Association of CYP2C9 Genetic Variants with Vitiligo

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a depigmenting skin disorder in which genetic factors play an important role. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of CYP2C9 *1/*2/*3 gene polymorphism with vitiligo. METHODS: In this case controlled study, 95 Saudi patients with vitiligo (50 men and 45 women), with a mean age of 27.3 years, were analyzed. Patients were compared to 86 healthy controls from the same locality (76 men and 10 women), with a mean age of 20.1 years. In all participants, DNA was extracted and processed for characterization of 2C9 *1/*2/*3 gene variants using real time-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Vitiligo patients have a significantly higher CYP2C9 *3 allele carriage rate compared to controls (32.7% versus 4.7%, p=0.00, odds ratio=9.9, 95% confidence interval=3.3~29.6). On the other hand, frequencies of CYP2C9 *2 genotypes and alleles did not show any significant difference between vitiligo cases and controls. When the frequencies of CYP2C9 genotypes were compared among subgroups of age, gender, family history, and disease patterns, the cases with positive consanguinity had significantly higher frequencies of homozygous genotypes than others (p=0.029). CONCLUSION: CYP2C9 *3 allele carriage is probably associated with vitiligo susceptibility.

[Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to cutaneous leishmaniasis among attendants of primary health care centers in Qassim Region - Saudi Arabia]

To determine knowledge of/and attitudes towards the infection with cutaneous leishmaniasis and the related practices among attendants of primary care centers of Qassim region. A descriptive cross sectional study. Participants [398] were interviewed and completed a structured questionnaire focusing on disease knowledge, attitudes and preventive practices. Approximately 43.2% of the participants showed an insufficient level of knowledge about the disease. The lowest level of knowledge was about how the disease is transmitted or prevented. The most common symptoms reported were: a lesion [54.0%] and a scar [30.4%]. The infectious nature of the disease was known to 14.6% while 29.9% didn't know that the disease can be treated. The majority failed to link the disease spreads with vector bites [91.5%]. Most of participants [73.6%] did not recognized the biting time of the vector. Regression analysis ranked education, high income and presence or history of a case within the family the most significant determinants of knowledge variable. Participants showed insufficient knowledge regarding the disease transmission and the poor related protective practices against the transmitting vector. Educational interventions using different media are recommended

Skin manifestations in diabetic patients attending a diabetic clinic in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia

To investigate the prevalence of skin manifestations in diabetic patients attending a diabetic clinic in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. A prospective observational study was performed on 320 patients [174 males and 146 females] attending the diabetic clinic. A detailed dermatological examination was carried out by a consultant dermatologist and the cutaneous findings were recorded. The overall prevalence of skin manifestations was 91.2%. Cutaneous lesions were seen in 12 patients [34.3%] of type 1 diabetes mellitus [DM] and 280 [98.2%] of type 2 diabetics. There was a statistically significant difference [p < 0.001] in skin manifestations between type 1 and type 2 DM patients. For those patients having diabetes of less than 5 years' duration, the incidence of skin manifestations was 80.6%; for those having had diabetes for more than 5 years, the incidence was 98%. This difference was statistically significant [p < 0.001]. The skin manifestations that had a statistically significant difference [p < 0.05] in prevalence between the 2 durational groups were gangrene, diabetic dermopathy, paresthesia, diabetic feet, diabetic bullae and fungal infections. Diabetics had a greater prevalence of skin manifestations in type 2 than type 1, and as the duration of diabetes increased, the likelihood of developing skin manifestations also increased. Early referral to the dermatologist may help to detect complications of the skin in diabetes at an early stage and may prevent disability caused by these complications

Relationship between obesity and other risk factors and skin disease among adult Saudi population

Obesity is accused for a wide spectrum of dermatologic diseases; no previous follow-up study has been conducted to investigate these conditions in adult male and female Saudi population. To describe obesity pattern using BMI and to assess the association between obesity and certain skin diseases among adult Saudi population. A retrospective cohort study of 2-year duration was conducted. The study sample was randomly selected from dermatology clinics at Qassim. Male cohorts were 61 obese adults and 48 nonobese adults. Female cohorts were 32 obese adults and 36 nonobese adults. Measurement of BMI, waist-hip ratio, fasting glucose, blood pressure, and dermatological examination was performed. Skin disease incidence was significantly increased among exposed rather than nonexposed cohorts with a relative risk of 2.3 in male cohort and 2.3 in female cohort. Acanthosis nigricans and striae distensae incidence increased in exposed men and women with highly significant difference from nonexposed groups. Skin tag incidence significantly increased in the exposed male cohorts only but not the female cohort. Hirsutism, dry skin, pruritis, and planter keratosis all showed nonsignificant differences. The most frequently reported infections in obese men were tinea pedis [18%], intertrigo [14.7%], and bacterial folliculitis [13.1%] with significant difference. BMI was the only risk factor that regresses on skin disease occurrence in study groups. Our study linked incidence of acanthosis nigricans and striae distensae to obesity in both female and male adult population but showed sex difference for other skin diseases, which raised many questions and requires further longer duration follow-up studies