Oversight and Management of Women with Psoriasis in Childbearing Age.

Psoriasis is a complex disease with many associated comorbidities, all of which have a negative impact on a patient's personal, social, and sexual life. There are some unique considerations in the effects of this disease among women. The average age of diagnosis in women with psoriasis is 28 years, and this onset corresponds to the fertile life of women. There is conflicting information about the effects of psoriasis on female fertility. Some studies suggest that this condition's associated comorbidities, personal behaviors, and reduced ovarian reserve, especially due to chronic inflammation, affect women's fertility. Another possible reason women with psoriasis are less likely to become pregnant is that their sexual intercourse frequency decreases after the condition's onset. The available information on the effects of pregnancy on women with psoriasis is limited. According to current evidence, most women will experience an improvement in their skin condition. Studies show that patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis are more prone to experience pregnancy complications. The management of pregnant and lactating women with psoriasis is also difficult, as the safety profile of commonly used drugs in patients with psoriasis is not entirely known.

Arteriovenous Fistula: The Case of a Rare Complication after Minimal Percutaneous Nephrostomy and Brief Review.

Percutaneous renal surgery, although much less invasive than other procedures, is subject to several complications, which can occur at any time during the course of treatment, starting from the performance of the minimal nephrostomy procedure. We present an extremely rare vascular complication of percutaneous nephrostomy represented by arteriovenous fistula that occurred in a 24-year-old patient known to have right ureteropelvic junction obstruction operated with the absence of double-J catheter permeability and grade II-III hydronephrosis for which minimal percutaneous nephrostomy was urgently fitted. The arteriovenous fistula was resolved by supraselective artery embolization.

Peritoneal Dialysis-Induced Encapsulating Peritonitis: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges in Women with Benign Gynecological Pathology.

Background: Peritoneal sclerosis (PS) and its most severe form, encapsulating PS (EPS), are rare entities that can occur in various procedures (liver transplantation, intraperitoneal chemotherapy) or secondary to medications (beta-blockers); however, PS or EPS typically occur in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis as a form of renal function substitution. Medical or surgical treatments can be applied, but morbidity and mortality have high rates. This condition typically presents clinically as an intestinal obstruction caused by the inclusion of the intestinal loops in the peritoneal fibrous membrane. Methods: Herein, we present data from a single tertiary surgery center that has dedicated teams for patients receiving dialysis. Over 12 years, we analyzed a group of 63 patients admitted for catheter replacement/removal or for acute surgical pathology. In five cases (7.9%), we diagnosed EPS. Two patients with EPS presented with atypical abdominal pathologies requiring emergency surgery: one case of hemoperitoneum caused by a ruptured ovarian cyst and one case of uterine fibroids and metrorrhagia. Results: The definitive diagnoses were established intraoperatively and by analyzing the morpho-pathological changes in the peritoneum. The possible intraoperative challenges included laborious dissection, difficulties in restoring the correct anatomical landmarks, an increased duration of the surgical intervention and a high rate of incidents and accidents. Conclusions: The aim of the present study was to emphasize the possibility of other surgical pathologies overlapping with EPS, increasing the complexity of the surgical intervention.

Effectiveness and Drug Survival of Ixekizumab and Secukinumab in Patients with Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis: Real-World Data from Bucharest, Romania.

Purpose: Multiple biological therapies have been developed for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, including moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Choosing the optimal treatment for psoriasis can depend on several factors and is strongly influenced by a drug's efficacy and safety profile. Continuous treatment with biological therapies is recommended to achieve effective disease management in patients with psoriasis. However, in real-world, patients often discontinue biologic therapy within the first year of treatment. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness and drug survival of two anti-interleukin 17 agents (ixekizumab and secukinumab) in a group of adult patients with moderate to severe psoriasis from Bucharest, Romania. Patients and Methods: We designed an observational, non-interventional, retrospective study of 255 adult patients with moderate to severe psoriasis receiving ixekizumab and secukinumab. We performed descriptive statistics and inferential methods, such as z-test, median test and Kaplan Meier curve comparison, to characterize the groups with two biological treatments. Results: Patients treated with ixekizumab had a longer drug survival compared to those treated with secukinumab with lower risks of non-persistence, discontinuation and switching therapy. Patients age-groups and psoriasis durations found to be significant factors in drug survival. Conclusion: This study contributes to the understanding of the drug survival profile and the factors that may influence it in ixekizumab and secukinumab treatment in a real-world setting.

