Elevated Gene Expression of Interleukin-32 Isoforms Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta in the Peripheral Blood of Chronic Psoriatic Patients

Inflammatory-mediated reactions have been implicated as contributors in a number of dermatological disorders, including psoriasis. However, the potential of interleukin (IL)-32 and its isoforms to contribute to the pathogenesis of psoriasis remains unexplored. This study was undertaken to investigate the role of IL-32 and its isoforms IL-32α, IL-32β, IL-32γ, and IL-32δ in the peripheral blood of psoriatic patients. The majority of chronic plaque psoriatic patients showed elevated IL-32 mRNA levels in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as compared with the levels of IL-32 mRNA in PBMCs of healthy controls (p = 0.001). To further investigate the role of elevated levels of IL-32 in psoriatic patients, IL-32 isoforms mRNAs were determined. All tested isoforms IL-32α, IL-32β, IL-32γ, and IL-32δ were overexpressed in psoriatic patients PBMCs as compared with healthy controls’ PBMCs (p < 0.05). IL-32α mRNA expression was also significantly higher as compared with all other isoforms of IL-32 in PBMCs of psoriatic patients (p < 0.001). In short, this is the first study that shows the role of IL-32 and its isoforms in the peripheral blood of psoriatic patients. Our novel findings support an association between elevated levels of IL-32 and psoriasis. The data also suggest that a major proinflammatory response of IL-32 may derive from IL-32α isoform in psoriasis

The ultrastructural effects of long-term use of henna on the albino rat skin

Tattooing with henna is a routine practice in the Arab world. To the best of our knowledge, no previous studies have evaluated the adverse histological effects following henna tattooing on the ultrastructure of the skin. The objectives of this study were to diagnose the cytopathological alterations induced by commercial henna and to investigate the adverse role of henna when combined with sun ray on the skin. The skin of albino rats was tattooed with natural and black henna for three months, skin samples were examined by transmission electron microscope. In addition, the concentration of lead in henna samples was estimated by using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results expanded the understanding of the pathogenesis of henna-induced phytophotodermatitis. We hypothesized that hennaassociated additives penetrated the epidermal barrier to gain access to the vascular dermis where the harmful ingredients became concentrated, leading to skin pathology through a dual mechanism. First, these ingredients became re-transported into the epidermis through vesicular trafficking leading to dermo-epidermal blistering and cytoplasmic vacuolization of the stratum basal cells. Following this, cytoplasmic vacuoles poured their content into the nuclei through continuities with the perinuclear cisterna, possibly leading to genetic mutation. The progression of keratinocytes into the next layers became associated with nuclear and cytoplasmic signs of apoptosis with subsequent phagocytosis in other epidermal cells, most probably keratinocytes. The second mechanism of injury was mediated through accumulation of inflammatory cells around capillaries in the dermis with the release of angiogenic and mitogenic mediators resulting in vasculopathy

Psoriasin: A Novel Marker Linked Obesity with Psoriasis

To evaluate the role of psoriasin, koebnerisin, interleukn (IL)-12 and IL-23 in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and their relations to Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) and obesity. Thirty patients had chronic plaque psoriasis and 30 healthy subjects matched in age and sex were enrolled in this study. Serum from all subjects were used for determination of psoriasin, koebnerisin, IL-12 and IL-23 by ELISA kits. IL-23 and psoriasin were significantly higher in skin psoriasis compared to controls and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). There was a correlation between psoriasin and both PASI and obesity. On the other hand, IL-12 was significantly increased in PsA compared to skin psoriasis (p = 0.000) and controls. Its sensitivity and specificity were 87%, 93%; respectively. To our knowledge, psoriasin is the first biomarker confirm the link between obesity and psoriasis. The risk of developing psoriasis is directly related to higher BMI

Immunological Functions of Oxidized Human Immunoglobulin G in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Its Potential Role in Diabetic Smokers as a Biomarker of Elevated Oxidative Stress

The role of oxidized immunoglobulin G in type 1 diabetic smokers has been investigated in the present study. Human immunoglobulin G (IgG) was modified by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The binding characteristics of circulating autoantibodies in type 1 diabetes patients against native and modified IgG were assessed by direct binding ELISA. High degree of specific binding by 68.5% of patients sera towards ROS-modified IgG was observed in comparison to its native analogue (p < 0.05). In addition, diabetic smokers (n = 28) were examined and the results were compared with diabetic non-smokers (n = 26). Circulating antibodies of diabetic smokers showed substantially stronger binding to modified IgG as compared with the antibodies present in diabetic non-smokers (p < 0.05). Normal human sera (n = 53) showed negligible binding with either antigen. Competitive inhibition ELISA reiterates the direct binding results. The increase in total serum protein carbonyl levels in the diabetic smokers was largely due to an increase in oxidized IgG. Diabetic smokers showed substantially higher carbonyl contents in sera as well as in purified IgG as compared with sera and IgG of diabetic non-smokers. Collectively, the oxidation of plasma proteins, especially IgG, might enhance oxidative stress in type 1 diabetes smokers

Development and Validation of the Motivation for Tutoring Questionnaire in Problem-Based Learning Programs

Purpose: There are no published instruments, which measure tutor motivation for conducting small group tutorials in problem-based learning programs. Therefore, we aimed to develop a motivation for tutoring questionnaire in problem-based learning (MTQ-PBL) and evaluate its construct validity. Methods: The questionnaire included 28 items representing four constructs: tutoring self-efficacy (15 items), tutoring interest (6 items), tutoring value (4 items), and tutoring effort (3 items). Tutors (n=158) from three problem-based medical schools in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain rated their perceptions for each item on a 7-point Likert scale. Statistical analyses included examining the factor structure of the questionnaire, the differences between mean scores of each factor as a function of tutoring experience, and the motivation for tutoring scales as predictors of self-rated tutoring skills. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the four-factor theoretical model did not fit with the measurement model. The three items of the tutoring-effort construct were unidentified in the model and four items (three from tutoring self-efficacy and one from tutoring interest) had low regression weights. This ended up with a three-factor structure composed of 21 items representing three main constructs: tutoring self-efficacy (12 items) and tutoring interest (5 items), and tutoring value (4 items). The scores from the 21-item questionnaire demonstrated acceptable fitness indices between the measurement model and the factor structure. Furthermore, the three tutoring motivation subscales demonstrated high internal consistency reliability, significantly correlated with each other and correlated with the self-rated tutoring skills scores. In addition, tutoring efficacy scores significantly increased by years of tutoring experience and predicted 38% of the variance in self-rated tutoring skills scores. Discussion: Analyzing the tutors’ scores of their motivation for PBL tutoring yielded three significantly correlated constructs representing tutoring self-efficacy, tutoring interest and tutoring value. The findings demonstrated high internal consistency reliability of the questionnaire, strong correlation between the three constructs as well as correlations between the constructs and the self-rated tutoring skills scores. Taken together, the current study demonstrates that the newly developed instrument measuring motivation for PBL tutoring exhibits good psychometric properties. The findings in this paper pave the way for further studies for refining the measurement of this construct in different problem-based contexts