Elevation of Serum SSCCAII in Cutaneous and Oral Lichen Planus: Missing Link for Hidden Carcinogenic Potential?

CONTEXT: Lichen planus (LP) is an immune mediated inflammatory condition. SCCAII is a useful biomarker reflecting Th17 type inflammation. It is also a tumour marker, especially for Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) Mechanism of carcinogenesis in LP is still unknown. Chronic inflammation may facilitate the development of cellular clones in the epidermis. AIMS: Estimation of serum level of SCCA II in patients with cutaneous and oral LP (OLP) to detect its role in LP pathogenesis, and to reveal the missing link in understanding mechanism of carcinogenesis in LP. METHODS AND MATERIAL: A case control study, where 100 subjects were included; 80 LP patients (40 cutaneous & 40 oral) and 20 apparently healthy controls. We obtained an informed written consent from each subject prior the participation. Cutaneous and oral LP were diagnosed clinically, SCCA II level was measured by ELISA technique. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Statistical analysis was done using SPSS vs.25. (IBM, Armonk, New York, United states). Numerical data was summarized as means and standard deviations or medians and ranges. RESULTS: Median SSCCAII level was significantly higher in LP cases compared to controls (P < 0.001) and was significantly higher in patients with OLP compared to patients with cutaneous LP (P ≤ 0.001). Post hoc analysis revealed that median SSCCAII was significantly higher in patients with ulcerative type compared to both reticular type and others. It was also significantly higher in patients with actinic type compared to both hypertrophic type and classic type. Median SSCCAII was significantly higher in patients with ulcerative OLP compared to actinic LP (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that serum SCCAII level was higher in patients with cutaneous and OLP. This might be linked to the pathogenesis of LP, especially actinic and erosive OLP. SCCAII level could facilitate the screening and early detection of patients at risk, a potential alarm to launch accurate assessment and continue follow up of cutaneous as well as O LP patients.

Serum Neurotensin: An Objective Mirror to Acne-induced Quality of Life and Psychological Impairment.

BACKGROUND: Acne is a multifactorial disorder, and stress potentially plays a role in its pathogenesis. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the serum levels of neurotensin in patients with acne vulgaris (AV) and investigate the relationship of these levels to quality of life (QoL), depression, anxiety, and stress. METHODS: The study included 60 patients with AV classified into mild (n=20), moderate (n=20), and severe (n=20) groups and 20 healthy, age-matched, sex-matched, and body mass index (BMI)-matched individuals in a control group. Patient QoL was assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Each participant completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Serum levels of neurotensin were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Neurotensin levels and scores from the three questionnaires were significantly higher among the patients with AV than the control subjects. They were also significantly elevated in patients with post-acne scars and hyperpigmentation and in those with severe acne. CONCLUSION: It is well known that acne greatly impacts QoL and might be associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Further, serum neurotensin could be a promising marker to objectively evaluate the psychosocial impact of AV.

Serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with acne vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: Many dermatological diseases have a great impact on the psychological state of patients, like urticaria, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and acne vulgaris. Finding a "gold standard" biomarker for chronic stress in acne patients is challenging because of the complex etiology of the chronic stress and its variable manifestations. AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between serum levels of BDNF and the presence and severity of acne vulgaris and to assess the relationship of this biomarker to both the degree of psychological stress and the quality of patients' lives (QoL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty patients with acne vulgaris were included, together with twenty apparently healthy, age-, and sex-matched individuals as a control group. Patients filled a Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire; both patients and controls filled a Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) and perceived stress scale-10 (PSS) questionnaires. Serum levels of BDNF were measured for patients and controls using ELISA technique. RESULTS: Patients with acne had significantly lower levels of BDNF and significantly higher HADS and PSS-10 questionnaires scores. A significant negative correlation was found between serum levels of BDNF and PSS questionnaire scores. CONCLUSION: Patients with acne are at a high risk to develop chronic stress, anxiety, and depression. BDNF is a good predictor for assessment of chronic stress in such patients.

Assessment of seminal granulysin in infertile men with varicocele.

Varicocele has a common association with male infertility, but its exact role is still debated. Apoptosis has been suggested as one of the mechanisms of varicocele-associated infertility. Granulysin is a molecule that plays a role in apoptosis with no previous study about its role in male infertility. This case-controlled study aimed to assess seminal plasma granulysin level in infertile patients with varicocele. This study involved 90 men that were allocated into fertile normozoospermic men (n = 20), infertile men without varicocele (n = 30) and infertile men with varicocele (n = 40). These men were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, semen analysis and estimation of seminal granulysin. In general, seminal granulysin level was significantly elevated in infertile men compared with fertile men. Infertile men with varicocele showed significantly higher seminal granulysin compared with infertile men without varicocele, in bilateral varicocele cases and in grade III varicocele. Seminal granulysin level was negatively correlated with sperm concentration, sperm motility, sperm normal forms percentage and testicular volumes. It is concluded that increased seminal granulysin has a negative impact on spermatogenesis in infertile men in general and in infertile men associated with varicocele in particular.