Over-under cartilage tympanoplasty: technique, results and a call for improved reporting

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe the microscopic over-under cartilage tympanoplasty technique, provide hearing results and detail clinically significant complications.

METHOD

This was a retrospective case series chart review study of over-under cartilage tympanoplasty procedures performed by the senior author between January 2015 and January 2019 at three tertiary care centres. Cases were excluded for previous or intra-operative cholesteatoma, if a mastoidectomy was performed during the procedure or if ossiculoplasty was performed. Hearing results and complications were obtained.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight tympanoplasty procedures met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 13 years (range, 3-71 years). The mean improvement in pure tone average was 6 dB (95 per cent confidence interval 4-9 dB; p < 0.0001). The overall perforation closure rate was 97 per cent (n = 66). Revision surgery was recommended for a total of 6 cases (9 per cent) including 2 post-operative perforations, 1 case of middle-ear cholesteatoma and 3 cases of external auditory canal scarring.

CONCLUSION

Over-under cartilage tympanoplasty is effective at improving clinically meaningful hearing with a low rate of post-operative complications.

Over-under cartilage tympanoplasty: technique, results and a call for improved reporting

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe the microscopic over-under cartilage tympanoplasty technique, provide hearing results and detail clinically significant complications.

METHOD

This was a retrospective case series chart review study of over-under cartilage tympanoplasty procedures performed by the senior author between January 2015 and January 2019 at three tertiary care centres. Cases were excluded for previous or intra-operative cholesteatoma, if a mastoidectomy was performed during the procedure or if ossiculoplasty was performed. Hearing results and complications were obtained.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight tympanoplasty procedures met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 13 years (range, 3-71 years). The mean improvement in pure tone average was 6 dB (95 per cent confidence interval 4-9 dB; p < 0.0001). The overall perforation closure rate was 97 per cent (n = 66). Revision surgery was recommended for a total of 6 cases (9 per cent) including 2 post-operative perforations, 1 case of middle-ear cholesteatoma and 3 cases of external auditory canal scarring.

CONCLUSION

Over-under cartilage tympanoplasty is effective at improving clinically meaningful hearing with a low rate of post-operative complications.

The combination of insulin resistance and visceral adipose tissue estimation improves the performance of metabolic syndrome as a predictor of type 2 diabetes

AIMS

To assess the performance of metabolic syndrome as a predictor of type 2 diabetes in a model that also includes both a measure of insulin resistance and a metabolic score for visceral fat, and to propose a novel metabolic syndrome definition.

METHODS

In a prospective Metabolic Syndrome Cohort (n=6143), we evaluated improvements in type 2 diabetes risk prediction using International Diabetes Federation-defined and Adult Treatment Panel III-defined metabolic syndrome, after inclusion in the model of updated homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance and a metabolic score for visceral fat. We also developed a modified metabolic syndrome construct, 'MS-METS', which used the metabolic score for visceral fat instead of waist circumference to evaluate improved predictive performance for risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

RESULTS

Participants who had metabolic syndrome as defined by both the Adult Treatment Panel III and the International Diabetes Federation criteria had a higher risk of type 2 diabetes compared to participants who did not meet these criteria. Addition of updated homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance and metabolic score for visceral fat to both metabolic syndrome definitions increased predictive performance for type 2 diabetes risk. Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance was the only additional predictor of type 2 diabetes in participants without metabolic syndrome. Conversely, in participants with metabolic syndrome, the use of the metabolic score for visceral fat was the stronger added predictor for type 2 diabetes. When evaluating participants using the MS-METS definition we observed the largest improvement in predictive ability for type 2 diabetes risk and a significant reduction in risk overestimation compared to evaluation using metabolic syndrome defined according to the International Diabetes Federation and Adult Treatment Panel III criteria alone.

CONCLUSION

Inclusion of updated homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance and metabolic score for visceral fat increases performance of metabolic syndrome in prediction of type 2 diabetes. Assessment of insulin resistance could be more useful than conventional metabolic syndrome and assessment of visceral adipose tissue could be more useful in people with metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome as defined using our modified MS-METS construct improved the accuracy of type 2 diabetes prediction.

