Lidia Rudnicka (born February 19, 1960, in Chicago, Illinois) is a Polish-American

dermatologist Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin.''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.'' Random House, Inc. 2001. Page 537. . It is a speciality with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist is a specialist medi ...

with contributions to the field of

scleroderma Scleroderma is a group of autoimmune diseases that may result in changes to the skin, blood vessels, muscles, and internal organs. The disease can be either localized to the skin or involve other organs, as well. Symptoms may include areas ...

research,

hair disease Hair diseases are illnesses that impact the persistence and regular growth of hair. Types of hair diseases include folliculitis, hirsutism, hypertrichosis, hypotrichosis (alopecia), Menkes kinky hair syndrome, monilethrix, and piedra. Follic ...

s and

melanoma Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer; it develops from the melanin-producing cells known as melanocytes. It typically occurs in the skin, but may rarely occur in the mouth, intestines, or eye (uveal melanoma). In very rare case ...

prevention. Rudnicka was the chairman of the Department of Dermatology CSK MSWiA ( Central Clinical Hospital of Ministry of Internal Affaires) in

Warsaw, Poland Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at 1.86 million residents within a grea ...

(1998–2014). She is currently (starting 2014) chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Medical University of Warsaw. She is president of the Polish Dermatological Society, first president of the International Society of Trichoscopy, regional editor for the

International Journal of Trichology The ''International Journal of Trichology'' is a biannual peer-reviewed open access medical journal published by Medknow Publications on behalf of the Hair Research Society of India. The journal publishes articles on the subject of trichology incl ...

, and associate editor of the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. From 1990 to 1993, she worked in American and European institutions:

Food and Drug Administration The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA or US FDA) is a List of United States federal agencies, federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is respo ...

(USA),

University of Liège The University of Liège (), or ULiège, is a major public university of the French Community of Belgium founded in 1817 and based in Liège, Wallonia, Belgium. Its official language is French (language), French. History The university was foun ...

(Belgium) and

Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University is a Private university, private research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Established in its earliest form in 1824, the university officially combined with Philadelphia University in 2017. ...

in Philadelphia (USA). Additionally, Rudnicka has authored or co-authored over 200 articles and book chapters, mainly concerning autoimmune skin diseases, biological therapies, videodermoscopy,

trichoscopy Trichoscopy is a method of hair and scalp evaluation and is used for diagnosing hair and scalp diseases. The method is based on dermoscopy. In trichoscopy hair and scalp structures may be visualized at many-fold magnification. Currently magnificat ...

epidemiology Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and Risk factor (epidemiology), determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population, and application of this knowledge to prevent dise ...

of skin diseases and managing medical institutions.

Biography

Academic career

Rudnicka graduated from Warsaw Medical School (having previously studied in Bonn and Cologne) in 1986. She went on to receive PhD in medical sciences in 1990 and habilitation degree in 1994. From 1987 to 1998 she worked as an Assistant Lecturer and Assistant Professor in Department of Dermatology, Warsaw Medical School. In 2001 she became Full Professor in medical sciencesSince 2008 Rudnicka has been professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences in Medical University of Warsaw.

Professional career

Rudnicka started her professional career in 1986 in Department of Immunopathology of National Institute of Hygiene. In 1987 she became Assistant Lecturer in Department of Dermatology, Warsaw Medical University. In 1986, she became chairman of the Department of Dermatology, CSK MSWiA (1998–2014). From 1990 to 1993 she worked in American and European institutions: Food and Drug Administration (National Institute of Health; 1990), University of Liège (research laboratory of Department of Dermatology; 1991) and Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia (Department of Dermatology; 1991–1993). Since 2007 Rudnicka has been a member of National Examinary Commission for dermatology and venerology exams. In 2014 she was appointed chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Medical University of Warsaw. She participated in works of Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine,

Polish Academy of Sciences The Polish Academy of Sciences (, PAN) is a Polish state-sponsored institution of higher learning. Headquartered in Warsaw, it is responsible for spearheading the development of science across the country by a society of distinguished scholars a ...

Scleroderma research

Rudnicka's early work was related to the role of

Natural Killer Cells Natural killer cells, also known as NK cells, are a type of cytotoxic lymphocyte critical to the innate immune system. They are a kind of large granular lymphocytes (LGL), and belong to the rapidly expanding family of known innate lymphoid cells ...

and adhesion molecules in

systemic sclerosis Systemic scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, is an autoimmune rheumatic disease characterised by excessive production and accumulation of collagen, called fibrosis, in the skin and internal organs and by injuries to small arteries. There are tw ...

