Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with psoriasis: a hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Background:: Emerging epidemiological evidence suggests independent associations between psoriasis and metabolic syndrome. Objectives: The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components in patients with psoriasis, and to assess which factors may predict metabolic syndrome in these patients.

Methods:: A hospital-based, cross-sectional study with 244 psoriatic patients and 163 control subjects with skin diseases other than psoriasis was conducted at the Clinic of Dermatovenerology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, from October 2011 to October 2012.

Assessment of quality of life in patients with psoriasis: a study from Serbia.

Background: Psoriasis has a substantial impact on patients' quality of life.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to assess the impact of the clinical severity of psoriasis on patients' quality of life and to determine the effects of psoriasis-related stress on patients' everyday life.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Institute of Dermatovenereology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade.

Effect of small changes in natural origin-based emulsion systems on hydrocortisone skin absorption and performance: a comparison of two in vivo methods.

Context: Alkyl polyglucoside surfactants (APG) remain prominent natural origin stabilizers offering a prospect of combining satisfactory stability with mild dermatological properties and complete biodegradability.

Objective: With the purpose of adjusting the dose to a patient's needs, dilution of commercial corticosteroid formulations is a practice which may modify efficacy uncontrolledly. The rational of the study was to investigate whether a simple change in ready-to-use bases (co-solvent addition) could address these needs in a more predictive manner.

[Chlamydia trachomatis and urogenital mycoplasms in nonconococcal urethritis in men].

Introduction: Nongonococcal urethritis is the most common sexually transmitted infection in men, with vast majority of the etiological agents such as Chlamydia trachomatis, followed by urogenital mycoplasmas. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in nongonococcal urethritis in men, and to examine infections associated with these agents. Material and methods 299 sexually active, heterosexual men with nongonococcal urethritis were included into the study.

Preparation of novel apigenin-enriched, liposomal and non-liposomal, antiinflammatory topical formulations as substitutes for corticosteroid therapy.

Two oil-in-water formulations, containing equal amounts of apigenin-enriched chamomile flower extracts, for potential use as topical antiinflammatory agents, were prepared and their physicochemical properties evaluated. A pilot clinical study was then carried out to assess patient acceptability and efficacy. The creams were either non-liposomal or liposomal.

[Dermatomyositis associated with metastatic rectal adenocarcinoma: case report].

Introduction: Dermatomyositis is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy with characteristic cutaneous changes. The disease belongs to paraneoplastic dermatosis. Association of dermatomyositis with malignant conditions has been described in various studies.

Dexamethasone-cyclophosphamide pulse therapy in pemphigus: a review of 72 cases.

Background: Autoimmune pemphigus is a group of severe blistering diseases. Although corticosteroids have dramatically altered the prognosis of pemphigus, morbidity and mortality resulting from the adverse effects of systemic corticosteroids remain high. Dexamethasone-cyclophosphamide pulse (DCP) therapy was introduced to diminish the adverse effects of prolonged conventional daily dose regimens.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia as dominant and life-threatening symptom in dermatomyositis.

Background: Dysphagia can be a serious problem in patients with inflammatory myopathies. It may be associated with nutritional deficit, aspiration pneumonia, and poor prognosis.

Case Report: We presented a 60-year-old male, suffering from difficulty in swallowing, pain and weaknes in the proximal parts of his extremities, and skin manifestation.

[Specific dermatoses of pregnancy--new classification and differential diagnosis].

Introduction: The specific dermatoses of pregnancy represent heterogeneous group of pruritic skin disorders that occur exclusively in pregnancy.

Specific Dermatoses Of Pregnancy: The updated classification proposed subdividing specific dermatoses of pregnancy into four main categories: 1. atopic eruption of pregnancy; 2.

Unilateral multiple lichen striatus treated with tacrolimus ointment: a case report.

A previously healthy 11-year-old boy with multiple, unilateral lichen striatus (LS) on the left side of the body is described. The distribution of the lesions corresponded to the lines of Blaschko. Histology of the lesional skin was compatible with LS.

Acute lipodermatosclerosis: an open clinical trial of stanozolol in patients unable to sustain compression therapy.

Acute lipodermatosclerosis (ALDS) is a painful counterpart of chronic lipodermatosclerosis (LDS) resulting from venous insufficiency. Severe pain is the leading symptom and many patients with ALDS are unable to tolerate compression therapy. We evaluated clinical efficacy of stanozolol (2 mg bid for 8 weeks) for the reduction of pain and dermal-thickness in 17 patients with ALDS.

Two cases of probable endogenous extensive cutaneous larva migrans in Serbia.

Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) is a skin infestation clinically characterized by erythematous serpiginous lesions caused by nematode larvae, usually of animal hookworms. It is most commonly seen in tropical and subtropical geographic areas. It is occasionally seen in Europe and other temperate climates, most often in patients that have previously traveled to tropical areas.

Pagetoid reticulosis of Woringer-Kolopp.

