The Effects of Endosomal Toll-like Receptor Inhibitors in an EBV DNA-Exacerbated Inflammatory Bowel Disease Mouse Model.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a Herpesviridae family member, is associated with an increased risk of autoimmune disease development in the host. We previously demonstrated that EBV DNA elevates levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17A and that inhibiting Toll-like receptor (TLR) 3, 7, or 9 reduces its levels. Moreover, this DNA exacerbated colitis in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In the study at hand, we examined whether inhibition of TLR3, 7, or 9 alleviates this exacerbation. Mice were fed 1.5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) water and administered EBV DNA. Then, they were treated with a TLR3, 7, or 9 inhibitor or left untreated. We also assessed the additive impact of combined inhibition of all three receptors. Mice that received DSS, EBV DNA, and each inhibitor alone, or a combination of inhibitors, showed significant improvement. They also had a decrease in the numbers of the pathogenic colonic IL-17A+IFN-γ+ foci. Inhibition of all three endosomal TLR receptors offered no additive benefit over administering a single inhibitor. Therefore, inhibition of endosomal TLRs reduces EBV DNA exacerbation of mouse colitis, offering a potential approach for managing IBD patients infected with EBV.

Nonautoimmune overt hypothyroidism in the early stages of nephrotic syndrome: a case report from Somalia.

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) was first characterized in 1827 as the occurrence of proteinuria greater than or equal to 3.5 g/24 h, hypoalbuminemia (albumin≤3.0 g/dl), peripheral edema, hyperlipidemia, lipiduria caused by increased permeability of the renal glomerulus. Persistent proteinuria will eventually lead to hypothyroidism. Case presentation: In the presenting case, we reported a 26-year-old male patient with no known history of chronic disease who presented to the emergency department with a complaint of 1-week generalized edema, nausea, fatigue, and generalized ache in the extremities. He was diagnosed with NS complicated by hypothyroidism and was hospitalized for 3 weeks. After 3 weeks of treatment and close monitoring, the patient's clinical condition and laboratory investigations were improved, and was discharged in good health. Conclusion: Hypothyroidism in the early stages of NS is a rare entity which may be encountered and physicians should be aware that hypothyroidism can be seen at any stage of NS.

Acute cerebral ischemic stroke as a presentation of polycythemia vera: a case report and a review of literature.

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a disease of stem cells characterized by pan hyperplastic, malignant, and neoplastic bone marrow conditions. It is characterized by an increased absolute red blood cell count due to uncontrolled red blood cell synthesis, as well as excessive white blood cell and platelet production. Although the relationship between PV and stroke, especially ischemic stroke, is widely known around the world, no previous cases have been reported from Somalia. Case presentation: In the presenting study, we report a 60-year-old male patient who presented with a right-side weakness for 3 days. After laboratory and brain imaging, he was diagnosed with an acute cerebral infarct affecting the left basal ganglion secondary to PV. Conclusions: PV as the cause of ischemic stroke is a rare condition but can be encountered in clinical practice, and clinicians should be familiar with this combination.

Nephrotic syndrome presented as a portal vein thrombosis: a case report.

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a clinical disorder characterized by significant proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, edema, and other complications. Urinary loss of clotting inhibitors, zymogens, and plasminogen; increased hepatic synthesis of fibrinogen and lipoproteins, and hemoconcentration due to fluid loss are some of the factors which predispose NS patients to hypercoagulable states like portal vein thrombosis. Case presentation: In the presenting case report, we described a 21-year-old woman with no history of NS and a hypercoagulable state who presented to our emergency department with severe generalized abdominal pain and lower limb edema. She was subsequently diagnosed with NS complicated with portal vein thrombosis and was admitted to our internal medicine unit. After 2 weeks of treatment, the patient was discharged in good health. Conclusion: Additional evaluation for newly onset NS with venous thrombosis should be needed in the presence of severe abdominal pain and lower limb edema even in a patient without a previous history of NS.

