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Dorota Kozicka

Bio: Dorota Kozicka is an academic researcher from Gdańsk Medical University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Theology & Juvenile xanthogranuloma. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 5 publications receiving 45 citations.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Two cases with a small and large nodular form of JXG are reported, both of which are associated with an increased risk of serious complications.
Abstract: Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) is a rare histiocytic disorder that typically affects children. The clinical presentation of this disease is characterized by single or, rarely, multiple yellow and brown skin nodules, most often found on the face and neck. Internal organ involvement has been sporadically observed in JXG and is associated with an increased risk of serious complications. We report two cases with a small and large nodular form of JXG.

30 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Neovascularization plays an important role in pathogenesis of psoriasis and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) seems to be the main angiogenic factor involved in this disease.
Abstract: Background Neovascularization plays an important role in pathogenesis of psoriasis and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) seems to be the main angiogenic factor involved in this disease. Published studies which analysed the role of VEGF gene polymorphism in psoriasis were limited and they received controversial results. Objective The aim of our study was to evaluate the association between −1154 G/A, −460 T/C and +405 G/C polymorphisms and the psoriasis susceptibility and to determine whether this genetic variation influence levels of VEGF protein expression. Materials and methods One hundred and eighty-nine patients with psoriasis and 215 ethnically matched controls were genotyped using ARMS-PCR and PCR-RFLP methods. VEGF serum levels were assessed in 47 patients and 40 controls using ELISA test. Results We noted that an increased risk of Type I psoriasis is associated with −1154 G allele (OR = 1.9; P = 0.04), +405 CC (OR = 2.86; P = 0.03) and −460 TT (OR = 1.56; P = 0.05) genotypes and demonstrated that a significantly increased risk of developing disease is related to presence of haplotype GTC among all patients (OR = 1.97; P = 0.001), patients with Type I (OR = 1.87; P = 0.005) and Type II psoriasis (OR = 2.37, P = 0.01). We have found significantly increased serum levels of VEGF in patients with psoriasis compared with those in healthy controls (P = 0.008). Serum levels of VEGF significantly correlated with PASI: r = 0.72, P < 0.00001. Patients with elevated levels of VEGF in the serum showed more frequently: GC genotype (P = 0.04), C allele (P = 0.02) at the locus +405 and TT genotype (P = 0.03) at the locus −460. Conclusion Our results strongly support the role of VEGF gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

19 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that close collaboration between dermatologists and psychiatrists is important in diagnosing and treating DA patients.
Abstract: BACKGROUND Dermatitis artefacta (DA) is a dermatologicopsychiatric illness that is a conscious self-infliction of lesions to accessible regions of the body. The lesions usually do not resemble those of any know skin disease and there are no specific diagnostic tests to recognize them. This makes dermatitis artefacta a very slow, challenging and expensive disease to diagnose. CASE REPORT We present 5 different clinical cases of dermatitis artefacta treated in the Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Gdansk in 2011. Detailed anamnesis and physical examination were performed at the day of admission. All patients had biochemical and hematological blood tests, skin biopsies and swabs for bacteriological examination, and photographs were taken. Psychiatric consultation was recommended in all cases. Clinical symptoms before diagnosis lasted from 1 to 10 years. The female-to-male ratio is 1:0.7, with age range of 57-62 years. Of our patients, only 2 refused a psychiatric consultation. Three out of 5 patients denied self-mutilation (2 of those 3 patients finally admitted to self-manipulations). Lesions were usually within the reach of the dominant hand. Two patients have other personality disorders. In 4/5 cases visible improvement after treatment with occlusive dressings were observed. CONCLUSIONS We discuss and attempt to depict issues associated with collaboration between dermatologists and psychiatrists, reasons for poor recognition of the disease, very long diagnosis and high costs. To conclude, we found that close collaboration between dermatologists and psychiatrists is important in diagnosing and treating DA patients.

9 citations

01 Jan 2011
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed retro spectively 5 patients diagnosed and treated between June 2009 and September 2010 because of swimming pool granuloma in the Outpatient Ward of the Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Gdansk.
Abstract: Swimming pool granuloma is a rare infection of the skin caused by Mycobacterium marinum. The primary skin lesion is defined as a blue/red papule or nodule with verrucous surface and secondary ulceration in some cases. The skin lesions are usually localized on upper limbs, especially fingers. Usually, at the very early beginning they are misdi agnosed as a deep mycotic infection, tuberculosis, skin abscess, leishmaniasis or warts. Here we analysed retro spectively 5 patients diagnosed and treated between June 2009 and September 2010 because of swimming pool granuloma in the Outpatient Ward of the Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Gdansk. We also fol lowed the newest publications relating to this problem.

