IntroductionChronic urticaria (CU) is defined as the presence of urticaria on most days of the week for a period of 6 weeks or longer. Some studies have reported an association between CU and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.AimTo determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection using the stool antigen test in patients with idiopathic CU and to investigate the infected patients with CU following eradication of H. pylori.Material and methodsOne hundred patients with idiopathic CU and 100 healthy controls were referred to our clinic between May 2012 and June 2013 and were tested for H. pylori antigen. The patients infected with H. pylori received quadruple therapy for 2 weeks. To assess eradication efficacy, a repeated H. pylori stool antigen test was performed in each patient 6 weeks after the end of anti-H. pylori therapy. The effectiveness of eradication therapy on CU was assessed 3 months after treatment.ResultsThirty-six percent patients with idiopathic CU were infected with H. pylori while 23% of the controls were infected. Response to eradication therapy was evident in 33 (91.67%) patients in whom H. pylori was eradicated while 3 (8.33%) patients showed no response despite eradication of H. pylori. Clinical follow-up of 33 successfully treated patients 3 months later revealed complete remission of urticaria in 54.5%, partial remission in 18.2%, and no improvement in 27.3%.ConclusionsThe results of our study suggest that H. pylori infection should be included in diagnostic workup of patients with no response to habitual treatment for CU or symptomatic gastrointestinal patients. For the diagnosis of H. pylori infection, one should consider the costs and accessibility of the population to the HpSA® stool antigen test and Urea breath test (UBT).

IntroductionVitiligo is an acquired, idiopathic disorder characterized by circumscribed depigmented macules and patches, which affects approximately 0.1–2% of the general population worldwide. Zinc is an essential trace element that is necessary for growth and development at all stages of life. Some studies have reported an association between serum zinc levels and vitiligo.AimTo measure the serum zinc level in patients with vitiligo compared to healthy subjects.Material and methodsOne hundred patients with vitiligo and 100 healthy controls were referred to our clinic. The two groups were matched for age and sex. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to measure serum zinc levels. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.ResultsThe mean serum level of zinc in vitiligo patients and controls was 80.11 ±17.10 μg/dl and 96.10 ±16.16 μg/dl, respectively. The serum zinc level in patients with vitiligo was significantly lower than in healthy controls (p = 0.0001).ConclusionsThe results of our study revealed a significant association between vitiligo and serum zinc levels. A relative decrease in the serum zinc level in vitiligo patients can highlight the role of zinc in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, and large-scale studies need to be conducted to confirm these findings and assess the effect of oral zinc supplements in patients with low zinc levels.

Melasma is one of the most frequently acquired hyperpigmentation disorders clinically characterized by symmetrical brown patches on sun-exposed areas. To date, few studies have been conducted about the relationship between thyroid autoimmun-ity and melasma. To evaluate the thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity in nonpregnant women with melasma. A total of 70 women with melasma and 70 age-matched healthy women with no history of melasma were enrolled in the study. We studied the thyroid hormone profile in both groups. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Patients with melasma had 18.5% frequency of thyroid disorders, and 15.7% had positive anti-TPO, while subjects from the control group had a 4.3% frequency of thyroid abnormalities, and only 5.7% had positive anti-TPO. There was a significantly higher prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in women with melasma compared with control group (P = 0.008). This study suggests that there is a relationship between thyroid autoimmunity and melasma. However, to make recommendations on screening for thyroid disease in patients with melasma, future research of good methodological quality is needed.

There is a significant relationship between low levels of zinc and melasma. Zinc deficiency may be involved in the pathogenesis of melasma. Also, treatment with oral zinc supplements can be tried in these patients to see the outcome. However, to make recommendations on screening for zinc deficiency in patients with melasma, future research of good methodological quality is needed.

Our data demonstrate that upregulated expression of Drosha, DGCR8, and Dicer mRNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Acne vulgaris is the most common cutaneous disorder affecting adolescents and young adults. Some studies have reported an association between serum zinc levels and acne vulgaris. We aimed to evaluate the serum zinc level in patients with acne vulgaris and compare it with healthy controls. One hundred patients with acne vulgaris and 100 healthy controls were referred to our clinic. Acne severity was classified according to Global Acne Grading System (GAGS). Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to measure serum zinc levels. Mean serum level of zinc in acne patients and controls was 81.31 ± 17.63 μg/dl and 82.63 ± 17.49 μg/dl, respectively. Although the mean serum zinc level was lower in acne group, it was not statistically significant (P = 0.598). There was a correlation between serum zinc levels with severity and type of acne lesions. The results of our study suggest that zinc levels may be related to the severity and type of acne lesions in patients with acne vulgaris. Relative decrease of serum zinc level in acne patients suggests a role for zinc in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris.

Introduction: Some studies have reported an association between serum zinc levels and psoriasis. This study aimed to assess the serum zinc level and thyroid dysfunction between psoriasis patients and healthy controls. Also, we evaluated the effect of oral zinc therapy in psoriasis patients with serum zinc deficiency. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 psoriasis patients and 100 healthy age- and sex-matched volunteers were enrolled in this prospective cross-sectional study. Finally, 52 psoriasis patients with serum zinc deficiency were randomly divided into two groups: one in which clobetasol cream alone was treated (group A), and one in which clobetasol cream plus oral zinc sulfate was treated (group B). The treatment response was assessed with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score. Results: The mean serum zinc level in psoriasis patients and controls was 62.3 ± 14.3 μg/dL and 87.7 ± 35.2 μg/dL, respectively (P-value= .001). Serum zinc deficiency was found in 52% and 26% of psoriasis patients and control subjects, respectively. Thyroid dysfunction was found in 8% of patients with psoriasis compared with 7% in control subjects (P-value=.361). At the end of the 12th week of treatment, the mean value of % reduction from baseline values of PASI Score in group A was 23.8 ± 18.2%, whereas this was 21.31 ± 17.8% in group B (P-value=.486). Conclusion: Although the prevalence of serum zinc deficiency is higher in psoriasis patients compared with healthy subjects, oral zinc supplementation does not appear to have therapeutic benefits in these patients. Also, we could not find any relationship between thyroid dysfunction and psoriasis.