Preoperative Mean Platelet Volume and Platelet Distribution Width Predict Postoperative Sepsis in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Calponin 2 regulates ketogenesis to mitigate acute kidney injury

Calponin 2 (CNN2) is a prominent actin stabilizer. It regulates fatty acid oxidation (FAO) by interacting with estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2) to determine kidney fibrosis. However, whether CNN2 is actively involved in acute kidney injury (AKI) remains unclear. Here, we report that CNN2 was induced in human and animal kidneys after AKI. Knockdown of CNN2 preserved kidney function, mitigated tubular cell death and inflammation, and promoted cell proliferation. Distinct from kidney fibrosis, proteomics showed that the key elements in the FAO pathway had few changes during AKI, but we identified that 3-hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase 2 (Hmgcs2), a rate-limiting enzyme of endogenous ketogenesis that promotes cell self-renewal, was markedly increased in CNN2-knockdown kidneys. The production of ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate and ATP was increased in CNN2-knockdown mice. Mechanistically, CNN2 interacted with ESR2 to negatively regulate the activities of mitochondrial sirtuin 5. Activated sirtuin 5 subsequently desuccinylated Hmgcs2 to produce energy for mitigating AKI. Understanding CNN2-mediated discrete fine-tuning of protein posttranslational modification is critical to optimize organ performance after AKI.

A Narrative Literature Review on Sepsis: A Primary Manifestation of Colorectal Neoplasm

Sepsis and colorectal cancer (CRC) exhibit a complex relationship that warrants further exploration. This review delves into the interplay of factors between sepsis and CRC, uncovering shared pathophysiological traits and potential bacterial associations. Understanding these connections could pave the way for earlier diagnosis, improved management, and enhanced outcomes in CRC patients. The role of immune system dysfunction, hypoalbuminemia, and specific microbial imbalances, such as Streptococcus bovis and Clostridium septicum, are discussed. Recognizing sepsis in CRC patients is crucial for timely intervention, and tailored approaches encompassing antibiotic therapy, source control measures, and cancer treatment are essential for comprehensive care. Monitoring biomarkers and ratios can provide valuable insights into complications and overall health outcomes. A multidisciplinary approach involving various specialists is necessary to address the global burden of CRC and its association with sepsis while exploring novel interventions, such as fecal microbiota transplantation and personalized care. We conducted a thorough search using reputable databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar to investigate the connection between sepsis and CRC. We refined our search terms, utilized sidebar filters, and examined references in selected articles. This meticulous process helped us create a comprehensive literature review and gain valuable insights into this relationship.

Serum platelet distribution width predicts cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis

BACKGROUND

Platelet distribution width (PDW) is a predictor for all-cause mortality in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic implication of PDW in predicting cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD).

METHODS

In total, 762 PD patients from a single center were recruited retrospectively from 2005 to 2017 and followed up until 2021. The primary and secondary outcomes were cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, respectively. Survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

During a median of 52.2 months of follow-up, 135 (17.7%) cases of CVD and 253 (33.2%) cases of all-cause mortality were reported. After multivariate adjustment, high levels of PDW were associated with an increased risk of death from CVD (HR: 1.583; 95% CI: 1.109-2.258; P = 0.011) and all-cause mortality (HR: 1.313; 95% CI: 1.006-1.758; P = 0.045). Subgroup analysis indicated a stronger association between PDW and all-cause mortality among female participants (P-value for interaction = 0.033). Higher levels of PDW predicted an increased risk of all-cause mortality in female patients (HR: 1.986; 95% CI,1.261-3.127).

CONCLUSION

High levels of PDW are independently associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in the PD population, and differences by sex exist in the association of PDW with all-cause mortality.

Elevated platelet distribution width and red cell distribution width are associated with autoimmune liver diseases

OBJECTIVE

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and platelet distribution width (PDW) are reported to be associated with inflammation. We aimed to determine the association between RDW and PDW with autoimmune liver disease (ALD).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 126 patients who were diagnosed with ALD. Sixty-nine healthy individuals represented the control group. Characteristics and laboratory parameters of the ALD patients and control subjects were compared.