2 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , an autorka pokazuje konteksty i reperkusje jego poruszenia (demontażu, rekonstrukcji) w praktyce krytycznoliterackiej ostatniego trzydziestolecia.
Abstract: W artykule podjęto rozważania na temat pojęcia kanonu w praktyce krytycznoliterackiej ostatniego trzydziestolecia. Odwołując się do toczących się wówczas debat społecznych i krytycznych oraz do używanych w nich różnych definicji kanonu, autorka pokazuje konteksty i reperkusje jego poruszenia (demontażu, rekonstrukcji). Nie tracąc z oczu zasadniczego faktu, że rozumienie kanonu przekłada się na sposób myślenia o literaturze oraz roli/powinnościach/możliwościach krytyki literackiej, analizuje zarówno cele, jak i sposoby używania tego pojęcia. A także okoliczności, w których w dyskusjach i tekstach krytycznych, podejmujących problematykę wartościowania, literackich hierarchii czy zadań krytyki, miejsce kanonu jako punktu odniesienia przejął mainstream i inne kategorie, bardziej adekwatne do heteronomicznego charakteru pola literackiego.

Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Based on the largest sample of patients with factitious disorder analyzed to date, the findings offer an important first step toward an evidence-based approach to the disorder.

88 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results demonstrate that the inhibition of VEGF expression by retinoids only depends on their anti-AP1 activity and does not require gene transactivation via retinoic acid response elements.

73 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that serum IL‐22 and VEGF levels serve as sensitive biomarkers but not as predictors of therapeutic response to biologics in patients with psoriasis.
Abstract: The T-helper (Th)17 cell plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, and several biological therapies have shown to be highly efficient in the treatment. However, some patients respond poorly to these therapies and may even develop paradoxical adverse effects. To evaluate the significance of serum immunological factors or circulating competent cells for biomarkers or predictors to biological therapies, we retrospectively analyzed 28 patients with psoriasis (19 psoriasis vulgaris, three pustular psoriasis and six psoriasis arthropathica). The numbers of patients treated with each agents were 16 for ustekinumab, six for adalimumab and six for infliximab. Patients were classified into three types according to the responsiveness: 13 patients were high-responders showing a 75% or more reduction of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI); 10 patients were moderate-responders showing PASI reduction of less than 75%; and five patients were non-responders showing PASI elevation. During the treatments, serum levels of interleukin (IL)-22 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGH) [corrected] were monitored. At baseline, serum IL-22 levels were significantly higher in the psoriatic patients than the normal controls. Both serum IL-22 and VEGF levels significantly correlated with PASI. After the treatment, the high-responders showed significant decreases in serum IL-22 and VEGF. On the other hand, serum IL-22 levels in the non-responders were elevated. However, the baseline levels of serum IL-22 and VEGF were not significantly different between the three groups. These results suggest that serum IL-22 and VEGF levels serve as sensitive biomarkers but not as predictors of therapeutic response to biologics in patients with psoriasis.

35 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The V EGF +405 G/C polymorphism may influence embryo implantation and VEGF + 405 C/C genotype may predispose to recurrent implantation failure after ICSI-ET.
Abstract: Successful embryo implantation depends on trophoblast proliferation, migration and, lastly, invasion of the endometrium (to anchor the trophoblast to the uterus). This invasion is mediated by locally produced soluble factors. Of these, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the best characterized regulator of angiogenesis. Here, we investigate the association between the VEGF + 405 C/G genotype and the recurrence of embryo implantation failure in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) program with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Forty women with recurrent implantation failure defined by absence of pregnancy after transfer of more than 10 embryos and 131 women control, with at least one live birth after the transfer of fewer than 10 embryos were included. Genomic DNA was analysed with an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction and a Chi-2 test was used to compare the respective VEGF + 405 C/G genotype frequencies in cases and controls. The frequency of the VEGF +405C/C genotype was higher in women with recurrent implantation failure after ICSI-embryo transfer than in controls (17.5 % and 5.3 %, respectively, p = 0.01). The VEGF +405 G/C polymorphism may influence embryo implantation and VEGF + 405 C/C genotype may predispose to recurrent implantation failure after ICSI-ET.

24 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results from the meta-analysis do support the hypothesis that single-nucleotide polymorphism markers at +405C>G, -460C>T, and -1154G>A of the VEGF gene may serve as biological markers of psoriasis.
Abstract: The contribution of genetic polymorphisms in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene to psoriasis risk is a controversial topic. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate large-scale evidence to determine the degree to which four common VEGF polymorphisms (+405C>G [dbSNP: rs2010963], −460T>C [dbSNP: rs833061], −2578C>A [dbSNP: rs699947], and −1154G>A [dbSNP: rs1570360]) are associated with susceptibility to psoriasis. A literature search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database was conducted to identify all eligible studies published before September 15, 2013. The principal outcome measure for evaluating the strength of the association was crude odds ratios (ORs) along with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Two thousand five hundred thirty-one patients and 2670 controls from nine case–control studies detailing a possible association between the VEGF genotypes and psoriasis risk were sele...

21 citations