Single-centre Cross-sectional Observational Study Research Articles

Small vessel disease and intracoronary plaque composition: a single centre cross-sectional observational study

Cardiac events are commonly triggered by rupture of intracoronary plaque. Many studies have suggested that retinal small vessel abnormalities predict cardiac events. The present study examined retinal microvascular abnormalities associated with intracoronary plaque. This was a single centre cross-sectional observational study of consecutive subjects who underwent coronary angiography and intracoronary optical coherence tomography (OCT) of occlusive coronary artery disease. Subjects’ retinal images were deidentified and graded for microvascular retinopathy (Wong and Mitchell classification), and vessel calibre using a semiautomated method based on Knudtson’s modification of the Parr Hubbard formula. Control subjects had no significant plaque on angiography. Analysis used the Fisher’s exact test or student t-test. Thirty-two subjects with intracoronary plaque including 22 males (79%) had a mean age of 62.6 ± 9.4 years. Twenty-four (86%) had hypertension, 10 (36%) had diabetes, and 21 (75%) were current or former smokers. Their average mean arterial pressure was 90.5 ± 5.8 mm Hg, and mean eGFR was 74 ± 15/min/1.73 m2. On angiography, 23 (82%) had a left anterior descending artery (LAD) stenosis, their mean diseased vessel score was 1.86 ± 1.21, and mean total stent number was 1.04 ± 1.00. Plaque type was mainly (>50%) fibrous (n = 7), lipid (n = 7), calcific (n = 10), or mixed (n = 4). Control subjects had a lower mean diastolic BP (p = 0.01), were less likely to have an LAD stenosis (p < 0.001), a lower mean diseased vessel score (p < 0.001) and fewer stents (p = 0.02). Subjects with plaque were more likely to have a moderate microvascular retinopathy than those with none (p = 0.004). Moderate retinopathy was more common with lipid (p = 0.05) or calcific (p = 0.003) plaque. Individuals with calcific plaque had a larger arteriole calibre (158.4 ± 15.2 µm) than those with no plaque (143.8 ± 10.6 µm, p = 0.02), but calibre was not related to diabetes or smoking. Calibre did not correlate with plaque length, thickness or arc angle. Thus, subjects with intracoronary artery plaque are more likely to have a moderate microvascular retinopathy. Those with calcific plaque have larger retinal arterioles which is consistent with our previous finding of larger vessel calibre in triple coronary artery disease. Retinal microvascular imaging warrants further evaluation in identifying severe coronary artery disease.

Exercise Capacity and Association with Quality of Life in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

Muscle wasting, common and progressive in uremic patients, is associated with a high probability for morbidity, lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and mortality. However, exercise tolerance in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate exercise capacity, its determinants, and its association with HRQOL in PD patients. Outpatients treated with PD at Keio University Hospital from December 2016 to March 2018 were included in this single-center cross-sectional observational study. Exercise capacity was assessed by incremental shuttle walking test (ISWT) and handgrip and quadriceps strength. In addition to evaluation of PD-related parameters, HRQOL was assessed by the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form questionnaire. Among the 50 recruited PD outpatients, age and PD vintage were 63.8 ± 9.6 and 3.8 ± 2.8 years, respectively. Physical examination revealed ISWT of 312.0 ± 138.2 m, handgrip strength of 27.5 ± 6.9 kg, and quadriceps strength of 23.3 ± 10.0 kg. Multivariate analysis showed that younger age and male sex were significantly associated with higher ISWT and handgrip and quadriceps strength. Skeletal mass index (SMI) remained a significant predictor of handgrip and quadriceps strength. Moreover, only ISWT was strongly correlated with higher HRQOL scores, including physical, mental, and kidney-specific domains, even after adjustment for age and sex. Exercise tolerance in PD patients was partially determined by age, sex, and SMI. Moreover, this is the first study to demonstrate the strong relationship between aerobic capacity and HRQOL in PD patients.

Взаємозв'язок між дозою тривалого активатора рецепторів еритропоетину та оксидативним стресом у хворих, які лікуються методом гемодіалізу

