The Diagnostic Accuracy of Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy-Assisted Colposcopy, HPV mRNA Test, and P16/Ki67 Immunostaining as CIN2+ Predictors in Greek Population

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS)-assisted colposcopy in detecting CIN2+ Greek women towards standalone colposcopy, HPV mRNA testing, and p16/Ki67 immunostaining.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional observational study at the Cervical Pathology Clinic of the 2nd Obstetrics-Gynecology University Department of Hippokration Hospital Thessaloniki involving 316 patients from January 2022 to August 2023. All participants provided liquid-based cervical samples for cytology, HPV mRNA testing, and p16/Ki67 immunostaining.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Subsequently, participants underwent both standalone colposcopy and EIS/ZedScan-assisted colposcopy, followed by cervical punch biopsies.

RESULTS

The incorporation of EIS significantly enhanced the sensitivity of colposcopy, increasing it from 54.17% to 100%, equivalent to that of HPV mRNA testing and p16/Ki67 immunostaining, while achieving a high specificity (95.45%). The specificities observed with EIS/ZedScan-assisted and standalone colposcopy were notably superior to those of HPV-related biomarkers (HPV mRNA test and p16/Ki67 immunostaining). When compared to standalone colposcopy, HPV mRNA testing, and p16/Ki67 immunostaining, EIS/ZedScan-assisted colposcopy demonstrated the most favorable combination of Positive and Negative Predictive Values, at 90.57% and 100%, respectively. The inclusion of EIS/ZedScan in colposcopy led to the detection of 44 additional cases of true CIN2+ (100% of the total CIN2+ confirmed histologically) that were missed by standalone colposcopy. This discovery suggests a 45.83% increase in the detection of CIN2+ cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The integration of EIS with colposcopy has demonstrated effectiveness in detecting cervical lesions, resulting in a significant detection increase of CIN2+ cases while offering optimal levels of sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values for CIN2+ detection.

The expression and possible role of corticotropin-releasing hormone family peptides and their corresponding receptors in gynaecological malignancies and premalignant conditions: a systematic review

The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the impact of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family peptides and their corresponding receptors on human physiology and disease onset, with a specific focus on gynaecological malignancies such as breast, endometrial, ovarian, vulvar, and cervical cancer. A comprehensive systematic review of 3 medical databases was conducted by 2 independent reviewers. We reviewed studies that explored the expression and role of CRH peptides in various aspects of cancer biology, in the context of breast, endometrial, ovarian, vulvar, and cervical cancer. Our findings reveal that CRH family peptides and their receptors, CRHR1 and CRHR2, are expressed in diverse gynaecological tissues, including cancer cells. Notably, we observed differential expression patterns among different gynaecological cancer types and stages, indicating potential associations with tumour aggressiveness and patient prognosis. Furthermore, CRH peptides were found to exert significant influences on critical cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and immune response, in gynaecological cancers. These findings highlight the multifaceted roles of CRH family peptides in gynaecological malignancies and emphasize the need for further research in this field. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying the involvement of CRH family peptides in tumourigenesis may open new avenues for targeted therapeutic strategies in gynaecological malignancies.

HIPEC for gynaecological malignancies: A last update (Review)

Advanced-stage gynaecological cancer represents a clinical entity with challenging surgical treatment in an effort to optimize prognosis. Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) following cytoreductive surgery (CRS) has been reported as a method potentially eligible to improve prognosis. However, no definitive conclusions have yet been made on which types of cancer and which context HIPEC may actually have a beneficial impact. The present review discusses the efficacy and safety of HIPEC as a treatment option for patients with primary/recurrent ovarian, endometrial and cervix cancer, as well as peritoneal sarcomatosis. A literature search was conducted using MeSH terms for each topic in the PubMed database and supplemented with a manual search to retrieve additional articles eligible for inclusion/fulfilling the inclusion criteria. The implementation of HIPEC appears to be beneficial in terms of survival in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, as well as in patients with recurrent EOC. Statistical superiority is not justified by current studies regarding other gynaecological malignancies with peritoneal dissemination. Furthermore, as regards safety, HIPEC following CRS does not appear to significantly increase the mortality and morbidity rates compared to the use of CRS alone. The rationale for using HIPEC and CRS in the treatment of ovarian cancer, particularly in the neoadjuvant setting, as well as for recurrences, is adequately evidenced, with acceptable safety and post-operative complication rate profiles. Its current place in the multimodal strategy for patients with peritoneal metastases remains uncertain, however. Randomized clinical trials are warranted to further examine the use of HIPEC and establish the optimal regimen and temperature settings. The role of optimal cytoreduction and no residual disease, as well as the proper patient selection remain basic parameters for maximizing survival parameters.

