Citations

PurposeNoninvasive imaging techniques that quantify renal tissue composition are needed to more accurately ascertain prognosis and monitor disease progression in polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Given the success of magnetization transfer (MT) imaging to characterize various tissue remodeling pathologies, it was tested on a murine model of autosomal dominant PKD.MethodsC57Bl/6 Pkd1 R3277C mice at 9, 12, and 15 months were imaged with a 16.4T MR imaging system. Images were acquired without and with RF saturation in order to calculate MT ratio (MTR) maps. Following imaging, the mice were euthanized and kidney sections were analyzed for cystic and fibrotic indices, which were compared with statistical parameters of the MTR maps.ResultsThe MTR‐derived mean, median, 25th percentile, skewness, and kurtosis were all closely related to indices of renal pathology, including kidney weight/body weight, cystic index, and percent of remaining parenchyma. The correlation between MTR and histology‐derived cystic and fibrotic changes was R2 = 0.84 and R2 = 0.70, respectively.ConclusionMT imaging provides a new, noninvasive means of measuring tissue remodeling PKD changes and may be better suited for characterizing renal impairment compared with conventional MR techniques. Magn Reson Med 75:1466–1473, 2016. © 2015 The Authors. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance.

Abstract Aim The objective of this meta‐analysis was to compare the effects of off‐pump and on‐pump coronary artery bypass grafting ( CABG ) on acute kidney injury ( AKI ) and the need of dialysis after surgery. Methods Comprehensive literature searches for randomized controlled trials ( RCTs ) of CABG with on‐pump and off‐pump was performed using MEDLINE , EMBASE , C ochrane D atabase of S ystematic R eviews, C ochrane C entral R egister of C ontrolled T rials S ystematic R eviews and clinicaltrials.gov from inception through S eptember 2014. Primary outcomes were the incidence of AKI and the need of dialysis. Mortality was assessed among the studies that reported renal outcomes. Pooled risk ratios ( RR s) and 95% confidence interval ( CI ) were calculated using a random‐effect, generic inverse variance method. Results Thirty‐three RCTs with 17 322 patients were enrolled in our study. Patients in the off‐pump CABG group had overall lower incidence of AKI (19.1%) compared with the on‐pump CABG group (22.2%). There was a protective effect of off‐pump CABG on the incidence of AKI compared with the on‐pump CABG group ( RR : 0.87; 95% CI : 0.77–0.98). However, there was no significant difference in the need for dialysis in the off‐pump group compared with the on‐pump group ( RR : 0.84; 95% CI 0.63–1.13). Within the selected trials, post hoc analysis assessing the mortality outcome demonstrated a pooled RR of 0.97 (95% CI , 0.77–1.23) in off‐pump versus on‐pump CABGs . Conclusions Our study demonstrates a beneficial effect of off‐pump CABG on the incidence of AKI . However, our meta‐analysis does not show benefits of the need of dialysis or survival among patients undergoing off‐pump CABG .

OBJECT This study was undertaken to analyze the predisposing factors, clinical presentation, therapeutic management, and clinical recovery in patients with pituitary apoplexy, with an emphasis on the long-term visual, endocrine, and functional outcomes. METHODS The authors performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive cases involving patients treated at Mayo Clinic between 1992 and 2013. Patients were included in the study only if they had 1) abrupt onset of severe headache or visual disturbance in the presence of a pituitary adenoma and 2) radiological or surgical confirmation of a pituitary mass. The primary endpoints of analysis were the visual (ocular motility, visual fields, and visual acuity), endocrine, and functional outcomes (using the modified Rankin Scale). RESULTS Eighty-seven patients were identified (57 males and 30 females, mean age 50.9 years, range 15–91 years). Twenty-two patients (25.3%) had a known pituitary adenoma. Hypertension was the most common associated factor (39%). Headache was the most frequent presenting symptom (89.7%), followed by visual abnormalities (47.1%). Cranial nerve palsies were present in 39% and visual field defects in 34.1%. MRI detected hemorrhage in 89% patients, as compared with 42% detected by CT scan. Sixty-one patients (70.1%) underwent surgery during acute hospitalization (median time from apoplexy 5 days, IQR 3–10 days), 8 (9.2%) had delayed surgery, and 18 (20.7%) were treated conservatively. Histopathological examination revealed adenoma with pure necrosis in 18 (30%), pure hemorrhage in 4 (6.7%), and both in 6 (10%) patients. Four patients died during hospitalization. The average duration of follow-up was 44.2 ± 43.8 months. All survivors were independent and had complete resolution or substantial improvement in eye movements and visual fields at the last follow-up. Many patients needed long-term hormonal replacement with levothyroxine (62.7%) and cortisol (60%). Daily desmopressin was needed in 23% of all surgical patients at 3 months (versus none of the medically treated) and this requirement decreased slightly over time. Regrowth of pituitary adenoma was seen in 7 patients (8.6%). There were no statistically significant differences in any of the outcome measures across the treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS The outcome of most patients with pituitary apoplexy is excellent. Selected patients can be managed conservatively, and patients with severe neuro-ophthalmological deficits treated with early surgery can achieve an excellent recovery.