0139 Associations of Actigraphic Sleep Parameters with Maximal Oxygen Consumption and Resting Metabolism in Well-Functioning Older Adults

Introduction

Both poor sleep and poor cardiorespiratory fitness are common in older age and associated with negative health outcomes. Additionally, among older adults, higher resting metabolic rate (RMR) has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality risk. To evaluate whether, and in what ways, sleep may affect these relationships, we investigated the association of actigraphic sleep indices with cardiorespiratory fitness and RMR in older adults.

Methods

We studied 393 community-dwelling participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (mean age 73.5±10.3 years, 52% women) who completed 6.7±0.9 nights of wrist actigraphy, RMR testing, and a maximal graded exercise test. Primary predictors included mean actigraphic total sleep time (TST, minutes), sleep efficiency (SE, %), wake after sleep onset (WASO, minutes), and average wake bout length (WBL, minutes). Cardiorespiratory fitness, as measured by maximal oxygen consumption (V O2MAX; ml/kg/min), and RMR (kcal/day) were the primary outcomes.

Results

After adjustment for age, sex, race, body mass index, comorbidity index, and depressive symptoms, longer WBL was associated with lower V O2MAX (β=-0.12, 95% confidence interval (CI)=-0.20, -0.04), greater WASO was associated with lower V O2MAX (β=-0.09, 95% CI=-0.17, -0.01), and greater SE was associated with higher V O2MAX (β=0.12, 95% CI=0.03, 0.20). In addition, longer TST was associated with lower RMR (β=-0.10, 95% CI=-0.19, -0.01) and longer WBL was linked to higher RMR (β=0.12, 95% CI=0.04, 0.21).

Conclusion

In well-functioning older adults, indices of greater wakefulness after sleep onset are linked with poorer cardiorespiratory fitness and higher resting metabolism, while longer and more efficient sleep are associated with better fitness and lower resting metabolic rate. Our findings suggest that sleep disturbance may be linked to disrupted energy homeostasis, evidenced by excessive energy expenditure at rest and inefficient energy utilization in response to maximal demands. Prospective analyses are necessary to determine the nature of these associations.

Support

This study was supported in part by National Institute on Aging (NIA) grants R01AG050507 and T32-AG027668, the NIA Intramural Research Program (IRP), and Research and Development Contract HHSN-260-2004-00012C.

Patterns and predictors of referral among patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer: A real-world study

e17051

Background: The multidisciplinary treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) has demonstrated considerable challenges in widespread clinical adoption. Despite guidelines recommending multidisciplinary, utilization of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for bladder cancer treatment remains low in the real-world settings. This study aims to examine the real-world referral patterns from urology to medical oncology and/or radiation oncology and the factors that associated with the referral following a diagnosis of MIBC. Methods: Following approval of involved IRBs, investigators followed a common protocol under the auspices of the Rapid Case Ascertainment at the Yale Cancer Center and performed manual chart review of MIBC patients diagnosed in the state of Connecticut from 2004 – 2015 and treated at investigator-affiliated hospitals. Information on medical history, radical or partial cystectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, initial treating physician, and referrals to additional providers were recorded. This data set was linked to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database for demographic information. Logistic regression analysis adjusted with demographics (i.e. gender, race) and medical histories (i.e. prior cancers) was conducted to identify factors associated with referral. Results: Of the 665 patients whose initial treating physician was urologist, only 291 (43.8%) were referred to a medical oncologist and/or a radiation oncologist. Independent factors associated with lack of referral included: older age (OR = 0.994 for every incremental year, P-value: 0.0055), and greater Charlson comorbidity score (OR = 1.064. P-value: 0.015). Patients with kidney diseases and diabetes were less likely to be referred. Conclusions: Lack of referral to medical oncology and/or radiation oncology is a critical barrier to the use of optimal multidisciplinary therapy. Referral decision made by urologists is impacted by a patient’s age and overall health condition. [Table: see text]

Profile of osteoarticular tuberculosis in children

OBJECTIVE

To determine clinical profile of osteoarticular tuberculosis (TB) in children.

METHODS

Cross-sectional analysis from 2007 to 2013. All patients diagnosed with bone TB, spinal TB or TB abscesses were included.