Diagnostic comparison of electrical impedance spectroscopy with colposcopy and HPV mRNA-testing in the prediction of CIN2+ women in Greece

AIM

To compare the diagnostic parameters of electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) via ZedScan, a device that measures spectra to differentiate between normal and abnormal cervical tissues, when used as an adjunct to colposcopies in the diagnosis of HSILs/CIN2+ in Greek women with abnormal referral cytology toward colposcopy alone and HPV mRNA-testing.

METHODS

This study analyzed 86 women, patients of the Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology Clinic of 2nd Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki at Hippokration General Hospital, between January 2022 and September 2022. During the visits, women were subjected to cytology, colposcopy alone and then with EIS/ZedScan and histological sampling.

RESULTS

Common use of colposcopies and EIS/ZedScan allowed detecting an additional 14 cases of CIN2+ (16.2%) that colposcopy alone failed to report. EIS enhanced the sensitivity of colposcopy from 80.65% to 100% equal with that of HPV-mRNA test while retaining a high specificity (94.74%) which is much higher than specificity of HPV mRNA-testing (65.45%). EIS-assisted colposcopy had the highest value combination of positive and negative predictive values (96.15% and 100%) compared to colposcopy alone (100% and 75%) and HPV mRNA-testing (72.46% and 100%).

CONCLUSIONS

Colposcopies performed with EIS/ZedScan demonstrated effectiveness in the diagnosing of CIN2+ leading to a significant increase in the number of CIN2+ that would have been missed if only colposcopy was applied especially in women with LSIL referral cytology. EIS/ZedScan seems to possess the ideal diagnostic threshold for sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values for CIN2+ compared to colposcopy alone and HPV mRNA-testing.

Objective and Subjective Appetite Assessment in Patients with Gynecological Cancer: A Pre- and Post-Operative Pilot Study

Although appetite and its disorders have been implicated in disease progression and outcomes, ghrelin concentrations, an objective appetite measure, are rarely assessed in patients with gynecological malignancies. The present study aimed to assess changes in post-operative versus pre-operative appetite levels in patients with gynecological cancers scheduled for tumor removal surgery (N = 53). Acylated ghrelin concentrations were assessed as an objective appetite proxy, whereas the Council of Nutrition appetite questionnaire (CNAQ) was employed as a subjective appetite measure. Ghrelin concentrations were increased post-operatively (median: 12.1 pg/mL, IQR: 0.67 to 23.5, p-value = 0.001) but the perceived appetite of patients (CNAQ) remained unchanged (median: -1, IQR: -3 to 1). Tumor removal surgery decreased all anthropometric indices (body weight, body mass index, waist and hips circumferences, triceps skinfolds, body fat, fat mass and fat mass index, p-value ≤ 0.001 for all) and doubled the risk of malnutrition among patients. No difference was recorded in the change in participants' objective and subjective appetite when they were classified according to the tumor type. No correlation was observed between ghrelin concentrations and CNAQ score pre-operatively (Spearman's rho correlation coefficient = -0.181, p-value = 0.298) or post-operatively (Spearman's rho correlation coefficient = 0.071, p-value = 0.684). The observed post-operative rise in ghrelin concentrations is associated with body weight loss and consists of a possible defense mechanism of the human body, aiming to prolong survival.

