Role of advanced imaging techniques in the evaluation of oncological therapies in patients with colorectal liver metastases

In patients with colorectal liver metastasis(CRLMs)unsuitable for surgery,oncological treatments,such as chemotherapy and targeted agents,can be performed.Cross-sectional imaging[computed tomography(CT),magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),18-fluorodexoyglucose positron emission tomography with CT/MRI]evaluates the response of CRLMs to therapy,using post-treatment lesion shrinkage as a qualitative imaging parameter.This point is critical because the risk of toxicity induced by oncological treatments is not always balanced by an effective response to them.Consequently,there is a pressing need to define biomarkers that can predict treatment responses and estimate the likelihood of drug resistance in individual patients.Advanced quantitative imaging(diffusionweighted imaging,perfusion imaging,molecular imaging)allows the in vivo evaluation of specific biological tissue features described as quantitative parameters.Furthermore,radiomics can represent large amounts of numerical and statistical information buried inside cross-sectional images as quantitative parameters.As a result,parametric analysis(PA)translates the numerical data contained in the voxels of each image into quantitative parameters representative of peculiar neoplastic features such as perfusion,structural heterogeneity,cellularity,oxygenation,and glucose consumption.PA could be a potentially useful imaging marker for predicting CRLMs treatment response.This review describes the role of PA applied to cross-sectional imaging in predicting the response to oncological therapies in patients with CRLMs.

Managements of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation: A systematic review

AIM: To investigate the efficacy(survival) and safety of treatments for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in liver transplantation(LT) patients.METHODS: Literature search was performed on available online databases without a time limit until January 2015. Clinical studies describing survival after HCC recurrence in LT patients were retrieved for a fulltext evaluation. A total of 61 studies were selected: 13 case reports, 41 retrospective case series, and 7 retrospective comparative studies.RESULTS: Based on all included studies, the mean HCC recurrence rate was 16% of all LTs for HCC. A total of 1021 LT patients experienced HCC recurrence. The median time from LT to HCC recurrence was 13 mo(range 2-132 mo). The majority of patients(67%) presented with HCC extra-hepatic recurrences, involving lung, bone, adrenal gland, peritoneal lymph nodes, and rarely the brain. Overall survival after HCC recurrence was 12.97 mo. Surgical resection of localized HCC recurrence and Sorafenib for controlling systemic spread of HCC recurrence were associated with the higher survival rates(42 and 18 mo, res-pectively). However, Sorafenib, especially when combined with m TOR, was frequently associated with severe side effects that required dose reduction or discontinuation CONCLUSION: Management of recurrent HCC in LT patients is challenging and associated with poor prognosis independently of the type of treatment.

Computed tomography findings of pneumatosis and portomesenteric venous gas in acute bowel ischemia

AIM:To use more representative sample size to evaluate whether computed tomography(CT)scan evidence of the concomitant presence of pneumatosis and portomesenteric venous gas is a predictor of transmural bowel necrosis.METHODS:Data from 208 patients who were referred for a diagnosis of bowel ischemia were retrospectively reviewed.Only patients who underwent a surgical intervention following a diagnosis of bowel ischemia who also had a post-operative histological confirmation of such a diagnosis were included.Patients were split into two groups according to the presence of histological evidence of transmural bowel ischemia(case group)or partial bowel ischemia(control group).CT images were reviewed for findings of ischemia,including mural thickening,pneumatosis,bowel distension,portomesenteric venous gas and arterial or venous thrombi.RESULTS:A total of 248 subjects who underwent surgery for bowel ischemia were identified.Among the208 subjects enrolled in our study,transmural bowel necrosis was identified in 121 subjects(case group),and partial bowel necrosis was identified in 87 subjects(control group).Based on CT findings,including mural thickening,bowel distension,pneumatosis,pneumatosis plus portomesenteric venous gas and presence of thrombi or emboli,there were no significant differences between the case and control groups.The concomitant presence of pneumatosis and porto-mesenteric venous gas showed an odds ratio of 1.95(95%CI:0.491-7.775,P=0.342)for the presence of transmural necrosis.The presence of pneumatosis plus porto-mesenteric venous gas exhibited good specificity(83%)but low sensitivity(17%)in the identification of transmural bowel infarction.Accordingly,the positive and negative predictive values were 60% and 17%,respectively.CONCLUSION:Although pneumatosis plus porto-mesenteric venous gas is associated with bowel ischemia,we have demonstrated that their co-occurrence cannot be used as diagnostic signs of transmural necrosis.

