Znaczenie dermoskopii w chorobie Grovera. Korelacja dermoskopowo-histologiczna

Abstact: Grover’s disease (transient acantholytic dermatosis) is characterized by the eruption of pruritic papules and papulovesicular lesions, mainly on the trunk and proximal extremities. The etiology of the disease remains unknown, however some drug-induced cases were reported. The diagnosis of Grover’s disease is based on histopathological examination which usually shows the presence of focal suprabasal acantholysis with dyskeratosis within the epidermis. There are four main histopathological patterns of this disease, including the Darier-like pattern, the Hailey-Hailey-like pattern, pemphigus-like pattern and eczema-like pattern. The main purpose of the study was to describe clinical, dermoscopic and histopathological features of skin lesions in three patients with three different patterns of Grover’s disease. The study was carried out on three patients with observable characteristic dermoscopic features of skin lesions who had been diagnosed with Grover’s disease based on the histopathological examination. In dermoscopy of the first one, yellow-brown polygonal structures with a white “halo” corresponding to focal acantholysis with dyskeratosis and hyperkeratosis were observed. Some areas with enlarged and dilated blood vessels were also seen, as well as regular oval white structures with yellow centres, which might correspond to empty hair follicles with abnormal keratosis in their ostia. In dermoscopy of the second patient, polygonal brown structures with scales corresponding to focal acantholysis with desquamation and dilated irregular blood vessels were observed. In dermoscopy of the third one, yellow-brown polygonal structures covered with scale and haemorrhagic crusts were observed. Dermoscopy is a useful diagnostic tool in patients suspected for Grover’s disease and gives characteristic dermoscopic features of yellow-brown polygonal structures corresponding to irregular acantholysis and disturb keratinization in histopathology. Streszczenie: Choroba Grovera (przemijająca dermatoza z akantolizą) charakteryzuje się obecnością rozsianych swędzących grudek lub zmian pęcherzykowo-grudkowych głównie na tułowiu i proksymalnych częściach kończyn. Etiologia choroby pozostaje nieznana, ale opisywano przypadki indukowane różnymi lekami. Rozpoznanie choroby Grovera opiera się na badaniu histopatologicznym, które wykazuje obecność ogniskowej nieregularnej akantolizy ponad warstwą podstawną naskórka z towarzysząca dyskeratozą lub zaburzonym rogowaceniem keratynocytów powyżej. Wyróżnia się cztery główne wzory histopatologiczne tej choroby: obraz podobny do choroby Dariera, do choroby Hailey-Hailey, do pęcherzycy i obraz wypryskopodobny. Celem badania było opisanie klinicznych, dermoskopowych i histopatologicznych cech zmian skórnych u trzech pacjentów z trzema różnymi odmianami choroby Grovera. Badanie dermoskopowe zmian skórnych przeprowadzono u trzech pacjentów z rozpoznaniem histologicznym choroby Grovera, w celu określenia najbardziej charakterystycznych cech dermoskopowych tej choroby. W badaniu dermoskopowym pierwszego pacjenta stwierdzono obecność żółto-brązowych wielokątnych struktur z białawą obwódką odpowiadających ogniskowej akantolizie z dyskeratozą i hiperkeratozą. Widoczne były również obszary z powiększonymi i poszerzonymi naczyniami krwionośnymi, a także regularne owalne białe struktury z żółtymi środkami, które mogły odpowiadać pustym mieszkom włosowym z nieprawidłowym rogowaceniem w ich lejkach. U drugiego pacjenta dermoskopowo stwierdzono obecność wielokątnych brązowych struktur pokrytych łuską odpowiadających ogniskowej akantolizie z nieprawidłowym rogowaceniem na powierzchni, oraz poszerzone nieregularnie naczynia krwionośne. U trzeciego pacjenta w dermoskopii stwierdzono żółto-brązowe wielokątne struktury pokryte łuską i krwotocznymi strupami. Dermoskopia jest użytecznym narzędziem diagnostycznym u pacjentów podejrzanych o chorobę Grovera i obrazuje charakterystyczne żółto-brązowe, wielokątne struktury odpowiadające nieregularnej akantolizie z nieprawidłowym