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.

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.

Background and Aim: Acne vulgaris is a common skin disease and oral isotretinoin is the only  treatment that is dramatically effective on its severe type The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral Isotretinoin on the level of sex hormones and menstrual cycle in female patients with severe acne.

Methods: In this before and after treatment study, 50 patients with severe acne vulgaris whom were referred to the dermatology clinic of Amir-Almomenin Hospital in Tehran  in 2015 and 2016, were recruited. The inclusion criteria were female gender, age between 18 to 50 years, and having severe acne. Exclusion criteria were: pregnancy, lactating, and suffering from other diseases which could confound the study results. The prescribed dose of the oral isotretinoin was 0.5 mg/kg/day for three months. Before initiation of treatment and  after three months of treatment serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, and total and free testosterone were measured and compared.

Results: The mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of the patients was 26.0 ± 7.1 years, and 10% of them had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOs). After taking isotretinoin, 33 (66%) of patients had no change in their menstrual periods, while 3 (6%) had oligomenorrhea, 4 (8%) had amenorrhea, and 10 (20%) had dysmenorrhea. After treatment, mean serum LH levels significantly increased (P=0.001), but FSH, estradiol, and total and free testosterone serum levels did not change statistically (P>0.05).

Conclusion: This study showed that oral isotretinoin can increase the level of serum LH and cause changes in menstrual cycles.