Features of the local cytokine profile in patients with secondary corneal dystrophy of various etiologies

Goal. To study the features of the local cytokine profile of patients with secondary corneal dystrophy of various etiologies. Material and methods. The study was conducted among 4 patients: 1 – with bullous kerathopathy, 1 – with secondary postherpetic corneal dystrophy, 1 – with secondary keratectasia and 1 – with secondary corneal dystrophy of neurogenic origin. The quantitative content of cytokines in the lacrimal fluid was studied: interleukin (IL) 1β, 6, 4, 10, transforming growth factor β2 (TGF-β2). Results. All patients had in 3.0-4.3-fold increase in IL-1β and a 2.0-4.1-fold increase in IL-6. In bullous kerathopathy and secondary corneal dystrophy of neurogenic origin, there was in 1.1-and 1.2-fold increase in IL-4 in both cases, and a slight increase in IL-10 and TGF-β2. At the same time, in secondary keratectasia and secondary postherpetic corneal dystrophy, there was a decrease in the level of these cytokines: IL-4 by 1.7 and 1.3 times, respectively, IL-10 by 1.2 times in both cases, and TGF-β2 by 1.5 and 1.3 times, respectively. Conclusion. The study of the local cytokine profile in patients with secondary corneal dystrophy of different etiologies indicates the presence of similar aspects of pathogenesis, which is of some interest and deserves further study. The obtained results open up prospects for the development of personalized cytokine therapy for secondary corneal dystrophy of various etiologies. Key words: secondary corneal dystrophy, immunology, cytokines.

A Case of Schwannoma of the Lateral Aspect of the Superficial Peroneal Nerve

A schwannoma is a benign tumor with a neurogenic origin that affects peripheral nerves. It arises from the neural sheath of the peripheral nerves. We present a case of a 54-year-old woman who presented to our clinic with a painful schwannoma of her superficial peroneal nerve at the level of the ankle. The patient was treated with surgical excision, and diagnosis was confirmed with pathologic analysis.

Leczenie miodem owrzodzeń cukrzycowych stóp

Diabetic foot ulcers are of neurogenic or angiogenic origin. In both cases they pose a serious health threat because their treatment is difficult and in many cases is ineffective. A serious complications in the treatment of this disease are caused by microorganism infections that are resistant to antibiotics. Hence the search for other effective healings of diabetic foot ulcers. One solution is to use bee honey for this purpose. The clinical studies presented in the work prove that the use of honey dressings in diabetic foot ulcers provide very beneficial effects, better and faster achievable than in the case of preparations generally used in clinical practice. For this reason, bee honey can be successfully applied in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, both of angiogenic and neurogenic origin, at different stages of development, including gangrenous processes.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Extra-axial Tumor

The first step in making decision of intra-cranial tumors is the location of tumor, whether intra- or extra-axial. After localized the lesion we make differential diagnosis that relevant to the location. Once we made the decision, we make the characterization of the tumors. With MRI it is easier to make this decision compared to CT.Meningiomas constitute the most common extra-axial tumors of the brain. Contrast-enhanced MRI can easily detect the location of the tumor, the full extension of the tumor, sinus invasion and/or thrombosis, vascularity, intra-cranial edema, and intra-osseous extension. WHO grades meningiomas in 3 types which are typical, atypical, and malignant meningioma. With structural MRI, MR Spectroscopy, MR perfusion and some methods we can grade this type.Tumors of neurogenic origin such as schwannomas, neurofibromas, neuromas may be similar in appearance. MRI can help distinguishing these tumors with meningiomas. Another extra-axial lesion located in bone or arachnoid is metastases. Contrast-enhanced T2-FLAIR can easily detect these lesions, but inflammatory lesions may also simulate dural metastase. Other extra-axial tumors are choroid plexus masses, non-neoplastic masses (epidermoids, dermoids, teratomas, lipomas). The location as well as specific appearances on imaging will guide us to a specific diagnosis.