This study ahead of publication set out to investigate the effects of ultraviolet (UV)B on Haptoglobin (Hp) and to clarify the role of Hp in psoriasis.

Quote:

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Background:
Haptoglobin (Hp) is one of the acute phase proteins, whose main function is to bind free haemoglobin (Hb) and transport it to the liver for degradation and iron recycling. In addition to its role as an Hb scavenger, Hp has been shown to behave as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and angiogenic factor. We previously investigated the role of Hp in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, and found that it displays some structural modifications that might be associated with protein function in the disease. Phototherapy is an efficacious treatment for psoriasis, although the biological mechanisms by which phototherapy improves psoriasis are still unclear.

Aim:
To investigate the effects of ultraviolet (UV)B on Hp to clarify the role of Hp in psoriasis.

Methods:
Expression of the genes encoding Hp, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 was assessed in UVB-irradiated and unirradiated HaCaT cells. The biological significance of Hp modulation of UVB treatment was confirmed by ELISA and Western blotting. The Hp gene and protein expression in the skin of patients with psoriasis was also investigated.

Results:
In vitro results showed that UVB modulated IL-6 and IL-10 gene expression and Hp gene and protein expression in HaCaT cells. The in vivo data also showed that Hp levels were increased in the skin of patients with psoriasis compared with healthy controls.

Conclusions:
UVB irradiation was able to modulate Hp production in immortalized keratinocytes. The higher levels of Hp in vivo in both lesional and nonlesional skin suggest that it might have a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

This study ahead of publication looked into correlations between vitamin D status and bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis.

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Limited data are available on the vitamin D3 status and bone mineral density (BMD) of patients with psoriasis or with psoriatic arthritis.

Our study intended to explore possible correlations between vitamin D status and BMD, as well as among these parameters and the features of the underlying disorder.

Seventy-two patients with psoriasis/or psoriatic arthritis (female : male ratio, 40:32; mean age, 58.5 ± 11.6 years; mean duration of follow up, 142.7 ± 147.7 months) participated in the study. We evaluated the characteristic clinical features of the underlying disease, performed bone densitometry of the lumbar spine and the hip region, measured the serum vitamin 25(OH)D3 levels of the patients, and undertook the statistical analysis of the relationships between the clinical and the laboratory parameters.

The proportion of patients with a low BMD value did not exceed that seen in the general population. We found an inverse correlation between the serum level of vitamin 25(OH)D3 and body mass index, as well as between the former and the severity of skin involvement. Furthermore, the activity of psoriatic arthritis was significantly higher in patients with inadequate vitamin D3 status. In patients with psoriatic arthritis, BMD significantly exceeded the values measured in patients suffering from psoriatic skin lesions only.

Our findings suggest the importance of evaluating the vitamin D3 status and screening for comorbid conditions in patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. This appears justified, in particular, due to the possible role of hypovitaminosis D3 in provoking the development of skin lesions and joint symptoms.

This is an abstract ahead of publication that set out to evaluate bone microstructure and volumetric BMD (vBMD) in patients with psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis.

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Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by periarticular bone loss and new bone formation. Current data regarding systemic bone loss and bone mineral density (BMD) in PsA are conflicting.

The aim of this study was to evaluate bone microstructure and volumetric BMD (vBMD) in patients with PsA and psoriasis.

We performed HR-pQCT scans at the ultradistal and periarticular radius in 50 PsA patients, 30 psoriasis patients, and 70 healthy, age- and sex-related controls assessing trabecular bone volume (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), inhomogeneity of the trabecular network, cortical thickness (Ct.Th), and cortical porosity (Ct.Po), as well as vBMD. Trabecular BMD (Tb.BMD, p = 0.021, 12.0%), BV/TV (p = 0.020, –11.9%), and Tb.N (p = 0.035, 7.1%) were significantly decreased at the ultradistal radius and the periarticular radius in PsA patients compared to controls. In contrast, bone architecture of the ultradistal radius and periarticular radius was similar in patients with psoriasis and healthy controls. Duration of skin disease was associated with low BV/TV and Tb.N in patients with PsA.

