Effects of acute pancreatitis on plasma total and lipid bound sialic Acid levels: an experimental study in rats.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the relationship between serum levels of total sialic acid, lipid bound sialic acid and acute pancreatitis in a rat model of a common bile duct ligation induced acute pancreatitis. METHODS: Twenty five Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 250-300 g were divided into two groups (n=10: control, n=15: experimental). In the control group only a sham laparotomy was performed. In the experimental group, acute pancreatitis was induced by common pancreatobiliary tract ligation. After 36 hours the rats were killed and amylase, serum total sialic acid, lipid bound sialic acid and lipid profiles were measured. Histopathological confirmation of acute pancreatitis was done using hematoxylin and eosin staining. RESULTS: Mean amylase, total sialic acid (TSA) and lipid bound sialic acid (LBSA) measurements in the experimental group were significantly higher than in the control group. There was no significant difference in the lipid profiles between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Increased levels of TSA and LBSA can be useful as specific markers in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis independent of serum lipid profile.

The association between serum Dickkopf-1 levels and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Serum Dickkopf-1(DKK-1) is elevated in many malignancies and is an important indicator of malignant potential. However, its significance in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) has not yet been clarified. We hypothesized a role for DKK-1 in patients with ESCC. The study consisted of 90 ESCC patients and 85 healthy controls. After diagnosis, the level of DKK-1 was measured in the serum samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the levels of DKK-1 were much higher in the ESCC patients than in the healthy control group (p < 0.0001). For serum DKK-1, the sensitivity and specificity of the assay were 70 and 80%, respectively. The preoperative serum DKK-1 level was elevated in the ESCC patients. Although serum DKK-1 is not a specific biomarker for ESCC, it might be a useful marker for the diagnosis and treatment of ESCC.

Prognostic significance of the preoperative serum levels of soluble form of endoglin in gastric cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is the second commonest cause of cancer-associated deaths in the world. Its molecular markers can be useful not only for the diagnostic pursuit but also for prognostic purposes. Endoglin was proposed as a marker of neovascularization in solid malignancies. A circulating form of endoglin is referred to as soluble endoglin (sol-end).The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical importance of serum level of soluble form of sol-end in gastric cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum levels of sol-end were measured in 69 healthy controls and in 60 gastric adenocarcinoma patients with ELISA and serum levels of sol-end were compared with clinicopathological features and outcomes in gastric cancer patients. RESULTS: Serum levels of sol-end in gastric adenocancer patients were significantly higher than in control patients (p<0.001). The serum levels of sol-end did not differ relative to clinical and pathologic criteria. CONCLUSION: Presented data suggest that serum levels of sol-end do not seem to be a valuable tool in the assessment of gastric cancer prognosis (Tab. 1, Ref. 11).

Treatment of ischemic colonic anastomoses with systemic transplanted bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to investigate the healing effect of the bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) on ischemic colon anastomosis in systemic application and to recovery the adverse effect of ischemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourty male Wistar Albino rats weigthing 250-300 g were divided into four equal groups (n=10 Group 1: control; ischemic left colonic anastomoses (4th day); Group 2: control; ischemic left colonic anastomoses (7th day); Group 3: ischemic left colonic anastomoses + systemic transplanted BM-MSCs (4th day); Group 4: ischemic left colonic anastomoses + systemic transplanted BM-MSCs (7th day). BMSCs labelled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) were transplanted into the vena cava. Group 1 and group 3 were killed four days after surgery. In group 2 and group 4 were sacrificed seven days after the surgical procedure. Histopathological features, hydroxyproline levels in the tissue, and anastomotic strength were investigated. RESULTS: There was no mortality all of the groups.The mean bursting pressures of ischemic colonic anastomoses in group 3 were higher than in control group 1 (4th day). We found significantly higher hydroxyproline values in group 3 and were significantly higher in group 4 than in control groups. We investigated the early period of wound healing (4th day and 7th day). When comparing between group 1 and group 3, we found higher levels for all of the histological parameters except inflammation in group 3. On day 7, when comparing between group 2 and group 4, we found higher levels for parameters of necrosis, collagen deposition. CONCLUSIONS: BM-MSCs therapy significantly accelerated all of the healing parameters for ischemic colonic anastomosis except for inflammation on fourth day. On the seventh day, BM-MSCs augmented the levels of the hydroxyproline. Histological parameters, necrosis and collagen deposition were also found to be important for healing of ischemic colonic anastomoses. However, they did not accelerate the others histological parameters especially angiogenesis.