Наукові дані щодо дозозалежного впливу тривалого активатора рецепторів еритропоетину (ТАРЕ) на показники оксидативного стресу та перекисного окислення ліпідів мембран еритроцитів у хворих на хронічну хворобу нирок V, які лікуються гемодіалізом (ГД), є обмеженими.&#x0D; Метою нашої роботи було оцінити взаємозв’язок між застосованою дозою ТАРЕ та інтенсивністю оксидативних процесів у ГД пацієнтів. &#x0D; Матеріал та методи. 38 ГД пацієнтів були включені до одномоментного обсерваційного дослідження. Протокол дослідження був схвалений локальною етичною комісією ДУ «Інститут нефрології НАМН України». Усі пацієнти надали письму інформовану згоду на участь у досліджені. Пацієнти були стратифіковані за квартилями (≤ 25% та ≥ 75%) відповідно до середньої дози ТАРЕ і розподілені наступним чином: I групу склали хворі, які отримували ТАРЕ більше 6 місяців у дозі ≤ 50 мкг/міс (n = 20), до II групи увійшли хворі, у яких доза ТАРЕ склала ≥ 125 мкг/міс (n = 18). Поряд із стандартними діагностичними методами досліджували концентрацію малонового діальдегіду у сироватці (МДА) й еритроцитах (MДAe), вміст у крові церулоплазміну (ЦП) та трансферину (ТР). Крім того, визначали загальну пероксидазну активність (ЗПА) у еритроцитах, проникність еритроцитарних мембран (ПЕМ), підрахували відсоток гемолізу.&#x0D; Результати. У ГД пацієнтів, які лікувались ТАРЕ у дозі ≥ 125 мкг/міс визначено підвищення концентрації ЦР (р = 0,007) та ТР (р = 0,0003), тоді як ЗПА була статистично значуще зниженою порівняно з ІІ групою (р = 0,02). Крім того, У пацієнтів І групи встановлено вищий відсоток гемолізу (р = 0,03) та ПЕМ (р ˂ 0,0001). Використовуючи модель пробіт-регресії, ми визначили дозозалежний вплив ТАРЕ на рівень ПЕМ: χ2 = 21; р ˂ 0,0001.&#x0D; Висновки. Таким чином, застосування ТАРЕ у дозі понад 125 мкг на місяць покращує антиоксидантний статус ГД хворих, але разом з тим, підвищує гемоліз еритроцитів та ПЕМ. Отримані нами дані потребують подальшого підтвердження.

The use of zonal analysis of peripapillary choroidal thickness in primary open-angle glaucoma.

To evaluate automatic peripapillary choroidal thickness (PPCT) measurements in a wide area around the optic disc and various established zones in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients and age- and sex-matched healthy controls using a new swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) device. Single center cross-sectional observational study. A total of 135 POAG patients and 86 healthy subjects were consecutively enrolled. An optic disc 6.0×6.0mm three-dimensional scan OD was obtained using the SS-OCT Triton. A 26×26 cube-grid centered in the optic disc was generated to automatically measure choroidal thickness. Seven choroidal zones were established (superior temporal, central, and nasal; inferior temporal, central, and nasal, and the optic nerve head) and compared between healthy controls and POAG patients. PPCT was significantly thinner in the central superior, nasal superior, and nasal inferior zones of the POAG subjects. Choroidal thickness in the central superior zone was 124.61±54.95µm in POAG group vs 156.17±80.89µm in healthy controls (p=0.029); in the nasal superior zone, 133.84±58.89µm in the POAG group vs 168.34±73.45µm in healthy controls (p=0.012); and in the nasal inferior zone, 113.45±49.93µm in the POAG group vs 137.47±65.96µm in healthy controls (p=0.049). Compared with healthy subjects, glaucoma patients present with peripapillary choroidal thinning, especially in the central superior, nasal superior, and nasal inferior zones. The new SS-OCT could be a useful tool to evaluate choroidal thinning, and it could be an additional support to facilitate glaucoma diagnosis.

Clinician Perceptions of an Early Warning System on Patient Safety

The Pediatric Early Warning Score (PEWS) aims to improve early recognition of clinical deterioration and is widely used despite lacking evidence of effects on outcome measures such as hospital mortality. In this qualitative study, we aimed to study effects of both PEWS and the locally designed risk stratification system by focusing on professionals' perception of their performance. We also sought to gain insight into the perceived effects of PEWS and the risk stratification system on patient safety and to unravel the underlying mechanisms. A single-center cross-sectional observational study whereby 16 semistructured interviews were held with selected health care professionals focusing on perceived effects and underlying mechanisms. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded without using a predetermined set of themes. Coding from semistructured interviews demonstrated that perceived value was related to effects on different levels of Endsley and co-workers' situational awareness (SA) model. PEWS mainly improved level 1 SA, whereas the risk stratification system also seemed to improve levels 2 and 3 SA. This study shows clear effects of PEWS on SA among professionals. It also points to the additional value of other risk factor stratification systems to help further improve PEWS functioning.