Sheehan syndrome presenting as acute renal failure: A rare case report from Somalia.

Sheehan syndrome (SS) is one of the most common causes of pituitary gland dysfunction in childbearing women and occurs as a result of ischemic pituitary necrosis due to severe postpartum hemorrhage. Rhabdomyolysis is a pathological condition of the skeletal muscles that can be present in the setting of adrenal insufficiency. It can cause serious end-organ complications such as acute renal failure. The combination of adrenal insufficiency due to Sheehan syndrome, rhabdomyolysis, and acute renal failure is extremely rare in the literature. In this case report, we present a 35-year-old female patient who presented with acute renal failure and was later diagnosed with Sheehan syndrome. She was put on Intravenous fluids, methylprednisolone, and levothyroxine treatment. The patient was hospitalized for 10 days and was discharged in good health.

Metastasis pattern and prognosis in men with esophageal cancer patients: A SEER-based study.

ABSTRACT: Esophageal cancer (EC) is relatively common; at the time of diagnosis, 50% of cases present with distant metastases, and most patients are men. This study aimed to examine and compare the clinicopathological characteristics and metastatic patterns of male EC (MEC) and female EC (FEC). In addition, risk factors associated with MEC prognosis were evaluated.The present study population was extracted from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database. MEC characteristics and factors associated with prognosis were evaluated using descriptive analysis, the Kaplan-Meier method, and the Cox regression model.A total of 12,558 MEC cases were included; among them, 3454 cases had distant organ metastases. Overall, 27.5% of the entire cohort were patients with distant organ metastases. Compared with patients with non-metastatic MEC, patients with metastatic MEC were more likely to be aged ≤60 years, of Black and White race, have a primary lesion in the overlapping esophagus segments, and have a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of poorly differentiated and undifferentiated grade that was treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy rather than surgery; moreover, they were also more likely to be married and insured. In addition, patients with MEC were more likely to be aged ≤60 years, White race, and diagnosed with a primary lesion in the lower third of the esophagus and overlapping esophagus segments, and treated without chemotherapy, compared with those with FEC. Patients in the former group were also more likely than those in the latter group to be unmarried and have bone metastasis only and lung metastasis only. Liver, lung, and bone metastases separately, and simultaneous liver and lung metastases were associated with poor survival in MEC patients.Metastatic MEC is associated with clinicopathological characteristics and metastatic patterns different from those associated with non-metastatic MEC and metastatic FEC. Metastatic MEC and FEC patients may have similar prognoses. Distant organ metastasis may be associated with poor prognosis in patients with MEC and FEC.

Lung Metastases in Newly Diagnosed Esophageal Cancer: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancer types, with its most common distant metastatic site being the lung. Currently, population-based data regarding the proportion and prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer with lung metastases (ECLM) at the time of diagnosis is insufficient. Therefore, we aimed to determine the proportion of patients with ECLM at diagnosis, as well as to investigate the prognostic parameters of ECLM. METHODS: This population-based observational study obtained data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database registered between 2010 and 2016. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of the presence of ECLM at diagnosis. Multivariable Cox regression and competing risk analysis were used to assess prognostic factors in patients with ECLM. Median survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves. RESULTS: Of 10,965 patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer between 2010 and 2016, 713 (6.50%) presented with initial lung metastasis at diagnosis. Lung metastasis represented 27.15% of all cases with metastatic disease to any distant site. Considering all patients with esophageal cancer, multivariable logistic regression indicated that pathology grade, pathology type, T staging, N staging, race, and number of extrapulmonary metastatic sites were predictive factors for the occurrence of lung metastases at diagnosis. The median survival time of patients with ECLM was 4.0 months. Patients receiving chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy had the longest median overall survival, 7.0 months. Multivariable Cox regression indicated that age, histology type, T2 staging, number of extrapulmonary metastatic sites, and treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or chemoradiotherapy) were independent predictors for overall survival (OS). Multivariable competing risk analysis determined that age, number of extrapulmonary metastatic sites, and treatment were independent predictors for esophageal cancer-specific survival (CSS). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study may provide important information for the early diagnosis of ECLM, as well as aid physicians in choosing appropriate treatment regimens for these patients.

