bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Expression of Oestrogen Receptor Alpha (ERα) in Oral Lichen Planus – A Precancerous Inflammatory Disease in Middle-Aged Females
Authors: Jana Abhishek , Thomas Jincy , Ghosh Pratiti 
Published: May 2024

Background:
Oral lichen planus (OLP) is an autoimmune disease primarily affecting the middle-aged females. The present study aims to determine the relation of the oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) with OLP pathogenesis, correlating it with the possible cause of its higher prevalence among females.

Materials and Methods:
Clinically and histologically identified fifteen of each pre-menopausal and peri-menopausal OLP female patients were chosen for this study. The expression of ERα was analysed from the collected lesion tissue samples by using two-step semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (SqRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results:
mRNA and protein expression of ERα were significantly higher in both groups of OLP female patients when compared with the control. The perimenopausal OLP patients showed significantly elevated expression of ERα compared to premenopausal patients.

Conclusion:
Higher expression of ERα in pre- and peri-menopausal females may be a causative factor for the higher prevalence of OLP among females.
Antifungal Activity of N-Arylbenzoquinaldinium Derivatives against a Clinical Strain of M. Canis
Authors: Shchepina Nadezhda E. , Alexandrova Galina A. , Balandina Svetlana Y. , Boiko Igor I. , Chaudhary Sandeep , Shchepin Roman V. 
Published: May 2024

Background:

Microsporum canis (Bodin, 1902) is a dermatophyte, which is widely represented in the developing and the developed world alike. Commonly transmitted from domestic animals it is particularly dangerous for immunosuppressed patients due to AIDS, cancer or transplant surgery. Search for new perspective antimycotic derivatives becomes an urgent task in the disease containment. Previously, several quinolinium analogs were screened for their antibacterial activity (E. coli, St. aurous) by our research team. Furthermore, some N-phenylbenzoquinaldinium derivatives have shown antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Candida krusei.

Aims:
In this study, we sought to investigate fungicidal properties of N-arylbenzoquinaldinium derivatives against a clinical strain of Microsporum canis for future medicinal applications.

Materials and Methods:

N-phenyl-[f]-benzoquinaldinium salts were prepared by a variation of the previously described technique and tested against a clinical strain of the fungus of Microsporum canis 114 harvested from pathogenic material of a patient (Perm, Russia, 2014).

Results:

N-phenyl-[f]-benzoquinaldinium tetrafluoroborate has shown antifungal activity par to (or exceeding) that of commercially available medication. Moreover, this benzoquinaldinium analog can be potentially labelled with tritium by our nuclear-chemical method, making it amenable for the sensitive pharmacokinetic studies.

Conclusions:

N-phenyl-[f]-benzoquinaldinium tetrafluoroborate has been shown as a promising compound for the further development of potent antifungal agents as well as radiotracers for further elucidation of biological pathways of antifungal activity.
Filaggrin Gene Mutation in Pediatric Patients with Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Rajeshwari K A , Thomas Merin M. , Nagaraj Geetha 
Published: May 2024

Background:
Mutations in the filaggrin (FLG) gene has been reported to be an indicator of poor prognosis of atopic dermatitis (AD). It has been reported that there is a considerable variation in the mutations detected in the FLG gene in different ethnicities.

Aim:
To detect the presence of mutations in the FLG gene in pediatric subjects with atopic dermatitis (AD) and to compare the detected mutations with those already reported from different ethnicities.

Materials and Methods:
Genomic DNA extracted using standard procedure from peripheral venous blood of 30 patient and 15 control samples. Sequence analysis of the FLG gene carried out and detected changes was then cross referenced with those mutations already reported to check for novelty of detected changes.

Results:
Amino acid changes were detected in 28 of the patient samples and in none of the control samples indicating that changes in the FLG gene were more common in the patient group than the control group (Fishers exact test, P < 0.0001). The most commonly reported mutations R501X and 2282del4 were not detected. Only 5 of the detected 22 amino acid changes H2507Q, L2481S, K2444E, E2398Q, and S2366T have been previously reported and are not clinically significant; however, in one patient a stop codon was detected (S2366STOP). P2238N, R2239W, and V2243L detected in 70% of the samples and S2231E detected in 67% of the patient samples have not been reported so far and their clinical significance is yet to be analyzed.

