Search Results (1,312)

Background/Objectives: The TOPAZ-1 phase III trial reported a survival benefit of using durvalumab, an anti-programmed death ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1) antibody, in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin (GCD) treatment in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer. This retrospective study investigated the efficacy and safety of GCD treatment for advanced biliary tract cancer in real-world conditions. Methods: The study subjects were 52 patients with biliary tract cancer who received GCD therapy between January 2023 and May 2024. The observation parameters included the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS), neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR), tumor markers (CEA, CA19-9), overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events. Results: The cohort included 36 men and 16 women, with a median age of 73.0 years. There were 36 cases of cholangiocarcinoma (distal: 10, perihilar: 19, intrahepatic: 7), 13 cases of gallbladder cancer, and 3 cases of ampullary carcinoma. The stages were locally advanced in 30 cases and metastatic in 22 cases. Biliary drainage was performed in 30 cases. There were 38 cases receiving first-line therapy and 14 cases receiving second-line or later treatments. The median values at the start of GCD therapy were ALB 3.7 g/dL, CRP 0.39 mg/dL, NLR 2.4, PLR 162.5, CEA 4.8 ng/mL, and CA19-9 255.9 U/mL. The mGPS distribution was 0:23 cases, 1:18 cases, and 2:11 cases. The treatment outcomes were ORR 25.0% (CR 2 cases, PR 11 cases), DCR 78.8% (SD 28 cases, PD 10 cases, NE 1 case), median PFS 8.6 months, and median OS 13.9 months. The PLR was suggested to be useful for predicting PFS. A decrease in CEA at six weeks after the start of treatment was a significant predictor of PFS and OS. Gallbladder cancer had a significantly poorer prognosis compared to other cancers. The immune-related adverse events included hypothyroidism in two cases, cholangitis in one case, and colitis in one case. Conclusions: The ORR, DCR, and PFS were comparable to those in the TOPAZ-1 trial. Although limited by its retrospective design and small sample size, this study suggests that GCD therapy is an effective treatment regimen for unresectable biliary tract cancer in real-world clinical practice. Full article

Background/Objectives: Inflammation-based markers have emerged as potential prognostic tools in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but comparative data with classical prognostic factors in untreated HCC are limited. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the prognostic performance of inflammatory and conventional markers using Harrell’s concordance index (C-index). Methods: This retrospective study included 250 patients with untreated HCC. Prognostic variables included age, BCLC stage, Child–Pugh classification, Milan criteria, MELD score, AFP, albumin, Charlson comorbidity index, and the inflammation-based markers neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI), and Systemic Immune-inflammation Index (SIII). Survival was analyzed using Cox regression. Predictive performance was assessed using the C-index, Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), and likelihood ratio tests. Results: Among the classical markers, BCLC showed the highest predictive performance (C-index: 0.717), while NLR ranked highest among the inflammatory markers (C-index: 0.640), above the MELD score and Milan criteria. In multivariate analysis, NLR ≥ 2.3 remained an independent predictor of overall survival (HR: 1.787; 95% CI: 1.264–2.527; p < 0.001), along with BCLC stage, albumin, Charlson index, and Milan criteria. Including NLR in the model modestly improved the C-index (from 0.781 to 0.794) but significantly improved model fit (Δ–2LL = 10.75; p = 0.001; lower AIC). Conclusions: NLR is an accessible, cost-effective, and independent prognostic marker for overall survival in untreated HCC. It shows discriminative power comparable to or greater than most conventional predictors and may complement classical stratification tools for HCC. Full article

Background and Objectives: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) poses a major public health problem worldwide. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, we included 274 patients with CDI, who were hospitalized in Internal Medicine Departments in Evangelismos General Hospital in Athens, Greece, during the past decade. Demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters of the patients were recorded. Statistical analysis revealed an association between older age and mortality as well as heart failure and mortality among patients with CDI. Results: Notably, WBC (white blood count), neutrophils, NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio), dNLR (derived NLR), SII (systemic immune–inflammation index) and hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) demonstrated a positive association with mortality, whereas serum albumin levels and PNR (platelet-to-neutrophil ratio) exhibited an inverse relationship with mortality. We propose that the aforementioned biomarkers may be used as prognostic parameters regarding mortality from CDI. Conclusions: Large scale studies among patients with CDI with the advent of AI (artificial intelligence) may incorporate demographic, clinical and laboratory features into prognostic scores to further characterize the global CDI threat. Full article

