Serap Öztürkcan

Comparison of the effects of collagenase and extract of Centella asiatica in an experimental model of wound healing : An immunohistochemical and histopathological study

In this study, we compared the effects of collagenase and Centella asiatica in the rat model. Twenty‐seven female rats were divided into three groups, and two full‐thickness wounds were made for each animal. Collagenase ointment was applied topically to Group I and C. asiatica ointment to Group II rats. In Group III, no treatment was applied. On the third day of treatment, wounds on the left side of three animals of each group were excised. On the fifth and eighth day of the treatments, the same procedure was performed for the remaining animals. Indirect immunohistochemical examination was performed to detect transforming growth factor beta (TGF)‐β, endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase (eNOS and iNOS), vascular endothelial growth factor, TGF‐α, laminin, fibronectin, collagen I, and interleukin‐1β. According to the measurements of the wound areas and wound healing periodo, collagenase was superior to the control group. Immunohistochemical examinations showed strong (+++) iNOS and TGF‐β immunoreactivities in C. asiatica group. eNOS immunoreactivity was moderate (++) in this group. For the collagenase group, iNOS, eNOS, and TGF‐β immunoreactivities were moderate (++). In the collagenase group, while TGF‐β and iNOS immunoreactivities were weaker, laminin and fibronectin reactivities were stronger than in C. asiatica and control groups. Collagenase was superior to C. asiatica according to the immunohistochemical findings. Collagenase ointment significantly improves the quality of wound healing and scar formation and is a more appropriate treatment choice than extract of C. asiatica in the early stages of the wound healing process.

Pulmonary arterial aneurysm in Behçet's disease

To the Editor: Since its first description in 1937, Behqet’s disease (BD) has been characterized by the triad of uveitis with oral and genital ulcerations [l]. BD is a multisystemic disorder of unknown etiology. It may involve the vascular system, affecting both arteries and veins [2]. Pulmonary involvement and arterial aneurysm formation have a particularly poor prognosis in these cases [3,4]. Herein, we present a case with BD and a pulmonary aneurysm and we review the corresponding literature. A 30-year-old man had symptoms of BD for 5 years, consisting of recurrent oral and genital ulcerations, arthritis uveitis and positive pathergy test. He had a history of femoro-popliteal thrombophlebitis. In 1994, initially colchicine and azathioprine were given, but later on, because of the major venous occlusion, anticoagulant and antiaggregant therapy was included. In May 1994, he was admitted to a pneumontology clinic with symptoms of cough, chill, pleuritic pain and fever. Diagnosis of pneumonia was observed and therapy with antibiotics began. In February 1997, he was readmitted to our department with massive hemoptysis which occurred spontaneously, and showed a single sacculer aneurysm of 31 X 18 mm before the branching of the right pulmonary artery (Fig. 1). Surgery was suggested

Do deodorants/underarm cosmetics cause cancer?

Türkderm-Deri Hastalıkları ve Frengi Arşivi Dergisi, Galenos Yayınevi tarafından basılmıştır. Turkderm-Archives of the Turkish Dermatology and Venerology, published by Galenos Publishing. The effect of deodorant use on breast cancer development has generated considerable interest in both the scientific community and the mainstream media. Primary observational studies and numerous reviews investigating the effect of regular deodorant use on breast cancer development have been undertaken. There is no consensus in this regard. Some epidemiological studies have attempted to directly address the issue of underarm cosmetic use and breast cancer. On the other hand, many studies found no association between antiperspirant use and the risk of breast cancer. There is no difference in the current use of antiperspirant/deodorant products between breast cancer patients and nonaffected matched controls. There is no scientific evidence or research data that ingredients in underarm antiperspirants or deodorants cause cancer.

Disease severity scoring systems in dermatology

Türkderm-Deri Hastalıkları ve Frengi Arşivi Dergisi, Galenos Yayınevi tarafından basılmıştır. Turkderm-Archives of the Turkish Dermatology and Venerology, published by Galenos Publishing. Scoring systems have been developed to interpret the disease severity objectively by evaluating the parameters of the disease. Body surface area, visual analogue scale, and physician global assessment are the most frequently used scoring systems for evaluating the clinical severity of the dermatological diseases. Apart from these scoring systems, many specific scoring systems for many dermatological diseases, including acne (acne vulgaris, acne scars), alopecia (androgenetic alopecia, tractional alopecia), bullous diseases (autoimmune bullous diseases, toxic epidermal necrolysis), dermatitis (atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema), hidradenitis suppurativa, hirsutismus, connective tissue diseases (dermatomyositis, skin involvement of systemic lupus erythematosus (LE), discoid LE, scleroderma), lichen planoplaris, mastocytosis, melanocytic lesions, melasma, onychomycosis, oral lichen planus, pityriasis rosea, psoriasis (psoriasis vulgaris, psoriatic arthritis, nail psoriasis), sarcoidosis, urticaria, and vitiligo, have also been developed. Disease severity scoring methods are ever more extensively used in the field of dermatology for clinical practice to form an opinion about the prognosis by determining the disease severity; to decide on the most suitable treatment modality for the patient; to evaluate the efficacy of the applied medication; and to compare the efficiency of different treatment methods in clinical studies.

The incidence or erythrasma of the toewebs

[I] Peck SM, Rosenfeld H, Glick AW. Fungistatic power of blood serum. Arch Dermatol Syph 1940;42:426-437. (2] Kaaman T, Torssander J. Dermatophylid-a misdiagnosed entity? Acta Derm Venereol 1940;fi3:404-408. [3] Zaitz C. Proen^a NG. Dermatofitides. Estado atual dos conhecimentos. An Bras Dermatol 1990;65:265-267. [4] Soborg M. Bendixen G. Human lymphocyte migration as a parameter of hypersensitivity. Acta Med Scand 1967;181: 247-256. [5] Zaitz C, Sadahiro A, Lirio VS et al. Preparation and evaluation of Trichophyton mentagrophytes antigens. Revista Iberoamericana de Micologia. Ref. No. 218. 197