Conclusion:
Analyses of mutations already reported showed that the changes detected from this study are novel to Indian traits. While this adds on to the minimal data available from the Indian subcontinent further analyses has to be carried out to analyze the pathogenicity of these detected changes on larger samples sizes.

Aim:
To detect the presence of mutations in the FLG gene in pediatric subjects with atopic dermatitis (AD) and to compare the detected mutations with those already reported from different ethnicities.
Comparative Efficacy of Topical Minoxidil Alone Against Combination of Topical Minoxidil and Platelet Rich Plasma in Women with Female Pattern Hair Loss—A Pilot, Open Randomised Trial
Authors: Agarwal Akanksha , Mendiratta Vibhu 
Published: May 2024

Background:
Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) affects a significant proportion of population and poses a major therapeutic challenge.

Aims and Objectives:
To compare the efficacy and safety profile of combination of topical minoxidil 2% plus platelet rich plasma (PRP) (group 1) and topical minoxidil 2% solution alone (group 2) in women having FPHL.

Materials and Methods:
26 females with FPHL were randomised into two treatment groups. They were evaluated for increase in hair density, reduction in hair pull test (HPT), patient satisfaction score (PSS) and side effects.

Results:
Mean change of 34.92 ± 8.39 hairs/cm2 in group 1 (P < 0.001) and 31.21 ± 8.30 hair/cm2 in group 2 (P < 0.001) was seen. 16.7% and 28.6% patients in Group 1 and 2, respectively, had PSS of highly satisfied. The reduction in HPT was significant with P = 0.0123 (group 1) and P = 0.0128 (group 2). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. No major side effects were reported.

Conclusion:
Minoxidil—PRP combination therapy is an effective modality for FPHL but is not superior to topical 2% minoxidil therapy alone. PRP is a promising option in patients with minoxidil related compliance issues.
Focal Dermal Hypoplasia
Authors: Mansouri Maria , Bouzid Fatima Zohra , Amal Said. , Hocar Oufae , Aboussair Nissrine 
Published: May 2024

Background:
Focal dermal hypoplasia (Goltz syndrome) is a genetic multisystem disorder characterized primarily by involvement of the skin associated to face, skeletal, and eyes anomalies. The objective of the present series is to shed light on this rare syndrome and these atypical manifestations.

Methodology:
Our study reports the case of five Moroccan patients who present typical clinical picture of the Goltz syndrome with some rare manifestations.

Results:
A total of 5 patients with Goltz syndrome were evaluated. All of them are female with one familial case. The age ranged from 8 months to 35 years. A characteristic Blaschkoid hypo- and hyper-pigmented skin lesions, congenital nodular fat herniation, and skin atrophy were present in all patients. Ocular manifestations were present in 80% of patients. Cranio-facial deformity was seen in 80% of patients. Short stature and intellectual delay were documented in 80% and 40% of patients, respectively. Limb abnormality was found in all patients. Two patients had a cleft lip, one of which unusual lateral facial cleft.

Limitations:
Genetic testing could not be performed in the present series.

Conclusions:
Through this work we will discuss the different clinical signs and genetic aspects of Goltz syndrome and the interest of a good clinical expertise.
Sexual Dysfunction and Associated Factors in Women with Psoriasis
Authors: Nguyen Hao Trong , Ngo Van Thi Ngoc , Pham Nguyen Nhat , Dinh Nghi Huu , Tran Tu Nguyen Anh 
Published: May 2024

Context:
Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease, may negatively affect sexual function; however, data on the sexual health of female patients with psoriasis in Vietnam are lacking.

Aims:
To assess the risk of sexual dysfunction (SD) and its associated factors in female patients with psoriasis who visited the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Dermato-Venereology from April 2020 to October 2020.

Settings and Design:
Cross-sectional study.

Methods and Material:
A total of 302 female patients with psoriasis aged 18 to 49 years were recruited. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was used to assess the risk of SD (cut-off value at 26).

