Good for the heart, good for the Earth: proposal of a dietary pattern able to optimize cardiovascular disease prevention and mitigate climate change

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Human and planetary health are inextricably interconnected through food systems. Food choices account for 50% of all deaths for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) - the leading cause of death in Europe - and food systems generate up to 37% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Based on a systematic revision of meta-analyses of prospective studies exploring the association between individual foods/food groups and the incidence of CVD, we identified a dietary pattern able to optimize CVD prevention.. This dietary pattern was compared to the current diet of the European population. The nutritional adequacy of both diets was evaluated according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommended nutrient intake for the adult population, and their environmental impact was evaluated in terms of carbon footprint (CF). As compared to the current diet, the desirable diet includes higher intakes of fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, low glycemic index (GI) cereals, nuts, legumes and fish, and lower amounts of beef, butter, high GI cereals or potatoes and sugar. The diet here identified provides appropriate intakes of all nutrients and matches better than the current Europeans' one the EFSA requirements. Furthermore, the CF of the proposed diet is 48.6% lower than that of the current Europeans' diet.

CONCLUSION

The transition toward a dietary pattern designed to optimize CVD prevention would improve the nutritional profile of the habitual diet in Europe and, at the same time, contribute to mitigate climate change by reducing the GHG emissions linked to food consumption almost by half.

P14.03.B Glutamate excitotoxicity in brain metastases from lung, breast, and melanoma treated with stereotactic radiosurgery

Background

Brain metastases (BM) are the most frequent neoplasm in the central nervous system (CNS) and primary tumors frequently involved are melanoma, lung cancer and breast cancer. CNS localisation is associated with poor prognosis, and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) represents a treatment option for patients with a good performance status. Glutamate (Glu) is a neurotransmitter which plays a facilitating role in carcinogenesis and progression of malignant tumors, as well as in excitotoxicity. Glu efflux from the brain is regulated by scavengers glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), with aspartate and lactate as catabolites. Glu efflux from the brain seems to be impaired in advanced-stage cancers, resulting in increased blood Glu levels where scavengers exert a protective role. Our hypothesis is that serum Glu and scavengers’ levels are related to neuroinvasion and treatment response in patients with BM and may represent potential biomarkers for BM course and prognosis.

Material and Methods

Serum Glu scavengers (GOT1, GPT and LDH), serum Glu, aspartate and lactate levels are collected in included patients treated and grouped in A) BM group of patients affected by BM from lung or breast cancer or melanoma, treated with SRS; B) Control-1 group of patients affected by lung cancer, breast cancer or melanoma but without BM and C) Control-2 group of patients with benign intracranial lesions (meningiomas, acoustic schwannomas) treated with SRS.In A) and C) serum metabolites and scavengers will be analyzed before and after SRS treatment (at 3, 6, 9 months) while in B) analyzed once. Blood levels in A) and C) help in identifying differences related to malignancy, the role of SRS and the association with disease control, while blood levels in A) and B) help in detecting differences related to BMs. Exclusion criteria are surgical or previous radiosurgical treatment for BM. This study has received Institutional Ethical Committee approval on 3rd August 2020 (Project NCH04-2020, Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04785521).

Preliminary results

Comparison between BM group (n = 32) and Control-1 (n=18) revealed a significant difference in LDH (271.93 vs 217.56 U/L; p 0.041) and lactate (1.86 vs 1.34 mmol/L, p = 0.022) and a trend towards significance in glutamate (103.43 vs 73.74 µmol/L, p = 0.07). Comparison between BM group (n=32) and Control-2 (n = 37) revealed a difference in LDH (271.93 vs 210.89 U/L; p < 0.001), lactate (1.86 vs 1.24 mmol/L; p < 0.001), aspartate (16.36 vs 10.22 µmol/L, p 0.006) and glutamate levels (123 vs 103 µmol/L, p = 0.052).

Conclusion

The present study is the first one addressing serum glutamate and scavenger levels in patients with BM. If the hypothesis will be confirmed, new targets in glutamate signalling pathway could be identified to define new therapeutic strategies in this challenging disease.

