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.

Echocardiographic study on the origin of the innocent flow murmurs.

To investigate the origin of the pulmonary systolic ejection innocent flow murmur (IFM), echocardiographic examinations were undertaken in 30 children with IFM and in a control group consisting of 28 healthy children without murmur. Compared to the controls, the diameters of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) and aortic valve annulus and aortic valve area tended to be smaller, whereas stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output were slightly greater in children with IFM, but they were not statistically significant. Mean fractional shortening was significantly higher in children with IFM.

Cerebral candidiasis presenting as a mass lesion.

The authors report of a case of pseudotumour caused by Candida species without evidence of any underlying disease. No portal of entry of the infection was found. Total removal followed by treatment with flucanazole resulted in a favorable outcome.

Post-axial hexodactily and single atrium: a new syndrome?

A 3 1/2 year old boy is presented with postaxial hexodactily in all extremities, a persisting large left vena cava superior (VCS) draining into the left part of a single atrium and a mild dextroversio cordis. All extra fingers and the lateral parts of the fused metatarsals were amputated. At age 10, the cardiovascular anomalies were surgically corrected successfully by separating the atrium with a pericardial patch and by draining the left VCS to the right atrium with a graft.