A newer approach in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis with QR678® and QR678 Neo®—A prospective pilot study

Background

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disorder that affects the scalp and is characterized by erythema and oily scales. It could perhaps be difficult to control and could seriously degrade one's quality of life. The study's objective is to assess the effectiveness of intradermal administrations of QR678 Neo® hair growth factor therapy for the treatment of scalp seborrheic dermatitis in both men and women.

Method

Forty male and female patients with clinically diagnosed seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp in the age 18–45 years, not satisfactorily responding to standard therapy for at least 6 months, were included. 1 mL solution of QR678 Neo® was administered in the scalp skin of all patients at 3-week interval till eight sessions. Patients were advised to continue with antifungal shampoo and topical antifungal solution with steroid combination which they had been on during the treatment. Assessment of disease severity, dermoscopic evaluation, and self-assessment were done at baseline and at the end of the fourth and the eighth sessions.

Results

Improvement was observed in adherent scalp flaking score after eighth session (mean = 12) compared to baseline (mean = 60). The dermoscopic evaluation showed a noticeable difference from baseline (mean = 11) in erythema and scaling with the Seborrheic Dermatitis Scalp Severity Index tool at the end of treatment (mean = 2). A high satisfaction score was given for the efficiency in the self-assessment questionnaire.

Conclusion

Our study proved that treatment with QR678 Neo® led to an improvement in the overall scalp condition by the resolution of flaking and inflammation.     

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration: A case report with clinical,cytological, and immunophenotypic features

A case study of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in a 40-yr-old Indian male is presented. Prominent clinical features consisted of large skin tumours, lymphidenopathy, and a rapidly progressive course of development. Aspiration smears from tumours, lymph nodes, and bone marrow showed pleomorphic Sezary cells and lymphoid blasts. The neoplastic cells stained positively with anti-HLA DR, CD1, and CD2 antibodies and showed lack of T-cell subset antigens CD4 and CD8. Numerous proliferating cells were identified with 56% of bone marrow cells and 57% of cells in the dermis staining positively with Ki-67 and PC10 antibodies, respectively. This case is reported in view of its uncommon features. Diagn Cytopathol 1994;11:174–177. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Symmetric peripheral gangrene and falciparum malaria--an interesting association

Symmetric peripheral gangrene (SPG) is a rare syndrome in which disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is the most common underlying condition. We report three cases of SPG in association with Plasmodium falciparum malaria and DIC, an association unreported so far.     

Choroidal tubercles in disseminated tuberculosis diagnosed by the polymerase chain reaction of aqueous humor

Purpose: Disseminated tuberculosis occurs due to the hematogenous spread of pulmonary tuberculosis systemically. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of various body fluids has been found to be beneficial in the diagnosis of disseminated tuberculosis, including intraocular tuberculosis. We describe the role of PCR of the aqueous aspirate in a case of disseminated tuberculosis involving the choroid. Methods: Single-step PCR fusing primers coding for the IS6110 gene and nested PCR (nPCR) for the detection of the MPB64 gene were performed on the aqueous aspirate in a case of disseminated tuberculosis with miliary involvement of the choroid. Results: On PCR, the aqueous aspirate showed the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome, thereby confirming the diagnosis of intraocular tuberculosis. Conclusion: PCR is a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic test and PCR of intraocular specimens like the aqueous can be supportive of the diagnosis of miliary tuberculosis of the choroid.     

Cytokine expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes before and after aspirin desensitization in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease.

Aspirin intolerance is the hallmark of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). Overproduction of cysteinyl-leukotrienes (Cys-LTs) has been implicated as major mediators of AERD; however, the LT receptor antagonist montelukast is only partially effective in inhibiting aspirin responses. Several studies have documented the importance of cytokine production by T lymphocytes in asthma. Peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) cytokine expression and its relation to aspirin desensitization in aspirin-sensitive patients with asthma have not been studied. This study was performed to examine PBL cytokine expression in aspirin-sensitive patients who have asthma before and after aspirin desensitization. A 42-year-old white woman with a history of severe asthma, nasal polyps, aspirin sensitivity, and chronic sinusitis was treated with aspirin desensitization. Blood was taken before and after aspirin desensitization, and PBL cytokine expression was studied by flow cytometry. Aspirin desensitization differentially affects interferon (IFN) gamma expression. This effect results in an increase in IFN-gamma expression by CD4(+) lymphocytes and a decrease in IFN-gamma expression by CD8(+) lymphocytes. Aspirin desensitization in an aspirin-sensitive patient with asthma resulted in an increase in IFN-gamma expression by CD4(+) lymphocytes and a decrease in IFN-gamma expression by CD8(+) lymphocytes, the significance of which needs additional investigation.