P15.02.B Spatial habitat analysis in high-grade gliomas combining perfusion, diffusion, and hypoxia features derived from multiparametric MRI and 18F-FAZA PET

Background

Heterogeneity represents one of the main issues in high-grade gliomas (HGGs) management and presumably is the key to understanding treatment failure. Spatial habitat imaging embodies a novel, non-invasive method to cluster different tumor biological microenvironments and characterize intratumoral heterogeneity through a quantitative radiomic approach. So far, habitat imaging has been chiefly explored on morphological magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): the aim of our study was to evaluate this technique on advanced imaging techniques as perfusion (PWI) and diffusion (dMRI) MRI, as well as 18F-FAZA PET, to subdivide the tumor into different biological compartments.

Materials and Methods

A preoperative PWI, dMRI, and 18F-FAZA PET acquisition was obtained in 17 HGG patients to assess intratumoral vascularization, cellularity, and hypoxia, respectively. A tumor mask was created including contrast-enhancing/necrotic regions on T1 imaging and surrounding FLAIR hyperintensity, and each parametric map (plasma volume from dynamic contrast-enhanced PWI, mean diffusivity from diffusion tensor imaging, and standardized uptake value from 18F-FAZA PET) underwent OTSU’s binary clustering by grouping together voxels with high and low-intensity values. Cluster intersections were then generated by combining all possible high and low-intensity regions of each map, and the final habitat map was composed. Habitats’ quantitative features, spatial distribution, and histopathological characteristics were analyzed.

Results

The eight habitats generated were carefully inspected, and their distribution pattern, in relation to morphological landmarks (as contrast-enhancing, necrotic, infiltrative and edematous areas), showed an excellent reproducibility among different HGGs, offering complementary data to conventional imaging. A consistent correlation was noted between each habitat’s awaited microenvironment and the corresponding histopathological characteristics among the ten patients for whom precise coordinates of stereotactic biopsies were available. Clusters considered more aggressive were more represented in WHO grade IV (vs. grade III) tumors. The habitat possibly representing edematous areas was significantly larger in IDH-1 wild-type (vs. IDH-1 mutated) tumors.

Conclusions: PET and MRI hypoxia, perfusion, and tissue diffusion habitat maps proved an excellent reproducibility among HGGs and correlation with expected histopathological features, making it a way to characterize intratumoral heterogeneity. However, further study is needed to elucidate clinical implications and confirm the spatio-temporal evolution of the identified habitats.

Funding

Italian Ministry of Health, grant number GR-2018-12365670; Italian Association for Cancer Research (grant IG 2014 Id.1524).

P11.43.B The impact of neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio on survival in patients affected by brain metastases and treated with Gamma Knife Radiosurgery

Background

The Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a biomarker for host systemic inflammation. Elevated NLR may result from neutrophilia, lymphopenia or both and is associated with poor prognosis and treatment responses in various malignant tumors, such as breast, gastric, colorectal and lung cancer. It was found that in patients treated with GK-SRS for brain metastases (BM) from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), median survival was significantly longer in patients with NLR < 5 at the time of radiosurgery and after treatment (within 1 month from SRS). High percentage of neutrophils, low percentage of lymphocytes and elevated platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio were predictive of poor OS in patients with brain metastases. Further evidences are needed to support and better define these findings.

Material and Methods

We retrospectively examined 111 consecutive patients with BMs from NSCLC (95 patients) and melanoma (16 patients) treated with GK-SRS. A total of 695 lesions were treated (median lesion number per patient 6; range 1-18), the median volume was 0.108 cc (range 0.004-33.44 cc).

NLR was calculated using N/L, where N and L, respectively, refer to peripheral blood neutrophils (N) and lymphocyte (L) counts at the timepoint nearest to the SRS treatment. Kaplan-Meier analysis described the survival time according to NLR. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to confirm the impact of NLR on overall survival.

