Performance of the ImmuKnow Assay in Differentiating Infection and Acute Rejection After Kidney Transplantation: A Meta-Analysis

BackgroundThe ImmuKnow test is an assay for determining the functional activity of immunocytes, which reflects cell-mediated immune responses in populations undergoing organ transplantation.MethodsElectronic and manual searches were conducted to identify studies of the ImmuKnow test. After methodological quality assessment and data extraction, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were assessed, and summary receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed systematically. The extent of heterogeneity was explored.ResultsSix studies were identified for analysis. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, and DOR of ImmuKnow for predicting the risk of infection were 0.51 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45–0.57), 0.75 (95% CI, 0.71–0.78), 1.97 (95% CI, 0.91–4.26), 0.67 (95% CI, 0.38–1.19), and 3.56 (95% CI, 0.80–15.89), respectively. A DOR of 13.81 (95% CI, 0.79–240.44), with a sensitivity of 0.51 (95% CI, 0.40–0.61), a specificity of 0.90 (95% CI, 0.87–0.93), a PLR of 4.45 (95% CI, 0.91–21.74), and an NLR of 0.35 (95% CI, 0.08–1.45), was found in the analysis of the predictive value for acute rejection. The summary receiver operating characteristic curve values for ImmuKnow in distinguishing patients with infections from those with acute rejections were 0.631 ± 0.215 and 0.986 ± 0.015, respectively.ConclusionsOur analysis did not support the use of the ImmuKnow assay to predict or monitor the risks of infection and acute rejection in renal transplant recipients. Further studies are needed to confirm the relationships between the ImmuKnow assay and infection and acute rejection in kidney transplantation.     

Different diagnostic properties of C-reactive protein,real-time PCR,and histopathology of frozen and permanent sections in diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection

Background and purpose There are several diagnostic tests for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). We evaluated the properties of preoperative serum C-reactive protein (CRP), real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and histopathological evaluation of frozen and permanent sections in clinical cases with culture-positive PJI.

Patients and methods 63 joints involving 86 operations were analyzed using serum CRP measurement prior to operation and tissue samples were collected intraoperatively for real-time PCR and histopathology. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio of positive test results (PLR), and likelihood ratio of negative test results (NLR) for each test in relation to positive microbiological culture results as the gold standard.

Results The sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis with serum CRP were 90% and 85%, respectively. The corresponding values for real-time PCR and histopathology of frozen and paraffin tissue sections were 90% and 45%, 71% and 89%, and 90% and 87%, respectively. Serum CRP had a PLR of 5.8 and an NLR of 0.12, and real-time PCR had a PLR of 1.6 and an NLR of 0.18. The corresponding figures for frozen tissue sections were 6.6 and 0.32, and those for paraffin sections were 7.1 and 0.11, respectively.

Interpretation The results suggest that real-time PCR and histopathology of frozen sections is a good combination. The former is suitable for screening, with its high sensitivity and good NLR, while the latter is suitable for definitive diagnosis of infection, with its excellent specificity and good PLR.     

Diagnostic value of FDG-PET versus magnetic resonance imaging for detecting spondylitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Spondylitis is a rare infection in bone requiring multiple diagnostic strategies for verification.

Diagnostic accuracy of anorectal manometry for fecal incontinence: a meta-analysis

Background: Anorectal manometry (ARM) is conventionally used to assess patients with fecal incontinence (FI). This review aims to establish the diagnostic accuracy of ARM for FI.

Method: A search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Citation Index Expanded and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in the Cochrane Library was performed. Studies examining the sensitivity and specificity of ARM measures, either individually or combined, in the diagnosis of FI, were included. Data analysis was conducted using the bivariate statistical method.

