Effectiveness of Low-Dose Mepolizumab in the Treatment of Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA): A Real-Life Experience.

INTRODUCTION: Data showing effectiveness of mepolizumab in patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) are limited. METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective chart review of patients with EGPA treated with mepolizumab. Clinical, laboratory, functional parameters and asthma, rhinitis control, and quality of life scores (Asthma Control Test [ACT], Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire [AQLQ], Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire [RQLQ], and SinoNasal Outcome Test [SNOT]-22) were evaluated at the baseline, 6th month, and 12th month. Complete response was defined as the absence of asthma and/or ear, nasal symptoms and exacerbations with a prednisone of ≤7.5 mg/day, partial response if it was achieved with a prednisone of >7.5 mg/day. RESULTS: Overall, 25 patients (18 F/7 M) with a median age of 47 years (23-76) were enrolled. Mepolizumab 100 mg/month was administered (dose increased to 300 mg/month in 3 patients). Mepolizumab significantly decreased daily dose of oral corticosteroid (OCS) from 11.04 mg to 3.65 mg together with a significant improvement in ACT, AQLQ, RQLQ, and SNOT-22 scores and a significant reduction in asthma exacerbations and blood eosinophil count at the 6th and 12th month (all p values <0.05). The mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s increased (at baseline: 1.88 L to 2.46 L at the 12th month [p = 0.037]). Seventy-six percent of patients responded completely at the 6th month and 81.25% at the 12th month. The complete responders at the 6th and 12th month were older than partial responders and nonresponders (p = 0.030 and p = 0.057, respectively). Patients with complete response at the 6th month were on lower doses of OCS than partial responders and nonresponders (p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose mepolizumab was effective in EGPA patients by improving sinonasal and asthma outcomes, while reducing the need for OCS.

Mepolizumab Is an Effective Option in Severe Eosinophilic Asthma Regardless of Baseline Features: Single-Center Real-Life Data.

BACKGROUND: Mepolizumab has been approved as a treatment option for severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) patients in our country. We aimed to evaluate the clinical and functional efficacy of mepolizumab in this group of patients in real life as well as the response rates to mepolizumab and the possible factors affecting the response. METHODS: The study was a retrospective chart review of patients with SEA treated with mepolizumab. The data were collected at baseline, and at the 6th and 12th month. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients (41F/21M) with a mean age of 44.41 ± 13.24 years were included in the study. They had poor symptom control with a mean asthma control test (ACT) score of 16.61 ± 5.59, frequent exacerbations with a mean of 3.4 ± 3.7 in the previous 12 months, and 80.6% required daily oral corticosteroid (OCS) with a median dosage of 8 mg/day as methylprednisolone. The ACT score increased to 22.47 ± 3.18 and 22.03 ± 4.31, respectively, and blood eosinophil count decreased from 1,146/µL to 89/µL and 85/µL at the 6th and 12th month, respectively. The mean FEV1 at baseline was 2.102 L there was an increase of 0.373 L at 6th month and 0.596 L at 12th month. The percentage of regular users of OCS decreased to 66.0% at 6th month with a median dosage of 4 mg and 52.6% at 12th month with a median dosage of 2 mg. Mepolizumab reduced the rate of exacerbations compared with the previous year from a mean of 3.40 to 0.15 at 6th month and 0.36 at 12th month. There was a significant improvement in Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ), and Sino-nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) scores at both of time points. The rate of responders and super-responders at 6th month was 60% and 28%, respectively, and consequently, the overall response rate was 88%. At the 12th month, the super-responder rate increased to 44.7% as well as the overall response to 89.4%. The only difference between the nonresponders, responders, and super-responders at the 6th and 12th month was whether regular daily OCS was used pre-mepolizumab. All nonresponders at both 6th and 12th month were using OCS regularly, whereas most of super-responder used the OCS only during exacerbations. CONCLUSION: Mepolizumab effectively reduced asthma exacerbations, steroid requirement, blood eosinophil counts and improved asthma control, pulmonary function, sinonasal symptoms and quality of life. Our data suggest that mepolizumab would be effective in selected patients in real-life settings.

