The associations between psychological stress and psoriasis: a systematic review

Abstract

Psoriasis is estimated to affect around 2–3% of the general population. More than one-third of Australians report having a significant level of distress in their daily lives. Psychological stress has long been shown to play an important role in the natural history of psoriasis, but the details of this relationship remain to be clearly defined. We performed a systematic review of the literature with the aim of determining whether there is a temporal association between psychological stress as the predictor and onset and/or exacerbation of psoriasis as the outcome measure. Our secondary aim was to establish whether there is a relationship between the degree of psychological stress and clinical severity of psoriasis. Our systematic review demonstrates a probable temporal association between different measures of psychological stress and onset, recurrence, and severity of psoriasis. In the light of this, we suggest clinicians include "stress" as a trigger factor in their psoriasis assessment and consider psychological interventions as adjuncts, particularly in those who identify as "stress-responders".

http://ift.tt/2IcTxxc

Melanocyte abnormalities and senescence in the pathogenesis of idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis

Abstract

Background

Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (IGH) is a pigmentary disorder of unknown pathogenesis characterized by small discrete white macules. In the skin, epidermal melanin unit between melanocytes and keratinocytes is responsible for melanin synthesis and equal distribution of melanin pigment.

Objective

Therefore, this study was designed to check the role of melanocytes in the pathogenesis of IGH.

Methods

For this study, six IGH patients and six controls were enrolled. Melanin content was checked in the skin sections and in the cultured melanocytes. Senescence was checked in the lesional skin of IGH patients by comparing the mRNA and protein expression of senescence markers p16, hp1, and p21.

Results

Cultured melanocytes from the IGH patients showed morphological changes in comparison to the control melanocytes. Melanocytes from IGH patients were bigger in size with very small and retracted dendrites as compared to the control melanocytes. Melanin accumulation was more in the IGH patients as compared to the controls. Our results showed that expression of p16, p21, and hp1 was significantly higher in lesional skin of IGH patient as compared to healthy controls.

Conclusion

This study revealed large-sized melanocytes with small and retracted dendrites in IGH patients. Accumulation of more melanin in the IGH melanocytes might be due to problem in the transfer of melanin from melanocytes to keratinocytes. Accumulation of melanin can lead to the senescence in the melanocytes of IGH patients.

http://ift.tt/2Fkq4n0

Using novel palaeolimnological techniques to define conservation objectives for Hatch Mere: Report for Cheshire Wildlife Trust

Goldsmith, B; Salgado, J; Bennion, H; McGowan, S; Hoare, D; Yang, H; (2013) Using novel palaeolimnological techniques to define conservation objectives for Hatch Mere: Report for Cheshire Wildlife Trust. (ECRC Research Report 158 ). ENSIS, UCL Environmental Change Research Centre: London, UK.

http://ift.tt/2oX703l

Evaluation of a complex intervention (Engager) for prisoners with common mental health problems, near to and after release: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Kirkpatrick, T; Lennox, C; Taylor, R; Anderson, R; Maguire, M; Haddad, M; Michie, S; ... Byng, R; + view all Kirkpatrick, T; Lennox, C; Taylor, R; Anderson, R; Maguire, M; Haddad, M; Michie, S; Owens, C; Durcan, G; Stirzaker, A; Henley, W; Stevenson, C; Carroll, L; Quinn, C; Brand, SL; Harris, T; Stewart, A; Todd, R; Rybczynska-Bunt, S; Greer, R; Pearson, M; Shaw, J; Byng, R; - view fewer (2018) Evaluation of a complex intervention (Engager) for prisoners with common mental health problems, near to and after release: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open , 8 (2) , Article e017931. 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017931 . Green open access

http://ift.tt/2IbBGGA

Equilibrium Scour-Depth Prediction around Cylindrical Structures

Tavouktsoglou, NS; Harris, JM; Simons, RR; Whitehouse, RJS; (2017) Equilibrium Scour-Depth Prediction around Cylindrical Structures. Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering , 143 (5) , Article 04017017. 10.1061/(ASCE)WW.1943-5460.0000401 . Green open access

http://ift.tt/2oY1ZHO

Maternal uterine artery VEGF gene therapy for treatment of intrauterine growth restriction

David, AL; (2017) Maternal uterine artery VEGF gene therapy for treatment of intrauterine growth restriction. Placenta , 59 (S1) S44-S50. 10.1016/j.placenta.2017.09.011 .

http://ift.tt/2oX6u5p

Tissuepatch is biocompatible and seals iatrogenic membrane defects in a rabbit model

Engels, AC; Joyeux, L; Van der Merwe, J; Jimenez, J; Prapanus, S; Barrett, DW; Connon, C; ... Deprest, J; + view all Engels, AC; Joyeux, L; Van der Merwe, J; Jimenez, J; Prapanus, S; Barrett, DW; Connon, C; Chowdhury, TT; David, AL; Deprest, J; - view fewer (2018) Tissuepatch is biocompatible and seals iatrogenic membrane defects in a rabbit model. Prenatal Diagnosis , 38 (2) pp. 99-105. 10.1002/pd.5191 .

http://ift.tt/2Ia8oIw