Results: Seven studies were included out of an initial search of 1499 studies. The summary sensitivity and specificity for ARM as an overall test were 0.80 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.69–0.88) and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.65–0.90), respectively. The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) for ARM was found to be 16.61 (95% CI: 5.52–50.03). The positive likelihood ratio (PLR) and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) for ARM were found to be 4.09 (95% CI: 2.11–7.94) and 0.25 (95% CI: 0.14–0.42), respectively. Subgroup analysis based on four studies reporting on maximum resting pressure (MRP) demonstrated a sensitivity, specificity, DOR, PLR and NLR of 0.60 (95% CI: 0.38–0.79), 0.93 (95% CI: 0.80–0.97), 20.0 (95% CI: 4.00–91.00), 8.60 (95% CI: 3.00–24.30) and 0.43 (95% CI: 0.24–0.76), respectively.

Conclusion: ARM has been shown to be an accurate test for diagnosing FI. Further studies are required to establish the diagnostic accuracy of individual ARM measures.     

Diagnostic accuracy of Raman spectroscopy for prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundAlthough various studies have been conducted to demonstrate the possibility of Raman spectroscopy (RS) as a diagnostic tool for prostate cancer (PC), it is difficult to use it in the real clinical area because of imitations in various research processes. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis about the accuracy in diagnostic use of RS for PC.MethodsA literature search was done using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library databases in March 2019 to analyze the accuracy of RS for diagnosis of PC. The accuracy of RS for diagnosis of PC was evaluated by means of pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC).ResultsFive studies were included for qualitative analysis by screening the remaining articles according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria by means of a systematic review. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of RS were 0.89 (95% CI: 0.87–0.91) and 0.91 (95% CI: 0.89–0.93), respectively. The overall PLR and NLR were 9.12 (95% CI: 4.15–20.08) and 0.14 (95% CI: 0.07–0.29), respectively. The DOR of RS demonstrated high accuracy (73.32; 95% CI: 18.43–291.73). The area under the curves (AUCs) of SROC curves was 0.93.ConclusionsRS is an optical diagnostic method with high potential for diagnosis and grading of PC and has advantages of real-time and convenient use. In order to consider real-time use of RS in an actual clinical setting, more studies for standardization and generalization of RS performance and analytical method must be conducted.     

Synovial Fluid Calprotectin for the Preoperative Diagnosis of Chronic Periprosthetic Joint Infection

BackgroundThe diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) represents a challenge in clinical practice and the analysis of synovial fluid is a useful diagnostic tool. Calprotectin is an inflammatory biomarker widely used in the evaluation of chronic inflammatory diseases; however, little is known about its role in PJI. The purpose of this study is to determine the reliability of synovial calprotectin in the diagnosis of PJI.MethodsSeventy-six patients with painful knee arthroplasty were included in this prospective observational study. Synovial fluid was analyzed for cell count, percentage of polymorphonuclear neutrophils, microbiological culture, leukocyte esterase strip test, alpha-defensin rapid test, and calprotectin immunoassay dosage. The 2018 Consensus Statements criteria for PJI were used as standard reference to define the presence of infection. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratio, and receiver-operation characteristic curve were calculated for calprotectin immunoassay test.ResultsBy 2018 Consensus Statements criteria for PJI, 28 patients were considered infected, 44 patients were considered not infected, and 4 patients were classified as inconclusive. The calprotectin synovial fluid test resulted in 2 false-positive results and no false-negative results. The calprotectin synovial fluid test demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% (95% confidence interval [CI] 99.96-100) and specificity of 95% (95% CI 89.4-100) for the diagnosis of PJI. The positive likelihood ratio was 22 (95% CI 5.680-85.209) and the negative likelihood ratio was 0 (95% CI 0-0.292). The area under the receiver-operation characteristic curve was 0.996 (95% CI 94.3-100).ConclusionThe present study suggests that synovial calprotectin immunoassay test has a high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of knee PJI. Moreover, it is easily applied, quick and valuable in clinical practice.     

