Proliferative diabetic retinopathy transcriptomes reveal angiogenesis, anti-angiogenic therapy escape mechanisms, fibrosis and lymphatic involvement

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is a sight-threatening diabetic complication in urgent need of new therapies. In this study we identify potential molecular mechanisms and target candidates in the pathogenesis of PDR fibrovascular tissue formation. We performed mRNA sequencing of RNA isolated from eleven excised fibrovascular membranes of type 1 diabetic PDR patients and two non-diabetic patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy. We determined differentially expressed genes between these groups and performed pathway and gene ontology term enrichment analyses to identify potential underlying mechanisms, pathways, and regulators. Multiple pro-angiogenic processes, including VEGFA-dependent and -independent pathways, as well as processes related to lymphatic development, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), wound healing, inflammation, fibrosis, and extracellular matrix (ECM) composition, were overrepresented in PDR. Overrepresentation of different angiogenic processes may help to explain the transient nature of the benefits that many patients receive from current intravitreal anti-angiogenic therapies, highlighting the importance of combinatorial treatments. Enrichment of genes and pathways related to lymphatic development indicates that targeting lymphatic involvement in PDR progression could have therapeutic relevance. Together with overrepresentation of EMT and fibrosis as well as differential ECM composition, these findings demonstrate the complexity of PDR fibrovascular tissue formation and provide avenues for the development of novel treatments.

Facial Erysipelas: A Case Report

Erysipelas is a superficial cutaneous process that is usually restricted to the dermis, but with prominent lymphatic involvement commonly caused by streptococci. We present a patient who was admitted for swelling and erythema of his left cheek. We diagnosed facial erysipelas, the curative treatment was based on the prescription of effective antibiotic therapy against streptococci and bacteria producing β-lactamase (staphylococci). Removal of the remaining teeth was scheduled during medical treatment. At a 4-month follow-up after dental removal, there has been no recurrence of erysipelas.Through a clinical case of facial erysipelas, this work allows illustrating the specificities of this pathology.

Lymphatic Permeation Predicts Systemic Recurrence in Combination with Vascular Involvement in Laparoscopically Resected N0 Colon Cancer

High-risk patient selection is required in N0 colon cancer. Although a number of studies have suggested high-risk clinicopathological predictors, most of these are based on analyses in heterogeous patients in terms of surgical procedures. Laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer is becoming a standard procedure worldwide because of its less invasiveness. Accordingly, we aimed to identify bona fide high-risk factors of recurrence in homogeneous N0 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery. Two hundred and twenty-five patients who underwent laparoscopic curative resection for N0 colon cancer were analyzed. Clinicopathological parameters were tested for their relation to survival. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rate (RFS) was 96.1 per cent. Lymphatic involvement (P < 0.001), vascular involvement (P = 0.007), and size of tumor (P = 0.023) were significantly associated with worse prognosis in the univariate analyses. Lymphatic involvement was the independent prognostic factor associated with RFS in the multivariate analysis (P = 0.013). Importantly, lymphatic involvement predicts detrimental prognosis only when vascular involvement is present. The RFS of the patients with both lymphatic and vascular involvement was 88.9 per cent, whereas it was 100 per cent in the counterpart. Differentiation, vascular involvement preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen, and CA 19-9 levels were significantly associated with lymphatic involvement in a multivariate logistic regression analyses. The present study concludes that lymphatic involvement in the presence of vascular involvement may be a high risk for systemic recurrence in the laparoscopically resected N0 colon cancer.

Skin and soft tissue infections

This chapter covers impetigo (with lesions commonly affecting children in tropical and subtropical regions), folliculitis affecting hair follicles, cutaneous abscesses involving collections of pus within the dermis and deeper skin structures, furuncles (boils which are deep inflammatory nodules), carbuncles (which are deeper lesions), ecthyma (punched-out ulcers caused by Staphylococcus aureus or group A streptococci), erysipelas with lymphatic involvement, and cellulitis which extends into the subcutaneous tissue.