Augmented mannose-binding lectin levels in primary membranous nephropathy: A pilot study.

There is evidence to suggest that M-type phospholipase A2 (PLA2R) antibodies activate the mannose-binding lectin (MBL) cascade, resulting in glomerular damage and proteinuria in patients with primary membranous nephropathy (PMN). Furthermore, there are few reports indicating that aberrant MBL activation is associated with endothelial dysfunction and accelerated atherosclerosis. While PMN is a common cause of adult nephrotic syndrome, and patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), there is a lack of research that explores the factors that contribute to this condition. This study aims to determine the MBL levels in PMN and their relation to the clinical activity and endothelial dysfunction in PMN. The MBL levels of 22 biopsy-confirmed PMN patients were assessed at baseline and after 6 months of immunosuppressive therapy. In order to evaluate endothelial dysfunction in PMN patients, flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) was measured at baseline and after treatment. A total of 22 healthy controls were included in this study to measure MBL levels and FMD. A significant difference was observed between MBL levels in PMN patients and healthy controls (p < .01). MBL levels decreased significantly after immunosuppressive therapy (p = .04). The baseline MBL levels and FMD levels exhibited a strong correlation (Spearman correlation coefficient [ρ] = 0.51: p = .01). In conclusion, the study signals the activation of the MBL cascade and its association with endothelial dysfunction in PMN patients.

Potential role of 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in metastatic renal cell cancer: A prospective study.

PURPOSE: Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), in addition to its utility in prostate cancer, is also an angiogenic imaging marker for hypervascular tumors like renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Our study aims to assess the potential role of 68Ga-PSMA-11 positron emission tomography (PET)/CT in metastatic RCC and compare it with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT). METHODS: Biopsy-proven RCC patients with known or suspected distant metastases who underwent 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT for staging/restaging were prospectively recruited. Those patients who had undergone 18F-FDG PET/CT within six weeks of 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT were also included retrospectively for comparative analysis. A patient-based and lesion-based analysis was done to compare the lesion detection rates of CECT, 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET and 18F-FDG PET. PET-based quantitative parameters were also compared between both the PET modalities. Impact of baseline parameters on survival was assessed using Cox regression analysis. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients with median age 60 years ± 13 years (range = 26-76 years) were included in the study. Twenty-seven patients had clear cell (cc) RCC, six had papillary RCC (pRCC), and one each had an eosinophilic variant of ccRCC, collecting duct RCC, translocation RCC and poorly differentiated RCC. 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET performed better in detecting marrow and equivocal bone lesions and worse in detecting liver lesions compared to CECT. 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET-based angiogenic tumor burden estimation using Total Lesion-PSMA (TL-PSMA) and PSMA-Total volume (PSMA-TV) had a prognostic impact on the survival of patients. 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET also detected more lesions and showed significantly higher SUVmax than 18F-FDG PET. CONCLUSION: 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT performs better than CECT and 18F-FDG PET/CT in metastatic evaluation and has prognostic value in the management of clear cell RCC.

Elastography for Evaluation of Regression in Liver Fibrosis After Surgical Biliary Drainage for Benign Biliary Strictures: A Practical Possibility?

