Pyoderma Gangrenosum With Common Variable Immunodeficiency

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare ulcerative skin disease of unknown etiology. It Tan be seen On normal skin or secondary to traumas such as injections and biopsies. Half of reported cases are associated with systemic diseases such as arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, hematological disorders,, hepatic disease, and necrotizing vasculitis. These lesions often occur on the trunk and extremities. Abscess drainage, debridement, or necrosectomy are contraindicated in PG, and false management of these indications aggravates the lesion. A diagnosis of PG is based on medical history as well as physical and laboratory examination according to standard criteria. Presented here is a case of a male patient with a medical history of recurrent abscess of injection and Splenectomy due to splenic abscess. The patient presented with a subcutaneous abscess which transformed rapidly to an ulcer after abscess drainage, Consequently, the patient received the final diagnosis of PG with common variable immunodeficiency and was treated accordingly

Inflammatory mediators in the diagnosis and treatment of acute pancreatitis: pentraxin-3, procalcitonin and myeloperoxidase

Introduction: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is the third most common gastrointestinal disease at hospital admission. The etiology and pathogenesis of this disease are not completely clear. Our study was intended to determine the systemic levels of pentraxin-3 (PTX-3), myeloperoxidase (MPO), procalcitonin (PCT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) as prognostic parameters in early stages of AP. We also determined the effects of treatment on PTX-3, MPO, PCT and CRP levels in AP

Effects of Laparoscopic Gastric Band Applications on Plasma and Fundic Acylated Ghrelin Levels in Morbidly Obese Patients

It has been proposed that laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) procedure might play a role in modulation of fundic ghrelin production. To test this hypothesis, we examined plasma and tissue concentrations of acylated ghrelin in morbidly obese patients before and 6 months after LAGB. Baseline levels of acylated ghrelin in morbidly obese patients were also compared with those in age-matched, healthy, non-obese controls

Inflammatory mediators in the diagnosis and treatment of acute pancreatitis: pentraxin-3, procalcitonin and myeloperoxidase

Introduction: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is the third most common gastrointestinal disease at hospital admission. The etiology and pathogenesis of this disease are not completely clear. Our study was intended to determine the systemic levels of pentraxin-3 (PTX-3), myeloperoxidase (MPO), procalcitonin (PCT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) as prognostic parameters in early stages of AP. We also determined the effects of treatment on PTX-3, MPO, PCT and CRP levels in AP

Comparison of F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT findings with vascular endothelial growth factors and receptors in colorectal cancer

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET/CT findings with the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family and its receptor (VEGFR) levels in metastatic and nonmetastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). Fluorine-18 FDG-PET/CT scans were performed for initial staging and restaging of patients with CRC. FDG-PET/CT findings of tumor (such as the presence of a primary tumor, the lymphatic or distance metastases, and the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the primary tumor), serum VEGF A-C-D-E levels, and serum VEGF receptor 1-2-3 levels were analyzed. A total of 63 patients were included into the study (35 males, mean age 61.3 +/- 11.9 years). Patients were divided into two groups, based on positive and negative PET/CT findings. Patients were also categorized according to the presence of metastasis. All evaluated parameters were significantly higher in the PET/CT-positive group than the PET/CT-negative group (p < 0.001). All those parameters were also positively correlated with each other. The highest correlation for SUVmax of primary tumor was found with VEGFR-3 (p < 0.001, r = 0.665). Patients with metastases had high levels of VEGF-D, VEGF-A, VEGF-C, VEGF-E, and VEGFR-3 than those without metastases. These parameters had better specificity and sensitivity values than the SUVmax of the primary tumor for detection of metastases. However, VEGF-D was the best indicator of metastasis in all of those parameters (VEGF-D vs SUVmax; sensitivity 100 vs 100 %; specificity 76 vs 76 %; AUC 0.903 vs 0.835; p < 0.001, respectively). Vascular endothelial growth factor family and its receptors were significantly higher in metastatic CRC patients. VEGF-D was the best indicator of metastasis than all VEGF family, VEGFR-3, and primary tumor SUVmax. VEGF family (A-C-D-E) and VEGFR-3 may help to determine the prognosis and management of CRC

Original contribution: sleeve gastrectomy reduces soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1) levels in patients with morbid obesity

Background Early diagnosis of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with morbid obesity is important. We investigated the effects of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) on serum soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1), oxidized LDL (oxLDL), and other metabolic and inflammatory parameters associated with atherosclerosis in patients with morbid obesity. Methods Body mass index (BMI) measurements and assays of metabolic and inflammatory markers were taken in patients in an SG surgery group and a healthy control group and compared at baseline and 12 months after SG. Correlations with changes in these parameters and variations in sLOX-1 were analyzed. Results Metabolic and inflammatory marker values in the surgery (n = 20) and control (n = 20) groups were significantly different at baseline (p < 0.001). The majority of surgery group biomarker levels significantly decreased with mean BMI loss (- 11.8 +/- 9.0, p < 0.001) at 12 months, trending toward control group values. Baseline albumin level as well as percentage reductions in oxLDL and the cholesterol retention fraction (CRF) were found to be significantly correlated with percentage reduction in sLOX-1 at 12 months following SG. Conclusion Metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers elevated at baseline significantly decreased after SG weight loss. Weight loss induced by SG may limit endothelial damage by reducing levels of oxLDL and LOX-1 as assessed by sLOX-1. These findings suggest that sLOX-1 may function as a marker of atherosclerotic disease states in patients with morbid obesity and that metabolic/bariatric surgery can play a meaningful role in CVD prevention