Is FDG -PET-CT A Valuable Tool in Prediction of Persistent Disease in Head and Neck Cancer

Uzel, Esengul Kocak,Ekmekcioglu, Ozgul,Elicin, Olgun,Halac, Metin,Uzel, Omer Erol Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.8

Objectives: To evaluate accuracy of FDG-PET CT in prediction of persistent disease in head and neck cancer cases and to determine prognostic value of metabolic tumor response. Materials and Methods: Between 2009 and 2011, 46 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck receiving PET-CT were treated with definitive radiotherapy, with or without chemotherapy. There were 29 nasopharyngeal, 11 hypopharyngeal, 3 oropharyngeal and 3 laryngeal cancer patients, with a median age of 50.5 years (range 16-84), 32 males and 14 females. All patients were evaluated with PET-CT median 3-5 months (2.4-9.4) after completion of radiotherapy. Results: After a median 20 months of follow up, complete metabolic response was observed in 63% of patients. Suspicious residual uptake was present in 10.9% and residual metabolic uptake in 26.0% of patients. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of FDG-PET-CT for detection of residual disease was 91% and 81%, 64% and 96% respectively. Two year LRC was 95% in complete responders while it was 34% in non-complete responders. Conclusions: FDG PET CT is a valuable tool for assessment of treatment response, especially in patients at high risk of local recurrence, and also as an indicator of prognosis. Definitely more precise criteria are required for assessment of response, there being no clear cut uptake value indicating residual disease. Futhermore, repair processes of normal tissue may consume glucose which appear as increased uptake in control FDG PET CT.

Anterior Segment Changes during Accommodation in Accommodative Esotropia

Mustafa Koç,Hakan Halit Yaşar,Mehmet Murat Uzel,Salih Çolak,Irfan Durukan,Pelin Yılmazbaş 대한안과학회 2018 Korean Journal of Ophthalmology Vol.32 No.1

To evaluate the anterior segment biometric parameters of non-accommodative and accommodativerefractive accommodative esotropia (RAE). Methods: Eighty-one eyes of 81 patients were included in this prospective, case-control study. The patientswere divided into three groups as follows: the RAE group (n = 31), the hypermetropia group (n = 25), and theemmetropia group (n = 25). Measurements were obtained in the non-accommodative (0.0 diopters) and accommodativestatus (-5.0 diopters) using a Pentacam HR. The anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chambervolume (ACV), pupil diameter (PD), and anterior chamber angle (ACA) were evaluated at all four quadrants. Results: The ACD, ACV and PD values in the RAE group were lower than those of the other groups in bothstates (p < 0.05). The ACD values were lower in the hypermetropia group than in the emmetropia group for thenon-accommodative status (p = 0.024) but were similar for the accommodative status (p = 0.225). PD and ACVvalues were lower in the hypermetropia group than in the emmetropia group in both states (non-accommodativestatus, p = 0.011 and p = 0.022; accommodative status, p = 0.026 and p = 0.034, respectively). Changes inACD, ACV and PD during accommodation (Δ) were not significant in the RAE group but were significant for theother groups (hypermetropia: ΔACD, p = 0.001; ΔACV, p = 0.001; ΔPD, p = 0.002; emmetropia: ΔACD, p < 0.001;ΔACV, p = 0.001; ΔPD, p < 0.001). These changes were significantly lower in the hypermetropia group than inthe emmetropia group (ΔACD, p = 0.012; ΔACV, p = 0.031; ΔPD, p = 0.034). Conclusions: The anterior chamber in RAE patients was shallower and the increase in convexity of the anteriorsurface or forward movement of the crystalline lens was more limited during accommodation in RAE.

Clinicopathological Features and Localization of Gastric Cancers and their Effects on Survival in Turkey

Selcukbiricik, Fatih,Tural, Deniz,Bilici, Ahmet,Uzel, Esengul Kocak,Ozguroglu, Mustafa,Demirelli, Fuat,Buyukunal, Evin,Serdengecti, Suheyla Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.1

Background: This study was designed to examine changing trends in localization of gastric cancer in Turkey in recent years. Materials and Methods: A total of 796 adult patients with newly diagnosed, histologically proven adenocarcinomas, treated and followed up at our oncology center between 2000-2011, were examined retrospectively. In all cases tumor localization were identified and recorded with clinicopathological features. Results: The median age was 58 with a range between 22-90 for the 552 men and 244 women. Median follow up was 12 months (1-276) and median overall survival was also 12 months (11.5-12.4). There was a trend for a change in tumor localization from distal to proximal. Survival of patients was low with advanced T and N stage tumours. Positive surgical margins, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, cardioesophageal localization were predisposition factors for metastatic disease in gastric cancer. There was no relation between age or sex and histopathological type of gastric cancer. Conclusions: There is a trend in our country for a change in gastric tumour localization from distal to proximal, with clear significance for treatment choices.

