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Background Hip fracture surgeries are associated with considerable blood loss, while the perioperative coagulopathy is associated with the bleeding risk of these patients. We aimed to evaluate the ability of rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) to detect patients at high risk for excessive bleeding and increased transfusion requirements. Methods We conducted a prospective observational study of 221 patients who underwent hip fracture surgeries. ROTEM analysis was performed preoperatively and immediately postoperatively. Blood loss parameters including blood loss volume, number of transfused red blood cell (RBC) units, and drop in hemoglobin levels were recorded. ROTEM parameters were compared between patients with and without excessive bleeding, and between patients with and without increased transfusion requirements (i.e., ≥2 RBC units). Results The postoperative FIBTEM MCF value ≤15 mm had 66.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 59.7–74.1%) sensitivity and 92.0% (95% CI: 80.7–97.7%) specificity to prognose excessive bleeding, and preoperative FIBTEM MCF value ≤15 mm had 80.4% (95% CI: 73.5–86.2%) sensitivity and 91.2% (95% CI: 80.7–97.0%) specificity to prognose increased transfusion requirements. Preoperative FIBTEM MCF ≤11 mm and postoperative FIBTEM MCF ≤15 mm were associated with considerably increased risks of excessive bleeding (odds ratio [OR]: 44.8, 95% CI: 16.5–121.3, p Conclusion ROTEM parameters demonstrated high prognostic accuracy for excessive bleeding and increased transfusion requirements. This can enable implementation of blood sparing strategies in high-risk patients, while blood banks could be better prepared to ensure adequate blood supply.

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory, potentially scarring disease of the hair follicle, affecting the apocrine gland-bearing skin areas. The major comorbid disorders associated with the occurrence or the aggravation of the disease are obesity and smoking. Numerous efforts to dissociate these factors led to controversial results. Objectives: To assess the importance of metabolic disorders/obesity, smoking/environmental toxins, and inflammation in HS by utilizing the differential expression of major relevant protein markers in lesional skin of obese/smoking versus non-obese/non-smoking HS patients. Methods: Lesional skin specimens deriving from two groups of HS patients (BMI >30 and smokers, n = 12 vs. BMI n = 10) were stained with antibodies raised against irisin, PPARγ, and IGF-1R, which correlate with metabolic disorders/obesity, EGFR and AhR, associated with smoking, and IL-17, IL-17R, and S100A8, as markers of inflammation. Results: Metabolic disorders/obesity-related markers exhibited marked differential expression between the two groups, while smoking-associated markers a limited one. IL-17R expression was stronger in obese/smokers, and S100A8 staining exhibited intense strong immunoreactivity in both groups without significant difference. Conclusions: The notion that obesity plays a role in HS development appears to be supported by the prominent regulation of the associated lesional biomarkers. Tobacco smoking might contribute less to HS than previously suspected.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) ist eine chronische, rezidivierende Erkrankung des Haarfollikels, die sich mit druckdolenten Knoten, Abszessen und Fisteln manifestiert. Die Pathophysiologie der Erkrankung umfasst neben zahlreichen Faktoren auch dermatoendokrinologische Aspekte: Die Korrelation mit dem metabolischen Syndrom, mit Geschlechtshormonen, das Ansprechen auf Antiandrogene sind einige von den Punkten, die in diesem Review zusammengefasst und prasentiert werden. Die hormonelle Behandlung kann eine effektive und gunstige Alternative oder Zusatztherapie zu den klassischen Therapieoptionen sein, insbesondere bei Fallen, in denen Antibiotika und/oder Biologika unwirksam oder kontraindiziert sind.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with hip fractures is associated with increased incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hemostatic alterations of COVID-19 that are associated with a higher thrombotic risk using rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed including 20 COVID-19 patients with hip fractures. To compare the coagulopathy of patients with mild COVID-19 and hip fractures with the coagulopathy associated with each of these two conditions separately, we used two previously recruited groups of patients, 198 hip fracture patients without COVID-19 and 21 COVID-19 patients without hip fractures. The demographics, clinical parameters, conventional coagulation parameters and ROTEM findings of the three groups were analyzed and compared. Results: COVID-19 hip fracture patients had higher amplitude of clot firmness at 10 min (p &lt, 0.001), higher alpha angle (p &lt, 0.001), higher lysis index at 60 min (p &lt, 0.001), and shorter clot formation time (p &lt, 0.001) than non-COVID-19 hip fracture patients, indicating increased clot strength and impaired fibrinolysis due to COVID-19. The value of lysis index at 60 min (99%) in COVID-19 patients with hip fractures was consistent with fibrinolysis shut down. Multivariable linear regression analysis further confirmed that COVID-19 resulted in increased amplitude of clot firmness at 10 min (p &lt, 0.001), increased maximum clot firmness (p &lt, 0.001), increased lysis index at 60 min (p &lt, 0.001) and increased alpha angle (p &lt, 0.001), but significantly shortened clot formation time (p &lt, 0.001). Discussion: The higher thrombotic risk in COVID-19 patients with hip fractures is characterized by increased clot strength and fibrinolysis shutdown, as shown by ROTEM findings. Further prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the need for modification of thromboprophylaxis to balance the hemostatic derangements of COVID-19 patients with hip fractures.

