The role of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the diagnosis and severity of inflammatory bowel disease in children.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are simple and inexpensive inflammatory biomarkers that reflect systemic inflammation based on complete blood count values. In this study, we investigate the role of these biomarkers in the diagnosis and severity of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We analyzed 73 pediatric patients with IBD with a retrospective study design who underwent measurement of fecal calprotectin (FC) and endoscopy and 67 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. NLR and PLR were compared between the patients and healthy controls. We also plotted the ROC diagrams separately for markers to obtain the optimal point and a suitable cutoff point. We enrolled 73 pediatric patients less than 18 years of age with IBD, 40 subjects with UC and 33 with CD and 67 healthy subjects as control group with median age of 9.00 ± 4.61 in all subjects. Furthermore, the mean score of PCDAI or PUCAI in the all subjects was 19.26 ± 16.31. In the ROC curve, the optimal cutoff value for NLR and PLR for detecting IBD was 2.04 (sensitivity 82.1%; specificity 82.9%) and 103 (sensitivity 67.9%; specificity 71.4%). Also, the optimal cutoff values for NLR and PLR for differentiating IBD severity (remission vs. active disease) were 2.94 (sensitivity 77.8%; specificity 50.0%) and 157 (sensitivity 88.9%; specificity 54.5%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate the role of easy and non-invasive markers such as NLR and PLR in order to diagnose the disease in the initial examinations as well as the severity of the disease. WHAT IS KNOWN: • NLR and PLR are simple and inexpensive inflammatory biomarkers that reflect systemic inflammation based on complete blood count values. WHAT IS NEW: • In this study, we investigate the role of these biomarkers in the diagnosis and severity of pediatric IBD. • Our findings indicate the role of NLR and PLR in order to diagnose the disease in the initial examinations as well as the severity of the disease.

A comprehensive review of the role of lncRNAs in gastric cancer (GC) pathogenesis, immune regulation, and their clinical applications.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common malignant tumor and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although numerous studies have been conducted on advanced GC, the molecular mechanisms behind it remain obscure. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a family of RNA transcripts capable of regulating target genes at transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational stages. They do this by modifying mRNAs, miRNAs, and proteins. These RNAs are critical regulators of many biological processes, including gene epigenetics, transcription, and post-transcriptional levels. This article highlights recent results on lncRNAs involved in drug resistance, proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, apoptosis, autophagy, and immune response in GC. The potential clinical implications of lncRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in GC are also discussed.

Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory findings, and outcomes of disseminated tuberculosis in Tehran, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Disseminated tuberculosis (TB) accounts for 1 to 3% of all TB cases. This retrospective study reviews the clinical, radiological, laboratory findings and outcome in patients with disseminated tuberculosis in an endemic area. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for patients with disseminated TB admitted to two tertiary centers in Tehran, Iran between 1999 and 2006. RESULTS: Fifty patients were found to have disseminated TB. A miliary pattern was documented in the chest x-ray of 34 patients. Hematologic abnormalities including anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia were frequently observed. Death occurred in nine of the cases. The mortality rate was significantly higher in diabetic patients, injection drug users, and patients with hematologic abnormalities; however, steroid usage and human immunodeficiency virus infection were not significantly associated with a higher mortality rate. Clinical improvement occurred in 41 patients following treatment. CONCLUSION: Disseminated TB could have different manifestations. Hematologic abnormalities are common and are considered poor prognostic signs in these patients.