Diagnostic performance of HPV E6/E7 mRNA testing towards HPV-DNA testing and p16/Ki67 immunostaining as a biomarker of high-risk HPV recurrence in Greek women surgically treated for their cervical lesions

AIM

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of E6/E7 HPV-mRNA overexpression towards HPV-DNA testing and p16/Ki67 immunocytochemistry in a post-op population to verify if this biomarker can be effectively used as indicator of successful cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) treatment.

METHODS

Our study retrospectively analyzed 197 patients of our Colposcopy Clinic between January 2013 and September 2020 coming with an abnormal Pap smear suggestive for colposcopy, and after a series of follow-ups including liquid-based cytology (LBC) and punch-biopsy sampling, there were surgically treated. LBC was used for cytology and molecular analysis of the three HPV-related biomarkers.

RESULTS

Six months after treatment, 93% of the HPV-mRNA-positive women became negative while this applied to only 80.2% of the HPV-DNA-positive women. HPV persistence was 6.9% at 6-12 months after treatment. The comparison among cytology, colposcopy, HPV-DNA test, and HPV-mRNA test after treatment revealed that the last one is the only with a strong correlation with actual severity (histology during treatment) (ρ = 0.345, p = 0.006) implying that clinical cases with more severe CIN may have higher chances of unsuccessful treatment. HPV-mRNA test had higher sensitivity (100%), specificity (96.88%), and positive predictive value (45.45%) for CIN2+ recurrent lesions when compared with HPV-DNA testing (80%, 82.81%, 10.81% respectively) and p16/Ki67 immunocytochemistry (80%, 95.83%, 33.33% respectively) while their negative predictive values were similar.

CONCLUSIONS

E6/E7 mRNA detection has higher diagnostic values for the prediction of treatment failure compared with HPV-DNA testing and p16/Ki67 immunocytochemistry, and as an outcome could be used as predictive indicator of CIN-treatment status.

Tumor Genotyping and Homologous Recombination Repair Gene Variants in Patients With Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Is Pathogenic Enough?

Our hypothesis was that the predictive accuracy of pathogenic variants in genes participating in the homologous recombination repair (HRR) system in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) could be improved by considering additional next-generation sequencing (NGS) metrics. NGS genotyping was performed in tumor tissue, retrospectively and prospectively collected from patients with EOC, diagnosed from 8/1998 to 10/2016. Variants were considered clonal when variant allele frequencies corresponded to >25%. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). This study included 501 patients with EOC, predominantly with high-grade serous (75.2%) and advanced stage tumors (81.7%); median age was 58 years (22-84). Pathogenic and clonal pathogenic variants in HRR and/or TP53 genes were identified in 72.8% and 66.5% tumors, respectively. With a median follow-up of 123.9 months, the presence of either pathogenic or clonal pathogenic HRR-only variants was associated with longer OS compared to HRR/TP53 co-mutation (HR=0.54; 95% CI, 0.34-0.87, Wald's p=0.012 and HR=0.45; 95% CI, 0.27-0.78, Wald's p=0.004, respectively). However, only the presence of clonal HRR-only variants was independently associated with improved OS (HR=0.55; 95% CI, 0.32-0.94, p=0.030). Variant clonality and co-occuring TP53 variants affect the predictive value of HRR pathogenic variants for platinum agents in patients with EOC.

Clinical Trial Registration

[ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT04716374].

Multisite Tumor Sampling Reveals Extensive Heterogeneity of Tumor and Host Immune Response in Ovarian Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIM

Ovarian cancer (OVCA) is characterized by genomic/molecular intra-patient heterogeneity (IPH). Tissue histology and morphological features are surrogates of the underlying genomic/molecular contexture. We assessed the morphological IPH of OVCA tumor compartments and of lymphocytic infiltrates in multiple matched samples per patient.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We examined 294 hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) OVCA tumor whole sections from 70 treatment-naïve patients who had undergone cytoreductive surgery. We assessed morphological subtypes as immunoreactive (IR), solid - proliferative (SD), papilloglandular (PG), and mesenchymal transition (MT); subtype load per patient; stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (sTIL) density as average per sample; and, as maximal sTIL values (max-TILs) among all samples per patient, ovaries and implants.

