Psoriasis and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Prevalence and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease among adult psoriatic patients: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis

BACKGROUND

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to report the evaluation of the prevalence and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among adult psoriatic patients in a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted across 4 databases of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to collect relevant studies until November 30, 2023, without any restrictions for finding observational studies. The comprehensive meta-analysis version 3.0 software was used to calculate effect sizes, showing the event rate (ER), odds ratio (OR), and a 95% confidence interval (CI) to evaluate NAFLD risk or prevalence in psoriatic patients and controls or psoriatic patients alone. The quality scoring was performed by 1 author based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale tool. Publication bias, meta-regression analysis, and sensitivity analyses were performed. Additionally, Trial Sequential Analysis (TSA) was performed using TSA software.

RESULTS

A total of 581 records were identified among the databases and electronic sources. At last, 41 studies involving 607,781 individuals were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled ER of NAFLD among psoriatic patients was 29.5% (95%CI: 19.6%-41.7%) and I2 = 99.79%. The pooled OR of NAFLD in psoriatic patients compared to controls was 1.685 (95%CI: 1.382-2.055; P < .001) and I2 = 87.96%.

CONCLUSIONS

The study found a significant link between psoriasis and NAFLD, with psoriatic patients having a higher chance of developing NAFLD compared to the controls. The study calls for regular NAFLD screening in psoriatic patients to prevent liver complications.

Bioinformatics analysis to reveal the potential comorbidity mechanism in psoriasis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

PURPOSE

An increasing amount of evidence suggests that psoriasis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) may occur simultaneously, whereas the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Our research aims to explore the potential comorbidity mechanism in psoriasis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The expression profiles of psoriasis (GSE30999, GSE13355) and NASH (GSE24807, GSE17470) were downloaded from GEO datasets. Next, common differently expressed genes (DEGs) of psoriasis and NASH were investigated. Then, GO and KEGG enrichment, protein interaction network (PPI) construction, and hub gene identification for DEGs were performed. Finally, immune cells expression, target genes predicted by common miRNAs, and transcription factors interaction analysis for hub genes were carried out.

RESULTS

Twenty DEGs were identified in totally. GO analysis revealed response to the virus was the most enriched term, and hepatitis C and coronavirus disease-COVID-19 infection-associated pathways were mainly enriched in KEGG. A total of eight hub genes were collected, including IFIT1, IFIT3, OAS1, HPGDS, IFI27, IFI44, CXCL10, IRF9, and 11 TFs were predicted. Then, neutrophils and monocytes were identified as immune cells that express the most hub genes. Moreover, five common miRNAs for psoriasis and NASH and one common miRNAs (hsa-miR-1305)-mRNAs (CHL1, MBNL2) network were presented.

CONCLUSION

CHL1 and MBNL2 may participate in the process of psoriasis and NASH via regulating hsa-miR-1305, and together with eight hub genes may be potential therapeutic targets for future treatment for the co-occurrence of these two diseases. This comprehensive bioinformatic analysis provides new insights on molecular pathogenesis and identification of potential therapeutic targets for the co-occurrence of them.

High Frequency Ultrasound-Based Evaluation of Clinical Effect of Ephedra-Forsythia-Red Bean Decoction Addition and Subtraction Treatment of Psoriasis Vulgaris

This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of ephedra-forsythia-red bean decoction (a formula of traditional Chinese medicine) addition and subtraction treatment of psoriasis vulgaris based on 22 MHz high-frequency ultrasound, so as to provide reference for the selection of traditional Chinese medicine formulas for psoriasis and the clinical application of ultrasound. 80 patients with psoriasis vulgaris with exterior closing and internal depression syndrome diagnosed and treated in the hospital were divided into an observation group (40 cases) and a control group. Patients in the observation group were received ephedra-forsythia-red bean decoction addition and subtraction; and those in the control group were received traditional Chinese medicine of observation group subtraction of raw ephedra, cinnamomum cassia, addition of fineleaf schizonepeta herb, divaricate saposhnikovia root. 22 MHz high-frequency ultrasonography was also performed. The psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score and efficacy indicators were compared between the two groups. The results showed that the detection rate of nail malnutrition and psoriasis infiltration in psoriasis by high-frequency ultrasound was significantly higher than that by arthroscopy, and the difference was significant ( $P<0.05$ ). The total PASI score of the two groups after treatment was significantly lower than that before treatment, and the total PASI score of the observation group was lower than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( $P<0.05$ ). The total effective rate of the observation group (87.5%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (67.5%), and the difference was statistically significant ( $P<0.05$ ). It was found that high-frequency ultrasound can effectively display the condition and prognosis of patients with psoriasis. Ephedra-forsythia-red bean decoction was an effective traditional Chinese medicine formula for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.