Isotretinoin treatment in nodulocystic acne with and without polycystic ovary syndrome: efficacy and determinants of relapse

Background Isotretinoin is the most efficacious long-lasting treatment for acne; however, some factors, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), patient age, family history, and type and number of acne lesions, may lead to treatment resistance or relapse following treatment. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and permanence of systemic isotretinoin (SI) in nodulocystic acne patients with and without PCOS and to evaluate the factors associated with relapse during the first and second post-treatment years. Methods and Materials The study included 96 female patients with nodulocystic acne. SI 0.5-1 mg/kg/dl was given, with a total cumulative dose of 120–150 mg/kg. Response to treatment and relapse during the first and second post-treatment years were evaluated. Results In all, the 50 non-PCOS and 46 PCOS acne patients were similar. SI was similarly efficacious in both groups. In total, eight patients relapsed during the first post-treatment year, versus 16 during the second. Relapse during the first year was associated with the number of nodules at the start of treatment and the number of papulopustular lesions at the end of treatment, whereas PCOS, patient age, and the number of nodules at the start of treatment were associated relapse during the second year. Conclusion Regardless of its association with PCOS, SI was effective in the treatment of nodulocystic acne. The factors associated with relapse during the 1st and 2nd posttreatment years differed, except for the number of nodules at the start of treatment

A Case of Multiple Myeloma Diagnosed by Skin Lesions

Multiple myeloma, being a malignant proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow, has clinical spectrum varying from monoclonal gammopathy with unknown significance to plasma cell leukemia. The presenting symptoms have usually been bone pain, pathologic fractures or repeating infections. In patients with multiple myeloma, amyloid depositions may be seen in the skin. This form, defined as primary systemic amyloidosis, is characterized by light-chain amyloid fibril depositions. Our case applied with multiple, asymptomatic, yellowish papules localized on the face, trunk, oral and genital mucosa, gradually increasing during the last two years. He had no complaints, except for slight weight loss. In routine tests, the patient had no pathological laboratory findings, except high C-reactive protein levels. Further research revealed histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings consistent with amyloidosis. Upon these results, immunoglobulin G levels were measured and found high, and in protein electrophoresis, IgG monoclonal gammopathy was determined. The diagnosis of multiple myeloma is made by bone marrow biopsy. This patient is presented for being an asymptomatic case diagnosed by skin findings of amyloidosis

The utility of immunoglobulin A/complement 3 and immunoglobulin G/immunoglobulin M ratios in the assessment of disease activation in patients with Behcet disease

Objective: Pathogenesis of Behc¸et disease (BD) has not yet been clearly revealed and there is no ideal test for the estimation of disease activation at present. This study aimed to assess the efficiencies of IgG/IgM and IgA/C3 ratios in determining activation of BD. Method: This retrospective cohort study consisted of 140 patients with BD. Patients were divided into two groups: (1) active BD (n ¼ 89) and (2) inactive BD (n ¼ 51) and were compared in terms of demo graphic features, clinical characteristics and laboratory test results. IgA/C3 and IgG/IgM ratios were compared according to organ system involvement; receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve ana lysis was performed in order to assess the performance of IgA/C3 and IgG/IgM ratios in determining patient disease status. Results: Significantly higher levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, IgA, G, C4, IgA/C3, IgG/IgM ratios (p ¼ .007 for IgA and p < .001 for others) and significantly lower levels of IgM and C3 were observed in patients with active BD (p < .001). The IgG/IgM ratio was significantly higher in patients with vascular involvement (p ¼ .017) and the IgA/C3 ratio was significantly higher in patients with arthritis (p ¼ .007). Cut-off values of 0.019 (70.8% sensitivity, 62% specificity) and 7.08 (84.3% sensitivity, 80% specificity) were determined for IgA/C3 and IgG/IgM ratios, respectively. Conclusion: IgA/C3 and IgG/IgM ratios may be used as additional parameters for the assessment of BD status

