Role of Gene Polymorphism in TNF Alpha Expression and Outcome in Surgical Patients

Introduction:An acute phase response to tissue injury leads to release of pro inflammatory and anti inflammatory cytokines. TNF alpha isan early pro inflammatory cytokine that released in SIRS and largely responsible for clinical manifestation of sepsis. The release of TNF alpha is influenced by messenger RNA transcription of TNF alpha gene. In patients with severe sepsis genomic polymorphism with in the TNF locus found to be associated with TNF alpha production and outcome.Objectives:To evaluate genetic polymorphism of TNF alpha gene at c 850 t locus, influence on TNF alpha expression and on outcome. Materials and Methods:A prospective cohort study conducted at our institute between June 2007 to 2009 in 100 cases. Serum TNF alpha levels measured by using ELISA .TNF alpha polymorphism done at c850t locus in 100 patients and were compared with 70 controls who were normal subjects. By using MEDCALC software mean and standard deviations were calculated, continuous variables were compared using t-test. ROC curves were used to determine the predictive capability of the variables.Results:The most common polymorphism observed was CT in 51 patients. The significant different TNF alpha level expression between the three groups were observed. Significant Tallele was observed in cases (100) when compared with controls (70), p= 0.0002. Conclusion: Genetic polymorphism of TNF alpha gene may play critical role in stress response and outcome of the patient but it needs to be validated in large number of population

Gastric leiomyoma presenting as gastric volvulus.

We report a 45-year-old lady who presented with recurrent vomiting, retching and epigastric pain, and was diagnosed to have gastric volvulus. After correction of the volvulus by endoscopic detorsion, a tumor was seen along the greater curvature. This was excised surgically. Histology showed leiomyoma.

The impact of cisplat based chemotherapy on advanced ovarian cancer.

Cisplatinum based chemotherapy has become the standard treatment for ovarian cancers due to its proved superiority over non-cisplat based regimes. However, the therapeutic impact of cisplat based regimes compared to cheaper non-cisplatinum based regimes is questionable when multiple variables such as residual disease, histologic type, grade are introduced. This report is a study of 110 Stage III ovarian cancer patients from 1985-89, with cisplat (n = 69) and non cisplat (n = 41) based chemotherapy. The results of both regimes with reference to the multiple variable factors are presented. We conclude that cisplat based regimes appear to be superior to non-cisplat based regimes except probably in poorly differentiated ovarian tumors where the results were similar with either regimen.

Do we need to do comprehensive surgical staging in all cases of clinical early ovarian cancer?

Meticulous staging of ovarian cancer has so far been a prerequisite for treatment planning. However, more than 80% of patients operated by non-oncologists all over the world do not under go a complete staging. Recently there have been reports questioning the need for extensive staging from the point of cervical benefit. We have analysed our data of 64 stage ovarian cancer patients to see if clinical staging was adequate or relaparotomy with restaging is necessary. We conclude that though pathological staging is important for proper reporting of results and evaluation of treatment modalities, in the existing circumstances, a judicious use of clinical methods and taking available pathological factors into account, we can still produce comparable results with restricted use of relaparotomy.