Results:
The risk of SD accounted for 79.1% of the study population and was not associated with age, comorbidities, weight, or trigger factors. Urban dwellers had greater odds of SD risk than non-urban dwellers (OR = 2.63). Similar trends were observed in terms of higher education than grade 12, less than once a week of physical activities, and psychological stress as a trigger factor (OR = 1.89, 2.65, and 3.41, respectively). Female psoriasis patients with SD risk had a lower age of onset and higher weight, BMI, waist circumference, and PASI than patients who did not (P < 0.05). Psychological stress and high PASI were independent risk factors of SD risk in female patients with psoriasis (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:
Factors with negative impacts on psoriasis may also increase the risk of SD in female patients; among these factors, psychological stress and high PASI were the strongest predictors of SD in female patients with psoriasis.
Nail Changes in Immuno-Bullous Disorders
Authors: Kadu Priya P. , Kura Mahendra M. 
Published: May 2024

Context:
Autoimmune blistering (AIBD) disorders affect mucosae, skin, and appendages. Appendageal involvement has not been studied extensively to date. However, they are important as nail changes are commonly encountered during a flare-up of the disease.

Aims:
To determine the prevalence and patterns of nail changes in various Immunobullous disorders and to study the relationship between the nail changes and the disease duration and severity.

Settings and Design:
A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Dermatology, venerology, and leprosy at a tertiary care center in Mumbai.

Materials and Methods:
A cross-sectional study including a total of 74 cases of Immunobullous diseases was conducted and the prevalence of nail changes was determined. The association between the mean number of nail changes and the disease duration and severity was analyzed using ANOVA (Analysis of variance) and unpaired t-test.

Statistical Analysis:
The Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS) software was used for statistical evaluation.

Results:
We found that the prevalence of nail changes was 91%. There was a significant difference in the mean number of nail changes with respect to the severity grades of mucosal involvement in AIBD (P value < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the mean number of nail changes with respect to the severity grades of Pemphigus vulgaris (PV), Pemphigus foliaceous (PF), subepidermal blistering diseases, and the duration of AIBD.

Conclusions:
Nails are frequently affected in AIBD. The number of nail changes is related to the severity of mucosal disease but not to duration.
Clinical and Metabolic Characteristics in Hidradenitis Suppurativa – An Indian Perspective
Authors: Mendiratta Vibhu , Yadav Vidya , Bhardwaj Apoorva V. , Pangti Rashi 
Published: May 2024

Background:
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory, recurrent follicular disorder affecting apocrine gland bearing areas such as axillae, inframammary area and groin. Significant association of HS with metabolic derangements such as hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia and hyperinsulinemia has been found. There is dearth of literature on epidemiological and metabolic profile of HS in Indian subjects.

Aim:
The aim of this study is to assess abnormalities in the levels of fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, and lipid profile in patients with HS.

Primary Objective:
To assess the frequency of abnormal levels of fasting blood sugar, serum insulin and lipid profile in patients with HS. Secondary objectives: To assess the frequency of hypertension, raised basal metabolic index, polycystic ovarian syndrome, follicular disorder, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and c-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with HS and to assess the severity of of clinical presentation HS using Hurley staging system.

Methodology:
This is a retrospective record based study. Records of clinically diagnosed patients of HS, aged > 18 years fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were analysed.

Results:
Total 30 patients were recruited with 1:1 male to female ratio. Five (16.67%) cases fulfilled NCEP ATP III criteria for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. Statistically significant association was observed between severity of HS, in younger age group (<20 years), moderate to severe BMI, fasting serum insulin, fasting total cholesterol and raised ESR.

Limitations:
This is retrospective, hospital record based study with small sample size.

Conclusion:
Holistic management of HS should be individualized according to need of patient and it should be combined approach including dermatologist, plastic surgeon, psychiatrist and dietician. We recommend an initial screening for derangements in metabolic profile in these patients for more effective management and preventing long term cardiovascular complications.
Evaluation of Serum Levels of Interleukins 6, 8, 17 and 22 in Acne Vulgaris
Authors: Singh Sweta , Khurana Ananta , Chitkara Anubhuti 
Published: May 2024

Background:
Acne vulgaris (AV) is a chronic, multifactorial, inflammatory skin disease, and it is now becoming increasingly clear that the inflammatory pathway is involved at a very early in the pathogenesis of acne. The Th17 cells, the activators of this cell line and its downstream effector cytokines, are all likely to have a critical role in inducing and maintaining the disease.