RESULTS

Among all 294 tumor sections, the most frequent primary morphological subtype was PG (n=150, 51.0%), followed by MT (71, 24.1%), SD (48, 16.3%) and IR (15, 5.1%). Subtype combinations were observed in 67/294 sections (22.8%) and IPH in 48/70 patients (68.6%). PG prevailed in ovaries (p<0.001), SD and MT in implants (p=0.023 and p<0.001, respectively). sTILs were higher in SD compared to non-SD (p=0.019) and lower in PG, respectively (p<0.001). sTIL density was higher in implants than in ovaries (p<0.001). Higher max-TILs were associated with stage IV disease (p=0.043), upper abdominal dissemination (p=0.024), endometrioid histology (p=0.013), and grade 3 tumors (p=0.021). Favorable prognosticators were higher max-TILs per patient (PFS, OS) and higher SD-load (PFS).

CONCLUSION

Clinically relevant morphological and host immune-response IPH appear to be the norm in OVCA. This may complicate efforts to decipher sensitivity of the tumor to certain treatment modalities from a single pre-operative biopsy.

Cervical Pathology Following HPV Vaccination in Greece: A 10-year HeCPA Observational Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

In Greece the population-level impact of HPV vaccination is unknown due to lack of official registries. This study presents in a pragmatic frame the comparison of cervical pathology data between HPV-vaccinated and unvaccinated women referred for colposcopy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is an observational prospective cohort study performed in 7 academic Obstetrics and Gynaecology Departments across Greece between 2009-2019. Cases were women that had completed HPV vaccination before coitarche and were referred for colposcopy due to abnormal cytology. For each vaccinated woman an unvaccinated matched control was selected.

RESULTS

A total of 849 women who had been vaccinated before coitarche and 849 unvaccinated controls were recruited. The combination of cytological, colposcopic and molecular findings necessitated treatment in only a single case among vaccinated (0.1%) and in 8.4% among unvaccinated.

CONCLUSION

HPV vaccination at a proper age can markedly reduce development of severe cervical precancers and consequently the need for treatment, as well as their long-term related obstetrical morbidity.

The effect of permanent pacemaker implantation following transcatheter aortic valve implantation upon survival

Purpose

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is often followed by conduction abnormalities, leading to a permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI). Data regarding the clinical impact of PPI following TAVI is yet to be established.

Methods

Patients with severe and symptomatic aortic stenosis [effective orifice area (EOA) ≤1cm2] referred for TAVI at our institution were consecutively enrolled. Prospectively collected demographic, laboratory and echocardiographic data were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were stratified into two groups according to the need for PPI after TAVI and were followed up postoperatively with clinical and echocardiographic assessment. Primary clinical endpoint was all-cause mortality, as defined by the criteria proposed by the Valve Academic Research Consortium 2.

Results

In total, 292 patients were included (male: 50.2%, mean age: 80±7.6 years) in our study. Of these, 109 (37.5%) underwent PPI simultaneously or shortly after TAVI. The median follow-up period was 27.3 In this period, all-cause mortality showed no significant difference between patients with and those without PPI after TAVI (log-rank p=0.756), even after excluding patients with a pre-existing pacemaker from the analysis. Subgroup analysis also showed no difference in survival between patients with low ejection fraction (&lt;50%) and those with preserved (≥50%) receiving a permanent pacemaker after TAVR (log-rank p=0.269). Taking into consideration factors that were found to associate to PPI in univariate analysis (pre TAVI - ejection fraction, pulmonary artery systolic pressure and New York Heart Association functional class) in a multivariate model, pre TAVI pulmonary artery systolic pressure was found to be an independent predictor of peri-procedural PPI [Exp(B): 0.977, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.957–0.998, B=−0.023, p=0.029]. Pre-TAVI conduction abnormalities and the degree of aortic annulus calcification, as assessed by computed-tomography, were not found to predict PPI after TAVI.

