The role of UFT in advanced gastric cancer

Background: Advanced gastric cancer has a poor prognosis, with a relative 5-year survival rate of 7%-27%. Chemotherapy, which improves overall survival (OS) and quality of life, is the main treatment option. Although numerous regimens have been investigated, there is no standard treatment. Combination chemotherapy, however, is associated with a significant survival benefit compared with monotherapy and i.v. 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is one of the most widely used agents. UFT (tegafur-uracil) has similar efficacy to continuous infusion 5-FU with improved tolerability and is more convenient for patients

Screening for patients with mild Alzheimer disease using frequency doubling technology perimetry

We compared the visual field performances of patients with mild Alzheimer disease (AD) with normal subjects and detected visual field impairment attributable to the magnocellular pathway using frequency doubling technology - Matrix (FDT-Matrix). We recruited 43 patients with mild AD (mean age: 68.0±7.2 years) and 33 controls who are visually and cognitively normal (mean age: 64.1±6.4 years). All participants had at least two reliable FDT-Matrix 30-2 tests. Reliability indices, global indices (mean deviation and pattern standard deviation), and glaucoma hemifield test results were measured with FDT-Matrix. The mean test duration was significantly longer in patient group compared with controls (p=0.002). Among the reliability indices, false negatives were higher in patient group than controls (p=0.003). There were statistically significant differences in mean deviation and pattern standard deviation values (p<0.0001 and p<0.0001, respectively) and glaucoma hemifield test results (p<0.001) between the patient and the control group. Our results imply that the pathogenesis of cognitive deterioration may not only be confined to the cortical area but also to the magnocellular pathway. We underline that FDT testing can be useful for the identification of early impairment and the follow-up of patients with AD. © Informa Healthcare USA, Inc

Measurement of serum CA 19-9 may be more valuable than CEA in prediction of recurrence in patients with gastric cancer.

In 35 patients with recurrent gastric cancer who had undergone curative gastrectomy, serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA 19-9 (carbohydrate antigen) rumor marker levels were investigated. At least one tumor marker was elevated in 24 (68.6%) patients. The levels of serum CA 19-9 and CEA markers were increased in 20 (57.1%,) and 12(34.3%) patients, respectively. This difference was not statistically significant. However, it may be important in terms of clinical practice

Modeling of gas demand using degree-day concept: Case study for Ankara

The demand for natural gas is rapidly increasing in Turkey as it is in the rest of the world. However, natural gas reserves and production are rather limited in Turkey. The bulk of the Turkish gets demand is met by imports. Russia currently accounts for 69% of Turkey's gas supplies. Physical shortages might occur; supplies for industrial production and household consumption could temporarily run short. Also, fluctuations in consumption might occur due to climatic reasons or peak daily industrial energy demand Underground gas storage is a necessity in order to regulate these seasonal, daily and hourly fluctuations. In order to effectively design and utilize underground gas storage, it is necessary to identify the market requirements

Modified DCF (mDCF) regimen seems to be as effective as original DCF in advanced gastric cancer (AGC)

WOS: 000318290100010PubMed ID: 23054756The aim of this retrospective study (from January 2007 to December 2011) was to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of mDCF schedule for chemotherapy-na < ve AGC patients. Patients (n = 54) with locally inoperable or distant metastasis and performance status of 0-2 were eligible. The triplet combination chemotherapy consisting of docetaxel 60 mg/m(2) on day 1, cisplatin 60 mg/m(2) on day 1, and 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m(2) for 5 days of continuous infusion were administered every 21 days, up to nine cycles. Prophylactic G-CSF was not allowed. In all, 36 (67 %) patients were male and 18 (33 %) were female; median age was 59 years. The majority of patients (n = 46, 85 %) had metastatic disease and 8 (15 %) of them had locally advanced disease. Liver metastasis and peritonitis carcinomatosa were found in 20 (43 %) and 18 (39 %) of the 46 cases, respectively. The median cycle of chemotherapy was 6. In assessing 50 patients for response evaluation, one had complete response. Partial response was achieved in 27 (54 %) patients. Seventeen patients (34 %) had stable disease and 5 (10 %) had progressive disease, while 4 % (n = 2) and 11 % (n = 6) of the patients developed severe (grade 3-4) neutropenia and anemia, respectively. During the median follow-up time (6.9 months, range 0.4-24), 28 (52 %) patients died. The overall and progression-free survival were 10.7 [95 % CI 8.9-12.4] and 6.8 [95 % CI 5.8-7.8] months, respectively. Although this was not a prospective comparative study, the mDCF regimen seems to be as effective as the original DCF in AGC with acceptable and manageable side effects

A Girl With Henoch Schönlein Purpura Associated with Acute Rheumatic Fever and Review of Literature

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