A possible connection between circulating 25-hydroxy-vitamin D and molecular response in chronic myeloid leukemia.

OBJECTIVE: In this study we aimed to evaluate whether there is a link between circulating 25-OH-D levels and molecular response in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total of 61 patients with CML (31 women, 30 men) were recruited in this cross-sectional study. RESULTS: Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that increased vitamin D levels were independently associated with molecular response in subjects with CML. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated for the first time in the literature that severe deficiency of vitamin D was independently associated with molecular unresponsiveness in subjects with CML. 25-OH-D may be contributing to molecular response in the patients (Tab. 3, Ref. 24).

Correlation between pre-radical prostatectomy standardized SUVmax ratios detected on 68Ga-PSMA-I&T PET/CT and final histopathology outcomes: an in-depth analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive potential of the maximum standardized uptake value(SUVmax) value of intraprostatic tumors derived from preoperative 68Ga-PSMA-I&T PET/CT (SUVT), and its ratios to SUVmax in the liver (SUVTLR) and parotid gland (SUVTPR) with respect to histopathological findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer (PC) at our clinic between 2017 and 2020 were assessed. Patients with a secondary malignancy, a history of transurethral prostate resection, prior treatment for PC, or who received salvage RP were excluded. Whole-body images obtained using the same device, as per the guidelines, were reviewed by two nuclear medicine specialists with more than a decade of experience to reach a consensus for each lesion. The relationships between age, PSA, Prostate Volume, clinical T stage, biopsy International Society of Urological Pathology grade (ISUP), D'amico risk group, intraprostatic tumor volume (HPTV) identified in the final histopathological specimen review, HP-ISUP grade, seminal vesicle invasion (SVI), extracapsular invasion (ECI), positive surgical margine (PSM), SUVT, SUVTLR, and SUVTPR were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the 64 included patients was 64.1 ±â€¯5.3. A statistically significant correlation was found between SUVT, SUVTLR, SUVTPR values, and histopathologic stage parameters, such as biopsy ISUP, D'amico Risk Classification, HP-ISUP, HPTV (p < 0.05). PSMATV, SUVT, and SUVTLR were statistically significant predictors of extracapsular invasion, while PSA, PSMATV, and SUVTLR were significant predictors of SVI (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The standardized SUVT, SUVTLR, and SUVTPR values could be employed as noninvasive markers to assist in predicting postoperative histopathological findings, particularly ECI, SVI, and PSM.

Co-existence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis with familial Mediterranean fever: is there a pathophysiological association between the two diseases?

Familial Mediterranean fever is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by periodic attacks of fever and polyserositis, while Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. We suggest that common autoimmune mechanisms may underlie both disorders, describe their clinical co-existence in a patient, and discuss a possible causal link between them.

Polymorphisms in the IL28B gene (rs12979860, rs8099917) and the virological response to pegylated interferon therapy in hepatitis D virus patients.

AIM: Few data are available regarding the effects of interleukin 28B (IL28B) polymorphisms in chronic hepatitis D (CHD) patients. This study investigated the relationship between IL28B poly-morphisms and the response of patients with CHD infections to pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 101 CHD patients were -selected, 80 of whom (46 males ; median age 41 years) satisfied the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. Thirty-seven patients were treated with peg-IFNα for at least 12 months and were followed for a median of 18 months (range, 12-30 months). The primary treatment endpoint was the suppression of HDV replication, as documented by the loss of detectable HDV RNA in serum. Genotyping was used to analyse the IL28B polymorphisms rs12979860 and rs8099917 according to the virological response. RESULTS: After treatment, a sustained viral response (SVR) was achieved in 19 (51%) of the patients treated with PEG-INF. The IL28B genotypes in the 80 patients were as follows : CC in 36 (45%), CT in 33 (41%) and TT in 11 (14%) for rs12979860, and GG in 4 (5%), GT in 27 (34%) and TT in 49 (61%) for rs8099917. SVR was achieved in 5 (26%), 10 (53%) and 4 (21%) patients with CC, CT and TT at rs12979860, respectively, and one (5%), nine (47%) and nine (47%) patients with GG, GT and TT at rs8099917, respectively. There were differences in the SVR among genotypes (rs12979860 and rs8099917 ; chi-squared test, p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: IL28B predicts the PEG-IFN response in patients with CHD infection.

Serum leptin levels in type 1 diabetic and obese children: relation to insulin levels.

OBJECTIVES: To compare serum leptin levels in type 1 diabetic and obese children. DESIGN AND METHODS: We studied serum leptin levels in 35 type 1 diabetic, 32 obese, and 35 healthy children. Seven of 35 were new-onset diabetics with ketoacidosis. C-peptide (CPE) levels were used for estimating insulin secretion. RESULTS: Serum leptin levels were lower in diabetics than in controls (p<0.001). Obese children had higher leptin and CPE levels than diabetics and controls. In new-onset diabetics, 1 month insulin treatment did not cause any change in leptin levels (p>0.05). Leptin was correlated positively with body mass index and CPE (p<0.001) and inversely with glucose (p = 0.001) and HbA1c (p<0.05) in the combined group. HbA1c and gender were the independent predictors of leptin in diabetic children (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Low serum leptin levels in type 1 diabetic children may be due to chronic insulin deficiency related with their metabolic control. Leptin and insulin may have complementary roles in maintaining a stable body weight.

