Erythema Ab Igne with Histological Features of Keratosis Lichenoides Chronica.

Erythema ab igne (EAI) is a localized, hyperpigmented and reticulated dermatosis at sites of chronic heat exposure. Within longstanding skin lesions of EAI, hyperkeratotic lesions may emerge and can potentially transform into pre-malignant or malignant skin lesions. A 55-year-old woman presented for the evaluation of multiple hyperkeratotic lesions along with a reticular patterned hyperpigmentation on her right knee, an area that had repeated and prolonged exposure to a heat source over a period of several months. Based on her clinical history and the physical examination of her lesions, she was diagnosed as having a hyperkeratotic form of EAI. A skin biopsy was performed to rule out malignant alteration, but the histopathological findings were supportive of keratosis lichenoides chronica.

Preoperative tumour size as a predictor of the presence of lymphovascular invasion in lung adenocarcinoma.

Aim To examine whether preoperative tumour size may serve as a biomarker for the occurrence of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in centrally and peripherally located lung adenocarcinoma. Method The study included 261 patients surgically treated for diagnosed lung adenocarcinoma. A ROC curve was used to determine the biomarker potential of tumour size relative to the occurrence of LVI. Binary logistic regression was used to show changes of tumour size impact on the status of LVI. Result Tumour prevalence according to localization had no statistical significance (p=0.464), while the presence of LVI in central, as well as peripheral positions, was statistically significantly different (p<0.001). The area under the curve of 0.978 highlights the fact that tumour size is an excellent marker of the presence of LVI in centrally located adenocarcinomas of the lung. A similar finding was confirmed in peripherally located lung adenocarcinomas with an area below the curve of 0.943. Binary logistical regression showed that in centrally localized adenocarcinomas of the lung, each additional centimetre of tumour growth represents an increase in the likelihood of LVI+ by 17.14 times. In peripherally located adenocarcinomas of the lung, this increase in likelihood of LVI for each centimetre of growth was 5.46 times. Conclusion With a high degree of sensitivity and specificity, preoperative tumour size may serve as an important biomarker and positive predictor of the presence of LVI in lung adenocarcinoma of any location.

The Association among Glycemic Control and Depression Symptoms in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes and depression are two common and major non-communicable diseases with significant disease burdens worldwide. AIM: The aim of this study is to obtain the association among A1C levels and symptoms of depression in patients with type 2 diabetes in family medicine offices. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out between June 2016 and July 2017. We recruited 150 adults with type 2 diabetes from various family medicine offices. The study questionnaire had two parts; the first one for participants and the second one for family medicine physicians. Participants completed the part of the questionnaire with the PHQ-9 scale and questions regarding demographic data. Family medicine physicians completed the part of the questionnaire with questions concerning clinical data. A univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted to identify significant predictors of depressive symptoms revealed by the PHQ-9 score. RESULTS: Multiple linear regression showed that the level of A1C was a significant predictor of the PHQ-9 score in all three models. Increases in the A1C level were followed by increases in depressive symptoms. Other significant predictors of a positive PHQ-9 score were smoking, level of education and income. CONCLUSION: The level of A1C as an indicator of glycemic control has been shown to have a significant association with the scores of the PHQ-9 questionnaire, which identifies the intensity of symptoms of depression. An increase in the level of A1C is followed by an increase in the intensity of symptoms of depression.

Vitreous concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor as a potential biomarker for postoperative complications following pars plana vitrectomy.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration in vitreous on postoperative complications after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety subjects were surgically treated with PPV and followed up for 12 months at the Clinical Centre University Sarajevo, Clinic for Eye Disease. Exclusion criteria were presence of other eye diseases, systemic acute/chronic inflammatory conditions, or malignant neoplasms; previously performed PPV surgery; previously received intravitreal or systemic anti-VEGF therapy. A vitreous sample was obtained while performing the PPV procedure, using the Quantikine ELISA test to determine VEGF level, as a risk factor. Outcome measures were intraoperative and postoperative complications reported using categorical data: blunt and sharp dissection of membranes, intraoperative hemorrhage stopped by increasing infusion pressure, pressing with blunt instrument, or using diathermy. The following postoperative complications were assessed on the first day and at the 12-month follow-up visit: vitreous hemorrhage, fibrovascular proliferation (FVP), rubeosis iridis, and neovascular glaucoma (NVG). RESULTS: Levels of vitreous VEGF at the time of PPV were significantly higher in eyes with: vitreous hemorrhage on the first day after PPV (p = 0.003); FVP on the first day and 12 months after PPV (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively); iris rubeosis on the first day and 12 months after PPV surgery (p < 0.001, and p = 0.001, respectively); NVG on the first day and 12 months after PPV surgery (p = 0.043 and p = 0.011, respectively), compared to the eyes without complications. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative levels of VEGF in vitreous can be a useful biomarker and predictor of the postoperative outcome in terms of intraoperative and postoperative complications.