Role of colonoscopy in the diagnostic work-up of bowel endometriosis

AIM:To evaluate the accuracy of colonoscopy for the prediction of intestinal involvement in deep pelvic endometriosis.METHODS:This prospective observational study was performed between September 2011 and July 2014.Only women with both a clinical and imaging diagnosis of deep pelvic endometriosis were included.The study was approved by the local ethics committee and written informed consent was obtained in all cases.Both colonoscopy and laparoscopy were performed by expert surgeons with a high level of expertise with these techniques.Laparoscopy was performed within4 wk of colonoscopic examination.All hypothetical colonoscopy findings(eccentric wall thickening with or without surface nodularities and polypoid lesions with or without surface nodularities of endometriosis)were compared with laparoscopic and histological findings.We calculated the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value for the presence of colonoscopic findings of intestinal endometriosis.RESULTS:A total of 174 consecutive women aged between 21-42 years with a diagnosis of deep pelvic endometriosis who underwent colonoscopy andsurgical intervention were included in our analysis.In 76 of the women(43.6%),intestinal endometrial implants were found at surgery and histopathological examination.Specifically,38 of the 76 lesions(50%)were characterized by the presence of serosal bowel nodules;28 of the 76 lesions(36.8%)reached the muscularis layer;8 of the 76 lesions(10.5%)reached the submucosa;and 2 of the 76 lesions(2.6%)reached the mucosa.Colonoscopic findings suggestive of intestinal endometriosis were detected in 7 of the174(4%)examinations.Colonoscopy failed to diagnose intestinal endometriosis in 70 of the 76 women(92.1%).A colonoscopic diagnosis of endometriosis was obtained in all cases of mucosal involvement,in 3of 8 cases(37.5%)of submucosal involvement,in no cases of muscularis layer involvement and in 1 of 38cases(2.6%)of serosa involvement.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive and negative predictive values of colonoscopy for the diagnosis of intestinal endometriosis were 7%,98%,85%and 58%,respectively.CONCLUSION:Being an invasive procedure,colonoscopy should not be routinely performed in the diagnostic work-up of bowel endometriosis.

Varicocele repair in severe oligozoospermia: A case report of post-operative azoospermia

Varicocele has been implicated as a cause in 35%-50% of patients with primary infertility and up to 81% of men with secondary infertility. Although a large number of reports have shown improvement in the semen parameters after correction of varicocele, other studies have suggested no benefit. We report the first case of azoospermia after surgery in a young infertile male patient with left-sided varicocele and severe oligozoospermia undergoing laparoscopic varicocelectomy. A pregnancy was only achieved with assisted reproductive technology because semen cryopreservation was performed before surgery. In the light of the above, the deterioration of sperm count after varicocele repair in patients with severe oligozoospermia could be due to irreversible impairment of spermatogenesis of such patients, together with the possible temporary damage of the surgical repair. This possible complication could therefore turn the severe oligozoospermia into an indication to perform cryopreservation before surgery, on both clinical and medico-legal grounds. Further research is needed before drawing definitive conclusions regarding the management of varicocele-related severe oligozoospermia.

Percutaneous electrochemotherapy in the treatment of portal vein tumor thrombosis at hepatic hilum in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis: A feasibility study

AIM To treated with electrochemotherapy(ECT) a prospective case series of patients with liver cirrhosis and Vp3-Vp4- portal vein tumor thrombus(PVTT) from hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), in order to evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of this new non thermal ablative technique in those patients. METHODS Six patients(5 males and 1 female), aged 61-85 years(mean age, 70 years), four in Child-Pugh A and two in Child-Pugh B class, entered our study series. All patients were studied with three-phase computed tomography(CT), contrast enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) and ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy of the thrombus before ECT. All patients underwent ECT treatment(Cliniporator Vitae?, IGEA Sp A, Carpi, Modena, Italy) of Vp3-Vp4 PVTT in a single session. At the end of the procedure a post-treatment biopsy of the thrombus was performed. Scheduled follow-up in all patients entailed: CEUS within 24 h after treatment; triphasic contrastenhanced CT and CEUS at 3 mo after treatment and every six months thereafter.RESULTS Post-treatment CEUS showed complete absence of enhancement of the treated thrombus in all cases. Post-treatment biopsy showed apoptosis and necrosis of tumor cells in all cases. The follow-up ranged from 9 to 20 mo(median, 14 mo). In 2 patients, the followup CT and CEUS demonstrated complete patency of the treated portal vein. Other 3 patients showed a persistent avascular non-tumoral shrinked thrombus at CEUS and CT during follow-up. No local recurrence was observed at follow-up CT and CEUS in 5/6 patients. One patient was lost to follow-up because of death from gastrointestinal hemorrage 5 wk after ECT. CONCLUSION In patients with cirrhosis, ECT seems effective and safe for curative treatment of Vp3-Vp4 PVTT from HCC.

