A comparative diagnostic yield among cytologic examination, cell block and closed pleural biopsy in exudative pleural effusion.

Background: Cytology, cell block, and closed pleural biopsy are the initial investigations for exudative pleural effusion. However, the study of the diagnostic yield of the combination of methods is limited. The objective is to compare the diagnostic yield of cytology, cell block, and closed pleural biopsy with that of cytology and cell block.

Increased tissue expression of IL-31 in patients with psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, and its pathogenesis remains unclear. Although many studies have demonstrated the role of serum interleukin-31 (IL-31) in psoriasis, only one study has examined histopathological expression in lesional skin. This study aimed to investigate the expression of IL-31 in skin biopsy specimens of psoriasis patients compared to healthy subjects and identify its possible correlation to disease severity and itch intensity.

Increased IL-31 expression in serum and tissue protein in prurigo nodularis.

Background: Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic pruritic skin disease which can greatly impact patients' quality of life. Moreover, the pathogenesis remains unclear, making it a difficult-to-treat condition.

Aims: To investigate the expression of interleukin-31 (IL-31) in serum and skin biopsy specimens of PN patients and healthy subjects and identify its possible correlation to disease severity and itch intensity.

Presentations of chronic cavitary pulmonary histoplasmosis mimic infected cystic bronchiectasis in an immunocompetent host: A case report.

Background: Chronic cavitary pulmonary disease and laryngeal involvement are unusual manifestations of infection, particularly in patients who are not immunocompromised. The presence of fibro-cavitary lesions has been reported as a radiologic presentation of chronic histoplasmosis in patients with pre-existing lung disease. However, there have been few reports of extensive basal predominant cavitary lesions that mimic cystic-bronchiectasis.

Case Report: Sparganosis of the Cauda Equina.

Spinal sparganosis of the cauda equina has been rarely reported. A 54-year-old man presented at the hospital after having experienced lower back pain for 10 months, progressive weakness and numbness of the left leg for 4 months, and urinary incontinence for 3 weeks. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbosacral spine revealed a heterogeneous enhancing mass at the T12-S1 level.

Multiple pulmonary nodules in granulomatous polyangiitis: A case series.

Granulomatous polyangiitis (GPA) is a multiple systemic necrotizing vasculitis. Diagnosis of pulmonary nodules in GPA is still challenging in clinical practice, however, other extrapulmonary manifestations, serology, and histopathology may help the diagnosis of GPA. This case series was of limed GPA with one of the largest pulmonary nodules which had a poor treatment response in contrast with previous literature.

Massive pleural effusion due to IgG-Kappa subtype multiple myeloma: A case report.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy of plasma cell origin. Incidence of pleural effusion in multiple myeloma patients is approximately 6%. Myelomatous pleural effusions (MPE) are rare and occur in less than 1% of all MM cases.

Subcutaneous calcification as a supportive radiologic finding for diagnosis of rhinofacial entomophthoromycosis.

Rhinofacial entomophthoromycosis is an uncommon chronic fungal infection of the head and neck. The diagnosis is usually based on clinical manifestations; however, diagnosis of this infection based on early manifestations is difficult and occasionally rhinofacial entomophthoromycosis is mistaken for other diseases. Therefore, computed tomography is introduced to support the diagnosis.

Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) Expression in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Comparison of Type I and Type II Tumors.

Objective: To examine the expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in type I and type II epithelial ovarian cancers (EOC) and its associations with outcomes. Methods: Records of 132 women with EOC were reviewed. Immunostaining of PD-L1 was performed with formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens.