Optimization of scan protocol for high temporal resolution magnetic resonance imaging of the liver under single breath-holding using compressed sensing and parallel imaging techniques in a 1.5-T magnetic resonance system

Objective

To optimize the scan protocol for high temporal resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the liver under single breath-holding, using compressed sensing (CS) and parallel imaging (PI) techniques in a 1.5 T MR system.

Methods

31 healthy volunteers who underwent fat-suppressed gradient-echo T ₁ weighted imaging using a 1.5 T MR system were included. Image quality was evaluated on altering various imaging parameters in CS and PI so that the scan time was adjusted to 10 and 6 s within a single breath-holding. Normalized standard deviation (nSD = SD/mean value) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR = mean value/SD) of liver signal intensity were measured. Visual scores for the outline of the liver and inferior right hepatic vein (IRHV) were evaluated using a 4-point scale and compared with that of the reference standard (20 s scan without CS).

Results

The nSD and SNR were not significantly different when the 10 s scan with CS factor 2.0 and the 6 s scan with CS factor 2.0 and 2.5 were compared to the 20 s scan. Overall visual score (mean score of the outline of the liver and IRHV) was significantly better (p < 0.05) with the 10 s scan with CS factor 2.0 compared to the other scan protocols.

Conclusion

The 10 s scan with CS factor 2.0 should be recommended for high temporal resolution MR imaging of the liver using CS and PI in a 1.5 T MR system.

Advances in knowledge

This study conducts a novel MR imaging of the liver using CS and PI in a 1.5 T MR system.

Integration of Single-Cell RNA- and CAGE-seq Reveals Tooth-Enriched Genes

Organ development is dictated by the regulation of genes preferentially expressed in tissues or cell types. Gene expression profiling and identification of specific genes in organs can provide insights into organogenesis. Therefore, genome-wide analysis is a powerful tool for clarifying the mechanisms of development during organogenesis as well as tooth development. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a suitable tool for unraveling the gene expression profile of dental cells. Using scRNA-seq, we can obtain a large pool of information on gene expression; however, identification of functional genes, which are key molecules for tooth development, via this approach remains challenging. In the present study, we performed cap analysis of gene expression sequence (CAGE-seq) using mouse tooth germ to identify the genes preferentially expressed in teeth. The CAGE-seq counts short reads at the 5'-end of transcripts; therefore, this method can quantify the amount of transcripts without bias related to the transcript length. We hypothesized that this CAGE data set would be of great help for further understanding a gene expression profile through scRNA-seq. We aimed to identify the important genes involved in tooth development via bioinformatics analyses, using a combination of scRNA-seq and CAGE-seq. We obtained the scRNA-seq data set of 12,212 cells from postnatal day 1 mouse molars and the CAGE-seq data set from postnatal day 1 molars. scRNA-seq analysis revealed the spatiotemporal expression of cell type-specific genes, and CAGE-seq helped determine whether these genes are preferentially expressed in tooth or ubiquitously. Furthermore, we identified candidate genes as novel tooth-enriched and dental cell type-specific markers. Our results show that the integration of scRNA-seq and CAGE-seq highlights the genes important for tooth development among numerous gene expression profiles. These findings should contribute to resolving the mechanism of tooth development and establishing the basis for tooth regeneration in the future.

Reduction of tethering distance by papillary muscle tugging approximation with mitral valve replacement for non-ischemic functional mitral regurgitation induces left ventricular reverse remodeling

BACKGROUND

Functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) is caused by left ventricular (LV) remodeling and subsequent tethering of the mitral valve (MV). If LV remodeling is irreversibly advanced, it could not be attenuated by the MV procedure alone, although the additional subvalvular procedure could induce LV reverse remodeling by forcibly reducing MV tethering. This study aimed to assess the anti-tethering effect of papillary muscle tugging approximation (PMTA) on LV reverse remodeling after mitral valve replacement (MVR) for non-ischemic FMR.

