Vol 15, No 3 (2012)

The efficiency of plasmapheresis and its modification with UV irradiation of re-infused erythrocyte suspension was evaluated in 104 patients aged 18-60 years with the progressive stage of disseminated psoriasis vulgaris. The clinical picture, cellular immunity and phagocytic process parameters, serum cytokine levels were studied over time. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-2, circulating immune complexes were elevated in psoriasis patients who developed T-cellular immunity imbalance and high activity of neutrophilic defense. Relationships between the studied values and patients gender, hereditary disease history, and clinical characteristics were detected. Addition of efferent quantum methods to combined therapy for psoriasis promoted more manifest positive shifts in the skin process and led to selective correction of some immune values. Higher clinical immunological efficiency of plasmapheresis with autotransfusion of photomodified erythrocyte suspension was noted.

A rare hereditary disease - anhydrotic ectodermal dysplasia - is described. The basic clinical aspects of the syndrome diagnosis are presented. Two clinical cases with the syndrome are described.

Russian and foreign publications (a total of 23) on the "sword stroke" linear scleroderma are reviewed. A patient (female) with two sword stroke foci is described.

The pathogenesis of seborrheic dermatitis and acne is discussed from the viewpoint of congenital immunity stimulation, based on Toll-like receptor (TLR) regulation; this approach opens new vistas of these conditions therapy by drugs reacting with TLR2. The authors present clinical experience gained in the use of innovation drugs manufactured by Uriage (France), containing TLR2-Regul patented complex for therapy of dermatoses with high risk of infection.

Algorithms of rational therapy of patients suffering from acne, based on the specific features of clinical picture, are described. Results of therapy of 20 patients receiving acnecutan monotherapy are presented.

Cytokines and their role in the pathogenesis of human autoimmune diseases are discussed. Serum cytokines (interleukins 1-beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) were measured in patients with alopecia areata with different forms and activity of disease. Based on their findings and published data, the authors analyze the contribution of these cytokines to the pathogenesis of alopecia areata and discuss the prospects of anticytokine therapy.

It is assumed that wide use of long acting penicillin forms during the latest epidemic rise was associated with a trend to an increase in the number of patients with delayed development of negative serological reactions and serological resistance. In order to compare the remote results of therapy by short- and long-acting penicillin in patients with early latent syphilis we studied seroconversion parameters in the patients observed at Nizhny Novgorod Center for Skin and Sexually-Transmitted Diseases in the 1990ies and 2000ies. The results were obviously better in patients with early latent syphilis treated by benzylpenicillin sodium than in those receiving benzylpenicillin benzatine.

The epidemiology of cervical cancer and anogenital warts in Europe, America. and Russia and programs for prevention of and screening for human papillomavirus all over the world are reviewed.

The parameters of M-1 sarcoma growth and morphology after laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) were studied. The antitumor effect of LITT was mainly due to destruction of the microcirculatory bed and development of necrosis. These results can serve as the theoretical base for development of LITT protocol for clinical practice.