The Safety and Effectiveness of Decapeptide in Patients With Vitiligo: A Real-World Study.

Background Vitiligo, a chronic autoimmune depigmenting skin disease, affects a significant portion of the global population. One of the topical treatment options for vitiligo is basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-related decapeptide (bFGFrP) 0.1% solution. This study aimed to assess the real-world effectiveness and safety of decapeptide in treating vitiligo. Methods This retrospective analysis utilized data collected from routine clinical practice in the management of vitiligo, focusing on patients treated with topical decapeptide lotion (Melgain™, manufactured by Zydus Healthcare Ltd., Ahmedabad, India). The primary outcome measures included the extent of re-pigmentation (EOR) and the grade of re-pigmentation (GOR) assessed at each follow-up visit. Results The analysis included data from 65 patients (24 males and 41 females) with an average age of 30.83 years. Segmental vitiligo was present in 52.31% of cases, with the face being the most commonly affected site. Among the patients, 33 received decapeptide as monotherapy, while 32 received decapeptide alongside adjuvant drug/phototherapy. The mean duration of treatment was five months. The first, second, and final follow-ups were observed to be at a mean of 45 days, two months, and five months, respectively. During the second and final follow-up, a significant response (>75% re-pigmentation) was observed in 12% (eight) and 71% (46) of the patients. A mild response (<50% re-pigmentation) was noted in 45% (29) of the patients during the first follow-up visit, 15% (10) during the second follow-up visit, and 6% (four) during the final follow-up visit. Grade 6 and 7 re-pigmentation occurred in a higher number of patients at the final visit, indicating treatment effectiveness. Overall, nearly all patients (96.92%) reported excellent tolerability of the decapeptide lotion based on the global assessment of tolerability. Conclusion This real-world study demonstrates that decapeptide promotes re-pigmentation and improves patient outcomes in vitiligo. Both decapeptide regimens, as monotherapy or in combination with other therapies, were effective and well tolerated by most patients. Thus, decapeptide represents a safe and effective therapeutic option for vitiligo treatment.

Incidence of mycobacterial disorders in Indian adult male service population followed for over two decades.

BACKGROUND: The comprehensive epidemiology of mycobacterial disorders is scarce from our country. The incidence of Tuberculosis (TB) and Leprosy in a cohort of military personnel followed for a long duration was evaluated in this study. METHODS: The data for this descriptive epidemiologic study was derived from the electronic medical records (EMR) data of the service personnel enrolled between 1990 and 2015. They were recruited between the ages of 17 and 18 years in good health and their morbidity data was derived from the medical records. The incidence rate (IR) was calculated as per person-years (py) using appropriate statistical methods. RESULTS: The study population includes 51,217 participants (median age 33 years, range 17-54) with a mean follow up of 12.5 years. Yearly evaluation of the data gave a cumulative follow up duration of 613,925py. A total of 530 patients developed TB, giving an IR of 86.3 per 100,000 person years (95% CI 79.2-93.9). Leprosy was diagnosed in 59 cases giving an IR of 9.6 per 100,000py (95% CI 7.4-12.3). Pulmonary (71%) and pleural (24%) locations were the most common sites of the TB infection. The data about the contribution of the mycobacterial disorders towards the mortality and the subtypes of leprosy was not available in the EMR. CONCLUSION: Low IR of mycobacterial disorders was observed in this study when compared with the previous reports. Healthy lifestyle and good socioeconomic status could explain the low IR of mycobacterial disorders in the military personnel.

Association between thyroid hormones, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between thyroid hormones, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome in euthyroid women. METHODS: Forty-five women with no past medical history were studied in this cross-sectional study at the Department of Endocrinology, Medwin Hospitals, Hyderabad, India, from August 2008 to September 2008. The body fat was estimated using bio-impedance method, and fasting blood sample was analyzed for total triiodothyronine (T3), total thyroxine (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), lipid profile, insulin, and glucose. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 32.6 +/= 9.6 years with a body mass index (BMI) of 29.9 +/= 3.8 kg/m2. Evidence of homeostasis model assessment index for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) more than 3 was seen in 34 (75%) and metabolic syndrome in 29 (64%) participants. Total T3 showed a positive correlation with triglycerides, low density lipoprotein- cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol, insulin, HOMA-IR and negatively with body fat. Thyroid-stimulating hormone correlated positively with BMI, insulin, HOMA-IR, LDL-C and negatively with HDL-cholesterol (p<0.05). Free triiodothyronine correlated positively with waist circumference and T4 did not correlate with metabolic syndrome parameters. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary data show an association between thyroid hormones and some components specific of the metabolic syndrome in euthyroid women. Total triiodothyronine and TSH correlated more with variables of metabolic syndrome than FT3 and T4.

Hypothyroidism and obesity. Cause or effect?

OBJECTIVE: To establish relationship between obesity and hypothyroidism and to analyze the frequency the frequency of primary hypothyroidism in obese patients and frequency of obesity in primary hypothyroidism patients. METHODS: We conducted this retrospective, observational study in the Department of Endocrinology and Obesity Clinic, Medwin Hospital, Hyderabad, India in Mar 2008. In the last 18 months (between September 2006 to February 2008), data on 625 consecutive primary hypothyroidism patients (Group I) and 450 patients from obesity clinic (Group II) were analyzed. Frequency difference between the 2 groups was assessed by Chi-square test. RESULTS: In Group I, 278/625 (44%) had body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m2. Obesity was higher (46% versus 34%) in overt hypothyroidism than in subclinical hypothyroidism (p=0.21). More patients were overweight in overt hypothyroidism group than in subclinical hypothyroidism group (p=0.02). In obesity patients, overt hypothyroidism was present in 33% and subclinical hypothyroidism in 11% patients. CONCLUSION: Overall thyroid dysfunction was found more in obese individuals with varying degree of significance. Detailed studies are required to assess the cause and effect relation between obesity and hypothyroidism.