Evaluation of Naples prognostic score to predict long-term mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism.

Background: The Naples prognostic score (NPS), which reflects the inflammatory and nutritional status of patients, is often used to determine prognosis in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term prognostic value of the NPS in acute pulmonary embolism (APE) patients. Methods: Two hundred thirty-nine patients diagnosed with APE were divided into two groups according to their NPS, and long-term mortality was compared. Results: The long-term mortality was observed in 38 patients out of 293 patients in the mean follow-up of 24 months. Multivariate analysis showed that NPS as a categorical parameter and NPS as a numeric parameter were independent predictors of long-term mortality. Conclusion: This study highlights that NPS may have the potential to predict long-term mortality in APE patients.

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Admission triglyceride-glucose index is predictor of long-term mortality and appropriate implantable cardiac defibrillator therapy in patients with heart failure.

Background: In this study, the main aim was to evaluate the relation of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index to long-term mortality and proper shock therapy in patients with an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) implanted for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Methods: This retrospective study group consisted of 773 patients treated with ICD for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. The long-term prognostic effect of the TyG index among tertiles was evaluated regarding mortality and appropriate ICD therapy. Results: In the adjusted model, the mortality rates were 14.0% (hazard ratio: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.42-6.88) in tertile 2 and 23.3% (hazard ratio: 3.88; 95% CI: 1.84-14.38) in tertile 3. Conclusion: The TyG index was found to be an independent predictive marker for both long-term mortality and appropriate ICD therapy.

Evidence-based wound classification for vulvar surgery: Implications for risk adjustment.

OBJECTIVES: The correct wound classification for vulvar procedures (VP) is ambiguous according to current definitions, and infection rates are poorly described. We aimed to analyze rates of surgical site infection (SSI) in women who underwent VP to correctly categorize wound classification. METHODS: Patients who underwent VP for dysplasia or carcinoma were collected from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (NSQIP). SSI rates of vulvar cases were compared to patients who underwent abdominal hysterectomy via laparotomy, stratified by the National Academy of Sciences wound classification. Descriptive analyses and trend tests of categorical variables were performed. RESULTS: Between 2008 and 2016, 2116 and 31,506 patients underwent a VP or TAH, respectively. Among VP, 1345 (63.6%), 364 (17.2%), and 407 (19.2%) women underwent simple vulvectomy, radical vulvectomy, or radical vulvectomy with lymphadenectomy, respectively. The overall rate of SSI for VP was higher than that observed for TAH (5.6% vs. 3.8%; p < 0.0001). While patients undergoing TAH displayed a corresponding increase in the rate of SSI with wound type (type I: 3.4%; type II: 3.8%, type III: 6.8%; type IV 10.6%; p < 0.001), no such correlation was observed for simple VP (type I: 3.3%, type II: 3.0%; type III: 3.2%; type IV: 0%; p = 0.40). On the other hand, a non-significant correlation was observed for radical VP (type I: 4.0%, type II: 10.1%; type III: 14.3%; type IV: 20.0%; p = 0.08). The overall rate of SSI in patients undergoing any radical VP was similar to patients undergoing hysterectomy with a type IV wound (10.1% vs 10.6%, p = 0.87). CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing VP are at high risk of infection. Simple vulvectomy should be classified as a type II and radical vulvectomy as a type III wound. These recommendations are important for proper risk adjustment.

Optimal anthropometric measures to predict incidence of coronary heart disease in adults in Turkey.

