Infantile atopic dermatitis: Serum vitamin D, zinc and TARC levels and their relationship with disease phenotype and severity.

Background: Several markers that influence the clinical course of atopic dermatitis (AD) have been investigated so far. Thymus and activation regulated chemokine (TARC) - a Th2-related cytokine - increase in various atopic diseases. It has been shown that vitamin D affects Treg cells and immune responses.

Factors that predict disease severity in atopic dermatitis: The role of serum basal tryptase.

Background: Increased numbers of mast cells that contain tryptase are found in lesional atopic dermatitis (AD) skin. The association of serum basal tryptase (sBT) with anaphylactic reactions and mast cell diseases has recently been shown in children with venom and food allergy.

Objective: We aimed to identify the risk factors that predict the severity of AD and the association of sBT levels with AD and disease severity.

PCR investigation of Panton-Valentine leukocidin, enterotoxin, exfoliative toxin, and agr genes in Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from psoriasis patients.

Background/aim: Staphylococcus aureus colonization is a determiner of disease activation in psoriasis patients. Here we evaluate the presence of genes encoding Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), enterotoxins, TSST-1, exfoliative toxins, and the accessory gene regulatory locus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in S. aureus isolates obtained from healthy and diseased skin regions and anterior nares of psoriasis patients and healthy controls.

The plasma gelsolin levels in atopic dermatitis: Effect of atopy and disease severity.

Background: Gelsolin is an actin-binding protein with several cellular functions including anti-apoptosis and is reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Apoptosis of keratinocytes has been implicated as a key mechanism of atopic dermatitis (AD).

Objective: We aimed to determine plasma gelsolin (pGSN) levels in children with atopic dermatitis (AD).

Tangier disease in a Turkish family.

In this report we describe the upper gastrointestinal tractus involvement in a rare genetic disease of lipid metabolism. A 12-year-old boy presented with sore throat and fever. On physical examination, orange-yellow tonsils and adenoid tissue were noted.

Acitretin treatment for lipoid proteinosis.

Lipoid proteinosis (LP) is a rare, autosomal-recessive disease characterized by the hoarseness and widespread cutaneous scarring, more prominent on sun-exposed areas. Yellow-white plaques can be seen on oral mucosa and on the skin among depressed scars. Histological evaluation of the affected sites shows accumulation of hyaline-like material in dermis and disruption of basement membrane.