Evaluation of monocyte to HDL cholesterol ratio and other inflammatory markers in patients with psoriasis

Abstract Background Psoriasis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease frequently associated with serious comorbidities. Objectives To investigate the systemic inflammatory burden in psoriasis and to assess the correlation between traditional and novel inflammatory markers and the severity of the disease. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 50 healthy volunteers. Data including demographics, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index scores, and laboratory results were analyzed and compared. Results Compared with the control group, the psoriatic patients had significantly higher high sensitive C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, leukocyte, neutrophil, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte to high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio, and aspartate aminotransferase levels, and significantly lower HDL cholesterol levels (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in procalcitonin, lymphocyte, monocyte, hemoglobin, red blood cell distribution width, platelet, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide, glucose, alanine aminotransaminase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol levels between the two groups (p > 0.05). The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score was positively correlated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, and monocyte to HDL cholesterol ratio, and negatively correlated with lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (p < 0.05). Study limitations This was a single-center study with relatively limited numbers of patients and controls. Conclusions The data show that high sensitivity C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte to HDL cholesterol ratio can be used as markers of systemic inflammation in patients with psoriasis. Moreover, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, monocyte to HDL cholesterol ratio and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio are closely related to the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score, and they may be regarded as objective indicators in determining the disease severity.

Atherosclerosis in geriatric patients known to be healthy

Background: The aim of the present study is to determine the presence of atherosclerosis in geriatric patients who are known to be healthy and examine sociodemographic and laboratory parameters affecting the presence of atherosclerosis.Method: 90 healthy volunteers including 66(73.3%) non-geriatric ones and 24(26.7%) geriatric ones were included in the study. It was analyzed whether there was a correlation between the two groups in terms of the parameters of gender, age average, alcohol consumption, smoking, carotid intima-media thickness (CA-IMT), and pulse wave velocity (PWV). Sociodemographic and laboratory parameters of the volunteers with and without atherosclerosis in the geriatric group were examined. Results: Among geriatric volunteers (Group 1), 13(54.2%) were male; whereas, among non-geriatric volunteers (Group 2), 41(62.1%) were male. CA-IMT was determined to be higher in Group 1 (averagely 0.80±0.12 mm) than Group 2 (averagely 0.62±0.14 mm) (p:<0.001). PWV was significantly higher in Group 1 (averagely 10.32±1.44 m/s) than Group 2 (6.26±1.09 m/s) (p:<0.001). After PWV or CA-IMT examination, atherosclerosis findings were determined in 12 healthy geriatric volunteers (50%) in Group 1.Conclusion: It should be remembered that even though atherosclerosis can be frequently observed in geriatric individuals who are known to be healthy, it may also go unnoticed. Determination of atherosclerosis with noninvasive methods will be helpful in preventing complications that might be caused by atherosclerosis.

Combined mitral valve replacement and ravitch procedures in a patient with previous pneumonectomy: case report and review of the literature

Abstract Introduction: Significant anatomical and functional changes occur following pneumonectomy. Mediastinal structures displace toward the side of the resected lung, pulmonary reserve is reduced. Owing to these changes, surgical access to heart and great vessels becomes challenging, and there is increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Methods: We performed a mitral valve replacement combined with a Ravitch procedure in a young female with previous left pneumonectomy and pectus excavatum. Results: She was discharged on postoperative day 9 and remains symptom-free 3 months after surgery. Conclusion: Thorough preoperative evaluation and intensive respiratory physiotherapy are essential before performing cardiac operations on patients with previous pneumonectomy.

Can fruit seeds and undigested plant residuals cause acute appendicitis

Objective:To investigate the relation between fruit seeds, plants residuals and appendicitis. Methods: Among cases that underwent appendectomy, the appendicitis cases having fruit seeds and undigested plant residuals in their etiology were examined retrospectively. Also, histopathological features, age, sex, and parameters of morbidity and mortality were used. Results: Fruit seed was found in one case(0.05%) with presence of pus in appendix lumen, undigested plant residuals in 7 cases(0.35%). It was determined that there were appendix inflammation in 2 of the plant residuals cases, while there were obstruction and lymphoid hyperplasia in the appendix lumen of5 cases. No mortality was observed.Conclusions: The ratio of acute appendicitis caused by plants is minimal among all appendectomised patients, but avoidence of eating undigested fruit seeds and chewing plants well may help to prevent appendicitis.

Allergic contact dermatitis prevalence in patients with eczematous external otitis.

Eczematous external otitis, because of its basic allergic nature, tends to be chronic or recurrent. The purpose of our study was to investigate the association between allergic contact dermatitis and chronic eczematous external otitis. Sixty-six patients with eczematous external otitis and 48 healthy volunteers were included in this study. All the patients were tested with an epicutaneous patch test. In the study group, the average recurrent attack rate was 6.1+/-1.5 (between 4-9 times during the last year) in the patch test positive eczematous external otitis patients, and 4.9+/-1.3 (between 4-8 times during the last year) in the patch test negative patients (p = 0.002). The epicutaneous patch test was positive in 19 (28.8%) out of 66 cases with chronic eczematous external otitis, and in 3 (6.3%) out of 48 cases in the control group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p = 0.003). The most common reactions were due to neomycin sulfate and potassium dichromate in this study. These results suggest that, in some cases eczematous external otitis may be considered as a form of delayed type hypersensitivity to allergen stimuli. Patients suffering from eczematous external otitis symptoms should be investigated for allergens.