RESULTS

Out of 1318 children with TB, 39 (2.96%) had osteoarticular TB, of which 16 (42%) had osteomyelitis, 8 (20.5%) had spinal involvement, 7 (17.9%) had TB synovitis, 2 (5.1%) had psoas abscess and 6 (15.4%) had abscesses. The mean age of presentation was 7.1 ± 3.5 years (range 2-14 years). Of the 33 cases in which a culture was done, 25 (64%) showed a positive culture. Drug sensitivity tests were done in 21 patients of which 10 (47.6%) tested were drug resistant, of which 4 (36.4%) were multidrug resistant (MDR), 2 (18.2%) were extensively drug resistant (XDR), 3 were pre-XDR (27.3%) and 1 was polyresistant (9.1%). Nine (23.1%) patients had TB in the past with a treatment duration of 8.3 ± 5.3 months. Contact with a TB patient had occurred in 10 (25.6%) cases. Associated pulmonary TB were seen in 6 (15.39%) and TB meningitis were seen in 1 (2.6%) patients. Surgical intervention was needed in 11 (28.2%) patients of which 5 (45.5%) underwent curettage, drainage was done in 1 (9.1%), arthrotomy in 4 (36.4%) and spinal surgery in 1 (9.1%) patient.

CONCLUSION

Drug resistant osteoarticular TB is an emerging problem in children.

Hepatocellular carcinoma tumour burden score to stratify prognosis after resection

BACKGROUND

Although the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system has been largely adopted in clinical practice, recent studies have emphasized the need for further refinement and subclassification of this system.

METHODS

Patients who underwent hepatectomy with curative intent for BCLC-0, -A or -B hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) between 2000 and 2017 were identified using a multi-institutional database. The tumour burden score (TBS) was calculated, and overall survival (OS) was examined in relation to TBS and BCLC stage.

RESULTS

Among 1053 patients, 63 (6·0 per cent) had BCLC-0, 826 (78·4 per cent) BCLC-A and 164 (15·6 per cent) had BCLC-B HCC. OS worsened incrementally with higher TBS (5-year OS 77·9, 61 and 39 per cent for low, medium and high TBS respectively; P < 0·001). No differences in OS were noted among patients with similar TBS, irrespective of BCLC stage (61·6 versus 58·9 per cent for BCLC-A/medium TBS versus BCLC-B/medium TBS, P = 0·930; 45 versus 13 per cent for BCLC-A/high TBS versus BCLC-B/high TBS, P = 0·175). Patients with BCLC-B HCC and a medium TBS had better OS than those with BCLC-A disease and a high TBS (58·9 versus 45 per cent; P = 0·005). On multivariable analysis, TBS remained associated with OS among patients with BCLC-A (medium TBS: hazard ratio (HR) 2·07, 95 per cent c.i. 1·42 to 3·02, P < 0·001; high TBS: HR 4·05, 2·40 to 6·82, P < 0·001) and BCLC-B (high TBS: HR 3·85, 2·03 to 7·30; P < 0·001) HCC. TBS could also stratify prognosis among patients in an external validation cohort (5-year OS 79, 51·2 and 28 per cent for low, medium and high TBS respectively; P = 0·010).

CONCLUSION

The prognosis of patients with HCC varied according to the BCLC stage but was largely dependent on the TBS.

Differences in Pathology, Staging, and Treatment between HIV+ and Uninfected Patients with Microscopically Confirmed Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is substantially higher among HIV-infected (HIV⁺) than uninfected persons. It remains unclear if HCC in the setting of HIV infection is morphologically distinct or more aggressive.

METHODS

We evaluated differences in tumor pathology in a cohort of HIV⁺ and uninfected patients with microscopically confirmed HCC in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study from 2000 to 2015. We reviewed pathology reports and medical records to determine Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage (BCLC), HCC treatment, and survival by HIV status. Multivariable Cox regression was used to determine the hazard ratio [HR; 95% confidence interval (CI)] of death associated with HIV infection after microscopic confirmation.

RESULTS

Among 873 patients with HCC (399 HIV⁺), 140 HIV⁺ and 178 uninfected persons underwent liver tissue sampling and had microscopically confirmed HCC. There were no differences in histologic features of the tumor between HIV⁺ and uninfected patients, including tumor differentiation (well differentiated, 19% vs. 28%, P = 0.16) and lymphovascular invasion (6% vs. 7%, P = 0.17) or presence of advanced hepatic fibrosis (40% vs. 39%, P = 0.90). There were no differences in BCLC stage (P = 0.06) or treatment (P = 0.29) by HIV status. After adjustment for risk factors, risk of death was higher among HIV-infected than uninfected patients (HR = 1.37; 95% CI, 1.02-1.85).

