Targeted MicroRNA Profiling in Gastric Cancer with Clinical Assessement.

Although several microRNAs (miRNAs) have been associated with gastric cancer there is still the need for identification of stable and validated biomarkers. The purpose of this study was to determine the alterations of a specific set of miRNA levels in gastric adenocarcinoma tissues to identify and validate gastric cancer-specific miRNAs using paired normal and tumor samples in an independent patient cohort. Gastric adenocarcinoma and normal stomach tissue samples of 20 patients who underwent surgery for gastric cancer were studied. The miRNA expression profiling was performed for eight miRNAs in a total of 40 tissue samples using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Six out of these eight miRNAs, namely, miR-375-3p, hsamiR-129-5p, miR-196a-5p, miR-376c-3p, miR-34c-5p and miR-767-5p, were significantly underexpressed in malignant tissues of our cohort. Furthermore, the expression of miR-662 although not significantly different between normal and tumor tissues, was inversely associated with age (r = -0.440, p = 0.049). The levels of miR-129-3p and miR34c-5p were correlated with an increase in the number of metastatic lymph nodes (r = 0.470, p = 0.036; r = 0.510, p = 0.020), while and miR-376c-3p levels were negatively associated with smoking (p = 0.043). In addition, we found that the variability of miRNA expression in cancerous tissues was lower than that in normal tissues. Alterations in miRNA expression in gastric adenocarcinoma tissues in comparison to healthy tissues of each individual serves for identification of consistent biomarkers that can be used for development of diagnostic tools for gastric cancer.

Association between red cell distribution width and mean platelet volume with appendicitis: a myth or a fact?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to identify if there was a relation between red cell distribution width, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, leukocyte count and thrombocyte count at the time of presentation to hospital and acute appendicitis. BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies. Misinterpretation of symptoms and findings in acute appendicitis may lead to removal of normal appendix and delayed diagnosis can result in perforation and peritonitis. Many studies tried to delineate the relation between acute appendicitis and laboratory findings. Latest studies focused on components of complete blood count such as red cell distribution width and mean platelet volume. METHODS: This was a retrospective clinical study that enrolled 638 patients with abdominal pain and open appendectomy for acute appendicitis. Complete blood count results including red cell distribution width were retrieved from medical charts of patients and analyzed. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between appendicitis, non pathological appendix and perforated appendicitis in terms of red cell distribution width or other blood count components except leukocyte level. CONCLUSION: Despite current findings in medical literature indicating predictive value of red cell distribution width in acute appendicitis; its utility for differential diagnosis might be overestimated (Tab. 1, Ref. 22).

Red cell distribution width, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase and anticoagulant use affect mortality in acute arterial mesenteric ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in surgery and intensive care, mortality in acute mesenteric ischemia remains between 50% and 90%. In this study, we evaluated factors affecting mortality in acute arterial mesenteric ischemia. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study involving 73 patients with an initial diagnosis of arterial acute mesenteric ischemia admitted to Ankara Numune Teaching Hospital between January 2008 and December 2013. We retrospectively collected data about demographic variables, co-morbidities, medications, extent of surgical resection, laboratory values, pathology results and outcome. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 69.3±12.6. Thirty one patients were female (42.46%) and 42 (57.53%) were male. We divided the patients into two groups: Group 1 (n=40); those who died and Group 2 (n=33); those who were discharged. In multivariate analysis of high gamma glutamyl transpeptidase and red cell distribution width levels, the presence of anticoagulant use was statistically significant (p<0.05) in favor of Group 1. CONCLUSION: High red cell distribution width and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase levels and anti-coagulant use are factors affecting mortality in arterial acute mesenteric ischemia. The assessment of these variables could help predict the extent of arterial acute mesenteric ischemia and the mortality associated with it.