Psoriasis is a common dermatosis which affects the patient’s skin and general well-being because of its link to diseases such as depression, kidney disease and metabolic syndrome. Pathogenesis remains unknown; however, genetic, environmental and immunological factors seem to play a role in the development of the disease. Due to a lack of complete understanding of the psoriasis pathology, effective treatment is yet to be developed. The kynurenine pathway is one of the ways amino acid tryptophan is metabolised. In comorbidities typical for psoriasis such as chronic kidney disease, depression and atherosclerotic alterations in the activation of the kynurenine pathway were observed, which were mainly characterised by higher activity compared to that in healthy individuals. However, the kynurenine pathway has not been thoroughly studied among patients with psoriasis even though increased levels of l-kynurenine, one of the enzymes in the kynurenine pathway, were found in psoriatic skin lesions. Given the unknown pathogenesis of the disease, this finding seems to be a potential new field of study and shows a possible link between psoriasis and its comorbidities that could also lead to novel effective treatment for this chronic condition.

Introduction During the COVID-19 pandemic health care systems worldwide rapidly implemented telemedicine solutions in order to avoid spreading the coronavirus among doctors and patients. Aim To analyse the knowledge, usage, and attitude towards telemedicine among patients, dermatologists,...

Psoriasis is a systemic disease affecting 2–3% of the general population. Tryptophan (TRP) is an amino acid metabolized in the kynurenine pathway (KP). The aim of this study was to assess the kynurenine pathway’s metabolites in serum and urine of psoriatic patients and explore the possible interplay with the disease’s pathogenesis and its comorbidities. The study involved 60 patients with plaque psoriasis and 30 healthy volunteers matched for gender, age, and BMI. Serum and urine samples were taken from the participants and tested for TRP, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), 2,3-tryptophan dioxygenase (TDO), kynurenine (KYN), kynurenic acid (KYNA), quinolinic acid (QUIN), and numerous laboratory parameters. Correlations between the metabolites’ levels and clinical, laboratory parameters and depression occurrence were statistically evaluated. Concentrations of tryptophan, kynurenic acid, and quinolinic acid in serum and urine were significantly higher among patients with psoriasis (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, p < 0.05 and p < 0.05 and p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). A significant stimulation of the kynurenine pathway in serum and urine of patients with psoriasis suggests its role in its pathogenesis and interplay between chronic inflammation or comorbidities. Further research is needed to discover whether the increase in KP metabolites is an indicator of inflammation or a compensatory mechanism in psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a systemic disease that is linked to cardiometabolic complications. Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) exerts anti-atherogenic properties. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is related to heart failure and atherosclerosis. We aimed to evaluate the protein levels in psoriatic patients and explore possible relations with disease activity, metaflammation parameters and systemic treatment. Thirty-three patients with plaque-type psoriasis and eleven healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were collected before and after three months of therapy with acitretin or methotrexate. Serum proteins levels were evaluated using Bio-Plex 200 System. The mean serum pentraxin 3 level was significantly higher in patients with psoriasis, compared to controls (p < 0.01). Significant negative correlations between PTX3 with triglycerides in overweight patients, with glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides in obese patients, and with cholesterol and triglycerides in severe psoriatics were noted (all p < 0.05). After the treatment, PTX3 significantly decreased (p < 0.05). The mean serum PON1 in psoriatic patients did not differ, compared to the controls (p > 0.05). In psoriatics of normal weight, PON1 correlated negatively with liver enzymes activity (p < 0.05). PTX3 might exert a protective role in terms of cardiometabolic disorders development, especially in overweight and obese or most severe psoriatics. PON1 could serve as an indicator of the liver disorders in psoriasis.

Introduction: Psoriasis is an autoimmune systemic disease of not entirely understood pathogenesis. It remains a significant therapeutic challenge and, due to its various comorbidities, has a remarkable detrimental effect on patients’ wellbeing. Semaphorins (Sema) are a group of transmembrane, cell surface-attached and secretory proteins that might play an important role in psoriasis due to their presence on keratinocytes and the ability to stimulate the proinflammatory cytokine production. Aims: The study aimed to assess the concentration of Sema3A, Sema3E, Sema4A, Sema4D and Sema7A in serum samples of psoriatic patients and explore the correlation with disease activity and clinical and metabolic status. Materials and Methods: The study involved 60 patients with plaque psoriasis and 30 healthy volunteers matched for gender, age, and BMI. Results: The mean serum Sema3A, Sema3E and Sema4D levels were significantly higher in patients with psoriasis than controls (p < 0.01, p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively). Contrarily, Sema4A and Sema7A were significantly lower (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05 respectively). Significant positive correlation between Sema3A and UREA was noted. Sema3A levels were significantly higher in moderately ill and overweight patients (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, respectively) and in patients with longer-lasting psoriasis and male patients compared to controls (both p < 0.05). Sema3E significantly negatively correlated with HDL and glucose levels. Sema4A was significantly lower in moderately and severe psoriatic patients (p < 0.0001, p < 0.01, respectively). Sema7A was significantly higher in moderately ill and overweight patients (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, respectively) and significantly lower in male patients and in those with longer lasting disease than in controls. None of the semaphorins correlated with psoriasis severity, total BMI, psoriasis duration and age. Conclusions: Psoriatic patients exhibited distinct alterations in circulating semaphorins, with significantly increased serum Sema3A, Sema3E and Sema4D, and reduced Sema4A and Sema7A compared with healthy subjects. Selected semaphorins demonstrated associations with metabolic parameters and patient characteristics, although none can serve as marker of disease severity. The findings indicate that semaphorins may reflect psoriasis-related systemic disturbances, but further studies are required to explore their potential with disease-associated metabolic or clinical profiles.

Introduction: Urticaria is a heterogeneous disease which affects nearly 1 in 5 individuals in their lifetime and significantly worsens the quality of life. The aim of this study is a five-year retrospective analysis of epidemiological and clinical aspects of patients hospitalized for urticarial. Material and methods: Analysis of medical records of patients hospitalized for urticaria at the department of dermatology. The clinical and epidemiological data were analysed and compared to a control group composed of 137 healthy individuals’ body mass index (BMI) and sex-matched. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test, a statistically significant difference was at p < 0.05. Results: In the analysed period 137 patients were hospitalized for urticaria, 93 females (68%) and 44 males (32%), with mean age 48.53. Thirty-eight per cent of patients have been previously diagnosed with an allergy. Over 60% of patients (60 women, 18 men) suffered from acute and 38% from chronic urticaria. A causal factor was identified in 62% of all cases, the most common were drugs (48%). Urticaria patients had significantly higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophils and glucose than controls (all p < 0.05). The patients were treated with antihistamines (94%), glucocorticosteroids (81%), and one patient was classified for omalizumab treatment. Conclusions: Urticaria still poses a challenge as the cause often remains unknown which highlights the need for novel diagnostic methods and interdisciplinary treatment. Recommended treatment includes antihistamines but among patients with chronic, treatment-resistant urticaria omalizumab should be considered. Introduction: Urticaria is a heterogeneous disease which affects nearly 1 in 5 individuals in their lifetime and significantly worsens the quality of life. The aim of this study is a five-year retrospective analysis of epidemiological and clinical aspects of patients hospitalized for urticarial. Material and methods: Analysis of medical records of patients hospitalized for urticaria at the department of dermatology. The clinical and epidemiological data were analysed and compared to a control group composed of 137 healthy individuals’ body mass index (BMI) and sex-matched. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test, a statistically significant difference was at p < 0.05. Results: In the analysed period 137 patients were hospitalized for urticaria, 93 females (68%) and 44 males (32%), with mean age 48.53. Thirty-eight per cent of patients have been previously diagnosed with an allergy. Over 60% of patients (60 women, 18 men) suffered from acute and 38% from chronic urticaria. A causal factor was identified in 62% of all cases, the most common were drugs (48%). Urticaria patients had significantly higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophils and glucose than controls (all p < 0.05). The patients were treated with antihistamines (94%), glucocorticosteroids (81%), and one patient was classified for omalizumab treatment. Conclusions: Urticaria still poses a challenge as the cause often remains unknown which highlights the need for novel diagnostic methods and interdisciplinary treatment. Recommended treatment includes antihistamines but among patients with chronic, treatment-resistant urticaria omalizumab should be considered.