Background and Aim: Psoriasis is a chronic, relapsing and inflammatory multisystemic disease with both genetic predisposition and autoimmune pathogenic traits. Several types of vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms have been investigated as a predisposing factor for psoriasis susceptibility with controversial results. However, the exact pathophysiological effect of the VDR gene on psoriasis susceptibility remains poorly understood. We aimed to determine whether VDR gene polymorphisms, specifically rs7975232 (ApaI), afford psoriasis susceptibility in a given community in Saudi Arabia. Also, to assess its possible relation with disease severity.Subjects and Methods: In a comparative case-control study comprising 53 psoriatic patients and 41 matched healthy controls, we measured serum ApaI levels, and the PCR-RFLEP technique detected ApaI genetic polymorphism (rs7975232) for both groups. Serum vitamin D level was measured in both groups.Result: Our results revealed that A/A genotype of ApaI was significantly more predominant in patients than controls, while A/a genotype was more common in healthy subjects. Furthermore, A allele was significantly over-represented in the patients' group compared to the controls (P≤0.001). Serum vitamin D levels were significantly higher in mild psoriatic patients than in those with moderate and severe types (P=0.002). Mild psoriatic patients with a/a genotypes have higher vitamin D levels than severe patients with A/A genotypes and A/a moderate patients (P≤0.001). Conclusion: Our data indicated clearly that VDR gene polymorphism, namely ApaI, is associated with psoriasis susceptibility. Furthermore, serum vitamin D level in psoriatic patients varies among different ApaI genotypes, where it is lowest in AA genotype.

Background and Aims Acne is a frequently diagnosed skin condition that causes pilosebaceous apparatus clogs and/or inflammatory responses in the majority of teenagers. It is a multifactorial disease that can develop due to various factors. We aimed to evaluate lipid profiles and hormonal levels in patients with acne and correlate them to acne severity. We also aim to explore the alteration of lipid profiles and hormonal levels and their effect on the occurrence of acne. Methods A case‐control study was performed on 100 individuals with acne vulgaris and 100 healthy controls. The biochemical analysis included; lipid profiles such as triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), and hormonal levels such as estradiol (E), total testosterone (TT), and free testosterone (FT) were measured for both patients and controls. Results Comparison between patients with acne and controls disclosed that; TC, TG, LDL‐C, and HDL‐C levels were significantly higher in patients, especially when compared to controls (p ≤ 0.05); also, the same results were found in hormonal levels results (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion These altered lipid profiles and androgen levels should be considered in the pathophysiology of acne and taken into consideration when treating patients with acne.

Background: Several types of polymorphisms in vitamin D receptor (VDR) have been found in psoriasis.Aim: this study looked at the role of the TaqI polymorphism in the VDR gene as a factor in changing plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in psoriasis patients and to see if it had any relationship with disease severity.Subjects and Methods: Clinical examination, serum (25(OH)D) levels measurement, molecular studies, TaqI genotyping by PCR and RFLP subjected for the two groups.Results: T/t genotypes of TaqI polymorphism genotypes were most common in patients, while t/t genotypes were more abundant in healthy subjects. The T allele was high in the patient group in comparing to the normal subjects, but there were no signi cant differences (P=0.421). Patients with T/t TaqI genotypes had higher levels of 25(OH)D) than T/T and t/t (P=0.004). Moderate psoriatic patients with the T/t genotype have relatively high 25(OH)D) levels than moderate patients with the T/t and t/t genotypes (P=0.001). Conclusion:The increase in 25(OH)D) titers in moderate patients is greater than that in mild and severe patients. T/t genotypes are associated with increased 25(OH)D) levels in moderate and mild patients.

No abstract

BackgroundMacrophage scavenger receptor 1 gene (MSR1), is responsible for producing macrophage scavenger receptors. MSR1 is primarily located on the surfaces of various macrophage types and is known to exert a range of effects on the human body. These effects include influencing innate and adaptive immunological reactions, as well as contributing to the development of conditions such as atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia, liver and lung disease, and cancer. The unregulated assimilation of lipoproteins by MSR1 leads to the creation of macrophages rich in cholesterol that manifest as foam‐like cells, ultimately contributing to dyslipidemia. This occurrence highlights the significance of MSR1 as a key player in the pathophysiology of dyslipidemia.AimIn this study, we aimed to estimate variation in lipid profile in acne vulgaris (AV) patients. Also, we aimed to investigate the role of MSR1 in lipid profile variation.Subjects and methodsA case‐control study consisting of 100 patients with AV and 104 healthy controls. Lipid profiles were assessed using normalized enzymatic processes and genotype analyses were performed by a polymerase chain reaction and standard Sanger sequencing. Predictions of variant effects were performed using in silico tools.ResultOur results indicated that the levels of lipid profile were higher in patients with AV than in healthy patients. The two haplotypes that were most prevalent in the patients were TCAC (16.5%) and CAGG (15.47%), whereas the two haplotypes that were more prevalent in the controls were TAAC (16.43%) and CCAC (15.62%). IVS5.59 C > A and rs433235 A > G are in linkage disequilibrium. Additionally, rs433235 A > G has a significant linkage disequilibrium with rs3747531 C > G. In silico analysis, tools indicated that the rs433235 A > G variant was disease‐causing.ConclusionPatients diagnosed with TCAC and CAGG exhibited a higher prevalence compared to healthy patients with TAAC and CCAC. The linkage disequilibrium between rs433235 A > G and IVS5.59 C > A has been established. Furthermore, there appears to be significant linkage disequilibrium between rs3747531 C > G and rs433235 A > G. These findings support the notion that genetic variations may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of these conditions.