Local staging of prostate cancer with multiparametric-MRI: accuracy and inter-reader agreement

Background

The accuracy of prostate cancer local staging at the time of diagnosis directly influences patient prognosis and treatment.

Aim

To evaluate the diagnostic performance and interobserver variability of mp-MRI in local staging of prostate cancer, using the histopathologic findings at prostatectomy as the reference standard.

Methods

Fifty patients (mean age 64.4±7.2) with biopsy confirmed prostate cancer were included in this prospective study. All patients were examined with mp-MRI before radical prostatectomy and images were read by three independent radiologists. Sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy rate were calculated and compared for all three readers. Interobserver agreement was evaluated using Kappa Cohen coefficient of agreement.

Results

The overall Se, Sp, PPV, NPV and accuracy rates for detecting extraprostatic tumor extension (EPE) ranged between 76.5-94.1%, 45.5-84.9%, 43.8-76.2%, 83.3-96.6% and 58-88%. For evaluation of seminal vesicle invasion (SVI), the overall Se, Sp, PPV, NPV and accuracy rates ranged between 57.1-85.7%, 86.1-97.7%, 40.0-85.7%, 92.5-97.7% and 82-96%, respectively. The overall Kappa Cohen coefficient of agreement varied between 0.349-0.638 for EPE and between 0.507-0.668 for SVI.

Conclusions

Our results showed that 1.5T mp-MRI is a reliable method for local staging of prostate cancer, with good diagnostic performance in detecting EPE and SVI. The overall interobserver agreement rates between readers with the same level of experience in prostate MRI ranged from fair to good in the evaluation of EPE and from moderate to good for the assessment of SVI.

Social jetlag and sleep deprivation are associated with altered activity in the reward-related brain areas: an exploratory resting-state fMRI study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this research was to assess the effect of social jetlag (SJL) and its interaction with partial sleep deprivation on resting-state brain activity using the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) during free-living conditions.

METHODS

A total of 28 normal weight healthy subjects were enrolled in four study groups (with SJL [with sleep deprivation and without sleep deprivation] and without SJL [with sleep deprivation and without sleep deprivation]), matched 1:1:1:1 for age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans were collected with SIEMENS 3T scanner while subjects were in a fasting state.

RESULTS

Participants with SJL had significantly higher fALFF values in right lingual gyrus and right putamen and significantly lower fALFF values in left and right inferior parietal lobe in comparison with participants without SJL and without sleep deprivation. Subjects with sleep deprivation had significantly higher fALFF in the thalamus and left superior frontal gyrus. In those with both SJL and sleep deprivation, we observed higher fALFF values in right Brodmann Area (BA)18 and lower values in left and right parietal inferior lobe. Subjects with SJL alone had significantly lower fALFF values in left frontal mid gyrus (BA6) than those with sleep deprivation alone.

CONCLUSIONS

SJL was associated with altered resting-state brain activity in regions that have been shown to be involved in hedonic feeding. The effect of SJL was independent of effects induced by short sleep duration. These alterations might represent the substrate for the increased risk of obesity observed in those with SJL.

Sleep duration and body mass index: moderating effect of self-perceived stress and age. Results of a cross-sectional population-based study

PURPOSE

The objective of this analysis was to assess whether the association between sleep duration and BMI and between sleep duration and waist circumference is moderated by age and self-perceived stress.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 2034 participants enrolled in 2014 in the cross-sectional study Obesity in Romania Study-study of the prevalence of obesity and related risk factors in Romanian general population (ORO study).

RESULTS

Interaction between sleep duration, self-perceived stress and age, with BMI as dependent variable, was statistically significant after adjustment for demographic and lifestyle factors (p value for interaction 0.003). In participants without self-perceived stress, a linear negative association between sleep duration and BMI was observed only in those 18-39 years old (p = 0.049), with BMI decreasing in parallel with increased sleep duration. In participants with self-perceived stress, a U-shaped relationship was observed between BMI and sleep duration in those 40-64 years old, with higher BMI in those sleeping ≤ 6 h and ≥ 9 h/night compared to those sleeping > 6 and < 9 h/night (p = 0.002 and 0.005). Those ≥ 65 years old with self-perceived stress sleeping ≥ 9 h/night had a significantly higher BMI compared to those in other sleep duration categories (p = 0.041 vs. those sleeping ≤ 6 h/night and p = 0.013 vs. to those sleeping > 6 and < 9 h/night). No interaction between age, self-perceived stress and sleep duration, with waist circumference as dependent variable was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

In our sample, the association between sleep duration and BMI was moderated by self-perceived stress and age.

