Role of the cutaneous extraneuronal cholinergic system in the pathogenesis of psoriasis: a case-control study.

Background: Although during recent years there have been considerable advances in elucidating the mechanisms of psoriasis pathogenesis, its full understanding is still distant. A cholinergic dysfunction has been proposed in the pathophysiology of some inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis.

Aim: To determine tissue levels of acetylcholine (ACh) and its muscarinic and nicotinic receptors (mAChR and nAChR) in psoriasis vulgaris lesions in comparison with normal control skin.

Alteration of serum and tissue tumor necrosis factor alpha levels: A possible mechanism of action of oral pulse steroids in the treatment of alopecia areata.

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a multifactorial disease in which tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) plays an important role.

Objective: To study the effect of oral pulse steroids on both serum and tissue levels of TNF-α in AA patients.

Methods: Skin biopsies and serum samples were collected from 20 patients with patchy AA before and after treatment (oral prednisolone for two consecutive days every week for 3 months) for determination of the levels of TNF-α levels using ELISA technique.

The efficacy of laser-assisted hair removal in the treatment of acne keloidalis nuchae; a pilot study.

Background: Laser-assisted hair removal causes miniaturization of hair shafts which are the principal contributors to inflammation in acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN).

Objective: To assess the efficacy of hair reduction by long pulsed Nd-YAG laser as a therapeutic modality for AKN.

Methods: This interventional pilot trial included 16 patients with AKN who received 5 sessions of long pulsed Nd-YAG laser.