ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the potential value of C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) as an indicator of prognosis and survival in patients with pancreatic cancer. MethodsThe literatures were searched comprehensively in the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CBM, Wanfang, CNKI, and CQVIP databases from the establishment of the databases to May 20, 2021. The combined hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were used to evaluate the correlation between the CAR and the overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), or disease-free survival (DFS) in the patients with pancreatic cancer. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of the non-randomized controlled studies, and the Stata SE 15.0 software was used for meta-analysis. ResultsA total of 2 985 patients with pancreatic cancer were included in this meta-analysis of 15 studies. The results of meta-analysis showed that the higher CAR value, the shorter OS [effect size (ES)=0.60, 95%CI (0.50, 0.69), Z=12.04, P<0.001], DFS [ES=0.63, 95%CI (0.47, 0.78), Z=3.61, P<0.001], and PFS [ES=0.41, 95%CI (0.19, 0.63), Z=7.91, P<0.001] in the patients with pancreatic cancer. The results of subgroup analysis of OS according to different countries, sample size, mean age, follow-up time, CAR cut-off value, and NOS score showed that the higher CAR value was related to the shorter OS (P<0.05). The result of linear regression analysis showed that there was no correlation between the CAR cut-off value and lnHR of OS (r2=0.947, P=0.455). Conclusion From results of this study, CAR is closely related to OS of patients, and it is expected to be used as a new reference index for monitoring and judging prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer.
Objective To evaluate the early diagnostic value of ischemia modified albumin (IMA) for non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTEACS). Methods The study group consisted of 177 patients with suspected NSTEACS whose blood was collected within six hours after the onset of chest pain to determine cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and IMA was determined through the albumin cobalt binding (ACB) test. After standardized diagnosis and treatment and GRACE risk score, the patients then were divided into three groups according to the final diagnosis: the NSTEMI (non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) group (n=34), the UA (unstable angina pectoris) group (n=56) and the NICP (non-ischemia chest pain) group (n=87). Meanwhile, 58 people taking the routine examination in the same hospital at that time were randomly selected as the control group. With the results of IMA, ROC curve analysis was used to determine the optimal cutoff of this assay for identifying patients with NSTEACS from those with NICP. Results of IMA, ECG and cTnI were correlated with final diagnosis, and their diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were evaluated for NSTEACS. Results The IMA concentration in the serum showed no significant difference between the NSTEMI group and the UA group, whereas there were significant differences between the former two groups and the NICP group. The sensitivity and specificity at a cutoff point 67.49 U/mL were 91.1% and 86.2%, respectively when the ROC curve area was 0.950. The correlation between the IMA concentration and GRACE risk score was negative. Conclusion IMA is an early sensitive indicator for NSTEACS and a useful predictor of prognosis.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the prognostic value of the easy albumin-bilirubin (EZ-ALBI) score for postoperative complications and long-term prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. MethodsThe data on consecutive 1 822 HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy were obtained and retrospectively analyzed from five medical centers, including West China Hospital, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, The First People’s Hospital of Neijiang City, The Second People’s Hospital of Yibin City, and People’s Hospital of Leshan City. Non-conditional logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to evaluate the aspect on the postoperative complications and long-term prognosis. ResultsThe patients in EZ-ALBI grade 2 had higher incidences of severe complication (Clavein-Dindo classification>2, P=0.001), post-hepatectomy liver failure (P=0.040), length of stay>10 d (P<0.001), perioperative transfusion (P<0.001), and 90 d mortality (P<0.001). The 1-, 3- and 5-year cumulative survival rates in EZ-ALBI grade 1 group were 85.5%, 67.0%, and 58.7% while in EZ-ALBI grade 2 group were 72.7%, 51.1%, and 39.8%. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression manifested that patients in EZ-ALBI grade 2 had a significantly worse overall survival [HR=1.24, 95%CI (1.04, 1.48), P=0.015]. ConclusionThe EZ-ALBI score is an easy and feasible classifying method to predict postoperative complications and survival of HCC.