Nuclear imaging in detection and monitoring of cardiotoxicity

Cardiotoxicity as a result of cancer treatment is a novel and serious public health issue that has a significant impact on a cancer patient’s management and outcome.The coexistence of cancer and cardiac disease in the same patient is more common because of aging population and improvements in the efficacy of antitumor agents.Left ventricular dysfunction is the most typical manifestation and can lead to heart failure.Left ventricular ejection fraction measurement by echocardiography and multigated radionuclide angiography is the most common diagnostic approach to detect cardiac damage,but it identifies a late manifestation of myocardial injury.Early non-invasive imaging techniques are needed for the diagnosis and monitoringof cardiotoxic effects.Although echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance are the most commonly used imaging techniques for cardiotoxicity assessment,greater attention is focused on new nuclear cardiologic techniques,which can identify high-risk patients in the early stage and visualize the pathophysiologic process at the tissue level before clinical manifestation.The aim of this review is to summarize the role of nuclear imaging techniques in the non-invasive detection of myocardial damage related to antineoplastic therapy at the reversible stage,focusing on the current role and future perspectives of nuclear imaging techniques and molecular radiotracers in detection and monitoring of cardiotoxicity.

Colorectal cancer: Parametric evaluation of morphological,functional and molecular tomographic imaging

Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents one of the leading causes of tumor-related deaths worldwide. Among the various tools at physicians’ disposal for the diagnostic management of the disease, tomographic imaging (e.g., CT, MRI, and hybrid PET imaging) is considered essential. The qualitative and subjective evaluation of tomographic images is the main approach used to obtain valuable clinical information, although this strategy suffers from both intrinsic and operator-dependent limitations. More recently, advanced imaging techniques have been developed with the aim of overcoming these issues. Such techniques, such as diffusion-weighted MRI and perfusion imaging, were designed for the “in vivo” evaluation of specific biological tissue features in order to describe them in terms of quantitative parameters, which could answer questions difficult to address with conventional imaging alone (e.g., questions related to tissue characterization and prognosis). Furthermore, it has been observed that a large amount of numerical and statistical information is buried inside tomographic images, resulting in their invisibility during conventional assessment. This information can be extracted and represented in terms of quantitative parameters through different processes (e.g., texture analysis). Numerous researchers have focused their work on the significance of these quantitative imaging parameters for the management of CRC patients. In this review, we aimed to focus on evidence reported in the academic literature regarding the application of parametric imaging to the diagnosis, staging and prognosis of CRC while discussing future perspectives and present limitations. While the transition from purely anatomical to quantitative tomographic imaging appears achievable for CRC diagnostics, some essential milestones, such as scanning and analysis standardization and the definition of robust cut-off values, must be achieved before quantitative tomographic imaging can be incorporated into daily clinical practice.

Contrast enhanced multi-detector CT and MR findings of a well-differentiated pancreatic vipoma

Pancreatic vipoma is an extremely rare tumor accounting for less than 2% of endocrine pancreatic neoplasms with a reported incidence of 0.1-0.6 per million. While cross-sectional imaging findings are usually not specific, exact localization of the tumor by means of either computed tomography(CT) or magnetic resonance(MR) is pivotal for surgical planning. However, cross-sectional imaging findings are usually not specific and further characterization of the tumor may only be achieved bysomatostatin-receptor scintigraphy(SRS). We report the case of a 70 years old female with a two years history of watery diarrhoea who was found to have a solid, inhomogeneously enhancing lesion at the level of the pancreatic tail at Gadolinium-enhanced MR(Somatom Trio 3T, Siemens, Germany). The tumor had been prospectively overlooked at a contrast-enhanced multi-detector CT(Aquilion 64, Toshiba, Japan) performed after i.v. bolus injection of only 100 cc of iodinated non ionic contrast media because of a chronic renal failure(3.4 mg/mL) but it was subsequently confirmed by SRS. The patient first underwent a successful symptomatic treatment with somatostatin analogues and was then submitted to a distal pancreasectomy with splenectomy to remove a capsulated whitish tumor which turned out to be a well-differentiated vipoma at histological and immuno-histochemical analysis.