Performance of Sequencing Assays in Diagnosis of Prosthetic Joint Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BackgroundA prompt, accurate diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) allows early treatment, and with identification of the causative organism, sensitive antibiotics could be applied. However, routine methods cannot identify the causative organism under certain circumstances. Gene sequencing assays have unique superiority in promptness and broad coverage of pathogens, but evidence of its accuracy is quite limited.MethodsOf 247 citations identified for screening, 12 studies with 1965 patients in total were included. The diagnostic value of sequencing assays in PJI was systematically reviewed. Subgroup analysis was conducted to explore the source of heterogeneity.ResultsPooled sensitivity was 0.81 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73-0.87); pooled specificity was 0.94 (95% CI, 0.91-0.97); positive likelihood ratio was 14.2 (95% CI, 8.7-23.4); negative likelihood ratio was 0.20 (95% CI, 0.14-0.29); and the area under the curve was 0.94 (95% CI, 0.18-1.00). The results of subgroup analysis revealed that antibiotics reduced the sensitivity of sequencing-based diagnosis compared with withholding antibiotics before sampling (0.71 vs 0.94). In another subgroup analysis, sequencing by synthesis (Illumina sequencing) had better specificity than other next-generation sequencing methods (0.963 vs 0.829) and specificity similar to time-consuming and laborious Sanger sequencing (0.963 vs 0.967).ConclusionSequencing assays had favorable diagnostic accuracy of PJI. When sequencing assays were applied to diagnosing PJI, an antibiotic-free interval before sampling may enhance the ability to detect the causative organism and, among next-generation sequencing methods, sequencing by synthesis seemed to have advantages over other methods in specificity.     

Diagnostic Utility of Platelet Count/Lymphocyte Count Ratio and Platelet Count/Mean Platelet Volume Ratio in Periprosthetic Joint Infection Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

BackgroundDiagnosing a periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) can be challenging and often requires a combination of clinical and laboratory findings. Monocyte/lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and platelet/mean platelet volume ratio (PVR) are simple predictors for inflammation that can be readily obtained from complete blood count. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic utility of these markers in predicting PJI in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients.MethodsA total of 538 patients who underwent revision TKA with calculable marker ratios prerevision in 2 groups were evaluated: (1) 206 patients with a preoperative diagnosis of PJI (group I) and (2) 332 patients treated for revision TKA for aseptic failures (group II). The diagnostic abilities of the markers were assessed via receiver operator characteristic curve analysis.ResultsThe optimal threshold of PVR at 30.82 had the highest sensitivity of 87.7%, while the optimal threshold of PLR at 234.13 had the highest specificity of 82.5%. Both PLR and PVR, when combined with Musculoskeletal Infection Society thresholds for erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, synovial WBC, and PMN%, achieve significantly higher sensitivity and specificity rates for PJI at or above 97% (PLR: 99.03%; 98.80%; PVR: 98.54%;97.89%).ConclusionOur study demonstrates that PVR and PLR, which are readily available and inexpensive to obtain from complete blood counts, when combined with serum and synovial fluid markers have increased sensitivity and specificity comparable to that of alpha defensin. This suggests that PVR and PLR can be used together with other hematologic and aspirate markers to increase the accuracy of PJI diagnosis in TKA patients.     

Diagnostic value of TWEAK for predicting active lupus nephritis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose Accumulative studies showed that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) was up-regulated in the blood and urine from patients diagnosed with lupus nephritis (LN) and that it might be used as a novel biomarker for active LN. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the diagnostic value of TWEAK in active LN.Methods We searched the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Springer, Wanfang and CNKI databases for articles published up to 20 August 2020. The diagnostic capacity of TWEAK for active LN was assessed using pooled sensitivity and specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (PLR and NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Quality assessment and publication bias were also evaluated. STATA 11.0 and Meta-Disc 1.4 were used to perform these analyses.Results Nine cross-sectional studies were included in this meta-analysis. The overall pooled sensitivity of TWEAK for the diagnosis of active LN was 0.69 (95% CI, 0.63–0.75), and specificity was 0.77 (95% CI, 0.71–0.82). The overall pooled PLR and NLR were 3.31 (95% CI, 2.05–5.35) and 0.38 (95% CI, 0.26–0.55), respectively, with a DOR of 10.89 (95% CI, 6.73–17.63) and AUC (SE) of 0.8276 (0.0289). Deeks’ funnel plot revealed that the publication bias was insignificant in the study (p = .32).Conclusions Our results suggest that TWEAK might be a potential biomarker for patients with active LN. Future cross-sectional and longitudinal studies are needed to confirm its diagnostic value, as well as to establish more definite cutoff for active LN.     

Plasma D-dimer Does Not Anticipate the Fate of Reimplantation in Two-stage Exchange Arthroplasty for Periprosthetic Joint Infection: A Preliminary Investigation

BackgroundInflammatory markers such as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels have always been a part of the diagnostic criteria for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), but they perform poorly anticipating the outcome of reimplantation. D-dimer has been reported in a small series as a potential marker to measure infection control after single-stage revisions to treat PJI. Nonetheless, its use to confirm infection control and decide the proper timing of reimplantation remains uncertain.Questions/purposes(1) What is the best diagnostic threshold and accuracy values for plasma D-dimer levels compared with other inflammatory markers (ESR and CRP) or what varying combinations of these tests are associated with persistent infection after reimplantation? (2) Do D-dimer values above this threshold, ESR, CRP, and varying test combinations at the time of reimplantation indicate an increased risk of subsequent persistent infection after reimplantation?MethodsWe retrospectively studied the electronic medical records of all 53 patients who had two-stage revisions for PJI and who underwent plasma D-dimer testing before reimplantation at one of two academic institutions from November 22, 2017 to December 5, 2020. During that period, all patients undergoing two-stage revisions also had a D-dimer test drawn. The minimum follow-up duration was 1 year. We are reporting at this early interval (rather than the more typical 2-year time point) because of the poorer-than-expected performance of this diagnostic test. Of these 53 patients, 17% (9) were lost to follow-up before 1 year and could not be analyzed; the remaining 44 patients (17 hips and 27 knees) were studied here. The mean follow-up was 503 ± 135 days. Absence or persistence of infection after reimplantation were defined according to the Delphi criteria. The conditions included in these criteria were: (1) control of infection, as characterized by a healed wound without fistula, drainage, or pain; (2) no subsequent surgical intervention owing to infection after reimplantation; and (3) no occurrence of PJI-related mortality. The absence of any of the aforementioned conditions until the final follow-up examination was deemed a persistent infection after reimplantation. Baseline patient characteristics were not different between patients with persistent infection (n = 10) and those with absence of it after reimplantation (n = 34) as per the Delphi criteria. Baseline patient characteristics evaluated were age, gender, self-reported race (white/Black/other) or ethnicity (nonHispanic/Hispanic), BMI, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status, smoking status(smoker/nonsmoker), and joint type (hip/knee). The optimal D-dimer threshold to differentiate between persistence of infection or not after reimplantation was calculated using the Youden index. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to test the accuracy of D-dimer, ESR, CRP, and their combinations to establish associations, if any, with persistent infection after reimplantation. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (free of infection after reimplantation) with a log-rank test was performed to investigate if D-dimer, ESR, and CRP were associated with absence of infection after reimplantation. Survival or being free of infection after reimplantation was determined as per Delphi criteria. Alpha was set at p < 0.05.ResultsIn the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, with an area under the curve of 0.62, D-dimer showed low accuracy and did not anticipate persistent infection after reimplantation. The optimal D-dimer threshold differentiating between persistence of infection or not after reimplantation was 3070 ng/mL. When using this threshold, D-dimer demonstrated a sensitivity of 90% (95% CI 55.5% to 99.7%) and negative predictive value of 94% (95% CI 70.7% to 99.1%), but low specificity (47% [95% CI 29.8% to 64.9%]) and positive predictive value (33% [95% CI 25.5% to 42.2%]). Although D-dimer showed the highest sensitivity, the combination of D-dimer with ESR and CRP showed the highest specificity (91% [95% CI 75.6% to 98%]) defining the persistence of infection after reimplantation. Based on plasma D-dimer levels, with the numbers available, there was no difference in survival free from infection after reimplantation (Kaplan-Meier survivorship free from infection at minimum 1 year in patients with D-dimer below 3070 ng/mL versus survivorship free from infection with D-dimer above 3070 ng/mL: 749 days [95% CI 665 to 833 days] versus 615 days [95% CI 471 to 759 days]; p = 0.052). Likewise, there were no associations between high ESR and CRP levels and persistent infection after reimplantation, but the number of events was very small, and insufficient power is a concern with this analysis.ConclusionIn this preliminary series, with the numbers available, D-dimer alone had poor accuracy and was not associated with survival free from infection after reimplantation in patients who underwent two-stage exchange arthroplasty. D-dimer alone might be used to establish that PJI is unlikely, and the combination of D-dimer, ESR, and CRP should be considered to confirm PJI diagnosis in the setting of reimplantation.Level of Evidence Level IV, diagnostic study.     

