Predictive value of pre-operative inflammation-based prognostic scores (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte-to-eosinophil ratio) in testicular sperm extraction: a pilot study

Role of C-Reactive Protein/Lymphocyte and Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratios in Predicting Mortality in Patients with Fournier's Gangrene

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Fournier's gangrene (FG) is a polymicrobial-induced necrotizing fasciitis that affects the deep and superficial tissues of the perineal, perianal, scrotal, and genital regions. This study aimed to investigate the role of C-reactive protein (CRP)/lymphocyte and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios, which are objective markers of inflammatory response, in predicting mortality in patients with FG.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Seventy-one patients who underwent surgery for FG between 2019 and 2023 were evaluated retrospectively. Demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory results, the FG severity index (FGSI) score, and the CRP/lymphocyte and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios were analyzed for the patient groups with and without in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

The characteristics of the patients with and without mortality were compared. A total of 71 patients, 51 (71.8%) males and 20 (28.2%) females, were evaluated. Eight patients died during treatment. The median age was 67 (56-86) years in the mortality group and 58 (27-82) years in the non-mortality group. Statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of age, lymphocyte count, CRP/lymphocyte, neutrophil/lymphocyte, potassium, blood urea nitrogen, and FSGI. In the receiver operating characteristic analysis of the CRP/lymphocyte and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios, the cutoff values were calculated as 183.3 and 19.93, respectively. By comparing the data between the mortality and non-mortality groups, the sensitivity and specificity rates of these ratios were also determined.

CONCLUSION

The CRP/lymphocyte and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios may be important parameters in predicting mortality in patients with FG.

Evaluating the Predictive Value of Diagnostic Testicular Biopsy for Sperm Retrieval Outcomes in Men with Non-Obstructive Azoospermia

BACKGROUND

Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) presents a challenge in male infertility management. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of diagnostic testicular biopsy (DTB) in predicting sperm retrieval success via therapeutic testicular biopsy (TTB) and to understand the role of systemic inflammation in microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 50 NOA males who underwent mTESE at the University of Ioannina's Department of Urology from January 2017 to December 2019. All participants underwent thorough medical evaluations, including semen analyses and endocrinological assessments.

RESULTS

DTB did not detect spermatozoa in half of the patients who later showed positive sperm findings in TTB. Preoperative variables, such as age, plasma levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), total testosterone (TT), prolactin (PRL), estradiol (E2), and inflammation biomarkers (neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-eosinophil ratio (MER)), were not consistently predictive of sperm retrieval success. Notably, TTB-negative patients had elevated NLR and PLR values, suggesting a possible link between systemic inflammation and reduced sperm retrieval during mTESE.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings question the necessity of an initial DTB, which might provide misleading results. A negative DTB should not deter further TTB or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) attempts. The study emphasizes the need for further research to refine diagnostic approaches and deepen the understanding of factors influencing sperm retrieval in NOA patients, ultimately enhancing their prospects of biological parenthood.

Prognostic scoring system based on eosinophil- and basophil-related markers for predicting the prognosis of patients with stage II and stage III colorectal cancer: a retrospective cohort study

Background

Systemic inflammation is associated with the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). The current study aimed to construct a comprehensively inflammatory prognostic scoring system named risk score (RS) based on eosinophil- and basophil-related markers and assess its prognostic value in patients with stage II and stage III CRC.

Patients and methods

A total of 3,986 patients were enrolled from January 2007 to December 2013. The last follow-up time was January 2019. They were randomly assigned to the training set and testing set in a 3:2 split ratio. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-Cox regression analysis was performed to select the optimal prognostic factors in the construction of RS. The Kaplan-Meier curve, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and Cox analysis were used to evaluate the association between RS and overall survival (OS).

Results

In the training set, all inflammatory markers showed certain prognostic values. Based on LASSO-Cox analysis, nine markers were integrated to construct RS. The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that a higher RS (RS > 0) had a significantly worse prognosis (log-rank p< 0.0001). RS (>0) remained an independent prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio (HR): 1.70, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.43-2.03, p< 0.001). The prognostic value of RS was validated in the entire cohort. Time-dependent ROC analysis showed that RS had a stable prognostic effect throughout the follow-up times and could enhance the prognostic ability of the stage by combination. Nomogram was established based on RS and clinicopathological factors for predicting OS in the training set and validated in the testing set. The area under the curve (AUC) values of the 3-year OS in the training and testing sets were 0.748 and 0.720, respectively. The nomogram had a satisfactory predictive accuracy and had better clinical application value than the tumor stage alone.

Conclusions

RS might be an independent prognostic factor for OS in patients with stage II and III CRC, which is helpful for risk stratification of patients. Additionally, the nomogram might be used for personalized prediction and might contribute to formulating a better clinical treatment plan.

A dual-center study of predictive factors for sperm retrieval through microdissection testicular sperm extraction and intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes in men with non-mosaic Klinefelter syndrome

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the predictors of sperm retrieval (SR) in non-mosaic Klinefelter syndrome (KS) patients undergoing microsurgical testicular sperm extraction (mTESE). The cutoff values of the predictors of SR and overall pregnancy rates after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were analyzed for the positive SR (PSR) cases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was a dual-center retrospective study. Overall 118 patients with KS underwent mTESE between January 2011 and July 2021. Clinicopathological factors including comorbidities, endocrine profiles, and testicular volumes were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 58 patients showed PSR (49.2%) and 60 patients (50.8%) had negative SR (NSR). The mean overall age of the patients was 32.5 years. The NSR patients had a significantly greater prevalence of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and cerebrovascular disease. The PSR group had a significantly higher left testis mean volume (p=0.039). The differences between the two study groups regarding follicular-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone variations at 1 and 3 months after mTESE were insignificant. Preoperative mean neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was significantly greater in the NSR group (p=0.011), but the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio showed no significant difference between the two study groups. A live child birth was achieved in 53.4% of the PSR patients. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that total testicular volume >3.93 mL, left testis volume >1.79 mL, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio ≤1.82 were significantly associated with PSR.

CONCLUSIONS

mTESE-ICSI is a feasible method for KS patients to have a child, and total testicular volume, left testis volume, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio might be predictors of successful SR.

Systemic immune-inflammation index, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio are predictors of sperm presence in microdissection testicular sperm extraction

The aim of this study is to evaluate the value of the haematologic inflammatory parameters in predicting sperm retrieval rates during microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE).159 patients diagnosed with non-obstructive azoospermia were included in the study. After excluding the patients that do not fit the inclusion criteria, age, smoking status, body-mass index, serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, total testosterone levels and neutrophil, lymphocyte and platelet counts were recorded. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio and systemic immune-inflammation index were calculated. The primary outcome was defined as the presence of spermatozoa during the procedure and the association between the candidate predictors and primary endpoint were evaluated by logistic regression analysis. Then, a baseline model from age, smoking, body-mass index and hormonal levels was built. Ratios and indexes were included, respectively, and were compared by multivariate analyses. Each of all three parameters was an independent predictor of obtaining spermatozoa during micro-TESE procedure (all p < 0.001). Even though all three parameters were significant, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and systemic immune-inflammation index stood out as more powerful than platelet-lymphocyte ratio (p < 0.08, p < 0.08 respectively). Additionally, adding these parameters individually to the baseline model significantly empowered the predictive value (all p < 0.001). Using haematologic inflammatory parameters in the prediction of sperm presence during microdissection testicular sperm extraction may be helpful when consulting the patient with having a better foresight of the procedural outcomes.

Neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio between benign and malignant thyroid nodule

Objectives:

To determine the relationship of Neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio (NLR) values with the benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional clinical study conducted from September 1^st 2020 to February 28^th 2021, we included 216 patients who underwent thyroidectomy at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Karachi Pakistan. After thyroidectomy specimens were sent for pathologic examination. Patients were divided into two categories based on histopathologic results; Malignant nodule and benign nodules. Data of complete blood count was obtained from the pre-operative lab investigations and NLR was calculated.

Results:

There were 42 (26%) men, and 116 (74%) women of 158 in the BTN group, 18 (31%) men, and 40 (69%) women of 58 in the MTN group. The mean age of 48 ± 6 years in the BTN group as well as 47 ±8 years in the MTN group (p-value 0.32). The mean neutrophil count in the BTN group was 4.26 ± 2.8 versus 4.41 ± 2.2 (x 1000/mm³)) the malignance thyroid group (p-value = 0.71). The mean lymphocyte count was 3.81 ± 0.9(x 1000/mm³) in the BTN group and 3.61± 1.2 (x 1000/mm³) in the malignance group (p-value = 0.18). The mean NLR value for the benign thyroid nodular group was 1.19 ± 2.2 and 1.22±1.8 in the malignant thyroid nodular group (p-value = 0.92).

Conclusion:

According to the results of this study, we concluded that preoperative period biochemistry laboratory results such as neutrophils count, lymphocyte count, and NLR value don’t provide enough evidence to differentiate between benign and malignant thyroid carcinoma.

Eosinophil-to-Monocyte Ratio is a Potential Predictor of Prognosis in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients After Intravenous Thrombolysis

Background

Eosinophil and monocyte have been demonstrated separately to be independent predictors of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study aimed to evaluate the association between eosinophil-to-monocyte ratio (EMR) and 3-month clinical outcome after treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) for AIS patients. Simultaneously, we made a simple comparison with other prognostic indicators, such as 24h neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and 24h platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) to investigate the prognostic value of EMR.

