A case of condyloma acuminatum treated successfully with low-dose isotretinoin and interferon.

The treatment of condyloma acuminatum may be problematic in clinical practice. We present a 27-year-old man with condyloma acuminatum who was treated successfully with a combination therapy of isotretinoin and interferon-alfa-2a. In the previous reports of combination therapy, isotretinoin has been given in a dosage of 1 mg/kg/day. However, we achieved the same success at a dosage of 0.5 mg/kg/day of isotretinoin.

The role of oxidants and antioxidants in generalized vitiligo at tissue level.

BACKGROUND: The role of oxidative stress has not been fully understood in the aetiopathogenesis of vitiligo in different studies. AIM: We aimed to investigate the role of the oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. METHODS: In this study, we examined levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide in tissue of 25 patients with generalized vitiligo and 25 healthy controls. RESULTS: Our results revealed that levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde in tissue were significantly increased in patients with generalized vitiligo (P < 0.05). However, there was no statistically significantly difference between two groups at tissue level of nitric oxide (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate the presence of an imbalance in the oxidant-antioxidant system in vitiligo at tissue level and provide further support for a free radical-mediated damage as an initial pathogenic event in melanocyte degeneration in vitiligo.

The role of human herpes virus 6 and 7 in the pathogenesis of pityriasis rosea.

Pityriasis rosea (PR) is an acute exanthematous inflammatory skin disease in which many epidemiological studies suggest a viral infection in its pathogenesis. Several viruses such as picornaviruses, parvoviruses and herpes viruses were accused as causative agents in PR. Human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6) and HHV-7 are newly discovered members of herpesviridae family. Several diseases including roseola infantum and PR have been linked with HHV-6 and HHV-7 in dermatology. We aimed to investigate the role of HHV-6 and HHV-7 in the pathogenesis of PR. Blood samples from 35 patients with acute PR and 30 healthy volunteers were examined to obtain titres for HHV-6 and HHV-7 antibodies. Anti-HHV-6 and -HHV-7 immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies were detected by IFA. The high titres of anti-HHV-6 IgG were determined in four patients and anti-HHV-7 IgG in only two of four patients. In our study, we haven't found any significant relationship between HHV-6, HHV-7 and PR. Our results were supported with the data of several previous studies.

Crusted scabies in a healthy infant.

Crusted scabies is generally seen in mentally retarded and immunosuppressed individuals. We report the case of a patient with crusted scabies with neither systemic disease nor immunosuppression; all the lesions were cured with applications of 5% permethrin lotion.

The effect of PUVA treatment on sister chromatid exchange (SCE) values in psoriasis vulgaris patients.

BACKGROUND: Psoralen+ultraviolet A (UVA) (PUVA) is used successfully in the treatment of several skin diseases including psoriasis. PUVA has been reported to cause skin cancers, especially when used in high doses. In vivo and in vitro effects of different mutagens and carcinogens on DNA may be detected by sister chromatid exchange (SCE). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mutagenic effects of different PUVA doses on DNA with SCE analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two psoriasis patients under PUVA treatment were included in the study as the study group. The control group consisted of 22 psoriasis patients who did not receive PUVA treatment. The study group was divided into three groups according to PUVA doses. SCE/cell values were compared in the study and control groups and in the three dose-dependent groups of the study group. RESULTS: Mean SCE/cell values of the three dose-dependent patient groups were significantly higher than the control group (p<0.001), whereas there was not a statistically significant difference in themselves. CONCLUSION: PUVA treatment seemed to increase SCE values; however, there was not a correlation between PUVA doses and SCE frequencies.

Is the combination of calcipotriol and PUVA effective in vitiligo?

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to compare the effectiveness of psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) and the combination of PUVA and topical calcipotriol in the treatment of vitiligo. BACKGROUND: There are several reports on the response rate of patients with vitiligo treated with the combination of PUVA and calcipotriol or calcipotriol alone. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients with generalized vitiligo were taken into the study. PUVA treatment was applied on a twice-weekly schedule. Calcipotriol cream was applied to one of the two symmetrical lesions of each patient twice daily. RESULTS: Our results showed that the addition of topical calcipotriol to PUVA treatment did not lead to a significant increase in response rate of patients with vitiligo compared with PUVA treatment alone.

The role of oxidants and antioxidants in psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by well-demarcated erythema and scaly plaques. The pathogenesis of psoriasis still remains unclear. An increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and insufficient antioxidant activity have been determined in psoriatic lesions. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate and compare superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GP) activity in erythrocytes, catalase (CAT) activityand malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum of subjects with psoriasis and controls as well as MDA levels in skin biopsies from both groups. STUDY POPULATION: Twenty-two psoriatic patients (12 women and ten men) and 22 (12 women and ten men) healthy controls were involved in this study. FINDINGS: Statistically significant decreased levels of erythrocyte SOD and GP activities were noted in psoriatic subjects. Furthermore, a statistically significant increased serum CAT activity was found in the psoriasis group. No statistically significant difference was found in the serum MDA levels in the two groups, however, statistically significant increased tissue levels of MDA were noted in the psoriasis group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the hypothesis of an imbalance in the oxidant-antioxidant system in psoriasis.

Assessment of information and education about topical corticosteroids in dermatology outpatient departments: experience from Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Topical corticosteroids are commonly used in dermatological practice. The aim of this study was to assess the baseline level of knowledge about topical steroids in a group of dermatology patients and to evaluate the impact of educational materials on patients' level of information. METHODS: A 10-item questionnaire was developed, and 126 patients who were prescribed topical steroids for several dermatologic diseases were asked mostly about side-effects of the drugs. Three different educational methods were used in parallel to the questionnaire: verbal (n = 42), written (n = 42) or verbal and written (n = 42). The same questions were asked again 1 or 2 weeks later. RESULTS: Only 7.1% of the study group mentioned that they were informed by doctors about the side-effects of topical steroids before they were administered. The baseline information scores about topical corticosteroids were higher in high school and college graduates and in those who noted side-effects or who were informed about side-effects before administration. A statistically significant difference was detected between pre- and posteducation scores of patients in the whole group and within the three groups of different educational methods (P < 0.001). Posteducation scores of the combined verbal- and written-educated group were higher than the written-educated group or the verbal-educated group. CONCLUSION: The present study indicated that patient knowledge is enhanced by any kind of educational method, and particularly written information supported by verbal instructions given in dermatology outpatient departments. Moreover, we conclude that the 10-item questionnaire can be used in Turkey to assess patients' knowledge about topical corticosteroids.

Arachidonic acid metabolites and colchicine in Behçet's disease (BD).

Vasculitis is accepted to be the basis of Behçet's disease (BD) which is a multisystem disease, and the arachidonic acid(AA) metabolites acting as balancing mediators in the organism are accepted to be responsible for the vasculitis. In this study, we examined the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) levels of the patients with BD before and after colchicine therapy. We found a statistical decrease in the PGE2 and LTC4 levels after colchicine therapy compared to the previous levels, concluding that colchicine inhibits the inflammation and the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PML) chemotaxis by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways.