Spontaneous Regression of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma after SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Report of Two Cases.

Spontaneous regression of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) is a rare event, often associated with an activation of innate immunity by various triggers. SARS-CoV-2 infection induces a strong inflammatory response in some patients and a cytokine storm is one of the main causes of severe morbidity and mortality associated with the virus. Here, we describe two cases of patients with histologically and radiologically proven mRCC whose treatment was delayed due to COVID-19 and who experienced spontaneous tumour regression following the infection. Both patients reported here had predominantly pulmonary and mediastinal involvement and underwent nephrectomy. The interval between the diagnosis of COVID-19 and the detection of tumour regression was 3 and 4 months, respectively. Although approved vaccines and other measures are clearly the best way to prevent COVID-19-associated morbidity and mortality in cancer patients, we hypothesize that innate immunity activation by the infection can contribute to tumour regression in special circumstances.

Use of Prostate Specific Antigen Density Combined with Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging Improves Triage for Prostate Biopsy.

BACKGROUND: Multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI)-directed biopsy for prostate cancer (PC) diagnosis improves the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (CSPC) and decreases the rate of over-diagnosis of insignificant disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of mpMRI combined with prostate specific antigen density (PSAD) in the decision making related to the biopsy. METHODS: mpMRI and mpMRI/transrectal ultrasound fusion targeted biopsies with subsequent systematic biopsies were performed in 397 patients (223 biopsy-naïve and 174 with a previous biopsy). Detection rates of (CSPC) and insignificant PC were stratified using the PIRADS score, and the number of avoidable biopsies and missed (CSPC) were plotted against PSAD values of 0.1-0.5 ng/mL2. RESULTS: PIRADS <3 and PSAD <0.2 ng/mL2 were the safest criteria for not performing a biopsy. When applied to the biopsy-naïve group, 21.5% (48/223) of the biopsies could have been avoided and 3.7% (3/82) of CSPC would have been missed. In the repeat biopsy group, 12.6% (22/174) of biopsies could have been avoided and 6.9% (4/58) of (CSPC) would have been missed. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of mpMRI and PSAD might reduce the number of biopsies performed with the cost of missing <4% of CSPC.

Cardiovascular Comorbidities in Patients with Psoriasis: Risk Profile Including Carotide Ultrasonography Assessed in Hospital-based Case Control Study.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease, and its comorbidities have attracted serious interest in recent years. The evidence that psoriasis is associated with systemic inflammation and significantly higher incidence of cardiovascular risk factors has already been described. The results of published studies are highly variable, the conclusions are ambiguous, and further epidemiological studies are needed for validation of published data. Therefore, we initiated a project aimed at identifying the association with cardiovascular risk factors, including early stages of atherosclerosis, that represent important comorbidities in patients with psoriasis. We carried out a hospital-based case-control study on 189 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis enrolled as cases. The control group consisted of 378 patients with other skin diseases complying with the same exclusion criteria who were recruited to the study as the controls. All participants underwent physical examination, blood tests, and measuring of blood pressure and waist circumference. Furthermore, we evaluated carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in a subset of 117 cases and controls (matched 1:2) with no history of cardiovascular disease. The results showed higher prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, waist circumference, weight, body-mass index (BMI), and C-reactive protein (CRP) level in patients with psoriasis than in controls. These parameters have been clearly demonstrated to be risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases. The associations between psoriasis and diastolic blood pressure, BMI value, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were statistically significant in the binary data logistic model as well. CIMT was not significantly higher in patients compared with controls.

Gastrointestinal comorbidities in patients with psoriasis in the Czech Republic: The results of 189 patients with psoriasis and 378 controls.

AIMS: The aim of the study was to investigate gastrointestinal comorbidities, identify risk factors and detect the early stages of autoimmune gastrointestinal diseases, such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and coeliac disease in patients with psoriasis. METHODS: This was a hospital-based case-control study. Patients with chronic plaque psoriasis were included as cases. The control group consisted of patients with other skin diseases and who complied with the same selection criteria as cases. Two controls were selected per one case. We analysed the following antibodies (ASCA, AEP, p-ANCA, AGC, EMA, ARA, tTG, AGA) and non-specific signs of gastrointestinal diseases. RESULTS: There were significant differences between cases and controls in several parameters. Leucocyte count, CRP, total protein, transglutaminase IgA antibodies and p-ANCA were statistically significant between groups (P < 0.05). In the binary logistic model, leucocyte count and p-ANCA (for all parameters included in the logistic model P ≤ 0.001) were associated with psoriasis. CONCLUSION: Patients with psoriasis should be regularly screened for coeliac and inflammatory bowel disease. Early diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases and risk factors may prevent complications and greatly improve the patient's quality of life.

