Sickle cell anemia with perforated duodenal ulcer as a complication: when to suspect this rare entity?

Perforated duodenal peptic ulcers are often not considered when making a differential diagnosis of abdominal pain, especially in the context of sickle cell disease, and cases have not been frequently described in the literature. This study reports the case of a 14 year-old girl with sickle cell anemia complicated with duodenal ulcer perforation, focusing mainly on the imaging aspects. Abdominal CT should be considered as a method for this diagnosis and it requires the knowledge of this entity and its characteristic imaging findings.

HDL-C and non-HDL-C levels are associated with anthropometric and biochemical parameters.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemias are associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-c) has emerged as a new target for assessment and prediction of risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is closely associated with atheroma plaque progression. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate associations between HDL-c and non-HDL-c levels and anthropometric and biochemical parameters and with the Castelli risk indexes I and II. METHODS: 300 randomly selected people were subdivided into two groups: patients with normal values for non-HDL-c and patients with altered values for non-HDL-c. These parameters were analyzed for associations with glycemia, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), Castelli Index I (CI-I), Castelli Index II (CI-II), waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI) and presence of metabolic syndrome (MS). RESULTS: Glycemia, TC, TG, LDL-c, CI-I, CI-II, WC and BMI were all significantly different between subjects with normal and altered values of HDL-c and non-HDL-c. TC and WC both exhibited significantly higher values among patients with abnormal non-HDL-c when compared to patients with abnormal HDL-c. A significant difference was observed in occurrence of MS among patients with altered values of HDL-c and non-HDL-c. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that both HDL-c and non-HDL-c are associated with insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, atherogenic indices, and obesity. There is therefore a need for randomized clinical intervention trials examining the potential role of non-HDL-c as a possible primary therapeutic target.

CONTEXTO: A dislipidemia está associada à aterosclerose e às doenças cardiovasculares. Recentemente, a lipoproteína de não alta-densidade de colesterol (não HDL-c) emergiu como um novo alvo para avaliação da predição de risco de doença cardiovascular, intimamente associada à progressão da placa de ateroma. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar as associações de níveis de HDL-c e não HDL-c com parâmetros antropométricos e bioquímicos, bem como com índices de Castelli I e II (CI-I e CI-II). MÉTODOS: Trezentas pessoas selecionadas aleatoriamente foram divididas em dois grupos: pacientes com valores normais de não HDL-c e pacientes com valores alterados de não HDL-c. Esses parâmetros foram associados a glicemia, colesterol total (CT), triglicerídeos (TG), lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL-c), CI-I, CI-II, circunferência de cintura (CC), índice de massa corporal (IMC) e presença de síndrome metabólica (SM). RESULTADOS: Glicemia, CT, TG, LDL-c, CI-I, CI-II, CC e IMC exibiram valores significativamente maiores para o não HDL-c quando comparado ao HDL-c. Uma diferença significativa na ocorrência de SM foi encontrada em pacientes com valores alterados de HDL-c e não HDL-c. CONCLUSÕES: Nossos resultados mostram que tanto o HDL-c quanto o não HDL-c estão associados a resistência à insulina, dislipidemia, índices de aterogênese e obesidade. Assim, há uma necessidade de futuros ensaios randomizados de intervenção clínica examinando o papel potencial do não HDL-c como possível alvo terapêutico primário.

HDL-C and non-HDL-C levels are associated with anthropometric and biochemical parameters / Associação de níveis de HDL-c e não HDL-c com parâmetros antropométricos e bioquímicos

Dyslipidemias are associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-c) has emerged as a new target for assessment and prediction of risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is closely associated with atheroma plaque progression. Objectives To evaluate associations between HDL-c and non-HDL-c levels and anthropometric and biochemical parameters and with the Castelli risk indexes I and II. Methods 300 randomly selected people were subdivided into two groups: patients with normal values for non-HDL-c and patients with altered values for non-HDL-c. These parameters were analyzed for associations with glycemia, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), Castelli Index I (CI-I), Castelli Index II (CI-II), waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI) and presence of metabolic syndrome (MS). Results Glycemia,TC, TG, LDL-c, CI-I, CI-II, WC and BMI were all significantly different between subjects with normal and altered values of HDL-c and non-HDL-c. TC and WC both exhibited significantly higher values among patients with abnormal non-HDL-c when compared to patients with abnormal HDL-c. A significant difference was observed in occurrence of MS among patients with altered values of HDL-c and non-HDL-c. Conclusions Our results show that both HDL-c and non-HDL-c are associated with insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, atherogenic indices, and obesity. There is therefore a need for randomized clinical intervention trials examining the potential role of non-HDL-c as a possible primary therapeutic target

A dislipidemia está associada à aterosclerose e às doenças cardiovasculares. Recentemente, a lipoproteína de não alta-densidade de colesterol (não HDL-c) emergiu como um novo alvo para avaliação da predição de risco de doença cardiovascular, intimamente associada à progressão da placa de ateroma. Objetivos Avaliar as associações de níveis de HDL-c e não HDL-c com parâmetros antropométricos e bioquímicos, bem como com índices de Castelli I e II (CI-I e CI-II). Métodos Trezentas pessoas selecionadas aleatoriamente foram divididas em dois grupos: pacientes com valores normais de não HDL-c e pacientes com valores alterados de não HDL-c. Esses parâmetros foram associados a glicemia, colesterol total (CT), triglicerídeos (TG), lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL-c), CI-I, CI-II, circunferência de cintura (CC), índice de massa corporal (IMC) e presença de síndrome metabólica (SM). Resultados Glicemia, CT, TG, LDL-c, CI-I, CI-II, CC e IMC exibiram valores significativamente maiores para o não HDL-c quando comparado ao HDL-c. Uma diferença significativa na ocorrência de SM foi encontrada em pacientes com valores alterados de HDL-c e não HDL-c. Conclusões Nossos resultados mostram que tanto o HDL-c quanto o não HDL-c estão associados a resistência à insulina, dislipidemia, índices de aterogênese e obesidade. Assim, há uma necessidade de futuros ensaios randomizados de intervenção clínica examinando o papel potencial do não HDL-c como possível alvo terapêutico primário

Reflections about Osteoarthritis and Curcuma longa.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic inflammatory degenerative process that affects joints such as the hands, hips, shoulders, feet, spine, and especially knees in millions of people worldwide. Some authors have shown that Curcuma longa components may exhibit benefic effects in the treatment of degenerative diseases as OA. This plant belongs to the family Zingiberaceae and it is popularly known as turmeric or saffron. This review intended to perform a retrospective search to identify studies involving humans and animal models. This review was based on articles linking OA and C. longa. Databases as Medline, Science Direct, and Lilacs were consulted and a retrospective search was carried out in order to identify studies involving humans and animal models. The curcuminoids from C. longa exhibit actions at different locations in the pathogenesis of OA once it may play an important role as anti-inflammatory, down-regulating enzymes as phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenase-2, and lipoxygenases, and reducing tumor necrosis factor-alpha-and interleukins such as interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-6, and IL-8. They also act as inducer of apoptosis in synoviocytes, decreasing the inflammation process and may also reduce the synthesis of reactive oxygen species. For these reasons, new pharmaceutical technology and pharmacological studies should be proposed to determine the dose, the best delivery vehicle, pharmaceutical formulation and route of administration of this plant so its use as an adjunct in the treatment of OA may become a reality in clinical practice.