Journal of

Background and aim: Skin rejuvenation is in demand. In recent years, mono- and bipolar radiofrequency (RF) have been reckoned as treatment of choice for this purpose. The studies on RF have shown the remodeling of collagen fibers and consequently improvement of skin texture although risks and side effects may exist.
Methods: Forty-eight patients requesting skin rejuvenation were treated by RF after obtaining written consent from them. The diagnosis had been made solely on the basis of examination and observation. The photography was performed in all patients pre- and post-treatment. The pictures were evaluated by a dermatologist unaware of the sequence of photos.
Results: the wrinkles improved in 26(54%) patients. The response was better with increasing age. Transient pain and erythema were reported by all patients.
Conclusion: Radiofrequency is an appropriate treatment for reducing the number and the depth of wrinkles and needs comprehensive education. At least, 4 treatment sessions with 2-week intervals are required for effectiveness.

Background and aim: Oral lichen planus, is a chronic inflammatory mucocutanous lesion which is defined as a premalignant lesion. Matrix metaloprotenase 2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 are protenases which facilitates invasion of tumoral cells to connective tissue and are over-expressed in premalignant and malignant lesions. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of MMP-2 in erosive and non-erosive oral lichen planus and inflammatory hyperplasia by immunohistochemistry.
Methods: in this cross sectional study 39 specimens of non-erosive oral lichen planus (with and without dysplasia), 36 specimens of erosive ones (11 dysplastic and 25 non-dysplastic, 32 inflammatory hyperplasias and 6 samples of normal oral mucosa were chosen form pathology archive of Faculty of Dentistry, Mashhad university of Medical Sciences and were stained immunohistochemically by MMP-2 and MMP-9 markers. Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney and Spearman correlation coefficient were used.
Results: The highest mean expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 (in all layers) were observed in erosive oral lichen planus (68.18±31.62 and 94.5±3.5, respectively). MMP-9 expression in erosive oral lichen planus in comparison to non-erosive one showed significant difference in all layers (P<0.001) and the expression of MMP-2 showed a significant difference in basal –para basal and prickle layers (respectively: P=0.008, P<0.001).
Conclusion: the linear increase seen in the expression of markers from normal mucosa to erosive oral lichen planus indicates the difference of biological behavior between erosive and non-erosive oral lichen planus. Hence, it is concluded that erosive oral lichen planus is of the higher premalignan potential compared with its non-erosive correspondent.

Background and Aim: several studies have been conducted to evaluate skin pH in various diseases, but there are few reports in normal population. The aim of this study was to evaluate skin pH in healthy individuals.
Methods: Fifty healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. The subjects were divided by age into 5 groups, i.e., 10-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 and 51-60 years old. In each group, 5 females and 5 males were examined. A pH meter (Courage & Khazaka electronic GmbH, Germany) was used to measure pH in 8 different locations of the body (forehead, cheek, nasolabial fold, neck, forearm, dorsal side of hand, palm and leg).
Results: The mean values for pH in these locations were 5.25, 5.15, 5.06, 4.90, 4.75, 4.80, 4.69, and 4.83 respectively. pH was significantly higher in women (P<0.001). There was a significant difference between skin pH in different age groups (P=0.002). The highest and lowest amounts of pH belonged to the forehead (5.26 ± 0.68) and leg (4.69 ± 0.40), respectively.
Conclusion: Age and sex and location have remarkable effects on skin pH.

This case report introduces a 28-year-old male patient with morphea profunda, peripheral sensory motor nerve involvement, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism as an unusual presentation of deep morphea who dramatically responded to prednisolone and metothrexate after 4 months of treatment.