Endotoxemia is commonly observed in donkeys, secondary to colic, pleuropneumonia, or diarrhea among other disorders. Hematologic ratios are new biomarkers widely used in the diagnosis and prognosis of multiple conditions in human medicine, including sepsis. While the utility of these ratios has been proved in septic foals, no data are available on donkeys. Moreover, reference intervals (RIs) have not been studied in this species. In this study, RIs of the most commonly reported hematologic ratios were determined in 73 healthy adult donkeys. In addition, variations in these ratios in response to LPS infusion were also evaluated in six healthy adult donkeys. Most of the ratios evaluated showed significant variations after induced endotoxemia, with most of them showing values outside of the established RIs. Similarly to septic foals, the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio was significantly reduced after LPS infusion. No significant changes were observed in the red cell distribution width to platelet ratio, contrary to reports on septic foals. Previously reported cut-off values for both of these ratios should not be extrapolated to donkeys. Future studies evaluating these ratios in natural endotoxemia or other diseases in donkeys, as well as establishing species-specific cut-off values, are necessary. Full article

Background: Pleural mesothelioma (PM) is a type of cancer that is difficult to diagnose and treat. Patients may have vastly varying prognoses, and prognostic factors may help guide the clinical approach. As a recently identified biomarker, the pan-Immune-Inflammation-Value (PIV) is a simple, comprehensive, and peripheral blood cell-based biomarker. Methods: The present study represents a retrospective observational analysis carried out within a single-center setting. Ninety-five patients with PM stages I–IV were enrolled in the study. We analyzed the correlation between patients’ demographic characteristics, clinicopathological factors such as histological subtypes, surgery status, tumor thickness, blood-based parameters, and treatment options with their prognoses. PIV was calculated by the following formula: (neutrophil count × monocyte count × platelet count)/lymphocyte count. Additionally, blood-based parameters were used to calculate the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and systemic immune inflammation index (SII). Results: We categorized the patients into two groups, low PIV group (PIV ≤ 732.3) and high PIV group (PIV > 732.3) according to the determined cut-off value, which was defined as the median. It was revealed that high PIV was associated with poor survival outcomes. The median follow-up period was 15.8 months (interquartile range, IQR, 7.1 to 29.8 months). The median overall survival (OS) was significantly longer in patients in the low PIV group (median 29.8 months, 95% confidence interval (CI), 15.6 to 44) than the high PIV group (median 14.7 months, 95% CI, 10.8 to 18.6 p < 0.001). Furthermore, the study revealed that patients with low PIV, NLR, and SII values were more likely to be eligible for surgery and were diagnosed at earlier stages. Additionally, these markers were identified as potential predictors of disease-free survival (DFS) in the surgical cohort and of treatment response across the entire patient population. Conclusions: In addition to well-established clinical factors such as stage, histologic subtype, resectability, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS), PIV emerged as an independent and significant prognostic factor of overall survival (OS) in patients with PM. Moreover, PIV also demonstrated a remarkable independent prognostic value for disease-free survival (DFS) in this patient population. Additionally, some clues are provided for conditions such as treatment responses, staging, and suitability for surgery. As such, in this cohort, it has outperformed the other blood-based markers based on our findings. Given its ease of calculation and cost-effectiveness, PIV represents a promising and practical prognostic tool in the clinical management of pleural mesothelioma. It can be easily calculated using routinely available laboratory parameters for every cancer patient, requiring no additional cost or complex procedures, thus facilitating its integration into everyday clinical practice. Full article

