Background: Since the first introduction of tumour markers, their usefulness for diagnosis has been a challenging question. The aim of the present prospective study was to investigate, in colorectal cancer patients, the relationship between preoperative tumour marker concentrations and various clinical variables. Methods: The study prospectively enrolled 131 consecutive patients with a confirmed diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma and 131 age- and sex-matched control subjects with no malignancy. The relationships of the tumour markers carcinoembryonic antigen (cea) and carbohydrate antigen (ca) 19-9 with disease stage, tumour differentiation (grade), mucus production, liver function tests, T stage, N stage, M stage were investigated. Results: Serum concentrations of cea were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (p = 0.001); they were also significantly higher in stage iii (p = 0.018) and iv disease (p = 0.001) than in stage i. Serum concentrations of cea were significantly elevated in the presence of spread to lymph nodes (p = 0.005) in the patient group. Levels of both tumour markers were significantly elevated in the presence of distant metastasis in the patient group (p = 0.005 for cea; p = 0.004 for ca 19-9). Conclusions: Preoperative levels of cea and ca 19-9 might provide an estimate of lymph node invasion and distant metastasis in colorectal cancer patients.

The extract from larval Lucilia sericata is used clinically to promote wound healing and tissue regeneration. However, its effect and underlying mechanisms on fibroblast cells, which are involved in the wound healing process, are still poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the effects of larval secretions on dermal fibroblast activity and gene expression and to evaluate the wound healing potential of their major components. Primary rat fibroblasts were cultured and treated with larval secretions. Following the treatment, the cells were used to extract RNA for gene profiling. In addition, migration to the injury site was studied with the scratch healing assay. Our results showed that larval secretion accelerated the migration of the fibroblasts compared to the control cells and that several mRNAs were differentially expressed during a period of 72 h incubation. Additionally, we analyzed the chemical composition of larval secretions and showed that fumaric acid, ferulic acid, and p-coumaric acid, which were selected and identified for their major components, enhanced the migration of the fibroblasts. Therefore, these results indicate that L. sericata larval secretions could modulate the mRNA expression of some wound healing-related genes of the fibroblasts and contain the effective components for wound healing.

Ophthalmomyiasis is the infestation of the eye with fly larvae. Oestrus ovis is one of the most common causes of ophthalmomyiasis worldwide. Herein, we describe a case of external ophthalmomyiasis caused by Oestrus ovis in an 18-year-old female living in the city centre of Istanbul and who had no history of contact with any animal.

Extragastrointestinal stromal tumors that arise in the pancreas are extremely rare and managing them can be difficult, particularly if located in the head of pancreas. This case report aims to contribute to the existing data in the literature regarding extragastrointestinal stromal tumors with rare and unusual locations. We present a 56-year-old man who presented with recurrent mild right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass lesion with a diameter of 10 cm localized in the head of pancreas. Pancreaticoduodenectomy with complete tumor excision was performed. He was discharged on the postoperative day 14. Only 15 extragastrointestinal stromal tumors cases have been reported. Of these 15 cases, tumors were located in the head of pancreas in six cases. Here we report the seventh case of pancreatic extragastrointestinal stromal tumor arising in the head of pancreas and also the largest of these seven tumors.

Background: The impact of high-risk surgery on tissue perfusion can be indirectly assessed by measuring lactate levels during surgery and intensive care unit (ICU) stay. While consistently high values are associated with poor prognosis, transient elevations do not mean poor clinical outcomes. Therefore, intraoperative and early postoperative blood lactate monitoring is essential for cancer patients. Aims and Objective: This study aimed to determine the risk factors of persistently elevated lactate levels in the intraoperative and postoperative period in patients with elective gastric cancer surgery. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 293 patients who underwent curative resection for gastric cancer. Lactate values of all patients were examined during surgery and ICU-stay at 3rd, 6th, 12th, and 18th hours. All lactate values above 2 mmol/L were considered elevated. The patients were divided into two groups as those with perioperative persistently increased lactate levels and those without. Results: Of the 293 patients, 60 (20.5%) had higher lactate levels in the perioperative period. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, the operative time had the highest significance rate (p = 0.020) out of two significant variables, followed by the BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (p = 0.048). Besides, patients with perioperative hyperlactatemia had prolonged hospital stays (p = 0.034). Conclusions: Operative time and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) were independent risk factors for persistent lactate elevation in the perioperative period. Also, perioperative hyperlactatemia extended the length of hospital stay.