ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Epidemiological studies show that breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the world. Breast cancer treatment can be very effective, especially when the disease is detected in the early stages. The goal can be achieved by using large-scale breast cancer data with the machine learning models METHODS: This paper proposes a new intelligent approach using an optimized ensemble classifier for breast cancer diagnosis. The classification is done by proposing a new intelligent Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH) neural network-based ensemble classifier. This method improves the performance of the machine learning technique by using a Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization (TLBO) algorithm to optimize the hyperparameters of the classifier. Meanwhile, we use TLBO as an evolutionary method to address the problem of appropriate feature selection in breast cancer data.

RESULTS: The simulation results show that the proposed method has a better accuracy between 7 and 26% compared to the best results of the existing equivalent algorithms.

CONCLUSION: According to the obtained results, we suggest the proposed algorithm as an intelligent medical assistant system for breast cancer diagnosis.

PMID:37202580 | DOI:10.1007/s00432-023-04861-5

16:49

PubMed articles on: Cardio-Oncology

Quantitative assessment of radiotherapy-induced myocardial damage using MRI: a systematic review

Cardiooncology. 2023 May 18;9(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s40959-023-00175-0.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based metrics to quantify myocardial toxicity following radiotherapy (RT) in human subjects through review of current literature.

METHODS: Twenty-one MRI studies published between 2011-2022 were identified from available databases. Patients received chest irradiation with/without other treatments for various malignancies including breast, lung, esophageal cancer, Hodgkin's, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In 11 longitudinal studies, the sample size, mean heart dose, and follow-up times ranged from 10-81 patients, 2.0-13.9 Gy, and 0-24 months after RT (in addition to a pre-RT assessment), respectively. In 10 cross-sectional studies, the sample size, mean heart dose, and follow-up times ranged from 5-80 patients, 2.1-22.9 Gy, and 2-24 years from RT completion, respectively. Global metrics of left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) and mass/dimensions of cardiac chambers were recorded, along with global/regional values of T1/T2 signal, extracellular volume (ECV), late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), and circumferential/radial/longitudinal strain.

RESULTS: LVEF tended to decline at >20 years follow-up and in patients treated with older RT techniques. Changes in global strain were observed after shorter follow-up (13±2 months) for concurrent chemoradiotherapy. In concurrent treatments with longer follow-up (8.3 years), increases in left ventricle (LV) mass index were correlated with LV mean dose. In pediatric patients, increases in LV diastolic volume were correlated with heart/LV dose at 2 years post-RT. Regional changes were observed earlier post-RT. Dose-dependent responses were reported for several parameters, including: increased T1 signal in high-dose regions, a 0.136% increase of ECV per Gy, progressive increase of LGE with increasing dose at regions receiving >30 Gy, and correlation between increases in LV scarring volume and LV mean/V10/V25 Gy dose.

CONCLUSION: Global metrics only detected changes over longer follow-up, in older RT techniques, in concurrent treatments, and in pediatric patients. In contrast, regional measurements detected myocardial damage at shorter follow-up and in RT treatments without concurrent treatment and had greater potential for dose-dependent response. The early detection of regional changes suggests the importance of regional quantification of RT-induced myocardial toxicity at early stages, before damage becomes irreversible. Further works with homogeneous cohorts are required to examine this matter.

PMID:37202766 | PMC:PMC10193692 | DOI:10.1186/s40959-023-00175-0

16:49

PubMed articles on: Cardio-Oncology

Emerging role of PET/MR in the diagnosis and characterization of cardiotoxicity?

Int J Cardiol. 2023 May 16:S0167-5273(23)00716-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2023.05.022. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In cardiotoxicity, PET/MR affords an accurate evaluation of cardiovascular morphology, function, and also multi-parametric tissue characterization. A composite of several cardiac imaging parameters provided by the PET/MR scanner is likely to outperform a single parameter or imaging modality in the assessment and prediction of the severity and progression of cardiotoxicity but needing clinical investigations. Of particular interest, a heterogeneity map of single PET and CMR parameters could be perfectly correlated with the PET/MR scanner likely emerging as a promising marker of cardiotoxicity to monitor treatment response. While such functional and structural multiparametric imaging approach with cardiac PET/MR in the assessment and characterization of cardiotoxicity holds much promise, its validity and value in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation still needs to be assessed. The multi-parametric imaging approach with PET/MR, however, is likely to set new standards to develop predictive constellations of parameters for the severity and potential progression of cardiotoxicity that should afford timely and individualized treatment intervention to ascertain myocardial recovery and improved clinical outcome in these high-risk patients.

