To evaluate dry eye parameters, corneal topographic features, corneal densitometric changes, and anterior segment parameters in patients receiving systemic isotretinoin treatment.This prospective c...

Objective: Scabies, a longstanding public health concern, is a contagious and pruritic skin condition caused by the parasite Sarcoptes scabiei, affecting an estimated 300 million individuals worldwide annually. Recent increases in incidence can be attributed to challenges in accurate diagnosis and instances of treatment resistance. Permethrin, an insecticide belonging to the pyrethroid group, is the primary choice for scabies treatment. However, recent treatment failures suggest the emergence of permethrin resistance. Pyrethroids, widely employed as insecticides over the past three decades, have led to resistance development across various organisms. Pyrethroid acaricides like permethrin target the neuronal voltage-sensitive sodium channel (VSSC) protein, crucial for action potential generation in excitable cells. Specific mutations in the VSSC gene have been associated with pyrethroid resistance. Our objective is to elucidate the correlation between treatment failure and pyrethroid resistance stemming from VSSC gene mutations in Sarcoptes scabiei mites responsible for scabies cases in the Sivas region, Türkiye. Methods: In this study, we analyzed 30 scabies cases where initial permethrin treatment proved ineffective. The VSSC gene of scabies mites was partially isolated from genomic DNA to identify potential mutations via DNA sequencing. Results: Results yielded significant insights into the relationship between permethrin resistance and VSSC gene mutations. Notably, 43.3% of mites exhibited mutated VSSC genes. Conclusion: This study represents the first investigation into Vssc-associated permethrin resistance in human scabies. The study highlights the importance of detecting genotypic resistance in 43.3% of phenotypically resistant cases.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between smoking and quality of life and to investigate the mediating role of disease severity on this relationship in psoriasis patients. Materials and Methods: In the study, 268 psoriasis patients were reached by the convenience sampling method. In the study, patients' quality of life was measured with “dermatology quality of life index (DLQI)” and disease severity was measured with “psoriasis area and severity index (PASI)”. The effect of the independent variable (smoking) on the dependent variable (quality of life), both directly and indirectly through the mediating variable (disease severity), was examined by process analysis. Results: Smoking status shows statistically significant differences according to gender, age, marital status, occupation, and income groups. 17.02% of women and 44.09% of men smoke. 19.74% of single and 33.85% of married smoke. 20% of unemployed and 39.13% of employees smoke. 17.76% of low-income, 50.91% of middle-income, and 40.98% of high-income people smoke. This cross-sectional study revealed that smoking in psoriasis has no direct effect on the quality of life, but that smoking has a full indirect effect on the quality of life through disease severity. Conclusion: In the study, it was found that smoking negatively affects the quality of life through both disease severity. Accordingly, it is recommended that patients be informed about the effect of smoking on their diseases.

Objective: Oral isotretinoin can affect inflammation markers in patients with acne vulgaris. This study aims to examine the impact of isotretinoin treatment on inflammatory markers in patients diagnosed with acne vulgaris. Material and Methods: Fifty-five patients diagnosed with moderate or severe acne vulgaris according to the Global Acne Grading Scale were included in this study. Patients were evaluated at regular intervals (at 0, 2nd, and 3rd months) during the treatment period. Complete blood count [including mean platelet volume (MPV), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), plateletcrit, platelet distribution width (PDW), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), red cell distribution width (RDW)], Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII), Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI), Aggregate Index of Systemic Inflammation (AISI), monocyte-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), MPV/platelet ratio, and serum biochemistry panel were assessed during isotretinoin treatment. Additionally, the Acne Quality of Life Scale was used to assess patients' quality of life. Results: A significant increase in PLR and RDW levels was observed during isotretinoin treatment (p0.05). Furthermore, this study demonstrated that oral isotretinoin treatment reduced the severity of acne and improved patients' quality of life. Conclusion: Isotretinoin may have inflammatory effects shown with PLR and RDW. However, other inflammatory markers did not show a significant change during isotretinoin treatment. Further comprehensive studies are needed to better understand the relationship between isotretinoin treatment and inflammatory markers.

Background/Objectives: Acne vulgaris (AV), a common dermatological condition in adolescence, has been widely recognized not only for its physical impact but also for its significant psychological and social consequences, particularly the internalization of stigma. This study specifically aimed to evaluate the state of internalized stigma in adolescents with AV and its relationship with quality of life and disease severity. Additionally, we sought to identify and assess the factors associated with internalized stigma. Methods: A total of 179 patients with AV were included in this cross-sectional observational study. We employed a convenience sampling strategy. The Internalized Stigma Scale (ISS) was used to assess patients’ stigma. The Acne Quality of Life Scale (AQLS) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) were used to assess patients’ quality of life. The Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) was used to assess disease severity. Results: Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the ISS was determined to be 0.79. In our study, the mean total ISS scores for patients with AV were notably high. The ISS was significantly positively correlated with the AQLS score (r = 0.653, p < 0.001), DLQI score (r = 0.487, p < 0.001), and GAGS score (r = 0.257, p = 0.006). Linear regression analysis was performed to predict the ISS variable. Accordingly, the AQLS positively and significantly predicts (β = 0.521, p < 0.001). Conclusions: AVs often experience high levels of stigma. Internalized stigma is strongly associated with reduced quality of life and increased disease severity. Moreover, the AQLS significantly affects stigma.