Metabolic Analysis in Women with Polycystic Ovary Highlight Specific Biomarkers of Insulin Resistance

The aim of the paper is to detect insulin resistance (IR) biomarkers via metabolomics. It is important to understand the PCOS pathophysiology, diagnosis measures and, subsequently, to improve treatment type and time of IR in PCOS. In most cases, almost half of the women with PCOS have IR which is triggered by inflammation, glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity. In this work was conducted a systematic review of all the papers that used metabolomics for detecting IR biomarkers in PCOS women. The exclusion criteria were: reviews, study population with women bellow 18 years of age, studies including animals and articles not in English, remaining 4 records. The results from the literature shown that phosphatidylcholines were decreased in IR PCOS women when compared to controls. Nonetheless, trans-2-hexenoylcoa, linoleic acid, leucine, myristic acid and palmitic acid regarding lipid metabolism and tyrosine, lysine, phenylalanine a-aminoadipic acid regarding amino acid metabolism were also corelated to IR in PCOS women when compared with healthy or IR controls. Lactate was the only increased metabolite related to glucose metabolism in IR PCOS women. Metabolic alteration in PCOS women with IR when are compared with controls and results that those are brought by both PCOS and IR. Lyso-phosphatidylcholine have an important pro-inflammatory and altered insulin signaling effect, both alterations being considered hallmarks of PCOS women. Serine hyperphosphorylation of the receptor accentuates IR by decreasing the signaling of insulin receptor. Moreover, high levels of lactate correlated with IR in PCOS women may indicate high muscle glycolysis, hepatic glucose production and peripheral glucose uptake. IR biomarkers in PCOS women were evidenced by metabolomics technique.

Social jetlag, sleep-related parameters, and glycemic control in adults with type 1 diabetes: Results of a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Social jetlag (SJL) is a small recurrent circadian rhythm disruption and the most frequent form of circadian rhythm misalignment. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of SJL on glycemic control, as assessed by HbA1c, in real-life settings.

METHODS

In all, 115 consecutive patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) were analyzed cross-sectionally. Data on bedtime, sleep onset latency, and wake up time on weekdays and weekends during the previous month were collected from all participants and used to calculate SJL, chronotype, and sleep duration. Sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A PSQI score > 5 was considered as an indicator of poor sleep quality.

RESULTS

Patients with SJL ≥ 1 hour had significantly higher adjusted values of HbA1c than those with SJL <1 hour (8.7% vs 8.0%; P = 0.029). In unadjusted multivariate regression analysis, SJL ≥ 1 hour and poor sleep quality were significant predictors of HbA1c values, explaining 22.7% and 23.5%, respectively, of the increase in HbA1c. After adjusting for age, sex, diabetes duration, insulin dose (kg/d), insulin regimen and body mass index, only SJL ≥ 1 hour remained associated with HbA1c (β = 0.253; P = 0.026). There was no significant interaction between SJL ≥ 1 hour and poor sleep quality in either the unadjusted or adjusted models (P_interaction  = 0.914).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with T1D, SJL is associated with poor glycemic control, acting independently of sleep quality, sleep duration, and chronotype to exert a deleterious effect on glycemic control.

DIETARY PATTERNS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH OBESITY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Context

Scarce data on dietary habits in Eastern European countries is available and reports investigated individual food items and not dietary patterns in these populations.

Objective

To identify dietary patterns and to explore their association with obesity in a sample from Romanian population.

Design

Cross-sectional.

Subjects and Methods

This was an analysis of data collected from 1398 adult participants in ORO study. Data on lifestyle, eating habits and food frequency consumption were collected.

Results

By principal component analysis we identified 3 dietary patterns explaining 31.4% of the diet variation: High meat/High fat pattern, Western pattern and Prudent pattern. High meat/High fat pattern was associated with male gender, lower educational level, living in a rural, smoking and a higher probability for the presence of obesity (OR 1.2 [95%CI: 1.1-1.4]). Western pattern was associated with younger age, a higher level of physical activity and smoking. Prudent pattern was associated with older age, female gender, a higher level of physical activity, not smoking status and a lower probability for the presence of obesity (OR 0.8 [95%CI: 0.7-0.9]).

Conclusions

This study provides for the first-time information on the association between dietary patterns in adults from an Eastern European country and the presence of obesity.

