Skin tags associated with obesity and diabetes mellitus in patients with chronic kidney disease

Introduction/Objective. Both chronic kidney disease and skin tags are associated with similar cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension, etc. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of skin tags in patients with chronic kidney disease, and to assess the relationship between skin tags and cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Methods. We evaluated 358 patients [149 (41.6%) female and 209 (58.1%) male, 197 (55%) predialytic and 161 (45%) dialytic] with chronic kidney disease. All the patients were examined for skin tags by the same clinician, and evaluated for body mass index, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Results. Skin tags were detected in 199 (55%) patients. Prevalence of skin tags was higher in males than in females (p = 0.041) and was also higher in diabetic patients than in nondiabetic ones (p = 0.013). Body mass index was higher in patients with skin tags when compared to patients without skin tags (p = 0.047). Skin tags were detected in 48.3% of normal, in 58% of overweight, and in 66% of obese patients (p = 0.029). Conclusion. The presence of skin tags is merely related to male sex, obesity, and diabetes mellitus in patients with chronic kidney disease

Covid-19 in Liver Transplant Recipients: A National Cohort

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The Three Sisters of Fate in Multiple Sclerosis: Klotho (Clotho), Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 (Lachesis), and Vitamin D (Atropos)

BACKGROUND: The klotho (Klt)-fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23)-vitamin D axis is the main component of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) metabolisms; on the contrary, it is also secreted from the choroid plexus (CP). PURPOSE: This study is aimed at evaluating serum soluble Klt (sKlt), FGF-23, and 25-(OH)-vitamin D levels in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. METHODS: Thirty-two relapsing-remitting MS patients (11 males and 21 females; mean age 38.3 years) and 31 age-sex matched healthy controls (12 males and 19 females; median age 38.5 years) were included in this study. All patients were diagnosed with MS according to the criteria of McDonald. RESULTS: Serum sKlt, FGF-23, and P levels were significantly higher in MS patients compared to the control group (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, and p = 0.02, respectively). Serum 25-(OH)-vitamin D and Ca levels were significantly lower in MS patients (p < 0.01 and p = 0.04, respectively). CONCLUSION: Klt, which is secreted from CP, could be a response to the inflammatory condition in MS. Elevated FGF-23 levels suppress 1α-hydroxylase and upregulates 24α-hydroxylase, which results in a decrease in 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) levels. Thus, the neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D might not be seen in MS patients