(

) and showed that activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of scleroderma patients exhibit increased adhesion to vascular endothelial cells, which is an early event, preceding formation of perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates and development of skin fibrosis. She is the author of the hypothesis linking etiology of systemic sclerosis to a mutation in the topoisomerase I gene and abnormal topoisomerase I expression. She believes that presence of anti-topoisomerse I antibodies in sera of patients with scleroderma represents a protective reaction to these abnormalities. This hypothesis was partly confirmed by her studies.Rudnicka, L; Czuwara, J; Barusińska, A; Nowicka, U; Makieła, B; Jabłonska, S (1996). "Implications for the use of topoisomerase I inhibitors in treatment of patients with systemic sclerosis". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 803: 318–20. . .Czuwara-Ladykowska, J; Makiela, B; Smith, EA; Trojanowska, M; Rudnicka, L (2001). "The inhibitory effects of camptothecin, a topoisomerase I inhibitor, on collagen synthesis in fibroblasts from patients with systemic sclerosis". Arthritis research 3 (5): 311–8. . .Czuwara, J; Nowicka, U ; Uhrynowska, I ; Gaciong, Z; Olszewska, M; Blaszczyk, M; Rudnicka, L (1998). The effect of topoisomerase I inhibitor – campthotecin- on expression of p53 in scleroderma fibroblasts. Journal of dermatological science Volume: 16, Supplement 1, March, 1998, pp. S124.Makiela, B; Barusińska, A; Czuwara, J; Majewski, S; Jablonska, S; Rudnicka, L. (1995) "The effect of camptothecin, an apoptosis-inducing factor, on proliferation and activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with systemic sclerosis". Journal of investigative dermatology Volume: 104, Issue: 4, April, 1995, p. 652 The study on which Urszula Nowicka's doctoral thesis was based showed a mutation in the 3’ coding region of the topoisomerase gene in 56% of patients with anti-topo I – positive (Scl70-positive) systemic sclerosis. It was also indicated that specific antibodies penetrate into the nuclei of fibroblasts and inhibit the activity of topoisomerase I. Moreover, the studies evidenced that topoisomerase I inhibitor,

camptothecin Camptothecin (CPT) is a topoisomerase inhibitor. It was discovered in 1966 by M. E. Wall and M. C. Wani in systematic screening of natural products for anticancer drugs. It was isolated from the Bark (botany), bark of ''Camptotheca acuminata'' (� ...

, down-regulates the expression of type I collagen in

fibroblasts A fibroblast is a type of biological cell typically with a spindle shape that synthesizes the extracellular matrix and collagen, produces the structural framework ( stroma) for animal tissues, and plays a critical role in wound healing. Fibrobla ...

of scleroderma patients and yields immunosuppressive effects. Certain cytokines were shown to increase the activity of topoisomerase I in dermal. The hypothesis by Rudnicka was discussed during medical conferences, but was never confirmed by other researchers. However, the findings related to the role of camptothecin and its potential therapeutical use were reaffirmed in the study by Zhang et al. conducted in patients with keloid. Another observation by Rudnicka and her co-workers, which may be potentially beneficial as far as managing systemic sclerosis is concerned, was abnormally high expression of prolactin in peripheral mononuclear cells obtained from patients.

Hair diseases and Trichoscopy

A second field of research of Rudnicka is related to hair and scalp disorders. She made a major contribution to development of hair and scalp dermoscopy (

) and was the first to coin the term

. Her and her co-workers’ studies on genetic hair disorders showed that it is possible to diagnose genetic hair shaft abnormalities in children without the need of pulling hairs for microscopic evaluation. In 2005, Rudnicka and Malgorzata Olszewska used videodermatoscopy in assessing disease severity and monitoring impact of dutasteride therapy on hair thickness and hair shaft heterogeneity in androgenic alopecia, indicating this method can be used as a research tool to evaluate the effects of therapeutic or cosmetic agents The next year, together with Malgorzata Olszewska and their co-workers she introduced the term

for hair, scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes dermoscopy (videodermoscopy). Their subsequent studies showed this technique can easily replace traditional microscopic evaluation in genetic hair shaft abnormalities such as Netherton syndrome, monilethrix, wooly hair syndrome, pili torti, pili annulati and trichothiodystrophy.Rudnicka L, Olszewska M, Rakowska A, Kowalska-Oledzka E, Slowinska M. Trichoscopy: a new method for diagnosing hair loss. J Drugs Dermatol. 2008, 7, 651–654. It has also been proved trichoscopy can be useful in diagnosing acquired hair diseases including androgenic alopecia, alopecia areata, cicatrical alopecia and tinea. Rudnicka and her co-workers were the first to apply in vivo

confocal laser scanning microscopy Confocal microscopy, most frequently confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) or laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), is an optical imaging technique for increasing optical resolution and contrast of a micrograph by means of using a s ...

in hair diagnostics. Their studies showed potential usefulness of this method in evaluation of hair shaft diseases. Lidia Rudnicka, together with Malgorzata Olszewska and Adriana Rakowska, has written the first Atlas of Trichoscopy, which was translated to multiple languages, including Chinese, Russian, Portuguese and Polish and is considered by some dermatologists the main trichoscopy textbook.

Melanoma prevention

Rudnicka is the organizer of a Polish nationwide campaign to promote prevention and early detection of melanoma (with dermoscopy and videodermoscopy). The campaign "Stop-Melanoma", based on highly successful Australian experience, is an ongoing program which started in 2004.

Antibiotic therapy of inflammatory skin diseases

Clinical observations made by Rudnicka and her co-workers indicate the rationality of long-term low-dose antibiotic therapy in chronic inflammatory skin diseases: SLE and

psoriasis Psoriasis is a long-lasting, noncontagious autoimmune disease characterized by patches of abnormal skin. These areas are red, pink, or purple, dry, itchy, and scaly. Psoriasis varies in severity from small localized patches to complete b ...

Affiliations and activity in scientific societies

In 2014 Rudnicka was elected the president of the Polish Dermatological Society. She served as secretary of the board of this society in the years 2004–2008. Since 2004 she has been a member of board of International Dermoscopy Society. Rudnicka was a member of International Committee of

American Academy of Dermatology The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) is a non-profit professional organization of dermatologists in the United States and Canada, based in Rosemont, Illinois, near Chicago. It was founded in 1938 and has more than ''21,000'' members. The Acad ...

in the term 2008–2012, she served as member and then chairman of the Poster Exhibition Task Force (2012–2018). She was one of the co-initiators to transform the Task Force into a Work Group (in 2017) to include a higher number of experts in the poster evaluation process. In 2017 Rudnicka was one of the four founding members of the International Trichoscopy Society, together with Antonella Tosti, Rodrigo Pirmez and Daniel Asz Sigall. She was elected first president of the International Trichoscopy Society. Rudnicka was invited speaker and / or plenary speaker at multiple dermatology meetings, including: American Academy of Dermatology, European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology, (topics included: hair diseases, dermoscopy and skin cancer detection, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, biological therapy in skin diseases, connective tissue diseases, acne, clinical trials). Lidia Rudnicka is honorary member of several medical societies, including the Russian Hair Research Society, Ukrainian Hair Research Society, and Mexican Hair Research Society.

Honours

* Bronze Cross of Merit (2000) * Silver Cross of Merit (2011)

Publications and editorial activity

Rudnicka is author or co-author of more than 200 articles and book chapters, mainly concerning autoimmune skin diseases, biological therapies, videodermoscopy, trichoscopy, epidemiology of skin diseases and managing medical institutions. Rudnicka is managing editor of " Journal of Case Reports in Dermatology", former chairman of scientific board of " Dermatologica", associate editor of " Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology", member of scientific and editorial boards of Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, Przeglad Dermatologiczny, and Dermatologia Estetyczna. She also reviews papers for significant periodicals in the field of dermatology and venerology, with Archives of Dermatology, Journal of European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, Expert Review in Dermatology among them.