Human neutrophil peptides 1, 2 and 3 (HNP 1-3): elevated serum levels in colorectal cancer and novel marker of lymphatic and hepatic metastasis.

OBJECTIVE: Biological levels of localized colon tumors are needed for the diagnosis and prevention of colon cancer. Numerous biomarker studies are produced currently through research. We investigated some peptides with the aim of identifying biomarkers for colorectal cancer and lymphatic and hepatic metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients with histologically proven colorectal cancer and 60 normal volunteers were included in this study. Preoperative serum was collected for analysis. Human neutrophil peptides levels (HNP) were assayed by solid phase RIA (Radio Immun Assay) based on monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: The HNP-1, -2 and -3-also known as α-defensin-1, -2 and -3-are present in elevated concentrations in the plasma from colorectal cancer patients. CONCLUSION: Preoperative high plasma HNP 1-3 levels are associated with colorectal cancer. The HNP 1-3 levels may procure information on patients with lymph node or hepatic metastasis.

The relationship among acute-phase responce proteins, cytokines, and hormones in various gastrointestinal cancer types patients with cachectic.

BACKGROUND: Acute-phase response proteins (APRPs), cytokines, and hormones have been claimed to be an independent, important factor of cancers. We suggest that in gastrointestinal system cancers, changes in APRP, cytokines, and hormones are associated. METHODS: C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, interleukin 1α (IL-1α), IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), midkine, vascular endothelial growth factor-A(VEGF-A), VEGF-C, VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR1), leptin, adiponectin, and ghrelin serum levels are studied in 148 gastrointestinal system cancer types and 40 healthy controls. RESULTS: We found statistically significant differences and correlations between groups. We found significantly higher serum CRP, IL-1α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, VEGF-A, VEGF-C, VEGFR1, and leptin concentrations in patients with esophageal, gastric, pancreas, colon, and rectum cancers than controls (p < 0.001, p < 0.0001). But, we found lower levels of the serum albumin, midkine, adiponectin, and ghrelin in patients with esophageal, gastric, pancreas, colon, and rectum cancers compared to control subjects (p < 0.05, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cachexia in gastrointestinal system cancer types is associated with changes in APRP, cytokines, and hormone concentrations. This may be reflected between the outcomes in malignancies and the biomarkers.

Serum thymidine kinase is associated with gastric adenocarcinoma.

Thymidine kinase (TK) plays an essential role in the processing of thymidine within the cell and therefore it is an important marker of proliferation, particularly in tumor cells. The aim of our study was to determine the diagnostic and prognostic importance of TK measurement in gastric adenocarcinoma. The serum level of TK was measured in 72 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. Serum levels of TK were significantly elevated in gastric adenocarcinoma in comparison with healthy individuals. Also, we have found that there are significant variations in TK serum concentrations when measured that correlate with important variations in clinico-pathological features and prognostic significance (Tab. 2, Ref. 16).

Serum des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin in patients with pancreatic head adenocarcinoma.

The total des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin (DCP) produced in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and the correlation between the tissue DCP and serum DCP levels has been examined. Fifty patients with resectable pancreatic head cancer were examined regarding both the tissue and serum levels of DCP. The mean tissue DCP in the cancer tissue, non-cancer tissue, the serum levels in patients, and the serum levels in controls was 190.500 mAU/ml mg protein, 32.000 mAU/ml mg protein, and 46.000 mAU, and 10.000 mAU, respectively. The elevation of tissue and serum levels of DCP in pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients is a very useful marker for pancreatic adnocarcinoma and should be used without any other tumor marker (Tab. 2, Ref. 15).