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Introduction Psoriasis is a chronic disease of inflammatory nature which can be considered as a systemic disorder. Metabolic syndrome is prevalent in psoriatic patients, with a negative impact on disease severity. learn more Angiopoietin-like protein 2 (ANGPTL2) role has been investigated in several chronic inflammatory conditions, but not in psoriasis. Aim To evaluate the serum level of ANGPTL2 and its possible role in the occurrence of metabolic syndrome in psoriatic patients. Material and methods This study enrolled 180 participants divided into two groups psoriatic group (120 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis) and control group (60 normal subjects). Psoriasis severity was determined by the psoriasis area severity index. Anthropometric measurements, lipid profile, fasting blood sugar and ANGPTL2 have been evaluated in both groups. Results Psoriatic patients had a higher body mass index (p = 0.014), waist circumference (p less then 0.001), and blood pressure than controls (p Ł 0.001). Fasting blood sugar and the serum level of ANGPTL2 were also higher in psoriatic patients than in controls (p less then 0.001, 0.025, respectively). In addition, the serum level of ANGPTL2 was significantly correlated with both disease severity (p less then 0.001) and occurrence of metabolic syndrome (p less then 0.001). Conclusions Serum ANGPTL2 is elevated in psoriasis patients compared to normal subjects. Serum ANGPTL2 elevation may have a role in chronic inflammatory status in psoriasis and occurrence of metabolic syndrome.Introduction Structural materials and interior appliances are frequently mentioned as elements of modern buildings which may have an impact on the natural history of allergic diseases. Aim We hypothesized that the building age, the type of the heating system and the use of various indoor appliances can influence the occurrence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma. Material and methods The study group comprised 18,617 individuals. The tool used in the study was the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) and the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) study questionnaire, adapted to European conditions (Middle and Eastern Europe) and used as part of the study called "Implementation of a System for the Prevention and Early Detection of Allergic Diseases in Poland". Results Questionnaire results indicated that people living in homes built in the years 1971-1990 had higher rates of allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.15025), which was correlated with clinical findings of increased occurrence of seasonal allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.60543). The leading factor contributing to the intensification of AR symptoms was the central heating (OR = 1.45358). As opposed to AR, people living in buildings with central heating less often declared asthma (OR = 0.8407). A clinical examination confirmed that central heating reduced the symptoms of moderate asthma (OR = 0.3524). Conclusions Increasing building age and certain indoor heating methods are important risk factors for the occurrence of allergic rhinitis and asthma.Introduction Chronic autoimmune urticaria (CAU) lasts over 6 weeks and is characterized by circulating IgE autoantibodies or IgG against IgE or IgE receptor. Aim To assess the clinical, laboratory and histological effects of 4-week levocetirizine and montelukast therapy in patients suffering from CAU. Material and methods Of 296 tested patients with chronic urticaria 40 had a positive ASST test. Only 17 (16 female/1 male; medium age 44 years) fulfilled all study inclusion/exclusion criteria. The study was designed as an open, randomized trial with two arms levocetirizine or montelukast treatment for 4 weeks following a 2-week wash-out period. All participants completed urticaria activity score (UAS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) questionnaires before and after both therapies. Blood samples and skin bioptats were obtained before and after treatment to evaluate COX-1 and COX-2 serum concentrations and skin expression. Results Clinical response to therapy measured with the UAS and VAS was better in the levocetirizine group. Both drugs caused a significant decrease in COX-1 and COX-2 serum level. COX-1 and COX-2 expression in epidermal and dermal inflammatory infiltration did not change significantly in either study group, but a significant decrease of COX-1 expression was observed when the groups were combined for analysis, and the decrease in COX-2 expression in the epidermis was of borderline significance. Conclusions The effectiveness of levocetirizine and montelukast in treating CAU may be partly related to the reduction of COX-1 and COX-2 serum level and tissue expression, but further studies on a larger group of patients are needed to support this observation.Introduction Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease, with a significant effect on quality of life (QoL). Aim To evaluate the impact of AD on QoL of Montenegrin infants and their parents and to identify predictors affecting their QoL. Material and methods The cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2017 and July 2018 and included 186 infants with AD aged 0-4 years and their parents. The severity of disease was measured by the Three-Item Severity (TIS) score, while QoL was assessed with the Infants' Dermatitis Quality of Life Index (IDQOL) and the Dermatitis Family Impact (DFI) questionnaire. Results The mean overall scores were 14.72 for IDQOL and 17.78 for DFI. The positive correlation was observed between AD severity and both the IDQOL and DFI scores (r = 0.61, p less then 0.001 and r = 0.67, p less then 0.001, respectively). The highest-scoring IDQOL items were "itching and scratching", and "child's mood". Poorer infants' QoL was associated with more serious AD (B = 2.56; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.08-3.04), concomitant atopic disease (B = 3.86; 95% CI 1.78-5.94), family history of atopic disease (B = 3.80; 95% CI 1.84-5.77), older age of the child (B = 1.14; 95% CI 0.20-2.07) and older age of the parent (B = 0.28; 95% CI 0.04-0.53). Similarly, parents had poorer QoL if their infants had more severe AD (B = 2.56; 95% CI 2.14-2.87), another atopic disease (B = 2.91; 95% CI 0.99-4.84) or family history of atopic disease (B = 4.33; 95% CI 2.57-6.09). Conclusions Our results demonstrate that AD has a significant negative impact on infants' QoL as well as on QoL of their parents.