Interpretation of inflammatory markers in lung cyst hydatid disease.

Studies on alterations in inflammatory markers and risk factors for perforation in hydatid cysts of the lung are rare. In our study, we planned to investigate the effect of inflammatory markers on prognosis of hydatid cyst disease. 37 patients underwent surgery for pulmonary hydatid cyst between February 2022 and October 2023 and analyzed retrospectively. Inflammatory markers were calculated from preoperative and postoperative 3rd-month peripheral blood results. Cyst size was 58.5 ± 28.0 mm, 5 patients had bilateral cysts and 11 patients had multifocal cysts. Preoperative white blood cell, white blood cell difference, preoperative and postoperative eosinophils, preoperative neutrophils, neutrophils difference, preoperative systemic immune inflammatory index, systemic immune inflammatory index difference and preoperative eosinophil lymphocyte ratio were higher in patients with perforated cysts, the cut-off value for preoperative white blood cell for perforation was 10,535, preoperative cut-off value for eosinophils was 230, preoperative cut-off value for neutrophils was 8815, the cut-off value for preoperative systemic immune inflammatory index was 1129.83 and the cut-off value for preoperative eosinophil-lymphocyte ratio was 0.09. In patients with preoperative eosinophil, neutrophil, white blood cell, eosinophil-lymphocyte ratio and systemic immune inflammatory index values above the cut-off value, the probability of perforation increased 7.5, 13.6, 6.3, 9.6, and 9.3 times, respectively.

Evaluation of the effect of PET/CT Fluorodeoxyglucose inclusion on mortality and survival in operated thymoma patients.

PURPOSE: In recent years, the use of fluorodeoxyglucose PET-computed tomography (PET-CT) has become widespread to evaluate the diagnosis, metabolism, stage and distant metastases of thymoma. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the connection of malignancy potential, survival and maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max ) measured by PET-CT before surgery according to the histological classification of the WHO in patients operated for thymoma. In addition, the predictive value of the Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) generated by C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin values on recurrence and survival was investigated and its potential as a prognostic biomarker was evaluated. METHODS: Forty-five patients who underwent surgical resection for thymoma and were examined with PET-CT in the preoperative period between January 2010 and January 2022 were included in the study. The relationship between WHO histological classification, tumor size and SUV max values on PET-CT according to TNM classification of retrospectively analyzed corticoafferents were evaluated. Preoperative albumin and CRP values were used to determine GPS. RESULTS: The cutoff value for SUV max was found to be 5.65 in the patients and the overall survival rate of low-risk (<5.65) and high-risk (>5.65) patients was compared according to the SUV max threshold value (5.65) and found to be statistically significant. In addition, the power of PET/CT SUV max value to predict mortality (according to receiver operating characteristics analysis) was statistically significant ( P  = 0.048). Survival expectancy was 127.6 months in patients with mild GPS (O points), 96.7 months in patients with moderate GPS (1 point), and 25.9 months in patients with severe GPS (2 points). CONCLUSION: PET/CT SUV max values can be used to predict histological sub-type in thymoma patients, and preoperative SUV max and GPS are parameters that can provide information about survival times and mortality in thymoma patients.

The effect of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and glasgow prognostic score (GPS) on recurrence, and survival in patients undergoing lobectomy for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Tumor markers are indicators that can be used not only for cancer diagnosis but also for determining prognosis. Unfortunately, there is currently no tumor marker that reliably predicts the prognosis of lung cancer. In this study, we investigated the prognostic impact of the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), known as inflammation markers in peripheral blood, in patients who underwent resection for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of a total of 3300 patients who underwent surgery for NSCLC between 2010 and 2020. Among these patients, 250 met the inclusion criteria of lobectomy, pT1-T2N0 stage, and histology of adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. Preoperative albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), preoperative PLR, and postoperative 5th-day PLR values were determined from patient's peripheral blood data. The impact of these values on postoperative recurrence and survival was investigated. GPS was calculated based on preoperative CRP and albumin values, and patients were divided into 3 groups: 0 (mild), 1 (moderate), and 2 (severe). The relationship between preoperative GPS and survival was analysed. Among the included patients, 155 (62%) had adenocarcinoma and 95 (38%) had squamous cell carcinoma. A total of 185 (74%) patients had pT1 tumors, while 65 (26%) had pT2 tumors. During the postoperative follow-up period, local recurrence was observed in 28 (11.2%) patients and distant metastasis in 51 (20.4%) patients. The overall mortality rate was 19.6%. The 5-year survival rates for pT1 and pT2 tumors were 80.4% and 72.5%, respectively. Significant associations were found between preoperative PLR, postoperative PLR, and recurrence (p = 0.005 and p = 0.011). The expected overall survival (OS) was 103.4 months in the mild GPS group, 91.8 months in the moderate GPS group, and 50 months in the severe GPS group. The relationship between GPS groups and OS was statistically significant (p = 0.005). Preoperative analysis of PLR and GPS may provide prognostic value in NSCLC patients who undergo surgical resection. Our study provides a rationale for further investigation of peripheral blood immune markers for prognostic purposes.

