Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio may predict subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Systemic inflammation beyond the skin may provide an explanation of the increased cardiovascular risk observed in psoriasis. It was hypothesized that neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are potential predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis measured by aortic velocity propagation (AVP) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in psoriasis. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with psoriasis taking no antipsoriatic therapy and 37 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were prospectively enrolled. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) was calculated. Complete blood counts were obtained. Measurements of AVP and CIMT were performed. RESULTS: The baseline clinical and demographic features, and white blood cell, platelet, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and PLR were similar in both groups. NLR and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were higher in the psoriasis group than the control group (P = 0.001, P < 0.001; respectively). The psoriasis group had lower AVP and higher CIMT values than those of controls (AVP: 48.9 ± 18.1 vs. 64.3 ± 14.5 cm/sec; P < 0.001, CIMT: 0.84 ± 0.29 vs. 0.63 ± 0.27 mm; P = 0.001, respectively). PASI was positively correlated with NLR and hs-CRP (r = 0.423, P = 0.002; r = 0.315, P = 0.024, respectively). There was an inverse association between AVP and CIMT (r = -0.749, P < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that NLR was the only variable able to predict lower AVP (≤41 cm/sec) and higher CIMT (>0.9 mm) values (P = 0.024 and 0.023; respectively). CONCLUSION: NLR is potentially an unrecognized predictor of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with psoriasis. Future studies assessing the prognostic significance of NLR on cardiovascular event rates in psoriasis patients would be of great interest.

Evaluation of metastatic bone disease with pentavalent 99Tc(m)-dimercaptosuccinic acid: a comparison with whole-body scanning and 4/24 hour quantitation of vertebral lesions.

The aim of this study was to establish the value of 99Tcm(V)-DMSA scintigraphy in the detection of metastatic bone lesions and compare the results to 99Tcm-MDP bone scintigraphy. Thirty-four patients presenting with metastatic bone disease (Group 1) and 12 controls with degenerative skeletal lesions (Group 2) were studied. Conventional bone scanning and 99Tcm(V)-DMSA whole-body scanning were performed on all patients. All scans were interpreted visually. Furthermore, lesion-to-normal bone ratios (L/N) in vertebral metastases on the 4 and 24 h bone scans were obtained in 58 lesions of cancer patients and in 23 benign (degenerative) vertebral lesions of the control group. 99Tcm-MDP L/N ratios at 24 h (3.08 +/- 0.32) were significantly higher than those at 4 h (2.48 +/- 0.24) in the malignant foci (P < 0.001). No significant difference was observed in benign lesions (P > 0.05). In 167 (164 metastatic, 3 traumatic) of 186 99Tcm-MDP positive lesions (90%) of Group 1, 99Tcm(V)-DMSA uptake was observed. The remaining 19 lesions (10%) were 99Tcm(V)-DMSA negative. Fourteen of these 19 sites were diagnosed as benign. The remaining five foci were malignant. In four lung cancer metastases showing no 99Tcm-MDP uptake, 99Tcm(V)-DMSA uptake was observed. There was no 99Tcm(V)-DMSA accumulation in any of the 99Tcm-MDP positive degenerative lesions of Group 2. All quantitatively evaluated (n = 42) vertebral metastatic foci and two compression fractures in Group 1 showed 99Tcm(V)-DMSA accumulation and an increased 99Tcm-MDP L/N ratio at 24 h. A total of 36 degenerative lesions (Groups 1 and 2) and one compression fracture (Group 1) showed neither 99Tcm(V)-DMSA uptake nor an increased 99Tcm-MDP L/N ratio at 24 h. Our results indicate that quantitative 4/24 h analysis of vertebral lesions on 99Tcm-MDP scans has a similar diagnostic value to 99Tcm(V)-DMSA imaging in the detection of bone metastases. However, the accumulation of 99Tcm(V)-DMSA in four lung cancer metastases showing no 99Tcm-MDP uptake is encouraging and justifies further research in patients with proven bone metastases and negative bone scans.

Transient reverse ventilation-perfusion mismatch in acute pulmonary nitrofurantoin reaction.

A 67-yr-old woman with a history of myocardial infarct was admitted to emergency for marked dyspnea, nonproductive cough, nausea and fever. The thorax X-ray revealed a bilateral alveolar and interstitial infiltration pattern with basal accentuation. The cardiac examinations were normal. Technegas ventilation and Tc-99m-macroaggregated albumin (MAA) perfusion scans were performed to rule out pulmonary embolism. Bilateral multiple ventilation defects with normal perfusion was observed. The patient had been taking nitrofurantoin for four days for a bladder infection. Hypersensitivity to nitrofurantoin was suspected and the drug was discontinued. An antihistaminic and anxiolytic medication was started. The majority of the clinical symptoms disappeared within 24 hours. The control chest X-rays disclosed a marked improvement. Ventilation and perfusion scans obtained 48 hours after nitrofurantoin withdrawal were normal. The drug-related pulmonary reactions should be taken into account in patients on medication. Reversible ventilation defects can be the only lung-scintigraphic finding encountered in acute pulmonary nitrofurantoin reaction.

