Trigger Factors in Childhood Psoriasis and Vitiligo

Psoriasis and vitiligo are very common skin disorders that may have a profound impact upon the affected individuals; the etiology of both diseases includes genetic factors and triggers, which could be endogenous or exogenous. Two groups of children population consisting of 153 patients suffering from skin disorder (65 with vitiligo and 88 with psoriasis) have been examined at the Department of Dermatovenerology, University Hospital Osijek, during three years period. Basic methods of data collection were: questionnaire, clinically examination and histological proven diagnosis. The aim of this investigation were to determine the most common triggers, which play a role at onset of disease among young patients with vitiligo and psoriasis, and to establish familial distribution among both groups of patients. The results of investigations showed that the onset of vitiligo was mostly connected with psychological factors (56.9%), but the most frequently trigger in childhood psoriasis was inflammatory focus (38.6%). According to morphologic patterns the authors separated two groups of patients among psoriatics: group I with plaque psoriasis, which pointed the inflammatory focus and physical trauma as trigger before onset of disease (each 25.0%) and group II with psoriasis guttata and inflammatory focus as trigger at even 62.5% cases. Familial distribution among psoriatic children was 55.6%, and among children with vitiligo only 16.9%. Ours children patients showed significantly disparity in structure of triggers according diagnosis and gender distributions and about familial occurrence. Also some difference has been established according to age of onset between psoriasis and vitiligo at early childhood

Aggression, Parental and Peer Attachments, and Adolescent Self-Esteem

Osnovni je cilj ovoga rada bio ispitati povezanost privrženosti roditeljima i vršnjacima, samopoštovanja i proaktivne i reaktivne agresije na mladićima (n = 92) i djevojkama (n = 100) iz opće populacije u dobi 15–17 godina. Agresivno ponašanje, samopoštovanje, kao i privrženost roditeljima i vršnjacima su mjereni samoiskazom. Kako bi se ispitala prediktivna snaga ispitivanih varijabli za predviđanje temeljnih oblika agresivnog ponašanja kao kriterijskih varijabli, proveden je niz hijerarhijskih regresijskih analiza. Značajnim su se prediktorima agresivnog ponašanja pokazali samopoštovanje za reaktivnu agresiju, a privrženost majci, privrženost vršnjacima i samopoštovanje za proaktivnu i ukupnu agresiju. Rezultati također pokazuju efekt spola na odnos između privrženosti majci, privrženosti vršnjacima i proaktivne i ukupne agresije. Daljnja je analiza pokazala da izraženost agresivnog ponašanja s povećanjem privrženosti majci više opada kod mladića. Suprotno tome, efekti su privrženosti vršnjaka na izraženost agresivnog ponašanja bili veći kod djevojaka. Također, dobiven je značajni interakcijski efekt samopoštovanja i spola na mjeru proaktivne agresije pri čemu su za djevojke i mladiće dobiveni obrnuti obrasci. Tako kod djevojaka s porastom samopoštovanja raste i izraženost proaktivne agresije, dok kod mladića izraženost proaktivne agresija pada s porastom samopoštovanja.The current study examined the association of attachment to parents and peers, self-esteem and severity of proactive and reactive aggression in a non-referred sample of boys (n = 92) and girls (n = 100), aged 15–17. Aggressive behaviors, self-esteem, and parental and peer attachments were assessed through self-report ratings. In order to examine the predictive value of examined variables on the types of aggressive behaviors as criterion variables, several hierarchical regression analyses were performed. The self-esteem was a significant predictor of reactive aggression, whereas attachment to mother and peers were significant predictors of proactive and global aggressive behavior. It was also found that gender moderated the relationship between attachment to mother, peer attachment and proactive and global aggresion. Further investigation demonstrated that strong attachment to mother was related to a reduced risk for aggressive behaviors in boys. However, the attachment to peers had stronger effect on aggressive behavior in girls compared with boys. Furthermore, analyses yielded significant interaction between self-esteem and gender, suggesting different association patters for girls and boys. Interaction predicting proactive aggression suggests that, with the increase in self-esteem, the mean levels of proactive aggression increased in girls, and decrease in boys

