[Serum zinc levels in patients with acne vulgaris]

Acne vulgaris is the most common disorder of pilosebaceous units which can develop serious psychological disabilities. It is clear that nutritional minerals [such as zinc] can intricately be involved in pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders such as acne vulgaris. This study was conducted to measure the serum zinc level in patients with acne vulgaris and compare it with healthy controls. We studied 30 patients with acne whom were matched in their age, sex and place of residence with healthy controls. Their serum zinc levels were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. Mean serum level of zinc in acne patients and controls were 92.42 +/- 37.6 micro g/dl and 101.3 +/- 43.41 micro g/dl, respectively. Although, the mean serum zinc level was lower in acne group, it was not statistically significant [P=0.32]. It seems that relative decrease of serum zinc level in acne patients can further highlight the role of this trace element in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris

[Serum level of folic acid and vitamin B12 in patients with vitiligo]

Vitiligo is an idiopathic and acquired disease; characterized by de-pigmented areas of skin. The precise mechanism involved is not clear. Low levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 have been suggested to play a possible role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. In this study we checked the serum level of folic acid and vitamin B12 in patients with vitiligo. In this case-control study 50 patients with the mean age of 25.3 +/- 12 years and 50 normal controls with mean age of 31 +/- 12.4 years were evaluated. Radioimmunoassay was used to determine serum level of folic acid and vitamin B12. Patients with pernicious anemia and history of folic acid and vitamin B12 supplement therapy were excluded from this study. Mean serum level of folic acid and vitamin B12 was 7.9 +/- 3.5 ng/ml and 320.5 +/- 183.6 pg/ml, respectively, in patients. The figures for controls were 301.4 +/- 13pg/ml and 6.8 +/- 3.9 ng/ml. According to t test this difference was not significant [p>0.05]. In this study no association was found between the serum level of folic acid and vitamin B12 in patients with vitiligo

[Evaluation of association between androgenic alopecia and coronary artery diseases in men]

Several stydies have indicated that compared to the men without baldness, bald ones have higher risk for development of coronary artery diseases [CAD], and androgen alopecia [AGA] is some how related to CAD. However, none of the previous reports has considered the coronary angiography as the gold standard for diagnosis of CAD. This study was performed to evaluate the validity of such conclusions from the dermatological and cardiological point of view. This Case-Control study was carried out on 400 men, who underwent angiography procedures for diagnosis of CAD. Sampled subjects were matched through their gender and age. Case group consisted of 200 male subjects who had positive results in their angiography and another 200 male subjects whom were found to have no pathological finding through their angiography were considered as control group. Subjects in both group were matched together as well as they were blindly assessed for scaling their baldness and in following, their data were analyzed by Chi-square test and their Odds ratio was calculated, as well. Androgenetic alopecia was found in 137 [68.5%] of patients in case group, whereas only 88 [44%] patients in control group had AGA. There was a statistically significant correlation between male's AGA and CAD [P=0.001]. [95% CI: 1.8-4.2]. Furthermore, patients with CAD were 2.8 times more than subjects in control group at risk of development of AGA. According to our findings, it seems that patients who have stage III of Vertex type of AGA [or above], have greater risk for developing CAD than patinets without AGA

Scrotal tongue as a valuable clinical feature in psoriasis

In a prospective clinical trial, the incidence of scrotal tongue in psoriatic patients was studied. One hundred psoriatics and the same number of non-psoriatic individuals were evaluated for the incidence of fissured tongue, age, duration of illness, and clinical types of psoriasis. In this study 49 psoriatic patients [49%] and 28 non-psoriatic persons [28%] had fissured tongue. The most common type of psoriasis [38% of patients] was plaque type and the patient's mean age was 22 years. We conclude that scrotal tongue had a higher incidence among psoriatic patients and can be considered as a useful clinical sign