Marwa M. Fawzy

Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma: Topical Versus Intradermal After Fractional Ablative Carbon Dioxide Laser Treatment of Atrophic Acne Scars

BACKGROUND A proposal has recently been made regarding the potential adjuvant use of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) with fractional carbon dioxide laser (FCL) for the correction of acne scars. OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of two administration modes of autologous PRP (intradermal injection (ID) and topical application) after FCL with that of FCL alone in the treatment of atrophic acne scars. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty patients were randomly divided into two groups. Both underwent split‐face therapy. Group 1 was administered FCL followed by ID PRP on one side and FCL followed by ID saline on the other. In group 2, one cheek was treated with FCL followed by ID PRP, and the other received FCL followed by topical PRP. Each patient received 3 monthly sessions. The final assessment took place at 6 months. RESULTS Combined PRP‐ and FCL‐treated areas had a significantly better response (p = .03), fewer side effects, and shorter downtime (p = .02) than FCL‐treated areas, but there were no significant differences in ID‐ and topical PRP–treated areas in degree of response and downtime (p = .10); topically treated areas had significantly lower pain scores. CONCLUSION The current study introduces the combination of topical PRP and FCL as an effective, safe modality in the treatment of atrophic acne scars with shorter downtime than FCL alone and better tolerability than FCL combined with ID PRP.

Interleukin 17, Interleukin 22 and FoxP3 expression in tissue and serum of non-segmental vitiligo: A case- controlled study on eighty-four patients

BACKGROUND Skewing of responses towards T helper (Th) 17 and away from T regulatory cells (T-regs) has been suggested to be partially involved in autoimmune diseases like vitiligo. AIMS Clarify the possible role and relationship between Th17 and T-regs in vitiligo by measuring tissue, systemic levels of interleukin (IL)-17, IL-22 and Forkhead box P3. PATIENTS AND METHODS 84 non-segmental vitiligo patients and 80 controls were included. Vitiligo Area Scoring Index, Vitiligo Disease Activity and stress score were determined. Skin biopsies underwent immunohistochemical staining for IL-17, IL-22 and FoxP3 and their systemic levels were determined by ELISA and quantitative real time PCR. RESULTS Mean area % of +ve immunostaining and serum levels of IL-17 (34.12 ± 5.12, 23.62 ± 8.17 pg/mL) and IL-22 (48.63 ± 19.23, 43.53 ± 11.95 pg/mL) were significantly higher in patients compared to controls (15.33 ± 4.19, 12.83 ± 3.29 pg/mL) (13.44 ± 3.82, 9.92 ± 4.7 pg/mL) (P<0.001). Mean area % of +ve immunostaining and peripheral blood levels of FoxP3 were significantly lower in patients (2.67 ± 0.54, 0.574 ± 0.32) compared to controls (7.12 ± 0.18, 1.48 ± 0.49) (P<0.001). In patients, a positive correlation between IL-17 and IL-22 was detected (r = 0.671, P<0.001), each showing negative correlation with FoxP3 (r = -0.548, P<0.001), (r = -0.382, P<0.001). VASI, VIDA and stress score correlated positively with IL-17, IL-22 and negatively with FoxP3. CONCLUSION Th17 and T-regs are intertwined in the complexity of vitiligo giving hope of treatment through adjuvant therapies controlling the delicate balance between them.

Ultraviolet A in vitiligo

Both types of Ultraviolet (UV), UVB (290–320 nm) and UVA (320–400 nm), produce increased pigmentation or tanning. However, no evaluation of UVA alone in the treatment of vitiligo has been reported. Therefore, it was the purpose of this work to study the pigmentogenic effect of UVA (5 and 15 J/cm2) in vitiligo. The study included 20 randomly selected patients with vitiligo involving more than 30% of the body surface area with a bilateral/symmetrical distribution. They were equally divided into two groups each of 10 patients. All patients received three weekly sessions of UVA, 15 J/cm2 in group I and 5 J/cm2 in group II, a total of 48 sessions over 16 weeks. Overall pigmentation of 60% and above was recorded in 50% and 10% of patients in groups I and II, respectively. We conclude that broadband UVA alone, without psoralens, and in appropriate doses may be of important therapeutic value in vitiligo.

T helper 17 and Tregs: a novel proposed mechanism for NB-UVB in vitiligo.

