Investigation of the role of IL18, IL-1β and NLRP3 inflammasome in reducing expression of FLG-2 protein in Psoriasis vulgaris skin lesions

We investigated the effects of the NACHT leucine-rich repeat- and PYD-containing proteins (NLRP3) inflammasome, interleukin -18 (IL-18) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) cytokines on the expression of filaggrin-2 (FLG-2) protein in psoriasis patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), including T cells, were isolated from psoriasis patients and healthy donors. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) extraction and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were performed for all specimens. Immunohistochemical analysis for FLG-2 in normal and psoriatic epidermal tissue also was performed. Western blot was used to separate and identify FLG-2 protein, and immunohistochemical staining was performed to assess FLG-2 expression for psoriasis skin lesions and normal skin. RT-PCR analysis indicated that NLRP3 inflammasome, IL-18 cytokine and IL-1β cytokine expression were increased in psoriatic epidermis compared to normal skin. We found that the expression of FLG-2 was decreased in psoriatic epidermis compared to normal skin. Higher levels of NLRP3 help decrease the FLG-2 level.

The effect of multistrain synbiotic and vitamin D3 supplements on the severity of atopic dermatitis among infants under 1 year of age: a double-blind, randomized clinical trial study

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic and recurrent skin disease during infancy.Objective: This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of synbiotic and vitamin D3 supplements on the severity of AD among infants under 1 year of age.Methods: This double-blind, randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 81 subjects with AD in Sabzevar, Iran in 2018. Subjects were randomly assigned to three groups. Synbiotic group was administered a dose of five drops/day of synbiotic in addition to routine treatment. Vitamin D3 group was administered 1000 units (IU) of vitamin D3 daily in addition to routine treatment. Control group just received routine treatments. The severity of AD was evaluated using SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) at baseline and two months' follow-up.Results: The mean age of subjects was 4.87 ± 3.5 and 59.26% (n = 48) were male. The mean SCOARD scores were substantially decreased in the synbiotic (b_xy: -13.90, 95% CI, -20.99, -6.81; p < .001) and vitamin D3 (b_xy: -12.38, 95% CI, -19.33, -5.43; p = .001) groups as compared to control one by the end of two months.Conclusions: Findings suggest that multistrain synbiotic and vitamin D3 supplements administration along with routine treatments, as complementary therapies, may be effective in reducing the severity of AD in infants.

Comparison of 40% trichloroacetic acid and cryotherapy for the treatment of plantar warts: A single-blind, randomized clinical trial

Plantar warts can cause pain near the toes and the sole of the foot and may result in referral for treatment. This study was aimed at comparing 40% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and cryotherapy (Cryo) for the treatment of plantar warts. This single-blind, randomized clinical trial was performed on 60 subjects presenting with plantar wart in Sabzevar, Iran in 2018. The first intervention group was treated with 40% TCA in four sessions within 4 weeks. The second intervention group was treated with Cryo using liquid nitrogen in four sessions within 8 weeks. The mean (SD) age of subjects was 20.16 ± 5.96 years and 68.33% (n = 41) were male. Although the resolution rate of warts in the TCA 40% group was greater than the Cryo group, there was no statistical association found between the two groups by adjusting age, sex, and basal time (P = .648). Findings suggest that although 40% TCA was almost as effective as Cryo in the treatment of plantar warts, considering the lower adverse effects of TCA 40% group as compared to the Cryo group, it could be a proper alternative.

Evaluation of the Effect of Platelet-Rich Fibrin on Wound Healing at Split-Thickness Skin Graft Donor Sites: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Triple-Blind Study