Background: We aimed to identify the most suited anthropometric measure for the prediction of risk for incident coronary heart disease (CHD) among the Turkish population. Methods: We collected data on body mass index, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and a body shape index. We analysed these using both C-statistics and Cox regression models adjusted for age, systolic blood pressure, glucose and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol for assessing risk of incident CHD among 3203 Turkish Adult Risk Factor (TARF) study participants (mean [SD] age 48.5 [11] years). Results: Over a mean follow-up of 9.93 years, new CHD developed in 573 individuals. Multi-adjusted C-statistics were highest for WHtR followed by WC, in both sexes. Except WHR, all measures were significantly associated with incident CHD in combined sexes in the full model. There was a sex difference, however, in the mediation of the three risk factors for adiposity; these attenuated hazard ratios (HRs) in males, whereas in females, significant prediction of incident CHD persisted for each measure. WC (HR 1.36 [95% CI 1.13; 1.64]), followed by WHtR (HR 1.24 [95% CI 1.10; 1.40]), were in combined sex, as in females, the most informative surrogates of adiposity. Hip circumference did not protect, but rather conferred modest CHD risk, especially in females, rendering a low utility of predictive value for WHR. The CHD risk curve did not have a J shape. Conclusions: WC is the most suitable of five adiposity surrogates for CHD risk among Turkish adults, while in males, unmediated adiposity risk was similarly identified by WHtR. Retention of the large part of CHD risk in females perhaps reflects the underlying autoimmune activation.

Female and urban participants demonstrate an adverse trend in overall mortality in Turkey - and a report on the TARF survey 2016.

OBJECTIVE: This study is an examination of 1) overall mortality trend in the Turkish Adult Risk Factor (TARF) study stratified by sex and place of residence, and 2) brief report on main aspects of the 2016 survey. METHODS: The period of last 18 years was divided into 2 for trend analysis of data. Required information on deaths was obtained. Baseline age ≥40 years at the beginning of each period was the inclusion criterion. Cox regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Among over 2500 participants in each, deaths were recorded in 281 and 334 individuals in Periods 1 and 2, respectively, and baseline mean age was 54.6 years and 56.4 years, respectively, in each period. Age-adjusted hazard ratio for mortality in Period 2 remained virtually the same for rural males, rose to borderline significance for urban males and rural females (p=0.06, p=0.09), and increased 1.72-fold for urban females (p=0.006), as compared to Period 1. Whereas males gained an average of 3.8 years of survival in the later period compared with the earlier period, females gained only 1.8 years. This narrowed the difference in mean age at death in favor of women from 2.5 years to 0.5 year. Of 1144 participants to be surveyed in the TARF 2016, 48 were lost to follow-up, 695 were examined, and 39 participants were ascertained to be deceased. In 362 cases, verbal information was obtained regarding health status. CONCLUSION: Gain in survival in Turkish women has distinctly stagnated compared with men, and hazard of death has risen significantly for women and urban residents in the past decade, suggesting interaction between female sex and urban residence. Both phenomena require recognition and adoption of appropriate measures.

Algorithm for predicting CHD death risk in Turkish adults: conventional factors contribute only moderately in women.

OBJECTIVE: To assist the management strategy of individuals, we determined an algorithm for predicting the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) death in Turkish adults with a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS). METHODS: The risk of CHD death was estimated in 3054 middle-aged adults, followed over 9.08±4.2 years. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to predict risk. Discrimination was assessed using C-statistics. RESULTS: CHD death was identified in 233 subjects. In multivariable analysis, the serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) level was not predictive in men and the non-HDL-C level was not predictive in women. Age, presence of diabetes, systolic blood pressure ≥160 mm Hg, smoking habit, and low physical activity were predictors in both sexes. The exclusion of coronary disease at baseline did not change the risk estimates materially. Using an algorithm of the 7 stated variables, individuals in the highest category of risk score showed a 19- to 50-fold higher spread in the absolute risk of death from CHD than those in the second lowest category. C-index of the model using age alone was as high as 0.774 in men and 0.836 in women (p<0.001 each), while the incorporation of 6 conventional risk factors contributed to a C-index of 0.058 in males and 0.042 in females. CONCLUSION: In a middle-aged population with prevalent MetS, men disclosed anticipated risk parameters (except for high HDL-C levels) as determinants of the risk of CHD death. On the other hand, serum non-HDL-C levels and moderate systolic hypertension were not relevant in women. The moderate contribution of conventional risk factors (beyond age) to the estimation of the risk of CHD death in women is consistent with the operation of autoimmune activation.

