Clinical Impact of the Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio in Patients With Gastric Cancer who Received Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical impact of the pretreatment lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) on both short- and long-term oncological outcomes in patients with resectable gastric cancer (GC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The patients were chosen based on our medical records from consecutive cases of curative resection for GC performed at Yokohama City University from 2005 to 2020. The LMR was calculated as the lymphocyte count divided by the monocyte count measured before surgery. RESULTS: The three- and five-year overall survival (OS) rates were 63.1% and 57.4%, respectively, in the low-LMR subgroup and 86.4% and 77.5%, respectively, in the high-LMR subgroup. According to multivariate analysis, the LMR was an independent prognostic factor for OS [hazard ratio (HR)=1.926, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.143-3.245, p=0.014]. In addition, the three- and five-year RFS rates were 54.4% and 50.7%, respectively, in the low-LMR subgroup and 84.0% and 76.0% in the high-LMR subgroup. According to multivariate analysis, the LMR was an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR=2.031, 95%CI=1.266-3.258, p=0.003). When comparing the sites of recurrence between the low-LMR and high-LMR groups, there were significant differences in hematologic recurrence, lymph node recurrence, and peritoneal recurrence. CONCLUSION: Preoperative LMR might be a promising tool for the treatment and management of GC.

The CRP-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) Index Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for Gastric Cancer Patients who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The CRP-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index is a promising biomarker. We clarified the clinical impact of the CALLY index in gastric cancer patients who received curative treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent curative resection for gastric cancer at Yokohama City University from 2005 to 2020 were selected based on medical records. The CALYY index was calculated as follows: serum ALB level (g/dl) × lymphocyte count (cells/µl)/C-reactive protein (mg/dl) ×104 Results: Two hundred fifty-nine patients were included in the present study. The three- and five-year overall survival (OS) rates were 64.8% and 57.0%, respectively, in the CALLY index-low group, and 86.2% and 78.2%, respectively, in the CALLY index-high group. There were significant differences between the two groups. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that the CALLY index was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (hazard ratio=1.791; 95% confidence interval=1.067-3.009; p=0.028). When comparing the perioperative clinical course between the CALLY index-low and CALLY index-high groups, there were significant differences in postoperative surgical complications and adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The CALLY score was an independent prognostic factor for patients with gastric cancer. Our results suggest that the CALLY index is a promising tool for assessing inflammation and nutritional status in patients undergoing gastric cancer treatment and management.

The Naples Prognostic Score Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for Gastric Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of the Naples Prognostic Score (NPS) in patients with gastric cancer and to clarify the potential of the NPS as a nutritional and inflammation evaluation system. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 158 patients who underwent curative treatment for gastric cancer between 2005 and 2020. The prognosis and clinical pathological parameters of the high-NPS (NPS >2) and low-NPS (NPS=0, 1) groups were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall survival (OS) rates at 3 and 5 years were 86.7% and 77.7%, respectively, in the low-NPS group and 55.4% and 47.4%, respectively, in the high-NPS group. There were significant differences in OS between the two groups. Uni- and multivariate analyses demonstrated that the NPS was an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR=2.495, 95%CI=1.240-5.451). In addition, the 3- and 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 82.1% and 76.0%, respectively, in the NPS-low group, and 43.8% and 36.6% in the NPS-high group. Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that the NPS was an independent prognostic factor for RFS (HR=2.739, 95%CI=1.509-4.972). When the first site of recurrence was compared between the low-NPS group and high-NPS group, there were significant differences in peritoneal recurrence (8.7% vs. 34.3%, p=0.001) and hematologic recurrence (5.6% vs. 21.9%, p=0.004). CONCLUSION: The NPS was a significant prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer who received curative treatment. The NPS may be a promising biomarker for the treatment and management of gastric cancer.

