Methods of Quantitative Assessment of the Response of Dilated Skin Blood Vessels to High-Energy Light Treatments.

The techniques of choice used in the treatment of extensive vascular lesions of the face are methods based on high-energy light sources, such as lasers and IPL (intense pulsed light). The techniques commonly employed to detect blood vessel abnormalities in skin primarily rely on semi-quantitative or qualitative scales. The study was conducted on a group of 38 volunteers; a series of three treatments was performed using an IPL source (Lumecca, Inmode, Israel).

Assessment of connective tissue metabolism in patients with head and neck malignancies treated with radiotherapy.

<br><b>Introduction:</b> Despite the use of highly specialized irradiation techniques in the treatment of head and neck tumors, it is still impossible to selectively destroy cancer cells without damaging normal structures, including connective tissue cells.</br> <br><b>Aim:</b> The aim of the study was to analyze the concentration of degradation markers such as collagen type I (carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen; ICTP) and elastin (elastin-derived peptides; EDPs) as well as selected metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9) in patients with head and neck malignancies undergoing radiotherapy.</br> <br><b>Material and methods:</b> The test group consisted of 56 men, who underwent radical or palliative radiotherapy.

Two case studies of the treatment of simple onycholysis with disappearing nail bed caused by trauma by combined pharmacological, orthonyxia and taping methods.

Background: Simple onycholysis is a common complaint after trauma and consists in separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. If untreated, prolonged onycholysis may cause a disappearing nail bed (DNB) that leads to the shortening or narrowing of the nail plate.

Objectives: This study is aimed at discussing possible treatment of chronic simple onycholysis with DNB by combined conservative methods.

Effectiveness of various methods of manual scar therapy.

Background: The skin is a protective barrier of the body against external factors, and its damage leads to a loss of integrity. Normal wound healing results in a correct, flat, bright, and flexible scar. Initial skin damage and patient specific factors in wound healing contribute that many of these scars may progress into widespread or pathologic hypertrophic and keloid scars.

Expression of genes related to inflammation - IL-6, IL-8, and IFN-γ in monitoring ustekinumab therapy: preliminary results.

Introduction: Psoriasis is classified as an inflammatory and autoimmune disease. Changes in the concentration profile of some cytokines, such as interleukin-12 (IL-12), IL-23, and IL-17, play a key role in its pathogenesis. IL-6, IL-8 and interferon- γ (IFN-γ) are also hallmark cytokines in a psoriatic cytokine network.

Ustekinumab therapy changes the transcriptional activity pattern of TGF-β1-3 genes.

Introduction: One of the examples of genes whose expression can be altered by the action of ustekinumab is TGF-β. It is a pleiotropic cytokine whose activity affects psoriatic changes and the state of homeostasis of the whole organism.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of ustekinumab on the transcriptional activity of TGF-β family genes in patients with psoriatic arthritis and to check whether the results obtained can be helpful in monitoring the progress of treatment.

Conservative management of a severe case of onychocryptosis at a podiatric clinic-A case report.

Background: Onychocryptosis, also known as ingrown toenails or ungues incarnati, is a fairly frequent condition, with global prevalence of approximately 20%.

Objectives: This study is aimed at discussing possible conservative management of severe onychocryptosis, with a case report.

Methods: Conservative approach is effective in reducing or even entirely correcting underlying nail deformities.

Analysis of molecular and clinical parameters of 4-year adalimumab therapy in psoriatic patients.

Introdcution: Through interaction with receptors TNFR1 and TNFR2, TNF-α activates a signal path, which exacerbates an inflammatory process, constituting an inseparable element of psoriasis.

Aim: To evaluate changes in the expression of α, during the 4-year-long adalimumab therapy in psoriatic patients, searching for the correlation between molecular and clinical markers. In addition, the role of miRNAs was analysed.

Factors affecting the concentration of soluble tumour necrosis factor-α receptor type I in the blood serum of patients with localized scleroderma.

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess of sTNFαR1 concentration in the serum of patients with localized scleroderma (in comparison with a control group).

