Changes in serum lipids in patients with colorectal cancer

To evaluate and assess disruptions of serum lipids at patients having a colorectal cancer. Our prospective study interested 30 patients, from 26 to 93 year old, presenting a colorectal cancer confirmed histologically, examined during the period going from March 2003 to April 2004. Thirty healthy controls were examined in parallel. All patients undergo three blood samples respectively in preoperative, 48h and 6 months after surgical operation. The analyses carried out were determination of a total serum cholesterol, HDL [high density lipoprotein] and LDL [low density lipoprotein] cholesterol, serum triglyceride and serum apoprotein [AI and B]. We noticed a decrease of total serum cholesterol level in 43% of the cases associated to the reduction of the HDL and the LDL cholesterol in respectively 30% and 76% of cases. The mean values of total serum cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol rates were significantly lower for patients compared to those of controls [p respectively: 0.001; 0.04 and 0.001]. Moreover, the level of total serum cholesterol varied significantly with tumor localization [p= 0, 02]. Serum lipid disruptions affect essentially total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol. It would be therefore interesting to evaluate their rate at the basal state in order to follow their evolution after treatment in colorectal cancer

[Importance of determination of protein C reactive [CRP], carcinoembryon ic antigen [CEA] and lactic deshydrogenase [LDH] in colorectal cancer]

Evaluate and show the importance of CRP, ACE and LDH in colorectal cancer. Our prospective study interested 30 patients, from 26 to 93 years old and present a colorectal cancer, confirmed histologically, during the period going from March 2003 to April 2004, and 30 healthy controls. A blood sample was collected from each patient respectively in preoperative, 48 hours before any treatment, and 6 months after surgical operation to measure serum LDH, CRP, and ACE. The mean serum of LDH, CRP and ACE values were significant higher in patients than those in controls [p respectively: 0,01; 0,04 et 0,01]. Moreover, the level of three parameters varied significantly with stages of tumor. After follow up, we have noticed e normalisation of the mean of the level of LDH, CRP and ACE with favorable evolution. Analysis of survival at 2 years showers that survival is better in patients with normal value of CRP, ACE and LDH. CRP, LDH and ACE values have a great importance during follows up after colorectal cancer surgery

Serum calcium, phosphorus and protien changes in cancer patients undergoing abdominal surgery

To report the serum calcium, phosphorus and protein abnormalities in cancer subjects during abdominal surgery. 41 patients are collected [32 F/9 M] with a mean of age 57.78 +/- 12.7 years, who had undergone abdominal surgery. Serum samples were obtained on the day before surgery and on days 3 and 8 post surgery for measurement of serum total calcium, protein, and phosphorus. The different parameters studied fall significantly at day 3 and increase at day 8 postsurgery in all patients. The means levels of total calcium, phosphorus and protein before surgery are 2,04 +/- 0,2 mmol/l, 1,12 +/- 021 mmol/l and 55 +/- 7 g/l vs 1,9 +/- 0,26 mmol/l, 0,98 +/- 0,18 mmol/l and 50 +/- 8 g/l at day 3 post surgery. Post operative hypocalcemia was attributed to the fall in protein and the decrease in phosphorus may be resulted from renal losses of phosphorus due to extracellular volume expansion

[Seric soluble interleukin-2 receptor alpha in nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Tunisia. Prospective study about 45 cases]

Soluble interleukin-2 receptor alpha [sIL-2Ralpha is a well-known indicator of T-cell activation noted to be increasing in nasopharyngeal cancer. The aims of this study were to evaluate the importance of the use of this marker in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Our prospective study interested 45 patients [35M/10F] with a mean age of 49 years [15 to 78], presenting a nasopharyngeal carcinoma histologically confirmed and 61 healthy controls. A blood sample was collected from each patient before any treatment, as well as controls to measure sIL-2Ralpha by immunoenzymatic assay. According to the disease status after a period of follow-up ranging from three to 22 months [median 12 months], patients were divided into two groups: The remission group [n = 28] represented those with favourable evolution and a second group of 15 patients with unfavourable evolution [2 death, 4 cases of persistent primary disease and 9 patients with distance metastasis]. 2 patients were lost to follow-up. serum sIL-2Ralpha levels were significantly higher in patients vs healthy controls [p < 0.0001]. The serum levels correlated with the stage T of NPC [p = 0.01]. Patients having a favourable evolution have lower sIL-2Ralpha levels before treatment vs those with unfavourable evolution without statistical difference. Measurement of serum sIL-2Ralpha provides a good estimation of the nasopharyngeal tumor burden. The usefulness of this marker as a parameter to predict prognosis in NPC should be examined further

[Biological investigation of thyroid cancer]

Thyroid carcinomas represent the most common endocrine malignancy, and several biological markers are proposed according to the different types of this cancer: for papillary cancer, thyroglobulin constitutes an excellent prognostic factor and rearrangements of ret oncogene can be useful in diagnosis. In sporadic medullary carcinoma, calcitonin is a diagnosis marker of choice, and coupled with ACE, can prevent relapse. Regarding familial medullary carcinoma, mutation screening in ret oncogene leads to early detection of new cases

[Iliac chondroma: a case report]

Chondroma Is a benign bone tumour that usually occurs in the in carpal and phalangeal bones. The iliac involvement is very rare and should be differentiated from Chondrosarcoma The authors report a case of Iliac chondroma revealed by an acetabular lytic area in a l3-year-old girl. The diagnosis of chondroma was confirmed after surgical biopsy

Seric neuron specific enolase in pediatric neuroblastoma. Retrospective results about 21 patients

To report the results of seric neuron specific enolase in pediatric neuroblastoma. Our retrospective study concerns 21 children treated in our institution from 1992 to 1998 for neuroblastoma. Seric NSE was determined by immunoenzymology technique at different stages of the disease and the treatment Mean value for the 39 dosages of the whole patients was 127.9 ng/ml with a sensitivity of 56 percent five patients has presented normal values. Mean value for the 18 patients in stage IV was 132.38 ng/ml. we also observed in 3 patients, an evolution of the seric NSE parallel to this of the disease under chemotherapy. NSE represents a moderate sensitive and specific tumor marker for pediatric neuroblastoma. However, it represents a good value in prognosis and follow-up after chemotherapy