BACKGROUND: Hepatic fibrosis and secondary biliary cirrhosis are consequences of long-standing benign biliary strictures. Evidence on the reversibility of fibrosis after the repair is incongruous. METHODOLOGY: A prospective observational study on patients who underwent Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy for benign biliary stricture. A liver biopsy was performed during repair and correlated with preoperative elastography. The improvement in liver functions and regression of fibrosis was compared with preoperative liver function tests and elastography. RESULTS: A Total of 47 patients [mean age-38.9 y (Range: 21 to 66)] with iatrogenic benign biliary stricture were included. A strong female preponderance was noted. High strictures (type III and IV) comprised 72.7% of the study group. The median interval (injury to repair) was 7 months (2 to 72 mo). The median duration of jaundice was 3 months (1 to 20 mo). Both factors had a significant correlation with the stage of fibrosis ( P =0.001 and P =0.03, respectively). Liver biopsy revealed stage I, II, III, and IV fibrosis in 26 (55.3%), 11 (23.4%), 2 (4.3%), and 2(4.3%), respectively. The remaining 6 (12.8%) had no fibrosis. The severity of fibrosis had a good correlation with preoperative liver stiffness measurement-value on FibroScan. Significant improvement in liver function tests (bilirubin-3.55±3.48 vs. 0.59±0.52; Albumin-3.85±0.61 vs. 4.14±0.37; ALP-507.66±300.65 vs. 167±132.07; P value 0.00) and regression of fibrosis (liver stiffness measurement; 10.42±5.91 vs. 5.85±3.01, P value 0.00) was observed after repair of the strictures. CONCLUSION: Improved biliary function and regression of liver fibrosis can be achieved with timely repair of benign biliary stricture and it is feasible to be evaluated using elastography.

Comparison of Dual-Energy Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography-Derived Contrast Enhancement with Standard Dual-Energy Pulmonary Angiography in Diagnosing Subsegmental Pulmonary Embolism: A Prospective Study.

Objective In this study, we compare the diagnostic accuracy of dual-energy (DE) computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) derived contrast enhancement (DECTPA, CTPA images with iodine maps) with standard dual-energy pulmonary angiography (SCTPA) for diagnosis of subsegmental pulmonary embolism in the cases with clinical suspicion of acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Materials and Methods We included 50 cases with clinical suspicion of APE that were referred for CTPA. All the patients underwent CTPA in the dual-energy protocol. Two radiologists evaluated the images. The first radiologist interpreted the SCTPA images (vascular images) and the second radiologist interpreted the DECTPA (CTPA images with iodine maps) for findings of APE. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value of DECTPA vis-à-vis SCTPA images. Results The DECTPA with the advantage of iodine map utilization yielded higher detection of thrombi in peripheral subsegmental arteries (72 vs. 99; p = - 0.001) as compared to the SCTPA images by identification of 18 new perfusion defects (interquartile range [IQR]: 0-1) that were consistent with APE. Filling defects were identified in 27 (IQR: 0-4) more subsegmental arteries supplying these 18 areas, which were not detected on SCTPA alone. These 18 perfusion defects were identified in 13 cases. In these 13 cases, 4 new cases were diagnosed that were negative on CTPA ( p = -0.125). In the evaluation of the APE, sensitivity and specificity were calculated and it was found that DECTPA showed 100% sensitivity and 86% specificity with 100% negative predictive value in the detection of thrombi as compared to the routine CTPA. Conclusion DECTPA has higher sensitivity and negative predictive value in the detection of the subsegmental perfusion defect identification as compared to SCTPA.

Ipsilateral Uterine Artery Access Through Unilateral Transfemoral Approach Using Simple-Curve Catheter.

Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is a technique for management of various obstetrical and gynecological problems. Transfemoral approach (TFA) is preferred which can be unilateral or bilateral; however, unilateral puncture is preferred due to lesser chances of puncture-related complications as compared to bilateral puncture. UAE through unilateral TFA is possible with use of reverse loop catheters (Roberts uterine catheter [RUC] or Gandras catheter) to access ipsilateral uterine artery. Other way of cannulating the ipsilateral uterine artery is by maneuvering catheters to form Waltman's loop/Simmon's reverse loop. With advent of RUC, unilateral TFA became standard of care. In the recent past, RUC was retracted from Indian market and its nonavailability had mandated use of either bilateral TFA or use of catheters and techniques used in the past for unilateral TFA. Herein, we describe a technique of doing UAE by unilateral TFA using simple gentle curve catheter (Picard) by making a reverse curve loop.

HER2/ERBB2 overexpression in advanced gallbladder carcinoma: comprehensive evaluation by immunocytochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridisation on fine-needle aspiration cytology samples.

