Increased serum level of N-terminal Pro-B-type natriuretic peptide as a possible biomarker of cardiovascular risk in psoriatic patients.

BACKGROUND: Apparently, these days psoriasis is regarded as a systemic disease with frequent cardiovascular comorbidities, such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, valvular defects etc., which may lead to reduced lifespan or even sudden death. Therefore, it is important that biomarkers helpful in early detection or prediction of cardiovascular complications as well as their prevention should be identified. Even though the N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a well-known cardiovascular predictor in cardiovascular (CV) patients and in the general population, its usefulness in detection of CV comorbidities in psoriatic patients is still unclear. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine whether the N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration was increased in psoriatic patients. METHODS: The study included 73 psoriatic patients and 45 age-matched healthy individuals. The serum NT pro-BNP concentration as well as lipid profile parameters were assessed in the study and control groups. Correlations between patients' clinical data, their serum NT-proBNP and lipid concentrations were calculated. RESULTS: The serum concentration of NT-proBNP was significantly higher in psoriatic patients (109.22 ± 172.59 pg/mL) in comparison with controls (35.82 ± 22.90 pg/mL) (P = 0.000054). In 28 (38.36%) psoriatic patients the lipid profile was within normal limits, whereas in 45 (61.64%) psoriatic patients triglyceride and/or total cholesterol were increased. Moreover, in both psoriatic groups, i.e. normo- and hyperlipidaemic, NT-proBNP concentrations were significantly higher compared to normo- and hyperlipidaemic controls, P = 0.02 and P = 0.001 respectively. A positive correlation was found between the NT-proBNP concentration and duration of psoriasis (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study findings confirmed higher NT-proBNP concentrations in psoriatic patients, which could be a useful biomarker of CV disease in both normo- and hyperlipidaemic groups.

Prediction of meatiness and fatness in ducks by using a skin slice with subcutaneous fat and carcass weight without skin.

The experiment was performed on Pekin ducks (A-44 strain; 60 males and 60 females). The birds were reared to 7 wk of age and fed standard diets ad libitum. At the completion of the rearing period, the ducks were killed. The carcasses were chilled, and skin slices with s.c. fat were removed by a new method. The remaining part of the carcass was dissected into meat, intermuscular fat, and bones. The statistical analysis showed that the weight of a skin slice with s.c. fat, taken from the carcass surface excluding the forearms and wing tips [skin slice with fat (X(2))], and the weight of a carcass without this slice, forearms, and wing tips (X(1)) were very good indicators of the content of skin with fat (r = 0.99) and meat (r = 0.96), respectively, in a whole carcass. The above traits provided the basis for deriving regression equations to estimate the content of meat (Y) or skin with s.c. and intermuscular fat (U) in whole carcasses of ducks. The following 2 equations may be recommended for practical application: Y = 0.691 X(1) - 0.77 (S(y) = 21.6 g) U = 1.056 X(2) + 53.32 (S(u) = 10.6 g).

Age-related changes in the distribution of lean, fat with skin and bones in duck carcases.

The experimental birds were Pekin ducks (352 males and 352 females) reared to the age of 13 weeks. They were fed standard diets ad libitum. Starting from the second week, 21 males and 21 females were slaughtered every 7 d. Their carcases were divided into the following elements: neck, wings, legs, breast and back, which were then dissected into lean, skin with fat and bones. The body weights of one-day-old ducklings were similar (circa 62 g), but at 5 weeks of age the males were heavier than the females, and at 13 weeks of age their body weights were 3537 g and 2994 g, respectively. In 2-week-old ducks 55.77% of lean was located in the legs, 15.91% in the back part, 2.78% in the wings, 12.47% in the neck and only 13.12% in the breast. Considerable changes in the distribution of lean were noted in the ducks aged 7 weeks. Its percentage decreased in the legs (to 29.34%) and increased in the breast and wings (to 36.86% and 10.96%, respectively). Age-related changes in the distribution of skin with fat were smaller. Its percentage increased in the wings, legs and back, and decreased in the neck and breast. Until the age of 7 weeks the percentage of bones was decreasing quickly in the legs and increasing in the neck and breast, compared with their total weight in the carcase.

Distribution of NADPH-diaphorase activity in the pineal gland of the Turkey.

NADPH-diaphorase activity was histochemically demonstrated in the nerve fibers, neuronal-like cell bodies and in the endothelial cells of the vasculature in the pineal gland of the turkey. The nerve fibers were localized in the choroid plexus, connecting the pineal gland with the diencephalon as well as inside the pineal gland, where they formed basket-like structures around the pineal follicles. A group of neuronal-like cell bodies was observed in the proximal part of the gland. The positive staining was not observed in the pinealocytes of rudimentary-photoreceptor type and in the supporting cells.

The peripheral blood lymphocyte pattern in psoriasis preceded by an infection.

BACKGROUND: There is a great deal of information to suggest that activated T cells play a major role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Less is known about the possible influence of a trigger bacterial antigen on circulating blood cells. The purpose of our study was to analyze the quantity and subpopulations of activated lymphocytes in peripheral blood in patients with psoriasis preceded by an infection and in a control group. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients with psoriasis induced by an infection and twenty-two healthy controls were examined. The T lymphocytes in peripheral blood were examined by means of flow cytometry, using panels of monoclonal antibodies. Expression was estimated by reference to the fluorescence intensity of the surface antigens studied. RESULTS: A decreased percentage of CD3+, CD4+, and CD4+-bearing IL-6 receptor cells, a decreased expression of CD3, CD19, and CD4 antigens, and a significantly increased percentage of CD45RO+CD4+ were found in the studied subpopulation of lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Our research demonstrated changes in the percentage and expression of certain subpopulations of T lymphocytes in peripheral blood in the course of psoriasis preceded by a bacterial infection, which suggests not only local, but also systemic activation of the immune system.