METHODS

The study subjects were 19 patients who underwent MVR with and without PMTA [MVR + PMTA (n = 11) and MVR alone (n = 8), respectively] for non-ischemic FMR. The tethering distance (TD) and LV end-systolic volume (ESV) at the preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up periods were assessed in terms of their correlation and time-dependent changes. The intra-LV energy efficiency was also evaluated through vector flow mapping analysis.

RESULTS

TD and ESV were comparable between both procedures preoperatively and did not change after MVR alone. In MVR + PMTA, however, a significant decrease was identified in TD and ESV at the early postoperative and follow-up periods, respectively [TD = 48, 30, and 31 mm (p < 0.001) and ESV = 159, 133, and 82 mL (p < 0.001) at the preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up periods, respectively]. Finally, at follow-up, the extent of change from the preoperative value in ESV significantly correlated with that in TD (ρ = 0.81, p < 0.001 for overall; ρ = 0.93, p < 0.001 for MVR + PMTA; ρ = 0.86, p = 0.011 for MVR alone). The ratio of TD to ESV was also significantly correlated with systolic energy loss to LV stroke work after MVR + PMTA (ρ = 0.81, p = 0.015).

CONCLUSIONS

PMTA for non-ischemic FMR could induce LV reverse remodeling depending on the extent of postoperative TD reduction. A smaller TD to ESV was associated with a higher intra-LV energy efficiency after PMTA + MVR.

Preoperative Arterial Embolization to Avoid Intraoperative Bleeding during Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Organized Hematoma of the Maxillary Sinus: A Case Series and Literature Review

Purpose:

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of preoperative arterial embolization of organized hematoma of the maxillary sinus.

Material and Methods:

Seven patients who were pathologically diagnosed with an organized hematoma of the maxillary sinus and who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery following preoperative arterial embolization for the same from July 2013 to April 2020 at our hospital were included. A literature review of the PubMed database was performed to identify 13 cases on organized hematomas of the maxillary sinuses. The embolization and nonembolization groups comprised patients who underwent preoperative embolization (n = 10, seven from this study and three from literature) and those who did not undergo preoperative embolization (n = 10, from literature), respectively. Outcomes of embolization including embolization-related complications and postoperative bleeding were assessed, and volumes of intraoperative blood loss and duration of surgery were compared between the groups.

Results:

No preoperative embolization-related complications were observed in our cases. The volume of surgical blood loss in the seven cases varied from 0 to 100 mL with a median of 30 mL, and the duration of surgery ranged from 45 to 166 minutes with a median of 112 minutes. The volume of blood loss was significantly lower for the embolization group than that for the nonembolization group (p = 0.0031). There was no statistically significant difference regarding duration of surgery between the groups (p > 0.10).

Conclusions:

Preoperative embolization of an organized hematoma of the maxillary sinus is a safe and effective method that helps prevent serious intraoperative hemorrhage.

MRI-derived proton density fat fraction

Reflecting the growing interest in early diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in recent years, the development of noninvasive and reliable fat quantification methods is required. Fat quantification by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), especially MRI-derived proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) obtained by quantitative chemical shift imaging such as the multi-point Dixon method, is highly correlated with histological evaluation and fat quantification with MR spectroscopy (MRS). In recent years, MRI-PDFF has been increasingly used as a reference standard for image-based fat quantification instead of MRS because it is possible to evaluate the whole liver with a single breath-hold. Furthermore, recent advances in MR imaging have led to the application of multiparametric MRI for the diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with specific liver tissue quantification of fat, iron, and fibrosis. One of the advantages of multiparametric MRI is that whole organ imaging to exclude sampling variability and organ-specific tissue quantification can be done simultaneously. Therefore, multiparametric MRI methods offer an attractive option for noninvasive and comprehensive liver assessment beyond the quantitative assessment of liver steatosis. In this review article, we mainly focus on a technical explanation and clinical interpretation of MRI-PDFF in the quantitative assessment of liver steatosis. Furthermore, we would like to mention future perspectives of MR imaging of the liver in relation to elastography and other specific multiparametric MRI methods such as R2* and T1 mapping.

