Diagnostic value of serum glial fibrillary acidic protein and S100B serum levels in emergency medicine patients with traumatic versus nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage

Background: Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a brain‑specific astroglial protein that is released into the blood soon after traumatic brain injury by mature astrocytes. S100B is rapidly released into the cerebrospinal fluid and bloodstream after brain damage. We compared the serum concentrations of these proteins inpatients with severe head trauma (bleeding and/or fracture) or nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage and healthy individuals.Materials and Methods: The study included 63 patients (33 males and 30 females) with traumatic cerebral hemorrhage and/or cranial bone fractures or nontraumatic cerebral hemorrhage and 30 healthy control subjects. The reasons for attending the emergency department were as follows: fall from a height (n = 32), traffic accident (n = 18), nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (n = 6), animal kick to the head (n = 4), and blow to the head (n = 3).Results: Of the 63 patients included in the study, 33 (52.4%) were male and 30 (47.6%) were female. Of the 30 healthy controls, 12 (40%) were male and 18 (60%) were female. The average age of the patients was 27 years (range, 1 month to 86 years) and the average age of the control group was 21 years (range, 18–30 years). The mean serum GFAP concentrations were 86.37 ng/mL in the patients and 38.07 ng/mL in the controls (P < 0.05). The mean serum S100B concentrations were 428.37 pg/mL in the patients and 103.44 pg/mL in the controls (P < 0.05). Eight (12.7%) patients died in the hospital; of those, the mean GCS score was 4.6, and the mean GFAP and S100B levels were 127.8 ng/mL and 860.6 pg/mL, respectively.Conclusion: The GFAP and S100B concentrations were significantly higher in patients with traumatic or nontraumatic brain injury than in healthy individuals, indicating that serum levels of these biomarkers may provide an alternative to computed tomography for the diagnosis of brain injury.Keywords: Fracture, glial fibrillary acidic protein, hemorrhage, S100

Perisylvian GABA levels in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

The aim of this study is to measure GABA levels of perisylvian cortices in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients, using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). Patients with schizophrenia (n = 25), bipolar I disorder (BD-I; n = 28) and bipolar II disorder (BD-II; n = 20) were compared with healthy controls (n = 30).1H-MRS data was acquired using a Siemens 3 T whole body scanner to quantify right and left perisylvian structures’ (including superior temporal lobes) GABA levels. Right perisylvian GABA values differed significantly between groups [χ2= 9.62, df: 3, p = 0.022]. GABA levels were significantly higher in the schizophrenia group compared with the healthy control group (p = 0.002). Furthermore, Chlorpromazine equivalent doses of antipsychotics correlated with right hemisphere GABA levels (r2= 0.68, p = 0.006, n = 33). GABA levels are elevated in the right hemisphere in patients with schizophrenia in comparison to bipolar disorder and healthy controls. The balance between excitatory and inhibitory controls over the cortical circuits may have direct relationship with GABAergic functions in auditory cortices. In addition, GABA levels may be altered by brain regions of interest, psychotropic medications, and clinical stage in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. � 2016 Elsevier Ireland Lt

Impact of adjuvant treatment modalities on survival outcomes in curatively resected pancreatic and periampullary adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: We examined the impact of adjuvant modalities on resected pancreatic and periampullary adenocarcinoma (PAC). METHODS: A total of 563 patients who were curatively resected for PAC were retrospectively analyzed between 2003 and 2013. RESULTS: Of 563 patients, 472 received adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) alone, chemoradiotherapy (CRT) alone, and chemoradiotherapy plus chemotherapy (CRT-CT) were analyzed. Of the 472 patients, 231 were given CRT-CT, 26 were given CRT, and 215 were given CT. The median recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were 12 and 19 months, respectively. When CT and CRT-CT groups were compared, there was no significant difference with respect to both RFS and OS, and also there was no difference in RFS and OS among CRT-CT, CT and CRT groups. To further investigate the impact of radiation on subgroups, patients were stratified according to lymph node status and resection margins. In node-positive patients, both RFS and OS were significantly longer in CRT-CT than CT. In contrast, there was no significant difference between groups when patients with node-negative disease or patients with or without positive surgical margins were considered. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of radiation to CT has a survival benefit in patients with node-positive disease following pancreatic resection

Impact of adjuvant treatment modalities on survival outcomes in curatively resected pancreatic and periampullary adenocarcinoma

Background: We examined the impact of adjuvant modalities on resected pancreatic and periampullary adenocarcinoma (PAC). Methods: A total of 563 patients who were curatively resected for PAC were retrospectively analyzed between 2003 and 2013. Results: Of 563 patients, 472 received adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) alone, chemoradiotherapy (CRT) alone, and chemoradiotherapy plus chemotherapy (CRT-CT) were analyzed. Of the 472 patients, 231 were given CRT-CT, 26 were given CRT, and 215 were given CT. The median recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were 12 and 19 months, respectively. When CT and CRT-CT groups were compared, there was no significant difference with respect to both RFS and OS, and also there was no difference in RFS and OS among CRT-CT, CT and CRT groups. To further investigate the impact of radiation on subgroups, patients were stratified according to lymph node status and resection margins. In node-positive patients, both RFS and OS were significantly longer in CRT-CT than CT. In contrast, there was no significant difference between groups when patients with node-negative disease or patients with or without positive surgical margins were considered. Conclusions: Addition of radiation to CT has a survival benefit in patients with node-positive disease following pancreatic resection. © 2015, Chinese Journal of Cancer Research. All rights reserved