A 69-year-old man presented with a 12-month history of unilateral eczematous changes of the left nipple and areola without any signs of systemic inflammation. His main complaints were mild, intermittent itching, and occasionally local pain or burning. An external initial treatment with topical corticosteroids combined with disinfectants/antibiotics did not lead to an improvement. Triggering factors or any other conditions that could affect the diagnosis could not be detected. Histopathological examination of a biopsy from the left nipple performed at admission confirmed the suspected diagnosis of Paget disease. Radical left breast mastectomy was performed and the patient is under regular follow-up.Ein 69-jähriger Patient stellte sich mit einer 12-monatigen Anamnese von einseitigen ekzematösen Veränderungen der linken Brustwarze und des Warzenhofs ohne systemische Entzündungszeichen vor. Seine Hauptsymptome waren milder, zeitweiliger Juckreiz und gelegentlich lokale Schmerzen oder Brennen. Eine externe Erstbehandlung mit topischen Kortikosteroiden in Kombination mit Desinfektionsmitteln/Antibiotika führte zu keiner Besserung. Auslösende Faktoren oder andere Zustände, die die Diagnose beeinflussen könnten, konnten nicht eruiert werden. Die histologische Untersuchung der bei der Aufnahme durchgeführten Biopsie aus der linken Brustwarze bestätigte die Verdachtsdiagnose eines Morbus Paget. Eine radikale linke Mastektomie wurde durchgeführt, und der Patient befindet sich in regelmäßiger Nachsorge.

Background: There is growing evidence that (certain) hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) comorbidities comprise syndromes including HS as a key cutaneous manifestation. These apparently autoinflammatory syndromes and their diagnostic delay might have detrimental effects on affected patients. Methods: A systematic review was performed on the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL utilizing a standardized extraction form according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results: Sixty-four eligible articles on syndromic HS were retrieved. The identified syndromes included already described ones (pyoderma gangrenosum-acne-suppurative hidradenitis, pyogenic arthritis-pyoderma gangrenosum-acne-suppurative hidradenitis, psoriatic arthritis-pyoderma gangrenosum-acne-suppurative hidradenitis, pyoderma gangrenosum-acne vulgaris-hidradenitis suppurativa-ankylosing spondylitis, synovitis-acne-pustulosis-hyperostosis-osteitis) and further novel symptom constellations. Cutaneous signs, including HS lesions, usually precede signs from other organs. The cutaneous signs of a considerable proportion of patients appear refractory to conventional treatment, and monotherapy with biologics does not suffice to sustain remission. Conclusion: The results are subsequently discussed with focus on the pathophysiology and treatment of the detected syndromes. The dermatologist’s role in the precise diagnosis and early treatment administration of HS is pivotal. The purpose of the treatment should be the effective prevention or delay of the autoinflammatory march and its irreversible consequences.

