Serum procalcitonin (PCT) is an established diagnostic marker for severe or systemic bacterial infections such as pneumonia, sepsis and septic shock. Data regarding the role of PCT in localized infections without systemic inflammatory response syndrome are scarce. The aim of this review is to assess the value of PCT measurements in localized infections such as skin and skin structure infections, diabetic foot infections, septic arthritis (SA) and osteomyelitis. It appears that serum PCT is unlikely to change the clinical practice in skin and skin structure infection. However, serum PCT could have a role in diagnosis and monitoring of diabetic foot infections in hospitalized settings. There are conflicting reports regarding the ability of serum PCT to distinguish SA from non-SA; synovial PCT may be more appropriate in these settings, including in implant-related infections. Better designed studies are needed to evaluate the usefulness of PCT with or without other biomarkers in localized infections.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1586/14737159.2014.864238 | DOI Listing |
Mini Rev Med Chem
January 2025
Research Institute for Medicines (imed), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
Topical application of ophthalmic drugs remains to be the preferred delivery method. Eye drops lead the pharmaceutical forms due to ease of application. Despite the poor bioavailability of drugs administered topically, especially related to the dilution and excretion by tear fluid, the absence of controlled drug delivery, and the poor compliance within pediatric and senior populations, eye drops and ointments are still the first choices in eye--related disorders management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurol Neurochir Pol
January 2025
Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40. Changes in the immune system also observed in cancer may suggest a higher prevalence of cancer in the MS patient population. In recent years, many highly effective immunosuppressive drugs have been introduced into disease-modifying therapy (DMT) which may be associated with a higher risk of cancer development in patients with MS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAtheroscler Plus
March 2025
Section of Inflammation and Cardiometabolic Diseases, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Background And Aims: Vitamin D binding protein (DBP) serves a dual function as a vitamin D carrier and actin scavenger. Free DBP is present in high concentrations in serum, while a smaller pool is bound to lipoproteins like HDL and VLDL. The role of DBP's interaction with lipoproteins remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Surg Case Rep
January 2025
Department of Medical Affairs, Aroa Biosurgery Limited, 64 Richard Pearse Drive, Auckland 2022, New Zealand.
Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a subtype of pemphigus and life-altering disorder that results in the formation of intraepithelial blisters in mucosa and skin. Though the etiology is not well understood, it is an autoimmune disorder resulting in acantholytic blisters due to auto-antibodies targeting proteins of keratinocyte adhesion. Rapid diagnosis and restoration of the epidermal layer is imperative for patients with PV as widespread epidermal damage can lead to high morbidity and mortality rates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJID Innov
March 2025
Cell Biology & Cutaneous Research, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
Junctional epidermolysis bullosa caused by loss-of-function variants in genes encoding the skin basement membrane proteins laminin 332, type XVII collagen, or integrin α6β4 affects patients from birth with severe blistering, eventually leading to scarring and early lethality. In this study, we have optimized a previously published junctional epidermolysis bullosa-knockout mouse model with weekly tamoxifen intraperitoneal injections, resulting in a more controllable and severe model. Owing to the titratable dosing, this model now recapitulates both early and advanced stages of the human disease, strengthening its use in therapeutic studies.
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