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BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an immune mediated systemic inflammatory disease associated with an enhanced cardiovascular risk. The development of atherosclerosis is believed to be partly related to long lasting inflammatory process seen in psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: We assessed serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers: psoriasin (S100A7) and koebnerisin (S100A15) and examined their relationship with carotid intima media thickness (IMT) in psoriatic patients as an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis METHODS: Forty-five patients with plaque type psoriasis and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were included. The clinical severity of psoriasis was estimated using the psoriatic area and severity index (PASI) score. For all participants, the traditional cardiovascular risk factors were assessed. Serum levels of S100A7 and S100A15 were measured with ELISA and intima media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid arteries was measured to detect subclinical atherosclerosis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between patients and controls regarding body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar or triglyceride levels. However, total cholesterol and LDL levels were higher (p 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) and HDL levels (p = 0.02) were lower in patients compared to controls. Patients with psoriasis showed significantly higher levels of S100A7 (26.61 ± 22.45 ng/ml vs. 6.31 ± 1.68ng/ml, p 0.001) and S100A15 (21.2 ± 13.12 ng/ml vs. 12.2 ± 4.67 ng/ml, p = 0.001) as well as increased IMT values (1.07 ± 0.4 mm vs. 0.61 ± 0.1 mm, p 0.001) as compared with controls. A positive correlation was observed between IMT and PASI score (r = 0.782, p 0.001), serum S100A7 (r = 0.475, p = 0.004) and S100A15 levels (r = 0.478, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Elevated S100A7 and S100A15 serum levels are associated with increased carotid intima media thickness and might contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis in psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an immune mediated systemic inflammatory disease associated with an enhanced cardiovascular risk. The development of atherosclerosis is believed to be partly related to long lasting inflammatory process seen in psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: We assessed serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers: psoriasin (S100A7) and koebnerisin (S100A15) and examined their relationship with carotid intima media thickness (IMT) in psoriatic patients as an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis METHODS: Forty-five patients with plaque type psoriasis and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were included. The clinical severity of psoriasis was estimated using the psoriatic area and severity index (PASI) score. For all participants, the traditional cardiovascular risk factors were assessed. Serum levels of S100A7 and S100A15 were measured with ELISA and intima media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid arteries was measured to detect subclinical atherosclerosis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between patients and controls regarding body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar or triglyceride levels. However, total cholesterol and LDL levels were higher (p 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) and HDL levels (p = 0.02) were lower in patients compared to controls. Patients with psoriasis showed significantly higher levels of S100A7 (26.61 ± 22.45 ng/ml vs. 6.31 ± 1.68ng/ml, p 0.001) and S100A15 (21.2 ± 13.12 ng/ml vs. 12.2 ± 4.67 ng/ml, p = 0.001) as well as increased IMT values (1.07 ± 0.4 mm vs. 0.61 ± 0.1 mm, p 0.001) as compared with controls. A positive correlation was observed between IMT and PASI score (r = 0.782, p 0.001), serum S100A7 (r = 0.475, p = 0.004) and S100A15 levels (r = 0.478, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Elevated S100A7 and S100A15 serum levels are associated with increased carotid intima media thickness and might contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis in psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an immune mediated systemic inflammatory disease associated with an enhanced cardiovascular risk. The development of atherosclerosis is believed to be partly related to long lasting inflammatory process seen in psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: We assessed serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers: psoriasin (S100A7) and koebnerisin (S100A15) and examined their relationship with carotid intima media thickness (IMT) in psoriatic patients as an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis METHODS: Forty-five patients with plaque type psoriasis and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were included. The clinical severity of psoriasis was estimated using the psoriatic area and severity index (PASI) score. For all participants, the traditional cardiovascular risk factors were assessed. Serum levels of S100A7 and S100A15 were measured with ELISA and intima media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid arteries was measured to detect subclinical atherosclerosis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between patients and controls regarding body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar or triglyceride levels. However, total cholesterol and LDL levels were higher (p 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) and HDL levels (p = 0.02) were lower in patients compared to controls. Patients with psoriasis showed significantly higher levels of S100A7 (26.61 ± 22.45 ng/ml vs. 6.31 ± 1.68ng/ml, p 0.001) and S100A15 (21.2 ± 13.12 ng/ml vs. 12.2 ± 4.67 ng/ml, p = 0.001) as well as increased IMT values (1.07 ± 0.4 mm vs. 0.61 ± 0.1 mm, p 0.001) as compared with controls. A positive correlation was observed between IMT and PASI score (r = 0.782, p 0.001), serum S100A7 (r = 0.475, p = 0.004) and S100A15 levels (r = 0.478, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Elevated