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A large volume of biological data is being generated for studying mechanisms of various biological processes. These precious data enable large-scale computational analyses to gain biological insights. However, it remains a challenge to mine the data efficiently for knowledge discovery. The heterogeneity of these data makes it difficult to consistently integrate them, slowing down the process of biological discovery. We introduce a data processing paradigm to identify key factors in biological processes via systematic collection of gene expression datasets, primary analysis of data, and evaluation of consistent signals. To demonstrate its effectiveness, our paradigm was applied to epidermal development and identified many genes that play a potential role in this process. Besides the known epidermal development genes, a substantial proportion of the identified genes are still not supported by gain- or loss-of-function studies, yielding many novel genes for future studies. Among them, we selected a top gene for loss-of-function experimental validation and confirmed its function in epidermal differentiation, proving the ability of this paradigm to identify new factors in biological processes. In addition, this paradigm revealed many key genes in cold-induced thermogenesis using data from cold-challenged tissues, demonstrating its generalizability. This paradigm can lead to fruitful results for studying molecular mechanisms in an era of explosive accumulation of publicly available biological data.

Introduction: The pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) involves complex interactions between environmental factors, the skin microbiome, epidermal barrier defects, and altered immune responses that develop on a not fully understood specific genetic background. Aim: We aimed to evaluate the contribution of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL-35 genes (IL-12A and EBI3) towards AD susceptibility and clinical characteristics of AD in the Polish population. Two SNPs (rs568408, rs582054) in IL-12A and one SNP (rs428253) in EBI3 were selected. Material and methods: Blood samples were collected from 202 AD patients and 178 healthy individuals. SNPs in IL-35 genes were analysed by the polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (SSP-PCR) method. Results: For IL-12A rs568408, the AA genotype was significantly linked to increased odds of AD (OR = 34.61; 95% CI: 2.06-579.97, p = 0.0137) and marginally associated with normal total serum IgE levels (OR = 2.82; 95% CI: 0.97-8.16; p = 0.05), while the GA genotype showed significantly reduced odds of AD (OR = 0.53; 95% CI: 0.34-0.81; p = 0.0035). In the context of IL-12A rs582054, TT genotype carriers had increased odds of AD (OR = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.08-3.85; p = 0.03). Patients with the GG genotype of EBI3 rs428253 had decreased odds of high total serum IgE levels (OR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.20-0.86; p = 0.02) and milder pruritus severity compared to CC genotype carriers (4.12 vs. 7.50; p = 0.02). Conclusions: IL-35 genetic variations appear to play a role in AD pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting both children and adults. The clinical picture of AD manifests in typical skin lesions, such as localized eczema and dry skin, with dominant, persistent itching that leads to sleep disturbances. The pathophysiology of AD has been extensively investigated with respect to epigenetic and genetic factors, skin barrier defects, as well as immunological and microbial disorders. However, to date, the involvement of extracellular matrix (ECM) elements has received limited attention. Collagen, a major component of the ECM, may serve as a therapeutic target for the future treatment of AD. This paper summarizes the role of collagens, which are the most abundant components of the extracellular matrix in AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polish Journal of Allergology / Alergologia Polska is the property of Termedia Publishing House and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A study published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology explores the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in answering patient questions about atopic dermatitis (AD). The study used a large language model AI called ChatGPT-4 to respond to 99 common questions from AD patients. The responses generated by ChatGPT-4 were evaluated by a group of dermatologists and found to be of high quality and reliability. The study suggests that AI could be a valuable resource for patients seeking information about AD, and that knowledge about the quality of responses from different AI models can inform both clinicians and patients. [Extracted from the article]

Background: In recent years, an increasing number of contact dermatitis cases triggered by acrylates contained in diabetes medical devices have been reported. Acrylates seem to play a major role in the development of irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in diabetic patients. Objectives: To study a group of patients with contact dermatitis caused by diabetes medical devices with a focus on acrylates as possible allergens responsible for contact dermatitis. Patients and Methods: Fifteen patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 and contact dermatitis from diabetic devices were patch tested to 25 acrylate allergens. Results: Three patients (20%) reacted to the following allergens: three patients reacted to isobornyl acrylate (IBOA) and one of them additionally to 2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate (2‐HEA); results were of clinical relevance. All three patients were using insulin pumps and glucose sensors (GS)—in one patient contact dermatitis was towards the insulin pump and the GS, in one patient only towards the insulin pump and in one patient only towards the GS. Twelve patients (80%) did not show any skin reaction towards the allergens tested. Conclusion: A majority of diabetic patients showed no reactions towards any acrylate allergen tested; yet, the presence of untested allergens must be kept in mind. IBOA proved to be a cause of ACD in diabetes patients. 