Comparative efficacy of filtered blue light [emitted from sunlight] and topical erythromycin solution in acne treatment: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Acne vulgaris is one of the commonest skin conditions .The visible light has attracted attention as a new and safe therapeutic option, as some studies show more than 80% response to 420 nm phototherapy with a significant reduction in inflammatory acne lesions after only eight treatments. We evaluated the use of blue light and topical erythromycin in 32 acne patients. The right-sided lesions were treated with erythromycin solution twice daily and the left ones were treated with irradiation of sunlight by a filter for 15 minutes once daily for 8 weeks and in another treatment group, the lesions in sides of the face were treated on reverse manner. The difference between the treatment and control sides was not significant at week 4, and 8 [p>.05]. After 12 weeks of starting the program, a mean improvement of 20% in lesion counts was achieved by the blue light phototherapy. In our study, a mean improvement of 46% in acne score was achieved with the blue light compared to 58% with topical erythromycin [p>0.05]. We found that visible light phototherapy improved partially acne lesions and may be an appealing noninvasive alternative for the treatment of acne

efficacy of topical solution of 0.3% ciprofloxacin in treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is a very common disorder affecting virtually every adolescent at some point in time. Topical treatment of acne involves the use of retinoids and antimicrobials. Antimicrobials reduce P. acne population and are effective for treatment of inflammatory lesions. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of topical ciprofloxacin solution and compared it with topical erythromycin solution. The study was a prospective single-blind clinical trial. One hundred patients with mild to moderate acne were enrolled. The patients were randomly treated with topical application of 0.3% ciprofloxacin or 4% erythromycin solutions. For a six week period, they were visited every two weeks. Acne severity index [ASI] was calculated in each visit and recorded. Ninety-three patients completed the study, 50 patients in the ciprofloxacin and 43 in the erythromycin groups. Irritation was generally mild for both treatments and no discontinuation was reported because of adverse effects. There was no statistically significant difference between the two treatment groups in reduction of comedons or papules but reduction of pustules was greater in ciprofloxacin treatment group after 4 weeks. ASI was reduced in the two groups but in ciprofloxacin treated patients, this reduction was more significant at all follow up visits. The results of this study indicate that topical solutions of erythromycin and ciprofloxacin were effective in treating mild to moderate acne vulgaris and both were well-tolerated by the patients. Ciprofloxacin solution produced greater reduction in pustule counts and ASI, during the six week period of twice-daily application. This novel modality may have an important potential role in rotational topical therapy of inflammatory acne lesions

Evaluation of the efficacy of salvia officinalis lotion in treatment of palmoplantar hyperhydrosis

Treatment modalities in palmoplantar hyperhydrosis [PPH] are limited to iontophoresis and topical application of aluminium chloride salts that the latter complicated by irritant dermatitis. We have evaluated the efficacy of Salvia officinalis [Sage] 5% Lotion in treatment of PPH. Sage is a native plant in the Middle East that is cheap and freely available. This is a prospective, randomized and double-blind clinical trial. The patients with severe and symmetrical PPH were treated with topical application of Sage Lotion on the one side and placebo on the other side of the body, three times a day. The patients visited at two weeks intervals until six weeks. The overall treatment response was estimated subjectively by the patients. 35 patients were involved in this study. Both drug and placebo reduced the severity of PPH. Reduction with the drug was significantly greater than with the placebo. Mean of successful treatment percent in drug treated side, after 2, 4 and 6 weeks were 29.7%, 33.2% and 37% respectively versus in placebo treated side were 13.6%, 14.5% and 14.8% [P<0.001]. The 5% Salvia officinalis Lotion is a safe drug in treatment of PPH with moderate efficacy

[ prevalence of orientodiploproctodaeum diacanthi in protonibea diacanthus of persian gulf]

A brief description of Orientdiploproctodaeum diacanthi and determining its prevalence in Protonibea diacanthus of Persian Gulf. Random Sampling. Thirty one Protonibea diacanthus. Different sizes of spotted croakers were collected in stations of Hendijan, Bahregan and the mouth of Bahmanshir in Persian Gulf. The fishes were transferred to the laboratory, their digestive tract opened and carefully examined for the various types of eaten food. Mean while, some fluks were detected based on the routine staining procedures. The flukes were counted in each fish and some of them sectioned. The collected flukes were diagnosed as Orientodiploproctodaeum diacanthi. 7 out of 31 Protonibea diacanthus were deceted as O.diacanthias. This is the first report of the presence of O. diacanthi in P.diacanthus of Persian Gulf. Infection of such fishes in the Persian Gulf and also some fresh-water fishes by this parasites is possible

Storytelling: an effective method for teaching complicated concepts in medicine

Storytelling is one of the educational methods which can be employed without considering the learners' age, educational subject or learning level. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of storytelling and lecture methods in transferring the complicated concepts of medicine. A quasi-experimental study was carried out as two-groups, post-test only in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2005. Two groups, each including 46 medical students in clinical clerkship of dermato-logy ward were selected and three similar concepts in medicine were taught to both through storytelling or lecture methods. Then the two groups took post-test and the achieved results were compared using t-test by SPSS software. The mean of the total scores achieved by the lecture group was 8.94 +/- 4.36 and by storytelling group was 14.84 +/- 3.47 out of the total score 20. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant. The impact of storytelling method in enhancing medical students' knowledge was significantly more than simple lecturing method. Therefore it is highly recommended to use this method for teaching rare and genetic diseases

[Identification of Monogeneans and their population density impact on Barbus grypus and B. sharpeyi in Karoon River in Ahwaz]

Objectives: identification of Monogeneans and determination of their population density effect an Barbus grypus and B. sharpeyi in the Karoon River in Ahwaz

Design: observational study

Procedure: fish were caught by net, and were identified on the basis of their morphological characteristics and formulas of their scales and teeth. The body surface and mainly branchiae of the fish were searched for Monogeneans. The live or dead Monogeneans were then fixed by amonium picrate. Identification of the Monogeneans was based on the shape and arrangement of hooks and anchors in opisthohaptor and the male reproductive organs

Statistical analysis: analysis of variance [Anova], mean and standard deviation and standard error

Results: identification of Dactylogyncspavlovskyi, D. barbioides, Dogielius persicus,Gyrodactylus sprostonae and Paradiplozoon sp. in Barbus gtypus and D. pavlovskyi , D. barbioides, D. persicus, D. anchoratus and D.carassobarbi in Barbus sharpeyi

Conclusions: it is the first report of the presence of Gyrodactylus sprostonae and Paradiplozoon sp. on B. gtypus in Iran. This survey revealed that the host specificity among these Monogeneans are decreased. Also, the impaction of these parasites population density on both fishes were not significant

Presentation of di guglielmo's syndrome as acute cardiac failure

Di Guglielmo's syndrome is a rare condition. This case report describes an unusual presentation of the syndrome, namely, acute left ventricular failure secondary to anaemia