The pathogenesis of the immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) is still unknown. The available data shows that interleukin (IL)-17, IL-18, IL-23, regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (CCL 5, RANTES), and interferon (IFN)-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP10) participate in the pathogenesis of IgAV by influencing the recruitment of leukocytes to the site of inflammation. The aim of this study was to analyze the serum concentration of IL-17A, IL-18, IL-23, RANTES, and IP10 in patients with acute IgAV compared to healthy children. Moreover, we wanted to assess the suitability of the levels of tested cytokines to predict the severity of the disease. All children with IgAV hospitalized in our institution between 2012 and 2017 were included in the study. Cytokines levels were determined in a serum sample secured at admission to the hospital. Basic laboratory tests have also been analyzed. IL-17A, IL-18, and IL-23 were significantly higher in whole IgAV group (52.25 pg/ml; 164.1 pg/ml and 700 pg/ml, respectively) than in the control group (27.92 pg/ml; 140.1 pg/ml and 581.5 pg/ml, respectively). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed the largest area under the curve (AUC 0.979, p < 0.001) for the IL-17A with 95.1% sensitivity and 91.7% specificity. There were no significant differences in cytokine levels depending on the severity of the IgAV. Although the serum levels of the IL-17A, IL-18, and IL-23 increase significantly in the acute phase of the IgAV, they cannot be used as indicators of predicting the course of the disease. IL-17A seems to be a good predictor of IgAV occurrences.

Introduction and objective: The skin is the most important external organ, protecting against pathogens, physical and chemical injuries, as well as ultraviolat (UV) radiation. Continuous exposure to UV radiation, allergens, and pollutants, as well as consumption of highly processed foods, all...

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Background: Nutritional supplementation is widely used to support physical and cognitive performance in football. However, evidence on multi-ingredient protocols combining taurine, caffeine, and phosphatidylserine (PS) remains limited in professional athletes. Methods: Eighty-one professional male football players (19–32 years) were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 27): placebo (P), taurine + caffeine (TC; 1500 mg taurine + 200 mg caffeine), and taurine + caffeine + PS (TCP; 1500 mg taurine + 150 mg caffeine + 300 mg PS) in a randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind trial. Supplementation lasted 10 days, with a final dose administered 60 min before a standardized 105 min training session. Reaction time, sprint performance, GPS-derived variables, and technical/tactical indicators were assessed. Data were analyzed using ANOVA with post hoc tests, and pairwise comparisons were additionally adjusted using the Holm–Bonferroni correction due to the exploratory nature of the analysis. Results: Compared with placebo, the TCP group was associated with more favorable physical, cognitive, and selected game-related outcomes (p < 0.05). TCP was associated with higher locomotor performance (η² = 0.13–0.20) and smaller fatigue-related declines in sprint performance (−18% vs. −34%) and speed (−10% vs. −19%) (η² = 0.18–0.22). Reaction time and technical indicators, including passing accuracy (84% vs. 75%) and dribbling success (73% vs. 62%), were also improved. Higher coach-rated tactical performance scores were observed in TCP (η² = 0.19–0.25). Conclusions: A short-term multi-ingredient protocol including taurine, caffeine, and PS may be associated with improved physical, cognitive, and selected game-related outcomes in professional football players. However, due to differences in caffeine dosage between groups, the independent effect of PS cannot be determined. Further double-blind studies are warranted. Given the exploratory nature of the analysis, the multiple assessed outcomes, and the partly subjective coach-rated tactical evaluations, the cognitive and tactical findings should be interpreted cautiously and regarded as preliminary rather than confirmatory evidence.