Higher Enhancement Intrahepatic Nodules on the Hepatobiliary Phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA-Enhanced MRI as a Poor Responsive Marker of Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Monotherapy for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are promising agents for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the establishment of noninvasive measure that could predict the response to ICIs is challenging. This study aimed to evaluate tumor responses to ICIs using the hepatobiliary phase of gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which was shown to reflect Wnt/β-catenin activating mutation.

METHODS

A total of 68 intrahepatic HCC nodules from 18 patients with unresectable HCC and Child-Pugh class A liver function who received anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) monotherapy were enrolled in this study. All patients had viable intrahepatic lesions evaluable using the hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI within the 6 months prior to the treatment. The relative enhancement ratio was calculated, and the time to nodular progression (TTnP) defined as 20% or more increase in each nodule was compared between higher or hypo-enhancement HCC nodules. Then, the progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST v1.1) were compared between patients with and without HCC nodules with higher enhancement on hepatobiliary phase images.

RESULTS

The median PFS was 2.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4-4.0) months in patients with HCC nodules with higher enhancement (n = 8) and 5.8 (95% CI: 0.0-18.9) months in patients with hypointense HCC nodules (n = 10) (p = 0.007). The median TTnP of HCC nodules with higher enhancement (n = 23) was 1.97 (95% CI: 1.86-2.07) months and that of hypointense HCC nodules (n = 45) was not reached (p = 0.003). The ORR was 12.5% (1/8) versus 30.0% (3/10); the disease control rate was 37.5% (3/8) versus 70.0% (7/10), respectively, in patients with or without higher enhancement intrahepatic HCC nodules.

CONCLUSION

The TTnP on HCC nodules with higher enhancement and the median PFS in patients who carried higher enhancement intrahepatic HCC nodules were significantly shorter than those in hypointense HCC nodules with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy. The intensity of the nodule on the hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI is a promising imaging biomarker for predicting unfavorable response with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy in patients with HCC.

Combined Assessment of D-Dimer with the Get with the Guidelines-Heart Failure Risk Score and N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide in Patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure with Preserved and Reduced Ejection Fraction

The prognostic role of D-dimer in different types of heart failure (HF) is poorly understood. We investigated the prognostic value of D-dimer on admission, both independently and in combination with the Get With The Guidelines—Heart Failure (GWTG-HF) risk score and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and acute decompensated HF (HFpEF) or reduced LVEF (HFrEF). Baseline D-dimer levels were measured on admission in 1670 patients (mean age: 75 years) who were hospitalized for worsening HF. Of those patients, 586 (35%) were categorized as HFpEF (LVEF ≥ 50%) and 1084 as HFrEF (LVEF < 50%). During the 12-month follow-up period after admission, 360 patients died. Elevated levels (at least the highest tertile value) of D-dimer, GWTG-HF risk score, and NT-proBNP were all independently associated with mortality in all HFpEF and HFrEF patients (all p < 0.05). Adding D-dimer to a baseline model with a GWTG-HF risk score and NT-proBNP improved the net reclassification and integrated discrimination improvement for mortality greater than the baseline model alone in all populations (all p < 0.001). The number of elevations in D-dimer, GWTG-HF risk score, and NT-proBNP were independently associated with a higher risk of mortality in all study populations (HFpEF and HFrEF patients; all p < 0.001). The combination of D-dimer, which is independently predictive of mortality, with the GWTG-HF risk score and NT-proBNP could improve early prediction of 12-month mortality in patients with acute decompensated HF, regardless of the HF phenotype.

