BackgroundAlthough many factors are involved in the etiology of xanthelasma palpebrum, lipid disorder is strongly associated with its induction. Xanthelasma palpebrum, the most common type of xanthoma, usually presents in middle-aged females and results in aesthetic problems.ObjectiveTo evaluate thelipid profile and important clinical aspects of xanthelasma palpebrum patients.MethodsIn this descriptive study, we enrolled 42xanthelasma palpebrumpatients, and 42 cases of non-inflammatory skin disorders as thecontrol group, matched for age and gender.The clinical characteristics of the patients and fasting serum lipid profile were recorded for both groups. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS-16.ResultsXanthelasma palpebrum was found more commonly in middle-aged females with disease onset of less than 1 year, and without significant familial history of xanthoma. Furthermore,xanthelasma lesionswere most often seen in the upper lid with mild extension and was rarely associated with systemic disease. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups regarding hypertriglyceridemia (p= 0.231) and hypercholesterolemia (p= 0.302). The mean serum levels of cholesterol (221.51±60.4 mg/dl), triglyceride (185.98±71.1 mg/dl) and VLDL (37.7±17.6 mg/dl) were significantly higher and themedian HDL (36.2 (31, 41) mg/dl) level was lower in thepatient group.ConclusionIn our study, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia did not reveal a significant difference between thepatient and control groups; however, mean serum values for cholesterol, triglyceride, VLDL and HDL showed a significant difference between the two groups. Therefore, in addition to lipid abnormality, other factors could be involved in the pathogenesis of xanthelasma palpebrum.

Aim of the studyThis meta-analysis evaluated serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients compared with healthy controls and hepatitis and cirrhotic patients.Material and methodsThe three databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for assessment of IL-6 levels in HCC patients (without cirrhosis and hepatitis) compared with healthy controls (without HCC, cirrhosis and hepatitis) and the studies were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. A random-effect meta-analysis was performed with RevMan 5.3 software, using mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsOut of 503 studies searched in databases, 18 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled analysis with continuous data demonstrated that the IL-6 level in HCC patients was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (MD = 12.44; 95% CI: 9.02-15.85; p < 0.00001). Also, the pooled analysis demonstrated that the IL-6 levels in cirrhotic patients (MD = –6.98; 95% CI: –12.91-1.05; p < 0.02) and patients with hepatitis (MD = –8.43; 95% CI: –11.91-4.95; p < 0.00001) were significantly lower than the level in HCC patients, and the subgroup analyses had high heterogeneity.ConclusionsThe elevated IL-6 levels in HCC patients compared with hepatitis and cirrhosis patients and healthy controls may show a significant association of this cytokine with increased risk of HCC and its potential as a diagnostic marker for HCC in future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

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Background: Basal and squamous cell carcinoma (BCC and SCC) are the most common skin cancers worldwide and distinction between the two may sometimes be very difficult in routine histopathology. The present study was aimed to evaluate a reliable diagnostic method for these cancers based on immunohistochemistry (IHC). Materials and Methods: IHC was used with antibodies to Bcl-2, CD10, CEA, and EMA biomarkers, which despite non-specificity are easily available for detection of various types of tumors in pathology sections and can be used as a panel for differentiation. In this descriptive and analytic study, paraffin-embedded blocks of 29 SCC patients and 29 BCC patients were collected and sectioned for IHC staining. The results were analyzed by the STATA (version 8) statistical package using the Chi-square test. Results: BCC patients were 100%, 75.8%, 0% and 0% positive for Bcl-2, CD10, CEA and EMA markers, respectively, and for SCC patients were 3.5%, 0%, 34.5% and 82.7% positive, respectively. Using simultaneously Bcl-2 and CD10 as positive markers, detection of BCC with 88% accuracy and 100% specificity was possible, while application of CEA and EMA positivity could detect SCC with 67% accuracy and 100% specificity. Conclusions: SCC and BCC have different immunostaining profiles; therefore, Bcl-2, CD10, CEA and EMA markers can be helpful to distinguish between them.

