A predisposition to occlusive vascular diseases has been reported in patients with psoriasis and it has been suggested that some of these patients have some disorders of lipid metabolism. In this study, serum lipid levels were investigated in psoriatic patients to explore to the knowledge of this relationship. One hundred psoriatic patients and 100 non- psoriatic controls were included in the study. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol), and very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-cholesterol) levels were measured. In patients with psoriasis, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels were found to be significantly higher than those of controls. No significant differences were found in the other parameters. We concluded that psoriatic patients should be evaluated and followed up for the risk of hyperlipidemia and obstructive vascular diseases.

Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune, chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder characterized by the association of arthritis with psoriasis. In this paper, we explore the characteristics of joint and nail involvement in Turkish patients with psoriatic arthritis. Forty patients with psoriasis (M/F, 18/22) and 49 (M/F, 25/24) subjects with psoriatic arthritis were included in the study. Clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded. The distribution of the subjects with arthritis: (according to the clinical and radiological findings): polyarticular, 65%; oligoarticular, 23%; isolated axial involvement, 7.7%; arthritis mutilans, 3.8%; sacroiliitis, 19%. Nail involvement was significantly higher among patients with arthritis; i.e., 91 versus 32%; (P<0.05). There were no correlation between the skin involvement pattern and the arthritis type (P>0.05). Nevertheless, no relation was observed between the psoriasis duration and arthritis (P>0.05). Nail involvement is a frequent feature of the psoriatic arthritis which may be a useful finding for differential diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis from other inflammatory arthropathies.

Spironolactone is a safe and effective medication for women with acne vulgaris. Although its side-effects seem to be high, they are in the majority of cases not a reason to stop treatment.

No abstract

Benzoyl peroxide and adapalene are among the most effective topical agents used in the treatment of acne. We planned an open-labeled, prospective study to compare the effects and side effects of these two drugs alone and in combination in the treatment of acne vulgaris. One hundred and five consecutive patients (30 men and 75 women) with acne vulgaris were included in this study. The patients were randomly divided into three groups with 35 patients in each. The groups were randomly assigned to 0.1% adapalene gel, 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion, or combination of 0.1% adapalene gel +5% benzoyl peroxide treatment. Acne lesions were classified as noninflammatory (open and closed comedones) and inflammatory (papule, pustule, nodule, cyst), and the lesions on the face were counted before the therapy, during the control visits, and after the treatment. Erythema, dryness, burning, and other side effects were recorded during the treatment. The mean age of the patients was 18.44 +/- 3.75 years. Eight patients were excluded because of noncompliance with the treatment regimen or the follow-up schedule, and four patients were excluded due to allergic contact dermatitis. The study revealed that all three therapy protocols were effective in treating noninflammatory and inflammatory lesions in acne vulgaris (p<0.05) and that there was no significant difference between the groups in efficacy or side effects (p>0.05). Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide are effective and well tolerated agents for acne vulgaris; combination therapy has no superiority over adapalene or benzoyl peroxide alone.