Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in the course of atherosclerosis are one of the most critical public health problems in the world. Endothelial cells synthesize numerous biologically active substances involved in regulating the functions of the cardiovascular system. Endothelial dysfunction is an essential element in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Thus, the assessment of endothelial function in people without overt CVD allows for a more accurate estimate of the risk of developing CVD and cardiovascular events. The assessment of endothelial function is primarily used in scientific research, and to a lesser extent in clinical practice. Among the tools for assessing endothelial function, we can distinguish biochemical and physical methods, while physical methods can be divided into invasive and non-invasive methods. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is based on the ultrasound assessment of changes in the diameter of the brachial artery as a result of increased blood flow. FMD is a non-invasive, safe, and repeatable test, but it must be performed by qualified and experienced medical staff. The purpose of this paper is to present the literature review results on the assessment of endothelial function using the FMD method, including its methodology, applications in clinical practice and research, limitations, and future perspectives.

Background and Objectives: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a disease with a complex pathophysiology involving immune-mediated reactions that lead to skin lesions that are typically localized and recurrent. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, attempting to assess the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on diseases caused by complex immune mechanisms has become important. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the course of AD, including immunosuppressive therapy, in patients with a severe form of the disease. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 21 adults aged 18 to 52 years with AD diagnosed with COVID-19, including patients requiring hospitalization, was performed. Results: During SARS-CoV-2 infection, temporary exacerbation of skin lesions and/or skin pruritus was observed in nine (43%) patients but without the need for systemic treatment intervention. Patients with severe AD who received immunosuppressive therapy most often manifested mild exacerbation of skin symptoms. The skin condition improved in three patients. There was no significant effect of disease severity on the risk of severe COVID-19 (HR = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.32–0.65). Conclusions: The course of atopic dermatitis during SARS-CoV-2 infection may be different from the severity of its symptoms due to the lack of a significant influence. The immunosuppressive treatment used in patients with severe AD did not significantly affect the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background and objectives: Biological treatment is an important and effective therapy for psoriasis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it remains unclear whether this type of therapy affects the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of the study was to observe patients with psoriasis undergoing biological or other systemic treatment in relation to the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the course of psoriasis and the COVID-19 disease itself. Materials and methods: A one-year observational study included 57 patients with diagnosed psoriasis who qualified for biological treatment and a group of 68 similar patients who were administered a different systemic treatment. Patients were analyzed monthly for psoriasis (including Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) assessment) and constantly for SARS-CoV-2 infection (telephone contact). Cases of COVID-19 were confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) at the study center. Results: SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by a positive Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test in eight patients (14.0%) with psoriasis on biological therapy. None of the cases in this group required hospitalization for COVID-19. Similar data were obtained in the control group. Specifically, 11 (16%) patients were confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2. These results were statistically comparable (p > 0.05). In the group of patients undergoing biological treatment, six (75%) of eight patients developed an exacerbation of psoriasis during SARS-CoV-2 infection, and similar results were noted in the control group, with eight (72%) patients experiencing an exacerbation of psoriasis. Conclusions: Patients with psoriasis who were administered biological treatment or other systemic therapy may experience a mild course of SARS-CoV-2 infection but might also experience a temporary exacerbation of skin lesions.

Determining the time passing since death, also known as post-mortem interval (PMI), is one of the primary duties of forensic medicine. However, standard methods of PMI estimation only sometimes allow for accurate determination of its value because many internal and external factors influence the estimate's accuracy. In recent years, several studies have reported using molecular biology and genetics methods in PMI estimation. Due to the promising results obtained in both animal and human models, these methods can replace existing techniques in the future and allow PMI to be determined more precisely. The presented narrative review analyzes methods of molecular biology already available and used to estimate PMI, outlines the latest reports on determining PMI using molecular methods, and summarizes research on using RNA, DNA, and other biochemical molecules for PMI estimation. Moreover, the presented review indicates limitations of using molecular methods for molecular PMI estimation that need to be solved before entering forensic practice and underlines prospects for further research in this area.

Background: Allergen immunotherapy remains a widely recognized and widely used method for the treatment of selected allergic diseases. Currently, according to the European Academy Of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) guidelines, venom immunotherapy (VIT) may be considered for patients over 60. Nevertheless, no separate studies have confirmed the efficacy and safety of this therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of VIT against wasp allergens in an ultra-rush protocol for older patients compared to young patients. Methods: Among the 113 patients included in this study, 51 were older than 60 years (Group A), and 62 formed the control “young group” (age range: 18–35 years). All patients were desensitized to wasp venom using the ultra-rush protocol according to Muller and aqueous solutions of vaccines containing wasp venom. A basophil activation test (Basotest, Orpegen Pharma, Germany) and intracutaneous tests with dilutions of wasp allergen and specific IgE to extract wasp venom were performed at the start and after six months of VIT. The safety of VIT was assessed on the basis of the international Mueller scale. Results: One hundred and eleven patients with confirmed wasp allergies completed six months of VIT: 51 participants over 60 years of age (Group A) and 60 young people (Group B). No systemic adverse reactions were observed during the VIT induction phase. However, large local reactions were noted in 17% of older patients and 20% of young patients at a similar level (p > 0.05). During maintenance VIT, two mild grade I systemic reactions were confirmed in young patients. These symptoms resolved spontaneously. There were no such reactions in older patients. The effectiveness of VIT was tested using BAT. There was a statistically significant reduction in CD63 reactivity in 86% of patients in Group A, and a comparable and substantial decrease in 84% of young patients in Group B. According to the BAT test, the mean reductions in the area under the curve (AUC) after six months of VIT were significant (p < 0.05) and comparable between Groups A and B: −6.52 vs. 7.21. Conclusions: VIT against wasp venom is safe and effective in short-term observation, and is comparable to that used for young patients.

Purpose: Asthma is often not adequately treated in individuals over 60 years of age due to atypical symptom presentation, comorbidities that overlap with asthma symptoms, and difficulties with diagnostic testing. The aim of this study was to evaluate asthma control, its phenotypes, accompanying comorbidities and quality of life, as well as treatment patterns, in patients aged 60 years and older. The assessment also covered asthma treatment and control in specific age subgroups. Patients and Methods: A multicenter, cross sectional study of 345 asthma patients over 60 years of age and 410 matched controls without obstructive lung disease was conducted. Spirometry, Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) assessment, bronchodilator reversibility test, and patient-reported outcome data, including Asthma Control Test (ACT), Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), and 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) data were analyzed. Results: Severe asthma was present in 25% (n=87) of the study population. A total of 48% (n= 165) of all asthma patients presented the T2 phenotype. The FOT proved useful where spirometry was limited. The asthma patients had significantly higher rates of depression (p=0.02), cognitive decline (p=0.02), and multimorbidity (p=0.01) than the non-asthma patients did. The quality-of-life score (AQLQ) was consistently lower in the asthma group: 3.78 ± 0.91 (median ± interquartile range) vs 4.29 ± 1.81 in non-asthma group (p=0.01). In the analysis of subgroups, older patients over 80 years had significantly poorer asthma control, and reduced quality of life in SF-36 questionnaire (55.521 score in younger vs 46.991 in older, for p=0.01). Conclusion: Asthma in older age is often associated with other comorbidities, which can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life and general health. Patients are often undertreated, which results in poorer asthma control, particularly among the oldest patients.