ObjectiveTo study the relationship between preoperative pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV), preoperative hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte and platelet score (HALP) and tumor pathological features and microsatellite status of colorectal cancer, and to analyze the predictive value of HALP and PIV for microsatellite status. MethodsThe clinicopathological data of 156 patients who underwent radical colorectal cancer resection admitted to the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from May 2021 to February 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. HALP and PIV were calculated by preoperative related laboratory indicators, and then the patients were divided into high HALP/low HALP (HHALP/LHALP) group (n=78) and high PIV/low PIV (HPIV/LPIV) group (n=78) according to the median of their calculated values. The correlation between preoperative HALP and PIV and clinicopathologic features of colorectal cancer was analyzed. According to the results of microsatellite stability detection, the patients were divided into microsatellite standard/microsatellite instability-high（MSS/MSI-H）group. The correlation between preoperative HALP and PIV and microsatellite stability was analyzed. The predictive value of HALP and PIV for microsatellite status was analyzed by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. ResultsThere were statistically significant differences in tumor diameter, tumor location, HALP, T stage and microsatellite status between the HPIV group and the LPIV group (P<0.05), and high PIV was more common in patients with right-sided colon cancer and MSI-H, and the tumors were larger and had higher T stage. The differences in gender, body mass index（BMI）, tumor diameter, tumor location, PIV, T stage and microsatellite status between the HHALP group and the LHALP group were statistically significant (P<0.05), and low HALP was more common in women, patients with right-sided colon cancer, and MSI-H, and had a low BMI, large tumors, and high T stage. There were statistically significant differences in HALP and PIV between MSS group and MSI-H group (P<0.05), and patients with MSI-H tended to have low HALP and high PIV, and the area under curve of HALP and PIV in predicting MSI-H for colorectal cancer was 0.848 9 and 0.851 6, respectively, and the optimal cut-off value was 26.84 scores and 507.04, respectively, and the sensitivity was 1.000, 0.923, specificity 0.643, 0.817, respectively. ConclusionLow HALP and high PIV are more common in patients with right-sided colon cancer and MSI-H, who have poor nutritional and immune status, severe inflammation, larger tumors, deeper invasion, and predictive value for MSI-H, which can assist in the formulation of clinical treatment plans to a certain extent.
ObjectiveTo investigate the predictive value of preoperative plasma fibrinogen and serum albumin score (FA score) for postoperative survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatectomy.MethodWe retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data and follow-up information of 275 patients with HCC who underwent hepatectomy in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from March 2009 to December 2013.ResultsThere’s no statistically significant difference in gender, ALT, total bilirubin, hepatitis B virus surface antigens, AFP, cirrhosis, macrovascular invasion, tumor differentiation, TNM stage, and postoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization of HCC patients between FA score of 0 group and FA score of 1 and 2 group (P>0.05). There’s statistically significant difference in age, AST, tumor size, tumor number, microvascular invasion, and BCLC stage (P<0.05). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses revealed that FA score (1 and 2) was an independent risk factor for HCC patients’ overall survival rate [HR=1.632, 95%CI was (1.141, 2.335), P=0.007] and early recurrence-free survival rate [HR=1.678, 95%CI was (1.083, 2.598), P=0.021], the overall survival rate and early recurrence free survival rate of HCC patients with FA score of 0 group were better than those of patients with FA score of 1 and2 group.ConclusionsThe preoperative FA score has a good prognostic value for survival of HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy. Preoperative FA score of 1 and 2 is an independent risk factor for overall survival rate and early recurrence free survival rate of HCC patients after hepatectomy.
ObjectiveTo explore the changes of plasma prealbumin (PA), homocysteine (Hcy) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels before and after treatment in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), and analyze the correlation of PA and Hcy with hs-CRP and body mass index (BMI).MethodsA total of 132 hospitalized AECOPD patients with GOLD lung function as grade III-IV were recruited as an experimental group and 45 healthy subjects as a control group. The levels of plasma PA, Hcy and hs-CRP were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer, and the main indexes of pulmonary function were determined in all subjects.ResultsCompared with the control group, the level of plasma PA before and after treatment in the experimental group decreased significantly [(146.49±36.53) mg/L and (219.60±41.29) mg/L vs. (269.48±42.63) mg/L], the level of plasma Hcy before and after treatment increased significantly [(16.44±5.21) μmol/L and (12.61±4.56) μmol /L vs. (10.13±3.25) μmol/L], and the levels of plasma hs-CRP before and after treatment increased significantly [(45.24±29.94) mg/L and (7.71±3.41) mg/L vs. (5.01±1.52) mg/L] (all P<0.05). The levels of plasma PA, Hcy and hs-CRP after treatment were significantly better than before treatment in the experimental group (allP<0.01). The plasma PA values before and after treatment were negatively correlated with the level of hs-CRP before and after treatment, and positively correlated with BMI (bothP<0.05).ConclusionsThe levels of plasma PA, Hcy and hs-CRP are significantly different before and after the treatment in AECOPD patients and the healthy controls. PA is negatively correlated with hs-CRP and positively correlated with BMI. The detection of plasma PA and Hcy can help to determine the condition and efficacy of patients with COPD, and PA can reflect the level of inflammation and nutritional status to a certain extent.
