Andrea Marcantonio

Functional and morphological vascular changes in pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been consistently found to be associated with features of the metabolic syndrome (MS), a condition carrying a high risk of cardiovascular events. The present study aimed to determine whether, in children and adolescents, NAFLD is atherogenic beyond its association with MS and its components. We assessed both flow‐mediated dilation of the brachial artery (FMD) and carotid intima‐media thickness (cIMT), along with lipid profile, glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (CRPHS), in 250 obese children, 100 with and 150 without NAFLD, and 150 healthy normal‐weight children. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasound examination and persistently elevated alanine aminotransferase, after exclusion of infectious and metabolic disorders. Compared to controls and children without liver involvement, those with ultrasound‐diagnosed NAFLD (and elevated alanine aminotransferase) demonstrated significantly impaired FMD and increased cIMT. Patients with NAFLD had more features of MS and elevated CRPHS levels. In addition, percent FMD was remarkably reduced, whereas cIMT was increased in obese children with MS compared to those without MS. Using logistic regression analysis, the presence of NAFLD was found to be an independent predictor of low percent FMD (odds ratio, 2.25 [95% confidence interval, 1.29 to 3.92]; P = 0.004) as well as of increased cIMT (1.98 [1.16 to 3.36]; P = 0.031), after adjustment for age, gender, Tanner stage, and presence of MS. When we analyzed the relations between cIMT and measures of FMD in patients with NAFLD, the disease was associated with increased cIMT in children with impaired FMD status. Conclusion: The presence of liver disease entails more severe functional and anatomic changes in the arterial wall. Its detection may help identify individuals with increased cardiometabolic risk. (HEPATOLOGY 2010.)

Ultrasound evaluation of liver fibrosis: preliminary experience with acoustic structure quantification (ASQ) software.

PurposeThe aim of our study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of acoustic structure quantification (ASQ) ultrasound software in estimating the degree of hepatic fibrosis compared to Fibroscan and liver biopsy.Materials and methodsSeventy-seven patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C underwent standard ultrasound examination, ASQ, Fibroscan and liver biopsy. ASQ analysis was conducted by placing a single region of interest (ROI) on each image captured, and calculating mode, average and standard deviation. The sonographic technique was developed through a preliminary evaluation of 20 healthy volunteers.ResultsThe area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve for the diagnosis of cirrhosis (F≥4) with ASQ was 0.77, whereas for the diagnosis of any degree of fibrosis (F≥1) it was 0.71. The AUROC for the diagnosis of cirrhosis (F≥4) with Fibroscan was 0.98, while for the diagnosis of any degree of fibrosis (F≥1) it was 0.94. The difference between the AUROC was statistically significant (p<0.05).ConclusionsASQ is a promising new ultrasound software programme which offers encouraging results in the diagnosis of both liver cirrhosis (F=4) and fibrosis (F≥1). However, to date it has not attained the same level of diagnostic performance as Fibroscan.RiassuntoObiettivoScopo del nostro studio è stato valutare l’accuratezza diagnostica del software ecografico acoustic structure quantification (ASQ) nella stima del grado di fibrosi epatica, ponendolo a confronto con Fibroscan e con la biopsia epatica.Materiali e metodiSono stati arruolati 77 pazienti affetti da epatite virale cronica B e C, che sono stati sottoposti ad esame ecografico standard, ASQ, Fibroscan e biopsia epatica. L’analisi ASQ è stata condotta posizionando una singola regione di interesse (ROI) per immagine, su tutte le immagini acquisite, calcolando moda, media e deviazione standard. La tecnica ecografica è stata messa a punto attraverso una valutazione preliminare su 20 volontari sani.RisultatiL’area sottesa alla curva receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) per diagnosi di cirrosi (F≥4) con ASQ è risultata 0,77 mentre per diagnosi di fibrosi di qualsiasi grado (F≥1) è stata 0,71. L’AUROC per la diagnosi di cirrosi (F≥4) con Fibroscan è risultata 0,98 mentre per la diagnosi di fibrosi di qualsiasi grado (F≥1) è stata 0,94. La differenza tra le due AUROC è risultata statisticamente significativa (p<0,05).ConclusioniL’ASQ è un nuovo e promettente software ecografico che presenta risultati incoraggianti sia nella diagnosi di cirrosi epatica (F=4) che nella diagnosi di fibrosi (F≥1). Attualmente tuttavia ancora non sono state raggiunte le performance diagnostiche del Fibroscan.