Advantages of total parathyroidectomy in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism induced by end stage renal disease.

Introduction: Secondary hyperparathyroidism, as a result of chronic kidney disease could be treated medically or surgically. When pharmacotherapy fails, patients undergo surgery - parathyroidectomy, the curative treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). There are currently 3 accepted surgical techniques, each with supporters or opponents - total parathyroidectomy, subtotal parathyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy with immediate autotransplantation. Methods: In this paper we described our experience on a series of 160 consecutive patients diagnosed with secondary hyperparathyroidism who underwent surgery, in 27 cases it was totalization of the intervention (patients with previously performed subtotal parathyroidectomy or with supernumerary glands and SHPT recurrence). We routinely perform total parathyroidectomy, the method that we believe offers the best results. Results: The group of patients was studied according to demographic criteria, paraclinical balance, clinical symptomatology, pre- and postoperative iPTH (intact parathormone) values, SHPT recurrence, number of reinterventions. In 31 cases we found gland ectopy and in 15 cases we discovered supernumerary parathyroids. A percentage of 96.24% of patients with total parathyroidectomy did not show recurrence. Discussions: After analyzing the obtained results, our conclusion was that total parathyroidectomy is the intervention of choice for patients suffering from secondary hyperparathyroidism when pharmacotherapy fails in order to prevent recurrence of the disease and to correct the metabolic parameters.

Necrotizing fasciitis of the chest wall: A clinical case report and literature review.

Necrotizing fasciitis of the chest wall is a very rare pathology, but with significant mortality, representing a therapeutic challenge. All international reports indicate the need for early diagnosis and an aggressive medical-surgical attitude in order to improve the prognosis. In addition to a review of literature, we present a case developed secondary to a thoracic pleural drainage for pyopneumothorax associated with significant bronchopleural fistula in a destroyed tuberculous left lung. Along with medical treatment, extensive surgical debridement was required. Despite drainage incisions and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), the evolution of the fasciitis was difficult, due to bronchopleurocutaneous fistula. Thus, the Azorin procedure (transcervical mediastinoscopic closure of the left main bronchus) was performed. Once this procedure was completed, the inflammatory phenomena were controlled which allowed for a second step consisting of left pneumonectomy, with the application of specific methods for the prevention of bronchial fistula. The clinical case was a therapeutic challenge requiring a complex, staged, multidisciplinary approach due to both the immunocompromised terrain and the severity of the lesions. In conclusion, early recognition and aggressive and combined application of medical and surgical treatment methods can ensure therapeutic success.

Retraction: Constantin et al. Animal Models in Bladder Cancer. Biomedicines 2021, 9, 1762.

The journal retracts the article, "Animal Models in Bladder Cancer. Biomedicines 2021, 9, 1762" [...].

Extraperitoneal Laparoscopic Approach in Inguinal Hernia-The Ideal Solution?

BACKGROUND: After more than 20 years since laparoscopy was proposed as a solution for one of the most common surgical pathologies, inguinal hernia, the choice of an intra- or extraperitoneal approach has remained a highly debated topic. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at analyzing the feasibility of the extraperitoneal approach, by routine for this team/ and answering the question of whether this type of approach can be considered a safe one. Although indications for an intra- or extraperitoneal approach largely overlap, it may also be a matter of surgeon preference in choosing one technique. METHODS: The study was retrospective, conducted on a group of 493 patients operated on for inguinal hernia in the clinic, by a single operating team, between January 2012 and March 2022. RESULTS: It was proven that out of the 493 surgeries for inguinal hernia, 95.1% (n = 469) were operated upon by laparoscopic TEP (total extra peritoneal patch plasty approach); 1.62% (n = 8) by laparoscopic TAPP (transabdominal intraperitoneal); and 3.24% (n = 16) by the open, anterior approach (Lichtenstein). There were no intraoperative complications recorded in any of the procedures, while postoperative complications were found in 10.23% of cases (n = 48) in the extraperitoneal approach, and recurrences after the TEP approach were recorded in 0.40% of cases (n = 2). CONCLUSIONS: For correctly selected cases, TEP hernia surgery can be considered a safe and reliable approach.