These data suggest that trabecular BMD and bone microstructure are decreased in PsA patients. The observation that duration of skin disease determines bone loss in PsA supports the concept of subclinical musculoskeletal disease in psoriasis patients. © 2015 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

This small study investigated the prevalence of non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a population of Iranian patients with psoriasis, it concludes the same as other studies that we should all modify our lifestyle, give up smoking and loose some weight.

Quote:

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Background:

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease with many extracutaneous manifestations. Several recent studies have indicated an increased prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among patients with psoriasis. In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of NAFLD in a population of Iranian patients with psoriasis.

Methods:
NAFLD was assessed and graded using ultrasonography in 123 patients with psoriasis and 123 healthy controls (HCs) matched by age, sex and body mass index (BMI).

Results:
The prevalence of NAFLD was significantly higher in the psoriatic group compared with the HC group (65.6% vs. 35%, P < 0.01, OR = 3.53). Median NAFLD grade was significantly greater in patients with psoriasis compared with HCs (grade 2 vs. grade 1, P < 0.01). In patients with psoriasis, NAFLD was associated with a higher frequency of hypertension (16.5%), abnormal liver function test (LFT) results (16.4%) and metabolic syndrome (46.6%). Moreover, patients with psoriasis and NAFLD tended to have significantly higher values for BMI, waist circumference (WC), Psoriasis Activity and Severity Index (PASI), and levels of serum triglyceride, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and fasting blood sugar (FBS). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that WC, PASI, LFT abnormalities, hypertension and cigarette smoking were independent predictors of NAFLD grade.

Conclusions:
Our findings warrant a detailed assessment of metabolic comorbidities including NAFLD in patients with a primary diagnosis of psoriasis. Lifestyle modifications, including weight loss and smoking cessation, may be necessary for patients with psoriasis to decrease the risk and severity of NAFLD.

hey guys!  

Not sure if this has been suggested before but I found a mod that will allow users to tag people on the forum and they are sent a PM and told about it so they can go into the thread where they are mentioned.

(not sure if this works with 1.8 but i think its possible to configure it to do so.)

Yesterday / earlier when i was mentioned in the compliment's thread I had no idea until I went through and checked unread posts, this would definitely speed up gaining people attention imo.

Hi everyone,

I finally got my fumaderm initial tablets yesterday, I took my first tablet last night half way through my dinner, followed by a yoghurt (after reading lots of your advice) I'm on 1 tablet for a week, then going to two a day for a week, then up to 3 a day for a week, by which time I will be going back to see my derm. I felt quite sick last night, but not so bad this morning. Not suffered any stomach cramps yet, but I do keep going rather warm! I have another week or so on 100mg of ciclosporin, then dropping down to 50mg for two weeks before coming off them altogether. Hopefully there won't be any interaction between the two, as it will be bad enough suffering side effects from both for a week!

MaDbEaR
Xx

hi just a simple question.i have a prescription ointment from my doctor that im suppose to apply to twice a day (salacytic acid and fluocin) .my question is do i rub in to apply? or do i apply it and let it stay on? then on the 2nd time do i wipe the original ointment off?or just overlay another application?thank you for any help

I have been asked many times by friends and family "What's it like having psoriasis" I always say it is difficult to explain, I usually say you will never understand. A bit like a Man can never understand what it feels like for a Woman to have premenstrual syndrome, and a Woman can never understand how it feels for a Man to get a whack in the testicles.

Sometimes however I do try to get it across, and I was wondering how other members would explain What it's like having psoriasis?

I would say first off when you find out you have psoriasis, it's not so much of a big deal as you are given some cream to slap on and it will go away. That by the way is absolute bull**** as you soon find out once you get it it's you buddy for the rest of your life.

You constantly search for a cure, you listen to advise from your family and friends, you spend a fortune on fake scams or expensive simple moisturises, you believe it will go away one day. But as much as you appreciate your friends and family trying to help, one day you realise it's not going to go away.

That's when the fun starts as you suddenly become aware that others are always looking at you, you also start to feel like a leper, you start to get self conscious over your appearance, you start to get depression. You know the genuine members of your family and friends are trying to help, but sometimes you just wish they would leave you alone to have a damn good cry.  

After a few years you realise there is no cure and you're stuck with it, you are that leper that no one wants to know, you are that person that everyone looks at, you still get friends and family saying "Have you seen in this magazine how this person got cured" Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Leave me alone.

