The lipid profile in psoriasis: a controlled study

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis is an inflammatory dermatosis that is characterized with hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and inflammatory infiltration in the epidermis and dermis. The high prevalence of atherosclerosis has been reported in psoriatic patients. High serum lipid level has been suggested in the pathogenesis of this phenomenon. In this study, our purpose was to compare the lipid profile in psoriatic patients with non-affected persons.

METHODS

This study was designed and conducted as a case-control assay with 50 cases in the patient and control groups, respectively. The lipid profile, including serum level of triglyceride, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), were assessed in both groups.

RESULTS

The patient and control groups each consisted of 50 cases (39 male and 11 female). The serum triglyceride, cholesterol, and LDL was significantly higher in psoriatic patients (P < 0.05) but not for HDL (P = 0.29).

CONCLUSION

This study, like previous assays, shows that high serum lipid level is significantly more common in psoriasis. This fact may be responsible for higher prevalence of cardiovascular accident in psoriatic patients. It may be useful to do early screening and treatment of hyperlipidaemia in psoriasis to prevent the atherosclerosis and its complications.

Androgenic alopecia and insulin resistance: are they really related?

BACKGROUND

Androgenic alopecia is known to be androgen-dependent. Insulin is found in hair follicles and may play a role in the regulation of androgen metabolism and the hair-growth cycle.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the insulin resistance between people with androgenic alopecia and a control group.

METHODS

A case-control study was conducted with 97 cases in the patient and 87 in the control group. Serum fasting insulin level, fasting blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were all measured in both groups.

RESULTS

There was no difference in serum fasting insulin level, fasting blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL and insulin resistance between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Despite previous reports suggesting a link, our study found no significant relationship between insulin resistance and androgenic alopecia. Further studies are warranted.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor gene polymorphism is not associated with pemphigus vulgaris in Iranian patients

BACKGROUND

Promoter polymorphisms of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor gene are associated with increased production of macrophage migration inhibitory factor. Elevated levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor have been observed in the sera of patients with pemphigus vulgaris. More than this, macrophage migration inhibitory factor promoter gene polymorphism has been found to confer increased risk of susceptibility to chronic inflammatory diseases.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated whether there is an association between promoter polymorphism of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor gene and pemphigus vulgaris.

METHODS

One hundred and six patients with pemphigus vulgaris, and a control panel of one hundred healthy volunteers were genotyped for a single nucleotide polymorphism identified in the 5'-flanking region at the position -173 of the gene, using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length analysis.

RESULTS

We found a notably high prevalence of C/C genotype in our nation but no significant difference was observed between patients and controls.

CONCLUSION

The result of this study using a large and well documented trial of patients showed that macrophage migration inhibitory factor -173G-C polymorphism is not associated with pemphigus vulgaris; but as the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in the inflammatory process has not been delineated in detail and the prevalence of C/C genotype is notably higher in our nation, this finding merits more consideration.

Evaluation the dentists' awareness of inherited bleeding disorders and anticoagulants in Shiraz

BACKGROUND

Some of the dental procedures can cause bleeding. Bleeding control can be difficult in some patients because of systemic disease or chronic anticoagulant therapy, so they may be at increased risk for bleeding occurrences or even death following invasive dental procedures. This study was schemed to measure the knowledge of general dentists in Shiraz city regarding coagulation tests performed in bleeding disorders during 2011 to 2012.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this descriptive-analytical study, a questionnaire (consist 23 questions) was designed with the help of specialists in the field of oral medicine and hematology. This questionnaire was distributed among 146 general practitioners. Collected information was analyzed with SPSS version 16.

RESULTS

The mean mark for dentist's knowledge was 9.40 ± 1.30 (categorized moderate level). There was no significant difference in the mean knowledge scores among male and female dentists. Tukey's test displayed a significant difference in the mean knowledge level among 21 to 30 years old and over forty years' old dentists (p< 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that knowledge of the dentists regarding bleeding disorders is not at optimal level which needs planning for continuing education courses.

Brain MRI findings in patients with bullous pemphigoid: A case-control study

Evidence suggests that bullous pemphigoid (BP) is associated with multiple neurological disorders. We aimed to compare brain magnetic resonance (MRI) findings between BP patients and a control group. This case-control study included patients with BP referred to two dermatology clinics during a two-year period. A group of individuals attending the same clinics for cosmetic procedures were selected as controls. First, participants' general information including age, gender, education, weight and underlying disease was recorded. For BP patients, the drugs and the BP Disease Area Index (BPDAI) were recorded as well. Then, all participants underwent brain MRI without contrast. The Fazekas scale, the general cerebral atrophy (GCA) score, and the Medial Temporal lobe Atrophy (MTA) score were used to assess MRI images. Overall, 24 BP patients and 24 controls were evaluated in this study. Both groups were comparable regarding age, gender and education. However, diabetes and hypertension were more frequent in the control group. The mean BPDAI total score was 51.39 ± 68.92 in BP patients and most of them used rituximab (41.7%). None of the participants had MS or Alzheimer MRI patterns. There was no difference between groups in terms of GCA and MTA scores. Furthermore, the frequency of partially empty sella did not differ significantly between BP patients and controls (p = 0.461); nevertheless, grade-3 Fazekas was significantly higher in BP patients compared to controls (25% vs. 0%, p = 0.019). Of note, one BP patient had an epidermoid cyst and another had moderate enlargement of three ventricles. Also, new infarcts were observed in two and old infarcts in four BP patients. Although the majority of abnormal brain MRI findings were more frequent in BP patients compared to controls, only grade-3 Fazekas was significantly higher and acute infarcts were exclusively observed in BP patients.