2‐HEA might be another culprit allergen, but its presence in the devices must first be confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive understanding of atopic dermatitis (AD) pathogenesis is desired, especially in the current era of novel biologics and small molecule drugs. In recent years, new cytokines have emerged that may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of AD. Using the tape stripping (TS) method, this study analyzed the gene expression of IL-35 and IL-36α in lesional and nonlesional AD skin compared with healthy skin and their association with the clinical features of AD among the Polish population. Ten AD patients and seven healthy individuals were enrolled. The lesional skin of the AD patients showed significantly higher expression levels of IL-35 compared to healthy skin (p = 0.0001). The expression level of IL-36α was significantly higher in lesional AD skin than in nonlesional AD skin (p = 0.0039) and healthy skin (p = 0.0045). There was a significant negative correlation between AD severity and the expression level of IL-35 in both lesional (R = −0.66, p = 0.048) and nonlesional skin (R = −0.9, p = 0.0016). In summary, both IL-35 and IL-36α appear to play a role in the pathogenesis of AD. Furthermore, it might be speculated that IL-35 and IL-36α may be potential candidates for disease biomarkers. However, further studies are needed to verify these assumptions and comprehensively elucidate their importance in the pathogenesis of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin 37 (IL-37) is a recently discovered member of the IL-1 cytokine family that appears to have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects in various diseases. IL-37 acts as a dual-function cytokine, exerting its effect extracellularly by forming a complex with the receptors IL-18 α (IL-18Rα) and IL-1R8 and transmitting anti-inflammatory signals, as well as intracellularly by interacting with Smad3, entering the nucleus, and inhibiting the transcription of pro-inflammatory genes. Consequently, IL-37 is linked to IL-18, which plays a role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD), consistent with our studies. Some isoforms of IL-37 are expressed by keratinocytes, monocytes, and other skin immune cells. IL-37 has been found to modulate the skewed T helper 2 (Th2) inflammation that is fundamental to the pathogenesis of AD. This review provides an up-to-date summary of the function of IL-37 in modulating the immune system and analyses its potential role in the pathogenesis of AD. Moreover, it speculates on IL-37's hypothetical value as a therapeutic target in the treatment of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis is a relapsing, chronic, inflammatory dermatosis. So far, treatment options for more severe forms of the disease have been limited. The prospect has changed with the advent of biological drug registrations. Dupilumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting the a subunit of the IL-4 receptor and is responsible for blocking the signalling of interleukin (IL) 4 (IL-4) and IL-13. Clinical trials conducted for over 10 years have confirmed the efficacy and safety of dupilumab's treatment for atopic dermatitis. Aim: Evaluating the efficacy of dupilumab treatment in patients with moderate and severe atopic dermatitis in real life. Material and methods: We retrospectively evaluated medical records of patients treated with dupilumab for atopic dermatitis at the Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology in Gdansk. Results: Ten patients in total were studied. They received dupilumab with standard dosing. The mean percentage reduction in SCORAD score was 52.16% in 8 weeks. Dupilumab was generally well tolerated and did not cause serious side effects. The most common adverse event was conjunctivitis. Conclusions: Dupilumab is an effective disease-modifying drug for patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. The effects of treatment in real life are consistent with those demonstrated in clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Emollients are topical preparations, the role of which is to maintain or restore epidermal barrier function, proper hydration, and elasticity of the skin. In recent years, a special range of ‘emollients plus’ enriched with additional active substances has been developed. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of emollient preparations with Vitreoscilla filiformis in patients up to 18 years old with skin diseases that present with dryness. Material and methods: From October 2022 to January 2023, an observational study was conducted in Poland. A total of 386 children were recruited for the study, primarily suffering from AD (85.2%) and other skin diseases associated with dryness (23.6%). Results: After 4 weeks of regular usage of emollient products containing Vitreoscilla filiformis in the form of syndet and balm, the severity of the skin disease, dryness, and the surface area of inflammatory changes decreased in 81.8%, 88.0%, and 70.7% of children, respectively. Furthermore, the patient’s overall quality of life associated with experiencing symptoms of skin disease significantly improved across all three factors evaluated; reduction in pruritus and severity of daily discomfort were declared by 81.4% and 80.7% of children, respectively. Sleep quality improved in 65.7% of children. An improvement was also observed among patients who solely used the emollient products with Vitreoscilla filiformis without any prescription (RX) treatment. Conclusions: The results indicate that emollient preparations with Vitreoscilla filiformis are effective and well-tolerated by patients with skin diseases that present with dryness. They can be used as monotherapy or as an adjunctive therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Social Dissertations / Rozpraw Społecznych is the property of Pope John Paul II State School of Higher Education in Biala Podlaska and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)