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Intraoperative anaphylactic reactions may range from mild, erythema-like to anaphylactic shock, with tension crash and bronchospasm. The substances considered to be most responsible for the occurrence of intraoperative allergic reactions are neuromuscular blocking agents, antibiotics and latex. Recent studies have identified a new receptor, Mas-Related G-Protein-coupled Receptor X2 (MRGPRX2), considered as a target for some neuromuscular blockers such as atracurium, rocuronium or fluoroquinolone, resulting in pseudoallergic or anaphylactoid reactions. Induction of anesthesia can use both depolarizing myorelaxants, useful especially in emergency situations, in the patient with gastric plenitude or at high risk of intubation, and non-depolarizing myorelaxants such as atracurium, cisatracurium and rocuronium. Succinylcholine has a short time of action and it is rapidly metabolized. Atracurium, although having a slightly longer time to action, has the benefit of a low risk of increased levels of potassium in blood, which is extremely important in patients with cardiac pathology or associated kidney diseases. The present study compared the side effects of systemic anesthesia with succinylcholine vs. atracurium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic therapy in patients with concurrent psoriasis and chronic hepatitis B is a challenging task for both dermatologists and gastroenterologists since there is a high risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation and hepatic toxicity under biological therapy. The therapeutic management of a patient with psoriasis and infection with the HBV is a challenge as the classical systemic treatment (methotrexate, acitretin, cyclosporine) shows a high risk of immunosuppression and/or hepatic toxicity and the biological therapy is endangered by the possibility of HBV reactivation. We present the case of a patient with moderate-severe psoriasis and chronic hepatitis B for whom we assessed the risk-benefit relation and considered useful to initiate the anti-TNF therapy concomitantly with the antiviral therapy with entecavir. The therapeutic algorithm included initiation of anti-TNF therapy with etanercept 2×50 mg/week combined with entecavir, an antiviral treatment administered continuously since the diagnosis of the HBV hepatitis, with hepatic function and viral load monitoring. After 3 months of therapy with etanercept the patient was given a dose of etanercept of 50 mg/week combined with entecavir 0.5 mg/day which he continued until week 36 when psoriatic lesions had cleared (PASI=0.6; DLQI=0). No adverse effects were registered and there was no evidence of HBV viral replication or changes in viral markers. We wish to emphasize that the use of etanercept in a patient with psoriasis and hepatitis B is a successful therapeutic alternative which may be safely used concomitantly with entecavir, with regular monitoring of viral load and hepatic function tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of melanin synthesis and distribution is called melanogenesis, a process that is based on melanocytes present among the basal cells of the epidermis. Pigments formed in melanocyte melanosomes are then stored in the basal layer of epidermal cells, as well as in dermal macrophages, which become melanophores. From the embryological point of view, melanocytes derive from the melanoblasts of the neural crest, from where they migrate during the first months of life into the skin, eye, cochlea, bone, peripheral nervous system, heart and adipose tissue. The melanic pigments, eumelanin and pheomelanin, are the final product of complex biochemical reactions starting from the amino acid L-tyrosine. Melanin has a major role in skin homeostasis through the photoprotection it offers from the harmful effect of ultraviolet radiation. Melanin absorbs and/or reflects ultraviolet radiation but is also involved in the neutralizing process of free radicals and reactive oxygen species. Pigmentogenesis is a dependent oxygen process and is controlled by intrinsic factors (genetic and hormonal) as well as extrinsic factors (ultraviolet radiation). Melanogenesis is stimulated by stimulant melanocytic hormone, adrenocorticotropin hormone, estrogens and progesterone. The present review aimed to provide a summary of recent data about melanogenesis physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scope of the study was to identify the associated risk factors of lower limb lymphedema development in cervical and endometrial cancer patients. We retrospectively analysed 326 patients: 186 cases (57.06%) with cervical cancer and 140 cases (42.94%) with endometrial cancer were treated in Surgery, Radiotherapy, Oncology and Gynaecology Clinics of 'St. Apostle Andrew' Emergency Clinical Hospital Galati over 9 years. Adjuvant radiotherapy was performed in 83.57% of endometrial cancer cases. Adjuvant chemotherapy was performed in 45.16% of cervical cancer cases. Over 10 lymph nodes were removed in 74.73% of cervical cancer patients. Incidence of lymphedema was 15.05% in cervical cancer patients and 10% in endometrial cancer patients, P=0.06. Analysed risk factors for lower limb lymphedema occurrence were: Age, disease stage, radiotherapy, number of invaded lymph nodes (for cervical cancer patients), number of removed lymph nodes (for cervical cancer patients) and obesity. Multivariate analysis for associated risk factors of lower limb lymphedema development in cervical cancer showed that number of removed lymph nodes, OR=2.109 (0.907-4.903), P<0.0001, number of lymph nodes with metastasis, OR=1.903 (0.253-4.332), P=0.004 and obesity, OR=1.713 (0.226-2.967), P=0.006 were found as statistically significant risk factors for lower limb lymphedema onset. For endometrial cancer patients, obesity, OR=1.518 (0.721-2.75), P=0.0003, was the only associated risk factor with statistical significance for the lower limb lymphedema development. Lower limb lymphedema represents one of the adverse reactions of multimodal treatment in gynaecological cancers which affects patient's quality of life. Lower limb lymphedema occurrence is related with number of risk factors, the most important being removed lymph nodes, obesity and radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]