Evaluation of caspase 1 and sFas serum levels in patients with systemic sclerosis: correlation with lung dysfunction, joint and bone involvement.

Recent studies point out at the role of apoptosis disturbances in the development of systemic sclerosis (SSc)

Allergic diseases, drug adverse reactions and total immunoglobulin E levels in lupus erythematosus patients.

BACKGROUND: The association of allergic diseases, drug adverse reactions and elevated total immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentration in systemic lupus erythematosus patients remains controversial. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of those features in active and inactive systemic lupus erythematosus patients, and in the control group as well. METHODS: Total IgE concentration was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study revealed that concomitant allergic diseases were not more frequent in systemic lupus erythematosus patients than in the general population. Total IgE concentration was significantly higher during the active stage of the disease. Drug reactions were very frequent but not connected with IgE elevation. Our results indicate that IgE may play a role in lupus pathogenesis, especially in the active phase of the disease

The number and distribution of blood dendritic cells in the epidermis and dermis of healthy human subjects.

Human blood dendritic cells (BDC) can be divided into three subsets: plasmacytoid DC (PDC) and two myeloid subsets--MDC1 and MDC2. Several studies revealed the presence of both MDC and PDC in blood of healthy subjects, however no precise literature data exist on the number and distribution of BDC in the skin. The aim of our study was to assess the number and distribution of BDC and their subtypes in the healthy skin. The-study included 30 healthy volunteers (age 18-51). Punch biopsies were taken from the buttock skin from each subject, and immunofluorescent staining was performed using monoclonal mouse IgG1 antibodies directed against BDCA-1, BDCA-2, BDCA-3 and BDC-4. The BDC were present both in the epidermis and dermis. PDC were detected mainly in the dermis (mean 1.2 cells per field). Myeloid subtypes were observed mainly in the middle layers of the epidermis and in the upper part of the dermis (mean 1.8 cells per field). The detection of blood dendritic cells in the skin proves their role in immune cutaneous surveillance

Pigment Protection Factor as a Predictor of Skin Photosensitivity – A Polish Study

Assessment of individual photosensitivity by determining the minimal erythema dose (MED) is commonly accepted. MED objectively describes a single individual response to the irradiation of skin with a particular wavelength (UVB, UVA). Pigment protection factor (PPF) is an objective value to measure skin type. The aim of the project was to analyze PPF values in the population of Lodz and the relationship between PPF, skin phototype, and individual MED. The study was conducted on the group of 270 volunteers: 130 men and 140 women, mean age 28.5 years (OS + 9.66) with either skin phototype II or III, as defined by Fitzpatrick Skin Phototype Classification. Phototesting of each volunteer was undertaken with an increasing dose series (UVB radiation) on six squares (1×1 cm) on the skin of the back. The MED was defined as a perceptible erythema 24 hours later. Starting dose was determined by history, physical examination, and phototype ranged from 0.03-0.07 J/cm2. PPF was measured by a skin reflectance meter UV Optimize 555. The mean MED value was 0.15 J/cm2 and the PPF value was 6.15. A positive correlation between the MED value and PPF (R=0.38; P&lt;0.001), and a positive correlation between phototype and MED and PPF (P&lt; 0.001) were found. Both determination of MED and PPF are objective methods of photosensitivity assessment, but PPF determination is an easy and non-invasive method.</p

Pigment Protection Factor as a Predictor of Skin Photosensitivity – A Polish Study

Assessment of individual photosensitivity by determining the minimal erythema dose (MED) is commonly accepted. MED objectively describes a single individual response to the irradiation of skin with a particular wavelength (UVB, UVA). Pigment protection factor (PPF) is an objective value to measure skin type. The aim of the project was to analyze PPF values in the population of Lodz and the relationship between PPF, skin phototype, and individual MED. The study was conducted on the group of 270 volunteers: 130 men and 140 women, mean age 28.5 years (OS + 9.66) with either skin phototype II or III, as defined by Fitzpatrick Skin Phototype Classification. Phototesting of each volunteer was undertaken with an increasing dose series (UVB radiation) on six squares (1×1 cm) on the skin of the back. The MED was defined as a perceptible erythema 24 hours later. Starting dose was determined by history, physical examination, and phototype ranged from 0.03-0.07 J/cm2. PPF was measured by a skin reflectance meter UV Optimize 555. The mean MED value was 0.15 J/cm2 and the PPF value was 6.15. A positive correlation between the MED value and PPF (R=0.38; P&lt;0.001), and a positive correlation between phototype and MED and PPF (P&lt; 0.001) were found. Both determination of MED and PPF are objective methods of photosensitivity assessment, but PPF determination is an easy and non-invasive method.</p