AIMS: Advanced gallbladder carcinoma (AGBC) carries a poor prognosis with dismal survival. There are no data regarding HER2/ERBB2 expression in AGBC. This study evaluated the overexpression of HER2/ERBB2 in cytological aspirates from AGBCs to identify potential patients for whom anti-HER2 targeted therapies can benefit. METHODS: This prospective, case-control study was performed on 50 primary AGBC cases. A detailed cytomorphological assessment, followed by immunocytochemistry (ICC) for HER2/ERBB2, was performed on AGBC cell blocks. A similar number of age-matched and gender-matched resected chronic cholecystitis specimens were included as controls. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) was performed in equivocal cases. RESULTS: A total of 10 (20%) cases showed positive (3+), 19 (38%) equivocal (2+) expression and 21 (42%) were negative on HER2/ERBB2 ICC. None of the equivocal cases demonstrated HER2 amplification by FISH. Among the controls, none showed positive (3+) immunoexpression, 23 (46%) demonstrated equivocal expression and 27 (54%) were negative. On statistical analysis, HER2/ERBB2 overexpression was significantly associated with AGBC compared with the controls. Of all the clinical, radiological and cytomorphological parameters, the predominant papillary or acinar arrangements of the tumour cells were significantly associated with HER2/ERBB2 overexpression. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to evaluate the expression of HER2/ERBB2 on cytological aspirates in AGBC using ICC and FISH. HER2/ERBB2 overexpression(20%) was significantly associated with AGBC. Furthermore, predominant papillary or acinar arrangements of tumour cells in the cytological smears were significantly associated with HER2/ERBB2 overexpression. They can serve as potential predictors of HER2/ERBB2 overexpression to select AGBC patients for anti-HER2 targeted therapies.

Percutaneous coronary intervention of anomalous right coronary arteries arising from the left sinus of Valsalva: a single-centre experience from Northern India.

Background: An anomalous right coronary artery (ARCA) arising from the left sinus of Valsalva is an uncommon congenital anomaly. The unusual location, take-off and intramural courses of ARCA pose a considerable technical challenge during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Aims: We sought to report our experience of PCI of ARCA in 35 cases of atherosclerotic occlusion. Methods: The PCI database of 35 cases of ARCA was retrospectively analysed. The details about demography, clinical presentation, PCI procedure and clinical follow-up were noted. Results: The mean age was 56.7±13.5 years. The clinical presentation included stable angina in 45.7%, unstable angina in 20% and acute myocardial infarction in 34.3% of patients. Vascular access was transradial in 37.1% of cases, transfemoral in 60% of cases, and transbrachial in 1 case (2.9%). Judkins left and Amplatz left were commonly used guide catheters. Two patients with balloon-uncrossable, calcified lesions required rotablation-assisted PCI. Intravascular imaging was performed in 12 patients (34.3%). Optical coherence tomography demonstrated a proximal intramural course in 3 patients, and a slit-like orifice in 4 patients. The mean radiation dose and fluoroscopy time were 877±687.3 mGy and 18.8±11.6 minutes, respectively. Twenty-eight (80%) patients had an asymptomatic median follow-up of 49 (interquartile range: 29.0-97.5) months. Conclusions: We performed successful PCI in a cohort of 35 patients with ARCA, with favourable long-term clinical outcomes. The selection of an appropriate guide catheter and technical skills were important factors in achieving favourable results.

Hybrid Endovascular Aortic Repair in a Post-Renal Transplant Patient With Juxtarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

A 45-year-old man presented with pain in the abdomen and pulsatile abdominal swelling of 3-month duration. He had kidney transplantation for chronic kidney disease 2 years prior. After discovering a fusiform abdominal aortic aneurysm, extending from the origin of the superior mesenteric artery to the aortic bifurcation, a hybrid aortic intervention was planned. In this case, we demonstrate a favorable long-term outcome of endovascular aortic repair for juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm in a post-renal transplant patient.

