Prevalence of oral lichen planus in Iranian children and adolescents: a 12-year retrospective study.

AIM: To investigate the prevalence of oral lichen planus in patients younger than 18 years, referred to a dermatology centre in Iran during 2002-2014. Lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory, immune-mediated disease that could affect the oral mucosa and is a pre-cancerous condition. The disease usually develops in middle age with female predominance and is rare in children. METHODS: In this retrospective study, cases with definitive histopathologic diagnosis of lichen planus, over a 12-year period from 2002 to 2014 from a dermatologic hospital archive were evaluated. The prevalence of both cutaneous and oral lichen planus, the male:female ratio and site of involvement were calculated using SPSS version 21. RESULTS: Thirty-six of 564 patients younger than 18 years old diagnosed with lichen planus. Two females (0.4%) had oral lichen planus. One patient had erosive, and one had bullous, oral lichen planus. CONCLUSION: Oral lichen planus had a very low frequency in Iranian population younger than 18 years old, identifying these patients is recommended for long-term follow-up.

Assessment of serum levels of osteopontin, selenium and prolactin in patients with psoriasis compared with healthy controls, and their association with psoriasis severity.

BACKGROUND: The association between psoriasis and cardiovascular diseases is well documented, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Overexpression of osteopontin (OPN) has been reported in the plasma of patients with psoriasis, with increased cardiovascular risk factors in these patients. Selenium compounds are effective in downregulating OPN expression. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the levels of OPN, selenium and prolactin (PRL) in psoriasis, and their association with metabolic status in patients to identify a possible link between these markers and observed comorbidities. METHODS: Plasma samples from 40 patients with psoriasis and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) were collected for ELISA. The clinical significance of plasma OPN, selenium and PRL levels in patients compared with controls was analysed in relation to metabolic disorders. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in median serum selenium levels between the two groups. Serum levels of PRL were not significantly different from those of HCs, but levels of OPN were significantly higher in patients with psoriasis than in HCs. CONCLUSIONS: High plasma OPN is a predictor for occurrence of psoriasis. Our study showed that serum selenium and PRL were not decreased in patients with psoriasis, but there was a negative statistically significant correlation between OPN and selenium in all participants.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor gene polymorphism is not associated with pemphigus vulgaris in Iranian patients.

BACKGROUND: Promoter polymorphisms of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor gene are associated with increased production of macrophage migration inhibitory factor. Elevated levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor have been observed in the sera of patients with pemphigus vulgaris. More than this, macrophage migration inhibitory factor promoter gene polymorphism has been found to confer increased risk of susceptibility to chronic inflammatory diseases. OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether there is an association between promoter polymorphism of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor gene and pemphigus vulgaris. METHODS: One hundred and six patients with pemphigus vulgaris, and a control panel of one hundred healthy volunteers were genotyped for a single nucleotide polymorphism identified in the 5'-flanking region at the position -173 of the gene, using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length analysis. RESULTS: We found a notably high prevalence of C/C genotype in our nation but no significant difference was observed between patients and controls. CONCLUSION: The result of this study using a large and well documented trial of patients showed that macrophage migration inhibitory factor -173G-C polymorphism is not associated with pemphigus vulgaris; but as the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in the inflammatory process has not been delineated in detail and the prevalence of C/C genotype is notably higher in our nation, this finding merits more consideration.

Non-cultured melanocyte-keratinocyte transplantation for the treatment of vitiligo: a clinical trial in an Iranian population.

BACKGROUND: Non-cultured cellular grafting as a surgical procedure is indicated to treat stable vitiligo, refractory to medical treatment, and is gaining wider acceptance among dermatologists. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of non-cultured melanocyte-keratinocyte transplantation (MKT) for the treatment of generalized vitiligo in Iranian patients. METHODS: In this clinical trial, a total of 14 vitiligo patches in eight patients were treated; eight patches with non-cultured MKT and six patches dermabraded alone without application of keratinocyte-melanocyte suspension. Repigmentation was compared at about 4 months post-transplantation. RESULTS: Of the eight lesions treated with non-cultured MKT, four lesions showed 96-100% repigmentation, one lesion 65-95% and three lesions 0-25%. Of the patients who showed excellent results, only one showed a post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in recipient and control areas. Of the six control lesions, five showed failed repigmentation and one showed post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. CONCLUSION: Non-cultured MKT is an effective method to treat stable vitiligo. Studies on larger series of vitiligo patients are required to confirm its efficacy.

Supraciliary wrinkles and botulinum toxin A.

BACKGROUND: Injection of botulinum toxin into certain areas of face that carry a high risk of ptosis (danger zone) needs caution in application. An example is the lateral forehead, particularly the lower portion. AIM: In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of treating supraciliary wrinkles in the lower lateral forehead by injections of botulinum toxin at the temporal hairline, keeping a reasonable distance from danger zone. METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, 40 women (mean age 35 years) were selected and divided into two groups, A and B. both groups were treated with botulinum toxin to treat wrinkles in the frown area, as well as frontal lines and lateral canthus lines. Group B received extra injections at each temporal line for treatment of supraciliary wrinkles. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in total wrinkle number and mean number of wrinkles between the two groups after injections (paired t-test, P < 0.01). No ptosis was seen in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Injection of botulinum toxin type A through the temporal hairline to correct supraciliary wrinkles seems to be safe and effective.