Serum concentrations of 25-OH vitamin D and the pro-inflammatory interleukins IL-17, IL-23, and IL-18 in patients with plaque psoriasis.

AIMS: The present study aimed to assess vitamin D status and serum concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-17, Il-23, and IL-18 in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and their association with various demographic and clinical characteristics. METHODS: The study was conducted during the autumn/winter period on 48 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and 48 controls. Total serum 25(OH)D level was determined with Roche Elecsys® 2010 Vitamin D total assay. Commercial ELISA kits were used for quantifying the serum levels of IL-17A, IL-18, and IL-23. RESULTS: Serum 25(OH)D had a median value of 16.95 ng/mL (IQR 10.8-23.50) for patients with psoriasis and 18.80 ng/mL (IQR 15.45-25.85) for the control group (P=0.09). A moderate negative correlation was found between PASI score and 25(OH)D levels (rs=-0.34; P=0.02). The serum levels of IL-17 (P=0.001), IL-23 (P=0.01) and IL-18 (P=0.02) were significantly higher in the patient group compared to controls. IL-17 concentrations were higher in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis compared to patients with mild psoriasis (P=0.003). No significant correlations were detected between the serum concentrations of 25(ОH)D and IL-17, IL-23, and IL-18. CONCLUSION: It was confirmed that IL-17 serum level is associated with psoriasis severity. Measurement of 25(OH)D serum concentration can be useful in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis with or without comorbidities. A direct association between 25(OH)D serum concentration and the serum concentrations of IL-17, IL-23, or IL-18 was not identified in this study.

Dietary supplements - use and safety perception: A study among hospitalized dermatology patients.

OBJECTIVES: Evidence suggests that the use of dietary supplements in patients with various disorders is growing. The study aims to examine the use of drug supplements in patients with dermatological disorders, regarding their type, the reasons and predictors of their use, and the safety beliefs and communication attitude of users. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of patients hospitalized in the Clinic of Dermatology and Venereology at the University Нospital in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, was carried out from October 2018 to December 2019. Data were collected using a specially designed and validated questionnaire. Statistical analysis included the χ2-test, the Mann-Whitney U test, and logistic regression. RESULTS: Overall 348 patients (204 females and 144 males) were involved in the study. The patients who reported having used dietary supplements were 67% of the study population. Various combinations ranked first among the dietary supplement types, and vitamins/minerals presented a substantial part (75.9%). The majority of the patients (61.6%) used dietary supplements for more than one reason, mainly for organ-related disorders. Most of the respondents (76.4%) considered them to be completely safe. Higher education (OR = 1.91; CI: 1.14 - 3.19), being a non-smoker (OR = 1.81; CI:1.14 - 2.88), and sporting activities (OR = 1.71; CI: 1.03 - 2.83) increased the odds of using dietary supplements. CONCLUSION: The examined cohort of dermatology patients presented a dietary supplement user profile similar to the general population. The study confirmed that these products are considered to be safe by the majority of participants. Factors indicative of a healthy lifestyle and higher education were predictive for their use.

Metabolic Disorders Induced by Fructosedrinking Water Affect Angiotensin II-mediated Intestinal Contractility in Male Wistar Rats.

INTRODUCTION: The high-fructose diet in rats has been reported to cause metabolic disorders such as impaired fasting glucose levels, in-sulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin system. This could lead to further complications, for instance, to the smooth muscle dysfunction. AIM: The present study aimed at developing fructose-induced metabolic perturbations in rats and the investigation of their impact on angiotensin II-induced smooth muscle intestinal motility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mature Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups (9 rats per group): control group (drinking tap water) and fructose-drinking group (15% fructose, dissolved in tap water). At the end of the experimental period (11 weeks), the plasma levels of insulin, renin, angiotensin II and creatinine, as well as the lipid profile were assessed. Morphometric analysis and lipid index calculation were also performed. The contractile properties of ileum, colon and rectum were studied using stimulation with angiotensin II in the isolated tissue bath system. RESULTS: Our experiment showed that drinking 15% fructose solution induced dyslipidaemia accompanied by elevated lipid indexes as well as an increase in creatinine and renin plasma levels in the rats. CONCLUSIONS: Fructose drinking and consequently the developed metabolic disorders modified the Ang II-induced intestinal activity causing a gradual alteration in the distal direction with the rectum being the most strongly affected organ.

Effect of chirality on PVP/drug interaction within binary physical mixtures of ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen: a DSC study.

We report on the thermal behavior of freshly prepared binary drug/polymer physical mixtures that contained ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen as a drug, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), or methylcellulose (MC) as excipient. At 6-10 degrees C/min heating rates the DSC detected a sharp, single endotherm that corresponds to the melting of drug. On heating physical mixtures of PVP and racemic ibuprofen or ketoprofen at lower heating rates, another endotherm was registered in front of the original one. To observe the additional endotherm, specific minimal values of the heating rate and of PVP weight fraction were needed; for ibuprofen and ketoprofen they were 1.5 and 2.0 degrees C/min, and 5 and 15% (w/w), respectively. At greater PVP weight fractions the top temperatures, T(mp), of both peaks were reduced almost linearly indicating strong solid-state interfacial reaction between the drug particles and PVP matrix. The additional endotherm was abolished at greater heating rates (2 degrees C/min for ibuprofen, 3 degrees C/min for ketoprofen), by replacing the racemate with respective S+-enantiomer and by replacing PVP with HEC and MC. Hence, the possible inclusion of enantioselective component within the PVP/drug interaction, responsible for the amorphization of physical mixture over storage, is assumed.