Diversity and shared T-cell receptor repertoire analysis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The tumor immune response is dependent on the interaction between tumor cells and the T-cell subset expressing the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire that infiltrates into the tumor microenvironment. The present study explored the diversity and shared TCR repertoires expressed on the surface of locoregional T cells and identified the T lymphocyte subsets infiltrating into esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), in order to provide insight into the efficiency of immunotherapy and the development of a novel immune-oriented therapeutic strategy. A total of 53 patients with ESCC were enrolled in the present study, and immunohistochemical analysis of CD3, CD8, CD45RO, FOXP3, CD274, HLA class I and AE1/AE3 was performed. Digital pathological assessment was performed to evaluate the expression level of each marker. The clinicopathological significance of the immuno relation high (IR-Hi) group was assessed. Adaptor ligation PCR and next-generation sequencing were performed to explore the diversity of the TCR repertoire and to investigate the shared TCR repertoire in the IR-Hi group. Repertoire dissimilarity index (RDI) analysis was performed to assess the diversity of TCR, and the existence of shared TCRα and TCRβ was also investigated. Further stratification was performed according to the expression of markers of different T-cell subsets. Patients were stratified into IR-Hi and immuno relation low (IR-Lo) groups. Cancer-specific survival and recurrence-free survival rates were significantly improved in the IR-Hi group compared with in the IT-Lo group. The diversity of the TCR repertoire was significantly higher in the IR-Hi group. TCR repertoire analysis revealed 27 combinations of TCRα and 23 combinations of TCRβ VJ regions that were shared among the IR-Hi group. The IR-Hi group was divided into three clusters. Overall, the current findings revealed that the IR-Hi group maintained the diversity of TCR, and a portion of the IR-Hi cases held the T cells with shared TCR repertoires, implying recognition of shared antigens. The prognosis of patients with ESCC was affected by the existence of immune response cells and may possibly be stratified by the T-cell subsets.

Hepatocellular uptake index obtained with gadoxetate disodium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment future liver remnant function after major hepatectomy for biliary malignancy

Background

Functional assessment of the future liver remnant (FLR) after major hepatectomy is essential but often difficult in patients with biliary malignancy, owing to obstructive jaundice and portal vein embolization. This study evaluated whether a novel index using gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI (EOB-MRI) could predict posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) after major hepatectomy for biliary malignancy.

Methods

The remnant hepatocellular uptake index (rHUI) was calculated in patients undergoing EOB-MRI before major hepatectomy for biliary malignancy. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used to evaluate the accuracy of rHUI for predicting PHLF grade B or C, according to International Study Group of Liver Surgery criteria. Multivariable logistic regression analyses comprised stepwise selection of parameters, including rHUI and other conventional indices.

Results

This study included 67 patients. The rHUI accurately predicted PHLF (area under the curve (AUC) 0.896). A cut-off value for rHUI of less than 0.410 predicted all patients who developed grade B or C PHLF. In multivariable analysis, only rHUI was an independent risk factor for grade B or C PHLF (odds ratio 2.0 × 10³, 95 per cent c.i. 19.6 to 3.8 × 10⁷; P < 0.001). In patients who underwent preoperative portal vein embolization, rHUI accurately predicted PHLF (AUC 0.885), whereas other conventional indices, such as the plasma disappearance rate of indocyanine green of the FLR and FLR volume, did not.

Conclusion

The rHUI is potentially a useful predictor of PHLF after major hepatectomy for biliary malignancy.

Plasma level of prostate related-antigen peptide-reactive IgG is a prognostic factor of patients with breast cancer treated with personalized peptide vaccines

The present study assessed plasma IgG in patients with metastatic recurrent breast cancer (mrBC) that is reactive to various T-cell epitope peptides of prostate-related antigens (PRAs), such as prostate-specific antigen, prostate-specific membrane antigen and prostate acid phosphatase. Patients were treated with personalized peptide vaccines (PPVs) which were selected and administered from a panel of candidate peptides based on human leukocyte antigen-types and prevaccination IgG levels to each peptide. The peptide panel consisted of 27 cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-epitope peptides derived from tumor-associated antigens, not including PRA. PRA peptides and peptide panels were retrospectively analyzed in 77 PPV-treated patients. The results revealed that PRA reactive IgG levels were increased after vaccination in 31 of the 97 patients included in the present study. Although there was no significant association between anti-PRA peptide levels and progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival, anti-PRA peptide levels were significantly associated with PFS (P=0.009) in estrogen-receptor positive (ER+) patients with cancer. The results suggested that plasma anti-PRA IgG levels may be a useful prognostic marker for monitoring PPVs, particularly for ER+ patients with mrBC (trial registration no. from the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000001844).

