Psoriasis is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation and poor differentiation. Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) a class III deacetylase, crucial for differentiation in normal keratinocytes, is reduced in psoriasis. Down regulated SIRT1 levels may contribute to poor differentiation in psoriasis. In addition, the levels of early differentiation factors Keratin1 (K1) and Keratin10 (K10) are depleted in psoriasis. We attempted to study a possible effect of fructose, a SIRT1 upregulator and Propylthiouracil (PTU) to augment differentiation in psoriatic keratinocytes. Keratinocytes were cultured from lesional biopsies obtained from psoriatic patients and control cells were obtained from patients undergoing abdominoplasty. Cells were treated with fructose and PTU individually. K1 and K10 transcript levels were measured to evaluate early differentiation; SIRT1 protein expression was also studied to decipher its role in the mechanism of differentiation. The K1, K10 transcript levels, SIRT1 protein and transcript levels in fructose treated psoriatic keratinocytes were improved. This suggests keratinocyte differentiation was induced by fructose through SIRT1 upregulation. Whereas PTU induced differentiation, as confirmed by improved K1, K10 transcript levels followed a non-SIRT1 mechanism. We conclude that the use of fructose and PTU may be an adjunct to the existing therapies for psoriasis.

Introduction:Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a very important health challenge for adolescents. Educational level, especially sex education in school, prevents the adolescents falling prey to these diseases.Objective:To compare the awareness of STDs among general population with below and above high school qualification.Materials and Methods:A simple randomized, cross-sectional, questionnaire based study on the awareness of STDs on out-patients and in-patients of Saveetha Medical College and Hospital of 6 months duration was conducted. About 150 subjects participated in the study.Results:About 77.8% of those who completed schooling had good awareness of STDs. Statistical analysis had shown the formal education to high school level is statistically significantP= 0.0068 (P < 0.05) in people falling prey to the STDs.Conclusion:The initiation of formal education about sex education at the school level can improve the present status and lead to better prevention of STDs.

Fox–Fordyce disease is a rare, chronic skin disorder which affects the apocrine areas. This disease is due to the obstruction of the apocrine sweat duct. Extragenital regions are commonly affected than the genital region. We, herein, report a case of Fox–Fordyce in a female, with onset in the fifth decade and involving only the genital region.