PMID:37201611 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijcard.2023.05.022

16:49

PubMed articles on: Cardio-Oncology

Cardiac Myxomas As Chameleons: A Scoping Review of Their Paraneoplastic Presentations

Cureus. 2023 Apr 14;15(4):e37558. doi: 10.7759/cureus.37558. eCollection 2023 Apr.

ABSTRACT

This scoping review aims to explore the relationship between cardiac myxomas (CMs) and paraneoplastic syndromes (PS). CMs are the most common tumors in the heart, with the majority located in the left atrium, and are often associated with a triad of obstructive, embolic, and constitutional symptoms. However, they can also present with unrelated symptoms that are part of a PS. This study performed a thorough literature search of 11 databases and included 12 papers in the final review. All of the patients were diagnosed with atrial myxoma, which initially presented as a PS. Surgery was the curative measure in all cases and resulted in remission in every case, with patients reporting resolution of symptoms at follow-up. The majority of patients in the study were female, with comorbid rheumatologic conditions often present. This study highlights the heterogeneity of presentations of CMs and their associated PS.

PMID:37197119 | PMC:PMC10184748 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.37558

16:49

In reply to this message

PubMed articles on: Cardio-Oncology

Geniposide alleviates pressure overload in cardiac fibrosis with suppressed TGF-β1 pathway

Acta Histochem. 2023 May;125(4):152044. doi: 10.1016/j.acthis.2023.152044. Epub 2023 May 16.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cardiac fibrosis is one of the main contributors to the pathogenesis of heart failure. Geniposide (GE), a major iridoid in gardenia fruit extract, has recently been reported to improve skeletal muscle fibrosis through the modulation of inflammation response. This investigation aimed to illuminate the cardio-protective effect and the potential mechanism of GE in cardiac fibrosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A transverse aortic contraction (TAC) induction mice model was established and GE (0 mg/kg; 10 mg/kg; 20 mg/kg; 40 mg/kg) was administered by oral gavage daily for 4 weeks. Hemodynamic parameters, Masson's trichrome stain, and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining were estimated and cardiomyocyte fibrosis, interstitial collagen levels, and hypertrophic markers were analyzed using qPCR and western blot. In vitro, H9C2 cells were exposed to the Ang II (1 μM) pretreated with GE (0.1 μM, 1 μM, and 10 μM). Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected. Moreover, the transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad2 pathway was assessed in vivo and in vitro.

RESULTS: GE significantly ameliorated TAC-induced cardiac hypertrophy, ventricular remodeling, myocardial fibrosis, and improved cardiac function in vivo, and it inhibited Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis in vitro. We further observed that the inflammatory channel TGF-β1/Smad2 pathway was suppressed by GE both in vivo and in vitro.

CONCLUSION: These results indicate that GE inhibited myocardial fibrosis and improved hypertrophic cardiomyocytes with attenuated the TGF-β1/Smad2 pathway and proposed to be an important therapeutic of cardiac fibrosis reduced by TAC.

PMID:37196380 | DOI:10.1016/j.acthis.2023.152044

16:49

PubMed articles on: Cardio-Oncology

Review of cardiovascular imaging in the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology 2022: positron emission tomography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance

C

18:31

Cardiotoxicity News

Photo

Not included, change data exporting settings to download.

1200×1200, 39.0 KB

18:31

Photo

Not included, change data exporting settings to download.

1200×1200, 39.0 KB

18:31

In reply to this message

PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

Thrombotic Risk Assessment in Patients with Lymphoid Neoplasm seen at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State

West Afr J Med. 2023 May 27;40(5):533-540. ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a cause of increased morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. VTE is the second leading cause of death in cancer patients. Risk assessment models have been developed to identify patients at risk of VTE for thromboprophylaxis. Risk scores of patients in our environment have not been adequately investigated.

OBJECTIVE: The study evaluates the association of thrombotic risk assessment scores (using the modified Khorana risk assessment tool) and soluble P-selectin levels with thrombotic events in patients with lymphoid cancer.

METHODS: This is a comparative cross-sectional study conducted at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH, Nnewi, Anambra State). Forty-five patients with lymphoid malignancy and 45 apparently healthy subjects participated in the study. The modified Khorana risk assessment score was used to assess cancer-associated thrombotic risk. Blood sample was collected for soluble P-selectin estimation. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 23.