Narrowband ultraviolet (NB‐UV)B is accepted as corner stone therapy for vitiligo. Its influence on the expression of IL‐17, IL‐ 22 and FoxP3 as markers for the Th17 and Tregs lineages has not been studied before in the context of non‐segmental vitiligo (NSV). The study included 20 active NSV patients who received 36 NB‐UVB sessions and 20 controls. Clinical evaluation Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) and determination of tissue expression of IL‐17, IL‐22 and FoxP3 by qRT‐PCR (lesional, perilesional) were carried out before and after therapy. Baseline levels of IL‐17 and IL‐22 were significantly higher in patients, whereas FoxP3 was significantly lower. After therapy, IL‐17 and IL‐22 significantly dropped, whereas FoxP3 significantly increased (lesional, perilesional). Baseline and post‐treatment VASI showed significant positive correlations with IL‐17 and IL‐22 and significant negative correlation with FoxP3 expression. Restoration of the balance between Th17 and Tregs might represent a novel pathway for the improvement that NB‐UVB exerts in vitiligo patients.

The use of sulfasalazine and pentoxifylline (low-cost antitumour necrosis factor drugs) as adjuvant therapy for the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris: a comparative study

Background  Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) represents a potentially life‐threatening autoimmune blistering disease in which IgG autoantibodies are directed against cell–cell adhesion molecules. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α has been suggested to have a possible role in the mechanism underlying acantholysis.

Basaloid follicular hamartoma

Basaloid follicular hamartoma (BFH) is a unique benign follicular hamartoma characterized by variable clinical presentations, identical histologic features and possible associations with numerous disorders.

Treatment of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa with bone marrow non‐hematopoeitic stem cells: a randomized controlled trial

Patients with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) have mutations in type VII collagen gene. Type VII collagen is synthesized by keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Based on the ability of bone marrow non‐hematopoeitic stem cells (NHBMSC) to develop into fibroblasts, we decided to investigate the use of NHBMSC in the treatment of recessive DEB (RDEB). This study included fourteen patients with RDEB; the first seven of them were given cyclosporine after the infusion of NHBMSC. As cyclosporine has been used for the treatment of RDEB we decided not to use cyclosporine for the second group of seven patients. Skin biopsies from the lesions were studied by electron microscopy before and after treatment. The number of new blisters decreased significantly after treatment in both groups (p = 0.003 and 0.004 respectively) and the rate of healing of new blisters became significantly faster after treatment in both groups (p < 0.001) with no significant difference between the two groups. Electron microscopic examination revealed increased number of anchoring fibrils after treatment in both groups. No major side effects were reported during the 1‐year follow‐up period. Our findings highlight the efficacy as well as the safety of NHBMSC in the treatment of RDEB.

Randomized split-face controlled study to evaluate 1550-nm fractionated erbium glass laser for treatment of acne vulgaris--an image analysis evaluation.

BACKGROUND Novel and promising results in acne treatment with infrared lasers have been reported. The 1,550-nm erbium glass laser is one of the infrared lasers that may be useful in the treatment of acne. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an erbium glass laser in treatment of active acne and to study the effect of this type of laser on sebaceous glands. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-four patients with active acne lesions were treated using 1,550-nm (30–40 mJ) fractional erbium glass laser. Every patient received 4 sessions with a 2-week interval. Follow-up was done every 3 months for 1 year. The image analyzer computer system was used to measure the sebaceous gland size. RESULTS A significant reduction (p < .0001) in the mean count of lesions was observed after treatment and in the follow-up period. A significant reduction in the size of sebaceous glands was also evident after laser treatment. CONCLUSION Treatment of active acne with the 1,550-nm erbium glass laser is effective. Papules, pustules, and nodules all respond well to therapy. The sebaceous gland size decreased significantly, which accounts for the long remission period.

BB-UVA vs. NB-UVB in the treatment of vitiligo: a randomized controlled clinical study (single blinded).

Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary disorder that affects between 1% and 2% of the general population. Phototherapy remains the cornerstone of treatment, with NB‐UVB being the most frequently used. BB‐UVA can be a plausible alternative for darker population; skin photo type III and IV.

Expression of cyclin D1 and p16 in psoriasis before and after phototherapy

Background.  Psoriasis vulgaris (PV) is characterized by keratinocyte hyper‐proliferation. Altered expression of cell‐cycle regulatory genes involved in the cyclin D1/p16 INK4–pRb pathway may contribute to this epidermal hyperproliferation.