Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that is accompanied by metabolic disturbances and cardio-metabolic disorders. Fatty acids (FAs) might be a link between psoriasis and its comorbidity. The aim of the study was to evaluate serum concentrations of FAs and to investigate their association with the disease activity, markers of inflammation and possible involvement in psoriatic comorbidity: obesity, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. We measured 14 total serum fatty acids content and composition by gas–liquid chromatography and flame-ionization detector after direct in situ transesterification in 85 patients with exacerbated plaque psoriasis and in 32 healthy controls. FAs were grouped according to their biologic properties to saturated FA (SFA), unsaturated FA (UFA), monounsaturated FA (MUFA), n-3 polyunsaturated FA (n-3 PUFA) and n-6 PUFA. Generally, patients characteristic included: Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Body Mass Index, inflammatory and biochemical markers, lipid profile and presence of psoriatic comorbidity. We have observed highly abnormal FAs pattern in psoriatic patients both with and without obesity compared to the control group. We have demonstrated association of PASI with low levels of circulating DHA, n-3 PUFA (p = 0.044 and p = 0.048, respectively) and high percent of MUFA (p = 0.024) in the non-obese psoriatic group. The SFA/UFA ratio increased with the duration of the disease (p = 0.03) in all psoriatic patients. These findings indicate abnormal FAs profile in psoriasis which may reflect metabolic disturbances and might play a role in the psoriatic comorbidity.

Psoriasis is characterized by hyperproliferation, deregulated differentiation and impaired apoptosis of keratinocytes. Mechanisms of lipid profile disturbances and metabolic syndrome in the psoriatic patients are still not fully understood. Sphingolipids, namely ceramides (CER) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) are signal molecules which can regulate cell growth, apoptosis and immune reactions. The aim of the study was to evaluate circulating CER and S1P levels in plaque-type psoriasis and their associations with the disease activity, inflammatory or metabolic markers and the presence of psoriatic comorbidities. Eighty-five patients with exacerbated plaque-type psoriasis and thirty-two healthy controls were enrolled. Serum CER and S1P concentrations before the treatment were examined. General patient characteristics included: PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index), BMI (Body Mass Index), inflammatory and biochemical markers, lipid profile and presence of psoriatic comorbidities. Total serum concentration of CER was significantly decreased (p = 0.02) and concomitantly S1P levels significantly increased (p = 0.002) in psoriatic patients compared to the healthy control group. Among patients with psoriasis no significant correlations with the disease activity and inflammation markers were observed and only patients with psoriatic arthritis had significantly higher CER total concentration. Serum sphingolipid disturbances in psoriatic patients were observed. Decreased total CER and increased S1P serum levels may reflect their epidermal altered composition and metabolism. Patients with psoriatic arthritis have higher CER levels than psoriasis with skin involvement only. It might provide additional predictive value for psoriatic arthritis and may convey higher risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disease development in this group of patients.

Purpose The aim of this study was to create a model to predict the implantation of transferred embryos based on information contained in the morphokinetic parameters of time-lapse monitoring. Methods An analysis of time-lapse recordings of 410 embryos transferred in 343 cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment was performed. The study was conducted between June 2012 and November 2014. For each embryo, the following data were collected: the duration of time from the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure to further division for two, three, four, and five blastomeres, time intervals between successive divisions, and the level of fragmentation assessed in successive time-points. Principal component analysis (PCA) and logistic regression were used to create a predictive model. Results Based on the results of principal component analysis and logistic regression analysis, a predictive equation was constructed. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) in the size of the created parameter between the implanted group (the median value: Me = −5.18 and quartiles: Q ₁ = −5.61; Q ₃ = −4.79) and the non-implanted group (Me = −5.69, Q ₁ = −6.34; Q ₃ = −5.16) were found. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve constructed for the considered model showed the good quality of this predictive equation. The area under the ROC curve was AUC = 0.70 with a 95 % confidence interval (0.64, 0.75). The presented model has been validated on an independent data set, illustrating that the model is reliable and repeatable. Conclusions Morphokinetic parameters contain information useful in the process of creating pregnancy prediction models. However, embryo quality is not the only factor responsible for implantation, and, thus, the power of prediction of the considered model is not as high as in models for blastocyst formation. Nevertheless, as illustrated by the results of this study, the application of advanced data-mining methods in reproductive medicine allows one to create more accurate and useful models.

