Journal of

Background and aim: it has been estimated that 70000-100000 cases of HIV infection exist in Iran. The main route of transmission is intravenous drug (IV) injection. Rapid spread of this disease necessitates its prompt diagnosis. About 90% of HIV infected patients express cutaneous manifestations therefore, recognition of these symptoms may be of help in early diagnosis.
Methods: HIV infected patients with suspected skin lesion were referred to Skin Disease and Leishmaniasis Research Center and were examined by an intern contributed in the study. All the information were gathered in data code sheets. Then, all of the patients were visited by the dermatologist for complementary examinations and the results including lesion type, location and duration were recorded in the check list.
Results: fifty persons were examined and 42 patients were selected. Prevalence of dermatologic manifestations was as follows: herpes zoster in 23.8%, seborrheic dermatitis in 14.3%, hyperpigmentation in 19%, oropharyngeal candidiasis in 14.3%, folliculitis in 14.3% dermatophytosis in 4.7%, wart in 4.7%, Kaposi’s sarcoma in 2.3%, and drug eruption in 2.3% , 75% of patient who had hyperpigmentation were infected by their sexual partner and 25% via IV injection. 33% of patient who had folliculitis were infected via IV injection, 33% through blood transfusion and 33% by sexual relationship.
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, paying attention to cutaneous signs HIV/AIDS patients, their early detection and diagnostic and therapeutic measures for them are advocated.

Backgound and Aim: One important limitation of random pattern skin flap in plastic surgery is the necrosis of distant parts of the flap resulting from ischemia. This effect cause unwanted increase in the costs and hospitalization. Previously, large number of factors has been evaluated to decrease the flap necrosis. In present study we used two drugs. Main reason was their mechanism of action that seems to be similar to preconditioning pathways.
Methods: ّFifty-six male rats were divided into four groups. In two groups 5% minoxidil or 5% azelaic acid were applied topically to the flap area before flap elevation. In some rats of minoxidil treated group, a non selective ATP sensitive potassium channel (KATP) blocker, glibenclamide (0.3mg/kg) was injected i.p. to evaluate the role of this channel in action. In azelaic acid treated rats, some were selected for evaluation of the role of nitric oxide and therefore L-NAME (20 mg/kg), a non-selective iNOS inhibitor, was administered. Seven days after operation, the extent of flap necrosis was calculated.
Results: Topical minoxidil or azelaic acid significantly recused necrotic area of skin flap to 42% (P<0.05) and 34% (P<0.01), respectively. Combination of minoxidil and azelaic acid was the most effictive intervantion on reducing of necrotic area to 26%. Glibenclamide abolished protective effect of minoxidil (P<0.001) and L-NAME inhibited the effect of azelaic acid on skin flap survival (P<0.05). Both L-NAME and glibenclamide completely inhibited the effect of combination topical therapy.
Conclusion: Present study suggested the role of KATP channels on minoxidil pathway and NO on L-NAME pathway of preserving skin flap survival. It seems that there is an overlap between the two pathways however precise mechanism remained to be determined.

Background and Aim: There are some reports regading the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect of honey and Nigella sativa and their therapeutic effects in improvement of wound healing. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of adding honey and Nigella sativa extract compared to honey alone in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis receiving intralesional Glucantime.
Methods: In this clinical trial, 150 patients with confirmed cutaneous leishmaniasis were randomly allocated into two groups. One group was treated with topical honey twice daily along with weekly intralesional injection of Glucantime. In the second group, patients were treated with topical honey and 60 % hydroalchoholic Nigella sativa extract instead of honey alone. The patients were treated until complete healing of the ulcer or for maximum of 12 weeks.
Results: At 12 weeks, complete cure was achieved in 61 (81.3%) of patients treated with topical honey and 60 % hydroalchoholic Nigella sativa extract versus 48 (64%) in the second group (P=0.002).
Conclusion: The efficacy of adjunct honey and Nigella sativa extract along with intralesional Glucantime is more than honey alone in increasing complete cure rate and decreasing the residual scar size and the required dose of Glucantime.

Background and Aim: Androgenetic alopecia is an extremely common disorder affecting both men and women. The incidence is generally considered to be greater in males than females, although some evidence suggests that the apparent differences in incidence may be a reflection of different expression in males and females. This genetically determined disorder is progressive through the gradual conversion of terminal hairs into indeterminate hairs and finally to vellus hairs. Patients have a reduction in the terminal-to-vellus hair ratio, normally at least 2:1. Following miniaturization of the follicles, fibrous tracts remain. Patients with this disorder usually have a typical distribution of hair loss.
Methods: This is a cross sectional study that conducted in Isfahan health center in 2007-2008 .Using simple random sampling, we selected 1800 women in urban health center areas for hair loss. We evaluated the type of hair loss by Ludwig classification. The data was collected through administration of a specifically designed questionnaire and was analyzed using SPSS software. The chi-square and student tests were used for data analysis.

Results: According to results of this study the of 1800 women, 712 (39.6%) had hair loss. Mean age of females who had hair loss was 50.4±13 years.
Conclusion: Thyroid disorders, ferritin serum level and androgenic hormones may play role in hair loss and their existance should be assessed.

Background and Aim: The present world is a world of short-sectional relationships, most people identify themselves by acknowledging their appearance instead of considering their inherited or acquired different characteristics. In this study, we decided to compare the body image between patients with skin diseases and healthy participants.

Methods: In this case-control study, 300 (150 cases and 150 controls) individuals aged from 18 to 64 years were selected in the Isfahan city. Satisfaction with body image and feelings of respondents regarding their apparent looks in different situations and different conditions were investigated using an a researcher-constructed questionnaire. To analyze the collected data, we used the analysis of covariance and compared the means.

Results: Single, younger, and less educated women had body image scores higher and more positive look to their bodies. Healthy people had higher score of body image than the patients with skin diseases. There was no significant relationship between gender and body image scores.

Conclusion: Skin diseases had an important role in body image. So we suggest that the effect of other diseases, that somehow affect the appearance of people on body image, be examined deeply for each disease.