Combined Measurement of D-Dimer and C-Reactive Protein Levels: Highly Accurate for Diagnosing Chronic Periprosthetic Joint Infection

BackgroundDiagnosis of chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) can be challenging and elusive in the absence of a gold standard. D-dimer plays an important role in inflammation that occurs during infections and therefore could be a valuable biomarker for PJI. This study aims to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of D-dimer in detecting chronic PJI and to improve the accuracy of chronic PJI diagnosis through combined measurement of serum D-dimer with C-reactive protein (CRP)/erythrocyte sedimentation rate.MethodsOne hundred twenty-two patients presenting with a painful knee or hip after total hip or total knee arthroplasty for surgical revision were included in this prospective trial. Our cohort consisted of 55 patients undergoing revision for chronic PJI and 67 patients undergoing revision for aseptic failure. PJI was defined using the Musculoskeletal Infection Society criteria. Receiver operating characteristic curves and area under the curve were analyzed for each biomarker.ResultsThe area under the curve for D-dimer was 0.915 and was more accurate than serum erythrocyte sedimentation rate 0.719 and CRP 0.761. 1170 ng/mL was determined to be the optimal threshold value of D-dimer for the diagnosis of chronic PJI, with a sensitivity of 92.73% and a specificity of 74.63% in the diagnosis of chronic PJI. The combination of D-dimer and CRP tests demonstrated a sensitivity of 98.11% and negative predictive value of 96.55% for the diagnosis of chronic PJI.ConclusionThe present study identified the D-dimer is a valuable biomarker in detecting chronic PJI. The combinations of serum D-dimer and CRP led to the improvement of sensitivity compared with those of the single-index test.     

Comparison of a Comprehensive Set of Fibrinolytic Markers With C-Reactive Protein and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate for the Diagnosis of Periprosthetic Joint Infection

BackgroundThe diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), a serious complication after primary total joint arthroplasty, remains challenging. Recently, fibrinolytic activities have been shown to be closely related to infections and inflammation. However, data assessing the value of fibrinolytic markers for the diagnosis of PJI have been sparse until now.MethodsWe retrospectively enrolled 157 patients undergoing revision for aseptic loosening (n = 106, group A) or revision for chronic PJI (n = 51, group B) from January 2014 to August 2019. PJI was defined using the Musculoskeletal Infection Society criteria. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, fibrin degradation product (FDP), and fibrinogen were measured preoperatively. The diagnostic values of each biomarker were analyzed and compared using receiver operating characteristic curves, sensitivity, and specificity.ResultsCompared with group A, group B had significantly higher levels of CRP, ESR, D-dimer, FDP, and fibrinogen (P < .001). The area under the curve of fibrinogen was 0.914, which was slightly lower than that of CRP (0.924). FDP and D-dimer had area under the curve values of 0.808 and 0.784, respectively. The optimal threshold, sensitivity, and specificity were 3.56 g/L, 86.27%, and 83.96% for fibrinogen; 1.22 mg/L, 66.67%, and 85.85% for D-dimer; and 3.98 μg/mL, 72.55%, and 80.19% for FDP, respectively.ConclusionFibrinolytic markers provided promising diagnostic support for PJI, especially fibrinogen, which had a diagnostic efficiency similar to that of CRP and ESR.     

