Investigation of Demodex folliculorum frequency in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract: Background: Background: Demodex mites are acari that reside in the pilosebaceous unit of the skin and have been associated with skin disorders. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Demodex folliculorum (D. folliculorum) mites in polycystic ovary syndrome patients as well as to examine the relationship between Demodex infestation and the presence of acne and oily or dry skin types in polycystic ovary syndrome patients. Methods: 41 polycystic ovary syndrome patients and 47 non-polycystic ovary syndrome control subjects were enrolled in the study. polycystic ovary syndrome was diagnosed according to the revised 2003 ESHRE/ASRM polycystic ovary syndrome Consensus Workshop Group diagnostic criteria. Microscopic examination of D. folliculorum mites was carried out by standardized skin surface biopsy. The result was considered positive when there were more than 5 mites per cm2. Results: D. folliculorum was positive in 53.7% of the polycystic ovary syndrome patients and 31.9% of the non-polycystic ovary syndrome group (p=0.052). Demodex positivity was significantly associated with acne (p=0.003) and oily skin (p=0.005) in the polycystic ovary syndrome patients but not in the controls. Study limitation: Our study is limited by the relatively small number of subjects and the observational nature of the study design. Conclusion: Demodex mites might have a role in acne pathogenesis in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Anti-Demodex treatment may increase the response to treatment of acne. Further studies are indicated.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is increased in serum levels of patients with symptomatic dermographism.

INTRODUCTION: Symptomatic dermographism (SD) is the most common form of physical urticaria. However, the role of neuroimmune mechanisms in SD is unclear. AIM: To investigate circulating levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in symptomatic dermographism. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients suffering from SD and 33 healthy subjects were included in the study. Serum BDNF levels were determined by a human enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) kit. The serum C-reactive protein concentration and eosinophil counts in peripheral blood were evaluated. RESULTS: The BDNF serum levels were detectable in both SD patients and healthy controls. The BDNF serum levels were significantly higher in patients with SD compared with healthy controls (p = 0.004). There was a positive but weak correlation between serum BDNF and CRP levels; it was not statistically significant (r = 0.211, p = 0.255). There was also a positive but weak correlation between serum BDNF and eosinophil counts; it was not statistically significant (r = 0.271, p = 0.141). CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that BDNF is increased in the serum levels of patients with SD, suggesting a role for BDNF in the pathophysiology of this disorder.

25-hydroxyvitamin D status in patients with alopecia areata.

INTRODUCTION: Alopecia areata (AA) is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease that causes inflammation around anagen-phase hair follicles. Insufficient levels of vitamin D have been implicated in a variety of autoimmune diseases. AIM: To investigate the status of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in patients with AA, serum 25(OH)D concentrations were compared between AA patients and healthy controls and thus determine if a possible association exists between serum 25(OH)D levels and AA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study comprising 41 patients diagnosed with AA and 32 healthy controls was conducted between October 2010 and March 2011. The serum vitamin D levels of the study group were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone were also evaluated. RESULTS: The study was based on 41 patients aged between 20 and 50 (mean: 32.8 ±7.5). The control group included 32 healthy persons aged between 20 and 51 (mean: 32.7 ±7.5). Serum 25(OH)D levels in patients with AA ranged from 5.0 to 38.6 ng/ml with a mean of 8.1 ng/ml. Serum 25(OH)D levels in healthy controls ranged from 3.6 to 38.5 ng/ml with a mean of 9.8 ng/ml. There was no statistically significant difference in the serum vitamin D level between AA patients and healthy controls (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Deficient serum 25(OH)D levels are present in patients with AA. However, considering the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Turkey, no difference was noted between AA patients and controls.

Investigation of Demodex folliculorum frequency in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Background: Demodex mites are acari that reside in the pilosebaceous unit of the skin and have been associated with skin disorders. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Demodex folliculorum (D. folliculorum) mites in polycystic ovary syndrome patients as well as to examine the relationship between Demodex infestation and the presence of acne and oily or dry skin types in polycystic ovary syndrome patients. METHODS: 41 polycystic ovary syndrome patients and 47 non-polycystic ovary syndrome control subjects were enrolled in the study. polycystic ovary syndrome was diagnosed according to the revised 2003 ESHRE/ASRM polycystic ovary syndrome Consensus Workshop Group diagnostic criteria. Microscopic examination of D. folliculorum mites was carried out by standardized skin surface biopsy. The result was considered positive when there were more than 5 mites per cm2. RESULTS: D. folliculorum was positive in 53.7% of the polycystic ovary syndrome patients and 31.9% of the non-polycystic ovary syndrome group (p=0.052). Demodex positivity was significantly associated with acne (p=0.003) and oily skin (p=0.005) in the polycystic ovary syndrome patients but not in the controls. STUDY LIMITATION: Our study is limited by the relatively small number of subjects and the observational nature of the study design. CONCLUSION: Demodex mites might have a role in acne pathogenesis in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Anti-Demodex treatment may increase the response to treatment of acne. Further studies are indicated.

