Esra Pancar Yuksel

Comparison of the efficacy of narrow band ultraviolet B and narrow band ultraviolet B plus topical catalase-superoxide dismutase treatment in vitiligo patients

Accumulation of free radicals in the epidermis and the role of oxidative stress have been demonstrated in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. So, new treatment modalities that support antioxidant systems may be a choice for treatment. We sought to determine the clinical efficacy of narrow band ultraviolet B plus topical formulation including Cucumis melo superoxide dismutase and catalase (Vitix), over the narrow band ultraviolet B treatment alone. Thirty vitiligo patients (18 female, 12 male; mean age 34 +/- 13 years) were included in this study. 15 patients in Group 1 were treated only with narrow band ultraviolet B whereas 15 patients in Group 2 were treated with narrow band ultraviolet B plus topical Vitix for 6 months. Areas of 21 lesions from each group were measured by point counting methods at the beginning and at the end of the treatment. Efficacy of treatment was graded as perfect, good, moderate and poor according to healing percentages of measured areas and both groups were compared statistically. In Group 1 two moderate; in Group 2 one perfect, four moderate healings were observed at the end of the treatment. There was no statistically significant difference according to healing percentages between the two groups (p > 0.05). No adverse effect was reported in either group. The superiority of narrow band ultraviolet B plus topical Vitix treatment over narrow band ultraviolet B treatment could not be demonstrated statistically. There is a need for further studies involving large case series to clarify the results of our preliminary study.

Evaluation of effects of platelet-rich plasma on human facial skin

Abstract Introduction: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been used for rapid healing and tissue regeneration in many fields of medicine. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of PRP application procedure on human facial skin. Methods: PRP was applied thrice at 2-week intervals on the face of ten healthy volunteers. It was applied to individuals forehead, malar area, and jaw by a dermaroller, and injected using a 27-gauge injector into the wrinkles of crows feet. Participants were asked to grade on a scale from 0 to 5 for general appearance, skin firmness–sagging, wrinkle state and pigmentation disorder of their own face before each PRP procedure and 3 months after the last PRP procedure. While volunteers were evaluating their own face, they were also assessed by three different dermatologists at the same time by the same five-point scale. Results: There was statistically significant difference regarding the general appearance, skin firmness-sagging and wrinkle state according to the grading scale of the patients before and after three PRP applications. Whereas there was only statistically significant difference for the skin firmness–sagging according to the assessment of the dermatologists. Conclusion: PRP application could be considered as an effective procedure for facial skin rejuvenation.

Evaluation of 532-nm KTP laser treatment efficacy on acne vulgaris with once and twice weekly applications

Abstract Background: Light-based therapies and lasers have been proposed for the treatment of acne vulgaris but the efficacy and application periods of 532-nm KTP laser treatment are not clear. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 532-nm KTP laser and compare the effects of once and twice weekly applications in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris. Methods: Totally 38 patients were treated once weekly and twice weekly in group I and in group II respectively. One half of the face of each patient was treated with 532-nm KTP and the other half was remained as untreated. Patients were evaluated at the beginning, one and four weeks after the last treatment session with Michaëlsson acne severity grading score (MASS). Results: Statistically significant improvement was found at second control (p = 0.005) in group I, and at the first (p = 0.004), and second (p < 0.001) controls in group II for treated sides. For both groups, changes of MASS were insignificant for untreated sites. Improvement of MASS of treated sides was not statistically significant between two treatment groups for both controls. Conclusion: 532-nm KTP laser treatment may be an alternative method in selected acne vulgaris patients. No significant difference was noted between once and twice weekly applications.

Axillary hair removal with 1064‐nm Nd:YAG laser increases sweat production

Background.  Laser‐assisted hair removal has become a popular treatment for eradication of body hair. Many studies have been published concerning the safety and efficacy of several laser systems. Adverse events are hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, erythema, oedema, scarring, pain and blistering. Changes in sweating have not previously been reported.

Nailfold capillaroscopy in Behçet disease, performed using videodermoscopy.

Nailfold capillaroscopy is used for the identification of microvascular involvement in many rheumatic and extrarheumatic diseases.

Systemic lupus erythematosus with an erythema multiforme-like lesions

Patients with lupus erythematous may develop an acute eruption clinically similar to toxic epidermal necrolysis or erythema multiforme. The presence of erythema multiforme-like lesions and characteristic pattern of immunological abnormalities including antinuclear antibody (speckled pattern), anti-Ro antibody or anti-La antibody and positive rheumatoid factor in lupus patients has been termed as Rowells syndrome. Although diagnostic criteria of this syndrome have been reviewed recently, definite mechanisms of pathogenesis is still unknown. Here we reported a 29-year-old female patient who had systemic lupus erythematosus developed erythema multiforme-like lesions.

Impaired heart rate recovery indices in psoriasis patients

Background Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The heart rate recovery index (HRRI) is an indicator of autonomic nervous system function and is an independent prognostic risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the heart rate recovery indices in patients with psoriasis. Material/methods Thirty-three psoriasis patients (22 male; mean age 41±11 years) and 26 healthy individuals (15 male; mean age 39±11 years) as a control group were included in the study. Baseline electrocardiography, transthoracic echocardiographic examinations, and exercise stress tests were performed in psoriasis and control groups. The heart rate recovery of the psoriasis group at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 minutes after maximal exercise were calculated and compared to those of the control group. Results Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of psoriasis and control groups including age, sex, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and echocardiographic parameters were similar. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly higher and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the psoriasis group (p<0.05). Heart rate recovery at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 minutes after maximal exercise were found to be significantly lower in the psoriasis group (p<0.05). Additionally, baseline heart rates before exercise were significantly higher in the psoriasis group (p<0.05). Conclusions We found that impaired HRRI in psoriasis patients, which indicates the underlying autonomic nervous system dysfunction, is a pathophysiologic mechanism for increased cardiovascular disease risk.

Effects of paroxetine on cutaneous wound healing in healthy and diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the histologic effects of acute paroxetine administration on wound healing in healthy and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. DESIGN: This study has a randomized controlled experimental design. SETTING: Healthy (n = 32) and diabetic (n = 32) rats were further divided into 2 groups of saline or paroxetine administration. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. INTERVENTIONS: Paroxetine was injected intraperitoneally every day. Full-thickness excision wounds were created with a 4-mm dermal punch on the back of all rats. The healing wound area was removed with a 6-mm dermal punch at postwounding days 1, 3, 7, and 14. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Polymorphonuclear leukocyte, mononuclear inflammatory cell, fibroblast, and blood vessel counts and epithelialization were evaluated under light microscope. MAIN RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference observed in the polymorphonuclear leukocyte, mononuclear inflammatory cell, and blood vessel counts in the healthy and diabetic rats with and without paroxetine administration. The number of fibroblasts was significantly higher at postwounding day 14 of the paroxetine-administered healthy rats compared with the saline-administered healthy rats (P = .04). However, the number of fibroblasts did not show any difference by paroxetine administration in the diabetic rats. There was no statistically significant difference in epithelialization regarding all the postwounding days, but complete epithelialization was observed in all rats on postwounding day 14 in the healthy and paroxetine-administered group. CONCLUSION: Short-term paroxetine administration may enhance cutaneous wound healing by increasing the number of fibroblasts and causing better epithelialization over time in healthy rats but not in diabetic rats.

Phenobarbital-induced pellagra resulted in death.

Abstract Pellagra is caused by deficiency of niacin or its precursor tryptophan. While cutaneous lesions are the most prominent feature of the disease, gastrointestinal, neurological and psychiatric signs and symptoms are the other characteristics of the disease. In this case report, we present a 29-year-old female patient with discoloration of hands and feet diagnosed with pellagra.

Platelet collection efficiencies of three different platelet-rich plasma preparation systems

Abstract Background: Different systems have been used for the preparation of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), but platelet collection efficiencies of these systems are not clear. Objective: To evaluate the platelet collection efficiencies of three different PRP preparation systems. Materials and methods: Blood samples were obtained from the same 16 volunteers for each system. The samples were centrifuged and PRP was prepared by three systems. The ratio of the total number of platelets in PRP to the total number of platelets of the venous blood sample of the patient expressed in percentage was named as platelet collection efficiency and calculated for each system. Results: Mean platelet collection efficiencies were 66.6 (min: 56.9, max: 76.9), 58.3 (min: 27.3, max: 102.8), 50.8 (min: 27.2, max: 73) for top and bottom bag system, system using citrated tube, and the system using tube with Ficoll and cell extraction kit, respectively. Statistically significant difference was found only between the platelet collection efficiencies of systems using the tube with ficoll and cell extraction kit and the top and bottom bag system (p = 0.002). Conclusions: All three systems could be used for PRP preparation, but top and bottom bag system offers a slight advantage over the system using Ficoll and cell extraction kit regarding the platelet collection efficiency.