Objective To investigate the clinical value of peripheral serum cell-free DNA/neutrophil extracellular traps (cf-DNA/NETs) level in diagnosis and severity assessment of sepsis patients. Methods Forty patients with sepsis and 40 patients with non-infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome (nf-SIRS) were enrolled in this study. The cf-DNA/NETs level in serum of all subjects were measured. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic ability of the cf-DNA/NETs, white blood cell count (WBC), procalcitonin (PCT) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The sepsis patients were stratified into a survival group and a death group according to the prognosis. Sequential organ failure (SOFA) score were recorded in the sepsis patients, and the correlations between SOFA and cf-DNA/NETs, PCT, WBC, IL-6 were analyzed. Results Compared with the nf-SIRS group, cf-DNA/NETs and PCT levels were significantly higher in the sepsis group (both P<0.05). WBC and IL-6 showed no significant differences between the two groups (bothP>0.05). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of cf-DNA/NETs was 0.884 for diagnosis of sepsis, and it was higher than the AUC of PCT (0.803). The cf-DNA/NETs showed better sensitivity (81.2% and 79.2%) and specificity (81.0% and 82.4%) than PCT. cf-DNA/NETs and PCT were significantly higher in the death group than those in the survival group. Bivariate collection analysis revealed positive correlations between SOFA score and the two biomarkers of cf-DNA/NETs and PCT (r1=0.573, r2=0.518; both P<0.01). Conclusions cf-DNA/NETs and PCT have certain value in early diagnosis of sepsis, and cf-DNA/NETs shows better diagnostic value in distinguishing sepsis from nf-SIRS than PCT. cf-DNA/NETs can be used as a routine monitoring index to help assess disease severity in sepsis.
ObjectiveTo study the effect of tumor associated neutrophil (TAN) releasing a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) on the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells in microenvironment.Methods① The expressions of APRIL in neutrophils (differentiated by HL-60 cell) and TAN cells were detected by use ELISA. ② The expressions of APRIL receptors B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and trans-membrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI) in pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1 were confirmed by use Western blotting. ③ Pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells were co-cultured with TAN, and divided into a PANC-1 control group (referred to as the control group), a PANC-1+TAN treatment group (referred to as the PANC-1+TAN group), PANC-1+TAN+APRIL antibody treatment group (referred to as PANC-1+TAN+APRIL group), and PANC-1+rtificial recombinant APRIL protein (rAPRIL) treatment group (referred to as PANC-1+rAPRIL group). The CCK8 method was used to determine TAN release of APRIL on PANC-1 effect of cell proliferation activity.Results① The APRIL content in the culture medium of TAN cell group was higher than that of neutrophil group [(556.20±84.38) pg/mL vs. (377.17±57.07) pg/mL, P=0.038]. ② PANC-1 cells express the receptors BCMA and TACI of APRIL. ③ PANC-1 cell activity of PANC-1+TAN group and PANC-1+rAPRIL group [(126.80±1.42)%, (168.95±12.54)%] were significantly higher than the control group [(100 ± 0.00)%, P<0.05, P<0.001], the activity of PANC-1 cells in the PANC-1+TAN group was significantly higher than that in the PANC-1+TAN+APRIL group [(86.29 ± 12.20)%, P=0.003] and significantly lower than that of PANC-1+rAPRIL group (P=0.002), the activity of PANC-1 cells in PANC-1+rAPRIL group was significantly higher than that in PANC-1+TAN+APRIL antibody group (P<0.001).ConclusionIn the microenvironment of pancreatic cancer, the release of APRIL from TAN increases, which promotes the proliferative activity of PANC-1 in pancreatic cancer cells, which provides a new idea for the mechanism research and treatment of pancreatic cancer progression.
