Author Correction: The clinical significance and diagnostic value of serum Dickkopf1 and CKAP4 levels in patients with gastric cancer: a prospective study.

Correction to: Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2023; 27 (20): 10031-10040-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202310_34183-PMID: 37916373-published online on October 27, 2023. After publication, the authors found a mistake in Table I. Under Table I, the following sentence "HR: hazard ratio. CI: confidence interval. SCC: squamous cell carcinoma. FIGO: International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. DFS: disease-free survival. OS: overall survival. p<0.05 and p<0.01 values were accepted for the significance level of the test" has been mistakenly inserted and must be removed. There are amendments to this paper. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/34183.

The clinical significance and diagnostic value of serum Dickkopf1 and CKAP4 levels in patients with gastric cancer: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Gastric cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage in most patients, and the prognosis is poor. Novel biochemical markers of high diagnostic value for the detection of the disease are therefore important. Dickkopf1 (DKK1) and cytoskeleton-associated protein 4 (CKAP4) have been extensively studied as biomarkers in cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum DKK1 and CKAP4 levels in 58 patients with gastric cancer and 41 healthy controls were examined using an ELISA kit in this prospective study. The patients were subdivided into groups based on pathological TNM staging and histological grades. Serum levels of both proteins in the patients with gastric cancer were measured preoperatively, 10 and 30 days after surgery. RESULTS: Serum DKK1 and CKAP4 levels were significantly higher in the gastric cancer group compared to the healthy controls (p<0.05). Serum levels of both proteins increased in line with the pathological stage and histological grade of the gastric cancer. Serum CKAP4 and DKK1 levels decreased after surgical resection. Both serum levels also decreased significantly on day 30 after surgery compared to day 10 (p<0.05). Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) positivity rates were below 20% in the gastric cancer group, while the diagnostic value (sensitivity and specificity) of serum CKAP-4 and DKK1 exceeded 80%. CONCLUSIONS: DKK1 and CKAP4 are biomarkers of high diagnostic value that can be used to diagnose and predict the severity of gastric cancer. These proteins can also be employed for disease monitoring after surgical resection. The diagnostic value of these proteins is higher than that of biomarkers such as CEA and CA19-9, which are routinely used in clinical practice.

Cytokine release syndrome in Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever: can IL-1 receptor antagonist levels be a guide in its treatment?

OBJECTIVE: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a potentially fatal zoonotic viral disease involving fever and hemorrhage. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-1 receptor antagonist (RA) levels in patients with CCHF and the course of the disease and mortality, as well as to contribute to the literature at a time when new therapeutic protocols are being investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-one patients with CCHF were admitted to our hospital's infectious diseases ward between March and September 2022, and 40 healthy people were included in the control group in our study. The patients were divided into mild/moderate (n=35) and severe (n=26) CCHF groups depending on the clinical course. The patients with CCHF were also divided into surviving and exitus groups. IL-1 and IL-1RA levels were measured from blood specimens using the ELISA method. RESULTS: Significant elevation in IL-1 and IL-1RA levels was observed in CCHF cases with a severe manifestation compared to those with moderate disease. Both patient groups' IL-1 and IL-1RA levels were also significantly higher than those of the control group. In addition, IL-1 and IL-1RA levels were significantly higher among the exitus patients compared to the surviving CCHF patients. The laboratory values of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine phosphokinase (CK), platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) were also significantly higher among the patients with severe manifestations compared to the moderate severity patient group, and in the exitus patients compared to the survivors. However, platelet count and fibrinogen levels were lower in the patients with a severe manifestation compared to the moderate severity group and in the exitus patients compared to the survivors. White blood cells (WBC) were higher in exitus patients than in survivors. CONCLUSIONS: IL-1 and IL-1RA levels were elevated in all the CCHF patients, while the higher values in patients with a fatal course suggest that the inflammatory process is very severe and that IL-1 receptor antagonists may be needed in the treatment.

High plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide and serum pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide levels in patients with neuropathic pain.