A phase II study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by organ preservation in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Objective: Conservative approaches in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) have been evolved to avoid aggressive surgery, but are limited to elderly, frail, and patients medically unfit for surgery. Our study aimed to assess the response rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) before radiotherapy (RT) in MIBC patients. Methods: Forty patients with urothelial carcinoma of stage T2-T4a, N0, M0 were enrolled between November 2013 and November 2015, and treated with three cycles of NACT with gemcitabine-cisplatin. Post-NACT response was assessed using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria. Patients who achieved complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) >50% were treated with radical RT, and those who had PR <50%, stable disease (SD), and progressive disease (PD) underwent radical cystectomy (RC). Survival analysis was done with Kaplan-Meier method and point-to-time events were analyzed with Cox-proportional hazards regression model. Results: After NACT, 35 (87.5%) patients achieved either PR >50% or CR, and were treated with RT. Five (12.5%) patients who had PR <50%, SD, or PD underwent RC. All patients who received radiation showed CR after 6 weeks. Median follow-up was 43 months (range: 10-66 months) and median overall survival (OS) was not reached. Three-year OS, local control, and disease-free survival were 70.1%, 60.9%, 50.6%, respectively, and 50% of patients preserved their functioning bladder. Three-year OS rate was 88.9% in patients who achieved CR to NACT, 73.1% in patients with PR ≥50% and 40% in patients with PR <50%. Conclusion: NACT followed by RT provides a high probability of local response with bladder preservation in CR patients. Appropriate use of this treatment regimen in carefully selected patients may omit the need for morbid surgery.

Contrast enhanced ultrasound versus multiphasic contrast enhanced computed tomography in evaluation of gallbladder lesions.

AIM: To compare the diagnostic performance of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and multiphasic contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) in differentiating benign and malignant gallbladder (GB) lesions. METHODS: This prospective ethical review board approved study comprised consecutive patients with GB lesions who underwent CEUS and multiphasic CECT at a tertiary care referral center. The enhancement patterns at CEUS and CT were compared. The quantitative CEUS parameters including arrival time (AT), AT in liver, time to peak enhancement, and washout time (WT) were assessed. The diagnostic performance of CEUS and CT features was calculated using receiver operating characteristic analysis. A subgroup analysis was performed for patients with GB wall thickening. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify features significantly associated with malignancy. RESULTS: Over the study period, 30 patients (mean age, 52.8 ± 12.2 years, 17 females) with GB lesions were evaluated. Benign and malignant diseases were present in 13 and 17 patients, respectively. There was excellent agreement between CEUS and CT findings. Among the quantitative CEUS features, only WT was significantly associated with malignancy in the overall group (p < 0.001) and wall thickening subgroup (p = 0.007). WT within 53.5 s and 51.5 s had sensitivity of 88.2% and 81.8% and specificity of 84.5% and 100% in diagnosing malignant lesions in the overall group (AUC 0.900) and the wall thickening subgroup (area under curve, AUC 0.927), respectively. At multivariate analysis, features that were significantly associated with malignant lesions in the overall group were disruption of GB wall (CEUS), intralesional non-enhancing areas (CEUS), liver involvement (CEUS or CT), and arterial phase hyperenhancement (CT) in the overall group and disruption of GB wall (CEUS), WT (CEUS), and liver involvement (CEUS or CT) in the wall thickening subgroup. CONCLUSION: CEUS is a useful adjunct to CT in evaluation of GB lesions. Its utilization in patients with GB wall thickening may improve detection of malignancy.