Aim:
To analyse the role of interleukins (ILs) 6, 8, 17 and 22 in the pathogenesis of acne.

Materials and Methods:
Sixty patients of AV and thirty age- and sex-matched controls were included in our study. Serum levels of interleukins 6, 8, 17 and 22 were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and thereafter, levels were correlated with the severity of acne.

Result:
Serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-17 and IL-22 were 0.15 ± 0.0174 pg/ml, 0.38 ± 0.080 pg/ml, 0.19 ± 0.0075 pg/ml and 0.23 ± 0.0152 pg/ml in cases, respectively, and 0.13 ± 0.0095 pg/ml, 0.14 ± 0.034 pg/ml, 0.13 ± 0.0033 pg/ml and 0.21 ± 0.0099 pg/ml in controls, respectively. The difference in levels between cases and controls was significant for IL-8 and IL-17, while for IL-6 and IL-22 the difference was insignificant. There was a highly significant positive correlation between IL-8 and IL-17 levels. IL-6 and IL-8 showed a significant positive correlation with the severity of disease.

Conclusion:
IL-8 and IL-17 play a critical effector role in the pathogenesis of AV. IL-6-stimulated Th17 cells are likely the major producers of IL-8 in acne lesions.
A Comparative Study of the Efficacy of Methotrexate versus Methotrexate with Apremilast in Moderate to Severe Chronic Plaque Psoriasis
Authors: Srivastava Divyanshu , Krishna Arvind , David Abhinav 
Published: May 2024

Background:
Psoriasis is an inflammatory systemic disease with a chronic relapsing course. Methotrexate, a dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor, and Apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitor, are currently the mainstay drugs in the treatment of psoriasis.

Aims and Objectives:
To compare the efficacy of Methotrexate with a combination of Methotrexate and Apremilast in treating chronic plaque psoriasis.

Materials and Methods:
The present study was a prospective comparative study conducted among 40 patients, aged above 18 years, with clinically diagnosed psoriasis attending Dermatology OPD of a tertiary care hospital in North India. The study utilised a pre-structured proforma to record a detailed demographic profile and clinical examination related to chronic plaque psoriasis. The patients were divided into two groups of 20 each. Group A was treated with oral Methotrexate, while Group B was treated with oral Apremilast and Methotrexate, and they were evaluated every 4 weeks for 12 weeks. Necessary investigations were done wherever indicated.

Results:
The male-to-female ratio was 1.35, and the majority (55.0%) of patients belonged to the age group of 31-50 years. 27.5% of patients had comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension, etc., The mean PASI score of group A at the first, second and third follow-ups was higher than that of group B. The reduction in mean PASI score was statistically significant in group B at successive follow-ups, with a percentage improvement of 89.4% at the end of 12 weeks.

Conclusions:
When comparing monotherapy with methotrexate and multidrug therapy with Methotrexate and Apremilast, multidrug therapy had better efficacy.
Assessment of Cutaneous Parameters and Sympathetic Skin Response as a Non-Invasive Complementary Diagnostic Tool in Psoriasis
Authors: Sundareswaran L. , Nagendran Prabhakaran , Subramanian Senthil K. , Dharmalingam Amudharaj , Mohuiddin Syed G. 
Published: May 2024

Background:
Various diagnostic tools are used to assess cutaneous psoriasis, but most of it were subjective. Sympathetic skin response (SSR), skin PH and temperature objectively measure the skin barrier functions that could aid clinicians to evaluate accurately and predict skin disease incidence even before the onset of clinical symptoms.

Aim and Objectives:
The study's objective was to assess the utility of cutaneous parameters (skin temperature and pH) and SSRs influencing psoriatic patients’ diagnosis management and treatment compared to controls.

