Red LED light therapy for telogen effluvium in the course of long COVID in patients with and without androgenetic alopecia.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Photobiomodulation with the use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) seems to be a promising option for long COVID. This retrospective study evaluates the efficiency of LED irradiation in the treatment of TE in the course of long COVID in patients with and without androgenetic alopecia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective single-centre chart review of patients with post-COVID hair loss was performed. 140 patients enrolled to the study were divided into four groups depending on the type of alopecia and treatment: 1) telogen effluvium with LED therapy (TE LED+), 2) telogen effluvium without LED therapy (TE LED-), 3) telogen effluvium and androgenetic alopecia with LED therapy (TE+AGA LED+), and 4) telogen effluvium and androgenetic alopecia without LED therapy (TE+AGA LED-). Clinical and trichoscopic parameters were compared. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, cessation of hair loss and a negative hair pull test were more common in TE LED+ and TE+AGA LED+ in comparison to the patients without LED therapy (p<0.001, p=0.035, respectively). An increased number of thick hairs and an increased number of hairs within follicular units were more common in patients treated with LED irradiation, regardless of the type of alopecia, compared to the patients without LED therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that LED therapy is safe, well tolerated and seems to be a promising therapeutic option for TE in patients with long COVID. It can be used as adjuvant therapy leading to faster reduction of hair loss, enhancing hair regrowth as well as hair shaft thickness and density.

Melanin-The Éminence Grise of Melanoma and Parkinson's Disease Development.

A common feature of Parkinson's disease (PD) and melanoma is their starting points being based on cells capable of converting tyrosine into melanin. Melanocytes produce two types of melanin: eumelanin and pheomelanin. These dyes are designed to protect epidermal cells from the harmful effects of UV radiation. Neurones of the substantia nigra, which degenerate during PD, produce neuromelanin, the physiological role of which is not fully explained. This article discusses the potential role of melanins in the pathogenesis of both diseases. Melanins, due to their ability to accumulate toxic substances, may become their sources over time. The use of glutathione for the synthesis of pheomelanins and neuromelanins may reduce the antioxidant capacity of cells, leading to an excessive synthesis of free radicals. This study also tested the hypothesis that certain drugs used in the treatment of PD (L-DOPA, MAO-B and COMT inhibitors, and amantadine), aimed at increasing dopamine concentration, could potentially contribute to the development of melanoma. The role and properties of melanins should continue to be researched. Whether excessive melanin synthesis or its accumulation in the extracellular space may be factors initiating the development of diseases remains an open question.

The Expression of Activation Markers CD25 and CD69 Increases during Biologic Treatment of Psoriasis.

CD (cluster of differentiation) 69 and CD25 are considered early and late markers of the activation of lymphocytes, respectively. CD25 is a part of the IL-2 receptor and is present on the surface of immune and non-immune cells, with high amounts on activated lymphocytes and regulatory T cells. CD69 is expressed on various types of white blood cells, including newly activated lymphocytes, lymphocytes infiltrating tissues isolated from subjects with chronic auto-inflammatory diseases, several subtypes of memory T cells and regulatory T cells. Primarily, CD69 was considered to be an early marker of the activation of lymphocytes, but, right now, data derived from in vitro and in vivo studies have revealed the immunomodulatory role of this surface antigen. In 84 patients with psoriasis, of whom 28 were treated with different biologic drugs, as well as in 29 healthy control subjects, the expression of CD25 and CD69 on different subtypes of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was studied with the use of flow cytometry. Significantly higher levels of CD3/CD69-, CD8/CD69- and CD19/CD69-positive PBMCs as well as within CD3+ cells were present in subjects suffering from psoriasis when compared to healthy controls. In patients with psoriasis who were treated with biologic drugs, the levels of CD3/CD69-, CD4/CD69- and CD19/CD69-positive PBMCs, and CD3/CD69 within CD3+ cells, CD4/CD69 within CD4+ cells, CD4/CD25 within CD4+ cells and CD19/CD69 within CD19+ cells were significantly higher than before therapy. Our results support a role for activation markers, especially CD69, in psoriasis. Further research is warranted to fully clarify their significance in this common dermatosis, especially during biologic treatment.

Anticancer Activity of Amantadine and Evaluation of Its Interactions with Selected Cytostatics in Relation to Human Melanoma Cells.