Unilateral breast enlargement: a rare complication of subclavian vein catheterization for hemodialysis.

Radiologic findings of an unusual uremic case of marked unilateral breast enlargement due to subclavian vein stenosis after subclavian catheterization for hemodialysis are presented.

Atrial septal aneurysm in children.

Atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) has rarely been described in children. In this study, we evaluated the incidence and natural course of this anomaly in children. ASA was found in 30 patients (1%); 16 patients had type 1R and 14 patients had type 2L ASA. Twenty patients with ASA were followed: in four the ASA disappeared and in three patients with type 2L an atrial septal defect (ASD) developed during follow-up. The most common associated lesion was patent foramen ovale (PFO). We conclude that ASAs in children are not rare lesions, and that these aneurysms, particularly type 2L aneurysms, should be followed for occurrence of ASD.

Amphotericin B in the treatment of candida meningitis in three neonates.

Candidiasis is an opportunistic infection and may result in significant morbidity and mortality in neonates. Cerebral candidiasis is rare and usually associated with systemic candidiasis. Information concerning the toxicity and efficacy of antifungal therapy for neonates is limited. In this report, we present three neonates with candidiasis. All of the patients were premature with low birth weights, and received antibiotic therapy for one to four weeks before the onset of candidiasis. Candida albicans was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid cultures. Amphotericin B was given administered at an initial dose of 0.25 mg/kg/day intravenously (IV) and increased to a dosage of 2 mg/kg/day, and therapy was continued for three to four weeks. A transient and mild elevation in hepatic enzyme concentration was observed in two patients, and transient thrombocytopenia occurred in all of them.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis associated with calcifications in the seminal vesicles.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis is an inherited disorder of unknown etiology. It is a rare disease characterized by calcified intraalveolar microgranules. Several hypotheses on the etiopathogenesis have been put forward, such as increased intestinal calcium resorption and retention. This case report of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis is associated with punctate calcifications in the seminal vesicles.

Heart rate recovery after exercise and its relation with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with cardiac syndrome X.

OBJECTIVES: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are measures of systemic inflammation. Heart rate recovery (HRR) after exercise is influenced by autonomic function. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether HRR and the Duke Treadmill Score (DTS) values are related to NLR and PLR in patients with cardiac syndrome X (CSX). METHODS: A total of 350 participants were enrolled in the study. Complete blood counts and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were obtained. All participants underwent an exercise test. HRR and DTS were calculated after exercise. Abnormal HRR was defined as 12 beats/min or less. RESULTS: CSX and coronary artery disease (CAD) groups had higher NLR, PLR, and hsCRP, and lower HRR and DTS values than the control group (for all, P<0.05). In both CSX and CAD groups, HRR was positively correlated with DTS (r=0.468, P<0.001 and r=0.491, P<0.001, respectively) and negatively correlated with NLR (r=-0.519, P<0.001 and r=-0.612, P<0.001, respectively), PLR (r=-0.422, P<0.001 and r=-0.438, P<0.001, respectively), and hsCRP (r=-0.553, P<0.001 and r=-0.521, P<0.001, respectively). NLR and hsCRP were important two predictors of the presence of lower HRR in both CSX [NLR: odds ratio (OR), 0.395; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.168-0.925; P=0.032 and hsCRP: OR, 0.748; 95% CI, 0.591-0.945; P=0.015], and CAD groups (NLR: OR, 0.115; 95% CI, 0.026-0.501; P=0.004 and hsCRP: OR, 0.637; 95% CI, 0.455-0.892; P=0.009). CONCLUSION: CSX patients have higher NLR and PLR and slower HRR and lower DTS, similar to CAD patients, suggesting that CSX patients may be at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular events in the future. NLR may predict autonomic imbalance assessed by HRR in CSX.

Bilateral abdominoscrotal hydrocele.

Abdominoscrotal hydrocele is rare in children, especially in infants. The presented case is a 3.5-month-old baby with abdominoscrotal hydrocele. This is the first reported bilateral and the youngest case. Diagnostic work-up based on sonography established the diagnosis.

Power Doppler sonographic diagnosis of torsion in a wandering spleen.

A wandering spleen is a rare clinical entity resulting from congenital maldevelopment or acquired laxity of the spleen's suspensory ligaments; it may result in torsion of the spleen. We report the gray-scale sonographic, power Doppler sonographic, and CT findings in a case of wandering spleen torsion. The gray-scale sonograms showed a displaced spleen that appeared as a homogeneous, hypoechoic mass suggestive of an enlarged, ectopic spleen in the central abdomen. Power Doppler sonograms showed no blood flow in the parenchyma or hilum of the spleen and were consistent with torsion and infarction in the spleen. Contrast-enhanced CT scans showed a homogeneous, unenhanced mass that was diagnosed as a torsioned wandering spleen. The hilar vessels of the spleen were also unenhanced.