Pagetoid reticulosis of Woringer-Kolopp is a rare form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma that primarily affects middle-aged males. It is characterized by the presence of one or several scaly patches and plaques with an acral distribution. We present a case of a 58-year-old woman, otherwise healthy, with a 5-month history of asymptomatic, hyperkeratotic plaques on the hands and feet.

Contact sensitivity in patients with venous leg ulcers in Serbia: comparison with contact dermatitis patients and relationship to ulcer duration.

Background: Contact hypersensitivity is a common occurrence in patients with chronic venous leg ulcers (CVLU) with allergen profiles depending upon the local treatment policies.

Objective: This study was to determine the frequency of contact sensitivity, prevalence of individual allergens, polyvalent sensitization, and/or their relationship to ulcers duration in the population of CVLU and contact dermatitis patients in Serbia.

Patients: 75 patients with CVLU and 82 patients with clinically suspected contact dermatitis were prospectively included in the study.

Atypical pyoderma gangrenosum in a patient with osteomyelofibrosis.

Background: Atypical forms of pyoderma gangrenosum generally appear on the upper extremities; most frequently they are associated with myeloproliferative disorders, including osteomyelofibrosis. A response to systemic steroids is more pronounced than in classical form. Sometimes it may be the first sign of an underlying malignancy.

Ocular rosacea and treatment of symptomatic Helicobacter pylori infection: a case series.

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by recurrent episodes of facial flushing, erythema, papules, pustules, and telangiectasia. More than half of all rosacea patients may have ocular symptoms. Rosacea is associated with certain digestive diseases, such as gastritis, hypochlorhydria, or a number of jejunal mucosal abnormalities, and many patients have Helicobacter pylori infection.

Male urethritis with and without discharge: relation to microbiological findings and polymorphonuclear counts.

Objective: We studied the relation between the presence or absence of urethral discharge, urethral pathogens, and polymorphonuclear (PMN) counts on Gram stained urethral smears in men with symptomatic urethritis.

Methods: The study population was composed of 630 sexually active heterosexual men (aged 18-45 years) who had urethral symptoms and signs (discharge, dysuria or urethral discomfort). Participants were divided into two groups: the first (n=320) was comprised of men with urethral discharge confirmed on examination, while the other (n=310) was composed of patients with urethral symptoms but without discharge.

An alkylpolyglucoside surfactant as a prospective pharmaceutical excipient for topical formulations: the influence of oil polarity on the colloidal structure and hydrocortisone in vitro/in vivo permeation.

There is a growing need for research into new skin- and environment-friendly surfactants. This paper focuses on a natural surfactant of an alkylpolyglucoside type, which can form both thermotropic and lyotropic liquid-crystalline phases. The aim of this study was to relate some physicochemical properties (characterised by polarisation and transmission electron microscopy, thermal analysis and rheology) of the three formulations based on cetearyl glucoside and cetearyl alcohol, to the results of in vitro and in vivo bioavailability of hydrocortisone (HC).

Disseminated crusted papules in a newborn.

Background: Congenital self-healing Langerhans cell histiocytosis (Hashimoto-Pritzker disease) is the rarest form of Langerhans cell histiocytosis, usually confined to the skin and/or mucous membranes. Cutaneous eruption is mostly generalized, papular, nodular or vesicular. Despite impressive clinical presentation in a newborn it infrequently spreads to internal organs (which then portends a grave prognosis, indistinguishable from Letterer-Siwe disease).

Vehicles based on a sugar surfactant: Colloidal structure and its impact on in vitro/in vivo hydrocortisone permeation.

An emerging class of natural surfactants, named alkylpolyglucosides, which can form both, the thermotropic and the lyotropic liquid crystalline phases, were focused. The aim of the study was to integrate some physicochemical properties (characterised through the polarization and transmission electron microscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and rheology) of the three formulations based on cetearyl glucoside and cetearyl alcohol, with the in vitro (the artificial skin constructs) and in vivo bioavailability of hydrocortisone (HC), in comparison with a standard pharmacopoeial vehicle. The parameters measured in vivo were erythema index (an instrumental human skin blanching assay), transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and stratum corneum hydration.

Herpes zoster as an immune restoration disease in AIDS patients during therapy including protease inhibitors.

A prospective study to evaluate the incidence of herpes zoster (HZ) as an immune restoration disease in patients with AIDS during highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was conducted in a series of 115 patients diagnosed with AIDS initiated on HAART between 1 January 2000 and 31 July 2001. Of these, a single dermatomal HZ episode occurred in 14 (12%) patients within one and 15 months of HAART (median eight months). The HZ patients were similar to the non-HZ patients in age, sex, and HIV transmission risk factor, but had a more advanced disease.

Oral candidiasis and seborrheic dermatitis in HIV-infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Background: Mucocutaneous manifestations such as oral candidiasis (OC) and seborrheic dermatitis (SD) are very common HIV-related opportunistic events and are usually initial markers of immunodeficiency.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in the regression of HIV-associated OC and SD.

Methods: In a prospective study, 120 HIV-infected patients with OC and SD were divided into two groups: HAART-treated patients (group 1, n=76) and non-HAART-treated patients (group 2, n=44).