Internalized stigma in psoriasis: A multicenter study

Internalized stigma is the adoption of negative attitudes and stereotypes of the society regarding a person's illness. It causes decreased self‐esteem and life‐satisfaction, increased depression and suicidality, and difficulty in coping with the illness. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the internalized stigma state of psoriatic patients and to identify the factors influencing internalized stigma. The secondary aim was to identify the correlation of internalized stigma with quality of life and perceived health status. This multicentre, cross‐sectional study comprised 1485 patients. There was a significant positive correlation between mean values of Psoriasis Internalized Stigma Scale (PISS) and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, Body Surface Area, Dermatological Life Quality Index and General Health Questionnaire‐12 (P < 0.001 in all). Lower percieved health score (P = 0.001), early onset psoriasis (P = 0.016), family history of psoriasis (P = 0.0034), being illiterate (P < 0.001) and lower income level (P < 0.001) were determinants of high PISS scores. Mean PISS values were higher in erythrodermic and generalized pustular psoriasis. Involvement of scalp, face, hand, genitalia and finger nails as well as arthropathic and inverse psoriasis were also related to significantly higher PISS scores (P = 0.001). Our findings imply that psoriatic patients experience high levels of internalized stigma which are associated with psoriasis severity, involvement of visible body parts, genital area, folds or joints, poorer quality of life, negative perceptions of general health and psychological illnesses. Therefore, internalized stigma may be one of the major factors responsible from psychosocial burden of the disease.     

Large Area Emission in p-Type Polymer-Based Light-Emitting Field-Effect Transistors by Incorporating Charge Injection Interlayers

Organic light-emitting field-effect transistors (LEFETs) provide the possibility of simplifying the display pixilation design as they integrate the drive-transistor and the light emission in a single architecture. However, in p-type LEFETs, simultaneously achieving higher external quantum efficiency (EQE) at higher brightness, larger and stable emission area, and high switching speed are the limiting factors for to realise their applications. Herein, we present a p-type polymer heterostructure-based LEFET architecture with electron and hole injection interlayers to improve the charge injection into the light-emitting layer, which leads to better recombination. This device structure provides access to hole mobility of ~2.1 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and EQE of 1.6% at a luminance of 2600 cd m⁻². Most importantly, we observed a large area emission under the entire drain electrode, which was spatially stable (emission area is not dependent on the gate voltage and current density). These results show an important advancement in polymer-based LEFET technology toward realizing new digital display applications.     

Native valve endocarditis due to Candida albicans in two children: Two new case reports

Candida endocarditis (CE) is a rare and serious complication of candidemia. Using current diagnostic tools a confirmed diagnosis is often delayed and outcomes remain poor. The majority of new cases occur following cardiac valvular surgery, and/or in patients with the following risk factors: intravenous drug use, cancer chemotherapy, prolonged presence of central venous catheters, and prior history of bacterial endocarditis. It is not a common complication in non‐neutropenic patients particularly with the absence of a prosthetic valve, and very few reports in the literature are available. Attempting to add to the limited data, 211 candidemia episodes from 172 nonneutropenic pediatric cases between January 2008 and December 2017 were evaluated. All patients were considered asymptomatic for underlying heart disease. However, 2 (0.9%) patients with a central venous catheter were determined as having endocarditis following echocardiography.     

Rotenone impairs oxidant/antioxidant balance both in brain and intestines in zebrafish

Aim of the study: Rotenone is a commonly used pesticide that inhibits complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport system. Rotenone exposed rats demonstrate many characteristics of Parkinson Disease (PD). Oxidative stress is one of the hallmarks of PD, being the major sources of ROS in the DA neurons. In recent years the strong connection between the intestinal environment and the function of the central nervous system (CNS) has gained widespread popularity. In order to explain the mechanism underlying the GI dysfunction in PD, we aimed to investigate oxidant-antioxidant status in the brain and intestine, as well as locomotor activity, in rotenone exposed zebrafish.

Materials and methods: Adult zebrafish were exposed to 2 mg/L rotenone for 30 days. At the end of the experiment, locomotor activity was determined by simple observation. Lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were determined in the homogenates.

Results: Locomotor activity decreased in the rotenone exposed zebrafish. LPO increased in both brain and intestines whereas NO increased only in the brain. Decreased GST and CAT activities were found in both tissues whereas SOD activity decreased only in the intestines.

Conclusion: As a conclusion, the results of our study support the connection between gut and brain axis in rotenone exposed zebrafish by means of oxidative stress and NO for the first time in literature.     

Cholesterol removal from human plasma with biologically modified cryogels

Abstract

In this study, low molecular weight heparin immobilized P(HEMA) cryogels were fabricated for the removal of LDL-C in hypercholesterolemic human plasma. After characterization studies for P(HEMA) cryogels, effects of the parameters including medium pH, CNBr concentration, heparin concentration and contact time on heparin immobilization were investigated. Blood compatibility and cell adhesion tests were also performed, and platelet and leucocyte loss for P(HEMA)-Hp cryogels were found to be 2.95% and 4.91%, respectively. Maximum adsorption capacity for LDL-C from hypercholesterolemic human plasma was found to be 26.7?mg/g for P(HEMA)-Hp cryogel while it was only 1.67?mg/g for bare P(HEMA) cryogel. The P(HEMA)-Hp cryogels exhibit high desorption ratios up to 96% after 10 adsorption-desorption cycles with no significant decrease in the adsorption capacity. The findings indicated that these reusable P(HEMA)-based cryogels proposed good alternative adsorbents for removal of LDL-C.     

The effect of hyperinflation on respiratory muscles and breathing pattern in COPD

Lung hyperinflation is a consequence of airway obstruction, increased airway resistance and compliance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which may result in respiratory muscle fatigue and deterioration of gas transfer. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of hyperinflation on respiratory muscles, gas transfer and breathing pattern and compare the differences between mild and severe COPD. Twenty-eight COPD patients with radiological and tomographic evidence of emphysema were included in the study and they were divided into two groups according to the severity of COPD. Group I= FEV(1) < or = 49% (n= 16). Group II= FEV(1) > or = 50% (n= 12). Airflow rates were decreased and airway resistance was increased significantly in Group I. Maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) was significantly reduced in Group I. FRC, RV and RV/TLC ratio were increased above 120% in both groups with more significant increase in Group I. Group I showed moderate hypoxemia (PaO(2) = 54.02 mmHg) with hypercapnia (PaCO(2)= 46.65 mmHg) whereas Group II patients were mildly hypoxemic (PaO(2)= 63.78 mmHg) with normocapnia. Parameters of breathing pattern were similar in both groups. Diaphragm height index (DHI) didn't showed significant difference between groups. But there were significant correlations between DHI and RV, FRC. MIP showed significant positive correlation with airflow rates and DLCO, negative correlation with lung volumes, positive correlation with PaO(2) and negative correlation with PaCO(2). FRC also negatively correlated with Ti and Ti/Ttot. In conclusion, hyperinflation present even in the mild forms of COPD causes inspiratory muscle weakness which in return results in impairment in gas transfer.     

The impact of anti-TNF treatment on Wnt signaling,noggin, and cytokine levels in axial spondyloarthritis

Clinical Rheumatology - Anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents are commonly used in treatment of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), but clinical and radiological improvement is not achieved in...