The RCM evaluation showed sensitivity at the level of 100% and specificity at 62%.

It can be estimated that double evaluation of melanocytic lesions by dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy may allow up to 62% of unnecessary excisions to be avoided.

It can be estimated that double evaluation of melanocytic lesions by dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy may allow up to 62% of unnecessary excisions to be avoided.

The aim of the study was to assess of sTNFαR1 concentration in the serum of patients with localized scleroderma (in comparison with a control group).

This was a prospective study. The patients with localized scleroderma were divided into two groups 21 persons treated with PUVA therapy and 20 persons treated with procaine penicillin. In the case of the patients treated with intramuscularly administered procaine penicillin (dose 2,400,000 IU/day), achievement of a total dose of at least 30 million IU/day was considered as the end of the therapy. In the group of patients treated with photochemotherapy, the single initial dose during a PUVA session was 0.5 J/cm

and it was increased by 0.5 J/cm

every other day to reach the maximum value of 10 J/cm

, depending on the clinical condition. The study involved three sessions a week.

sTNFαR1 concentration in the serum of patients with localized scleroderma was significantly higher in comparison with the control group and correlated with the skin damage index. The difference in the determined particle level was higher in the group of patients undergoing photochemotherapy (median 106.25 ng/ml) than in the group taking penicillin (median 81.50 ng/ml). Patients treated with PUVA sessions demonstrated a greater decrease in sTNFαR1 concentration and an improvement of the clinical condition after therapy completion.

The obtained results suggest a potential role of sTNFαR1 in the pathogenesis of localized scleroderma.

The obtained results suggest a potential role of sTNFαR1 in the pathogenesis of localized scleroderma.

Iodinated contrast media (ICM) are pharmaceuticals widely used in diagnostic procedures. Adverse effects associated with their administration are quite frequent and mostly mild. However, they raise concerns in patients and doctors in the context of their future use.

To determine efficacy of premedication before medical procedures with the use of iodinated contrast media in patients with a history suggesting a hypersensitivity reaction after their past use.

Out of 152 patients consulted due to adverse reactions after ICM (85 women and 67 men, aged 43-90), 101 were selected with the history suggesting a mild hypersensitivity reaction (urticaria, itching, skin redness, malaise etc.). All the patients had health problems requiring a procedure with ICMadministration in the near future. The premedication was given with cetirizine (10 mg) and prednisone (20 mg or 50 mg, randomly assigned) 13, 7 and 1 h before the ICM administration. Presence of adverse events was compared between the subgroups with χ

test and efficacy of premedication – with Wilcoxon test.

Seventy-six patients underwent the radiologic procedure with premedication with antihistamine and a lower (40 patients) or higher dose (36 patients) of prednisone. Four of them reported a cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction (urticaria, itching, redness) and one – dyspnoea. There was no statistically significant difference in relation to the premedication protocol (

= 0.1306).

Premedication with cetirizine and prednisone before radiologic procedures proved to be efficient in patients with a history suggesting hypersensitivity to iodinated contrast media. There was no significant difference in efficacy related to the dose of prednisone (20 mg vs. 50 mg).

Premedication with cetirizine and prednisone before radiologic procedures proved to be efficient in patients with a history suggesting hypersensitivity to iodinated contrast media. There was no significant difference in efficacy related to the dose of prednisone (20 mg vs. 50 mg).

Searching for new therapeutic possibilities constitutes a challenge for modern medicine and an answer to better understanding of molecular mechanisms of pro-inflammatory diseases. The JAK-STAT pathway plays an important role in the inflammatory processes, which is supported by the fact that its inhibitors are used to treat, for instance, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.

To determine whether the epigenetic mechanisms – methylation of gene promotion regions and miRNAs may serve as a new therapeutic strategy for JAK-STAT pathway inhibition.

Basing on MethPrimer (plus CpG Island Prediction) program and microrna.org database of the said mechanism in the regulation of the JAK-STAT signalling pathway, the gene expression was performed, indicating or excluding the possibility of their use as new potential therapeutic strategies.

A different number of CpG islands (CGI) for each gene (JAK1-4 CGI; JAK2-2 CGI; JAK3-5 CGI, TYK2-6 CGI; STAT1-2 CGI; STAT2-1 CGI; STAT3-3 CGI; STAT5A-4 CGI; STAT5B-3 CGI) might be a new therapeutic goal. What is more, our results show that genes associated with JAK-STAT signalling pathways can be regulated by miRNAs (JAK1-42 miRNAs; JAK2-47 miRNAs; JAK3-15 miRNAs, TYK2-4 miRNAs; STAT1-17 miRNAs; STAT2-30 miRNAs, STAT3-36 miRNAs, STAT4-15 miRNAs; STAT5A-10 miRNAs; STAT5B-23 miRNAs).

The epigenetic mechanisms of the regulation of the JAK-STAT signalling pathway gene expression constitute a promising new therapeutic strategy for treatment of those diseases, during which disorders are observed in gene expression models of the analysed signalling pathway.

The epigenetic mechanisms of the regulation of the JAK-STAT signalling pathway gene expression constitute a promising new therapeutic strategy for treatment of those diseases, during which disorders are observed in gene expression models of the analysed signalling pathway.

Food allergy affects 6-17% of Europeans and in 60% of the cases it is accompanied by inhalation allergy. VS-4718 molecular weight This is due to two phenomena, namely co-sensitisation and cross-reactivity, which are caused by panallergens, such as lipid transfer proteins (LTP). These proteins are classified as defence proteins PR-14 and are responsible for protecting the plant from bacterial and fungal infections. Clinically, LTP allergy manifests with severe anaphylactic reactions or milder reactions, such as oral allergy syndrome.

To assess the incidence of specific IgE to components belonging to LTP based on molecular testing.

The study was conducted at the Department of Allergy, Clinical Immunology and Internal Diseases in Bydgoszcz, Poland. A total of 50 subjects participated in the study. Each subject had their asIgE levels determined with ImmunoCap ISAC.

Antigen-specific IgE antibodies to LTP components were identified in 24% of the subjects. In subjects with LTP allergy, adverse skin reactions were the most common after consumption of sensitising foods.