The early effect of microdermabrasion on hydration and sebum level.

BACKGROUND: Microdermabrasion is a popular form of mechanical peel, used for many aesthetic purposes. Because it removes the superficial epidermal layer, it has an impact on hydrolipid skin coat. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine the changes taking place in the hydrolipid coat of the skin after microdermabrasion measured by skin hydration and sebum level. METHODS: Sixteen healthy women were included in the study, and the aluminium oxide crystal microdermabrasion device was used over the entire face of each patient. Measurements of stratum corneum hydration and sebum level were taken at baseline, just after the treatment, and 30 and 60 minutes later. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference in stratum corneum hydration was found on the cheeks 30 minutes after treatment and in the T-zone immediately after the procedure. Sebum reduction was observed immediately after the procedure irrespective of skin type and face area. In addition, sebum value was found to return to baseline 1 hour after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The observed changes in epidermal barrier function may be responsible for the clinical improvement following microdermabrasion.

Influence of phototherapy in psoriasis on Ki-67 antigen expression: a preliminary study.

Antigen Ki-67 is a non-histone nuclear protein, closely connected with cell proliferation. Determining Ki-67 allows for a quick and reliable evaluation of the growth fraction of the studied cell population. It serves as a marker of proliferative activity in neoplasms and other diseases with excessive cell proliferation such as psoriasis. Evaluation of Ki-67 expression in epidermal cells was performed in 10 individuals suffering from plaque psoriasis, before and after one of three methods of phototherapy: broadband UVB, narrowband UVB or PUVA. We observed increased Ki-67 antigen expression in psoriatic lesions. The percentage of Ki-67 positive nuclei in the epidermis affected by the disease ranged from 0 to 30% and in the macroscopically healthy surrounding tissue the percentage was from 0 to 10%. After phototherapy the expression in lesional skin decreased (p < 0.01). The greatest decrease was observed after the application of PUVA therapy (from 25 to 10% of cells, p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the perilesional skin with regard to Ki-67 antigen expression before or after phototherapy. On the basis of our own study and studies conducted by other researchers, it can be concluded that reduced Ki-67 expression after the application of PUVA and UVB therapies in the psoriatic epidermis is not a characteristic result of phototherapy only. It is a characteristic property of any effective psoriasis therapy.

IL-8, IL-12 and IL-10 cytokines generation by neutrophils, fibroblasts and neutrophils- fibroblasts interaction in psoriasis.

PURPOSE: Psoriasis is a common skin disease affecting about 1-3% of the world population. Many types of cells, including lymphocytes, dendritics APCs (antigen presenting cells), NKT (natural killer T) cells, neutrophils, keratinocytes and fibroblasts are involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.The aim of our study was to assess in psoriatic patients the production of IL-8, IL-10 and IL-12 cytokines by neutrophils, fibroblasts and fibroblasts - neutrophils interaction. MATERIAL/METHODS: The production of IL-8, IL-10 and IL-12 cytokines was evaluated in supernatants after cells incubation for 21 h in culture medium alone and in medium in the presence of IL-8 or TNF-α. Concentrations of IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method using commercially available kits. RESULTS: Our results demonstrate that fibroblasts are not able to produce IL-10 and IL-12 but they generate IL-8. The amount of IL-8 depends on the site of derivation of fibroblasts and on the stimuli. Neutrophils released IL-8, IL-12 (at a lower level in psoriatic patients) and IL-10 but only in the case of healthy donors and at a very low concentration. Moreover, we observed higher concentrations of IL-12 and IL-8 in supernatants as a result of fibroblasts-neutrophils interaction in psoriatic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that fibroblasts take part in the inflammatory reaction in psoriasis via cytokines or direct interaction with neutrophils. Fibroblasts probably do not exert any anti-inflammatory effect.

The retrospective evaluation of pneumonia and bronchitis cases in infants and small children with atopic dermatitis in the practice of a family doctor - personal observations.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the work is to estimate the occurrence of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and small children with atopic dermatitis and to compare them with a group of children at the same age without features of allergy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study has been conducted on the basis of the retrospective analysis of medical documentation of individual history of disease among children born in 2005 - 2008 treated in an outpatient clinic. RESULTS: Children suffering from atopic dermatitis are more prone to pneumonia and bronchitis. They are also more often hospitalized due to these reasons. Also, this group of patients is more liable to wheezing in the time of infection. CONCLUSIONS: Infants and small children with atopic dermatitis are more prone to lower respiratory tract infections. Recurrence of infections within the respiratory system may be an important risk factor for asthma.

The unusually large striae distensae all over the body.

Striae distensae or stretch marks are cutaneous changes which may appear everywhere on the body, except for the face, and they usually occur in stretching areas. We want to present unusually large striae that developed nearly all the body of a 14-year-old patient during steroid therapy. Such huge striae are very rare, especially when the doses of steroids are not high. Widely spread striae are not a serious disease or disability, but only a cosmetic problem. However, they may lead to a persistent complex and feeling of inferiority or even cause serious depression states, especially in teenagers, as in this case.

[Pruritic urticaria-related papules and plaques of pregnancy: a case report]. / Rzadki przypadek zapalenia pokrzywkowo-grudkowo-plamistego skóry ciezarnych.

Rarely met pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy usually are connected with multiply pregnancy. Disease begins in the third trimester of pregnancy, doesn't react on treating and disappear after delivery. In the reported case massive skin changes disappeared in a few days after caesarean section.

[Vulvar lichen sclerosus in girls treated locally with clobetasol propionate]. / Miejscowe leczenie propionianem clobetasolu liszaja twardzinowego sromu u dziewczat.

Vulvar lichen sclerosus is rare disease in children. 5 girls (age 5-16) with LS were treated locally with clobetasol propionate. All patients showed clinical improvement or full regression of symptoms without side effects.

[Clinical and histopathologic picture of lichen sclerosus treated with clobetasol propionate]. / Obraz kliniczny i histopatologiczny liszaja twardzinowego sromu w trakcie leczenia propionianem klobetazolu.

Effects of treating of the vulvar lichen scleroses by topical using of clobetasol propionate. The period of observation was 1 year. All patients showed clinical improvement or full regression depending on the period of disease. In all cases histopathologic examination was performed.

[Vulvar squamous cell hyperplasia and lichen sclerosus et atrophicus: clinical picture, morphology and treatment]. / Rozrost plaskonablonkowy oraz liszaj twardzinowy i zanikowy sromu--obraz kliniczny, morfologiczny i leczenie.

Treatment of the vulvar squamous cell hyperplasia and lichen sclerosus et atrophicus by topical using of corticosteroids and 2% testosterone ointment. The period of observation was from 6 months to 18 months. All patients showed clinical improvement or full regression depending on the period of disease. In all cases histopathologic examination was performed.