CONCLUSIONS

We found no differences in HCC tumor characteristics or background hepatic parenchyma by HIV status, yet HIV was associated with poorer survival. Of note, pathology reports often omitted these characteristics.

IMPACT

Systematic evaluation of HCC pathology by HIV status is needed to understand tumor characteristics associated with improved survival.

Effects of Hypercholesterolemia and Statin Exposure on Survival in a Large National Cohort of Patients With Cirrhosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Concerns related to hepatotoxicity frequently lead to discontinuation or non-initiation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase therapy in patients with cirrhosis despite data supporting statin use. We investigated the independent effects of hyperlipidemia and statin exposure on mortality, hepatic decompensation, and hepatocellular carcinoma development in a large national cohort of patients with cirrhosis.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with newly diagnosed cirrhosis from January 1, 2008 through June 30, 2016 in the Veterans Health Administration. Subjects were divided into 2 cohorts: 21,921 patients with prior statin exposure (existing users) and 51,023 statin-naïve individuals, of whom 8794 subsequently initiated statin therapy (new initiators) and 44,269 did not (non-initiators). Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models with inverse probability weighting were constructed to assess the effects of time-updating lipid profiles and cumulative exposure to statins on survival and hepatic decompensation. Statin-naïve new initiators were propensity matched with non-initiators to simulate a randomized controlled trial of statin use in cirrhosis.

RESULTS

In statin-naïve subjects, every 10-mg/dL increase in baseline total cholesterol was associated with a 3.6% decrease in mortality. In existing users, each year of continued statin exposure was associated with a hazard ratio of 0.920 (95% confidence interval 0.0.897-0.943) for mortality. After risk-set matching, each year of statin exposure among new initiators was associated with a hazard ratio of 0.913 (95% confidence interval 0.890-0.937) for mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

In a retrospective cohort study of veterans with a new diagnosis of cirrhosis, we associated hypercholesterolemia with well-preserved hepatic function and decreased mortality. Nonetheless, each cumulative year of statin exposure was associated with an independent 8.0%-8.7% decrease of mortality of patients with cirrhosis of Child-Turcotte-Pugh classes A and B.

Abstract P3-01-16: Micro-cavity array system for size-based enrichment of circulating tumor cells and circulating cancer associated fibroblasts from blood of patients with breast cancer

Background:Circulating Tumor Cells(CTCs) have prognostic implications in patients with metastatic breast cancer(MBC).During the Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition(EMT), CTCs acquire a more mesenchymal phenotype. Hence, methodologies such as the Cell search that rely on the expression of an epithelial marker EpCAM in CTCs fail to capture a subset of CTCs undergoing the process of EMT and therefore do not adequately represent the true circulatory metastatic load. Hitachi chemicals has invented a size based micro cavity array (MCA) system that allows for the isolation of tumor cells based on the differences in size and deformability between tumor and blood cells. Photolithography and the metal plating can precisely control the filter pore size of our system. Our platform is more sensitive than the Cell Search method in detecting CTCs in Lung Cancer. Cancer Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major component of the breast tumor microenvironment. Using a micro filter capture technique, our co-authors have demonstrated that CAFs can be enumerated as circulating CAFs (cCAFs). Hitachi's Micro cavity Array System has not been evaluated in the detection of CTCs and cCAFs in patients with Breast Cancer. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that CTCs and cCAFs can be enumerated using our platform and the cCAFs can serve as biomarkers of metastasis simultaneously with CTCs.

Method:We undertook a Pilot study of 20 patients each with breast cancer across Stage I, Stage II, Stage III and Stage IV. A total of 10ml of peripheral blood was obtained from each patient. Enumeration of CTCs and cCAFs was carried out by the size based mircocavity array system invented by Hitachi Chemicals. Identification of these cells was done by a triple Immunofluorescence staining for pan-CK (cytokeratin), FAP (Fibroblast Activated Protein) and CD45. CTCs were identified as CK+, CD45-, FAP- cells and cCAFs were identified as FAP+, CK- and CD 45 negative cells.

