No Relation Between Cognitive Impairment, Physical Disability and Serum Biomarkers in a Cohort of Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

Despite significant efforts, there is still an existing need to identify diagnostic tools that would enable fast and reliable detection of the progressive stage of multiple sclerosis (MS) and help in monitoring the disease course and/or treatment effects. The aim of this prospective study in a group of people with progressive MS was to determine whether changes in the levels of selected serum biomarkers and in cognitive function may predict disease progression, and therefore refine the decision-making process in the evaluation of MS patients. Forty two (42) patients with progressive MS completed all the study procedures; the mean duration of follow-up was 12.

New insight into the role of the pathway NLRP1 and NLRP3 inflammasomes and IL-33 in ultraviolet-induced cutaneous carcinogenesis.

Introduction: Inflammasomes NLRP1 (NLR family pyrin domain containing 1) and NLRP3 are pivotal regulators of the innate immune response, activated by a spectrum of endogenous and exogenous stressors, including ultraviolet radiation (UVR). The precise molecular mechanisms underlying the activation of these inflammasomes remain unclear. Furthermore, the involvement of interleukin-33 (IL-33) in UVR-induced skin carcinogenesis is not well defined.

Pruritus prevalence and characteristics in Care and Treatment Facility and Geriatric Outpatient Clinic patients: a cross-sectional study using a standardized pruritus questionnaires.

Introduction: Chronic pruritus is one of the most common symptoms in geriatric patients. Pathogenesis of pruritus is multifactorial.

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of pruritus in geriatric patients and to characterise pruritus and explore its possible underlying causes.

LED-emitted blue light improves quality of life and reduces fatigue after COVID-19 infection.

Introduction: Despite multiple clinical presentations of long COVID, the most common symptom encountered by the patients is fatigue which significantly impacts daily functioning and quality of life. There are, however, multiple unanswered questions regarding the treatment of fatigue among long COVID patients. Several studies highlighted that repetitive exposure to blue light may alleviate the fatigue in different groups of patients but the studies on the efficacy of blue light therapy in treatment of fatigue in long COVID patients are lacking.

Factors Influencing the Clinical Course of Bullous Pemphigoid among Geriatric Patients: A Pilot Study.

: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune blistering disease affecting mainly elderly patients. Still, little is known about the pathogenesis of pruritus in BP or the factors that affect the clinical course of the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the factors influencing the clinical course of BP among older patients.

Effectiveness and safety of secukinumab in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis - a real life retrospective study.

Introduction: Clinical experience indicates that secukinumab has significant efficacy in the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, demonstrating a rapid onset of action, sustained response, a favourable safety profile, and an improvement of patients' quality of life.

Aim: To analyse the effects of skin lesions, signs and symptoms of arthritis, quality of life and safety of treatment in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis treated with secukinumab.

Material And Methods: The study included 38 subjects, 21 with psoriasis (PV) and 17 with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who received ≥ 1 dose of secukinumab.

More Than Skin Deep - the Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation on Cathepsin K and Progerin Expression in Cultured Dermal Fibroblasts.

Introduction: Photoaging is a premature skin aging developing secondarily to the excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Due to its complexity, an exact mechanism of photoaging has not been found yet; however, recent research has shown two new emerging players in this process - cathepsin K and progerin.

Aim: To evaluate how different wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation (UVA, narrowband UVB and broadband UVB) influence cathepsin K and progerin protein and mRNA expression in dermal cultured fibroblasts.

Double-blind, randomized controlled trial comparing the use of microneedling alone versus chemical peeling alone versus a combination of microneedling and chemical peeling in the treatment of atrophic post-acne scars. An assessment of clinical effectiveness and patients' quality-of-life.

Introduction: Acne vulgaris is a common, chronic disease. One of the most commonly encountered complications of acne is permanent atrophic scarring. Treatment of atrophic scars includes fillers, dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, microneedling and peelings and it is often difficult to treat.

Serum concentration of matrix metalloproteinases and angiogenic factors in patients with venous leg ulcers.

Introduction: Leg ulcers are a frequently observed medical problem affecting 3-5% of the general population over 65 years of age. The most common factor responsible for the development of leg ulcers is chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). It is believed that during the formation of an ulcer there are two processes occurring simultaneously, extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and angiogenesis in which several proteins including matrix metalloproteinases, angiogenic and regulatory factors are engaged.

Prospective 3-month study on the efficacy of UV-free blue light in mild psoriasis vulgaris treatment.

Introduction: Psoriasis is one of the most common chronic skin diseases affecting up to 2% of the general population. In recent years, an important direction for the development of treatment for psoriasis has been the use of blue light emitted by LED lamps.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of blue-light emitting device in psoriasis vulgaris treatment.

