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BackgroundThe importance of cell-cell junction proteins (including armadillo proteins) in tumor biology is known, but limited with regard to plakophilins. We explored the relationship between plakophilins (PKP1, PKP2, PKP3) to gastric cancer via immunohistochemical techniques.MethodsWe compared the immunohistochemistry of PKPs in 34 gastric adenocarcinomas and 20 normal gastric tissues.ResultsIn gastric cancer, PKP1 expression was unchanged but PKP2 and PKP3 were significantly decreased as compared to normal controls. There was no observable clinical association with PKP1 or PKP2 expression; however, low PKP3 level and poor prognosis appeared to correlate with regards to node number and tumor stage. The mean disease-free survival (DFS) was 38 ± 3 months (range: 32 - 44) and mean overall survival (OS) 42 ± 4 months (range: 38 - 50). Decreased PKP2 appeared to negatively impact DFS.ConclusionDecreased PKP2 and PKP3 may be early prognostic markers and loss of PKP3 expression during gastric carcinoma progression may indicate an invasive phenotype.

The pathogenesis of Behçet's disease (BD) is not fully understood and immunological abnormalities and genetic factors have been investigated. Because serum concentrations of mainly T helper 1 (Th1) type cells have been reported to be increased in BD, we aimed to investigate whether certain cytokine polymorphisms might represent a risk factor for developing BD. We genotyped 80 patients with BD and 105 healthy controls for interleukin (IL)-1 alpha (T/C -889), IL-1 beta (C/T -511, T/C +3962), IL-1R (C/T pst11970), IL-1RA (T/C mspa111100), IL-2 (T/G -330), IL-12 (C/A -1188), interferon (IFN)-gamma (A/T UTR 5644), and TNF-alpha (G/A -238) polymorphisms. Analyses of cytokine polymorphisms were performed with PCR-SSP. The genotype and allele frequencies of the patients and controls were compared and the association between the polymorphisms of the cytokines with the clinical findings was investigated. Genotype distribution showed significant differences between the patients and the controls for the IL-1 alpha -889, IL-1 beta -511, IL-1 beta +3962, IL-1R, IL-12, IFN- gamma, and TNF-alpha cytokines. We didn't observe significant difference in genotypic frequencies of IL-1RA and IL-2 in our study. Comparison of the IL-1 alpha -889, IL 1 beta -511, and IL 1 beta +3962 genotype frequencies showed significant increase in CC genotype between the patients and the controls. The individuals with IL-1R TT polymorphism had a higher risk for BD compared to patients with CT/CC polymorphism. Comparison of IL-12, IFN- gamma, and TNF-alpha, genotype frequencies showed significant increase in CA, AA, and AA genotypes between the patients and controls, respectively. The frequencies of genotypes according to the clinical features of the patients with BD did not show a significant difference (p>0.05). Our study suggests that development of BD might be determined by various cytokine gene polymorphisms. However, further studies on larger numbers of cases are needed before definite conclusions can be drawn.

The randomly selected control subjects consisted of 66 age matched patients with no retinal vein obstruction and no refraction default. Axial lengths were measured by the same person using the same technique.In patients with retinal vein occlusion the axial length of the affected eyes were compared with the other healthy unaffected eyes, and also with the control eyes. Statistical analyses were performed by paired t and Student's t tests.Statistical significance was considered as p<0.05. The means were given with their standard error (SEM) and difference between the two means were compared within the 95% confidence interval. ResultsOf the 17 patients with CRVO, 1 1 were women and six were men. Their ages ranged between 55 and 73 years with a mean of 63.87 (SEM

Currently, tuberculosis remains a major public health problem worldwide. Peritoneal tuberculosis occurs in approximately 1% of all of tuberculosis cases and is rarely observed in children. Diagnosis and treatment delays caused by mimicking many other intra-abdominal diseases can lead to increases in morbidity and mortality. Here, we present a case of a four-year-old child with tuberculosis peritonitis who was diagnosed by laparoscopic biopsy and histopathological examination and recovered with antituberculosis therapy. Peritoneal tuberculosis should be considered in younger patients and adults with fever, abdominal pain and weight loss in endemic areas.

VKH disease is rare in Turkey. We conclude that the majority of patients with VKH in Turkey do not have the complete form of the disease. Based on our results, most patients with VKH seem to be late referrals. Ocular complications were common among these patients.

The authors recommend avoiding the thin rectangular portion located in the inter-fissural area adjacent to the superior orbital fissure. A high intersubject variability underscores the need for individualized preoperative analysis by imaging studies.