Conclusion

PPI following TAVI was not associated with survival at 27 months of follow-up, independently from the pre TAVI ejection fraction.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Thin cap fibroatheroma and plaque rupture is associated with carotid thermal heterogeneity in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction

 

Microwave radiometry (MWR) has been applied successfully in the evaluation of carotid atherosclerosis, measuring reliably temperature heterogeneity of atherosclerotic plaques. Recent studies have shown an association between increased carotid temperature heterogeneity (ΔT) detected by MWR and cardiovascular events. Vulnerable plaques of the coronary arteries, share common characteristics such as the thin cap fibrous cap, that make the prone to rupture in the presence of stimulus such as shear stress or inflammation. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging method, by which the fibrous cap and the presence of plaque rupture can be accurately in vivo visualized.

Purpose

To evaluate the impact of carotid temperature heterogeneity on the culprit plaque morphology on patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction.

Method

A total of 37 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for an acute myocardial infarction who had an identifiable de novo culprit lesion in a native coronary artery, were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent PCI and Optical Coherence Study (OCT) within 12 hours since symptom onset. The OCT study was performed according to the standard techniques and acquired images were analyzed by 2 independent investigators., After the completion of the PCI all patients underwent MWR of both carotid arteries and ΔT was defined as maximal temperature detected along each carotid artery minus minimum.

Results

Thirty four patients with acute myocardial infarction 21 with STEMI (61.76%) and 13 (38.23%) with NSTEMI were included in the study. Thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) was present in 31 patients (91.1%), while all ruptured plaques had a TCFA compared to 11 TCFA (78.57%) observed in plaques that had no rupture (p=0.03). HsCRP was significantly increased in ruptured plaques compared to non ruptured ones (14.41±4.02 versus 9.9±2.5, p&lt;0.005). Mean ΔT was significantly increased in ruptured plaques compared to no ruptured ones (1.01±0.31 versus 0.51±0.14°C, p&lt;0.005), as well as in plaques with TCFA compared to those without a TCFA (0.82±0.37 versus 0.60±0.05°C, p=0.001). In the multivariate analysis DM, hsCRP, and ΔT were entered from which DM (OR 4.12; 95% CI 0.77–22.07; P=0.07) and ΔTau ((OR for 0.1°C increase 1.43; 95% CI 1.03–1.98; P=0.03) remained in the final model, with ΔT being the only variable independently associated with the presence of TCFA. Similarly regarding plaque rupture, STEMI, hsCRP, and ΔT were entered in the multivariate analysis from which hsCRP (OR 1.51; 95% CI 0.99–2.28; P=0.051) and ΔTau ((OR for 0.1°C increase 3.40; 95% CI 1.29–8.96; P=0.013) remained in the final model, with ΔT being the only variable independently associated with the presence of rupture.

Conclusions

Carotid thermal heterogeneity is associated with TCFA and plaque rupture in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Coronary plaque rupture is associated with carotid thermal heterogeneity in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction

Introduction

Vulnerable plaques of the coronary arteries, share common characteristics such as the thin cap fibrous cap, that make the prone to rupture in the presence of stimulus such as shear stress or inflammation. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging method, by which the fibrous cap and the presence of plaque rupture can be accurately in vivo visualized. Recent studies have shown an association between increased carotid temperature heterogeneity (ΔT) detected by microwave radiometry (MWR) and cardiovascular events.

Purpose

To evaluate the impact of carotid temperature heterogeneity on the culprit plaque morphology on patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction.

Method

A total of 37 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for an acute myocardial infarction who had an identifiable de novo culprit lesion in a native coronary artery, were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent PCI and Optical Coherence Study (OCT) within 12 hours since symptom onset. The culprit lesion of the angiogram was clearly identified by a combination of ECG, wall motion abnormalities seen in cardiac ultrasound, and coronary angiogram. The OCT study was performed using the LightLab OCT wire, and acquired images were analyzed by 2 independent investigators using previously validated criteria for OCT plaque characterization. After the completion of the PCI all patients underwent MWR of both carotid arteries and ΔT was defined as maximal temperature detected along each carotid artery minus minimum.