Differentiation of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy from Other Forms of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy by Means of Three-Dimensional Echocardiography

In clinical practice, differential diagnosis among different forms of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is not always easy, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) can be misdiagnosed. In this study, it was hypothesized that a 3-dimensional echocardiographically derived index of LV regional mass distribution could be useful in differentiating HC from other forms of LV hypertrophy. Sixty-eight subjects underwent 2- and 3-dimensional echocardiography; of these, 20 were healthy volunteers, 18 were top-level athletes, 15 had essential hypertension, and 15 had HC. In off-line analysis, a 12-segment model was generated for segmental mass measurement. A mass dispersion index (MDI) was calculated as the average of the SDs of segmental mass values at the basal, middle, and apical layers. The ratio of ventricular septal thickness to posterior wall thickness was also calculated using 2-dimensional echocardiography. Patients with HC had significantly higher MDI values (1.75 +/- 0.43) than healthy volunteers (0.39 +/- 0.13) (p <0.0001), athletes (0.49 +/- 0.12) (p <0.0001), and patients with hypertension (0.38 +/- 0.10) (p <0.0001). The ratio of ventricular septal thickness to posterior wall thickness was significantly higher in patients with HC (1.31 +/- 0.23) than normal subjects (1.04 +/- 0.05) (p <0.0001), highly trained athletes (1.03 +/- 0.06) (p = 0.001), and patients with hypertension (1.06 +/- 0.06) (p = 0.002). However, receiver-operating characteristic analysis showed a higher sensitivity for MDI (93.3% for the cut-off value of 1.13) than the ratio of ventricular septal thickness to posterior wall thickness (66.7% for the cut-off value of 1.20), with excellent specificity for both (100%) in identifying patients with HC. In conclusion, the 3-dimensional echocardiographically derived MDI could be considered a useful and reliable additional tool in differentiating HC from other forms of LV hypertrophy.

In vivo 3D neuroanatomical evaluation of periprostatic nerve plexus with 3T-MR Diffusion Tensor Imaging

OBJECTIVES To evaluate if Diffusion Tensor Imaging technique (DTI) can improve the visualization of periprostatic nerve fibers describing the location and distribution of entire neurovascular plexus around the prostate in patients who are candidates for prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), including a 2D T2-weighted FSE sequence in 3 planes, 3D T2-weighted and DTI using 16 gradient directions and b=0 and 1000, was performed on 36 patients. Three out of 36 patients were excluded from the analysis due to poor image quality (blurring N=2, artifact N=1). The study was approved by local ethics committee and all patients gave an informed consent. Images were evaluated by two radiologists with different experience in MRI. DTI images were analyzed qualitatively using dedicated software. Also 2D and 3D T2 images were independently considered. RESULTS 3D-DTI allowed description of the entire plexus of the periprostatic nerve fibers in all directions, while 2D and 3D T2 morphological sequences depicted part of the fibers, in a plane by plane analysis of fiber courses. DTI demonstrated in all patients the dispersion of nerve fibers around the prostate on both sides including the significant percentage present in the anterior and anterolateral sectors. CONCLUSIONS DTI offers optimal representation of the widely distributed periprostatic plexus. If validated, it may help guide nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy.

Use of Multiparametric MR with Neurovascular Bundle Evaluation to Optimize the Oncological and Functional Management of Patients Considered for Nerve-Sparing Radical Prostatectomy

INTRODUCTION To obtain the best results with radical prostatectomy, either from an oncological or a functional point of view, a correct selection of cases and planning of surgery are crucial. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) promises to make it a successful imaging tool for improving many aspects of prostate cancer management. AIM The aim of this study is to evaluate whether a modern multiparametric MRI can help either to better select prostate cancer cases for a nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy or to improve the functional evaluation related to neurovascular bundles preservation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The effect of preoperative MRI on neurovascular bundle management was examined for the frequency and the appropriateness of changes of the surgical plane on the basis of MRI indications. METHODS In a prospective study, 125 consecutive patients with biopsy proven prostate cancer who were scheduled to undergo bilateral nerve-sparing surgery. All patients included into the study were submitted to a preoperative multiparametric MRI. On the basis of MRI evaluation, patients were divided into two groups. Patients in group A were then submitted to a bilateral nerve-sparing (NS) radical prostatectomy (RP), whereas patients in group B were submitted to unilateral NS or non-NS RP. RESULTS In group A, the confirmation from the MRI study to perform a bilateral NS procedure was appropriate in 70 of 73 cases (95.9%), whereas in group B, the surgical plan was appropriate in 28 of 32 cases (87.5%). On the contrary, MRI findings suggested a change in the initial surgical plan (group B) for 32 of 105 cases (30.5%). Of these 32 cases in group B, MRI suggested to perform a unilateral NS procedure in 21 of 32 cases (65.6%) and a non-NS procedure in 11 of 32 cases (34.4%). CONCLUSIONS Multiparametric MRI analysis can significantly improve the standard selection and management of prostate carcinoma cases considered for an NS RP.

