Keloids and hypertrophic scars are different forms of excessive dermal fibrosis thought to be caused by regulation of cellularity increase and decrease during the wound-healing process in predisposed individuals. Differences between keloids and hypertrophic scars include distinct clinical features, histologic evidence, and cellular function in response to molecular events. Keloids and hypertrophic scars are the results of increased fibroblast density and extracellular matrix substances. Interactions between epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts play an important role in regulating tissue homeostasis and processing scar formation. Keloids and hypertrophic scars are the two different stages of the same process that is based on separate clinical and histochemical entities. The aim of this review is to provide updated information regarding similarities and differences between keloids and hypertrophic scars as two different sides of the same coin. This article will also enable the dermatologist to better understand fundamental biology of the scarring.

To analyze the effect of possible risk factors, including breastfeeding, on the development of childhood-onset psoriasis, a multicenter case-control study with prospective collection of data was performed. Using a standard questionnaire, personal and specific variables including family history of psoriasis, maternal and environmental tobacco smoke exposure, body mass index (BMI), exclusive and partial breastfeeding for at least 3 and 12 months, cow's milk intake before 1 year, birth delivery method, and stressful life events were collected during 2009 from 537 patients with psoriasis and 511 controls younger than 18. Overall, patients more frequently reported exposure to environmental tobacco smoke at home and stressful life events in the year preceding the diagnosis than controls. The odds ratios (OR) for smoking and stressful life events were 2.90 (95% confidence interval [CI]=2.27-3.78) and 2.94 (95% CI=2.28-3.79), respectively. In addition, children with psoriasis were more likely to have a higher BMI (>26) than controls (OR=2.52; 95% CI=1.42-4.49). High BMI, environmental tobacco smoke exposure at home, and stressful life events may influence the development of pediatric psoriasis.

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Background and Aim: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is undoubtedly the most common form of hair loss in males. It is a condition which may cause cosmetic and psychosocial problems in androgen-dependent cases. In this open, randomized and comparative study we evaluated the efficacy of oral finasteride and 5% topical minoxidil treatment for 12 months in 65 male patients with mild to severe AGA. Methods: We randomly assigned 40 (61.53%) patients to receive 1 mg/day oral finasteride for 12 months, and 25 (38.47%) patients applied 5% topical minoxidil solution twice daily for 12 months. Results: There were no significant differences between the 2 groups considering age, age of onset of hair loss, family history and type of hair loss (p > 0.05). In the clinical evaluation at the endpoint of treatment, the clinical cure rates (i.e. increased intensity of hair) were 80% (32/40) for the oral finasteride group and 52% (13/25) for the 5% topical minoxidil group. Encountered side effects were all mild, and there was no need to stop the treatment. In the group given oral finasteride, side effects were noted in 7 patients: 6 patients suffered from loss of libido, and 1 patient had an increase in other body hairs; irritation of the scalp was seen in 1 patient in the group administered 5% minoxidil. These adverse events disappeared as soon as the treatment was stopped. The laboratory data on both drug groups did not show any statistically or clinically significant intragroup changes from baseline values to the endpoint (p > 0.05), except the level of serum total testosterone which was increased, and free testosterone and serum prostate-specific antigen in the finasteride group which were statistically decreased from baseline values to the endpoint (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In this comparative study of systemic finasteride and topical minoxidil, it was concluded that both drugs were effective and safe in the treatment of mild to severe AGA, although oral finasteride treatment was more effective (p < 0.05). Adverse events were not considered important either, and these side effects disappeared as soon as the treatment was stopped.

Mometasone cream was found to be effective in the treatment of vitiligo on any part of the body. Pimecrolimus was not effective on the body except for the face in childhood localized vitiligo.

Background: Data concerning the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the female genital system is scarce; however, this information is important for understanding whether the virus can transmit sexually or from mother to child. The aim of this study was to investigate whether pregnant women with COVID-19 have virus in their lower genital tract. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we present an analysis of prospectively gathered data collected at a single tertiary university hospital from 19 April to 19 May 2020. We included 13 pregnant women hospitalized with suspected COVID-19. Results of laboratory tests, imaging tests, and nucleic acid tests on vaginal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 were also analyzed for pregnant women with a clinical diagnosis of COVID-19. Results: Twelve pregnant women with confirmed COVID-19 were included in this study. Mean age was 32 ± 7.9 years. All patients had mild symptoms and were followed in the maternity ward, with none of them needing critical care unit follow-up. All lower genital tract samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion: We demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 was not present in the vaginal fluid of pregnant women. This finding may indicate that the female genital tract is not a route of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Objective:  The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of dental and periodontal treatments to the course of oral ulcers in patients with Behcet’s disease (BD). Methods:  Fifty‐eight consecutive BD patients with oral ulcers were studied. Twenty‐nine patients were in the intervention group (F/M: 15/14, mean age: 39.6 ± 6.9 years) and 29 (F/M: 15/14, 39.4 ± 10.6 years) were followed with a conventional treatment approach. In addition to oral hygiene education, dental and periodontal treatments were carried out in the intervention group, whereas the control group was only given oral hygiene education. Patients were evaluated in the pre‐treatment observation period (1 month), treatment period (1 month) and 6 months after treatment. Results:  An increase in the number of new oral ulcers (4.1 ± 3.5) was observed within 2 days during the treatment compared with 3–30 days during treatment month (2.3 ± 1.2) (P = 0.002). However, 6 months after the treatment, the number of oral ulcers (1.9 ± 1.5) was significantly lower compared with the pre‐treatment observation (4.8 ± 3.2) (P = 0.000) and treatment periods (6.4 ± 2.3) in the intervention group (P = 0.05), whereas a similar oral ulcer presence was observed in the control group (2.8 ± 2.4, 3.7 ± 2.3 and 4.8 ± 4.3, respectively) (P > 0.05). Dental and periodontal indices were also better in the intervention group during the 6‐month follow‐up. Conclusion:  Our results suggest that, in BD patients, dental and periodontal therapies could be associated with a flare‐up of oral ulcers in the short term, but may decrease their number in longer follow‐up. They also lead to a better oral health.

IntroductionGuy's Stone Score and S.T.O.N.E. Nephrolithometry nomograms have been introduced for systematic and quantitative assessment of kidney stones.The aim of this study was to reveal the value of two scorings systems, Guy and S.T.O.N.E, most frequently used for predicting postoperative stone-free status prior to Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL), in the prediction of postoperative results of PCNL.Material and methodsWe retrospectively examined patients who underwent PCNL. Preoperative abdominopelvic computerized tomography images of these patients were reviewed and scored according to the Guy and S.T.O.N.E. systems.The relationship between the Guy and S.T.O.N.E. scores, and their postoperative stone-free status, complications based on Clavien system, operation time, fluoroscopy time and period of hospitalization was compared.ResultsWe identified a total of 102 patients who underwent PCNL between 2010 and 2014, having met the inclusion criteria.The relationships between the total S.T.O.N.E score and Clavien score (p <0.001); time of operation (p = 0.012) and stone-free status (p <0.001); Guy stone score and Clavien score (p <0.001); and period of hospitalization (p <0.001) and time of operation (p <0.001) were found to be statistically significant. There was no statistically significant relationship between Guy score and stone-free status and no statistically significant relationship was found between fluoroscopy time and both stone scoring systems.ConclusionsGuy and S.T.O.N.E. scoring systems may be used as effective instruments particularly for predicting postoperative complications.