Objective: To examine the possible associations between Demodex folliculorum and a number of skin diseases. Methods: Standardized skin surface biopsy samples were obtained from the cheeks of 144 patients with histopathologically proven basal cell carcinoma (BCC, n=27), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC, n=28), melanoma (n=23), discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE, n=32), and rosacea (n=34). Thirty-four sex-and age-matched healthy volunteers served as controls. Mite density (per cm 2 ) and infestation (density≥5) were compared between the controls and patients. Results: Mite infestation rates (%) did not differ significantly between the controls (20.6) and patients with BCC (22.2, p=0.88), SCC (17.9, p=0.79), melanoma (4.3, p=0.08), and DLE (21.9, p=0.90). Compared with the controls, the mite infestation rate was significantly higher in patients with rosacea (47.1, p=0.02, odds ratio: 3.43, 95% confidence interval: 1.18-9.99). The mean mite density did not differ significantly between the controls (4.11±2.17) and patients with BCC (5.34±2.35, p=0.75), SCC (3.57±2.01, p=0.38), and DLE (3.56±1.34, p=0.83), whereas it was significantly higher in patients with rosacea (8.78±3.58, p=0.02) and lower in patients with melanoma (1.89±0.69, p=0.02). Conclusions: D. folliculorum may be associated with rosacea and melanoma but not with BCC, SCC, or DLE. Metot: Standardize yüzeyel deri biyopsisi örnekleri; bazal hücreli karsinom (BCC, n=27), skuamöz hücreli karsinom (SCC, n=28), melanom (n=23), diskoid lupus eritematozus (DLE, n=32), ve rozasea (n=34) tanıları histopatolojik olarak kanıtlanmış 144 hastanın yanaklarından alındı. Cinsiyet ve yaşı eşleştirilmiş 34 sağlıklı gönüllü kontrol grubunu oluşturdu. Akar dansitesi (cm 2 başına) ve enfestasyon (dansite≥5) hasta ve kontrol grubu arasında karşılaştırıldı. Bulgular: Akar enfestasyon hızları (%) kontrol grubu (20,6) ile BCC (22,2, p=0,88), SCC (17,9, p=0,79), melanom (4,3, p=0,08), ve DLE (21,9, p=0,90) hastaları arasında anlamlı bir farklılık göstermedi. Kontrol grubuna kıyasla, akar enfestasyon hızı, rozasea olanlarda anlamlı olarak yüksekti (47,1, p=0,02; odds oranı: 3,43, %95 güven aralığı: 1,18-9,99). Ortalama akar dansitesi kontrol grubu (4,11±2,17) ile BCC (5,34±2,35, p=0,75), SCC (3,57±2,01, p=0,38), ve DLE (3,56±1,34, p=0,83) hasta grupları arasında anlamlı bir fark göstermezken, kontrol grubuna kıyasla

This study aims at evaluating the expression of P27, Ki67 and P53 in Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), Actinic Keratosis (AK) and Bowen Disease (BD) specimens. In an analytic-descriptive setting, skin biopsy specimens of 45 patients were evaluated in three 15-case groups including BD, AK and SCC specimens. Fifteen normal skin biopsy specimens were obtained and used as the control group. Immunohistochemical staining was performed in all the specimens and the expression rates and patterns of Ki67, P27 and P53 were determined. The results were compared between the four groups. Ki67 was expressed in 0.8, 23.7, 12.3 and 19.3% of the cells in the normal skin, AK, BD and SCC groups, respectively. No significant difference was seen between the three pathological conditions regarding the expression rate of Ki67. P27 was positive in 23.4, 26.2, 25.9 and 4.5% of specimens in the normal skin, AK, BD and SCC groups, respectively. This rate was significantly the lowest in the SCC group. P53 expression was detected in 26.6, 41.8 and 54.6% of the assessed cells in the AK, BD and SCC groups, respectively. There was no expression of P53 in the normal skin specimens. This rate was significantly the highest again in the SCC group. Based on these results, the quantitative and qualitative (pattern of distribution) evaluation of the expressions of Ki67, P27 and P53 may be helpful in differentiating malignant and premalignant epidermal lesions, particularly in unsatisfactory or fragmented specimens.

Pterygium is a common ocular lesion whose exact etiology is a point of contention. Chronic inflammation and angiogenesis are two major proposed mechanisms of the disease in the current literature. The objective of this study is to examine these two mechanisms in a very well-designed setting. In a case-control study, 24 tissue specimens from the patients with primary moderate pterygium (cases) and 15 specimens excised from the nasal bulbar region in healthy counterparts (controls) were compared in terms of the count of mast cells (inflammation), as well as the status of Cd31/vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) expression (angiogenesis) in Tabriz Nikookari and Sina Teaching Hospitals. The case (mean age: 58.08 +/- 10.03 years, 84% males) and control (Mean age: 62.33 +/- 9.19 years, 80% males) groups were age-and sex-matched (p = 0.19, 0.75, respectively). The mean mast cell count was significantly higher in the case group (27.72 +/- 15.19 versus 12.00 +/- 7.09 cells mm(-2), p = 0.001). The study of immunoreactivity revealed that the positive expression (moderate-severe) of CD31 was significantly more frequent in the case group (88 versus 26.7%; p<0.001; Odds ratio = 20, 95% confidence interval 3.85-100). There was also higher rate of VEGF-positive (moderate-severe) cells in the group with pterygium (88 versus 20%; p<0.001; Odds ratio= 33.3, 95% confidence interval 5.00-100). This study indicates that both inflammation and angiogenesis play pivotal role, in parallel, in pathogenesis of pterygium.

Macromastia, or breast hypertrophy, is a very common finding and a frequent cause of reduction mammaplasty all over the world. This study aims to examine the breast tissue specimens obtained by reduction mammaplasty in patients with macromastia in terms of the frequency of histopathological abnormalities (malignant and non-malignant lesions). In this cross-sectional, retrospective study, paraffin-embedded specimens of breast tissue after reduction mammaplasty were histopathologically reviewed in Tabriz Imam Reza Teaching Hospital in three years (2010-2013). All the specimens were sectioned, stained and examined by an adroit pathologist. One hundred ninety eight out of 271 primary specimens were eligible for this study. The mean age of the patients was 37.09 +/- 8.98 (range: 20-59) years, with mean body mass index of 27.44 +/- 3.85 (range: 21-35) kg m(-2). Based on the findings of microscopic examination, normal tissue was present in 98 cases (49.5%), all with increased content of fat. Fibrocystic change was the prominent benign entity, which was reported in 47.5% of the cases. Intraductal papilloma was detected 2 cases (1%). There were 4 cases with malignant lesions (2%), including 2 cases (1%) with invasive ductal carcinoma (age: 22 and 31 years old) and 2 cases (1%) with lobular carcinoma in situ (age: 21 and 35 years old). Considering the intraductal papilloma as a premalignant condition, the total rate of non-benign lesions reached to 3%. Based on the results of the present study, macromastia may be considered as a risk factor of breast malignancy. Thorough histopathological examination of the breast specimens after reduction mammaplasty, as well as strict screening of the women with nonsurgical macromastia is highly recommended.