Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients with Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Aim of this work was to evaluate the association between psoriasis and chosen cardiovascular risk factors, echocardiographic parameters, and carotid intima-media thickness. A total of 50 patients with psoriasis and 50 controls were enrolled in the study. Psoriasis area severity index was calculated in the study group. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, lipids, fasting glucose, and D-dimer levels were assessed in all patients. In addition, echochardiographic parameters and carotid intima-media thickness were measured. Patients with psoriasis had higher blood pressure (P=0.001), elevated triglycerides (P=0.0218), lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P=0.0014), elevated D-dimer levels (p=0.0009), and were more frequently overweight (P=0.0198) in comparison to controls. There were no differences in echocardiographic parameters and carotid intima-media thickness between the psoriasis and control groups. Moreover, a positive correlation between psoriasis area severity index and blood pressure was observed (P=0.0088). The study confirmed that psoriasis is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The association between psoriasis, intima-media thickness, and echocardiographic parameters should be evaluated in large prospective studies. </p

Recurrent haemorrhagic erysipelas of a lower limb — case report

Róża (erysipelas) jest to ostry stan zapalny skóry i tkanki podskórnej, któremu towarzyszy znacznie podwyższona temperatura ciała i dreszcze. Jedną z postaci klinicznych choroby jest róża krwotoczna, która charakteryzuje się bardziej intensywnym przebiegiem, wydłużonym czasem terapii oraz zwiększonym ryzykiem powikłań. Istotne znaczenie w patogenezie róży mają schorzenia towarzyszące. Ważnym problemem klinicznym jest brak jasno określonych zasad profilaktyki i związana z tym nawrotowość choroby. Celem niniejszej pracy jest przedstawienie przypadku 47-letniego pacjenta, u którego róża krwotoczna wystąpiła trzykrotnie w odstępach dwumiesięcznych.Erysipelas is an acute infection of the skin and subcutaneus tissue, accompanied by fever and chills. One of the clinical form of this disease is haemorrhagic erysipelas characterized by the aggressive and prolonged course of illness with increased risk of complications. Accompanying diseases play a significant role in pathogenesis of erysipelas. The main clinical problem is lack of well defined rules of antibiotic prophylaxis and therefore a high risk of recurrence. The aim of this case report is to introduce a 47-year-old man who has been suffering from erysipelas three times with a two month interval between each time

Effect of 3-month Nordic Walking training on arterial blood pressure in women aged 60 years and over

Wstęp Niefarmakologiczna terapia nadciśnienia tętniczego powinna być zalecana u wszystkich chorych na nadciśnienie tętnicze. Dlatego wymaga opracowania skutecznych i atrakcyjnych dla pacjentów metod. Celem pracy była ocena wpływu regularnego treningu Nordic Walking na ciśnienie tętnicze (BP) u kobiet po 60. roku życia z nadciśnieniem tętniczym i bez niego. Materiał i metody Badaniem objęto 80 kobiet, których średnia wieku wynosiła 67 &#177; 6 lat (zakres wieku 60&#8211;78 lat). Grupę eksperymentalną stanowiło 48 kobiet (31 bez nadciśnienia tętniczego i 17 z nadciśnieniem tętniczym), natomiast grupę kontrolną utworzyły 32 pacjentki (17 bez nadciśnienia tętniczego i 15 z nadciśnieniem tętniczym). Przed rozpoczęciem treningu u wszystkich kobiet wykonano ambulatoryjne i domowe pomiary BP oraz tętna (HR). Pomiary ambulatoryjne przeprowadzono podczas 2 oddzielnych wizyt, zaś pomiary domowe kobiety wykonywały samodzielnie w ciągu 2 dni (4-krotnie w każdym dniu). Następnie badane kobiety z grupy eksperymentalnej przez 3 miesiące uczestniczyły w programie Nordic Walking o częstotliwości jednostek treningowych: 3 razy w tygodniu po 60 minut. Po zakończeniu treningu, u wszystkich kobiet wykonano ambulatoryjne i domowe pomiary BP i HR, identycznie, jak przed rozpoczęciem badania. Wyniki W grupie eksperymentalnej trening Nordic Walking istotnie obniżył ciśnienie tętnicze skurczowe (SBP) i rozkurczowe (DBP), zarówno w pomiarach ambulatoryjnych (DSBP 9 mm Hg; DDBP 6,8 mm Hg) i domowych (DSBP 4,9 mm Hg; DDBP 2,9 mm Hg). Redukcja BP była istotnie większa u kobiet z nadciśnieniem tętniczym niż bez niego. W grupie kontrolnej nie zaobserwowano po okresie 3 miesięcy istotnych zmian BP. Wnioski Regularny, trwający 3 miesiące, trening Nordic Walking istotnie obniża SBP i DBP u kobiet po 60. roku życia. Nordic Walking może stać się ważnym elementem niefarmakologicznej terapii nadciśnienia tętniczego u pacjentek w wieku emerytalnym.Background Non-pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension should be recommended to all patients with arterial hypertension. Thus, effective strategy of implementing this kind of treatment for patients with arterial hypertension should be prepared. The goal of the study was to evaluate the effect of 3-month Nordic Walking training on arterial blood pressure (ABP) in women aged 60 years and over. Material and methods Eighty women were recruited for the study; mean age = 67 &#177; 6 years (age ranged from 60&#8211;78). In the experimental group, 48 women (31 without arterial hypertension; 17 with arterial hypertension) participated in Nordic Walking training, while 32 women (17 without and 15 with arterial hypertension) were enrolled to the control group. Before Nordic Walking, all the women had ABP and heart rate (HR) measured. Ambulatory ABP was checked 3 times during 2 separate visits while home ABP was self measured by women 4 times a day for 2 consecutive days. Then, women from the experimental group participated in 3-month Nordic Walking exercise training at a rate: 3 times a week for 60 minutes. After the end of training, all the women had ABP and HR measured in the same way as before the training. Results In the experimental group, reduction of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) in ambulatory (DSBP 9 mm Hg, DDBP 6.8 mm Hg) and home measurements (DSBP 4.9 mm Hg, DDBP 2.9 mm Hg) was observed. In the control group after 3-month observation no significant changes in ABP were found. Conclusions Three-month Nordic Walking training significantly decreases SBP and DBP in women aged 60 and over. Nordic Walking may become important factor in non-pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension among women in retirement age

Lysosome Alterations in the Human Epithelial Cell Line HaCaT and Skin Specimens: Relevance to Psoriasis

Despite the constantly updated knowledge regarding the alterations occurring in the cells of patients with psoriasis, the status and the role of the lysosome, a control center of cell metabolism, remain to be elucidated. The architecture of the epidermis is largely regulated by the action of lysosomes, possibly activating signaling pathways in the cellular crosstalk of keratinocytes—epidermal cells—with infiltrating immune cells. Thus, in the present study, lysosome alterations were examined in vitro and in situ using a two-dimensional (2D) keratinocyte model of HaCaT cells with “psoriasis-like” inflammation and skin specimens, respectively. Specific fluorescence and immunohistochemical staining showed an augmented level of acidic organelles in response to keratinocyte activation (mimicking a psoriatic condition while maintaining the membrane integrity of these structures) as compared with the control, similar to that seen in skin samples taken from patients. Interestingly, patients with the most pronounced PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index), BSA (Body Surface Area), and DLQI (Dermatology Life Quality Index) scores su�ered a high incidence of positive lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) expression. Moreover, it was found that the gene deregulation pattern was comparable in lesioned (PP) and non-lesioned (PN) patient-derived skin tissue, which may indicate that these alterations occur prior to the onset of the characteristic phenotype of the disease. Changes in the activity of genes encoding the microphthalmia family (MiT family) of transcription factors and mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (MTORC1) were also observed in the in vitro psoriasis model, indicating that the biogenesis pathway of this arm is inhibited. Interestingly, in contrast to the keratinocytes of HaCaT with “psoriasis-like” inflammation, LAMP1 was up-regulated in both PP and PN skin, which can be a potential sign of an alternative mechanism of lysosome formation. Defining the molecular profile of psoriasis in the context of “the awesome lysosome” is not only interesting, but also desired; therefore, it is believed that this paper will serve to encourage other researchers to conduct further studies on this subject