Association of hypermobility and ingrown nails

Ingrown nail (onychocryptosis) is a common condition with severe pain and various associated morbidities. Although some underlying factors are identified, its etiology remains largely unknown. Generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) is a common entity with clinical features that might prone affected individuals to ingrown nails. Herein, we investigated the incidence of GJH in patients with ingrown nails to determine possible association between hypermobility and ingrown nail formation. Patients 16–50 years of age who were undergoing treatment for ingrown nails at the dermatology clinic were consecutively enrolled into the study. Patients with known rheumatic diseases or orthopedic foot disorders were excluded. All patients were in a pain-free period at the time of examination. The control group was comprised of age- and sex-matched healthy subjects without a history of ingrown nail. Assessment of GJH was made according to Beighton criteria. Local hypermobility was evaluated by measurement of range of motion using a goniometer. Thirty-nine patients (male/female, 17/22, mean age 31.9±11.3 years) and 32 healthy subjects (male/female 12/20, mean age 31.7± 10.4 years) were included. Patients with ingrown toe nails were more likely to have GJH compared to healthy subjects (35.9 vs. 9.4 %, p00.009). Toes with ingrown nails had significantly smaller maximum dorsiflexion angles (p< 0.001) compared to toes of healthy subjects. Ingrown nail formation may be associated with GJH. However, when examined locally, there is a limited range of motion in the affected toe rather than hypermobility, which could be due to the degenerative process facilitated by the hypermobility

Alopesi areata, vitiligo ve sağlıklı kontrollerde otolog serum deri testi pozitifliği

Background and Design: Autologous serum skin test (ASST), the best in-vivo test displaying in vitro basophil histamin releasing activity, is used in the diagnosis of chronic autoimmune urticaria. Besides, it is cheap and is easy to perform. It has been found that in ASST-positive chronic urticaria patients, autoimmune thyroid disease especially and other autoimmune diseases were more common and the level of autoimmune markers were higher compared to others. Autoimmunity is accused in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata and vitiligo. In this study, we assessed ASST results in healthy controls and those with autoimmune diseases, and aimed to explore the effects of thyroid autoantibodies and other factors in ASST positivity. Materials and Methods: ASST was administered to 51 patients with alopecia areata, 53 patients with vitiligo and 51 healthy controls, and thyroid function tests and thyroid autoantibodies (anti-Tg, anti-TPO) were assessed. Results: ASST was positive in 64.7% of patients with in alopecia areata, 64.2% of those with vitiligo and in 45.1% of controls. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of ASST positivity. We observed that ASST positivity had no relationship with age, anti-Tg, anti-TPO and the presence of one or both autoantibody positivity. It was seen that the frequency of ASST positivity was higher in females than in men in all groups, but it was statistically significant in alopecia areata group only. Among the all study groups, the frequency of ASST positivity was statistically significantly higher in females than in men.Conclusion: The high rates of ASST positivity in individuals with alopecia areata and vitiligo as well as in healthy control, indicate that ASST positivity does not solely exist in chronic urticaria patients. With logical regression analysis, it was shown that, having alopecia areata and being female significantly increase the risk of having ASST positivity. Therefore, we assume that ASST positivity might indicate the autoimmune etiology for alopecia areata and susceptibility to autoimmune diseases in female gender

Alopesi areata, vitiligo ve sağlıklı kontrollerde otolog serum deri testi pozitifliği

Background and Design: Autologous serum skin test (ASST), the best in-vivo test displaying in vitro basophil histamin releasing activity, is used in the diagnosis of chronic autoimmune urticaria. Besides, it is cheap and is easy to perform. It has been found that in ASST-positive chronic urticaria patients, autoimmune thyroid disease especially and other autoimmune diseases were more common and the level of autoimmune markers were higher compared to others. Autoimmunity is accused in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata and vitiligo. In this study, we assessed ASST results in healthy controls and those with autoimmune diseases, and aimed to explore the effects of thyroid autoantibodies and other factors in ASST positivity. Materials and Methods: ASST was administered to 51 patients with alopecia areata, 53 patients with vitiligo and 51 healthy controls, and thyroid function tests and thyroid autoantibodies (anti-Tg, anti-TPO) were assessed. Results: ASST was positive in 64.7% of patients with in alopecia areata, 64.2% of those with vitiligo and in 45.1% of controls. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of ASST positivity. We observed that ASST positivity had no relationship with age, anti-Tg, anti-TPO and the presence of one or both autoantibody positivity. It was seen that the frequency of ASST positivity was higher in females than in men in all groups, but it was statistically significant in alopecia areata group only. Among the all study groups, the frequency of ASST positivity was statistically significantly higher in females than in men.Conclusion: The high rates of ASST positivity in individuals with alopecia areata and vitiligo as well as in healthy control, indicate that ASST positivity does not solely exist in chronic urticaria patients. With logical regression analysis, it was shown that, having alopecia areata and being female significantly increase the risk of having ASST positivity. Therefore, we assume that ASST positivity might indicate the autoimmune etiology for alopecia areata and susceptibility to autoimmune diseases in female gender

A rare case of juvenile-onset Behcet's disease: Fournier's gangrene followed by intestinal involvement

