Antileishmanial Activity of Niosomal Combination Forms of Tioxolone along with Benzoxonium Chloride against Leishmania tropica

In this study, we carried out extensive in vitro studies on various concentrations of tioxolone along with benzoxonium chloride and their niosomal forms against Leishmania tropica. Niosomes were prepared by the hydration method and were evaluated for morphology, size, release study, and encapsulation efficiency. This study measured leishmanicidal activity against promastigote and amastigote, apoptosis and gene expression levels of free solution and niosomal-encapsulated tioxolone along with benzoxonium chloride. Span/Tween 60 niosome had good physical stability and high encapsulation efficiency (more than 97%). The release profile of the entrapped compound showed that a gradual release rate. The combination of niosomal forms on promastigote and amastigote were more effective than glucantime. Also, the niosomal form of this compound was significantly less toxic than glucantime (P≤0.05). The flowcytometric analysis on niosomal form of drugs showed that higher number of early apoptotic event as the principal mode of action (89.13% in 200 μg/ml). Also, the niosomal compound increased the expression level of IL-12 and metacaspase genes and decreased the expression level of the IL-10 gene, which further confirming the immunomodulatory role as the mechanism of action. We observed the synergistic effects of these 2 drugs that induced the apoptotic pathways and also up regulation of an immunomodulatory role against as the main mode of action. Also, niosomal form of this combination was safe and demonstrated strong anti-leishmaniasis effects highlights further therapeutic approaches against anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in future planning.

A Novel Niosomal Combination of Selenium Coupled with Glucantime against Leishmania tropica

There is no effective treatment modality available against different forms of leishmaniasis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to improve the penetration and efficacy of selenium and glucantime coupled with niosomes and compared them with their simple forms alone on in vitro susceptibility assays. In this study, the niosomal formulations of selenium and in combination with glucantime were prepared. The size and morphology of the niosomal formulations were characterized and the effectivity of the new formulation was also evaluated using in vitro MTT assay, intra-macrophage model, and gene expression profile. From the results obtained, no cytotoxicity effect was observed for niosomal and simple forms of drugs, as alone or in combination. Niosomal formulations of the drugs significantly showed more inhibitory effects (P≤0.001) than the simple drugs when the selectivity index was considered. The gene expression levels of Interleukin (IL-10) significantly decreased, while the level of IL-12 and metacaspase significantly increased (P≤0.001). The results of the present study showed that selenium plus glucantime niosome possess a potent anti-leishmanial effect and enhanced their lethal activity as evidenced by the in vitro experiments.

Tioxolone niosomes exert antileishmanial effects on Leishmania tropica by promoting promastigote apoptosis and immunomodulation

Objective: To explore the antileishmanial effect of tioxolone and its niosomal form against Leishmania tropica. Methods: Tioxolone niosomes were prepared by the hydration method and were evaluated for morphology, size, release study, and encapsulation efficiency. The cytotoxicity of tioxolone and its niosomal form was measured by MTT assay, leishmanicidal activity against promastigote and amastigote by MTT assay, apoptosis by flow cytometry, IL-12, IL-10 and metacaspase gene expression levels by q-PCR. Results: Span/Tween 40 and Span/Tween 60 niosomes had good physical stability as depicted in their size distribution curves and high encapsulation efficiency (>99%). The release profile of the entrapped compounds showed Fickian's model of tioxolone delivery based on diffusion through lipid bilayers. With the IC

Efficacy of combination therapy of pimecrolimus 1% cream and mometasone cream with either agent alone in the treatment of childhood vitiligo

Objective: to evaluate the efficacy of the combination therapy of mometasone and pimecrolimus in the treatment of vitiligo in children

Methods: in this double-blind randomized controlled trial, 50 patients were enrolled. Based on the planned treatment protocol, three lesions with approximately identical size at similar anatomic sites were selected in each patient. Lesions were divided to three groups: pimecrolimus cream 1 % [twice a day], mometasone furoate ointment 0.1 % [every night], and combined therapy group [pimecrolimus twice a day on weekdays and mometasone every night on weekends], all being applied for three months. They were followed up for three months