Interobserver agreement in prostate cancer detection using multiparametric MRI

PURPOSE

The purpose of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of multiparametric (mp) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for prostate cancer detection and to assess the interobserver variability, using the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (PI-RADS).

METHODS

50 patients (mean age 68.42±6.58 years) with suspected prostate cancer fulfilling the inclusion criteria and without any exclusion criteria were enrolled. All patients were examined with mp-MRI protocol, as per European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) guidelines, before systematic transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy. All examinations were read by three independent radiologists with 3-year experience in prostate MRI. Sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. Interobserver agreement was evaluated using Kappa Cohen coefficient of agreement.

RESULTS

mp-MRI and histopathological results of TRUSguided biopsy showed a very good agreement in prostate cancer detection. The overall Se, Sp, PPV and NPV ranged between 93.3-96.7%, 55.0-80.0%, 76.3-87.9% and 88.2-94.1%, respectively. The Kappa Cohen coefficient of interobserver agreement was 0.643 between Readers 1 and 2, 0.664 between Readers 1 and Reader 3 and 0.568 between Readers 2 and 3.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed a high Se for the detection of prostate cancer with mp-MRI and a high NPV to rule out prostate malignancy. PI-RADS version 2 provides an adequate standardization of mp-MRI, allowing a good level of interobserver agreement.

The association study of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, pentraxin 3, nitrotyrosine, and insulin dose in patients with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to examine the association between insulin dose and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), nitrotyrosine, and pentraxin 3 in patients with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eighty patients with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin for >6 months and with stable insulin doses (±10%) within 3 months before inclusion were enrolled in this study. Medical history, including use of insulin and insulin doses, concomitant diseases and medication, and anthropometric and routine biochemical parameters were collected for each patient. hsCRP, nitrotyrosine, and pentraxin 3 were measured in fasting conditions. Comparison analysis was performed according to the distribution in tertiles of insulin dose/kg of body weight, and linear regression adjusted for confounding factors was used to examine the associations between markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin dose.

RESULTS

In the comparison analysis, no statistically significant difference was found between hsCRP, nitrotyrosine, and pentraxin 3 levels across tertiles of insulin dose expressed as IU/kg of body weight (p for trend >0.05 for all comparisons) except a significantly higher hsCRP level in tertile 3 compared to tertile 1 (3.9±3.6 vs 6.1±3.8 mg/dL, p=0.035). In regression analysis, after adjustment for age, gender, smoking, body mass index, glycated hemoglobin, C-peptide, metformin, antiplatelet, and statin use, only hsCRP levels were statistically significant associated with insulin dose/kg of body weight (β=0.237, p=0.043).

CONCLUSION

In this sample of patients with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin for >6 months, hsCRP was positively associated with insulin doses. No such association was found for pentraxin 3, a more specific marker of vascular inflammation, and for nitrotyrosine as a marker of oxidative stress.

Gender Differences in the Association of Ferritin and 25-hydroxyvitamin D

This study aimed to investigate gender differences in the relationship between ferritin levels and 25(OH)vitamin D deficiency in overweight persons and whether this relationship is mediated by total and visceral adiposity and fatty liver index (FLI), a marker of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.Our study was a retrospective one in which were collecting data from 92 patients seen in an outpatient clinical centre between January 2011 and October 2017. Patients were classified with vitamin D deficiency if 25(OH)vitamin D levels were [ 20.0 ng/mL. Univariate linear regression analysis assessed the association between ferritin levels and 25(OH)vitamin D deficiency, with and without correction for age, body composition (total fat mass and visceral fat mass) and FLI. In men, a statistically significant positive association between 25(OH)vitamin D deficiency and ferritin levels were found (b=0.424, p=0.008) in univariate and model adjusted for age. After adjustment for age and total fat mass and for age and visceral fat mass the association became non-significant in men (b=0.327, p=0.067 and b=0.295, p=0.106, respectively) and maintained non-significant after further adjustment for FLI (p [0.05). In women, ferritin level was negatively associated with 25(OH)vitamin deficiency in the model adjusted for age, visceral fat mass and FLI (b=-0.335, p=0.026). In this study, we showed that serum ferritin levels were negatively associated with the presence of 25(OH)vitamin D deficiency in women and this association was independent of age, body composition and FLI. No association was observed in men.