Aim of the studyHerein, this meta-analysis study evaluated the efficacy of palifermin after HSCT on the incidence and severity of OM or aGVHD in hematologic malignancy patients in randomized clinical trials (RCTs).Materials and methodsTo compare the efficacy of palifermin on adverse events, OM and aGVHD compared with placebo, we searched databases of PubMed/Medline, Web of Science and Cochrane Library for RCTs based on a number of criteria.ResultsThere was no difference observed in the incidence of OM and aGVHD between two groups. The subgroup analysis didn’t show significant differences in two groups for aGVHD grade 2–4 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.70–3.39, p = 0.28), aGVHD grade 3–4 (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.48–1.94, p = 0.92), OM grade 2–4 (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.42–1.38, p = 0.37) and OM grade 3–4 (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.25–1.15, p = 0.11], but erythema as an adverse effect in palifermin group was higher than placebo group (OR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.10–3.15, p = 0.02].ConclusionsThis meta-analysis of six clinical trials found no statistically significant difference in OM and aGVHD grades in patients receiving 60 μg/kg/day dose of palifermin compared with those receiving a placebo. However, oral mucosal erythema was more prevalent among patients receiving palifermin than patients receiving a placebo.

Nickel and chromium ions released from fixed orthodontic appliances may act as allergens. This study aimed to systematically review the effect of fixed orthodontic treatment on salivary levels of these ions by doing a meta-analysis on cross-sectional and cohort studies. The Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and PubMed databases were searched for articles on salivary profile of nickel or chromium in patients under fixed orthodontic treatment published from January 1983 to October 2017. A random-effect meta-analysis was done using Review Manager 5.3 to calculate mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI), and the quality of questionnaire was evaluated by the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Fourteen studies were included and analyzed in this meta-analysis. Salivary nickel level was higher in periods of 10 min or less (MD = −11.5 µg/L, 95% CI = −16.92 to −6.07; P < 0.0001) and one day (MD = −1.38 µg/L, 95% CI = −1.97 to −0.80; P < 0.00001) after initiation of treatment compared to baseline (before the insertion of appliance). Salivary chromium level was higher in periods of one day (MD = −6.25 µg/L, 95% CI = −12.00 to −0.49; P = 0.03) and one week (MD = −2.07 µg/L, 95% CI = −3.88 to −0.26; P = 0.03) after the initiation of treatment compared to baseline. Corrosion of fixed orthodontic appliances leads to elevated salivary nickel and chromium concentrations early after initiation of orthodontic treatment. Randomized clinical trials controlling for factors affecting the saliva composition are recommended on a higher number of patients and among different ethnicities.

Aim of the studyThis meta-analysis aimed to evaluate serum IL-10 levels in HCC patients.Material and methodsThe three databases PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were checked on July 2017 for assessment of IL-10 levels in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients compared with healthy controls in publications with an English abstract. A random-effect meta-analysis was performed using mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Also, publication bias was evaluated through funnel plot analysis with the Begg’s and Egger’s tests.ResultsOut of 171 studies searched in the databases, nine studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled analysis with continuous data concluded that IL-10 level in the patients was significantly higher than the controls (MD = 6.96; 95% CI = 4.91-9.01; p < 0.00001), in the HCC patients was significantly higher than the cirrhotic patients (MD = 2.92; 95% CI = 0.72-5.12; p = 0.009), and was similar in the HCC patients compared with the patients with hepatitis (MD = 3.91; 95% CI = –4.25-12.07; p = 0.35).ConclusionThe increased IL-10 levels in the HCC patients compared with the cirrhotic patients and the healthy controls may show a significant role of this cytokine in the elevated risk of HCC, but the lack of significant difference in the levels between HCC and hepatitis makes it an unreliable tumor marker in the latter.