Identification and antifungal activity profile of Candida species isolated from patients with pemphigus vulgaris with oral lesions

Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune disease that mostly affects the mucosa and oral cavity. Candida species can invade the mucosal lesions of these patients and cause diseases. The aim of this study was to identify the fungal agents isolated from mucosal lesions and evaluate antifungal activity profile against the isolates. A total of 25 patients with pemphigus vulgaris with active oral lesions and 25 healthy people serving as a control group were included in this study. Identification of the fungal isolates was performed based on conventional methods and DNA sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA gene region. The sequence results were deposited in the NCBI database using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool. Antifungal activity of fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, econazole, and amphotericin B against the isolates were evaluated based on the CLSI M-44 A protocol.  Oral candidiasis was detected in 20% of the patients. Candida species isolated from oral lesions of patients with pemphigus were identified as Candida albicans 22/25, Candida glabrata 2/25, and Candida dubliniensis 1/25. All of the isolates were sensitive to amphotericin and econazole, 96% to fluconazole and posaconazole, and 92% to ketoconazole and itraconazole. One patient showed a profile resistant to fluconazole, posaconazole, and ketoconazole, simultaneously. Ninety six percent of control group isolates were sensitive to six antifungals. Candida albicans was the most prevalent species isolated from oral lesions of patients with pemphigus vulgaris and the control group. Amphotericin B and econazole were the most effective antifungals against the isolates. </p

Topical application of Cassia fistula L. fruit gel in management of cutaneous lesions of pemphigus vulgaris: A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Objective: Cassia fistula L. fruit extract has been traditionally used in the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) lesions in Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of C. fistula fruit gel on healing time of PV lesions in a clinical setting.Materials and Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial that was performed in dermatology ward at Saadi hospital, affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Right- or left- sided lesions of PV patients on standard systemic treatment were randomized for treatment with either C. fistula fruit gel or placebo prescribed twice daily. The largest diameter of each lesion was measured at the baseline (day 0) and on days 10 and 20. Epithelialization Index (EI), as outcome measure was calculated and compared between the two groups.Results: The present study comprised 20 patients, with overall 82 cutaneous lesions including 41 lesions in the C. fistula fruit gel group and 41 lesions in the placebo group. The EI in the C. fistula fruit gel group was significantly higher than that of the placebo group both on day 10 (65±28vs 30±34; p=0.001) and at the end of the study (91±22 vs 69±49; p=0.003). Conclusion: Topical application of C. fistula fruit gel can be considered as an effective adjuvant therapy in treatment of PV

Association of Human Leukocyte Antigen Alleles with Carbamazepine-or Lamotrigine-Induced Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis in an Iranian Population: A Case-control Study

Background: Genetic diversity in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles across populations is a significant risk factor for drug-induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), e.g., carbamazepine (CBZ)- and lamotrigine (LTG)-induced StevensJohnson syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). The present study aimed to investigate the frequency of different HLA alleles in Iranian patients with CBZ- and LTG-induced SJS/TEN. Methods:A case-control study was conducted from 2011 to 2018 at various hospitals affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (Shiraz, Iran). A total of 31 patients receiving anticonvulsant drugs (CZB or LTG) were recruited and divided into two groups. The drug-induced group (n=14) included hospitalized patients due to CBZ- or LTG-induced SJS/TEN. The drug-tolerant group (n=17) included individuals receiving CBZ or LTG for at least three months with no adverse effects. In addition, 46 healthy individuals (control group) were recruited. The frequency of HLA-A, -B, and -DRB1 alleles in patients with CZB- or LTG-induced SJS/TEN was investigated. HLA typing was performed using the allele-specific polymerase chain reaction method. The Chi square test and Fisher’s exact test were used to determine a potential association between SJS/TEN and HLA alleles. P Results: CBZ- or LTG-induced SJS/TEN was not significantly associated with HLA alleles. However, HLA-DRB1*01 showed a significantly higher frequency in patients with CBZ-induced SJS/TEN than the CBZ-tolerant patients (30% vs. 9%, P=0.07). Conclusion: Overall, no significant association was found between CBZ- or LTG-induced SJS/TEN and HLA alleles. Further largescale studies are required to substantiate our findings

Crusted scabies masquerading as psoriasis plaques in a patient suffering from burn scars

A 30-year-old woman, presented with erythematous scaling plaques on her trunk with severe pruritus and a burning sensation that began 3 months prior to her visit. She had a history of a thermal burn in that area, three years prior. Topical corticosteroid application for 3 months had no positive effects. Skin biopsy was done and scabies mites were found

Crusted scabies masquerading as psoriasis plaques in a patient suffering from burn scars

A 30-year-old woman, presented with erythematous scaling plaques on her trunk with severe pruritus and a burning sensation that began 3 months prior to her visit. She had a history of a thermal burn in that area, three years prior. Topical corticosteroid application for 3 months had no positive effects. Skin biopsy was done and scabies mites were found

Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis presenting as fixed drug eruption: a case report

Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis (APD) is a rare disorder characterized by periodic skin lesions that erupt during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Clinical manifestations of APD is caused by an unusual allergy to progesterone and has a wide range of clinical manifestations from eczema and urticaria to angioedema and erythema multiforme. A 46-year-old woman described recurrent, round erythematous plaques on the lower lip, both forearms and buttocks. These skin eruptions waxed and waned for 10 months, reoccurring 3-4 days before menstruation. Based on her medical history and physical examination, APD was suspected and the progesterone challenge test showed positive results. After treatment with oral prednisolone (30 mg/day) before menstruation, the severity of eruptions decreased dramatically but recurrence did not cease completely

Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis presenting as fixed drug eruption: a case report

Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis (APD) is a rare disorder characterized by periodic skin lesions that erupt during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Clinical manifestations of APD is caused by an unusual allergy to progesterone and has a wide range of clinical manifestations from eczema and urticaria to angioedema and erythema multiforme. A 46-year-old woman described recurrent, round erythematous plaques on the lower lip, both forearms and buttocks. These skin eruptions waxed and waned for 10 months, reoccurring 3-4 days before menstruation. Based on her medical history and physical examination, APD was suspected and the progesterone challenge test showed positive results. After treatment with oral prednisolone (30 mg/day) before menstruation, the severity of eruptions decreased dramatically but recurrence did not cease completely

Is There a Relationship between Androgenic Alopecia and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?

Androgenic alopecia as a physiologic process and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as a pathologic process in the older population are androgen-dependent processes influenced by 5-alpha reductase enzyme which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. This cross sectional study was done to evaluate the relationship between androgenic alopecia and BPH. 150 men older than 50 years old, who presented to the free prostate screening clinic, were included. They were asked about urinary symptoms. PSA level, prostate volume with sonography and alopecia grading using Hamilton-Norwood classification (grade I to VII) were evaluated. Analysis was done by SPSS statistical method. 59.6% of men had mild alopecia (grade I, II, III), 34.1% had moderate alopecia (grade IV, V) and 6.3% had severe alopecia (grade VI, VII).The mean PSA level was 1.37 ± 1.48 ng/ml. The minimum PSA level was 0.1 ng/ml, and the maximum level was 6.8 ng/ml. The mean prostate volume was 37.85 ± 21.85cc. The minimum prostate size was 10 ml, and the maximum volume was 173 ml. The mean international prostate symptom score (IPSS) was 7.6 ± 6.11 with the minimum score 0 and the maximum score 27. However, no relationship between these parameters and androgenic alopecia was detected. This study showed that there is no relationship between androgenic alopecia, PSA level, IPSS, and prostate volume. Occurrence of alopecia in younger age and a positive family history correlated with a higher grade of alopecia