Therapeutic Effects of Islamic Intercessory Prayer on Warts.

The present study aimed to examine the therapeutic effects of Islamic intercessory prayer on warts. Forty-five participants who are mostly Muslims and infected with warts were randomized into three groups: Group-1 (uncertain, with intercessory prayer), Group-2 (uncertain, no intercessory prayer), and control group (informed, no intervention). Stress symptoms were also measured before and after prayer sessions for these three groups. The results revealed that there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of healing. Although participants believed in the therapeutic effects of prayer, when participants did not trust the intercessor, prayer had no effect on warts.

Coffin-Siris syndrome with café-au-lait spots, obesity and hyperinsulinism caused by a mutation in the ARID1B gene.

Coffin-Siris syndrome (CSS) (MIM 135900) is characterized by developmental delay, severe speech impairment, distinctive facial features, hypertrichosis, aplasia or hypoplasia of the distal phalanx or nail of the fifth digit and agenesis of the corpus callosum. Recently, it was shown that mutations in the ARID1B gene are the main cause of CSS, accounting for 76% of identified mutations. Here, we report a 15 year-old female patient who was admitted to our clinic with seizures, speech problems, dysmorphic features, bilaterally big, large thumb, café-au-lait (CAL) spots, obesity and hyperinsulinism. First, the patient was thought to have an association of neurofibromatosis and Rubinstein Taybi syndrome. Because of the large size of the NF1 gene for neurofibromatosis and CREBBP gene for Rubinstein Taybi syndrome, whole exome sequence analysis (WES) was conducted and a novel ARID1B mutation was identified. The proband WES test identified a novel heterozygous frameshift mutation c.3394_3395insTA in exon 13 of ARID1B (NM_017519.2) predicting a premature stop codon p.(Tyr1132Leufs*67). Sanger sequencing confirmed the heterozygous c.3394_3395insTA mutation in the proband and that it was not present in her parents indicating de novo mutation. Further investigation and new cases will help to understand this phenomenon better.

Nail alterations during pregnancy: a clinical study.

During pregnancy, cutaneous and appendageal alterations manifest and may cause concern in the subject. The nails may be affected by pregnancy. This study investigated the frequency and nature of nail changes occurring during pregnancy in 312 healthy, 18-40-year-old pregnant women in gestation weeks 16-40. After a routine obstetric examination at the obstetrics and gynecology clinic at the study institution, all subjects submitted to an examination of all fingernails and toenails. Only nail alterations that had developed during pregnancy were recorded. Any nail changes that had occurred before the start of gestation were not considered. Data were presented as percentages. The Shapiro-Wilk and chi-squared tests were used to make categorical comparisons. A P-value of < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. No nail pathologies were detected in 116 (37.2%) of the 312 subjects. The most commonly found nail change was leukonychia (24.4%). Ingrown toenail (9.0%) and onychoschizia (9.0%) represented the second most common nail changes. Rapid nail growth and subungual hyperkeratosis were observed in 6.7% and 4.2%, respectively, of subjects. When the alterations were evaluated according to gestational age, the most common nail pathology was leukonychia at both 14-28 weeks (16.3%) and 29-42 weeks (27.4%) of pregnancy. Leukonychia, onychoschizia, onycholysis, and brittle nail pathologies were frequently observed at 29-42 weeks of pregnancy (P = 0.047). A large proportion of nail changes that occur during pregnancy are benign and do not require treatment. However, these changes may cause significant cosmetic stress in women.

Lichen striatus and pityriasis lichenoides chronica in an 11-year-old girl: An etiologic relationship?

Lichen striatusis a rare linear papulardermatosis that primarily occurs in children. The lesions have a linear distribution following Blaschko's lines. Pityriasis lichenoides is an uncommon benign skin disorder with two major variants: acute and chronic.Herein, we report the case of an 11-year-old girl with concurrent pityriasisli chenoides chronica and lichen striatus, a previously unreported association. Although it remains unclear whether there is an aetiological relationship between the two diseases or whether their coexistence was coincidental in our patient, but some common mechanisms may be involved in the two diseases.