Results: forty patients [with 46% of cases being male] with a mean age of 10.6 years completed the study. There was no significant difference in response rate between three groups at the end of the treatment

Conclusion: our study results did not demonstrate significant difference in the response rate and adverse effects between combined treatment group and either alone

Assessment of serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in Iranian children with atopic dermatitis, in Kerman city, an area with high sun exposure

To determine the association between the severity of AD and serum level of 25[OH] vitamin D in Kerman, a desert area in southeast of Iran, that was performed for the first time in Iran. In this cross-sectional study 57 AD subjects and 19 healthy children under the age of 18 years old were enrolled. The serum levels of 25[OH] vitamin D were measured in the both groups. The severity of AD was evaluated according to SCORAD. According to our study, there was a significant association between serum level of vitamin D and severity of AD especially in moderate and severe forms of AD [p<0.001]. Our study revealed vitamin D deficiency in AD patients, thus, it is recommended to take vitamin D supplementation in AD patient. Additional research is needed in order to evaluate dysfunction of vitamin D receptor in AD patients

Epidemiology and Clinical Features of Atopic Dermatitis in Kerman, a Desert Area of Iran

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies of atopic dermatitis (AD) in desert areas are still lacking. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of AD in children in Kerman city, a desert area in Iran. METHODS: We evaluated preschool children (age, 2 to 7 years) and primary school students (age, greater than 7 up to 12 years) in Kerman. We selected 865 students to estimate the prevalence and assess other features of AD such as distribution of lesions, personal history, family history of atopy, aggravating factors, associated symptoms, and morphological variants. RESULTS: The prevalence of AD was 9.1% in our study population. The prevalence of AD was 9.17% and 9.09% in males and females, respectively. The prevalence of AD in the age range of 2 to 7 years was 13.53% and 8.33% among children aged greater than 7 up to 12 years. In total, 82.27% of the patients were in chronic stage of the disease, and 31.6% had a personal history of other atopic diseases. At least one first-degree family member with atopy was seen in 46.83% of the patients. The most common sites of involvement were the head and neck. The most involved areas in the limbs were extensor surfaces. The most frequent morphological variant of AD was the common type. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of AD in Kerman was higher than in other Iranian cities but lower than that in developed countries. Diversity in the clinical features of AD has been observed among different studies, and the diagnostic criteria of AD should be adapted in proportion to the studied area.

Prevalence of thyroid disorders in patients with alopecia areata

To study the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disorders - thyroid auto-antibodies in patients with alopecia areata [AA] in Kerman, a city in South-East part of Iran. 52 patients with AA from those attending the dermatology ward of Afzalipour hospital in Kerman were enrolled. An equal number of age- and sex-matched controls [n=52] was included. Physical examination of thyroid was done for all patients and controls. The rate of positivity of anti-thyroid peroxidase [TPO] antibodies and abnormal thyroid hormone levels in both groups were measured and compared. In both cases and controls, 48.1% and 51.9% were males and females, respectively. The mean age in group of cases and control groups were 30.55 and 31.80 years, respectively. The number of lesions ranged from 1 to 10, and the duration of disease ranged from 0.6 to 96 months. No meaningful statistical difference was seen between prevalence of thyroid disorders in patients of AA and controls. In this study no correlation between AA and thyroid disorders was noted.

Clinical and demographic profile of childhood alopecia areata in Iran

To evaluate the clinical profile of alopecia areata [AA] in Iranian children. One hundred Iranian children aged less than 16 years participated in this cross-sectional study. Data were obtained by administering a parental-recall questionnaire; and clinical and demographic parameters and associated diseases were evaluated. The mean age of AA onset was 8.9 +/- 2.1 years. The scalp was the most common site of involvement. Thirty-five percent of the patients had a precipitating factor, with psychological stress being the most common factor. Associated diseases were recorded in 60% of the patients, with the most common associated disease being eczema. Twenty-one percent of the patients were positive for a family history of AA. Severity and extent of the disease and the age of onset showed significant relationships with parents' educational and economic status [p<0.05]. Nail changes were also strongly associated with severity and extent of the disease [P=0.006]. Our results suggest that the severity and extent of the disease both increase with anearly age of onset, low parent educational levels, low socioeconomic status, and nail changes

survey on Helicobacter pyloriseropositivity status in Iranian children with atopic dermatitis

