This study looked at T-lymphokine-activated killer cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK) as a possible new target for treating psoriasis.

Quote:

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Background:
Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease. The pathogenesis of psoriasis has not been fully elucidated. T-lymphokine-activated killer cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK) activity increases in a proinflammatory environment, and inhibiting TOPK blocks inflammation. However, whether TOPK is involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis remains to be identified.

Objectives:
We aimed to study the role of TOPK in psoriasis and attempted to find a drug targeting TOPK for the prevention and treatment of psoriasis.

Method:
Firstly, the expressions of TOPK in psoriatic patients, psoriatic cell and animal model were analysed by Gene Expression Omnibus database, immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining and western blot (WB). After inhibiting TOPK by chemical or gene knockout, the effect of TOPK on the development of psoriasis was verified in cell and animal model by WB, qRT-PCR, ELISA, haematoxylin–eosin (H&E) and IHC staining. Moreover, phosphoproteomic analysis was performed to explore the signalling pathways regulated by TOPK in the occurrence and development of psoriasis. Then, an in vitro kinase assay was performed to prove TOPK kinase activity was inhibited by worenine. Ultimately, WB, qRT-PCR, ELISA, H&E and IHC staining were used to verify the anti-psoriasis effect of worenine by inhibiting TOPK was in cell and animal model.

Results:
In this study, we found that TOPK was highly expressed in psoriasis patients, psoriatic cell and animal model, which suggests that TOPK might be associated with psoriasis pathogenesis. Interestingly, chemical or genetic inhibition of TOPK alleviated M5- and imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis, which further confirmed the role of TOPK in promoting the development of psoriasis. Moreover, we determined that worenine inhibited TOPK kinase activity. In addition, worenine relieved M5- and IMQ-induced psoriasiform dermatitis by inhibiting TOPK activity.

Conclusions:
T-lymphokine-activated killer cell-originated protein kinase promotes the development of psoriasis. Therefore, TOPK might be a promising drug target for the prevention and treatment of psoriasis. Worenine alleviates psoriasiform dermatitis by inhibiting TOPK activity, providing new strategies for clinical intervention.

I'm suddenly getting itchy patches in many places, all at once.  I think it's the happy anticipation of adult children coming to stay with us for a couple of nights, trying to make everything ready combined with colder air outside and drier air inside from the furnace.  Whatever the cause, it's irritating.  

It'll soon be like living in a snow globe, all these little flakes falling to the floor or on the backs of chairs.

I believe stress, whether positive or negative, affects my skin.  

Does anyone else feel that way?

A prospective multicentre study of nail psoriasis in China. 

Quote:

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Background:
Data on nail psoriasis (PsO) in China are scarce.

Objectives:
To provide nail PsO-related data regarding epidemiologic characteristics, manifestations, fungal infections, arthritic complaints and treatments that may facilitate improved patient management globally.

Methods:
From August 2021 to August 2022, patients with nail PsO were enrolled in a prospective multicentre observational study at 25 hospitals in China. We collected and analysed data concerning nail PsO demography, clinical signs, fungal detection, arthritic symptoms and treatment.

Results:
A total of 817 patients with nail PsO were involved, with a mean body mass index of 24.13 ± 2.93. In addition, 71.41% of the patients were male. The Nail PsO Severity Index score was weakly positively correlated with body surface area. The percentage of nail involvement was 95.29% for fingernails and 57.18% for toenails, with pitting (67.11%) and subungual hyperkeratosis (60.40%) being the most prevalent manifestations, respectively. Toenails showed a significantly higher frequency of nailfold scales, subungual hyperkeratosis and nail plate crumbling and a lower frequency of splinter haemorrhages, pitting and erythema of the lunula. A total of 13.26% of the PsO patients had onychomycosis, and 77.08% were observed in the toenails. Articular symptoms were reported by 12.17% of the patients, with the peripheral type being predominant. Significant associations between articular symptoms and nailfold swelling, subungual hyperkeratosis, nailfold scales, onycholysis and longitudinal ridges were found. Only 2.30% (20 out of 871) of patients with nail PsO received treatment. The most frequently employed therapy for cutaneous PsO with nail involvement was biologic therapy (n = 366).

Conclusions:
PsO showed distinct manifestations in the toenails and fingernails. Additionally, toenail PsO combined with onychomycosis requires special attention. Articular symptoms in psoriatic patients are associated with specific nail changes. It is important to research and advocate for more potent treatments for nail PsO.

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I might have posted about this before but I can’t find it - does anyone else suffer from psoriasis up their nose, especially in winter? I find it quite annoying and sometimes sore. You get extra skin growth like elsewhere but up your nose you can really feel it.
When I mention it to the derm they don’t have any advice and of course you can’t really use steroid cream on what they call mucous membranes. Moisturisers don’t do anything to help.

