Meltem Uslu

Acne: prevalence, perceptions and effects on psychological health among adolescents in Aydin, Turkey.

Background  Acne vulgaris is a common disease among adolescents and known to have adverse effects on psychological status.

Rosacea treatment with intermediate-dose isotretinoin: follow-up with erythema and sebum measurements.

Isotretinoin is one of the therapeutic options for rosacea. However, the response of erythema to treatment with isotretinoin is usually slow and incomplete with common (0.5-1 mg/kg/day) or low (10 mg/day) doses. This study investigated the efficacy of, and relapse on, 20 mg/day isotretinoin treatment in rosacea, with the aid of instrumental measurement of facial erythema and sebum levels. A 20 mg/day dose of isotretinoin was given for 4 months, and then the dose was tapered off within the following 6 months. A total of 25 patients were included in the study. Papule and pustule counts, erythema index, sebum level, dermatologists and patients erythema scores, and dermatologists sebum scores were significantly lower in the first month of therapy compared with pre-treatment values (p < 0.05). Within a median follow-up of 11 months (95% confidence interval: 8.4-13.5 months) 45% of patients had a relapse. In conclusion, 20 mg/day isotretinoin was rapidly efficient for reducing both inflammatory lesions and erythema in rosacea.

Social problem-solving, perceived stress, negative life events, depression and life satisfaction in psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic dermatosis which may cause significant impairment of the patients quality of life.

Adiponectin levels, insulin resistance and their relationship with serum levels of inflammatory cytokines in patients with Behçet’s disease

Aim  Increased frequency of cardiovascular disease and its possible relations with insulin resistance have been reported in patients with inflammatory diseases. The aim of our study was to investigate insulin resistance and serum adiponectin levels as cardiovascular risk markers in patients with Behçet’s disease.

Resistant oral mucosal lesions in pemphigus vulgaris responsive to double filtration plasmapheresis: First case report from Turkey

BACKGROUND Adjuvant therapeutic methods are employed when pemphigus vulgaris (PV) fails to be controlled by conventional corticosteroid treatment. OBJECTIVE The efficacy of double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) was investigated in a PV patient with severe, refractory mucosal disease. METHODS A total of 3 DFPP cycles, each cycle consisting of 5 double filtration sessions conducted on alternate days was completed. RESULTS DFPP provided immediate clinical relief of symptoms as well as a significant decrease in anti-desmoglein antibody levels and allowed for a much lower corticosteroid dose. CONCLUSION DFPP was an effective and safe adjuvant therapy in our patient with PV and it offers a valid treatment option in PV patients with recalcitrant disease.