术前外周血炎性指标联合糖蛋白抗原19-9对结肠癌早期诊断及预后评估的价值

目的探讨术前外周血炎性相关指标中性粒细胞-淋巴细胞计数比值（NLR）、血小板-淋巴细胞计数比值（PLR）联合糖蛋白抗原19-9（CA19-9）对结肠癌早期诊断及预后评估的应用价值。 方法选取2015年5月至2017年3月宜宾市第二人民医院收治的189例结肠癌患者为结肠癌组,另选取同期健康体检志愿者72例为对照组。受试者均进行外周血常规检查并计算NLR及PLR比值,采用电化学发光法检测血清CA19-9水平,受试者工作特征曲线（ROC）分析NLR、PLR、CA19-9对结肠癌的诊断效能。根据NLR、PLR、CA19-9以及联合检测结果分为阳性组与阴性组,采用Kaplan-Meier法分析不同检测指标对结肠癌患者预后评估的应用价值。 结果与对照组相比,结肠癌组患者NLR、PLR比值及CA19-9水平均显著升高（P<0.05）;ROC分析显示NLR曲线下面积（AUC）为0.787,敏感度为62.96%,特异度为79.17%,准确性为67.43%;PLR检测的AUC为0.776,敏感度为65.61%,特异度为76.39%,准确性为68.58%;CA19-9 AUC为0.735,敏感度为61.90%,特异度为84.72%,准确性为68.20%;三项联合检测敏感度为91.01%,特异度为97.22%,准确性为92.72%;Kaplan-Meier分析显示NLR、PLR、CA19-9及联合检测阳性组患者OS均分别显著低于各阴性组（P<0.05）,仅联合检测风险比（HR）最高,HR=2.188（χ²=15.167,P<0.001,95%CI=1.310~3.656）。 结论NLR、PLR联合CA19-9检测可提高临床早期诊断结肠癌的敏感度及准确性,且三项联合检测对结肠癌患者预后评估具有重要指导意义。     

The predictive value of diabetic retinopathy on subsequent diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the predictive value of diabetic retinopathy (DR) on further diabetic nephropathy (DN) risk in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) based on the prospective cohort studies. PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched for eligible prospective cohort studies through March 2020. The predictive value of DR was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR) and negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) through the bivariate generalized linear mixed model and the random-effects model. Ten prospective cohort studies recruited 635 patients with T2D. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of DR for predicted DN were noted to be 0.64 (95% CI, 0.54–0.73) and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.60–0.88), respectively. The pooled PLR and NLR of DR for predicted DN were 2.72 (95% CI, 1.42–5.19) and 0.47 (95% CI, 0.33–0.67), respectively. The summary DOR for the relationship between DR and subsequent DN for T2D patients was 5.53 (95% CI, 2.00–15.30), and the AUC of DR for predicted DN was 0.73 (95% CI, 0.69–0.77). This study found significant associations between DR and subsequent DN risk for patients with T2D. Moreover, the predictive value of DR on subsequent DN risk was relatively lower.     

