Plantar warts are common viral infection that are usually challenging in treatment. Conventional treatment methods are usually invasive, have low efficacy, and need long recovery periods. In this study, we compared pulsed dye laser (PDL) and neodymium yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers in the treatment of recalcitrant plantar warts. The study included 46 patients with multiple plantar warts. In each patient, lesions were divided into two groups: one treated with Nd:YAG (spot size, 7 mm; energy, 100 J/cm(2); and pulse duration, 20 ms) and the other with PDL (spot size, 7 mm; energy, 8 J/cm(2); and pulse duration, 0.5 ms). Laser sessions were applied every 2 weeks with maximum of six sessions. The study included 63% males and 37% females with a mean age of 29.6 ± 7.34 years. The cure rate was 73.9% with PDL with no significant difference (p = 0.87) from Nd:YAG (78.3%). The number of sessions required was more in PDL (mean, 5.05 ± 0.2) compared with Nd:YAG (mean, 4.65 ± 0.5) but without significant difference. Complications were significantly higher with Nd:YAG (43.5%) compared with PDL (8.7%). Hematoma was the most common complication recorded by Nd:YAG (28.3 %), and it was significantly higher (p = 0.002) than PDL (2.2%). Relapse was recorded in 8.7% with Nd:YAG compared with 13% in PDL with no significant difference (p = 0.74). Our results suggested that PDL and Nd:YAG lasers are effective in the treatment of resistant plantar warts. PDL is safer and less painful but needs more sessions, while Nd:YAG is more painful and shows more complications.

Acne is a common disorder affecting the pilosebaceous unit. Despite many advances in the treatments of acne vulgaris the best option is still controversial as the pathogenesis of acne is rather complex, necessitating various combination therapies. The objective of this study is to compare the clinical efficacy of intense pulsed light therapy (IPL) versus benzoyl peroxide 5% for the treatment of inflammatory acne. Fifty patients of both sexes, (15 males and 35 females) aged (18-27 years), with mild-to-severe acne and Fitzpatrick skin phototype IV were enrolled in this study. The patients were equally divided into two groups. The first group was treated by benzoyl peroxide while the second group was treated by IPL. For both therapies, patients experienced a significant reduction in the mean of the inflammatory lesion counts over the treatment period. Comparing the effects of both therapies, BP produced better results than IPL. The difference in the results was statistically significant at the midpoint of the study. However, this difference was insignificant at the end of study. Treatment with both benzoyl peroxide and IPL resulted in considerable improvement of the acne after 5 weeks of treatment. Comparing the effects of both therapies, BP produced better results than IPL. The difference in the results was statistically significant at the midpoint of the study. However, this difference was insignificant at the end of study.

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease characterized by patches of depigmentation. Zinc is an antiapoptotic molecule that exhibits antioxidant properties. The study aimed to investigate the serum levels of zinc in vitiligo patients compared to healthy controls and to whether exists a correlation between disease severity and serum levels of zinc. Fifty patients with vitilgo (group A) and 50 age and sex matched healthy controls (group B) were recruited and serum zinc level was measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and results were compared and correlated to each other and to disease severity and extension. The mean serum zinc levels in group A was 50.93 ± 11.02 in comparison to a mean of 77.09 ± 12.16 in group B (P = .049, T = −1.993). Vitiligo area severity index (VASI) scores in the vitiligo group ranged from 0.5 to 27 with a mean ± SD of (9.19 ± 4.47). A high statistically significant negative correlation was demonstrated between serum zinc levels and the extension of vitiligo (P value = .0001 and R value = − 0.835). A significant association exists between vitiligo and serum zinc levels. Serum zinc levels correlated negatively with vitiligo disease severity and extension. Zinc supplementation and use can be of potential importance in setting vitiligo treatment protocols.

No abstract

No abstract