Selected publications

* Majewski S, Malejczyk J, Jablonska S, Misiewicz J, Rudnicka L, Obalek S, Orth G.:.Natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity against various target cells in patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1990, 22, 423–427. * Majewski S, Hunzelmann N, Nischt R, Eckes B, Rudnicka L, Orth G, Krieg T, Jablonska S.:TGF beta-1 and TNF alpha expression in the epidermis of patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis. J Invest Dermatol. 1991, 97, 862–867. * Rudnicka L, Marczak M, Szmurło A, Makieła B, Skiendzielewska A, Skopinska M, Majewski S, Jabłonska S.: Acitretin decreases tumor cell-induced angiogenesis. Skin Pharmacol. 1991, 4, 150–153. * Rudnicka L, Majewski S, Blaszczyk M, Skiendzielewska A, Makiela B, Skopinska M, Jablonska S.:Adhesion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to vascular endothelium in patients with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). Arthritis Rheum. 1992, 35, 771–775 * Mauviel A, Chen YQ, Kähäri VM, Ledo I, Wu M, Rudnicka L, Uitto J: Human recombinant interleukin -1 beta up=regulates elastin gene expression in derma fibroblasts. Evidence for transcriptional regulation in vitro and in vivo. J Biol Chem. 1993, 268, 6520–6524 * Rudnicka L, Varga J, Christiano AM, Iozzo RV, Jimenez SA, Uitto J.:Elevated expression of type VII collagen in the skin of patients with systemic sclerosis. Regulation by transforming growth factor-beta.J Clin Invest. 1994, 93, 1709–1715 * Varga J, Rudnicka L, Uitto J.: Connective tissue alterations in systemic sclerosis. Clin Dermatol. 1994, 12, 387–396 * Tamai K, Li K, Silos S, Rudnicka L, Hashimoto T, Nishikawa T, Uitto J: Interferon-gamma-mediated inactivation of transcription of the 230-kDa bullous pemphigoid antigen gene (BPAG1) provides novel insight into keratinocyte differentiation. J Biol Chem 1995, 270, 392–396 * Hitraya EG, Tan EM, Rudnicka L, Jimenez SA Expression of extracellular matrix genes in adult human dermal microvascular endothelial cells and their regulation by heparin and endothelial cell mitogens. Lab Invest. 1995; 73:393-402. * Rudnicka L, Czuwara J, Barusińska A, Nowicka U, Makieła B, Jabłonska S: Implications for the use of topoisomerase I inhibitors in treatment of patients with systemic sclerosis. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1996, 803, 318–320. * Czuwara-Ladykowska J, Makiela B, Smith EA, Trojanowska M, Rudnicka L.: The inhibitory effects of camptothecin, a topoisomerase I inhibitor, on collagen synthesis in fibroblasts from patients with systemic sclerosis. Arthritis Res, 2001, 3, 311–318 * Olszewska M., Rudnicka L.: Effective treatment of female androgenic alopecia with dutasteride. J Drugs Dermatol 2005, 4, 637–640 * Czuwara-Ladykowska J., Sicińska J., Olszewska M., Uhrynowska-Tyszkiewicz I., Rudnicka L: Prolactin synthesis by lymphocytes from patients with systemic sclerosis. Biomed Pharmacother 2006, 60(4), 152–155 * Rudnicka L, Olszewska M, Rakowska A, Kowalska-Oledzka E, Slowinska M. Trichoscopy: a new method for diagnosing hair loss. J Drugs Dermatol. 2008, 7, 651–654. * Olszewska M, Rudnicka L, Rakowska A, Kowalska-Oledzka E, Slowinska M. Trichoscopy. Arch Dermatol. 2008, 144, 1007 * Walicka M, Majsterek M, Rakowska A, Słowińska M, Sicińska J, Góralska B, Ptasińska M, Rudnicka L, Marcinowska-Suchowierska E. Mycoplasma pneumoniae-induced pneumonia with Stevens-Johnson syndrome of acute atypical course. Pol Arch Med Wewn. 2008, 118 (7–8): 449–53 * Traczewski P, Rudnicka L: Adalimumab in dermatology. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2008, 66 : 618–25 * Sicińska J, Górska E, Cicha M, Kuklo-Kowalska A, Hamze V, Stepien K, Wasik M, Rudnicka :. Increased serum fractalkine in systemic sclerosis. Down-regulation by prostaglandin E1. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2008, 26, 527–33. * Sicińska J, Rudnicka L. Current treatment of systemic sclerosis. Part I. Immunosuppressive treatment. Pol Merkur Lek 2008, 25, 192–195 * Sicińska J, Rudnicka L : urrent treatment of systemic sclerosis. Part II. Vascular and antifibrotic treatment Pol Merkur Lek. 2008, 25, 196–200. * Rakowska A, Slowinska M, Kowalska-Oledzka E, Olszewska M, Czuwara J, Rudnicka L.: Alopecia areata incognita: true or false?J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009, 60, 162–3 * Slowinska M, Rudnicka L, Schwartz RA, Kowalska-Oledzka E, Rakowska A, Sicinska J, Lukomska M, Olszewska M, Szymanska E. Comma hairs: a dermatoscopic marker for tinea capitis: a rapid diagnostic method. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008 Nov; 59(5 Suppl): S77–9. * Olszewska M., Wu J., Słowińska M., Rudnicka L.: The "PDA" Nail: Traumatic Nail Dystrophy in Habitual Users of Personal Digital Assistants Am J Clin Dermatol 2009, 2009, 10, 193–196 * Walecka I, Olszewska M, Rakowska A, Slowinska M, Sicinska J, Piekarczyk E, Kowalska-Oledzka E, Goralska B, Rudnicka L.:Improvement of psoriasis after antibiotic therapy with cefuroxime axetil. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2009, . * Rakowska A., Kowalska-Olędzka E., Słowińska M., Rosińska D., Rudnicka L.: Hair shaft videodrmoscopy in Netherton syndrome. Pediatr Dermatol 2009; 26: 320–2

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rudnicka, Lidia 1960 births American dermatologists American people of Polish descent Living people Medical University of Warsaw alumni Academic staff of the Medical University of Warsaw Physicians from Chicago Polish dermatologists Polish women civil servants American civil servants 21st-century American women civil servants Recipients of the Bronze Cross of Merit (Poland) Recipients of the Silver Cross of Merit (Poland) Women dermatologists