Repeated Doses of UVR Cause Minor Alteration in Cytokine Serum Levels in Humans

The aim of our study was to compare serum concentration of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α in 105 healthy volunteers before and after exposure to UVR: 25 subjects (10 days of UVB), 55 (10 days of UVB or solar-simulated radiation, followed by acute UVB dose), and 25 (local high dose of UVB). In all the individuals blood samples were analyzed before and after final irradiation by chemiluminescence assay. After 10 days of UVB irradiation a statistically significant increase in serum concentration only in IL-8 (P < .05) and strong tendency in TNF-α (P = .05) were observed. The applied schedules of irradiation have minor impact on serum cytokine level and still a threshold dose of UVR causing systemic immune impairment is unknown

Serum Concentration of Interleukin-6 Is Increased Both in Active and Remission Stages of Pemphigus Vulgaris

As most studies on pemphigus vulgaris (PV) pathogenesis concern its active stage, we aimed to evaluate the serum concentration of TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6 in PV patients in clinical remission. The study group consisted of sera from 19 PV patients in active stage and from 24 patients in clinical remission. 19 sera taken from healthy subjects served as the controls. Serum IL-6 concentrations in PV active and PV remission group were significantly higher when compared to the controls (P < .05). In patients in active stage of PV, a significant correlation between serum IL-1 and IL-6 concentrations was found (rP = 0.46; P < .05). We also found a negative correlation between TNF-α level and pemphigus antibodies titer in the patients from the remission group (rS = −0.47303; P < .02). Our data suggest that IL-6 and TNF-α may be involved in maintaining immunological disturbances in remission stage of PV

Risk factors in Central Poland for the development of superficial and nodular basal cell carcinomas

INTRODUCTION: In the last decades the number of skin carcinomas has dramatically increased, which is mainly connected with changes in lifestyle, especially with common use of artificial light sources such as sunbeds. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer in white populations. Basal cell carcinomas are divided into subtypes, depending on their clinical picture and histology. The main groups are nodular (nBCC) and superficial (sBCC) ones. The major recognized risk factors for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) are exposure to chronic and intermittent burning doses of sunlight. Other risk factors leading to the development of the nBCC and sBCC subtypes of BCC are not well established. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An analysis of 123 patients with either nBCC or sBCC, living in Lodz, Poland, regarding various intrinsic and environmental parameters was undertaken following the histological diagnosis of BCC. RESULTS: No statistical differences were observed between the BCC subtype and sex, age, hair colour, eye colour, smoking, family history of skin cancer, occupation, or past episodes of sunburn. While sBCCs tended to occur on unexposed body sites in phototype I/II subjects who mainly avoided direct sunlight, nBCCs tended to occur on sun-exposed body sites in phototype III subjects who were frequently in direct sunlight. CONCLUSIONS: Thus the development of particular BCC subtypes is partially dependent on phototype and personal sun behaviour

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha polymorphism as one of the complex inherited factors in pemphigus.

The aim of our study was to analyse a significance of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha promoter gene polymorphisms in relation to the HLA-DR locus in genetic predisposition to pemphigus. TNF-alpha gene polymorphisms in position -238 and -308 were identified using a modified polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method in 53 patients with pemphigus (38 with pemphigus vulgaris, 15 with pemphigus foliaceus) and 87 healthy controls. The HLA-DRB1 locus was typed using the polymerase chain reaction SSO method in all the patients and 152 population controls. Carriers of the TNF-alpha polymorphic -308 A allele were found to be more frequent in the pemphigus foliaceus group in comparison with the control group (odds ratio (OR) = 8.12; p = 0.0005). A significant association between HLA-DRB1*04 (OR = 3.86; pcor = 0.0001) and DRB1*14 (OR = 8.4; pcor = 0.0001) and pemphigus vulgaris was found. In this group of patients a decreased frequency of HLA-DRB1*07 (OR = 0.08; pcor = 0.006) was also identified. We have shown for the first time a positive association of TNF-alpha polymorphism in position -308 with pemphigus foliaceus