RESULTS

The aspartate transaminase (AST) (P < 0.001), alanine transaminase (ALT) (P < 0.001), C-reactive protein (CRP) (P < 0.001), RDW (P < 0.001) and PDW (P < 0.001) levels of the ALD group were significantly higher than those of the control subjects. RDW was significantly correlated with AST (r = 0.17, P = 0.02) and CRP (r = 0.19, P = 0.01) levels. Moreover, PDW was significantly correlated with AST (r = 0.23, P = 0.002), ALT (r = 0.23, P = 0.001) and CRP (r = 0.23, P = 0.001) levels. The sensitivity and specificity of RDW higher than 13.7% level were 76% and 62%, respectively [AUC: 0.74, P < 0.001, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.67-0.81]. The sensitivity and specificity of PDW higher than 17.9% level were 80% and 71%, respectively (AUC: 0.85, P < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.79-0.90). The sensitivity and specificity of CRP higher than 2.9 U/l level were 92% and 85%, respectively (AUC: 0.91, P < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.86-0.95).

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates that RDW and PDW have considerable sensitivity and specificity in determining ALD.

Higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, mean platelet volume, and platelet distribution width are associated with postoperative delirium in patients undergoing esophagectomy: a retrospective observational study

PURPOSE

We investigated whether preoperative inflammatory markers, i.e., the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width (PDW) can predict the development of postoperative delirium (POD) after esophagectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This single-center, retrospective, observational study included 110 patients who underwent an esophagectomy. We assigned the patients with the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist score ≥ 4 to the POD group. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses to determine whether the NLR, PLR, MPV, and PDW can be used to predict the development of POD.

RESULTS

The POD group had 20 patients; the non-POD group included the other 90 patients. Although only the preoperative NLR in the POD group was significantly higher than in the non-POD group (3.20 [2.52-4.30] vs. 2.05 [1.45-3.02], p = 0.001), multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that the following three parameters were independent predictors of POD: preoperative NLR ≥ 2.45 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 8.68, 95%CI 2.33-32.4, p = 0.001), MPV ≥ 10.4 (aOR: 3.93, 95%CI: 1.37-11.2, p = 0.011), and PDW ≥ 11.8 (aOR: 3.58, 95%CI: 1.22-10.5, p = 0.020).

CONCLUSION

Our analysis results demonstrated that preoperative NLR ≥ 2.45, MPV ≥ 10.4, and PDW ≥ 11.8 were significantly associated with a higher risk of POD after adjustment for possible confounding factors. However, as the AUCs of the preoperative MPV and PDW for the prediction of the development of POD in univariable ROC analyses were low, large prospective studies are needed to confirm this result.

Emergency admission parameters for predicting in-hospital mortality in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with hypercapnic respiratory failure

Background

Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is a common presentation in emergency departments (ED) that can be fatal. This study aimed to develop a mortality risk assessment model for patients presenting to the ED with AECOPD and hypercapnic respiratory failure.

Methods

We analysed 601 participants who were presented to an ED of a tertiary hospital with AECOPD between 2018 and 2020. Patient demographics, vital signs, and altered mental status were assessed on admission; moreover, the initial laboratory findings and major comorbidities were assessed. We used least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression to identify predictors for establishing a nomogram for in-hospital mortality. Predictive ability was assessed using the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC). A 500 bootstrap method was applied for internal validation; moreover, the model’s clinical utility was evaluated using decision curve analysis (DCA). Additionally, the nomogram was compared with other prognostic models, including CRB65, CURB65, BAP65, and NEWS.

Results

Among the 601 patients, 19 (3.16%) died during hospitalization. LASSO regression analysis identified 7 variables, including respiratory rate, PCO₂, lactic acid, blood urea nitrogen, haemoglobin, platelet distribution width, and platelet count. These 7 variables and the variable of concomitant pneumonia were used to establish a predictive model. The nomogram showed good calibration and discrimination for mortality (AUC 0.940; 95% CI 0.895–0.985), which was higher than that of previous models. The DCA showed that our nomogram had clinical utility.

