Diabetes mellitus and the risk of cholecystectomy.

Background: Whether diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of cholecystectomy remains controversial.

Aims: To explore the association between diabetes mellitus and the risk of cholecystectomy.

Methods: Population-based case-control analysis using UK-based General Practice Research Database.

Statin use and risk of first-time psoriasis diagnosis.

Background: Statins have been suggested as a potential treatment for psoriasis because of their anti-inflammatory properties. However, evidence on the benefits of statins is scarce.

Objective: We sought to study the association between use of statins or other lipid-lowering agents and the risk of developing psoriasis.

Use of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and fracture risk.

Context: Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), which has a high rate of use among teenagers in Europe and the United States, has been associated with impaired bone mineral acquisition during adolescence and accelerated bone loss in later life. Studies on the association between DMPA use and fracture risk are limited.

Objective: We aimed at evaluating the relationship between use of hormonal contraceptives, specifically DMPA, and fracture risk.

Statin use and risk of gallstone disease followed by cholecystectomy.

Context: Gallstone disease is a leading cause of morbidity in western countries and carries a high economic burden. Statins decrease hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis and may therefore lower the risk of cholesterol gallstones by reducing the cholesterol concentration in the bile. Data on this association in humans are scarce.

Lithium, antipsychotics, and risk of psoriasis.

Background: Observations in controlled trials and case reports have linked lithium exposure to induction or exacerbation of psoriasis. A causal relationship between lithium exposure and incident psoriasis has been questioned, and observational studies are lacking.

Methods: We conducted a case-control analysis using the United Kingdom-based General Practice Research Database to study the association between the use of lithium or antipsychotics and the risk of developing an incident diagnosis of psoriasis.

Psoriasis and risk of incident cancer: an inception cohort study with a nested case-control analysis.

Psoriasis has been associated with lymphohematopoietic and solid cancers; however, reports have been inconsistent. Cancer incidence was compared between psoriasis and psoriasis-free patients, and the roles of psoriasis duration and treatment were explored in this observational study using the UK General Practice Research Database. Among 67,761 patients, 1,703 patients had incident cancer; of whom 54% had a history of psoriasis.

A fatal tick bite occurring during the course of tick-borne encephalitis vaccination.

In Western Europe tick-borne encephalitis virus infections with fatal outcome are rare, especially in children. We report the case of an adolescent who died of meningoencephalitis after a tick bite that occurred between the first 2 tick-borne encephalitis vaccinations. The case demonstrates the difficulty of differentiating possible adverse events associated with the immunization from symptoms of simultaneous infection with tick-borne encephalitis virus.

Association between use of thiazolidinediones or other oral antidiabetics and psoriasis: A population based case-control study.

Background: Small clinical trials suggest that thiazolidinediones may exert a beneficial effect on skin lesions of patients with psoriasis. Little is known about other classes of antidiabetic drugs and the psoriasis risk.

Objective: We sought to study the association between use of thiazolidinediones, sulfonylureas, biguanides, or acarbose and the risk of developing a first-time diagnosis of psoriasis.

Undetectable phenytoin serum levels by an automated particle-enhanced turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay in a patient with monoclonal IgM lambda.

Introduction: Phenytoin is a drug used for the treatment of different types of seizures. Its variable pharmacokinetics, mainly a consequence of variable bioavailability, saturable protein binding and saturable hepatic metabolism, predisposes the drug to therapeutic drug monitoring. Several methods to analyze the drug in serum exist with immunoassays being the method of choice for routine measurements.

Acute liver failure in two patients with regular alcohol consumption ingesting paracetamol at therapeutic dosage.

Background: The possible role of alcohol in the development of hepatotoxicity associated with therapeutic doses of paracetamol (acetaminophen) is currently debated.

Case Report: We describe 2 patients who were regular consumers of alcohol and who developed liver failure within 3-5 days after hospitalization and stopping alcohol consumption while being treated with 4 g paracetamol/day. A paracetamol serum level obtained in one of these patients was not in the toxic range.