The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on dermatology patients with rare skin diseases.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global health crisis, presenting novel challenges while worsening preexisting difficulties for individuals with rare diseases. Internationally, they have experienced disruptions in their medical care, with a lack of access to essential treatments and diagnostics. We focused on the specific challenges faced by individuals living with rare skin diseases in Albania, a country with limited healthcare infrastructure.

Correction: Dominguez-Meijide et al. Pharmacological Modulators of Tau Aggregation and Spreading. 2020, , 858.

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Real-World Treatment Patterns in Patients With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer in Greece: The PROSPECT Study.

Introduction: Real-world data on management of metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) with novel therapies is sparse. The aim of this study was to capture real-world management strategies in patients with mCRPC who initiated first line (1L) systemic therapy with chemotherapy or novel hormonal agents (NHAs) in Greece and describe the therapeutic sequencing strategy among patients who advanced to 2L and 3L treatment.

Patients And Methods: In this noninterventional, multicentre, retrospective study (PROSPECT), a medical chart review of 149 patients with mCRPC who initiated 1L systemic therapy with chemotherapy or NHAs in 7 major anticancer hospital clinics, from public, academic, and private sectors in Greece was conducted.

Substitution of Met-38 to Ile in γ-synuclein found in two patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis induces aggregation into amyloid.

α-, β-, and γ-Synuclein are intrinsically disordered proteins implicated in physiological processes in the nervous system of vertebrates. α-synuclein (αSyn) is the amyloidogenic protein associated with Parkinson's disease and certain other neurodegenerative disorders. Intensive research has focused on the mechanisms that cause αSyn to form amyloid structures, identifying its NAC region as being necessary and sufficient for amyloid assembly.

A 5-year single-center study about onychomycosis with a focus on Aspergillus spp. in Albania.

Background: Onychomycosis is a common nail infection caused by dermatophytes, nondermatophytes molds (NDM), and yeasts. The prevalence of Aspergillus spp. is increasing worldwide.

miR-101a-3p Impairs Synaptic Plasticity and Contributes to Synucleinopathy.

Background: Synucleinopathies are disorders characterized by the abnormal accumulation of α-synuclein (aSyn). Synaptic compromise is observed in synucleinopathies parallel to aSyn aggregation and is accompanied by transcript deregulation.

Objective: We sought to identify microRNAs associated with synaptic processes that may contribute to synaptic dysfunction and degeneration in synucleinopathies.

The small aromatic compound SynuClean-D inhibits the aggregation and seeded polymerization of multiple α-synuclein strains.

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, as well as the accumulation of intraneuronal proteinaceous inclusions known as Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites. The major protein component of Lewy inclusions is the intrinsically disordered protein α-synuclein (α-Syn), which can adopt diverse amyloid structures. Different conformational strains of α-Syn have been proposed to be related to the onset of distinct synucleinopathies; however, how specific amyloid fibrils cause distinctive pathological traits is not clear.

α-Synuclein phosphorylation at serine 129 occurs after initial protein deposition and inhibits seeded fibril formation and toxicity.

α-Synuclein (α-syn) phosphorylation at serine 129 (pS129–α-syn) is substantially increased in Lewy body disease, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). However, the pathogenic relevance of pS129–α-syn remains controversial, so we sought to identify when pS129 modification occurs during α-syn aggregation and its role in initiation, progression and cellular toxicity of disease. Using diverse aggregation assays, including real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) on brain homogenates from PD and DLB cases, we demonstrated that pS129–α-syn inhibits α-syn fibril formation and seeded aggregation.

Glycation modulates alpha-synuclein fibrillization kinetics: A sweet spot for inhibition.

Glycation is a nonenzymatic posttranslational modification (PTM) known to be increased in the brains of hyperglycemic patients. Alpha-synuclein (αSN), a central player in the etiology of Parkinson's disease, can be glycated at lysine residues, thereby reducing αSN fibril formation in vitro and modulating αSN aggregation in cells. However, the molecular basis for these effects is unclear.

Endogenous Levels of Alpha-Synuclein Modulate Seeding and Aggregation in Cultured Cells.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of misfolded alpha-synuclein in intraneuronal inclusions known as Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites. Multiple studies strongly implicate the levels of alpha-synuclein as a major risk factor for the onset and progression of Parkinson's disease. Alpha-synuclein pathology spreads progressively throughout interconnected brain regions but the precise molecular mechanisms underlying the seeding of alpha-synuclein aggregation are still unclear.

Doxycycline inhibits α-synuclein-associated pathologies in vitro and in vivo.

Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the misfolding and aggregation of alpha-synuclein (aSyn). Doxycycline, a tetracyclic antibiotic shows neuroprotective effects, initially proposed to be due to its anti-inflammatory properties. More recently, an additional mechanism by which doxycycline may exert its neuroprotective effects has been proposed as it has been shown that it inhibits amyloid aggregation.

