Azithromycin may be a new promising therapeutic alternative in ocular rosacea.

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BackgroundThe concept of genetic factors playing a role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer has gained increased attention. The present study was undertaken to examine the question of HLA association with lung cancer and to investigate the effects of HLA on survival time.MethodsThe distribution of HLA class I (A, B, C) antigens and class II (DR, DQ) alleles were studied in 81 unrelated Turkish patients with lung cancer. The HLA status of patients was compared with that of a control group consisting of 117 ethnically matched healthy donors. HLA class I antigens were studied by Terasaki’s microlymphocytotoxicity test and HLA class II alleles were studied by polymerase chain reaction with the sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP) low resolution method.ResultsOnly the frequencies of HLA-B51 and -DRB1 *15 were lower in the lung cancer group compared with the healthy control patients. In a univariate analysis, age (P=0.03), Karnofsky Performance Status (P=0.0001 ), stage (P=0.01), HLA A24(9) (P=0.008), HLA B53 (P=0.0006), HLA B63(15) (P=0.01), HLA B64(14) (P=0.01), HLA B65(14) (P=0.01) and HLA CW5 (P=0.01) were significant prognostic factors. In a multivariate analysis, Karnofsky Performance Status (P=0.001), stage (P=0.02), HLA B53 (P=0.03) and HLA B64(14) (P=0.03) were independent prognostic variables.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates different HLA types among patients with lung cancer and healthy control subjects. Our results suggest that HLA antigens might affect the prognosis in lung cancer. Further investigations are warranted to delineate any possible role of the HLA system in the pathogenesis and prognosis of lung cancer.

Background: One problem associated with end to end anastomoses after preoperative radiotherapy is leakage. The strength of the anastomoses is very important. Fractionation schedules are widely under investigation to achieve higher doses with less toxicity and high curative potential. The aim of this study was to compare preoperative conventional and hyperfractionated radiotherapy effects on anastomoses. Materials and Methods: Sixty Wistar albino rats were divided into 3 groups: control, conventional radiotherapy (2 Gy/fraction, total 44 Gy), and hyperfractionated radiotherapy (1.2 Gy/fraction, total 52.8 Gy). 5 weeks after completion of the treatment, the rats underwent end to end anastomoses to the rectum. Following the surgery, the bursting pressure of the anastomoses and the hydroxyproline levels were measured on days 3 and 7. Results: The bursting pressure was lower in both radiotherapy groups on the 3rd day. On day 7, the results of the conventional radiotherapy arm matched those of the control group, but the results of the hyperfractionated group did not (p = 0.001). On day 3, hydroxyproline levels were significantly lower in both radiotherapy groups than in the control group (p = 0.001). On the 7th day, the statistical difference disappeared within the radiotherapy groups. However, the hydroxyproline levels of the 2 radiotherapy arms were still lower than those of the control group (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Hyperfractionation strongly inhibits collagen synthesis and is associated with protracted healing.