The 577-nm pro-yellow diode laser as a reliable and effective tool for facial telangiectasia.

BACKGROUND: Laser treatment of vascular skin conditions is very useful option yet remains to be a very challenging task. AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy of 577-nm diode laser for treating facial telangiectasia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with facial telangiectasia were included in this prospective study. All participants received 3 sessions of a single-pass 577-nm diode laser. Sessions were delivered on a monthly basis, and digital photographic assessment was made at baseline and on follow-up 1 month after the last treatment. RESULTS: At the final visit, there was a significant improvement (> 50%) reported in 21/30 (70%) patients while a poor response was reported in 2/30 (6.7%) patients. The skin phototype and site of the lesions significantly affected the result outcome (P < .05) while none of the patients' age, sex, or duration of facial telangiectasia significantly affected the treatment outcome (P > .05). Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation occurred in 2(6.7%) patients which resolved within 1.5 months. CONCLUSION: Facial telangiectasia can be successfully treated with a 577-nm diode laser with minimal side effects.

Acridine Orange and Flow Cytometry: Which Is Better to Measure the Effect of Varicocele on Sperm DNA Integrity?

We evaluated the effect of varicocelectomy on semen parameters and levels of sperm DNA damage in infertile men. A total of 75 infertile men with varicocele and 40 fertile men (controls) were included in this study. Semen analysis and sperm DNA damage expressed as the DNA fragmentation index using acridine orange staining and chromatin condensation test by flow cytometry were assessed before and 6 months after varicocelectomy. The patients were also followed up for 1 year for pregnancy outcome. Semen parameters were significantly lower in varicocele patients compared to controls (P < 0.05). Mean percentages of sperm DNA fragmentation and sperm DNA chromatin condensation in patients were significantly higher than those in controls (P < 0.05). After varicocelectomy, sperm DNA fragmentation improved significantly, whereas sperm chromatin condensation was not significantly changed. In 15 out of 75 varicocele patients, clinical pregnancy was diagnosed; those with positive pregnancy outcome had significant improvement in sperm count, progressive sperm motility, and sperm DNA fragmentation, but there was no significant difference in sperm DNA condensation compared to negative pregnancy outcome patients. We concluded from this study that acridine orange stain is more reliable method than flow cytometry in the evaluation of sperm DNA integrity after varicocelectomy.