a b s t r a c tObjective: Adipocytokines have been reported to contribute to the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this matched case-control study was to explore circulating novel adipocytokines, such as serum visfatin, omentin-1 and vaspin levels in patients with CRC. Method: Serum visfatin, omentin-1, and vaspin levels were measured in 69 subjects (39 patients with colorectal cancer and 30 age-and sex-matched healthy controls) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. Results: Compared with the controls, patients with CRC had significantly higher circulating omentin-1 (203.23 vs 9.12 ng/ml, p < 0.0001) visfatin (4.03 vs 2.01 ng/ml, p < 0.0001) and vaspin (0.54 vs 0.31 ng/ ml, p = 0.015) levels. After adjustment for covariates (age and body mass index), patients with CRC had significantly higher serum omentin-1 (p < 0.0001), visfatin (p < 0.0001), and vaspin (p = 0.040) levels than the control group. Furthermore, the results did not change when age and waist-to-hip ratio were considered as covariates in the general linear models. Conclusions: The observed higher levels of omentin-1, visfatin, and vaspin in patients with CRC, independent of measures of obesity, suggest that these adipocytokines may have a potential role in the development of CRC through mechanisms other than the indirect mechanisms that are active in the association between obesity and CRC.

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PET imaging using novel radiotracers show promises for tumor grading and molecular characterization through visualizing molecular and functional properties of the tumors. Application of PET tracers in brain neoplasm depends on both type of the neoplasm and the research or clinical significance required to be addressed. In clinical neuro-oncology, 18 F-FDG is used mainly to differentiate tumor recurrence from radiation-induced necrosis, and novel PET agents show attractive imaging properties. Novel PET tracers can offer biologic information not visible via contrast-enhanced MRI or 18 F-FDG PET. This review aims to provide an update on the complementary role of PET imaging in neuro-oncology both in research and clinical settings along with presenting interesting cases in this context.

The bone and fat interface is implicated in the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The association between circulating omentin-1 levels and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women has never been assessed. A total of 382 healthy postmenopausal women were randomly selected. Omentin-1, visfatin, adiponectin, the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, degradation products of C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen, and osteocalcin were measured by highly specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. BMD was determined for the lumbar spine (L2-L4) and the proximal femur using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. In multivariable-adjusted linear regression, serum omentin-1 levels were inversely correlated with BMD at the lumbar spine (β =−0.11, p= 0.020). In multiple regression analyses, serum visfatin and adiponectin levels were not significantly correlated with BMD at different skeletal sites after controlling for age, body mass index, and bone-related markers. However, the highest quartile of adiponectin compared to the lowest quartile, after adjusting for potential confounders, revealed an inverse association with BMD in the lumbar spine (β=−0.19, p=0.010). In conclusion, circulating omentin-1 levels had an inverse correlation with BMD at the lumbar spine in Iranian postmenopausal women. To further understand the role of omentin-1 in bone and mineral metabolism, large-scale longitudinal studies focusing on BMD and osteoporotic fractures are warranted.

Although it has been shown that osteocalcin functions as a hormone in the regulation of glucose metabolism and fat mass, no population-based study to date has addressed serum osteocalcin levels in relation to energy metabolism concurrent with bone metabolism in postmenopausal women. In a population-based study, cardiovascular risk factors, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), osteoprotegerin, receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand, osteocalcin, CrossLaps, alkaline phosphatase, and bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine (L2-L4) and the proximal femur were measured in 382 Iranian postmenopausal women. In multiple logistic regression analysis, lower osteocalcin and CrossLaps levels were associated with a higher odds ratio (OR) of having type 2 diabetes mellitus when adjustments were made for age, hs-CRP, cardiovascular risk factors, BMD, and markers of bone metabolism [OR 5.17, CI (2.66-10.04), p < 0.0001 and OR 2.51, CI (1.37-4.61), p = 0.003, respectively]. However, lower alkaline phosphatase levels were associated with a lower OR of having type 2 diabetes mellitus [OR 0.28, CI (0.15-0.52), p < 0.0001] in regression analysis. No significant difference was found between serum osteocalcin levels of those with and without metabolic syndrome. Among the metabolic syndrome components, low osteocalcin levels had significant associations with elevated blood glucose [OR 1.89, CI (1.16-3.07), p = 0.010] and elevated waist circumference [OR 2.53, CI (1.13-5.67), p = 0.024] in multivariate analyses. In conclusion, serum osteocalcin was independently associated with glucose intolerance and abdominal obesity as the components of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus in postmenopausal women. Since CrossLaps and alkaline phosphatase levels were independently associated with the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, the unique contribution of osteocalcin in glucose metabolism could not be concluded.

Tuberculosis (TB) is currently the world's leading cause of infectious mortality. The complex immune response of the human body to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) results in a wide array of clinical manifestations, thus the clinical and radiological diagnosis can be challenging. 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18 F-FDG-PET) scan with/without computed tomography (CT) component images the whole body and provides a metabolic map of the infection, enabling clinicians to assess the disease burden. 18 F-FDG-PET/CT scan is particularly useful in detecting the disease in previously unknown sites, and allows the most appropriate site of biopsy to be selected. 18 F-FDG-PET/CT is also very valuable in assessing early disease response to therapy, and plays an important role in cases where conventional microbiological methods are unavailable and for monitoring response to therapy in cases of multidrugresistant TB or extrapulmonary TB. 18 F-FDG-PET/CT cannot reliably differentiate active TB lesion from malignant lesions and false positives can also be due to other infective or inflammatory conditions. 18 F-FDG PET is also unable to distinguish tuberculous lymphadenitis from metastatic lymph node involvement. The lack of specificity is a limitation for 18 F-FDG-PET/CT in TB management.

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PurposeThe main objective of the Bushehr Elderly Health Programme, in its first phase, is to investigate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and their association with major adverse cardiovascular events.ParticipantsBetween March 2013 and October 2014, a total of 3000 men and women aged ≥60 years, residing in Bushehr, Iran, participated in this prospective cohort study (participation rate=90.2%).Findings to dateBaseline data on risk factors, including demographic and socioeconomic status, smoking and medical history, were collected through a modified WHO MONICA questionnaire. Vital signs and anthropometric measures, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, weight, height, and waist and hip circumference, were also measured. 12-lead electrocardiography and echocardiography were conducted on all participants, and total of 10 cc venous blood was taken, and sera was separated and stored at –80°C for possible future use. Preliminary data analyses showed a noticeably higher prevalence of risk factors among older women compared to that in men.Future plansRisk factor assessments will be repeated every 5 years, and the participants will be followed during the study to measure the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events. Moreover, the second phase, which includes investigation of bone health and cognition in the elderly, was started in September 2015. Data are available at the Persian Gulf Biomedical Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran, for any collaboration.