INTRODUCTION: Based on animal studies, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) are thought to play a role in neurobiological events such as neuropathic pain, neuroprotection, neurotransmission, neural plasticity, and neurotrophic effects. The aim of the study is to investigate whether there is a change in the blood level of CGRP and PACAP in patients with neuropathic pain and to look for clues about the utility of these peptides as pharmacological targets in the treatment of neuropathic pain in humans. METHODS: The study included 60 polyneuropathy patients with neuropathic pain, 30 polyneuropathy patients without neuropathic pain (NNP) and 29 healthy subjects as control group. Polyneuropathy patients with neuropathic pain were divided into two groups as diabetic (D-PNP) and non-diabetic polyneuropathy (ND-PNP) patients. Plasma CGRP and serum PACAP levels were measured from venous blood samples of the patients and healthy controls. RESULTS: The CGRP level was significantly higher in the D-PNP and ND-PNP groups compared to the control and NNP groups (P<0.05). PACAP levels were significantly higher in the D-PNP and ND-PNP groups compared to the control and NNP groups (P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between CGRP and PACAP levels and neuropathic pain scale (NPS). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to demonstrate elevated plasma CGRP and serum PACAP levels in polyneuropathy patients with neuropathic pain. The results of this study are important in terms of showing that both CGRP and PACAP can be new pharmacological targets in the treatment of neuropathic pain and polyneuropathy in humans.

Hepatoprotective potential of Ferula communis extract for carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative damage in rats.

We investigated the hepatoprotective potential of Ferula communis extract for CCI4 induced liver damage. We used six groups of rats: group 1, untreated control; group 2, CCl4 treated (hepatotoxic); group 3, treated with 150 mg/kg F. communis; group 4, treated with 300 mg/kg F. communis; group 5, treated with CCl4 + 150 mg/kg F. communis; and group 6, treated with CCl4 + 300 mg/kg F. communis. Liver damage was produced by injection of 1 ml/kg CCI4 twice/week. Extracts of F. communis, 150 and 300 mg/kg/day, were administered for 8 weeks. The effects of F. communis were assessed by measuring aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and total bilirubin (T-BIL) levels, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the liver. The histology and immunohistochemistry of liver tissue were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining, and caspase 3 and 8-OHdG immunostaining. F. communis extract produced significant reductions in elevated levels of ALT, AST, GGT and T-BIL and increased levels of GPx and SOD in rats treated with CCl4. F. communis extract decreased CCl4 induced 8-OHdG formation and caspase 3 activation significantly in hepatocytes, especially at the 150 mg/kg dose. Our findings demonstrate the potential efficacy of F. communis for attenuating CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative damage.

Serum paraoxonase and arylesterase values as antioxidants in healthy premature infants at fasting and posprandial times.

OBJECTIVE: Newborn infants, particularly preterm infants, are at greater risk of oxidative stress because of an imbalance between high oxidant loads and immature antioxidant defenses. In several studies, the activities of serum paraoxonase (PON) and arylesterase (ARE) have been found to decline in patients under increased oxidative stress. We investigated the relationships between PON-1 and ARE with fasting and postprandial in premature newborns in this study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum paraoxonase-1 and arylesterase levels were investigated in premature infants less than 37 weeks, after birth while they were fasting and postprandial. RESULTS: The paraoxonase-1 and arylesterase values of infants in fasting were significantly lower than the values in postprandial (for paraoxonase-1, p = 0.034, 0.002, and 0.002, respectively; for arylesterase, p < 0.001, 0.002, and p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In premature infants, paraoxonase-1 and arylesterase values are increased in postprandial and reduced in fasting, showing that these neonates are subjected to oxidative stress. Thus, starting feeding as soon as possible in premature newborns is vital to protect them from oxidative damage.

Umbilical cord blood endocan levels according to the delivery mode.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: The authors aimed to evaluate the endocan levels in the umbilical cord blood regarding the delivery mode. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred six women aged between 20 to 35 years, undergoing delivery at term were studied. Three groups were formed; 37 neonates born by spontaneous vaginal delivery (group 1), 34 neonates born by an elective cesarean section with the general anesthesia (group 2), and 35 neonates, born by an elective cesarean section with spinal anesthesia (group 3). In delivery, umbilical cord blood samples were collected and endocan levels were measured. RESULTS: The endocan levels of cord blood (mean ± standard deviation, ng/ml) were found to be lower in group 2 (1.21 ± 0.46) compared to group 1 (1.52 ± 0.52) (p = 0.011). Cord blood endocan levels were not different in group 1 than those of group 3 (p = 0.49). CONCLUSION: It may be concluded that cord blood endocan levels are affected by the delivery mode.