Objective To evaluate the predictive value of CURB-65 score combined with blood urea nitrogen to albumin ratio (B/A) for intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death in adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 523 patients with CAP hospitalized in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from January 2018 to January 2022. According to whether the patients were admitted to ICU, they were divided into an ICU group (n=36) and a general ward group (n=487). The patients were divided into a death group (n=45) and a non-death group (n=478) according to the death situation during hospitalization. Basic data (age, gender, history of underlying diseases, etc.), hospital stay, antibiotic use days, CURB-65 score, white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count (NEUT), procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum albumin (Alb), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and BUN to Alb ratio (B/A) of the two groups were compared respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were plotted to evaluate the predictive value of CURB-65 score, B/A, and their combination for death during ICU admission and hospitalization in patients with CAP. Logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors for in-hospital death in the patients with CAP. Results The number of days in hospital, the number of days of antibiotic use, the number of deaths during hospitalization, the proportion of hypertension, diabetes, CURB-65 score, WBC, NEUT, PCT, CRP, BUN and B/A in the ICU group were significantly higher than those in the general ward group. Age, male, combined hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, ICU admission, CURB-65 score, WBC, NEUT, PCT, CRP, BUN and B/A in the death group were significantly higher than those in the non-death group, and Alb in the ICU group and the death group were significantly lower (all P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that B/A was positively correlated with PCT, CRP, WBC, NEUT and CURB-65 scores (correlation coefficient r values were 0.486, 0.291, 0.260, 0.310, 0.666, all P<0.001). The area under ROC curve of CURB-65 combined with B/A to predict ICU admission and death of CAP patients was 0.862 (95%CI 0.807 - 0.918, sensitivity 91.7%, specificity 66.4%) and 0.908 (95%CI 0.864 - 0.952, sensitivity 93.3%, specificity 75.7%), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes, high CURB-65 score, low Alb level and B/A≥4.755 mg/g were independent risk factors for death of CAP patients during hospitalization (P<0.05). Conclusions There is a significant correlation between elevated B/A and ICU demand and mortality in CAP patients. Combined use can improve the predictive value of CURB-65 score for ICU admission and mortality in CAP patients.
ObjectiveTo discuss the relationship between microalbuminuria (MAU) and antioxidant activity of plasma hyper density lipoprotein (HDL) in hypertensive patients, and investigate whether MAU could be a predictor of HDL antioxidant activity. MethodFrom December 2007 to March 2009, sixty consecutive primary hypertensive patients from the inpatient and outpatient departments of West China Hospital and Sichuan Electric Power Central Hospital were included in the study, and 30 healthy volunteers served as controls. MAU, plasma HDL and paraoxonase (PON1) activity were tested. ResultsPON1 activity was lower in hypertensive patients than the controls (P<0.05), and this degree of decline was positively related to MAU (P<0.05). ConclusionMAU reflects PON1 activity in hypertensive patients and can be a predictor to judge plasma HDL function in patients with hypertension.
