Glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 gene polymorphisms in patients with chronic plaque-type psoriasis: A case-control study

Objective: To determine the role of glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoenzyme polymorphisms as susceptibility factors in patients with psoriasis in a Turkish cohort. Subjects and Methods: In this case-control study, 105 patients with plaque-type psoriasis and 102 healthy controls were recruited from the dermatology outpatient clinics of two university hospitals. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood using a DZ DNA isolation kit. Multiplex PCR was used to determine GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms in the isolated DNAs. Results: Of the 150 patients with psoriasis, 83 (79%) were identified with the GSTT1 genotype and 22 (21%) with the null genotype. Of the 102 patients in the control group, 69 (67.6%) subjects were identified with the GSTT1 genotype and 33 (32.4%) with the null genotype. There was no significant difference between the patient and control groups (p = 0.063). Regarding the GSTM1 polymorphism, 54 (51.4%) patients were identified with this genotype and 51 (48.6%) with the null genotype; in the control group, 50 (49%) were identified with this genotype and 52 (51%) with the null genotype. Again there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p = 0.957). Conclusion: In this Turkish cohort of patients with psoriasis, neither GSTT1 nor GSTM1 polymorphisms were associated with disease susceptibility. Larger studies with a wider range of GST isoenzyme are needed

Reply to: Gabapentin: A promising therapy for uremic pruritus in hemodialysis patients: A randomized-controlled trial and review of literature

PMID = 2768713

Reply to Disease Duration and Inflammation in Psoriasis

PMID = 2816888

Isotretinoin use for acne vulgaris is associated with increased serum uric acid levels

A few previous case reports related vitamin A and retinoid use with elevated serum uric acid (SUA) levels. Recently, a population based study showed an independent positive correlation of serum retinol with SUA levels. Despite increasing importance of SUA in a number of disease states, no study has examined the association between retinoids and SUA. We aimed to evaluate the effect of pharmacologic dose isotretinoin on SUA level. This was a cohort study in which 51 consecutive adult patients with severe acne vulgaris who were prescribed oral isotretinoin treatment (0.5mg/kg) were included. Dermatologic examination was performed and SUA levels were measured at study inclusion for each participant, and then repeated at the first and second months of therapy. SUA levels at first month and second month were significantly higher than baseline SUA levels (p: 0.001, 0.007, respectively). SUA levels at second month were higher than SUA levels at first month, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. This study is the first to show that pharmacologic dose oral isotretinoin treatment significantly increased SUA levels. Since hyperuricemia is associated with renal disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome as well as gout, it is important for the dermatologist to be aware of this potential adverse effect of isotretinoin particularly in vulnerable patients

Cutaneuos findings in patients with predialysis chronic kidney disease

ConclusionsThis is the largest study investigating dermatologic findings in a well-characterized predialysis CKD patient population. We found that at least one cutaneous finding was present in almost all of the CKD patients. Cutaneous findings are very common and diverse among predialysis CKD patients

MBL2 Gene Polymorphism and Risk of Vitiligo in Turkish Patients

Mannose-Binding Lectin (MBL) plays an important role in innate immunity. MBL2 gene polymorphisms affect MBL serum levels. Therefore, this increases the risk of infection and may result in predisposition to autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between the MBL2 gene codon 54 (allele B: rs1800450, c. 161G>A; p. 54Gly>Asp) polymorphism and vitiligo in Turkish patients. One hundred and one patients who were diagnosed with vitiligo and 101 control subjects were included in the study. The DNA was analyzed using the Kbioscience Competitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) technique. MBL2 gene codon 54 polymorphism frequencies were compared between the two groups. In statistical analysis, the level of significance was set at p<0.05. No significant differences in frequencies of the A allele were observed between the patient and control groups. It was observed at similar frequencies in both groups (p=0.890). The results suggest that the MBL2 gene Codon 54 polymorphism is not associated with an increased risk for the development of vitiligo in Turkish patients

Assessment of Hematological and Inflammatory Parameters in Patients Receiving Isotretinoin Therapy for Acne Vulgaris

Objectives:Isotretinoin (ISO) is a synthetic analog of vitamin A used at the doses of 0.5–2 mg/kg for four to five months in the treatment of moderate to severe acne vulgaris. In the present study, both hematological and inflammatory parameters were retrospectively assessed in patients receiving ISO therapy for acne vulgaris.Method: This study included 352 patients who were admitted to the Dermatology Clinic and received oral ISO for the treatment of acne vulgaris were included in the study. Each patient’s hematological and inflammatory parameters (hemoglobin, hematocrit, thrombocyte, mean platelet volume, leukocyte, erythrocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, basophil, neutrophil/basophil, thrombocyte/lymphocyte, RDW, PCT and PDW) were evaluated before the treatment and retrospectively evaluated four months after the onset of treatment. Results: After treatment, a significant decrease was detected in the levels of leukocyte, neutrophil and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (an indicator of inflammation), and a significant increase was detected in the levels of thrombocyte and procalcitonin (PCT).Conclusion: In our study, isotretinoin inhibited the anti-inflammatory effect of isotretinoin treatment of acne in patients with NLR decline after treatment with inflammatory markers. Patients with markedly elevated platelet counts or low leukocyte counts should be closely monitored

Various simultaneous nail changes due to valproic acid use

There are only a few case reports about nail changes due to valproic acid in the literature despite its widespread use. We present a 50-year-old man who had onycholysis, roughness of the nail surface and brownish-yellow discoloration of both fingernails and toenails, which remarkably ameliorated upon cessation of valproic acid