Your life is completely changed, you are constantly checking for psoriasis on your clothes or in your hair. You don't want to visit other peoples houses as you will feel so embarrassed if you notice even a tiny bit of psoriasis on their sofa, and as much as you try with all those greasy creams you just can't hide the psoriasis on your face or your cracked and bleeding hands.

It goes on and on and on, your friends and family will keep telling you to try this or try that. Your doctor will keep throwing creams at you and telling you to come back if it's not clear in a few months. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr It Won't Fooking well clear  

Then one day you are covered in the stuff, there are flakes as big as large coins, you are pulling out clumps of hair, you are leaking sebum or in some cases blood from those horrendous sores all over your body. You itch like hell and then you start to see how big a scale you can get off in one piece, it becomes an addiction to just keep picking at those scales to see if you can better your last one.

One day you notice you are starting to get more and more tired and you just feel like crying yourself to sleep, you may even get to the stage of thinking enough is enough and you just can't cope any more. And still your friends and family (if you have any left) say "Why don't you try this" Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

You want me to explain what it's like having psoriasis? Go and rip the top layer your skin off and rub stinging nettles all over the raw flesh, and just for good measure rub in a good dose of Salt and Sand. Wait don't go away were not done yet, you now need to go walking down the street with everyone pointing at you, you also have to stop going out as you feel to embarrassed by your appearance, you also have to keep going to your Doctor who will give you even more greasy cream or if your lucky enough you may get something like a modern treatment (No change of plan keep trying the cream or a bit of sitting under a light) then one day you get slight relief but it comes back again, you are sore you look like a leper, your confidence has by now completely gone out the window.

Hell I can't explain what it's like having psoriasis, and don't even get me going on psoriatic arthritis (I would rather be covered in flakes of dead skin as opposed to not being able to move) But I can tell you this, be very very careful of what you think of people with psoriasis, as It Could Be You Next.  

To sum up: It's painful, annoying, embarrassing, and will change your life for ever.

Maybe other members will post their answer to "What's it Like Having Psoriasis"

This little study looked at General psychiatric symptoms, quality of sleep, and coping strategies in patients with psoriasis, and concluded that further experimental studies were required to explain the findings.

Quote:

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Background:
Psoriasis is a common dermatological disorder with psychiatric comorbidity. Psoriasis is associated with a variety of psychological problems, including poor self-esteem, sexual dysfunction, sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.

Objectives:
We aimed to investigate general psychiatric symptoms, quality of sleep, and coping strategies in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

Methods:
A total of 79 subjects (37 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 42 control subjects) were enrolled in the study. Coping strategies were measured using the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE) Scale. General psychopathological status was assessed using the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL90R), and sleep quality and disturbances were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Results:
The mean age of the patients was 39.18 ± 16.85 years. The mean age of control subjects was 39.33 ± 11.61 years. The mean score on the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) was 7.56 ± 3.66. There were no significant differences in scores on the SCL90R and COPE subscales between the patient and control groups. However, significant differences between the groups emerged on the PSQI subscales for subjective sleep quality and habitual sleep efficiency (Z = −1.964, P = 0.049, and Z = −2.452, P = 0.014, respectively).

Conclusions:
The present study found no significant differences in general psychiatric symptoms and coping strategies between the psoriasis patients and the control group, by contrast with findings reported elsewhere in the literature. We think that the low PASI scores of our patients, which indicate the low severity of disease in the present group, is the main reason for this finding. However, sleep quality is lower in psoriasis vulgaris patients than in healthy controls. This may be associated with the itch and pain caused by lesions. Further experimental studies are required to explain these findings.

A question to anyone whom may know please......

I have read somewhere that you can get Psoriatic Arthritis in the lower part of your spine, lumber region.

How do doctors know that you have PA in the lumber please or anywhere ?

What tests do they do if anyone knows please ?

I ask as i had my coccyx, lower area of my spine removed 11 years ago.
Now, before they were removed, i had no P at all on my back, totally clear but 4 - 6 months after the operation, tiny P spots appeared on my lower back & in time, the P covered my lower back area, spreading upwards & also attacking the 8 inch scar down there if you know what i mean.

