Study of the distribution of Malassezia species in patients with pityriasis versicolor and healthy individuals in Tehran, Iran

BACKGROUND: Pityriasis versicolor is a superficial infection of the stratum corneum which caused by a group of yeasts formerly named pityrosporium. The taxonomy of these lipophilic yeasts has recently been modified and includes seven species referred as Malassezia. The aim of this study is to compare the distribution of Malassezia species isolated from pityriasis versicolor lesions and those isolated from healthy skins. METHODS: Differentiation of all malassezia species performed using morphological features and physiological test including catalase reaction, Tween assimilation test and splitting of esculin. RESULTS: In pityriasis versicolor lesions, the most frequently isolated species was M. globosa (53.3%), followed by M. furfur (25.3%), M. sympodialis(9.3%), M. obtusa (8.1%) and M. slooffiae (4.0%). The most frequently isolated species in the skin of healthy individuals were M. globosa, M. sympodialis, M. furfur, M. sloofiae and M. restricta which respectively made up 41.7%, 25.0%, 23.3%, 6.7% and 3.3% of the isolated species. CONCLUSIONS: According to our data, M. globosa was the most prevalent species in the skin of healthy individuals which recovered only in the yeast form. However, the Mycelial form of M. globosa was isolated as the dominant species from pityriasis versicolor lesions. Therefore, the role of predisposing factors in the conversion of this yeast to mycelium and its subsequent involvement in pityriasis versicolor pathogenicity should be considered

COMPARISON OF RISK FACTORS OF SINGLE BASAL CELL CARCINOMA WITH MULTIPLE BASAL CELL CARCINOMAS

Background: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant skin tumor. Although mortality attributable to BCC is not high, the disease is responsible for considerable morbidity. There is evidence that the number of patients who develop more than one BCC is increasing. Aims: The aim of this study was to elucidate possible risk factors for developing Multiple BCC. Patients and Methods: Patients with histologically proven BCC ( n = 218) were divided into two groups (single BCC and Multiple BCC) according to the number of their tumors and their profile were reviewed. Probable risk factors were compared between these two groups. Results: Among 33 evaluated risk factors, mountainous area of birth, past history of BCC, history of radiotherapy (in childhood due to tinea capitis), abnormal underlying skin at the site of tumor, and pigmented pathologic type showed significant differences between the two groups. Conclusions: The high rate of additional occurrences of skin cancers among patients with previously diagnosed BCC emphasizes the need of continued follow-up of these individuals. Those with higher risk require closest screening

Bullous Pemphigoid in Iranian Patients: A Descriptive Study on 122 Cases

Bullous pemphigoid is an immunobullous disease with high mortality and morbidity. Different aspects and characteristics in the patients vary in different areas in the world. Our objective was to study clinical and demographic characteristics of bullous pemphigoid in Iranian patients. In a retrospective descriptive study, we reviewed 122 patients with bullous pemphigoid within 1987-2007. Demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, treatment, relapses and outcome were evaluated. The mean age of 122 patients was 65 ± 18.11 years including 35.2% male and 64.8% female. The most common manifestations were cutaneous bullae (97.5%). 27% had oral lesions. 30.3% had eosinophillia. 90 patients(73.8%) received oral prednisolone, 29 patients (23.8%) topical steroid, 2 patients tetracycline and 1 patient dapsone. 89 patients were followed after admission. Out of them 44 patients experienced first relapse and 22 patients second relapse. 41 cases (46%) were completely controlled. 11 cases (12%) were not controlled. Clinical and general characteristics of bullous pemphigoid patients differ in various regions in the world

Quality of life in mild and severe alopecia areata patients

Background: Alopecia areata is a relapsing hair disorder characterized by a sudden hairloss and has a considerable impact on patient’s quality of life. The goal of this study was to determine quality of life among patients with mild and severe forms of alopecia areata and compare the two groups. Methods: During one year, 176 patients (96 mild, 80 severe) were selected and asked to complete Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaires. Results: Our study revealed that the severe group was predominantly female and had higher amount of unemployment, more prolonged disease duration, unstable disease course and facial involvement. The mean DLQI scores in the severe and mild groups were 10.7±7.5 and 5.4±6.8, respectively which was significantly different and severe group had higher DLQI scores and more quality of life impairment. As well, there was a significant association between total DLQI scores and acute stress during last 6 months. Conclusions: Our study confirms that alopecia areata considerably impacts quality of life and this is more pronounced in patients with severe disease and those who had acute stress recently

Quality of life in mild and severe alopecia areata patients

Background: Alopecia areata is a relapsing hair disorder characterized by a sudden hairloss and has a considerable impact on patient's quality of life. The goal of this study was to determine quality of life among patients with mild and severe forms of alopecia areata and compare the two groups. Methods: During one year, 176 patients (96 mild, 80 severe) were selected and asked to complete Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaires. Results: Our study revealed that the severe group was predominantly female and had higher amount of unemployment, more prolonged disease duration, unstable disease course and facial involvement. The mean DLQI scores in the severe and mild groups were 10.7 ± 7.5 and 5.4 ± 6.8, respectively which was significantly different and severe group had higher DLQI scores and more quality of life impairment. As well, there was a significant association between total DLQI scores and acute stress during last 6 months. Conclusions: Our study confirms that alopecia areata considerably impacts quality of life and this is more pronounced in patients with severe disease and those who had acute stress recently.</p

Comparison of IL-28B favorable genotype frequency between healthy and patients infected with HCV

Introduction: Combination of interferon-alpha (IFN-&alpha;) and Ribavirin (RBV) drugs is used for treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic infection. Various factors play role in the response rate of HCV infected patients to treatment. HCV genotype along with viral load, age, race, obesity, insulin resistance, fibrosis and interleukin 28B gene (IL-28B) polymorphisms are considered the most important ones. In recent years, it has been claimed that some polymorphisms close to IL-28B gene play a significant role in response to combined therapy among which IL-28B polymorphisms have a more important role in sustained virological response (SVR). In this study, frequency of genotypes of rs8099917 polymorphism of interleukin 28B gene in 2 groups of Iranian healthy individuals and HCV infected patients living in Tehran was compared. &nbsp; Materials & Methods: Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used to compare the frequency of genotypes of rs8099917 polymorphism between 105 healthy individuals and 105 chronic HCV infected patients. The results were analyzed with SPSS version 15 using &chi;2 test. &nbsp; Findings: The genotype frequency of this polymorphism in the healthy individuals was demonstrated as GG: 1%, GT: 25.7% and TT: 73.3%, while in HCV infected patients, it was shown as GT: 58.1% and TT: 41.9%.. No GG genotype was detected in the patients infected with HCV. &nbsp; Discussion & Conclusion: Our investigation came to the conclusion that &nbsp;a significant difference existed between the 2 groups of Iranian healthy and HCV infected individuals regarding the frequency of rs8099917 genotypes and frequency of favorable TT genotype, because it was higher among the healthy individuals than that of the patients infected with HC