Plasma leptin, but not resistin, TNF-α and adiponectin, is associated with echocardiographic parameters of cardiac remodeling in patients with coronary artery disease

The aim of this research was to assess the relationship between plasma adiponectin, leptin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels and echocardiographic parameters of ventricular remodeling in patients with coronary artery disease, without acute myocardial infarction. The study population consisted of 49 patients with echocardiographic measurements performed. After adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and glycaemia, adiponectin was statistically significant associated with interventricular septum thickness (β = -0.304), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (β = -0.402), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD; β = 0.385) and left ventricular relative wall thickness (β = -0.448, p < .05 for all). The associations were no longer significant when only patients without diabetes were included in the analysis. Leptin was associated with LVEDD (β = -0.354) and left ventricular relative wall thickness (β = 0.385, p < .05 for all). No associations between resistin, TNF-α and echocardiographic left ventricular parameters assessed were found in these patients. In conclusion, in patients with coronary artery disease and without acute myocardial infarction leptin may represent a potential mechanism of adverse cardiac remodeling. Resistin and TNF-α might not be involved in ventricular remodeling in these patients.

HbA1c levels are associated with severity of hypoxemia and not with apnea hypopnea index in patients with type 2 diabetes: Results from a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of untreated sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) on glycemic control, evaluated by HbA1c, in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

METHODS

The study sample consisted of 100 consecutive adult (≥18 years) patients with T2D without a prior diagnosis of sleep apnea recruited from an outpatient diabetes clinic. All patients underwent an in-hospital cardiorespiratory study using a three-channel portable sleep diagnostic tool; 64 were found to have sleep apnea, 36 were not. Information on medical history, body weight, height, sleep apnea symptoms, Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores, and HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose levels were recorded.

RESULTS

After adjusting for factors known to affect HbA1c (gender, age, diabetes duration, diabetes treatment, body mass index [BMI], and waist circumference), HbA1c was higher in patients with than without SAS (8.4 % vs 7.6 %, respectively; P = 0.04). A positive correlation was found between the presence of sleep apnea and HbA1c (r = 0.24; P = 0.02). After adjusting for confounding factors (including BMI), only mean and lowest O₂ saturation during sleep were significantly associated with HbA1c (β = -0.23 [P = 0.03] and β = -0.24 [P = 0.007], respectively). After further adjusting for waist circumference, only lowest O₂ saturation during recording remained independently associated with HbA1c (β = -0.21; P = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of sleep apnea is associated with poorer glycemic control in patients with T2D. In patients with sleep apnea and T2D, greater levels of oxygen desaturation are associated with poorer glycemic control.

The correlation of dawn phenomenon with glycemic variability parameters in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Introduction. Dawn phenomenon could have deleterious effect on overall glycemic control. Glycemic variability may be an independent risk factor for the development of diabetes chronic complications. The study aimed to evaluate any correlations between the dawn phenomenon and parameters of glycemic variability in a cohort of type 2 diabetes patients (T2DM). Material and methods. This retrospective observational study included 131 T2DM patients. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has been performed. Data from the first 24h of full recording were used for analysis of glycemic variability indices: mean level of 24h interstitial glucose value and standard deviation; % coefficient of variation; J index; mean amplitude of glycemic excursion - MAGE; continuous overall net glycemic action (CONGA) at 1, 2, 4 and 6 hours; mean of daily differences (MODD) index. Results. Mean age was 56.04 ± 9.91 years, 35.9% women, 17.6% on diet, 53.4% on oral therapy and 29% on insulin. Dawn phenomenon was more frequent in patients below 60 years (70%) and in oral therapy group (72.85%). Significant correlations between the dawn phenomenon and j-index, MAGE, CONGA-4 and CONGA-6 have been found in T2DM patients on diet therapy alone. The amplitude of dawn phenomenon was 46.10 ± 24.40 mg/dl and significantly correlated (p<0.05) after adjustment for age, gender and treatment with % CV, MAGE, CONGA-1, CONGA-2, CONGA-4, CONGA-6 and MODD. Conclusions. The dawn phenomenon significantly increases the glycemic variability parameters in drug-naive T2DM patients, with no impact in T2DM on oral or insulin therapy.

EATING PATTERNS, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS IN THE POPULATION INCLUDED IN THE OBESITY STUDY IN ROMANIA (ORO STUDY)

Context

Four major modifiable behavioral risk factors are considered responsible for the current burden of the non-communicable diseases: tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and excessive alcohol consumption. Limited data on the lifestyle habits in Romanian population is currently available.

Objective

To assess the eating patterns and physical activity habits and other lifestyle components in various age groups in the population included in the ORO study.