Material And Methods: This was a prospective study. The patients with localized scleroderma were divided into two groups: 21 persons treated with PUVA therapy and 20 persons treated with procaine penicillin.

analysis of CpG islands and miRNAs potentially regulating the JAK-STAT signalling pathway.

Introduction: Searching for new therapeutic possibilities constitutes a challenge for modern medicine and an answer to better understanding of molecular mechanisms of pro-inflammatory diseases. The JAK-STAT pathway plays an important role in the inflammatory processes, which is supported by the fact that its inhibitors are used to treat, for instance, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Aim: To determine whether the epigenetic mechanisms - methylation of gene promotion regions and miRNAs may serve as a new therapeutic strategy for JAK-STAT pathway inhibition.

Apoptosis in Autoimmunological Diseases, with Particular Consideration of Molecular Aspects of Psoriasis.

Apoptosis is a natural physiological process involving programmed cell death. Thanks to this process, it is possible to maintain the homeostasis of the body and the immune system. Dysfunctions of this mechanism lead to development of autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis; these diseases are chronic and treatment is extremely difficult.

Features of dermatofibroma in reflectance confocal microscopy.

Background: Dermatofibroma (DF) is a common benign skin lesion in a majority of cases located on the legs or upper limbs. The etiology of DF is still unclear.

Objectives: Reflectance confocal microscopy features of DF were described.

Comprehensive molecular and clinical analysis of adalimumab and etanercept therapeutic potential in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Introduction: Adalimumab and etanercept are drugs used in anti-TNF therapy in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Despite the molecular targeting of these drugs, the loss of pharmacological response to treatment is observed in patients. The development of personalized medicine makes it possible to use not only clinical parameters of disease severity, but also molecular marker systems.

A case of ingrown nail using buckle VHO-Osthold® Perfect as a method of conservative treatment.

Background: Ingrowing Nail is an ailment in the toe area. This problem is observed in 20% of the population, in all age groups, but most often occurs in teenagers and young adults. The process of ingrowing nail stimulates natural defense mechanisms of the body in the form of inflammation and severe pain.

Does adiponectin play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria?

Introduction: Chronic spontaneous urticaria constitutes an interdisciplinary problem and its pathogenesis is still a subject of debate. Overweight and hyperlipidemia are supposed to be related to chronic spontaneous urticaria. Fatty tissue can be the source of adipokines.

Analysis of the clinical response and changes in the expression of TNF-α and its TNFR1 and TNFR2 receptors in patients with psoriasis vulgaris treated with ustekinumab.

Background: Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody that shows the ability to bind to subunit p40, common for interleukin 12 (IL-12) and IL-23, which prevents the activation of the JAK STAT signaling pathway.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of therapy that uses anti-IL-12/23 medicine in patients with psoriasis vulgaris, based on the disease clinical progression indices (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and Body Surface Area (BSA)) and to determine the possibilities of using changes in the expression profiles of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR1) and TNFR2 as molecular markers showing the response to ustekinumab therapy.

Material And Methods: The group under study was composed of 14 patients (10 men and 4 women, aged 49.

mRNA level of ROCK1, RHOA, and LIMK2 as genes associated with apoptosis in evaluation of effectiveness of adalimumab treatment.

Background: Psoriasis is a multifactorial autoimmune disease, which underlies the abnormalities of the apoptotic process. In cases of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, biological treatment is used. This study aimed to determine any changes in the expression of the genes associated with apoptosis in patients with psoriatic arthritis treated with adalimumab and to assess any phenotypic modifications based on changes in dermatological indexes.

Adalimumab changes the expression profile of selected BCL-2 family genes.

Biological drugs are an alternative to treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Adalimumab is a representative of the anti-TNF group. The underlying of this disease is a cellular homeostasis disorder-apoptosis.

Evaluation of changes in expression pattern of oxidative stress genes under the influence of adalimumab.

The psoriasis therapy consists of the inhibition of cytokines involved in inducing and development of this disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in the expression of genes related to the oxidative stress phenomenon in the culture of normal human dermal fibroblasts of Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts (NHDF) exposed to adalimumab. NHDF culture was exposed to adalimumab for 2-, 8-, and 24-hr periods.