Adiponectin serum levels and ADIPOQ (rs2241766) polymorphism in alopecia areata Egyptian patients.

Background: Alopecia Areata (AA) is an acquired autoimmune form of non-scarring hair loss. Adiponectin and its gene polymorphism were related to many autoimmune disorders.

Objective: Assessment of adiponectin serum levels and adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) (rs2241766) Single Nucleoid Polymorphism (SNP) in AA patients and correlating the results with the disease severity in those patients.

Human beta-defensin 1 circulating level and gene polymorphism in non-segmental vitiligo Egyptian patients.

Background: Vitiligo is an acquired depigmented skin disorder. It has a genetic and autoimmune background. Human beta defensin-1(HBD-1) plus its gene polymorphism were linked to some autoimmune disorders.

Second to fourth digit ratio in female patients with acne vulgaris: Could it be a predictor of androgen receptor status?

Background: Second to fourth digit (2D:4D) ratio is the ratio of index to ring fingers length. It reflects prenatal androgen exposure and sensitivity. Androgens are important in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris, This ratio may therefore be of significance in determining the expression of androgen receptors.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor as an incriminating agent in vitiligo.

Background: Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin disorder in which the loss of melanocytes is mainly attributed to defective autoimmune mechanisms and, lately, there has been more emphasis on autoinflammatory mediators. Among these is the macrophage migration inhibitory factor, which is involved in many autoimmune skin diseases. However, little is known about the contribution of this factor to vitiligo vulgaris.

Epidemiology of dermatophyte infections among school children in Menoufia Governorate, Egypt.

Most superficial mycotic infections of human skin are due to dermatophytes. Children are frequently affected due to different predisposing factors, particularly overcrowding in classrooms. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of dermatophytes infections and their related risk factors among school children in Menoufia Governorate, Egypt.

Evaluation of the effect and mechanism of action of local phenytoin in treatment of vitiligo.

There are many theories explaining vitiligo such as genetic, autoimmune, neural, free radicals, biochemical, intrinsic defect, melanocytorrhagy, and convergent theories. Phenytoin is a widely used anticonvulsant, which is used in cutaneous medicine for treatment of ulcers and epidermolysis bullosa. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of topical phenytoin gel in the treatment of vitiligo patients and explaining the underlying mechanism using immunohistochemistry for evaluation of HMB45, CD4, and CD8.

Immunohistochemical Expression of Leptin in Non Melanoma Skin Cancer.

Introduction: Obesity in adults is associated with numerous health disorders including some forms of cancer. Various epidemiological studies have found a link between excess adiposity and malignant melanoma; however, the association with non melanoma skin cancer is questionable. Leptin is a hormone produced mainly by the adipose tissue and its serum level may reflect body mass index.

The role of IL-28, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in predicting response to pegylated interferon/ribavirin in chronic HCV patients.

The primary goal of HCV therapy is to achieve a sustained virological response (SVR). Many host and viral factors influence the treatment response. Cytokines play an important role in the defense against viral infections, where successful treatment of hepatitis C depends on a complex balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses.

Assessment of Cryptosporidium parvum infection in immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice and its role in triggering intestinal dysplasia.

Objectives: There is an association between chronic inflammation and cancer, including colon cancer. Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite that infects the gastrointestinal epithelial cells causing several parasitological and pathological changes. It is incriminated in the development of colorectal cancer in immunosuppressed individuals.

Osteopontin expression in chronic plaque psoriasis: an association with the severity of disease.

Objective: To explore the possible role of osteopontin (OPN) in chronic plaque psoriasis and understand the role of inflammation in psoriasis.

Study Design: We investigated 36 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis using immunohistochemical technique for evaluation of OPN immunolocalization compared to normal skin biopsies of 10 normal subjects representing the control group.

Results: OPN was expressed in the epidermis of all specimens, both in the psoriasis group and the control group without any significant differences except for the tendency of psoriatic lesions to show more cytoplasmic and nuclear pattern of OPN staining (55.

Up-regulation of Notch-1 in psoriasis: an immunohistochemical study.

The Notch pathway plays a key role in differentiation, proliferation, and influencing cell fate decision in multiple organisms and tissues including the epidermis and its appendages. The role of Notch-1 in psoriasis has not been widely evaluated; therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate its role in etiopathogenesis of this common skin disease. The current study used immunohistochemical technique to evaluate Notch-1 expression in 35 lesional biopsies of patients having chronic plaque psoriasis in comparison with normal skin biopsies, representing the control group.

Cathepsin D expression in chronic plaque psoriasis: an immunohistochemical study.

Cathepsins are lysosomal cysteine proteases, which are involved in a variety of physiologic processes such as proenzyme activation, antigen presentation, tissue remodeling, bone matrix resorption, and pathologic processes such as facilitating tumor invasion and modulating the process of programmed cell death. This study aimed to evaluate the pattern of cathepsin D (CD) expression in chronic plaque psoriasis in comparison to normal skin by means of immunohistochemistry. The study included 34 patients presenting with chronic plaque psoriasis and 10 age- and sex-matched normal subjects as control group.

The role of antifungal therapy in the prevention of recurrent allergic fungal rhinosinusitis after functional endoscopic sinus surgery: a randomized, controlled study.

Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) is the most common form of fungal sinus disease. Its recurrence rate is high despite numerous strategies to prevent it. We conducted a study to assess the effect of systemic and topical antifungal agents-both separately and in combination-in preventing recurrence of AFRS following functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).

Immunohistochemical expression of ezrin in cutaneous basal and squamous cell carcinomas.

Ezrin is a member of the ezrin-radixin-moesin family of proteins, which link the actin-containing cytoskeleton to the plasma membrane. Overexpression of ezrin protein is correlated with the metastatic potential in several cancers. Little is known about the distribution of ezrin in normal epidermis and nonmelanoma skin cancer; therefore, in the current study, we examined the immunohistochemical expression of ezrin in normal skin (10 biopsies) and epithelial skin tumors (25 basal cell carcinoma [BCC] and 20 squamous cell carcinoma [SCC]).

Diagnostic and prognostic role of galectin 3 expression in cutaneous melanoma.

Many of the histopathologic criteria used to diagnose melanoma overlap with atypical but otherwise benign naevi such as dysplastic or Spitz naevi. Galectin-3 is a member of the galectin gene family and is expressed at elevated levels in a variety of neoplastic cell types. The aim of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic value of galectin-3 expression compared with homatropine methyle bromide-45(HMB-45) (one of the established and widely used immunohistochemical melanocytic markers) together with assessment of its prognostic value in melanoma lesions.

Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with chronic urticaria: correlation with pathologic findings in gastric biopsies.

Background: Chronic urticaria is a persistent urticaria lasting longer than 6 weeks, affecting 20% of the general population. Various infectious agents have been reported as causes of urticaria, including Helicobacter pylori, which is a common worldwide bacterial infection. Its role in inducing allergic conditions, such as chronic urticaria, has been suggested in some reports and ignored in others.