Systemic immune inflammation index in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

OBJECTIVES: Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS) a chronic idiopathic oral mucosal disease. But yet the etiology and pathogenesis of RAS are not exactly known, it is thought that inflammation play an important role in the pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the role of systemic inflammation among the possible etiological factors of RAS and to find the possible diagnostic correlation between Systemic Immune Inflammation Index (SII). METHODS: Patients who were consulted the otolaryngology outpatient clinic and diagnosed with RAS between 2019-2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet/Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) and SII values were calculated based on the results of complete blood count. Demographic and hematological parameters between control and RAS groups were compared. The statistical significance level was considered as <0.05. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the control and RAS groups in terms of sex and age distributions (p = 0.566 and p = 0.173, respectively). SII, NLR and PLR values were significantly higher in the RAS group compared to the controls (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). A very strong correlation between SII and NLR, moderately strong correlation between SII and PLR and moderate correlation between NLR and PLR values were detected (respectively ρ: 0.813, 0.719, 0.532; p-values <0.001). CONCLUSION: SII, NLR and PLR has significantly higher levels in the RAS group compared to the control group, that it supports the role of systemic inflammation in the etiopathogenesis of RAS. In addition, the results show that SII is a valuable marker for inflammation.

Complicated or non-complicated appendicitis? That is the question.

BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis (AA) is a common disease that includes all age groups and both genders in societies and is one of the most common causes of acute abdomen. It is important to distinguish between complicated and non-complicated appendicitis before surgery. This study aims to determine laboratory parameters that can be used to determine whether the disease is complicated or non-complicated in patients admitted to the emergency department with AA. METHODS: Female and male patients admitted to the Emergency General Surgery Department between May 2019 and November 2020 and diagnosed with appendicitis were included in the study. Demographic data (age, gender, and protocol numbers), complete blood counts (Delta neutrophil index [DNI], hemoglobin, monocyte, neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil, platelet, platelet distribution width, mean platelet volume, reticulocyte distribution width), biochemical parameters (amylase, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, albumin, calcium, and lactate dehydrogenase), and examination information were obtained from the hospital automation system and recorded via SPSS software. Parameters of patients were divided into two groups as complicated and non-complicated appendicitis groups were compared. RESULTS: White blood cell (WBC), monocyte, neutrophil, DNI, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin values were found to be statisti-cally significantly higher in the complicated appendicitis group compared to the non-complicated appendicitis group (p-values; <0.001, 0.003, <0.001, <0.001 and 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSION: DNI, bilirubin values, WBC, monocyte, neutrophil, and eosinophil can be used as laboratory parameters to distin-guish between complicated and non-complicated AA.

Pediatric versus Adult Corneal Collagen Crosslinking: Long-term Visual, Refractive, Tomographic and Aberrometric Outcomes.

PURPOSE: To comparatively evaluate the long-term visual, refractive, topographic and aberrometric outcomes of conventional corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) in the management of pediatric versus adult progressive keratoconus patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective, cross-sectional review of consecutive progressive keratoconus cases of corneal standard CXL using a standardized protocol for treatment and examinations was performed. Best spectacle-corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), manifest refraction, slit lamp biomicroscopy, corneal tomography, corneal aberrometry and endothelial cell counts were evaluated at baseline and yearly at all postoperative follow-up examinations after month-12. The outcomes were analyzed by dividing the patients into 2 age groups; pediatric (≤18 years) versus adult (>18 years). RESULTS: Eighty-eight eyes (54 patients) in the pediatric and 104 eyes (68 patients) in the adult age groups completed 3 years follow-up. Compared to baseline, the mean CDVA, manifest refraction, keratometric readings, tomographic and aberrometric parameters improved statistically significantly in both groups at postoperative year-3 and year-4, without any statistically significant between-group differences. No change in the mean endothelial cell density (p > .05), or no sight threating complication was encountered in any patient eye in either group. In a subset of patients who were followed for 4 years (71 eyes in the pediatric and 70 eyes in the adult age groups), the outcome analyses were again similar between-groups. CONCLUSION: Conventional corneal CXL effectively halts the progression of keratoconus in both pediatric and adult age groups in long-term follow-up with similar visual, refractive, tomographic and aberrometric efficacy in both groups.

