Iranian Journal of Dermatology
Year:2001 | Volume:4 | Issue:2 (14)|Papers Count:10

Background: Positive effects of Kombucha tea (an old folkloric drink of Asian people) on wound healing process have been observed. Objectives: To study its effects on the number of mast cells of wound bed. Materials & Methods: The study design was experimental. 42 male adult rats were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. Each group were divided into 3 subgroups. The time of study of first subgroups were 4 days (represents inflammation phase of wound healing process), of second subgroups were 7 days (proliferation phase) and of third subgroups were 15 days (remodeling phase) after wounding. Both groups drank Kombucha tea for 30 days. Then under general anesthesia and sterile conditions, a full thickness wound was made on the dorsum of all rats. The wounding day was considered as day zero. Rats of experimental group drank Kombucha tea after surgery until they were killed by ether at the end of above mentioned durations. Samples were obtained from rats and prepared for light microscopical study and stained with 1% watery solution of toluidine blue. Mast cells and its grades (according to it's degranulations) were counted. Data were analysed by student t test method. Results: Main results were: 1) Total number of mast cells of experimental group decreased from 7th day toward 15th day and on 15th day, the difference with control group was significant (P<0.01); 2) In most cases the numbers of mast cells of experimental group were lower than control group and the differences were significant-for the 4th day grade 1, 15th day grade 2 (P<0.05) and total number of grades 2 and 3 (P<0.01). Conclusion: Daily consumption of Kombucha tea by rats caused a decreased number of mast cells during skin wound healing and the difference with control group at remodeling phase was significant.      

Background: Severe axillary hyperhidrosis causes considerable emotional stress to individuals affected with this condition. Existing topical and surgical therapies are either ineffective or associated with unacceptable morbidity and sequelae. Objective: In this study we attempted to determine the effect of batulinum toxin A (Dysport) in the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis. Patients & Methods: After visualization of hyperhidrosis using the iodine- starch test, ten patients Underwent with axillary hyperhidrosis intradermal injection with 125 units of Dysport in the axillary skin bilaterally. Patients were observed for 7 months after treatment.Results: The treatment was well tolerated without side effects. All patients experienced relatively complete anhidrosis of the axillary skin after about one week for periods lasting from 4 to 7 months. Conclusion: Botulinum-A toxin may offer a fast, safe, and highly effective therapeutic option for severe hyperhidiosis.      

Background: Vitiligo is a common disease. Its etiology is not known, but 30% of patients have a positive family history. Studies have been done on the influence of ABO and Rh blood groups on susceptibility to some diseases. Objective: The purpose of this case-control study was to evaluate the association of ABO and Rh blood groups with vitiligo. Patients & Methods: This study was performed on 200 vitiligo patients referred to skin clinics of Razi Hospital. The blood groups of patients were determined and compared with 200 control subjects arid the general blood group distribution in Iran (published by Iran Blood Transfer Organization). Results: There was no specific association established between vitiligo and ABO and Rh blood groups. Blood group B showed the most difference but still it was not significant (P>0.05). Conclusion: There was no association with the ABO and Rh blood group in vitiligo patients.      

Background: Vitiligo is a pigmentary disorder of the skin which has been reported in association with thyroid disorders. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess thyroid disorders in vitiligo patients. Patients & Methods: In this case- control study, thyroid function tests were evaluated in seventy patients with vitiligo and compared with a control group. Results: Nine of seventy patients with vitiligo (12/9%) and one of controls (1/4%) had abnormal thyroid function tests. Conclusion: Thyroid disorders are more common in vitiligo.      

Background: Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a cutaneous T cell lymphoma. There are only palliative treatments in advanced stages with no cure. Most chemotherapy regimens have temporary effects with various side effects. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of a new chemotherapy regimen in advanced stages of MF. This regimen takes advantage of synergistic effect of methotrexate and fluorouracil and also uses leucovorin reduce to side effects of methotrexate. Patients & Methods: Five patients with advanced stages of MF (stage IIB and higher) were treated with several courses of this chemotherapy regimen in a quasi-experimental study. Results: Four patients responded partially and one responded completely to this regimen but all of them relapsed after tapering the treatment. All of them tolerated the drugs well and no serious side effects were observed. Tumoral lesions showed better response. Conclusion: Although this chemotherapy regimen, similar to other regimens, only had temporary and palliative effects, it was tolerated well without serious side effects.                                                                                         

Linear epidermal nevi frequently follow the lines of Blaschko and may be confused with the verrucous stage of incontinentia pigmenti. Inflammatory epidermal nevus appears as a line array of pink to red papules usually on the lower limb (buttock and hip) clinically resembling psoriasis or eczematous dermatitis. But inflammatory epidermal nevus has distinct histopathologic features. We report a case of a 12-year-old Iranian girl who had a huge verrucous lesion on left lower limb since age of 4 years. Bone age of the patient was 6 years and her left lower limb was 6 centimeters longer than right side. Her lesion was excised in several sessions and grafted but showed recurrence.      

We report a twenty-seven-year-old man with the absence of hair on the scalp and eyebrows which began shortly after his birth. One of his brothers had this problem too. Considering clinical signs and skin biopsy report of the patient a diagnosis of congenital atrichia was made. The latest findings on the genetic of this disease will be reviewed.      

79-year-old female came to skin clinic with an ulcer, 15 ×20 cm, on her left shin. The laboratory report and both the skin and bone marrow biopsies reports, showed pyoderma gangrenosum associated with multiple myeloma. The patient was referred to hematology clinic for treatment. Multiple myeloma has rarely been associated with pyoderma gangrenosum. Multiple myeloma should be investigated in patients with paraproteinemia and pyoderma gangrenosum.