Neutrophile-to-lymphocyte,lymphocyte-to-monocyte,and platelet-tolymphocyte ratios as prognostic and response biomarkers for resectable locally advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Perioperative fluorouracil plus leucovorin,oxaliplatin,and docetaxel(FLOT)improves prognosis in locally advanced gastric cancer(LAGC).Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte(NLR),lymphocyte-tomonocyte(LMR),and platelet-to-lymphocyte(PLR)ratios are prognostic biomarkers but not predictive factors.AIM To assess blood ratios’(NLR,LMR and PLR)potential predictive response to FLOT and survival outcomes in resectable LAGC patients.METHODS This was a multicentric retrospective study investigating the clinical potential of NLR,LMR,and PLR in resectable LAGC patients,treated with at least one preoperative FLOT cycle,from 12 Portuguese hospitals.Means were compared through non-parametric Mann-Whitney tests.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis defined the cut-off values as:High PLR>141 for progression and>144 for mortality;high LMR>3.56 for T stage regression(TSR).Poisson and Cox regression models the calculated relative risks/hazard ratios,using NLR,pathologic complete response,TSR,and tumor regression grade(TRG)as independent variables,and overall survival(OS)as the dependent variable.RESULTS This study included 295 patients(mean age,63.7 years;59.7% males).NLR was correlated with survival time(r=0.143,P=0.014).PLR was associated with systemic progression during FLOT(P=0.022)and mortality(P=0.013),with high PLR patients having a 2.2-times higher risk of progression[95% confidence interval(CI):0.89-5.26]and 1.5-times higher risk of mortality(95%CI:0.92-2.55).LMR was associated with TSR,and high LMR patients had a 1.4-times higher risk of achieving TSR(95%CI:1.01-1.99).OS benefit was found with TSR(P=0.015)and partial/complete TRG(P<0.001).Patients without TSR and with no evidence of pathological response had 2.1-times(95%CI:1.14-3.96)and 2.8-times(95%CI:1.6-5)higher risk of death.CONCLUSION Higher NLR is correlated with longer survival time.High LMR patients have a higher risk of decreasing T stage,whereas high PLR patients have higher odds of progressing under FLOT and dying.Patients with TSR and a pathological response have better OS and lower risk of dying.

Epidural Abscess Related to Brucellar Spondylodiscitis Diagnosis by Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR)

The localized forms of brucellosis, particularly osteoarticular, by their symptomatology usually nonspecific, still continue to be a diagnosis challenge, being fundamental to raise a high degree of suspicion based on a careful epidemiological history. The authors describe the case of a 69 year old farmer that was admitted due to an insidious lower back pain with irradiation to the left lower limb accompanied by nocturnal sweating, anorexia and weight loss. The imaging studies revealed a spondylodiscitis in L3-L4 with an associated epidural abscess. The diagnosis of brucellosis was brought on by the occupational exposure to sheep and was confirmed by a positive PCR to Brucella in the product gathered by aspiration from the epidural abscess and also by the serology (ELISA and Rose Bengal). Despite the initial therapy with doxycycline, rifampicin and gentamycin (the last one for 1 week), the patient had a clinical and imagiologic worsening, determining surgical decompression. After the surgery, antiobiotherapy with doxycyline and rifampicin was maintained and a cycle of gentamicin was started, this time for a month, with a favorable clinical evolution.