ObjectiveTo analyze dynamic characteristics of peripheral blood cells in patients with different types of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), so as to investigate the predictive value of peripheral blood cells and their dynamic changes for clinical outcome of patients with COVID-19.MethodsForty-eight patients with COVID-19 were collected and analyzed from East Hospital of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from February 2 to March 15, 2020. These patients were divided into general group (group A, 17 cases), severe survival group (group B, 21 cases), and severe death group (group C, 10 cases). Blood routine examination was done and analyzed before and after admission and among the three groups. The changes of neutrophils and lymphocytes were compared. The predictive power of neutrophils, lymphocytes, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) for clinical outcomes was analyzed through the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.ResultsIn group B, the lymphocyte count at discharge was significantly higher than at admission (P=0.002), and the neutrophil count, NLR and PLR were significantly lower than at admission (P values were 0.012, 0.001 and 0.007, respectively). The lymphocyte counts in the A, B, and C groups were ranked from high to low upon admission, and the differences among the three groups were statistically significant (P values were 0.020, <0.001 and 0.006 for the contrasts between groups A and B, groups A and C, groups B and C, respectively), the NLR were ranked from low to high, and the differences among the three groups were statistically significant (P values were 0.001, <0.001 and 0.026 for the contrasts between groups A and B, groups A and C, groups B and C, respectively). Before discharge or death, there was no significant difference in lymphocyte counts and NLR between A and B groups (P>0.05), and there were statistically significant differences between group C and groups A and B (all P values were<0.001). The proportions of “Neutrophils Lymphocytes Convergence” in groups A and B were 64.7% and 76.2%, respectively, which were significantly higher than that in group C (10.0%). The proportions of “Neutrophils Lymphocytes Separation” in group C was 70.0%, which was significantly higher than those in groups A (0) and B (4.8%). The area under the curve of NLR predicting patients with severe disease (excluding death) was 0.843, with the sensitivity and specificity of ≥3.55 be 0.810 and 0.882; The area under the curve of lymphocyte count predicting death in severe patients was 0.845, with the sensitivity and specificity be 0.700 and 0.905, respectively.ConclusionsDynamic changes in the composition of peripheral blood cells are one of the clinical features of COVID-19, “Neutrophils Lymphocytes Convergence” and “Neutrophils Lymphocytes Separation” predict better and worse clinical outcomes, respectively. NLR and lymphocyte counts are effective indicators for predicting the severity and death of COVID-19.
Objective To investigate the correlation of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with total imaging load of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), and the clinical diagnostic value of RDW, NLR and their combined indicators for high load of CSVD imaging. Methods The medical records of CSVD patients hospitalized in the Department of Neurology of Baotou Central Hospital between October 2018 and October 2022 were retrospective collected. The total imaging load of CSVD was obtained by evaluating the cranial MRI and divided into a low load group and a high load group. The general clinical data, past medical history, and blood biochemical indicators were compared between the two groups. The correlation analysis method was used to analyze the relationship between the relevant indicators and the total imaging load. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of the total imaging load of CSVD. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of the detection indicators for clinical diagnosis. Results A total of 320 patients were included. Among them, there were 201 cases (62.81%) in the low load imaging group and 119 cases (37.19%) in the high load imaging group. Excepted for age, gender, history of hypertension, RDW, and NLR (P<0.05), there was no statistically significant difference in the comparison of other indicators between the two groups (P>0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that RDW (r=0.445, P<0.001) and NLR (r=0.309, P<0.001) were positively correlated with the total imaging load of CSVD. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, male gender, RDW, and NLR were risk factors for high imaging load of CSVD. The areas under the ROC curve of RDW, NLR, and their combined indicators were 0.733, 0.644, and 0.792, respectively.Conclusions In patients with CSVD, the levels of RDW and NLR are related to the total imaging load of CSVD, which are independent risk factors for high imaging load of CSVD. The levels of RDW and NLR have clinical diagnostic value in predicting CSVD high load.
