The aim of the study was to assess the contribution of platelets and inflammatory markers in gastric cancer. We studied 50 patients. Taking into consideration the advancement of gastric cancer, patients were divided into 3 groups. Group (E)—13 patients with early gastric cancer, group (A)—18 patients with regionally advanced cancer, and group (M)—19 patients with metastatic cancer. The determinations were performed twice prior to surgery and after surgery. In patients with gastric cancer, there is an increase in IL-6 and IL-23 compared with the healthy group. The highest values of IL-6 were obtained in early cancer (more than 8-fold increase), which seems to confirm the presence of acute inflammation. The lowest value of both of these cytokines was obtained in patients with metastatic cancer. In all patients, regardless of tumor stage, there was an increase in the concentration of CRP. An increase of PLT, higher proportion of the percentage of large platelets (LPLT), and increased mean platelet volume (MPV) were observed in the process of disease development. A positive correlation between MPV and LPLT and the accompanying decrease in the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines indicates the presence of an existing relationship between the platelet morphological parameters and the inflammation process in the development of gastric cancer.

Ulcerative colitis (colitis ulcerosa) is a non-specific inflammatory bowel disease of unknown etiology. The symptoms which are observed in the course of ulcerative colitis are: an increase in the number of leukocytes and blood platelets, an increase in the concentration of IL-6 and anemia. Blood platelets are the key element, linking the processes of hemostasis, inflammation and the repair of damaged tissues. Activation of blood platelets is connected with changes in their shape and the occurrence of the reaction of release. P-selectin appears on the surfaces of activated blood platelets and the concentration level of soluble P-selectin increases in the blood plasma. The aim of this study was to define whether the increased number of blood platelets in patients with ulcerative colitis accompanies changes in their activation and morphology. A total of 16 subjects with ulcerative colitis and 32 healthy subjects were studied. Mean platelet count, morphological parameters of platelets and MPC were measured using an ADVIA 120 hematology analyzer. Concentrations of sP-selectin and IL-6 in serum were marked by immunoassay (ELISA). MPC, concentration of sP-selectin and IL-6 were significantly higher in subjects with ulcerative colitis compared to those in the healthy group. There was a decrease of MPV in patients with ulcerative colitis, which is statistically significant. Chronic inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis causes an increase in the number of blood platelets, a change in their morphology and activation. Decreased MPV value reflects activation and the role blood platelets play in the inflammatory process of the mucous membrane of the colon. A high concentration of sP-selectin, which is a marker of blood platelet activation, demonstrates their part in the inflammatory process. The increase in the concentration of sP-selectin correlated positively with the increase in concentration of IL-6. This is why it may be a useful marker of the activity of colitis ulcerosa.

Ghrelin was discovered in 1999 as an endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). About 60-70% of ghrelin in the blood is released from oxyntic cells (X/A-like cells) of the stomach body and fundus. Ghrelin acts via interactions with specific receptors located, for example, in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, pancreas, kidneys, myocardium, blood vessels, adipose tissue, ovaries and placenta. Ghrelin is directly related to the control of energy balance through appetite stimulation, food intake increase and meal initiation as well as reduction of adipose tissue utilization. Moreover, ghrelin increases hydrochloric acid secretion and gastrin release, controls gastric motility, and also protects the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestine. Besides its effects on the gastrointestinal tract, ghrelin influences the cardiovascular system, bone metabolism, insulin secretion, gonad function and the immune system. It exerts anti-inflammatory effects and inhibits apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and endothelium. The plasma ghrelin level depends on the nutrition level and lifestyle factors. This article describes the most important functions of ghrelin in the organism.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, autoimmune connective tissue disease of unknown etiology. RA affects about 1% of the human population, women suffer three times more often than men, with the peak incidence between the age of 40 to 50. The up-to-date criteria from 2010 for the diagnosis of RA include: occurrence and duration of clinical signs, indicators of inflammation and serological tests. Neopterin, a protein released by macrophages, is a sensitive indicator of inflammation and the severity of RA. Regarding the serological tests, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies represent a well-known marker with the specificity for RA of about 98%. The antibodies may be present in the serum of patients even a few years before the first clinical signs of the disease, heralding erosive changes in the joints and more severe course of RA. The literature also contains reports about autoantibodies anti-CarP and anti-Sa/ anti-MCV, which may occur in people with pain and swelling of joints and precede full-blown development of RA as well as reflect disease activity. Serological diagnosis of RA may be supported by some genetic tests based on PCR for detecting mutations e.g. C1858T in the PNPN22 gene. In turn, the quantitative analysis of different classes of miRNAs seems justified in order to better classify patients showing symptoms of RA. Further studies are needed that take into account the role of different markers in the development of RA, and confirm the high sensitivity and specificity of these markers in the diagnosis of the disease.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, “Biernacki’s reaction”) is one of the oldest, routine laboratory tests. ESR is sensitive test with low specificity. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate is relatively constant in healthy subjects and unequal between different diseases. ESR technique uses venous blood collected into tubes with anticoagulant (sodium citrate or EDTA), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate is assessed after 60 minutes. The results are expressed in mm/1 h and its reference values depend on age and gender. Increased ESR is present in inflammatory, necrotic changes, autoimmune diseases and cancer, anaemias, hyperglobulinemia and hypoalbuminemia. The characteristic ESR >100 mm/1 h is observed in patients with multiple myeloma, Hodgkin’s disease and liver cirrhosis. Reduced ESR occurs mainly in polycythemia vera and fibrinogen deficiency. Physiologically, the increased ESR is observed during pregnancy, puerperium, menstruation or while taking certain medications.