AbstractBackgroundThe reported risk of depression in patients with hypomagnesaemia is controversial.AimThe objective of this meta‐analysis was to assess the association between depression and hypomagnesaemia.MethodsA literature search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Database and clinicaltrials.gov from inception through October 2014. Studies that reported odds ratios, relative risks or hazard ratios comparing the risk of depression in patients with hypomagnesaemia were included. Pooled risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a random‐effect, generic inverse variance method.ResultsSix observational studies (three cohort studies, two cross‐sectional studies and a case–control study) with a total of 19 137 patients were identified and included in the data analysis. The pooled RR of depression in patients with hypomagnesaemia was 1.34 (95% CI, 1.01–1.79, I2 = 33%). The association between depression and hypomagnesaemia was marginally insignificant after the sensitivity analysis including only cohort and case–control studies, with a pooled RR of 1.38 (95% CI, 0.92–2.07, I2 = 24%).ConclusionOur study demonstrates a potential association between hypomagnesaemia and depression. Further studies assessing the benefits of treatment of hypomagnesaemia in patients with depression are needed.

Context: Hyposomatotropism in healthy aging women reflects in part physiological estrogen (estradiol [E2]) depletion associated with menopause. Objective and Design: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that low concentrations of endogenous E2 after menopause continue to drive GH secretion. Setting: The study was performed at the Mayo Center for Clinical and Translational Science. Participants: The participants were 24 postmenopausal women (aged 50–77 years with body mass index of 19–32 kg/m2). Interventions: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-cohort treatment study with placebo (PL) (n = 14) or the antiestrogen fulvestrant (FUL) (n = 10) for 3 weeks, followed by infusion of l-arginine with saline, GHRH, ghrelin, or both peptide secretagogues. Outcomes: GH concentrations were measured over 6 hours with 10-minute sampling and mass spectrometry measures of testosterone, E2, and estrone. Results: Concentrations of testosterone, E2, estrone, SHBG, IGF-I, LH, and FSH were not influenced by antiestrogen treatment. In contrast, GH rose from 0.096 ± 0.018 (PL) to 0.23 ± 0.063 μg/L (FUL, P = .033), and IGF-I binding protein type 3 (IGFBP-3) from 3.6 ± 0.18 to 4.0 ± 2.0 mg/L (P = .041). Conversely, prolactin fell from 7.1 ± 0.69 (PL) to 5.5 ± 0.57 μg/L (FUL) (P = .05), and IGF-I binding protein type 1 (IGFBP-1) fell from 44 ± 9.4 to 27 ± 4.3 μg/L (P = .048). Moreover, FUL vs PL potentiated mean GH responses to l-arginine/saline (P = .007), l-arginine/ghrelin (P = .008), and l-arginine/GHRH + ghrelin (P = .031), but not l-arginine/GHRH. Conclusion: The potent antiestrogen, FUL, amplifies fasting and secretagogue-driven GH secretion and IGFBP-3 concentrations in postmenopausal women without altering SHBG or sex steroid levels. FUL also suppresses prolactin and IGFBP-1, without altering IGF-I. Thus, a major antiestrogen mediates 3 actions of estrogen: agonism (GH), neutral effects (sex steroids), and estrogen antagonism (prolactin and IGFBP-1).

