The ability of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to promote cholesterol efflux is an important component of its ability to protect against cardiovascular disease. In addition, the anti-inflammatory properties of HDL are important as well. As part of the innate immune system, HDL appears to have evolved to increase inflammation in the presence of an acute phase response but to inhibit inflammation in the absence of an acute phase response. In a study of humans with coronary heart disease, it was found that the patients who had proinflammatory HDL prior to statin therapy (and half of them despite a profound decrease in plasma lipids following statin therapy) continued to have proinflammatory HDL. Anti-inflammatory HDL was effective in promoting cholesterol efflux whereas proinflammatory HDL was relatively weak in its ability to promote cholesterol efflux. Oxidative alterations of the main protein of HDL, apolipoprotein A-I, impaired its capacity to promote cholesterol efflux from monocyte macrophages. Therefore, HDL composition, structure, and function appear to be more crucial than HDL cholesterol concentrations in determining risk for cardiovascular disorders.

HCV prevalence is high in drug users in Iran, especially among those with a history of injection drug use, needle sharing, and imprisonment. Drug user-focused HCV prevention and treatment programs are urgently needed.

Findings are in agreement with the cover-body model in that cricothyroid muscle activity generates a greater change in cover stiffness than laryngeal adductors. The role of the individual laryngeal adductors (thyroarytenoid [TA] vs. LCA) in control of vocal fold cover stiffness remains to be further elucidated.

BACKGROUND The need for noninvasive methods in treatment of cutaneous disease has continued to evolve exponentially. Amidst the search for technologies, radiofrequency (RF) has proven efficacious in numerous skin disease processes. Although RF is well known for its cosmetic utility, its mechanism is valued in the treatment of many noncosmetic cutaneous conditions of various etiologies. OBJECTIVE To identify and describe studies in which RF was used to treat noncosmetic skin conditions and to explore the potential of this modality for further application in dermatologic diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS The PubMed database was used to find relevant articles. RESULTS This search strategy yielded 54 articles that met the eligibility criteria. Noncosmetic indications discussed in these articles include varicose veins (n = 10,550), lymphangioma circumscriptum (n = 72), cutaneous neoplasms (n = 42), cutaneous leishmaniasis (n = 743), acne and acne scarring (n = 158), non–acne scarring (n = 43), primary axillary hyperhidrosis (n = 76), and acute and chronic wounds (n = 94). CONCLUSION Treatment with RF is an effective, generally noninvasive modality with a relatively short postprocedure recovery time and little potential for severe adverse effects in the treatment of several cutaneous conditions. Further clinical studies would prove useful to assess the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of this treatment.

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