Intravascular ultrasound-supported percutaneous angioplasty of post-kidney transplant renal artery bifurcation stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) is an uncommon complication following renal transplantation. Its usual clinical presentation includes worsening hypertension and/or renal function, without any evidence of graft rejection. Bifurcation renal artery stenosis of the transplanted renal artery is rarely encountered. METHODS: Percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) with or without stenting is the procedure of choice to treat TRAS. We hereby describe a patient, who presented with impaired renal functions, four months following the renal transplantation. He underwent intravascular ultrasound-guided PTRA of the bifurcation lesion of TRAS.Results and conclusion: Superior renal artery had coronary drug-eluting stent implantation, while inferior renal artery and side branch of the superior renal artery had balloon angioplasty, alone. Post-intervention, the raised serum creatinine level decreased from 2.9 mg% to 1.7 mg%. The index case described the successful PTRA and stenting of the bifurcation lesion of TRAS, the technical results of which was optimized with the use of intravascular ultrasound.

How to perform a percutaneous coronary intervention, when no conventional arterial access site is available: A case report.

Coronary artery disease is one of the leading causes of mortality in the world. The presence of concomitant peripheral artery disease increases the risks of cardiovascular events along with limiting the arterial access for coronary intervention. Invasive management of such cases includes either alternate site access or combined peripheral and coronary revascularization. We hereby report a patient of the infrarenal abdominal aorta and bilateral subclavian arterial occlusion, who presented with acute coronary syndrome. To perform the percutaneous coronary intervention, we first performed the endovascular stenting of occluded aortoiliac disease, followed by stenting of the right coronary artery. We had discussed the limitation of arterial access to perform PCI in such a situation.

Endovascular stenting with a drug-eluting stent of transplanted renal artery stenosis in a dual kidney transplanted patient.

Renal transplant remains the preferred therapy for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Given the shortage of suitable donor kidneys, use of an expanded criteria donor (ECD) allows marginal kidneys to be transplanted; albeit at risk of increased graft failure due to lower nephron mass. To reduce the risk of graft failure, double kidney transplant (DKT) is advocated, with favorable outcomes. Transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) is one of the most common vascular complications following renal transplant. Unlike single kidney transplants, where TRAS usually presents with fluid overload, uncontrolled hypertension, and worsening kidney functions; it may be clinically silent in DKT patients since they have two functional transplanted kidneys. We hereby report a case of TRAS in a DKT patient who had 2 years of favorable clinical outcomes following successful endovascular stenting. He however recently died of COVID-19 associated pneumonitis.

O transplante renal continua sendo a terapia preferida para doenças renais em fase terminal. Dada a escassez de rins de doadores adequados, o doador com critérios expandidos permite que rins marginais sejam transplantados, embora haja um maior risco de falha do enxerto devido à diminuição da massa nefrótica. Para diminuir o risco de falha do enxerto, recomenda-se o transplante renal duplo (TRD), com resultados favoráveis. A estenose de artéria renal transplantada (EART) é uma das complicações vasculares mais comuns após o transplante renal. Ao contrário dos transplantes de rim simples, nos quais a EART geralmente se manifesta como sobrecarga de fluido, hipertensão descontrolada e piora das funções renais, ela pode ser clinicamente silenciosa em pacientes com TRD, pois eles têm dois rins funcionais transplantados. Relatamos aqui um caso de EART em um paciente com TRD que teve resultados clínicos favoráveis por dois anos após o sucesso do implante de stent endovascular. No entanto, ele morreu recentemente de pneumonite associada à covid-19.

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography in the era of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography: A prospective comparative analysis in preoperative evaluation of benign biliary stricture.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Accurate anatomical delineation is the key before definitive repair for benign biliary stricture (BBS). The role of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) as a road map is less studied in the era of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). METHODS: A prospective observational study, performed between July 2012 and December 2013. All patients of post-cholecystectomy BBS were evaluated with MRCP and PTC prior to definitive repair. Findings of MRCP and PTC were compared with intraoperative details. RESULTS: Thirty patients with BBS were included in the study. MRCP was performed in all but PTC was amenable in 28 of 30 (93.3%) patients. PTC was comparable to MRCP in diagnosing stricture type (96.4% vs 89.3%), intrahepatic stones (75% vs 75%), and biliary anomalies (95.6% vs 100%). Additionally, PTC revealed internal biliary fistula in 4 (85.7% vs 61.4%; P value 0.04). PTC-related minor complications were noted in 2 (7.1%) patients. CONCLUSION: PTC is comparable to MRCP in diagnosing the stricture type, intrahepatic biliary stones, and biliary anomalies. Though comparable to MRCP, the authors could not reveal any additional information that could change the course of management in BBS.