Interleukin-18, interleukin-20, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-3) as markers of psoriatic arthritis disease severity and their correlations with biomarkers of inflammation and turnover of joint cartilage.

Introduction: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic, seronegative spondyloarthropathy characterised by joint inflammation and psoriatic skin changes. Recent data indicate that interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin-20 (IL-20) may be involved in the aetiopathogenesis of PsA.

Aim: To evaluate the potential role of IL-18, IL-20, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-3) in the pathogenesis of PsA and their correlations with other markers of inflammation and destruction of joint cartilage, as well as clinical changes.

The influence of tumour necrosis factor α inhibitors treatment - etanercept on serum concentration of biomarkers of inflammation and cartilage turnover in psoriatic arthritis patients.

Introduction: Effective treatment in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients can protect them from severe musculoskeletal complications. For appropriate monitoring of anti-tumour necrosis factor α (anti-TNF-α) treatment in PsA, specific biomarkers are needed.

Aim: To investigate whether biological treatment with anti-TNF-α (etanercept 50 mg once a week subcutaneously) affects the activity of selected mediators of inflammation and destruction of articular cartilage: interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-18 (IL-18), matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 3 (MMP-1, MMP-3), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), human cartilage glycoprotein (YKL-40) in serum of patients with PsA.

Interleukin 22 and 6 serum concentrations decrease under long-term biologic therapy in psoriasis.

Introduction: Psoriasis, affecting approximately 2% of the worldwide population, is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease in which overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines is observed. Most of the available data on the influence of antipsoriatic therapy on the cytokine serum concentration are inconsistent and based on short-term observations.

Aim: To evaluate the influence of long-term biologic therapy with tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) blockers (adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab) and IL-12/23 inhibitor (ustekinumab) on the level of IL-6, IL-22 in the sera of patients with psoriasis.

Serum and synovial fluid concentrations of interleukin-18 and interleukin-20 in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and their correlation with other markers of inflammation and turnover of joint cartilage.

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease, and its aetiology is not entirely known. The aim of the study was to evaluate the involvement of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin-20 (IL-20) in the pathogenesis of knee OA and their correlations with other markers of inflammation and destruction of joint cartilage, as well as clinical and radiological changes.

Material And Methods: The study included 25 patients with knee OA and a control group.

Overexpression of cathepsin K and vascular endothelial growth factor in chronic venous ulcerations.

Introduction: Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a disabling condition affecting about 1% to 3% of the general population. Besides varicose veins, CVD can result also in the formation of severe skin lesions, especially venous ulcerations (VU). The exact mechanism of VU is still unknown.

Knowledge and Awareness of Colorectal Cancer.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy in men and the second most common in women. The disease constitutes a significant civilization and social problem.

The Aim: The aim of the study is to assess the sudy group's awareness and knowledge about CRC, as well as about its diagnostics and treatment.

NLRP1 and NLRP3 inflammasomes as a new approach to skin carcinogenesis.

Inflammasomes are key innate immune system receptors that detect pathogenic endo- and exogenous stressors like microorganisms or ultraviolet radiation (UVR) which activate the highly proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β and interleukin-18. Inflammasomes are not only involved in inflammation, but also in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Due to the dynamic increase in non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC), it has become necessary to determine how UVR, which plays a key role in NMSC development, can regulate the structure and function of inflammasomes.

Ingenol mebutate treatment in actinic keratosis - clinical effectiveness and potential side effects.

Introduction: Actinic keratosis is a common skin disease that occurs in response to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation. This problem affects up to 60% of the population over 40 years of age. Actinic keratosis is considered to be a precancerous lesion leading to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Omalizumab for urticaria treatment in clinical practice: a case series.

Introduction: Omalizumab (Xolair) originally intended to reduce symptoms of moderate to severe asthma uncontrollable with steroids is the first monoclonal antibody approved for treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria in 2014.

Aim: To evaluate response and potential side effects to omalizumab treatment in clinical practice.

Material And Methods: Eleven patients (6 males and 5 females) were recruited into the study.

Alternative activation of hedgehog pathway induced by ultraviolet B radiation: preliminary study.

Background: There is still much ambiguity in studies of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathways and its dysregulation. Some studies concerning the role of the Shh pathway in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) have been conducted, but there is a lack of studies about Shh pathway dysregulation under the influence of ultraviolet (UV)B radiation.

Aim: To evaluate skin expression of Shh, Ptch1, Ptch2, Smo and Gli1 proteins in BCCs with and without the influence of UVB radiation.