Latex allergy in health services workers

The studies were performed in 20 workers from the Health Service (13 women and 7 men in the age 25-57) suffering from hand urticaria (6 persons) and hand dermatitis (14 persons) suspected of the allergy to latex gloves. In all patients the familial and personal predispositions to allergy were evaluated by the anamnesis, the estimation of total IgE serum level and the skin prick tests (SPT) with inhalant allergens. The latex allergy was diagnosed by SPT and contact test with standardized extract of the natural latex allergen in the concentration 1000 PNU/ml (Nexter-Allergopharma) and by estimation of specific to latex IgE serum level. In addition to this, contact tests with glove's material as well European standard contact allergens (Hermal) were done and the one with antiseptic substances to which the patient was exposed at his work. The allergy type I to latex gloves was confirmed in all 6 cases with contact urticaria. The SPT with standard extract of the natural latex was more valuable than latex specific IgE in the serum. Contact allergy (type IV) to latex gloves was confirmed in 10 from 14 suspected cases. In the next 4 the allergy to antiseptic substances was the reasons of the illness. The allergy to latex gloves appears more often in women. No case showed the familial predisposition to allergy and only 4 patients additionally suffered from the allergy to pollen and mites. Moreover in both groups of patients we showed the presence of the additional contact allergy to different allergens (to metals and antiseptic substances).     

Characterization of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in human skin

We have confirmed the expression of CRH and CRH receptor type 1 genes in human skin, cultured HaCaT keratinocytes, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma cells. The size of CRH messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), estimated by Northern blot hybridization, was 1.5 kilobases. CRH peptide was identified by reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography separation in both whole skin and cultured cells. Forskolin and dexamethasone at concentrations of 10 micromol/L stimulated and inhibited, respectively, CRH peptide production in squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma cells, but had no significant effect on the CRH mRNA level. In melanoma cells, stimulation of melanogenesis down-regulated CRH receptor type 1 mRNA expression, but was without effect on CRH mRNA production. We suggest that in human skin the CRH signaling system is both operative and under regulatory control.     

Faradaic charge corrected colouration efficiency measurements for electrochromic devices

We report a new technique for measuring colouration efficiency (CE) for electrochromic polymers and devices. Faradaic charge associated with redox activity leading to chromic change was extracted from the total charge flow during a device switch. Typically, Faradaic charge is extracted from the total charge by first measuring a blank device (i.e. no polymer deposited). This is used as the baseline and subtracted from subsequent measurements with the polymer deposited into the device. The method is open to inaccuracies if the surface area before and after polymer deposition is different or if the inherent capacitance of the device is altered by the addition of the polymer(s). The new technique does not suffer from this drawback as it dispenses with the need to measure blank devices. To investigate the utility of this method a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxthiophene) (PEDOT) and polyaniline (PANI) electrochromic cell was tested. CE measurements at an optical density change of 95% (λ = 555 nm) were recorded for the following three conditions: uncorrected, CE_UC = 388 cm²/C; background corrected, CE_BC = 391 cm²/C and; Faradaic corrected, CE_FC = 2173 cm²/C. The result highlights the fact that the CE value of chromic polymers or devices may be higher than what is currently being reported.     

CTLA-4 Expression Is a Promising Biomarker of Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Allows Differentiation of the Type of Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an increasingly frequently diagnosed disease, the molecular mechanisms of which have not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of our study was to investigate subpopulations of lymphocytes to better understand their role in the molecular pathomechanisms of various types of PAH and to find a suitable biomarker that could be useful in the differential diagnosis of PAH. Using flow cytometry, we measured the frequencies of lymphocyte subpopulations CD4+CTLA-4+, CD8+ CTLA-4+ and CD19+ CTLA-4+ in patients with different types of PAH, namely pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease (CHD-PAH), pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with connective tissue disorders (CTD-PAH), chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (iPAH), and in an age- and sex-matched control group in relation to selected clinical parameters. Patients in the iPAH group had the significantly highest percentage of CD4+CTLA-4+ T lymphocytes among all PAH groups, as compared to those in the control group (p < 0.001), patients with CTEPH (p < 0.001), CTD-PAH (p < 0.001) and CHD-PAH (p < 0.01). In iPAH patients, the percentages of CD4+CTLA-4+ T cells correlated strongly positively with the severity of heart failure New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification (r = 0.7077, p < 0.001). Moreover, the percentage of B CD19+CTLA-4+ cells strongly positively correlated with the concentration of NT-proBNP (r = 0.8498, p < 0.001). We have shown that statistically significantly higher percentages of CD4+CTLA-4+ (p ≤ 0.01) and CD8+ CTLA-4+ (p ≤ 0.001) T cells, measured at the time of iPAH diagnosis, were found in patients who died within 5 years of the diagnosis, which allows us to consider both of the above lymphocyte subpopulations as a negative prognostic/predictive factor in iPAH. CTLA-4 may be a promising biomarker of noninvasive detection of iPAH, but its role in planning the treatment strategy of PAH remains unclear. Further studies on T and B lymphocyte subsets are needed in different types of PAH to ascertain the relationships that exist between them and the disease.     

