The correlation between tenascin-C expression, and formation of intestinal stricture.

Objective: A strong correlation exists between tenascin-C induction, and acute inflammation. Generally increased tenascin-C concentrations are correlated with various inflammatory, and infectious diseases. In patients with diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) presence of tenascin-C in colonic mucosa demonstrates tissue repair, and its mucosal concentrations are correlated with local disease activity Therefore plasma levels of tenascin-C have been demonstrated to be a helpful indicator of the activity of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Bullous pemphigoid and cholestatic hepatitis associated with Castleman's disease.

The case of a 21-yr-old woman admitted with a two-week history of icterus, fever, multiple peripheral lymphadenopathy and pruritic eruption is presented. A full evaluation including computed tomography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, liver, skin and lymph node biopsies and biochemical tests confirmed the diagnosis of multicentric Castleman's disease (angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia). All symptoms improved within four weeks of commencing prednisone therapy.