ObjectiveTo investigate the distribution of uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) gene polymorphisms in esophageal carcinoma (EC) patients, and their relationship with adverse effects (delayed diarrhea and neutropenia) of Irinotecan. MethodsForty-eight patients with esophageal squamous carcinoma who were admitted to Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital between January and October 2012 were recruited in the study. There were 37 male and 11 female patients with their age of 56 (25-38) years. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples were collected from those EC patients and genomic DNA was extracted. UGT1A1 polymorphisms were detected by PCR and DNA sequencing. Three genetic loci were investigated including UGT1A1* 28 (TA6 > TA7), UGT1A1* 6 (211G > A) and UGT1A1* 93 (-3156G > A). Adverse effects (delayed diarrhea and neutropenia) of patients with different UGT1A1 polymorphisms after Irinotecan treatment were recorded. The relationship between UGT1A1 polymorphisms and Irinotecan-induced adverse effects was analyzed. ResultsUGT1A1 polymorphisms were detected in 10 out of 48 (20.8%) EC patients. UGT1A1* 93 (-3156G > A)polymorphisms were most common with the polymorphism rate of 16.7% (8/48), followed by GT1A1* 6 (211G > A) polymorphisms with the polymorphism rate of 4.2% (2/48). The incidences of grade 3~4 diarrhea and grade 3~4 neutropenia after Irinotecan treatment in the patients with UGT1A1 polymorphisms were 60.0% and 40.0% respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the patients with wild type UGT1A1 (21.1% and 15.8% respectively, P < 0.05). UGT1A1 polymorphism rates were 45.5% (5/11) in female patients and 13.5% (5/37) in male patients, which were significantly different (P < 0.05). ConclusionsIn EC patients, 2 polymorphism loci including UGT1A1* 93 (-3156G > A) and GT1A1* 6 (211G > A) can effectively predict adverse effects caused by Irinotecan treatment. UGT1A1 polymorphism rate of male patients is significantly lower than that of female patients.
ObjectiveTo explore the combined application of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and systemic immune inflammation index (SII) on the prognosis of hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma after resection.MethodsRetrospectively collected data of 180 patients with hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma who were hospitalized in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatobiliary Surgery of the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University and received surgical treatment from January 2013 to December 2019, including general information, laboratory examination and abdominal CT or MRI results. NLR and SII values were measured at one week before operation, and their critical values of NLR and SII were determined by ROC curve analysis. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to determine the risk factors to predict the survival status of patients with hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy.ResultsUnivariate analysis showed that AFP, platelets, TNM staging, portal vein tumor thrombus, tumor differentiation, NLR, SII, and NLR+SII combined score were significantly correlated with the prognosis of patients with hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that PLT [HR=1.791, 95%CI (1.124, 2.854), P=0.014], NLR [HR=4.289, 95%CI (2.571, 7.156), P<0.001], SII [HR=5.317, 95%CI (3.016, 9.374), P<0.001], and NLR+SII combined score [HR=7.901, 95%CI (4.124, 15.138), P<0.001] were independently correlated with the survival of patients with hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma.ConclusionsThe preoperative NLR+SII combined score can be used to evaluate the postoperative prognosis of patients with hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma. The higher the score, the lower the postoperative survival rate.
ObjectiveTo identify differences in blood routine indicators between lung cancer patients and healthy controls, and between different subgroups of lung cancer patients, so as to improve the early detection of lung cancer prognosis, and provide a basis for risk stratification and prognostic judgment for patients with lung cancer.MethodsThis study enrolled 1 227 patients pathologically diagnosed with lung cancer from December 2008 to December 2013 and 2 454 healthy controls 1∶2 matched by sex and age. The blood routine data of lung cancer patients were collected when they were first diagnosed with lung cancer. Gender and age stratified analysis of blood routine indicators between lung cancer patients and controls were conducted. Comparisons of blood routine indicators among lung cancer patients with different pathological types, stages, and prognosis were performed, followed by Cox regression survival analysis. Normally distributed quantitative variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation and non-normally distributed quantitative variables as medium (lower quartile, upper quartile).ResultsCompared to healthy controls, the counts of platelet [(206.84±80.47) vs. (175.27±55.74)×109/L], white blood cells [(7.04±2.29) vs. (6.08±1.40)×109/L], neutrophil [(4.90±2.08) vs. (3.61±1.07)×109/L], monocyte [0.42 (0.30, 0.54) vs. 0.33 (0.26, 0.42)×109/L], and eosinophil [0.14 (0.07, 0.24) vs. 0.12 (0.07, 0.19)×109/L], as the well as neutrophil-lymphocytes ratio (3.91±2.82 vs. 2.03±0.89) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (160.35±96.06 vs. 96.93±38.02) in lung cancer patients increased significantly, while the counts of red blood cells [(4.41±0.58) vs. (4.85±0.51)×1012/L] and lymphocyte [(1.49±0.60) vs. (1.93±0.59)×109/L] in lung cancer patients decreased, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The counts of platelet, red blood cells, white blood cells, neutrophil, and monocyte differed among patients with different pathological types, tumor stages, and prognosis (P<0.05). Neutrophil-lymphocytes ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio were higher in squamous cell carcinoma patients than those in other pathological patients, higher in advanced lung cancer patients than those in early stage patients, and higher in dead lung cancer patients than those in survival patients (P<0.05). Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was an independent factor affecting the prognosis of lung cancer [hazard ratio=1.077, 95% confidence interval (1.051, 1.103), P<0.001].ConclusionsThe inflammatory index of blood routine indicators are higher in lung cancer patients than those in healthy controls, which indicates that lung cancer is closely related to chronic inflammation. There are significant differences in blood routine inflammation index among lung cancer patients with different pathological types, stages, and prognosis, which reflects the heterogeneity and complexity of lung cancer. Neutrophil-lymphocytes ratio inverse correlates with the prognosis of lung cancer.
