Effect of platelet-rich plasma on the outcome of mini-punch grafting procedure in localized stable vitiligo: Clinical evaluation and relation to lesional basic fibroblast growth factor.

Surgical methods are favorably used for treatment of stable vitiligo, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can be added to augment the effect. The additive value of PRP, however, remains elusive. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is released from activated platelets with a capacity for stimulating melanocyte proliferation and migration.

Study of serum levels and skin expression of S100B protein in psoriasis.

Background: S100B protein was reported to be elevated in psoriatic patients' serum, with no previous evaluation of its skin expression, in contrast to the extensively studied S100 protein.

Objective: To evaluate the serum level and skin expression of S100B in psoriasis to assess its possible involvement in its pathogenesis.

Methods: Serum level of S100B protein was estimated in 40 psoriatic patients of different clinical varieties and 10 healthy controls.

Study of the relation between two common cyclooxygenase 2 gene polymorphisms with risk of developing and subtypes of vitiligo in Egyptian patients.

Background/purpose: Genetic factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) gene induced by ultraviolet radiation controls the synthesis of prostaglandins, which are are found to be beneficial in treating vitiligo. COX2 gene polymorphism has been previously evaluated in Chinese population.

Intralesional tuberculin (PPD) versus measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine in treatment of multiple warts: a comparative clinical and immunological study.

Intralesional purified protein derivative (PPD) or mumps, measles, rubella (MMR) were not previously compared regarding their efficacy or mechanism of action in treatment of warts. We aimed to compare their efficacy in treatment of multiple warts and investigate their effect on serum interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-12. Thirty patients with multiple warts were included (10 treated with PPD, 10 with MMR, and 10 with normal saline (control)).

Comparative immunohistochemical assessment of cutaneous cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme expression in chronological aging and photoaging.

Background/purpose: Skin aging can be classified into chronological aging and photoaging. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) may be involved in ultraviolet-induced inflammation, photocarcinogenesis and the aging process. Studies done focused on assessing COX-2 expression after acute ultraviolet exposure and in photocarcinogenesis.

Neodymium-yttrium aluminum garnet laser versus pulsed dye laser in erythemato-telangiectatic rosacea: comparison of clinical efficacy and effect on cutaneous substance (P) expression.

Background: Different laser systems are reported to be effective in treatment of telangiectasia and erythema, but comparative studies on 1064-nm neodymium-yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd-YAG) laser and pulsed dye laser (PDL) in treatment of erythemato-telangiectatic rosacea are lacking. Substance (P) is implicated in rosacea pathogenesis.

Objectives: To compare the effect of Nd-YAG laser and PDL on erythemato-telangiectatic rosacea, both clinically and immunohistochemically on cutaneous substance (P) expression.

Skin tags: a link between lesional mast cell count/tryptase expression and obesity and dyslipidemia.

Background: The etiology of skin tags (STs) is not fully understood. A relation to diabetes mellitus and obesity was suggested. Few studies of possible mast cells (MCs) involvement were reported.

Comparative study of systemic psoralen and ultraviolet A and narrowband ultraviolet B in treatment of chronic urticaria.

Background: Previous success rates of psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) and narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) in the treatment of chronic urticaria are reported in few studies with no previous reports on the comparable efficacy of both modalities in the disease.

Aim: We aimed to compare the efficacy of PUVA versus NB-UVB in the treatment of chronic urticaria.

Methods: Twenty-four patients with chronic urticaria were included and divided into two groups: 12 patients subjected to PUVA and 12 subjected to NB-UVB.

Immunohistochemical study of Toll-like receptors 1 and 2 expression in cutaneous lichen planus lesions.

Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory, T cell-mediated autoimmune skin disease. Innate immunity could explain the interplay between environmental triggers and the autoimmune cascade leading to disease development. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are important components of the innate immune system, with no previous evaluation of TLRs 1 and 2 in cutaneous LP.

Keratinocyte and lymphocyte apoptosis: relation to disease outcome in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with and without cutaneous manifestations.

Our aim was to assess the relationship of keratinocyte and lymphocyte apoptosis and macrophage function to disease outcome in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with and without cutaneous manifestations. 50 systemic lupus erythematosus patients [25 with cutaneous manifestations (group I), 25 without cutaneous manifestations (group II)] and 20 normal controls (group III) were studied. Assessments of disease activity, peripheral lymphocyte apoptosis, macrophage function and apoptotic cells in skin and renal biopsies were carried out.