Evaluation of biophysical skin parameters and hair changes in patients with acne vulgaris treated with isotretinoin, and the effect of biotin use on these parameters.

AIM: Impairment of biotin metabolism with the use of isotretinoin and the mucocutaneous side effects observed in patients using isotretinoin suggests that they are a result of decreased enzyme activity. We aimed to determine the pattern of skin and hair changes in patients with acne receiving isotretinoin and how these changes were affected by biotin added to the treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients were divided into two groups. Each group contained 30 patients. Groups A and B received 0.5 mg/kg/day isotretinoin, and 10 mg/day biotin supplement was added to Group B. Both groups were evaluated using a digital dermoscope for hair changes and with a DermaLab® Combo device for transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin retraction, skin hydration, and skin sebum levels at the beginning and end of the fourth month. RESULTS: In group B, the anagen hair ratio increased (P = 0.034) and the telogen hair ratio decreased significantly (P = 0.003). Skin sebum and the skin retraction values decreased in both groups. Skin hydration decreased significantly in group A (P = 0.001), but there was no significant decrease in group B (P = 0.43). CONCLUSION: Biotin (10 mg/day) given in addition to isotretinoin treatment decreased telogen and increased anagen hair rates and helped to maintain skin hydration. The use of 10 mg/day biotin can prevent the mucocutaneous adverse effects of isotretinoin treatment.

The effect of personal, familial, and environmental characteristics on acne vulgaris: a prospective, multicenter, case controlled study.

BACKGROUND: There are only a few studies about epidemiological features of acne vulgaris in the literature. The aim of this study was to analyze demographic, clinical, familial and environmental characteristics of acne, the role of diet and aggravating factors and association of these factors with acne severity. METHODS: Patients with a diagnosis of mild-moderate to severe acne were consecutively interviewed at the participating centers during the study period. RESULTS: A total of 3826 patients and 759 control patients were involved in this study. Mild acne was the most common type of acne, and most of the lesions were localized on face followed by the trunk. The severity of acne was worse in patients who had a positive family history of acne. The most common triggering factor was psychological stress. We found a positive correlation with chocolate, bread, green tea, milk, white sugar, ripe banana, ice cream, apple, orange, and red meat consumption. As we compare the acne severity according to geographical features we detected mild- moderate acne was more common in Mediterranean region and severe acne was more common in East Anatolian region. Family history positivity was more common in Aegean region and least common in Central Anatolian region. There was statistically significant relationship as we compare acne severity and dietary factors such as chocolate, dairy products such as milk, sunflower seed consumption within the geographical regions. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents the demographic and clinical characteristics of acne patients in Asian and the European parts of Turkey. We believe that this study will provide a useful overview of acne in Turkey.

An investigation of cytochrome p450 (CYP) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoenzyme protein expression and related interactions with phototherapy in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

Oxidative stress may play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) make up a group of antioxidant enzymes. Cytochrome p450 (CYP) enzymes can influence oxidation and reduction reactions. We investigated the potential effects of GST and CYP enzymes in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The study included 32 psoriasis patients and 22 healthy subjects. Psoriasis patients were administered 20 sessions of narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy. Expressions of GST and CYP enzymes were assessed by immunohistochemical staining. Expression levels of GSTK1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 were significantly higher in psoriasis than in control tissues (P = 0.022, P = 0.001, and P = 0.006, respectively). Pre- and post-treatment expression was similar. Expression of CYP1A1 and CYP2E1 was significantly higher in pre- (P = 0.003 and P = 0.001, respectively) and post-treatment (P = 0.003 and P = 0.001, respectively) psoriatic tissues than in control tissues. No significant differences in CYP1B1 levels between the study and control groups were detected before treatment (P > 0.05). However, CYP1B1 levels were higher in post-treatment psoriatic tissue than in control tissue (P = 0.045). The significant increases in expression of GSTK1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 in psoriasis may reflect the increased activation of GST in response to excessive free radical formation from activated neutrophils or ultraviolet exposure to maintain antioxidant capacity in psoriasis. Furthermore, expressions of CYP1A1 and CYP2E1 represent important enzymatic systems in psoriasis. These findings suggest that psoriasis is an oxidative stress condition, although phototherapy does not affect these enzymatic systems. Further investigation is required.

Phototoxic dermatitis due to Chenopodium album in a child.

In this article, we report a 2-year-old girl with severe phototoxic dermatitis caused by ingestion of Chenopodium album. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of phototoxic dermatitis due to Chenopodium album in childhood.

Visual evoked potential findings in Behcet's disease without neurological manifestations.

Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic, recurrent multisystem inflammatory disorder firstly described by Turkish dermatologist Dr. Hulusi Behçet in 1937. The classic triad consists of recurrent oral and genital ulcerations and uveitis. The article presents the value of visual evoked potential findings of a series of 44 patients with BD without neurological manifestations seen at the Medical Hospital in Neurology and Dermatology clinics over the past 8 years. The mean latency value of positive peak P100 in BD patients was significantly delayed compared to that of control subjects (patients's mean: 105.6 ms in right eye and 107.7 ms in left eye; control subject's mean: 101.4 ms in right eye and 101.7 ms in left eye).