[Correlation of the levels of the bone turnover markers BAP and β-CTX with bone metastasis progress in lung cancer patients]

Deep Learning on MRI Images for Diagnosis of Lung Cancer Spinal Bone Metastasis

This paper aimed to explore the adoption of deep learning algorithms in lung cancer spinal bone metastasis diagnosis. Comprehensive analysis was carried out with the aid of AdaBoost algorithm and Chan-Vese (CV) algorithm. 87 patients with lung cancer spinal bone metastasis were taken as research subjects, and comprehensive evaluation was made in terms of preliminary classification of images, segmentation results, Dice index, and Jaccard coefficient. After the case of misjudgment on whether there was hot spot was excluded, the initial classification accuracy of the AdaBoost algorithm can reach 96.55%. True positive rate (TPR) was 2.3%, and false negative rate (FNR) was 1.15%. 45 MRI images with hot spots were utilized as test set to detect the segmentation accuracy of CV, maximum between-cluster variance method (OTSU), and region growing algorithm. The results showed that the Dice index and Jaccard coefficient of the CV algorithm were 0.8591 and 0.8002, respectively, which were considerably superior to OTSU (0.6125 and 0.5541) and region growing algorithm (0.7293 and 0.6598). In summary, the AdaBoost algorithm was adopted for image preliminary classification, and CV algorithm for image segmentation was ideal for the diagnosis of lung cancer spinal bone metastasis and it was worthy of clinical promotion.

The increase of osteopontin and β-carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen enhances the risk of hip fracture in the elderly

BACKGROUND

Hip fracture in the elderly is a health burden worldwide due to its high mortality rate. This study was conducted to determine the possible mechanisms of osteopontin (OPN) and β-carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (β-CTX) in hip fracture in the elderly.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the study, we recruited 108 elderly patients with hip fracture diagnosed from May 2012 to May 2015 at the Third Hospital of Xiamen and 86 healthy individuals without a history of hip fracture were taken as controls. Serum levels of OPN and β-CTX were then determined. The T and Z values for bone mineral density (BMD) were also measured. Moreover, logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the risk and protective factors for hip fracture in the elderly.

RESULTS

Serum levels of both OPN and β-CTX were increased in elderly patients with hip fracture. OPN was positively correlated with β-CTX. In addition, the levels of OPN and β-CTX shared a positive association with the age, and a negative association with the BMD, in terms of T and Z values of the hip. In addition, increased BMD and outdoor sports might be protective factors for hip fracture, and an increase in levels of OPN and β-CTX might be associated with a higher risk of hip fracture in the elderly population.

DISCUSSION

Collectively, increased serum levels of OPN and β-CTX might be correlated with a higher risk of a hip fracture and have predictive values in the occurrence of hip fracture in the elderly.

Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors in Bone Metastases from Lung Cancer

Background

This study investigated the prognostic factors of bone metastases from lung cancer.

Material/Methods

From March 2014 to March 2015, 168 patients with bone metastases from lung cancer treated at our hospital were included and the clinical data were reviewed. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves were calculated and analyzed using the log-rank univariate test. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted using Cox’s regression model.

Results

The overall median survival of the 168 patients was 13 months. The 1-year survival was 54.3% and the 2-year survival was 12.9%. Univariate regression analysis indicated that the pathologic types, number of bone metastases, clinical stage, ECOG scores, and serum ALP levels were significantly correlated with survival (P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis indicated that the number of bone metastases, clinical stage, and serum ALP levels were significantly correlated with prognosis (P<0.05). The risk associated with multiple bone metastases was 1.72 times of that of single bone metastasis (P=0.029); the risk associated with advanced clinical stage was 1.49 times of that of early clinical stage (P=0.001); and the risk associated with a high serum ALP level was 1.75 times of that of the low serum ALP level (P=0.006).

Conclusions

Pathologic types, number of bone metastases, clinical stage, ECOG scores, and serum ALP levels were the prognostic factors for bone metastases from lung cancer.

Effects of vitamin D combined with pioglitazone hydrochloride on bone mineral density and bone metabolism in Type 2 diabetic nephropathy

The study aims to investigate the effect of vitamin D (VD) combined with pioglitazone hydrochloride (PIO) on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolism in patients with Type 2 diabetic nephropathy (T2DN). T2DN patients were selected and assigned into mild, moderate, and severe groups. In each group, three therapy regimens (VD, PIO, and VD plus PIO) were administered. X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure BMD. Intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OH-VD3) were measured by chemiluminescence meter. ELISA was applied to detect levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG), bone gla protein (BGP), C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (β-CTX), procollagen type I N-propeptide (PINP), pyridinoline (Pyr), and deoxypyridinoline (D-Pyr). Compared with the mild group, T2DN patients in the moderate and severe groups had longer course of disease and higher levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), serum phosphorus, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc) and creatine (Cr), and lower blood calcium. The BMD in different parts increased among the mild, moderate, and severe groups, and the highest BMD was found after VD plus PIO treatment. OPG, iPTH, BGP, β-CTX, Pyr/Cr, and D-Pyr/Cr levels were reduced, while 25-OH-VD3 and PINP levels were elevated among three groups after different treatments, and the most obvious change was observed after VD plus PIO treatment. Our findings indicate that VD combined with PIO may be more effective in improving BMD and bone metabolism than VD or PIO alone in the treatment of T2DN patients, especially for T2DN patients with mild disease.