Interleukin-18 levels in the plasma of psoriatic patients correlate with the extent of skin lesions and the PASI score.

Interleukin-18 is a cytokine with a possible role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. We examined subpopulations of peripheral blood lymphocytes and their expression of activation markers and correlated this with plasma levels of IL-18 and clinical disease severity in patients with psoriasis. We included 12 patients with psoriasis who had a PASI score from 15 to 48 and compared them to controls.

Does a correlation between transaminase activity and the size of the liver in psoriatic children exist?

Psoriasis is a systemic disease. On the basis of the literature it has been stated that there is a possibility that a disease which is going on in the skin may be reflected by the increase in the activity of the hepatic cell. This activity was estimated by the McLaghan units, concentration of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases and morphometric measurements of the liver in 3 oblong dimensions.

Interleukin-18 serum concentration in patients with psoriasis triggered by infection.

The blood serum concentrations of IL-18 and the subpopulation of blood lymphocytes in peripheral blood were investigated in 14 patients with psoriasis preceded by a bacterial infection. The IL-18 concentrations were measured with the ELISA method, and the lymphocyte subpopulation--by flow cytometry. The elevated IL-18 concentrations in blood serum were observed; however, the increase was statistically insignificant in the group of psoriatic patients in comparison with the control (p > 0.

Lipid and hormone profile in psoriatic females.

The serum concentrations of sex hormones in appropriate days of the menstrual cycle, and of lipids in 15 ovulating women, were measured. The psoriatic patients were compared with a control group of healthy subjects matched for age, sex and body mass index (BMI). In psoriatic patients, the levels of measured hormones were lower than in the controls, with the exception of LH concentrations, which were increased but in a statistically insignificant way.

Plasma activity of interleukin-6 and some acute phase proteins in severe drug-induced skin adverse reactions.

Plasma concentrations of Interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) and alpha-2 macroglobulin (alpha-2 MG) were examined in 9 patients with severe drug-induced cutaneous reactions (3 patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis and 6 patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome). The activity of selected protein was measured using the immunoenzymatic ELISA method: a) in the acute stage of disease, before the treatment was applied and b) after clearing of skin lesions due to effective treatment. In the acute stage of the disease considerably increased plasma levels of IL-6 (p < 0.

CD45RO and CD45RA cells in peripheral blood in psoriatic patients preceded by an infection.

A group of 28 psoriatic patients was examined before a topical treatment and afterwards. Samples of peripheral blood were obtained and analysed in a flow cytometry with respect to subpopulation of lymphocytes with a particular care paid to percentage and expression of CD45RO and CD45RA cells. The received results were compared with those from the group of 22 healthy controls.

Expression of selected T-cell antigens in the skin infiltration in primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas.

Skin biopsy specimens obtained from 16 patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) were examined immunohistochemically to assess phenotype of T-cells. Cases of benign chronic skin disorders (BCD) were included in control group. Examination of skin biopsies obtained from patients with MF revealed aberrant immunophenotypes of T-cells (loss of one or more of T-cell markers CD7, CD5, CD8, and rarely CD3).

Activity of serum lipase [EC 3.1.1.3] and the diversity of serum lipid profile in psoriasis.

Background: In the course of psoriasis the loss of scales from the skin surface is observed. This may be related to lipid disorders in epidermis and in blood serum. The aim of the study was to find out if serum lipid profile disturbances occur in psoriatic patients.

The peripheral blood lymphocyte pattern in psoriasis preceded by an infection.

Background: There is a great deal of information to suggest that activated T cells play a major role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Less is known about the possible influence of a trigger bacterial antigen on circulating blood cells. The purpose of our study was to analyze the quantity and subpopulations of activated lymphocytes in peripheral blood in patients with psoriasis preceded by an infection and in a control group.

[Effectiveness of a micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) in the healing process of lower limb ulcers. An open multicentre study, controlled and randomized].

Objective: To determine the increase in healing rate of venous ulcer in patients receiving a micronised purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) as supplementation to standard local care.

Design: A randomised, open, controlled, multicentre study.

Setting: Departments of Dermatology and University Outpatients Clinics.

Is there any correlation between the total number of neutrophils in plasma and concentration of interleukin-8 in psoriatic patients?

Introduction: Interleukin-8 is a chemotactic agent for neutrophils which causes their simultaneous activation. This cytokine of the chemokines family contributes considerably to the processes observed in the psoriatic epidermis with the participation of neutrophils.

Material And Methods: The level of IL-8 in plasma of psoriatic patients during the period of acute and chronic relapses, the number of neutrophils in blood, and the correlation between these parameters were analysed.

Postheparin serum lipolytic activity in psoriatic males.

Introduction: As numerous papers have presented many disturbances of blood lipid composition and changes in lipolytic enzyme activity, it was considered appropriate to investigate the postheparin lipolytic activity in serum of psoriatic males. The course of serum lipolytic process provoked by intravenous application of heparin was observed by measuring the concentration of the major substrates and products: triglycerides (TG), free fatty acids (FFA) and glycerol (G) before intravenous bolus of heparin 10 units per 1 kg b.w.

Changes in the digestive system in patients suffering from psoriasis.

Literature published in the recent years provides more evidence for psoriasis being a disease which involves the whole organism. In the course of the disease not only the skin, but also numerous cells and internal organs are affected (1, 2, 3, 6-12, 15, 17, 20). Despite long effort of many research teams, the etiopathogenesis of the disease has remained unknown.

[Levels of LDL,HDL and total phospholipids in blood serum of male patients with psoriasis].

The levels of LDL and HDL phospholipids as well as concentrations of total phospholipids were determined in the blood serum of 38 patients with generalized form of psoriasis (PG) and in 35 healthy volunteers of the control group (C). Patients with psoriasis were divided into two groups according to age at the onset of the disease. Group I (PG I, No = 11) were patients in whom the onset of psoriasis was observed before the age of 14.

Serum level of sELAM-1 in psoriatic patients correlates with disease activity.

Background: Endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1) acts as an adhesion ligand for neutrophils and monocytes and the expression of this molecule on the vascular endothelium may reflect its ability to recruit neutrophils from circulation. The next step is the transendothelial migration of neutrophils into lesional psoriatic skin. ELAM-1 may also exist in a soluble form.