Psoriasis vulgaris in eastern Croatia- epidemiology and "trigger" factors

Na području bivše općine Osijek (grad Osijek, prigradska naselja Emestinovo i Sarvaš), provedeno je istraživanje s ciljem da se ispita sljedeće: CILJ ISTRAŽIVANJA: 1) prevalencija vulgarne psorijaze na području bivše općine Osijek i najčešći kliničko-morfološki oblici; 2) obiteljska učestalost psorijaze u ispitivanome uzorku; 3) najčešći provocirajući "trigger" čimbenici u nastanku bolesti; i 4) kliničkomorfološki tipovi psorijaze, te njihove povezanosti s provocirajućim ("trigger") čimbenicima. ISPITANICI I METODE: 1) Istraživanje je provedeno na ukupno 10500 ispitanika, podijeljenih u 3 populacije, i to u gradsku sa 4025, seosku sa 3000, te u radno-aktivnu populaciju, u kojoj je bilo preostalih 3475 ispitanika. 2) Primijenjene su sljedeće metode: a) terensko istraživanje (anketa i klinički pregled), b) obrada otkrivenih bolesnika (histološka verifikacija bolesti, anketa otkrivenih 102 bolesnika s ciljem da se utvrde "trigger" čimbenici), statistička obrada podataka, te c) taksonomska analiza. GLAVNI REZULTATI I ZAKLJUČCI: 1) od ukupno 10500 pregledanih osoba, psorijaza je utvrđena u 102 ispitanika. Prevalencija psorijaze u području bivše općine Osijek iznosi: za gradsku populaciju 1,09%; za seosku populaciju 0,63%; te za radnoaktivnu populaciju 1,12 %. U sve tri populacije zajedno utvrđena je prevalencija vulgarne psorijaze od 0,97%. Najčešći kliničkomorfološki oblici psorijaze jesu: psoriasis vulgaris nummularis (79,41% ispitanika) i psoriasis guttata (20,51% ispitanika); 2) obiteljska učestalost psorijaze iznosi 32,35%; 3) najčešće opaženi "trigger" čimbenici bili su psihički čimbenici (u 72,54%), upalno žarište i febrilno stanje (u 11,76%), te fizička trauma (u 10,70%); 4) na temelju taksonomske analize podataka, izdvojilo se nekoliko kliničko-epidemioloških modela, a utvrđen je i odnos kliničko-morfološkog tipa bolesti i provociranjućih čimbenika.The research was conducted within the area of the former Community of Osijek including the suburb settlements Emestinovo and Sarvaš with an aim to investigate the following points: THE AIM OF INVESTIGATION: 1) prevalence of psoriasis vulgaris in the area of the former Community of Osijek and the most frequent clinical morphological forms; 2) family frequency of psoriasis of the investigated pattern; 3) the most frequent provoking "trigger" factors in the occurrence of the disease; and 4) clinical-morphological types of psoriasis, and their relation to provoking "trigger" factors. EXAMINEES AND METHODS: Examinees. Investigation has been carried out on the total number of 10500 examinees, divided into 3 population groups: urban (4025), rural (3600) and employed (3475) population. Methods. The following methods have been applied: 1) investigation on the ground (questionnaire and clinical examination); 2) elaboration of the discovered cases (histologycal verification of the disease, questionnaire of 102 discovered patients with the aim to determine "trigger" factors), elaboration of the statistical data; and 3) taxonome analysis. MAIN RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS ARE THE FOLLOWING: 1) from the total number of 10500 examinees, psoriasis has been confirmed in 102 cases. The prevalence of psoriasis within the area of the former Community of Osijek accounts for: urban population 1.09%; rural population 0.63%; employed population 1.12%. The prevalence of psoriasis vulgaris in the three population groups taken together has been 0.97%. The most frequent clinical-morphological forms of psoriasis are: psoriasis vulgaris nummularis (79.41% examinees) and psoriasis guttata (21.51% examinees); 2) family frequency of psoriasis amounts to 32.35%; 3) the most frequently observed "trigger" factors have been psychological factors (72.54%), inflammatory focus and febrile state (11.76%) and physical trauma (10.70%); 4) according to taxonomic analysis of the statistical data several clinical-epidemiological model have been selected