Visceral leishmaniasis with cutaneous symptoms in a patient treated with infliximab followed by fatal consequences.

Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease caused by parasitic flagellates of the genus Leishmania. The authors present a case of 44-year-old man with Crohn's disease treated successfully with infliximab. This case report shows rare visceral leishmaniasis with cutaneous symptoms in an immunocompromised patient. Skin manifestations may occur before or after the visceral infection and they are often diverse.

Risk factors for comorbidities in Czech psoriatic patients: results of a hospital-based case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is now known to be associated with multiple other diseases/comorbidities - including the metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis and gastrointestinal diseases which are all significantly higher in psoriasis patients. Research results however are highly variable and the conclusions are ambiguous. As no similar study has been performed to date in Czech psoriatic patients, this study aimed at identifying risk factors and early stages of selected diseases/comorbidities in the patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study was designed as a hospital-based case-control study. 131 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis formed the cases and 267 patients with other skin disorders formed the controls. A comparison was made of basic demographic and anthropometric indicators, metabolic parameters, the presence of specific antibodies (ASCA, AEP, p-ANCA, AGC, EMA, ARA, t-TG, AGA) and non-specific signs of gastrointestinal diseases. The chi squared, MWU tests and binary logistical model were used to evaluate the data. The results showed significant differences (P<0.05) for the following parameters: blood pressure, waist circumference, weight, BMI values, leucocytes values, HDL cholesterol level, glycemia and gliadine antibody IgA level. All differences were to the detriment of psoriasis patients. In the binary logistical model the following parameters were associated with psoriasis: diastolic blood pressure, leucocyte value and glycemia. For all variables included in the logistical model P≤0.001. CONCLUSIONS: The results were coherent and consistent with existing data. They indicate that psoriasis is interconnected with hypertension, higher BMI and a decreased level of HDL cholesterol. These parameters have been clearly demonstrated as risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Higher levels of gliadine IgA antibodies are one of the diagnostic markers of celiac disease. Higher values of leukocytes may be interpreted as a nonspecific indicator of gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases. The associations between psoriasis and diastolic blood pressure, BMI value and glycemia are statistically significant in the binary logistic regression model. Care for psoriatic patients should focus especially on secondary prevention of predisposing diseases.

The role of FDG-PET/CT in the detection of recurrent colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: The conventional diagnostic techniques used to assess recurrence of colorectal cancer (CRCR) often yield unspecific findings. Integrated FDG-PET/CT seems to offer promise for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions. The aim of this study was to compare the value of FDG-PET and PET/CT in the detection of CRCR subsequent to colonic resection or rectal amputation. METHODS: The population for this retrospective study comprised 84 patients with suspected CRCR. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of PET and PET/CT were calculated for (a) intra-abdominal extrahepatic recurrences, (b) extra-abdominal and/or hepatic recurrences and (c) all recurrences, and tumour marker levels were analysed. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy of PET in detecting intra-abdominal extrahepatic CRCR were 82%, 88% and 86%, respectively, compared with 88%, 94% and 92%, respectively, for PET/CT. The corresponding figures for detection of extra-abdominal and/or hepatic CRCR were 74%, 88% and 85% for PET and 95%, 100% and 99% for PET/CT. Considering the entire population, the sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy of PET were 80%, 69% and 75%, respectively, compared with 89%, 92% and 90%, respectively, for PET/CT. FDG-PET/CT examination correctly detected 40 out of a total of 45 patients with CRCR. Two of five patients with falsely negative FDG-PET/CT findings had local microscopic recurrences and one had miliary liver metastases. Of 39 patients without CRCR, three showed false positive FDG-PET/CT results. Two of these cases were due to increased accumulation in inflammatory foci in the bowel wall, while one was due to haemorrhaging into the adrenal gland. CONCLUSION: FDG-PET/CT appears to be a very promising method for distinguishing a viable tumour from fibrous changes, thereby avoiding unnecessary laparotomy.