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Dive into the research topics where Aldona Pietrzak is active.

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Featured researches published by Aldona Pietrzak.


Clinica Chimica Acta | 2008

Cytokines and anticytokines in psoriasis.

Aldona Pietrzak; Anna Zalewska; Grażyna Chodorowska; Dorota Krasowska; Anna Michalak-Stoma; Piotr Nockowski; Paweł Osemlak; T. Paszkowski; Jacek Roliński

BACKGROUND Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune hyperproliferative skin disease of varying severity affecting approximately 2-3% of the general population in the USA and Europe. Although the pathogenesis of psoriasis has not been fully elucidated, an immunologic-genetic relationship is likely. Cutaneous and systemic overexpression of various proinflammatory cytokines (TNF, interleukins, interferon-gamma) has been demonstrated in psoriatic patients. METHODS We reviewed the current database literature and summarized the involvement of cytokines and their receptors in the pathogenesis and treatment of psoriasis. RESULTS Although many cytokine/anti-cytokine therapies have been conducted, TNF antagonists in the treatment of both psoriasis arthropatica and vulgaris appear to be the most widely used clinically. Interestingly, the efficacy and tolerability of some cytokines (rhIL-11 or ABX-IL-8,) were found to be much lower than expected. CONCLUSIONS Preliminary results obtained with cytokine and anti-cytokine therapies appear promising and as such continued research is clearly indicated.


International Journal of Dermatology | 2013

Cardiovascular aspects of psoriasis: an updated review

Aldona Pietrzak; Joanna Bartosińska; Graz̊yna Chodorowska; Jacek C. Szepietowski; Piotr Paluszkiewicz; Robert A. Schwartz

Psoriasis, a systemic inflammatory disease, is associated with enhanced atherosclerosis and risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease, which may account for higher morbidity and mortality rates in psoriatic patients. It especially applies to younger psoriatic patients with more severe disease, reducing their life expectancy.


Archives of Dermatological Research | 2012

Social support and adaptation to the disease in men and women with psoriasis

Konrad Janowski; Stanisława Steuden; Aldona Pietrzak; Dorota Krasowska; Łukasz Kaczmarek; Ilona Gradus; Grażyna Chodorowska

Social support was shown to be an important factor buffering negative effects of stress in a range of clinical populations. Little is known, however, about the role of social support in the population of patients with psoriasis although strong psychosocial stress has been implicated in this disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between social support and selected indices of adaptation to life with the disease, including health-related quality of life, depressive symptoms and acceptance of life with the disease, in a sample of patients with psoriasis. Additionally, gender differences in these relationships were analyzed. One-hundred-four patients with psoriasis completed psychological tests measuring disease-related social support, health-related quality of life, depressive symptoms and acceptance of life with the disease. Psoriasis severity was assessed by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index. The patients reporting higher social support levels had significantly higher quality of life, lower depression levels, and higher acceptance of life with the disease. The strengths of these effects, however, were different in women and men. Higher social support was slightly more closely associated with better acceptance of life with the disease in men than in women. However, higher social support was more closely associated to lower depression and better quality of life in women than in men. Among different types of social support, tangible support was found to be the best predictor for the all adaptation indices. Effects of social support perceived by psoriasis patients on adaptation to the disease may be gender-related and exact pathways of these effects may depend on the type on the dimension of social support and the selected type of adaptation indicator. Tangible support seems the most important type of support contributing to better adaptation in both women and men with psoriasis.


Acta Dermato-venereologica | 2003

Interleukin-18 levels in the plasma of psoriatic patients correlate with the extent of skin lesions and the PASI score.

Aldona Pietrzak; Barbara Lecewicz-Toruń; G. Chodorowska; Jacek Roliński

Interleukin-18 is a cytokine with a possible role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. We examined subpopulations of peripheral blood lymphocytes and their expression of activation markers and correlated this with plasma levels of IL-18 and clinical disease severity in patients with psoriasis. We included 12 patients with psoriasis who had a PASI score from 15 to 48 and compared them to controls. IL-18 plasma concentrations were determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We observed a significant correlation between the IL-18 levels and the area of skin affected with psoriasis and the PASI score. We also observed an increase in NK cells and memory helper CD45RO + /CD4+cells.


International Journal of Dermatology | 2009

Lipoprotein (a) in patients with psoriasis: associations with lipid profiles and disease severity

Aldona Pietrzak; Jacek Kadzielewski; Konrad Janowski; Jacek Roliński; Dorota Krasowska; Grażyna Chodorowska; Tomasz Paszkowski; Ewa Kapec; Iwona Jastrzebska; Jacek Tabarkiewicz; Torello Lotti

Background  Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is a genetically determined molecule whose role has been implied in cardiovascular pathology, and whose levels have been reported to be elevated in patients with psoriasis.