Synovial Fluid d-Lactate—A Novel Pathogen-Specific Biomarker for the Diagnosis of Periprosthetic Joint Infection

BackgroundSynovial fluid d-lactate may be useful for diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) as this biomarker is exclusively produced by bacteria. We evaluated the performance of synovial fluid d-lactate using 2 definition criteria and determined its optimal cutoff value for diagnosing PJI.MethodsConsecutive patients undergoing joint aspiration before prosthesis revision were prospectively included. Synovial fluid was collected for culture, leukocyte count, and d-lactate concentration (by spectrophotometry). Youden's J statistic was used for determining optimal d-lactate cutoff value on the receiver operating characteristic curve by maximizing sensitivity and specificity.ResultsA total of 224 patients were included. Using Musculoskeletal Infection Society criteria, 71 patients (32%) were diagnosed with PJI and 153 (68%) with aseptic failure (AF), whereas using institutional criteria, 92 patients (41%) were diagnosed with PJI and 132 (59%) with AF. The optimal cutoff of synovial fluid d-lactate to differentiate PJI from AF was 1.3 mmol/L, independent of the used definition criteria. Synovial fluid d-lactate had a sensitivity of 94.3% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 86.2-98.4) and specificity of 78.4% (95% CI, 66.8-81.2) using Musculoskeletal Infection Society criteria, whereas its sensitivity was 92.4% (95% CI, 84.9-96.9) and specificity 88.6% (95% CI, 81.9-93.5) using institutional criteria. The concentration of d-lactate was higher in infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (P < .001) and streptococci (P = .016) than by coagulase-negative staphylococci or in culture-negative PJI.ConclusionThe synovial fluid d-lactate showed high sensitivity (>90%) for diagnosis of PJI using both definition criteria and correlated with the pathogen virulence. The high sensitivity makes this biomarker useful as a point-of-care screening test for PJI.Level of EvidenceDiagnostic level I.     

D-Dimer,Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate,and C-Reactive Protein Sensitivities for Periprosthetic Joint Infection Diagnosis

BackgroundThere is contradicting evidence on the diagnostic value of inflammatory biomarkers for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). We sought to quantify the sensitivity of D-dimer for acute and chronic PJI diagnosis and evaluate D-dimer lab values in the 90-day postoperative window in a control cohort of primary joint arthroplasty patients for comparison.MethodsAn institutional database was queried for patients undergoing revision procedures for PJI after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) from 2014 to present. CRP, ESR, and D-dimer were collected within 90 days pre and postoperatively and sensitivities for the diagnosis of PJI were calculated. The control group included patients who underwent a negative diagnostic workup for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolus (PE) and had a D-dimer lab collected within 90 days postoperatively from primary total joint arthroplasty (TJA).ResultsA total of 604 PJI patients were identified, and 81 patients had D-dimer, ESR, and CRP collected. There were 50/81 acute PJI patients and 31/81 chronic PJI patients who had median D-dimer values of 2,136.5 ng/mL [interquartile range (IQR): 1,642-3,966.5] and 3,336 ng/mL [IQR: 1,976-5,594]. Only the chronic PJI group had significantly higher D-dimer values when compared to the control cohort (P = .009). The sensitivity of D-dimer was calculated to be 92% and 93.5% in the acute and chronic PJI groups, respectively.ConclusionSerum D-dimer may not have high diagnostic utility for acute PJI, especially in the setting of recent surgery; however, it still may be useful for patients who have chronic PJI.     

Systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) as a predictive factor for overall survival in advanced soft tissue sarcoma treated with eribulin

BackgroundEribulin is a tubulin and microtubule-targeting drug that has clinical benefit in overall survival (OS) for patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma. Eribulin's efficacy has been confirmed in several clinical trials, although no clinically useful biomarkers have been identified. We therefore sought to clarify the predictive factor of eribulin treatment, while focusing on systemic inflammation and immune response values.MethodsThis study included 33 advanced STS patients treated with eribulin between March 2016 and September 2019. We evaluated the associations of clinical factors influencing the efficacy of eribulin treatment and systemic inflammatory and immune response, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), the systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and the prognostic nutrition index (PNI), with progression-free survival (PFS) and OS using the Kaplan–Meier method and log–rank test.ResultsNLR, LMR, PLR, SIRI, and PNI were unassociated with PFS. Compared with patients with SIRI <1.5, those with an SIRI ≥1.5 had a significantly shorter OS [median OS 15 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 8–not reached) vs. 7 months (95% CI 3–14), P = 0.04]. Moreover, the PFS tended to be shorter for patients with SIRI ≥1.5 who received chemotherapy after eribulin treatment than in those with SIRI >1.5 [median PFS 92.5 days (95% CI 27–204) vs. 133 days (95% CI 36–507), P = 0.08].ConclusionsHigh SIRI values may predict poorer overall survival and the efficacy of subsequent drugs after eribulin treatment among patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma.     

