Successful treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum with concomitant immunoglobulin A nephropathy: A case report and review of literature.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an uncommon ulcerative cutaneous condition of an unknown etiology and is often associated with immune diseases. However, PG rarely shows visceral involvement, especially in the kidney. A 20-year-old female presented with pedal edema and skin ulceration of both lower limbs. The skin lesion began as an erythematous plaque and then became a blister. She also complained of abdominal distension and a decreasing urine volume. Laboratory data showed high proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia and hyperlipidemia. Her skin and kidney were biopsied. The pathological results indicated PG and immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy. The patient was finally cured with prednisolone in combination with cyclosporine A (CsA).

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)-2518 A/G polymorphism and lupus nephritis risk: A PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) plays an important role in the development of allergic inflammatory reactions by recruiting various immune cells, which is associated with many autoimmune diseases, but the association with the MCP-1-2518A/G gene polymorphism and lupus nephritis (LN) was still controversial in previous studies. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis to derive a more precise evaluation of the association between MCP-1 -2518A/G polymorphism and LN risk and evaluated influence of ethnicity and source of controls. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis that will be performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Relevant literatures dated to September 2016 were acquired from the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochran Library databases. A total of 961 LN cases and 1867 controls were extracted from 10 published case-control studies. We used odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) to assess the risk of LN with MCP-1-2518A/G. RESULTS: Our meta-analysis suggested that MCP-1-2518A/G polymorphism was associated with the risk of LN (GG vs AG+AA: P < .01, OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.13-1.79 and A vs G P = .02, OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.58-0.95). Then the subgroup analysis showed MCP-1 -2518 A/G gene has a certain correlation with LN susceptibility in the American population (GG vs AA: P < .01, OR = 5.70, 95% CI: 2.09-15.50, GG vs AG+AA: P < .01, OR = 3.31, 95% CI: 1.97-5.54, GG+AG vs AA: P < .01, OR = 2.86, 95% CI: 1.14-7.18, and A vs G: P < .01, OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.24-0.79), while no significant risk in Europeans and Asians. CONCLUSION: The current meta-analysis suggests that the MCP-1-2518A/G polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of LN, especially in the American population. However, better-designed studies with larger sample sizes are needed to validate the results.

Plasma microRNAs serve as novel potential biomarkers for early detection of gastric cancer.

Recent studies have shown that microRNAs can be stably detected in human plasma and have the potential as non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of cancers. This study evaluates the potential application of plasma microRNAs for the early detection of gastric cancer (GC). We first measured the plasma expression levels of 15 selected microRNAs (miR-1, -106a, -106b, -17-5p, -20a, -21, -221, -27a, -34, -376c, -378, -423-5p, -451, -486, -744) in 30 GC patients and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls and then validated those microRNAs that differentiating GC and controls in another 60 GC patients and 60 matched controls using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to test the sensitivity and specificity of GC diagnosis using these identified plasma microRNAs. Three plasma microRNAs, miR-106b, miR-20a, and miR-221, were significantly elevated in GC patients than in healthy controls (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the areas under the ROC curves using miR-106b, miR-20a, and miR-221 for GC diagnosis were 0.7733 (95 % CI, 0.7758-0.8409), 0.8593 (95 % CI, 0.8046-0.9139), and 0.7960 (95 % CI, 0.7256-0.8664), respectively. Furthermore, these three microRNAs had a statistically significant elevation in GC patients compared with healthy controls at each of the four stages. However, there were no significant differences in the plasma levels of the three microRNAs among the four TNM stages (P > 0.05). Plasma miR-106b, miR-20a, and miR-221 have the potential as novel, non-invasive biomarkers for the early detection of GC.

[Clinical research of angle-splitting ostectomy based on three dimensional computed tomography true-up technique].

OBJECTIVE: To illustrate the morphological changes of mandible after angle-splitting ostectomy. METHODS: From January 2006 to April 2008, 10 cases had undergone mandibular angle-splitting ostectomy to reduce the width of the lower face. For each patient, CT datum of mandible at three stages (preoperative, immediate postoperative, 6 months postoperative) were collected. By the application software of reverse engineering (Surfacer V9) and true-up and dissection techniques based on three-dimensional spiral computed tomography (3D-CT), operative efficacy and bone regeneration at the operation area of angle-splitting ostectomy were evaluated 6 months postoperative. RESULTS: 1) Concavity could be seen at the angle-splitting ostectomy area 6 months postoperative, especially at the mandibular external oblique line region. Average cup depth was (3.64 +/- 1.67) mm by contrasted to preoperative. Diminution of bone volume was 55% +/- 9% for the local operative area 6 months postoperative. 2) Bone regeneration could be seen at the area that mandibular outer cortex had been removed. Compared with immediate postoperative, ratio of neoformative bone was 84.6% +/- 7.3% 6 months postoperative. The main region of bone regeneration was mandibular angle. CONCLUSION: Mandibular angle-splitting ostectomy is an effective technique for reducing the width of the lower face. Masseter muscular movement should be restricted postoperative to prevent hyperostosis at the angle area.

[Comparative study of onlay bone graft absorption of outer cortex from mandible and cranium].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of application of mandibular outer cortex as bone graft by comparing its bone absorption with cranial outer cortex. METHODS: 8 minitype grown-up pigs at the age of 8 - 12 months underwent surgery of taking out the same size (2.5 cm x 1.0 cm) of outer cortex from mandible and craninium. The volume of the outer cortex was measured by volume-displacement method. Then the outer cortex of mandible and cranium were onlay grafted to the each side of the pig snout, respectively. 12 weeks later, 2 pigs were randomly selected for histological examination. The other 6 pigs were killed 24 weeks after surgery for measurement of the bone graft volume and histologic examination. RESULTS: The bone graft absorption rate was (41 +/- 5)% for mandibular outer cortex and (46 +/- 12)% for cranial outer cortex, showing no significant difference between them (P = 0.51). The histologic examination results also had no marked difference in the bony healing and reforming between the two graft. CONCLUSIONS: Mandibular outer cortex is a good donor site for onlay bone graft in craniofacial region.

Morphologic study of mandibular outer cortex osteotomy.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to illustrate the morphologic changes of the mandible after outer cortex osteotomy. METHODS: Ten patients had undergone mandibular outer cortex osteotomy. By using the true-up and dissection techniques based on three-dimensional spiral computed tomography, variables of effect and bone regeneration were evaluated 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Concavity could be seen in the area from which the mandibular outer cortex had been removed 6 months postoperatively, especially at the external oblique line region. The average cup depth was 3.64 +/- 1.67 mm postoperatively. Diminution of bone volume was 1.7 +/- 0.5 percent for the entire mandible and 55 +/- 9 percent for the local area 6 months postoperatively. Bone regeneration could be seen in the area from which the mandibular outer cortex had been removed. Compared with immediately postoperatively, the ratio of neoformative bone was 84.6 +/- 7.3 percent 6 months postoperatively. The main region of bone regeneration was the mandibular angle. CONCLUSIONS: Mandibular outer cortex osteotomy is an effective technique for reducing the width of the lower face. Masseter muscular movement should be restricted postoperatively to prevent hyperostosis at the angle area.