Now, with all the pain killing medication etc i take, my back kills me.
I noticed that over the last couple of years, my walking / hobbling is getting worse.
It's bad enough trying to sleep with the pain but i read somewhere that you can get PA anywhere on your body but with the amount of P on my lower back, it made me question if it was possible if i had it ?
I bloody hope i don't have it.

Does a doctor take blood tests etc ?

Thank you all

GB

Here's a new one for people with Psoriasis, Rogne Bioscience are developing a Topical Biologic for the treatment of psoriasis and will present data at the Society of Investigative Dermatology (SID) Annual Meeting being held May 6-9, 2015 at the Hilton Atlanta, in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Rogne Bioscience, a privately-held biotechnology company developing a topical biologic for psoriasis, today announced that preclinical and mechanism of action data will be presented during a poster session at the Society of Investigative Dermatology (SID) Annual Meeting being held May 6-9, 2015 at the Hilton Atlanta, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Rogne is advancing the development of RON2315, a novel, low MW (<1700 daltons) peptide as a topical treatment for psoriasis. The peptide demonstrates highly potent anti-inflammatory activity in vitro, and when applied topically to an IL-23 dependent model of dermal inflammation, RON2315 inhibits inflammation in a dose-dependent manner. Cellular and biochemical studies in human dendritic cells show that RON2315 acts by regulating the activity of NFKB-p65, thereby inhibiting the secretion of IL-23. Dendritic cells have been shown to be the primary dermal source of IL-23 driving the psoriatic disease process.

"These data highlight a novel anti-inflammatory mechanism that we believe will be a safe, topical treatment with biologic efficacy for hyper-immune diseases such as psoriasis," said Karl Beutner, CMO. "With the demonstration that we can easily deliver the peptide into the skin and the completion of our safety/toxicology studies, our development program is progressing rapidly. We expect to have clinical proof-of-concept data in Q3 of 2015," said Lena Wu, Ph.D. CEO.

The schedule for Rogne's poster presentation is as follows:

Presentation Title: RON2315: A novel human biologic for the topical treatment of psoriasis
Location: Galleria Exhibit Hall
Poster number: 001
Date and Time: Poster Session I, Thursday, May 7, 2015, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Hi guys,

I've had P since I was 15, and I've just turned 30. I'm currently on ciclosporin but my dose is being lowered and I'm being switched on to fumaderm after being told by my dentist that I needed to stop the ciclo. I've been on methotrexate, but that turned me into a grumpy lazy sod, and being a single mum I couldn't carry on like that! I've had 3 lots of light treatment, had a couple of years clear after my first lot but second and third attempts just resulted in quite bad burns so no more of that. I try and avoid steroid creams as I had severe eczema as a kid so went through a lot of them and as a result I seem to have become resistant to them.

My son is great and helps me put my hydromol on if I've had a bad skin day. He has seen me suffer so much with my skin and I'm looking forward to the day my legs are clear so I can take him swimming. I haven't been swimming with him for 5 years, he is only 5 1/2!!
My skin is under control at the minute, but I am feeling a bit apprehensive about going onto fumaderm. Ciclo worked for me in the beginning, then I had a "controlled flare" (only the bits that were already there got worse and one or two bits came back) over winter so the derm upped my dose and I was seeing results less than a week after going up to 175mg then my dentist advised that my gums were getting really bad and I should come off them. I'm hoping that my tablets turn up soon so that I can start them before I worry too much more and cause a stress flare up!!

Been a rough road trying to figure out what was causing my condition. I'm not even going to compare the little I have on my hands and feet with others I've read about, so I guess I'm blessed not to have it too badly. But it's bad enough when every time I do anything with my hands it hurts from all the cracks. Couldn't play my guitars even which really bites.

Anyway got to looking around for treatments. Dummy me was starting to believe all the ads for drugs on TV. I made an appointment with the Doc to see about it when I got curious and looked up the price for Stellara. $8000 a shot! Another was like $3500. Hoky Smokes. And then you get the side effects.

In the meantime I was talking to my sister in law who helped me in the beginning and she said she's nearly beat it with just the cream. Don't skip it or it will bite you. So I doubled down and started to see some improvement. Canceled my appointment as I wasn't interested in the drugs. And started reading everything online to try to find a cure.

