Comparison of oral ivermectin vs. lindane lotion 1% for the treatment of scabies.

BACKGROUND: Scabies is a common parasitic infestation that is an important public-health problem in many resource-poor regions. It is commonly treated with the insecticides ivermectin and permethrin. AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of oral ivermectin vs. lindane lotion 1% for the treatment of scabies. METHODS: In total, 148 patients with scabies were enrolled, and were randomized into two groups: the first group received a single dose of oral ivermectin 200 µg/kg body weight, and the second group were treated with two applications of topical lindane lotion 1%, with a 1-week interval between applications. Treatment was evaluated at intervals of 2 and 4 weeks, and if there was treatment failure at the 2-week follow-up, treatment was repeated. RESULTS: A single dose of ivermectin provided a cure rate of 60.8% at the 2-week follow-up, which increased to 89.1% at the 4-week follow-up. after crossing over to the lindane lotion 1% group. Treatment with two applications of lindane lotion 1%, with a 1-week interval between them, was effective in 47.2% of patients at the 2-week follow-up, which increased to 72.9% at the 4-week follow-up after this treatment was repeated. CONCLUSIONS: A single dose of ivermectin was as effective as two applications of lindane lotion 1% at the 2-week follow-up. After repeat treatment, ivermectin was superior to lindane lotion 1% at the 4-week follow up. The delay in clinical response with ivermectin suggests that it may not be effective against all the stages in the life cycle of the parasite.

Efficacy of intense pulsed light in hirsutism.

Unwanted hair growth presents a significant problem for many patients and considerable resources are spent to achieve a hair-free appearance. Our aim of this study was to further evaluate the efficacy of this method in hirsutism in our region. Sixty patients with idiopathic hirsutism presenting to Dermatology Clinics of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences from September 2007 to March 2009 were classified in three groups regarding the site of hirsutism (chine, face, or mustache). All patients underwent IPL-therapy every month for six sessions. The changes in number and diameter of regional hairs were recorded at the end of each session. The patients had the mean age of 25.50+/-3.01 years (18-33 year). The disease was in chin in 26 cases (43.3%), face in 18 patients (30%) and mustache in 16 (26.7%). The skin type was III in 49 (81.7%) or IV in 11 (18.3%) patients. The positive therapeutic response after sixth session in total and in chin, face and mustache were 86.43, 88.66, 86.95 and 82.19%, respectively. The therapeutic response was not statistically significant in different body regions. The hair number in all treated regions was decrease significantly in each session in comparison with the first therapeutic session (p<0.05). Also, the hair diameter at the end of last session was decreased significantly in comparison with the first session in all treated regions (p<0.05). Regarding the high efficacy (86.42%) of IPL in treatment of facial hirsutism and absence of side effect, it is recommended as an effective treatment modality in hirsutism.

Safety margin in excision of basal cell carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the intact margin after surgery regarding common method with consideration of 4 mm safe margin. Fifty patients with basal cell carcinoma operated in Tabriz Sina hospital, were chosen randomly and pathological report of these patients after surgery was evaluated with consideration of presence of intact margin. In pathologic report before operation of these patients, Basal cell carcinoma was certified. Also, brief data of these patients history was studied from present cases. Forty eight of 50 (96%) patients had intact margin after surgery and just in two patients (4%), lesion was excised insufficiently and they had involved margin. With brief study of patients' history, most of them had advanced ages and the most common site of tumor presentation was head and neck. The most of these patients had exposure with so much sun light that was accounted an important etiology. With comparison of mentioned statistical results with other reports from other countries, this rate is considered in acceptable range and surgical method is done properly in this hospital and consideration of 4 mm of tumoral margin is enough.