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Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with metabolic syndrome, including obesity. Ceramides (CER) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), which belongs to sphingolipids, have both biological and structural functions in the human epidermis. Aim: To evaluate serum concentrations of selected CER in psoriatic patients in different weight ranges, the impact of obesity on the concentration of circulating CERs, their association with the course of psoriasis and selected inflammatory markers. Material and methods: Eigthy-five patients with active plaque-type psoriasis and 32 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into 3 groups: normal weight, overweight and obese. Serum concentrations of 14 ceramides were measured by gas-liquid chromatography. The results were correlated with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), serum lipid profile and inflammatory markers. Results: There were no significant differences in total serum CER concentration between psoriatic groups of patients. The S1P concentration was higher in psoriatic patients with normal body weight and overweight than in the control group (p = 0.002 and p = 0.04, respectively). In psoriatic patients with normal body weight, nervonic ceramide (C24:1) correlated with PASI (r = 0.38; p = 0.042) and CRP (C-reactive protein) (r = 0.42; p = 0.023). In overweight patients, the concentration of lignoceric ceramide (C24:0) correlated inversely with the severity of the disease (r = -0.41; p = 0.022) and CRP (r = -0.6; p = 0.0004). Conclusions: We have demonstrated an abnormal sphingolipid profile in psoriatic patients in different weight groups. Selected CER might be the biomarkers of psoriasis severity and inflammation, may reflect lipid disturbances and contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome.

Fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP5) is elevated in psoriatic keratinocytes and could be involved in systemic metabolic disturbances in psoriasis. The aim of the study was to evaluate serum FABP5 in obese and non-obese psoriatic patients, to assess the relationship between FABP5 and the duration, severity of the disease, inflammatory and metabolic markers and influence of treatment with narrowband—ultraviolet B (NB-UVB). Seventy-four patients (30 treated with NB-UVB) with psoriasis were enrolled in the study. The serum concentrations of FABP5 were measured using Human FABP5 Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay kit. Serum fatty acids were measured by gas–liquid chromatography. Serum FABP5 levels in psoriatic patients were higher versus control group (P < 0.001). FABP5 in patients with PASI > 20 was higher compared to the mild group (PASI < 10) (P < 0.001) and serum FABP5 correlated positively with PASI score (r = 0.41, P < 0.001). There was also positive correlation between FABP5 and basic inflammation indices. Decrease of PASI after NB-UVB treatment (P < 0.001) was observed and accompanied by decrease of the serum FABP5 (P = 0.007). FABP5 is a potential marker of psoriasis, its severity and clinical outcome after therapy with NB-UVB. FABP5 may reflect metabolic disturbances in psoriatic patients.

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Growth of tumors is strongly dependent upon supply of nutrients and oxygen by de novo formed blood vessels. Inhibiting angiogenesis suppresses growth of primary tumors as well and affects development of metastases. We demonstrate that recombinant MBP/vasostatin fusion protein inhibits proliferation of endothelial cells in vitro. The therapeutic usefulness of such intratumorally delivered recombinant protein was then assessed by investigating its ability to inhibit growth of experimental murine melanomas. In the model of B16-F10 melanoma the MBP/vasostatin construct significantly delayed tumor growth and prolonged survival of treated mice. A combination therapy involving MBP/vasostatin construct and cyclophosphamide was even more effective and led to further inhibition of the tumor growth and extended survival. We show that such combination might be useful in the clinical setting, especially to treat tumors which have already formed microvessel networks.

Psoriasis is not an isolated pathology of the skin and joints, but is also characterized by multiple extracutaneous systemic manifestations. Beside the co-occurrence of obesity, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, there is a strong correlation with many liver disturbances. The most common liver comorbid disease coexisting with psoriasis is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Both diseases share the same molecular mechanisms: chronic systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, disturbances of lipid metabolism, immune pathways and secretions of bioactive molecules. Additionally, patients with psoriasis have an increased risk of developing autoimmune liver disease and also liver cancer in comparison to the heathy population. Moreover, drugs used in treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis augment the hepatotoxic effect on the liver. The study below presents the most recent data on the liver diseases and their pathogenesis in patients with psoriasis. StreSzczenIeŁuszczyca jest obecnie uważana nie tylko za chorobę skóry i stawów, charakteryzuje się także wieloma objawami ogólnoustrojowymi. Poza współwystępowaniem otyłości, nadciśnienia tętniczego, dyslipidemii, cukrzycy typu 2, istnieje silny związek między łuszczycą a zaburzeniami czynności wątroby. Najczęstszą chorobą współistniejącą z łuszczycą jest niealkoholowa stłuszczeniowa choroba wątroby, która stanowi wątrobową manifestację zespołu metabolicznego. Wspólnym podłożem obu schorzeń są te same mechanizmy molekularne: przewlekły, ogólnoustrojowy stan zapalny, stres oksydacyjny, zaburzenia metabolizmu lipidów, nieprawidłowe wspólne szlaki immunologiczne oraz wydzielanie cząsteczek bioaktywnych. U pacjentów z łuszczycą występuje większe ryzyko rozwoju autoimmunologicznych chorób wątroby, a także raka wątroby w porównaniu z populacją ogólną. Dodatkowo leki stosowane w leczeniu łuszczycy i łuszczycowego zapalenia stawów mogą mieć działanie hepatotoksyczne. W poniższym artykule przedstawiono najnowsze dane dotyczące chorób wątroby i ich patogenezy u pacjentów z łuszczycą.

Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with metabolic disturbances and liver dysfunction. Both serum fatty acids (FA) and ceramides (Cer) have structural functions but also are signal molecules that could be involved in the pathogenesis of liver dysfunction. Aim: To assess the concentration of the circulating FA and Cer in correlation with the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) blood level in psoriatic patients. In addition, we have examined the relationship between ALT concentration and severity of the disease and inflammation markers. Material and methods: Eighty-five patients with psoriasis and 32 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to ALT blood levels. Serum concentration of 14 FA and 14 Cer were measured by gas-liquid chromatography. The results were correlated with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), serum lipid profile, and inflammatory markers. Results: We observed higher PASI score (p = 0.01) and higher C-reactive protein (p = 0.02) concentration in the group of psoriatic patients with high ALT. Serum ALT positively correlated with saturated fatty acids (SFA) (p = 0.01, r = 0.27) and SFA/unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) ratio (p = 0.01, r = 0.26). ALT negatively correlated with UFA level (p = 0.008, r = -0.28). Lignoceric ceramide positively correlated with ALT level (r = 0.22; p = 0.045) in psoriatic patients. Conclusions: Patients with severe psoriasis are predisposed to the development of liver dysfunction. We have demonstrated disturbances of serum fatty acid and sphingolipid profile in psoriatic patients, which may trigger liver disease.

History of Science Bibliography at the Institute for the History of Science of the Polish Academy of Sciences The article presents the history of preparing the history of science bibliography at the Institute for the History of Science of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The purpose of creating such a bibliography is to facilitate scholars’ access to publications in this field of knowledge. The beginnings of this bibliography date back to 1966, but the official date of its creation should be 1971. The article recalls its authors and describes the thematic scope from its inception to 2008 when the publication was discontinued for financial reasons. In 2018, the publishing of the history of science bibliography was resumed.