Correlación entre los índices estandarizados SUVmáx de la PET/TC con [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-I&T pre-prostatectomía radical y los resultados histopatológicos finales: un análisis en profundidad / Correlation between pre-radical prostatectomy Standardized SUVmax ratios detected on 68Ga-PSMA-I&T PET/CT and final histopathology outcomes: An in-depth analysis

Objetivo: Evaluar el potencial predictivo del valor máximo de captación estandarizada (SUVmáx) de los tumores intraprostáticos obtenidos en la PET/TC preoperatoria con [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-I&T (SUVT), así como sus relaciones con el SUVmáx en el hígado (SUVTLR) y la glándula parótida (SUVTPR) con respecto a los hallazgos histopatológicos. Material y métodos: Se evaluaron los datos de pacientes sometidos a prostatectomía radical (PR) por cáncer de próstata (CaP) en nuestra clínica entre los años 2017-2020. Se excluyeron aquellos pacientes con una neoplasia maligna secundaria, antecedentes de resección transuretral de próstata, tratamiento previo para CaP o que fueron sometidos a una PR de rescate. Dos especialistas en medicina nuclear con más de una década de experiencia cada uno revisaron las imágenes del estudio de cuerpo completo obtenidas con el mismo equipo, según protocolo, para obtener el consenso en cada lesión. Se estudiaron las relaciones entre edad, antígeno específico de la próstata (PSA), volumen de la próstata, estadio clínico, el grado de la clasificación de la Sociedad Internacional de Anatomía Patología Urológica (ISUP, por sus siglas en inglés) en la biopsia, el grupo de riesgo de D’amico, el volumen tumoral intraprostático identificado en la revisión histopatológica final de la muestra (HPTV) y el grado HP-ISUP. Se analizó la invasión de vesículas seminales (SVI), la invasión extracapsular (ECI), el margen quirúrgico positivo (PSM), SUVT, SUVTLR y SUVTPR. Resultados: La edad media de los 64 pacientes incluidos fue de 64,1±5,3 años. Se observó una correlación estadísticamente significativa entre los valores de SUVT, SUVTLR, SUVTPR y los parámetros del estadio histopatológico, como el grado ISUP de la biopsia, la clasificación de riesgo D’amico, HP-ISUP, HPTV (p<0,05). PSMATV, SUVT y SUVTLR fueron predictores estadísticamente significativos de invasión extracapsular, mientras que PSA, PSMATV y SUVTLR fueron predictores significativos de SVI (p<0,05)... (AU)

Objective: To evaluate the predictive potential of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) value of intraprostatic tumors derived from preoperative [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-I&T PET/CT (SUVT), and its ratios to SUVmax in the liver (SUVTLR) and parotid gland (SUVTPR) with respect to histopathological findings. Materials and methods: Data from patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer (PC) at our clinic between 2017-2020 were assessed. Patients with a secondary malignancy, a history of transurethral prostate resection, prior treatment for PC, or who received salvage RP were excluded. Whole-body images obtained using the same device, as per the guidelines, were reviewed by two nuclear medicine specialists with more than a decade of experience to reach a consensus for each lesion. The relationships between age, PSA, Prostate Volume, clinical T stage, biopsy International Society of Urological Pathology grade (ISUP), D’amico risk group, intraprostatic tumor volume (HPTV) identified in the final histopathological specimen review, HP-ISUP grade, seminal vesicle invasion (SVI), extracapsular invasion (ECI), positive surgical margine (PSM), SUVT, SUVTLR, and SUVTPR were analyzed. Results: The mean age of the 64 included patients was 64.1±5.3 y-o. A statistically significant correlation was found between SUVT, SUVTLR, SUVTPR values, and histopathologic stage parameters, such as biopsy ISUP, D’amico Risk Classification, HP-ISUP, HPTV (P<.05). PSMATV, SUVT, and SUVTLR were statistically significant predictors of extracapsular invasion, while PSA, PSMATV, and SUVTLR were significant predictors of SVI (P<.05). Conclusion: The standardized SUVT, SUVTLR, and SUVTPR values could be employed as noninvasive markers to assist in predicting postoperative histopathological findings, particularly ECI, SVI, and PSM. (AU)

A new technique for endoscopic treatment of gastric phytobezoars: fragmentation using guidewire.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Bezoars result from accumulation of indigestible materials in the gastrointestinal tract and often occur in the stomach. In this study, we evaluated the use of guidewires in patients with gastric phytobezoars (PBs) as a new method for PB removal and examined the safety of the procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between February 2009 and January 2013, we analyzed data from 11 patients with gastric PBs. We fitted a transparent cap to a standard endoscope (EG450WR5, Fujinon), and a 0.025 inch guidewire was passed through the standart endoscope. PBs were surrounded by a loop in the guidewire and destroyed. After 2 weeks of treatment, patients were re-evaluated for effectiveness. RESULTS: PB fragmentation time was 5-11 minutes. In five patients with a history of gastric surgery, we needed an additional 16-28 minutes for removal of the fragments. In six patients additionally treated with enzymatic degradation after the breaking procedure, PBs completely disappeared within 2 weeks. There were no complications during the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The guidewire and fragmentation procedure for PBs is an efficient and reliable method. When combined with enzymatic degradation, PBs can be managed quickly and effectively.