Does mean platelet volume/lymphocyte count ratio associate with frailty in type 2 diabetes mellitus?

OBJECTIVES: Frailty is a common problem in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It is considered to be associated with inflammation. Novel markers derived from hemogram, such as neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and mean platelet volume/lymphocyte ratio (MPVLR), are proposed as inflammatory markers. In present study, we aimed to compare NLR and MPVLR levels of frail patients with T2DM to non­frail diabetic subjects. METHODS: Diabetic subjects were grouped in frail and non-frail groups according to the Edmonton Frail Scale. General characteristics and laboratory data of the frail and non-frail groups were compared. RESULTS: The MPVLR of the frail (3.9 [1.4-13.2] %) group was significantly higher than that of the non-frail (3.4 [1.5-6.9] %) group (p = 0.02). MPVLR was positively and significantly correlated with Edmonton Frail Scale score (r = 0.21, p = 0.03). A MPVLR level greater than 3.41 % has 71 % sensitivity and 51 % specifity in predicting frailty. CONCLUSION: We suggest that elevated MPVLR could be a finding that marks frailty in diabetic subjects. Inexpensive and easy­to­assess nature of the MPVLR may be useful in predicting frailty in type 2 diabetic population (Tab. 2, Fig. 1, Ref. 32).

Differences in nephrotoxicity risk and renal effects among anti-viral therapies against hepatitis B.

BACKGROUND: Results are conflicting with respect to the renal effects of anti-viral agents used for hepatitis B virus infection. AIM: To compare short and long-term renal effects in real-life settings and to determine risk factors for renal impairment during treatment. METHODS: 2221 treatment-naïve patients were enrolled. Among these, 895 (302 lamivudine, 27 telbivudine, 282 entecavir, 273 tenofovir and 11 adefovir initiated patients) had 'repeated measures' of creatinine (baseline, 1st, 6th, 12th and 24th month of treatment). Telbivudine and adefovir groups were excluded from further analysis because of the low number of patients. We calculated the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula at each time point. Hypophosphataemia was also recorded. Risk factors for renal impairment were analysed. RESULTS: Tenofovir caused a decline in GFR at each time point when compared to baseline levels. However, lamivudine and entecavir did not change GFR. GFR-shifting from ≥90 to 60-89 mL/min/1.73 m(2) was comparable among groups. The proportion of patients whose baseline creatinine increased more than 25% was comparable among all anti-virals. GFR showed a decline in patients who switched from entecavir to tenofovir. One patient with compensated cirrhosis needed to change from tenofovir because of renal safety. Seven and three patients developed transient hypophosphataemia in the tenofovir and lamivudine groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although tenofovir caused a decline in GFR, differences between the anti-viral agents do not appear to be so impressive. In patients with and without renal risk factors at baseline, there is no impact of anti-virals, including tenofovir.