Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease that affects around 125 million people worldwide. Several studies concerning the gut microbiota composition and its role in disease pathogenesis recently demonstrated significant alterations among psoriatic patients. Certain parameters such as Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio or Psoriasis Microbiome Index were developed in order to distinguish between psoriatic and healthy individuals. The “leaky gut syndrome” and bacterial translocation is considered by some authors as a triggering factor for the onset of the disease, as it promotes chronic systemic inflammation. The alterations were also found to resemble those in inflammatory bowel diseases, obesity and certain cardiovascular diseases. Microbiota dysbiosis, depletion in SCFAs production, increased amount of produced TMAO, dysregulation of the pathways affecting the balance between lymphocytes populations seem to be the most significant findings concerning gut physiology in psoriatic patients. The gut microbiota may serve as a potential response-to-treatment biomarker in certain cases of biological treatment. Oral probiotics administration as well as fecal microbial transplantation were most reported in bringing health benefits to psoriatic patients. However, the issue of psoriatic bacterial gut composition, its role and healing potential needs further investigation. Here we reviewed the literature on the current state of the relationship between psoriasis and gut microbiome.

There is a growing quantity of evidence on how skin and gut microbiome composition impacts the course of various dermatological diseases. The strategies involving the modulation of bacterial composition are increasingly in the focus of research attention. The aim of the present review was to analyze the literature available in PubMed (MEDLINE) and EMBASE databases on the topic of microbiome modulation in skin diseases. The effects and possible mechanisms of action of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics in dermatological conditions including atopic dermatitis (AD), psoriasis, chronic ulcers, seborrheic dermatitis, burns and acne were analyzed. Due to the very limited number of studies available regarding the topic of microbiome modulation in all skin diseases except for AD, the authors decided to also include case reports and original studies concerning oral administration and topical application of the pro-, pre- and synbiotics in the final analysis. The evaluated studies mostly reported significant health benefits to the patients or show promising results in animal or ex vivo studies. However, due to a limited amount of research and unambiguous results, the topic of microbiome modulation as a therapeutic approach in skin diseases still warrants further investigation.

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Gastric cancer is a malignant neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract, with one of the standard treatment methods remaining gastrectomy. The authors conducted a systemic review of the Medline and Embase databases concerning the serum vitamin D level in post-gastrectomy gastric cancer patients, regarding all articles published until 22 May 2022 according to the PRISMA guidelines. 18 studies with a total number of 908 gastric cancer survivors were included in the analysis. The initial rate of vitamin D deficiency in gastric cancer patients undergoing gastrectomy appears to be similar to the global population deficiency. In post-gastrectomy survivors, the level of 25(OH)D may remain stable or decrease, while the level of 1, 25(OH)2D remains normal. Supplementation with vitamin D results in an improvement in its serum concentration and positively affects bone mineral density, which is gradually reduced in post-gastrectomy survivors. Combining vitamin D supplementation with calcium and bisphosphonates enables us to obtain better results than vitamin D and calcium only. The type of surgery influences the level of serum vitamin D and its metabolites, with total or partial gastrectomy and maintenance of the duodenal food passage remaining the most important factors. There is a strong need for randomized, controlled trials that would investigate this matter in the future.

Metformin is the most widely used oral antidiabetic drug in the world. It is the first-line drug in type 2 diabetes, where its inhibiting effect on hepatic glucose production, increasing muscle and adipose tissue insulin sensitivity and reduction of glucose absorption in the gut are used. Many benefits to the skin condition have been reported from using metformin in dermatological diseases such as acne vulgaris, hidradenitis suppurativa, hirsutism as well as reducing the risk of certain skin malignancies and the occurrence of psoriasis. Some adverse effects of metformin have also been reported: rash, skin allergic reactions, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS syndrome), bullous pemphigoid, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, nail discoloration with subungual hyperkeratosis. The article is a review of currently available literature on the influence of metformin on the course of various skin diseases and its adverse effects.streszczenie Metformina jest najczęściej stosowanym na świecie doustnym lekiem przeciwcukrzycowym. Stanowi lek pierwszego wyboru w terapii cukrzycy typu 2, gdzie wykorzystywany jest jej efekt hamowania wątrobowej produkcji glukozy, zwiększania insulinowrażliwości mięśni i tkanki tłuszczowej oraz zmniejszania wchłaniania glukozy w jelitach. W piśmiennictwie istnieje wiele doniesień o korzystnym wpływie metforminy na stan skóry w chorobach dermatologicznych, takich jak trądzik zwyczajny, hidradenitis suppurativa, hirsutyzm, a także o redukowaniu ryzyka rozwoju niektórych nowotworów złośliwych skóry oraz wystąpienia łuszczycy. Donoszono także o niepożądanych działaniach metforminy: występowaniu osutek, skórnych reakcji alergicznych, reakcji polekowej z towarzyszącą eozynofilią i objawami ogólnymi (drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic syndrome -DRESS), pemfigoidu pęcherzowego, leukocytoklastycznego zapalenia naczyń, przebarwień paznokci z podpaznokciową hiperkeratozą. Artykuł stanowi przegląd dostępnej literatury dotyczącej wpływu metforminy na przebieg różnych chorób skóry oraz jej działań niepożądanych.

Inflammation and atherogenic dyslipidaemia are often observed in skin diseases and represent an increased risk of cardiovascular disorders. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 plays an important role in the regulation of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Its biological role, however, seems to go much beyond the regulation of cholesterol metabolism. The article presents potential pathophysiological links between inflammatory process and lipid disorders based on the example of psoriasis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Introduction An early distinction between “normal” and “abnormal” capillaroscopic pattern during the first visit to a dermatologist has a crucial significance for a diagnostic management of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). There exists a question about the level of expertise sufficient to evaluate the microcirculation. Aim To evaluate the utility of short courses on NFC among dermatologists and medical students in obtaining sufficient abilities for the identification of microvasculopathy in patients with RP using videocapillaroscope and handheld dermoscope. Methods Both groups participated in 1‐h course on NFC. Before the course, participants were asked to classify 20 videocapillaroscopic and 10 dermoscopic capillaroscopic pictures into “normal” or “abnormal” pattern. Each picture was displayed on a separate slide MS PowerPoint for 10 s. The evaluation was repeated soon after the course. Results A total of 36 dermatologists and 49 medical students were enrolled. The rate of properly classified dermoscopic and videodermoscopic pictures increased after the course in both groups, but students improved the accuracy of classification on dermoscopic pictures to the greater extent than dermatologists. The rate of correctly recognized pictures with “abnormal” pattern was significantly greater than ones with “normal” pattern at the baseline and after the course, independently of imagining tool. Conclusions Short courses on NFC may improve the classification of capillaroscopic images, even in medical staff with no previous experience in NFC. The recognition of capillaroscopic abnormalities seems to be easier than obtaining the confidence that evaluated picture has “normal pattern.”

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