Results

Median (IQR) age at diagnosis of brain metastases was 64 yrs (55-70), median (IQR) NLR was 6.7 (1.3-32), and median (IQR) overall survival was 13.5 months (1-42). At univariable Cox-regression analyses, lower NLR was associated with improved overall survival (HR: 1.05; p=0.004). Total number of lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes were not associated with improved overall survival (all p>0.1). At multivariable Cox regression analyses, after adjusting for patient age, sex and the use of DEX therapy, NLR represented an independent predictor of overall survival (HR: 1.06; p=0.003).

Conclusion

NLR represents an independent prognostic factor in patients affected by BMs from NSCLC and melanoma. Inflammation and immunity may play a critical role in these patients. Further analysis examining more specific neutrophils or lymphocytes subsets may increase our understanding of cancer etiology and progression.

A Monte Carlo model of synchrotron radiotherapy shows good agreement with experimental dosimetry measurements: Data from the imaging and medical beamline at the Australian Synchrotron

Experimental measurement of Synchrotron Radiotherapy (SyncRT) doses is challenging, especially for Microbeam Radiotherapy (MRT), which is characterised by very high dynamic ranges with spatial resolutions on the micrometer scale. Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is considered a gold standard for accurate dose calculation in radiotherapy, and is therefore routinely relied upon to produce verification data. We present a MC model for Australian Synchrotron's Imaging and Medical Beamline (IMBL), which is capable of generating accurate dosimetry data to inform and/or verify SyncRT experiments. Our MC model showed excellent agreement with dosimetric measurement for Synchrotron Broadbeam Radiotherapy (SBBR). Our MC model is also the first to achieve validation for MRT, using two methods of dosimetry, to within clinical tolerances of 5% for a 20×20 mm² field size, except for surface measurements at 5 mm depth, which remained to within good agreement of 7.5%. Our experimental methodology has allowed us to control measurement uncertainties for MRT doses to within 5-6%, which has also not been previously achieved, and provides a confidence which until now has been lacking in MRT validation studies. The MC model is suitable for SyncRT dose calculation of clinically relevant field sizes at the IMBL, and can be extended to include medical beamlines at other Synchrotron facilities as well. The presented MC model will be used as a validation tool for treatment planning dose calculation algorithms, and is an important step towards veterinary SyncRT trials at the Australian Synchrotron.

Investigating the impact of the economic crisis on children's wellbeing in four European countries

This paper analyses the impact of the economic crisis on children's wellbeing from a comparative European perspective using a multidimensional and fuzzy methodology. Comparisons of children's wellbeing based solely on monetary resources are likely to give a partial picture, because wellbeing can be related to different capabilities and the economic crisis impacted them differently. The use of several indicators captures the multidimensional and interrelated nature of wellbeing as experienced by children and can give a comprehensive view of the threats of future generations. A propensity score method is used to compare children's capabilities distributions and to assess the impact of the economic crisis on the net change between 2009 and 2014 using EU-SILC data for four European countries. Results show that the economic crisis had a wide range of consequences for children's wellbeing: a disparity is observed across the four countries in preserving the same level of wellbeing after the economic crisis.

Review of cerebellopontine angle medulloblastoma

Cerebellopontine angle (CPA) medulloblastomas (MB) are rare lesions with few cases previously described in the literature. We report two further cases of CPA MB. The patients were a 22-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman with a mass developing in the CPA. The preoperative radiological diagnosis was vestibular schwannoma in the first case and petrosal meningioma in the second case. The patients were operated on through a retrosigmoid approach. The intraoperative findings revealed an intra-axial tumour and the histological diagnosis was classic type of MB in both cases. We review the literature and discuss pathological and radiological features and possible pathogenesis of CPA MB, underlining the necessity to consider MB in the differential diagnosis of CPA lesions.

[Delivery induction with slow-release dinoprostone in clinical practice: results of a clinical protocol]

AIM

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the feasibility of a protocol for the induction of delivery with slow-release dinoprostone in women with unfavourable cervix.