Adjacent lobe invasion of T2 tumor in non-small cell lung cancer has T3 disease-like survival fissure invasion: T2 or T3?

Controversy still exists regarding the staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with adjacent lobe invasion (T-ALI) according to the TNM system in terms of T factor and the appropriate surgical resection method. We performed an analysis to compare the prognosis of T-ALI with T2 and T3 disease and to see the effect of our surgical method for these tumors. Two hundred consecutive patients between January 2012 and November 2020, with anatomical lobectomy for T2 or T3 tumor (Group-1) and non-anatomical lobectomy resection (lobectomy plus wedge resection [LWR]) (Group-2) for T-ALI (T2-ALI and T3-ALI) due to primary NSCLC, who did not have lymph node metastases were analyzed retrospectively. All surgeries were performed by two experienced surgeons who adopted the same surgical technique. Those who underwent additional segmentectomy and bilobectomy due to fissure invasion were excluded from the study. Overall survival rates of all patients were determined and factors affecting survival were evaluated by performing univariate and multivariate analyses. Of the patients with a mean age of 62.2 ± 7.8 years, 175 (87.5%) were male and 25 (12.5%) were female. There were 137 (68.5%) patients in Group 1 and 63 (31.5%) patients in Group 2. The mean tumor size in Group 1 (4.4 ± 1.4 cm) was significantly smaller than that in Group 2 (4.9 ± 1.4 cm) (p = 0.014). When T distribution within the groups was considered, the rate of pathological T3 in Group 1 (33.6%) was significantly lower than that in Group 2 (55.6%) (p = 0.005). While the 5-year overall survival rate was 70.1% in Group 1, it was 50.6% in Group 2 (p = 0.022). When tumors were grouped as T2, T2-ALI, T3, and T3-ALI according to T factor, the 5-year overall survival rates were 71.4% and 67.8% in T2 and T3 tumors, respectively, and 49.2% and 51.5% in T2-ALI and T3-ALI tumors, respectively. In the multivariate analysis of these four groups, the overall survival rates for T2-ALI and T3-ALI were significantly lower than those of T2 tumors (p = 0.046 and p = 0.025, respectively). In the analysis made between the T2 tumor group and the new T3 group (T2-ALI, T3, T3-ALI), which was formed by upgrading T2-ALI tumors to the T3 group, T2 tumors were found to have a significantly better survival rate (p = 0.019). The disease-free survival of pT2 patients and new T3 group patients was statistically significant, 63.7% and 45.7%, respectively (p = 0.050). Our results suggest that LWR for T-ALI can be performed with acceptable oncologic outcomes when compared to anatomical lobectomy. T2-ALI has a worse overall survival than T2 tumor and offers a similar prognosis to T3. Given this situation, it is more appropriate to classify T2-ALI as T3. Further studies based on larger series are needed to confirm these preliminary data.

FDG PET/CT signs of proven pulmonary hydatid cyst: is there any clue?

PURPOSE: Pulmonary hydatid cyst (PHC) can imitate many diseases. Sometimes, positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is performed in terms of malignancy exclusion for complicated cysts. Although some specific findings (doughnut sign) have been identified in hydatid cyst of the liver, there is no specific sign described for PHC. The aim of this study is to investigate the presence of a common finding in PHC patients scanned with PET/CT inadvertently. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2015 to 2020, patients proven to have PHC were analyzed retrospectively. From all the patients, only 17, having a previous PET/CT, were included the study. Lesions were evaluated in three groups according to FDG uptake: A, negative; B, focal; C, doughnut sign. RESULTS: The total number of patients was 17. Nine of the patients were male and the median age was 41.94 + 14.68 (16-65) years. SUV max of the lesions ranged from 0.5 to 15.8 (mean ± SE: 4.68). According to the FDG uptake of the lesions, five were in Group A, two in Group B, and the remaining ten (58.8%) in Group C with doughnut sign. To correlate the CT findings with PET/CT findings, doughnut sign, which is a typical finding of hydatid cysts of liver, is seen in only four patients in Group 1-classified cysts which are non-complicated. But in Group 2 (n = 3) and 3(n = 4), the finding of doughnut sign is three in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: PET/CT is not a recommended imaging technique for PHC, but in cases where a definitive diagnosis is difficult, interpreting PET/CT findings is significant. This study demonstrates that previously described doughnut sign for liver hydatid cysts is also common for perforated pulmonary cysts. According to our knowledge, this is the first largest series of determining PET/CT findings of PHC. Further larger series will contribute to the literature.