Comparison of Morphological Features of Type 1 CNV in AMD and Pachychoroid Neovasculopathy: An OCTA Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to compare the morphological features of type 1 choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in eyes with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nineteen eyes of 17 patients with PNV and 30 eyes of 30 patients with AMD were evaluated. The size and area of CNV and morphological patterns during a 6-month period were analyzed using optical coherence tomography angiography. RESULTS: The presence of a feeder vessel was more common in AMD than in PNV. Indistinct pattern was more common in PNV than AMD. Pruned vascular tree pattern was rare in PNV eyes during follow-up. The mean size and flow of selected CNV area was significantly smaller in PNV group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that type 1 CNVs in the PNV group is characterized by a smaller area. Morphologic pattern differences between them might be explained by different etiopathogenesis under these circumstances. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2020;51:640-647.].

Factors affecting mortality in elderly patients who underwent surgery for gastric cancer.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine factors affecting overall mortality in patients over 60 years of age who underwent surgery for gastric cancer in our clinic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data on histopathological diagnosis (tumor size, lymph node status, and number), pathological stage, serum albumin level, tumor markers, complete blood count, and demographic information of 109 patients over 60 years of age who had surgery for gastric cancer between January 2011 and July 2016 were obtained retrospectively from the patient files. In addition, the survival status of all patients were examined and recorded. Metastatic lymph node ratio (MLR), red cell distribution width platelet ratio (RPR), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), plateletlymphocyte ratio (PLR), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) were calculated. RESULTS: On univariate analysis of independent parameters, pathological LN number (p = 0.001), MLR (p <0.001), T3 (p = 0.001) or T4 (p = 0,006) tumor stage according to TNM system, the presence of metastasis (p = 0.063), and male gender (p = 0.066) were found to affect overall mortality (OM). On multivariable Cox regression analysis of these results, MLR (p = 0.005) and T stage (p = 0.006) was determined to be a statistically significant and independent prognostic value. CONCLUSION: In patients over 60 years of age who underwent surgery for gastric cancer, the factors affecting mortality were determined to be the presence of metastases, number of pathological lymph nodes, and male gender. Metastatic lymph node ratio and T1&T2 stage were determined to be independent prognostic factors. KEY WORDS: Elderly, Gastric cancer, Mortality, Prognostic factor.

Systemic immune inflammation index in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis / Índice de inflamação imune sistêmica em pacientes com estomatite aftosa recorrente

Abstract Objectives: Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS) a chronic idiopathic oral mucosal disease. But yet the etiology and pathogenesis of RAS are not exactly known, it is thought that inflammation play an important role in the pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the role of systemic inflammation among the possible etiological factors of RAS and to find the possible diagnostic correlation between Systemic Immune Inflammation Index (SII). Methods: Patients who were consulted the otolaryngology outpatient clinic and diagnosed with RAS between 2019-2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet/Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) and SII values were calculated based on the results of complete blood count. Demographic and hematological parameters between control and RAS groups were compared. The statistical significance level was considered as <0.05. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the control and RAS groups in terms of sex and age distributions (p = 0.566 and p = 0.173, respectively). SII, NLR and PLR values were significantly higher in the RAS group compared to the controls (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). A very strong correlation between SII and NLR, moderately strong correlation between SII and PLR and moderate correlation between NLR and PLR values were detected (respectively ρ: 0.813, 0.719, 0.532; p-values <0.001). Conclusion: SII, NLR and PLR has significantly higher levels in the RAS group compared to the control group, that it supports the role of systemic inflammation in the etiopathogenesis of RAS. In addition, the results show that SII is a valuable marker for inflammation. Level of evidence: 4. HIGHLIGHTS RAS is a chronic, idiopathic, ulcerative oral mucosal disease. SII is a new and inexpensive biomarker that can easily be calculated using the platelet, neutrophil, and lymphocyte count. SII may be a valuable marker to demonstrate the role of systemic inflammation in RAS etiopathogenesis. Vascular, thrombotic, and inflammatory processes are thought to have a role in RAS activation.

