Quality of Life and Optimism in Patients with Morphea

Despite extensive knowledge about quality of life of people suffering from dermatological diseases, data on patients with morphea are scarce. The aim of our study was to compare the quality of life of healthy controls and morphea patients, as well as to determine the correlation of this variable with the level of dispositional optimism. The study included 47 patients with morphea and 47 healthy controls, matched for gender and age. Cantril’s Ladder and Life Orientation Test-Revised were used to assess the levels of life satisfaction and dispositional optimism, respectively. LoSSI was used for the objective assessment. The anticipated level of life quality and the level of dispositional optimism were statistically significantly lower in morphea patients (p = 0.032 and p = 0.014, respectively) when compared to controls. There were no differences in the assessment of current (p = 0.168) and past (p = 0.318) levels of life quality. Also, we proved that type of morphea did not differentiate the current (p = 0.175), past (p = 0.620) and future (p = 0.356) assessment of the quality of life. In the group of morphea patients there was a statistically significant correlation between the level of dispositional optimism and current (p = 0.002, r = 0.43), as well as anticipated (p < 0.001, r = 0.57) levels of life quality. Current level of life quality of healthy controls and morphea patients is comparable, whereas the latter anticipate their future life situation to be significantly worse than the former. Higher level of life satisfaction correlates with higher level of optimism

Choroby współistniejące z hidradenitis suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS, acne inversa) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease characterized by painful, inflamed lesions with a tendency to sinus formation and scarring, most commonly in the axillae, inguinal folds and anogenital area. It usually begins after puberty, more often in women, obese people and smokers. HS leads to a significant deterioration in the quality of life, its treatment is long-lasting and often does not bring the satisfactory results. Numerous studies indicate that HS may be associated with a variety of concomitant diseases. It has been shown that patients with hidradenitis suppurativa have an increased risk of developing obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome as well as inflammatory diseases (inflammatory bowel disease, autoinflammatory syndromes). An association of HS with depression, anxiety, spondyloarthropathies, including SAPHO syndrome, have also been observed. There are reports of the coexistance of HS with SCC and some reports have suggested an association between HS and congenital keratinization disorders, Down syndrome and Behcet’s disease. It is important to pay attention to the symptoms of these diseases in patients with HS, to enable their early detection and implementation of appropriate treatment.Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS, trądzik odwrocony) to przewlekła, zapalna choroba skory prowadząca do powstawania bolesnych zmian zapalnych ze skłonnością do tworzenia przetok i bliznowacenia najczęściej w obrębie pach, pachwin i okolicy anogenitalnej. Zazwyczaj rozpoczyna się po okresie dojrzewania płciowego, częściej u kobiet, osob z otyłością oraz palaczy tytoniu. Choroba ta prowadzi do istotnego pogorszenia jakości życia, a jej leczenie jest długotrwałe i często nie przynosi pożądanych efektow. Wyniki licznych obserwacji klinicznych wskazują, że HS może predysponować do wystąpienia rożnych schorzeń wspołistniejących. Wykazano, że u pacjentow z HS występuje zwiększone ryzyko rozwoju otyłości, cukrzycy, zespołu metabolicznego, jak rownież chorob zapalnych (nieswoiste zapalenia jelit, choroby autozapalne). Zaobserwowano też związek HS ze SpA, w tym z zespołem SAPHO (synovitis acne pustulosis hyperostosis osteitis; zapalenie stawow, trądzik, łuszczyca krostkowa, nadmierne kościotworzenie, zapalenia kości) oraz częstszym występowaniem depresji i lęku. Istnieją doniesienia mowiące o ryzyku rozwoju raka kolczystokomorkowego (SCC, squamous cel carcinoma) u pacjentow z HS oraz pojedyncze opisy wspołwystępowania HS z wrodzonymi zaburzeniami keratynizacji, zespołem Downa, chorobą Behceta. Mając na uwadze przedstawione dane, ważne jest, by zwracać uwagę na objawy tych chorob u pacjentow z HS, aby umożliwić ich wczesne wykrycie i wdrożenie odpowiedniego leczenia

The evaluation of the impact of titania nanotube covers morphology and crystal phase on their biological properties

The highly ordered titanium dioxide nanotube coatings were produced under various electrochemical conditions on the surface of titanium foil. The anodization voltage changes proved to be a main factor which directly affects the nanotube morphology, structure, and wettability. Moreover we have noticed a significant dependence between the size and crystallinity of TiO 2 layers and the adhesion/ proliferation of fibroblasts and antimicrobial properties. Cellular functionality were investigated for up to 3 days in culture using a cell viability assay and scanning electron microscopy. In general, results of our studies revealed that fibroblasts adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation on the titania nanotube coatings is clearly higher than on the surface of the pure titanium foil. The formation of crystallic islands in the nanotubes structure induced a significant acceleration in the growth rate of fibroblasts cells by as much as *200 %. Additionally, some types of TiO 2 layers revealed the ability to the reduce of the staphylococcal aggregates/biofilm formation. The nanotube coatings formed during the anodiza-tion process using the voltage 4 V proved to be the stronger S. aureus aggregates/biofilm inhibitor in comparison to the uncovered titanium substrate. That accelerated eukaryotic cell growth and anti-biofilm activity is believed to be advantageous for faster cure of dental and orthopaedic patients , and also for a variety of biomedical diagnostic and therapeutic applications