Long-term efficacy of Serenoa repens treatment in patients with mild and moderate symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.

INTRODUCTION: The study aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of treatment with extract of Serenoa repens (Prostamol Uno) in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) induced by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 120 patients with mild or moderate LUTS induced by BPH, maximal urinary flow (Q(max)) <15 ml with a voided volume ≥150 ml, prostate-specific antigen <4 ng/ml, and residual urinary volume <150 ml, treated daily for 24 months with one capsule of 320 mg ethanolic extract of Serenoa repens. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements in the International Prostate Symptom Score (5.5 points), quality of life (QoL; 1.8 points), Q(max) (5.6 ml/s), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF; 6.4 points) and reduction in residual urinary volume were observed during the study period. The mean prostate volume at 24 months was 36 ml, compared to 39.8 ml at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term treatment with 320 mg ethanolic extract of Serenoa repens proved to be efficient in reducing urinary obstruction, improving symptomatology and QoL of BPH patients. It also had a positive effect on sexual function, demonstrated by the statistically significant increase in the IIEF.

The Role and Significance of Bioumoral Markers in Prostate Cancer.

The prostate is one of the most clinically accessible internal organs of the genitourinary tract in men. For decades, the only method of screening for prostate cancer (PCa) has been digital rectal examination of 1990s significantly increased the incidence and prevalence of PCa and consequently the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease. In addition, the different types of oncology treatment methods have been linked to specific complications and side effects, which would affect the patient's quality of life. In the first two decades of the 21st century, over-detection and over-treatment of PCa patients has generated enormous costs for health systems, especially in Europe and the United States. The Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is still the most common and accessible screening blood test for PCa, but with low sensibility and specificity at lower values (<10 ng/mL). Therefore, in order to avoid unnecessary biopsies, several screening tests (blood, urine, or genetic) have been developed. This review analyzes the most used bioumoral markers for PCa screening and also those that could predict the evolution of metastases of patients diagnosed with PCa.

Psoriasis beyond the skin: Ophthalmological changes (Review).

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that may be associated with abnormal T-lymphocyte function. Ocular manifestations associated with psoriasis, particularly artropathic or pustular psoriasis, usually affect men, often during exacerbations of the disease. It has been reported that eye damage tends to occur later compared with cutaneous or joint manifestations, blindness being the most disabling complication. Previous studies have focused on ophthalmic manifestations and identified several etiopathogenic mechanisms. Psoriasis may be associated with eye complications such as lesions of the eyelids, conjunctiva and others, with systemic inflammation being the main contributor. In addition, the treatment used for psoriasis may cause ocular changes. The main ophthalmic manifestations associated with psoriasis are keratoconjunctivitis sicca, blepharitis, conjunctivitis and uveitis. The treatment of uveitis, perceived as one of the most serious eye conditions, is controversial and has yet to be clearly determined. Thus, the aim of the present review was to emphasize the importance of regular eye examination for patients with psoriasis, either those receiving biological treatment or those not receiving treatment, in order to diagnose and manage the disease appropriately.

Basal cell carcinoma-not always the 'good guy': Case report of a life-threatening basosquamous carcinoma and review of the literature.