Patients with Parkinson's disease are prone to a higher incidence of melanoma. Amantadine (an anti-Parkinson drug) possesses the antiproliferative potential that can be favorable when combined with other chemotherapeutics. Cisplatin (CDDP) and mitoxantrone (MTO) are drugs used in melanoma chemotherapy, but they have many side effects. (1) Clinical observations revealed a high incidence of malignant melanoma in patients with Parkinson's disease. Amantadine as an anti-Parkinson drug alleviates symptoms of Parkinson's disease and theoretically, it should have anti-melanoma properties. (2) To characterize the interaction profile for combinations of amantadine with CDDP and MTO in four human melanoma cell lines (A375, SK-MEL 28, FM55P and FM55M2), type I isobolographic analysis was used in the MTT test. (3) Amantadine produces the anti-proliferative effects in various melanoma cell lines. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that amantadine induced apoptosis and G1/S phase cell cycle arrest. Western blotting analysis showed that amantadine markedly decreased cyclin-D1 protein levels and increased p21 levels. Additionally, amantadine significantly increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. The combined application of amantadine with CDDP at the fixed-ratio of 1:1 exerted an additive interaction in the four studied cell lines in the MTT test. In contrast, the combination of amantadine with MTO (ratio of 1:1) produced synergistic interaction in the FM55M2 cell line in the MTT (* p < 0.05). The combination of amantadine with MTO was also additive in the remaining tested cell lines (A375, FM55P and SK-MEL28) in the MTT test. (4) Amantadine combined with MTO exerted the most desirable synergistic interaction, as assessed isobolographically. Additionally, the exposure of melanoma cell lines to amantadine in combination with CDDP or MTO augmented the induction of apoptosis mediated by amantadine alone.

New Potential Agents for Malignant Melanoma Treatment-Most Recent Studies 2020-2022.

Malignant melanoma (MM) is the most lethal skin cancer. Despite a 4% reduction in mortality over the past few years, an increasing number of new diagnosed cases appear each year. Long-term therapy and the development of resistance to the drugs used drive the search for more and more new agents with anti-melanoma activity. This review focuses on the most recent synthesized anti-melanoma agents from 2020-2022. For selected agents, apart from the analysis of biological activity, the structure-activity relationship (SAR) is also discussed. To the best of our knowledge, the following literature review delivers the latest achievements in the field of new anti-melanoma agents.

Risk of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers and Parkinson's Disease-Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have an increased risk of melanoma compared with the general population. Considering that Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers (NMSCs) share similar risk factors with melanoma, there is a need to understand a possible connection between PD and NMSCs. The aim of the study was the evaluation of NMSC risk among PD patients via meta-analysis and systematic review. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases was conducted, including studies from January 2000 to April 2020. We identified 16 eligible studies including 140291 PD patients. Upon statistical analysis, a significantly higher risk of developing NMSCs in PD patients was found compared with the control group (odds ratio (OR) = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.17-1.33; p < 0.0001). Among all NMSCs, the risk of developing basal cell carcinoma in PD patients was significantly higher (OR = 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15-1.47; p < 0.0001), contrary to squamous cell carcinoma. Further analysis revealed a significantly higher risk of developing NMSCs in patients with previously diagnosed PD (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.19-1.33; p < 0.0001). Our data suggest the necessity for regular skin examination of PD patients, though further studies are required to explore the mechanisms forming this relationship.

Helicobacter pylori Virulence Factors-Mechanisms of Bacterial Pathogenicity in the Gastric Microenvironment.

Gastric cancer constitutes one of the most prevalent malignancies in both sexes; it is currently the fourth major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The pathogenesis of gastric cancer is associated with the interaction between genetic and environmental factors, among which infection by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is of major importance. The invasion, survival, colonization, and stimulation of further inflammation within the gastric mucosa are possible due to several evasive mechanisms induced by the virulence factors that are expressed by the bacterium. The knowledge concerning the mechanisms of H. pylori pathogenicity is crucial to ameliorate eradication strategies preventing the possible induction of carcinogenesis. This review highlights the current state of knowledge and the most recent findings regarding H. pylori virulence factors and their relationship with gastric premalignant lesions and further carcinogenesis.