rogowaceniem w badaniu histopatologicznym.Abstact: Grover’s disease (transient acantholytic dermatosis) is characterized by the eruption of pruritic papules and papulovesicular lesions, mainly on the trunk and proximal extremities. The etiology of the disease remains unknown, however some drug-induced cases were reported. The diagnosis of Grover’s disease is based on histopathological examination which usually shows the presence of focal suprabasal acantholysis with dyskeratosis within the epidermis. There are four main histopathological patterns of this disease, including the Darier-like pattern, the Hailey-Hailey-like pattern, pemphigus-like pattern and eczema-like pattern. The main purpose of the study was to describe clinical, dermoscopic and histopathological features of skin lesions in three patients with three different patterns of Grover’s disease. The study was carried out on three patients with observable characteristic dermoscopic features of skin lesions who had been diagnosed with Grover’s disease based on the histopathological examination. In dermoscopy of the first one, yellow-brown polygonal structures with a white “halo” corresponding to focal acantholysis with dyskeratosis and hyperkeratosis were observed. Some areas with enlarged and dilated blood vessels were also seen, as well as regular oval white structures with yellow centres, which might correspond to empty hair follicles with abnormal keratosis in their ostia. In dermoscopy of the second patient, polygonal brown structures with scales corresponding to focal acantholysis with desquamation and dilated irregular blood vessels were observed. In dermoscopy of the third one, yellow-brown polygonal structures covered with scale and haemorrhagic crusts were observed. Dermoscopy is a useful diagnostic tool in patients suspected for Grover’s disease and gives characteristic dermoscopic features of yellow-brown polygonal structures corresponding to irregular acantholysis and disturb keratinization in histopathology. Streszczenie: Choroba Grovera (przemijająca dermatoza z akantolizą) charakteryzuje się obecnością rozsianych swędzących grudek lub zmian pęcherzykowo-grudkowych głównie na tułowiu i proksymalnych częściach kończyn. Etiologia choroby pozostaje nieznana, ale opisywano przypadki indukowane różnymi lekami. Rozpoznanie choroby Grovera opiera się na badaniu histopatologicznym, które wykazuje obecność ogniskowej nieregularnej akantolizy ponad warstwą podstawną naskórka z towarzysząca dyskeratozą lub zaburzonym rogowaceniem keratynocytów powyżej. Wyróżnia się cztery główne wzory histopatologiczne tej choroby: obraz podobny do choroby Dariera, do choroby Hailey-Hailey, do pęcherzycy i obraz wypryskopodobny. Celem badania było opisanie klinicznych, dermoskopowych i histopatologicznych cech zmian skórnych u trzech pacjentów z trzema różnymi odmianami choroby Grovera. Badanie dermoskopowe zmian skórnych przeprowadzono u trzech pacjentów z rozpoznaniem histologicznym choroby Grovera, w celu określenia najbardziej charakterystycznych cech dermoskopowych tej choroby. W badaniu dermoskopowym pierwszego pacjenta stwierdzono obecność żółto-brązowych wielokątnych struktur z białawą obwódką odpowiadających ogniskowej akantolizie z dyskeratozą i hiperkeratozą. Widoczne były również obszary z powiększonymi i poszerzonymi naczyniami krwionośnymi, a także regularne owalne białe struktury z żółtymi środkami, które mogły odpowiadać pustym mieszkom włosowym z nieprawidłowym rogowaceniem w ich lejkach. U drugiego pacjenta dermoskopowo stwierdzono obecność wielokątnych brązowych struktur pokrytych łuską odpowiadających ogniskowej akantolizie z nieprawidłowym rogowaceniem na powierzchni, oraz poszerzone nieregularnie naczynia krwionośne. U trzeciego pacjenta w dermoskopii stwierdzono żółto-brązowe wielokątne struktury pokryte łuską i krwotocznymi strupami. Dermoskopia jest użytecznym narzędziem diagnostycznym u pacjentów podejrzanych o chorobę Grovera i obrazuje charakterystyczne żółto-brązowe, wielokątne struktury odpowiadające nieregularnej akantolizie z nieprawidłowym rogowaceniem w badaniu histopatologicznym