Background Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory, recurrent, debilitating skin disease of the hair follicle affecting apocrine glands-rich areas of the body. The disease usually occurs after puberty leading to painful nodules, abscesses, tunnels and scarring. Although uncommonly, HS can also occur in children and adolescents. Objective Our objective was to describe the epidemiology, characteristics, predisposing factors and clinical course of HS in paediatric patients. Methods The retrospective cohort study included patients with HS, who have been diagnosed in Dessau Medical Center and reported development of HS during childhood or adolescence, fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for HS and had a follow-up period of at least one year. A systematic review was conducted on MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL on 19 March 2020 using the terms 'hidradenitis' or 'acne inversa' together with the terms 'children', 'paediatric' and 'adolescence'. Results Twenty paediatric patients [1 child (0.22%), 19 adolescents (4.25%)] were detected out of 447 patients evaluated (4.5%) with a male to female ratio of 1.86 : 1. The median age at diagnosis was 17 years [interquartile range (IQR) 16-18] and the median age at onset 15 years (IQR: 14-16.5). The majority of the patients suffered from moderate disease were overweight or obese and non-smokers. The most common comorbid disorder was acne vulgaris. The systematic review revealed reports with data heterogeneity and lack of systematic documentation of specific demographic characteristics. Most paediatric patients were female, obese and non-smokers, with considerable comorbid disorders. Conclusions Hidradenitis suppurativa in Germany may affect children and adolescents exhibiting a particular phenotype of mainly male non-smokers.

Syndromic hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a form of symptom constellations, which differs from the familial and genetic form and comprises predominantly osteoarticular manifestations. Many forms include pyoderma gangrenosum and acne (PASH), pyogenic arthritis (PAPASH), spondyloarthritis (PASS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsAPASH) and are categorized in the autoinflammatory syndromes. Anti-TNF-α and anti-IL-1a blockade are between the therapeutic approaches that improve skin symptoms and prevent permanent osteoarticular damage. This case report refers to the successful treatment of a mixed phenotype of the aforementioned symptoms using the IL-17A inhibitor secukinumab after initial treatment with adalimumab. The therapy improved both cutaneous and reported osteoarticular symptoms. Different approaches for these recalcitrant HS syndromes are essential in order to achieve long-term remission for those patients.

To study the diagnostic and/or prognostic role of preoperative blood tests in colorectal cancer.Preoperative complete blood count tests and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) serum levels of 167 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma were examined for associations with clinicopathological parameters, disease-specific survival (DSS) and relapse-free survival (RFS).The following parameters showed high sensitivity (≥85%) in detecting these features: platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) for T4 tumors, white blood cell count (WBC) and neutrophil count (NC) for distant metastases and lymphocyte count (LC) for high-grade tumors. The following parameters showed high specificity (≥85%) in excluding these features: lymphocyte percentage (LP) for tumors larger than 5 cm, LP, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), neutrophil to monocyte ratio (NMR), lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR) and LDH for T4 tumors, platelet to monocyte ratio (PMR) for T2-T4 tumors, LDH for more than three infiltrated regional lymph nodes and distant metastases, LMR for high-grade tumors and neutrophil percentage (NP) for lymphovascular invasion. WBC and NLR were independent prognostic factors for DSS, whereas WBC, NP, LP and NLR were independent prognostic factors for RFS.Preoperative complete blood count and LDH serum levels can provide valuable information about diagnosis and prognosis in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Musculoskeletal manifestations are frequent in Adamantiades-Behcet's disease (ABD) but only represent non-specific clinical findings. They have not been included in the two commonly used sets of classification criteria. The occurrence of musculoskeletal manifestations at ABD onset may even delay or obscure the diagnosis; therefore, detailed knowledge of the different musculoskeletal manifestations is essential. Our objective was to describe musculoskeletal signs and their clinical course in Greek ABD patients. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study, which included all patients with ABD, who had been examined in our Rheumatology Outpatient Division from 1995 to 2010. The study included 224 ABD patients (140 male, 84 female) that fulfilled the International Criteria for the diagnosis of BD. For statistical analysis, we have used chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS Arthritis as a presenting sign was seen in 10.2% of our patients. During the follow-up period, the frequency of arthritis was 58.4%. Monoarthritis was found in 32.8% and 22.6% of male and female patients, respectively (ns). During the follow-up period, polyarthritis was only occasionally observed in male patients (2.14%). Oligoarthritis was assessed in 20.0% and 41.6% of male and female patients, respectively (P