Ultrastructural Features of the Aortic Wall in a Patient with Kommerell Diverticulum

We report on the ultrastructural features of the aortic wall in a patient with Kommerell diverticulum. A 70-year-old woman with a right aortic arch, aberrant left subclavian artery, and Kommerell diverticulum underwent a successful total arch replacement plus the frozen elephant trunk procedure with anatomical left subclavian artery reconstruction. Small pieces of the ascending aorta, distal arch, right common carotid artery, and left subclavian artery were investigated ultrastructurally. In the ascending aortic wall, multiple cystic cavities were observed in the subintimal region of the media by scanning electron microscopy. Changes in organelles, including mild dilation of rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial swelling and degrading, were also observed in all specimens by transmission electron microscopy. These ultrastructural features may indicate the fragility or stress of the aortic wall and are useful when considering the early surgical intervention of a patient with Kommerell diverticulum.

[Surgical Strategy for Aortic Arch Aneurysm Depending on the Patient's Condition:Proper Selection of Open Surgery or Thoracic Endovascular Repair]

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the validity of the surgical strategy for aortic arch aneurysm depending on the patient's condition.

METHODS

Between 2014 and 2019, 70 patients underwent total arch replacement (TAR) and 14 patients underwent fenestrated thoracic endovascular aortic repair( fTEVAR) for aortic arch aneurysm. We selected the surgical strategy on the basis of the patient's condition with or without frailty and if surgical risks including cancer or a respiratory condition precluded open surgery.

RESULTS

The preoperative average ages were 73.3±7.8 years in the TAR group and 73.9±6.1 years in the fTEVAR group (p=0.93). EuroSCORE Ⅱ was 4.3±3.6 in the TAR group and 6.0±3.3 in the fTEVAR group (p=0.03). Frailty was observed in 11 patients (15.7%) in the TAR group and fivepatients (35.7%) in the fTEVAR group (p=0.08). In the fTEVAR group, there were three patients (21.4%) with cancer and three patients (21.4%) with a respiratory condition that precluded open surgery. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 0% for both groups, and the in-hospital mortality rate was 2.9% in the TAR group and 0% in the fTEVAR group (p=0.52). The incidence of stroke was 2.9% (two patients) in the TAR group and 7.1%( one patient) in the fTEVAR group( p=0.43). However, all stroke patients were able to walk at discharge. The cumulative survival rate was 88.9% and 83.5% in the TAR group and 85.1% and 68.1% in the fTEVAR group at two and five years, respectively (p=0.173). There were both 98.1% of patients in the TAR group and 85.7% and 75.0% of patients in the fTEVAR group who were free from reoperations at two and five years, respectively( p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Our surgical strategy and outcomes for aortic arch aneurysm were generally appropriate. It is important to select open surgery or TEVAR depending on the patient's condition.

Hybrid Repair of Kommerell Diverticulum and Aberrant Subclavian Artery with Compressive Symptoms and a New Strategy: Case Report

Surgical indication and treatment for patients with Kommerell diverticulum and aberrant subclavian artery are still not well established. A patient with esophageal and tracheal compression resulting from these anatomical abnormalities was successfully treated with a hybrid approach of total arch replacement, frozen elephant trunk technique, aberrant left subclavian artery transection, and left subclavian artery reconstruction through median sternotomy. Compressive symptoms were relieved without resecting the enlarged diverticulum. In this case, the importance of preoperative investigation for the main cause of compressive symptoms is illustrated and a novel treatment strategy is outlined.

The peritumoral hypointense rim around hepatocellular carcinoma on T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging: radiologic-pathologic correlation

BACKGROUND

A peritumoral hypointense rim (PTHR) is sometimes observed around hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on T2*-weighted images (T2*WIs). We aimed to investigate the association between the PTHR and histopathologic findings on T2*WIs.