Design

ORO was a cross-sectional, epidemiologic, multicenter non-interventional study conducted from January 2014 until August 2014 in 8 study centers spread in the main historical regions of Romania.

Results

Eating 3 meals/day every day was more frequently reported in the 60-79 years and ≥ 80 years age groups (53.0% and 51.7%) than in the 18-39 years and 40-59 years age groups (26.8% and 35.8%), p <0.001. The frequency of eating breakfast every day increased with age from 43.5% in the youngest age group to 79.3% in the oldest one (p <0.001). Intense and moderate leisure-time physical activity was more frequent among participants in the 18- 39 years age group. Leisure time physical activities were associated with younger age groups, male sex, rural area, higher educational level and non-smoking status. Regular breakfast and regular consumption of 3 meals/day was associated with older age group, male sex and non-smoking status.

Conclusions

Our analysis showed a high frequency of unhealthy lifestyle habits among the younger age groups as compared to the older ones, with the highest frequency of these unhealthy behavior reported in the 18-39 years age group.

Prevention Of Coronary Heart Disease And Stroke Complications In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Observational, Prospective Study

Background and Aims: We assessed the effect of intensive therapy on modifiable cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and CV risk as compared to conventional therapy in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Material and Methods: This was an observational, prospective study, conducted in Romania. During 1-year follow-up period the enrolled participants received either multi-factorial pharmacotherapy associated with intensive therapeutic education (Intensive group), or conventional therapy (Control group). Current analysis included data (anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and biochemical parameters) recorded at months (M) 0, 6 and 12. CV risk was calculated at M1 and M12 using the UK Prospective Diabetes Study Risk Engine.

Results: 138 patients aged 57.02±10.05 years were included in this analysis (69 in each group). At M6 and M12 a significant improvement of the majority of the modifiable risk factors in the Intensive group compared to the Control group was observed. At M12, coronary heart disease (CHD)/fatal-CHD risks were significantly lower in the Intensive (7.5%/3.1%) than in the Control (17.95%/10.3%) group (p<0.05). A similar trend was observed for the stroke/fatal-stroke risks.

Conclusions: CHD/fatal-CHD and stroke/fatal-stroke risk burden decreased in newly diagnosed diabetic patients following multi-factorial pharmacotherapy association with intensive lifestyle changes during 1-year follow-up.

Adiponectin predicts cardiovascular events in diabetes dialysis patients

OBJECTIVES

Adiponectin is an insulin-sensitizing, anti-inflammatory adipokine with anti-atherogenic actions in the general population. In dialysis patients it is unclear whether adiponectin conserves its protective value or is, on the contrary, associated to worse prognosis. We assessed the predictive value of adiponectin for atherosclerosis related cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetic dialysis patients.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Prevalent diabetic dialysis patients from three dialysis units (n=77) were enrolled in a 3years' prospective observational study. Serum adiponectin, clinical and laboratory parameters were determined at baseline; new occurrence of atherosclerosis related events (coronary events, atherosclerosis obliterans, and stroke) was recorded.

RESULTS

Baseline adiponectin was 17.25(9.53-31.97) μg/mL and significantly correlated to HDL cholesterol (r=0.29, p=0.01), triglycerides (r=-0.40, p=0.0004), ferritin (r=-0.29, p=0.02), transferrin (r=-0.28, p=0.02), and uric acid (r=-0.24, p=0.04). In multivariate analysis association to triglycerides (p=0.001), HDL cholesterol (p=0.01) and ferritin (p=0.04) remained significant. 36 new fatal and non-fatal new cardiovascular events occurred, 29 patient died. Cox proportional regression analysis showed that adiponectin below or above a ROC-derived cut-off of 27.33μg/mL significantly influenced event-free survival: hazard ratio (HR) 2.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.09-5.66), p=0.031 along with fasting glucose HR 1.01, 95%CI(1.00-1.02), p=0.01 and history of cardiovascular events at inclusion HR 3.16, 95%CI(1.36-7.32), p=0.007. In multivariate analysis baseline adiponectin HR 5.02, 95%CI(0.98-25.06), p=0.05 and glycemia HR 1.01, 95%CI(1.00-1.02), p=0.01 influenced event-free survival. Adiponectin also predicted cardiovascular events in patients without cardiovascular disease at inclusion but was not associated to overall mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

In diabetes dialysis patients low adiponectin favors occurrence of atherosclerosis related cardiovascular events.