Albumin-Globulin Ratio Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for Gastric Cancer Patients who Received Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The albumin-globulin ratio (AGR) is a useful biomarker for predicting postoperative complications and a poor prognosis in patients with various types of cancer and can be evaluated without invasive testing or surgery. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the usefulness of the AGR in predicting the short- and long-term prognoses of patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical resection at our institution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study is a retrospective cohort analysis in which eligible patients were selected from the medical records of patients who underwent radical resection for gastric cancer at Yokohama City University from 2000 to 2020 and their medical records were reviewed. A total of 240 patients with gastric cancer were classified into high-AGR (>1.57) and low-AGR (≤1.57) groups and their overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and postoperative complication rates were compared. RESULTS: Of the total 240 patients, 87 were classified into the high AGR group and 153 were classified into the low AGR group; the incidence of postoperative complications in the two groups did not differ to a statistically significant extent (34.4% vs. 39.2%, p=0.491). The long-term findings showed that the 5-year OS and RFS rates were significantly better in the high AGR group [84.0% vs. 64.8% (p=0.005), 80.0% vs. 61.9% (p=0.015), respectively]. CONCLUSION: Preoperative low AGR is a risk factor for OS and DFS in patients with gastric cancer who undergo surgery. The AGR may be a useful biomarker that can be applied as a prognostic indicator for patients with gastric cancer.

Comparison of Dietary Intake After Gastric Cancer Gastrectomy Between Patients With and Without Postoperative Surgical Complications.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study aimed to compare dietary intake (DI) after gastrectomy for gastric cancer between patients with (C group) and without (NC group) postoperative surgical complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective observational study enrolled patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer. DI was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire with 82 food items (FFQW82) during nutritional counseling before surgery and at one and three months after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 225 patients participated in this study. Of the 225 patients, 193 had no postoperative complications, and 32 had postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥2). The median DI at 1 month postoperatively was 1508 kcal/day in the NC group and 1,470.5 kcal/day in the C group (p=0.175). The median DI at 3 months postoperatively was 1,623 kcal/day in the NC group and 1575 kcal/day in the C group (p=0.473). There was a significant difference between the NC and C groups in the rate of decrease in DI at one month (median: -8.44% vs. -15.37%, p=0.032) and at three months postoperatively (median: -3.58% vs. -6.12%, p=0.038). CONCLUSION: There was a statistically significant difference in the rate of decrease in DI after gastrectomy between the C and NC groups at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. Our results suggest that patients with postoperative surgical complications require additional nutritional treatment for decreased DI.

CRP-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) Index Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for the Esophageal Cancer Patients Who Received Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Perioperative inflammation and the nutritional status affect both short- and long-term oncological outcomes in various malignancies. We clarified the clinical impacts of the CRP-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index in patients with esophageal cancer who received curative treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The present study included 180 patients who underwent curative treatment for esophageal cancer between 2005 and 2020. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters were compared between a high-fibrinogen group and a low-fibrinogen group. RESULTS: The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 50.0% and 42.6%, respectively, in the CALLY index-low group, and 75.9% and 66.6% in the CALLY index-high group. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (p<0.001). Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that the CALLY index was an independent prognostic factor [hazard ratio=2.310, 95% confidence interval=1.416-3.767, p<0.001]. Similar results were observed in recurrence-free survival. When comparing the details of postoperative surgical complications, there was a significant difference in the incidence of anastomotic leakage. The incidence of anastomotic leakage was 40.2% in the CALLY index-low group, while it was 27.5% in the CALLY index-high group (p=0.030). CONCLUSION: The pretreatment CALLY index is one of the independent prognostic factors for esophageal cancer. The CALLY index might become a promising biomarker for the treatment and management of esophageal cancer.

Factors affecting the length of hospital stay for total knee arthroplasty in Japan: a retrospective study using the diagnosis procedure combination database.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the length of hospital stay following total knee arthroplasty to determine the impact of relevant factors using data from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study. The study cohort included 5,831 patients who had osteoarthritis of the knee and had undergone total knee replacement between February 2018 and October 2022 at 38 hospitals. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that the factors influencing the length of stay included: age (p < 0.001), height (p < 0.001), weight (p = 0.049), body mass index (p = 0.008), Barthel index (p < 0.001), method of anesthesia (p < 0.001), bone transplant (p = 0.010), timing of postoperative rehabilitation (p < 0.001), atrial fibrillation (p < 0.001), chronic pain (p < 0.001), and number of institutionally treated cases (p < 0.001) (r = 0.451, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Shorter or longer hospital stays were found to be associated with the patients' background characteristics and facility-specific factors; these can lead to more accurate estimates of the length of hospital stay and appropriate allocation of resources.