METHODS

We assessed the presence of a PTHR on T2*WIs in 39 pathologically proven HCCs from April 2012 to December 2013. Prussian blue staining was performed, and iron deposition was evaluated by semiquantitative and quantitative methods. Optical density was used in the quantitative methods. The associations between a PTHR on T2*WI and histopathologic peritumoral or background liver iron deposition were analyzed.

RESULTS

A PTHR on T2*WI was observed in 23 of 39 (59%) HCCs. There was no significant difference in the histopathologic fibrous capsule findings (P = 0.394). In the semiquantitative methods, both peritumoral and background liver iron deposition grade were significantly higher in HCCs with a PTHR compared with HCCs without a PTHR (P < 0.001). The mean optical density in HCCs with a PTHR was significantly higher compared with HCCs without a PTHR, in the quantitative peritumoral (42,244.1 ± 20,854.9 vs. 18,739.1 ± 12,258.7, respectively; P < 0.001) and background liver iron deposition analyses (35,554.7 ± 19,854.8 vs. 17,292.4 ± 11,605.8, respectively; P < 0.001). Tumor size (P = 0.005), etiology (P = 0.001), and degree of fibrosis (P = 0.042) were significantly associated with the presence of a PTHR.

CONCLUSIONS

A PTHR in HCCs on T2*WIs was strongly associated with peritumoral iron deposition in the iron-deposited background liver but not with the fibrous capsule.

Integrity of circulating cell-free DNA as a prognostic biomarker for vaccine therapy in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Many clinical trials of immune checkpoint blockade-based combination therapies are under way. Vaccine therapy is a promising partner of combination therapies. We have developed a personalized peptide vaccination and conducted clinical trials of it in patients with various cancers. At the present time, we have only a limited number of biomarkers related to the prognosis of vaccine-treated patients. Thus, new biomarkers are urgently needed.

METHODS

In this study, we investigated the plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) integrity-a ratio of the necrotic tumor cell-derived long cfDNA fragments to the total dead cell-derived short cfDNA fragments from genomic Alu elements-in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer during treatment with the personalized peptide vaccination.

RESULTS

We found that (1) the cfDNA integrity was decreased after the first cycle of vaccination, and (2) the patients with high prevaccination cfDNA integrity survived longer than those with low prevaccination integrity (median survival time (MST): 17.9 versus 9.0 months, respectively; hazard ratio (HR): 0.58, p = .0049). A similar tendency was observed in postvaccination cfDNA integrity (MST: 16.4 vs 9.4 months; HR: 0.65, p = .024).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that cfDNA integrity is a possible prognostic biomarker in patients treated with the personalized peptide vaccine.

Integrity of plasma cell-free DNA as a prognostic factor for vaccine therapy in patients with endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer is the most prevalent gynecological cancer in developed countries. Although the prognosis of endometrial cancer is better than that of other gynecological cancers, the prognosis of advanced endometrial cancer is still poor and thus new therapeutic modalities, such as immune therapies, are urgently required. For the further development of new modalities, exploration of new biomarkers is important. The present study investigated the circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) integrity as a ratio of the necrotic tumor cell-derived long cfDNA fragments to the total dead cell-derived short cfDNA fragments from genomic Alu elements in patients with advanced endometrial cancer during peptide vaccination treatment. The results demonstrated that: i) The plasma cfDNA integrity was decreased during the first cycle of vaccination in patients with endometrial cancer treated with the personalized peptide vaccination, and ii) the post-vaccination cfDNA integrity levels were correlated with good prognosis. Some of these findings have been confirmed in other cancers, and thus cfDNA integrity might be an important marker for future cancer vaccine therapies in general, and might also be applicable for other immune therapies.

High-resolution three-dimensional T1-weighted hepatobiliary MR cholangiography using Gd-EOB-DTPA for assessment of biliary tree anatomy: Parallel imaging versus compressed sensing

PURPOSE

To compare the quality of images obtained by T1-weighted hepatobiliary MR cholangiography using Gd-EOB-DTPA with 1-mm isovoxel acquisition and compressed sensing (T1-MRC_CS) or parallel imaging (T1-MRC_PI) for assessment of biliary tree anatomy.

