[Reaction to patch test in patients with clinical diagnoses of contact and atopic dermatitis]

Introduction: Contact eczema is a common inflammatory skin disease; different materials with irritant and allergic mechanisms can produce this disease. Although history and physical examination are important in diagnosis of allergen, because of extent of several factors, environmental allergens, were not simply recognized. Patch test is an important diagnostic tool to confirm allergic contact dermatitis and can reduce mistake of clinical diagnoses

Objective: Determine frequency of dermatic allergens in patients with contact or atopic dermatitis who were referred to Razi hospital in Rasht

Materials and Methods: In a descriptive cross sectional study during 22 months, 100 patients with clinical diagnoses of contact and atopic dermatitis who referred to Razi hospital patch tested with European standard series containing 24 allergens. Their reactions were evaluated after 24, 48 and 72 hours after application of patch test. Data was collected and were analyzed by SPSS. [P<0.05 was considered significant]

Results: Among 100 patients, positive patch test was seen in 36% whic mean age of them was [30.67] years [SD=10.85]. The most common involved location was hand [86%] and most common allergens were Nickel sulfate [20%] and potassium dichromate [9%]. In this study 6[25%] of all allergens showed positive reaction

Conclusion: Nickel Sulfate and Potassium Dichromate were the most common contact allergens in our study

[Comparison the health - related quality of life of patients suffering from pemphigus with healthy people]

Introduction: Pemphigus is a chronic autoimmune bullous dermatosis that predominantly was affected middle aged peoples. It requires serious therapeutic management and often repeated hospitalizations. However, little formally investigation has been performed concerning Heath-Related Quality of Life [HRQL] of patients who were affected by this disorder

Objective: Determining and comparing the Health-Related Quality of Life in patients suffering from pemphigus with healthy people

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study 76 patients who confirmed pemphigus disease and 86 their healthy accompaniers were assessed. Two sample groups were paired according to sex and age. This study was performed in Razi hospital's dermatological clinic in Rasht. A questionnaire composed of Persian translations of SF-36 and Sweden QoL [Quality of Life] were used for measuring of HRQL after determining of its validity and reliability. Data were collected and analyzed by using descriptive [distribution, mean +/- SD] and inferential [t-test, chi-square, fisher exact test, ANOVA and Multivariant Regression Analysis]

Results: In the pemphigus group there was a significant decrease of mean scores of all HRQL dimentions [p<0.0001]. [Mean +/- SD of patient's group was 69.38 +/- 11.81 in Comparision to 85.43 +/- 6.64 of healthy people]. The factors influencing this impact were: job [P<0.01], older age group [P<0.04], prolonged disease [P<0.008], type of treatment [steroid+ adjuvant] [P<0.001], lack of university educations [P<0.005] and repeated hospitalizations [P<0.001]. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that level of education [p<0.002], repeated hospitalization [p<0.001] and type of treatment [steroid+adjuvant] [p<0.001] have significant effects on quality of life in pemphigus patients

Conclusion: This study confirmed that pemphigus is responsible for great alteration in HRQL. Therefore, in management of this disease must be taken its impacts on various fields of life of the patients. Undoubtedly, every effort to warn health and economic managers would play a significant role in resolving of problems of these patients

[Determination of sexual dimorphism from maxillary premolars thickness in bitewing radiography]

Sexual dimorphism plays an important role in forensic medicine. Sexual differences in the human skeleton have been well studied in many populations but odontometric analysis of the human sexual variation has been less investigated. This study was designed to determine the sexual dimorphism by enamel and dentin thickness in radiography of maxillary premolars in an Iranian sample.For this descriptive and analytic study, 100 individuals, [so males and so females] aged 20 to 35 years old, from an Iranian population were selected. The bitewing radiographs of the right permanent maxillary premolars were taken under standard conditions using a film holder. The radiographs were digitally scanned, and after calculation of image magnification, maximum mesiodistal diameter of dentin, and mesial and distal enamel margins were measured. Data were analysed by SPSS statistical software using T- test and Step function. Mesiodistal dentin dimension was significantly greater in males, but there was no sexual dimorphism in the maximum mesiodistal diameter of crown, and distal margin of enamel. Enamel was significantly thicker on the mesial margin in females. First premolar displayed greater sexual dimorphism than second premolar. According to the study results, for determining sexual dimorphism in forensic medicin, the mesiodistal dentin dimension as well as the width of the enamel mesial margin of upper premolar teeth are acceptable parameters in Iranian population

[ study on pulse methylprednisolone in treatment of diffuse alopecia areata]

Introduction: in spite of various methods available for treatment of alopecia areata, treatment of diffuse alopecia areata is still a difficult problem. Although systemic corticosteroids are frequently effective but long term consumption of oral steroids is not recommended because of complications

Objective: the aim of this study was to determine response to treatment and relapse in patients with diffuse alopecia areata

Materials and methods: in this interventive and quazi- experimental we studied 26 patients with alopecia areata [first attack or relapse in the current year]. Intravenous methylprednisolone, 500mg, was prescribed for 3 successive days and the patients were examined in the months of 1,3, 6 and 12. Photographs of scalp were taken at each visit

Results: results were registered in the forms prepared for each patient and analyzed statistically [Fisher test]. Of a total of 17 patients with multifocal alopecia areata, 53%, 76.5%, 76.5% and 64.6% showed response to treatment at 1,3,6 and 12 months respectively. Relapse occurred 17.5%, 23.5% and 35% in the months 3,6,12 respectively. From the 7 patients with alopecia universalis, only one patient showed response. In two patients with ophiasis [one case] and totalis [one case], no response to treatment was seen

Conclusion: all responses to treatment were obtained in the patients with diffuse muttifocal alopecia areata. There was no statistically significant difference between response to treatment and relapse in patients with first attack and repeated attacks