Unusual Localization of AIDS-Related Kaposi's Sarcoma in a Heterosexual Male during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Report.

Kaposi's sarcoma is an AIDS-defining illness and remains the most frequent tumor arising in HIV-infected patients with multifactorial etiology. We present a case of a 30-year-old Caucasian male with an 18-year history of HIV infection. The patient was presented with a one-week history of fever, non-productive cough, and skin lesions. There was an associated weakness and weight loss in a duration of 6 months. Clinical examination showed fever, generalized lymphadenopathy, lower limb edema, ascites, and violaceous cutaneous eruption comprising patches, plaques, and nodules. He also had a red nodule on the left conjunctiva, as well as on his oral mucosa. His CD4+ count was below 10/mm3 and ARN-HIV viral load was above 100,000 c/mL, in relation to the antiretroviral failure after five drug regimens. The role of co-infections in oncogenesis and the course of Kaposi's sarcoma were considered in recent studies. Delayed diagnosis of Kaposi's sarcoma in the present case resulted in a negative impact for this patient during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Assessment of central corneal thickness in children with diabetus mellitus type I]. / Evaluarea grosimii centrale a corneei la copiii cu diabet zaharat tip 1.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlations between central corneal thickness and type 1 diabetes in children. METHODS: Central corneal thickness was measured for one hundred children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (study group) and one hundred healthy children (control group), using TOPCON TRK-1P autorefractokeratotonometer. RESULTS: The average central corneal thickness in diabetic children was 541.13 +/- 30,985 microns for the right eye and 538.28 +/- 32, 773 microns for the left eye; in control group--528.11 +/- 33,565 microns for the right eye and 526.89 +/- 30,483 microns for the left eye. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic children have a significantly increased central corneal thickness when compared with non-diabetic children.

Latest Trends in Retinopathy of Prematurity: Research on Risk Factors, Diagnostic Methods and Therapies.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vasoproliferative disorder with an imminent risk of blindness, in cases where early diagnosis and treatment are not performed. The doctors' constant motivation to give these fragile beings a chance at life with optimal visual acuity has never stopped, since Terry first described this condition. Thus, throughout time, several specific advancements have been made in the management of ROP. Apart from the most known risk factors, this narrative review brings to light the latest research about new potential risk factors, such as: proteinuria, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and blood transfusions. Digital imaging has revolutionized the management of retinal pathologies, and it is more and more used in identifying and staging ROP, particularly in the disadvantaged regions by the means of telescreening. Moreover, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and automated diagnostic tools based on deep learning offer new perspectives on the ROP diagnosis. The new therapeutical trend based on the use of anti-VEGF agents is increasingly used in the treatment of ROP patients, and recent research sustains the theory according to which these agents do not interfere with the neurodevelopment of premature babies.

Immunologic and nonimmunologic sclerodermal skin conditions - review.

Scleroderma-like cutaneous lesions have been found in many pathological conditions and they have the clinical appearance of sclerotic or scleroatrophic lesions. Affected skin biopsies described histopathological changes similar to those of scleroderma located strictly on the skin or those of systemic sclerosis. These skin lesions can be found in inflammatory diseases with autoimmune substrate (generalized morphea, chronic graft versus host disease, eosinophilic fasciitis), tissue storage diseases (scleredema, scleromyxedema, nephrogenyc systemic fibrosis, systemic amyloidosis), metabolic diseases (porphyrya cutanea tarda, phenylketonuria, hypothyroidism, scleredema diabeticorum), progeroid syndromes. Given the multiple etiologies of sclerodermal lesions, a correct differential diagnosis is necessary to establish the appropriate treatment.

The role of vitamin D in the onset and progression of diabetic retinopathy.

Having a classical role in the regulation of calcium homeostasis in skeletal system, vitamin D has also been recognized as being involved in the activity of the immune system, as well as in the pathology of the visual analyzer. Thus, regarding the function of vitamin D in the eye, this is supported by the identification of vitamin D receptors (VDR) in several structures of the eyeball, such as corneal epithelial and endothelial cells, ciliary body and retinal cells. One of the ophthalmological pathologies in which vitamin D plays an important role is diabetic retinopathy, both through its effects on the immune system (reduction of the pro-inflammatory cytokines - IL-1, IL-6, IL-012, TNF alpha, and stimulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10), as well as by reducing the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thus inhibiting retinal neovascularization. Vitamin D demonstrates a protective role on the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy by reducing blood sugar, hypertension and atherosclerosis, but randomized studies are still needed to establish the direct causal relationship between the development of diabetic retinopathy and vitamin D levels.