Pili torti and multiple facial milia as an expression of ectodermal dysplasia in monozygotic twins

Introduction . Genodermatoses – congenital diseases with diverse clinical presentation – are caused by ectodermal defects. pili torti and milia may be features of these defects. Concomitantly these symptoms are present in rare genodermatoses: Bazex-Dupre-Christol syndrome and Jackson-Lawler syndrome. Objective. Presentation of monozygotic twins with identical hair structure disturbances typical for pili torti and multiple facial milia and review of syndromes and diseases with pili torti and/or milia, with particular reference to Bazex-Dupre-Christol syndrome. Case report . Three-year-old monozygotic twins with identical disturbances of the hair, which was dry, brittle, torn and showed in microscopic examination features typical for pili torti – twisting of the hair shaft by 180 ° . The scalp was overdried and scaly. Numerous milia on the face of both girls appeared at the age of 2 years and were noticed during the examination. The remaining structures derived from the ectoderm were normal. The patients were treated with adapalene cream applied once a day with partial improvement of follicular lesions on the face in both sisters. Conclusions . Coexistence of pili torti and multiple milia in twins indicates the genetic background of these disturbances. Due to potential risk of development of skin carcinoma in future, the patients require close follow-up

Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients with Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Aim of this work was to evaluate the association between psoriasis and chosen cardiovascular risk factors, echocardiographic parameters, and carotid intima-media thickness. A total of 50 patients with psoriasis and 50 controls were enrolled in the study. Psoriasis area severity index was calculated in the study group. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, lipids, fasting glucose, and D-dimer levels were assessed in all patients. In addition, echochardiographic parameters and carotid intima-media thickness were measured. Patients with psoriasis had higher blood pressure (P=0.001), elevated triglycerides (P=0.0218), lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P=0.0014), elevated D-dimer levels (p=0.0009), and were more frequently overweight (P=0.0198) in comparison to controls. There were no differences in echocardiographic parameters and carotid intima-media thickness between the psoriasis and control groups. Moreover, a positive correlation between psoriasis area severity index and blood pressure was observed (P=0.0088). The study confirmed that psoriasis is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The association between psoriasis, intima-media thickness, and echocardiographic parameters should be evaluated in large prospective studies. </p

Analysis of the Potential Genetic Links between Psoriasis and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Cardiovascular risk factors are one of the most common comorbidities in psoriasis. A higher prevalence of hypertension, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, metabolic syndrome, depression, as well as cardiovascular disease was confirmed in psoriatic patients in comparison to the general population. Data suggest that psoriasis and systemic inflammatory disorders may originate from the pleiotropic interactions with many genetic pathways. In this review, the authors present the current state of knowledge on the potential genetic links between psoriasis and cardiovascular risk factors. The understanding of the processes linking psoriasis with cardiovascular risk factors can lead to improvement of psoriasis management in the future

An Observational Study of 147 Psoriasis Patients: Overweightness and Obesity as a Significant Clinical Factors Correlated with Psoriasis

Background and Objectives: Psoriasis is a common, chronic, and immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease recognized to lead to a wide range of comorbid disorders, mainly obesity. The study aimed to evaluate the problem of overweightness and obesity among psoriasis patients in the context of their prevalence and influence on the disease course. Materials and Methods: The study group encompassed 147 adult patients with plaque psoriasis. Results: The prevalences of overweightness (39.46%) and obesity (37.41%) demonstrated in the study showed the strong predisposition of psoriatic patients for abnormal body mass. The vast majority (77%) of subjects with psoriatic arthritis were overweight or obese. The results of the correlation analysis revealed the significant impacts of overweightness and obesity, as defined by the BMI index, on modifying the severity of psoriasis (as assessed by the PASI with a correlation coefficient of R = 0.23, p = 0.016; and BSA values with a correlation coefficient of R = 0.21, p = 0.023), particularly in contrast to patients with a normal body mass. Conclusions: Overweightness and obesity constitute a major health burden among psoriatic patients, influencing the disease course and severity. Enhanced understanding of the phenomenon may directly translate into improving disease management and overall patient care