On the predictability of short-lived particulate matter around a cement plant in Kerman, Iran: machine learning analysis.

One of the greatest environmental risks in the cement industry is particulate matter emission (i.e., PM2.5 and PM10). This paper aims to develop descriptive-analytical solutions for increasing the accuracy of predicting particulate matter emissions using resample data of Kerman cement plant. Photometer instruments DUST TRAK and BS-EN-12341 method were used to determine concentration of PM2.5 and PM10. Sampling was performed on 4 environmental stations of Kerman cement plant in the four seasons. In order to accurate assessment of particulate matter concentration, a new model was proposed to resample cement plant time series data using Pandas in Python. The effect of meteorological parameters including wind speed, relative humidity, air temperature and rainfall on the particulate matter concentration was investigated through statistical analysis. The results indicated that the maximum annual average of 24-h of PM2.5 belonged to the east side (opposite the clinker depot) in 2019 (31.50 µg m-3) and west side (in front of the mine) in 2020 (31.00 µg m-3). Also, maximum annual average of 24-h of PM10 belonged to the west side (in front of the mine) in 2020 (121.00 µg m-3) and east side (opposite the clinker depot) in 2020 (120.75 µg m-3). The PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations are more than the allowable limit. The results demonstrate that particulate matter concentration increases with increasing relative humidity and rainfall. Finally, the SARIMA model was used to predict the particulate matter concentration. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13762-022-04645-3.

Comparison of the therapeutic effects of narrow band UVB vs. PUVA in patients with pityriasis lichenoides.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pityriasis lichenoides (PL) is a self-limiting papulosquamous skin disorder with chronic course. Best therapeutic options are yet to be defined. Phototherapy is one of the most prevalent treatments and the aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic effects of the two main phototherapy options: psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) and narrow band UVB (NB-UVB). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with PLC based on clinical findings and pathology, involving at least 60% of total body surface, were enrolled if they were not pregnant, lactating women and had not contraindication for phototherapy. Based on simple randomization, they received either PUVA or NB-UVB, and patients' responses were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 15 patients including eight males (53%) and seven females (47%) were enrolled in the study and were randomized into groups A and B, each including four patients. In group A, seven patients had complete response (87.5%) and one patient had partial response (12.5%). Among patients in group B, five patients had complete response (71.4%) and two patients (28.6%) had partial response (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: As the difference between the two groups is insignificant, it seems that both options are acceptable for treating this disorder.

Treatment of trichostasis spinulosa with a 755-nm long-pulsed alexandrite laser.

BACKGROUND: Trichostasis spinulosa (TS) is a common disorder of hair follicle, characterized by spinous plugs. Topical treatments offer temporary relief but permanent removal of the abnormal follicles using hair removal lasers may result in a definite cure. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of 755-nm alexandrite laser for the treatment of TS lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two consecutive 755-nm alexandrite laser treatments were performed one month apart. The clinical response and adverse effects were assessed four weeks after the first and second treatments and 20 weeks after the second treatment. RESULTS: Thirty one patients with skin phototypes II to IV completed the study. At the last follow up visit, a decrease in dark-plug density of greater than 50% was noted in 16 patients (51.3%), while only three patients (9.7%) had an improvement of greater than 75%. Ten of the 21 patients (47.6%) with skin type III and six of the seven patients (85.7%) with skin type IV achieved at least 50% improvement in lesions at the last follow up visit (P = 0.1). CONCLUSION: The 755-nm alexandrite laser can safely and effectively reduce TS lesions lasting for a relatively long time in patients with skin types III-IV.

Psycho-cutaneous disorders: an epidemiologic study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Psycho-dermatology addresses the interaction between mind and the skin. Effective management of at least one third of the patients attending the skin department depends, to some extent, upon the recognition of emotional and psychologic factors. The aim of this study was to provide epidemiologic data about common psycho-dermatoses and their prevalence in dermatologic patients in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients suspicious to have psychocutaneous problem with primary dermatologic chief complaint were included. After detailed dermatologic evaluation, all patients were visited by an expert psychologist to determine prevalence of DSM-IV disorders in each psychocutaneous category including delusion of parasitosis, trichotillomania, dermatitis artefacta and neurotic excoriation. RESULTS: A total of 178 patients including 78 (43.8%) males and 100 (56.2%) females entered the study. The commonest psychocutaneous disorder was neurotic excoriation followed by trichotillomania, delusion of parasitosis and dermatitis artefacta. Mood disorder was the commonest DSM-IV disorder in our patients, then anxiety disorder and drug-induced symptoms. CONCLUSION: According to our results, it seems that all psychocutaneous disorders but delusion of parasitosis are commoner in females. Mood and anxiety disorders were common in patients with dermatitis artefacta, as patients with neurotic excoriation. In trichotillomania, obsessive compulsive disorder was the commonest disorder. Drug abuse is a major background of delusional parasitosis.