To evaluate the presence of Sinti-Helicobacter pylori antibody in the sera of children with and without atopic dermatitis [AD] in Kerman province, Iran. In the current study the cases consisted of 128 patients with AD, aged from 6 month to 16 years. One hundred and twenty eight healthy children matched for sex and age were chosen as control subjects. The enrolled patients were selected consequentially from the cases referred to the dermatology and pediatric clinics of Afzalipour hospital, an academic medical referral center in the capital of Kerman province. The diagnosis of AD was made based on the UK working party's diagnostic criteria for atopic dermatitis. The control subjects were chosen randomly among children who were referred to the center for periodic vaccination program and before receiving the vaccines. The subjects in control group who had a personal or family history of allergies [including asthma, atopic dermatitis or allergic rhinitis] were excluded as well. A sample consisting of 3 milliliters of blood was obtained from each subject in the study [including the cases and the controls] for H. pylori serology. In children under 1 year of age, the amount of collected blood samples we reduced to the minimum in the acceptable range. The status of infection with Helicobacter pylori was determined in all subjects quantitatively by measurement of specific IgG antibody via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] method [Trinity Biotech Monbind Captia[tm], USA]. The mean age of the cases with AD and the controls were 5.74 +/- 4.05 and 6.05 +/- 3.36 years, respectively. Of all the children in both cases and controls 45.5% and 55.8% were females, respectively and the remaining were males. Anti-H. pylori IgG antibody was positive in the cases with AD and the control group 25.2% and 24%, respectively that was not statistically significant. The results of this study showed no association between H. pylori infection and AD

Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in psoriasis patients

To assess the prevalence of cardiovascular disease [CVD] risk factors in patients with psoriasis. Patients and methods The study group included seventy-three patients with psoriasis aged 20-50 years and an equally sized sex and age matched control group. CVD risk factors including diabetes mellitus [DM], hypertension [HTN], dyslipidemia, obesity and smoking history were assessed. Results Most of the CVD risk factors were more prevalent in psoriasis patients versus controls. The risk factors with a positive correlation included: DM [OR: 4.96, CI: 1.165-14.89], HTN [OR:3.16, CI:1.01-9.81], hypertriglyceridemia [OR:3.91, CI: 1.51-10.09], obesity [OR: 2.74, CI: 1.34-5.60] and increased level of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-C] [OR:1.77, CI:1.08-1.73]. No significant differences were found between two groups for high density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C] and cigarette smoking. Conclusion CVD risk factors were more common in this young and middle aged psoriasis patients group, so early screening test for CVD risk factors is recommended in this group of patients

Relationship between duration of breastfeeding and development of atopic dermatitis

Earlier studies on breastfeeding [BF] and atopy in infants have yielded contradictory results. To evaluate the relationship between duration of BF and developing of AD. Seven hundred fifty infants between 2 to 3 years old from kindergartens of Kerman, Iran were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Data were obtained by questionnaires. Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis [AD] was made according to UK Working Party criteria. There was a significant association between duration of BF and the risk of AD [OR=0.93, 95% CI=0.90-0.96]. Early supplement feeding increased the risk of AD [OR=0.69, 95% CI=0.52-0.92]. The adjusted odds ratios of variables show that a positive family history of atopy, contact with smoke during pregnancy, suffering from asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis increased the risk of AD in infants. On the other hand, having elder siblings and taking oral contraceptive pills by mother decreased the risk of AD. Our results suggest that duration of BF has a protective effect against developing AD in infants. We recommend prolonged BF in all infants for protection against AD

Cutaneous infection by fusarium solani in an addict man with active hepatitis C

We describe a 31-year-old man, a known case of hepatitis C infection for 11 years, who presented with a chronic non-healing large deep ulcer on the dorsum of the right foot for five months. Fusarium solani infection was confirmed by skin biopsy and culture. The biopsy specimen showed an unusually extensive dermal invasion with fungal hyphae. The patient's response to oral itraconazole 100 mg/day for 3 months was excellent. Closed monitoring of liver enzymes was done before and during the treatment course