Ultrastructural and immunological features of experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis after treatment with intralesional hypertonic sodium chloride and CO2 laser rays

This study investigated the mechanism of action and efficacy of CO2 laser rays and hypertonic sodium chloride [NaCl] with different concentrations in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis [CL] as assessed clinically, parasitologically, histopathologically by light and transmission electron microscopy [TEM] and immunologically by RT- PCR for gene expression of interleukin-13 [IL-13]. Eighty mice were divided into four groups: The first was non-infected control group [n=16], the second was infected and served as non-treated control [n=16] as well as the third [n=32] and fourth groups [n=16] were subjected to NaCl injection and CO2 laser, respectively. The results showed that the clinical healing by CO2 laser was nearly similar to the normal appearance, but differed according to the concentration of NaCl as confirmed by the ultrastructure and immunohistopathologic features of the host cells and surrounding skin tissue. IL-13 mRNA was significantly decreased after treatment denoting that Th2 cytokine [IL-13] is important for the development of strategies to prevent the induction of the pathologic processes. It was concluded that CO2 laser and 7% NaCl are good modalities for CL treatment and were recommended, wherever possible

Treatment of keloid scars with pulsed dye versus erbium yag laser

This study aimed to evaluate the success of 585-nm flash lamp-pumped pulsed dye laser versus erbium YAG laser in treatment of keloid. Two groups of patients with keloid [10 patients each] received 2-3 laser treatments at 6-8 weeks intervals using pulsed dye laser to one group and erbium YAG laser to the other group. The success of therapy was judged by a clinical improvement including softening of the scar, reduction of erythema, scar height, pruritus or pain and improvement of surface tecture abnormalities. The cases were reviewed after six months. There was a significant improvement in 7/10 patients treated with pulsed dye laser compared with the significant improvement observed in 3/10 patients treated with erbium YAG laser. Moreover, with pulsed dye laser the improvement persisted for at least six months. It was concluded that the vascular specific 585 nm pulsed dye laser gives better results than the erbium YAG laser in the treatment of keloid

Evaluation of matrix metalloproteinace in lichen planus before and after treatment with low molecular weight Heparin

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of low dose of low molecular weight [LMW] heparin as a monotherapy in lichen planus [LP] and to evaluate the MMP-9 in LP before and after treatment in a trial to study its role. Twenty patients with different clinical varieties of LP received 3 mg SC of LMW heparin/week for eight weeks. Five CC of blood were taken from ten healthy persons and from all patients before and after treatment. The expression of MMP9 was evaluated in tissues of LP patients before and after therapy. It was found that MMP-9 level in serum and its expression in the tissue of LP patients were significantly increased as compared with patients and controls after treatment suggesting that it may have an active role in the pathogenesis of LP. Also, it was found that LMW heparin may be an effective therapy in acute generalized LP