Altered expression of studied microRNAs and the differences between early and advanced MF may suggest that microRNAs play a significant role in MF pathogenesis. It seems that microRNAs could serve as potential therapeutic targets in the future.

Introduction Urticaria is one of the most common skin diseases. Depending on the length of symptoms, acute (lasting less than 6 weeks) and chronic urticaria (CU) (> 6 weeks) are distinguished. According to the current European guidelines, CU is divided into inducible urticaria (IU) and chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Aim To assess the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of CU in Poland. Material and methods This was a nationwide, multicentre, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study performed under the auspices of the Polish Dermatological Society. A total of 102 physicians (dermatologists and allergists) recruited 1091 patients suffering from CU. Results Among 1091 adults with CU, IU was found in 35.1% ( n = 383) of patients and CSU was responsible for 61.1% ( n = 667) of CU cases. The remaining patients ( n = 41, 3.8%) suffered from both, IU and CSU. Persons with CSU were twice more likely to report family history of urticaria than those with IU (12.1% vs. 6.0%, p = 0.001). Generalized eruptions of wheals predominated in CSU (generalized wheals: 57.9%, localized wheals: 42.1%), whereas wheals localized in particular body areas were found more commonly in IU (generalized wheals: 45.2%, localized wheals: 54.8%, p < 0.001). The CU was the cause of absenteeism in almost every fifth patient suffering from this disease. Conclusions The CSU is about twice as frequent cause of CU as compared to IU. The treatment of CU is a major challenge for physicians of various specialties and the treatment choice is closely associated with the specialist knowledge of current treatment guidelines.

Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a benign histiocytosis that rarely manifests as a purely cutaneous form. Its differential diagnosis and treatment can pose a challenge to both clinicians and pathomorphologists. We present the case of a 69-year-old woman with cutaneous RDD presenting as multiple nodules on the right thigh who was treated with low-dose methotrexate weekly for [ 1 year with a partial response.

IntroductionChemokines play an important role in tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. The CXCR4/CXCL12 axis has been implicated in development of both solid tumors and hematological malignancies and is also relevant in the pathogenesis of the most common primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, mycosis fungoides (MF).AimTo evaluate the expression of CXCR4 and CXCL12 in MF and to examine their associations with cell proliferation and angiogenesis.Material and methodsThe material for the study consisted of skin samples obtained from 56 patients with MF and 20 healthy volunteers. The expression of CXCR4 and CXCL12 was assessed by immunohistochemistry on the paraffin blocks and compared to the expression of angiogenesis marker (CD34) and proliferation indicators (Ki-67, AgNORs).ResultsThe expression of chemokine CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 was significantly higher in MF than in the healthy skin (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between early and advanced stages of MF. Similarly, there was no statistically important correlation between the expression of CXCR4/CXCL12 and angiogenesis and proliferation markers, however a significant correlation between CD34 and AgNORs expression was found (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe CXCR4/CXCL12 axis seems to play an important role in MF development in the early as well as in the advanced stages of the disease. Therefore, the CXCR4/CXCL12 axis seems to be an interesting potential target for the future strategies of new drug development, giving hope for more efficacious therapies for mycosis fungoides.

Expression of CD31 in MF skin biopsies provides new evidence for the role of angiogenesis in the progression of MF. Additionally, the new data revealed prompts for further research on potential use of CD31 as a new marker of the disease advancement, as well as the target of new therapeutic strategies.