Positron emission tomography/computed tomography findings of lung invasive adenocarcinoma subgroups and comparison of their short-term survivals.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the maximum standardized uptake values on positron emission tomography/ computed tomography and survival of lung invasive adenocarcinoma subgroups. METHODS: Between January 2010 and January 2016, a total of 152 patients (112 males, 40 females; mean age: 64.2±8.6 years; range, 41 to 88 years) who underwent lung resection for an invasive adenocarcinoma were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into subgroups as follows: acinar, lepidic, micropapillary, papillary, and solid. The maximum standardized uptake values in the imaging study and their relationship with survival were examined. RESULTS: There were 84 acinar (55%), 31 solid (20%), 23 lepidic (15%), nine papillary (5%), and five micropapillary (3%) cases. The positron emission tomography/computed tomography enhancement showed a statistically significant difference among the subgroups (p=0.004). The solid subgroup was the most involved (9.76), followed by micropapillary (8.98), acinar (8.06), papillary (5.82), and lepidic (4.23) subgroups, respectively. According to Tumor, Node, Metastasis staging, Stage I was present in 48.68% (n=74) of the cases, Stage II in 25.0% (n=38), Stage III in 25.0% (n=38), and Stage IV in 1.31% (n=2). The one-year, three-year, and five-year survival rates were significantly different among the disease stages (p=0.01). The longest survival duration was in the lepidic subgroup, although it did not reach statistical significance among the subgroups (p=0.587). CONCLUSION: The evaluation of invasive adenocarcinomas based on maximum standardized uptake values provides valuable information and may guide neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies in the future.

Preoperative parameters and their prognostic value in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients undergoing implantation of a diaphragm pacing stimulation system.

INTRODUCTION: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neuromuscular disease with devastating and fatal respiratory complications. Diaphragm pacing stimulation (DPS) is a treatment option in diaphragm insufficient ALS patients. Ventilatory insufficiency depending on diaphragmatic failure is treated by the present study aimed to investigate prognostic value of preoperative clinical and functional characteristics of ALS patients undergoing implantation of a DPS system and to determine appropriate indications for the DPS system. METHODS: The study included 34 ALS patients implanted with DPS system. All patients underwent multidisciplinary and laboratory evaluations before the surgery. The laboratory examinations included pulmonary function tests and arterial blood gas analysis. Survival rates were recorded in a 2-year follow-up after the surgery. RESULTS: Twenty-eight of 34 patients with ALS survived after a 2-year follow-up. These patients were younger than those who died and had the disease for a longer time; however, the differences were not significant. Both right and left hemidiaghragms were thicker in the survived patients (P < 0.0001 for each). Pulmonary function tests revealed no significant differences between the patients who survived. Arterial blood gas analysis demonstrated lower partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the survived patients (P = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: DPS implantation was more efficacious in ALS patients with mild respiratory failure and thicker diaphragm. Predictors of long-term effectiveness of DPS system are needed to be addressed by large-scale studies.

Importance of diaphragm thickness in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients with diaphragm pacing system implantation.

INTRODUCTION: Severe respiratory failure develops as a result of the involvement of the respiratory muscles in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Implantation of diaphragm pacing system (DPS) has been carried out on ALS patients since 2005 to avoid these situations, but the importance of diaphragm thickness has not yet been established clearly. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We retrospectively evaluated 34 ALS patients who had previously implanted DPS to detect the importance of diaphragm thickness. We investigated the effect of diaphragm thickness, which was measured by preoperative thorax computerized tomography on preoperative respiratory function tests (RFT), arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis, postoperative 3- and 6-month oxygen saturations and mortality. RESULTS: The right diaphragm thickness was calculated as 4.60 (2.95-6.00) mm, while the left diaphragm thickness was 4.10 (2.77-6.00) mm. Six patients died during the follow-up period. We did not detect a significant relationship between ABG parameters, RFT and diaphragm thickness. However, according to our observations, the diaphragm thickness was significantly related to mortality. The right diaphragm was significantly thinner in cases that required preoperative respiratory support and had percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. When the cut-off values for the diaphragm thickness were accepted as 3.50 mm, significantly higher mortality among patients below this was observed. CONCLUSION: Diaphragm thickness is an important criterion in cases for which DPS implantation is planned. We consider that avoidance of DPS implantation is more suitable for cases with a diaphragm thickness below 3.50 mm because of mortality.

Colour-responsive fluorescent oxy radical sensors.

A series of fluorene-fused benzoquinones (Q1-Q5) were prepared by thermolysis of 4-fluorenyl-4-hydroxycyclobutenones. Red fluorescence observed for Q2 is switched by reduction to blue fluorescence by formation of the hydroquinone. Reaction with hydrogen peroxide restores the original fluorescence colour. The potential use of compound Q2 as a reactive oxygen species detector is discussed.