Results

Thirty four patients with acute myocardial infarction 21 with STEMI (61.76%) and 13 (38.23%) with NSTEMI were included in the study. STEMI patients had more ruptured plaques compared to NSTEMI patients (71.41 versus 38.46%, p=0.053). Thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) was present in 31 patients (91.1%), while all ruptured plaques had a TCFA compared to 11 TCFA (78.57%) observed in plaques that had no rupture (p=0.03). HsCRP was significantly increased in ruptured plaques compared to non ruptured ones (14.41±4.02 versus 9.9±2,5, p&lt;0.005). Mean ΔT was significantly increased in ruptured plaques compared to no ruptured ones (1.01±0.31 versus 0.51±0.14°C, p&lt;0.005), as well as in plaques with TCFA compared to those without a TCFA (0.82±0.37 versus 0.60±0.05°C, p=0.001). In the multivariate analysis, STEMI, hsCRP, and ΔT were entered from which hsCRP (OR 1.51; 95% CI 0.99–2.28; P=0.051) and ΔT ((OR for 0.1°C increase 3.40; 95% CI 1.29–8.96; P=0.013) remained in the final model, with ΔT being the only variable independently associated with the presence of rupture.

Conclusions

Carotid thermal heterogeneity is associated with the presence of plaque rupture in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Further studies are needed in order to assess the possible prognostic impact of carotid ΔT on such population.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Prognostic implication of electrocardiographic left ventricular strain in patients undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Background

Electrocardiographic (ECG) strain has been linked to excess cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis.

Purpose

We aim to determine the differential impact of baseline ECG-strain on long-term mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods

Patients with severe and symptomatic aortic stenosis (effective orifice area [EOA]≤1cm2), who were scheduled for TAVI with a self-expanding valve between May 2015 and May 2018 were consecutively enrolled. Left ventricular strain was defined as the presence of ≥1mm convex ST-segment depression with asymmetrical T-wave inversion in leads V5 to V6 on baseline ECG. Patients were excluded, if they had bundle branch block or a permanent pacemaker at baseline. Baseline parameters were compared, and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were generated to assess outcome difference. The primary clinical endpoint was cumulative mortality defined according to the criteria proposed by the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2.

Results

Of the 171 patients screened, 56 patients were excluded due to left bundle branch block or paced rhythm. In the 115 included patients (mean age: 81.4±7), 36 patients (31.3%) had strain pattern on pre-TAVI ECG. There were no differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups. During a median follow-up of 2.32 years (IQR 1.62 to 3), 11 patients (9.6%) reached the primary clinical endpoint. Patients in the strain group had higher incidence of all-cause mortality compared to patients without left ventricular strain (25% vs 2.5%, χ2=14.4, p&lt;0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a significantly decreased cumulative probability of survival at 3 years in patients with LV-strain compared with patients without LV-strain (log-rank p=0.002, Figure 1). In the multivariate analysis, left ventricular strain [Exp(B): 8.952, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.215–65.938, B=2.192, p=0.031] and QRS duration [Exp(B): 1.058, 95% CI: 1.022–1.095, B=0.056, p&lt;0.001] were found to be independent predictors of all-cause mortality after TAVI.

Conclusion

Baseline ECG left ventricular strain was an independent predictor of long-term mortality post TAVI. Systematic strain measurements might aid in risk-stratifying patients scheduled for TAVI.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

A proposed index of diffuse bone marrow [18F]-FDG uptake and PET skeletal patterns correlate with myeloma prognostic markers, plasma cell morphology, and response to therapy

PURPOSE

The investigation of a semi-quantitative index in the pelvis to assess for diffuse bone marrow (BM) [18F]-FDG uptake and the investigation of PET skeletal patterns in multiple myeloma (MM) patients, in accordance with prognostic markers, clonal plasma cell (cPC) morphology, and response to therapy.