Background/Objectives: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a highly variable inflammatory condition that can lead to severe complications and high mortality, particularly in its severe forms. Early risk stratification is essential; however, the delayed availability of traditional scoring systems often limits its effectiveness. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of systemic inflammation indices as early predictors of severity in patients with acute pancreatitis. Methods: A retrospective, observational study was conducted among patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, classified according to the revised Atlanta criteria. Upon admission, systemic inflammation indices were calculated from complete blood count parameters, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI). Severity was assessed using the APACHE II score. Statistical analysis involved Kruskal–Wallis tests, Dunn’s post hoc comparisons, ROC curve analysis, logistic regression for odds ratios (ORs), and Spearman correlations. Results: SII, NLR, MLR, SIRI, and AISI showed statistically significant associations with AP severity (p < 0.05). MLR and SIRI exhibited the highest predictive performance (AUC = 0.74). ORs for severe pancreatitis were: MLR = 19.10, SIRI = 7.50, NLR = 7.33, AISI = 5.12, and SII = 4.10. All four indices also demonstrated moderate positive correlations with APACHE II scores. Conclusions: Systemic inflammation indices are simple, cost-effective, and accessible tools that can aid in the early identification of patients at high risk for severe acute pancreatitis. Their integration into clinical practice may enhance early decision-making and improve patient outcomes. Full article

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are presented in approximately 50% of East Asian populations with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). While EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the standard treatment, patient outcomes are also influenced by host-related factors. This study aimed to investigate clinical and radiological factors associated with early mortality and develop a prognostic prediction model in advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC. Methods: A retrospective cohort was conducted in patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC treated with first line EGFR-TKIs from January 2012 to October 2022 at Chiang Mai University Hospital. Clinical data and radiologic findings at the initiation of treatment were analyzed. A multivariable flexible parametric survival model was used to determine the predictors of death at 18 months. The predicted survival probabilities at 6, 12, and 18 months were estimated, and the model performance was evaluated. Results: Among 189 patients, 84 (44.4%) died within 18 months. Significant predictors of mortality included body mass index <18.5 or ≥23, bone metastasis, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio ≥ 5, albumin-to-globulin ratio < 1, and mean pulmonary artery diameter ≥ 29 mm. The model demonstrated good performance (Harrell’s C-statistic = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.66–0.78). Based on bootstrap internal validation, the optimism-corrected Harrell’s C-statistic was 0.71 (95% CI: 0.71–0.71), derived from an apparent C-statistic of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.74–0.75) and an estimated optimism of 0.04 (95% CI: 0.03–0.04). Estimated 18-month survival ranged from 87.1% in those without risk factors to 2.1% in those with all predictors. A web-based tool was developed for clinical use. Conclusions: The prognostic model developed from fundamental clinical and radiologic parameters demonstrated promising utility in predicting 18-month mortality in patients with advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC receiving first-line EGFR-TKI therapy. Full article

Background/Objectives: Platelets play a role in bone metabolism and fracture healing. This study aimed to investigate the association between platelet indices and the derived systemic immune inflammation index (SII) with fracture risk in postmenopausal women. Methods: Platelet count, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width (PDW), platelet crit, percentage of large platelets (P-LCR), platelet–lymphocyte ratio, and the SII, calculated as (NxP)/L, where N, P, and L represented neutrophils, platelets and lymphocytes counts, respectively, were evaluated. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: A total of 124 women (mean age 68.4 ± 9 years) were stratified into two groups based on the median platelet count; the “lower platelet count group” (n = 58) had a count of 200,000 (174,000 to 226,000), while the “higher platelet count group” (n = 66) had a count of 281,500 (256,500 to 308,500). The higher platelet count group showed a higher hip fracture risk (7.4 vs. 4.5%, p = 0.08) and lower lumbar spine BMD (0.773 vs. 0.83 gr/cm², p = 0.03). By dividing the participants into two groups with higher SSI (950,848.6 ± 746,097.99) (n = 61) and lower SII (355,751.2 ± 88,662.6) (n = 63), the group with the higher SII showed the higher hip fracture risk (7.4 vs. 3.6%, p = 0.01). Univariate regression analysis revealed correlations between chronological age and PDW (r = 0.188, p = 0.047), and P-LCR (r = 0.208, p = 0.03), as well as associations between vitamin D status and P-LCR (r = −0.301, p = 0.034), and between SII and hip fracture risk (r = 0.12, p = 0.007). Conclusions: Platelet count and SII were associated with fracture risk in postmenopausal women undergoing osteoporosis assessment. Given their reproducibility and cost-effectiveness, these markers warrant further investigation in future prospective studies focused on bone fragility. Full article