Polymorphisms of Vitamin D Receptor Gene in the Population of Eastern Croatia with Psoriasis vulgaris and Diabetes mellitus

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between polymorphisms in the Vitamin D receptor gene (VDR gene) and tendency for development of psoriasis vulgaris and diabetes mellitus in the population of Slavonia, which is a region in the Eastern Croatia. In order to conduct the mentioned evaluation the restriction fragment length polymorphisms (ApaI, BsmI and TaqI) in the Vitamin D receptor gene were researched in three groups of patients: patients suffering only from psoriasis vulgaris, patients suffering only from diabetes mellitus, and patients suffering at the same time from both diseases. Four most common genotypes were found in all standardized control patients: triple heterozygotes BbAaTt (in 29.3% of the studied patients), bbAaTT (in 18.6% of the studied patients), bbaaTT (in 12.9% of the studied patients) and BbAATt (in 8.6% of the studied patients). Three most common VDR 3’-RFLP haplotypes determined in this study were: three-component baT, Bat and bAT haplotype. Results of the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium showed presence of BsmI polymorphism genotype frequencies disequilibrium in the group of patients suffering from psoriasis and ApaI polymorphism in the group of patients suffering from both diseases. According to the same statistical test all conditions for TaqI polymorphism genotype frequency were fulfilled in all groups of studied patients. There was no significant difference in distribution of BsmI, ApaI or TaqI polymorphism genotype frequencies between control patients and any of the subgroup of studied patients. In studied population none of analysed polymorphisms individually was associated with the risk of development of psoriasis, diabetes or combined phenotype

Epidemiology of Dermatomycosis in the Eastern Croatia – Today and Yesterday

The aim of our investigation was to compare the distribution of dermatomycosis species in Eastern Croatia between two different periods: first period from 1997–2001 year, and second period from 1986–88 year. The outpatients from Department of Dermatovenerology University Hospital »Osijek« with confirmed diagnosis infection Tinea, were selected on the basis o age, gender, localization and dermatomycosis species. During the first period (1997–2001) among 75,691 outpatients Tinea infection was confirmed in 558 (0.73%), while in the second period among 47,832 outpatients there were 126 (0.26%) cases with Tinea, what showed significant increase of fungal infections among population this region. According the age and gender in both periods predominant population were under of the age 16 (40.14%: 41.26%), and female population was predominant (58.60% and 57.14%) in comparison to males (41.39% and 42.85%). The most frequent localization of lesions in period I were cutis glabrae (47.31%), palms and soles (31.36%), capitis (17.38%) and unguis (9.31%) and isolated species were as followed: Trichophyton (39.06%), Microsporum (31.72%) and Candida (28.13%) species. In period II the most frequent localization were palms and soles (40.47%), cutis glabrae (36.50%), capitis (12.69%) and unguis (10.31%). The isolated species in this period were: Trichophyton (80.15%), Candida (12.69%) and Microsporum (4.76%) species. From the data collected during two different periods we can observe 1) increase of fungal infection generally in our region; 2) significant changes in causative species (increase of Microsporum and Candida species infection, but Trichophyton spp still remain the first causative agent); and 3) changes in the localization of lesions

The Role of the Low Energy Diet in Psoriasis Vulgaris Treatment

The aim of the present study was to determine whether and how the low energy diet acts on reduce of plasma lipids and clinical features of moderate non pustular psoriasis vulgaris. The investigation carried out in Clinical hospital Osijek, at Department of Dermatology as well as at Nutrition Department, included 82 in-patients, aged 46 to 65 (mean age 53.7 7.9), which had at least a 10-year history of the skin disorders. 42 participants (22 men and 20 women) in addition to usual topical therapy (neutral bland ointments twice daily), received a low energy diet during four weeks. Controls (40 participants: 22 men and 18 women) received only topical therapy with regular hospital food. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in blood, body weight and clinical features were measured at the beginning of investigation and after four weeks. After four weeks participants on low energy diet showed statistical significantly decreasing of serum lipids in relation to control group as well as significantly decreasing of clinical skin disorders. On contrary there were no significant changes on body weight between both groups of participants. Results of our study suggest that low energy diet could be important adjuvant factor in the prevention and treatment of moderate non pustular psoriasis