Yalda Nahidi; Naser Tayyebi Meibodi; Habibollah Esmaili
Volume 17, Issue 3 , 2014, , Pages 81-84
Abstract
Background: Vitiligo is a common cutaneous depigmentation disorder caused by the destruction of melanocytes. The exact etiopathogenesis of this disorder is not well known, but a complex of genetic, immunologic, inflammatory, and cytotoxic factors have been implicated. According to ...
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Background: Vitiligo is a common cutaneous depigmentation disorder caused by the destruction of melanocytes. The exact etiopathogenesis of this disorder is not well known, but a complex of genetic, immunologic, inflammatory, and cytotoxic factors have been implicated. According to reports on the role of vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency as important co-factors in the metabolism of homocysteine, we expected an increase in homocysteine levels in patients with vitiligo; therefore, our aim was to investigate the serum levels of homocysteine in Iranianpatients with vitiligo.Method: Forty patients with vitiligo and 40 healthy controls matched for age and sex were studied. After exclusion of cases with diseases that could affect the homocysteine level, serum homocysteine levels were measured by ELISA.Result: Males comprised 57.5% of the participants in both groups and 42.5% were female. The mean age of the patients was 24.68 ± 12.44 years. The level of homocysteine in the case andcontrol groups was 18.56 ± 5.69 and 10.19 ± 4.40, respectively, which was significantly higher in patients with vitiligo (P ? 0.001). There was no correlation between homocysteine levels and age,sex, history of previous treatment, duration of disease, and the extent of body surface involvement. Serum homocysteine levels in patients with regressive vitiligo (13.8) were lower thanprogressive (18.4) and stable (20.4) cases (P = 0.05).Conclusion: We found that the increase in serum homocysteine level in patients genetically susceptible to vitiligo could be a predisposing factor for the development of vitiligo. The serumhomocysteine level is associated with disease activity, and may be used as a prognostic factor for disease activity.
H Seirafi; F Farnaghi; AR Firooz; S Mostafa; Y Sedaghat
Volume 8, Issue 5 , 2005, , Pages 347-352
SH Hejazi; P Nasrifar; S Jamali; AA Jahangir Nezhad; A Khamesipour
Volume 4, Issue 1 , 2000, , Pages 7-11
Abstract
Background: Isfahan is one of the major foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran. According to the epidemiological studies, both urban and rural forms have been reported in Isfahan. Accurate identification and characterization of Leishmania is essential for the control of the disease. Several different ...
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Background: Isfahan is one of the major foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran. According to the epidemiological studies, both urban and rural forms have been reported in Isfahan. Accurate identification and characterization of Leishmania is essential for the control of the disease. Several different molecular techniques for Leishmania identification are developed including use of monoclonal antibodies. Objective: In the present study specific monoclonal antibodies against L.major (T1, T9), L.tropica (T10, T11) and L.donovani (D2) were used to identify and characterize the leishmania parasites isolated from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis in Isfahan. Patients and Methods: Samples were obtained from borders of lesions suspicious of leishmaniasis in 298 patients, stained with Giemsa and cultured in NNN and RPMI 1640 media supplemented with 10% fetal colf serum. The promastigotes were then purified, counted and used as antigen in ELISA test. Results: Mass production of promastigotes was successful in 120 cases. L.major was identified as the causative agent of the disease in 100 cases and L.tropica in 8 patients. In 12 cases the results were inconclusive as the antigens reacted with either 2 or 3 specific monoclonal antibodies. Conclusion: L.major is the most common cause of leishmaniasis in Isfahan.