Background and Objectives: Accurately diagnosing acute appendicitis (AA) in children remains clinically challenging due to overlapping symptoms with other pediatric conditions and limitations in conventional diagnostic tools. The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) has emerged as a promising biomarker in adult populations; however, its utility in pediatrics is still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of SII in distinguishing pediatric acute appendicitis from elective non-inflammatory surgical procedures and to assess its predictive value in identifying complicated cases. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, single-center study included 397 pediatric patients (5–15 years), comprising 297 histopathologically confirmed appendicitis cases and 100 controls. Demographic and laboratory data were recorded at admission. Inflammatory indices including SII, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were calculated. ROC curve analysis was performed to evaluate diagnostic performance. Results: SII values were significantly higher in the appendicitis group (median: 2218.4 vs. 356.3; p < 0.001). SII demonstrated excellent diagnostic accuracy for AA (AUROC = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92–0.97), with 91% sensitivity and 88% specificity at a cut-off > 624. In predicting complicated appendicitis, SII showed moderate discriminative ability (AUROC = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.60–0.73), with 83% sensitivity but limited specificity (43%). Conclusions: SII is a reliable and easily obtainable biomarker for diagnosing pediatric acute appendicitis and may aid in early detection of complicated cases. Its integration into clinical workflows may enhance diagnostic precision, particularly in resource-limited settings. Age-specific validation studies are warranted to confirm its broader applicability. Full article

Background/Objectives: Romania remains a tuberculosis (TB) hotspot in the European Union, yet host-derived factors of poor outcomes are poorly characterised. We quantified circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and examined their interplay with behavioural risk factors, the nutritional status, and the clinical course in adults hospitalised with pulmonary TB. We analysed 80 adults with microbiologically confirmed pulmonary TB and 40 respiratory symptom controls; four TB patients (5%) died during hospitalisation, all within 10 days of admission. Methods: A retrospective analytical case–control study was conducted at the Constanța regional TB referral centre (October 2020—October 2023). Patients with smear- or culture-confirmed TB were frequency-matched by sex, 10-year age band, and BMI class to culture-negative respiratory controls at a 2:1 ratio. The patients’ serum interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-1α (IL-1α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumour-necrosis-factor-α (TNF-α) were quantified within 24 h of admission; the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was extracted from full blood counts. Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were identified by multivariable logistic regression; factors associated with the length of stay (LOS) were modelled with quasi-Poisson regression. Results: The median TNF-α (24.1 pg mL⁻¹ vs. 16.2 pg mL⁻¹; p = 0.009) and IL-1β (5.34 pg mL⁻¹ vs. 3.67 pg mL⁻¹; p = 0.008) were significantly higher in the TB cases than in controls. TNF-α was strongly correlated with IL-1β (ρ = 0.80; p < 0.001), while NLR showed weak concordance with multiplex cytokine patterns. Among the patients with TB, four early deaths (5%) exhibited a tripling of TNF-α (71.4 pg mL⁻¹) and a doubling of NLR (7.8) compared with the survivors. Each 10 pg mL⁻¹ rise in TNF-α independently increased the odds of in-hospital death by 1.8-fold (95% CI 1.1–3.0; p = 0.02). The LOS (median 29 days) was unrelated to the smoking, alcohol, or comorbidity load, but varied across BMI strata: underweight, 27 days; normal weight, 30 days; overweight, 23 days (Kruskal–Wallis p = 0.03). In a multivariable analysis, under-nutrition (BMI < 18.5 kg m⁻²) prolonged the LOS by 19% (IRR 1.19; 95% CI 1.05–1.34; p = 0.004) independently of the disease severity. Conclusions: A hyper-TNF-α/IL-1β systemic signature correlates with early mortality in Romanian pulmonary TB, while under-nutrition is the dominant modifiable determinant of prolonged hospitalisation. Admission algorithms that pair rapid TNF-α testing with systematic nutritional assessment could enable targeted host-directed therapy trials and optimise bed utilisation in high-burden settings. Full article

