Higher Plasma Thrombospondin-1 Levels in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease and Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is associated with atherosclerosis in animals with diabetes mellitus (DM). But, no study has investigated the role of TSP-1 in human atherosclerosis. This study investigated the relationship among plasma TSP-1 concentration, DM, and coronary artery disease (CAD). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study involved 374 consecutive subjects with suspected CAD, who had undergone coronary angiography to evaluate effort angina. Patients were divided into four groups as follows: DM(-) and CAD(-), DM(-) and CAD(+), DM(+) and CAD(-), and DM (+) and CAD(+). RESULTS: We found that plasma TSP-1 levels were higher in patients with DM(+) and CAD(+) (n=103) than those in other patients (n=271) (p<0.01). A multivariate analysis showed that male gender {odds ratio (OR), 2.728; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.035-7.187}, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (OR, 0.925; 95% CI, 0.874-0.980), glycated hemoglobin (OR, 1.373; 95% CI, 1.037-1.817), and plasma TSP-1 (OR, 1.004; 95% CI, 1.000-1.008) levels were independently associated with the presence of CAD in patients with DM. CONCLUSION: Plasma TSP-1 levels were higher in patients with DM(+) and CAD(+) than those in other patients, and plasma TSP-1 levels were independently associated with the presence of CAD in patients with DM. These findings show a possible link between human plasma TSP-1 concentration and CAD in patients with DM.

Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Rectum Manifesting as Multiple Submucosal Lesions / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Basaloid squamous carcinoma is a rare, pooly differentiated variant of squamous cell carcinoma. It occurs in various sites, including the upper digestive tract, the esophagus, lung, anus, cervix and thymus. It has been postulated that basaloid carcinoma may arise from outside of the anal canal, such as at where the cloacogenic embryologic cells rest, the squamous metaplastic epithelium, or the totipotential basal cells. This tumor is a distinct entity that should be carefully distinguished from basal cell carcinomas of the anal canal, which is a condition that has a very good prognosis, and anal or perianal squamous cell carcinomas, which have a different path of spread and they vary considerably in their behavior. We report here on a patient with basaloid squamous carcinoma in the distal rectum that manifested as multiple submucosal lesions, and the patient presented with abdominal pain and blood tinged stool.

A Case of Primary Colonic Lymphoma with Peritoneal Carcinomatosis and Pleural Effusion / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Primary gastrointestinal lymphomas are quite rare with the stomach and small bowel being the most frequent site. Colon involvement is observed in only 10~20% of all gastrointestinal lymphomas. A colonic lymphoma presents with non-specific abdominal pain, weight loss, a change in bowel habits, bleeding, intestinal obstruction, intussusception and a palpable mass. A colonic lymphoma can be indicated using a barium enema, abdominal CT and colonoscopy. The correct diagnosis is obtained by a colonoscopic biopsy. We report a case of primary colonic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with peritoneal carcinomatosis and a right pleural effusion.