Result:Our method had a high cell recovery rate (90%or higher) and efficient white blood cells depletion rate (99.99%). We present the data from a total of 13 patients in this abstract, (two with stage III and eleven with stage IV breast cancer) . Data from rest of the subjects will be presented at the actual meeting. We detected the presence of CTCs in 11/11(100%) in patients with stage IV(mean of 44) and in 2 out of 2 (100%) patients with Stage III Breast Cancer. We detected the presence of cCAFs in 1 out of 2 patients( 50%) with stage III and in 8 of 11(81.8%) (mean of 9)patients with stage IV breast cancer( Fisher's exact test p-value= 0.42). The number of CTCs and cCAFs was significantly elevated in patients with MBC and the number was clinically associated with a high metastatic burden.

Conclusions:CTCs and cCAFs can be enumerated using a size based size based micro cavity array invented by Hitachi Chemicals that does not rely on the expression of epithelial markers in CTCs. CTCs and cCAFs can be detected in patients with stage III and stage IV breast cancer. CTCs and cCAFs were associated with high metastatic burden and their numbers were significantly elevated in patients with MBC. cCAFs could serve as biomarkers alongside of CTCs in MBC.

Citation Format: Parajuli R, Ly R, Ziogas A, Eapen A, Lane K, Chen J, Lin E, Mehta R, Tsai A. Micro-cavity array system for size-based enrichment of circulating tumor cells and circulating cancer associated fibroblasts from blood of patients with breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-01-16.

Abstract PD4-05: Molecular breast imaging and tomosynthesis to eliminate the reservoir of undetected cancer in dense breasts: The Density MATTERS trial

Background

High mammographic breast density is the primary reason for missed cancers or delayed detection on mammography, and is associated with a higher rate of advanced and interval cancers which increase breast cancer mortality. Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) has been shown to reduce false positive findings relative to 2D mammography but does not eliminate the potential for tumor masking in dense breasts due to the similar x-ray attenuation characteristics of tumors and normal fibroglandular tissue. Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) performed with a dedicated gamma camera to detect functional uptake of a radiotracer, Tc-99m sestamibi, has been shown to reveal breast cancers obscured by density on mammography. In single-institution studies, adding MBI to 2D mammography in women with dense breasts detected an additional 5 to10 invasive cancers per 1000 screened, with modest increases in recall rate (6 to 8%) at a lower cost-per-cancer detected than mammography alone. Despite this promising evidence, the lack of multicenter trial data has limited wider acceptance. Also, MBI has yet to be compared to DBT, which in some centers has replaced 2D mammography screening. We present interim results from a multicenter trial comparing cancer detection rate of DBT and MBI in screening of women with mammographically dense breasts.

Methods

In this ongoing, prospective, multicenter clinical trial, asymptomatic women aged 40-75 years with dense breasts on prior mammogram and no prior history of supplemental screening are invited to undergo two annual rounds of concurrent DBT and MBI. MBI is performed with injection of 300 MBq Tc-99m sestamibi with a dual-head semiconductor-based gamma camera. Screening tests are interpreted independently. Here, preliminary cancer detection rates (cancers per 1000 women screened), recall rates, and biopsy rates of DBT and MBI for initial screening are reported.

Results

In 537 women out of a planned 3000 who have completed the first round of screening, 7 cancers were detected: one by DBT only and 6 by MBI only, giving cancer detection rates of 1.9 for DBT vs. 11.2 for MBI and incremental cancer detection rate of 9.3 for MBI. The one DBT-only cancer was a node-negative 0.8 cm invasive lobular carcinoma. All 6 cancers detected by MBI were invasive; 5 of 6 were node negative (median size 1.0 cm; range 0.6 to 2.6 cm). Recall rate was 11% (60/537) for DBT alone; 16% (84/537) for MBI alone, and 21% (115/537) for the combination. Biopsy was prompted by DBT in 13 patients (PPV 8% [1/13]); by MBI in 23 patients (PPV 26% [6/23]); and by the combination of modalities in 33 (PPV 21% [7/33]).

Conclusion

These preliminary results demonstrate that MBI detects invasive breast cancers occult on DBT in dense breasts. Data from a second screening round will allow calculation of sensitivity and specificity, and determination of the impact of screening MBI in reducing advanced (&gt; 2 cm) and interval cancers. Additional planned analyses will evaluate a denoising algorithm for further reduction in MBI radiation dose to match that of DBT.