Plasma Fibrin Degradation Product and D-Dimer Are of Limited Value for Diagnosing Periprosthetic Joint Infection

BackgroundAlthough the Musculoskeletal Infection Society introduced the use of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) as inflammatory markers for diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), no single blood marker reliably detects infection before revision arthroplasty. We therefore posed 2 questions: (1) Are fibrin degradation product (FDP) and D-dimer of value for diagnosing PJI before revision arthroplasty? (2) What are their sensitivity and specificity for that purpose?MethodsTo answer these questions, we retrospectively enrolled 318 patients (129 with PJI [group A], 189 with aseptic mechanical failure [group B]) who underwent revision arthroplasty during 2013-2018. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine maximum sensitivity and specificity of the 2 markers. Inflammatory and fibrinolytic markers were evaluated based on (1) the Tsukayama-type infection present and (2) the 3 most common PJI-related pathogens.ResultsFDP and D-dimer levels were higher in group A than in group B: 4.97 ± 2.83 vs 4.14 ± 2.67 mg/L and 2.14 ± 2.01 vs 1.51 ± 1.37 mg/L fibrinogen equivalent units (FEU), respectively (both P < .05). Based on the Youden index, 2.95 mg/L and 1.02 mg/L FEU are the optimal FDP and D-dimer predictive cutoffs, respectively, for diagnosing PJI. Sensitivity and specificity, respectively, were 65.12% and 60.33% (FDP) and 68.29% and 50.70% (D-dimer). ESR, CRP, and interleukin-6 values were diagnostically superior to those of FDP and D-dimer.ConclusionThe value of plasma FDP and D-dimer for diagnosing PJI is limited compared with traditional inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP, interleukin-6) before revision arthroplasty.     

胃癌患者术前中性粒细胞淋巴细胞比、血小板淋巴细胞比对淋巴结转移预测价值

目的分析胃癌患者术前中性粒细胞淋巴细胞比(NLR)、血小板淋巴细胞比(PLR)对淋巴结转移预测价值。 方法回顾性分析2016年1月至2018年6月行手术治疗的103例胃癌患者的临床病例资料,按病理结果分为淋巴结转移组(39例,转移组)与淋巴结无转移组(64例,对照组);采用SPSS20.0软件进行数据分析,术前各炎症指标和NLR、PLR等定量资料采用( ±s)表示,独立t检验;TNM分期等计数资料行χ²检验;绘制ROC曲线图,计算NLR、PLR的临界值。以P<0.05表示差异具有统计学意义。 结果术前两组白细胞计数差异无统计学意义(P＝0.156);但术前淋巴结转移组患者中性粒细胞、血小板、淋巴细胞高于对照组,两组差异有统计学意义(P＝0.037, 0.044, 0.047);术前淋巴结转移组患者NLR、PLR明显高于对照组(P均＝0.000);NLR的曲线下面积为0.814, 95%CI为(0.688～0.851),临界值为2.01,灵敏度88.4%、特异度43.1%;PLR的曲线下面积为0.809, 95%CI为(0.704～0.864),临界值为148.63,灵敏度80.6%、特异度46.7%。 结论术前NLR、PLR对于胃癌患者淋巴结转移具有较高的预测价值,可作为术前淋巴结转移预测指标。