Hi,

My name is Kathy and I'm posting for my daughter. She has what I believe is some form of psoriasis. She has been to her GP about 6 times and 3 times to a Dermatologist who said she has atopic dermatitis but I would stake my life on the fact that he is wrong. I've known people with psoriasis and what she has is worse than anything I've ever seen. This morning her pajamas were stuck to her body from skin weeping and bleeding. Her acupuncture DR her body has damp heat. Last week her GP finally took blood and she is supposed to get the results in the next few days. I feel so helpless. Everything I've tried to do for her has not worked. Does anyone have any advice?

Do any other members of your family have psoriasis ?

Members and guests can vote in the poll above, and our members are welcome to post in this thread too if they wish.

Why does the Support Psoriasis Club keep showing that it has a new unread post when it doesn't?

A bit premature as it has to go through getting approval and such but thought I'd start the thread here. Let you know when I know.

So, first part of my journey is getting insurance approval and seeing what my costs (if any) will be. Different insurance than when I was on biologics before so a bit different process is involved.

Copy and paste the questions below and add your answers.

Quote:

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What is your current treatment ?

How long have you been using it ?

Ease of use (1 low to 5 high) ?

Effectiveness (1 low to 5 high) ?

Do you pay for your treatment ?

Any side effects ?

I almost put this in the off topic section, but after thinking it over I believe it belongs here.  Feel free to move it Fred if you disagree.

I have noticed that my hair is thinning out. I have thin hair but a lot of it, or well normally that it. This past year or so I've noticed that there is more hair in my brush than there used to be. Now it is partly due to age I'm sure, although thinning hair does not run in my family. I also wear a CPAP mask so I'm sure having it rub across my head at night doesn't help. But I don't move around much when sleeping. I even wake up to change positions anymore (another wonderful thing I think I can thank old age for) so....

I have scalp psoriasis and tend to scratch WAY more than I should.    I'm wondering if anyone else who has or has had scalp psoriasis noticed any hair thinning and also what they (if anything) to help.

I figured it belongs here as anyone searching for information for thinning hair due to scalp psoriasis might find information here if anyone has any to share. I mean you wouldn't have had to have scalp psoriasis, just advice on what to do about thinning hair. I've thought of supplements, but not sure they're worth the $$.

I have osteoarthritis in my knees, they ache and sometimes hurt. But it usually is one where the knees are achy and stay that way for awhile, then may hurt but the hurt usually builds up and then fades after a bit.

A few years ago, my rheumatologist told me I had psoriatic arthritis. I had stiffness in my ankles, usually when inactive. I would stretch the ankle a little bit and it would start to feel better. Although uncomfortable, I wouldn't say it was super painful. I also wondered if I did in fact have psoriatic arthritis.

About a week ago, I was walking in the house and out of nowhere a pain shot through my ankle. It continued for about 10 steps and I thought great I sprained my ankle somehow. And then, it stopped. Since then, I can be walking and for no reason a searing pain will go through my ankle as I'm walking. Usually somewhere between 2-20 steps later it goes away. This is happening daily. I went shopping yesterday and did a lot of walking. It happened quite a few times but most of the time I was fine. So, I'm confused. I doubt it is a strain or injury as it wouldn't just go away if it were that. So that makes me think of arthritis, but it doesn't gradually come on or ache... it hurts like heck when it happens. Thought I'd see if it was a familiar thing to any of you. Going to the liver specialist today and asking for a referral to get it checked out. I think I want to try a new doctor for this one.

I'm beginning to use a Q-Tip cotton swab to apply steroid ointment to small-ish patches on my legs, rather than my fingertip.  It appears to work as well as trying to rub the ointment in with my fingers and protects the skin of the fingers from wearing thin or cracking over repeated application.

I'd been using Q-Tip to apply a milder ointment, off and on for a long while, between my toes.  Then last night, I thought why not use the Q-Tip to apply to patches that are easy to get to, such as on the legs?

Does anyone else use a Q-Tip this way?  Do you always apply ointment with your bare fingers?

Posted a long intro for backstory on my psoriasis.

Saw a dermatologist this week, actually was a good visit despite her solution for me to start methotrexate and the biologics. However I am far from ready for drugs, still hoping to find improvements and ideally remission naturally.

Been off my diet for a while now and off the diet for me is just eating chocolate and regular oats pretty often (baking cookies or banana bread, no refined sugar though), and the odd cheat meal from a restaurant, few pizzas, servings of french fries, dessert here n there otherwise my normal is gluten free, sugar free, processed food free, whole food diet. Lots of protein, healthy fat sources, carbs are brown rice, sweet potatoes, veggies, fruit. Been planning to get back to being very strict but been slacking. 