Cutaneous basosquamous carcinoma is a variant of basal cell carcinoma that is characterized by histopathological features of both basal and squamous cell carcinoma. Due to its local invasiveness, high frequency of recurrence, and its metastatic potential, it is considered to be one of the most aggressive subtypes of basal cell carcinoma. We present the case of an 81-year-old male who was admitted to the hospital with incessant hemorrhage arising from a cutaneous tumor that later proved to be a basosquamous carcinoma. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic at the time, the patient did not seek medical attention as soon as the bleeding was observed, although he did present when the symptom increased in intensity and became incessant. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a cutaneous basosquamous carcinoma that presents with a massive life-threatening hemorrhage tumor, thus endangering the patient's life. The clinical and histopathological features, the behavior and the treatment of cutaneous basosquamous carcinoma are further reviewed in this article.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Psoriasis in Romania-First Study in Overall Population.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by an excessive hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and a combination of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental influences. The pathogenesis of psoriasis is complex and the exact mechanism remains elusive. Objectives: The study of the prevalence of psoriasis will allow the estimation of the number of people suffering from this condition at the national level, as well as the development and validation of a questionnaire to estimate the prevalence and the risk factors associated with the disease. Methods: A quantitative research was conducted at a national level among the target population in order to validate the questionnaire and estimate the national prevalence. Results: Declaratively, the prevalence of psoriasis in the studied group (N = 1500) is 4%, the first symptoms appearing around the age of 50, with a certified diagnosis being made on average at 55 years. The prevalence of psoriasis vulgaris was 4.99%. Conclusions: The results obtained will be useful in guiding future initiatives and communication campaigns related to this condition, and the methodological approach used will provide the opportunity to make recommendations for improving similar initiatives in the future.

The Impact of Smoking on Psoriasis Patients with Biological Therapies in a Bucharest Hospital.

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory skin disease with extracutaneous manifestations, that affects about 1-3% of the world's population. The disease is not life-threatening, but the disability which comes with it is comparable to the disability caused by other serious chronic diseases, such as oncologic or cardiovascular disease. Several risk factors, such as infections, stress, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and genetic predisposition have been involved in inducing psoriasis. Smoking status is a risk factor for many chronic diseases, including psoriasis. Moreover, recent studies have tried to answer the question of whether smoking also influences the response to biologic therapy in patients with psoriasis. Through the current study, our intention is to find out how smoking affects the response to biologic treatment. A hospital-based cross-sectional, observational, non-interventional, retrospective study of moderate and severe psoriasis patients receiving biologic treatment was developed. Two groups were defined based on smoking status: group 1 included smokers (more than 10 cigarettes/day) and former smokers, and group 2 included non-smokers. The data that resulted from the analysis of the cohort of patients demonstrate that smoking status does not affect the response of biologic therapy in patients with moderate and severe psoriasis.

Animal Models in Bladder Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer (urothelial cancer of the bladder) is the most common malignancy affecting the urinary system with an increasing incidence and mortality. Mouse models of bladder cancer should possess a high value of reproducibility, predictability, and translatability to allow mechanistic, chemo-preventive, and therapeutic studies that can be furthered into human clinical trials. OBJECTIVES: To provide an overview and resources on the origin, molecular and pathological characteristics of commonly used animal models in bladder cancer. METHODS: A PubMed and Web of Science search was performed for relevant articles published between 1980 and 2021 using words such as: "bladder" and/or "urothelial carcinoma" and animal models. Animal models of bladder cancer can be categorized as autochthonous (spontaneous) and non-autochthonous (transplantable). The first are either chemically induced models or genetically engineered models. The transplantable models can be further subclassified as syngeneic (murine bladder cancer cells implanted into immunocompetent or transgenic mice) and xenografts (human bladder cancer cells implanted into immune-deficient mice). These models can be further divided-based on the site of the tumor-as orthotopic (tumor growth occurs within the bladder) and heterotopic (tumor growth occurs outside of the bladder).

Paraganglioma presenting as a mesenteric cystic mass: A case report.

The present study aims to raise awareness about the necessity of a thorough differential diagnosis process when diagnosing paraganglioma as it is an extremely rare entity with a high malignant potential. A 64-year-old female patient was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of bowel obstruction and a palpable abdominal mass. Abdominal and pelvic computed tomography revealed a cystic heterogeneously enhanced mass. The tumor was surgically removed and then microscopically analysed. Microscopically, the mass was composed of nests of small polygonal and round cells with central vesicular nuclei, consistent with the diagnosis of mesenteric paraganglioma which was later confirmed by immunohistochemistry. The critical markers for paragangliomas, namely chromogranin A and S100, should be used as the first step in diagnosis, followed by other valuable immunohistochemical markers. A long-term follow-up is extremely important following the diagnosis of paraganglioma as all these tumors have a malignant potential.

