Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with psoriasis: a cross-sectional study in Singapore

INTRODUCTIONPsoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the skin and joints, and is associated with cardiovascular risk factors, including metabolic syndrome (MetS). We aimed to assess the prevalence of MetS in patients with psoriasis and determine whether there was a correlation between psoriasis severity and MetS in a Singapore population.METHODSThis was a cross-sectional study of patients with psoriasis, aged 18–69 years, who attended a tertiary dermatology referral centre in Singapore from October 2007 to February 2009. Fasting glucose, lipids, blood pressure, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, and body mass index were measured. MetS was diagnosed in the presence of three or more criteria of the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III.RESULTSAmong 338 patients with psoriasis, there were 238 (70.4%) men and 100 (29.6%) women, who were Chinese (n = 228; 67.5%), Malay (n = 52; 15.4%) and Indian (n = 58; 17.2%). The prevalence of MetS was 45.1%. MetS was 44% more prevalent in patients older than 50 years (p = 0.02). Malay patients with psoriasis were significantly more likely to have hypertriglyceridaemia, elevated fasting plasma glucose and abdominal obesity. There was no significant correlation between psoriasis severity and risk of MetS.CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of MetS in patients with psoriasis in Singapore was 45.1%, or nearly threefold higher than the Singapore general population. Patients with psoriasis should be screened yearly for MetS and any modifiable cardiovascular risk factors should be actively controlled.     

Secretion,blood levels and cutaneous expression of TL1A in psoriasis patients

TL1A is a TNF‐like cytokine which has been shown to co‐stimulate TH1 and TH17 responses during chronic inflammation. The expression of this novel cytokine has been investigated in inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, but little is known about expression and induction in psoriasis. Indeed, the pathogenesis in psoriasis is still not fully understood and it is speculated that cytokines other than TNF‐α are important in subsets of patients. Also, for patients with severe disease that are treated with systemic anti‐TNF‐α blockade, novel candidates to be used as disease and response biomarkers are of high interest. Here, we demonstrate TL1A expression in biopsies from psoriatic lesions. Also, we investigated spontaneous and induced TL1A secretion from PBMCs and blood levels from a cohort of psoriasis patients. Here, increased spontaneous secretion from PBMCs was observed as compared to healthy controls and a small subset of patients had highly elevated TL1A in the blood. Interestingly, activation of PBMCs with various cytokines showed a decreased sensitivity for TL1A activation in psoriasis patients compared to healthy controls.TL1A levels in blood and biopsies could not be correlated with disease activity with this patient cohort. Thus, additional large‐scale studies are warranted to investigate TL1A as a biomarker.     

丹青胶囊联合他扎罗汀倍他米松治疗银屑病的临床研究

目的 探讨丹青胶囊联合他扎罗汀倍他米松治疗银屑病的临床疗效.方法 选取2019年6月—2021年6月在天津市职业病防治院门诊皮肤科就诊治疗的114例银屑病患者,根据随机数字法分为对照组和治疗组,每组各57例.对照组患者给予他扎罗汀倍他米松乳膏,洗净患处,待皮肤干爽后,将适量本品均匀涂抹于患处,1次/d.治疗组患者在对照组治疗基础上口服丹青胶囊,4粒/次,3次/d.两组患者均连续治疗7 d.观察两组患者的临床疗效和临床症状好转时间,比较两组治疗前与治疗1、4、8周的皮损面积和严重程度指数(PASI)评分和血清炎性因子水平.结果 治疗后,治疗组总有效率是98.25％,显著高于对照组的82.46％(P<0.05).治疗后,治疗组患者皮损暗红、皮损肥厚、皮肤瘙痒、皮肤疼痛等症状好转时间均显著短于对照组(P<0.05).治疗后,两组PASI评分均较治疗前显著降低(P<0.05);治疗1、4、8周治疗组PASI评分显著低于对照组(P<0.05).治疗后,两组患者血清炎性因子白细胞介素6(IL-6)、白细胞介素17(IL-17)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、干扰素-γ(IFN-γ)水平均较治疗前显著降低(P<0.05);治疗后,治疗组血清炎性因子水平显著低于对照组(P<0.05).结论 丹青胶囊联合他扎罗汀倍他米松治疗银屑病效果明显,能显著降低炎性因子水平,并有助于改善皮损情况,值得临床推广应用.     