Pharmacological Modulators of Tau Aggregation and Spreading.

Tauopathies are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the deposition of aggregates composed of abnormal tau protein in the brain. Additionally, misfolded forms of tau can propagate from cell to cell and throughout the brain. This process is thought to lead to the templated misfolding of the native forms of tau, and thereby, to the formation of newer toxic aggregates, thereby propagating the disease.

Are military personnel at a more risk for skin cancers?

NMSC is the most common cancer in countries with a largely fair skin phenotype population and moderate sun exposure. Assessing risk factors in the military personnel. Comparing the risk factors in this occupational group to the general population.

Effects of pharmacological modulators of α-synuclein and tau aggregation and internalization.

Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are common neurodegenerative disorders of the elderly and, therefore, affect a growing number of patients worldwide. Both diseases share, as a common hallmark, the accumulation of characteristic protein aggregates, known as Lewy bodies (LB) in PD, and neurofibrillary tangles in AD. LBs are primarily composed of misfolded α-synuclein (aSyn), and neurofibrillary tangles are primarily composed of tau protein.

Efficacy of acne vulgaris treatment protocols according to its clinical forms.

To compare results of different treatment regimens based on stratification of acne to prescribe the right treatment protocol according to clinical form and grade of acne. A transversal, cohort study conducted in 230 patients with acne vulgaris. Patients were divided into three groups according to acne severity and the results of each protocol determined in 0, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18 and 24 weeks.

Treatment-seeking behavior, knowledge and beliefs about acne vulgaris among adolescents: A cross-sectional study in high school students in Tirana, Albania.

Acne vulgaris is a common adolescents' disorder. Nevertheless, there is lack of knowledge about acne among adolescents. To evaluate the adolescents' knowledge and beliefs about acne, to investigate help-seeking behavior and treatment preferences.

Therapeutic considerations and clinical characteristics of a sample of adolescent patients with acne vulgaris in Tirana, Albania: A cross-sectional study.

Acne vulgaris is a common adolescent disorder but the data related to acne vulgaris is insufficient in Albania. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiologic features of acne vulgaris and to identify lifestyle and constitutional factors in formulating a proper management protocol. A cross-sectional study conducted on a representative sample of 2036 adolescents from 10 high schools located in Tirana.

A rare case of granulomatous Wegener with multiple pyoderma gangrenosum-like ulcers.

Wegener's granulomatosis, is a rare form of systemic vasculitis characterized by necrotic granulomas around the blood vessels. We report a case of a healthy 43-year-old man presented with multiple ulcerated lesions in head and all over the body, that has appeared spontaneously. It was characterized by a giant deep ulceration covered by thick purulent, in size from 3 to 4 cm, deep; sub febrile temperature, and minimal pain associated.

Synucleinopathies: Where we are and where we need to go.

Synucleinopathies are a group of disorders characterized by the accumulation of inclusions rich in the a-synuclein (aSyn) protein. This group of disorders includes Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), multiple systems atrophy, and pure autonomic failure (PAF). In addition, genetic alterations (point mutations and multiplications) in the gene encoding for aSyn (SNCA) are associated with familial forms of Parkinson's disease, the most common synucleinopathy.

Spreading of α-Synuclein and Tau: A Systematic Comparison of the Mechanisms Involved.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are age-associated neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the misfolding and aggregation of alpha-synuclein (aSyn) and tau, respectively. The coexistence of aSyn and tau aggregates suggests a strong overlap between tauopathies and synucleinopathies. Interestingly, misfolded forms of aSyn and tau can propagate from cell to cell, and throughout the brain, thereby templating the misfolding of native forms of the proteins.

Efficacy of biologic therapies in psoriasis vulgaris.

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated skin disease that also has systemic manifestations. Biologic preparates: Adalimumab, Etanercept, and Infliximab are licensed for psoriasis vulgaris treatment in Albania. To compare the efficacy of biologic therapies used for psoriasis based in our experience.

Paucisymptomatic pulmonary and right ear tuberculosis in young woman suffering from anorexia and bulimia nervosa.

Nowadays tuberculosis has become a reemerging infectious disease due to the many forms of immunodeficiency. Patients with eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia are a susceptible group due to the immune impairment correlated with severe malnutrition and their prevalence and incidence is growing. We describe the case of a 31-year-old woman, with long-standing history of anorexia nervosa and bulimia, diagnosed with advanced pulmonary tuberculosis.

Evaluation of a cardiac sarcoma with CT multislice contrast-enhanced and 18FDG-PET/TC.

We present the case of an adult male who arrived to our emergency room with progressive dyspnea that had been ongoing for 2 months. During the radiological investigation, we found a large intracardiac mass, which invaded the pericardium, pulmonary trunk, pulmonary arteries, and left ventricle. Studies done with the 18FDG-PET/CT scan helped us to determine the malignant nature of the mass and to suspect the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma.