Iranian Journal Of Dermatology
Volume:14 Issue: 3, Autumn 2011

The association between coronary artery disease and androgenic alopecia has been demonstrated, but few studies have focused on the mechanism of this association. The aim of this study was to evaluate the lipid profile in male pattern alopecia. In this case control study, 45 male patients with androgenic alopecia who were aged from 20 to 50 years and 45 men with a normal hair status aged from 20 to 50 years were enrolled as the case and control groups, respectively. Lipid parameters including cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, lipoprotein (a), apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B were measured in cases and controls. A significant difference in serum lipoprotein (a) was observed between case and control groups (p< 0.001). We noted that 47.1 percent of the patients and 17.96% of the controls had a lipoprotein (a) level more than 30 mg/dl which is a critical level for coronary artery disease. There was no significant difference in other lipid parameters between two groups. The family history of androgenic alopecia and coronary heart disease was significantly higher in the cases than the controls. Considering the results of the study and the important role of lipoprotein (a) as a risk factor for atherosclerotic heart disease, we suggest that all men with a male pattern hair loss should be investigated for lipid indices, especially lipoprotein (a).

Superficial fungal infections of skin are very common in rural areas of Bangladesh. The prevalence and characteristics of superficial fungal infections (SFIs) vary with age, sex, climatic conditions, lifestyle, and population migration patterns. There is no study in Bangladesh to determine the prevalence and pattern of superficial fungal infection. This study was undertaken to determine the characteristics of SFIs amongst rural patients visiting in the Dermatology outpatient Department of Community Based Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

From January to December 2008, there were 3438 patients visited in Dermatology outpatient department.Out of them 601 patients are diagnosed as SFIs (310 males and 291 females), aged between at birth to 90 years were included in this study. The diagnosis of SFIs was based on clinical presentation mainly which were confirmed by laboratory direct microscopy and culture.

Tinea Corporis (22.63%) was the most frequent infection followed by ptyriasis versicolor (12.81%), oral thrush (12.48%), tinea capitis (10.32%), tinea pedis (9.82%), tinea cruris (8.32%), candidal intertrigo (6.49%), onychomycosis (4.33%), chronic paronychia (3.49%), tinea fasciae (3%), tinea manuum and genital candidiasis (1.83%), tinea incognito (1.66%) and tinea barbae (1%). Among candidal infection, oral thrush (12.48%) most common followed by intertrigo (6.49%), chronic paronychia (3.49%), genital candidiasis (1.83%). Tinea capitis (11.85%) and oral thrush (13.96%) were most prevalent in children. Whereas tinea corporis was most common (17.40%) in adults. The prevalence of SFIs was greater in males than females. Children were most commonly affected by tinea capitis, oral thrush and tinea corporis, whereas adults are generally suffered from tinea corporis, ptyriasis versicolor and tinea cruris. The frequency of tinea corporis, tinea pedis and onychomycosis were much greater in elderly population.

This study clearly shows that SFIs are of concern in both genders and in all age groups. The prevalence of superficial fungal infections are increasing in day by day throughout the Bangladesh. The pattern and distribution of SFI in Bangladesh particularly in rural population seems to very high beyond our prediction.

Alopecia Areate (AA) is a recurrent non-scarring patchy hair loss of autoimmune origin in a genetically susceptible individual although environmental factors may be contributory. The aim of this study is to evaluate serum iron and ferritin levels in patients with AA. Fifty patients of AA and 50 age and sex matched control subjects without any hair loss were studied. No significant difference was found in mean hemoglobin, ferritin, and iron levels in two groups. Serum iron ferritin and hemoglobin levels did not show any significant variations with respect to the extent or duration of the disease, family history, history of atopy, and nail involvement. In our study, the levels of serum iron and ferritin showed no significant changes in AA patients and seems not to play a role in the etiology of AA.

Treatment of acne scars is a therapeutic challenge that may require multiple modalities. Subcision is a procedure that has been reported to be beneficial in the treatment of acne scars. Although subcision is a valuable method, its efficacy is mild to moderate due to the high recurrence rate. This study aimed to evaluate the novel complementary treatment of repeated suction sessions plus subcision at the recurrence period of subcised scars. The standard technique of subcision was applied to treat scars in 12 patients; then, one side of the face underwent repeated suctioning for 2 weeks. All patients completed treatment and the follow-up period. The patients’ and investigators’ assessments of improvement were both recorded. According to patients and investigators, subcision plus suction showed 81% and 65% improvement after 3 month, respectively. Subcision alone, after 3 month, was associated with 62% and 33.3% improvement according to patients and investigators, respectively. The rate of response showed a significant difference with the use of repeated suctioning. The side-effects of local edema and bruising were all transient. Subcision plus frequent suctioning at the recurrence period of subcision appears to be a safe technique that increases the efficacy of subcision without considerable complications.

Chemokines are a family of cytokines initially characterized by their capacity to induce chemotaxis, or directed leukocyte migrations. These receptors are activated by chemotactic cytokines called chemokines. Interactions between chemokines and chemokine receptors also are involved in tumorigenesis, migration and invasion of lymphoma cells. An English literature search was performed using Medline (Through Pub med; from 1995 to 2011), with limiting factors of “chemokine” and “mycosis fungoides”. Peer-reviewed articles were selected for inclusion after excluding identical papers. After reviewing all the articles, a total of 34 papers about the role of chemokines in mycosis fungoides were selected to review. The potential role of specific chemokine receptors and their chemokines, including CXCR3, CCR4, CCR10, and CCR7 in the pathophysiology of mycosis fungoides, and the role of chemokines in the treatment and outcome of mycosis fungoides were discussed. Knowing more about the mechanisms of chemokines/ chemokine receptors interaction and use of receptor antagonists or anti-receptor antibodies as therapeutic agents could be a new modality for treatment of cutaneous T cell lymphoma.

Porokeratotic Eccrine Ostial and Dermal Duct Nevus (PEODDN) is a rare disorder of keratinization that clinically resembles comedo nevus but occurs on the palms and soles and is characterized by cornoid lamella in the histopathology. We hereunder report a young male with mildly itchy papules on the lateral surface of the left foot who was diagnosed with PEODDN upon biopsy of the lesion. We briefly reviewed the several aspects of the condition in our paper.

Folliculosebaceous Cystic Hamartoma (FSCH) is a cutaneous hamartoma comprised of follicular, sebaceous and mesenchymal elements, and usually occurring during adulthood. Congenital and childhood presentations of this lesion are exceedingly rare. We describe herein a case of congenital FSCH on the midline and posterior region of the neck in a 1-year-old male infant and highlight the clinicopathological features of this rare lesion.

Twenty Nail Dystrophy (TND) is a rare acquired idiopathic nail dystrophy characterized by excess longitudinal ridging, distal notching, splitting, loss of nail luster and thinning of nail plates that may affect 1 to 20 nails. It occurs as a common manifestation of various dermatoses affecting the nail unit like lichen planus, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, onychomycosis, vitiligo and alopecia areata, but isolated cases without an associated disease are rare. TND is a manifestation of diverse underlying processes; therefore its histology will vary; however, histologic data on TND are only available in very few published reports. We are documenting the histologic features of TND in a 12-year-old boy who presented with thin rough opaque lusterless nail plates with longitudinal ridging of the twenty nails without any systemic involvement.

A 33–year-old woman was visited at the dermatological clinic of Loghman-e-Hakim Hospital with multiple hypopigmented patches on her right arm, buttocks and flanks. Her lesions developed over the past year with no regression. Lesions were resistant to multiple antifungal therapies. Clinical examination revealed multiple circular or oval patches on the right arm, flank and sacral area. There was no erythema but fine scales were observed on the lesions (Figure1). No cutaneous sensory deficit was detected and no abnormality was found on physical examination. Also, there was no family history of similar problems. Abdominal ultrasonography and chest x-ray were normal. We performed biopsy from one of the lesions.