Serum levels of leptin and proinflammatory cytokines in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

The aim was to investigate the serum levels of leptin, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, insulin, and growth hormone in patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer and cachexia. A total of 39 patients with various advanced stage (stage IV) gastrointestinal malignancies were enrolled. These cancer patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of cachexia. Fifteen healthy adults were recruited as the control group. Body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) was calculated. Serum leptin, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha interleukin (IL)-1 beta, interleukin (IL)-6, growth hormone, insulin, glucose, triglyceride, total protein, albumin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and CRP were measured. In both cancer groups (cachectic and non-cachectic) body mass index and serum leptin levels were lower than controls (p < 0.001). Serum IL-1 beta, IL-6, and growth hormone levels were higher in both cachectic and non-cachectic groups than those of controls (p < 0.05). Serum TNF-alpha level in non-cachectic group was also significantly higher than in control group (p < 0.01). There is no significant difference between three groups in terms of insulin resistance as assessed by HOMA index. Our results showed that some proinflammatory cytokine levels were increased and leptin level was decreased due to upper gastrointestinal cancers. Increased cytokine levels may lead to decreased food intake and caused a weight loss.

Loss of facial identification of the survivor after firearm injury to the head.

Firearm wounds to the head are often fatal and are routinely encountered in the practice of forensic medicine. Herein we presented a patient who was wounded with a military rifle. This condition is unique and interesting for forensic medicine because none of the vital structures or major vessels were injured although the patient had a firearm injury to his head. In contrast to many other cases, the vital signs of our patient were normal and he was conscious on admission. Although the patient was considered lucky because he was still alive, he now had an unrecognizable face.

Hepatoprotective effect of Foeniculum vulgare essential oil.

Hepatoprotective activity of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) essential oil (FEO) was studied using carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) induced liver injury model in rats. The hepatotoxicity produced by acute CCl(4) administration was found to be inhibited by FEO with evidence of decreased levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin. The results of this study indicate that FEO has a potent hepatoprotective action against CCl(4)-induced hepatic damage in rats.

Cardiac troponin I levels in patients with left heart failure and cor pulmonale.

Cardiac troponin levels are regarded as the most specific of currently available biochemical markers of myocardial damage. Elevated levels of troponin have been previously reported in patients with left heart failure, reflecting small areas of undetected myocardial cell death. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of the cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in patients with left- and right-sided heart failure. Cardiac troponin I levels were studied with immunochemical methods in patients with right heart failure (n = 17) resulting from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic left heart failure (n = 23), and nonischemic left heart failure (n = 18) who were admitted to departments of cardiology and chest diseases. Also, cTnI levels were measured in 32 healthy subjects as control group. Protein markers of myocardial injury (cTnI and myoglobin) in patients with left and right heart failure were collected approximately 12 to 36 hours after onset of obvious symptoms. Serum creatine kinase MB band was determined on admission and thereafter twice a day during the first 3 days. Elevated levels of serum cTnI were found in patients with nonischemic (0.83 +/- 0.6 ng/mL, p<0.01) and ischemic left heart failure (0.9 +/- 0.5 ng/mL, p<0.01) when compared to healthy subjects, whereas serum cTnI levels in patients with right heart failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were not significantly different from those of control subjects (0.22 +/- 0.1 vs 0.16 +/- 0.1 ng/mL, p>0.05). In addition, creatine kinase MB band and myoglobin levels were not significantly different between patient and healthy groups. The mean of cTnI levels in ischemic and even nonischemic left heart failure were increased compared to the mean of values in healthy individuals but without significant creatine kinase MB band and myoglobin elevations. But cTnI levels were not increased in patients with right heart failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These data indicate that the cTnI levels are abnormal in left heart failure but not in cor pulmonale.

An accidental death caused by an unexploded 40-mm grenade.

Unexploded grenades are potentially dangerous materials. Numerous grenades have been found to be unexploded after wars have ended. We present an interesting case of an unexploded grenade that was found accidentally in a soldier's skull. On physical examination, the entrance wound of an unusual penetrating object was noted. This unusual physical finding led us to undertake radiographic examination. A 40-mm unexploded grenade was noticed on the radiograph of the soldier's skull.

Relationship Between Leptin Levels and Body Indexes in Patients with Haematologic Malignancy.

Leptin is a recently found hormone regulating body weight. In human obesity, this weight-regulating hormone level is in a positive correlation with FMI (fat mass index) and BMI (body mass index). In this study, we aimed to investigate the relation between serum leptin levels and BMI, PF (percentage fat), LMI (lean mass index), FMI and some other parameters of patients with haematologic malignant diseases. Fourty-four patients with haematologic malignant diseases and 25 healthy control group were taken into the study. In the comparison, there were no significant difference between the PF and FMI values of both groups, while the mean BMI and LMI values of the control group were significantly higher than that of the patient group. There was a positive correlation between leptin levels and BMI and FMI among parameters studied in our control group, whereas we couldn't demostrate any such correlation in patient group. We estimate that the alteration may be due to disturbances in the feed back mechanism developing in patient with haematologic malignancy.

A study on polymerase chain reaction-based HLA DQ alpha locus in Elazig, Turkey.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for genetic characterization of 45 samples taken from the city of Elazig in Turkey. The polymorphism at the human leukocyte antigen DQalpha locus was detected. Allele and genotype frequencies were determined for unrelated individuals at this locus. Laboratory analyses were done by PCR amplification of DNA. Hybridization to allele specific oligonucleotide probes was performed using a reversed dot-blot typing method. The collected genotype and allele frequencies have been tested, and a comparison was made with other population surveys of this locus. Allele frequencies ranged from 3.3% (allele 1.3) to 36.7% (allele 4), with a discrimination power of 0.92. No deviation was seen from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the findings.

The effect of dietary treatment on erythrocyte lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and serum lipid peroxidation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary treatment on serum and erythrocyte lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte antioxidative enzyme activity of patients with Type 2 diabetes. DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 30 patients with newly diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes were enrolled to the study. A total of 30 healthy subjects served as controls. Diabetic patients were given standard dietary treatment that was composed of 50% to 55% carbohydrate and 30% fat for 2 months. No diet was applied for controls. For both groups serum and erythrocyte lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were obtained at first and at the end of 2 months. RESULTS: Diabetic patients had higher serum and erythrocyte lipid peroxidation than those of controls before dietary treatment(p < 0.05). However, there was no absolute differences in erythrocyte SOD and GSH-Px (p > 0.05). At the end of 2 months of dietary treatment, while diabetics had still higher glucose and erythrocyte lipid peroxidation than controls (p < 0.05), serum lipid peroxidation, erythrocyte SOD, and GSH-Px levels did not differ significantly from those of controls (p > 0.05). In diabetic patients, after 2 months of dietary treatment, whereas serum and erythrocyte lipid peroxidation decreased, erythrocyte SOD and GSH-Px activities showed significant increase (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed significant alteration in serum and erythrocyte lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme status of patients with Type 2 diabetes by dietary treatment. However, whether such alterations have clinical importance for diabetic patients needs further investigation.