The relationship between albumin-bilirubin score and survival in patients operated for pancreatic cancer

Objective: To investigate whether albumin-bilirubin score can be used as a prognostic marker in pancreatic cancer patients post-surgery. Method: The retrospective study was conducted at the Medical Oncology Clinic, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey, and comprised data from 2010 to 2018 of pancreatic cancer patients who had undergone distal pancreatectomy or pancreaticoduodenectomy and were followed up for 3 years. Preoperative and postoperative serum albumin, carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, bilirubin, neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio and platelet:lymphocyte ratio were compared as inflammation markers, while albumin-bilirubin scores were calculated using the equation linear predictor. Data was analysed using SPSS 17. Results: Of the 39 patients, 23(59%) were men and 16(41%) were women. The mean age of the sample was 62.4±10.2 years. No statistically significant changes were observed between preoperative and postoperative albumin-bilirubin scores, carcinoembryonic antigen, neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio and platelet:lymphocyte ratio (p>0.05). Significant decreases were observed in postoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9, aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminas levels (respectively<0.05). No significant change was determined in postoperative albumin-bilirubin grade distributions compared to preoperative values (p=0.180). Although the rate of recurrence increased in line with preoperative albumin-bilirubin scores, the finding was not statistically significant (p=0.055). Mortality rate increased significantly in line with preoperative albumin-bilirubin scores (p=0.013). Conclusion: The albumin-bilirubin score affected survival in patients with pancreatic cancer, and can be employed as a prognostic factor in this patient group. Key Words: Pancreatic cancer, Albumin-bilirubin score, Prognostic factors

Duodenal pathologies in children: a single-center experience

WOS: 000435108200008PubMed ID: 28888898Objective: Several studies have been performed concerning pathologies of the stomach and esophagus in the pediatric age group. However, there have been very few studies of duodenal pathologies in children. The authors aimed to examine the clinical, endoscopic, and histopathological characteristics, as well as the etiology of duodenal pathologies in children. Method: Patients aged between 1 and 17 years undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy during two years at this unit, were investigated retrospectively. Demographic, clinical, endoscopic data, and the presence of duodenal pathologies, gastritis, and esophagitis were recorded in all of the children. Results: Out of 747 children who underwent endoscopy, duodenal pathology was observed in 226 (30.3%) patients. Pathology was also present in the esophagus in 31.6% of patients and in the stomach in 58.4%. The level of chronic diarrhea was higher in patients with duodenal pathology when compared with those without duodenal pathology (p= 0.002, OR: 3.91, 95% CI: 1.59-9.57). Helicobacter pylori infection was more common in patients with pathology in the duodenum (59.3%). Conclusion: Duodenal pathology was detected in 30.3% of the present patients. A significantly higher level of chronic diarrhea was observed in subjects with duodenal pathologies compared to those with no such pathology. The rate of Helicobacter pylori infection was considerably higher than that in previous studies. In addition, there is a weak correlation between endoscopic appearance and histology of duodenitis. (C) 2017 Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda

Detection of autoantibodies against carbonic anhydrase I and II in the plasma of patients with gastric cancer

Demir, Selim/0000-0002-1863-6280WOS: 000401601400009PubMed: 28680333Cancer is the second leading cause of death and gastric cancer is the fourth most common cancer type worldwide. Investigation of autoantibodies in cancer patients has been a popular research area in recent years. the aim of the current study was to investigate carbonic anhydrase I and II (CA I and II) autoantibodies in the plasma of subjects with gastric cancer based on the information and considerations of autoimmune relation of gastric cancer. Anti-CA I and II antibody levels were investigated by ELISA in plasma samples of fifty two patients with gastric cancer and thirty five healthy peers. Anti-CA I and II antibody titers of the gastric cancer group were significantly higher compared with the control group (p = 0.004, p = 0.0001, respectively). Plasma anti-CA I levels of the metastatic group were lower than the non-metastatic group and this difference was found statistically significant (p < 0.05), but there was no statistical difference between plasma anti-CA II levels of the groups. CA I and II autoantibody titers in patients with gastric cancer were found higher compared to healthy subjects and the results suggest that these autoantibodies may be involved in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer

The Diagnostic Value of Pleural Fluid Neopterin Level in Tuberculous Pleurisy

International audience(Ord. n° 2005-428, 6 mai 2005, relative aux incapacités en matière commerciale et à la publicité du régime matrimonial des commerçants, JO 7 mai 2005, p. 7925 ; D. n° 2005-530, 24 mai 2005 modifiant le décret du 30 mai 1984 relatif au registre du commerce et des sociétés, JO 26 mai 2005, p. 9107

Astım'lı Hastalarda Serum Aktif Oksidasyon Protein Ürünleri (AOPP Düzeyleri)

Aim: This study aims to compare the levels of serum activated oxidation protein products (AOPP) between patients with asthma and healthy controls and to investigate a possible relationship between AOPP levels and disease duration and laboratory results. Material and Method: Total of 54 subjects including 34 asthma patients and 20 healthy controls who were admitted to Kırıkkale Yüksek Ihtisas Hospital Chest Disease Policlinic and Yenimahalle State Hospital Chest Disease Outpa- tient Clinic were included. The levels of serum AOPP were compared between the groups. A statistically significant relationship between AOPP levels and comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, etc), leukocyte counts, sedimentation rates, C-reactive protein levels, and hemoglobin levels were investigated. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in serum AOPP levels between the patient group and con- trols (75.61 32.22 µM and 73.23 20.87 µM). No statistically significant relationship was observed between serum AOPP levels and duration of asthma, the presence of comorbidities, leukocyte counts, sedimentation rates, C - reac- tive protein, and hemoglobin levels among the patients with asthma and healthy controls. Conclusion: We conclude that further large-scale controlled studies are required to establish the definite role of serum AOPP levels, a novel indicator of oxidative stress, in patients with asthma.Ama

Efecto protector del zinc y su relación con algunos parámetros hematológicos, bioquímicos e histológicos en ratas macho adultas

The trace element zinc is essential for the construction and function of cellular proteins. The current study aimed to estimate the improved cause of zinc on the changes resulting from high concentrations of cholesterol. In this experiment, thirty male rats aged 3-4 months were randomly divided into three groups of ten rats each. Control group: the animals did not receive any treatment, cholesterol group: the animals received cholesterol at a concentration of 400 mg/kg mixed with diet for 4 weeks, while in the zinc group: rats received cholesterol at a concentration of 400 mg/kg for 4 weeks, then zinc was given 20 mg/kg for another 4 weeks. The study period was 56 days, after its completion, hematological and biochemical parameters were studied, in addition to the histological examination of the liver. The results showed that cholesterol treatment alone led to significant negative changes in hematological, biochemical and histological indices. Whereas zinc administration to experimental rats resulted in clear positive effects in those parameters. We concluded that the cholesterol-damaged rats improved after receiving zinc.El oligoelemento zinc es esencial para la construcción y función de las proteínas celulares. El estudio actual tuvo como objetivo estimar la causa mejorada de zinc en los cambios resultantes de altas concentraciones de colesterol. En este experimento, treinta ratas macho de 3 a 4 meses de edad se dividieron aleatoriamente en tres grupos de diez ratas cada uno. Grupo control: los animales no recibieron ningún tratamiento, grupo colesterol: los animales recibieron colesterol en una concentración de 400 mg/kg mezclado con la dieta durante 4 semanas, mientras que en el grupo zinc: las ratas recibieron colesterol en una concentración de 400 mg/kg durante 4 semanas, luego se le administró zinc a 20 mg/kg durante otras 4 semanas. El periodo de estudio fue de 56 días, luego de su realización se estudiaron parámetros hematológicos y bioquímicos, además del examen histológico del hígado. Los resultados mostraron que el tratamiento del colesterol por sí solo condujo a cambios negativos significativos en los índices hematológicos, bioquímicos e histológicos. Mientras que la administración de zinc a ratas experimentales resultó en claros efectos positivos en esos parámetros. Llegamos a la conclusión de que las ratas dañadas por el colesterol mejoraron después de recibir zinc