Influence of certified perioperative nurses on the establishment of preoperative outpatient clinic and rate of preoperative assessment in Japan.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of certified perioperative nurses on preoperative outpatient clinic and preoperative assessments. The study was conducted from February 2021 to September 2022; data were collected and analyzed using a questionnaire at 247 hospitals in Japan. To analyze the factors affecting the rate of preoperative assessment with the primary endpoint of preoperative outpatient care and preoperative nursing visits, we performed multiple linear regression analysis of facility characteristics, perioperative nurse background, and the presence or absence of certified perioperative nurses. Regarding the presence or absence of a preoperative outpatient clinic, patients from 68 (52.3%) and 41 (35.0%) institutions in the enrolled and nonenrolled groups. Respectively, underwent a preoperative assessment; the rate of preoperative assessments in the enrolled group was significantly higher than that in the nonenrolled group. Multivariate analysis of factors influencing the preoperative assessment rate revealed a significant association with certified perioperative nurse attendance. Facilities with certified perioperative nurses have a significantly higher prevalence of preoperative outpatient clinic and significantly higher rates of preoperative assessments than facilities without certified perioperative nurses. Enrollment of certified perioperative nurses may lead to the improvement of the quality of preoperative nursing interventions.

Long-term treatment outcomes in gastric cancer with oligometastasis.

Aim: While surgery is essential for curative treatment of gastric cancer with oligometastasis, its target, timing, and possibility of combination with other treatments are unclear. We herein investigated the clinical course and long-term outcomes of gastric cancer with oligometastasis in the real world setting to determine the optimal therapeutic strategy. Methods: The present study retrospectively analyzed 992 patients who received any treatment for metastatic or recurrent gastric adenocarcinoma at Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital between 2007 and 2019. Oligometastasis was defined as any one of the following: liver metastases (HEP) <3; lung metastases (PUL) <3; unilateral adrenal gland metastasis (ADR); para-aortic lymph node metastasis (PALN); or one, distant, lymph node metastasis, excluding the regional lymph nodes (LYM). Overall survival was compared by the characteristics and treatments for the oligometastasis, and univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the prognostic factors of overall survival. Results: Ninety-seven patients (9.8%) with the following metastasis sites were enrolled: HEP (n = 27), PUL (n = 2), ADR (n = 3), PALN (n = 55), and LYM (n = 10). The median survival time of the cohort was 22.8 months, and the five-year overall survival rate was 28.4%. On multivariate analysis, chemotherapy for the initial treatment (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.438; p = 0.048), distal gastrectomy and/or metastasectomy (HR: 0.290; p = 0.001), and R0 resection (HR: 0.373; p = 0.005) were identified as independent, positive factors of overall survival. Conclusion: The long-term outcomes of gastric cancer in patients with oligometastasis may improve if treatment is begun with chemotherapy rather than surgery.

Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for Patients With Esophageal Cancer Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The perioperative nutritional status has recently been reported to influence the prognosis of various types of cancer. We investigated the relationship between the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with esophageal cancer who received radical and adjuvant therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent radical resection for esophageal cancer at our hospital (n=187) were included. Background characteristics, surgical factors, and OS were examined retrospectively. The GNRI was calculated using preoperative values, with GNRI <98 classified as low-GNRI. RESULTS: Seventy-five and 112 patients were classified into the GNRI-low and -high groups, respectively. The 3- and 5-year OS rates were 75.7% and 66.7%, respectively, in the GNRI-high group and 43.2% and 36.7% in the GNRI-low group; the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). In the univariate and multivariate analyses, low-GNRI was selected as a risk factor for OS. The hazard ratio for low-GNRI was 2.184 (95% confidence interval=1.361-3.508, p=0.001). The 5-year RFS rate in the high- and low-GNRI groups was 54.6% and 25.0%, respectively (p=0.001). In the univariate and multivariate analyses, low-GNRI was a risk factor for RFS. The hazard ratio for low-GNRI was 1.704 (95%CI=1.121-2.590, p=0.013). Regarding the type of recurrence, lymph node recurrence was significantly more common in the low-GNRI group (p=0.008). CONCLUSION: Low-GNRI was an independent risk factor for OS and RFS after radical resection of esophageal cancer. The preoperative GNRI may be a useful prognostic factor after esophageal cancer surgery.

