Utility of 30% hydrogen peroxide in the treatment of seborrheic keratosis.

BACKGROUND: Hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) has been used in medicine as an antiseptic, but at a higher concentration of 40%, it is used as a chemical cauterant for seborrheic keratoses (SKs). Its action and hence utility at 30% is unexplored. It can serve as a relatively inexpensive modality of treatment for SKs. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and side effects of 30% H2 O2 as a chemical cauterant in SKs. METHODS: Seborrheic keratoses were treated with 30% H2 O2 methodically. Posttreatment assessment was done for the lesion thickness, patient satisfaction, and side effects like burning, itching, edema, crusting, vesiculation, erosion, ulceration, and pigmentary changes. RESULTS: Complete clearance was noted in 25 (49%) lesions, after a single session. Five (9%) lesions responded poorly. Patient satisfaction was excellent with 34 (66.7%) lesions. Side effects noted were burning, pruritus, erythema, edema, and crusting. However, none of them was severe. Dryness, vesiculation, and scarring were reported by none. CONCLUSIONS: H2 O2 30% can be used as a chemical cauterant with minimal side effects.

Efficacy of 810 nm diode laser in hair reduction in Indian subpopulation using a novel Gabor filter-based detection software and hair algorithm.

BACKGROUND: Diode laser (810 nm) is frequently employed for hair reduction. There are few studies determining the efficacy in Indian population. OBJECTIVES: Assessment of efficacy and safety of 810 nm diode laser in facial/axillary hair reduction and objective assessment of the improvement with dermoscopy, photographs, and novel Gabor filter-based hair detection algorithm. METHODOLOGY: This hospital-based study included 40 adult women with 108 treatment sites over 5.4 sessions (range 4-8). Evaluation of treatment areas (hair texture, density) was done using modified Ferriman-Galwey scoring. Photography and dermoscopic images were taken before each session and 6 weeks after the last. Immediate and delayed adverse reactions were noted. Assessment of efficacy was done by patient, principal, and blinded investigator using Global Aesthetic Improvement scale (GAIS) and hair detection algorithm (evaluating characteristics of dermoscopic hair). RESULTS: The fluences ranged from 16 to 29 Joules/cm2 with pulse width of 30 ms. Upper lip (n = 29, 26.9%) and chin (n = 25, 22.1%) were commonly treated areas. Improvement in hair texture and density (reduction in uniformly distributed, terminal hair from 37.1% to 13.9%) was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Excellent improvement of 75-100% (GAIS) was noted by principal and blinded investigator in 24.1% and 33.3% total sites, respectively. The median improvement, calculated by the algorithm, was 60% for side locks, 53.9% for axilla, 24.1% for upper lip, and 14.9% for chin. Axilla and upper lip were sites associated with maximum discomfort. Epidermolysis and paradoxical hypertrichosis were seen in five patients each. CONCLUSION: The 810 nm diode laser is safe and effective in the reduction of dark, coarse terminal hairs in Fitzpatrick skin types III-V. Inter-observer variation and investigator bias in the assessment of efficacy can be successfully overcome by using the algorithm.

Prevalence, risk factors and treatment practices in diarrhoeal diseases in south India.

OBJECTIVES: This study was done to determine the risk factors, management practices and awareness about diarrhoea. METHODS: It was a cross sectional study done in a semi urban and rural areas of South Canara district of India in February 2013. A total of 167 households (575 study population) chosen systematic randomly were visited and one adult member in each house was interviewed. The houses were also inspected to assess the living conditions. RESULTS: Mean age of study population was 31.1 ± 20.2 years. The period prevalence of diarrhoea was 69 (12 %). Commonest associated symptoms in cases of diarrhoea were fever 30 (43.4 %) followed by abdominal cramps 29 (42 %). Nearly half of the cases with diarrhoea 34 (49.3 %) did not take any medications. Commonest treatment taken was allopathic medicines 26 (37.8 %) followed by home remedies 8 (22.9 %). Age ≤10 years (p < 0.001) was associated with risk of developing diarrhoea using binary logistic regression analysis. Among the 167 participants, awareness level about the disease was poor among 16 (9.6 %) and moderate among 149 (89.2 % participants). Awareness level was more among females (p = 0.001) and literate participants (p = 0.013). One hundred and sixteen (69.5 %) participants were not aware of any sign or symptom of dehydration other than loose stools. Majority of the participants 138 (82.6 %) preferred home remedies as the initial management of diarrhoea. Misconception about fluid restriction in diarrhoea was stated by 12(7.2 %) participants. CONCLUSION: Public education program on proper feeding and management practices is required to address the various issues identified and for containment of diarrhoea cases in future.

Can Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 7 (mGluR 7) be a Novel Target for Analgesia?

INTRODUCTION: The present study was carried out to study the role of metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGluR7) using its agonist, N,N'-bis(diphenylmethyl)-1,-ethanediamine (AMN082) for nociceptive stimuli, in animal models. By conducting this research, we aim to introduce a novel target for acute pain management. OBJECTIVE: To study the role of metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGluR7), in analgesia, using mGluR7 agonist AMN082 in animal models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Swiss albino mice of either sex, weighing 20-30gm were used for the study. The animals were divided into 3 groups with 6 mice in each group: Control or Normal group received 0.5% methylcellulose in normal saline; Standard group received the drug tramadol HCl at 40mg/kg; and test group received drug AMN 082 at 5mg/kg. All the drugs were administered by intraperitoneal route. Hot plate test and Tail flick test were done to evaluate the analgesic effect of the drug. Reaction time for the end points in both the models were noted before drug administration at 0 min and after drug administration at 15, 30,60,90 and 120 min. Statistical analysis was done using One-Way-ANOVA followed by Tukeys post hoc test. p-value was considered significant at ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: The group that received AMN082 showed significantly lesser reaction time compared to normal and standard groups in both the analgesia models. CONCLUSION: The mGluR 7 stimulation by an agonist AMN082, did not show analgesic effect but induced hyperalgesia in response to thermal nociceptive stimuli.