白鲜皮多糖的分离纯化及抗银屑病作用

目的:对白鲜皮粗多糖(DDP)进行分离纯化,并研究其抗银屑病作用。方法:DDP经膜分离技术截留相对分子质量小于10 k Da的组分(DDP-UF),采用DEAE-52纤维素柱分离纯化得到4种组分(DDP-UF-1,DDP-UF-2,DDP-UF-3,DDPUF-4);并通过红外光谱法,高效凝胶渗透色谱法(HPGPC),高效液相色谱法(HPLC),扫描电镜(SEM)测定其理化性质及结构特征。选用咪喹莫特乳膏诱导银屑病小鼠模型,己烯雌酚诱导雌鼠阴道上皮细胞增殖,酶联免疫吸附测定法(ELISA)检测各组小鼠血清白细胞介素(IL)-17与IL-23含量,苏木精-伊红(HE)染色法观察小鼠背部皮肤组织病理变化、阴道上皮细胞有丝分裂指数变化。结果:DDP-UF-1～4均具有多糖特征吸收峰,DDP-UF-1～4相对分子质量分别为10 948,40 148,32 222,19 943 Da;单糖组成及摩尔比分别为甘露糖-葡萄糖-半乳糖(32. 45∶11. 35∶8. 69),甘露糖-鼠李糖-葡萄糖醛酸-葡萄糖-木糖(25. 68∶23. 44∶21. 62∶18. 86∶3. 68),甘露糖-鼠李糖-葡萄糖醛酸-半乳糖醛酸-木糖-半乳糖(18. 68∶4. 61∶3. 89∶1. 65∶5. 36∶6. 21),葡萄糖醛酸-半乳糖醛酸-葡萄糖-木糖-半乳糖(11. 63∶15. 26∶5. 32∶2. 08∶3. 46);扫描电镜(SEM)显示DDP-UF-1～4形态结构为片状或海绵状结构。DDP-UF-1与DDP-UF-3可改善银屑病小鼠背部皮损状态、抑制雌鼠阴道上皮细胞有丝分裂、明显降低血清IL-17,IL-23含量(P 0. 05,P 0. 01)。结论:DDP-UF-1与DDP-UF-3均具有良好的抗银屑病作用,其作用可能与抑制IL-23/IL-17信号通路有关。     

NADPH oxidase inhibition rescues keratinocytes from elevated oxidative stress in a 2D atopic dermatitis and psoriasis model

Emerging evidence suggests oxidative stress plays a role in the pathophysiology of both atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis (PSO). We established in vitro models of AD and PSO skin, and characterized these models in regard to their oxidative stress state. Both AD and PSO model keratinocytes exhibited elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and accumulated more DNA damage than control cells after oxidative stress induced by 250 µmol/L H₂O₂. Elevated ROS levels and DNA damage accumulation could be inhibited by the NADPH oxidase (NOX) inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium (DPI). Further, immunofluorescence analysis revealed the presence of both NOX1 and NOX4 in keratinocytes. By inhibiting NOX1, stress-related signalling cascades and elevated ROS levels could be abrogated, and survival of AD and PSO cells improved. Taken together, this study reveals that inhibition of NOX inhibition could abrogate elevated oxidative stress in a 2D model of AD and PSO.     

药浴治疗寻常型银屑病护理干预临床观察

目的探究寻常型银屑病予以药浴治疗及护理干预的效果。方法抽取2016年1月—2017年12月收治的寻常型银屑病患者80例,按照随机数字表法分为2组,各40例,所有患者均予以麦饭石药浴治疗,对照组予以常规护理,观察组在对照组基础上予以护理干预,比较2组护理满意度、住院时间、药浴时间。结果观察组住院、药浴时间短于对照组,2组差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),观察组护理总满意度95.0%,高于对照组80.0%,2组差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论寻常型银屑病予以药物浸浴治疗基础上联合护理干预,能缩短治疗时间,提高护理满意度,值得推广。     

水针疗法联合清热祛毒汤治疗寻常型银屑病(血热证)的疗效及其作用机制分析

目的观察分析水针疗法联合清热祛毒汤治疗寻常型银屑病(血热证)的疗效及其作用机制。方法选择2018年8月—2019年7月在我院接收治疗的112例寻常型银屑病患者作为分析对象,采取随机分组的办法将其分为对照组56例和研究组56例,对照组患者采取水针疗法治疗,研究组在对照组的基础上联合清热祛毒汤治疗。比较分析2组患者的疗效;治疗前后的中医证候评分、皮肤病生活质量指数(DLQI)评分;治疗前后皮损面积、浸润、鳞屑、红斑等评分;治疗前后肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素6(IL-6)、血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)水平变化情况。结果研究组患者治疗总有效率89.29%明显高于对照组73.21%(P<0.05);治疗前,2组患者的中医证候评分、DLQI评分、皮损面积、浸润、鳞屑、红斑等评分及TNF-α、IL-6、VEGF等水平比较(P>0.05);研究组患者治疗后的中医证候评分与DLQI评分明显低于治疗前(P<0.05);研究组患者治疗后的皮损面积、浸润、鳞屑、红斑等评分明显低于对照组(P<0.05);研究组患者治疗后的TNF-α、IL-6、VEGF等水平明显低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论对寻常型银屑病患者采取水针疗法联合清热祛毒汤治疗的疗效显著,能有效改善中医证候表现,提高生活质量,减轻皮损程度,降低炎症反应,其作用机制可能与炎症因子水平、皮损血管增生相关。     

