Assessment of serum granulysin and cathepsin-L levels in vitiligo patients.

OBJECTIVE: Cellular and humoral immunity plays a role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. T lymphocytes and natural killer cells involved in cellular immunity carry out their cytotoxic activities through perforin/granzyme-dependent granule exocytosis, in which granulysin and cathepsin-L are also involved. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of serum granulysin and cathepsin-L in the etiopathogenesis of vitiligo and their association with disease activity and severity. METHODS: This randomized, prospective case-control study was conducted with 46 vitiligo patients admitted to the hospital for vitiligo between January and November 2021 and 46 healthy volunteers of similar age and gender. Serum levels of granulysin and cathepsin-L were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: The mean serum levels of granulysin and cathepsin-L were statistically significantly higher in vitiligo patients compared with the control group (p=0.048 and p=0.024, respectively). There was no statistically significant correlation between serum granulysin and serum cathepsin-L levels and disease severity in the patient group (r=0.30, p=0.062 and r=0.268, p=0.071, respectively). Disease activity also showed no significant association with serum granulysin and cathepsin-L levels (p=0.986 and p=0.962, respectively). CONCLUSION: Although granulysin and cathepsin-L are molecules involved in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, the use of these molecules may not be helpful in assessing disease activity and severity. It may be helpful to conduct comprehensive and prospective studies to find new molecules to fill the gap in this area.

Assessment of serum granulysin and cathepsin-L levels in vitiligo patients

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Cellular and humoral immunity plays a role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. T lymphocytes and natural killer cells involved in cellular immunity carry out their cytotoxic activities through perforin/granzyme-dependent granule exocytosis, in which granulysin and cathepsin-L are also involved. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of serum granulysin and cathepsin-L in the etiopathogenesis of vitiligo and their association with disease activity and severity. METHODS: This randomized, prospective case-control study was conducted with 46 vitiligo patients admitted to the hospital for vitiligo between January and November 2021 and 46 healthy volunteers of similar age and gender. Serum levels of granulysin and cathepsin-L were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: The mean serum levels of granulysin and cathepsin-L were statistically significantly higher in vitiligo patients compared with the control group (p=0.048 and p=0.024, respectively). There was no statistically significant correlation between serum granulysin and serum cathepsin-L levels and disease severity in the patient group (r=0.30, p=0.062 and r=0.268, p=0.071, respectively). Disease activity also showed no significant association with serum granulysin and cathepsin-L levels (p=0.986 and p=0.962, respectively). CONCLUSION: Although granulysin and cathepsin-L are molecules involved in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, the use of these molecules may not be helpful in assessing disease activity and severity. It may be helpful to conduct comprehensive and prospective studies to find new molecules to fill the gap in this area.

Cutaneous reactions after COVID-19 vaccination in Turkey: A multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: In this study covering all of Turkey, we aimed to define cutaneous and systemic adverse reactions in our patient population after COVID-19 vaccination with the Sinovac/CoronaVac (inactivated SARS-CoV-2) and Pfizer/BioNTech (BNT162b2) vaccines. METHODS: This prospective, cross-sectional study included individuals presenting to the dermatology or emergency outpatient clinics of a total of 19 centers after having been vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccines. Systemic, local injection site, and non-local cutaneous reactions after vaccination were identified, and their rates were determined. RESULTS: Of the 2290 individuals vaccinated between April 15 and July 15, 2021, 2097 (91.6%) received the CoronaVac vaccine and 183 (8%) BioNTech. Systemic reactions were observed at a rate of 31.0% after the first CoronaVac dose, 31.1% after the second CoronaVac dose, 46.4% after the first BioNTech dose, and 46.2% after the second BioNTech dose. Local injection site reactions were detected at a rate of 35.6% after the first CoronaVac dose, 35.7% after the second CoronaVac dose, 86.9% after the first BioNTech dose, and 94.1% after the second BioNTech dose. A total of 133 non-local cutaneous reactions were identified after the CoronaVac vaccine (2.9% after the first dose and 3.5% after the second dose), with the most common being urticaria/angioedema, pityriasis rosea, herpes zoster, and maculopapular rash. After BioNTech, 39 non-local cutaneous reactions were observed to have developed (24.8% after the first dose and 5% after the second dose), and the most common were herpes zoster, delayed large local reaction, pityriasis rosea, and urticaria/angioedema in order of frequency. Existing autoimmune diseases were triggered in 2.1% of the patients vaccinated with CoronaVac and 8.2% of those vaccinated with BioNTech. CONCLUSIONS: There are no comprehensive data on cutaneous adverse reactions specific to the CoronaVac vaccine. We determined the frequency of adverse reactions from the dermatologist's point of view after CoronaVac and BioNTech vaccination and identified a wide spectrum of non-local cutaneous reactions. Our data show that CoronaVac is associated with less harmful reactions while BioNTech may result in more serious reactions, such as herpes zoster, anaphylaxis, and triggering of autoimmunity. However, most of these reactions were self-limiting or required little therapeutic intervention.

