[Frequency of yeasts and precipitating antibodies against Candida Albicans and Pityrosporum Ovale in patients with scalp psoriasis]

Background: psoriasis of scalp is a multi-factorial disease and one of the suggested theories is role of yeasts. Hence, current study has performed to determine the prevalence of yeast in culture of the scalp and anti-yeast antibody in serum of psoriatic patients in comparison with control population

Materials and methods: current study is a comparative cross-sectional survey among 80 subjects in two groups of 40 persons including psoriatic patients and control group. They were selected in a simple random manner among those attending to dermatology clinic of Imam-Khomeini Medical Center of Tehran during 2000

Results: 38 patients [95%] in psoriatic group and 5 subjects in control group had positive culture of scalp for yeasts [P=0.0001]. There was a significant difference between psoriatic and control group from point of antibodies against Candida Albicans and Pityrosporum Ovale [P=0.0001]

Conclusion: yeasts may have an important role in pathogenesis of psoriasis disease and therefore using anti-yeast agents may be therapeutic choice for scalp psoriasis

Thl/Th2 cytokines in psoriasis

The aim of this study was to determine the Thl and Th2 serum cytokines, in patients with psoriasis and to compare their cytokine levels with those of normal control subjects. Serum levels of Interferon-gamma [IFN-gamma], Interleukin-2 [IL-2], Interleukin-4 [IL-4], and Interleukin-10 [IL-10] were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in 40 patients with psoriasis and in 40 normal controls. Compared with control subjects, patients with psoriasis had elevated levels of IFN-gamma and IL-2 [P<0.001]. In addition a positive correlation was found between the levels of IFN-gamma, IL-2 and disease severity. Thl secreting inflammatory cytokines may contribute to the pathogenesis of psoriasis

Hepatitis C virus antibodies and vitiligo disease

Vitiligo is a common skin disorder, characterized by depigmented patches due to selective destruction of melanocytes. The etiology of this disease is unknown. A number of hypotheses including viral theory have been proposed to explain the etiology. To determine the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus infection in vitiligo patients, the present study was performed. Third generation ELISA test was used for detection of antibodies to HCV in human sera. All normal controls were anti-HCV negative whereas only one patient was positive for anti-HCV and there was no significant difference in the prevalence of anti-HCV between patients and controls. These results indicate that hepatitis C virus has not a direct causal role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, however, this does not rul out a "hit and run" virus induced disease

clinical study of the effects of occlusal reduction on pain after endodontic instrumentation

Pain after endodonic therapy, is of serious concern both to the dentist and patient. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of occlusal reduction on pain after endodontic instrumentation. In this matched clinical trial study, 98 patients were used. Each patient had a molar tooth requiring endodontic treatment. All teeth were vital, occlusion in contact and without preoperative pain or sensitivity to percussion. After access cavity preparation, teeth were ivided into 2 groups: teeth with occlusion in contact and teeth with occlusal reduction. The teeth were instrumented using passive step back technique. Canals were dried and temporarily sealed. Each patient was informed and given a standard questionnaire form [Visual analogue scale]. The patients recorded their degree of discomfort over a 48-h postoperative periods [0, 4, 8, 24, 32 and 48 h]. Results were collected and tabulated using student t-test. There were no differences in the intensity of post operative pain between two groups in each periods of the study. Occlusal reduction in vital teeth and without preoperative pain or sensitivity to percussion cannot decrease postoperative pain effectively

[Ocular disorders in a patient with Chronic Granulomatous Disease [CGD]]

The major underlying pathology in chronic granulomatous disease is a primary defect in membranous oxidase of phagocytic cells. Affected patients suffer from recurrent cutaneous and visceral abscess formation by catalase positive micro-organisms. The other characteristic features of the disease are granulomas in gastrointestinal, respiratory and urinary tracts. In this study we review the natural course of the disease in a 12 year old boy. He had a violaceous chronic granuloma on his nose since 7 yr of age. Recently the redness of his eyes and photophobia has been worsened. An ophthalmologic consultaion confirmed a chronic keratitis, and ultimately immunological and bacteriological tests coupled with a pathology specimen documented the diagnosis of chronic granulomatosis. With appropriate treatment, the clinical symptomatology of the child improved

Nursing and midwifery baccalaureate students' approaches to study and learning at Fatemeh School of Nursing, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Background: current knowledge suggests that students approach their study in surface, deep or strategic manners. The knowledge of students' approaches to study, and the factors that affect their choice are important for curriculum planners as well as nurse and midwife educators

Purpose: the aim of this study was to investigate the approaches to study of nursing and midwifery baccalaureate students at Fatemeh School of Nursing, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences using the Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students

Methods: a questionnaire containing a number of questions regarding the demographic characteristics and the validated Persian translation of the inventory was administered to all nursing and midwifery students

Results: a significantly higher numbers of students adopted deep approach. There was a significant negative correlation between the stage of study and the use of surface approach by midwifery students. Moreover. There was a significantly positive correlation between the level of interest in the field of study and the use of strategic approach for nursing and midwifery students. The grade point averages of nursing students were positively correlated with their use of deep or strategic approaches

Conclusion: this study showed the majority of nursing and midwifery students were using deep approach to learning. It also showed that in higher years these students tended to use deep or strategic approach. Moreover, it demonstrated that there was a positive correlation between students' levels of interest or grade point averages and the adoption of deep or strategic approaches

Keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans: Report of a case and literature review

Keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans [KFSD] represents a rare, probably X-linked recessive genodermatosis, characterized by keratosis pilaris of face, trunk and extremities, followed by atrophy, cicatricial alopecia of the scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes, photophobia and corneal abnormalities. We report a rare case of KFSD and review the literature

Pachydermodactyly: Report of two cases

Pachydermodactyly is a rare, benign, mostly asymptomatic digital fibromatosis, characterized by swelling on the back and sides of proximal phalanges and [or] proximal interphalangeal joints. It occurs predominantly in young males although a few women including a familial case were recently described. A history of repeated trauma is sometimes available but the etiology remains unknown We report two cases one of which had a history of repeated trauma [rubbing] to the involved area

report of chromomycosis in Iran

A case of chromomycosis caused by Exophiala jeanselmei is reported from Iran. A fresh preparation of the scaly crust with potassium hydroxide showed a group of brown fungal cells, many of which had a single septum. Histopathologic examination of the biopsy material showed the presence of dematiaceous fungal cells with thick walls. Pure culture of a dematiaceous fungus was isolated from the biopsy specimen and the crust. The isolate was identified as Exophiala jeanselmei. The lesion was successfully treated by surgical excision