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Background: Insulin resistance is found in both psoriasis and Behçet's disease. No study has yet explored whether preptin and amylin, two hormones associated with insulin resistance, are involved in the insulin resistance observed in patients with psoriasis and Behçet's disease., Objectives: We aimed to explore how the amounts of preptin and amylin change in psoriasis and Behçet's disease and whether they are involved in the etiopathology of these two diseases, by comparing hormone levels in patients and healthy controls., Methods: The study registered 30 patients with psoriasis, 30 patients with Behçet's disease, and 30 healthy volunteers (as a control group). Fasting blood sugar, triglyceride, LDL, VLDL, HDL, total cholesterol, HbA1c, C-peptide, insulin, and serum preptin and amylin levels were measured in all subjects., Results: Serum preptin and amylin levels were significantly lower in the patients with psoriasis and Behçet's disease than in the control group (P < 0.001, P = 0.004, and P = 0.008, respectively). A comparison of the serum preptin and amylin levels between the patients with psoriasis and Behçet's disease did not reveal a statistically significant difference. Serum insulin level and The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index were significantly lower in the psoriasis patient group relative to the control group (P = 0.02 and P = 0.03, respectively), while the values for the Behçet's disease group did not differ significantly from those for the control group, Conclusions: Serum levels of preptin and amylin were significantly lower in patients with psoriasis and Behçet's disease, indicating that these hormones may be a factor for development of metabolic syndrome in these two diseases., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Androgens and insulin may contribute to increased sebum production in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris., Objective: We investigated the association between serum desnutrin levels and acne vulgaris in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance., Material and Methods: 25 patients presenting with acne vulgaris and 25 control subjects participated in this study. Fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, LDL, VLDL, HDL, total cholesterol, insulin, C-peptide and thyroid function tests were measured. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was used to calculate insulin resistance. Desnutrin levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) according to the manufacturer's protocol., Results: Patients with acne vulgaris had a mean serum desnutrin level of (8.83 ± 1.13 μIU/mL), which was statistically significantly lower in the control group (10:58 ± 3.43 μIU/mL). In patients with acne vulgaris the serum glucose levels, insulin levels and HOMA-IR values (87.92 ± 7:46 mg/dL, 11.33 ± 5.93 μIU/mL, 2.49 ± 1.40, respectively) were significantly higher than the control group (77.36 ± 9.83 mg/dL, 5.82 ± 2.68 μIU/mL, 1.11 ± 0.51, respectively) (p = 0.01, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively)., Conclusion: Full cohort (patients and controls) evaluation revealed a negative correlation between the serum glucose and desnutrin levels (r = -0.31, p<0.05). A positive correlation was found between insulin and desnutrin levels (r = 0.42, p<0.001). In patients with acne vulgaris, as a result of increased levels of serum glucose and insulin, the function of desnutrin was suppressed, perhaps contributing to insulin resistance.

Background: Vitiligo is an autoimmune polygenic disorder characterized by loss of pigmentation due to melanocyte destruction. The PTPN22 gene +1858 C>T single nucleotide polymorphism (rs2476601) has been shown to be associated with various autoimmune disorders., Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the PTPN22 gene +1858 C>T single nucleotide polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to generalized vitiligo in a Turkish population., Methods: One hundred and seven patients with generalized vitiligo, and one hundred and twelve gender-, age-, and ethnic-matched controls were enrolled in the study. Genotyping was done by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism., Results: The PTPN22 +1858 C>T genotype and allele frequencies of the generalized vitiligo patients did not differ significantly from those of healthy controls., Conclusion: We found no association between the PTPN22 +1858 C>T gene polymorphism and vitiligo susceptibility in Turkish generalized-vitiligo patients.

Background. Serum ghrelin levels may be related to metabolic and clinical changes in patients with psoriasis. Objective. This study was performed to determine the possible effects of serum ghrelin in patients with psoriasis. Methods. The study population consisted of 25 patients with plaque psoriasis. The patients were questioned with regard to age, gender, age of onset, duration of disease, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). In addition, fasting blood sugar, triglyceride, cholesterol levels, insulin, and ghrelin levels were measured. Results. The mean serum ghrelin level was 45.41 ± 22.41 in the psoriasis group and 29.92 ± 14.65 in the healthy control group. Serum ghrelin level was significantly higher in the psoriasis group compared with the controls (P = 0.01). The mean ghrelin level in patients with a lower PASI score was significantly higher than in those with a higher PASI score (P = 0.02). Conclusion. The present study was performed to determine the effects of ghrelin in psoriasis patients. We found a negative correlation between severity of psoriasis and ghrelin level. Larger and especially experimental studies focusing on correlation of immune system-ghrelin levels and severity of psoriasis may be valuable to clarify the etiopathogenesis of the disease.

Background: Pruritus ani (PA) is defined as intense chronic itching affecting perianal skin., Objective: We aimed to determine the efficacy of topical tacrolimus treatment in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients who have PA., Methods: The study included 32 patients with AD who were suffering PA. Patients were randomized into two groups. In total, 16 patients used 0.03% tacrolimus ointment and 16 patients used vaseline as placebo. All groups applied topical treatments to their perianal area twice daily for 4 weeks. The treatments were then reversed for 4 weeks after a 2 weeks wash out period., Results: In total, 32 patients with AD who had refractory anal itching were enrolled in this study. None of the patients had obtained successful results with previous treatments. There was a statistically significant decrease in the recorded EASI, DLQI and itching scores for the tacrolimus group compared to the placebo group at weeks 4 and 6 of treatment (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Topical tacrolimus treatment was well tolerated and effective in controlling persistent PA in AD patients.

Background and Aims: Vitiligo is an acquired hypomelanotic skin disorder resulting from the loss of functional melanocytes from the cutaneous epidermis. Low catalase (CAT) activity and Accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) have been demonstrated in the epidermis of vitiligo patients. Some polymorphisms on catalase gene may have effect on the quantity and activity of catalase enzyme. The aim of this study was to investigate whether catalase (CAT) gene polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to vitiligo in Turkish population., Materials and Methods: One hundred and three patients with vitiligo and one hundred and seven gender, age and ethnic matched controls were enrolled in the study. Genotyping was done by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)., Results: The CAT gene -89A>T (rs7943316) and 389C>T (rs769217) genotypes and allele frequencies of vitiligo patients did not differ significantly from those of healthy controls., Conclusions: We found no association between CAT gene -89A>T and 389C>T polymorphism and vitiligo susceptibility in Turkish vitiligo patients. Further studies with greater sample size should be performed to verify these results.

An 8-year-old male patient who had been diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) 4 years ago and received 120 cures of chemotherapy presented at our clinic complaining of spots on his body 3 months after the end of chemotherapy. Anamnesis of the patient revealed that the lesions started 3 months after the last cure of chemotherapy on the abdomen and spread throughout the body. It was learnt that the number of spots increased very rapidly in a period of 2 months, and exceeded 100. A dermatological examination of the patient showed 142 hyperpigmented macules, the largest of which was 1 cm × 1 cm and the smallest was 0.2 cm × 0.2 cm in size, diffusely scattered to the skin and oral mucosa. When the biopsy material taken from the lesions was histopathologically examined, nest structures composed of nevus cells with oval nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm starting from the dermoepidermal junction and extending toward the lower epidermis were observed and found to be consistent with the compound nevus. We present this rare case who was diagnosed as "eruptive compound nevus" on the basis of clinical signs, ALL diagnosis, chemotherapy history and histopathologic evaluation.

Background. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory disease that is associated with significant psychosocial morbidity and a decrease in health-related quality of life. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may be present in atopic dermatitis patients. Objective. The present study aims to investigate the co-presence of ADHD in adult patients with AD. Material and method. The study registered 60 adult patients with AD (48 females and 12 males) and 50 non-atopic control subjects (38 females and 12 males). The AD patient group and the control group were assessed using the Turgay adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) DSM-IV-Based Diagnostic Screening and Rating Scale (Turkish Version), which was studied by a team of psychologists and psychiatrists in Turkey for validity, reliability and norms. The scale covers three dimensions of the disease, namely inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, and associated features of ADHD. The groups were compared and contrasted in terms of their similarities and differences in ADD/ADHD symptoms. Results. Three sub-dimensions of ADD/ADHD scale (Attention Deficit, Hyperactivity/ Impulsivity and Problem subdivisions) in AD patients were found statistically significantly elevated relative to controls (P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively). Conclusions. In conclusion we established the co-presence of ADHD in AD patients in the adult age group.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic dermatitis characterized by intense itching and excessive skin dryness. The factor most commonly blamed for the pathogenesis of skin dryness in the disease is impaired barrier function of the stratum corneum. However, there are findings indicating that the autonomic nervous system, and the sympathetic nervous system in particular, is affected negatively in AD, and thus, autonomic dysfunction can be an important factor leading to skin dryness., Objective: In this study we aimed to evaluate the functioning of the autonomic nervous system electrophysiologically using R-R interval variation (RRIV) and the sympathetic skin response (SSR) in patients with AD, and to examine whether there is an underlying autonomic nervous system dysfunction., Patients and Methods: The study registered a total of 38 (12 males and 26 females) patients with AD, of whom 24 had active and 14 inactive disease, and 20 (10 males and 10 females) healthy control subjects. RRIV was used in our study as the electrophysiological test to evaluate the parasympathetic system. The SSR method, which is a noninvasive electrophysiological test with a significant role in evaluating the sudomotor activity of skin, as well as that of the unmyelinated fibres that take a part in this activity, was employed to assess the sympathetic nervous system., Results: Our study revealed a significantly prolonged SSR latency and amplitude of the upper extremity in the patient group, relative to the control group (P < 0.05). When the group with active skin lesions was compared with the control group, the former was found to have prolonged SSR latency and amplitude in the upper extremity. The prolongation in SSR latency of the upper extremity was statistically significant (P < 0.05), while the prolongation in amplitude was not (P = 0.5). An evaluation of RRIV results did not show a significant difference between the patient and control groups., Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that the sudomotor activity controlled by the sympathetic nervous system, as well as unmyelinated fibres that play a role in this activity are affected in patients with AD. We think that the involvement of sudomotor activity may be one of the causes that leads to dysfunction in sweat glands and skin dryness.