METHOD

We prospectively reviewed T1-MRC_CS, T1-MRC_PI, and respiratory-triggered 3D T2-weighted MR cholangiography (T2-MRC) images in 58 patients. Two radiologists independently assessed the three sets of images and scored the biliary tree visualization and overall image quality in all cases using a 5-point Likert scale. The resulting scores were compared among T1-MRC_CS, T1-MRC_PI, and T2-MRC images using a Friedman test followed by a Scheffe test. The inter-reader agreement in scoring was assessed using κ statistics.

RESULTS

The image quality scores for the gallbladder on both T1-MRC_CS and T1-MRC_PI were significantly lower than those on T2-MRC (p < 0.01) for both readers. Meanwhile, the image quality scores for the right and left hepatic ducts and the anterior and posterior branches of the right hepatic duct on both T1-MRC_CS and T1-MRC_PI were significantly higher than those on T2-MRC (p < 0.05) for both readers. For Reader 2, the overall image quality scores on T1-MRC_CS and T1-MRC_PI were both significantly higher than those on T2-MRC (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the image quality scores on T1-MRC_CS and T1-MRC_PI for visualization of each bile duct (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

There may be no significant difference in quality between T1-MRC_CS images and T1-MRC_PI images for assessment of biliary tree anatomy, and both types of images may be better than T2-MRC images, although clinical indication is limited compared with T2-MRC.

Investigation of factors associated with reduced clinical benefits of personalized peptide vaccination for pancreatic cancer

The aim of the present study was to determine the factors associated with reduced clinical benefits of personalized peptide vaccination (PPV) for pancreatic cancer. Phase II PPV clinical trials comprising 309 (8 non-advanced and 301 advanced-stage) patients with pancreatic cancer were conducted. Two to four peptides were selected among a set of 31 different peptides as vaccine candidates for personalized peptide vaccination based on human leukocyte antigen types and preexisting peptide-specific IgG levels, and subcutaneously injected. The selected peptides were subcutaneously injected. Of the 309 patients, 81 failed to complete the 1st PPV cycle due to rapid disease progression, and their median overall survival [2.1 months; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.8-2.7] was significantly shorter than that of the remaining 228 patients (8.4 months; 95% CI, 8.4-9.9; P<0.01). ‘Immune boosting’ was defined when IgG levels before vaccination increased more than 2-fold after vaccination. Immune boosting was observed in the majority of patients with PPV irrespective of whether or not they received concomitant chemotherapy. Additionally, patients demonstrating immune boosting exhibited longer survival rates. Although the positive-response rates and peptide-specific IgG levels in pre- and post-vaccination samples differed among the 31 peptides, patients exhibiting immune boosting in response to each of the vaccinated peptides demonstrated longer survival times. Pre-vaccination factors associated with reduced clinical benefits were high c-reactive protein (CRP) levels, high neutrophil counts, lower lymphocyte and red blood cell counts, advanced disease stage and the greater number of chemotherapy courses prior to the PPV treatment. The post-vaccination factors associated with lower clinical benefits were PPV monotherapy and lower levels of immune boosting. In conclusion, pre-vaccination inflammatory signatures, rather than pre- or post-vaccination immunological signatures, were associated with reduced clinical benefits of personalized peptide vaccination (PPV) for pancreatic cancer.

Circulating presepsin (soluble CD14 subtype) as a novel marker of mortality in patients treated at medical cardiac intensive care units

Background

Presepsin, a subtype of soluble CD14, is an inflammatory marker, which largely reflects monocyte activation. The association between presepsin levels and mortality in patients treated at medical cardiac intensive care units (CICUs) remains poorly known.

Objective

We aimed to understand the prognostic value of presepsin levels on admission to medical CICUs for mortality.

Methods

We prospectively studied 1636 heterogeneous patients (median age; 71 years) treated at medical (non-surgical) CICUs. Patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] &lt;15 mL/min/1.73 m2) were excluded. Acute coronary syndrome was present in 46% of the patients, and acute decompensated heart failure in 36%. Upon admission, baseline plasma presepsin levels were measured. The primary endpoint was all-cause death.