METHODS

Indications for the induction were: pregnancy beyond 40 weeks, amniotic fluid index (AFI) <5, premature rupture of membranes, intrauterine growth retardation, or adverse maternal conditions. Eligibility criteria were: single pregnancy, cephalic presentation, Bishop Score <4, no previous uterine scar. Slow-release vaginal insert containing dinoprostone 10 mg was used to induce delivery according to a dedicated protocol agreed between clinicians and midwifes. Dinoprostone induction failure was defined as no cervical dilation >3 cm at the removal of the insert.

RESULTS

One-hundred-nineteen patients were enrolled. The onset of labour was obtained in 102 (85.7%) patients, 98 (82.3%) with the insert only, and in 4 (3.3%) after the sequential administration of prostaglandins and oxitocin. The mean interval between insert application and delivery was 16.85±11.48 hours. Vaginal delivery was reported in 87 (73.1%) women, whereas Cesarean was necessary in 32 (26.9%) patients [29 nulliparous]. Cesarean section was also required in 15/98 (15.3%) women who responded to prostaglandins and in 17/21 (80.9) non-responders. Protocol violations occurred in 11 (9.2%) patients. Uterine hyperstimulation occurred in 4 (3.3%) patients.

CONCLUSION

Induction of delivery with slow-release dinoprostone seems a feasible option, characterized by high efficacy, good adherence to protocol, low incidence of adverse events and easy management. In our opinion the high compliance of the gynecologists and midwifes is based on the insert handiness.

Duodenal and faecal microbiota of celiac children: molecular, phenotype and metabolome characterization

Background

Epidemiology of celiac disease (CD) is increasing. CD mainly presents in early childhood with small intestinal villous atrophy and signs of malabsorption. Compared to healthy individuals, CD patients seemed to be characterized by higher numbers of Gram-negative bacteria and lower numbers Gram-positive bacteria.

Results

This study aimed at investigating the microbiota and metabolome of 19 celiac disease children under gluten-free diet (treated celiac disease, T-CD) and 15 non-celiac children (HC). PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analyses by universal and group-specific primers were carried out in duodenal biopsies and faecal samples. Based on the number of PCR-DGGE bands, the diversity of Eubacteria was the higher in duodenal biopsies of T-CD than HC children. Bifidobacteria were only found in faecal samples. With a few exceptions, PCR-DGGE profiles of faecal samples for Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria differed between T-CD and HC. As shown by culture-dependent methods, the levels of Lactobacillus, Enterococcus and Bifidobacteria were confirmed to be significantly higher (P = 0.028; P = 0.019; and P = 0.023, respectively) in fecal samples of HC than in T-CD children. On the contrary, cell counts (CFU/ml) of presumptive Bacteroides, Staphylococcus, Salmonella, Shighella and Klebsiella were significantly higher (P = 0.014) in T-CD compared to HC children. Enterococcus faecium and Lactobacillus plantarum were the species most diffusely identified. This latter species was also found in all duodenal biopsies of T-CD and HC children. Other bacterial species were identified only in T-CD or HC faecal samples. As shown by Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA-PCR analysis, the percentage of strains identified as lactobacilli significantly (P = 0.011) differed between T-CD (ca. 26.5%) and HC (ca. 34.6%) groups. The metabolome of T-CD and HC children was studied using faecal and urine samples which were analyzed by gas-chromatography mass spectrometry-solid-phase microextraction and ¹H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. As shown by Canonical Discriminant Analysis of Principal Coordinates, the levels of volatile organic compounds and free amino acids in faecal and/or urine samples were markedly affected by CD.

Conclusion

As shown by the parallel microbiology and metabolome approach, the gluten-free diet lasting at least two years did not completely restore the microbiota and, consequently, the metabolome of CD children. Some molecules (e.g., ethyl-acetate and octyl-acetate, some short chain fatty acids and free amino acids, and glutamine) seems to be metabolic signatures of CD.

A randomized controlled trial of Lactobacillus GG in children with functional abdominal pain

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to determine whether Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) relieves symptoms in children with recurrent abdominal pain.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 141 children with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or functional pain were enrolled in 9 primary care sites and a referral center. Children entered a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial and received LGG or placebo for 8 weeks and entered follow-up for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was overall pain at the end of the intervention period. At entry and at the end of the trial, children underwent a double-sugar intestinal permeability test.