Pretreatment Fibrinogen Level Is a Prognostic Factor for Esophageal Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Pretreatment fibrinogen levels are a promising prognostic marker for some malignancies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical impact of fibrinogen levels before treatment in patients with esophageal cancer who underwent curative resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 123 patients who underwent curative treatment for esophageal cancer between 2005 and 2020. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters in the high fibrinogen and low fibrinogen groups were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall survival (OS) stratified by individual clinical factors was compared using the log-rank test, and a significant difference was observed when a pretreatment fibrinogen level of 400 g/dl was used as a cutoff value. The comparison of the patient background factors between the high fibrinogen (400 g/dl) and low fibrinogen (<400 g/dl) groups revealed significant differences in pathological T status and lymph node metastasis. In the low fibrinogen group, the OS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery (71.4% and 58.1%, respectively) were significantly higher than those in the high fibrinogen group (38.3% and 32.4%, respectively). Univariate and multivariate analyses for OS showed that the fibrinogen level prior to treatment was a significant prognostic factor. Similar results were observed for recurrence-free survival. In addition, when the first recurrence site was compared, there were marginally significant differences in hematologic recurrence. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment fibrinogen levels are a significant risk factor in patients with esophageal cancer. Therefore, pretreatment fibrinogen levels are a promising prognostic factor for patients with esophageal cancer.

Lymphocyte to Monocyte Ratio Is an Independent Prognostic Factor in Patients With Esophageal Cancer Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study evaluated the clinical impact of the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in patients with esophageal cancer who received curative treatment and perioperative adjuvant treatment. The association between LMR and the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with esophageal cancer was also investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 181 patients who underwent curative treatment for esophageal cancer between 2005 and 2020. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters of patients with high and low LMR statuses were analyzed. RESULTS: The OS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were significantly lower (40.6% and 33.8%, respectively) in the low-LMR group than in the high-LMR group (67.1% and 58.4%, respectively). The pretreatment LMR was selected as an independent prognostic factor in the multivariate analysis model [hazard ratio (HR)=2.606; 95%CI=1.504-4.516, p<0.001]. Similar results were observed for RFS. Furthermore, LMR was associated with the occurrence of postoperative surgical complications and hematological recurrence. The incidence of anastomotic leakage was 63.3% in the low-LMR group and 27.2% in the high-LMR group (p<0.001). Moreover, the hematologic recurrence rate in the low-LMR group was significantly higher than that in the high-LMR group (46.7% vs. 23.8%, p=0.011). CONCLUSION: The LMR may be a promising prognostic and predictive factor for esophageal cancer, and may be used to select optimal treatment strategies in the future.

Dietary Intake After Surgery in Patients With Gastric Cancer Who Underwent Laparoscopic-assisted Versus Those Who Underwent Conventional Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Dietary intake (DI) loss after gastrectomy is a serious problem for patients with gastric cancer. This study compared the dietary intake after surgery in patients with early gastric cancer who received laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) versus those who underwent conventional open distal gastrectomy (ODG). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, observational study enrolling patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Dietary intake was assessed using the food frequency questionnaire with eighty-two food items (FFQW82) at nutritional counseling before surgery and one and three months after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients were included. Among them, 69 (58.5%) were male, and 49 (41.5%) were female. Seventy-five (63.6%) received LDG, and 43 (36.4%) received ODG. At 1 month postoperatively, the median DI in the LDG group was 1,540 (1,014-2,195) kcal/day, whereas that in the ODG group was 1547 (986-2,143) kcal/day (p=0.891). At 3 months postoperatively, the median DI in the LDG group was 1,624 (1,050-2,443) kcal/day, and that in the ODG group was 1,652 (917-2,144) kcal/day (p=0.749). There was no significant difference in the DI loss rate at 1 month (median: -8.2% vs. -9.3%, p=0.398) and 3 months (median: -3.2% vs. -3.7%, p=0.635) between the LDG and ODG groups. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery may not prevent postoperative DI loss after distal gastrectomy. Therefore, methods other than laparoscopic surgery are needed to prevent post-gastrectomy DI loss.

