The prognostic impact of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are prognostic factors for various types of cancer. In this study, we assessed the association of NLR and PLR with the prognosis of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) in patients who received the standard treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who were diagnosed with SCLC and treated with platinum-based chemotherapy between July 2006 and October 2013 in Gyeongsang National University Hospital Regional Cancer Center and Changwon Samsung Hospital. RESULTS: In total, 187 patients were evaluated. Compared with low NLR (<4), high NLR (⩾4) at diagnosis was associated with poor performance status, advanced stage, and lower response rate. Median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were worse in the high-NLR group (high vs low, 11.17 vs 9.20 months, P=0.019 and 6.90 vs 5.49 months, P=0.005, respectively). In contrast, PLR at diagnosis was not associated with OS or PFS (P=0.467 and P=0.205, respectively). In multivariate analysis, stage, lactate dehydrogenase, and NLR at diagnosis were independent prognostic factors for OS and PFS. CONCLUSIONS: NLR is easily measurable and reflects the SCLC prognosis. A future prospective study is warranted to confirm our results.

High-speed characteristics of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers and resonant-cavity-enhanced photodetectors based on intracavity-contacted structure.

We fabricated vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) and resonant-cavity-enhanced photodetectors (RCE-PDs) with GaAs/AlGaAs distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs), operating at lambda approximately 980 nm, based on an intracavity-contacted structure. The top-DBR mesa diameter of the VCSELs was optimized to 18 microm in terms of slope efficiency, differential series resistance, and 3 dB bandwidth. For VCSELs with an oxide aperture of 4.5 microm and a top-DBR mesa diameter of 18 microm, the threshold current was about 1.2 mA, exhibiting maximum output power of approximately 3.49 mW (at 20 degrees C) with good uniformity. The effect of the overetching in the outermost layer of RCE-PDs on the device performance was also investigated. For RCE-PDs based on the VCSEL structure, a peak responsivity of 0.44 A/W (at lambda approximately 979.7 nm) with a spectral width of approximately 3 nm and a dark current of 68 pA under a bias voltage of -5 V at 20 degrees C was obtained. The maximum 3 dB bandwidths of approximately 11.5 GHz with a modulation current efficiency factor of 5.6 GHz/mA(1/2) at -7 mA and 9 GHz at -7 V were achieved for VCSELs and RCE-PDs, respectively.

Protein storage vacuoles form de novo during pea cotyledon development.

We have investigated the formation of protein storage vacuoles in peas (Pisum sativum L.) in order to determine whether this organelle arises de novo during cotyledon development. A comparison of different stages in cotyledon development indicates that soluble protease activities decline and the amounts of storage proteins and the integral membrane protein of the protein body, alpha-TIP, increase during seed maturation. On linear sucrose density gradients we have been able to distinguish between two separate vesicle populations: one enriched in alpha-TIP, and one in TIP-Ma 27, a membrane protein characteristic of vegetative vacuoles. Both vesicle populations possess, however, PPase and V-ATPase activities. Conventionally fixed cotyledonary tissue at an intermediate stage in cotyledon development reveals the presence of a complex tubular-cisternal membrane system that seems to surround the pre-existing vacuoles. The latter gradually become compressed as a result of dilation of the former membrane system. This was confirmed immunocytochemically with the TIP-Ma 27 antiserum. Deposits of the storage proteins vicilin and legumin in the lumen, and the presence of alpha-TIP in the membranes of the expanding membrane system provide evidence of its identity as a precursor to the protein storage vacuole.