Background and Objectives: Flexible ureteroscopic surgery is a common minimally invasive procedure utilized for the management of various urological conditions. While effective, postoperative complications such as fever can occur, necessitating the identification of reliable biomarkers for early detection and management. In this study, we specifically evaluated the predictive performance of three preoperative hematologic indices: the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune–inflammation index (SII). Materials and Methods: By systematically comparing these biomarkers through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and logistic regression modeling, we aimed to identify the most accurate predictor of postoperative fever development. Our cohort included patients who developed postoperative fever, many of whom exhibited normal WBC counts, allowing us to evaluate the discriminatory power of alternative inflammatory biomarkers. Results: Among the 150 patients, 32 developed postoperative fever. Conventional WBC counts did not predict fever, with 91% of feverish individuals having normal WBC values. In the ROC curve analysis, NLR outperformed SII (AUC 0.847, cutoff 796) and PLR (AUC 0.743, cutoff 106), with an AUC of 0.996 at 2.96. A combined logistic model achieved 100% sensitivity and 91% specificity (AUC = 0.996). Conclusions: This study addresses a critical gap in perioperative monitoring by validating readily available complete blood count-derived ratios as clinically meaningful predictors of postoperative inflammatory responses. Full article

Objective: The interactions between the central nervous system (CNS) and the immune system suggest that immune mechanisms may be effective in the pathogenesis of epilepsy and epileptic seizures. Although studies on the natural immune response and epilepsy are continuing, it is not yet clear whether the interaction of the current immune system is due to epilepsy itself or antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), since epileptic patients also use AEDs There are a limited number of studies that have reported an increased incidence of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in patients during levetiracetam (LEV) treatment. Therefore, we aimed to report our experience regarding the effect of LEV monotherapy on the complete blood count (CBC), immunoglobulin (Ig) levels, and lymphocyte subgroups in the interictal period in children and adolescents with epilepsy. Methods: This study enrolled 31 children who presented with epilepsy and underwent LEV monotherapy for at least one year (patient group) and 43 healthy children (control group). The CBC parameters (hemoglobin (hb), lymphocytes, leukocytes, neutrophils, and platelets), Ig levels (IgA, IgM, IgG, and IgE), and lymphocyte subsets (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 ratio, CD19, CD56, NKT cells, and Treg cells) were measured and compared between the two groups. The patients were also investigated regarding the frequency and types of infections that they experienced in the first month and first year of the study, and these data were compared between the patient group and the control group. In addition, the same parameters and the frequency of infection were compared among the patient subgroups (focal and generalized seizures). Results: The results of the present study indicate that there were no significant differences in the CBC parameters, lymphocyte subsets, or Ig levels between the patient group and the control group. The comparison among the patient subgroups was similar; however, the CD4/CD8 ratio was lower in the patient subgroup with focal seizures. In addition, there were no significant differences in the frequency or type of infections experienced one month and one year of the study between the patient group and the control group, and likewise for the patient subgroups (focal and generalized seizures). Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that LEV monotherapy did not increase the incidence of infection, and there were no significant effects on the CBC or on the humoral or cellular immune system in epileptic children. These findings also suggest that the CD4/CD8 ratio among lymphocyte subgroups is lower in patients with focal seizures. However, the epilepsy subgroups had a relatively small sample size; therefore, further prospective studies involving a larger patient population are needed to establish the association between LEV monotherapy and lymphocyte subgroups in patients with epilepsy. Full article

