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- Anand, Aseem, et al.
(author)
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Automated Bone Scan Index as a quantitative imaging biomarker in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients being treated with enzalutamide
- 2016
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In: EJNMMI Research. - : Springer. - 2191-219X. ; 6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Having performed analytical validation studies, we are now assessing the clinical utility of the upgraded automated Bone Scan Index (BSI) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). In the present study, we retrospectively evaluated the discriminatory strength of the automated BSI in predicting overall survival (OS) in mCRPC patients being treated with enzalutamide.METHODS: Retrospectively, we included patients who received enzalutamide as a clinically approved therapy for mCRPC and had undergone bone scan prior to starting therapy. Automated BSI, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), hemoglobin (HgB), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were obtained at baseline. Change in automated BSI and PSA were obtained from patients who have had bone scan at week 12 of treatment follow-up. Automated BSI was obtained using the analytically validated EXINI Bone(BSI) version 2. Kendall's tau (τ) was used to assess the correlation of BSI with other blood-based biomarkers. Concordance index (C-index) was used to evaluate the discriminating strength of automated BSI in predicting OS.RESULTS: Eighty mCRPC patients with baseline bone scans were included in the study. There was a weak correlation of automated BSI with PSA (τ = 0.30), with HgB (τ = -0.17), and with ALP (τ = 0.56). At baseline, the automated BSI was observed to be predictive of OS (C-index 0.72, standard error (SE) 0.03). Adding automated BSI to the blood-based model significantly improved the C-index from 0.67 to 0.72, p = 0.017. Treatment follow-up bone scans were available from 62 patients. Both change in BSI and percent change in PSA were predictive of OS. However, the combined predictive model of percent PSA change and change in automated BSI (C-index 0.77) was significantly higher than that of percent PSA change alone (C-index 0.73), p = 0.041.CONCLUSIONS: The upgraded and analytically validated automated BSI was found to be a strong predictor of OS in mCRPC patients. Additionally, the change in automated BSI demonstrated an additive clinical value to the change in PSA in mCRPC patients being treated with enzalutamide.
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| 2. |
- Hendriksen, Rene S., et al.
(author)
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Global monitoring of antimicrobial resistance based on metagenomics analyses of urban sewage
- 2019
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 10:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- © 2019, The Author(s). Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious threat to global public health, but obtaining representative data on AMR for healthy human populations is difficult. Here, we use metagenomic analysis of untreated sewage to characterize the bacterial resistome from 79 sites in 60 countries. We find systematic differences in abundance and diversity of AMR genes between Europe/North-America/Oceania and Africa/Asia/South-America. Antimicrobial use data and bacterial taxonomy only explains a minor part of the AMR variation that we observe. We find no evidence for cross-selection between antimicrobial classes, or for effect of air travel between sites. However, AMR gene abundance strongly correlates with socio-economic, health and environmental factors, which we use to predict AMR gene abundances in all countries in the world. Our findings suggest that global AMR gene diversity and abundance vary by region, and that improving sanitation and health could potentially limit the global burden of AMR. We propose metagenomic analysis of sewage as an ethically acceptable and economically feasible approach for continuous global surveillance and prediction of AMR.
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| 3. |
- Svarc, Petra, et al.
(author)
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Center experience and other determinants of patient radiation exposure during prostatic artery embolization : a retrospective study in three Scandinavian centers
- 2022
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In: European Radiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0938-7994 .- 1432-1084. ; 32:4, s. 2404-2413
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: To evaluate the effects of center experience and a variety of patient- and procedure-related factors on patient radiation exposure during prostatic artery embolization (PAE) in three Scandinavian centers with different PAE protocols and levels of experience. Understanding factors that influence radiation exposure is crucial in effective patient selection and procedural planning. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively for 352 consecutive PAE procedures from January 2015 to June 2020 at the three centers. Dose area product (DAP (Gy·cm2)) was selected as the primary outcome measure of radiation exposure. Multiple patient- and procedure-related explanatory variables were collected and correlated with the outcome variable. A multiple linear regression model was built to determine significant predictors of increased or decreased radiation exposure as reflected by DAP. Results: There was considerable variation in DAP between the centers. Intended unilateral PAE (p = 0.03) and each 10 additional patients treated (p = 0.02) were significant predictors of decreased DAP. Conversely, increased patient body mass index (BMI, p < 0.001), fluoroscopy time (p < 0.001), and number of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) acquisitions (p < 0.001) were significant predictors of increased DAP. Conclusions: To minimize patient radiation exposure during PAE radiologists may, in collaboration with clinicians, consider unilateral embolization, pre-interventional CTA for procedure planning, using predominantly anteroposterior (AP) projections, and limiting the use of cone-beam CT (CBCT) and fluoroscopy. Key Points: • Growing center experience and intended unilateral embolization decrease patient radiation exposure during prostatic artery embolization. • Patient BMI, fluoroscopy time, and number of DSA acquisitions are associated with increased DAP during procedures. • Large variation in radiation exposure between the centers may reflect the use of CTA before and CBCT during the procedure.
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