The C-reactive Protein to Prealbumin Ratio Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for Patients With Gastric Cancer Who Receive Curative Surgery.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The C-reactive protein to prealbumin ratio (CPAR) has been proposed and introduced in gastrointestinal cancer management. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of the CPAR in patients with gastric cancer (GC) who received curative treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 447 patients who underwent curative treatment for GC between 2013 and 2017. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters were compared between patients with high and low CPARs. RESULTS: Overall survival (OS) stratified by each clinical factor was compared using the log-rank test, and a significant difference was observed using a pretreatment CPAR of 5.0. Significant differences were observed in the 3- and 5-year OS rates of the CPAR-low (CPAR <5.0) and CPAR-high (CPAR ≥5.0) groups. The 3- and 5-year OS rates were 92.6% and 87.8%, respectively, in the CPAR-low group and 88.0% and 75.4% in the CPAR-high group. The CPAR was determined to be a significant prognostic factor for OS in a multivariate analysis (p=0.032). Similar results were observed for recurrence-free survival. CONCLUSION: The CAPR is a prognostic factor for GC patients. Therefore, the CAPR may be a promising nutritional biomarker of inflammation that can be applied in the management of GC patients.

The Clinical Influence of Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index in Patients With Gastric Cancer Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We evaluated the clinical impact of the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) in patients who received curative treatment and perioperative adjuvant treatment. We also investigated the association between the GNRI and the clinicopathological features of patients with GC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 280 patients who underwent curative treatment for GC between 2005 and 2020. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters of the high-GNRI and low-GNRI groups were compared. RESULTS: In the GNRI-high group, the overall survival (OS) rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were significantly lower (82.7% and 77.9%, respectively) than those in the GNRI-low group (56.4% and 40.8%). The GNRI was selected for the final multivariate analysis model for OS. The GNRI was also a significant prognostic factor for recurrence-free survival (RFS). The RFS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were 79.1% and 74.8%, respectively, in the GNRI-high group, and 48.0% and 38.6% in the GNRI-low group. The GNRI was selected for the final multivariate analysis model for RFS. The GNRI was also found to affect the postoperative clinical course, including postoperative surgical complications and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The GNRI may be a promising prognostic and predictive factor for gastric cancer. In the future, the GNRI may be used to select optimal treatment strategies.

The Clinical Impact of Change in the C-Reactive Protein/Albumin Ratio in Gastric Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Recently, change in the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR) has become a promising prognostic marker in some malignancies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical impact of change in the CAR in gastric cancer patients who received curative resection. METHOD: The present study included 458 patients who underwent curative treatment for gastric cancer between 2013 and 2017. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters were compared between patients who showed a high-change in CAR and those who showed a low-change in CAR. RESULTS: The OS stratified by each clinical factor was compared using a log-rank test, and a significant difference was observed using a 0.05 change in CAR. When the patient background factors were compared between the high-change (change in CAR ≥ 0.05) and low-change (change in CAR < 0.05) groups, the median age, sex ratio, T factor, and N factor were similar. In the low-change group, the OS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were 94.1% and 87.6%, respectively, which amounted to a significant difference from the low-change group, with rates of 83.6 and 77.5% in the high-change group. In the low-change group, the RFS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were 90.1% and 85.1%, respectively, while those in the high-change group 77.6 and 75.2%. The univariate and multivariate analyses of factors associated with OS and RFS showed that the change in CAR was a significant prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: The change in CAR is a significant risk factor and promising prognostic factor for gastric cancer patients.

The Clinical Impact of Change in the Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio During the Perioperative Period in Gastric Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Gastrectomy.

