Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio in Different Stages of Breast Cancer.

Despite many advances in the treatment of breast cancer, it is still the second most common cause of death in women in the United States. It has been shown that inflammation plays a major role in the treatment of these cancers and inflammatory factors enhance tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and vascularization. In this study, we would like to analyze peripheral blood neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in breast cancer patients and its correlation with disease staging. This cross-sectional analytic study was conducted in Imam Hospital, affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences; a total of 195 female patients with breast cancer met the inclusion criteria. All of the patients had a complete blood count with leukocyte differential performed before chemotherapy. Medical records including pathology reports were also available. Data for all patients were collected prior to any surgical intervention. Exclusion criteria included clinical evidence of active infection, presence of hematological disorders, acute as well as chronic inflammatory or autoimmune diseases, or prior steroid therapy. Higher platelet count was significantly associated with the higher stage. The stage was not associated with the hemoglobin level. There was no association between the tumor size and age of patients with NLR. There was a significant relationship between NLR and IDC. There was a significant relationship between IDC and NLRs of less than 8.1 and greater than 3.3. There was a significant relationship between NLR and vascular invasion. There was no association between NLR and estrogen receptor and HER2. There was no significant relationship between the PLR and the cancer stage. In this study, NLR showed a significant relation with the disease staging. As the NLR increases the stage increases as well. Therefore, this ratio may be helpful in the preoperative evaluation of patients with breast cancer.

Hiatal Hernia From Misdiagnosis to Diagnosis.

Complications of hiatal hernia are potentially lethal, and surgical intervention is necessary. This matter is more important in cases that have ambiguous symptoms and are diagnosed with a delay. Such patients may experience life-threatening course and events. Accordingly, in this report, a 23-year-old male patient with unusual findings is presented. A 23-year-old male patient with acute dyspnea and fever was admitted in infectious disease ward with diagnosis of empyema according to chest radiography and CT-scan findings (Figures 1 and 2). On physical examinations the right lung sounds were normal, and the left lung sounds could not be heard. Then a gastrography was performed because of suspicion to hiatal hernia based on physical examination findings showing the presence of stomach in the thorax (Figure 3). In the surgery, the stomach and the transverse colon were released and reputed in the abdomen (Figure 4). The diaphragm was primarily repaired due to small defect, and the patient was discharged after 4-5 days with good general conditions. This case had a learning note that in the case of acute dyspnea with a positive history of stab wound to the chest, hiatal hernia should be considered as an important diagnosis and in these cases performing a gastrography would help physicians to make true and certain diagnosis and therapeutic decision.

Surgical infrainguinal revascularization for peripheral arterial disease: factors affecting patency rate.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral arterial disease is a source of morbidity and mortality. Surgical vascular reconstruction is a treatment option but probability of failure and complications are important concerns. In this study, we evaluated outcome of surgical infrainguinal reconstruction and factors affecting graft patency for a period of one year. METHODS: In this cohort study, 85 consecutive patients with chronic ischemia who underwent lower extremity surgical vascular reconstruction (including 52 femoropopliteal and 25 femorofemoral bypass) from March 2007 to Feb 2009 were recruited. Graft patency was evaluated before discharge from hospital and one year after the surgical operation using duplex ultrasonography. Association between possible risk factors and graft patency were evaluated. RESULTS: In general, 71% (37 patients) of femoropopliteal and 52% (13 patients) of femorofemoral reconstructions were patent during the follow up period. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking, opium use and ischemic heart disease were significantly associated with decreased rate of patency (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Assessing risk factors that predict perioperative mortality and graft patency is essential for selecting patients that would benefit from surgery. Omitting surgical reconstruction and endovascular intervention may be preferable especially when multiple risk factors are present or in the absence of critical limb ischemia.