A Very Rare Complication of Acute Appendicitis: Appendicovesical Fistula

Appendicovesical fistula (AVF) is an uncommon type of enterovesical fistula and a very rare complication of acute appendicitis. Herein, we report a case of 39-year-old male patient who presented with persistent urinary tract infection, recurrent abdominal pain, and pneumaturia. Imaging techniques including ultrasonography (USG), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed to identify the abnormality. However, definitive diagnosis of AVF was made by cystoscopy

Combination of Cyclophosphamide and Carboplatin in Recurrent Malignant Gliomas

Eventually, all patients with malignant gliomas recur or progress. Unfortunately, the optimal regimen in the salvage setting has not yet been defined. We retrospectively evaluated 52 patients with malignant gliomas who failed temozolomide therapy and were treated with a combination of intravenous carboplatin and oral cyclophosphamide. The median age of all patients, including those with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) (n= 40) and anaplastic glioma (AG) (n= 12), was 45.5 years (range 23-68). All patients were treated with consolidation temozolomide after chemoradiotherapy. After temozolomide failure, second surgery was performed on 15, reirradiation on four and radiosurgery on three patients. The median number of chemotherapy cycles was 4 (range 1-8), the clinical benefit was 67.3%, a partial response was achieved in 26.9% and stable disease in 40.4%. In the GBM group, median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 3 (95% CI, 2.31-3.69) and 8 (95% CI, 4.76-11.24) months, respectively. In the AG group, median PFS and OS were 5 (95% CI, 3.51-6.49) and 11(95% CI, 6.38-15.62) months, respectively. The six-month PFS rate was 25%. Only one patient survived 18 months after treatment. Serious toxicity was mainly hematological

The effect of bevacizumab on serum soluble FAS/FASL and TRAIL and its receptors (DR4 and DR5) in metastatic colorectal cancer

Bevacizumab-based chemotherapy has become the standard of care in metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC). We aimed to measure the levels of serum soluble FAS, FASL, tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), and its death receptors DR4 and DR5 in MCRC patients and to define prognostic significance of these parameters in response to bevacizumab in these patients

Tendency of cancer patients and their relatives to use Internet for health-related searches: Turkish Oncology Group (TOG) Study

Conclusion: Cancer patients and their relatives showed a higher tendency to use health-related internet information which may mislead them, and can result in treatment incompliance. Health professionals should offer evidence-based information to the patients and their relatives through internet

Nine-week trastuzumab treatment versus 52-week trastuzumab treatment for HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer

Purposes Trastuzumab is known to be effective for early and advanced stages of breast cancer but optimal duration for early-stage breast cancer (EBC) is not well known. We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of 9- and 52-week trastuzumab therapy for EBC retrospectively

Approach to cardiovascular disease in women

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women is still not completely understood by either patients or physicians. It is perceived as a health problem that becomes manifest only after menopause; however, it is the most frequent cause of mortality in women and is often seen at an earlier age in the presence of risk factors. Moreover, the symptoms, course, and prognosis are quite different from those seen in men, and both physicians and patients remain inadequately aware of the character of the disease. In the approach to female patients, some risk factors inherent to women should be considered in addition to the classic factors. In this review article, aspects of CVD that are different in women, etiological factors, risk factors specific to women, and particular points to be taken into consideration in the treatment and diagnosis are illustrated in the form of questions and responses from experts