Whey protein concentrate (WPC) is characterized by powerful antioxidant properties, but its effect on redox homeostasis of salivary glands of aging organisms is still unknown. In this study, we are the first to evaluate the antioxidant barrier of salivary glands of 14-month Wistar rats fed WPC-80. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) as well as concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH) are estimated in the submandibular and parotid glands of rats administered WPC-80 intragastrically for a period of 7 and 14 days. We demonstrate a significant increase in GSH, GPx and SOD in the salivary glands of rats fed WPC-80 for 14 days and a significant increase in TAS, GPx and SOD in the parotid glands of rats fed WPC-80 for 7 days compared to control rats. The beneficial effects of WPC-80 on salivary glands are also demonstrated by lower TOS and OSI in the parotid glands of rats fed WPC-80 compared to the submandibular glands. In summary, we demonstrate that WPC-80 improves redox homeostasis in salivary glands, particularly in the parotid glands of old rats.

Background: Studies conducted so far have focused mainly on the assessment of IL-6 levels in patients with ruptured brain aneurysms. Carrying out detailed studies in patients with un-ruptured brain aneurysms (UIA) would be extremely important, as it would answer the question of whether IL-6 plays also a role in primary aneurysm formation and growth. Methods: IL-6, S100, NSE, and albumin concentrations in 67 UIA patients and 17 individuals without vascular lesions in the brain were tested using in vitro diagnostic immunoassays according to the manufacturers’ instructions. IL-6 Quotient was calculated by dividing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IL-6 by serum IL-6. Results: We showed that IL-6 Quotient was significantly higher in UIA patients (1.78) compared to the control group (0.87; p< 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that a growth in IL-6 Quotient increases the probability of UIA diagnosis. In UIA patients CSF IL-6 concentration was significantly higher (4.55 pg/ml) compared to the serum concentration (2.39 pg/ml; p< 0.001). In both the study and control group, the blood-brain barrier was intact, thus the CSF-blood gradient of the IL-6 concentration in UIA patients was likely to be the expression of local synthesis of the cytokine within the central nervous system. Patients with multiple brain aneurysms had significantly higher CSF IL-6 levels (5.08 pg/ml) compared to individuals with a single aneurysm (4.14 pg/ml; p=0.0227). Conclusion: This totality of the may suggest IL-6 as a biomarker for UIA formation; however, further studies are needed to unequivocally confirm clinical application of IL-6 concentration evaluation.

Antibiotic overprescription is a worldwide problem. Decisions regarding antibiotic prescription for respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are influenced by medical and non-medical factors. In family medicine practices in Białystok, Poland, family medicine residents directly observed consultations with patients with RTI symptoms. The observing residents completed a questionnaire including patient data, clinical symptoms, diagnosis, any prescribed antibiotic, and assessment of ten patient pressure factors. Of 1546 consultations of patients with RTIs, 54.26 % resulted in antibiotic prescription. Antibiotic prescription was strongly associated with rales (OR 26.90, 95 % CI 9.00–80.40), tonsillar exudates (OR 13.03, 95 % CI 7.10–23.80), and wheezing (OR 14.72, 95 % CI 7.70–28.10). The likelihood of antibiotic prescription was increased by a >7-day disease duration (OR 3.94, 95 % CI 2.80–5.50), purulent nasal discharge (OR 3.87, 95 % CI 2.40–6.10), starting self-medication with antibiotics (OR 4.11, 95 % CI 2.30–7.30), and direct request for antibiotics (OR 1.87, 95 % CI 1.30–2.80). Direct request not to prescribe antibiotics decreased the likelihood of receiving antibiotics (OR 0.34, 95 % CI 0.27–0.55). While clinical signs and symptoms principally impact prescribing decisions, patient factors also contribute. The most influential patient pressure factors were starting self-medication with antibiotics, and directly requesting antibiotic prescription or no antibiotic prescription. Interventions aiming to improve clinical sign and symptom interpretation and to help doctors resist direct patient pressure could be beneficial for reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescribing.