ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis (PS) are skin diseases that have a significant impact on the quality of life. The correct application of corticosteroids in topical treatment is highly effective and safe for patients. Excessive and irrational fear of these drugs based on incorrect information is increasingly observed at dermatological clinics. METHODS: To assess the extent of corticophobia, we conducted a single-center cross-sectional survey using the TOPICOP© questionnaire. RESULTS: The study included 57 patients (56% female) with AD and 58 patients (60% female) with PS. The combined TOPICOP© score averaged around 44, showing no significant difference between the two skin conditions. However, consistently higher scores were observed among female participants compared to males. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of corticophobia was comparable to that reported in other similar studies and was higher among female patients, which replicates previous findings. Patients with AD, who were younger on average than patients with PS, often relied on friends, acquaintances, family members, and the internet as their main information sources. Providing correct and reliable information to patients is crucial for ensuring treatment adherence.
Subject(s)
Dermatitis, Atopic , Psoriasis , Skin Diseases , Male , Humans , Female , Dermatitis, Atopic/drug therapy , Cross-Sectional Studies , Quality of Life , Administration, Topical , Psoriasis/drug therapy , Skin Diseases/drug therapyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Octocrylene (OCT) is one of the most widespread chemical UV filters used in sunscreens and cosmetic products. Despite the use of sunscreens and personal care products over decades, melanoma as the most serious and aggressive form of skin cancer is still a cause of concern. Hence the aim of this study was to investigate any potential influence of OCT on metabolic activity, cytotoxicity and ABCB5 mRNA expression in melanoma cells. The ABCB5 transmembrane protein was tested due to its well-known role in the initiation, invasion and metastatic spread of various cancers, including melanoma. METHODS: Metastatic melanoma cell line WM-266-4 (ATCC) was incubated with selected concentrations of OCT and for different time intervals. The MTT and LDH assays to measure the cells' metabolic activity and cytotoxicity were used respectively. Target gene (ABCB5) expression was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), using TaqMan® chemistry. RESULTS: Our results suggest decreased metastatic melanoma cells' metabolic activity, increased cytotoxicity and increased ABCB5 mRNA expression (P<0.05) with longer time of exposure to OCT as compared to control cells. Accordingly, we suspect that the surviving cells are more invasive and aggressive, which might explain their microscopically observed cannibalistic activity. CONCLUSIONS: With this study, we elucidate a new promising field for further research to contribute to etiology and prevention of melanoma.
Subject(s)
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1/genetics , Acrylates/pharmacology , Melanoma/drug therapy , Skin Neoplasms/drug therapy , ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B , Acrylates/administration & dosage , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Survival/drug effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects , Humans , Melanoma/genetics , Melanoma/pathology , Neoplasm Metastasis , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Skin Neoplasms/genetics , Skin Neoplasms/pathology , Sunscreening Agents/administration & dosage , Sunscreening Agents/pharmacology , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is widely used as an inorganic UV-filter in cosmetic products; however, it has been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans. While numerous studies demonstrated cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of nano-sized TiO2 in different cell lines, including human skin cells, studies investigating the effects of micro-TiO2 on human keratinocytes and melanocytes, in healthy and cancer cells, are scarce. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding cassette subfamily B member 5 (ABCB5) is a plasma membrane protein known for its role in the tumorigenicity, progression, and recurrence of melanoma. Here, we investigated the effect of micro-TiO2 (average particle size ≤5 µm) on the metabolic activity, cytotoxicity and ABCB5 mRNA expression in metastatic melanoma cells. Metastatic melanoma cell line WM-266-4 was treated with different concentrations of micro-TiO2 for different incubation times to obtain dose- and time-dependent responses. Untreated WM-266-4 cells, cultured under the same conditions, were used as control. The cell metabolic activity was determined by MTT assay. Cytotoxicity of micro-TiO2 was analyzed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cytotoxicity assay. The ABCB5 mRNA expression in melanoma cells was analyzed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). After 120 hours of exposure to micro-TiO2 the metabolic activity of melanoma cells decreased, especially at the two highest micro-TiO2 concentrations. Comparably, the cytotoxicity of micro-TiO2 on melanoma cells increased after 48 and 120 hours of exposure, in a time-dependent manner. The ABCB5 mRNA expression in micro-TiO2-treated melanoma cells also decreased significantly after 24 and 48 hours, in a time-dependent manner. Overall, our results suggest inhibitory effects of micro-TiO2 on the metabolic activity and ABCB5 mRNA expression in metastatic melanoma cells, indicating its potential use as an anticancer agent.