Results

During a mean follow-up period of 44.6 months after admission, there were 323 (19.7%) deaths. Patients who died were older (median: 75 vs. 71 years, P&lt;0.0001); had higher levels of presepsin (194 vs. 110 pg/mL, P&lt;0.0001), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP: 520 vs. 144 pg/mL, P&lt;0.0001), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP: 4.7 vs. 2.0 mg/L, P&lt;0.0001), and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score (3 vs. 2, P&lt;0.0001); and had lower levels of eGFR (55 vs. 69 mL/min/1.73m2, P&lt;0.0001) and left ventricular ejection fraction (46% vs. 52%, P&lt;0.0001) than those of the survivors. Multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed presepsin levels as independent predictors of all-cause deaths when assessed as either continuous variables (relative risk [RR] 3.33 per 10-fold increment; P&lt;0.0001) or variables categorized according to quartiles (RR quartile 4 vs. 1, 3.60; P&lt;0.0001). Quartiles of presepsin levels were significantly (P&lt;0.0001) associated with increased risk of mortality (Figure). Adding presepsin levels to a baseline model that included established risk factors, BNP, and hsCRP further enhanced reclassification (P=0.009) and discrimination (P=0.0008) beyond that of the baseline model alone.

Conclusions

Circulating concentration of presepsin on admission may be a potent and independent predictor of mortality, and it may improve the risk stratification of patients admitted at medical CICUs.

Presepsin quartiles and mortality

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Cardiac perturbations after high-intensity exercise are attenuated in middle-aged compared with young endurance athletes: diminished stress or depleted stimuli?

Strenuous exercise elicits transient functional and biochemical cardiac imbalances. Yet, the extent to which these responses are altered owing to aging is unclear. Accordingly, echocardiograph-derived left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) were assessed before (pre) and after (post) a 60-min high-intensity cycling race intervention (CRIT₆₀) in 11 young (18-30 yr) and 11 middle-aged (40-65 yr) highly trained male cyclists, matched for cardiorespiratory fitness. LV and RV GLS were measured at rest and during a semirecumbent exercise challenge performed at the same intensity (young: 93 ± 10; middle-aged: 85 ± 11 W, P = 0.60) pre- and post-CRIT₆₀. Augmentation (change from rest-to-exercise challenge) of LV GLS (pre: -2.97 ± 0.65; post: -0.82 ± 0.48%, P = 0.02) and RV GLS (pre: -2.08 ± 1.28; post: 3.08 ± 2.02%, P = 0.01) was attenuated and completely abolished, in the young following CRIT₆₀, while augmentation of LV GLS (pre: -3.21 ± 0.41; post: -3.99 ± 0.55%, P = 0.22) and RV GLS (pre: -3.47 ± 1.44; post: -1.26 ± 1.00%, P = 0.27) was preserved in middle-aged following CRIT₆₀. While serum hs-cTnI concentration increased followingCRIT₆₀ in the young (pre: 7.3 ± 1.6; post: 17.7 ± 1.6 ng/L, P < 0.01) and middle-aged (pre: 4.5 ± 0.6; post: 10.7 ± 2.0 ng/L, P < 0.01), serum hs-cTnI concentration increased to a greater extent in the young than in the middle-aged following CRIT₆₀ (P < 0.01). These findings suggest that functional and biochemical cardiac perturbations induced by high-intensity exercise are attenuated in middle-aged relative to young individuals. Further study is warranted to determine whether acute exercise-induced cardiac perturbations alter the adaptive myocardial remodeling response.NEW & NOTEWORTHY High-intensity endurance exercise elicits acute cardiac imbalances that may be an important stimulus for adaptive cardiac remodeling. This study highlights that following a bout of high-intensity exercise that is typical of routine day-to-day cycling training, exercise-induced autonomic, biochemical, and functional cardiac imbalances are attenuated in middle-aged relative to young well-trained cyclists. These findings suggest that aging may alter exercise-induced stress stimulus response that initiates cardiac remodeling in athlete's heart.