Correlation of computed tomography characteristics of cystic renal cell carcinoma with histopathology

Abstract Background Renal cysts are common incidental findings in computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and range from benign to cystic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Cystic RCC has various pathology, clinical prognosis, and treatment options. Objectives To compare preoperative CT of cystic RCC with histopathology. Methods Preoperative CT of histopathologically proven cystic RCCs were retrospectively reviewed in this single-center cross-sectional observational study. Two investigators recorded consensus CT features for each cystic RCC. The means of descriptive continuous data were calculated. A chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, or an ANOVA were used for compare the frequency of findings for each histopathological subtype. Results Of 38 cystic RCCs, 25 were clear cell RCC, 5 were papillary RCC, 4 were multilocular cystic RCC, 1 was chromophobe RCC, and 3 were mixed type/other type (papillary/chromophobe, clear cell/chromophobe, and sarcomatoid type). We classified 36 lesions as Bosniak category IV and 2 lesions as Bosniak category III. There was no significant difference in cyst attenuation in any phase. Solid attenuation of the tumors was significantly different for each type in corticomedullary and nephrogenic phases (P = 0.001 and 0.042, respectively). Clear cell RCC was enhanced the most on corticomedullary and nephrogenic phases (means 135.5 and 112.1 Hounsfield Units, respectively). Septal thickening, enhancement, and multilocularity were significantly different between subtypes, particularly in multilocular cystic RCCs (P = 0.018, 0.018, and 0.02, respectively). Conclusion Preoperative CT findings may help clinicians and radiologists to predict tumor subtypes and aid treatment planning.

Axial Disease in Psoriatic Arthritis study: defining the clinical and radiographic phenotype of psoriatic spondyloarthritis

ObjectivesTo compare the prevalence, clinical and radiographic characteristics of psoriatic spondyloarthritis (PsSpA) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).MethodsA prospective single-centre cross-sectional observational study recruited consecutive PsA and AS...

Tenofovir is associated with increased tubular proteinuria and asymptomatic renal tubular dysfunction in Ghana.

BackgroundHIV infection is associated with increased risk of renal dysfunction, including tubular dysfunction (TD) related to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is becoming available for ART in sub-Saharan Africa, although data on its long-term safety there is limited. We aimed to study the prevalence of HIV-associated renal dysfunction in Ghana and explore associations between proteinuria or TD and potential risk factors, including TDF use.MethodsA single-centre cross-sectional observational study of patients taking ART was undertaken. Creatinine clearance (CrCl) was calculated and proteinuria detected with dipsticks. Spot urinary albumin and protein:creatinine ratios (uACR/uPCR) were measured and further evidence of TD (defined as having two or more characteristic features) sought. Logistic regression analysis identified factors associated with proteinuria or TD.ResultsIn 330 patients, of whom 101 were taking TDF (median 20 months), the prevalence of CrCl < 60ml/min/1.73m2, dipstick proteinuria and TD was 7 %, 37 % and 15 %. Factors associated with proteinuria were baseline CD4-count [aOR 0.86/100 cell increment (95 % CI, 0.74–0.99)] and TDF use [aOR 2.74 (95 % CI, 1.38–5.43)]. The only factor associated with TD was TDF use [aOR 3.43 (95 % CI, 1.10–10.69)]. In a subset with uPCR measurements, uPCRs were significantly higher in patients taking TDF than those on other drugs (10.8 vs. 5.7 mg/mmol, p < 0.001), and urinary albuin:protein ratios significantly lower (0.24 vs. 0.58, p < 0.001).ConclusionsBoth proteinuria and TD are common and associated with TDF use in Ghana. Further longitudinal studies to determine whether proteinuria, TD or TDF use are linked to progressive decline in renal function or other adverse outcomes are needed in Africa.

Efficacy and Limitations of Oral Inotropic Agents for the Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure: A Single Center Cross-sectional Observational Study

The heart failure guideline in Japan has stated the necessity of investigating the role of oral inotropic agents in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), which are clinically available only in Japan.

Sputum mediator profiling and relationship to airway wall geometry imaging in severe asthma

BackgroundSevere asthma is a heterogeneous disease and the relationship between airway inflammation and airway remodelling is poorly understood. We sought to define sputum mediator profiles in severe asthmatics categorised by CT-determined airway geometry and sputum differential cell counts.MethodsIn a single centre cross-sectional observational study we recruited 59 subjects with severe asthma that underwent sputum induction and thoracic CT. Quantitative CT analysis of the apical segment of the right upper lobe (RB1) was performed. Forty-one mediators in sputum samples were measured of which 21 mediators that were assessable in >50% of samples were included in the analyses.ResultsIndependent of airway geometry, sputum MMP9 and IL-1β were elevated in those groups with a high sputum neutrophil count while sputum ICAM was elevated in those subjects with a low sputum neutrophil count. In contrast, sputum CCL11, IL-1α and fibrinogen were different in groups stratified by both sputum neutrophil count and airway geometry. Sputum CCL11 concentration was elevated in subjects with a low sputum neutrophil count and high luminal and total RB1 area, whereas sputum IL1α was increased in subjects with a high sputum neutrophil count and low total RB1 area. Sputum fibrinogen was elevated in those subjects with RB1 luminal narrowing and in those subjects with neutrophilic inflammation without luminal narrowing.ConclusionsWe have demonstrated that sputum mediator profiling reveals a number of associations with airway geometry. Whether these findings reflect important biological phenotypes that might inform stratified medicine approaches requires further investigation.

