ABSTRACT
Herpes zoster (HZ) infection occurs in approximately 10% to 30% of individuals. Visceral neuropathies secondary to HZ can cause cystitis and urinary retention. But colonic pseudo-obstruction can also occur. Peripheral neuropathy may reveal segmental motor paresis of either upper or lower limbs, the abdominal muscles or the diaphragm. We report the case of a 62-year-old male patient who presented with abdominal distention and cutaneous vesicular eruption on the left side of the abdominal wall. Plain X-rays and computed tomography scan showed distended small bowel. A diagnosis of intestinal pseudo-obstruction was made secondary to segmental paresis of the small intestine and visceral neuropathy. Conservative management was successful and the patient was discharged uneventfully. Intestinal pseudo-obstruction ought to be considered when dealing with non-obstructive (adynamic) conditions of the digestive tract associated with HZ infection; since early recognition may help to avoid unnecessary surgery.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: It has been shown that the TREM-1 glycoprotein belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily that induces secretion of various proinflammatory cytokines. The aim of this study was to measure the expression of TREM-1 in patients with cervical cancer. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study we included four groups of patients: GI: women with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (IL) (n = 15 p / g); GII: patients with high-grade squamous IL (n = 9 w / g); GIII: patients with invasive cervical cancer (n = 9 p / g) and GIV: healthy patients (n = 15 p / g). In all patients the expression of TREM-1 and the Average Fluorescence Index (AFI) in neutrophils and monocytes were measured, as well as levels of leukocytes, neutrophils and monocytes. We used Student's t test for independent samples. For these variables, we applied Mann-Whitney rank-sum, ANOVA, and Tukey tests. Chi square test was used for qualitative variables. RESULTS: The percentages of TREM-1 expression in neutrophils and monocytes, plus the AFI in neutrophils in the 4 groups was not significantly different. The AFI of TREM-1 in monocytes was significantly different when comparing group II and group III versus group IV (p < 0.02). There was also no significant difference when comparing the mean values of leukocytes, neutrophils and monocytes in the different groups. CONCLUSION: This study shows increased expression of TREM-1 in monocytes from patients with advanced cancer.
Introducción: se ha demostrado que la glicoproteína TREM-1 pertenece a la superfamilia de las inmunoglobulinas que induce la secreción de varias citocinas proinflamatorias. El objetivo de este trabajo fue medir la expresión de TREM-1 en pacientes con cáncer cervical. Métodos: en este estudio transversal analítico incluimos 4 grupos de pacientes: GI: mujeres con lesión intraepitelial (LI) escamosa de bajo grado (n = 15 p/g); GII: pacientes con LI escamosa de alto grado (n = 9 p/g); GIII: pacientes con cáncer cervical invasor (n = 9 p/g), y GIV: pacientes sanas (n = 15 p/g). En todas las pacientes se midió la expresión de TREM-1 y el Índice Medio de Fluorescencia (IMF) en neutrófilos y monocitos, así como los niveles de leucocitos, neutrófilos y monocitos. Usamos t de Student para muestras independientes. Para estas mismas variables, aplicamos prueba de suma de rangos de Mann-Whitney, ANOVA y Turkey. Para las variables cualitativas se utilizó la prueba de Chi cuadrada. Resultados: los porcentaje de expresión de TREM-1 en neutrófilos y monocitos, además del IMF en neutrófilos en los 4 grupos, no fue significativamente diferente. El IMF de TREM-1 en monocitos fue significativamente diferente al comparar el grupo II y grupo III frente al grupo IV (p < 0.02). Tampoco hubo diferencia significativa al comparar los valores promedio de leucocitos, neutrófilos y monocitos en los diferentes grupos. Conclusión: este estudio documenta una mayor expresión de TREM-1 en monocitos de pacientes con cáncer avanzado.