Behcet's disease (BD) is a multisystemic, inflammatory disease with still unknown etiology and rarely seen in childhood. BD has worse prognosis in young, male patients. BD exacerbations may be triggered by viral, bacterial, and other undefined antigenic stimuli in genetically predisposed individuals. Fournier's gangrene (FG) is a rapidly progressive, necrotizing fasciitis of the genital and perineal regions with high morbidity and mortality. FG is usually seen in immunocompromised patients and may be triggered by local factors such as trauma, trombosis, and vasculitis. Here, we present a adolescent, male patient with juvenile-onset BD who developed FG and afterwards entero-Behcet. This unique assocation without any other underlying immunocompromised condition is discussed. (C) 2017 Annals of Pediatric Surgery

A rare case of juvenile-onset Behçet's disease: Fournier’s gangrene followed by intestinal involvement

Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystemic, inflammatory disease with still unknown etiology and rarely seen in childhood. BD has worse prognosis in young, male patients. BD exacerbations may be triggered by viral, bacterial, and other undefined antigenic stimuli in genetically predisposed individuals. Fournier’s gangrene (FG) is a rapidly progressive, necrotizing fasciitis of the genital and perineal regions with high morbidity and mortality. FG is usually seen in immunocompromised patients and may be triggered by local factors such as trauma, trombosis, and vasculitis. Here, we present a adolescent, male patient with juvenile-onset BD who developed FG and afterwards entero-Behçet. This unique assocation without any other underlying immunocompromised condition is discussed.Keywords: Behçet's disease, colitis, Fournier’s gangrene, juvenile onse

Efficacy of nail brace treatment for ingrown nails

have been defined for treatment of ingrown nails. In this study we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of nail brace treatment which is a cheap conservative treatment, recurrence percentages after nail brace treatment and risk factors for recurrence. Material and Method: Thirty-two female and 19 male patients with the complaint of ingrown nail aged 14-73 with a total of 73 nails are included to the study. Silver nitrate has been applied every 3-7 days to patients with granulation tissue. Nail brace application has been stopped in patients with granulation tissue once the granulation tissue has subsided and complaints have subsided, in patients without granulation tissue as their complaint was over during weekly controls in first month and monthly controls thereafter. Results: Ninety-eight point six percent of patients having ingrown nail (72/73) benefited from brace treatment. In 12 nails out of 71, recurrence has been established, in 59 nails follow-up without recurrence continues. Two nails have not been reached for followup after the first 3 month relief. Assessing patients treated with nail brace for recurrence, no significant difference was detected between recurrent and non-recurrent groups according to stage of ingrown nail, presence of granulation tissue, nail thickness, angle of nail curve, age, gender, presence of hyperhydrosis, duration of treatment and total force applied. Conclusion: Nail brace application has been found effective for pain relief and as treatment in patients with ingrown nails and no statistically significant predictive factor has been found in terms of recurrence after treatment

Behçet ve rekürren aftöz stomatit hastalarında yaşam kalitesi

Background and Design: Behçet’s disease (BD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a condition affecting oral health-related quality of life (QoL). In this study, we aimed to evaluate QoL of BD patients by using the Behçet’s disease quality of life instrument (BDQLI) and to compare the QoL of patients with BD with that of patients with RAS and healthy controls. Materials and Methods: Forty patients with BD and 40 patients with RAS and 40 healthy subjects with similar sociodemographic characteristics were included in the study. We used the BDQLI to evaluate QoL of patients with BD and the Dermatology-specific quality of life instrument for comparison of QqL between patients with BD and RAS. 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and clinical data form were applied in all participants. The results were analyzed statistically. The power of the study was 99%. Results: QoL of patients with BD were lower than that of healthy controls. It was observed that patients with BD had decreased physical functions, impaired perception of pain and poor general health (p<0.001, p=0.001, p=0.016, <0.001). Physical functions were decreased and perception of general heath was worse in patients with RAS compared to healthy controls (p=0.018, p=0.021). There was no difference in QoL between patients with BD and RAS (p>0.05). Female gender, relapse periods and mucocutaneous symptoms negatively affected QoL of patients with BD. Female gender and duration of the disease were found to be the main factors affecting QoL of patients with RAS. Conclusion: Unlike the results obtained with other instruments, with BDQLI, QoL, particularly in patients with active period and female gender was found to be decreased. In this study, there was a dominance of active mucocutaneous symptoms. This may explain the effect of mucocutaneous symptoms on QoL and the fact that there was no difference in QoL between BD and RAS patients. Further studies comparing QoL of patients with BD in whom visceral involvement is also observed with those with other diseases. QoL of BD patients may be improved by paying attention on symptoms that patients have trouble and by evaluating QoL with multidisciplinary approach during routine follow up