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Medicina
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Inflammatory Skin Diseases and Comorbidities
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Inflammatory Skin Diseases and Comorbidities

A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Dermatology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2024 | Viewed by 9825

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Raluca S. Costache

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, ‘Carol Davila’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: inflammatory diseases; pathogenesis, therapy; biologics, comorbidity; rheumatologic diseases; GI inflammatory diseases
Dr. Daniel O. Costache

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Dermatology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: skin inflammatory disorders
Dr. Camelia Cristina Diaconu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Internal Medicine, ‘Carol Davila’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: inflammatory diseases; pathogenesis; therapy; biologics; comorbidity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, a tremendous number of discoveries in the field of inflammation and inflammatory disorders have been achieved, highlighting at the same time the significant need for interdisciplinarity to manage many of those diseases. Skin, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and rheumatic diseases seem to share a significant number of etiopathogenetic mechanisms and must be considered more than comorbidities. We are pleased to invite you to contribute your valuable work in deepening the insights and understanding of the intricate pathogenic mechanisms of inflammatory disorders.

This Special Issue aims to clarify some of the problems that have arisen in recent years, both in the diagnosis and management of inflammatory diseases that affect the skin and other organs and systems. Original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: inflammatory diseases of the skin, of the gastrointestinal system, rheumatologic diseases, and their comorbidities.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Raluca S. Costache
Dr. Daniel O. Costache
Dr. Camelia Cristina Diaconu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Medicina is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • inflammatory diseases
  • pathogenesis
  • therapy
  • biologics
  • comorbidity
  • rheumatologic diseases
  • GI inflammatory diseases