Exantema macular en un niño con gastroenteritis por rotavirus: informe de caso / Macular exanthema in a child with rotavirus gastroenteritis: a case report

Aparte de la gastroenteritis, raramente se ha implicado al rotavirus en otros trastornos cutáneos como el exantema maculopapular generalizado, el edema hemorrágico agudo del lactante y el síndrome de Gianotti-Crosti. Comunicamos el caso de un niño de 30 meses de edad que presentó erupciones cutáneas maculares eritematosas mientras cursaba una gastroenteritis por rotavirus. En nuestro conocimiento, este es el primer caso en la bibliografía en el que se informan lesiones maculares eritematosas asociadas a rotavirus en un paciente pediátrico. En consecuencia, deseamos compartir nuestra experiencia para que se considere la infección por rotavirus dentro del diagnóstico diferencial de los niños que presenten gastroenteritis y erupción eritematosa.

Apart from gastroenteritis, rotavirus has been rarely implicated with some cutaneous disorders such as generalized maculo-papular exanthema, infantile acute hemorrhagic edema and Gianotti-Crosti syndrome. We report a 30-month old toddler boy who developed erythematous macular skin eruptions during the course of rotavirus gastroenteritis. To our knowledge, this is the first case in the literature reporting rotavirus-related macular erythematous lesions in a pediatric patient. We therefore would like to share our experience, to keep ro-tavirus infection in the differential diagnosis of children with gastroenteritis and erythematous eruption.

Exantema macular en un niño con gastroenteritis por rotavirus: informe de caso / Macular exanthema in a child with rotavirus gastroenteritis: a case report

Aparte de la gastroenteritis, raramente se ha implicado al rotavirus en otros trastornos cutáneos como el exantema maculopapular generalizado, el edema hemorrágico agudo del lactante y el síndrome de Gianotti-Crosti. Comunicamos el caso de un niño de 30 meses de edad que presentó erupciones cutáneas maculares eritematosas mientras cursaba una gastroenteritis por rotavirus. En nuestro conocimiento, este es el primer caso en la bibliografía en el que se informan lesiones maculares eritematosas asociadas a rotavirus en un paciente pediátrico. En consecuencia, deseamos compartir nuestra experiencia para que se considere la infección por rotavirus dentro del diagnóstico diferencial de los niños que presenten gastroenteritis y erupción eritematosa.(AU)

Apart from gastroenteritis, rotavirus has been rarely implicated with some cutaneous disorders such as generalized maculo-papular exanthema, infantile acute hemorrhagic edema and Gianotti-Crosti syndrome. We report a 30-month old toddler boy who developed erythematous macular skin eruptions during the course of rotavirus gastroenteritis. To our knowledge, this is the first case in the literature reporting rotavirus-related macular erythematous lesions in a pediatric patient. We therefore would like to share our experience, to keep ro-tavirus infection in the differential diagnosis of children with gastroenteritis and erythematous eruption.(AU)

Macular exanthema in a child with rotavirus gastroenteritis: a case report.

Apart from gastroenteritis, rotavirus has been rarely implicated with some cutaneous disorders such as generalized maculo-papular exanthema, infantile acute hemorrhagic edema and Gianotti-Crosti syndrome. We report a 30-month old toddler boy who developed erythematous macular skin eruptions during the course of rotavirus gastroenteritis. To our knowledge, this is the first case in the literature reporting rotavirus-related macular erythematous lesions in a pediatric patient. We therefore would like to share our experience, to keep ro-tavirus infection in the differential diagnosis of children with gastroenteritis and erythematous eruption.

Macular exanthema in a child with rotavirus gastroenteritis: a case report. / Macular exanthema in a child with rotavirus gastroenteritis: a case report.

Apart from gastroenteritis, rotavirus has been rarely implicated with some cutaneous disorders such as generalized maculo-papular exanthema, infantile acute hemorrhagic edema and Gianotti-Crosti syndrome. We report a 30-month old toddler boy who developed erythematous macular skin eruptions during the course of rotavirus gastroenteritis. To our knowledge, this is the first case in the literature reporting rotavirus-related macular erythematous lesions in a pediatric patient. We therefore would like to share our experience, to keep ro-tavirus infection in the differential diagnosis of children with gastroenteritis and erythematous eruption.

Terminal hematuria associated with oral isotretinoin treatment in a patient with acne vulgaris.

Hematuria is defined as the abnormal presence of red blood cells in the urine and is commonly divided into gross and microscopic hematuria. Terminal hematuria occurs at the end of the urine stream and may have a prostatic, bladder, or trigonal cause. Here, we present a 16-year-old boy who developed terminal hematuria after 1 month of treatment with isotretinoin for acne vulgaris. This side effect of isotretinoin is not reported in the literature. This is the first case report.