Cytokine changes in patients with heatstroke during pilgrimage to Makkah

Circulating levels and role of IL-6, IL-1ra, TNFsr-II and CRP in patients with heatstroke is not fully known. This study correlated levels of these mediators with outcome in 26 patients. In survivors (n=20), IL-6 concentration declined on cooling, whereas in non-survivors levels continued to increase at 6 h following admission before declining. Admission TNFsr-II concentrations in survivors were significantly lower than non-survivors and levels continued to rise in both groups. IL-1ra levels were markedly elevated in both groups. Changes in cytokine levels were not influenced by renal function. Elevated C-reactive protein levels were observed for both groups and remained so despite cooling, furthermore, there was no correlation with alanine aminotransferase levels. The study demonstrated the elevation of the above mediators and suggested a role in the pathogenesis of heatstroke. Markedly elevated levels or those that remained elevated despite cooling were associated with mortality

Immunoexpression of cyclin D1 in colorectal carcinomas is not correlated with survival outcome

AbstractBackgroundColon and colorectal cancer (CRC) research has entered a new era with recent updates of molecular events and prognostic markers. Among other prognostic markers, exaggerated expression of nuclear CCND1 has key role in tumour pathogenesis and metastases of CRC and has also been claimed to predict response to treatment.ObjectivesThis study was designed to evaluate the prognostic and predictive value of CCND1 in CRC and the correlation of CCND1 expression with the different clinicopathological parameters.MethodsParaffin blocks from 117 primary CRC were retrieved from the archives of the Department of Pathology at King Abdulaziz University. Tissue microarrays were designed and constructed. The immunostaining of CCND1 was performed and analysed.ResultsThere were more cases with low nuclear immunoexpression of CCND1in both primary tumours and nodal metastasis (p<0.001). Cyclin D1 did not show association with clinicopathological features except with lymphovascular invasion. Low nuclear immunoexpression of CCND1 was associated with negative lymphovascular invasion (p=0.046). There was no statistically significant correlation between CCND1 immunoexpression and survival probability (Log Rank=2.474, p=0.116).ConclusionOur study indicates that CCND1 immunoexpression cannot be used as a predictor of survival in CRC. It also shows no significant correlation with clinicopathological features except with lymphovascular invasion

The effectiveness of a program based on the access to the syntax of the text in the development of the skills of the creative written composition of the secondary school students

The current study aims at the preparation of the program of language training in the light of the access to the syntax of the text, its tracking and impact in improving the skills of the creative written composition of the secondary school students. The study was based on its procedures to a set of tools - all of which are the preparation of the researcher - starting: a list of the skills of the creative written composition of the targeted creative development necessary for students at the secondary stage, a training program was designed in the form of educational meetings by improving the performance of the students in those specific skills in advance, to test the creative written composition to determine the extent of the effectiveness of the proposed program in achieving what has been designed. The study was applied on a sample of students in grade one Delingat Secondary school for Boys Benin, Beheira Governorate, the number (62) students, have been divided into two groups: an experimental group (32) students, a controlling group (30) students. The final results of the study assured the effectiveness of the proposed program and strategy; where there were Differentiating Statistical Data between the approximate and degrees of the sample members; where those differences were proved in the direction of the experimental Group for the benefit of dimensional measurement; compared with the performance of their fellow members of the controlling group

Social support following diagnosis and treatment for colorectal cancer and associations with health-related quality of life: Results from the UK ColoREctal Wellbeing (CREW) cohort study

Objective Social support is acknowledged as important in cancer survivorship, but little is known about change in support after cancer diagnosis and factors associated with this, particularly in colorectal cancer. The CREW cohort study investigated social support up to 2 years following curative intent surgery for colorectal cancer. Methods A total of 871 adults recruited pre‐treatment from 29 UK centres 2010 to 2012 consented to follow‐up. Questionnaires at baseline, 3, 9, 15, and 24 months post‐surgery included assessments of social support (Medical Outcomes Study‐Social Support Survey, MOS‐SSS) and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). Socio‐demographic, clinical and treatment details were collected. Longitudinal analyses assessed social support over follow‐up, associations with participant characteristics, and HRQoL. Results Around 20% were living alone and 30% without a partner. Perceived social support declined in around 29% of participants, with 8% of these reporting very low levels overall from baseline to 2 years (mean MOS‐SSS overall score < 40 on a scale from 0 to 100). Older age, female gender, greater neighbourhood deprivation, presence of co‐morbidities, and rectal cancer site were significantly associated with reductions in perceived support. Poorer HRQoL outcomes (generic health/QoL, reduced wellbeing, anxiety, and depression) were significantly associated with lower levels of social support. Conclusions Levels of social support decline following colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment in nearly a third of patients and are an important risk factor for recovery of HRQoL. Assessment of support early on and throughout follow‐up would enable targeted interventions to improve recovery, particularly in the more vulnerable patient groups at risk of poorer social support

First national survival data for colorectal cancer among Saudis between 1994 and 2004: what’s next?

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common malignancy in the Saudi population. This study aimed to review CRC data from the Saudi Cancer Registry (SCR) in order to evaluate the prognostic factors for CRC survival in Saudi patients. Methods This study was a retrospective censored overall survival (OS) analysis of CRC data for the period 1994–2004 obtained from the SCR. Data were collected from all 13 administrative regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) by the SCR in collaboration with the National Information Center of the Ministry of Interior. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the cumulative survival rate, which was then stratified by gender and by period (1994–1999 versus 2000–2004). The clinico-pathological variables that might affect CRC survival were analyzed by Cox regression analysis. Results Between 1994 and 2004, 549 CRC cases were diagnosed (363 [66.1%] in males and 186 [33.9%] in females). The OS for CRC during this period was 44.6% (44.7% for 1994–1999 and 44.3% for 2000–2004 [p=0.7]). There was a significant (p=0.003) discrepancy of 9.6% between the male five-year OS (41.0%) and the female five-year OS (50.6%). The five-year OS was 63.3% for patients with localized disease, 50.2% for those with regional disease, and 14.7% for patients with metastases. By Cox regression analysis, age and extent were significant prognostic factors of survival in patients with colon cancer; the risk was higher in patients with distant metastasis (hazard ratio [HR], 2.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-5.45; p=0.01). In patients with rectal cancer, the risk was lower in males (HR, 0.66; CI, 0.45-0.98; p=0.04), but higher in patients with unknown tumor extent (HR, 3.70; 95% CI, 1.66-8.24; p=0.01). Conclusions The five-year OS for 1994–2004 was 44.6% for patients with CRC. More so, five-year OS based on CRC stage was generally lower than the typically reported survival rates. The establishment of a national screening program and increased access to specialized medical faculties may be necessary to improve CRC survival in the KSA.</p