Xanthomas of the stomach: a report of two cases

Gastrointestinal tract xanthomas are non tumor, well demarcated mucosal lesions that consist of foamy histiocytes, most commonly diagnosed in the stomach. The histologic appearance of xanthomas can resemble certain malignant lesions. After retrospective data base search, we have encountered only 2 cases of xanthomas, both in the antral part of the stomach. Lamina propria of the mucosa contained rare, chronic inflammatory infiltrate and clusters of oval and polygonal cells with abundant, foamy cytoplasm. The cytoplasm of described cells did not show the presence of mucin (Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Alcian blue staining). The cells showed distinct cytoplasmic CD68 positivity and CKMNF116 negativity, which confirmed the diagnosis of xanthoma. Given the frequent association of xanthomas and known precancerous lesions of gastric mucosa, and occasional coexistence of malignant change, we need to pay attention to its diagnosis, and it is advisable to use both histochemical and immunohistochemical methods

Association between Galectin-3 levels within central and peripheral venous blood, and adverse left ventricular remodelling after first acute myocardial infarction

© 2019, The Author(s). Our study investigates association between Galectin-3 levels and adverse left ventricular remodelling (LVR) at six months. Fifty-seven patients following first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were enrolled in this study and blood samples collected on day 1 from the femoral vein and artery, the right atrium near the coronary sinus and the aortic root, and on day 30, from the cubital vein. Patients with LVESV ≥20% at six months, were included in the LVR group. On day 1, Galectin-3 plasma levels in the femoral vein (10.34 ng/ml ± 3.81 vs 8.22 ng/ml ± 2.34, p = 0.01), and near coronary sinus (10.7 ng/ml ± 3.97 vs 8.41 ng/ml ± 2.56, p = 0.007) were higher in the LVR group. Positive correlations between Galectin-3 levels from aortic root and coronary sinus, aortic root and femoral vein, and coronary sinus and femoral vein, were observed in both groups. On day 30, Galectin-3 concentration in the cubital vein was an independent risk factor of LVR six months post-AMI, demonstrating 1.5-fold increased risk. Day-30 Galectin-3 also showed positive correlations with echocardiography parameters indicative of diastolic and systolic dysfunction. Determining Galectin-3 plasma concentration on day 30 following AMI could have beneficial prognostic value in predicting LVR

The Factors Influencing Galectin-3 Levels in Acute Coronary Syndrome with Decreased Left Ventricular Function

© 2017 Olivera Andrejić et al., published by De Gruyter Open. The aim of our study was to determine the factors influencing galectin-3 levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction. We collected material from 37 successive patients with acute coronary syndrome and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, of which 19 patients had atrial fibrillation, and 18 patients who were without atrial fibrillation constituted a control group. Blood samples used for the biochemical measurements were obtained on the third day from acute coronary syndrome. We used Statistical Package for Social Sciences for data analysis. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered to be a measure of statistical significance. Galectin-3 concentration is directly correlated with age and B-type natriuretic peptide level. Also, our results showed an inverse correlation between galectin-3 and total body weight, body mass index, body surface area and creatinine clearance. The following variables were found to be significant predictors of galectin-3 level: decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, total body weight, LDL concentration and body mass index. We identified factors that can predict a decrease in the left ventricular ejection fraction below 45% after acute coronary syndrome: atrial fibrillation increases the risk by almost six times, and urea concentration increases the risk by 1.2 times for each unit. Left ventricular ejection fraction below 45%, TBW, body mass index and LDL level are good predictors of galectin-3 concentration in patients with ACS and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction. Atrial fibrillation could be a predictive marker of decreased left ventricular ejection fraction