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 584 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Effectiveness of Biological Therapy in Patients with Psoriasis: Body Image and Quality of Life
by Chia-Lien Wu, Ya-Ching Chang, Wen-Teng Yao and Tsay-I Chiang
Medicina 2024, 60(1), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60010160 - 15 Jan 2024
Viewed by 947
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Psoriasis is a chronic, long-term, incurable skin inflammatory disease characterized by the excessive proliferation of epidermal keratinocytes, dilation of blood vessels, thickening of the skin, and the formation of visible red patches of variable sizes. The impact on patients [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Psoriasis is a chronic, long-term, incurable skin inflammatory disease characterized by the excessive proliferation of epidermal keratinocytes, dilation of blood vessels, thickening of the skin, and the formation of visible red patches of variable sizes. The impact on patients differs with the severity of the disease, leading to physiological discomfort and psychological distress, which significantly affect the quality of life. The etiology of psoriasis is not completely clear, but immune cells, including type 1 and type 17 cytokine-producing cells modulated by regulatory T cells (Tregs), play a critical role in driving the disease pathogenesis. With the ability to specifically target inflammatory markers, biologics can efficiently inhibit the spread of inflammation to achieve therapeutic effects. The goal was to explore the changes in body image and quality of life in psoriasis patients undertaking therapies with biologic agents. Materials and Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental, single-sample, pretest–posttest design. Forty-four psoriasis patients were recruited from the dermatology outpatient clinics at two medical centers in northern Taiwan. A structured questionnaire, including demographic information, the Body Image Scale (BIS), and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), was used as a research tool. Questionnaire assessments were conducted both before and three months after the biologic agent intervention. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 22.0. Results: Our results indicated a significant difference in body image between psoriasis patients before and after intervention with biologic agents. In addition, overall quality of life (QoL) also showed significant improvements before and after biologic agent intervention. There was a positive correlation between body image and quality of life in psoriasis patients. Conclusions: The treatment for psoriasis has evolved rapidly in recent years, and biologic agents have proven to be effective therapies to improve the quality of life for psoriasis patients. Our study suggests that health-related education and psychological support can further benefit psoriasis patients to willingly and positively undertake treatment and therefore improve their positive body image and quality of life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inflammatory Skin Diseases and Comorbidities)
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9 pages, 625 KiB  
Article
Comparative Study of Hematological Parameters and Biomarkers of Immunity and Inflammation in Patients with Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis
by Mirjana Bakic, Aleksandra Klisic and Vesna Karanikolic
Medicina 2023, 59(9), 1622; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59091622 - 08 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1341
Abstract
Background and Objectives: There are no studies regarding comparative analysis of hematological parameters in patients with psoriasis (PsO) and atopic dermatitis (AD), whereas studies examining serum biomarkers of immunity and inflammation in these entities are scarce and contradictory. We aimed to compare [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: There are no studies regarding comparative analysis of hematological parameters in patients with psoriasis (PsO) and atopic dermatitis (AD), whereas studies examining serum biomarkers of immunity and inflammation in these entities are scarce and contradictory. We aimed to compare such parameters in patients with PsO and AD. Materials and Methods: Patients with PsO (n = 40) and AD (n = 40) were consecutively included in this cross-sectional study. Hematological parameters and biomarkers of immunity and inflammation (interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukine (IL)-22 and C-reactive protein (CRP)) were determined. Results: While the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was higher in the PsO group vs. the AD group (p < 0.05), there was no difference in the other examined parameters between groups. A higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was found in patients with AD > 50 years vs. patients with PsO of similar age (p < 0.05). Higher IL-22 levels were found in patients with AD < 50 years vs. patients with PsO of similar age (p < 0.05). Lower IL-22 levels were found in patients with AD > 50 years vs. patients with AD < 50 years (p < 0.05). Patients with PsO and with comorbidities had lower platelets (PLT), plateletcrit (PCT) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), whereas lymphocytes, red cell distribution width-to-PLT ratio (RPR) and mean platelet volume/PLT ratio (MPR) were higher vs. PsO patients without comorbidities. Patients with AD and with comorbidities had lower PCT and PLR, whereas RPR was higher vs. AD patients without comorbidities. Conclusions: A higher pro-inflammatory state (i.e., higher NLR and IL-22) was found in AD vs. PsO in age-specific groups. A higher pro-inflammatory state (i.e., as reflected by platelet indexes) was found in both diseases with comorbidities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inflammatory Skin Diseases and Comorbidities)
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9 pages, 1444 KiB  
Article
The Follicular Dendritic Cells and HPV 18 Interrelation in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Larynx
by Eugen Radu Boia, Simina Boia, Raluca Amalia Ceausu, Pusa Nela Gaje, Sarrah Mariam Maaroufi, Florica Sandru and Marius Raica
Medicina 2023, 59(6), 1072; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59061072 - 02 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1248
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Even if they are cells of controversial origin (mesenchymal, perivascular, or fibroblastic), follicular dendritic cells (FDC) are present in all organs. The aim of this study was to establish the FDC expression pattern and its interrelation with HPV 18 expression [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Even if they are cells of controversial origin (mesenchymal, perivascular, or fibroblastic), follicular dendritic cells (FDC) are present in all organs. The aim of this study was to establish the FDC expression pattern and its interrelation with HPV 18 expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Materials and Methods: Fifty-six cases of LSCC were evaluated by simple and double immunostaining. The following score was used: 0 (negative or few positive cells), 1 (10–30% of positive cells), 2 (30–50% of cells), and 3 (over 50% of cells). Results: The expression of CD 21-positive cells with dendritic morphology (CDM) was noticed in the intratumoral area of conventional (well and poorly differentiated types and HPV 18 positive cases with a value of 2 for the score) and papillary types (HPV-18 negative cases with a score of 1). The highest value of 2 for the score of CDM in HPV-18 positive cases was found in the peritumoral area of well- and poorly-differentiated conventional LSCCs. A significant correlation was found between scores of CDM from the intratumoral area and those of the peritumoral area (p = 0.001), between CDM and non-dendritic morphology cells (NDM) of the intratumoral area (p = 0.001), and between HPV-18 status and peritumoral NDM cells (p = 0.044). Conclusions: The FDC and NDM cell score values of intratumoral and peritumoral areas may represent important parameters of LSCCs. This may contribute to a better stratification of laryngeal carcinoma cases and the individualized selection of clinical treatment protocols. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inflammatory Skin Diseases and Comorbidities)
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10 pages, 321 KiB  
Article
Latent Tuberculosis in Psoriasis Patients on Biologic Therapies: Real-World Data from a Care Center in Romania
by Doriana-Sorina Lupea-Chilom, Caius Silviu Solovan, Simona Sorina Farcas, Armand Gogulescu and Nicoleta Ioana Andreescu
Medicina 2023, 59(6), 1015; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59061015 - 24 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1741
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Psoriasis is a chronic and inflammatory condition that has a huge impact on the patient’s quality of life. Biological treatment improved psoriasis therapy, with impressive results seen in the evolution of the disease and the patient’s quality of life. However, [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Psoriasis is a chronic and inflammatory condition that has a huge impact on the patient’s quality of life. Biological treatment improved psoriasis therapy, with impressive results seen in the evolution of the disease and the patient’s quality of life. However, the risk of mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection reactivation is well-known to biological therapy, which raises problems especially in an endemic country. Materials and Methods: In this study, we followed moderate to severe psoriasis patients who had latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) following treatment with a biological therapy approved in Romania. Results: The patients were evaluated at baseline and then followed-up with Mantoux tests and chest X-rays every year, resulting in 54 patients being diagnosed with LTBI. At the initial evaluation, 30 patients with LTBI were identified, and 24 more were identified during biological therapy. These patients were given prophylactic treatment. Out of the 97 participants in this retrospective study, 25 required association of methotrexate (MTX) alongside biological therapy. We compared the prevalence of positive Mantoux tests in patients with combined therapy with that of patients only on biological treatment, and the results were higher in the combined therapy group. Conclusion: All the patients in the study were vaccinated against tuberculosis (TB) after birth, and none were diagnosed with active tuberculosis (aTB) before or after the start of therapy according to the pulmonologist. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inflammatory Skin Diseases and Comorbidities)