Background/Objectives: Environmental stressors, including spaceflight and altered gravity, can negatively affect the symbiotic relationship between the gut microbiome and host health. Dietary prebiotics, which alter components of the gut microbiome, show promise as an effective way to mitigate the negative impacts of stressor exposure. It remains unknown, however, if the stress-protective effects of consuming dietary prebiotics will extend to chronic altered-gravity exposure. Methods: Forty female C57BL/6 mice consumed either a control diet or a prebiotic diet containing galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and polydextrose (PDX) for 4 weeks, after which half of the mice were exposed to 3 times the gravitational force of Earth (3g) for an additional 4 weeks. Fecal microbiome samples were collected weekly for 8 weeks, sequenced, and analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Terminal physiological endpoints, including immune and red blood cell characteristics, were collected at the end of the study. Results: The results demonstrate that dietary prebiotic consumption altered the gut microbial community structure through changes to β-diversity and multiple genera across time. In addition, consuming dietary prebiotics reduced the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and increased red blood cell distribution width (RDW-CV). Importantly, the prebiotic diet prevented the impacts of altered-gravity on β-diversity and the bloom of problematic genera, such as Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and Turicibacter. Furthermore, several prebiotic diet-induced genera-level changes were significantly associated with several host physiological changes induced by 3g exposure. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that the stress-protective potential of consuming dietary prebiotics extends to environmental stressors such as altered gravity, and, potentially, spaceflight. Full article

Background: Sternal wound infections (SWIs) remain a significant complication following cardiac surgery. Inflammatory and nutritional status are increasingly recognized as key contributors to their development. This study aimed to investigate the predictive utility of immunonutritional biomarkers and to evaluate the protective effect of combining sternal irrigation with an antibiotic-impregnated membrane. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 480 patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Patients were categorized based on sternal management strategy (standard closure or local prophylaxis using gentamicin-enriched irrigation combined with an antibiotic-impregnated fascia lata membrane) and according to the severity of SWIs, classified as superficial or deep. Inflammatory and nutritional markers—including C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophils, lymphocytes, albumin, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI)—were assessed at three time points: preoperatively, on postoperative day 3, and after week 1. Results: SWIs were observed in 93 patients, including 75 superficial and 18 deep infections. The combined prophylactic approach was associated with a nearly 1.8-fold reduction in deep SWIs (OR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.15–0.87) and a modest reduction in superficial infections (OR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.5–1.3; p = 0.061). Threshold values of 3.75 for preoperative NLR, 9.8 for ΔNLR, and 16.7 for ΔCAR demonstrated strong predictive capacity for identifying patients at increased risk of developing deep SWIs. Patients receiving local prophylaxis exhibited significantly lower CRP, NLR, and CAR values and higher PNI levels at all time points. Conclusions: The combination of sternal irrigation and local antibiotic prophylaxis appears to confer protection against SWIs, potentially by mitigating postoperative inflammation. Immunonutritional biomarkers offer a promising means for early risk stratification. To confirm their clinical utility and broader applicability, these results should be validated in prospective, multicenter studies encompassing a wider range of cardiac surgical procedures. Full article

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to elucidate the associations between the use of various ASMs and systemic anti-inflammatory effects in a single large cohort using routine blood tests. Methods: Patients who underwent blood tests within three months of their first visit to our clinic were included. The systemic inflammatory index (SII, platelet × neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio), neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and fibrinogen–albumin ratio (FAR) were compared across specific ASMs. Data from a total of 1782 patients with epilepsy were analyzed. Results: Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that valproate use was significantly associated with lower SII, PLR, and FAR values. Additionally, carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine use were associated with the FAR, whereas topiramate use was associated with the PLR. When a dichotomized category for each inflammatory marker was used, dividing the lowest quartile and the other quartiles, VPA use was significantly associated with all four markers. Topiramate use was associated with lower SII, NLR, and PLR values, and carbamazepine use was associated with lower SII, FAR, and PLR values. Conclusions: These findings highlight the closer association between valproate, compared to other ASMs, and systemic inflammatory responses. These findings may offer valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of the therapeutic effects of valproate. Full article