Polymerase chain reaction study of anogenital condylomas for high risk HPV types

Anogenital wart is a common sexually transmitted disease affecting both genders. The aim of this study was to evaluate human papilloma virus types of anogenital warts with Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR]. 65 formalin fixed paraffin embedded [FFPE] tissue blocks of the anogenital warts obtained from the pathology lab of Loghman Hakim hospital were included in this study. In 27 samples [41.5%], human papilloma virus was detected by PCR. In addition, low risk HPV types [6, 11] were identified in all samples without any positivity for high risk HPV types [16, 18, 31 and 33]. By finding low risk HPV types in all samples, it could be concluded that Anogenital warts seems not to be precursors of anogenital malignancies

Interplay among antioxidants and oxidants in psoriasis

The etiology of psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease, has not been elucidated. However, Oxidant / antioxidant imbalance is suspected. The aim of this study was to evaluate oxidant / antioxidant status in psoriatic patients. Forty two psoriatic patients and 42 age and sex matched controls were recruited for this study. Serum total antioxidant capacity [TAC], oxidized light density lipoprotein [Ox-LDL] and malondialdehyde [MDA] levels were determined. A statistically significant increase in the serum level of MDA was found between patients and controls. No significant difference was found in the serum levels of other parameters in the two groups. Our results supported the hypothesis of an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in psoriasis and pointed to the probability of an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in psoriatic patients

Case: erosive nodule on the vulval skin

A 64-year-old Iranian woman presented with a genital erosive skin lesion that she had noticed from two years ago. On physical examination, a 20 to 25 millimeter purplish lesion was observed on the vulval skin [Figure 1]. The indurated lesion showed a small central erosion measuring 3 to 5 mm. Inguinal lymph nodules were not palpable. A skin biopsy specimen was obtained from the eroded lesion [Figure 2]

Evaluation of human papilloma viruses in anogenital warts using PCR method

Anogenital wart is a common skin disease and 1.3 million new cases are diagnosed in the US each year. About one percent of sexually active adults suffer from anogenital warts. This study was performed to evaluate human papilloma viruses [HPV] in anogenital warts using Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR] method in patients admitted to the Skin Clinics of Skin Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. This cross sectional study was performed on 32 patients with anogenital warts, whose clinical diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic examination. Biopsy specimens of the patients were evaluated by PCR method and virus type was determined. In 12 [37%] patients HPV infection was confirmed using PCR method. The distribution of patients among infections with high-and low-risk HPVs was not different. There was no correlation between clinical features and HPV type. Controlled studies with larger sample sizes are recommended

Association of androgenetic alopecia and hyperlipidemia

Several studies have indicated that vertex type androgenetic alopecia have a higher-than-normal risk for coronary heart disease but few studies focused on lipid profiles which are important in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease. This study was designed to investigate the relation between vertex type androgenetic alopecia [grade III and higher according to Hamilton-Norwood] and hyperlipidemia. In this case-control study, lipid parameters [total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio] of 50 men with vertex type androgenetic alopecia [study group] were compared with 50 men with normal hair status [control group]. Study group matched according to the age, BMI and habit of smoking with control group. Study group had a higher triglyceride and lower HDL cholesterol levels than control group. Total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio was significantly higher in study group [P<0.05]. Vertex type androgenetic alopecia could be a clinical marker of hyperlipidemia and dermatologists should investigate lipid profile in these patients