RESULTS

Compared with baseline, LGG, but not placebo, caused a significant reduction of both frequency (P < .01) and severity (P < .01) of abdominal pain. These differences still were significant at the end of follow-up (P < .02 and P < .001, respectively). At week 12, treatment success was achieved in 48 children in the LGG group compared with 37 children in the placebo group (P < .03); this difference still was present at the end of follow-up (P < .03). At entry, 59% of the children had abnormal results from the intestinal permeability test; LGG, but not placebo, determined a significant decrease in the number of patients with abnormal results from the intestinal permeability testing (P < .03). These effects mainly were in children with IBS.

CONCLUSIONS

LGG significantly reduces the frequency and severity of abdominal pain in children with IBS; this effect is sustained and may be secondary to improvement of the gut barrier.

A seroprevalence and descriptive epidemiological study of malaria among Indian tribes of the Amazon basin of Brazil

Data on the seroprevalences of Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, and P. malariae in four isolated Indian tribes of the Amazon basin in Brazil, as determined by IFAT, were re-analysed. Age-, sex- and tribe-specific geometric mean antibody titres and externally standardized prevalence ratios were calculated for each parasite species. Correlation coefficients and prevalence odds ratios were also calculated for multiple infections with different combinations of the three Plasmodium species. Titres of all but one of the antibodies studied were similar in males and females; titres of antibodies to the blood stages of P. malariae were slightly higher in females than in males. Titres of antibodies to all three Plasmodium species increased with subject age, and this age effect was not confounded by sex or tribal differences. There were striking differences between tribes, with the Parakana tribe having relatively low titres of antibodies against P. falciparum and P. malariae; these tribal effects were not confounded by sex or age differences between tribes. The results indicate that conditions conductive to the transmission of P. malariae exist in this region of the Amazon. The potential for zoonotic transmission of P. brasilianum, a parasite of monkeys which is morphologically similar to P. malarie, and the generally high rates of seropositivity to all three species of Plasmodium indicate that control measures which are adequate and applicable to the region studied need to be developed.

Diagnostic imaging and surgical treatment of dumbbell tumors of the mediastinum

We describe the diagnostic procedures and surgical approaches employed in 5 patients with dumbbell tumors of the mediastinum. Magnetic resonance imaging accurately described the existence and longitudinal extension of the intraspinal component of the tumor and assisted in choosing the appropriate surgical approach. Both the intrathoracic and intraspinal components of the tumor were resected at one time by a thoracic and neurosurgical team. We employed the Grillo technique three times and a separate laminectomy and thoracotomy approach. Magnetic resonance imaging proved the most useful diagnostic technique for suspected dumbbell mediastinal tumors. In our experience, the extended thoracotomy proposed by Grillo and co-workers worked well for small tumors involving only one foramen in which the intraspinal extension was limited to 2 to 3 cm, and when no more than two laminectomies were required. On the other hand, thoracotomy and a longitudinal paravertebral incision are preferable for larger tumors (more than 4 cm) involving more than one foramen in which the intraspinal extension exceeds 2 to 3 cm, for tumors requiring multiple laminectomy, and when bony infiltration is present.

The role of intravascular coagulation in pregnancy related acute renal failure

Pregnancy-related acute renal failure (ARF) can include reversible tubular necrosis as well as irreversible cortical necrosis. Though pathogenetic mechanism are not fully understood, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) probably plays a primary role. We report 25 cases of pregnancy-related ARF: 13 were associated with preeclampsia or eclampsia and 12 with obstetric complications. The following parameters were studied: partial thromboplastin, prothrombin and thrombin time, fibrinogen, anti-thrombin III and FDP levels, platelet count, whole blood clot lysis time and area, fragmented red cells (schistocytes) in the blood smear, hemoglobin, aptoglobin and LDH concentrations. DIC was scored in arbitrary units ranging from 12 to 36 and related to the clinical picture, renal outcome and the treatment employed. Five patients had irreversible renal damage, while 19 recovered fully; one patient died and no renal histology was available. The DIC score did not seem to have a significant relation to the severity of renal damage.