NLRC4 Inflammasome-Mediated Regulation of Eosinophilic Functions

Akkaya Ilgin,Oylumlu Ece,Ozel Irem,Uzel Goksu,Durmus Lubeyne,Ciraci Ceren 대한면역학회 2021 Immune Network Vol.21 No.6

Eosinophils play critical roles in the maintenance of homeostasis in innate and adaptive immunity. Although primarily known for their roles in parasitic infections and the development of Th2 cell responses, eosinophils also play complex roles in other immune responses ranging from anti-inflammation to defense against viral and bacterial infections. However, the contributions of pattern recognition receptors in general, and NOD-like receptors (NLRs) in particular, to eosinophil involvement in these immune responses remain relatively underappreciated. Our in vivo studies demonstrated that NLRC4 deficient mice had a decreased number of eosinophils and impaired Th2 responses after induction of an allergic airway disease model. Our in vitro data, utilizing human eosinophilic EoL-1 cells, suggested that TLR2 induction markedly induced pro-inflammatory responses and inflammasome forming NLRC4 and NLRP3. Moreover, activation by their specific ligands resulted in caspase-1 cleavage and mature IL-1β secretion. Interestingly, Th2 responses such as secretion of IL-5 and IL-13 decreased after transfection of EoL-1 cells with short interfering RNAs targeting human NLRC4. Specific induction of NLRC4 with PAM3CSK4 and flagellin upregulated the expression of IL-5 receptor and expression of Fc epsilon receptors (FcεR1α, FcεR2). Strikingly, activation of the NLRC4 inflammasome also promoted expression of the costimulatory receptor CD80 as well as expression of immunoregulatory receptors PD-L1 and Siglec-8. Concomitant with NLRC4 upregulation, we found an increase in expression and activation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, but not MMP-2. Collectively, our results present new potential roles of NLRC4 in mediating a variety of eosinopilic functions.

Antimicrobial Activity of TiO2-coated Orthodontic Ceramic Brackets against Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans

F. Özy ld z,A. Uzel,I. Karaboz,M. Güden,O. Akil,H. Bulut 한국생물공학회 2010 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.15 No.4

Polycrystalline alumina ceramic orthodontic brackets were coated with anatase TiO2 film via a sol-gel dip-coating method. The surface structure morphology and composition of the films were evaluated via scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The antimicrobial activity of the ceramic brackets was assessed against two oral pathogens, S. mutans and C. albicans. The results demonstrated that TiO2-coated brackets exposed to low energy UV-A illumination efficiently reduced the populations of test microorganisms relative to the uncoated brackets. The reduction efficiencies were 98% for S. mutans ATCC 10449 and 93% for C. albicans ATCC 60193.

Increase in the Rate of HPV Positive Oropharyngeal Cancers During 1996-2011 in a Case Study in Turkey

Tural, Deniz,Elicin, Olgun,Batur, Sebnem,Arslan, Deniz,Oz, Buge,Serdengecti, Suheyla,Uzel, Omer Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.10

Background: Primary aim of this study is to assess whether or not there is an increase at rate of HPV positive oropharyngeal cancers during 1996-2011 in Turkey, for comparison with prior reports from Western countries. Materials and Methods: A total of 138 newly diagnosed patients with oropharyngeal cancer were identified, 39 of which had no primary tumor specimen available and 18 patients with invalid HPV status, therefore HPV status for remaining 81 patients was evaluated. The presence and type of HPV DNA were determined with formalin-fixed paraffin embedded specimens, using an HPV DNA-based multiplex PCR assay. Associations between HPV status and clinicopathological characteristics were evaluated using a two-sample t-test for the continuous variables and the categorical variables were compared by chi-square test. Overall survival (OS) periods were calculated with Kaplan-Meier method. Results: The proportion of HPV-positive cancer has continued to increase during 2004-2011 as compared with 1996-2003. Notably, 33% (6/18) of the cases were HPV-positive in 1996-1999, 43% (9/21) in 2000-2003, 55% (11/20) in 2004-2007 and 70% (16/23) in 2008-2011. Thus, when we compared the results obtained during the 2004-2011with results of 1996-2003 period, we found that increase at HPV-positivity ratio was statistically significant (38% vs 64% p=0.012). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that HPV positive oropharyngeal cancers are increasing in Turkish patients as in the Western world.

Acute Toxicity in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients Treated with IMRT/VMAT

Ozdemir, Sevim,Akin, Mustafa,Coban, Yasin,Yildirim, Cumhur,Uzel, Omer Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.5

Purpose: To evaluate acute toxicity in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients treated with intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)/volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) with or without cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: A total of 45 newly diagnosed, histologically proven non-metastatic NPC patients treated with IMRT between May 2010 and December 2012, were evaluated retrospectively, 37 planned with Eclipse and 8 with Prowess Panther treatment planning system. The doses to the planning target volumes of primary tumor and involved lymph nodes, high risk region, and uninvolved regional nodal areas were 70 Gy, 60 Gy, and 54 Gy respectively and delivered simultaneously over 33 fractions to 39 patients. Another 6 patients irradiated with sequential boost technique. Some 84.4% of patients received chemotherapy. Acute toxicities were graded according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group scoring criteria and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) for chemotherapy side effects. Results: Median age was 43 years (14-79) and all patients were WHO type II. Grade 1 mucositis and dysphagia were observed in 17 (37.8%), and 10 (22.2%) patients, respectively. The incidence of acute grade 2 mucositis and dysphagia was 55.6% and 68.9%, respectively. The most common chemoradiotherapy related acute toxicities were nausea, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia. Grade 3 toxicity was detected in 13 (28.8%) cases. No grade 4 toxicity was occurred. Mean weight loss was 9%. None of the patients required the insertion of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy for nutritional support. Radiation therapy was completed without interruption in all patients. Conclusions: IMRT is a safe and effective treatment modality, and well tolerated by patients in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. No unexpected side effects were observed.