Mapping of transrectal ultrasonographic prostate biopsies: quality control and learning curve assessment by image processing

Objective: Mapping of transrectal ultrasonographic (TRUS) prostate biopsies is of fundamental importance for either diagnostic purposes or the management and treatment of prostate cancer, but the localization of the cores seems inaccurate. Our objective was to evaluate the capacities of an operator to plan transrectal prostate biopsies under 2-dimensional TRUS guidance using a registration algorithm to represent the localization of biopsies in a reference 3-dimensional ultrasonographic volume. Methods: Thirty-two patients underwent a series of 12 prostate biopsies under local anesthesia performed by 1 operator using a TRUS probe combined with specific third-party software to verify that the biopsies were indeed conducted within the planned targets. RESULTS: The operator reached 71% of the planned targets with substantial variability that depended on their localization (100% success rate for targets in the middle and right parasagittal parts versus 53% for targets in the left lateral base). Feedback from this system after each series of biopsies enabled the operator to significantly improve his dexterity over the course of time (first 16 patients: median score, 7 of 10 and cumulated median biopsy length in targets of 90 mm; last 16 patients, median score, 9 of 10 and a cumulated median length of 121 mm; P = .046). Conclusions: In addition to being a useful tool to improve the distribution of prostate biopsies, the potential of this system is above all the preparation of a detailed "map" of each patient showing biopsy zones without substantial changes in routine clinical practices

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Blog Binaire LeMonde.f

(a voté) Euh non : a cliqué

Blog Binaire LeMonde.f

Epicardial adipose tissue and severe Coronavirus Disease 19

Abstract Background Both visceral adipose tissue and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) have pro-inflammatory properties. The former is associated with Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) severity. We aimed to investigate whether an association also exists for EAT. Material and methods We retrospectively measured EAT volume using computed tomography (CT) scans (semi-automatic software) of inpatients with COVID-19 and analyzed the correlation between EAT volume and anthropometric characteristics and comorbidities. We then analyzed the clinicobiological and radiological parameters associated with severe COVID-19 (O2 $$\ge$$ ≥ 6 l/min), intensive care unit (ICU) admission or death, and 25% or more CT lung involvement, which are three key indicators of COVID-19 severity. Results We included 100 consecutive patients; 63% were men, mean age was 61.8 ± 16.2 years, 47% were obese, 54% had hypertension, 42% diabetes, and 17.2% a cardiovascular event history. Severe COVID-19 (n = 35, 35%) was associated with EAT volume (132 ± 62 vs 104 ± 40 cm3, p = 0.02), age, ferritinemia, and 25% or more CT lung involvement. ICU admission or death (n = 14, 14%) was associated with EAT volume (153 ± 67 vs 108 ± 45 cm3, p = 0.015), hypertension and 25% or more CT lung involvement. The association between EAT volume and severe COVID-19 remained after adjustment for sex, BMI, ferritinemia and lung involvement, but not after adjustment for age. Instead, the association between EAT volume and ICU admission or death remained after adjustment for all five of these parameters. Conclusions Our results suggest that measuring EAT volume on chest CT scans at hospital admission in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 might help to assess the risk of disease aggravation. </jats:sec

Early sepsis markers in patients admitted to intensive care unit with moderate to severe diabetic ketoacidosis

Abstract Background Bacterial infections are frequent triggers for diabetic ketoacidosis. In this context, delayed antibiotic treatment is associated with increase morbidity and mortality. Unnecessary administration of antimicrobial therapy might however also negatively impact the prognosis. The usefulness of traditional sepsis markers in diabetic ketoacidosis has not been assessed. Thus, we sought to investigate diagnostic performances of clinical and biological sepsis markers during diabetic ketoacidosis. Methods Patients admitted in a single intensive care unit for diabetic ketoacidosis (defined by pH &lt; 7.3 and glycaemia &gt; 13.75mmol/L) were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical and biological markers were evaluated to determine their ability to identify infected from non-infected patients. Results Between 2011 and 2018, among 134 episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis, 102 were included (91 patients). Twenty out of 102 were infected. At admission, procalcitonin (median: 3.58ng/mL vs 0.52ng/mL, p&lt;0.001) and presence of fever, defined as temperature &gt; 38°C, (25% vs 2.5%, p=0.007) were different between infected patients and non-infected patients in both univariate and multivariate analysis. Whole blood count, neutrophils count and presence of hypothermia were not different between both groups. The diagnostic performance analysis for procalcitonin revealed an area under the curve of 0.87 with an optimal cutoff of 1.44ng/mL leading to a sensibility of 0.90 and a specificity of 0.76. Combining procalcitonin and presence of fever allowed distinguish infected from non-infected patients. Indeed, all patients with procalcitonin level of more than 1.44ng/mL and fever were infected patients. The presence of one of these 2 markers was associated with 46% of infected patients. No afebrile patient with procalcitonin level less than 1.44 ng/mL was infected. Conclusion At admission, combining procalcitonin with a threshold above 1.44 ng/mL and presence of fever may be of value to distinguish infected from non-infected patients admitted in intensive care unit for diabetes ketoacidosis.</jats:p

Correction to: Early sepsis markers in patients admitted to intensive care unit with moderate‑to‑severe diabetic ketoacidosis

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.</jats:p