Assessment of serum interleukin-19 in acne vulgaris patients of different clinical severities.

BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris (AV) is a common chronic inflammatory disorder of the pilosebaceous unit among adolescents and young adults. Inflammation does have a central role in formation of both inflammatory and noninflammatory acne lesions with production of proinflammatory cytokines. AIMS: To measure serum levels of interleukin 19 (IL-19) in acne vulgaris patients with different severities, and compare it with healthy controls, to evaluate its role in pathogenesis of acne vulgaris and correlate it with acne severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 120 subjects, aged 18-30 years, divided into four groups, 30 in each; mild, moderate, and severe AV patients groups according to acne severity as well as apparently healthy controls group of matched age and sex with no previous history of acne or active acne. Each patient was subjected to history taking, general and dermatological examination with assessment of acne severity. Serum IL-19 levels of both patients and controls were also measured using quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Results revealed significant difference in serum IL-19 levels between acne patients and controls, being higher in the former group (P value is < 0.001). Moreover, the rise in serum IL-19 levels was significantly proportional to the increased acne severity (P value < 0.001). CONCLUSION: IL-19 is related to the etiopathological inflammatory process of acne vulgaris and correlates with acne severity. It could be proposed as a prognostic inflammatory marker for acne vulgaris.

The dermoscopic features of facial aging among Egyptians: A comparative study between males and females.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated facial photoaging by dermoscopy. Only one study has been performed among Egyptians. OBJECTIVE: To study and compare the dermoscopic features of facial aging in males and females and to relate these features to clinical criteria. METHODS: This study included 217 subjects divided into two groups; 117 males and 100 females. Each group was classified into three subgroups according to age. The dermoscopic features were reported according to dermoscopy photoaging scale (DPAS) criteria besides diffuse erythema and seborrheic keratosis and were related to significant clinical factors. RESULTS: The most prominent DPAS features in males were yellowish discoloration, hypo-hyperpigmented macules, superficial wrinkles, criss-cross wrinkles, and deep wrinkles. The most prominent DPAS findings in females were yellow papules, hypo-hyperpigmented macules, solar lentigo, and superficial wrinkles. A significant difference between males and females was detected regarding yellowish discoloration, white lines, hypo-hyperpigmented macules, senile comedones, telangiectasia, all wrinkle types, and DPAS score besides diffuse erythema and seborrheic keratosis. The DPAS score and the dermoscopic features were more prominent with male gender, increase in age, sun exposure, Glogau's scale, and smoking and were detected early in skin phototypes II and III. CONCLUSION: We found a significant difference in various dermoscopic features in males compared to age-matched females. Also, we detected increase in DPAS features and score with male gender, aging, sun exposure, Glogau's scale, and smoking. Therefore, dermoscopy is an objective technique that detects selectively photoaging in males and females that aids in proper choice of various targeted treatment modalities.

Evaluation of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in vitiligo patients with and without autoimmune diseases.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is an autoimmune depigmentation disorder, commonly associated with systemic autoimmune diseases. Deficient serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels have been noted in some patients with autoimmune diseases. AIM: To evaluate serum 25(OH)D levels in vitiligo patients with and without systemic autoimmune diseases. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted on 40 vitiligo patients (20 patients with systemic autoimmune diseases and 20 patients without autoimmune diseases) and 40 age-, gender- and skin phototype-matched healthy controls. Serum 25(OH)D was measured in all subjects, divided into: normal or sufficient (≥ 30 ng/ml), insufficient (< 30-> 20 ng/ml) and deficient (≤ 20 ng/ml) levels. RESULTS: One patient with vitiligo (2.5%) versus 33 healthy controls (82.5%) have sufficient serum 25(OH)D levels while 39 patients (97.5%) versus 5 controls (12.5%) have deficient 25(OH)D levels with significantly lower serum 25(OH)D levels in patients compared to controls (P-value < 0.001). The other 2 healthy controls have insufficient 25(OH)D levels. Patients with vitiligo and autoimmune diseases have lower serum 25(OH)D levels than vitiligo patients without autoimmune diseases but with no significant difference. No significant correlations existed between age of the patients, duration of vitiligo, duration of associated autoimmune diseases, affected body surface area and serum 25(OH)D levels of patients. CONCLUSION: Deficient serum 25(OH)D levels are present in vitiligo patients with and without systemic autoimmune diseases. Accordingly, screening for vitamin D deficiency seems of value in vitiligo patients for the possibility of vitamin D supplementation.