Sarcoidosis involving the lacrimal, submandibular, and parotid glands with panda sign.

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous inflammation of unknown origin that varies in severity and distribution. We present a case of sarcoidosis with involvement of the skin, lacrimal, parotid, and submandibular glands. The patient had been previously misdiagnosed as having angioedema and allergic contact dermatitis; he had the rare finding of panda sign on gallium scintigraphy.

Cytotoxic effects of platinum nanoparticles obtained from pomegranate extract by the green synthesis method on the MCF-7 cell line.

The study utilizes monodisperse platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) biosynthesized from Punica granatum crusts as anti-tumor agents on the human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7. The obtained Pt NPs were fully characterized using the UV-vis spectrum (UV-vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Effectiveness of the Pt NPs was determined by cell viability, propidium iodide staining test, flow cytometry and comet tests on the MCF-7 cancer cell line. Cell survival percentage was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The biosynthesized monodisperse platinum nanoparticles inhibited MCF-7 proliferation with an IC50 of 17.84 µg/ml after 48 h of incubation. Propidium iodide staining demonstrated that the monodisperse Pt NPs induced apoptosis by means of molecular DNA fragmentation.

Investigation of the effect of pomegranate extract and monodisperse silver nanoparticle combination on MCF-7 cell line.

In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the combination therapy of pomegranate extract and silver nanoparticle is effective on MCF-7 cell culture. The pomegranate extract was mixed and incubated with silver nitrate for the microwave assisted green synthesized of silver nanoparticle. Obtained nanoparticles were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-vis, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) methods The spectroscopic and morphological studies of the monodisperse Ag NPs which have particle size of 15.4nm indicate the highly crystalline form, well dispersity, and colloidally stable NPs. After fully characterization of prepared nanoparticles, the effectiveness of Ag NPs was determined by evaluating cell viability, nuclear degradation and cell cycle parameters. The results obtained demonstrate that biosynthesized Ag NPs can inhibit the proliferation of human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 in the IC50 at a dose of 12.85µg/mL and inhibit the proliferation of Ag NPs against anti-growth arresting MCF-7 cell line. This case demonstrates that it may exert its proliferative effect by reducing DNA synthesis and apoptosis-inducing cell cycle stages.

Treatment of psoriatic arthritis with etanercept, methotrexate, and cyclosporin A.

BACKGROUND: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is seen in approximately 5% to 42% of individuals with psoriasis. CASE SUMMARY: A 37-year-old white male weighing 90 kg presented with erythrodermic psoriasis and PsA. The overall duration of PsA was 3 years. Serum levels of glucose, electrolytes, and tumor markers were normal, as were the results of tests of hepatic and renal function and urinalysis. The findings of posteroanterior radiographic examination of the chest were also normal. However, radiographic examination showed porosis and degeneration in the lumbar vertebrae; narrowing of the L2-L3, L3-L4, and L5-S1 spaces; degenerative changes and narrowing of the proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints; and osseous ankylosis of the DIP joints of the hands. The cutaneous eruption improved with cyclosporin A (CsA) 3.5 mg/kg p.o., but the severity of PsA did not change. Therefore, parenteral methotrexate (MTX) 15 mg/wk and an indomethacin suppository 100 mg/d were added to the regimen. CsA and MTX were continued for 3 months, during which the patient's PsA symptoms did not abate, based on tender and swollen joint counts, hand-to-floor distance, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), antistreptolysin O, and rheumatoid factor. Therefore, etanercept 25 mg s.c. twice weekly was added to the regimen. Three weeks after the initiation of this combination, the patient's arthritis had improved. The visual analog scale score decreased from 9 to 4. Tender and swollen joint counts decreased from 28 and 24 to 15 and 10, respectively. The hand-to-floor distance decreased from 20 to 10 cm. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate and levels of CRP, antistreptolysin O, and rheumatoid factor decreased from 72 mm/h, 162 mg/L, 250 IU/mL, and 304 IU/mL at baseline to 23 mm/h, 64 mg/L, 48 IU/mL, and 56.1 IU/mL, respectively. No change was observed in radiographs of the patient's back, hands, and feet. Based on the American College of Rheumatology scoring system, the patient showed 50% improvement in disease severity. Etanercept was discontinued at the end of 4 weeks, and maintenance therapy was continued with MTX alone. No adverse events were reported during or after the completion of etanercept therapy. CONCLUSION: In this patient with PsA that was refractory to CsA and MTX, either alone or in combination, the severity of PsA was reduced after 4 weeks of the combined use of etanercept, CsA, and MTX.

Disseminated lobular capillary hemangioma: two case reports.

Lobular capillary hemangioma, also known as pyogenic granuloma, is a common, solitary, benign neoplasm of the skin and mucous membranes. The etiology of this lesion remains unknown. Lobular capillary hemangioma can present rarely in a disseminated form, usually associated with other disorders. Two patients, aged 17 and 33, were admitted to the dermatology clinic with disseminated lobular capillary hemangiomas which appeared suddenly. There was no history of trauma in either case. The histopathology of the lesions was consistent with lobular capillary hemangioma. No associated disorders were found in physical and laboratory examinations other than mental retardation in one patient and a small hemangioma in the liver in the other. We report two cases of disseminated lobular capillary hemangioma without an associated disorder.