Acute localized exanthematous pustulosis because of cefixime in a child: case report and review of pediatric cases.

BACKGROUND: Acute localized exanthematous pustulosis (ALEP), a localized variant of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, is characterized by pin-sized, non-follicular, sterile pustules that typically appear on the face, neck, and chest. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this report is to describe a case of ALEP in an 11-year-old girl because of cefixime and the etiological factors and clinical presentation of ALEP in pediatric group. METHODS: We described a case of ALEP in an 11-year-old girl because of cefixime; a systematic review of the literature was performed to identify the etiological factors and clinical presentation of ALEP in children. RESULTS: We identified eight pediatric cases with ALEP. The causative agent was an herbal product in six cases, and pustular eruption was located on the face. In two cases, responsible agents were drugs (lamotrigine and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid). The eruptions were localized on the penis and extremities, respectively. CONCLUSION: ALEP is very rare in the pediatric age group, and topical/systemic drugs or herbal products may be involved in the etiology.

Demographic and clinic characteristics and risk factors of molluscum contagiosum in children.

OBJECTIVE: To address the gap in evidence related to molluscum contagiosum in children by focusing on demographic and clinical features as well as risk factors. Methods: The multicentre, prospective, clinical study was conducted at four hospitals in Ankara and Tokat cities of Turkey from August 1, 2014, to August 5, 2019, and comprised patients aged ≤18 years diagnosed with molluscum contagiosum. Data about demographics, day nursery and preschool attendance, the seasons when the disease occurred, any use of Turkish baths and swimming pools, history of personal/familial atopy, coexistence of diseases, disease duration, courses, number of lesions and anatomic localisation. Data was analysed using SPSS 19. RESULTS: Of the 286 patients, 130(45.5%) were girls and 156(54.5%) were boys. The overall mean age was 5.94±3.95 years. The median duration of the disease was 5 weeks (interquartile range: 3.00-12.00 weeks). There was a significant number of cases with family history 18(48.6%) in the 0-3 age group (p=0.027). History of personal atopy was significantly high in the winter season (p<0.05). Patients with >20 lesions had used swimming pools significantly more frequently than the rest (p=0.042). The trunk was the most commonly involved region 162(56.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Providing prospective data about demographics, clinical characteristics and risk factors of molluscum contagiosum in children will lead to appropriate preventive and therapeutic measures.

Dyshidrotic eczema and seborrheic dermatitis-like eczematous eruption following intravenous immunoglobulin therapy.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is increasingly used for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Although skin reactions to IVIg therapy are usually minor, rare, and not life-threatening, dermatologists need to recognize the nature of these adverse reactions. We describe a 33-year-old man suffering from demyelinating polyneuropathy who developed dyshidrotic eczema on the palms and flaky grayish-white scales on an erythematous base on his face after the administration of IVIg.

Expressions of glutathione S-transferase alpha, mu, pi, and theta in the skin samples of patients with acne rosacea.

BACKGROUND: Data point to the importance of oxidative stress in rosacea. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) have substantial roles in a wide variety of oxidative stress-related conditions. AIM: To evaluate the immunohistochemical staining characteristics of GST alpha (GSTA), mu (GSTM), pi (GSTP), and theta (GSTT) in patients with rosacea. PATIENTS/METHODS: The study included 23 women and 7 men with rosacea (mean ± SD age 49 ± 11 year) and 15 healthy control subjects (10 women, 5 men; mean ± SD age 47.86 ± 10.88 year). For each patient, the average disease duration, disease subtype, ocular involvement, and severity score were recorded. A 3-mm punch biopsy was taken from the facial skin of each patient and control. Expression of GST isoenzymes was analyzed immunohistochemically. RESULTS: Expressions of GSTM1, GSTP1, and GSTT1 were significantly elevated in patients with rosacea compared to those in the control group (P = .0001, P = .0002, P < .0001, respectively). In the rosacea group, GSTT1 expression was significantly stronger than GSTP1 and GSTA1 expressions (P = .019, P < .0001, respectively). There were no significant associations between expressions of GST isoenzymes and gender, age, average duration of illness, disease subtype, ocular involvement, or severity score in the patient group (all P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: In rosacea, the significant increase of GSTT1, GSTP1, and GSTM1 expressions might result from activation of GST as an outcome of extreme free radical generation from triggered neutrophils or ultraviolet vulnerability. These findings support the relevance of oxidant stress in the pathogenesis of rosacea.