Journal of Skin and Stem Cell
Volume:10 Issue: 1, Mar 2023

Context:

 Using stem cells in the medical field as a regenerative therapy to repair damaged tissue is popular nowadays. Honey contains antioxidant activity, minerals, sugars, and other ingredients supporting wound healing and mature tissue regeneration. However, using honey to induce stem cell proliferation still lacks studies.

 In this review, we would like to do a systematic review to confirm the effectiveness of honey bees towards stem cell proliferation in both in vitro and in vivo treatment.

 This study used all previous studies that included honey bees and stem cells in both in vitro and in vivo treatments. The search was performed on July 30th – 31st, 2021, and obtained 21 articles, of which 16 were excluded and the rest were screened. One screened literature was out of the limit; thus, five articles matched the terms. Relevant studies were retrieved from PubMed and the Cochrane Library.

 According to in vitro studies, honey of Trigona spp. increases the proliferation rate of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). Honey is effective for wound healing and stem cell regeneration. Meanwhile, in vivo studies showed honey increases the regeneration of malnutrition ovary failure.

 In conclusion, honey positively affects stem cell proliferation and can be used to supplement stem cells.

Alopecia is one of the most common reasons for consulting dermatologists, and the clinical diagnosis can become confusing. In light of the inclination of patients and doctors toward non-invasive diagnosis, along with the vogue of non-invasive diagnostic modalities, trichoscopy has become a promising tool.

To study various dermoscopic patterns of alopecia.

After obtaining informed consent, this cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 patients with alopecia attending a tertiary health care center. A detailed history and clinical photographs were taken. Relevant investigations were done whenever indicated. Dermoscopy was done using illuco IDS- 1100 with 10x magnification. Statistical analysis used: Data was analyzed using SPSS 22 version software. The chi-square test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and Shapiro-Wilk test was used for assessment with a significant P-value of < 0.05. Kappa statistics were used to assess agreement between the two modalities.

Overall, vellus hair (65%) and yellow dots (65%) were the most common findings among all types of alopecia. The most common findings on trichoscopy in androgenetic alopecia were vellus hair (90.48%); in alopecia areata, vellus hair, and exclamation mark hair (86.67% each); in tinea capitis, corkscrew hair, and black dots; and in trichotillomania, splaying of hair. Discoid Lupus erythematosus had absent follicular opening, scaling, and perifollicular pigmentation. Clinical and dermoscopic diagnoses were significantly associated with a kappa agreement of 0.776 (i.e., substantial agreement). Out of 15 cases of difficult-to-diagnose alopecia, further investigations showed that dermoscopic diagnosis was accurate in 7 cases (46.67%).

Trichoscopy is a reliable, non-invasive, and faster method of diagnosis in ambiguous cases of alopecia.

 In this cross-sectional study, we investigated three diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) patients. DFU is a serious diabetes complication affecting general health and social life. Autologous regenerative therapies, such as autologous activated platelet-rich plasma (aaPRP), have been proposed for DFU management. However, precise instruments are required to measure the wound size to evaluate wound closure after treatment.

 This study aimed to evaluate the DFU healing process treated by aaPRP through digital image analysis using ImageJ software (National Institute of Health, USA).

 The DFU patients were administered aaPRP and followed up on days 7 and 14. The healing process was analyzed through ImageJ software. Paired t-test was used to assess the wound healing process.

 The results showed that ImageJ was useful for wound area measurement. Granulation and sloughy tissue development can be evaluated and calculated as a part of wound healing progress.

 We conclude that ImageJ facilitates DFU analysis not only about the size but also on the healing time process through visualization of granulation and sloughy tissue formation, which can represent the healing progress.

The relationship between atopic and allergic contact dermatitis is often discussed, especially in children. The damaged skin barrier in atopic patients can make the skin more permeable to exogenous agents and increase the risk of triggering contact dermatitis. Topical treatment of atopic dermatitis is associated with skin sensitization to several drugs, including antiseptics, emollients, and topical corticosteroids. The early onset of atopic dermatitis, as in the case reported here, the severity of the disease, and IgE-mediated sensitization are identified as the main risk factors associated with sensitization to topical treatments for atopic dermatitis. We report a two-year-old child with a previous diagnosis of atopic dermatitis, whose condition was aggravated by inadequate medical treatment.

 Seborrheic melanosis is one of the causes of facial hyperpigmentation presenting in the sebaceous areas of the face. It is most commonly seen in Fitzpatrick skin types 4 - 6. Seborrheic melanosis can cause cosmetic concerns for the patients, leading them to seek bleaching methods that could also be hazardous for them.

 A 19-year-old male patient presented with dark brown spots on both sides of his nasolabial folds. According to the skin examination, there were nummular oval macules with hyperpigmentation and mild desquamation at the junction of the nasolabial fold and the supralabial area bilaterally. The patient applied an over-the-counter cream that contained hydroquinone to the hyperpigmented areas for bleaching for one month before he consulted our dermatology department. The pigmentation was homogeneous, brown-black, and showed no contrast under Wood’s light examination. Additionally, there were hyperpigmented macules on a seborrheic basement at the alar-supralabial junction bilaterally. The anamnesis and clinical findings supported the diagnosis of seborrheic melanosis. Tacrolimus ointment 0.1% once per night and isoconazole nitrate cream once per day were prescribed as treatments for one month. A water-based moisturizer and sunscreen were also added to the treatment. Further, he used a facial peeling combination of alpha-hydroxy acid 10% and beta-hydroxy acid 2% two times per week. Hyperpigmentation was barely discernible on his face five months after the beginning of the therapy.

 Seborrheic melanosis must be distinguished from other types of facial melanoses in order to start appropriate treatment. To ensure the most effective treatment, a comprehensive evaluation of the patient’s medical history and a thorough physical examination are essential for an accurate diagnosis of seborrheic melanosis.