Key Factors in the Complex and Coordinated Network of Skin Keratinization: Their Significance and Involvement in Common Skin Conditions.

The epidermis serves many vital roles, including protecting the body from external influences and healing eventual injuries. It is maintained by an incredibly complex and perfectly coordinated keratinization process. In this process, desquamation is essential for the differentiation of epidermal basal progenitor cells into enucleated corneocytes, which subsequently desquamate through programmed death. Numerous factors control keratinocyte differentiation: epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor-α, keratinocyte growth factor, interleukins IL-1-ß and IL-6, elevated vitamin A levels, and changes in Ca2+ concentration. The backbone of the keratinocyte transformation process from mitotically active basal cells into fully differentiated, enucleated corneocytes is the expression of specific proteins and the creation of a Ca2+ and pH gradient at precise locations within the epidermis. Skin keratinization disorders (histologically characterized predominantly by dyskeratosis, parakeratosis, and hyperkeratosis) may be categorized into three groups: defects in the α-helical rod pattern, defects outside the α-helical rod domain, and disorders of keratin-associated proteins. Understanding the process of keratinization is essential for the pathogenesis of many dermatological diseases because improper desquamation and epidermopoiesis/keratinization (due to genetic mutations of factors or due to immune pathological processes) can lead to various conditions (ichthyoses, palmoplantar keratodermas, psoriasis, pityriasis rubra pilaris, epidermolytic hyperkeratosis, and others).

Positivity of celiac disease-specific antibodies and non-celiac hypersensitivity in psoriasis.

INTRODUCTION: Plaque psoriasis and celiac disease are multisystemic diseases. The association of psoriasis and enteropathy with histological changes similar to celiac disease has already been described, and it has also been found that a gluten-free diet improves psoriatic changes. This study assesses the relationship between celiac disease antibodies and psoriasis. METHODS: The study included 112 participants: 60 with psoriasis in a test group and 52 healthy subjects in a control group. Within the psoriasis group, participants were further divided into two subgroups: one consisting of patients with both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (n = 17) and another comprising patients with psoriasis alone (n = 43). After informed consent was obtained, the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score were evaluated. Laboratory tests included assessment of anti-deaminated gliadin peptide antibodies (DGP), anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA), and anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTG). RESULTS: Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) DGP antibodies were detected more frequently and at higher serum concentrations in patients with psoriasis compared to healthy controls (p = 0.03, p = 0.04, respectively). Similarly, elevated levels of IgG-tTG antibodies (p = 0.003) and IgA-DGP antibodies (p = 0.02) were observed in the same test group. CONCLUSIONS: A relationship between positivity to celiac disease antibodies and psoriasis, particularly with regard to AGA, has been identified. Further studies are required to elucidate the nature, pathophysiology, and significance of these findings.

Meatal Intraurethral Warts Successfully Treated with 5-fluorouracil Cream.

Condyloma acuminatum relatively rarely involves the urethra, and when it does it is usually only in the most distal portion of the urethra. A number of treatments have been described for urethral condylomas. These treatments are extensive and variable, comprising laser treatment, electrosurgery, cryotherapy, and topical application of cytotoxic agents such as 80% trichloroacetic acid, 5-fluorouracil cream (5-FU), podophyllin, podophyllotoxin, and imiquimod. Laser is still considered to be therapy of choice for treatment of intrauretral condylomata. We present the case of a 25-year-old male patient with meatal intraurethral warts who was successfully treated with 5-FU, after many unsuccessful treatment attempts with laser treatment, electrosurgery, cryotherapy, imiquimod, and 80% trichloroacetic acid.