Label-Free Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Cancer Detection.

Blood is a vital reservoir housing numerous disease-related metabolites and cellular components. Thus, it is also of interest for cancer diagnosis. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is widely used for molecular detection due to its very high sensitivity and multiplexing properties. Its real potential for cancer diagnosis is not yet clear. In this study, using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as substrates, a number of experimental parameters and scenarios were tested to disclose the potential for this technique for cancer diagnosis. The discrimination of serum samples from cancer patients, healthy individuals and patients with chronic diseases was successfully demonstrated with over 90% diagnostic accuracies. Moreover, the SERS spectra of the blood serum samples obtained from cancer patients before and after tumor removal were compared. It was found that the spectral pattern for serum from cancer patients evolved into the spectral pattern observed with serum from healthy individuals after the removal of tumors. The data strongly suggests that the technique has a tremendous potential for cancer detection and screening bringing the possibility of early detection onto the table.

The Predictive Role of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 Serum Levels in the Complete Response of the Tumor to Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the serum levels of MMPs and TIMPs in breast cancer (BC) patients to predict the response rate to/after treatment with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy. BC is the most common cancer in women and MMPs are responsible for the breakdown of ECM proteins during organogenesis and TIMPs are restricted the ECM destruction by MMPs. However, the predictive role of MMPs and TIMPs in the treatment response of BC patients has not identified. METHODS: This study consisted of 96 BC patients (34 neoadjuvant treatment and 62 surgically treated) and 35 healthy individuals. ELISA was used to determine the level of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 from serum samples of BC patients. RESULTS: The mean levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-2 were significantly increased in all BC patients at diagnosis and after chemotherapy, but MMP-2 was considerably lower at diagnosis. There was only a significant difference in the TIMP-1 levels after chemotherapy as well as HER2 and ER status in the neoadjuvant and surgically treated group. Additionally, MMP-2 and MMP-9 serum levels negatively correlated with tumor size and metastatic lymph nodes in BC patients after chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: BC patients with high levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-2 can be used to predict the stage of the tumor and CR to chemotherapy and higher TIMP-1 serum level after chemotherapy could be related to better response to chemotherapy.

Coexistence of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and Male Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer is one of the rarest types of cancer in men. Its incidence increases with age, as in women. Neurofibromatosis type 1 is an autosomal dominant genetic disease that predisposes to many cancer types. Neurofibromatosis and breast cancer have been more frequently distinguished and better studied in women. Characteristically, estrogen, progesterone receptors, negative, and overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) are detected in patients with female neurofibromatosis breast cancers. In cases reported so far, estrogen and progesterone receptors have been evaluated as positive and HER2 negative in male patients. With the high possibility of breast cancer development in female patients with neurofibromatosis at an earlier age, prompt and careful evaluation is required in terms of both examination and radiological imaging. Unfortunately, there are no thorough recommendations for breast cancer follow-up in male patients with neurofibromatosis. Here, we present a breast cancer, which is an uncommon type of cancer in male neurofibromatosis.

The Karaman score: A new diagnostic score for acute appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: The Karaman score is a novel diagnostic scoring system consisting of 6 parameters. The aim of the present study was to assess the diagnostic performance of the Karaman score in comparison with the Alvarado score. METHODS: A total of 200 patients who underwent an appendectomy were enrolled in the study (research registry number: 2290). RESULTS: The cutoff threshold of the Karaman score in distinguishing acute appendicitis from negative appendectomy was ≥9 with 84.3% sensitivity, 64.7% specificity, 92.1% positive predictive value (PPV), and 45.8% negative predictive value (NPV). The cutoff threshold of the Alvarado score in distinguishing acute appendicitis from negative appendectomy was ≥8 with 72.9% sensitivity, 70.6% specificity, 92.4% PPV, and 34.8% NPV. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, an Alvarado ≥8 score (Odds ratio [OR]:6.644, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.854-15.466; p<0.001) and a Karaman ≥9 score (OR:10.374, 95% CI: 4.383-24.558; p<0.001) were each individually predictive in distinguishing acute appendicitis from negative appendectomy when correction was made according to age and gender. However, when both scores were evaluated together, the Alvarado score ≥8 lost its efficacy (OR:1.838, 95% CI: 0.517-6.530; p=0.347), whereas the Karaman score ≥9 retained its predictive power (OR:6.586, 95% CI: 1.893-22.917; p=0.003). CONCLUSION: The Karaman score was more predictive than the Alvarado score in distinguishing acute appendicitis from a negative appendectomy.

Treatment results of small bowel perforations due to unusual causes.

OBJECTIVES: Although non-traumatic Small Bowel Perforations (SBPs) are rare, they have high rates of morbidity and mortality in case of late presentation. Aetiological factors vary across different geographical regions. In this paper, SBPs caused by anything other than trauma and other well-known causes are presented and the current literature is reviewed. METHODS: The study was conducted at General Surgery Clinics of two different tertiary university hospitals between January 2008 and September 2016. The authors directly involved in managing the patients. This study was approved by the ethical institutional board and was performed at the Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Sakarya University. The medical records of patients retained in both hospitals are electronic. Medical records of subjects who had undergone emergency operations with a prediagnosis of acute abdomen in single center, and were determined to have SBPs due to unusual causes, were investigated retrospectively. Patients with aetiological factors such as trauma, mesenteric vascular disease, internal and external hernias, intra abdominal adhesions, inflammatory bowel diseases, and iatrogenic causes were excluded. RESULTS: In total, 35 patients were evaluated, 20 (57.1%) males and 15 (42.9%) females. The mean age of the cases was 51.6 (18-88) years. Mean time until admission at the hospital was 1.4 days (range 0.25-7 days). The most frequent aetiological factors were various malignancies (10 cases, 28.5%) and perforation of Meckel's diverticulum (8 cases, 22.8%). It was surprising to detect a considerable rate of perforation due to bezoars (6 patients, 17.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Post-operative consequences of SBPs due to unusual causes are similar with those related to common, known causes. Factors affecting the clinical course are presentation time and patients' clinical status in admission, not aetiology.

Coexisting Situs Inversus Totalis and Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

Situs inversus totalis is a rare congenital abnormality with mirror symmetry of mediastinal and abdominal organs. Immune thrombocytopenic purpura is an autoimmune disease with destruction of thrombocytes. This paper is presentation of surgical approach to a case with coexistence of these two conditions.

Retroanastomotic hernia after Moynihan's gastroenterostomy.

Retroanastomotic hernias after gastroenterostomies-either antecolic or retrocolic-are extremely rare but are associated with high mortality rates due to delayed identification which precludes immediate surgical reduction. In this report, we present a 77-year-old man with retroanastomotic herniation of the efferent loop segments that occurred 14 years after a Moynihan's gastroenterostomy.

Indirect inguinal hernia sac containing testis and spermatic cord in an adult patient with cryptorchidism.

Sliding hernias are those in which part of the sac wall is formed by a retroperitoneal organ and/or its mesentery protruding outside the abdominal wall cavity. The hernia sac may contain jejunum, ileum, vermiform appendix, Meckel's diverticulum, stomach, ovary, fallopian tube or urinary bladder. Our report features an adult case with cryptorchidism in which testis and spermatic cord constitute a component of the indirect inguinal hernia sac.