The importance of Epstein-Barr virus infection in the systemic treatment of patients with gastric cancer.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may directly cause the development of EBV-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC). The prevalence of EBVaGC ranges from 4% to 18%, with a 2-fold higher frequency in males, and in tumors arising in the gastric cardia or corpus and 4 times higher frequency in gastric stump carcinoma. The vast majority of EBVaGC are lymphoepithelioma-like carcinomas. Despite extensive nodal involvement and distant metastases at initial diagnosis, EBVaGC seems to be a distinct etiologic entity with a favorable prognosis. However, the lymphoepithelioma-like carcinomas subtype in EBVaGC cannot be recognized in the current molecular classifications. Neither is there an association between EBV positivity and survival of patients after curative gastrectomy if they received standard adjuvant chemotherapy, nor EBV positivity and prediction of response to neoadjuvant platinum/5-FU-based chemotherapy. Alterations in chemokines and PD-L1 provide theoretical justification for clinical evaluation of immune checkpoint therapy in EBVaGC. Moreover, a higher degree of host immune response was demonstrated in EBVaGC. The current histologic and molecular GC classification does not influence clinical practice. Further research is expected to find convenient methods to assess gastric subtypes in day-to-day practice and to tailor therapy to improve overall survival.

Serum concentrations of interleukin 18 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 correlate with depression severity in men with psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE: Psoriasis and depression may have common mechanisms, such as systemic inflammation, dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and vitamin D3 deficiency. Among men with psoriasis, this study examined whether depression severity was associated with serum concentrations of different metabolic and inflammatory markers. METHODS: The study included 85 men with psoriasis (mean age ± standard deviation [SD], 47 ± 14 years) and 65 men without psoriasis (mean age ± SD, 44 ± 13 years). In both groups, we measured the body mass index; blood pressure; and serum concentrations of lipids, uric acid, lipase, interleukins 6 and 18, cortisol, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. All participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory. Other variables analyzed included psoriasis duration, the Psoriasis Area Severity Index, and the percentage of body surface area affected by psoriatic lesions. RESULTS: Compared with controls, patients with psoriasis had significantly greater depression severity, higher body mass indices, and higher serum concentrations of total cholesterol and interleukins 6 and 18; moreover, they had significantly lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 concentrations. In patients with psoriasis, depression severity correlated positively with psoriasis duration, the Psoriasis Area Severity Index, the percentage of body surface area affected by psoriatic lesions, and interleukin-18 concentration. In patients with psoriasis, depression severity correlated negatively with 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 concentration, but it did not correlate significantly with the serum concentrations of interleukin 6 and cortisol. CONCLUSIONS: High concentrations of interleukin 18 and low concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 may be associated with depression severity in men with psoriasis. Thus, further studies should examine whether effective anti-inflammatory treatments or vitamin D3 supplementation can improve depression outcomes in these patients.

Prevalence and Possible Role of Candida Species in Patients with Psoriasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Although fungal colonization is implicated in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, its prevalence remains unclear. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide an overview on the prevalence of Candida species in patients with psoriasis. We searched databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and http://clinicaltrials.gov) to identify studies involving subjects of any age with an established diagnosis of psoriasis and healthy controls, who were tested for carriage of Candida spp. on the skin or mucosal membranes (or saliva and stool), or presented with clinical candidiasis with microbiologically confirmed etiology. We identified nine cross-sectional studies including a total of 1038 subjects with psoriasis (psoriatics) and 669 controls. We found Candida species detection rates for psoriatics were significantly higher than those in the controls, especially in the oral mucosa milieux. These results suggest psoriasis may be one of the systemic diseases that predispose to oral Candida spp. carriage and infection.

Correction to: Digestive system in psoriasis: an update.

In the original publication, the data labels are incorrect in Fig. 3. The corrected Fig. 3 is given here.

Digestive system in psoriasis: an update.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory immune-mediated disorder associated and often coexisting with many other immune-related clinical conditions including those affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Data obtained from the reviewed literature suggest an association between psoriasis and pathologies of the oral cavity, both psoriasis-specific lesions, as well as non-specific, such as geographic tongue or fissured tongue. These findings show the importance of thorough examination of oral mucosa in psoriatic patients. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are also linked with psoriasis. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis share a common genetic background, inflammatory pathways and have an evident iatrogenic anti-TNF treatment link, necessitating dermatological or gastroenterological care in patients with IBD or psoriasis, respectively, as well as treatment adjusted to manifestations. The presence of celiac disease-specific antibodies in psoriatic patients and their correlation with the severity of the disease show the association between these disorders. The linking pathogenesis comprises vitamin D deficiency, immune pathway, genetic background and increase in the intestinal permeability, which suggests a potential benefit from gluten-free diet among psoriatic patients. The link between psoriasis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease implies screening patients for components of metabolic syndrome and lifestyle changes necessity. Some studies indicate increased prevalence of cancer in patients with psoriasis, probably due to negative influence of skin lesion impact on lifestyle rather than the role of psoriasis in carcinogenesis. However, there are no sufficient data to exclude such an oncogenic hit, which is yet to be confirmed. Therefore, all psoriasis-associated comorbidities establish the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of these patients.