METHODS

We prospectively analyzed [18F]-FDG PET/CT in 90 MM patients (newly diagnosed, 60; relapsed/refractory, 30). Among other PET/CT parameters, we calculated the ratio SUVmax pelvis/liver and examined for correlations with known MM prognostic parameters, cPC morphology (good vs. low/intermediate differentiation), and response to therapy.

RESULTS

SUVmax pelvis/liver ratio was significantly lower for the group of good differentiation vs. intermediate/low differentiation cPCs (p < 0.001) and showed a positive correlation with BM infiltration rate, β2 microglobulin, serum ferritin, international staging system (ISS), and revised ISS; no significant correlation was found with hemoglobin. A cutoff value of 1.1 showed an excellent specificity (99%) and high sensitivity (76%) for diffuse BM involvement (AUC 0.94; p < 0.001). Mixed pattern and appendicular involvement correlated with poor prognostic features while normal pattern, found in 30% of patients, correlated with good prognostic features. Presence of ≥ 10 focal lesions negatively predicted for overall response (p < 0.05; OR 4.8). The CT component improved the diagnostic performance of PET.

CONCLUSION

This study showed, for the first time, that cPC morphology and markers related with MM biology, correlate with SUVmax pelvis/liver index, which could be used as a surrogate marker for BM assessment and disease prognosis; PET patterns correlate with MM prognostic features and response rates.

Severe euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis of multifactorial etiology in a type 2 diabetic patient treated with empagliflozin: case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are a relatively novel class of oral medications for the treatment of Type 2 DM with a generally acceptable safety profile. However, these agents have been associated with rare events of a serious and potentially life-threatening complication named euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (euDKA). euDKA is not identical with the typical diabetic ketoacidosis, as it often presents with serious metabolic acidosis but only mild to moderate glucose and anion gap elevation.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case of a 51-year old female with Type 2 DM treated with an SGLT-2 inhibitor, developing severe metabolic acidosis with only mild blood glucose elevation after a routine surgery. A careful evaluation of involved factors led to the diagnosis of euDKA, followed by cautious application of simple therapeutic measures that resulted in complete restoration of acidosis and glycemic control in less than 48-h.

CONCLUSIONS

Euglycemic ketoacidosis is a rare but rather serious complication of SGLT-2 inhibitors use, often with a multifactorial etiology. Its atypical presentation requires a high level of awareness by physicians as early recognition of this complication can quickly and safely restore acid-base balance.

Blood pressure variability within a single visit and all-cause mortality

BACKGROUND

Within-visit variability of repeated sequential readings of blood pressure (BP) is an important phenomenon that may affect precision of BP measurement and thus decision making concerning BP-related risk and hypertension management. However, limited data exist concerning predictive ability of within-visit BP variability for clinical outcomes. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between the variability of three repeated office BP measurements and the risk of all-cause mortality, independent of BP levels.

METHODS

Data collected through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analysed. NHANES is a program of studies designed to assess health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. A complete set of three sequential BP measurements, together with survival status, were available for 24969 individuals (age 46.8±;19.3 years, 49% males). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the prognostic ability of the examined demographic, clinical, and haemodynamic indices.

RESULTS

Among various examined indices of variability of systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure measurements, the standard deviation of DBP (DBPSD) was the stronger independent predictor of mortality (odds ratio 1.064, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.011-1.12) after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, SBP, heart rate, history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolaemia, and cardiovascular events.

CONCLUSION

Within-visit variability of three sequential office DBP readings may allow for the identification of high-risk patients better than mean SBP and DBP levels. The predictive value of within-visit BP variability and methods to improve its clinical application are worthy of further research.