Review

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14 pages, 3250 KiB  
Review
The “Viral” Form of Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN)—A Distinct Entity: A Case Based Review
by Victoria Pașa, Elena Popa, Mihaela Poroch, Adriana Cosmescu, Agnes Iacinta Bacusca, Ana Maria Slanina, Alexandr Ceasovschih, Alexandra Stoica, Antoneta Petroaie, Monica Ungureanu, Andrei Emilian Popa, Raluca Ioana Avram, Cristina Bologa, Vladimir Poroch and Elena Adorata Coman
Medicina 2023, 59(6), 1162; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59061162 - 16 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2210
Abstract
Classic polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a vasculitis with systemic manifestations that is characterized by inflammatory and necrotizing lesions affecting medium and small muscular arteries, most frequently at the bifurcation of the vessels. These lesions lead to the formation of microaneurysms, hemorrhaging ruptured aneurysms, [...] Read more.
Classic polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a vasculitis with systemic manifestations that is characterized by inflammatory and necrotizing lesions affecting medium and small muscular arteries, most frequently at the bifurcation of the vessels. These lesions lead to the formation of microaneurysms, hemorrhaging ruptured aneurysms, thrombosis, and, consequently, ischemia or organ infarction. Background and Objectives: We present a complex clinical case of a patient with a late diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa with multiorgan involvement. Materials and Methods: The 44-year-old patient, in an urban environment, presented on her own in the emergency room for acute ischemia phenomena and forearm and right-hand compartment syndrome, requiring surgical decompression in the Plastic Surgery Clinic. Results: Significant inflammatory syndrome is noted, alongside severe normocytic hypochromic iron deficiency anemia, nitrogen retention syndrome, hyperkalemia, hepatic syndrome, and immunological disturbances: absence of cANCA, pANCA, anti Scl 70 Ac, antinuclear Ac, and anti dDNA Ac, as well as a low C3 fraction of the plasmatic complement system. The morphological aspect described in the right-hand skin biopsy correlated with the clinical data supports the diagnosis of PAN. Conclusions: The viral form of PAN seems to be individualized as a distinct entity, requiring early, aggressive medication. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inflammatory Skin Diseases and Comorbidities)
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Other

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9 pages, 755 KiB  
Brief Report
Probiotics and Prebiotics Orally Assumed as Disease Modifiers for Stable Mild Atopic Dermatitis: An Italian Real-Life, Multicenter, Retrospective, Observational Study
by Delia Colombo, Corinna Rigoni, Alessandra Cantù, Antonello Carnevali, Rossella Filippetti, Tiziana Franco, Alessandra Grassi, Camilla Loi, Annamaria Mazzotta, Ivona Patroi, Beatrice Raone, Marco Andrea Tomassini, Angela Amoruso, Marco Pane and Giovanni Damiani
Medicina 2023, 59(12), 2080; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59122080 - 27 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1406
Abstract
The role of the skin–gut axis in atopic dermatitis (AD) remains a subject of debate, limiting non-pharmacological interventions such as probiotics and prebiotics. To improve understanding of their potential as a monotherapy for stable mild cases, we conducted a real-life, multicenter, retrospective observational [...] Read more.
The role of the skin–gut axis in atopic dermatitis (AD) remains a subject of debate, limiting non-pharmacological interventions such as probiotics and prebiotics. To improve understanding of their potential as a monotherapy for stable mild cases, we conducted a real-life, multicenter, retrospective observational study in Italy. We administered three selected bacteria (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BS01, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP14, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LR05) orally to patients with mild atopic dermatitis without a placebo control group, following up for 12 weeks. Clinical assessments using the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD), Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), and Three-Item Severity (TIS) score were conducted on 144 enrolled patients (average age: 25.1 ± 17.6 years). Notably, both pruritus and AD-related lesions (erythema, edema/papules, excoriation) exhibited significant clinical and statistical improvement (p < 0.001) after 12 weeks of exclusive probiotic and prebiotic use. These preliminary results suggest a potential link between the skin–gut microbiome and support the rationale for using specific probiotics and prebiotics in mild AD, even for maintenance, to reduce flares and dysbiosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inflammatory Skin Diseases and Comorbidities)
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