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Aim: Inflammatory markers are effective in determining the prognosis of malignant diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship of HALP and LCR with tumor response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and their effects on prognosis in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Methods: Eighty-eight patients who received nCRT with the diagnosis of LARC were included in the study. First, all patients were divided into 2 groups: patients with pathological and clinical complete response (pCR+cCR), group 1, and patients with non-complete response, group 2. The 82 patients who underwent surgery were divided into two groups according to the TRG Dworak: good response and poor response groups. Inflammation markers such as HALP and LCR were obtained using biochemical parameters. Results: HALP and LCR were higher in the complete response group than in the none-complete response group (P<0.05). When TRG 3-4 (good response group) and TRG 0-1-2 (poor response group) were compared, HALP and LCR were higher in the good response group (P<0.05). The cut-off point for the HALP value was 30.17, the sensitivity was 88.2%, and the specificity was 43.7%. The cutoff point for the LCR value was 0.402, the sensitivity was 88.2%, and the specificity was 63.4%. It was found that HALP and LCR calculated prior to neoadjuvant CRT could not predict overall survival. Conclusions: We believe that inflammatory markers such as HALP and LCR can effectively identify rectal cancer patients who respond best to nCRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Development or progression of inflammation in neoplastic diseases is known to be part of the disease. Lymphocyte to C‐reactive protein ratio (LCR) is a new indicator showing the inflammatory state. The aim of this study is to show the clinical importance of the relationship between the preoperative LCR and the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer. Methods and Patients: We evaluated gastric cancer patients, who underwent surgery between 2010 and 2015. LCR and neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were calculated from pre‐treatment of complete blood counts. Both ratios were compared to the perioperative outcomes and median survival times. Association between LCR and postoperative tumour stage was studied by using multivariate analysis with other clinicopathological variables. Results: A total of 123 patients were included. The mean age of the patients was 65.36 ± 10.08. Preoperative low LCR value was associated with advanced tumour stage, adjacent organ invasion, lymph node metastasis and postoperative early complications. The receiver operating characteristic analysis results showed that LCR and NLR parameters were significant (CI 0.718–0.886; 95%); P < 0.001, CI 0.534–0.732; 95%). Cut‐off value being 193, the mean survival of patients who had LCR values of overcut‐off value was found to be significantly higher compared with the patients with lower LCR values (P < 0.001). Conclusion: LCR, a simple calculated ratio of values obtained from easy and widely available serum indicators could be an effective prognostic marker with gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on a case of a 43 year old male with no previous surgery who was admitted to an emergency clinic with signs and symptoms of ileus. He was operated on with a tentative diagnosis of a paraduodenal hernia after his physical examination revealed a mass in the left upper quadrant with minimal distensions. An overview of diagnosis of paraduodenal hernia is also presented.

Background: Hematological parameters, including albumin and hemoglobin (Hb) levels and lymphocyte counts, are low-cost tests that can be used to determine inflammation and nutritional status. Recent studies have shown that inflammation plays a very important role in the development of carcinogenesis. Materials and Methods: The authors investigated whether preoperative hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score can distinguish between benign and malignant causes in patients who are admitted to hospital and operated due to acute mechanical intestinal obstruction (AMIO). The patients were divided into two groups etiologically. Group 1 included the AMIO cases, which developed from benign causes, while Group II contained the AMIO cases, which developed as a result of malignancy. HALP score was calculated based on the latest preoperative Hb, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet values of patients. Results: HALP variable was an independent prognostic factor (p < 0.001) in determining malignancy (odds ratio = 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.882-0.930). Based on the results, when a cutoff value <23.94 was used for HALP score in receiver operating characteristic analysis, sensitivity for determining the malignancy was 85%, while specificity was 78% (Area under the curve [AUC] ± standard error = 0.86 ± 0.029; 95% CI = 0.80-0.91; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The HALP score could be a useful parameter for the clinician in distinguishing between AMIO due to benign and malignant origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]