Definite Correlation (definite + correlation)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Estimation of serum leptin in oral squamous cell carcinoma

JOURNAL OF ORAL PATHOLOGY & MEDICINE, Issue 1 2010
Harshkant P. Gharote
J Oral Pathol Med (2010) 39: 69,73 Background:, Cachexia contributes significantly to mortality in cancer patients; role of cytokines in inducing cachexia is an emerging view. Leptin, a homologous protein of cytokine family, is found to be decreased in serum with cachexia. The purpose of this study was to compare serum leptin levels of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients with that of control group and correlate it with body mass index. Method:, Serum samples of 31 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients and that of 28 healthy individuals were subjected to evaluation of serum leptin levels (ng/ml) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results:, A significant reduction in leptin level of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients was observed. Definite correlation between body mass index and serum leptin and also between serum leptin levels of various histopathological variants of oral squamous cell carcinoma was observed. Conclusion:, The results of this study suggest that evaluation of serum leptin level can provide status of cachexia in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. [source]


Sensitivity of electrophysiological tests for upper and lower motor neuron dysfunction in ALS: A six-month longitudinal study

MUSCLE AND NERVE, Issue 2 2010
Mamede de Carvalho MD
Abstract By following a group of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients longitudinally using lower motor neuron (LMN) and upper motor neuron (UMN) markers of dysfunction it may be possible to better understand the functional relationships between these motor systems in this disease. We used neurophysiological techniques to follow UMN and LMN dysfunction in a group of 28 patients with ALS, in comparison with the ALS functional rating scale (ALS-FRS) score and the forced vital capacity (FVC). We used motor unit number estimation (MUNE), compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude, and the Neurophysiological Index (NI) to quantify the LMN disorder, and transcranial motor stimulation to study cortical motor threshold, motor-evoked response amplitude, central motor conduction time, and cortical silent period (CSP). The patients were studied shortly after diagnosis and then 6 months later, using both abductor digiti minimi muscles (ADM); ADM strength was initially >MRC 3 (Medical Research Council, UK). The NI and MUNE changed more than any other variable. CSP increased by about 30%, a change more marked than the slight increase observed in the cortical motor threshold (9%). The normal increase of CSP after acute muscle fatigue was preserved during disease progression. The CSP increase correlated with the MUNE rate of decay but not to the NI reduction, perhaps because NI includes F-wave frequency in itscalculation. There was no definite correlation between UMN and LMNdysfunction or progression, but there was a link between CSP and LMN changes in ALS. The CSP may be a useful variable in following UMN dysfunction in clinical practice and in clinical trials. Muscle Nerve, 2010 [source]


A Phase II study of gemcitabine and cisplatin in advanced biliary tract cancer

CANCER, Issue 6 2006
Seung Tai Kim M.D.
Abstract BACKGROUND The authors performed a Phase II study of combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with inoperable biliary tract cancer to evaluate efficacy and toxicity of this combination. In addition, the correlation between the CA 19-9 response and clinical outcome was analyzed. METHODS The eligibility criteria for this study were 1) histologically or cytologically confirmed inoperable biliary tract cancer in patients with metastatic or recurrent disease; 2) age between 18 and 70 years; 3) at least 1 measurable lesion according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria; 4) an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status , 2; 5) a life expectancy of at least 3 mos; and 6) adequate bone marrow, hepatic, and renal function. The patients received gemcitabine (1250 mg/m2, Days 1 and 8) and cisplatin (60 mg/m2, Day 1) every 3 weeks. Tumor response was assessed by RECIST criteria every 2 cycles of chemotherapy. Treatment was continued until progression of disease was documented. RESULTS Twenty-nine patients were enrolled. The median age of these patients was 52 years (range, 37 to 69 yrs), and the median ECOG performance status was 1. No complete response was observed, and 10 of 29 patients had partial responses. The overall response rate was 34.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.9,54.3) for the intent-to-treat analysis. Stable disease was observed in 4 (13.8%) patients and progressive disease in 13 (44.8%) patients. The median follow-up time was 10.0 months (95% CI, 7.2,12.8). The median time to progression (TTP) was 3.0 months (95% CI, 2.12,3.88), and the median overall survival was 11 months (95% CI, 5.49,16.5). Although these results showed a better response rate (57.1 % vs. 27.3%) and survival (12 vs. 10 mos) in patients with a decline in CA 19-9 of at least 25%, these data were statistically not significant. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between the increment in CA 19-9 values and tumor progression as determined with RECIST criteria (r = 0.96, P < 0.01). However, there was no definite correlation between the CA 19-9 response and the response according to RECIST criteria (P = 0.087). National Cancer Institute (NCI) common toxicity criteria (CTC) Grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicities included neutropenia in 4 (14%) patients and anemia in 1 (3%) patient. Two of 4 patients with Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia had febrile episodes (7%) and required hospital admissions. NCI-CTC Grade 3 or 4 nonhematologic toxicity included nausea in 1 (3%) patient. There were no treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSION The combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin in inoperable biliary tract cancer was tolerable for most patients and showed modest response rates. The role of CA 19-9 monitoring as a surrogate biomarker in patients with BTC treated with gemcitabine chemotherapy should be further investigated. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society. [source]


Contact lens fitting for post-radial-keratotomy residual myopia

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL OPHTHALMOLOGY, Issue 1 2003
Jeewan S Titiyal MD
Abstract Purpose:,To formulate guidelines for contact lens fitting following radial keratotomy and to achieve a relationship between contact lens fitting parameters and refractive and keratometric parameters. Methods:,Thirty-five eyes of 30 patients who had post-radial-keratotomy residual myopia were evaluated for contact lens fitting. The base curve was selected by ,hit and trial' method until a proper fit was achieved, following which an over-refraction was done and final power of the contact lens obtained. Results:,The mean contact lens base curve was 43.04 ± 1.62 D, which was steeper than the postoperative keratometry by 2.35 ± 0.74 D. The base curve and the postoperative keratometry were correlated by regression analysis (r = 0.895, P < 0.001). The mean overall diameter of the contact lenses was 9.64 ± 0.08 mm. The mean contact lens power was 5.81 ± 3.07 D, which was more myopic than the residual myopia by 2.79 ± 1.67 D. Regression analysis showed definite correlation between the contact lens power and postoperative myopia (r = 0.854, P < 0.001). Conclusion:,For correction of post-radial-keratotomy residual myopia, contact lens fitting parameters can be determined by a regression formula using keratometric and refractive values. [source]