AbstractRationale, aims and objectivesThis study was undertaken to assess the frequency of lipid screening in comparison with the United States Preventive Services Task Force guideline in a sample of family medicine patients. In addition, we sought to determine the association between testing frequency and achievement of lipid targets.MethodsA random sample was extracted from 271 patients from among all patients cared for in our Department of Family Medicine for whom lipid screening was ordered from March to September 2012 and who had ≥2 well‐defined cardiovascular risk factors. Lipid testing frequency was classified in three ways: semi‐annual or less often (0–12 tests over 6 years), annual or less often (0–6 tests), or biennial (0–3 tests).ResultsMultiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the predictors of lipid screening more often than semi‐annually were age ≥60 years [odds ratio (OR) = 3.7] and diabetes mellitus (DM) (OR = 30.6). Predictors of screening more often than annually were DM (OR = 4.3), hypertension (OR = 2.1), family history of premature coronary artery disease (OR = 5.6) and statin treatment (OR = 3.5). Lipid goal attainment was not associated with testing frequency except with regard to low‐density lipoprotein levels (P = 0.043, P < 0.001, P = 0.005, by semi‐annual, annual and biennial, respectively) and total cholesterol levels (P = 0.015, P = 0.025 by semi‐annual and annual, respectively).ConclusionsQuestionable high frequency of lipid testing was detected even when the more conservative approach of annual monitoring was assumed. Frequency of testing was not associated with goal attainment for most parameters. Physicians should request the lipid testing based on overall risk assessment and person variability in accordance with published guidelines.

Abstract Background/Objectives The risk of chronic kidney disease ( CKD ) in patients who regularly drink soda is controversial. The objective of this meta‐analysis was to evaluate the associations between consumption of sugar‐sweetened and artificially sweetened soda and CKD . Methods A literature search was performed using MEDLINE , EMBASE and the C ochrane D atabase of S ystematic R eviews from inception until 30 J une 2014. Studies that reported odds ratios or hazard ratios comparing the risk of CKD in patients consuming significant amounts of either sugar‐sweetened or artificially sweetened soda versus those who did not consume soda were included. Pooled risk ratios ( RR ) and 95% confidence intervals ( CI ) were calculated using a random‐effects, generic inverse variance method. Results Five studies were included in our analysis of the association between consumption of sugar‐sweetened soda and CKD . The pooled RR of CKD in patients consuming sugar‐sweetened soda was 1.58 (95% CI 1.00–2.49). Four studies were selected to assess the association between consumption of artificially sweetened soda and CKD . The pooled RR of CKD in patients consuming artificially sweetened soda was 1.33 (95% CI 0.82–2.15). Conclusions Our study demonstrates statistically significant increased risks of CKD in patients consuming sugar‐sweetened soda, but not in patients consuming artificially sweetened soda. This finding suggests that sugar‐sweetened soda consumption is associated with CKD and may impact clinical management and primary prevention of CKD in high‐risk patients.

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSERequests for after‐hours emergent spine MR imaging seem to be increasing. We sought to review the trend in after hours spine MRI utilization at our institution and to determine how these results impacted therapeutic intervention.METHODSFollowing Institutional Review Board approval, reports from 179 after hours spinal MRI's performed over the past 13 years were obtained and the relevant electronic medical records were reviewed.RESULTSEmergent after hours spine MRI utilization increased from 7 per year to 23 over 13 years. Fifty‐eight percent (104/179) had significant findings. Twenty‐nine percent (52/179) of all patients imaged underwent surgery to treat pathologies identified on MR. Surgery was performed in only 2% (4/179) of these patients within 3 hours and 6% (10/179) within 6 hours of MRI completion. Five percent (8/179) had findings that were treated with radiation therapy and in 78% of these it was performed within 6–12 hours. Of those in whom steroids or antibiotics were initiated, 41% and 50% were treated within 3 hours of MR scanning, respectively.DISCUSSIONClinical use of emergent after hours spine MRI is steadily increasing at our institution. While MR imaging often discerned significant pathologies, performing these emergent studies rarely resulted in immediate surgical or radiotherapeutic intervention.