Evaluation of itching sensation in chronic urticaria

Itching is the main symptom in urticaria and can cause a lot of suffering in chronic urticaria. To measure the itch threshold in patients with chronic urticaria before and after treatment and compare them with healthy control. The study was conducted at the department of dermatology, medical city teaching hospital Baghdad in the period from December 2009 to July 2010. A total of 30 patients with chronic urticaria [patients group] and 25 healthy individuals [control group], were included in the study. The age of patients ranged between 21years and 48 years with a mean of 30.96 years +/- 6.09 years [standard deviation]. In control group the age ranged between 20 years and 45 years with a mean of 31.40 years +/- 8.39 years [standard deviation]. Regarding gender, in the patients group 19 were females and 11 were males. While in the control group 14 were females and 11 were males. Electrical skin itch threshold was measured by square wave DC electrical stimulator at 13 points on the skin surface in patients and compared to the healthy controls. Doxepin was given to patients for 2 weeks, the itch threshold was then measured again. The severity of urticaria was also assessed before and after treatment. Patients with chronic urticaria had significantly lower threshold than the control subjects .The lowest threshold recorded in patients group was [1.292 +/- 0.399] volts in the left cheek, while in control group the lowest electrical cutaneous threshold was recorded in the chin [1.89 +/- 0.490] volts then left cheek [1.910 +/- 0.478]. The P-value was significance in all skin spots. The electrical cutaneous threshold increased after treatment in all spots tested after treatment. The increase was statistically significant in all tested the skin spots except in the back of the neck and xyphoid point. The total score decreased from 10.8 before treatment with doxepin to 1.5 after treatment. The individual parameters also decreased significantly after treatment. There were no significant side effects except drowsiness which improved after a few days even with continuation of treatment. Electrical skin itch threshold seems to be a simple test that aids in measuring the severity of itching in urticaria and may be used in the evaluation of drugs used for the alleviation of itching in urticaria and other skin diseases.

Sandpaper dermabrasion for treatment of acne scars and amateur tattoos in dark skinned individuals

Dermabrasion is an abrasive process used to remove the epidermis and superficial dermis to treat a variety of skin conditions. To evaluate sandpaper as a tool for dermabrasion for the treatment of acne scar and amateur tattoo. This is an open labeled therapeutic trial. It was conducted at the outpatient department of Dermatology and Venereology - Baghdad Teaching Hospital, during the period between January 2003 and December 2004. Ten patients [seven males and 3 females] were enrolled in this work. Their ages ranged from 20-34 years with the a mean +/- SD of 26.80 +/- 4.34 years. Five with acne scars on their faces and 5 with amateur tattoos in the upper extremities. From each patient history was taken and physical examination was performed. Pre-operative medications and instructions were given to each patient. The procedure was done under local anesthesia. Postoperatively all patients were instructed to use steroid-antibiotic ointment and hydroquinon-tretinoin thereafter. Follow up was done after 1 weak, 1 month, and 3 months. Repeated sessions may be needed 1 month apart. Acne scars: Lesions were assessed for correction of contour [unchanged, partially changed, or completely changed], and for complications that might follow. Amateur tattoos: Lesions were assessed for percentage of pigments removal [70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%], and for complications that might follow. Ten patients completed the study. Acne scar group: Three patients achieved partial change of contour after 2 sessions, while complete change of contour was noticed in 2 patients after 4, and 6 sessions respectively. The procedure resulted in very fine, less noticeable scar with smooth contour of the skin which was acceptable in all patients. Amateur tattoos group: Complete removal of pigments was achieved in one patient, more than 90% in 3 patients, and more than 80% in 1 patient. No significant complications were seen apart from mild erythema and mild infection in one patient with amateur tattoo. Temporary post inflammatory hypopigmentation in two patients with tattoo. Three patients had mild scar after removal of tattoo. Sandpaper dermabrasion is an effective mode of treatment for acne scar and amateur tattoo. It is safe in dark skinned people

Prevalence and treatment status of hypertension in a sample of Iraqi physicians

A total of 519 physicians were investigated for the presence and severity of hypertension. Their treatment status was assessed. 344 were males and 175 were females. The mean age was 43 years. The prevalence of hypertension increased with age in both males and females. However, the overall prevalence was lower in females than in males [5% and 18% respectively]. The majority of patients suffered from mild hypertension. Assessment of the treatment status showed that 42% did not take any medication despite their knowledge about their disease, and only a minority [9%] were treated but uncontrolled. 4% of our hypertensive patients were unaware of their hypertension

effect of isometric exercise on the blood pressure of treated hypertensive patients

The effect of isometric exercise on the blood pressure [BP] of 337 hypertensive Patients on different drug regimens was studied by a new, simple method; keeping a straight leg raised. Patients were divided into 5 groups: a-methyl dopa. B-receptor blockers, diuretics, combined medical treatment and no drug treatment, groups. In addition, 30 healthy individuals were studied as a control group. The systolic and the diastolic BP increased significantly during the test in all patients and controls. There were no significant differences in the diastolic pressure increments among all the groups. The systolic pressure rise, however, was significantly greater in the untreated compared to the treated patients and the controls. Our method of Keeping one leg raised seems adequate in bringing the BP response to isometric exercise. This response was not abolished by any drug used in this study