Evaluation of CA 15-3 serum levels in breast cancer patients.

The usefulness of post operative serum CA 15-3 determination was evaluated in a group of 57 breast cancer patients. CA 15-3 was assayed at baseline and every 3 months for a median follow-up of 34 months. Recurrence-free survival probability for patients with elevated serum CA 15-3 levels before surgery was 53.5% versus 88% for patients with normal serum CA 15-3 levels (p < 0.201). In 12 of the 15 patients with increased trend for CA 15-3 during follow-up, elevated CA 15-3 levels preceded (10 patients) coincided (2 patients) with the clinical detection of tumour recurrence, providing a predictive value of an increased trend of 80%. In the group of 10 patients who showed elevated serum CA 15-3 levels prior to the detection of recurrence, the median load-time was 5 months/(range 3-11 months). We concluded that CA 15-3 had prognostic value in breast cancer. Serial determinations of CA 15-3 was consistent with the treatment results.

Fibrin stabilizing factor activity of the skin carcinoma.

Activity of fibrin stabilizing factor and contents of sulphydryl group in the homogenate of malignant skin carcinomas (melanoma, spinocellular carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, fibromyoma, liposarcoma) is higher than in the homogenate of benign neoplasm (lipoma, papilloma) and in the homogenate of the normal skin. Fibrin stabilizing factor activity and contents of sulphydryl group in the blood serum of subjects with malignant skin carcinomas is slightly lower than in the blood serum of subjects benign neoplasm and in healthy subjects.

Multifocal necrotizing fasciitis - case report.

PURPOSE: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare, life-threatening soft-tissue infection, characterized by rapidly spreading inflammation, with secondary necrosis of the fascia and surrounding tissues. It is mostly caused by group A beta-haemolytic streptococci or multibacterial. A case of the 25-year-old man admitted on September 2006 to the Department of Dermatology and Venereology with suspicion of erysipelas of the left upper limb and left foot is presented. On admission the pain, erythema, diffuse oedema of the left upper limb and erythema of the left foot were observed. Laboratory results revealed elevated: ESR, acute phase parameters (C-reactive protein, D-dimer), CPK and fibrinogen. Within 72-hours, despite treatment with antibiotics and anticoagulants, the oedema and pain increased, initial necrosis of the skin and extreme local tenderness appeared. Suspecting NF the patient had been transported to the Department of Surgery from where, after surgical debridement of devitalized tissue, was moved to the Intensive Care Unit and then transferred to the National Centre of Hyperbaric Medicine of the Medical University of Gdansk. Despite of repeated debridement, aggressive antibiotic therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, necrosis was spreading. The patient developed sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Amputation of the left upper limb was performed. Five months later patient was admitted to ICU in Bialystok after a suicide attempt. After next four months he died. The dramatic course of the disease is the evidence, that having an adequate knowledge about early symptoms of NF can save patient's life.