AIM: Recently, change in the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (cNLR) has been shown to be a promising prognostic inflammation marker in some malignancies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical impact of the cNLR in gastric cancer patients who received curative gastrectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The present study included 450 patients who underwent curative treatment for gastric cancer between 2013 and 2017 at Kanagawa Cancer Center. The cNLR was defined as follows: cNLR = NLR at 1 month after surgery-NLR at 1 week before surgery. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters of the increased cNLR and decreased cNLR groups were analyzed. RESULTS: The OS stratified by each clinical factor was compared using the log-rank test, and a significant difference was observed using a cutoff value of cNLR at 0.762. When comparing the patient background factors between the increased cNLR (≥ 0.762) and decreased cNLR (< 0.762) groups, there were no significant differences in age, sex, T status, or N status. In the increased cNLR group, the OS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were 87.5% and 77.3%, respectively, while those in the decreased cNLR group were 92.8% and 87.3%, which amounted to a statistically significant difference (p = 0.041). The univariate and multivariate analyses of factors associated with OS showed that cNLR was a significant prognostic factor. When the postoperative course was compared between the two groups, the incidence rates of postoperative surgical complications and other-cause death were significantly higher in the increased cNLR group (p = 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). CONCLUSION: The cNLR is one of the significant risk factors in gastric cancer patients. Our results suggested that the changes of inflammation status during perioperative periods might be a promising prognostic factor for gastrointestinal cancer patients.

The Clinical Impact of the Pretreatment Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Gastric Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is a promising prognostic marker in some malignancies. The present study evaluated the clinical impact of the PLR in patients with gastric cancer who underwent curative resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 258 patients who underwent curative treatment for gastric cancer between 2005 and 2020. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters between the high- and low-PLR statuses were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall survival (OS) stratified by each clinical factor was compared using the log-rank test, and a significant difference was observed using a pretreatment PLR of 150. When comparing the patient backgrounds between the high-PLR (PLR≥150) and low-PLR (PLR<150) groups, there were no significant differences between the two groups. The OS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were significantly higher at 70.8% and 60.4%, respectively, for the high-PLR group than at 83.6% and 79.7%, respectively, for the low-PLR group. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the OS showed that the PLR was a significant prognostic factor. In addition, when comparing the first recurrence sites, there were significant differences in peritoneal recurrence. CONCLUSION: The PLR is a significant risk factor for gastric cancer, making it a promising prognostic factor for patients with gastric cancer.

Influence of the Oral Health Assessment Tool Score on Survival of Patients With Esophageal Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We investigated the influence of the preoperative Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) score on the outcomes of patients with esophageal cancer after curative surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 90 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent curative surgery and who were screened with the OHAT between 2008 and 2021. The OHAT consists of eight categories with three possible scores. The risk factors for 5-year overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were identified. RESULTS: Patients were divided into healthy (n=42) and unhealthy (n=48) groups. The OHAT score was identified as a significant risk factor for postoperative pneumonia (11.9% vs. 43.8%, p=0.001) and postoperative hospital stay (20.5 days vs. 50.1 days, p=0.042). The 5-year OS rate after surgery was 71.2% in the healthy group and 43.2% in the unhealthy group, which was a significant difference (p=0.015). A multivariate analysis showed that a high OHAT score was a significant independent factor for 5-year OS (p=0.034). CONCLUSION: The OHAT score was a useful prognostic marker in patients who underwent curative surgery for esophageal cancer. To improve the oncological outcomes of patients with esophageal cancer, it is necessary to carefully plan perioperative oral/dental care using the OHAT score.

[Fatal invasive pneumococcal disease developed 14 years after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome].

Invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPDs) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation have high fatality rates and often develop late after transplantation. The patient was a 58-year-old female. Fourteen years ago, she underwent bone marrow transplantation from a HLA-DR 1-antigen mismatched unrelated donor for myelodysplastic syndrome. She developed pneumonia, chronic graft-versus-host disease, and hypogammaglobulinemia. She received 23-valent pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide vaccine 11 and 6 years earlier. She was presented to our emergency room with fever. Her blood culture was positive for pneumococcus, and she was diagnosed with an IPD. The patient received antibiotic treatment but died on the third day of hospitalization. Because of its seriousness, pneumococcal infection should receive attention even 10 or more years after transplantation. Preventive approaches such as vaccination and early intervention at the time of diagnosis are important.