Castleman's disease (CD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder that has multiple histologic patterns, as well as two distinct clinical forms: unicentric or multicentric. Multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD) may have mild symptoms in some cases, but in others it can progress to severe pancytopenia, life-threatening infection, secondary malignancy, multiorgan failure, or death. Recent research has determined that the etiology of the disease signs and symptoms is related to elevated cytokines, including interleukin 6 (IL-6). Siltuximab is a monoclonal antibody that targets IL-6 and is currently the only US Food and Drug Administration approved therapy for idiopathic MCD. Clinical data have demonstrated significant efficacy and tolerance of siltuximab in patients with idiopathic CD.
Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common hepatic disorder, which poses a significant health burden in the western countries. As the epidemic of obesity slides health downward, the incidence of NAFLD is evidently increasing.Aim: We aimed to ascertain the awareness of NAFLD and its risk factors in the general population, which may be helpful in designing educational tools to promote prevention, early detection, and treatment of this disorder.Methods: A survey of 5000 non-institutionalized residents of Brooklyn, NY, USA was conducted. Sixteen items were included in the survey questionnaire including awareness of fatty liver, predisposing factors of NAFLD, awareness of cirrhosis, and conditions that advance to cirrhosis. The questionnaire also addressed awareness of prevention, diagnostic methods and treatment of NAFLD, and education of physicians to their patients about NAFLD.Results: Overwhelming majority of the subjects was not aware of NAFLD and stated that their physicians did not have a discussion about NAFLD.Conclusion: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a preventable liver disorder with limited treatment options. Thorough counseling by primary care physicians can be of paramount importance in preventive strategy for NAFLD. We should target our teenage population in an era of obesity epidemics of all times.
Tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) is a potentially lethal condition, often requiring a combination of medical and surgical interventions. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided drainage is a known modality for safe and effective management of pelvic fluid collections, but its role for the treatment of TOA is not well documented. We report the first known case of successful treatment of a large TOA with EUS-guided transrectal drainage using a lumen-apposing metal stent.
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