Quality of life of patients after implantation of a pacemaker

Introduction. According to data from 2017 provided by the National Health Fund, nearly 30,000 pacemakers and 10,000 cardioverter-defibrillators have been implanted in Poland so far. Pacemaker implantation alone results in an improvement in the quality of life in approximately 35% of patients. Interest in the subject of quality of life can be seen in researchers from various fields since the middle of the last century. Despite the passing years, the demand for comprehensive research on the quality of life in the group of patients with an implanted pacemaker does not decrease.Purpose of research. The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life of patients after implantation of a pacemaker.Material and methods. The study included 100 patients after implantation of a pacemaker, treated at the SPSK 4 cardiology ward and outpatient clinic in Lublin from January to May 2020. The diagnostic survey method was used, and the WHOQOL-BREF standardized tool was used to collect the research material. The obtained results were compiled in a statistical analysis.Results. It was shown that 64% of patients with implanted pacemakers rated their quality of life as at least good. The result of the self-assessment of health was lower, 41% of respondents scored above the average criterion. The highest results were observed in the domain of the functioning environment, and the lowest in the physical domain.Conclusions. The quality of life of most subjects with an implanted pacemaker is at least at a good level. Self-assessment of patients' health is lower than the overall assessment of the quality of life. In patients with an implanted pacemaker, the quality of life was rated the lowest in the physical domain, and the highest in the aspect of the functioning environment

TLR receptors in laryngeal carcinoma - immunophenotypic, molecular and functional studies.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been shown to play crucial role in the recognition of unicellular pathogens. We have shown the expression of three TLRs on tumor cells of human laryngeal carcinoma by means of immunohistochemistry. In the current study we searched presence of TLR1-10 on protein and molecular level in larynx carcinoma cell lines and the impact of respective TLR ligands on TLR expression. Larynx carcinoma cell lines have been used. Cell were subjected to immunocytochemistry. RNA isolated from the cells was tested by RT-PCR. Cells were cultured in the presence of respective TLR ligands. Cells than were harvested and subjected to flow cytometry, using anti TLR1-10 Moabs. The cells were evaluated of membrane and cytoplasmic cell staining. TLR reactivity varied in individual cell lines. RT-PCR allowed to show mRNA for all TLRs tested. After short-term cell culture each cell line exhibited distinct pattern of expression of TLRs following interaction with respective ligand. Cytoplasmic TLR staining had usually higher MFI value than membrane one, but after culture with ligand it became reversed. TLRs 7 and 9 showed highest expression in the majority of tumor cells tested. In conclusion, larynx carcinoma cell lines exhibit rather universal expression of TLRs, both on protein and molecular level. Culture of TLR expressing tumor cells with ligands points out for potential reactivity of tumor cells with TLR agonists, what may have therapeutic implications

Weld Joints Inspection Using Multisource Data and Image Fusion

The problem of inspecting weld joints is very complex, especially in critical parts of machines and vehicles. The welded joint is typically inspected visually, chemically or using radiography imaging. The flaw detection is a task for specialized personnel who analyze all the data on each stage of the inspection process separately. The inspection is prone to human error, and is labor intensive. In the stages of weld joint visual control geometrical measurements are performed, joint alignment, straightness, deformation, as well as the weld\u27s uniformity. Coloration my show the heat impact zone, and melted parts of the base material. Also during this stage the unwanted cracks, pores and other surface defects can be spotted. On the other side during the X-ray inspection other flaws can be discovered. Pores, cracks, lack of penetration and slag inclusions can be observed. The author’s goal was to develop a multisource data system of easier flaw detection, and possibly inspection process automation. The methods consisted of three image sources: X-ray, laser profilometer, and imaging camera. The proposed approach consists combining spatial information in the acquired data from all sources. A novel approach of data mixing is proposed to benefit from all the information. The signal form the profilometer enables geometrical information extraction. Deformation and alignment error assessment. The radiogram provides information about the hidden flaws. The color image gives information about texture and color of the surface as well as helps in combining multiple sources