Materials and Methods:
A total of 40 healthy participants and 40 psoriasis patients aged 18 to 65 years were recruited for this study. SSR, skin temperature and pH were assessed. The psoriasis disability index (PDI) was recorded from all the patients. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 20.0.

Results:
The results shows significantly increased skin temperature, prolonged SSR latency (bilaterally) and decreased SSR amplitude (bilaterally) among patients affected with psoriasis compared to control subjects. There is a positive correlation between SSR latency with PDI and a negative correlation between SSR amplitude and PDI in psoriasis patients.

Conclusion:
SSR reveals sympathetic sudomotor dysfunction and increased skin temperature in psoriasis. Furthermore, there is a link between increased SSR latency and PDI, which shows that local nervous system impairment significantly contributes to the inflammatory process in psoriasis. Thus, SSR can be used as a complementary tool for the early identification and assessment of epidermal barrier integrity in psoriasis patients, along with the clinician's standard protocols.
Evaluation of histopathological patterns of testicular biopsies in azoospermic patients: A study of 3 years in Al-Najaf Center
Authors: Allebawi Shaymaa Ahmed Hadi , Al-Janabi Asaad Abdul Hamza 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background:
Testicular biopsy is still considered the main dependable technique required for the assessment of azoospermic patients. Many studies have been done to explore the main changes that occurred in testicular tissue related to the status of azoospermia. Little has been written and published in our country, so this study has been conducted to look for how much the histopathological pattern plays a role in the assessment of azoospermic testicular biopsy.

Objectives:
To evaluate the most common histopathological patterns of testicular specimens from male patients in whom the chief complaint is azoospermia and to categorize each case according to the Modified Johnson’s scoring system.

Materials and Methods:
A cross-sectional study, including a review of 180 male patients with a history of infertility with azoospermia or cryptorchidism, aged 18–60 years, submitted for histopathological examination, in Al-Najaf center for histopathology, during a period of 3 years (2020–2022).

Results:
A total of 180 cases of testicular biopsy from azoospermic patients were evaluated. The most frequent type is germ cell maturation arrest (84 cases) (46.67%) which is further categorized into early and late arrest with a spermatogenesis score 3–7 according to the Modified Johnson’s score. The second most frequent type is germ cell aplasia/sertoli cell-only syndrome (54 cases) (30%) with spermatogenesis scored as 2.

Conclusion:
This study has recognized four histopathological patterns of testicular biopsies in the case of azoospermia and identified that germ cell maturation arrest was the most frequent pattern in our population.
Schools’ toilets quality and its relation to urinary tract problems in pupils of primary schools in Hilla city
Authors: Jawad Russul Hamed , Alsalman Abdul Razzaq 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background:
Avoiding school toilets might cause irregular or infrequent voiding, which can lead to a variety of urinary issues. In this study, primary school-aged children’s bathroom habits, contributing factors, and relationships to lower urinary tract symptoms were examined.

Objectives:
The objectives of the study were: (1) to evaluate factors that affect students going to school toilets including toilet facilities and toilet hygiene in children of primary schools; (2) to evaluate urinary symptoms in those children; (3) to differentiate between private school children and public school children; and (4) to evaluate pupils-to-toilets ratio among primary school children.

Materials and Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted at Hilla city primary schools, and the time of this study was from February 15 to June 15, 2022. This study was conducted on 500 pupils by selecting 10 primary schools in Hilla city randomly (five of them were private schools and other five were public schools).

Results:
Public school students reported that toilets are significantly more dirty (72.2%) compared with private schools. Similar significant differences were reported regarding the presence of stool/urine on the floor, smell of toilet, lighting of toilet, and availability of soap. The presence of urinary tract infection symptoms (at least one symptom) was found to be significantly higher among public sector schools (53.1%) compared with private sector schools (46.9%), with P value of 0.031. Public schools had significantly higher number of children per toilet (108.0% ± 68.5%) compared with private schools (26.8% ± 7.6%), with P value of 0.030.

Conclusions:
Toileting habits and urinary tract symptoms were both significantly correlated. Many children influenced by negative perceptions of school toilets have adopted unhealthy toilet habits during school time. Public school students reported that toilets are significantly more dirty compared with private schools.