High Levels of Anti-Heat Shock Protein 27 Antibody in Pemphigus Vulgaris

No abstract available.

Evaluation of subtypes of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with vitiligo

Vitiligo is characterized with white patches on the skin and alteration of melanocytes in dermoepidermal junction. Autoimmune mechanisms with an underlying genetic predisposition are the most likely causes of vitiligo. This study was performed to evaluate immune disturbance in vitiligo and clarify its more details. A total of 29 vitiligo patients and 21 healthy controls were included in this case control study. Complete blood count was measured and peripheral blood samples were evaluated floweytometrically for surface antigenic markers including CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD16, CD56 and CD25 for determining the percentage and total number of various lymphocyte subgroups. Patients with different clinical subtypes were compared with each other and controls in terms of the flowcytometry results. Obtained information was assessed by SPSS statistical software. Total numbers of CD3+, CD8+ T cells, B cells and CD25+ cells were significantly increased in generalized type vitiligo patients in comparison with localized type. CD25+ cells were also increased significantly in generalized and stable types of vitiligo compared with healthy controls and finally the total number of lymphocytes was significantly decreased in localized type vitiligo patients in comparison with healthy controls.. Our data indicate cellular immune disturbance in vitiligo. Disorders of immune regulatory system may play a major role in this context. Significant CD25+ or regulatory T cells increment in different clinical subtypes of the disease is in favor of the above hypothesis. Later and larger studies may result in new and effective routs of treatment for vitiligo acting through regulating immune system

Serologic evaluation of HIV-1 and syphilis in patients with clinical anogenital wart

Genital infection with human papilloma virus [HPV] is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. Patients having genital warts are at excessive risk of HIV and syphilis. Uninformed patients with high risk behaviors can help spread this condition in society. Therefore, CDC recommends HIV and syphilis screening for those with a sexual transmitted disease or a sexual risk factor. But this strategy is rarely considered in Iran. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of HIV and syphilis screening tests in patients with genital wart. In this case-control study, 100 patients with genital wart referring to Dermatology Department of Imam-Reza Hospital [August 2005 - August 2007] were included as the case group. This study was approved by the local ethics. The Control group was the same in number, age average, sex and marital status. All 200 patients studied considering HIV or syphilis infection. Finally, collected data were statistically analyzed by SPSS software, using chi[2] and student T test. Male to female ratio was 0.87. Majority of patients aged 30-39 years. Two patients were HIV positive and only one had Syphilis, without significant difference with the control group [Pv =0.29, Pv =0.50]. Screening is not cost effective in patients with asymptomatic anogenital warts. Since both HIV positive cases were intravenous drug abusers, this study emphasized on HIV and syphilis screening in patients with high risk behavior

[ assessment of the awareness of senior students about the effects of sunlight on the skin and necessity and methods of sun protection]

Nearly ninety percent [90%] of skin cancers occur in sun exposed areas. In this study the awareness of senior students of Mashhad University [Ferdowsi] about the effects of sunlight on the skin plus necessity and methods of sun protection is evaluated. In this descriptive study in 2004 at Mashhad University [Ferdowsi], 802 senior students of 9 majors enrolled. This study was approved by the local committee of Medical Ethics. The standard questionnaires including 24 questions distributed among students. The students divided into groups according to their score in the 24 awareness questions: weak [score

Treatment of vitiligo with blister grafting technique

Surgical treatments of vitiligo are punch grafting, blister grafting, flip-top transplantation, split skin grafting, etc aiming at rebuilding of melanocytic population in those patients who do not respond to medical treatment The objective of this study was determination of efficacy of blister grafting technique in the treatment of vitiligo. This study was done on 10 patients with vitiligo of face and /or distal extremities who had received different medical treatments including PUVA and had not responded, and their diseases were stable. Blister in recipient site was created by cryotherapy and in donor site by using vacuum device. Then donor site blister was transferred to the recipient site and bath sites were covered by dressing. 10 patients [8 females and 2 males] with mean age of 31.2 +/- 11.4 years entered the study. After 1-6 weeks, first signs of repigmentation were observed and after 4 months complete repigmentation occured in 7 patients [70%] In two patients, a repigmentation of more than 50% was observed while in one patient no pigmentation was seen which was related to errors in surgical technique. Blister grafting surgery in limited patches of vitiligo which have not responded to medical treatments gives excellent results of prolonged repigmentation without any scar formation

