesional MA (intervention; N = 23) or intralesional MA alone (control; N = 23) weekly. The size and duration of lesions were measured at the baseline and after that at 4th, 8th, 12th, and 24th weeks. Data were analyzed in SPSS and p < .05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The groups showed no significant difference in duration of lesions, but number of injections was significantly higher in the control group compared with the intervention group (p < .001). Size and induration of lesions was significantly reduced in both groups during the course of study (p < .001). The intervention group showed significantly lower induration of lesions in 4th, 8th, and 12th week compared with controls (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Combination of diphencyprone with MA resulted in earlier resolution of acute CL lesions with a relatively acceptable rate of adverse effects, compared with intralesional MA alone.

The therapeutic effects of 1540-nm nonablative fractional erbium laser on macular amyloidosis: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: This aim of this study was to determine the effect of 1540-nm nonablative fractional erbium on macular amyloidosis. METHODS: This phase-II clinical trial study has been performed with parallel group with blinding of the evaluator. The skin lesions of the patients (15 patients and 30 lesions) with cutaneous macular amyloidosis were randomly assigned into laser and no-treatment groups. In the laser group, treatment was performed by 1540-nm nonablative fractional erbium laser. Thereafter, the patients' lesions were compared in terms of pigmentation, rippling, thickness, and subjective response. RESULTS: The lesions of the intervention group significantly improved in the three-month follow-up compared to the control group (in the control and intervention group, improved pigmentation was observed in 20 and 53.3% with p = .02, improved rippling in 6.7 and 60% with p = .007, diminished lichenification in 0 and 53.1% with p = .007, and overall lesion improvement in 20 and 60% with p = .03, respectively). In investigating the subjective response through patient global assessment, the patients in the intervention group had a greater satisfaction (p = .01). There was a considerable improvement of pruritus in the intervention group (p = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Use of 1540-nm nonablative fractional erbium laser offered a suitable efficacy to treat macular amyloidosis without significant complications.

Evaluation of Psychopathology and Quality of Life in Patients with Anogenital Wart Compared to Control Group.

Anogenital warts (AGW) are one of the most common venereal diseases. Psychosocial complications and quality of life (QoL) of AGW patients have been considered only in recent years. Herein, the QoL and psychopathology in patients with AGW are evaluated. In total, 37 AGW patients and 37 healthy controls were recruited in the present cross-sectional study. All participants were provided with the symptom checklist 90-R (SCL-90-R) and short-form (SF-36) questionnaires. All analyses were performed using the SPSS software, version 16.0.1 for Windows. QoL was not significantly different between the study groups (P=0.12). The data showed that mental health, general health, and social functioning were significantly decreased in AGW patients (P<0.05). In addition, AGW patients were significantly more depressed and anxious than the control group (P=0.01 and P=0.04, respectively). AGW has adverse effects on psychological and QoL elements of the infected individuals. Psychological factors should be carefully considered when treating a patient with the HPV virus; hence, referral to a psychiatrist seems mandatory in these cases.

Temperament-Character Profile and Psychopathologies in Patients with Alopecia Areata.

The aim of this study is to investigate psychopathologies and the temperament-character profile of Alopecia Areata patients and to compare them with healthy controls. Patients and controls who presented at a dermatology clinic were selected by convenience sampling to respond to Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), SCL-90-R, and a checklist about the demographic data and their dermatologic and psychiatric history. Patients reported higher harm avoidance and reward dependence than controls (Cohen's d = .93 and = .94). A significant correlation between Harm Avoidance (r = -0.33, p = .02) and Reward Dependence (r = -0.28, p = 0.05) with sex was found (females scored higher). Lifetime history of AA relapse was significantly associated with higher psychiatric symptoms; the effect sizes were large for Obsessive-Compulsive (d = .81) and Paranoia Ideation (d = .89). The higher psychological symptoms in AA patients with the history of relapses in this study have a practical message for clinicians.

Association of classic lichen planus with human herpesvirus-7 infection.

BACKGROUND: Lichen planus is a mucocutaneous papulosquamous itchy disease with unknown etiology. A number of factors such as immune mechanisms, viral agents, and drugs have been implicated in pathogenesis of lichen planus. In recent years, several studies have indicated the role of viral agents in this disease, including human herpesvirus-7 (HHV-7). Studies have given contradictory results, which is why we decided to study the possible association between lichen planus with HHV-7. METHODS: In this case-control study, which was conducted on 60 cutaneous classic lichen planus samples as well as 60 healthy control skin samples after matching the two groups in terms of gender and age, tissue samples of patients and controls were studied by real time polymerase chain reaction to detect for HHV-7. RESULTS: According to this study, HHV-7 DNA was found in 18 samples of the case group (30.0%) and in six (10.0%) of the control group (P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: The results of this study support the likely role of HHV-7 in pathogenesis of lichen planus. As an exogenous antigen, this virus may be involved in cellular immune-mediated destruction of keratinocytes.