Peripheral whole blood FOXP3 TSDR methylation: a potential marker in severity assessment of autoimmune diseases and chronic infections

Immune dysregulation is a cardinal feature of autoimmune diseases and chronic microbial infections. In particular, regulatory T cells are downregulated in autoimmune diseases while upregulated in chronic microbial infections. FOXP3 is the master regulator of Treg development. Treg-specific demethylated region (TSDR) is a highly conserved locus on the FOXP3 gene that is fully demethylated in natural Tregs but methylated in effector T cells. In our study, we used high resolution melt-polymerase chain reaction (HRM-PCR) to determine the FOXP3 TSDR methylation status in autoimmune diseases and chronic microbial infections. We found that FOXP3 TSDR to have the highest mean melting temperature (highly methylated) in active SLE patients compared to all the other groups (p?<?0.001). The psoriasis group also had a significantly high mean melting temperature (78.62?±?0.20) when compared with the inactive SLE group (78.49?±?0.29, p?<?0.05) and control group (78.44?±?0.25, p?<?0.01). There was no significant difference in melting temperature between inactive SLE and healthy controls. Disease activity in SLE was directly associated with methylation of the FOXP3 TSDR. On the other hand, patients with chronic microbial infections had significantly lower FOXP3 TSDR mean melting temperature (demethylated) when compared with healthy controls (78.28?±?0.21 vs 78.44?±?0.25, p?<?0.05). Our results suggest that the use of HRM-PCR to detect FOXP3 TSDR methylation status is a reliable and easy method to predict natural regulatory T cell levels in peripheral blood in different disease conditions. Determining FOXP3 TSDR methylation status can be a useful tool in diagnosis, and monitoring the severity of autoimmune diseases and chronic microbial infections.     

Psoriasis in childhood and adolescence: evaluation of demographic and clinical features

BACKGROUND: The present study was aimed to define the gender ratio, familial occurrence, age of onset, precipitating factors, clinical types, nail and joint involvement of psoriasis in childhood and adolescence in Turkey. METHODS: A total of 61 children with psoriasis under 18 years old were evaluated retrospectively, for age, gender, age of disease onset, family history, concomitant disease, the clinical type of psoriasis, clinical localization, nail and joint involvement and treatment modalities. RESULTS: Of the patients, 23 (37.70%) were boys and 38 (62.30%) were girls. Mean age was 9.28 +/- 4.02 years in girls and 11.18 +/- 3.85 years in boys (9.96 +/- 4.03 years in all children). Mean age at the onset of the disease was 6.81 +/- 4.11 years in girls and 7.03 +/- 4.28 years in boys (6.89 +/- 4.14 years in all patients). In 14 (23%) cases, a positive family history was detected. The most frequent probable triggering factors were upper respiratory tract infections (14.8%) and positive throat culture for A group ss-hemolytic streptococcus (21.3%). Frequency of emotional stress and psychiatric morbidity were 54% and 9.8%, respectively. The most frequent localizations at onset were trunk (44.3%), extremities (54.0%), and scalp (36.0%). Three children (4.9%) had a history of dissemination from psoriatic diaper rash. In total, 51 (83.6%) patients presented with psoriasis vulgaris, eight (13.1%) with generalized pustular psoriasis, and the remaining two (3.3%) with erythrodermic psoriasis. CONCLUSION: The incidence of psoriasis among dermatological patients in childhood and adolescence was 3.8%. The disease tends to appear earlier in girls than boys. The authors suggested that stress and upper respiratory infections are the most important triggering factors in childhood and adolescence psoriasis.     

Long‐term efficacy of biologics in the treatment of psoriasis: what do we really know?

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition that often requires life-long treatment. Conventional therapies have not fully met the needs of psoriatic patients, because of limited efficacy, adverse effects with cumulative use, and patient inconvenience. In the past decade, biologic immunotherapies have become accepted treatments for psoriasis as a result of perceived efficacy and safety on the part of patients and practitioners. However, most data on these medications come from relatively limited short-term trials. In this review, we will focus on the available long-term data on the efficacy of the biologic agents. We will emphasize the strengths and weakness of the available data of the biologic agents that are Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis (alefacept, efalizumab, * etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab), with the inclusion of a newer agent currently under FDA evaluation (ustekinumab).