Patient With Lipoid Proteinosis Presenting With Sudden-Onset Lower Limb Weakness: A Rare Case.

Lipoid proteinosis (LP), or Urbach-Wiethe disease, is an infrequent autosomal recessive disorder typified by hyaline material deposition in diverse tissues, including the skin, mucous membranes, and internal organs. This case report addresses an unusual presentation of LP in a 25-year-old male, whose initial symptom was sudden-onset left lower limb weakness. This deviation from the typical dermatological and laryngeal manifestations prevalent in LP compels us to consider LP as a potential causative factor in neurological deficits. Physical examination revealed motor weakness in the left lower limb with several dermatological manifestations. Laboratory tests indicated potential thyroid, liver, and urinary tract pathologies. Brain imaging studies revealed bilateral mesial temporal lobe calcifications consistent with LP with associated cortico-subcortical infarcts and hemorrhagic transformation. Additionally, foraminal disc protrusion at L5-S1 in the patient's back MRI suggested nerve compression contributing to limb weakness. This patient's sudden-onset left lower limb weakness accompanied by imaging findings of cortical and subcortical abnormalities aligns with the spectrum of neurological manifestations associated with LP but is less commonly reported. Moreover, the disturbed liver and thyroid blood tests in this patient suggest a potential link between LP and thyroid and liver pathologies, which needs further investigation. This case illustrates that motor weakness, potentially due to cerebral infarcts and intracerebral hemorrhage, is a possible complication of LP. Further research is necessary to confirm and understand the phenomenology of this complication.

The association between angiotensin receptor blockers and lung, bladder, and colon cancer development: A 10-year multicentric retrospective Lebanese study.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death globally, followed by cancer. Angiotensin II contributes greatly to CVD pathogenesis, and Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) constitute a mainstay in hypertension and CVD management. However, the relationship between ARBs and cancer initiation is controversial, with no clear data in Lebanon. Therefore, our study aimed to determine the association between ARBs intake and lung, bladder, and colorectal cancers development in the Lebanese population. A retrospective study was conducted on 709 subjects divided into 2 main groups: Control (subjects without cancer; n = 177), and Cases (patients with cancer (n = 532): lung, bladder, or colorectal), taking ARBs (n = 236, (n = 121 in control and n = 115 in cases)) or not (n = 473). Collected information included the patients demographics, comorbidities, cancer's risk factors, and ARBs dose and duration intake. Bivariate, multivariate, and binary logistic analyses were enrolled. ARBs use was significantly protective (P value = 0.000) against overall cancer development (odds ratio [OR] = 0.127) and against each, lung (OR < 1), bladder (OR < 1), and colorectal cancers (OR < 1). A duration-response relationship was established. This protective effect and the time-dependent relationship remained unchanged after omitting the most relevant risk factors. In summary, a significant overall protective effect of ARBs against lung, bladder and colorectal cancers was found. This beneficial response was time-dependent. These results can guide patients on treatment options and clinicians for informed decision-making.

Statins, commonly coprescribed drugs, and concomitant risk factors: A protective, neutral, or harmful association with common cancer types development: A 10-year multicentric retrospective lebanese study.

Elevated blood levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol are a major cardiovascular risk factor, and cholesterol-lowering drugs are among the most prescribed drugs worldwide. Cancer is the second leading cause of death after cardiovascular diseases. The relationship between cancer development and statins intake is controversial, and there are no clear studies in Lebanon and the Middle East concerning this topic. Hence, our study aimed to search for any possible association of statin intake as well as other medications (proton pump inhibitors [PPI], metformin, Aspirin, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme inhibitors, and fenofibrate) with lung, colorectal cancer (CRC), and bladder cancer development in the Lebanese population. A retrospective study was performed on 709 subjects divided into 2 main groups: control (no cancer ± statin intake), and cases (either lung, or colorectal, or bladder cancer ± statin intake). Collected data included the age and gender of the patient, socioeconomic status, presence of cardiovascular disease and comorbidities, cancer risk factors, and the intake type, dose, and duration of statins. Bivariate, multivariate, and binary logistic analyses were enrolled. Out of 709 participants, 63.2% were males and 75% were cancer-positive (24.1%: lung cancer, 26.7%: CRC, 24.1%: bladder cancer). The overall intake of statins was not shown to significantly affect cancer development. However, a duration-response relationship was established between Simvastatin and lung cancer (odds ratio [OR]=1.208) as well as bladder cancer (OR=1.189). No significant association was found between each statin and CRC. Although PPIs intake was associated with a possibly harmful effect on lung cancer development (OR=3.42), it revealed a protective association with CRC development (OR=0.38). Other risk factors such as smoking and age were strongly associated (harmful) with lung and bladder cancer development. Physical inactivity and a family history of CRC were each associated with a harmful effect on CRC development. A harmful association with the development of lung and bladder cancer was found with the increasing duration of intake of Simvastatin. Other drugs such as PPIs and specific risk factors were also associated negatively or positively with the development of these 3 cancers. These findings should be validated by further investigations to guide clinicians on optimal treatment options for their patients.