Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in Chinese Han population from Chaoshan region in South China.

BACKGROUND: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are assumed to be prognostic factors in many diseases such as inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. However, NLR and PLR are race specific, it is important to determine the reference values of NLR and PLR in different races. The study aimed to investigate the reference range of NLR and PLR in Chinese Han population from Chaoshan region in South China. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College in South China. Five thousand healthy adults aged 20-69 years were included. NLR and PLR were determined. RESULTS: Of 5000 healthy adults, 2500 men and 2500 women were included. The mean NLR and PLR across all ages for men and women were 1.59 ± 0.59, 92.88 ± 28.70, 1.62 ± 0.64 and 108.02 ± 32.99, respectively. The 95% reference range of NLR in normal male and female are 0.43~2.75 and 0.37~2.87, PLR are 36.63~149.13 and 43.36~172.68, respectively. The female had a higher NLR at age 30~49 than the male while the NLR at age 60~69 was higher in male than in female. The PLR was higher in female than in male. CONCLUSION: The study provides reference data on NLR and PLR from different age and sex groups in South China. NLR and PLR varied with age and sex.

R-Wave Peak Time at Lead II in Adults With Ventricular Premature Beats, Bundle Branch Block and Left Anterior Fascicular Block.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the R-wave peak time (RWPT) at lead II was reported to be a helpful and simple tool for differentiating wide QRS complex tachycardias with a RWPT ≥ 50ms for ventricular tachycardia diagnosis. Our previous study showed that the duration of RWPT at lead II in adults was ≈29ms. However, the effects of ventricular premature beats (VPBs), bundle branch block (BBB) or left anterior fascicular block (LAFB) on RWPT at lead II remain unknown. METHODS: The study was conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College in Southern China. Adults with VPBs, BBB or LAFB were included. RWPT at lead II was determined. RESULTS: Compared with the control groups, the right BBB, LAFB, RWPT were longer in groups with left BBB and VPBs. Compared with the group with left BBB, the group with VPBs had a significantly longer RWPT at lead II (54.20 ± 18.52 versus 84.76 ± 16.38ms, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that there is a significant difference in the RWPT at lead II between groups with left BBB, ventricular premature beat, right BBB and LAFB. A RWPT of 50ms may be optimal to differentiate between ventricular tachycardia and supraventricular tachycardia with right left BBB and LAFB, but not with left BBB.

ABO blood groups and risk of deep venous thromboembolism in Chinese Han population from Chaoshan region in South China.

 Objectives: To demonstrate the prevalence of ABO blood groups with deep venous thromboembolism in Chinese Han population. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted between January 2010 and March 2015 in The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College in Chaoshan District of Guangdong Province in South China. Eighty nine patients with confirmed diagnosis of deep venous thromboembolism were included. Frequency of blood groups was determined. Results: Of 89 patients with deep venous thromboembolism, 28 patients had blood group A (31.5%), 28 patients had blood group B (31.5%), 13 patients had blood group AB (14.6%), and 20 patients had blood group O (22.5%). Compared with O blood type, the odds ratios of deep venous thromboembolism for A, B and AB were 2.23 (95% CI, 1.27-3.91), 2.34 (95% CI, 1.34-4.09) and  4.43 (95% CI, 2.24-8.76). Conclusion: There is a higher risk of venous thromboembolism in non-O blood groups than O group.

Toll­like receptor 4 is expressed and functional in late endothelial progenitor cells.

It has been previously demonstrated that lipopolysaccharides (LPS) inhibit the viability, migration, adhesion and in vitro angiogenesis of late endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). However, the mechanisms underlying this LPS­induced impairment of late EPC functional activity are unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether Toll­like receptor 4 (TLR4) is expressed and functional on late EPCs, using late EPCs of 3­5 passages. Cells were deprived of serum for 24 h prior to experiments and incubated with 10 µg/ml LPS for 24 h with or without pretreatment with 2 µg/ml TLR4 signaling inhibitor CLI­095 for 30 min. The viability, migration, adhesion and in vitro angiogenesis, as well as the expression of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1), in late EPCs were evaluated. Treatment with 10 µg/ml LPS decreased the viability, migration and adhesion abilities, and in vitro angiogenesis of late EPCs. Pretreatment with the TLR4 signaling inhibitor reversed this LPS­induced dysfunction of late EPCs. LPS downregulated the expression of SIRT1 protein, however, blocking TLR4 attenuated the effect of LPS on SIRT1 expression. Therefore, the results of the present study indicate that LPS impaired the functional activity of late EPCs via TLR4, which may be associated with decreased SIRT1 expression.