Can we use plasma hyperosmolality as a predictor of mortality for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of plasma osmolality with all-cause mortality in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients treated with a primary percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: This study included 3748 patients (mean age 58.3±11.8 years, men 81%) with STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The following formula was used to measure the plasma osmolality at admission: osmolality=1.86×sodium (mmol/l)+glucose (mg/dl)/18+BUN (mg/dl)/2.8+9. RESULTS: The patients were followed up for a mean period of 22±10 months. Patients with higher plasma osmolality had 3.7 times higher in-hospital (95% confidence interval: 2.7-5.1) and 3.2 times higher long-term (95% confidence interval: 2.5-4.1) all-cause mortality rates than patients with lower plasma osmolality. CONCLUSION: Plasma osmolality was found to be a predictor of both in-hospital and long-term all-cause mortality. Hence, plasma osmolality can be used to detect high-risk patients in STEMI.

Preclinical evaluation of olaparib and metformin combination in BRCA1 wildtype ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVES: BRCA mutated ovarian cancers show increased responsiveness to PARP inhibitors. PARP inhibitors target DNA repair and provide a second hit to BRCA mutated tumors, resulting in "synthetic lethality". We investigated a combination of metformin and olaparib to provide "synthetic lethality" in BRCA intact ovarian cancer cells. METHODS: Ovarian cancer cell lines (UWB1.289, UWB1.289.BRCA, SKOV3, OVCAR5, A2780 and C200) were treated with a combination of metformin and olaparib. Cell viability was assessed by MTT and colony formation assays. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell cycle events. In vivo studies were performed in SKOV3 or A2780 xenografts in nude mice. Animals were treated with single agent, metformin or olaparib or combination. Molecular downstream effects were examined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared to single drug treatment, combination of olaparib and metformin resulted in significant reduction of cell proliferation and colony formation (p<0.001) in ovarian cancer cells. This treatment was associated with a significant S-phase cell cycle arrest (p<0.05). Combination of olaparib and metformin significantly inhibited SKOV3 and A2780 ovarian tumor xenografts which were accompanied with decreased Ki-index (p<0.001). Metformin did not affect DNA damage signaling, while olaparib induced adenosine monophosphate activated kinase activation; that was further potentiated with metformin combination in vivo. CONCLUSION: Combining PARP inhibitors with metformin enhances its anti-proliferative activity in BRCA mutant ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore, the combination showed significant activity in BRCA intact cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. This is a promising treatment regimen for women with epithelial ovarian cancer irrespective of BRCA status.

The association of the coronary thrombus burden with all-cause mortality and major cardiac events in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients treated with tirofiban.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the coronary thrombus burden with all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients treated with 'in-cath lab' (downstream) high-dose bolus tirofiban. METHODS: This study included 2452 patients with STEMI treated with a primary percutaneous coronary intervention. All glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor (GPI) (tirofiban) infusions were started in the catheterization laboratory according to the coronary thrombus burden; tirofiban was not administered to patients who did not have coronary thrombus burden. All patients with small, moderate, or large thrombus burden received tirofiban therapy. The primary study endpoint was the incidence of all-cause mortality. The secondary study endpoints were major bleeding and MACE, which included all-cause death, nonfatal acute coronary syndrome, and target lesion revascularization. RESULTS: The patients were followed up for a mean period of 28.3±10.4 months. The groups showed similar in-hospital and long-term event rates (MACE, major bleeding, and all-cause mortality). The 3-year Kaplan-Meier overall survivals for no thrombus, small thrombus, moderate thrombus, and large thrombus were 91.9, 92.6, 92.3, and 89.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that the large coronary thrombus was found to be a predictor of MACE and mortality in many previous studies, we found that the large thrombus was not associated with MACE or in-hospital mortality or long-term mortality. This can be an effect of downstream GPI therapy. We suggest the use of downstream GPI therapy for STEMI patients with large coronary thrombus without an increased risk of bleeding.