Resumo Objetivo: A estomatite aftosa recorrente (EAR) é uma doença crônica idiopática da mucosa oral. Embora sua etiologia e patogênese não sejam totalmente conhecidas, acredita-se que a inflamação possa desempenhar um papel importante. O objetivo deste estudo é demonstrar o papel da inflamação sistêmica entre os possíveis fatores etiológicos da estomatite aftosa recorrente e encontrar uma possível correlação diagnóstica com o índice de inflamação imunológica sistêmica, SII. Método: Foram analisados retrospectivamente pacientes avaliados no ambulatório de otorrinolaringologia e diagnosticados com estomatite aftosa recorrente entre 2019-2021. A relação neutrófilos/linfócitos, a relação plaquetas/linfócitos e os valores de SII foram calculados com base nos resultados do hemograma completo. Parâmetros demográficos e hematológicos dos grupos controle e de pacientes foram comparados. O nível de significância estatística foi considerado como <0,05. Resultados: Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos controle e com estomatite aftosa recorrente quanto à distribuição por sexo e idade (p = 0,566 e p = 0,173, respectivamente). Os valores de SII, a relação neutrófilos/linfócitos e a relação plaquetas/linfócitos foram significantemente maiores no grupo de pacientes em relação aos controles (p <0,001, p <0,001 e p = 0,001, respectivamente). Foi detectada uma correlação muito forte entre SII e relação neutrófilos/linfócitos, uma correlação moderadamente forte entre SII e relação plaquetas/linfócitos e uma correlação moderada entre valores da relação neutrófilos/linfócitos e relação plaquetas /linfócitos (ρ: 0,813, 0,719, 0,532 respectivamente; p-valores <0,001). Conclusão: SII, relação neutrófilos/linfócitos e relação plaquetas/linfócitos apresentam níveis significantemente maiores no grupo com estomatite aftosa recorrente quando comparados ao grupo controle, o que corrobora o papel da inflamação sistêmica na sua etiopatogênese. Além disso, os resultados mostram que o SII é um marcador inflamatório valioso. Nível de evidência: 4. HIGHLIGHTS A estomatite aftosa recorrente é uma doença ulcerativa crônica idiopática da mucosa oral. O SII (do inglês Systemic Immune Inflammation Index) é um biomarcador novo e de baixo custo que pode ser facilmente calculado que usa a contagem de plaquetas, neutrófilos e linfócitos. O SII pode ser um marcador valioso para demonstrar o papel da inflamação sistêmica na etiopatogênese da estomatite aftosa recorrente. Acredita-se que processos vasculares, trombóticos e inflamatórios tenham um papel na ativação da estomatite aftosa recorrente.

Factors Affecting Mortality After Major Nontraumatic Lower Extremity Amputation.

Our aim was to evaluate the factors affecting the mortality of patients who underwent nontraumatic major lower limb amputation due to ischemic and/or diabetic causes. A total of 100 patients were included in the study. Among these patients, 70 (70%) underwent below-knee amputation, whereas 30 (30%) underwent above-knee amputation. Eleven (15.7%) of the 70 patients who underwent below-knee amputation and 12 (40%) of the 30 patients who underwent above-knee amputation (P = .008) were deceased. After multivariable Poisson regression analysis, female gender (risk ratio [RR] = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.07-3.74) and a neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) less than 6.8 (RR = 5.12, 95% CI = 1.86-14.08) were found to be independent risk factors for mortality. The value of 6.8 was used as a cutoff point for the NLR (area under the curve = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.62-0.85), with a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 83%, 66%, 57%, and 92%, respectively. The NLR and female gender were found to be independent factors that are related to increased mortality in patients who underwent lower limb amputation due to diabetic and/or ischemic causes. The coexistence of congestive heart failure and the amputation level (above knee) were found to be predictors of mortality in univariable analysis, but significance could not be demonstrated in multivariable analysis.