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Objective: To evaluate serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) in patients with viral warts. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Dermatology Department, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jul to Dec 2020. Methodology: One hundred patients were included in the study, 50 with viral warts (Group-1) and 50 without warts (Group2). Our study included both male and female patients of 10 to 60 years of age. Three categories were made according to their serum vitamin D levels. First, all participants were tested for serum vitamin D levels using ELISA. Results: In Group-1, 20(40%) had insufficient, and 25(50%) had deficient vitamin D levels. A statistically significant decrease in serum 25-OHD levels (p = 0.004) was found in patients with viral warts. In Group-2, 9(18%) had insufficient, and 2(4%) had deficient vitamin D levels. The mean serum vitamin D level was 22.61±10.11 in Group-1 and 45.12±24.60 in Group-2, resulting in a significant difference between patients with viral warts and those without viral warts regarding serum vitamin D levels (p=0.004). Conclusion: Patients with viral warts have deficient vitamin D levels.

The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to anxiety and depression in many communities across the United States. Here, we have focused on a sample of Houston-based Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) residents and assessed the prevalence of anxiety and depression in this community. The 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaires were used to identify the prevalence and severity of anxiety and depression, respectively. A sociodemographic, general health, and COVID-19 survey was used for a multivariable logistic regression model to determine predictors of anxiety and depression. The outcome of interest was “minimal/mild” versus “moderate/severe” anxiety and depression. A total of 368 participants completed the survey, with 24.73% reporting “moderate/severe” anxiety and 31.79% reporting “moderate/severe” depression. Male participants were less likely (OR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.12, 0.75) to have “moderate/severe” anxiety compared to females. Respondents with self-reported depression were more likely (OR = 3.41, 95% CI = 1.33, 8.83) to have “moderate/severe” depression. Participants who reported having “Excellent/Good knowledge” about the prevention of COVID-19 spread were less likely (OR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.15, 0.93) to have “moderate/severe” depression, and less likely (OR = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.07, 0.64) to have “moderate/severe” anxiety, compared to those who had “average/poor/terrible” knowledge. Identified predictors may be critical for designing culturally sensitive interventions to improve the healthcare of MENA Americans.

Objective: To observe association of Melasma with serum Iron and complete blood count indices Study Design: Case-control cross-sectional study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Dermatology, HIT Hospital Taxila from 1st May 2021 to 1st October 2021 Methodology: Fifty seven females having melasma were taken as cases and 48 non-pregnant females without melasma as control between 12-50 years of age. Women with pregnancy, history of cardiac or thyroid disease and usage of hormone therapy, phototoxic drugs or anti-convulsant drugs were not included. History and examination was done by a dermatologist. Modified MASI (m Melasma Area and Severity Index) score was used for assessing severity of melasma. Blood samples were collected and send for serum Ferritin level, TIBC and Complete blood count in both groups. Results: The mean age of females were 35±7.4 years, and 48 female patients with no melasma were selected as controls with mean age of 25.7±8.4 years. We also analyzed the effect of different hematological and general factors on mMASI score within group of melasma patient but again found no statistically significant effect of any of these on MASI score. Conclusion: There is no direct association between melasma, serum iron levels and blood indices. Keywords: Melasma, Serum ferritin levels, Complete blood count

Background: Since beauty standards have widely change over the last few decades, women feel self-conscious about having unwanted hair that leads to low self-esteem and some develop depression. Although hirsutism can be emotionally distressing, it can be treated. Females have a lot of pressure to undergo painful procedures of hair removing like plucking, treading and creams that can temporarily remove or reduce the visibility of unwanted facial and body hair. In the past two decades of digital technology, lasers have modernized their use in the treatment of many skin conditions including hirsutism. As intense pulsed light is economical and more cost effective, it can be a more suitable option for those who cannot meet the high expenses of laser treatment. Objective: To evaluate the efficiency of intense pulsed light in females with hirsutism. Study Design: Place and Duration of Study: Department of Dermatology, HIT Hospital Taxila from 1st October 2020 to 30th September 2021. Methodology: Sixty patients of idiopathic hirsutism more than 15 years of age were enrolled. Both the history and examination were done. Diagnosis of idiopathic hirsutism was made on clinical examination using and necessary investigations. Those who had photosensitivity, hormonal therapy or hormonal disturbance, infertility, white hair hirsute, pregnancy, and history of keloid or hypertrophic scar were excluded from the study. Treatment was given for six sessions, with one month apart. Parameters of IPL were adjusted according to (Fitzpatrick) skin type, the density of hair, and fluency, the fluence will be increased subsequently depending upon the response of the patient. Post treatment, participants were evaluated and a 4-point scale was used to grade the results. Patients were told to revisit after 6 months to assess the regrowth of hair on face. Conclusion: Intense pulsed light is the cheap, effective and safe option for hirsutism that a third world country like ours needed where the socio-economic status is relatively low. Keywords: Idiopathic hirsutism, Intense pulsed light (IPL), Fitzpatrick skin type