Anyways, derm was talking about the connection between strep and psoriasis. Wanted to test me for group a (throat) and group b (intestinal/colon) strep. She said if group a is present, then the plan is remove tonsils, if group b is present, go on penicillin (antibiotics). Well no group a for me but tested positive for group b.

I am kind of glad knowing there is possibly something that is a problem that can be targeted and corrected, but nervous to start on antibiotics. I definitely want to kill off the strep in my intestines. You see alot about psoriasis being related to the gut and fix the gut and yada yada which sounds good but what does fix the gut mean. Its kind of like the boogeyman, you don't know what is actually the problem and best solution. Is it the candida diet, is it a whole food diet, is it come sort of short term cleanse? Do you do it for 3 months, 6? What do you take, what do you eat, what DONT you eat. Theres alot of conflicting information available.

I had done strict diet for 5 months, including probiotics and even leaky gut supplements not long ago but didn't find any improvement at all and eventually started being less and less strict to where I am now. I would still say my diet is excellent but I feel like I could be better and more disciplined and focused.

So now I know I have to deal with this strep bacteria. Antibiotics are the easiest answer but I am just a bit concerned. Ive done antibiotics in the past and believe they played a big part and messing up my gut flora in the first place. Maybe I can do it right this time tho. I am looking for any feedback with anyone having similar experience.

Thinking I do the penicillin for 2 weeks, but also take a probiotic and eat completely clean (been wanting to commit to a diet again for 6 months, this is already 90% my diet but making it 100%). No chocolate, nothing like honey, just beef, chicken, quality fish, eggs, presoaked and drained brown rice, sweet potatoes, rutabagas, carrots, beets, presoaked and drained and fermented gluten free organic oats, fruits, homemade coconut milk yogurt, sauerkraut, nuts like cashews, walnuts, almonds, basically the candida diet in regards to spices and foods, little modified for myself. Reason I soak the rice and oats it to remove any possible pesticides or toxins and starch from the rice, i donno if anyone else does this. For the oats i've been wanting to start fermenting them using a probiotic powder (from a pill). Ive been thinking I should cut out coffee, just test it out, tho i love coffee.

So im probably gonna start this immediately, would be nice to hear from anyone with experience regarding antibiotics. Think it will make my psoriasis worse immediately? The idea is that this will start me on a complete reset to correct and fix my gut flora. As long as I prepare myself with an appropriate diet and supplement probiotic pills and foods and that doing so will allow my body to start healing more.

Planning to use the Renew Life brand 50 billion probiotic. Ill take as directed as well as use it to make fermented oat and coconut milk yogurt.

Thoughts?

Hi all - I was looking for any info as to whether or not common side effects of bimzelx - wear off - go away!
Best wishes to Fred - I really hope your treatment makes you better.
My own story is that I am an allergic type - Im the awkward one who always gets those 'rare' side effects! 

I have had 2 loading doses so far of Bimzelx and I have not taken my third one - I am told I can skip a dose and take the next one when I feel better...

mmm...when I feel better....my story is below - not necessary to read! its just a brief history in time - of infections...

My question is lovely people - is there anyone out there who has had similar common side effects with bimzelx - and...did they wear off? Im just getting zero help from the people running the study Im on - or the dermatologists - I feel like Im being kept in the dark...the manufactrures and so called yellow card scheme must surely have data? after all - they state the side effects....maybe I should go to them?
any tips greatly apprecitated - Ive been so ill I just dont know whether to continue this or not...

best wishes


since starting bioligics in february - Ive had 4 loads of anti biotics for infections - one a throat thing the others UTI's. 
Ive been in a lot of pain with un diagnosed stomach and digestion problems so await test results for IBS and coeliac. Oh I also have medication now for oral thrush.... I had an allergic reaction to amgevita and started bimzelx in April this year. Ive felt ill ever since...this is not me!

Does anyone notice psoriasis, and dupytren’s at ring finger and palm, and female hyperplasia? Or psoriasis started in one location, then collagen overgrowth of skin cells in another location some years later, like it spreads over several years? He’s anyone used gene therapy. Has anyone had genetic mapping to find alleles or amino acid sequences that are not normal. Gene mapping is about $700.00 in the Los Angeles, California area clinics and San Francisco clinics. Currently gene mapping is commonly used to find breast cancer such as Brac. I read up to 25%of people in Great Britain have collagen overgrowth issue in the palm of one of their hands during their lifetime.

