BackgroundAccurate prediction of outcome in advanced nonsmall-cell lung cancer (nsclc) remains challenging. Even within the same stage and treatment group, survival and response to treatment vary. We set out to determine the predictive value of inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (crp) and white blood cells (wbcs) in patients with advanced nsclc. Patients and MethodsPatients were assigned a prognostic index (pi):• 0 for crp 10 mg/L or less and wbcs 11×10 9 /L or less,• 1 if one of the two markers was elevated, and • 2 if both markers were elevated.We then used chest computed tomography (ct) imaging to evaluate response after 2 cycles of chemotherapy treatment. ResultsOf 134 patients, 46 had a pi of 0; 60, a pi of 1; and 28, a pi of 2. Disease progressed in 41 patients. Progression was significantly more frequent among patients with a pi of 2 (p = 0.008). Median survival was 20.0 months for the pi 0 group, 10.4 months for the pi 1 group, and 7.9 months for the pi 2 group (p < 0.001). The pi was the only significant prognostic factor for survival even after adjustment for performance status, smoking, and weight loss (hazard ratio: 1.57; 95% confidence interval: 1.2 to 2.14; p = 0.004). ConclusionsInflammatory state correlates significantly with both chemotherapy response and survival in stage iv nsclc. The pi may provide additional guidance for therapeutic decision-making.

The overall survival outcomes of LDLT were similar to DDLT in our patients with autoimmune and cholestatic liver diseases. It appears from our study that after adjusting for age and MELD score donor type does not significantly affect the outcome.

In such cases, pre-operative imaging (with sialography, magnetic resonance sialography and computed tomography sialography with fistulography) is helpful for exact delineation of the ductal anatomy. To the best of our knowledge, only four previous cases of congenital accessory parotid gland fistula have been reported in the English literature.

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Introduction Primary sclerosing cholangitits (PSC) is a progressive fibrosing cholangiopathy eventually leading to endstage liver disease (ESLD). While literature for deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) for PSC abounds, only a few reports describe live donor liver transplant (LDLT) in the setting of PSC. We present a single-center experience on survival outcomes and disease recurrence for LDLT and DDLT for ESLD secondary to PSC. Aim The aim of this study was to analyze survival outcomes and disease recurrence for LDLT and DDLT for ESLD secondary to PSC. Patients and Methods A retrospective review of 58 primary liver transplants for PSC-associated ESLD, performed between May 1995 and January 2007, was done. Patients were divided into two groups based on donor status. Group 1 (n=14) patients received grafts from living donors, while group 2 (n=44) patients received grafts from deceased donors. An analysis of survival outcomes and disease recurrence was performed. Recurrence was confirmed based on radiological and histological criteria. Results Recurrence of PSC was observed in four patients in LDLT group and seven in DDLT group. Retransplantation was required in one patient in LDLT group and nine patients in DDLT group. One patient (7%) among LDLT and six patients (14%) among DDLT died. The difference in patient and graft survival was not statistically significant between the two groups (patient survival, p=0.60; graft survival, p=0.24). Conclusion This study demonstrates equivalent survival outcomes between LDLT and DDLT for PSC; however, the rate of recurrence may be higher in patients undergoing LDLT.