Citations

Objective Heart failure (HF) imposes a substantial burden and the prevalence of HF is high in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). HF results in multiple hospital admissions, but whether HF subtypes worsen long-term outcomes and renal function in patients with CKD remains inconclusive. Methods The study comprised 10 904 patients with CKD aged ≥20 years who underwent echocardiography between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2018. The patients were stratified into four groups: non-HF, HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The primary end points were all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and adverse renal outcomes. Results In inverse probability of treatment weighting-adjusted method, the risk of all-cause mortality and MACEs relative to the non-HF group was greatest in the HFrEF group (HR 3.18 (95% CI 2.57 to 3.93) and HR 3.83 (95% CI 3.20 to 4.59)), followed by the HFmrEF (HR 2.75 (95% CI 2.22 to 3.42) and HR 3.08 (95% CI 2.57 to 3.69)) and HFpEF (HR 1.85 (95% CI 1.59 to 2.15) and HR 2.43 (95% CI 2.16 to 2.73) groups. In addition, the HFrEF group had the greatest risks of end-stage renal disease (HR 2.58 (95% CI 1.94 to 3.44)) compared with other groups. Conclusions HF is associated with subsequent worse clinical outcomes, which may be more pronounced in patients with HFrEF, followed by those with HFmrEF and those with HFpEF relative to non-HF group.

6028 Background: Abnormalities in EGFR signaling targets are associated with C resistance but no biomarker of C resistance has been identified in HNSCC. We hypothesized that cases with loss of PTEN protein expression (PTEN null) or PIK3CA mutation would display C resistance in HNSCC. Methods: E5397 was a phase III trial of CDDP plus P or CDDP plus C and enrolled 117 eligible and evaluable pts. PIK3CA and PTEN were analyzed for 52 and 67 consented pts, respectively. PTEN expression (PTEN Cell Signaling Technology, Cat. 9559) was determined by automated quantitative analysis (AQUA) on the PM-2000 (HistoRx, New Haven) using a cutpoint generated in 5 HNSCC tissue microarrays, each consisting of HNSCC as well as positive (small intestine, median AQUA score 2833.2) and negative controls (breast and colon carcinoma, median AQUA score 205.5). A cutpoint of 570 provides 100% specificity, 100% sensitivity, and identified 30% of the HNSCCs as PTEN null, consonant with the literature. The 3 most common PIK3CA mutations (E542K and E545K in exon 9 and H1047R in exon 20) were determined by BEAMing (Inostics, Heidelberg, Germany). Response, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were compared between PTEN null or PIK3CA mutated pts and all others. Log rank and multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling were used to calculate p values. Results: 23/67 (34%) tumors were PTEN null and 2/52 (4%) had PIK3CA mutations (E542K and E545K). Both tumors with PIK3CA mutation had PTEN expression. No statistically significant differences in response, OS or PFS were noted in this small sample. However, among PTEN expressing/PIK3CA WT pts, median PFS increased to 4.2 months (m) for C (N=22) from 2.9 m for P (N=26) (Wald p=0.07), compared with 4.6 m for C (N=12) and 3.5 m for P (n=13) among the PTEN null/PIK3CA mutated (Wald p=0.60). Conclusions: The PTEN loss or PIK3CA mutation signature warrants further investigation as a predictor of C resistance.

ABSTRACT Carpal tunnel pressure is a key factor in the etiology of carpal tunnel syndrome. Numerous approaches have been conducted to measure carpal tunnel pressure. However, most techniques are invasive and take time and effort. We have developed an innovative approach to noninvasively assess the tunnel pressure by using the ultrasound surface wave elastography (USWE) technique. In a previous study it was shown that the shear wave speed in a tendon increased linearly with increasing tunnel pressure enclosed the tendon in a simple tendon model. This study aimed to examine the relationship between the carpal tunnel pressure and the shear wave speeds inside and outside the carpal tunnel in a human cadaveric model. The result showed that the shear wave speed inside the carpal tunnel increased linearly with created carpal tunnel pressure, while the shear wave speed outside the carpal tunnel remained constant. These findings suggest that noninvasive measurement of carpal tunnel pressure is possible by measuring the shear wave speed in the tendon. After fully establishing this technology and being applicable in clinic, it would be useful in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. For that reason, further validation with this technique in both healthy controls and patients with carpal tunnel syndrome is required. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:477–483, 2018.