Fetuin-A serum levels in patients with aortic aneurysms of Marfan syndrome and atherosclerosis

Fetuin-A is a glycoprotein that inhibits extraosseous and vascular calcification. Its serum level is lower in patients with atherosclerosis compared with healthy controls, but its role is unknown in aneurysmal diseases. The aim of our study was to investigate the association of serum fetuin-A levels with aortic aneurysms of different aetiology: Marfan syndrome and atherosclerosis. In a single centre cross-sectional observational study, 105 patients (30 with atherosclerotic aortic aneurysm, 15 with Marfan syndrome, 30 with peripheral arterial disease and 30 healthy controls) were examined; sera were analysed for fetuin-A, standard markers of possible inflammation, lipid profile, kidney and hepatic disease and diabetes. Systemic atherosclerosis was assessed by carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) measurement and arterial calcification score of cardiac valves, carotids, aorta and femoral arteries determined by ultrasound. Serum fetuin-A levels (median and IQR) were significantly lower in the atherosclerotic aneurysm cohort than in patients with Marfan syndrome: 708 μg mL⁻¹ (612-780) and 756 μg mL⁻¹ (708-816), respectively, (P = 0·0428). Fetuin-A levels were 754 μg mL⁻¹ (713-777) in the control group and 654 μg mL⁻¹ (600-756) in patients with peripheral arterial disease. Mean and maximum IMT, ACS values and homocysteine levels were significantly higher in patients with atherosclerosis: P < 0·0001, P < 0·0001, P < 0·0001 and P = 0·0034, respectively. There was no significant difference between aneurysm groups analysing the results of lipid profile and acute-phase markers. The significantly lower serum level of fetuin-A in the atherosclerotic aneurysm group supports the protective role of fetuin-A in the evolution of arterial calcification.

Superior dialytic clearance of β2-microglobulin and p-cresol by high-flux hemodialysis as compared to peritoneal dialysis

Both residual renal and dialytic clearance confer to the total solute clearance in dialysis patients. Dialytic clearances of the middle molecule beta-microglobulin (beta(2)M) and the protein-bound solute p-cresol (pcr) are generally believed to be higher with peritoneal dialysis (PD) as compared to hemodialysis (HD). Supportive data, however, are lacking. We performed a single-center cross-sectional observational study including 70 unselected patients treated with either high-flux HD (n=20) or PD (n=50). Mid-day serum levels (PD) and time-averaged concentrations (HD) of the water-soluble solutes urea nitrogen, creatinine and phosphate, the middle molecule beta(2)M, and the protein-bound solute pcr were determined. Dialytic solute clearances (l/week/1.73 m(2)) were calculated from total dialysate collection during the mid-week session in HD and 24 h dialysate collection in PD. Renal clearances were calculated for each of the respective solutes from a timed urine collection. Total clearances were obtained by summation. HD delivered significantly higher clearances of all retention solutes studied. This superiority was especially pronounced for pcr (30.9+/-62.7 vs 4.4+/-2.3, HD vs PD, P<0.0001) and beta(2)M (28.6+/-6.6 vs 5.8+/-3.1, HD vs PD, P<0.0001). Renal clearances, conversely, were significantly higher in patients on PD. Serum levels of all solutes but pcr were significantly lower in HD than in PD. Both a higher residual renal function and a lower generation rate contribute to the lower pcr levels in PD. In conclusion, superior dialytic clearance of both water-soluble solutes, beta(2)M, and pcr is achieved by high-flux HD as compared to PD.

Contrast sensitivity and visual disability in chronic simple glaucoma.

A battery of vision tests was used to quantify visual defect in a group of 50 patients with chronic simple glaucoma. The vision tests were near and distance visual acuity, visual fields, and contrast sensitivity to static and temporally modulated sinusoidal grating patterns. Of these, static contrast sensitivity function appears to be the most sensitive method of measuring visual defect in glaucoma patients. The visual disability experienced by the glaucoma patients was quantified by means of a questionnaire, and the relationship between perceived visual disability and visual defect was examined. It was found that results from a group of tests, near visual acuity, visual field, and contrast sensitivity measures, are the best predictors of the difficulty experienced by patients in performing visually dependent daily activities.