Electron microscopic study of desmosomes and tonofilaments in Lichen planus

Lichen planus [L.P] is an idiopathic inflammatory disease of the skin and mucous membrane. Desmosomes are responsible for the adhesion of keratinocytes. Tonofilaments are one of the major cytoskeleton structure in mammalian epidermis. Six patients complained from Lichen planus are included in this study for the study of ultrastructure of both desmosomes and tonofilaments. Revealed an increase in the size and numbers of both of them which can be explained as a one of the defensive mechanism of the cells against frequent rubbing which accompanied L.P. which is considered as a resistance mechanism of keratinocytes

Study on the oxidant and antioxidant status in vitiligo patients

The aetiology of vitiligo is still unknown. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain vitiligo: genetic neural, immunological, self destructive, convergence hypothesis and oxidative stress hypothesis. The current study is concerned with the oxidative stress hypothesis and how oxidants and antioxidants affect the pathogenesis of vitiligo. So, our aim is to determine the role of malondialdehyde and glutathione in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. The amount of malondialdehyde [oxidant] and glutathione [antioxidant] were measured in serum and in skin tissue in 30 vitiligo cases and 20 healthy controls. The study showed significant changes between patients and controls in glutathione level in blood and tissue samples. Also there were significant changes between patients and controls in malondialdehyde in blood and in tissue samples favoring that glutathione and malondialdehyde play a role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo

Estradiol in men with severe acne

This study assessed serum concentrations of estradiol, free testosterone, total testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and sex hormone binding globulin in 18 patients aged 19-27 years with severe acne including three patients with nodulo-cystic acne as well as 20 age matched normal controls. There were no significant differences in serum levels of all these hormones between patients and controls, except for serum E2 level which was significantly higher in patient group. So, hemodynamics of serum androgens in male patients with acne do not differ significantly from that of normal controls. Elevated E2 levels might affect the inflammatory response of acne