RESULTS: The age of subjects with lymphoid neoplasm and controls were 49.1±15.8 years, and 49.6±11.1 years respectively (p = 0.548). Subjects with lymphoid neoplasm consist of 26 (57.8%) males and 19 (42.2%) females while the controls consist of 25 (55.6%) males and 20 (44.4%) females. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was the most frequent of lymphoid neoplasm (18, 40.0%), followed by multiple myeloma (10, 22%), CLL (9, 20%), ALL (6, 13.0%) and Hodgkin's lymphoma (2, 4.0%). Thirty-five (77.8%) subjects with lymphoid neoplasm had intermediate risk scores and 10 (22.2%) had high-risk scores. Nineteen (42.2%) of the controls had intermediate risk and 26 (57.8%) low risk. The differences in proportion were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The median (IQR) levels of soluble P-selectin were significantly higher in patients with lymphoid neoplasm (12.2 vs. 7.0ng/mL, p <0.001).

CONCLUSION: Lymphoid malignancy is associated with relatively higher thrombotic risk scores, sP-selectin levels, and venous thromboembolic events.

CONTEXTE: La thromboembolie veineuse (TEV) est une cause de morbidité et de mortalité accrues chez les patients atteints de cancer. La TEV est la deuxième cause de décès chez les patients atteints de cancer. Des modèles d’évaluation des risques ont été mis au point pour identifier les patients présentant un risque de TEV en vue d’une thromboprophylaxie. Les scores de risque des patients dans notre environnement n’ont pas été étudiés de manière adéquate.

OBJECTIF: L’étude évalue l’association des scores d’évaluation du risque thrombotique (en utilisant l’outil modifié d’évaluation du risque de Khorana) et des niveaux de P-sélectine soluble avec les événements thrombotiques chez les patients atteints d’un cancer lymphoïde.

MÉTHODES: Il s’agit d’une étude transversale comparative menée au Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH, Nnewi, État d’Anambra). Quarante-cinq patients atteints d’un cancer lymphoïde et 45 sujets apparemment sains ont participé à l’étude. Le score modifié d’évaluation du risque de Khorana a été utilisé pour évaluer le risque thrombotique associé au cancer. Un échantillon de sang a été prélevé pour l’estimation de la P-sélectine soluble. Les données ont été analysées avec SPSS version 23.

RÉSULTATS: L’âge des sujets atteints de néoplasme lymphoïde et des témoins était respectivement de 49,1±15,8 ans et 49,6±11,1 ans (p = 0,548). Les sujets atteints de néoplasme lymphoïde sont 26 (57,8 %) hommes et 19 (42,2 %) femmes, tandis que l[...]

18:31

In reply to this message

PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

Evaluation of Patient Characteristics Linked to Major Bleeding Events in Patients Prescribed Direct Oral Anticoagulants

Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2023 Jan-Dec;29:10760296231172765. doi: 10.1177/10760296231172765.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) demonstrated similar efficacy and lower risk of intracranial hemorrhage than warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism. Given the lack of data identifying risk factors in patients who bled while on a DOAC, we sought to investigate these characteristics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective chart review was approved by the Mass General Brigham Institutional Review Board and assessed patients who experienced bleeding events while on DOAC therapy from 6/1/2015 to 7/1/2020. Patient characteristics were evaluated, including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), renal function, concomitant therapies, and baseline comorbidities.

RESULTS: Eighty-seven patients were included for analysis, with a median age of 75.8 years. Most patients were female (51.7%) and 24 (27.6%) had a BMI >30. At time-of-event, 21 patients (24.1%) had acute kidney injury. Thirty-three patients (37.9%) were on concomitant antiplatelet therapy (APT), with 31 (35.6%) on single APT and 2 on dual APT. Pertinent comorbidities included hypertension (74.7%), ischemic cerebrovascular accident (28.7%), thyroid abnormality (23.0%), active cancer (14.9%), and anemia (13.8%). Eleven patients (12.6%) had a prior bleeding event. Most patients were on apixaban (69.0%) for the indication of stroke prevention in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation/flutter (72.4%). FDA-approved dosing was used in most patients (92.0%), and all deviations reflected underdosing. Most bleeding events were defined as major (95.4%), occurred at a critical organ site (72.4%), and developed spontaneously (58.6%).

CONCLUSIONS: These data provide insight into characteristics of patients who experience bleeding events while on DOAC therapy. Understanding these potential risk factors may optimize the safe use of these agents.

PMID:37246422 | DOI:10.1177/10760296231172765

18:31

Photo

Not included, change data exporting settings to download.

1200×1200, 39.0 KB

18:31

In reply to this message

PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

Spray Cryotherapy for Benign Large Airway Stenosis: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study of Safety and Practice Patterns

J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol. 2023 May 29. doi: 10.1097/LBR.0000000000000930. Online ahead of print.