Kisspeptins, the products of the KISS1 gene have tumor suppressing and antimetastatic properties. We aimed to study KISS1 and KISS1R expression in colorectal cancer. We analyzed KISS1 and KISS1R expression using immunohistochemistry and image analysis in normal and malignant tissue samples from 111 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma. KISS1 expression was much higher in the normal than in the malignant colonic mucosa. Regarding malignant tissues, KISS1 levels were higher in larger tumors, in stage III and IV cancers, in cancers with lymph node metastasis and in tumors located in the distal part of the large intestine. Patients with greater KISS1 levels had worse prognosis. No KISS1R expression was detected in normal or malignant tissues or in liver metastases. KISS1 expression is reduced during the malignant transformation of the colonic mucosa. However, larger and advanced colorectal cancers express more KISS1, without reaching the former normal levels, and increased KISS1 levels are associated with worse prognosis. Finally, neither the normal nor the malignant colonic epithelial cells produce KISS1R.

Kisspeptins, which are derived from the gene KISS1, supress tumor progression. We intended to investigate the production of KISS1 and its receptor (KISSR) in gastric cancer.The expression of KISS1 and KISS1R in both normal and cancer tissue was examined with immunohistochemistry in tissue specimens of 40 cases of gastric adenocarcinoma.KISS1 expression in normal gastric mucosa was much higher than in malignant mucosa. KISS1 expression was higher in early stages (stage I or II) than in advanced stages (stage III or IV), in tumors with intestinal histological type than in those with diffuse histological type, in tumors without lymphovascular invasion than in those with and in cancers of older patients (≥70 years) than in younger patients. No significant differences were found regarding other clinicopathological parameters. There was no KISS1R expression in cancer tissues, while only low levels of KISS1R were detected in normal gastric epithelium.KISS1 expression is decreased during carcinogenesis in gastric mucosa. More advanced tumors and more aggressive histological types produce lower KISS1 levels. In addition, no KISS1R is produced in malignant gastric epithelium, while KISS1R is only weakly expressed in normal gastric epithelium.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial fibroblasts hyperexpress the mesenchymal cadherin-11, which is involved also in tumor invasion/metastasis, whereas anti-cadherin-11 therapeutics prevent and reduce experimental arthritis. To test the hypothesis that cadherin-11 is aberrantly expressed in RA peripheral blood, 100 patients (15 studied serially) and 70 healthy controls were analyzed by real-time reverse transcription-PCR. Cadherin-11 mRNA transcripts were detected in 69.2% of moderately/severely active RA, versus 31.8% of remaining patients (p=0.001), versus 17.1% of controls (p1year) polyarthritis (>4 swollen tender joints), by multivariate logistic regression analysis including various possible clinical/laboratory factors. Rare cells of undefined nature, detected by flow cytometry following CD45(-) enrichment, strongly expressed surface cadherin-11 (estimated 10-50cells/ml of blood) in 5/6 patients with polyarticular established disease versus 1/6 patients with early RA. Studies on the potential pathogenic role of circulating cells expressing cadherin-11 in RA are warranted. This record was migrated from the OpenDepot repository service in June, 2017 before shutting down.