Serum IgE level in chronic lupoid leishmaniasis

It appears that chronic lupoid leishmaniasis is the result of type 2 predominant T helper response to parasite and a defect in the down regulation of IL-4 production during infection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the underlying immune status in these patients and their predominant T helper activity we considered serum IgE as an indicator of TH2 activity and IL-4 production as it has been shown in atopic diathesis. In 34 cases of chronic lupoid leishmaniasis serum IgE level was measured and compared with 34 control cases of age and sex matched healthy individuals without atopic diathesis. P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. There were 21 females and 13 males with a mean age of 14.35 +/- 8.3 years in the patients group. The mean age of the control group was 16.11 +/- 8.4 [P>0.05 and matched]. Nine patients had atopic diathesis. Mean serum IgE level in patients and in the control group was 102.6 +/- 22.4 i.u/ml and 135.6 +/- 24.9 i.u/ml, respectively [P>0.05 with no significant difference]. Mean serum IgE level in patients without atopic diathesis [25 cases] was 66.8 +/- 113 i.u/ml which was significantly lower than the control group [P<0.05]. In this study, serum IgE level in cases with chronic lupoid leishmaniasis was lower than the control group and it seems that in these patients, there is not an underlying Th2 over activity as it is seen in atopic diathesis

Acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy: a case report

Acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy [AHEI] is a rare skin disorder which was first described by Snow in 1913.Clinical manifestations are usually limited to cutaneous lesions and is most commonly observed in infants under the age of 1 year. Usually, there is a history of recent upper respiratory tract infection and antibiotic administration. Clinical presentation of this disease includes petechia and ecchymosis on the head, face and distal extremities. Herein, a typical case of AHEI in a 10-month-old infant is reported. Differential diagnoses of AHEI is discussed

Hereditary benign telangiectasia: Report of 6 cases in a family

Hereditary benign telangiectasia is an uncommon idiopathic skin disorder characterized by generalized telangiectases and angiomatous lesions of the skin. The diagnosis should be suspected in patients with such cutaneous lesions, positive family history, no associated bleeding problems, and no mucosal involvement. We present six cases of hereditary benign telangiectasia in three generations of one family

Multiple large cherry angiomas after exposure to sulfur mustard gas in Iranian veterans in Iraq-Iran war: a historical cohort study

Sulfur mustard [SM] is a blistering agent which has been used as a chemical warfare agent in many wars since 1917. It has been used several times by Iraqi forces during Iraq Iran war [1980-88]. Lungs, skin and eyes are the three major targets affected by SM. We had observed an increased number of cherry angiomas, benign vascular tumors, in Iranian veterans after exposure to SM, so we decided to assess number and size of cherry angiomas in Iranian veterans several years after exposure to SM. In this historical cohort study, 99 veterans exposed to SM were compared to 52 non-exposed individuals. Participants were examined for number and maximum size of cheny angiomas and the findings were compared between the two groups. All participants were male. The age range in case group was from 30 to 60 years [mean +/- SD: 42.7 +/- 7.6] and in control group was from 30 to 65 years [mean +/- SD: 39.9 +/- 9.9]. In case group, number of angiomas and maximum size of them were significantly greater than those in control group [P=0.001 and P=0.0001; respectively]. There was a direct correlation between number of angiomas and maximum size of them in case group [P=0.0001]. Most of lesions were located in trunk and upper extremities. SM seemed to be responsible for the presence of multiple cherry angiomas in veterans several years after exposure. Maximum size of angiomas in veterans was significantly greater than those were observed in non-exposed individuals