Split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) is widely used to heal wounds resulting from trauma, burns, and chronic wounds. This study aimed to determine the true effect of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) on patients with burn wounds requiring STSG during treatment of donor wounds. This randomized, triple-blind clinical trial was conducted on patients who referred to the burn ward of Vasei Hospital of Sabzevar, Iran, from May 2017 to May 2018. The donor site was randomly divided into 2 groups: PRF and control (Vaseline petrolatum gauze) using Vaseline gauze. In the intervention group, the PRF gel was applied to the wound and covered with Vaseline gauze and wet dressing. Conversely, only Vaseline gauze and wet dressing were applied to the control group. Outcome evaluation was conducted using paired t test and Wilcoxon signed rank-sum test, as appropriate, on days 8 and 15. The mean age of the patients was 33.10 ± 2.60 years, and 51.50% were male. The mean wound healing time in the PRF and control groups was 11.80 ± 3.51 and 16.30 ± 4.32 days, respectively ( P < .001). The PRF group showed significantly higher wound healing rates than the control group at 8 and 15 days dressing ( P < .001 and P < .001, respectively). Moreover, the mean wound healing for all wound healing indices diagnosed by 2 specialists in PRF was higher than control group on days 8 and 15 ( P < .001). We found a statistically significant difference on days 8 and 15 regarding the mean pain levels between the 2 groups ( P < .001). The findings showed that PRF can significantly increase the time and rate of donor wound healing compared with conventional treatment and also reduce the severity of pain.

Thermal, Tensile, Electrical, Dynamic Mechanical Thermal and Rheological Properties of Polyvinylidene Fluoride and Fluoroelastomer Composites Filled with Carbon Black

The present work was focused on studying the effects of different CB loadings on the rheological, thermal, tensile, dynamic mechanical and electrical properties of polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) and FKM composites. To these ends, the CB grade and method chosen for compound preparation were CB (N330) and melt mixing, respectively. The composites were melt blended with CB at 190 °C in an internal mixer, after which the properties of filled and unfilled composites were compared. The presence of CB improved the mechanical properties, such as the Young's modulus and tensile strength, and increased thermal stability given the high thermal stability of CB and the interaction between the CB particles and the polymer matrices. The dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) showed the glass transition temperatures of the composites. The analysis also revealed that the area under the loss tangent (tan δ) peak decreased and that the tan δ temperature of the rubber phase increased with CB loading. The increase in the electrical conductivity of the composites under different CB loadings was also examined, and the percolation threshold of conductive thermoplastic vulcanizate composite based on conductive CB was observed. The effect of CB and its content on rheological behavior of the PVDF/FKM blends was studied and the experimental data was correlated by a physical model named General Equation Model (GEM). A relation between rheology and conductivity of the blends with filler percolation was found.

Silane crosslinking of electrospun poly (lactic acid)/nanocrystalline cellulose bionanocomposite

Biodegradable nanofibrous mats fabricated by electrospinning are commonly used in tissue engineering, however, lack of essential mechanical properties of such nanofibers is a challenging issue. In this work, vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) was grafted onto poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and the silane grafted PLA was subsequently applied in electrospinning process. Electrospun nanofibrous mats based on PLA/nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and PLA-g-silane/NCC nanocomposites were fabricated and immersed in hot water (70°C) for crosslinking of silane grafted PLA. It was found that introducing NCC to the samples cause to reduction in fiber diameter and the other hand the silane crosslinking of PLA increase the mean fiber diameter. DSC thermograms also revealed that silane grafting caused a reduction in mobility of polymer segments, and consequently reduction of crystallinity. On the contrary, the NCC in the PLA-g-silane samples effectively influenced the crystal nucleation, while in the PLA nanofibers the nucleation was lower. The impact of NCC on tensile strength enhancement of samples was notable. The results suggested that the chemical crosslinking remarkably improves the mechanical properties of PLA nanofibers. Furthermore, biocompatibility of such modified nanofibers was also evaluated through cytotoxicity results, therefore the modified PLA nanocomposite can be considered as a practical candidate for hard tissue engineering applications.

An association of human papillomaviruses low risk and high risk subtypes with skin tag

OBJECTIVES

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are related to the genesis of various benign lesions and some malignant tumors, but no clear relationship has been identified so far between the subtypes of HPV and skin tag.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present case-control study was designed to detect the existence of low risk and high risk HPV types in lesions of 50 patients with skin tag (case group) and normal skin around the melanocytic nevus of 30 patients (control group), using PCR.

RESULTS

All of the samples were negative for HPV subtypes, except two samples in control group which were positive for high risk HPV. There was no significant relationship between the HPV subtypes and skin tag.

CONCLUSION

There is no association between skin tag and low risk and high risk human papillomaviruses.