Colorectal cancer, a leading cause of mortality worldwide, is a multistep disorder that results from the alteration of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms under contextual influence. Epigenetic aberrations, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling and non-coding RNAs, affect every aspect of tumor development from initiation to metastasis. Cancer stem cell promotion is also included in the wide spectrum of epigenetic dysregulations. Elucidation of this complex crosstalk network may offer new insights in the molecular interactions involved in the pathogenesis of colorectal carcinogenesis. In the era of translational medicine new horizons are opened for the pursuit of personalized therapeutic approaches and the development of novel and accurate diagnostic, prognostic and therapy-assessment markers. This review discusses the implications of epigenetic mechanisms in tumor biology and their applications “from bench to bedside”.

Survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, has been associated with protection from cell apoptosis and regulation of mitosis. Survivin exhibits low to undetectable expression in most finally differentiated adult tissues but is abundantly over-expressed in almost all cancers. The aberrant high expression of survivin in cancers is associated with advanced disease, increased rate of tumor recurrence, abbreviated overall survival and resistance to chemo- and radio- therapy. Survivin touches nearly every aspect of cancer and is involved in the initiation, maintenance and development of tumor. Therefore, its significance in cancer dictates the pursuit for anti-survivin cancer therapies.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, responsible for more than half a million deaths annually. CRC is a multistep process that entails the accumulation of genetic/epigenetic aberrations, which lead to the simultaneous failure of protective mechanisms and the activation of tumorigenic pathways. In most cases of CRC a deregulation of the Wnt-signaling pathway is required. The transcription factor nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) has been recognized as a key player in the initiation and propagation of CRC. Under physiological conditions, NF-κB orchestrates the inflammatory process and participates in the modulation of various steps of cell cycle and survival. It is normally kept in an inactive state in the cytoplasm by binding to a group of inhibitory proteins. Upon receipt of a signal, its inhibitor is phosphorylated and proteolytically degraded and NF-κB is actively translocated to the nucleus, where it facilitates target-gene transcription. Recent experimental data reveal the important role of NF-κB in tumor cells as well as in the surrounding "cancerous" and reactive microenvironment. Various tumor cell-derived and contextual cues feed constantly this vicious circuitry sustaining inflammation and promoting proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion and eventually metastasis. Therefore NF-κB along with its upstream and downstream network presents a rational target for therapeutic interventions. Numerous small molecules, inhibitory peptides, antisense RNAs, natural compounds, as well as gene therapy strategies interfere with multiple steps of the NF-κΒ signaling cascade. The design of NF-κΒ-targeted treatment may aid the efforts towards the pursuit of more efficient therapeutic measures devoid of severe systemic side-effects.

Adiponectin (ApN) is an adipose tissue-derived hormone which is involved in a wide variety of physiological processes including energy metabolism, inflammation, and vascular physiology via actions on a broad spectrum of target organs including liver, skeletal muscle, and vascular endothelium. Besides possessing insulin sensitizing and anti-inflammatory properties ApN also exerts a pivotal role in vascular protection through activation of multiple intracellular signaling cascades. Enhancement of nitric oxide generation and attenuation of reactive oxygen species production in endothelial cells along with reduced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration constitute some of ApN's vasoprotective actions. Additionally, recent data indicate that ApN has direct myocardio-protective effects. Decreased plasma ApN levels are implicated in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis and may serve as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker as well as a rational pharmaco-therapeutic target to treat these disorders. This review article summarizes recent work on the cardiovascular actions of ApN. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Adamantiades-Behçet disease (ABD) is a chronic, multisystemic, recurrent, inflammatory vascular disorder of unknown etiology. Patients with symptoms initially appearing at the age of 16 or less are considered as cases of juvenile-onset ABD (JABD). JABD is relatively rare compared to ABD of adults, and only case reports and case studies have been published regarding this subtype of the disease. Epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of JABD are discussed in this review.