Energy-saving Algorithms for the Control of Backbone Networks: A Survey, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2016, nr 2

The rapid growth of energy demand by wired IP networks can be mitigated on hardware and software levels. While upgrading to more efficient transmission media still brings biggest savings, we take a look here at power-saving algorithms that combine the capability of setting networking equipment in arbitrary energy states which, combined with profound knowledge of the network traffic matrix, leads to considerable complex optimization problem formulations. Alternatively, lightweighted heuristic approaches are presented, built on much simpler network model but still capable to perform energy-efficient traffic engineering

Adalimumab – safe and effective therapy for adolescent patient with severe psoriasis and immune thrombocytopenia.

Psoriasis has been linked to several comorbidities, including metabolic syndrome, atopy, and celiac disease. However, the association between immune thrombocytopenia and psoriasis has rarely been described. We report the case of an adolescent with severe psoriasis and concomitant immune thrombocytopenia who obtained remission during treatment with adalimumab. Increased concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α seems to be a pathogenic linkage and therapeutic target for both diseases. </p

Lignite biodegradation under conditions of acidic molasses fermentation

Lignite is difficult to degrade, thus stimulation of the autochthonous lignite microflora and introduction of additional microorganisms are required for lignite decomposition. Here, a packed bed reactor, filled with lignite samples from the Konin region (central Poland) was supplied continuously with M9 medium, supplemented with molasses (a by-product from the sugar industry), for 124 days to stimulate the autochthonous lignite microflora. Acidic fermentation of molasses was observed in the bioreactor. The simultaneous decomposition of lignite occurred under this acidic molasses fermentation condition. Our results show decay of free (non-bound) organic compounds during anaerobic lignite biodegradation. The concentrations of n-alkanes, n-alkanols, n-alkanoic acids, diterpenoids, triterpenoids and steroids present in non-biodegraded samples decreased significantly (some compounds to zero) during biodegradation. Interestingly, other compound classes like phenols, ketones and certain organic compounds increased. We interpret this phenomenon as a gradual decomposition of polymers, lignin and cellulose, present in the lignite. These changes resulted from microbial activity since they were not observed in pure solutions of short-chain fatty acids. The 16SrRNA profiling of the microbial community selected in the bioreactor revealed that the dominant bacteria belonged to the Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, furthermore representatives of 16 other phyla were also found. All the known taxa of lignocellulolytic bacteria were represented in the microbial community. Synergistic relations between bacteria fermenting molasses and bacteria degrading lignite are assumed. The results confirm lignin degradation in acidic medium by bacteria under anaerobic conditions

Comparison of the Physicochemical Properties of Carboxylic and Phosphonic Acid Self-Assembled Monolayers Created on a Ti-6Al-4V Substrate

This study compared the tribological properties in nano- and millinewton load ranges of Ti-6Al-4V surfaces that were modified using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of carboxylic and phosphonic acids. The effectiveness of the creation of SAMs with the use of the liquid phase deposition (LPD) technique was monitored by the contact angle measurement, the surface free energy (SFE) calculation, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements. The obtained results indicated that more stable and well-ordered layers, which were characterized by the lowest values of the coefficient of friction, adhesion, and wear rate, were obtained using phosphonic acid as a surface modifier. Based on the obtained results, it was found that the Ti-6Al-4V alloy modified by phosphonic acid would be the most advantageous for practical applications, especially in micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS)