Blood cholesterol-to-lymphocyte ratio as a novel prognostic marker to predict postoperative overall survival in patients with colorectal cancer

Background Lipid disequilibrium and systemic inflammation are reported to correlate with tumorigenesis and development of colorectal cancer (CRC). We construct the novel biomarker cholesterol-to-lymphocyte ratio (CLR) to reflect the synergistic effect of cholesterol metabolism and inflammation on CRC outcomes. This study aims to investigate the clinical significance of CLR and establish a prognostic model for CRC. Methods Our study retrospectively enrolled 223 CRC patients who underwent curative surgical resection. The Kaplan-Meier method was employed to estimate the overall survival (OS) rates, and the association between serological biomarkers and survival was assessed with a log-rank test. Cox proportional hazard regression was applied in the univariate and multivariate analyses to identify independent prognostic factors, which were then used to develop a predictive nomogram model for OS in CRC. The nomogram was evaluated by the C-index, receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, and calibration plot. All cases were grouped into three stratifications according to the total risk points calculated from the nomogram, and the difference in OS between them was assessed with the Kaplan-Meier method. Results At the end of the study, death occurred in 47 (21%) cases. Patients with low CLR (< 3.23) had significantly prolonged survival (P < 0.001). Multivariate analyses revealed that N stage (P < 0.001), harvested lymph nodes (P = 0.021), and CLR (P = 0.005) were independent prognostic factors for OS and a prognostic nomogram was established based on these variables. The nomogram showed good calibration and predictive performance with a superior C-index than TNM stage (0.755 (0.719–0.791) vs. 0.663 (0.629–0.697), P = 0.001). Patients of different risk stratifications based on the total score of nomogram showed distinct survival (P < 0.001). Conclusions The nomogram based on CLR and other clinical features can be used as a potentially convenient and reliable tool in predicting survival in patients with CRC.

Sigmoid volvulus: outcomes of treatment and predictors of morbidity and mortality

Purpose To analyze the treatment outcomes for sigmoid volvulus (SV) and identify risk factors of complications and mortality. Methods Observational study of all consecutive adult patients diagnosed with SV who were admitted from January 2000 to December 2020 in a tertiary university institution for conservative management, urgent or elective surgery. Primary outcomes were 30-day postoperative morbidity, mortality and 2-year overall survival (OS), including analysis of risk factors for postoperative morbidity or mortality and prognostic factors for 2-year OS. Results A total of 92 patients were included. Conservative management was performed in 43 cases (46.7%), 27 patients (29.4%) underwent emergent surgery and 22 (23.9%) were scheduled for elective surgery. Successful decompression was achieved in 87.8% of cases, but the recurrence rate was 47.2%. Mortality rates following episodes were higher for conservative treatment than for urgent or elective surgery (37.2%, 22.2%, 9.1%, respectively; p = 0.044). ASA score > III was an independent risk factor for complications (OR = 5.570, 95% CI = 1.740–17.829, p < 0.001) and mortality (OR = 6.139, 95% CI = 2.629–14.335, p < 0.001) in the 30 days after admission. Patients who underwent elective surgery showed higher 2-year OS than those with conservative treatment (p = 0.011). Elective surgery (HR = 2.604, 95% CI = 1.185–5.714, p = 0.017) and ASA score > III (HR = 0.351, 95% CI = 0.192–0.641, p = 0.001) were independent prognostic factors for 2-year OS. Conclusion Successful endoscopic decompression can be achieved in most SV patients, but with the drawbacks of high recurrence, morbidity and mortality rates. Concurrent severe comorbidities and conservative treatment were independent prognostic factors for morbidity and survival in SV.

Clinicopathological Characteristics and Prognostic Factors in Axial Chondroblastomas: A Retrospective Analysis of 61 Cases and Comparison with Extra-Axial Chondroblastomas

Background The clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of axial chondroblastoma (ACB) are still poorly understood. Purpose To characterize clinicopathological characteristics in a large ACB cohort and investigate their correlation with survival. We also sought to compare these results with extra-axial CB (EACB). Methods Our institution's local database was retrospectively reviewed and included a total of 132 CB patients, including 61 ACB patients and 71 EACB patients. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the expression levels of Vimentin (Vim), S100, and cytokeratin (CK) on tumor cells in 132 tissue specimens. Results Overall, ACB and EACB had similar characteristics, except for older age and tumor size, as well as higher Vim expression, incidence of surrounding tissue invasion and postoperative sensory or motor dysfunction. Whereas wide resection and absence of invasion of surrounding tissues were consistently associated with favorable survival in the ACB and EACB cohorts in univariate analysis, most parameters showed differential prognostic significance between the 2 groups. Significant prognostic factors for local recurrence-free survival in multivariate analysis included the type of resection and chicken-wire calcification in the ACB cohort. Multivariate analysis of overall survival demonstrated that the type of resection was a significant predictor in the ACB cohort, whereas the type of resection and postoperative sensory or motor dysfunction were predictive of overall survival in the EACB group. Conclusion These data suggest that there may be distinct biological behaviors between ACB and EACB and may provide useful information to better understand the prognostic characteristics of patients with ACB and to improve outcome prediction in patients with ACB.