Structural and biophysical characteristics of human skin in maintaining proper epidermal barrier function.

The complex structure of human skin and its physicochemical properties turn it into an efficient outermost defence line against exogenous factors, and help maintain homeostasis of the human body. This role is played by the epidermal barrier with its major part - stratum corneum. The condition of the epidermal barrier depends on individual and environmental factors. The most important biophysical parameters characterizing the status of this barrier are the skin pH, epidermal hydration, transepidermal water loss and sebum excretion. The knowledge of biophysical skin processes may be useful for the implementation of prophylactic actions whose aim is to restore the barrier function.

Selenium and Arsenic Levels, Prevalence of Common Variants of Genes Involved in Their Metabolism, and Psoriasis Disease.

Using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer we measured the concentration of selenium and arsenic in serum and blood samples from 336 unselected psoriatic patients and 336 matched healthy controls to evaluate any associations with the clinical course of the disease. We genotyped 336 patients and 903 matched controls to evaluate the prevalence of SOD2 (rs4880), CAT (rs1001179), GPX1 (rs1050450), and DMGDH (rs921943) polymorphisms using Taqman assays. The mean selenium (Se) level in serum was 74 µg/L in patients and 86 µg/L in controls (p < 0.001). The mean Se level in blood was 95 µg/L in patients and 111 µg/L in controls (p < 0.001). Psoriasis risk was greatest among participants with the lowest serum (<68.75 µg/L, OR: 8.30; p < 0.001) and lowest blood concentrations of Se (<88.04 µg/L, OR: 10.3; p < 0.001). Similar results were observed in subgroups of males and females. We found an inverse correlation of selenium levels with PASI, NAPSI, and BSA scores. There was no significant difference in the distribution of the CAT, GPX1, DMGDH, and SOD2 polymorphisms. Among carriers of rs4880, rs1001179, and rs921943 polymorphisms, blood selenium levels were significantly lower. The mean arsenic level in serum was 0.79 µg/L in patients and 0.7 µg/L in controls (p = 0.2). The mean concentration in blood was 1.1 µg/L in patients and 1.3 µg/L in controls (p < 0.001). In conclusion, we found that lower selenium levels, in blood and serum, are associated with psoriasis risk and its more severe course. Future prospective studies should focus on the optimalisation of the concentration of this trace element not only for prophylactic guidance but also to support the treatment of this disease.

Psoriasis vulgaris and familial cancer risk- a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Follow-up studies of psoriasis patients indicate an increased risk in the occurrence of malignancies at different sites of origin. Population stratification and/or complicated interpretation of evidence on the risk of cancer (due to the small number of patients included in most series) lead to inconsistent data. Herein we investigated the risk of occurrence of malignancies at different sites of origin in a series of 517 psoriasis patients and their 1st degree relatives. METHODS: We evaluated the tumour spectrum as well as the age of the patient at diagnosis of cancers in psoriasis families along with the observed and expected frequencies of malignancies. The distribution of 17 common mutations/polymorphisms in 10 known cancer susceptibility genes among psoriasis patients and 517 matched healthy controls were examined. No such study has been published to date. RESULTS: The statistical comparison of the observed and expected frequencies of cancers revealed a higher than expected occurrence of Hodgkin's lymphoma among males in psoriasis families when compared to the general population (OR=1.8, 95%CI 1.6-2.1, p=0.002). There was a non-significant tendency towards a younger age of onset and overrepresentation of laryngeal cancer and leukaemia in psoriasis families. We found no major differences in the distribution of cancer susceptibility mutations among our cases and the healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest an increased risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma for male members of psoriasis families. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings and to evaluate whether or not the application of cancer surveillance protocols for Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukaemia and laryngeal cancer are justified in these families.

Serum Iron Level and 10-Year Survival after Melanoma.

The malignant melanoma of the skin is a very aggressive tumor. The determination of prognostic biomarkers is important for the early detection of recurrence, and for the enrollment of the patients into different treatment regimens. An evaluation of a cohort of 375 Polish MM cases revealed that a low serum iron concentration (i.e., below 893.05 µg/L) was associated with increased mortality. The study group was followed up from the date of melanoma diagnosis until death or 2020. Patients were assigned to one of four categories in accordance with increasing iron level (I-IV quarters). Patients with a low iron level of below 893.05 µg/L (I quarter) had a significantly lower survival rate when compared to the subgroup with the highest iron level, above 1348.63 µg/L (IV quarter; HR = 4.12; p = 0.028 and HR = 4.66; p = 0.019 for uni- and multivariable models, respectively). Multivariable analysis took into account the following factors: iron levels, Clark, sex, and age. Future studies based upon the examination of a larger number of cases should be conducted to confirm our findings.

