Background and aim: In this study, we aimed to investigate the neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio, variations in leukocytes and leukocyte subtypes, and the relationship between N/L ratio and insulin resistance (IR) in obesity. Materials and Methods: Ninety six patients and 40 healthy controls were included in this study. Patients’ blood glucose levels, insulin levels, and hemogram parameters upon 8 hours of fasting were determined. Body mass index (BMI) and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values were calculated. Results: Neutrophil numbers were found to be higher among IR obese patients than among non-IR obese patients. The N/L ratio was, moreover, found to be higher among IR obese patients, when compared to non IR obese. A positive correlation was found between insulin resistance and both neutrophil and WBC counts. Another positive correlation was also found between insulin levels and the N/L ratio, WBC, and neutrophil counts. Discussion: In our study, leukocyte numbers and subtypes were determined to be higher among obese individuals than among healthy individuals. The N/L ratio had increased significantly only among obese patients who have insulin resistance. Further studies are needed in order to better demonstrate the relationship between the N/L ratio and insulin resistance/inflammation. Key Words: Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio, Obesity, Insulin Resistance
5 April 2021 in Journal of Endocrinological Investigation
Background: The earthquakes in February 2023 in Turkey had a major impact on Turkey's health system, causing damage to hospitals and health centres in the affected areas. Cancer patients are one of the groups that are highly influenced by the disaster. The aim of this study was to evaluate some of the demographic and clinical characteristics of cancer patients who are getting health care in earthquake-affected areas. Material and Methods: Fifty cancer patients who lived in 11 cities of Turkey affected by the earthquake and were admitted to Gazi University Department of Medical Oncology after the earthquake between 15 February 2023 and 15 March 2023 were included in the study. Data such as demographic characteristics, cancer diagnosis, time of cancer treatment, and earthquake history were taken retrospectively from nationally-linked electronic records (E-nabız). Results: Breast cancer was the most common diagnosis of these patients. Most of the patients were taking active treatment (60%). Chemotherapy and hormonotherapy were the most common treatment modalities (20% and 18%, respectively). The median delay in the active treatment of 14 cancer patients was 24 days (2-60). Conclusions: The earthquake disaster has led to important impacts on cancer patients' care in most affected areas. The human, financial and medical resources should be improved. Especially if detailed nationally-linked electronic records are provided, cancer patients will not have difficulty seeking health care. This disaster should be an important stimulus for hospitals and healthcare systems to improve the care of patients during disasters.
Objective: The ATM gene is one of the most common breast cancer (BC) susceptibility genes after BRCA1/2 and has been shown to be a moderate BC susceptibility gene. The association between ATM germline mutation and clinical features of BC is now unknown. In this article, clinicopathological features of BC patients with ATM germline heterozygous mutation were investigated. Materials and methods: Patients admitted to the Medical Genetics department of a tertiary hospital between January 2020 and December 2022 were examined. Only invasive BC patients with pathogenic mutation, likely pathogenic mutation, or variants of uncertain significance (VUS) were included in the study. Results: In all, 121 patients were included in the study. The median age at the first cancer diagnosis of the patients was 44 years. Of the total number of patients, 75.2% (91) had the histological subtype of infiltrating ductal carcinoma, and 43% (52) had Luminal B molecular subtype features. At a median follow-up of 16 months, 5.8% (7) of patients developed cancer in the contralateral breast. In addition, 7.4% (9) of the patients developed a second primary cancer during follow-up. When the patients were compared according to ATM variant classification, the localization, histologic types, and molecular subtypes of the BC were not different between all groups (respectively; p=0.68, p=0.65, p=0.32). Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first publication that evaluates the clinical and pathological characteristics of BC patients with germline heterozygous ATM mutations in the Turkish population. When patients were compared according to variant classifications of ATM mutation, patients' histological and molecular subtypes were similar.
31 July 2023 in Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice
Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. One of the treatment choices used in hormone receptor positive and HER2 expression negative metastatic breast cancer is cyclin dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK) inhibitors. There are differences between the effects and adverse events of all CDK4/6 inhibitors. In this report, we describe a 48-year-old female patient with breast cancer who developed pulmonary infiltrates secondary to drug in the second year of follow-up with Ribociclib therapy. Case Report: The patient who used ribociclib for metastatic breast cancer was admitted to hospital for routine controls. The patient, in the eighth month of ribociclib treatment, had no active complaints. In the patient's imaging, pulmonary infiltrates were detected in the lower lobe of the right lung. Management and Outcome: The drug was continued in the patient who was asymptomatic and had no infectious signs. Pneumonitis, interstitial lung disease, tuberculosis, COVID-19 and other viral agents were excluded in the patient. A minimal increase in pulmonary infiltrates was observed in the follow-up. However, the patient who does not have any complaints is currently continuing ribociclib at 600 mg/day. Discussion: The pulmonary infiltrates that developed in the patient increased with continued use of ribociclib, suggesting that this was due to ribociclib. The Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction Probability Scale also indicates probable relationship.
Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical and laboratory outcomes of solid cancer patients who were reinfected with COVID-19. Methods: Patients who were tested negative... Plain language summary Solid cancer patients are at a higher risk than general population in terms of COVID-19 infectivity and COVID-19-associated death and disease. It is also known that COVID-19 ...