We report the case of a 53-year-old healthy man, presenting with confusion. The patient had been clinically diagnosed with cat-scratch disease (CSD) and prescribed a 10-day course of doxycycline orally. Approximately a week after he had completed the treatment, he was admitted to our department with confusion. Neurological examination revealed expressive dysphasia with no motor or sensory deficits. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination showed only increased content. Imaging with CT and MRI of the brain did not reveal any abnormalities, and funduscopy was normal. Serology confirmed Bartonella henselae infection. CSD-associated encephalopathy was confirmed based on the clinical manifestations, CSF findings and positive serology. The patient was treated with a combination of doxycycline and rifampin and he rapidly improved with complete neurological recovery within 7 days. Encephalopathy is an unusual manifestation of CSD in adults with excellent prognosis.

The aim of this study was the development of a multiplex-PCR assay for the detection of circulating tumor cells in patients with colorectal and gastric cancer.Peripheral blood samples were collected from 81 patients with colorectal cancer, 16 with gastric cancer and 38 healthy blood donors, as controls. The samples were processed for RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis and were subsequently analyzed for the expression of cytokeratin 19 (CK19), cytokeratin 20(CK20) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with multiplex PCR.Statistical analysis revealed that the combination of CK19 and CK20 could be useful in the exclusion of colorectal cancer, as well as the diagnosis and exclusion of gastric cancer. Furthermore, the expression of EGFR was correlated with the presence of systemic disease in patients with colorectal cancer.Multiplex-PCR-based detection of circulating tumor cells could serve as a useful tool for the diagnosis, and monitoring of patients with colorectal and gastric cancer.

Behçet's disease is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory disorder characterized by orogenital ulcers and skin lesions; serious manifestations also include ocular, large vessel, gastrointestinal and neurological involvement. Genetic and unknown environmental factors customise the wide clinical expression of the disease. Gastrointestinal involvement is not unusual, albeit with a highly variable frequency among different ethnic populations. However, given the fact that gastrointestinal symptoms such as reflux, bleeding, diarrhoea are common in the general population, their clinical significance needs to be carefully interpreted. Apart from mouth the ileocecal area is typically involved, but inflammatory and/or vasculitic lesions may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Complications such as perforation carry high morbidity rates and even mortality. Herein, we review all available information pertinent to gastrointestinal involvement of Behçet's disease and discuss the published advances in evaluation and its empirical management, including anti-TNF biologic therapies.

The invasive procedures amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling are routinely applied in pregnancies at risk for fetal genetic disorders and the results obtained are the gold standard for prenatal diagnosis. These procedures have an approximately 0.5-1% risk for fetal loss and are mainly used in cases at risk for fetal chromosomal abnormalities and single-gene disorders. Identification of cell-free fetal nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) in maternal plasma and the recognition that they represent a useful source of fetal genetic material for prenatal diagnosis has led to intensive efforts to develop non-invasive prenatal testing. This review summarizes recent developments in the field of non-invasive prenatal diagnosis through the use of cell-free fetal nucleic acids in maternal circulation during pregnancy and provides an overview of the possibilities for future clinical applications.

Aim: To reveal correlations between serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and various clinicopathological parameters in colorectal and gastric cancer. Materials & methods: A hospital-based case–control study was conducted by measuring serum LDH levels in 140 patients with colorectal cancer, 40 patients with gastric cancer and 20 hospital controls. Results: LDH levels did not differ between patients with colorectal or gastric cancer and hospital controls. In colorectal cancer, LDH values were significantly higher in T4, N2 and/or M1 cases, with high specificities and negative predictive values, but low sensitivities and positive predictive values. On the other hand, there were no significant associations in gastric cancer. Conclusion: Serum LDH levels are increased in T4, N2 and/or M1 colorectal cancer. Most patients with early-stage cancer have normal LDH values, whereas in advanced stages, some patients have increased LDH values and others have normal values.