Role of nuclear cardiology for guiding device therapy in patients with heart failure

Heart failure is a dynamic condition with high morbidity and mortality and its prognosis should be reassessed frequently, particularly in patients for whom critical treatment decisions may depend on the results of prognostication. In patients with heart failure, nuclear cardiology techniques are useful to establish the etiology and the severity of the disease, while fewer studies have explored the potential capability of nuclear cardiology to guide cardiac resynchronization therapy(CRT) and to select patients for implantable cardioverter defibrillators(ICD). Left ventricular synchrony may be assessed by radionuclide angiography or gated singlephoton emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. These modalities have shown promise as predictors of CRT outcome using phase analysis. Combined assessment of myocardial viability and left ventricular dyssynchrony is feasible using positron emission tomography and could improve conventional response prediction criteria for CRT. Preliminary data also exists on integrated positron emission tomography/computed tomography approach for assessing myocardial viability, identifying the location of biventricular pacemaker leads, and obtaining left ventricular functional data, including contractile phase analysis. Finally, cardiac imaging with autonomic radiotracers may be useful in predicting CRT response and for identifying patients at risk for sudden cardiac death, therefore potentially offering a way to select patients for both CRT and ICD therapy. Prospective trials where imaging is combined with image-test driven therapy are needed to better define the role of nuclear cardiology for guiding device therapy in patients with heart failure.

Current applications of big data and machine learning in cardiology

Machine learning (ML) is a software solution with the ability of making predictions without prior explicit programming, aiding in the analysis of large amounts of data. These algorithms can be trained through supervised or unsupervised learning. Cardiology is one of the fields of medicine with the highest interest in its applications. They can facilitate every step of patient care, reducing the margin of error and contributing to precision medicine. In particular, ML has been proposed for cardiac imaging applications such as automated computation of scores, differentiation of prognostic phenotypes, quantification of heart function and segmentation of the heart. These tools have also demonstrated the capability of performing early and accurate detection of anomalies in electrocardiographic exams. ML algorithms can also contribute to cardiovascular risk assessment in different settings and perform predictions of cardiovascular events. Another interesting research avenue in this field is represented by genomic assessment of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, ML could aid in making earlier diagnosis of disease, develop patient-tailored therapies and identify predictive characteristics in different pathologic conditions, leading to precision cardiology.

A rare case of acute compartment syndrome after saphenectomy

Saphenectomy is one of the most validated criteria to treat varicose veins of the lower legs. Although many complications were well described, little is known about compartment syndrome due to muscle ischemia caused by constrictive bandages applied after stripping of varicose veins. We presented a case of successful conservative treatment of compartment syndrome after saphenectomy. Rehabilitation was found effective in improving fatigue, stiffness and tenderness showing the effectiveness of the combined conservative-rehabilitative treatment. However conservative treatment could not be considered the treatment of choice in daily practice. A severity score assessment of compartment syndrome should be useful to assess to which patients is allowed to not perform fasciotomy.

A vaginal drain of a pelvic abscess due to colonic diverticulitis

Although well recognized for tubo-ovarian abscesses, we report, in our best knowledge, the first case of a vaginal drain of a pelvic abscess due to colonic diverticulitis. A 78-year-old patient presented with abdominal and pelvic pain, fever(39.3 ℃) and an elevated white blood cell count(18500/mL). After abdominopelvic computed tomography the patient was presumed to have a pelvic abscess, which developed as a complication of the sigmoid diverticulitis. Due to the numerous intervening structures that create obstacles to safe percutaneous access, we planned a trans-vaginal drain. A rapid recovery was obtained within 2 d from the procedure and, at present, the follow-up was uneventful after 18 mo. We believe that transvaginal drain of pelvic abscess could be a useful alternative, when percutaneous approach is not feasible.

Very late bioresorbable scaffold thrombosis and reoccurrence of dissection two years later chronic total occlusion recanalization of the left anterior descending artery

We describe the case of a patient presenting with STsegment elevation myocardial infarction due to very late scaffold thrombosis. The patient was already admitted for an elective percutaneous recanalization of a chronically occluded left anterior descending artery(LAD). The procedure was performed according the subintimal tracking and re-entry(STAR) technique with 4 bioresorbable vascular scaffolds implantation. However, even though the coronary flow was preserved at the end of the procedure, the dissected segment was only partially sealed at the distal segment of the LAD. After 18 mo of regular assumption, dual antiplatelet therapy was discontinued for 10 mo before his presentation at the emergency room. This is the first reported case of a very late scaffold thrombosis after coronary chronic total occlusion(CTO) recanalization performed according to the STAR technique. This case raises concerns about the risk of very late scaffold thrombosis after complex CTO revascularization.