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical characteristics of patients with familial vitreous amyloidosis (FVA) and the efficacy of vitrectomy (PPV) and the occurrence of complications. MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From June 2009 to March 2020, 32 eyes of 18 patients from 3 FVA families who were diagnosed and treated by PPV at Department of Ophthalmology of Jiaxing TCM Hospital were included in the study. Among them, there were 12 males with 22 eyes and 6 females with 10 eyes. The average age of onset was 42.28±3.25 years; the average duration of disease was 3.75±3.93 years. All the affected eyes underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and B-mode ultrasound examination. A logarithmic visual acuity chart was used in the BCVA examination, which was converted to the logarithmic minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity when recorded. The average logMAR BCVA of the affected eye was 1.72±0.53; the intraocular pressure was less than 21 mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa). The vitreous body of the affected eye was obviously cloudy. All the affected eyes underwent standard three-channel PPV through the flat part of the ciliary body, and vitreous specimens were collected for pathological examination during the operation. Peripheral venous blood of probands from 3 families was collected, and the whole exome gene sequencing was performed. The follow-up time after surgery was ≥6 months. The patient's clinical characteristics, fundus lesions in PPV, changes in BCVA after surgery, and complications was observed. One-way analysis of variance or t test was performed for measurement data comparison; χ2 test was performed for count data comparison. ResultsThe vitreous body of the affected eye showed gray-white dense and thick flocculent changes, and the posterior capsule attached to the lens showed "foot disc-like" turbidity; later the lens was mainly cystic opacity. Pathological examination of the vitreous body showed positive staining of Congo red; under a polarized light microscope, it showed apple green dots and sheet-like birefringence. The genetic test results showed that there was a c.307G>C (p.Gly103Arg) missense mutation in the TTR gene of the proband in Family 2. Peripheral retinal hemorrhages in 4 eyes (12.5%, 4/32), retinal tears in 5 eyes (15.6%, 5/32), retinal degeneration in 4 eyes (12.5%, 4/32), retinal detachment were found in PPV 3 eyes (9.4%, 3/32). The vitreous body was filled with C3F8 and silicone oil respectively for 2, 1 eye. Six months after the operation, the logMAR BCVA of the affected eye was 0.39±0.32, which was significantly higher than that before the operation, and the difference was statistically significant (t=15.131, P=0.000). After the operation, high intraocular pressure occurred in 2 eyes (6.3%, 2/32), secondary glaucoma in 1 eye (3.1%, 1/32), retinal detachment in 2 eyes (6.3%, 2/32), neovascular glaucoma (NVG) in 2 eyes (6.3%, 2/32), cataract in 10 eyes (31.3%, 10/32). ConclusionThe vitreous body of FVA eyes are gray-white dense, thick and flocculent, attached to the posterior lens capsule, showing "foot disc-like" turbidity; PPV treatment can effectively improve the BCVA of the FVA eyes; secondary glaucoma, secondary retinal detachment, NVG can occur after surgery.
ObjectiveTo investigate the relation between preoperative peripheral blood neutrophil/albumin (NEU/ALB) or hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)/ALB ratio and seroma after laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (LTAPP) hernia repair. MethodsThe patients diagnosed with inguinal hernia and underwent LTAPP hernia repair admitted to the Heji Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College from June 2020 to June 2023 were retrospectively collected. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the risk factors affecting the occurrence of seroma after LTAPP hernia repair. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were used to evaluate the discriminatory value of preoperative peripheral blood NEU/ALB ratio and hs-CRP/ALB ratio for seroma after LTAPP hernia repair. Delong test was used to compare the discriminatory value of these indicators. The test level was α=0.05. ResultsA total of 357 patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in this study, and the seroma occurred in 42 cases (11.8%). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the larger the diameter of the hernia sac [OR (95%CI)=4.654 (2.829, 7.657), P<0.001], the more intraoperative bleeding [OR (95%CI)=3.021 (1.498, 6.094), P=0.002], and the higher NEU/ALB ratio [OR (95%CI)=2.585 (1.618, 4.130), P<0.001] or hs-CRP/ALB ratio [OR (95%CI)=1.874 (1.239, 2.834), P=0.003], the higher the probability of seroma after LTAPP hernia repair. The AUC (95%CI) of NEU/ALB or hs-CRP/ALB indicator for predicting seroma after LTAPP hernia repair was 0.750 (0.702, 0.794) and 0.762 (0.715, 0.806), respectively. The optimal cutoff values were 2.970 and 4.001, with sensitivity of 78.6% and 73.8%, and specificity of 60.3% and 65.7%, respectively. The AUC (95%CI) of the NEU/ALB in combination with hs-CRP/ALB in predicting seroma after LTAPP hernia repair was 0.851 (0.810, 0.886), with sensitivity and specificity of 71.4% and 87.0%, respectively. The AUC of the NEU/ALB in combination with hs-CRP/ALB in predicting seroma after LTAPP hernia repair was higher than that of NEU/ALB (Z=2.864, P=0.004) or hs-CRP/ALB alone (Z=2.956, P=0.003). ConclusionFrom the data analysis results of this study, the occurrence rate of seroma after LTAPP hernia repair is not low, and the occurrence of seroma should be paid close attention to patients with larger hernia sac diameter, more intraoperative bleeding, and higher NEU/ALB or hs-CRP/ALB ratio.