Measurement of skin viscoelasticity: A non-invasive approach in allergic contact dermatitis.

Non-invasive bioengineering technologies are constantly being developed, as they can provide useful insights and contribute to the improvement of medical care and scientific education. The purpose of this study was to assess skin viscoelasticity using the suction chamber method in patients with allergic contact dermatitis vs. healthy subjects, before and after applying a moisturizer safety testing cream. This was a prospective controlled study over a 3-year period (March 2016-March 2019), with 81 subjects being divided in two balanced groups: Patients with allergic contact dermatitis and healthy subjects, respectively. The skin viscoelasticity was determined for all subjects with Cutometer®, using the suction method, by performing a dynamic assessment of parameters before and after applying a moisturizing cream. The results indicate a decrease in the elasticity parameters in both groups, indicating an improvement of the elastic properties under the treatment. Skin capacity to return to its previous form after the deformation, i.e., pure elasticity and biological elasticity, showed overall elevated values in the group with contact dermatitis, demonstrating the efficacy of the emollient cream after applying it for 28 days (increase by 11.7 and 4.9% respectively, compared with baseline, when patients had dry, untreated skin). However, in healthy subjects, these parameters do not achieve important values, but they remain rather stable over time with a very slight improvement (6.6% after 28 days). The Cutometer is an easy to use, efficient and widely used instrument for measurements in studies that perform a quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of different formulations intended for application on the skin.

Psoriatic arthritis: A permanent new challenge for dermatologists (Review).

Considering that most of the patients (>2/3) are diagnosed with psoriasis in the cutaneous form long before the joint damage occurs and, in these conditions, a significant proportion of them is found in the dermatologist's initial records, a question must be asked: when is it necessary to send these patients to a rheumatology consultation? The recognition of psoriatic arthritis in patients with vulgar psoriasis and the dermatologist's ability to differentiate it from other arthritis, offers the opportunity to improve patient prognosis by prompt intervention and close collaboration with the rheumatologist. Diagnosis of early psoriatic arthropathy should be considered when a patient with psoriasis or family history of psoriasis has peripheral inflammatory arthritis (oligoarthritis or distal interphalangeal joints damage), enthesitis, dactylitis, spinal pain of inflammatory type. Given that patients with psoriasis are included in the dermatologists' medical records, it is very important to recognize psoriatic arthritis in patients with cutaneous psoriasis, to differentiate it from other possible arthritis, thus having the possibility to improve patient prognosis by prompt intervention and through collaboration with the rheumatologist.

Regressive melanoma in a female patient: A case report.

Regressive melanoma is a phenomenon characterized by partial or complete replacement of cutaneous melanoma by fibrotic structures as a result of local host immune response. The dermoscopic features include 'scar-like' depigmentation that can be described as hypopigmented to pigmented macules, pink macules, linear-irregular vessels, globular vessel pattern, hyperpigmented macular remnants, blue gray 'peppered' papular remnants and white transverse bands. Fully regressive melanoma is very rare, and, in majority of cases, the tumor is associated with metastases, so the prognosis is very poor due to this fact. Regressive melanomas are rare since it represents an advance stage of melanoma evolution. Their treatment requires a collaboration between the dermatologist and the oncologist in order to improve the quality of life of the patient and also the survival rate.

Etiologic role of Borrelia burgdorferi in morphea: A case report.

Morphea is an inflammatory skin disease with self-limited evolution, presenting as localized sclerosis of the skin and/or underlying tissues. The incidence is not exactly known; the disease occurs more frequently in women, and there is no sex prevalence. Pathogenesis of morphea remains still controversial. Several theories exist and the Borrelia burgdorferi infection is not yet elucidated. The aim of this report is to present the main mechanisms involved in the etiophatogenesis of morphea and also the thepapeutic options. A case of a 60-year-old woman is presented, who was referred to the clinic for an erythematous-violaceus, asymptomatic eruption, located on the trunk and legs, for appoximately 2 months. The patient's medical history revealed an infection with Borrelia 1 year previously. After diagnosis of morphea was established, and with systemic therapy (corticosteroids and methotrexate), the evolution was favorable.