Biophysical characteristics of skin in diabetes: a controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous complications are common in diabetes. Previous assays suggest that hyperglycemia and decreased insulin signal are involved in the impairment of skin function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biophysical characteristics of skin in patients with diabetes mellitus and compares them with healthy non-diabetic controls. OBJECTIVE: To measure biophysical characteristic of skin including transepidermal water loss (TEWL), water content, sebum and skin elasticity in patients with diabetes mellitus and compare them with healthy non-diabetic controls. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted on 38 patients with diabetes and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy people. The biophysical properties of skin including stratum corneum (SC) hydration, sebum content, TEWL and skin elasticity were measured and compared between the two groups at three different locations of the body. RESULTS: The measurement of SC hydration and TEWL showed no significant difference between diabetics and controls. The skin surface lipids on the forehead but not other sites were significantly lower in the diabetics than in the controls. Acoustic wave propagation speed, a measurement related to skin elasticity, was significantly lower in forearm and forehead of diabetics. CONCLUSION: Diabetes affects some functional properties of epidermis and dermis that may responsible for many cutaneous manifestations of diabetes. These results suggest that patients with diabetes mellitus tend to show a normal hydration state of the SC together with decreased sebaceous gland activity and impaired skin elasticity, without any impairment of the SC barrier function.

Benign and malignant skin lesions in renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Skin lesions - benign and malignant - occur frequently in organ transplant recipients receiving long-term immunosuppressive therapy. These patients are at greater risk of skin cancers. AIMS: To study dermatologic problems in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). METHODS: One hundred patients (53 men and 47 women) were consecutively examined for benign and malignant skin complications since transplantation in Razi Hospital in Tehran Medical University. The main immunosuppressive therapy regimen in these patients was a combination of prednisolone, azathioprine, and cyclosporine. RESULTS: The early and most common complication was cosmetic side effects that occurred in 98% patients. Skin infections occurred in 83% of the patients and most of them were viral infections (65%), especially of human papilloma viruses (HPVs) in 40% of the patients. We found six cases of malignancy in these patients in that four cases were skin cancers, including one case of SCC, one BCC, and two cases of Kaposi's sarcoma. Dermatologic problems occur most frequently in RTRs, especially skin cancers which have higher frequency in these patients than general population, particularly, Kaposi sarcoma. Sun exposure has an important role in developing epithelial skin cancers following transplantation. The age of developing skin cancer in these patients was early than normal population. CONCLUSION: Our results emphasize the importance of dermatologic examinations and monitoring RTRs to obtain an early diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous manifestations.

The lipid profile in psoriasis: a controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an inflammatory dermatosis that is characterized with hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and inflammatory infiltration in the epidermis and dermis. The high prevalence of atherosclerosis has been reported in psoriatic patients. High serum lipid level has been suggested in the pathogenesis of this phenomenon. In this study, our purpose was to compare the lipid profile in psoriatic patients with non-affected persons. METHODS: This study was designed and conducted as a case-control assay with 50 cases in the patient and control groups, respectively. The lipid profile, including serum level of triglyceride, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), were assessed in both groups. RESULTS: The patient and control groups each consisted of 50 cases (39 male and 11 female). The serum triglyceride, cholesterol, and LDL was significantly higher in psoriatic patients (P < 0.05) but not for HDL (P = 0.29). CONCLUSION: This study, like previous assays, shows that high serum lipid level is significantly more common in psoriasis. This fact may be responsible for higher prevalence of cardiovascular accident in psoriatic patients. It may be useful to do early screening and treatment of hyperlipidaemia in psoriasis to prevent the atherosclerosis and its complications.

Naevus comedonicus of the scalp.

We report the case of a 3-year-old boy with naevus comedonicus, characterized by confluent clusters of dilated follicular orifices plugged with keratinous material that resemble open comedones, located on the scalp.