Fibrosis of the subsynovial connective tissue (SSCT) in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients is increasingly recognized as an important aspect of CTS pathophysiology. In this study, we evaluated the effect of blocking profibrotic pathways in fibroblasts from the SSCT in CTS patients. Fibroblasts were stimulated with transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1), and then treated either with a specific fibrosis pathway inhibitor targeting TGF‐β receptor type 1 (TβRI), platelet‐derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), or vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR). Fibrosis array and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction of fibrotic genes were evaluated. Array gene expression analysis revealed significant down‐regulation of multiple fibrotic genes after treatment with TβRI, PDGFR, and VEGFR inhibitors. No array fibrotic genes were significantly down‐regulated with EGFR inhibition. Further gene expression analysis of known CTS fibrosis markers collagen type I A2 (Col1), collagen type III A1 (Col3), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and SERPINE1 showed significantly down‐regulation after TβRI inhibition. In contrast, VEGFR inhibition significantly down‐regulated CTGF and SERPINE1, whereas, PDGFR and EGFR inhibition significantly down‐regulated Col3. Taken together the inhibition of TβRI appears to be the primary mediator of fibrotic gene expression in fibroblasts from CTS patients. TGF‐β/Smad activity was further evaluated, and as expected inhibition of Smad activity was significantly down‐regulated after inhibition of TβRI, but not with PDGFR, VEGFR, or EGFR inhibition. These results indicate that local therapies specifically targeting TGF‐β signaling alone or in combination offer the potential of a novel local antifibrosis therapy for patients with CTS.

OBJECTIVE An increasing number of patients with poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) have received endovascular treatment. Endovascular treatment of poor-grade aSAH, however, is based on single-center retrospective studies, and predictors of long-term outcome have not been well defined. Using results from a multicenter prospective registry, the authors aimed to develop preoperative and postoperative prognostic models to predict poor outcome after endovascular treatment of poor-grade aSAH. METHODS A Multicenter Poor-grade Aneurysm Study (AMPAS) was a prospective and observational registry of consecutive patients with poor-grade aSAH. From October 2010 to March 2012, 366 patients were enrolled in the registry, and 136 patients receiving endovascular treatment were included in this study. Outcome was assessed by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 12 months, and poor outcome was defined as an mRS score of 4, 5, or 6. Prognostic models were developed in multivariate logistic regression models. The area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) was used to assess the model's discriminatory ability, and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit tests were used to assess the calibration. RESULTS At 12 months, 64 patients (47.0%) had a poor outcome: 9 (6.6%) had an mRS score of 4, 6 (4.4%) had an mRS score of 5, and 49 (36.0%) had died. Univariate analyses showed that older age (p = 0.001), female sex (p = 0.044), lower Glasgow Coma Scale score (p < 0.001), a World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grade of V (p < 0.001), higher Fisher grade (p < 0.001), modified Fisher grade (p < 0.001), and wider neck aneurysm (p = 0.026) were associated with a poor outcome. There was a trend toward a worse outcome in patients with anterior communicating artery aneurysms (p = 0.080) and in those with incompletely occluded aneurysms (p = 0.063). After endovascular treatment, the presence of cerebral infarction (p = 0.039), symptomatic vasospasm (p = 0.039), and pneumonia (p = 0.006) were associated with a poor outcome. Multivariate analyses showed that the preoperative prognostic model including age, a WFNS grade of V, modified Fisher grade, and aneurysm neck size had excellent discrimination with an AUC of 0.86 (95% CI 0.80–0.92, p < 0.001), and a postoperative model that included these predictors as well as postoperative pneumonia had excellent discrimination (AUC = 0.87, 95% CI 0.81–0.93, p < 0.001). Both models had good calibration (p = 0.941 and p = 0.653, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Older age, WFNS Grade V, higher modified Fisher grade, wider neck aneurysm, and postoperative pneumonia were independent predictors of poor outcome after endovascular treatment of poor-grade aSAH. The preoperative model had almost the same discrimination as the postoperative model. Endovascular treatment should be carefully considered in patients with poor-grade aSAH with ruptured wide-neck aneurysms. ▪ CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE Type of question: prognostic; study design: retrospective cohort trial; evidence: Class I.

ABSTRACTCarpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a peripheral neuropathy characterized by non‐inflammatory fibrosis of the subsynovial connective tissues (SSCT). A rabbit model of CTS was developed to test the hypothesis that SSCT fibrosis causes the neuropathy. We used a cell‐seeded collagen‐gel contraction model to characterize the fibrosis in this model in terms of cellular mechanics, specifically to compare the ability of SSCT cells from the rabbit model and normal rabbits to contract the gel, and to assess the effect of transforming growth factor‐β1,which is upregulated in CTS, on these cells. SSCT fibrosis was induced in six retired breeder female rabbits which were sacrificed at 6 weeks (N = 3) and 12 weeks (n = 3). An additional two rabbits served as controls. SSCT was harvested according to a standard protocol. Gels seeded with SSCT cells from rabbits sacrificed at 6 weeks had significantly higher tensile strength (p < 0.001) and Young's modulus (p < 0.001) than gels seeded with cells from rabbits sacrificed at 12 weeks or control animals. TGF‐β1 significantly increased the decay time constant (p < 0.001), tensile strength (p < 0.001), and Young's modulus (p < 0.001) regardless of the cell source. This model may be useful in screening therapeutic agents that may block SSCT fibrosis, identifying possible candidates for CTS treatment. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:668–674, 2015.