Dermatology | 2001

Unilateral Multiple Linear Lichen planus following the Blaschko Lines Recurring after Deliveries

Dorota Krasowska; Aldona Pietrzak; Barbara Lecewicz-Toruń

Several clinical variants of lichen planus have been reported, but lichen planus following the Blaschko lines is extremely rare. We present a case of lichen planus with linear distribution following the embryologic Blaschko lines, recurring after each successive delivery. A 33-year-old woman was referred to the clinic with a history of an itching rash of 2 months’ duration. The first lesions occurred in 1995 after the first delivery and affected only the right side of the chest. The lesions, which were accompanied by pruritus, cleared up untreated, but postinflammatory hyperpigmentation remained. The next delivery in 1997 was followed by another dissemination of lesions in the same body area. Additional lichen planus eruptions developed 2 months after the third delivery in 1999. All three pregnancies were uncomplicated, the patient did not take any medications, the deliveries were physiological and the babies were healthy. Physical examination revealed the presence of linearly distributed flat and bulging, red and violet papules with a Wickham network. They were arranged linearly along the inside of the right upper limb, the outside of the right thigh, the right side of the chest and the epigastrium. We identified a great number of linearly distributed lesions which did not extend beyond the body midline. Linear hyperpigmentation, an effect of the previous lesions, was still present on the right side of the chest. Additionally, a 4 ! 5 cm large pigmented mole was present on the left side of the supraumbilical area. Neither nail changes nor mucous membrane involvement was found. Routine laboratory findings did not show any abnormalities. Serological tests for hepatitis B and C virus infection were negative. A skin biopsy showed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, an accentuated granular layer and a band-like lymphocytic infiltrate along the dermal-epidermal junction. The patient was given cimetidine (2 ! 400 mg) for 10 weeks combined with topical fluticasone propionate. After 2.5 months of treatment, the rash flattened and improved, although postinflammatory hyperpigmentation remained. In our patient with linear multifocal lichen planus recurring after each delivery, it is noteworthy that the lesions never extended beyond the body midline. Linear lichen planus is an extremely rare variant of lichen planus. Thus, unilateral lichen planus is an exceptional situation and the unilateral distribution is hard to account for. Gupta and Gorsulowsky [1] report a case of unilaterally located lesions, which like in our patient affected half a trunk, arm and left lower limb. Hartl et al. [2] described an interesting case of unilateral linear lichen planus with a simultaneous involvement of the tongue and the inside of the mouth. Long and Finlay [3] present a case of multifocal linear lichen planus lesions arranged along the Blaschko lines. In our patient lichen planus lesions occurred along the lines of Blaschko with a typical but unilateral location. During fetal life, a mutation may have caused a clone of cells with a different histocompatibility antigen to populate a specific, Blaschko-linear area of the skin. Later, several factors may induce this specific cellular clone to acquire different qualities and trigger the immune response [4, 5]. The factors provoking lichen planus lesions range from viruses, toxic elements and drugs to stress, which all activate immunological factors. In our case, a pregnancyrelated modification of the immune system might be seen responsible for the lichen planus.


Folia Histochemica Et Cytobiologica | 2012

Biochemical markers of psoriasis as a metabolic disease

Agnieszka Gerkowicz; Aldona Pietrzak; Jacek C. Szepietowski; Sebastian Radej; Grażyna Chodorowska

Psoriasis is a chronic immune mediated inflammatory skin disease with a population prevalence of 2-3%. In recent years, psoriasis has been recognized as a systemic disease associated with metabolic syndrome or its components such as: obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and atherogenic dyslipidemia. Many bioactive substances have appeared to be related to metabolic syndrome. Based on current literature, we here discuss the possible role of adiponectin, leptin, ghrelin, resistin, inflammatory cytokines, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, uric acid, C-reactive protein and lipid abnormalities in psoriasis and in metabolic syndrome.


International Journal of Dermatology | 2008

Psychological stress, endocrine and immune response in patients with lichen planus.

Dorota Krasowska; Aldona Pietrzak; Agata Surdacka; Violetta Tuszyńska‐Bogucka; Konrad Janowski; Jacek Roliński

Background  Lichen planus still remains a disease of unclear etiology. Inconclusive reports exist on the role of stress the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in this disease. The objective of this study was to find associations between levels of stress and indices of the endocrine and immune response in patients with lichen planus.


Folia Histochemica Et Cytobiologica | 2008

Genes and structure of selected cytokines involved in pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Aldona Pietrzak; Anna Zalewska; Grażyna Chodorowska; Piotr Nockowski; Anna Michalak-Stoma; Paweł Osemlak; Dorota Krasowska

Psoriasis is a common skin disease involving 1-4% of human population worldwide, of strong genetic background. The following cytokines are directly involved in psoriasis: TNF, IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-15, IL-18, IL-19, IL-20, IL-23 whereas IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 as well as IL-11, IL-17 and IFN-gamma are rather indirectly engaged. This work is a review of some genetic factors and structure of selected cytokines and receptors and their genes location.


Dermatologic Therapy | 2015

Clinical utility and validity of minoxidil response testing in androgenetic alopecia

Andy Goren; Jerry Shapiro; Janet L. Roberts; John McCoy; Nisha Desai; Zoulikha Zarrab; Aldona Pietrzak; Torello Lotti

Clinical response to 5% topical minoxidil for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is typically observed after 3–6 months. Approximately 40% of patients will regrow hair. Given the prolonged treatment time required to elicit a response, a diagnostic test for ruling out nonresponders would have significant clinical utility. Two studies have previously reported that sulfotransferase enzyme activity in plucked hair follicles predicts a patients response to topical minoxidil therapy. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical utility and validity of minoxidil response testing. In this communication, the present authors conducted an analysis of completed and ongoing studies of minoxidil response testing. The analysis confirmed the clinical utility of a sulfotransferase enzyme test in successfully ruling out 95.9% of nonresponders to topical minoxidil for the treatment of AGA.

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Grażyna Chodorowska

Medical University of Lublin

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Dorota Krasowska

Medical University of Lublin

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Ewa Dybiec

Medical University of Lublin

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Joanna Bartosińska

Medical University of Lublin

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Jerzy Mosiewicz

Medical University of Lublin

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Torello Lotti

Sapienza University of Rome

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G. Chodorowska

Medical University of Lublin

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Jacek Roliński

Medical University of Lublin

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