Citation Format: Rhodes D, Hunt K, Conners A, Zingula S, Whaley D, Ellis R, Gasal Spilde J, Mehta R, Polley M-Y, O'Connor M, Hruska C. Molecular breast imaging and tomosynthesis to eliminate the reservoir of undetected cancer in dense breasts: The Density MATTERS trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD4-05.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 and Browning of White Adipose Tissue

Interest has been focused on differentiating anatomical, molecular, and physiological characteristics of the types of mammalian adipose tissues. White adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) are the two main forms of adipose tissue in humans. WAT functions as an endocrine organ and serves as a reservoir of energy in the form of triglycerides. The hormones released by WAT are called adipokines. BAT consists of a group of specialized cells with abundant uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in the inner mitochondrial membrane and also fulfills endocrine functions. Following the identification of functional (BAT) in human adults, there has been a great deal of interest in finding out how it is induced, its localization, and the mechanisms by which it regulates thermogenesis. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a key regulator of the differentiation to brown adipocytes. The main mechanisms occur through enhancing UCP1 expression. In addition, following exposure to cold or exercise, FGF21 induces upregulation of local peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator (PGC)-1-alfa and thus promotes thermogenesis in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. FGF21 integrates several pathways allowing the regulation of human energy balance, glucose levels, and lipid metabolism. Such mechanisms and their clinical relevance are summarized in this review.

Features of serial cranial ultrasound detected neuropathology in very preterm infants

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to identify the pattern and factors associated with changes in cranial ultrasound (CUS) -detected findings in infants born at or less than 28 weeks of gestation.

METHODS

We compared readings of CUS performed at the end of the first week of life and at 4-5 weeks of age. Alteration of CUS findings was classified as: (i) unchanged, if no deviation was detected (Group 1); (ii) worsening, if there were new findings (Group 2); and (iii) improvement, if there was normalization or reduction in severity (Group 3). Descriptive statistics, multivariate controlled logistic regression, and kappa (k) statistics with 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) were reported.

RESULTS

Among 510 studied infants, 82.3% (95% CI 78.8-85.4) were in Group 1, 10.0% (95% CI 7.7-12.9) in Group 2, and 7.7% (95% CI 5.7-10.3) in Group 3. Overall agreement between the two scans was moderate (k 0.62; 95% CI 0.55-0.69). Worsening of CUS findings was associated with neonatal morbidities independently from gestational age and birth weight. The probability for worsening of CUS findings was higher in infants with an initial diagnosis of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) grade 2, than in those reported as no pathology/IVH grade 1 (Odds Ratio 5.79; 95% CI 2.42-13.91) or IVH grade 3-4 (Odds Ratio 3.81; 95% CI 1.10-13.21).

CONCLUSIONS

In very preterm born infants, the initial CUS findings in combination with neonatal morbidities can help predict the brain lesions that are seen at the end of the first month of life and could be useful in their clinical management.

Review article: therapeutic bile acids and the risks for hepatotoxicity

BACKGROUND

Bile acids play important roles in cholesterol metabolism and signal through farnesoid X receptor and G protein-coupled receptors. Given their importance in liver biology, bile acid therapy enables therapeutic applications beyond the treatment of cholestatic liver disease. However, predicting hepatotoxicity of bile acids in humans is obscured due to inconsistent extrapolations of animal data to humans.

AIM

To review the evidence that could explain discordant bile acids hepatotoxicity observed in humans and animals.

METHOD

Literature search was conducted in PubMed using keywords "bile acid," "transporter," "hepatotoxicity," "clinical study," "animal study," "species difference," "mechanism," "genetic disorder." Relevant articles were selected for review.

RESULTS

Clinically significant hepatotoxicity was reported in response to certain bile acids, namely chenodeoxycholic acid, which was given a boxed warning for potential hepatotoxicity. The chemical structure, specifically the number and orientation of hydroxyl groups, significantly affects their hydrophobicity, an important factor in bile acid toxicity. Experimental studies show that hydrophobic bile acids can lead to liver injury through various mechanisms, such as death receptor signalling, mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation. Although animal studies play a central role in investigating bile acid safety, there are considerable differences in bile acid composition, metabolism and hepatobiliary disposition across species. This does not allow appropriate safety inference, especially for predicting hepatotoxicity in humans. Exploring evidences stemming from inborn errors, genetic models of disease and toxicology studies further improves an understanding of bile acid hepatotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

Species differences should be considered in the development of bile acid related therapeutics. Although the mechanism of bile acid hepatotoxicity is still not fully understood, continued mechanistic studies will deepen our understanding.