Leczenie liszaja twardzinowego w obrębie narządów płciowych u kobiet – przegląd

Lichen sclerosus is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that belongs to a group of autoimmune connective tissue diseases, localized within the skin and mucous membrane of the anogenital area. In the latter location, the focal atrophy of the mucosa is the most visible sign. Lesions may be accompanied by symptoms such as itching, pain, burning. The disease occurs more often in females. The etiology is not fully understood. Genetic, infectious, hormonal factors and autoimmune mechanisms are taken into consideration. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment is important to avoid further complications. This review aims to analyze available literature on the treatment of this disease entity.Liszaj twardzinowy jest przewlekłą chorobą zapalną należącą do grupy autoimmunologicznych chorób tkanki łącznej, lokalizującą się w obrębie skóry, oraz błon śluzowych narządów płciowych. W zakresie tej ostatniej lokalizacji, klinicznie obserwuje się najczęściej występowanie ogniskowego zaniku błony śluzowej. Wykwitom mogą towarzyszyć objawy subiektywne jak świąd, ból, pieczenie. Schorzenie zdecydowanie częściej występuje u płci żeńskiej. Etiologia nie jest do końca poznana. Pod uwagę bierze się rolę czynników genetycznych, autoimmunologicznych, infekcyjnych, hormonalnych. Ważne jest wczesne rozpoznanie choroby i włączenie odpowiedniego leczenia, celem uniknięcia powikłań. W pracy przeprowadzono analizę dostępnego piśmiennictwa dotyczącego leczenia tej jednostki chorobowej

Biocompatibility of Titania Nanotube Coatings Enriched with Silver Nanograins by Chemical Vapor Deposition

Bioactivity investigations of titania nanotube (TNT) coatings enriched with silver nanograins (TNT/Ag) have been carried out. TNT/Ag nanocomposite materials were produced by combining the electrochemical anodization and chemical vapor deposition methods. Fabricated coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. The release effect of silver ions fromTNT/Ag composites immersed in bodily fluids, has been studied using inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Themetabolic activity assay (MTT) was applied to determine the L929 murine fibroblasts adhesion and proliferation on the surface of TNT/Ag coatings. Moreover, the results of immunoassays (using peripheral blood mononuclear cells—PBMCs isolated from rats) allowed the estimation of the immunological activity of TNT/Ag surface materials. Antibacterial activity of TNT/Ag coatings with different morphological and structural features was estimated against two Staphylococcus aureus strains (ATCC 29213 and H9). The TNT/Ag nanocomposite layers produced revealed a good biocompatibility promoting the fibroblast adhesion and proliferation. A desirable anti-biofilm activity against the S. aureus reference strain was mainly noticed for these TiO2 nanotube coatings, which contain dispersed Ag nanograins deposited on their surface

Zespół nietrzymania barwnika – opis przypadku

Incontinentia pigmenti is a rare genodermatosis, caused by mutations of the NEMO gene, located at X chromosome. It is usually lethal for males, resulting in the observation that most patients are females. Cutaneous manifestations are the most characteristic signs, often occuring in the neonate period and are subdivided into 4 stages. Additionaly, other defects may be associated with the disease including abnormalities of: teeth, eyes, central nervous system, bones. We report the case of a 4-month-old female, presenting skin manifestations of IP just after birth.Zespoł nietrzymania barwnika (IP, incontinentia pigmenti) to rzadko występująca genodermatoza, związana z mutacją w genie NEMO, zlokalizowanym na chromosomie X. U płci męskiej jest zazwyczaj postacią letalną, dlatego dotyczy głownie płci żeńskiej. Zmiany skorne, będące najbardziej charakterystycznym objawem choroby, występują często już w okresie niemowlęcym, obejmując 4 stadia. Dodatkowo zajęte mogą być inne tkanki i układy, na przykład zęby, narząd wzroku, ośrodkowy układ nerwowy, kości. W pracy przedstawiono przypadek niemowlęcia płci żeńskiej, u ktorego zmiany skorne, charakterystyczne dla IP, wystąpiły już przy urodzeniu

Optimization of the Silver Nanoparticles PEALD Process on the Surface of 1-D Titania Coatings

Plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) of silver nanoparticles on the surface of 1-D titania coatings, such as nanotubes (TNT) and nanoneedles (TNN), has been carried out. The formation of TNT and TNN layers enriched with dispersed silver particles of strictly defined sizes and the estimation of their bioactivity was the aim of our investigations. The structure and the morphology of produced materials were determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron miscroscopy (SEM). Their bioactivity and potential usefulness in the modification of implants surface have been estimated on the basis of the fibroblasts adhesion and proliferation assays, and on the basis of the determination of their antibacterial activity. The cumulative silver release profiles have been checked with the use of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICPMS), in order to exclude potential cytotoxicity of silver decorated systems. Among the studied nanocomposite samples, TNT coatings, prepared at 3, 10, 12 V and enriched with silver nanoparticles produced during 25 cycles of PEALD, revealed suitable biointegration properties and may actively counteract the formation of bacterial biofilm.Peer reviewe

Titania Nanotubes/Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposites Produced with the Use of the Atomic Layer Deposition Technique: Estimation of Bioactivity and Nanomechanical Properties

Titanium dioxide nanotubes/hydroxyapatite nanocomposites were produced on a titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V/TNT/HA) and studied as a biocompatible coating for an implant surface modification. As a novel approach for this type of nanocomposite fabrication, the atomic layer deposition (ALD) method with an extremely low number of cycles was used to enrich titania nanotubes (TNT) with a very thin hydroxyapatite coating. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used for determination of the structure and the surface morphology of the fabricated nanocoatings. The biointegration activity of the layers was estimated based on fibroblasts’ proliferation on the TNT/HA surface. The antibacterial activity was determined by analyzing the ability of the layers to inhibit bacterial colonization and biofilm formation. Mechanical properties of the Ti6Al4V/TNT/HA samples were estimated by measuring the hardness, Young’s module, and susceptibility to scratching. The results revealed that the nanoporous titanium alloy coatings enriched with a very thin hydroxyapatite layer may be a promising way to achieve the desired balance between biofunctional and biomechanical properties of modern implants

Titania Nanotubes/Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposites Produced with the Use of the Atomic Layer Deposition Technique: Estimation of Bioactivity and Nanomechanical Properties

Titanium dioxide nanotubes/hydroxyapatite nanocomposites were produced on a titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V/TNT/HA) and studied as a biocompatible coating for an implant surface modification. As a novel approach for this type of nanocomposite fabrication, the atomic layer deposition (ALD) method with an extremely low number of cycles was used to enrich titania nanotubes (TNT) with a very thin hydroxyapatite coating. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used for determination of the structure and the surface morphology of the fabricated nanocoatings. The biointegration activity of the layers was estimated based on fibroblasts’ proliferation on the TNT/HA surface. The antibacterial activity was determined by analyzing the ability of the layers to inhibit bacterial colonization and biofilm formation. Mechanical properties of the Ti6Al4V/TNT/HA samples were estimated by measuring the hardness, Young’s module, and susceptibility to scratching. The results revealed that the nanoporous titanium alloy coatings enriched with a very thin hydroxyapatite layer may be a promising way to achieve the desired balance between biofunctional and biomechanical properties of modern implants

Expression and Activity of TRPA1 and TRPV1 in the Intervertebral Disc: Association with Inflammation and Matrix Remodeling

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels have emerged as potential sensors and transducers of inflammatory pain. The aims of this study were to investigate (1) the expression of TRP channels in intervertebral disc (IVD) cells in normal and inflammatory conditions and (2) the function of Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) and Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in IVD inflammation and matrix homeostasis. RT-qPCR was used to analyze human fetal, healthy, and degenerated IVD tissues for the gene expression of TRPA1 and TRPV1. The primary IVD cell cultures were stimulated with either interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) alone or in combination with TRPA1/V1 agonist allyl isothiocyanate (AITC, 3 and 10 µM), followed by analysis of calcium flux and the expression of inflammation mediators (RT-qPCR/ELISA) and matrix constituents (RT-qPCR). The matrix structure and composition in caudal motion segments from TRPA1 and TRPV1 wild-type (WT) and knock-out (KO) mice was visualized by FAST staining. Gene expression of other TRP channels (A1, C1, C3, C6, V1, V2, V4, V6, M2, M7, M8) was also tested in cytokine-treated cells. TRPA1 was expressed in fetal IVD cells, 20% of degenerated IVDs, but not in healthy mature IVDs. TRPA1 expression was not detectable in untreated cells and it increased upon cytokine treatment, while TRPV1 was expressed and concomitantly reduced. In inflamed IVD cells, 10 µM AITC activated calcium flux, induced gene expression of IL-8, and reduced disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTS5) and collagen 1A1, possibly via upregulated TRPA1. TRPA1 KO in mice was associated with signs of degeneration in the nucleus pulposus and the vertebral growth plate, whereas TRPV1 KO did not show profound changes. Cytokine treatment also affected the gene expression of TRPV2 (increase), TRPV4 (increase), and TRPC6 (decrease). TRPA1 might be expressed in developing IVD, downregulated during its maturation, and upregulated again in degenerative disc disease, participating in matrix homeostasis. However, follow-up studies with larger sample sizes are needed to fully elucidate the role of TRPA1 and other TRP channels in degenerative disc disease