Introduction:Cancer cachexia is one of the most frequent effects of malignancy, is often associated with poor prognosis, and may account for up to 20% of cancer deaths. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship of cancer cachexia and serum levels of resistin and leptin in patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer.Methods:A total of 67 chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced-stage non–small cell cancer and a control group containing 20 healthy individuals without a known chronic disease were enrolled in this study. All individuals in the control group were age and sex matched. Demographic, anthropometric, laboratory data and serum levels of adipokines were measured for 2 groups. Progression-free survival and overall survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Survival among various factors was calculated using the log-rank test.Results:Patients presented significantly higher serum resistin (P = .0001) and lower serum leptin levels (P = .025) than the control group. Lower serum levels of leptin were correlated with overall survival (P = .011).Conclusions:Serum leptin and resistin levels play key role as proinflammatory cytokines in lung cancer and cancer cachexia; however, their use as diagnostic or prognostic markers is not possible yet, and further large-scale studies are required to confirm our findings.

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A study was designed to evaluate the frequency of complementary/alternative therapy (CAM) knowledge and usage in cancer patients. A 23-item survey questionnaire was administered to 494 patients who received chemotherapy in the medical oncology department of three hospitals between June 2011 and December 2011. After giving written informed consent, patients completed a selfadministered questionnaire. Differences among participants were assessed by using the SPSS 17.0 software. Of the 494 patients, 48% had heard of CAM, and 23.5% had used at least one CAM model. Herbs and vitamins were the most frequently used approach (82.2%). The most commonly used herb was the stinging nettle (55.5%). Marital status (p= 0.003), educational status (p< 0.001), monthly income (p< 0.001), knowledge about disease (p< 0.001), family history of comorbidity (p<0.012), and place of residence (0.004) were statistically significant for knowledge about CAM. However, marital status (p< 0.001), comorbidity (p= 0.004), educational status (p=0.006), family history of comorbidity (p= 0.008), and family history of cancer (p= 0.03) were statistically significant for CAM use. Logistic regression analysis showed that educational status (p=0.015), high monthly income (p=0.03), knowledge about disease (p= 0.005), and a family history of comorbidity (p= 0.005) were statistically significant for knowledge about CAM. Otherwise, only marital status (p< 0.001) and comorbidity (p= 0.04) were determined as independent factors for CAM use. 46UHOD

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is an uncommon disorder, accounting for less than 10% of cases of renal artery stenosis, and typically presenting with hypertension in young women. This article reports the case of a previously healthy 37-year-old man presenting with acute-onset, severe, bilateral flank pain. Initially treated for ureteral colic and urinary tract infection, he was transferred to the nephrology clinic upon recognition of a rising serum creatinine. He was found to have FMD of bilateral renal arteries with a stenotic pattern on the right side and a dissecting aneurysm on the left side with resultant infarctions in both kidneys. On the basis of negative serological markers of vasculitis, a diagnosis of FMD complicated by bilateral renal infarctions was made. A stent was placed to the right stenotic renal artery, which resulted in sufficient lumen patency. No invasive procedure was performed on the other side owing to the complexity of the lesion. After 2.5 years of follow-up, the patient remained in good condition with normal renal function and adequate blood pressure control with dual antihypertensive therapy. Renal infarction complicating FMD of renal arteries is rare in the literature, with most of the cases having causative cardiovascular risk factors including coagulopathy, ischaemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation or structural cardiac abnormalities, none of which was present in this case. In conclusion, FMD may occur in atypical asymmetric presentations causing renal infarctions in both kidneys. Radiological interventions in such cases should focus on stabilizing renal lesions and renal function.

Introduction: Quality of life (QoL) issues are of importance in relatives of women with breast cancer (BC)as caregivers in neglecting their own needs due to care of a patient and also as women regarding the potential risk of themselves developing BC. The objectives in the present study were to compare the QoL of female relatives of women in treatment for breast cancer. To date, no study had examined multi-dimensional QoL in accompanying people as compared them into two groups of female relatives whose first degree and second degree. Methods: QoL of female relatives was assessed using the Quality of Life-Family Version (QOL-FV) scale. Relationships between socio-demographic characteristics and QoL scores were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis and Crosstabs tests. Results: The mean age of the female relatives was 37.6 years, and nearly 48% had a university education. It was found that first degree relatives had worse QoL in all domains except physical wellbeing than second degree relatives. Conclusion: This study showed that being female relatives of BC, especially first-degree, affect QoL negatively. Health care providers are of an important role in the stage of information related to genetic influence of BC.