Well I saw some books on Amazon. One I was able to read 60 pages by Dr. Pagano concerning diet. Made sense as I have done the Atkins diet with success a few years ago and still try to eat halfway healthy. No soda or sweet tea. No McDonald's or junk like that. So I ordered a couple of books and they both said the same thing concerning what foods to avoid and how to treat it. They may be on to something.

So I have been trying to follow this diet and I'm seeing results. Eating all kinds of rabbit food and avoiding the nightshades. Adventuring with new ways to cook fish and chicken and hunting down healthy foods (which in this one horse town can be a challenge). Been trying new ways to cook rice as well. And lots of fruit, my desert when my wife and daughter pull out the chocolate, or cheesecake, or icecream.... LOL!

I'm also taking Fish Oil twice a day, along with Vit D3, calcium, B's and a multivitamin. And drinking lots of water.

Also my wife and I have her parents under our roof. He's Italian and says it at least 50 time a day like it's a miracle or some BS. Everything revolves around food with those two, especially spaghetti. It's like it's a sacred friggin cow. So you can imagine the crap I'm dealing with when I proclaim I can't eat their spaghetti this Sunday when everyone is over for dinner. I finally got him to lay off when I showed what progress I'm having following this diet. Also nothing like fixing two meals for dinner too. Since I work 12 hour days I've been eating dinner at work so I don't have to put up with it.

Well anyway my hands are smoothing out and it's ben a few weeks since I've had a crack in my fingers. Been able to start playing again, especially since I finished my latest guitar. I'm bound and determined to get over this. I'm going to order the Slippery Elm Capsules and Saffron Tea next to really get over this.

I also made a believer of myself. I cheated as I was working a bunch of overtime and came home tired. Wife had pizza in the oven and I didn't want to fix anything. The next night she talked me into fixing a Mexican feast. The next day my hands and feet broke out. Showed her and she's a whole lot more willing to go along with what I'm doing now.

Hi everyone, I've just registered and not 100% sure how things work on here, i'm looking for peoples experiences using Fumaderm? I'm on it and have been for about a year and suddenly i'm getting bad side effects! and to add insult to serious injury they no longer seem to be working!!! I'm on the max dose (6 tablets per day) Anyone have the same problem? Thanks! x

Hi everyone,

My partner and I have decided we'd like to try and conceieve so I've came off all my medications and at the moment I'm using pregnacare vitamins which include vitamin D and Biotin which I know have been helpful for some with their Psoriasis. I am also using Aloe Vera gel and Dermovate cream on my feet when they flare up badly. We recently suffered a miscarriage so this is the reason for getting all medications out of my system in case they played a part in it.

Any other recommendations, please let me know!

Hope to chat to some friendly people

I haved used topical creams but work temporarily only and they are very expensive. I will start using baking soda to see how it improves

Hi everyone, I am new here, but not new to psoriasis. I have been trying to deal with it since 2007. I have tried some medical treatments and lots of home remedies. Yesterday I started on Hemp oil. I am using it on my scalp, arms legs and torso twice a day. In one day I have noticed how the redness is fading some. It has made my skin softer, so I am using it on my face as well, even though I dont not have psoriasis on my face....so far. I am looking forward to what everyone is treating their psoriasis with and how it is helping them. So glad to be here!

Sooo, today I had my first flare of PsA while on Cimzia. Had to take a double dose of Celebrex. Talking to the Rheumatologist's nurse, she said she wants me to talk to Dermatologist about UV. I have an appointment on the 5th. I had a small flare of psoriasis on my tounge; I really don't think UV is an option. This is the third TNF that has no effect or made my psoriasis worse. I could always add poison. The only other biologic that is not a TNF and has returned a secondary endpoint is Orencia. However, it does not work for the back. Any ideas?

Clinical trials for bio drugs for psoriatic arthritis are continuing to do research to prevent bone damage from PsA...research for psoriatic arthritis are done in 3 trials then it can be approved.

Quote [The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of brodalumab, compared to placebo, in subjects with psoriatic arthritis. The key secondary objective is to evaluate the efficacy of brodalumab compared to placebo at week 16 and week 24. The safety objective of this study is to evaluate the safety profile of brodalumab in subjects with psoriatic arthritis.]

Phase 1&2 studies on how the drug works to prevent bone damage has been encouraging.



As long as there is breath there is life...life is a Gift!