Endoscopic appearances of the gastro-esophageal valve and competence of the cardia

The endoscopic appearances of the gastro-oesophegal valve, viewed by the retroflexed gastroscope have been studied in 51 patients with and without reflux oesophagitis. Oesphagitis was graded according to its severity and the yield pressure [YP] was measured in all patients and to assess the competence of the cardia. There was a close relationship between the YP and the grades of the gastro-oesophageal valve. Yield prerssure was significantly lower in patients with endoscopic oesophagitis than in patients with no evidence of reflux oesophagitis [p< 0.0001]. An increased abnormality of the gastro-oesophageal valve was associated with all grades of oesophagitis and with a low YP. The valve mechanism at the cardia has an important role in determining its competence. YP is possibly a measure of the flap valve component of the gastro-oesphageal junction

value of Ca 15-3 and carcinoembryonic antigen in diagnosis of breast cancer

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical value of preoperative serum tumor markers CA 15-3 and carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA] in diagnosis of breast cancer. These tumor markers were measured preoperatively in fifty patients. The results of both tumor markers were compared. The CA 15-3 level was above normal [22 U/ml] in 56.5% of the patients with breast cancer. The CEA level was elevated in 10.9% of patients with breast cancer [more than 2 ng/ml]. The CA 15-3 was shown to be significantly positive in premenopausal status reaching 56.3% of premenopausal cases while CEA was insignificant. Both tumor markers were insignificant in postmenopausal status and in relation to tumor T stage and tumor N state. These results indicated that CA 15-3 antigen is significantly a more sensitive marker than CEA for the evaluation of patients with breast cancer