Purpose In this study, we investigated the role of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a predictor of tumor response and as a prognostic factor in patients with rectal cancer who had undergone curative surgery after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (nCRT). Methods Between January 2009 and July 2016, we collected 140 consecutive patients who had undergone curative intent surgery after nCRT due to rectal adenocarcinoma. We obtained the pre- and post-nCRT NLR by dividing the neutrophil count by the lymphocyte count. The cutoff value was obtained using receiver operating characteristic analysis for tumor response and using maximally selected rank analysis for recurrence-free survival (RFS). The relationship among NLR, tumor response, and RFS was assessed by adjusting the possible clinico-pathological confounding factors. Results The possibility of pathologic complete response (pCR) was significantly decreased in high pre- (>2.77) and postnCRT NLR (>3.23) in univariate regression analysis. In multivariate analysis, high post-nCRT NLR was an independent negative predictive factor for pCR (adjusted odds ratio, 0.365; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.145–0.918). The 5-year RFS of all patients was 74.6% during the median 37 months of follow-up. Patients with higher pre- (>2.66) and post-nCRT NLR (>5.21) showed lower 5-year RFS rates (53.1 vs. 83.3%, P = 0.006) (69.2 vs. 75.7%, P = 0.054). In multivariate Cox analysis, high pre-nCRT NLR was an independent poor prognostic factor for RFS (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.300; 95% CI, 1.061–4.985). Conclusion Elevated NLR was a negative predictive marker for pCR and was independently associated with decreased RFS. For confirmation, a large-scale study with appropriate controls is needed.

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Porous nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) alloy implants have been previously introduced, and many studies have been performed. Porous Ni-Ti alloys have excellent properties for use in the dental field. Thus, the use of a porous Ni-Ti coating to combine the advantages of Ni-Ti with titanium implants should be considered. The aim of this study was to investigate the tissue response to porous Ni-Ti alloy in vivo. Three 8-mm diameter calvaria bone defects were established in New Zealand rabbits. In the control group, only a collagen membrane was applied to the defect. In experimental group I, the alloy disk was applied to the defect with a bone graft and resorbable membrane. In experimental group II, the alloy disk was placed in the defect covered by a resorbable membrane. After 4 and 8 weeks of healing, the experimental animals were euthanized for specimen preparation. Histomorphometric analysis was performed to quantify new bone formation and connective tissue. The data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-tests. At 4 and 8 weeks, new bone formation was seen in all groups. The new bone formation was insufficient in the groups with the titanium implants. There was minor inflammation in the experimental groups compared with the control group. In this study, new bone formation and tissue reactions were seen around the porous Ni-Ti alloy. Minor inflammation and insufficient new bone formation were noted in the experimental groups. This meant that the porous Ni-Ti alloy affected the adjacent tissue.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of pomegranate extract (PE) on the progression of periodontal disease in an experimental rat model of periodontitis. Periodontitis was induced in rats by placing a 5-0 black silk ligature and injecting a lipopolysaccharide of Porphyromonas gingivalis into the gingiva. Distilled water (DW) or PE solution was orally administered daily, and the animals were sacrificed after 3 weeks. Tissue specimens of the periodontitis model were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit and by micro-computed tomography (CT) imaging. The expression levels of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 were significantly reduced in ligation (Lig)+PE 22 µg/mL and Lig+PE 44 µg/mL groups, but there was no statistically significant difference in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8 levels. Furthermore, micro-CT imaging demonstrated that alveolar bone resorption was inhibited in Lig+PE 22 µg/mL and Lig+PE 44 µg/mL groups compared with that in the Lig+DW group. These results demonstrate that PE has an inhibitory effect on the progression of alveolar bone loss caused by periodontal inflammation by reducing the expression levels of COX-1 and COX-2 in the process of periodontal disease.

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