The study was designed to investigate the effects of dapsone in the treatment of mucocutaneous manifestations of Behçet's disease and the possible prophylactic role of dapsone in a double blind/placebo controlled clinical trial. Twenty patients diagnosed according to the International Study Group criteria as Behçet's disease were included in the study. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either dapsone 100 mg daily or placebo for three months in a double-blind manner. After three months, patients were crossed over and followed for a further three months. Patients were followed up in each visit by assessing the number, size, duration and frequency of oral and genital ulcers, other cutaneous manifestations, and systemic manifestations of the disease. A pathergy test was done on each visit. Laboratory investigations included hemoglobin concentration, white blood cell count, ESR, and C-reactive protein. In dapsone-treated patients, there were significant reductions in the oral and genital ulcer parameters as well as the incidence of other cutanous and systemic manifestations. In the placebo-treated group, there were no significant changes in these parameters. The pathergy test result as well as those of other laboratory tests were all decreased in the dapsone-treated group. Although this study was a small scale study, it shows that dapsone was effective in treatment of mucocutaneous manifestations of Behçet's disease and possibly in prophylaxis against systemic manifestations of the disease. This result should lead to a larger scale study with a longer duration of follow-up.

The study was designed to investigate the possible correlation between some oxidative stress parameters in Behcet's disease and the clinical manifestations of the disease as well as the possible correlation with the disease severity. Seventy-six patients diagnosed according to the International Study Group criteria for Behcet's disease were included in the study. Sixty patients had mild-to-moderate disease and 16 patients had severe disease. Sixty matched control subjects were also included. After a full history and examination from each subject, 10 mL blood was drawn from each for analysis. Serum malondialdehyde, glutathione, ceruloplasmin, copper and zinc levels were determined. Patients with Behcet's disease showed increased levels of serum malondialdehyde and copper while glutathione and zinc levels were decreased. Comparison between these parameters in patients with mild-to-moderate disease with those with severe disease showed only that serum zinc levels were lower in severe Behcet's disease. Serum malondialdehyde levels were found to be significantly positively correlated with oral ulcer size, duration and frequency. Glutathione levels were found to be inversely correlated with the clinical manifestation index and all oral ulcer parameters. Zinc levels were found to be inversely correlated with the clinical manifestation index and pathergy test positivity grades. Copper levels were found to be positively correlated with oral ulcer number. Although the parameters of oxidative stress did not show correlation with disease severity, they were correlated with the disease manifestations. This points out the importance of oxidative stress in Behcet's disease.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic and intermittent illness. The current treatment failed to cure the disease which requires to investigate other drug with minimal side effects. The goal of the research is to assess the histological outcome, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of cinnarizine in comparison with that of sulfasalazine (salazosulfapyridine) in experimentally induced colitis in rats. Acetic acid 4% (vol/vol) was used rectally to induce experimental colitis in rats. After induction, rats were administered either sulfasalazine 100mg/kg or cinnarizine 20 mg/kg as a therapeutic dose in rats orally for one week. The duration of treatment was depended on previous studies. There were estimation of histopathological and clinical parameters also the expression of cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-4 (IL-4)), oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO)), and adhesion molecules (intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and endothelial (E)-Selectin) in the colonic tissue. Results showed that both cinnarizine and sulfasalazine significantly reduced the clinical and histological injury in colon that induced by acetic acid. In addition to the down regulation of the increased colonic cytokines, MDA, MPO parameters and adhesive molecules. These results concluded that cinnarizine had an effective therapeutic role which is comparable with sulfasalazine on the experimental colitis through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions with down regulation the colonic adhesion molecule.

Background:Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammation of skin disease that is characterized by recurrent acute pruritus and dry skin. Mostly, atopic dermatitis is predominant in young children. The problems of increasing prevalence and high impact of disease on quality of patients and family's life, necessities identifying many atopic dermatitis prevention planes. Objective:To determine the effect of Artemisia annua flavonoids fraction in comparison with tacrolimus in atopic dermatitis like mice model. Methods:This study is a prospective, randomized, placebo and controlled animal designed. Thirty-two male Albino mice that six weeks age included in this study. The mice were randomly divided into four groups. Group I without treatment (Healthy). Group II only inducer, phthalic anhydride used. Groups II, III, and IV subjected to phthalic anhydride solution, which was applied on the dorsum of the back skin at 9 A.M. three times a week for four weeks. After three hours of phthalic anhydride application, treatment is used for group III (Tacrolimus 0.03% ointment), and group IV (flavonoids fraction 1.2 mg /kg ointment) topically once daily at 12 P.M. for three times a week for four weeks). Serum IgE and immunohistochemistry of skin tissue IL-4 score, and IL-13 score were measured. Results:High significant decrease in immunohistochemistry of skin tissue IL-4, and IL-13 in flavonoid fraction group were found. Conclusion:The flavonoid fraction has an effect on the skin immunohistochemistry parameters and probably on atopic dermatitis like mice model. Keywords:Atopic dermatitis, Artemisia annua, flavonoids Citation:Hameed MF, Abu-Raghif AR, Kadhim EJ. Effect of topical flavonoid fraction from Artemisia annua in comparison with tacrolimus on induced atopic dermatitis in mice. Iraqi JMS. 2019; 17(3&4): 231-237. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.17.3&4.10

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