Conclusions

Our nomogram, which is based on clinical variables that can be easily obtained at presentation, showed favourable predictive accuracy for mortality in patients with AECOPD with hypercapnic respiratory failure.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-021-01624-1.

Decreased mean platelet volume is associated with microsatellite instability in colorectal cancer: A propensity score-matched analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) colorectal cancer (CRC) generally have a better prognosis and a more effective immune response than patients with microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC. Moreover, activated platelets play a crucial role in modulating innate immune cells. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is an indicator of platelet activation. This study is to examine the association between MPV and MSI status in CRC.

METHODS

We collected the clinical and pathological variables of 424 CRC patients diagnosed at the Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital from January 2018 to December 2018. Associations between MPV levels and MSI status were examined. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to reduce the possibility of selection bias.

RESULTS

424 CRC patients were divided into low-MPV group and high-MPV group according to the optimal cut-off value of MPV. 131 high-MPV patients were matched to low-MPV counterparts in a 1:1 ratio by propensity score matching. As MPV levels increased, the percentage of patients with MSI-H reduced. Furthermore, compared with MSS group, the MSI-H group had a significantly lower MPV levels (p= 0.003 after matching). In addition, logistic regression analysis identified reduced MPV as an independent risk factor for MSI-H in CRC patients after controlling for other potential parameters.

CONCLUSION

Lower MPV is associated with MSI-H subtype of CRC. Further study on MPV in MSI-H CRC is warranted.

Platelets: The Emerging Clinical Diagnostics and Therapy Selection of Cancer Liquid Biopsies

Due to the inherent molecular heterogeneity of metastatic tumours and the dynamic evolution ability of tumour genomes, tumour tissues obtained through biopsy and other methods cannot capture all of the features of tumour genomes. A new diagnostic concept called “liquid biopsy” has received widespread attention in recent years. Liquid biopsy has changed the clinical practice of oncology and is widely used to guide targeted drug utilization, monitor disease progression and track drug resistance. The latest research subject in liquid biopsy is platelets. Platelets originate from multifunctional haematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow haematopoietic system. They are small cells from the cytoplasm of bone marrow megakaryocytes. Their main physiological functions are to participate in the processes of physiological haemostasis and coagulation. Tumour cells transfer biomolecules (such as RNA) to platelets through direct contact and release of exosomes, which changes the platelet precursor RNA. Under the stimulation of tumour cells and the tumour microenvironment, platelet precursor mRNA is spliced into mature RNA and converted into functional protein to respond to external stimuli, forming tumour-educated platelets (TEPs). The detection of TEPs in the peripheral blood of patients is expected to be used in clinical tumour diagnosis. This emerging liquid biopsy method can replace and supplement the current tumour detection methods. Further research on the role of platelets in tumour diagnosis will help provide a novel theoretical basis for clinical tumour diagnosis.

Prognostic value of platelet distribution width and mean platelet volume in patients with laryngeal cancer

Aims: To investigate the prognostic relevance of platelet volume indices for survival in laryngeal cancer. Patients & methods: The study included 640 patients with laryngeal cancer. We analyzed the optimal cutoff values through receiver operating characteristic analysis, then analyzed the univariate factor and multivariate variables. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were conducted to compare the overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival rates between the groups. Results: In multivariate analysis, elevated platelet distribution width (PDW) and PDW/platelet count ratio were significantly correlated with poor prognosis for OS; however, elevated mean platelet volume (MPV) and MPV/platelet count ratio suggested a notable correlation with favorable prognosis for OS. Meanwhile, elevated PDW and decreased MPV were significantly correlated with poor prognosis for recurrence-free survival. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that elevated PDW and decreased MPV could serve as independent biomarkers for worse survival in laryngeal cancer.