BACKGROUND Ablative fractional laser-assisted therapy is increasingly used to facilitate drug delivery and intensify clinical efficacy of topically applied drugs. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of combined ablative fractional CO2 laser and topically applied 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or verapamil hydrochloride in the treatment of hypertrophic scars (HTSs) and keloids and to examine their possible effects on TGF-β1 expression. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty patients with HTSs and keloids were randomly treated with combined CO2 laser followed by topical verapamil or 5-FU application or CO2 laser monotherapy. All patients received 4 treatments at 1-month intervals. Subjective and objective assessment was obtained using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). Histological changes and immunohistochemical staining for TGF-β1 were performed. RESULTS Compared with baseline, there was a significant reduction in the VSS 1 month after the last treatment session in all groups (p < .05). Laser-assisted 5-FU delivery tended to show a higher extent of improvement in scar characteristics than laser-assisted verapamil hydrochloride delivery, without significance. No significant side effects were reported in all patient groups. TGF-β1 expression was significantly decreased after laser sessions. CONCLUSION Combined fractional CO2 laser and topical 5-FU or verapamil hydrochloride offer a safe therapy for HTSs and keloids.

No abstract

Varicocele, a dilation of pampiniform plexus, has a common association in male factor infertility (Alsaikhan, Alrabeeah, Delouya, & Zini, 2016). Several studies showed that varicocele harms spermatogenesis, testicular volume, semen parameters, sperm functions, fertilisation, implantation and the embryo outcome (Kimura & Nagao, 2014; Çayan, Orhan, Akbay, & Kadıoğlu, 2019). In infertile men with varicocele, impairment of the venous drainage is accompanied by stasis, bilateral testicular ischemia, tissue hypoxia and oxidative stress that impairs testicular functions (Rao et al., 2015). It was shown also that varicocele compromises the countercurrent system of scrotal thermal regulation which hampers the cooling system of the arterial blood leading to apoptosis during specific stages of spermatogenesis (El-Kamshoushi, Zohdy, Abou Khedr,

No abstract

streptococci in relation to rheumatic fever. Arner J D k Child, 92: 550, 1956. 24. WANNAMAKER, L. W.: American Heart Assoc. Pamphlet N.Y. 1956. 25. WANNAMAKER, L. W. et al. The single throat culture aa an index of the bacterial flora of the respiratory tract. A m r J Hyg, 60: 168, 1949.

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated disease affecting approximately 2-3% of general population. It is associated with significant negative impact on patient's physical and psychological quality of life along with vulnerability to co-morbidities such as cardiometabolic dysfunction, depression, and so on [1]. to evaluate the efficiency of platelet rich plasma (PRP) in the management of patients with chronic localized recalcitrant plaque psoriasis.This was a prospective pilot study conducted on 30 cases with chronic localized recalcitrant psoriasis attended Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology outpatient clinics, Benha University Hospitalis. This study was approved by Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology Department and Ethics Commitee in the Faculty of Medicine, Benha University. The study details were discussed with all patients and informed consents were obtained from them before the begining of the study.PASI score had significantly decreased in group I after 8 and 16 weeks of treatment when compared to the baseline (p =0.001). There was also significant decrease in PASI score between week 8, 16 (p =0.0018). PASI score showed no significant difference in group II neither at week 8 nor 16 compared to baseline (p =0.894).

No abstract

Latar belakang: Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) masuk di Indonesia sejak awal Maret 2020 yang menimbulkan berbagai dampak pada aspek ekonomi, politik, sosial, hingga pendidikan. Adapun dampak terhadap pendidikan pada proses pembelajaran yaitu, berubahnya sistem pembelajaran tatap muka menjadi sistem pembelajaran jarak jauh/daring. Perubahan metode belajar ini berlangsung cepat sehingga banyak pihak yang belum siap dan merasa kesulitan sehingga timbul masalah kesehatan mental. Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui gambaran dampak pembelajaran jarak jauh terhadap kesehatan mental mahasiswa Universitas Muhammadiyah Parepare. Metode: Jenis penelitian ini adalah deskriptif dengan pendekatan kuantitatif. Sampelnya adalah mahasiswa Universitas Muhammadiyah Parepare yang mengikuti proses pembelajaran jarak jauh sebanyak 97 mahasiswa. Pengambilan sampel menggunakan teknik accidental sampling. Pengambilan data dilakukan dengan menggunakan kuesioner digital yaitu platform google form. Hasil: Penelitian terhadap 98 mahasiswa diperoleh data bahwa sebagian besar mahasiswa memiliki masalah psikologis (cemas, depresi) yaitu sebanyak 64 orang (66,0%), sedangkan mahasiswa yang tidak memiliki masalah psikologis sebanyak 33 orang (34,0%). Kesimpulan: Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa jumlah mahasiswa yang memiliki masalah psikologis seperti cemas dan depresi adalah sebanyak 64 responden (66,0%), sedangkan jumlah mahasiswa yang tidak memiliki masalah psikologis sebanyak 33 responden (34,0%).