Latent Tuberculosis in Psoriasis Patients on Biologic Therapies: Real-World Data from a Care Center in Romania.

Background and Objectives: Psoriasis is a chronic and inflammatory condition that has a huge impact on the patient's quality of life. Biological treatment improved psoriasis therapy, with impressive results seen in the evolution of the disease and the patient's quality of life. However, the risk of mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection reactivation is well-known to biological therapy, which raises problems especially in an endemic country. Materials and Methods: In this study, we followed moderate to severe psoriasis patients who had latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) following treatment with a biological therapy approved in Romania. Results: The patients were evaluated at baseline and then followed-up with Mantoux tests and chest X-rays every year, resulting in 54 patients being diagnosed with LTBI. At the initial evaluation, 30 patients with LTBI were identified, and 24 more were identified during biological therapy. These patients were given prophylactic treatment. Out of the 97 participants in this retrospective study, 25 required association of methotrexate (MTX) alongside biological therapy. We compared the prevalence of positive Mantoux tests in patients with combined therapy with that of patients only on biological treatment, and the results were higher in the combined therapy group. Conclusion: All the patients in the study were vaccinated against tuberculosis (TB) after birth, and none were diagnosed with active tuberculosis (aTB) before or after the start of therapy according to the pulmonologist.

Synthesis and preliminary characterization of polyurethane nanoparticles with ginger extract as a possible cardiovascular protector.

Background and aim: The extract of ginger, obtained from the rhizome of Zingiber officinale, contains 6-gingerol, 6-shogaol, 8-gingerol, and 10-gingerol. It has many therapeutic effects such as being chemopreventive against stroke and heart diseases, malabsorption, bacterial infections, indigestion, and nausea, which have been observed since ancient times. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the polyurethane (PU) as a proper material for the hollow nanoparticles' preparation. Methods: The PU nanoparticles were obtained by a spontaneous emulsification, in the presence of a nonionic surfactant, combined with an interfacial polyaddition process between an aliphatic diisocyanate and different mixtures of etheric and esteric polyols. The synthesis was done without any PU additives, such as catalysts, blowing agents, chains promoters, cross-linking agents, and stabilizers. Results: The particles present almost neutral pH values and low water solubility. They are heat resistant up to 280°C. Decreased irritation level was found in the assay of PU nanoparticles loaded with pure ginger extract (GE) on the murine skin tests than the irritation level recorded for pure GE. Conclusion: This research shows the reduced noxiousness of these PU nanoparticles and consequently the possibility of their use as a possible cardiovascular protector.