Comparison of the 532-nm KTP and 1064-nm Nd:YAG lasers for the treatment of cherry angiomas.

BACKGROUND: Laser therapy is the treatment of choice for cherry angiomas since it is more effective and has better cosmetic results. There is no comparative study about the treatment efficacies with KTP and Nd:YAG lasers for cherry angiomas. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and side effects of 532-nm KTP and 1064-nm Nd:YAG lasers for the treatment of cherry angiomas. METHODS: Two comparable lesions of the same patient were chosen. One of them was treated with the KTP laser while the other was treated with the Nd:YAG laser. Sessions were repeated every 4 weeks until complete clearance was achieved. Side effects were evaluated using a severity scale (0 to 4). RESULTS: The number of sessions was significantly higher with the KTP than with the Nd:YAG laser (p = 0.002). Erythema, edema, pain and scar formation were higher in the Nd:YAG laser group (erythema: p = 0.001; edema: p < 0.001; pain: p < 0.001; scar: p < 0.001). The hyperpigmentation rate was statistically higher with the KTP laser (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Both KTP and Nd:YAG lasers were found to be effective methods. The Nd:YAG laser offered fewer treatment sessions, but a higher risk of scar formation. The KTP laser seems more advantageous, but in dark-skinned patients the Nd:YAG laser may be preferable.

Lack of association between the G-2548A polymorphism of the leptin gene and psoriasis in a Turkish population.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a multifactorial disease in which genetic and inflammatory factors play important roles. Leptin is classified as a cytokine and plays an important role in the regulation of the T-helper response. A common polymorphism in the promoter of the human leptin gene (G-2548A) may have a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. AIM: To investigate the association between psoriasis and leptin gene polymorphism (G-2548A). METHODS: The study involved 109 patients with psoriasis and 125 healthy controls. Analyses of G-2548A polymorphism of the leptin gene were made by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. The genotypes (GG, GA, and AA of leptin gene G-2548A) and alleles (G and A) were scored and the frequencies were estimated. The frequencies of alleles and genotypes in patients and controls were compared. The relationship between leptin gene polymorphism and the clinical features of the patients was analyzed. RESULTS: Both genotype [odds ratio (OR), 0.921; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.501-1.694; P = 0.792] and allele (OR, 0.864; 95% CI, 0.600-1.242; P = 0.429) frequencies were not significantly different between patient and control groups. In addition, there was no significant association between genotype and allele frequencies and the clinical characteristics of psoriasis. CONCLUSION: In this case-control study, no evidence of association between the G-2548A variant of the leptin gene and psoriasis was found.