Background:In pemphigus, autoantibodies are directed against adhesion molecules, which make the junctions between keratinocytes, and thus determining their level can reflect the disease activity.Aim:The purpose of this study is to determine the clinical significance of the autoantibody levels in pemphigus management.Materials and Methods:The clinical features of 47 pemphigus vulgaris patients were assessed and patients′ sera were investigated by indirect immunofluorescence using monkey esophagus as a substrate for autoantibody levels.Results:We found a significant correlation between antibody titers and mucosal severity scores. Initial antibody titers of the patients with at least one mucosal lesion at the end of the first month of the therapy were found significantly higher than the patients who had no mucosal lesion. With the therapy, lesions resolved earlier than the antibody titers.Conclusion:In patients with pemphigus, especially in cases who were not treated before, sera antibody levels are a valuable tool in evaluating disease severity and choosing initial treatment. In patients who had been taking any systemic treatment, it is difficult to make a relationship between antibody levels and disease severity, because therapy improves disease earlier than the antibody titers. However, estimating antibody levels can be helpful for clinicians in disease management, in reducing or ceasing treatment dosage and anticipating recurrence.

A 47-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of generalized arthralgia and a 10-day history of oral aphthous ulcers. After hospitalization, papulopustular lesions and perianal ulcerations developed. Pathergy test was positive and ophthalmological examination was normal. The presence of oral aphthous ulcers, genital ulcerations, papulopustular lesions and arthralgia, and the positive pathergy test suggested the diagnosis of Behçet's disease (BD). In a few days, positive pathergy reactions and papulopustular lesions evolved into bullous lesions, which were diagnosed dermatopathologically as pyoderma gangrenosum. Two days after the presentation of papulopustular lesions, the patient experienced diarrhoea accompanied by bloody stools and mucus. Histopathological examination of biopsy specimens showed no vasculitis but revealed findings suggestive of Crohn's disease. The patient responded well to treatment with systemic steroids and 5-aminosalicylic acid. Our case demonstrates that the differential diagnosis of BD and inflammatory bowel disease may be perplexing and that these two diseases may be closely related.

Background: Ingrown nail is a common health problem that significantly affects daily life due to its painful nature. The purpose of this study was to reveal the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of ingrown nails. Methods: The clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of patients older than 18 years presenting with ingrown nail were investigated. Results: Two hundred six patients aged 18 to 77 years (mean age, 39 years; female to male ratio, 1.45) were included in the study. A total of 729 lesions were evaluated (718 ingrown nails were on the feet and 11 were on the fingers). A family history of ingrown nail was present in 7.6% of the participants. Of the 206 patients, 26.7% were treated with surgical methods for ingrown nails previously and experienced recurrence. Ingrown toenails were in the hallux in 81.3% of patients, and 52% were on the lateral margin. Incorrect nail-cutting habits (73.5%), poorly fitting shoes (46.2%), excessive angulation of the nail plate (35.8%), obesity (34.1%), trauma to the feet (24.3%), pregnancy (23.8% of women), hyperhidrosis (16.8%), and lateral deviation of the nail plate (9.9%) were closely associated with ingrown nails. Conclusions: This study revealed the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of ingrown nails. The study data will be useful in preventing the development of ingrown nail and recurrences after treatment by identifying and then eliminating conditions establishing a predisposition to it.

Background: Ingrown nail is a condition frequently seen in children and adolescents, the pain from which can affect their daily living activities and school performances. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of ingrown nails in children. Methods: The clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of patients aged 0 to 18 years presenting with ingrown nail were evaluated retrospectively from clinic records. Results: Sixty-two patients aged 3 to 18 years (mean age, 15 years; male to female ratio, 1.06) were enrolled. A total of 175 ingrown nails were evaluated (all of them were in the halluces, 54.3% of them were on the lateral margin). A positive family history of ingrown nail was present in 15.7%. High prevalences of incorrect nail cutting (72.1%), trauma (36.1%), poorly fitting shoes (29%), hyperhidrosis (12.9%), obesity (9.7%), and accompanying nail disorders (9.7%) were determined among the patients. Conclusions: This study revealed the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of ingrown nails in children. These data will be useful in preventing the occurrence of ingrown nail by revealing and then eliminating predisposing factors.

There are several reports of the collision of vascular and pigmentary anomalies (e.g., phakomatosis pigmentovascularis) and the association between congenital melanocytic nevi and infantile hemangiomas. We report a case of Spitz nevus arising in skin overlying a congenital plaque-like glomuvenous malformation (GVM). This is the first report of a Spitz nevus arising in direct contiguity to a GVM.