Cardiovascular risk factors in polycystic ovary syndrome.

A total of 31 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and 31 healthy age/body mass index matched controls were compared for serum hormones, basal and oral-glucose stimulated glucose, insulin, homocysteine, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and lipid levels. The women with PCOS had significantly higher serum fasting insulin, homocysteine, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol level than controls, whereas no differences were detected in serum fasting or OGTT 60th- and 120th-minute glucose concentrations, hsCRP, HDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels between PCOS and control women. Insulin resistance was found in 54.8% (17/31) of PCOS patients by glucose: insulin (G/I) ratio, whereas only 29.0% (9/31) of control women (p = 0.04). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that only waist/hip ratio was independent determinants of G/I ratio. PCOS is associated with some biochemical and clinical risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Therefore, patients with PCOS should undergo comprehensive evaluation for recognised cardiovascular risk factors.

Visfatin concentration is decreased in women with gestational diabetes mellitus in the third trimester.

Our aim is to investigate visfatin concentration and its relationship to glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin resistance, lipid parameters, and neonatal birth weight in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In our study group, there were 47 women with GDM and 31 women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) between 33-39 weeks of gestation. Plasma visfatin levels were significantly decreased in pregnant women with GDM compared to those with NGT (p=0.001). Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels were higher in the GDM group than in the NGT group (p=0.006). In all subjects, plasma visfatin levels were negatively correlated with HOMA-IR, post-prandial blood glucose, triglycerides, and VLDL cholesterol (p<0.05). We did not observe any statistically significant correlation between the plasma visfatin levels and the selected parameters in the GDM group, but in the NGT group plasma visfatin levels were negatively correlated with HOMA-IR (r=-0.36, p=0.04). There was no correlation between visfatin concentrations and fetal birth weight in either group (p>0.05). By regression analysis, having GDM was found to be the only significant determinant (t=3.5, p=0.001) of visfatin concentration (R=0.39, r2=0.15). We conclude that women with GDM have significantly decreased visfatin concentrations in the third trimester. Future studies are required to establish the exact role of visfatin in the pathogenesis of GDM.

Relationship between leptin and bone mineral density in renal transplant recipients.

INTRODUCTION: Leptin plays an important role in regulating appetite and energy expenditure and also functions in the neuroendocrine, hematopoietic, and immune systems, among others. Leptin may be involved in modulating bone mineralization. The relationship between leptin and bone mineral density (BMD) is not clear. This study examined the relationship between BMD and serum leptin levels in renal transplant recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-one patients (28 men and 13 women; age 16 to 55 years) were grouped according to percentile of serum leptin level hypoleptinemic (<5th percentile, n = 14), normoleptinemic (between the 5th and 95th percentiles, n = 19), or hyperleptinemic (>95th percentile, n = 8). The patients also were grouped according to lumbar z score) and total femur z scores (>-2 vs <-2 for both). RESULTS: The groups with different leptin statuses were compared with respect to age, sex distribution, and body mass index. Mean lumbar z score and mean lumbar BMD were higher in the hyperleptinemic group than in the normo- and hypoleptinemic groups (P < .05 for all). Considering the 42 patients overall, those with lumbar z scores >-2 had higher mean serum leptin/BMI than those with lumbar z scores <-2 (0.55 +/- 0.65 vs 0.18 +/- 0.23, respectively, P < .05). Serum leptin/BMI ratio was correlated with lumbar z score (r = .38, P < .05) and lumbar BMD (r = .32, P < .05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the data indicate that elevated leptin level is associated with increased bone mass at lumbar sites in renal transplant recipients. This suggest that increased leptin has a bone-sparing effect, especially in the lumbar region, in this patient group.