The effect of isotretinoin therapy on oxidative damage in rats.

Isotretinoin is prescribed in many dermatologic disorders, but mostly in acne. There is limited research about oxidative stress induced by isotretinoin and its effects on the liver tissue, muscle tissue, and blood. In this study, oxidative damage of isotretinoin on the liver, muscles, and blood in rats at the therapeutic dosage for humans, is evaluated. Thirty, 2-months-old Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four groups. Isotretinoin was administered at the human equivalent low dose of 7.5 mg/kg by gavage. Blood, liver, and skeletal muscle samples were taken from the animals under anesthesia. Oxidative stress and antioxidant defense markers such as Malondialdehyde (MDA), Protein carbonyl (PC), 8-OHDG (8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine), SOD (Superoxide dismutase), GSH(Glutathione), GPX (glutathione peroxidase), NO (Nitric Oxide) levels, Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and creatine kinase (CK) levels were measured. There were significant differences between the ALT values of the control group and the third month of isotretinoin treatment group. Oxidative stress markers such as 8-OHDG, PC, GSH, GPX, and NO values significantly differed in month 3. SOD was significantly lower in the treatment groups compared to the control group. Our study supports that the levels of oxidative markers are increasing with the isotretinoin treatment so this may flare acne. GPX levels increased at the muscle tissue level, and may be responsible for the myopathy that is seen in acne patients. Addition of antioxidants to isotretinoin treatment may be beneficial in reducing oxidative damage.

Serum leptin, adiponectin, resistin and ghrelin levels in psoriatic patients treated with cyclosporin.

Cyclosporin has various effects on adipose tissue and glucose metabolism. This situation may lead to changes in serum levels of adipocyte-derived cytokines which have influence on the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cyclosporin treatment on some adipocyte-derived cytokines in psoriatic patients. This case-control study was performed between June 2009 and March 2010, at the Department of Dermatology of Meram School of Medicine. Serum leptin, adiponectin, resistin and ghrelin levels were assessed in 26 patients with psoriasis before and after cyclosporin treatment and body mass index-matched 26 healthy control subjects. The adipokines levels were compared between the groups. Serum leptin, ghrelin, resistin and adiponectin levels in patients with psoriasis before the treatment were higher than those of the control group but the differences were not statistically significant. A positive correlation between serum leptin and family history of psoriasis was detected (r = 0.398, P = 0.044). A strong negative correlation between the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index and serum ghrelin levels was seen (r = -0.52, P = 0.001) and there was a strong positive correlation between the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index and serum resistin levels (r = 0.62, P = 0.001). Following the treatment, a significant increase was seen in the serum level of adiponectin (P = 0.02) and resistin (P = 0.003). The correlations between the adipokines and the disease parameters before the treatment were lost after the treatment. Our results suggest that levels of some adipocyte-derived cytokines in psoriatic patients are affected by cyclosporin treatment.

A randomized comparison of acitretin-narrow-band TL-01 phototherapy and acitretin-psoralen plus ultraviolet A for psoriasis.

The combination of retinoids with phototherapy enhances the efficacy of phototherapy and reduces the cumulative ultraviolet dose and duration of the therapy needed to treat chronic plaque psoriasis. Although TL-01 phototherapy has been used widely, there are few data about the effectiveness of the combination of acitretin with TL-01 in treatment of the disease. The aim of this study was to compare acitretin-narrow-band TL-01 phototherapy with acitretin-psoralen plus ultraviolet A (acitretin-PUVA) in psoriasis. We studied 60 patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who were randomly allocated to three times weekly treatment acitretin-narrow-band TL-01 or acitretin-PUVA. The efficacy of treatments was assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index by a blinded observer. Clearance of psoriasis was achieved in 56.6% of patients treated with acitretin-narrow-band TL-01 and in 63.3% of those treated with acitretin-PUVA. All of these patients remained clear of psoriasis 3 months after finishing the treatments. Mucocutaneous side-effects, such as dry lips and mouth, were the most common complaints in both groups. In conclusion, acitretin-narrow-band TL-01 is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, with a therapeutic effect equal to that of acitretin-PUVA.

Treatment of facial port-wine stains with intense pulsed light: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Intense pulsed light (IPL) has been used for the treatment of port-wine stains for 10 years. There are many IPL systems that have different setting. Some of them have been reported in the treatment of fresh or laser-resistant port-wine stains localized in different body regions. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to conduct a prospective trial to assess the effectiveness of Lynton (The Lumina Family of Medical Flashlamp Systems) of the IPL family in the treatment of fresh facial port-wine stains. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve patients with facial and/or neck port-wine stains without previous treatment were enrolled in the trial. Patient demographics, treatment setting, outcome of clearing, and treatment complications were noted. RESULTS: The treatment intervals were 4 to 6 weeks for three to six treatment sessions. Moderate improvement (50-75%) was achieved in 47% of the patients. Complete clearing was seen in only one patient (8.3%) after four treatment sessions. Hypertrophic scar formation in two patients occurred after healing blister. Except for the side effects, long-term complications were not seen. CONCLUSION: Moderate effectiveness was achieved with IPL treatment in the facial port-wine stains.

Treatment of chronic urticaria with narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy: a randomized controlled trial.

Data regarding narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy in patients with chronic urticaria is limited. The aim of this open, controlled study was to determine whether NB-UVB is effective in treating urticaria in combination with antihistamin. A total of 81 patients with chronic urticaria were recruited, 48 of whom were randomized into the NB-UVB plus antihistamine group. The control group (n = 33) received only antihistamine. Patients were assessed using the urticaria activity score and a visual analogue score (VAS). The 2 groups were evaluated at the same time-points: at treatment sessions 10 and 20 and at follow-up 3 months post-treatment. The reduction in urticaria activity score and VAS was statistically significant (p < 0.05 for both groups). When comparing the groups, the mean urticaria activity score was significantly lower in the NB-UVB group at session 10 (22.6 vs. 27.3) and session 20 (17.4 vs. 20.7). Statistically significant differences were also noted in VAS between the 2 groups (p < 0.01) at 3 months post-treatment. We conclude that NB-UVB may be an effective complementary treatment for patients with chronic urticaria.

Evaluation of leptin level and Ob gene polymorphism in patients with Behcet's disease.

The present study was aimed to evaluate serum leptin level and the frequency of oligopolymorphic codon 25 (CAA/CAG) of Ob gene in Behcet's disease. Eighty-seven patients with Behcet's disease and 85 healthy controls with matched age, gender and body mass index were included in the study. Serum leptin level was determined and genotype of codon 25 of Ob gene was performed by using the PCR amplification after DNA extraction. Serum leptin concentration of the patients with Behcet's disease (23.8 +/- 22.8 ng/ml) was higher than that of the control groups (17.1 +/- 14.7 ng/ml). The patients with Behcet's disease and control subjects showed CAA/CAA genotype, indicating the presence of no polymorphism. Neither Behcet's disease nor serum leptin level was found to be related to codon 25 polymorphism. We concluded that leptin 25CAG polymorphism is not associated with Behcet's disease and serum leptin level.