Risk factors for African swine fever incursion in Romanian domestic farms during 2019

African swine fever (ASF) entered Georgia in 2007 and the EU in 2014. In the EU, the virus primarily spread in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in the period from 2014-2018. However, from the summer 2018, numerous domestic pig farms in Romania were affected by ASF. In contrast to the existing knowledge on ASF transmission routes, the understanding of risk factors and the importance of different transmission routes is still limited. In the period from May to September 2019, 655 Romanian pig farms were included in a matched case-control study investigating possible risk factors for ASF incursion in commercial and backyard pig farms. The results showed that close proximity to outbreaks in domestic farms was a risk factor in commercial as well as backyard farms. Furthermore, in backyard farms, herd size, wild boar abundance around the farm, number of domestic outbreaks within 2 km around farms, short distance to wild boar cases and visits of professionals working on farms were statistically significant risk factors. Additionally, growing crops around the farm, which could potentially attract wild boar, and feeding forage from ASF affected areas to the pigs were risk factors for ASF incursion in backyard farms.

Combined pelvic and para-aortic is superior to only pelvic lymphadenectomy in intermediate and high-risk endometrial cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Lymph node metastasis is a principal prognostic factor for the treatment of endometrial cancer. Added value of para-aortic lymphadenectomy to only pelvic lymphadenectomy for intermediate/high-risk endometrial cancer patients remains controversial.

OBJECTIVE

A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to assess the impact of combined pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection (PPALND) compared to only pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) on survival outcomes of intermediate and/or high-risk patients.

STUDY DESIGN

The systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to the PRISMA guidelines for meta-analyses of interventional studies. Pubmed, Scopus, EMBASE and Cochrane were searched up to April 20, 2018. Included studies were those comparing high-risk endometrial cancer patients that had performed pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection (PPALND) vs. only pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) apart from standard procedure (total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, TAHBSO). Primary outcomes of the study were overall survival and disease-free survival rates. Methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool. Overall quality of the evidence for the primary and secondary outcomes was evaluated as per GRADE guideline using the GRADE pro GD tool.

RESULTS

There were 13 studies identified with 7349 patients included. All studies were retrospective observational as no RCTs or prospective studies adhering to inclusion criteria were retrieved. Combined pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy was associated with 46% decreased risk for death (HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.35-0.83, I² = 62.1%) and 49% decreased risk for recurrence (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.28-0.93). It was also associated with increased 5-year OS rate (RR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04-0.24, I² = 57.3%) and increased 5-year DFS rate (RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.14-1.31, I² = 85.5) compared with only pelvic lymphadenectomy.

CONCLUSION

Combined pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy is associated with improved survival outcomes compared with only pelvic lymphadenectomy in women with intermediate/high-risk endometrial cancers. Further prospective studies should be performed.

A cohort retrospective study of high-risk HPV recurrence in Greek women after cervical lesion treatment through detection of viral E6/E7 mRNA expression

PURPOSE

Our aim was to detect and evaluate potential alterations in the postoperative status of E6/E7 HPV mRNA in women treated for cervical intraepithelial lesions (CIN) and if so, to evaluate its potential use as a prognostic tool to identify patients with increased risk of treatment failure or recurrent disease.

METHODS

Our study retrospectively analyzed 101 women with an abnormal Pap smear, or in some cases with histological reports or molecular analysis requiring colposcopic evaluation. Thin-prep cytological samples were collected before colposcopy and histology (when necessary). After treatment, all women were scheduled for colposcopy in six months. The cytological material was analyzed with CLART-2 HPV-DNA test and HPV-PROOFER E6/E7 mRNA test.

RESULTS

Concerning demographics, no significant correlations were found for smoking, condom use or vaccination status. It seems that the only statistically significant correlation with actual severity came from the mRNA-test after treatment. This shows that clinical cases with more severe CIN may have higher chances of unsuccessful treatment. At the first post-op visit, 83.5% of HPV mRNA-positive women had a negative HPV mRNA-test while only 60.4% of HPV DNA-positive women became negative. There were 12 HPV-mRNA positive patients both before and after treatment, 3 of whom had a negative HPV DNA test, meaning that, if based only on HPV-DNA results, they would have been managed wrongly as successfully treated patients. Our study shows that E6/E7 mRNA detection has particularly high specificity and positive likelihood ratio for the prediction of treatment failure in comparison with HPV DNA-testing.

CONCLUSIONS

E6/E7 mRNA overexpression seems to be a promising candidate as an indicator-biomarker to determine the success of treatment.