BackgroundAndrogenetic alopecia is one of the most common forms of hair loss. Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disorder which causes hair loss. It has been previously reported that both alopecia disorders can have negative effects on quality of life. However, only a few studies have compared the effects of the two disorders.ObjectiveThe aim is to show the impact of alopecia on patients' quality of life and compare patients with androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata.Methods82 androgenetic alopecia and 56 alopecia areata patients were recruited. All patients were evaluated with the Hairdex scale and dermatology quality of life instrument in Turkish (TQL), and the scores were statistically compared according to age, sex, employment and education status, and severity of illness in the two groups. Also, female patients were statistically evaluated according to whether they wore headscarves.ResultsAndrogenetic alopecia patients had significantly higher total Hairdex scores in terms of emotions, functioning, and symptoms, while self-confidence was significantly higher in the alopecia areata patients. No significant differences were found in stigmatization or TQL scores between groups. The Hairdex scale and TQL scores did not show differences between the groups in terms of wearing headscarves.Study limitationsThe validity and reliability of the Hairdex index have not been established in Turkey.ConclusionsBased on the Hairdex scale, our findings revealed that androgenetic alopecia patients are more affected by their disorder than alopecia areata patients. Although androgenetic alopecia is common and neither life-threatening nor painful, it is a stressful disorder with increased need for improvement in the patient's quality of life.

IntroductionIsotretinoin has been successfully used for the treatment of acne vulgaris.AimTo investigate the effects of isotretinoin on body mass index (BMI), to determine whether isotretinoin causes any changes in serum adiponectin, leptin, and ghrelin levels in acne vulgaris patients, and to correlate variables.Material and methodsThirty-two patients were included in this study. Oral isotretinoin was begun at a dose of 0.5–0.6 mg/kg and raised to 0.6–0.75 mg/kg. Pretreatment and posttreatment third-month BMI and adiponectin, leptin, and ghrelin serum levels were measured.ResultsThe pre- and posttreatment BMI values were not significantly different. In addition, serum adiponectin and leptin levels were significantly increased following isotretinoin therapy while serum ghrelin levels were not different.ConclusionsIsotretinoin may exert its anti-inflammatory activity by increasing leptin and adiponectin levels.

Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus is a rare distinctive subepidermal bullous disease seen in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It has characteristical clinic, pathologic, and immunologic findings including antibodies to type VII collagen, laminin 332, laminin 331, and bullous pemphigoid antigen 230. Clinical presentation combined with histopathology, immunological testing, and concomitant diagnosis of SLE according to the criteria of American College of Rheumatology, are required to distinguish bullous SLE from these bullous diseases. In patients with bullous SLE, SLE disease progression and complications may be worse. Cicatricial pemphigoid is a chronic subepidermal blistering disease which is characterized by erosive lesions of mucous membranes and skin. Pathogenesis of cicatricial pemphigoid is characterized by linear deposition of Immunoglobulin G, A, or complement 3 along the epithelial basement membrane zone. The main target antigens are bullous pemphigoid antigens 180-230, laminin 331-332, type VII collagen, and β-4 integrin subunit. Cicatricial pemphigoid may lead to serious complications such as blindness and airway obstruction. Herein, clinical, histological, immunopathological features, the diagnosis and treatment of bullous SLE and cicatricial pemphigoid diseases are mentioned to raise awareness among the dermatologists about this important but rare heterogeneous bullous disease.

BPbullous pemphigoid BPDAI Bullous Pemphigoid Disease Area Index CLEIA chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay DIF direct immunofluorescence Dsg1 Desmoglein 1 Dsg3 Desmoglein 3 EBA epidermolysis bullosa acquisita ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay IIF indirect immunofluorescence LAD linear IgA dermatosis LPP lichen planus pemphigoides MMP mucous membrane pemphigoid NUTS-1 nomenclature of units for territorial statistics level 1 PD pemphigoid diseases PG pemphigoid gestationis

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Background/aim: Although the cause of immune activation in the pathogenesis of psoriasis is still unclear, miRs are thought to have an effect on psoriasis. This work aimed to evaluate the role of miRs (miR-4649-3p, miR-6867-5p, miR-4296, miR-210 and miR-1910-3p) that target the FOXP3 mRNA and IL-17A mRNA in psoriasis. Materials and methods: Forty-four psoriasis patients and 44 healthy controls were included in the study. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used for the measurement of miRs. Serum IL-17A levels were determined by an ELISA method. Results: Plasma miR-1910-3p levels were significantly lower in the patient group than the controls (p = 0.000, fc: 0.10). ROC analysis showed that plasma miR-1910-3p levels could significantly differentiate psoriasis patients from healthy controls [AUC = 0.912 (0.848-0.975), p = 0.000]. The plasma miR-4649-3p level was significantly higher in the psoriasis group compared to the controls (p = 0.000, fc: 2.99). Conclusion: Decreased expression of miR-1910-3p increases the risk of developing psoriasis by approximately 50-fold, and was able to use for the significant differentiation of psoriatic patients from healthy controls.

Objectives/Aims: Rosacea is not only a skin condition but a systemic inflammatory disease that includes chronic inflammation, vascular alterations, and autoimmunity in pathogenesis. We aimed to evaluate the presence of a sensorineural hearing loss in the patients with rosacea in comparison with the healthy control group and, also to compare the audiometric results according to the severity of disease among the patient group.Methods: Fifty-three patients with erythematelangiectatic or papulopustular type of rosacea and 105 age-and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Each participant had audiometric measurements after a complete ear-nose-throat examination by the same otorhinolaryngologist. Results:The results of air and bone conduction thresholds showed statistically significant differences in particularly high frequencies between the groups in both the right and left ear (for all p < 0.05), but there was no correlation between audiometric measurements and the severity or the type of rosacea (p > 0.05).Conclusions: Regardless of disease severity or type, rosacea patients are likely to have sensorineural hearing loss, and it is important to refer these patients in the early period.

Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory dermatological disease with complex pathogenesis in which many immune system cells, including keratinocytes, play a role. Many genes regulate the proliferation of keratinocytes and other immune cells that have essential roles in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.The expressions of EREG, PTPN1, and SERPINB7 genes were shown as upregulated in psoriatic skins in a few studies previously. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the expressions of these genes in psoriatic lesional skin and com-pared them with non-lesional adjacent skin of the same patients and normal skin of healthy controls. Results: Our results revealed that the expressions of EREG and PTPN1 genes were upregulated,whereas the SERPINB7 gene expression was down regulated in the psoriatic skin of the patients than normal skin of controls. Moreover, the expression level of the SERPINB7 gene was also negatively correlated with the severity of the disease among patients. Conclusions: According to our results, overexpression of EREG and PTPN1 genes, and decreased expression of SERPINB7 gene may lead to the development of psoriasis.