No abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC), the second most fatal cancer and the 3rd most common cancer is expected to cause 0.9 million deaths globally in 2025. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is currently used in the follow-up of patients with colorectal cancer, and in this study, we are trying to find a better marker than CEA in following up on patients' health and knowing the effectiveness of the treatment used and as a diagnostic marker for colorectal cancer. To determine the significance of Cancer antigen 72-4 (CA72-4) as a prognosis predictor in patients with colorectal cancer, compare its prognostic validity to the CEA biomarker. this case-control study includes (150) participants, 100 patients (59 males and 41 females), and 50 healthy controls (26 males, 24 females). Blood samples were collected from all participants to measure the serum concentrations of CA72-4 and CEA using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Between November 2020 and February 2021 in Baghdad, Iraq, this investigation was conducted at the oncology teaching hospital's gastrointestinal consulting clinic. There was a strong positive relation between CA242 and CEA (R = 0.953, p <0.001) and participants with colorectal cancer had considerably greater levels of CA72-4 than healthy controls (p <0.001). AUC was 0.944, sensitivity was 86%, specificity was 94%, and the cutoff value was 50 U/ml for the CA72-4. while AUC was 0.919, sensitivity was 91%, specificity was 80%, and the cutoff value was 5 ng/ml for the CEA.CA72-4 can serve as a potential prognostic and diagnostic biomarker for colorectal cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer-related mortality worldwide, and its prevalence is increasing among many nations.  Aim of the study: Investigate the predictive value of carbohydrate antigen 242 (CA242) in comparison to the CEA biomarker and to estimate the significance of CA242 as prognosis maker in colorectal cancer patients. Methods: a case-control study with a total of 150 individuals, 100 patients (59 males, 41 females) and 50 healthy controls (26 males, 24 females). using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) to determine the serum levels of CA242 and CEA. The study was carried out at the gastroenterology consultation clinic of the oncology teaching hospital between November 2020 and February 2021in Baghdad, Iraq. Result: Patients with colorectal cancer had significantly higher CA242 levels than healthy controls (p >0.001) with a significant positive correlation between CA242 and CEA (r = 0.866, p >0.001). The CA242 ROC curve study revealed an AUC of 0.933, a sensitivity of 89%, a specificity of 88%, and a cutoff value of 45 U/ml. CA242 can serve as a potential prognostic biomarker for colorectal cancer.

Rationale: Pancreatic insulinomas are the most frequent pancreatic endocrine neoplasms. They are insulin-secreting pancreatic tumors that induce extreme, recurrent, and near-fatal hypoglycemia. Insulinomas affect 1 to 4 individuals in a million of the general population and account for about 1% to 2% of all pancreatic tumors. Patient concerns: Recurrent episodes of sweating, tremor, weakness, confusion, palpitation, blurred vision, and fainting for 2 months and was misdiagnosed as having atrial fibrillation. Diagnosis: He was misdiagnosed as having atrial fibrillation to highlight the importance of atrial fibrillation as unusual mimicker of insulinoma and to encourage clinicians about the importance of early and appropriate management in such cases. Interventions: Endoscopic ultrasound for the pancreatic parenchyma was done, and it showed a hypoechoic homogenous mass located at the pancreatic head measuring 12 mm × 15 mm with no local vascular involvement, blue in elastography, hypervascular with Doppler study, and a normal pancreatic duct diameter. Outcomes: His condition was stable, and he was discharged home 2 days later. Conclusion: The diagnosis of insulinoma is usually difficult and late due to the extremely low incidence of the disease and the similarity of its clinical presentation to numerous other conditions, the most reported is epilepsy.

Nutritional assessment is essential in the evaluation of individuals’ health status. this study seeks to develop and validate a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) that can be used as a nutritional assessment tool in epidemiological studies. a stratified random sampling enrolled sixty-five participants from Baghdad university college of medicine. participants were asked to fill a four days food upon which the questionnaire was developed. the participants were asked to fill the questionnaire based on their food intake in the last year. the data was entered using a food application, and the data source for the food nutritional values was obtained from different food composition tables. the serving size was assessed based on the Canadian nutritional society guidelines. the validation and reliability of the questionnaire were evaluated by comparing food intake of the records and the questionnaires using paired mean difference and Pearson correlation coefficient. the energy was adjusted using the nutrient density method. the mean difference between the records and questionnaire was 151.3 kcal, 7.61, 10.45, 10.24 gram for energy, fat, carbohydrate, and protein, respectively. the correlation coefficient between the record and the questionnaire was 0.829, 0.583, 0.323, and 0.547 for energy, fat, carbohydrate, and protein, respectively. in conclusion, this is the first valid food frequency questionnaire that was shown to be valid and reliable in providing a nutritional assessment of dietary intake in Iraq. it requires more efforts to be considered as a national tool for dietary assessment.