Immunomodulatory Effect of Methotrexate Abruptly Controls Keratinocyte Activation in Psoriasis

In psoriatic skin, epidermal keratinocytes (KCs) undergo deregulated inflammatory response that leads to prolonged expression of inflammatory mediators as well as abnormal keratins. Due to immune and genetic factors, KCs get activated and cell balance gets disturbed. This activation is mainly due to deregulated inflammatory response. A vicious cycle of KC-immune response called KC activation cycle leads to psoriasis. In psoriatic skin, epidermal KCs undergo deregulated inflammatory response that leads to prolonged expression of inflammatory mediators as well as abnormal keratins. Methotrexate (MTX) an immunosuppressive agent has been used as a standard drug to treat severe psoriasis. Acanthosis and abnormal terminal differentiation was mainly due to the mutation in epidermal keratins. In turn, disease severity and relapsing of psoriasis are mainly due to the mutation of hyperproliferative keratins. These novel keratin mutations in psoriatic epidermis might be one of the causative factors for psoriasis. MTX strongly regulates the KC activation cycle by deregulated inflammatory markers and maintains normal keratin phenotype on hyperproliferating KC, thereby controlling acanthosis in psoriasis patients

Role of sudarshan kriya and pranayam on lipid profile and blood cell parameters during exam stress: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Yoga is a science practiced in India over thousands of years. It produces constituent physiological changes and has sound scientific basis. Aim: Since exam stress modifies lipid profile and hematological parameters, we conducted an investigation on the effect of sudarshan kriya (SK and P) program on these parameters. Materials and Methods: Blood samples of 43 engineering students were collected at four intervals namely baseline (BL), exam stress (ES), three and six weeks practice of SK and P during exam stress. Lipid profile and hematological parameters were measured at all four intervals. Results: ES elevated total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels. Hematological parameters affected by ES included neutrophil, lymphocytes, platelet count, packed cell volume (PCV) and mean cell volume (MCV). Three and six weeks practice of SK and P reduced the elevated lipid profile, hematological parameters and improved lymphocyte levels. Conclusion: Our study indicates that SK and P practice has the potential to overcome ES by improving lipid profile and hematological parameters