Serum Selenium Level and 10-Year Survival after Melanoma.

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive human malignancies. The determination of prognostic biomarkers is important for the early detection of recurrence and for the enrollment of the patients into different treatment regimens. Herein, we report the 10-year survival of 375 melanoma patients depending on their serum selenium levels. The study group was followed up from the date of melanoma diagnosis until death or 2020. Patients were assigned to one of four categories, in accordance with the increasing selenium level (I-IV quartiles). The subgroup with low selenium levels had a significant lower survival rate in relation to patients with high selenium levels, HR = 8.42; p = 0.005 and HR = 5.83; p = 0.02, for uni- and multivariable models, respectively. In the univariable analysis, we also confirmed the association between Breslow thickness, Clark classification and age at melanoma prognosis. In conclusion, a low serum selenium level was associated with an increased mortality rate in the 10 years following melanoma diagnosis. Future studies in other geographic regions with low soil selenium levels should be conducted to confirm our findings.

Constitutional variants in POT1, TERF2IP, and ACD genes in patients with melanoma in the Polish population.

Evaluation of the prevalence of POT1, ACD, and TERF2IP mutations among Polish melanoma patients. A cohort of 60 patients from melanoma-prone families, 1500 unselected cases and 1500 controls were genotyped. Methodology included Sanger sequencing, in-silico software predilection, and TaqMan assays. We identified three nonsynonymous variants: POT1 c.903 G>T; TERF2IP c.970 A>G; and ACD c.1544 T>C and a splice site variant ACD c.645 G>A. The c.903 G>T was predicted to be pathogenic according to PolyPhen-2, benign according to Mutation Taster, PROVEAN, AGVGD, and SIFT. The c.645 G>A was defined as disease caused by Mutation Taster and Human Splicing Finder and as variant of unknown significance by ClinVar. The other detected variants were described as benign. The c.903 G>T variant was present in two unselected cases and one control [P = 0.57, odds ratio (OR) = 2.00]; the c.645 G>A variant was not detected among the unselected cases and the controls; the c.970 A>G variant was present in 110 cases and 133 controls (P = 0.14, OR = 0.81); the c.1544 T>C variant was present in 687 cases and 642 controls (P = 0.11, OR = 1.07). We found no loss of heterozygosity of the c.903 G>T, c.970 A>G, and c.645 G>A variants. C.645 G>A variant had no effect on splicing or expression. The changes in POT1 c.903 G>T and ACD c.645 G>A can be classified as rare variants of unknown significance, the other variants appear to be polymorphisms. Germline mutations in POT1, ACD, and TERF2IP are infrequent among Polish melanoma patients.

[Nail diseases in cosmetology]. / Choroby paznokci w praktyce kosmetologicznej.

Clinical symptoms attributed to the nail apparatus and observed in cosmetology include atrophic or hypertrophic lesions, pathologic nail coloration, abnormalities of the nail surface, and disorders of the nail plate and bed junction. These symptoms may reflect pathologic processes limited to the nail apparatus or may be the consequence of a dermal or systemic disease. Even though the etiology of nail lesions is variegated, diseases of the nails are simply classified as infectious or non-infectious. The aim of this work was to present the most common diseases of the nail apparatus encountered in cosmetology. Often, nail diseases worsen the quality of life of the patient. In addition, the variegated symptomatology demonstrates that nail lesions should be viewed in a wider perspective because they often are important signs of pathologic processes taking place in the organism of the patient.

[Erythematotelangiectatic skin--diagnostic difficulties]. / Skóra naczyniowa--problemy diagnostyczne.

Erythematotelangiectatic skin is a common cosmetic and medical problem. Flushing or persistent erythema, teleangiectasias, and occasionally other inflammatory skin lesions can be caused by internal or environmental factors. Certain physiologic reactions and systemic or dermatologic diseases represent internal conditions leading to visible skin flushing in the blush area. Erythematotelangiectatic skin is found in body areas which are particularly exposed to various environmental factors and perform important esthetic functions at the same time. Determination of the main etiopathologic factor responsible for flushing in the blush area precedes the selection of an adequate method of care, correction or treatment of the erythematotelangiectatic skin. The main aim of this study was to analyze fundamental mechanisms of flushing or persistent erythema and their sequellae basing on the literature. Another aim was to review current diagnostic options useful in examining the etiology and severity of erythematotelangiectatic skin symptoms.