Fikret Kölemen

Ultrasonographical evaluation of the Achilles’ tendon in psoriasis patients

Background  Psoriasis is a common dermatological disease with erythematous plaques where articular and extra articular findings (tenosynovitis and enthesitis) may well accompany. The aim of this current study was to evaluate the Achilles’ tendon of psoriasis patients with ultrasonography.

No additional effect of topical calcipotriol on narrow-band UVB phototherapy in patients with generalized vitiligo.

Background/Purpose: There is no definite cure for vitiligo; however, treatment responses with photobiological modalities are quite acceptable. Of all these, narrow‐band UVB phototherapy was proposed rather recently. Calcipotriol has been shown to have stimulating activity on melanogenesis besides immunomodulatory and anti‐inflammatory effects. This study was performed to determine whether adding topical calcipotriol to narrow‐band UVB phototherapy enhances the efficacy of treatment.

Cutaneous mastocytosis : demographic aspects and clinical features of 55 patients

Background  Mastocytosis is a rare, heterogeneous group of disorder with abnormal increase of mast cells in one or more organ systems.

Effect of PUVA, narrow-band UVB and cyclosporin on inflammatory cells of the psoriatic plaque

Background:  Because antigen presenting is necessary for T‐cell activation, antigen‐presenting cells should be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. In this study, our purpose was to evaluate and compare effects of PUVA, cyclosporine A and narrow‐band UVB on dendritic cells and activated lymphocytes in the psoriatic lesions.

The effect of maintenance narrow-band ultraviolet B therapy on the duration of remission for psoriasis: a prospective randomized clinical trial

Background  Narrow‐band (311 nm) UVB is an effective treatment modality for moderate to severe psoriasis. The effect of maintenance narrow‐band UVB on the duration of remission is unknown.

A case of lupus vulgaris successfully treated with antituberculous therapy despite negative PCR and culture

A 14-year-old boy presented with a pink firm plaque with well-defined borders in the right infra-orbital skin area. On diascopy, the infiltrate exhibited a typical apple-jelly appearance. No acid-fast bacilli could be demonstrated. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay did not reveal the presence of mycobacteria in a lesional biopsy sample. Culture of biopsied tissue on Loewenstein-Jensen medium was negative. Although the tuberculosis culture and PCR did not confirm tuberculosis, a diagnosis of lupus vulgaris was made considering the clinical and histopathological findings. After a 9-month antituberculous therapy, the lesion disappeared. We believe that a diagnosis of lupus vulgaris still depends more on clinical and histopathological findings than on tuberculosis culture or PCR.

Dermatophytic Flora of Ankara (Turkey)

During the period July 1, 1976, to December 31, 1978, 1,227 dermatophytes were isolated from 2,702 specimens taken from suspected cases of dermatophytosis. The dermatophytic flora was found to consist mainly of anthropophilic species. Trichophyton rubrum was by far the most frequently isolated species. Tinea capitis was caused in 36.1% of all cases by Trichophyton verrucosum, in 13.9% by Microsporum canis and Trichophyton violaceum, in 11.1% by Trichophyton schoenleinii and Trichophyton granulosum, in 5.5% by Microsporum audouinii and in 2.8% by Trichophyton sulfureum and Trichophyton tonsurans and Microsporum gypseum. Athletes foot was caused in the ratio 1:5.3:16.7 by Epidermophyton floccosum, Trichophyton interdigitale and T. rubrum.

Narrowband ultraviolet-B phototherapy in pityriasis lichenoides chronica

Background: Current knowledge about the efficacy of narrowband UVB therapy for the treatment of pityriasis lichenoides is limited. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of narrowband UVB therapy for the treatment of pityriasis lichenoides chronica (PLC). Methods: Data were retrospectively collected following a review of patient phototherapy and medical charts, and telephone interviews were performed for follow-up information. Results: The study included 25 patients (14 male, 11 female) with a mean age of 34 ± 13 years. Diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination in 92% (n = 23) of the patients. The median duration of the disease was 24 months (range: 2–192 months). The median number of sessions until response was 25 (8 weeks) (range: 9–77 sessions), with a median cumulative dose of 15 J/cm² (range: 2–158 J/cm²). Complete response and partial response were achieved in 48% and 44% of the patients, respectively, while 8% of the patients achieved no response. In those patients for whom follow-up data were available (n = 17), 10 (58%) relapsed within a median of 9.5 months (range: 1–44 months). Conclusions: Our results suggest that narrowband UVB is an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for PLC.