Methods and Results

A total of 280 AIS patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis were retrospectively recruited for this study. Complete blood count evaluations for EMR were conducted on 24 hours admission. The poor outcome at 3-month was defined as the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 3–6 and the mRS score for death was 6. The EMR levels in patients with AIS were lower than those in the healthy controls and showed a negative correlation with the NIHSS score. At the 3-month follow-up, multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated an association among EMR, poor outcome and mortality. In addition, EMR had a higher predictive ability than popular biomarkers like NLR and PLR for 3-month mortality.

Conclusion

The lower levels of EMR were independently associated with poor outcome and dead status in AIS patients.

Evaluating the quality of reported outcomes for microsurgical TESE in men with non-obstructive azoospermia: A methodological analysis

BACKGROUND

Publications of microsurgical testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) techniques and outcomes are heterogeneous, which may limit creation of best surgical practices.

OBJECTIVE

To study the quality and heterogeneity of published mTESE outcomes via a methodological analysis.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A systematic methodological analysis of all published literature on the use of mTESE in men with non-obstructive azoospermia from 1999 to the July 2020 was performed. PubMed and MEDLINE searches were performed using the search terms "microdissection TESE OR microsurgical TESE." Publications were evaluated on their reporting of pre-operative factors, intraoperative techniques, surgical and clinical outcomes, and adverse events.

RESULTS

Fifty-five studies met inclusion criteria. Surgical technique and sperm retrieval rates were the most reported criteria. Reporting on the presence of an embryologist intraoperatively was observed in approximately 30% of articles, while other procedural details including method of sperm quantification, quantity retrieved, and number of cryopreserved vials were observed in fewer than 10% of articles. Clinical outcomes, including pregnancy rates and live birth rates, were reported in fewer than 40% of the articles. Fetal outcomes including fetal and neonatal anomalies were rarely reported. Fetal growth restriction, preterm delivery, small or large for gestational age, and NICU admissions were never reported.

CONCLUSION

There are inconsistencies in reporting quality of mTESE outcomes, specifically a lack of information on the quantity and quality of sperm retrieved, the role of embryology intraoperatively, and clinical outcomes, such as live birth rate and fetal anomalies. These gaps may guide development of standardized reporting guidelines to better assess and compare clinical outcomes across institutions and maintain focus on couples-centric fertility outcomes in future mTESE studies.

The role of inflammatory parameters (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte-to-eosinophil ratio) in patients with Peyronie's disease

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to investigate the ability of the systemic inflammatory parameters to predict the discrimination of the phases of Peyronie's disease (PD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data from 156 patients with PD were analyzed. A complete blood count (CBC) was obtained for every patient, and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-eosinophil ratio (MER) were calculated for every men. Subsequently, patients were divided into two groups based upon the phase of the disease.

RESULTS

The mean age was 51.9 ± 9.6 in all study population. The mean duration between symptom onset and patient evaluation was 4.2 ± 3.2 months in acute phase group, while it was 32.7 ± 31.7 months in chronic phase group (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between the groups according to comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, lipid abnormalities, ischemic heart disease, smoking, and alcohol consumption. There was a statistically significant difference in NLR and PLR between two groups (p = 0.008, p = 0.008, respectively). NLR and PLR were significantly correlated with discrimination status in univariate analysis (p = 0.003, p = 0.005, respectively). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that NLR was the only independent risk factor for discrimination of the phases of PD (p < 0.001). The ROC analysis revealed a cutoff value of 1.8 (AUC 0.712, p < 0.001; sensitivity 61.1%; specificity 75.0%) for the NLR.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that NLR could be helpful to differentiate the chronic phase from the acute phase in patients with PD. Therefore, NLR could be used as an objective biomarker to the management of the disease and choosing the appropriate treatment.

Male Inflammatory Parameters Are not Useful to Predict the Outcomes of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study

PURPOSE

The relationship between male systemic inflammation and fertility seems intriguing, but no data about its impact on the assisted reproductive technology outcomes has been reported. Here, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic role of male systemic inflammatory parameters in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes prediction, in couples undergoing an ovum donation program.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From January 2016 to December 2017, one hundred-ten couples were considered for this cross-sectional study. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-eosinophil ratio (MER), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), seminal parameters, fertilization rate (FR), cleavage rate (CR), pregnancy rate (PR) were evaluated. Male patients were divided into Group A with FR ≤70%, Group B with FR >70%.

RESULTS

Overall, FR was 74.5%, CR 90.9%, PR 41.8%. Group A included 43 patients, Group B 67 men. Group A showed a median NLR of 1.55, PLR of 106.09, MER of 2.33. Group B reported a median NLR of 1.64, PLR 109.0, MER 2.76. We found no statistically differences between two groups with respect to NLR, PLR, MER (p=0.90, p=0.70, p=0.96, respectively). The age-adjusted linear regression analysis demonstrated only a relationship between NLR and sperm motility count (r=-0.02; p<0.05). Using the univariate logistic regression analysis, we found no significant associations.