The Importance of Immunological Disorders in the Pathogenesis of Lichen Sclerosus in Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review

Lichen sclerosus (LS) is defined as a chronic mucocutaneous inflammatory disease with a localization predominantly to the anus and genitals (vulvar sclerosus (VLS)). Pediatric lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition with predilection for the anogenital area that if untreated can lead to scarring. Vulvar LS is characterized by two peaks in incidence: it occurs in prepubertal girls and in postmenopausal women. To date, several mechanisms and risk factors have been proposed in the pathogenesis of pediatric vulvar LS; however, the etiology of this condition is still not fully understood and constitutes a challenge for scientists and clinicians. The presented research aimed to systematically review the existing literature on the pathogenesis of pediatric LS and to identify possible underlying autoimmune mechanisms and molecular networks. The clinical presentation of pediatric lichen sclerosus and available treatment modalities are also presented to acquaint a broader audience with this underdiagnosed and undertreated condition. As a result of our review, we discuss several potential mechanisms, molecules, and pathways that have been recognized in this disease. The purpose of our review was also to summarize what we can induce in further studies, which will ultimately help to identify the mechanism responsible for the disease and aid in the development of new, more effective treatment strategies for diagnosis and treatment by clinicians and researchers.     

Interactions of single-walled carbon nanotubes with monosaccharides

Closed-end single-walled carbon nanotubes were wetted in aqueous solutions of monosaccharides, forming weak surface complexes, as proven by the estimation of the content of monosaccharides in complexes isolated from aqueous solutions. The complexation was confirmed by micro-Raman spectroscopy. The Gaussian 03 (Molecular Mechanics UFF method) computations of total energy of the single-walled carbon nanotube-monosaccharides inclusion and surface complexes showed that inclusion complexes should be more stable than corresponding surface complexes. Computed total energies for particular complexes pointed to a lack of preferences for the formation of complexes with either alpha- or beta-tautomers and either pyranoses or furanoses. The forms preferred in the formation of the surface complexes usually differ from these favored in the formation of the inclusion complexes.     

Acute Kidney Injury in COVID-19

COVID-19 is mainly considered a respiratory illness, but since SARS-CoV-2 uses the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2) to enter human cells, the kidney is also a target of the viral infection. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is the most alarming condition in COVID-19 patients. Recent studies have confirmed the direct entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the renal cells, namely podocytes and proximal tubular cells, but this is not the only pathomechanism of kidney damage. Hypovolemia, cytokine storm and collapsing glomerulopathy also play an important role. An increasing number of papers suggest a strong association between AKI development and higher mortality in COVID-19 patients, hence our interest in the matter. Although knowledge about the role of kidneys in SARS-CoV-2 infection is changing dynamically and is yet to be fully investigated, we present an insight into the possible pathomechanisms of AKI in COVID-19, its clinical features, risk factors, impact on hospitalization and possible ways for its management via renal replacement therapy.     

Chloroquine-Induced Accumulation of Autophagosomes and Lipids in the Endothelium

Chloroquine (CQ) is an antimalarial drug known to inhibit autophagy flux by impairing autophagosome–lysosome fusion. We hypothesized that autophagy flux altered by CQ has a considerable influence on the lipid composition of endothelial cells. Thus, we investigated endothelial responses induced by CQ on human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1). HMEC-1 cells after CQ exposure were measured using a combined methodology based on label-free Raman and fluorescence imaging. Raman spectroscopy was applied to characterize subtle chemical changes in lipid contents and their distribution in the cells, while the fluorescence staining (LipidTox, LysoTracker and LC3) was used as a reference method. The results showed that CQ was not toxic to endothelial cells and did not result in the endothelial inflammation at concentrations of 1–30 µM. Notwithstanding, it yielded an increased intensity of LipidTox, LysoTracker, and LC3 staining, suggesting changes in the content of neutral lipids, lysosomotropism, and autophagy inhibition, respectively. The CQ-induced endothelial response was associated with lipid accumulation and was characterized by Raman spectroscopy. CQ-induced autophagosome accumulation in the endothelium is featured by a pronounced alteration in the lipid profile, but not in the endothelial inflammation. Raman-based assessment of CQ-induced biochemical changes offers a better understanding of the autophagy mechanism in the endothelial cells.