Tomographic left ventricular volumetric emptying analysis by real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography: influence of left ventricular dysfunction with and without electrical dyssynchrony.

Background—The sequence of left ventricular (LV) systolic emptying is not completely understood. Using real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography, we investigated this sequence and LV synchronicity in physiological and pathological conditions. Methods and Results—The study population consisted of 116 healthy volunteers, 20 top-level athletes, 35 patients with LV dysfunction, and 84 patients with LV dysfunction and left bundle-branch block (LBBB). We subdivided the LV into 16 volumetric segments for regional analysis and into apical, middle, and basal regions to calculate the mean of end-systolic times and the time to minimum systolic volume of each region. In healthy volunteers and in top-level athletes, the emptying systolic times increased smoothly from apex to base. These differences determined an apex-to-base time gradient in the LV emptying sequence. In patients with LV dysfunction and without LBBB, this gradient was maintained with a relatively higher LV dyssynchrony. However, in patients with LV dysfunction and LBBB, there was no clear sequence in LV emptying volumes, and this group had the highest LV dyssynchrony. Conclusions—Real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography tomographic slicing of the LV enables accurate analysis of LV emptying in physiological conditions and in conditions of LV dysfunction with and without electrical dyssynchrony. Progressive dilation of LV produces deterioration in LV synchronicity. However, it is the presence of LV dysfunction in combination with LBBB that determines the loss of the apex-to-base time gradient in LV emptying.

Short-term evolution (9 months) of aortic atheroma in patients with or without embolic events: a follow-up transoesophageal echocardiographic study

AIMS The influence of clinical risk factors and therapeutic options on aortic plaque changes is unknown. In this study, we have evaluated aortic atheroma (AA) evolution in patients with and without embolic events. METHODS AND RESULTS We enrolled 83 patients (mean age 67.9+/-8.6 years). All patients were studied with transoesophageal echocardiography at baseline and 9 months after enrolment. Baseline atherosclerotic plaques were defined as uncomplicated (between 1 and 3.9 mm) and complicated aortic plaques (>or=4 mm). To minimize sub-millimetre errors in plaque evolution, AA progression was defined as an increase in maximal plaque thickness>or=1 mm. Similarly, regression was defined as a decrease in maximal thickness of atheromatous plaque>or=1 mm. Aortic plaques were classified as uncomplicated in 20.5% and complicated in 79.5% of patients. Fifty-five plaques (47.8%), both complicated and uncomplicated, remained unchanged. Conversely, 16 plaques (13.9%) increased (mean plaque thickness from 3.94+/-1.39 to 5.56+/-1.41 mm, P<0.001) and 44 (38.3%) decreased (mean plaque thickness from 5.25+/-1.52 to 3.79+/-1.53 mm, P<0.001). Multinomial logistic regression procedure suggests that statins increase the probability of plaque thickness reduction (OR 5.92, 95% CI 1.27-27.7, P=0.024) and decrease the probability of plaque progression (OR 0.03, 95% CI 0.01-0.28, P=0.002). CONCLUSION This study suggests that statins may reduce the risk of AA progression.

Isolated left ventricular noncompaction in a case of sotos syndrome: a casual or causal link?

A 16-year-old boy affected by Sotos syndrome was referred to our clinic for cardiac evaluation in order to play noncompetitive sport. Physical examination was negative for major cardiac abnormalities and rest electrocardiogram detected only minor repolarization anomalies. Transthoracic echocardiography showed left ventricular wall thickening and apical trabeculations with deep intertrabecular recesses, fulfilling criteria for isolated left ventricular noncompaction (ILVNC). Some sporadic forms of ILVNC are reported to be caused by a mutation on CSX gene, mapping on chromosome 5q35. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient affected simultaneously by Sotos syndrome and ILVNC.