CONCLUSIONS

We did not find any relationship between ICSI outcomes and male inflammation parameters.

Are There Any Relationships Between Abnormal Seminal Parameters and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio, Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio, and Red Blood Cell Distribution-Platelet Ratio?

Objective The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and red blood cell distribution width (RDW)/platelet ratio (RPR) values, which are pro-inflammatory markers, with abnormal sperm parameters, and to evaluate their availability as predictive markers. Materials and methods A total of 160 patients, 80 of whom were the control group, formed with match-pair analysis (Group 1), and 80 patients with abnormal sperm analysis, who met the study criteria (Group 2), were included in the study. Complete blood count results were recorded. NLR, PLR, and RPR values were calculated using hematological parameters, and a comparison was made between the two groups. Results The mean age was 31.23 ± 5.1 years in Group 1 and 31.33 ± 6.4 years in Group 2. NLR values were 1.84 ± 0.57-1.87 ± 0.65 (P =0.77), PLR values were 105.42 ± 23.89-111.42 ± 34.54 (P = 0.62) and RPR values were 0.05 ± 0.009-0.05 ± 0.01 (P =0.45), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups. Conclusions We investigated whether NLR, PLR, and RPR results can be used as a predictive marker on abnormal sperm parameters. We do not recommend the use of these parameters as a predictive marker.

Relationship Between the Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and the Presence and Size of Thyroid Nodules

Aim

To investigate the possible relationship between the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) value and the presence and size of thyroid nodules.

Patients and methods

Data of 216 patients between 18 and 65 years of age, who had presented to the internal medicine department of our hospital between February 2018 and September 2018, were collected retrospectively. A total of 216 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in the study.

Results

An ultrasonographic examination revealed thyroid nodules in 105 patients and no thyroid nodules in 111 patients. Among those with a nodule, 52 had a nodule size of ≤10 mm and 53 had a nodule size of >10 mm. These groups were compared with regard to age, gender, body mass index, thyroid function tests, neutrophil, lymphocyte and platelet count, NLR, and mean platelet volume (MPV). Although the absolute counts of lymphocytes and neutrophils were lower in the group with nodules, no significant difference was observed between the groups. Among those with a nodule, no significant difference was determined between nodule size and thyroid function tests, NLR, or MPV. In the group of patients with a nodule, malignant pathology was reported in 2.7%.

Conclusions

Although there are studies suggesting a relationship between NLR, MPV, and the presence of malignancy and mortality, we determined no such relationship between nodule formation and their size in thyroid tissue.

Predictive value of hematological parameters in testicular torsion: retrospective investigation of data from a high-volume tertiary care center

Objective

To investigate the use of hematological parameters in the differential diagnosis of testis torsion and epididymo-orchitis, and to determine the predictive value of these parameters in the diagnosis of testis torsion.

Methods

This study retrospectively reviewed the medical data of patients who presented to our institute with the complaint of acute scrotal pain. Eighty-five patients who had undergone orchiectomy or surgical detorsion due to testis torsion and 72 patients with epididymo-orchitis were included in the study. The control group comprised 78 healthy males. The groups were compared with respect to age, hematological parameters, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte to eosinophil ratio (MER), and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR).

Results

The monocyte count significantly differed between testis torsion and epididymo-orchitis, and was useful in the differential diagnosis. The mean neutrophil, platelet, and white blood cell counts, and the NLR, MER, and PLR values in the control group were significantly lower than those in the torsion and epididymo-orchitis groups.

Conclusion

The sensitivity and specificity of NLR in predicting testis torsion were as high as the sensitivity and specificity of doppler ultrasonography, suggesting the possible use of this parameter in the diagnosis of testis torsion.

Effect of seasonal variation on the success of micro-dissection testicular sperm extraction: A pilot study

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between seasonal variation and the success of micro-dissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE). A total of 395 patients who were diagnosed with non-obstructive azoospermia, who had undergone mTESE operation for the first time, and who did not have an obstructive pathology, were included in the study. The patients were divided into 12 groups according to the month of the operation and four groups according to the season. The groups were compared with regard to age, duration of infertility, BMI, hormone profile and sperm retrieval rate of mTESE. The maximum sperm retrieval rate was obtained in January (69.7%) and the minimum sperm retrieval rate was obtained in November (50.0%). No statistically significant difference was detected when the mTESE results were compared with regard to months (p = 0.638). The maximum sperm retrieval rate was obtained in the summer (62.8%) and the minimum was obtained in spring (57.0%). No statistically significant difference was determined between groups created according to seasons (p = 0.865). We did not observe a statistically significant relationship between the sperm retrieval rate and the seasons. Studies conducted in regions with different climate features could better reveal the relationship between seasonal variation and the success of mTESE.