Comparison of comparable scald and contact burns in a porcine model: A preliminary report.

Whether the depth and healing of scalds and contact burns are similar is controversial. Due to water's greater heat capacity, we hypothesized that when exposed to similar temperatures and durations of exposure, burns caused by hot water would be deeper than those caused by contact with hot metal. Forty standardized burns were created in two anesthetized female domestic pigs using a brass bar or circulating heated water. In one pig, the temperature was kept constant (95°C) while the duration of exposure varied (5, 10, 15 seconds) In the second pig, the exposure time was kept constant (10 seconds) while the temperature of exposure varied (70°C, 80°C, 98°C). Periodic punch biopsies were taken to determine burn depth immediately after injury, percentage burns reepithelialized within 21 days, and depth of scar at 28 days. The analysis was performed using analysis of variance. When the temperature was held constant, duration of exposure (5, 10, and 15 seconds) was associated with scar depth (2.1 vs 3.8 vs 5.0 mm, respectively, P = 0.001) but not with burn depth (2.0 vs 2.2 vs 2.3 mm, respectively, P = 0.10). When exposure duration was held constant, temperature (70°C, 80°C, 98°C) was associated with scar depth (0.6 vs 1.7 vs 3.6, P < 0.001) but not with burn depth (1.2 vs 1.5 vs 1.7 mm, respectively, P = 0.21). Burn depths were greater for scald than contact burns although not significantly greater. After controlling for temperature, the difference in scar depth between scalds and contact burns was statistically significant (marginal means 3.0 for contact burns, 4.3 for scalds, P = 0.008). We conclude that burns created in swine with circulating hot water result in deeper scars than those created by contact with a brass bar when controlling for temperature and duration of exposure.

Imaging of carcinoid tumors: spectrum of findings with pathologic and clinical correlation.

Carcinoid tumors are primary malignant neoplasms that arise from neuroendocrine cells. These cells are located throughout the body, resulting in many possible locations for the development of carcinoid tumor. The most common primary location is the gastrointestinal tract, followed by respiratory and thymic carcinoids. The presentations of these tumors are variable depending on their location, aggressiveness, production of functional peptides, and tendency to invade or metastasize. Carcinoid tumors can be imaged by various modalities including gastrointestinal studies, ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging as well as nuclear medicine studies (radioactive octreotide). In this review, we illustrate the spectrum of imaging features of carcinoid tumors in various locations of the human body.

Role of diffusion WIs and T2 * GRE pulse sequences in dubious vertebral marrow pathological lesions.

Pathological lesions of the verteberal bone marrow usually replace, to a variable degree, its normal constituents. This represents a diagnostic dilemma, predominantly in old patients with high possibility of osteoporotic vertebral collapse. In this study we assessed the potentials of diffusion weighted images ( DWIs ) and T2 * GRE WIs in differentiation of such pathological changes. The difference between trabecular bone and soft tissue produces distortions in magnetic resonance images according to susceptibility differences of the pathological component. This allows discrimination between benign and malignant lesions. So our purpose was to evaluate the addition of diffusion weighted images ( DWIs ) and T2 * GRE WIs for differentiation of benign from malignant vertebral lesions; to endorse the role of MR in such lesions. One hundred cases at different radiological centers were evaluated using the same specified parameters. Our results showed that addition of diffusion and T2 * GRE WIs to MRI sequences can differentiate, to a certain degree, between bone marrow pathological lesions. Conclusion : Diffusion WIs and T2 * GRE pulse sequences can be added to previous MRI pulse sequences to support discrimination between vertebral marrow pathological lesions. Key Words : DWIs- T2 * GRE WIs- Pathological bone marrow lesion.