Frequency of deranged blood lipids in male patients with androgenetic alopecia

Objective: to determine the frequency of deranged serum lipids in male patients with androgenetic alopecia

Methods: cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatients department of Dermatology, Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi over a period of six months i.e. January 2015 to June 2015. Male patients between 25-65 years with androgenetic alopecia were enrolled in the study. Blood samples for fasting serum lipids were taken during the same visit. All data were entered and analyzed

Results: total 150 patients were included in the study according to the inclusion criteria. Mean age in high and low triglycerides patients was 46.87+10.58 years and 42.32+11.29 years, respectively. Similarly, mean age [years] in normal and low HDL was 42.17+10.87 years and 48.13+10.21 years, respectively. There were 131 [87.3%] patients who presented with high triglycerides levels whereas 19 [12.7%] patients had normal triglycerides. Similarly, there were 46 [30.7] patients who presented with normal HDL levels where as 104 [69.3] patients had low HDL levels

Conclusion: the study concluded that serum lipids were deranged in male patients of androgenetic alopecia

Comparison of efficacy of intralesional meglumine antimoniate vs. combination of 50% trichloroacetic acid and intralesional meglumine antimoniate in patients of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Objective: is an endemic disease. This study was done to compare the efficacy of intralesional meglumine antimoniate [MA] with combination of 50% trichloroacetic acid [TCA] and intralesional meglumine antimoniate in patients of cutaneous leishmaniasis [CL]

Methods: it was a randomized controlled trial conducted in department of dermatology, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi over six months i.e. 02-08-2016 to 01-02-2017. A total of 210 patients [105 in each group] were taken in this study. Group A received 50% TCA fortnightly with intralesional meglumine antimoniate and group B was treated with intralesional meglumine antimoniate alone

Results: efficacy was observed in 91 [86.7%] patients of group A and in 78 [74.3%] patients of group B [p=0.024]

Conclusion: combination therapy with TCA 50% and intralesional MA accelerated the resolution of CL lesions with significant difference in complete resolution rate in comparison to the patients treated with intralesional MA alone

Frequency of hair loss in lesions of pityriasis versicolor

Objective: to determine the frequency of hair loss in the lesions of pityriasis versicolor

Methods: it was a cross-sectional study carried out at the outpatient department of dermatology, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan over six months period after approval from the hospital's ethical committee. Informed consent was obtained from participants. Two punch biopsies were taken from each patient, one from lesional and other from nonlesional skin under local anesthesia. The biopsy specimen included at least one hair or follicular ostium. Biopsy specimens were observed histopathologically for evidence of hair loss by making a comparison of lesional specimen with the nonlesional specimen. Frequency of hair loss was also documented

Results: histopathological evaluation of biopsy specimens from the lesions of pityriasis versicolor demonstrated hair loss in a significant number of patients [57.6%] when compared to biopsy specimens from nonlesional skin

Conclusion: pityriasis versicolor can cause hair loss in a significant number of individuals

Comparison of in vitron susceptibility of sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis to topical 5% permethrin and topical 1% ivermectin

Objective: To compare the in vitro susceptibillity of Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis to 5% permethrin and 1% ivermectin

Methods: A randomized, controlled trial was conducted in OPD, Dermatology Department, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan over a perid of six months from December 17, 2014 to June 16, 2015. A total of 80 mites from 80 patients were taken. Mites were randomly allocated to two groups: group A [5% permethrin] and group B [1% ivermectin]. 5% permethrin and 1% ivermectin was applied in a thin film over a glass slide. Live mites were gently transferred to the glass slide. These were inspected microscopically for leg movements at an hourly interval for 6 hours. Death was declared once all leg movements had ceases. All mites which died within 6 hours were considered as susceptible to drug, while mites having active leg movements even after 6 hours were considered as non-susceptible

Results: There were 35 [84.5%] mites which showed in vitro susceptibility in the group A [5% permethrin], whereas all the mites from group B [1% ivermectin] were susceptible

Conclusion: The in vitro susceptibility was statistically significant [p=0.021] in both the groups. 1% ivermectin was better than 5% permethrin in terms of in vitro susceptibility

In vitro susceptibility of Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis to 1% topical ivermectin

The objective of this study was to measure the in-vitro susceptibility of Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis to 1% w/v ivermectin. This interventional [quasi-experimental] study was conducted in the OPD, Dermatology Department, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi from January 2013 to July 2013. A total of 40 mites were taken for assay. Extruded mites from every patient were placed in 1% ivermectin w/v over a glass slide. Mites were inspected for leg movements at hourly intervals. Death was declared once all leg movements had ceased. All mites which died within 5 hours were declared susceptible. The mites having active leg movements even after 5 hours of drug application were considered resistant. 100% [n=40] of mites died within 5 hours of application of 1% ivermectin, which was significant. Topical 1% ivermectin is effective against Sarcoptes scabiei in terms of in vitro susceptibility

sweet foot relation of glycemic control with diabetic foot lesions

Introduction: diabetes mellitus has become an epidemic in the past several decades, owing to the advancing age of the population. The average delay of 4-7 yrs in diagnosing type 2 diabetes mellitus translates into approximately 20% of patients of type 2 diabetes having some evidence of microvascular or neurological diabetic complications at the time of diagnosis

Material and Method: Design: descriptive observational study

Setting: out door and indoor patients in P.I.M.S, Islamabad, Pakistan visiting during May to June 7th, 2004 i.e.5 weeks

Patient Selection: all patients with diagnosed diabetes mellitus eligible to be included in the study

Measurements included: 1] glycosylated Hb. 2] Proteinuria by dipstick. 3] Retinal changes by fundoscopy; 4] Skin lesions 5] Neuropathy such as loss of sensations on self reported history and examination clinically

Results: out of a total of 36 patients, males were 39% [n = 14], females 61% [n = 22]. Mean age at the time of diagnosis was 42 yrs [15 yrs - 56yrs]; mean age at presentation to us was 53 yrs [25-69 yrs]; mean duration of diabetes was 15 yrs [I month - 5yrs]. Of these patients 94% [n = 34] were taking some form of treatment which included oral hypoglycemics in 94% [n = 32] and oral and parentral drugs i.e. insulin in 6% [n = 2]. Of those taking treatment 56% [n = 20] had controlled diabetes mellitus [DM] while 44% [n = 16] were having uncontrolled DM at presentation. Mean value of glycosylated haemoglobin [Hb] was 8.2% [6 - 16.6%]

Conclusion: incidence of diabetes foot lesion strongly correlates with poor glycemic control which is in itself best manifested by levels of glycoslated haemoglobin