Recently, a series of studies explored the correlation between the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and the prognosis of lung cancer. However, the current opinion regarding the prognostic role of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in lung cancer is inconsistent.We performed a meta-analysis of published articles to investigate the prognostic value of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in lung cancer. The hazard ratio (HR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.An elevated neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio predicted worse overall survival, with a pooled HR of 1.243 (95%CI: 1.106−1.397; Pheterogeneity=0.001) from multivariate studies and 1.867 (95%CI: 1.487−2.344; Pheterogeneity=0.047) from univariate studies. Subgroup analysis showed that a high neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio yielded worse overall survival in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (HR=1.192, 95%CI: 1.061−1.399; Pheterogeneity=0.003) as well as small cell lung cancer (SCLC) (HR=1.550, 95% CI: 1.156−2.077; Pheterogeneity=0.625) in multivariate studies.The synthesized evidence from this meta-analysis of published articles demonstrated that an elevated neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio was a predictor of poor overall survival in patients with lung cancer.
IntroductionThe neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a readily available biomarker associated with recurrence and survival in various diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between NLR and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) retreatment.Material and methodsThis was a case-control study that included 306 newly diagnosed cases of PTB in the clinical database of the Infectious Hospital of Wuxi from December 2009 to December 2011. Of the 306 patients, a total of 68 cases were followed up with TB retreatment. The remaining 238 PTB patients who completed anti-TB treatment and were cured without retreatment were selected as controls.ResultsAccording to the ROC curve, the best cut-off value of NLR was 2.53, with a sensitivity of 70.6% and a specificity of 45.4%. The NLR ≥ 2.53 before anti-TB treatment was associated with PTB retreatment (OR = 1.994, 95% CI: 1.116–3.564; adjusted OR (AOR) = 2.409, 95% CI: 1.212–4.788). The retreatment rates with NLR ≥ 2.53 and NLR < 2.53 were 27.1% and 15.5%, respectively, with a significant difference (log-rank test; p = 0.010). Additionally, cavitation on chest X-ray (OR = 2.922, 95% CI: 1.654–5.411; AOR = 2.482, 95% CI: 1.230–5.007), history of smoking (OR = 2.202, 95% CI: 1.158–3.493; AOR = 2.321, 95% CI: 1.135–4.745) and age ≥ 60 (OR = 3.828, 95% CI: 1.626–9.015; AOR = 2.931, 95% CI: 1.122–7.653) were also associated with PTB retreatment.ConclusionsNLR ≥ 2.53 is predictive of PTB retreatment. Otherwise, initial cavitation on chest X-ray, history of smoking, and age of ≥ 60 are also risk factors for PTB retreatment.
These data suggested a distinct genetic and immunopathogenic basis for tuberculosis at the MIF locus. Serum MIF, IFN-γ and TNF-α profiles distinguish tuberculosis from the more inflammatory phenotype and may play a role in pathogenesis and as biomarkers of active tuberculosis.
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