ABSTRACTFibrosis of the subsynovial connective tissue (SSCT) is a predominant feature of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). While the nature of CTS has been extensively studied, little is known about the etiology of this disease. We investigated SSCT tissue from patients with CTS and control subjects using fibrosis arrays and cell culture analysis. Twofold changes in fibrotic gene expression were found in multiple genes from patient SSCT using fibrosis arrays. This data was confirmed via qRT‐PCR on a subset of genes; collagen I (Col1), collagen III (Col3), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), transforming growth factor β (TGF‐β), and SMAD3 (P < 0.05) which significantly corroborate the fold changes found in the fibrosis arrays. To further explore the nature of SSCT fibrosis, cells were isolated from patient and control tissue. Col1, Col3, TGF‐β, and SMAD3 were highly expressed in patient SSCT fibroblasts as compared to control (P < 0.05). Further, fibrotic genes expression was decreased by inhibiting TGF‐β receptor I (TβRI) activity (P < 0.05). TGF‐β second messenger SMAD activity was significantly activated in SSCT fibroblasts from patients and this activation was abrogated by inhibiting TβRI signaling (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that blocking TGF‐β signaling may be an important therapeutic approach to treating the underlying fibrosis of SSCT in CTS patients. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:1444–1450, 2014.

AbstractNoninflammatory subsynovial connective tissue (SSCT) fibrosis with nerve compression is a prominent feature of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Studies have shown that SSCT matrix synthesis and material property changes in CTS are associated with increased activity of transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1. The aim of this study were to (1) investigate the ability of SSCT fibroblasts from CTS patients and unaffected individuals to contract a collagen gel ring and (2) determine how the addition of TGF‐β1 affects this ability. SSCT fibroblasts from three normal cadavers and three age‐matched female patients who had undergone surgery for CTS were used. Results showed patient cell‐seeded gels had a significantly higher contraction rate (p < 0.001) than control cells, and fully contracted gel rings possessed a significantly higher tensile strength (p = 0.003) and stiffness (p < 0.001). Furthermore, TGF‐β1 significantly intensified contraction rate (p < 0.001), tensile strength (p < 0.001), and stiffness (p < 0.001). In conclusion, SSCT cells from normal donors and CTS patients contract collagen gel rings differently, and this ability is affected by TGF‐β1 treatment. This cell‐seeded collagen gel model may be useful for developing new methods of stopping or eliminating the effect of TGF‐β1 on the SSCT fibroblasts and surrounding matrix, which might aid in the identification of medical treatment for CTS. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 574–580, 2015.

SUMMARYFibrosis of the subsynovial connective tissue (SSCT) in the carpal tunnel is the most common histological finding in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Fibrosis may result from damaged SSCT. Previous studies found that with low‐velocity (2 mm/s), tendon excursions can irreversibly damage the SSCT. We investigated the effect of tendon excursion velocity in the generation of SSCT damage. Nine human cadaver wrists were used. Three repeated cycles of ramp‐stretch testing were performed simulating 40%, 60%, 90%, and 120% of the middle finger flexor tendon superficialis physiological excursion with an excursion velocity of 60 mm/s. Energy and force were calculated and normalized by values obtained in the first cycle for each excursion level. Data were compared with low‐velocity excursion data. For high‐velocity excursions, a significant drop in the excursion energy ratio was first observed at an excursion level of 60% physiological excursion (p < 0.024) and that for low‐velocity excursions was first observed at 90% physiological excursion (p < 0.038). Furthermore, the energy ratio was lower at 60% for high velocities (p ≤ 0.039). Increasing velocity lowers the SSCT damage threshold. This finding may be relevant for understanding the pathogenesis of SSCT fibrosis, such as that accompanying CTS, and a relationship with occupational factors. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:123–128, 2014.

Quantifying the pathological features of flexor tendon pulleys is essential for grading the trigger finger since it provides clinicians with objective evidence derived from microscopic images. Although manual grading is time consuming and dependent on the observer experience, there is a lack of image processing methods for automatically extracting pulley pathological features. In this paper, we design and develop a color-based image segmentation system to extract the color and shape features from pulley microscopic images. Two parameters which are the size ratio of abnormal tissue regions and the number ratio of abnormal nuclei are estimated as the pathological progression indices. The automatic quantification results show clear discrimination among different levels of diseased pulley specimens which are prone to misjudgments for human visual inspection. The proposed system provides a reliable and automatic way to obtain pathological parameters instead of manual evaluation which is with intra- and interoperator variability. Experiments with 290 microscopic images from 29 pulley specimens show good correspondence with pathologist expectations. Hence, the proposed system has great potential for assisting clinical experts in routine histopathological examinations.