Serum Vitamin D3 Level in Patients with Female Pattern Hair Loss.

BACKGROUND: Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the most common cause of alopecia in women, characterized by diffuse nonscarring hair loss in frontal, central, and parietal areas of the scalp. Pathophysiology of FPHL is still not well known, and it is probably a multifactorial genetic trait. FPHL is also observed in women without increased androgen levels, which raises the likelihood of androgen-independent mechanisms and explains the lack of response to antiandrogen treatments in some patients. Vitamin D is a factor that has recently been considered in dealing with these patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of Vitamin D in patients with FPHL and compare it with healthy controls. METHODS: In this case-control study, 45 women with FPHL were evaluated as well as the same number of healthy women matched for age, hours spent under sunlight per day, and body mass index. Serum 25(OH) D3 level was measured using ELISA. RESULTS: 60% of FPHL patients were in 15-30 years old age group with the mean standard deviation (SD) age of 29.11 (7.30) years. In the majority of patients (66.7%), severity of hair loss was Ludwig I. Mean (SD) serum Vitamin D3 level in patient and control group was 13.45 (8.40) and 17.16 (8.96), respectively. T-test showed a significant difference between the two groups in terms of Vitamin D3 serum levels (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated the correlation between the incidence of FPHL and decreased serum levels of Vitamin D3. It is recommended to evaluate serum Vitamin D3 levels as well as other hormone assays in these patients.

Efficacy of fractional CO2 laser in treatment of atrophic scar of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an endemic disease in Iran. Unfortunately, it can lead to unsightly atrophic scars with limited treatment options. Fractional CO2 laser is accepted for treatment of atrophic acne scars and recently has been used to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis, so we planned to use fractional CO2 laser on leishmaniasis scar. We conducted this study on 60 leishmaniasis scars on the face of 40 patients. The lesions were treated by a fractional CO2 laser with beam size of 120 µm, with energy of 50-90 mJ, and 50-100 spots/cm(2) density with two passes in three monthly sessions. Evaluation was done in the first and second months after the first treatment and 3 and 6 months after the last treatment. Digital photography was performed at each visit. Assessment of improvement rate by patient and physician was rated separately as follows: no improvement (0%), mild (<25%), moderate (25-50%), good (51-75%), and excellent (76-100%). Based on patients' opinion, in the first and second follow-up, 48.3 and 90% of them reported moderate to excellent healing, respectively (p < 0.001). In 3 and 6 months follow-up after the end of the experiment, most of the patients (88.3 and 95%, respectively) reported moderate to excellent healing of scars. Based on two observers' opinion, healing in the first follow-up in most of the patients (65%) was mild to moderate and 33% were reported as having no healing. In the second follow-up, only 5% of the patients were reported with no healing and 60% were reported as having moderate healing (p < 0.001). In 3 and 6 months follow-up, most of the patients (95 and 96.6%) were reported as having moderate to excellent healing (p = <0.001). Our results underlined the high efficacy of fractional CO2 laser for leishmaniasis scar. No significant adverse effects were noted.

Macular Amyloidosis and Epstein-Barr Virus.

Background. Amyloidosis is extracellular precipitation of eosinophilic hyaline material of self-origin with special staining features and fibrillar ultrastructure. Macular amyloidosis is limited to the skin, and several factors have been proposed for its pathogenesis. Detection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in this lesion suggests that this virus can play a role in pathogenesis of this disease. Objective. EBV DNA detection was done on 30 skin samples with a diagnosis of macular amyloidosis and 31 healthy skin samples in the margin of removed melanocytic nevi by using PCR. Results. In patients positive for beta-globin gene in PCR, BLLF1 gene of EBV virus was positive in 23 patients (8 patients in case and 15 patients in the control group). There was no significant difference in presence of EBV DNA between macular amyloidosis (3.8%) and control (23.8%) groups (P = 0.08). Conclusion. The findings of this study showed that EBV is not involved in pathogenesis of macular amyloidosis.

Serum 25-OH Vitamin D Level in Psoriatic Patients and Comparison With Control Subjects.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D has been shown to have immunomodulatory effects, and previous studies have proposed a role of vitamin D deficiency in multiple autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate serum vitamin D levels in psoriatic patients and compare them with levels in controls. METHODS: This study was carried out in 50 psoriasis patients. Serum vitamin D was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The mean serum vitamin D levels in psoriatic patients and controls were 14.92 ± 6.31 and 12.52 ± 4.54 ng/mL, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant (P = .06). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) was 84.0% in psoriatic patients and 93.0% in controls (P = .21). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the patients with psoriasis had vitamin D deficiency, which may have contributed to the evolution of their psoriasis. However, considering the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Iran, no difference was noted between the psoriatic patients and the controls.