This study investigated the association between serine metabolism and psoriatic skin inflammation.

Quote:

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Background:
Serine metabolism is crucial for tumor oncogenesis and immune responses. S-adenosyl methionine (SAM), a methyl donor, is typically derived from serine-driven one-carbon metabolism. However, the involvement of serine metabolism in psoriatic skin inflammation remains unclear.

Objectives:
To investigate the association between serine metabolism and psoriatic skin inflammation.

Methods:
Clinical samples were collected from patients with psoriasis and the expression of serine biosynthesis enzymes was evaluated. The HaCaT human keratinocyte cell line was transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) of key enzyme or treated with inhibitors. RNA sequencing and DNA methylation assays were performed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying serine metabolism-regulated psoriatic keratinocyte inflammation An imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis mouse model was established to determine the effect of the SAM administration on psoriatic skin inflammation.

Results:
The expression of serine synthesis pathway enzymes, including the first rate-limiting enzyme in serine biosynthesis, phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), was downregulated in the epidermal lesions of patients with psoriasis compared with that in healthy controls. Suppressing PHGDH in keratinocytes promoted the production of proinflammatory cytokines and enrichment of psoriatic-related signaling pathways, including the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) signaling pathway, interleukin (IL)-17 signaling pathway, and NF-κB signaling pathway. In particular, PHGDH inhibition markedly promoted the secretion of IL-6 in keratinocytes with or without IL-17A, IL-22, IL-1α, oncostatin M, and TNF-α (mix) stimulation. Mechanistically, PHGDH inhibition upregulated the expression of IL-6 by inhibiting SAM-dependent DNA methylation at the promoter and increasing the binding of myocyte enhancer factor 2A. Furthermore, PHGDH inhibition increased the secretion of IL-6 by increasing the activation of NF-κB via SAM inhibition. SAM treatment effectively alleviated IMQ-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation in mice.

Conclusions:
Our study revealed the crucial role of PHGDH in antagonizing psoriatic skin inflammation and indicated that targeting serine metabolism may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for treating psoriasis.

In his first time trying to make a new dish, my husband inadvertently added 1.5 teaspoons of black pepper to a recipe that made four small crabcakes.  Additionally, another seasoning in the recipe, Old Bay Spice, has a mix of ground peppers in its ingredients.  I ate one of the cakes (smothered in plain yogurt to cool it down).  

Very soon, patchy areas that rarely itch began to itch like crazy.  And this morning, several patches are a little more active.  

I think the excessive pepper caused this reaction.  Has anything like this ever happened to you?

This cohort study from Taiwan looked at infections in patients with psoriasis.

Quote:

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Background:
The risks of serious infections that lead to hospitalisation and mortality in patients with psoriasis in Asia have not been comprehensively studied.

Objectives:
We examined the incidence of serious infection and infection mortality in patients with psoriasis.

Methods:
This population-based retrospective cohort study used the Taiwan National Health Insurance claims database from 2000 to 2017. Adult patients with psoriasis were identified by a relevant International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code and matched to six comparators without psoriasis on age and sex. Psoriasis patients were categorised as having moderate-to-severe disease once exposed to systemic therapies, phototherapy or biologic therapies. The incidence of serious infection and infection mortality were identified by ICD codes from inpatient hospitalisation and death registration. Cox proportional hazard models were used to compare the risk, and the results were adjusted for covariates and presented as adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI).

Results:
Overall, 185,434 psoriasis patients and 1,112,581 comparators were included. A higher rate of serious infection (aHR:1.21, 95%CI: 1.19-1.22) was found in patients with psoriasis compared to matched comparators without psoriasis, and the risk was enhanced when patients had moderate-to-severe psoriasis (aHR:1.30, 95%CI: 1.27-1.34). Specifically, there was an increased risk of serious infection due to respiratory infections (aHR:1.11, 95%CI: 1.09-1.13), skin/soft-tissue infections (aHR:1.57, 95%CI: 1.52-1.62), sepsis (aHR:1.23, 95%CI: 1.19-1.27), urinary tract infections (aHR:1.11, 95%CI: 1.08-1.14), hepatitis B (aHR:1.18, 95%CI: 1.06-1.30), and hepatitis C (aHR:1.49, 95%CI: 1.32-1.69). Furthermore, psoriasis patients were associated with a higher risk of infection-related mortality (aHR:1.15, 95%CI: 1.11-1.18) compared to matched comparators.

Conclusion:
Patients with psoriasis had a higher risk of serious infection and infection mortality, which was enhanced by moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Practitioners should be aware of the increased risk in patients with psoriasis, but it should not be a barrier to offering effective treatment.