Objective:The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been shown to correlate with disease progression and survival in a number of cancers.In this study we explore this ratio and a number of other blood-derived factors, including platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and hemoglobin levels, for their prognostic value with overall survival in breast cancer patients.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted with data from the medical records of patients with breast cancer (n = 303) collected from a breast cancer treatment and research clinic.The data included clinical staging at diagnosis, tumor size, axillary lymph node involvement, presence or absence of metastases, tumor histology, tumor grade, hormone receptor, treatments received (surgery, chemotherapy, hormonotherapy), overall survival, NLR, PLR, anemia, leukocytosis, neutrophilia, and lymphopenia.Cox regression was used to verify the influence of the variables on fiveyear overall survival of patients following their initial diagnosis.Results: Patients with NLR >4 showed association with staging >II (p < 0.05), with the presence of metastasis (p < 0.0001), and with negative hormone receptor (p < 0.0001).A hemoglobin <12 g/dL associated with staging >II (p < 0.0001), with the presence of metastasis (p < 0.0001), and with negative hormone receptor (p < 0.05).High values of NLR and PLR were associated with shorter overall survival by Kaplan-Meier survival curves (p < 0.001 and p = 0.021, respectively).After multivariate regression, tumor size, lymph node status, metastasis, NLR and anemia remained as factors that independently influenced mortality at 5 years.NLR >4 increased the risk of death by 7.76 times (p < 0.001) and hemoglobin <12 mg/d increased the risk of death by 2.47 times (p = 0.037).Conclusions: NLR and anemia are factors that independently correlate with overall survival in breast cancer patients.These factors have the advantage of being derived from simple and inexpensive blood testing.
Journals Journal of Men’s Health Frontiers in Bioscience-Elite Frontiers in Bioscience-Scholar Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark Journal of Integrative Neuroscience Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine Journal of Molecular and Clinical Medicine European Journal of Gynaecological Oncology Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology Resources For Authors For Reviewers For Editors Article Processing Charges Open Access Editorial Policies Publishing Ethic Copyright & License Digital Archive Privacy Policy Advertising Policies Peer Review Policy About Overview Management Team Contact Us Search Submit Home About Overview Aims & Scope Editorial Board Reviewer Board Indexing & Archiving Journal Awards Conferences Articles Forthcoming Issue Current Issue All Issues Special Issues Special Issues Edit a Special Issue Sections For Authors Submit Instructions for Authors Article Processing Charge Editorial Process Editorial Office Article Article Special Issue Advanced Section All sections Countries | Regions Countries | Regions Article Types Article Types Year — Volume Issue Pages — Search
Ovarian neoplasms are among the most common in the female genital tract and often have delayed diagnosis. Tumor progression involves signalling proteins called galectins. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of galectins “1”, “3” and “9” in the ovarian surface epithelial neoplasia. A retrospective study involving 62 ovarian epithelial tumors (benign and non-benign) was performed with immunohistochemical polymer technique and antibodies against galectin “1”, “3” and “9”. Expression in epithelium and stroma was analysed semi-quantitatively. Fisher’s exact test was performed for statistical analysis. Galectin-“1” and “3” were strongly expressed in non-benign tumors of the epithelium. Non-benign neoplasms showed increased stromal expression of galectin-1 and increased epithelial expression of galectin-“3”. The significant increase in expression of galectin-1 and -3 in the epithelium of non- benign ovarian neoplasms suggests the participation of these galectins in ovarian carcinogenesis. We observed increased stromal expression of galectin-“1” and epithelial expression of galectin-“3” in non-benign ovarian neoplasms. These findings contribute to knowledge about the role of these galectins in the growth and spread of ovarian cancer.
Immunotherapy in cancer patients is a very promising treatment and the development of new protocols and the study of the mechanisms of regression is imperative. The objective of this study was to evaluate the production of cytokines in helper T (CD4+) lymphocytes during immunotherapy with pegylated IFN-α in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). We conducted a prospective study with 17 patients with CIN II-III using immunotherapy with pegylated IFN-α subcutaneouly weekly, and using flow cytometry we evaluated the peripheric CD4+ T lymphocytes. The results show that in the regression group the patients presented a significant increase in the amount of IFN-γ during the entire immunotherapy, compared with the group without a response. The amount of CD4+ T lymphocytes positive for IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β is significantly lower in patients with good clinical response. The results also demonstrate that patients with regression have a higher amount of intracellular TNF-α in CD4+ T lymphocytes before the start of treatment. Analyzing these data sets, it can be concluded that immunotherapy is a viable clinical treatment for patients with high-grade CIN and that the regression is dependent on the change in the immune response to a Th1 pattern.
Background: The hyperbolic torque-duration curve depicts critical torque (CT) and W prime (W′), with the curve’s asymptote representing CT as the boundary between heavy- and severe-intensity domains. W′, the curvature constant, indicates cumulative work beyond CT. This study investigated age-related reductions in W′, CT, and gait speed, and whether W′ and CT predict gait speed independently of muscle torque. Methods: three groups (adults, middle-aged, older) totaling 131 women were studied. W′ and CT were determined using 60 maximal isometric voluntary contractions of knee extensors. The fast gait speed was calculated in walking tests at 10 m, 400 m, and six minutes (6 MWT). Results: gait speed decreased (p < 0.05) with age, as did W′ and CT. Both W′ and CT correlated positively with gait speed at different distances (10 m, 400 m, 6 MWT). Adjusted for maximum muscle torque, only W′ maintained a positive association (p < 0.05) with all gait speed tests (10 m: β = 0.201, SE = 0.086; 400 m: β = 0.262, SE = 0.085; 6 MWT: β = 0.187, SE = 0.086). Conclusions: aging led to declines in W′, CT, and gait speed. W′, not CT, remained a significant predictor of gait speed, indicating its importance for older women’s mobility.
SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aims were to compare the red blood cells, platelet count, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, red cell distribution width, and fasting glucose in peripheral blood of patients with benign and malignant uterine neoplasms and to relate these laboratory parameters with prognostic factors and overall survival in cancer. METHODS: The results of the laboratory parameters were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to find the cutoff values. Overall survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meyer method. RESULTS: Higher values of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and fasting glucose were found in cancer patients. Higher platelet-lymphocyte ratio values were associated with other subtypes when compared with endometrioid subtype; higher values of red cell distribution width were found in stage II/IV when compared with stage I; lower hemoglobin values were related to stage II/IV and nonendometrioid histological type. Platelet-lymphocyte ratio <145.56 was associated with longer overall survival. CONCLUSION: Hemoglobin and platelet-lymphocyte ratio values are prognostic factors in uterine corpus cancer.
The production of cytokines by helper T lymphocytes is a critical event in the immune response, as alterations in the regulation of this process may result in an appropriate immune response, persistent infection or the development of autoimmune disease. Previously, this group has used flow cytometry to demonstrate the expression of interleukin-12 (IL-12) in peripheral blood CD4+ T lymphocytes from patients and mice with advanced cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether CD4+ T lymphocytes from the peripheral blood (PB) of patients with cancer produce IL-12, using molecular approaches, flow cytometry and cellular imaging techniques. CD3+ and CD4+ cells, and cells producing IL-12, were isolated from the PB obtained from patients with cancer, using a cell sorting flow cytometry technique. The positivity of cells for CD3, CD4 and IL-12, which were identified by cell sorting, was visualized using immunofluorescent cellular imaging. Total RNA was extracted from the CD3+CD4+IL-12+ cells, obtained by cell sorting, for confirmation of the presence of IL-12 mRNA, using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RT-PCR demonstrated the presence of IL-12 mRNA in all patients (n=14), in contrast to the control group, in whom IL-12 expression was not detected. Immunofluorescent analysis of CD4+ T lymphocytes showed positive intracytoplasmatic IL-12 staining. These results demonstrated that CD3+CD4+ T lymphocytes in the PB of patients with cancer have the capacity to synthesize and express IL-12.
Martins, FM, Santagnello, SB, de Oliveira Junior, GN, de Sousa, JdFR, Michelin, MA, Nomelini, RS, Murta, EFC, and Orsatti, FL. Lower-body resistance training reduces interleukin-1β and transforming growth factor-β1 levels and fatigue and increases physical performance in breast cancer survivors. J Strength Cond Res 37(2): 439-451, 2023-This article ascertains whether resistance training (RT) improves inflammatory markers, fatigue (sensations and fatigability), and physical performance in breast cancer survivors (BCS) and investigates whether the changes in the inflammatory markers, fatigue, and physical performance are associated with each other. Volunteers were randomly divided into 2 groups: control group (n = 11) and RT group (n = 11). Resistance training (3 sets of 8-12 repetitions with 80% 1 repetition maximum (1RM) on 4 exercises-leg extension, leg curl, 45° leg press, and calf raise) was performed 3 times a week for 12 weeks. Self-reported fatigue (SRF), fatigability (critical torque [CT] and W prime [W']), muscle strength, and circulating inflammatory markers were assessed using the Brief Fatigue Inventory, iDXA, 1RM test, protocol of 60 maximal voluntary isometric contractions, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Resistance training reduced interleukin (IL)-1β, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, and SRF score and increased muscle strength, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), CT, and W'. In the RT group, the changes in SRF were positively associated with the changes in IL-1β. The changes in muscle strength were associated with the changes in CT and W', and the changes in the 6MWT were associated with the changes in CT, W', muscle strength, and SRF. Resistance training improved fatigue and physical performance and reduced IL-1β, and TGF-β1 in BCS. Although improvement in fatigability seems to be dependent on the increase in muscle strength, improvement in the sensation of fatigue seems to be dependent on the reduction in IL-1β after RT. Increase in physical performance seems to be dependent on improvement in muscle strength and fatigue.
The study objective was to verify differences in the diagnosis of infectious agents and CIN in cytological smears in the proliferative and secretory phases of the menstrual cycle.A retrospective study was carried out at the Federal University of "Triângulo Mineiro". Presence of Candida albicans, Trichomonas vaginalis, clue cells, Doderlein bacilli, cytolytic flora, coccoid bacillus, CIN and HPV were collected from the vaginal cytology tests, cervical and endocervical in healthy women of reproductive age from 1994 to 2004 (about 14,000 in total). The cytologies were divided into two groups: proliferative and secretory phase. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used for statistical analysis with the significance level set at less than 0.05.The frequency of cytolysis and candidiasis was higher in the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle (p < 0.0001). When the presence of CIN associated with vulvovaginitis was evaluated, there was no significant difference in cytologies with CIN between the first and the second phases of the menstrual cycle.Frequency of the cytolytic flora and Candida albicans is influenced by the phase of the menstrual cycle, but CIN is not.