Tissue and serum adiponectin levels in patients with gastric cancer: are there any correlations between adiponectin levels and histopathological variables?

Background/aims: Adiponectin is secreted from adipose tissue and is characterized by hyperinsulinemia, which is related with obesity. Adiponectin levels are significantly lower in gastric cancer patients than in healthy controls. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between adiponectin levels in serum, tumor tissue and normal tissue with some other insulin resistance parameters.

Bilateral conjunctival MALT lymphoma mimicking chronic conjunctivitis.

Background: The diagnosis of conjunctival lymphoid tu-mors is straightforward when they present with a characteristic salmon-pink, pebbly, multinodular appearance. However, rarely a diffuse clinical presentation is encountered, and this may mimic chronic conjunctivitis of other etiologies.

Case Report: A 60-year-old man was referred to our clinic with bilateral conjunctival masses in May 2005.

Is metastatic lymph node ratio superior to the number of metastatic lymph nodes to assess outcome and survival of gastric cancer?

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of metastatic lymph node ratio (n ratio).

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 202 patients who had undergone curative gastrectomy. The prognostic factors including UICC/AJCC TNM classification and n ratio were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis.

The association of serum adiponectin levels with histopathological variables in gastric cancer patients.

Adiponectin is a peptide hormone secreted from the adipose tissue, affecting the proliferation and insulin sensitivity in different cell types. The levels of adiponectin have been found to be decreased in hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistant states, such as obesity. The previous studies have suggested that plasma adiponectin levels are decreased in patients with endometrial and breast cancer.

Myasthenia gravis and autoimmune Addison disease in a patient with thymoma.

The association of thymoma with myasthenia gravis has been well documented. However, the relationship between these two syndromes and Addison disease are very rarely encountered in clinical practice. We report on a 32-year-old man who underwent a resection for thymoma 48 months ago.

5-Fluorouracil induces arterial vasoconstrictions but does not increase angiotensin II levels.

Because the mechanisms of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) cardiotoxicity have not yet been completely identified, prophylactic options are not available. To our knowledge, there are no published data investigating the use of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors for 5-Fluorouracil-associated cardiotoxicity. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the influence of 5-FU administration on the diameter of the brachial artery and the levels of angiotensin II.

Preoperative serum leptin levels in patients with breast cancer.

Leptin is an adipocyte-derived protein and plays an important role in the control of body weight by acting as a neurohormone regulating energy balance and food intake in the hypothalamus. The high serum leptin levels and the overexpression of leptin receptors have been documented in breast cancer patients, but the levels never checked preoperatively. In the present study, the relationship between preoperative serum leptin levels of the breast cancer patients and the healthy controls were evaluated.