ObjectiveTo study the expression of cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1(CINC-1)in rats with transfusion-related acute lung injury(TRALI),explore its possible role in the pathogenesis of TRALI. MethodsSixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal control group with sham operation,a positive control group with ALI induced by intravenous infusion of lipopolysaccharide(5 mg/kg),and a TRALI group treated by intraperitoneal injection of LPS 2h before the transfusion of human plasma (1mL),a LPS control group treated by intraperitoneal injection of LPS 2h before the transfusion of normal saline(1mL).The reverse transcription-polymerase chain (RT-PCR)was used to detect CINC-1 mRNA.The level of CINC-1 in lung tissue homogenate was measured by ELISA.Morphological changes of the lung tissue were observed under light microscope.Myeloperoxidase (MPO)in lung homogenate and wet lung weight to dry lung weight ratio (W/D)were observed.The number of cells and the percentage of polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN)in Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)were also compared. ResultsCompared with the normal control group and the LPS control group,the expression of CINC-1 protein and CINC-1 mRNA were increased significantly in lung of the positive control group and the TRALI group(P<0.05).The number of cells and the percentage of PMN in BALF of the TRALI group [(310.63±76.67)×106/L and (33.57±11.51)%] were significantly higher than those in BALF of the normal control group [(101.36±63.83)×106/L and (9.87±3.56)%](P<0.05).Tissue water content and MPO activity in the TRALI group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group (P<0.05). ConclusionExpression of CINC-1 protein and CINC-1 mRNA are increased in the rat lung with TRALI and PMN infiltration in lung tissue,which suggests CINC-1 participate in the process of the PMN and endothelial cell adhesion and may play an important role in the pathogeneses of TRALI.
Objective To investigate the prediction of baseline neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on the prognosis of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) + lenvatinib + camrelizumab. Method The clinical data of 58 patients treated with TACE + lenvatinib + camrelizumab in the Department of Liver Surgery of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from June 2020 to May 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. Results Among the 58 cases included, 7 cases were complete response (CR), 37 cases were partial response (PR), 11 cases were stable disease (SD), and 3 cases were progressive disease (PD). All cases had different degrees of adverse events, including 58 cases of grade 1, 36 cases of grade 2, 35 cases of grade 3, and 1 case of grade 4. The overall response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) based on modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) were 75.9% (44/58) and 94.8% (55/58), respectively. The hepatectomy rate was 31.0% (18/58) and the conversion success rate was 37.9% (22/58). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that NLR was an independent risk factor for ORR (OR=0.093, P=0.008). All cases were followed up for 16–60 weeks, with a median follow-up of 34 weeks. Overall survival situation (χ2=4.163, P=0.041) and progression free survival situation (χ2=10.626, P=0.001) in the low NLR group were better than those of the high NLR group. Conclusion NLR has clinical significance in predicting the prognosis of uHCC cases underwent TACE + lenvatinib + camrelizumab, which is worthy of further study.