S100A7 and S100A15 serum levels are associated with increased carotid intima media thickness and might contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis in psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an immune mediated systemic inflammatory disease associated with an enhanced cardiovascular risk. The development of atherosclerosis is believed to be partly related to long lasting inflammatory process seen in psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: We assessed serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers: psoriasin (S100A7) and koebnerisin (S100A15) and examined their relationship with carotid intima media thickness (IMT) in psoriatic patients as an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis METHODS: Forty-five patients with plaque type psoriasis and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were included. The clinical severity of psoriasis was estimated using the psoriatic area and severity index (PASI) score. For all participants, the traditional cardiovascular risk factors were assessed. Serum levels of S100A7 and S100A15 were measured with ELISA and intima media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid arteries was measured to detect subclinical atherosclerosis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between patients and controls regarding body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar or triglyceride levels. However, total cholesterol and LDL levels were higher (p 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) and HDL levels (p = 0.02) were lower in patients compared to controls. Patients with psoriasis showed significantly higher levels of S100A7 (26.61 ± 22.45 ng/ml vs. 6.31 ± 1.68ng/ml, p 0.001) and S100A15 (21.2 ± 13.12 ng/ml vs. 12.2 ± 4.67 ng/ml, p = 0.001) as well as increased IMT values (1.07 ± 0.4 mm vs. 0.61 ± 0.1 mm, p 0.001) as compared with controls. A positive correlation was observed between IMT and PASI score (r = 0.782, p 0.001), serum S100A7 (r = 0.475, p = 0.004) and S100A15 levels (r = 0.478, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Elevated S100A7 and S100A15 serum levels are associated with increased carotid intima media thickness and might contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis in psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an immune mediated systemic inflammatory disease associated with an enhanced cardiovascular risk. The development of atherosclerosis is believed to be partly related to long lasting inflammatory process seen in psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: We assessed serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers: psoriasin (S100A7) and koebnerisin (S100A15) and examined their relationship with carotid intima media thickness (IMT) in psoriatic patients as an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis METHODS: Forty-five patients with plaque type psoriasis and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were included. The clinical severity of psoriasis was estimated using the psoriatic area and severity index (PASI) score. For all participants, the traditional cardiovascular risk factors were assessed. Serum levels of S100A7 and S100A15 were measured with ELISA and intima media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid arteries was measured to detect subclinical atherosclerosis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between patients and controls regarding body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar or triglyceride levels. However, total cholesterol and LDL levels were higher (p 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) and HDL levels (p = 0.02) were lower in patients compared to controls. Patients with psoriasis showed significantly higher levels of S100A7 (26.61 ± 22.45 ng/ml vs. 6.31 ± 1.68ng/ml, p 0.001) and S100A15 (21.2 ± 13.12 ng/ml vs. 12.2 ± 4.67 ng/ml, p = 0.001) as well as increased IMT values (1.07 ± 0.4 mm vs. 0.61 ± 0.1 mm, p 0.001) as compared with controls. A positive correlation was observed between IMT and PASI score (r = 0.782, p 0.001), serum S100A7 (r = 0.475, p = 0.004) and S100A15 levels (r = 0.478, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Elevated S100A7 and S100A15 serum levels are associated with increased carotid intima media thickness and might contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis in psoriasis.

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Controlling postoperative pain and vomiting in children remains a great challenge. Objective: Study the efficacy of adding dexamethasone to caudal bupivacaine on postoperative analgesia and vomiting. Study Design: Prospective, randomized double blind controlled clinical trial. Setting: Assiut University Hospital. Patients: Ninety children ASA I-II, undergoing lower orthopedic surgeries. Methods: Patients were randomly allocated into 3 equal groups. All received caudal block after induction of anesthesia with 0.5 mL/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine in addition to 5 mL intravenous (IV) normal saline in the control group, IV 0.5 mg/kg dexamethasone in IV dexamethasone group and lastly 0.1 mg/kg dexamethasone in the caudal dexamethasone group. Postoperative pain scores and rescue analgesic consumption were recorded. Blood glucose, postoperative vomiting, and other side effects were evaluated up to 24 hours after extubation. Results: The time of first analgesia and the number of patients requiring rescue analgesics were significantly decreased with intravenous or caudal dexamethasone. No significant increase in postoperative blood glucose levels were observed. A significant increase in β- Endorphin level at 3 and 24 hours postoperative was found in both dexamethasone groups when compared with the preoperative baseline value. The incidence of postoperative vomiting was significantly decreased in both dexamethasone groups in comparison with the control group. No other side effects were detected. Limitations: Measurement of serum cortisol. Conclusion: Analgesic and antiemetic effects of dexamethasone as an adjunct to caudal block with bupivacaine (0.25%) 0.5 mL/kg is similar whether administered intravenously 0.5 mg/kg or caudally 0.1 mg/kg.