Kisspeptins, the products of the KISS1 gene, are involved in cancer invasion, migration, metastasis and angiogenesis, while they induce apoptosis in various cancers. Herein, we studied KISS1 expression in colorectal cancer. We analyzed KISS1 expression using immunohistochemistry and image analysis in normal and malignant tissue samples from 60 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma. The results correlated with various clinicopathological parameters. The expression of KISS1 was much higher in normal than in malignant colonic mucosa. However, among malignant tissues, KISS1 expression was higher in larger tumors (>4 cm) than in smaller ones (≤4 cm) and in stages III and IV than in stages I and II. In addition, it was higher in patients with lymph node metastases. Moreover, KISS1 levels in the normal mucosa and their difference from those in the malignant mucosa were higher in the right part of the large intestine than in the left one. KISS1 expression is reduced during the malignant transformation of the colonic mucosa and there is a difference in the expression pattern between the right and the left part of the large intestine. However, larger and advanced colorectal tumors express higher KISS1 levels than smaller and localized ones.

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the oldest diseases known to affect humans. It is caused by bacteria belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and strains of these bacteria have been found in human bones dated from the Neolithic era. It was known to the ancient Greeks, Indians and the Inca, making it a disease with a global distribution even from ancient times. Latent tuberculosis infection refers to a time period where the host has been exposed and infected by the bacteria yet does not exhibit any signs or symptoms of infection. It is estimated that one third of the world, almost 2 billion people suffer from latent tuberculosis infection.

By being the “integration” center of transcriptional control as they move and target transcription factors, corepressors fine-tune the epigenetic status of the nucleus. Many of them utilize enzymatic activities to modulate chromatin through histone modification or chromatin remodeling. The clinical and etiological relevance of the corepressors to neoplastic growth is increasingly being recognized. Aberrant expression or function (both loss and gain of) of corepressors has been associated with malignancy and contribute to the generation of transcriptional “inflexibility” manifested as distorted signaling along certain axes. Understanding and predicting the consequences of corepressor alterations in tumor cells has diagnostic and prognostic value, and also have the capacity to be targeted through selective epigenetic regimens. Here, we evaluate corepressors with the most promising therapeutic potential based on their physiological roles and involvement in malignant development, and also highlight areas that can be exploited for molecular targeting of a large proportion of clinical cancers and their complications.

Pulmonary aspergilloma is a fungus ball developed in a pre-existing lung cavity, generally in the superior lobes. Its size remains stable in most cases and it is usually asymptomatic. Herein, we present a case of a 64-year-old male with pulmonary aspergilloma, which was developed in an emphysematous cyst of the right inferior lobe, increased in size, and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scan was positive. There are only a few reported cases of pulmonary aspergilloma with a false positive fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scan.

Background The mesencymal cadherin-11 is a cell-cell adhesion molecule also involved in cellular migration and invasion. Experimental studies have implicated a pathogenetic role of this molecule in inflammatory arthritis and in fibrosing conditions. Moreover, in the skin of patients with the prototypic human fibrotic disease, namely systemic sclerosis (SSc), cadherin-11 is hyper-expressed on dermal fibroblasts and resident macrophages, whereas the increased respective mRNA levels correlate with the modified Rodnan skin thickness scores (1). Objectives To examine whether cadherin-11 gene expression can be also identified in cells that circulate in SSc peripheral blood. Methods Cadherin-11 mRNA was quantified by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction as previously described (2), in 3 ml blood samples obtained from 71 SSc patients (aged 53±2 years, 65 women) and 35 control non-SSc patients with Raynaud9s phenomenon, without active synovitis at the time of sampling. Results Cadherin-11 mRNA transcripts were detected in blood samples from 39% of patients with diffuse SSc, versus 16% in those with limited SSc, versus 6% and 16% in patients with idiopathic or associated with other connective tissue diseases Raynaud9s phenomenon, respectively (p=0.049). Cadherin-11 mRNA levels in SSc patients were increased by 3.74-fold comparing to controls (p=0.036). By multivariate logistic regression analysis we found that diffuse skin involvement correlated with cadherin-11 mRNA positivity (p=0.028), independently of age, gender, disease duration, lung involvement, digital ulcers, inflammatory indices or anti-Scl-70 autoantibody presence. A similar independent correlation of diffuse SSc was also observed with increased (considered arbitrarily as ≥3-fold of average non-SSc levels) individual levels of cadherin-11 mRNA (p=0.011). Conclusions Cadherin-11 is hyper-expressed at the mRNA level in the peripheral blood of patients with diffuse SSc, further supporting the notion that cadherin-11 may be a legitimate therapeutic target. Studies on the origin and possible pathogenic function of these circulating cells may shed light into the complex pathogenesis of SSc. References Wu M, et al. Identification of cadherin-11 as a mediator of dermal fibrosis and possible role in systemic sclerosis. Arthritis Rheum 2014;66(4):1010-21. Sfikakis PP, et al. Cadherin-11 mRNA transcripts are frequently found in rheumatoid arthritis peripheral blood and correlate with established polyarthritis. Clin Immunol. 2014;155(1):33-41. Disclosure of Interest None declared