Prognostic role of sarcopenia in metastatic colorectal cancer patients during first-line chemotherapy:A retrospective study

BACKGROUND Sarcopenia is a condition characterized by decreased skeletal muscle mass due to physiological ageing or to a concomitant disease such as neoplasia.In cancer patients,a low lean body mass is suggested to be a negative prognostic factor for survival and for the development of dose-limiting chemotherapy toxicities irrespective of disease stage.AIM To evaluate the prognostic role of sarcopenia in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer(mCRC)undergoing first-line chemotherapy.METHODS Our retrospective analysis included 56 mCRC patients who received first-line chemotherapy from 2014 to 2017 at the Medical Oncology Unit of our hospital.Computerized scans were performed before starting chemotherapy and at the first disease reassessment.Sarcopenia was assessed using the skeletal mass index=muscle area in cm^(2)/(height in m^(2))calculated at the L3 vertebra.Overall survival and objective response rate were evaluated.Toxicities were analyzed during the first four cycles of therapy and graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0.A loss of skeletal muscle mass≥5%was considered indicative of deterioration in muscle condition.RESULTS Median age was 67 years and 35.7%of patients were≥70 years old.Fourteen patients(25%)were sarcopenic at baseline computed tomography(CT)scan(7/33 men;7/23 women);5/14 sarcopenic patients were≥70 years old.Median followup was 26.8 mo(3.8-66.8 mo)and median overall survival was 27.2 mo(95%CI:23.3-37.3).Sarcopenia was not correlated to overall survival(P=0.362),to higher toxicities reported during the first 4 cycles of chemotherapy(P=1.0)or to response to treatment(P=0.221).At the first disease reassessment,a skeletal muscle loss(SML)≥5%was found in 17 patients(30.3%)3 of whom were already sarcopenic at baseline CT scan,while 7 patients became sarcopenic.SML was not correlated to overall survival(P=0.961).No statistically significant correlation was found between baseline sarcopenia and age(P=1.0),body mass index(P=0.728),stage at diagnosis(P=0.355)or neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio(P=0.751).CONCLUSION Neither baseline sarcopenia nor SML affected survival.In addition,baseline sarcopenia was not related to worse treatment toxicity.However,these results must be interpreted with caution due to the limited sample size.

Current trends of artificial intelligence in cancer imaging

In this editorial,we discussed the current research status of artificial intelligence(AI)in Oncology,reviewing the basics of machine learning(ML)and deep learning(DL)techniques and their emerging applications on clinical and imaging cancer workflow.The growing amounts of available“big data”coupled to the increasing computational power have enabled the development of computerbased systems capable to perform advanced tasks in many areas of clinical care,especially in medical imaging.ML is a branch of data science that allows the creation of computer algorithms that can learn and make predictions without prior instructions.DL is a subgroup of artificial neural network algorithms configurated to automatically extract features and perform high-level tasks;convolutional neural networks are the most common DL models used in medical image analysis.AI methods have been proposed in many areas of oncology granting promising results in radiology-based clinical applications.In detail,we explored the emerging applications of AI in oncological risk assessment,lesion detection,characterization,staging,and therapy response.Critical issues such as the lack of reproducibility and generalizability need to be addressed to fully implement AI systems in clinical practice.Nevertheless,AI impact on cancer imaging has been driving the shift of oncology towards a precision diagnostics and personalized cancer treatment.

Autoimmune liver diseases and SARS-CoV-2

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),causing coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),can trigger autoimmunity in genetically predisposed individuals through hyperstimulation of immune response and molecular mimicry.Here we summarise the current knowledge about autoimmune liver diseases(AILDs)and SARS-CoV-2,focusing on:(1)The risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the course of COVID-19 in patients affected by AILDs;(2)the role of SARS-CoV-2 in inducing liver damage and triggering AILDs;and(3)the ability of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 to induce autoimmune responses in the liver.Data derived from the literature suggest that patients with AILDs do not carry an increased risk of SARS-Cov-2 infection but may develop a more severe course of COVID-19 if on treatment with steroids or thiopurine.Although SARSCoV-2 infection can lead to the development of several autoimmune diseases,few reports correlate it to the appearance of de novo manifestation of immunemediated liver diseases such as autoimmune hepatitis(AIH),primary biliary cholangitis(PBC)or AIH/PBC overlap syndrome.Different case series of an AIHlike syndrome with a good prognosis after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination have been described.Although the causal link between SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and AIH cannot be definitively established,these reports suggest that this association could be more than coincidental.

