BACKGROUND:Psoriasis, the prevalence of which ranges from 2% to 3% of the general population, has been recently recognised as not only a chronic inflammatory skin disorder but also an immunometabolic systemic disease. Dyslipidemia is one of the most important comorbidities of psoriasis. Statins, frequently used as anti-hyperlipidemic agents, may be beneficial in the treatment of several autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis, due to their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory characteristics. Hence, we hypothesised that using this medication was not only beneficial for reducing hyperlipidemia but also improving psoriatic conditions.AIM:We conducted a study to determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia in psoriatic patients as well as whether the addition of statins (simvastatin prescribed forms) to standard topical antipsoriatic treatment can improve skin lesions in psoriatic patients.METHODS:A group of 128 psoriatic patients and 128 healthy controls who were matched with the patients regarding ethnicity, age, and sex were enrolled, and their lipid concentrations were determined. Furthermore, sixty patients were randomly selected from the former group and divided into two treatment subgroups to evaluate the effect of statins on the severity of psoriasis using the PASI score.RESULTS:We found that the rate of dyslipidemia in the patient group was significantly higher than in the healthy group (53.9% versus 21.9%, p < 0.001), particularly the triglyceride concentration (1.86 ± 1.17 versus 1.43 ± 0.79 mg/dL, p < 0.001). Also, the PASI score reduction in the simvastatin-treated subgroup was significantly different from that in the placebo-treated one after eight weeks of therapy (8.63 ± 4.78 versus 5.34 ± 3.59, p < 0.01).CONCLUSION:This study showed that simvastatin might play a role in controlling hyperlipidemia and in turn decrease the PASI score in psoriatic patients.

BACKGROUND:Aging is an increasing concern of modern society, particularly facial ageing. In recent years, the microinjection technique has increasingly been emphasised as a skin rejuvenation strategy. Hyaluronic acid (HA) plays an important role in the hydration of the extracellular space and can thus improve skin hydration, firmness and viscoelastic properties.AIM:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of HA microinjection in skin rejuvenation.METHODS:We enrolled thirty participants underwent three sessions of HA microinjection involving multiple injections in the face or back of the hands at 2-week intervals. The aesthetic outcomes were assessed at baseline and after 2, 4 and 8 weeks. Clinical evaluation was based on the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) and the Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale (WSRS).RESULTS:Evaluation of photographs from 2, 4 and 8 weeks revealed significant clinical improvement in the brightness, texture and wrinkling of the skin. Analysis of the GAIS and WSRS scores revealed statistically significant results after 2 months.CONCLUSION:Most of the participants felt satisfied with the treatment (93.3%).

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy of oral isotretinoin used alone and in combination with desloratadine in the treatment of moderate acne vulgaris.METHODS:A comparative clinical trial was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of oral isotretinoin alone and in combination with desloratadine in the treatment of 62 moderate acne vulgaris patients. Patients were randomised into two groups with 31 patients in each group. Each studied group’s patient took 20 mg isotretinoin and 5 mg desloratadine per day. In the control group, patients took only 20 mg isotretinoin per day. The treatment time was 16 weeks. The evaluation and follow-up were done at week 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 of the treatment.RESULTS:The studied group had a better curative rate than the control group (45.2% versus 22.6%). The average number of inflammatory lesions in the studied group was significantly lower than the control group (0.19 versus 0.94). The mean GAGS score of the studied group was significantly lower than the control group (3.71 versus 6.52). Acne outbreaks rate of the studied group was lower than the control group (in week 2: 22.6% versus 45.2% and in week 4: 16.1% versus 38.7%, respectively). The rate of itchy was lower in the studied group.CONCLUSION:In the treatment of moderate acne vulgaris, oral isotretinoin in combination with desloratadine is more effective and has fewer side effects than using isotretinoin alone.

BACKGROUND:Psoralen UVA (PUVA) and narrow-band UVB (NBUVB) chemophototherapy are treatment options for psoriasis.AIM:To compare the effectiveness of NBUVB with PUVA in Vietnamese psoriasis patients.METHODS:We conducted a non-randomized trial on 60 patients with plaque-type psoriasis (30 NBUVB, 30 PUVA). Both regimens were thrice-weekly. The extent of lesion was assessed by the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI). Clearance was defined as a ≥ 75% reduction in a follow-up PASI score from baseline. Patients with clearance were followed-up until 6 months after stopping treatment. Relapse was defined as 50% or more of the original extent.RESULTS:The proportion of patients achieving PASI75 was comparable (76.7% in NBUVB versus 80% in PUVA; p > 0.05). Patients in both groups had a similar number of sessions to achieve clearance but patients in the PUVA group exposed to a significantly higher cumulative UV dose. After six months, the relapse rate was higher in the NBUVB group compared with in the PUVA group (p > 0.05).CONCLUSION:Thrice weekly NBUVB is as effective as thrice weekly PUVA in treating psoriasis for Vietnamese patients.