reactive protein levels as biomarkers for predicting the deterioration in glycaemia after a median of 5.4 years. Diabetologia 2011;54:2552–60. [3] Tso AW, Xu A, Chow WS, Lam KS. Adipose tissue and the metabolic syndrome: focusing on adiponectin and several novel adipokines. Biomark Med 2008;2: 239–52. [4] Li FY, Cheng KK, Lam KS, Vanhoutte PM, Xu A. Crosstalk between adipose tissue and vasculature: role of adiponectin. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2011;203: 167–80. [5] Devaraj S, Torok N, Dasu MR, Samols D, Jialal I. Adiponectin decreases C-reactive protein synthesis and secretion from endothelial cells: evidence for an adipose tissue-vascular loop. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2008;28:1368–74. [6] Yuan G, Chen X, Ma Q, et al. C-reactive protein inhibits adiponectin gene expression and secretion in 3 T3-L1 adipocytes. J Endocrinol 2007;194:275–81. [7] Kelley-Hedgepeth A, Lloyd-Jones DM, Colvin A, et al. SWAN Investigators. Ethnic differences in C-reactive protein concentrations. Clin Chem 2008;54: 1027–37. [8] Mente A, Razak F, Blankenberg S, et al. Study of the health assessment and risk evaluation; study of the health assessment and risk evaluation in aboriginal peoples investigators. Ethnic variation in adiponectin and leptin levels and their association with adiposity and insulin resistance. Diabetes Care 2010;33: 1629–34.

Background In immunodeficient mice the subcutaneous implantation of synovial fibroblasts (SFs) derived from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RASFs) revealed an active movement via the vasculature to the naive cartilage that led to damage, thus supporting the idea that RASFs may facilitate and drive the progression from oligo- to polyarticular disease in RA (Nat Med. 2009;15:1414). On the other hand, RASFs hyper-express cadherin-11 and anti-cadherin-11 therapy may have potential as a novel RA therapy. This adhesion molecule, which is required for synovial lining formation, is involved in tumor invasion and metastasis, and signal transduction. Objectives By considering that cadherin-11 can serve as a marker of possibly circulating RASFs and since it is not thought to be expressed in hematopoietic tissues, we tested the hypothesis that cadherin-11 gene is aberrantly expressed in the peripheral blood of RA patients with active inflammation in multiple joints. Methods Total RNA extracted from 3 ml peripheral blood samples from 70 consecutive patients with RA, 56 healthy blood donors and 47 other joint disease-control patients was subjected to quantitative real time RT-PCR for analysis of cadherin-11 gene expression. Flow-cytometry was also performed in selected RA blood samples. Inflammatory synovial fluid samples served as positive controls. Results Cadherin-11 mRNA transcripts were found in all 5 synovial fluid samples examined, as well as in the peripheral blood of 71% of those patients with active, established RA, versus 14% of healthy blood donors (p Conclusions Cadherin-11 mRNA transcripts are frequently found in the peripheral blood of RA patients with active disease and may serve as biomarker of (auto)immune-mediated joint inflammation. These results will have important prognostic and therapeutic implications if arthritis spreading by circulating SFs is proved in additional human studies. Disclosure of Interest None Declared