BACKGROUND Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), a multifunctional growth factor, has three isoforms: TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3. Different isoforms of TGF-β are associated with different proliferation and differentiation states of the epidermis. Narrow band ultraviolet B (NBUVB) emits a concentrated UVB source of 311 nm. NBUVB 1,000 mJ/cm(2) induces apoptosis in approximately 50% of keratinocy...

BACKGROUND Very few studies have been performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of narrow-band ultraviolet B (NBUVB) therapy in Indian patients with vitiligo and are of small sample size. AIMS The purpose of this study is to know the efficacy and safety of NBUVB in 150 vitiligo patients of various age groups. METHODS One hundred fifty patients (69 males, 81 females), aged 3-70 years, wi...

[1] A major limitation in predicting the ultraviolet-B (UVB) irradiance on organisms is the difficulty in determining the UVB under partly cloudy sky conditions. This study developed models for estimating the diffuse fraction of ultraviolet-A (UVA) and UVB radiation under partly cloudy skies based on National Weather Service (NWS) cloud cover measurements and Department of Agriculture (USDA) UV...

Background. There is raised interest in the involvement of interleukin-(IL-)23/T-helper 17 cells (Th17) axis in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Objectives. To compare the effect of narrow band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) and methotrexate (MTX) therapy on serum levels of IL-17 and IL-23 in psoriatic patients. Methods. Thirty patients with severe plaque psoriasis were included: 15 patients received NB-...

INTRODUCTION Lymphomatoid papulosis is a chronic benign disease which may be associated with malignant lymphomas. This case illustrates the relapsing and remitting nature of both lymphomatoid papulosis and its potential of developing cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy as a new modality of treatment of early-stage mycosis fungoides in these patients. ...

The cutaneous diseases associated with progesterone are autoimmune progesterone dermatitis, erythema multiforme-like eruption, drug-induced progesterone dermatitis and solar urticaria. Estrogen and progesterone are widely used in oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapies, and they are rarely known to cause a photosensitive reaction. The mechanism of contraceptive-induced photosensit...

OBJECTIVE To study the efficacy and safety of monochromatic excimer light (MEL) on 37 vitiligo patients referred to our clinic. METHODS In a pilot study, 37 patients (17 males, 20 females) with acrofacial (n=21), focal (n=11), segmental (n=1), and generalized (n=4) vitiligo were treated twice weekly with MEL for a maximum period of 6 months. RESULTS Thirty-five patients (95%) showed signs o...

Background: Narrow band Ultraviolet B (NBUVB) has been used successfully for the treatment of vitiligo. Recently, topical calcipotriol has also been used as immunotherapy or as a part of combination therapies. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of NBUVB and NBUVB plus topical calcipotriol in the treatment of generalized vitiligo. Methods: NBUVB phototherapy wa...