Radiomics and machine learning applications in rectal cancer:Current update and future perspectives

The high incidence of rectal cancer in both sexes makes it one of the most common tumors,with significant morbidity and mortality rates.To define the best treatment option and optimize patient outcome,several rectal cancer biological variables must be evaluated.Currently,medical imaging plays a crucial role in the characterization of this disease,and it often requires a multimodal approach.Magnetic resonance imaging is the first-choice imaging modality for local staging and restaging and can be used to detect high-risk prognostic factors.Computed tomography is widely adopted for the detection of distant metastases.However,conventional imaging has recognized limitations,and many rectal cancer characteristics remain assessable only after surgery and histopathology evaluation.There is a growing interest in artificial intelligence applications in medicine,and imaging is by no means an exception.The introduction of radiomics,which allows the extraction of quantitative features that reflect tumor heterogeneity,allows the mining of data in medical images and paved the way for the identification of potential new imaging biomarkers.To manage such a huge amount of data,the use of machine learning algorithms has been proposed.Indeed,without prior explicit programming,they can be employed to build prediction models to support clinical decision making.In this review,current applications and future perspectives of artificial intelligence in medical imaging of rectal cancer are presented,with an imaging modality-based approach and a keen eye on unsolved issues.The results are promising,but the road ahead for translation in clinical practice is rather long.

Bariatric surgery and diabetes remission: Sleeve gastrectomy or mini-gastric bypass?

AIM:To investigate the weight loss and glycemic control status[blood glucose,hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c)and hypoglycaemic treatment].METHODS:The primary risk factor for type 2 diabetes is obesity,and 90%of all patients with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese.Although a remarkable effect of bariatric surgery is the profound and durable resolution of type 2 diabetes clinical manifestations,little is known about the difference among various weight loss surgical procedures on diabetes remission.Data from patients referred during a 3-year period(from January2009 to December 2011)to the University of Naples"FedericoⅡ"diagnosed with obesity and diabetes were retrieved from a prospective database.The patients were split into two groups according to the surgical intervention performed[sleeve gastrectomy(SG)and mini-gastric bypass(MGB)].Weight loss and glycemic control status(blood glucose,HbA1c and hypoglycaemic treatment)were evaluated.RESULTS:A total of 53 subjects who underwent sleeve gastrectomy or mini-gastric bypass for obesity and diabetes were screened for the inclusion in this study.Of these,4 subjects were excluded because of surgical complications,7 subjects were omitted because young surgeons conducted the operations and 11 subjects were removed because of the lack of follow-up.Thirtyone obese patients were recruited for this study.A total of 15 subjects underwent SG(48.4%),and 16underwent MGB(51.6%).After adjusting for various clinical and demographic characteristics in a multivariate logistic regression analysis,high hemoglobin A1c was determined to be a negative predictor of diabetes remission at 12 mo(OR=0.366,95%CI:0.152-0.884).Using the same regression model,MGB showed a clear trend toward higher diabetes remission rates relative to SG(OR=3.780,95%CI:0.961-14.872).CONCLUSION:Although our results are encouraging regarding the effectiveness of mini-gastric bypass on diabetes remission,further studies are needed to provide definitive conclusions in selecting the ideal procedure for diabetes remission.

Cardiac damage in athlete's heart: When the “supernormal” heart fails!

Intense exercise may cause heart remodeling to compensate increases in blood pressure or volume by increasing muscle mass. Cardiac changes do not involve only the left ventricle, but all heart chambers. Physiological cardiac modeling in athletes is associated with normal or enhanced cardiac function, but recent studies have documented decrements in left ventricular function during intense exercise and the release of cardiac markers of necrosis in athlete's blood of uncertain significance. Furthermore, cardiac remodeling may predispose athletes to heart disease and result in electrical remodeling, responsible for arrhythmias. Athlete's heart is a physiological condition and does not require a specific treatment. In some conditions, it is important to differentiate the physiological adaptations from pathological conditions, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic dysplasia of the right ventricle, and non-compaction myocardium, for the greater risk of sudden cardiac death of these conditions. Moreover, some drugs and performance-enhancing drugs can cause structural alterations and arrhythmias, therefore, their use should be excluded.