F-18 fluorocholine positron emission tomography- computed tomography in initial staging and recurrence evaluation of prostate carcinoma: A prospective comparative study with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and whole-body skeletal scintigraphy.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the major causes of death due to cancer in men. Conventional imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide locoregional status, but fall short in identifying distant metastasis. C-11 choline F-18 fluorocholine (F-18 FCH) has been shown to be useful in imaging of PCa. The present prospective study evaluates and compares the role of F-18 FCH positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) with locoregional MRI and whole-body bone scintigraphy in PCa patients for initial staging and recurrence evaluation. This study included a total of 50 patients. Tc-99m skeletal scintigraphy, F-18 FCH PET-CT, and diffusion-weighted MRI of the pelvic region were performed within a span of 2-3 weeks of each other, in random order. For the primary site, core biopsy findings of the lesion were considered as gold standard. The kappa test was used to measure agreement between bone scintigraphy, F-18 FCH, and MRI. For comparing Tc-99m bone scintigraphy, F-18 FCH, and MRI, McNemar's test was applied. F-18 FCH PET-CT and MRI were able to detect primary lesion in all initial staging patients. The sensitivity and specificity of F-18 FCH PET-CT versus MRI were found to be 92.8% versus 89.2% and 100 versus 80%, respectively, for the recurrence at the primary site. A total of 55 bony lesions at distant sites were detected on F-18 FCH PET-CT in comparison to 43 bone lesions on whole-body bone scintigraphy. F-18 FCH PET/CT also detected additional lung lesions in 2 patients and abdominal lymph nodes in 12 patients. F-18 FCH PET-CT could detect primary lesions, local metastasis, bone metastasis, and distant metastasis in a single study and is also a useful modality in recurrence evaluation in PCa patients.

Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of ovarian masses: Assessment of diagnostic accuracy and risk stratification using a categorical reporting system.

INTRODUCTION: The present study was undertaken to assess the accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and cell-block immunocytochemistry, and to estimate the risk of malignancy, using a categorical reporting system, in the diagnosis of ovarian masses. METHODS: This was a 5-year retrospective study of FNAs of ovarian masses. The cytological diagnoses were categorised as inadequate, non-neoplastic, benign neoplasms, indeterminate for malignancy, suspicious for malignancy and malignant neoplasms. The cytology was correlated with the corresponding histopathology to assess the diagnostic accuracy and risk of malignancy associated with each diagnostic category. RESULTS: Of a total of 66 703 FNAs performed during the study period, 580 (0.9%) were performed on ovarian masses. Of these, 40 (6.9%) were reported as non-neoplastic; 76 (13.1%) as benign neoplasms; 14 (2.4%) as indeterminate for malignancy, 48 (8.3%) as suspicious for malignancy, 337 (58.1%) as malignant neoplasms and 65 (11.2%) as inadequate for interpretation. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) was performed on 99 (17%) aspirates. Subsequent histopathology was available in 208 (35.8%) cases. On cyto-histopathological correlation, 183 (88%) were concordant and 25 (12%) were discordant. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and diagnostic accuracy for diagnosing ovarian malignancy were 88.4%, 85.7%, 96.8%, 60.0% and 88% respectively. Risk of malignancy for each category was 80%, 0%, 4.5%, 66.7%, 88.5% and 98.5% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided FNAC has high specificity and diagnostic accuracy for preoperative diagnosis of ovarian malignancies and hence is a valid diagnostic procedure in certain clinical situations. Reporting using a categorical system imparts uniformity and also provides the clinicians with an associated risk of malignancy to guide further management.