Serum crosslinked-N-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx) has prognostic implications for patients with initial prostate carcinoma (PCa): a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: NTx is a type I collagen metabolite previously shown to be increased in patients with bone metastasis. We evaluate NTx potential prognostic role in PCa at diagnosis, when most of the patients have no overt bone involvement. METHODS: Men with histologic diagnosis of PCa were included at diagnosis. Serum NTx was measured serially every 3 months up to two years by ELISA. Fifty-five PCa patients with a median age of 67 y (51-83 y) were included. Most (86%) had stage I; 4% stage II; 2% stage III and 10% stage IV disease. RESULTS: At entry, median NTx was 14.65 nMBCE and it did not correlate with age, Gleason score or PSA, but we observed a significant direct correlation with stage (p=0.0094). With a median follow up of 23 months, serum NTx correlated significantly with biochemical recurrence (p=0.012), as did Gleason score (p=0.00056), stage (p=0.012) and PSA (p<0.0001). By multivariate analysis the only 2 independent variables significantly correlated with biochemical recurrence were PSA (p=0.046) and NTx (p=0.021). CONCLUSIONS: NTx serum concentrations may have a prognostic value in patients with PCa at diagnosis. These results emphasize the importance of bone metabolism biomarkers in patients with PCa even without evident overt bone involvement.

The success of endosseous implants in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients receiving antiretroviral therapy: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: In a pilot study, the authors aimed to determine the success rate of dental implants placed in patients who were positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and were receiving different regimens of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). They considered patients' levels of cluster of differentiation (CD) 4(+) cells and viral load, and they attempted to verify whether patients with baseline biochemical signs of bone mineral density loss could experience osseointegration impairment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One of the authors, a dentist, placed dental implants in the posterior mandibles of 40 volunteers, divided into three groups: one composed of HIV-positive patients receiving protease inhibitor (PI)-based HAART; a second composed of HIV-positive patients receiving nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based HAART (without PI); and a control group composed of HIV-negative participants. The authors assessed peri-implant health six and 12 months after implant loading. They analyzed the success of the implants in relation to CD4(+) cell counts, viral load and baseline pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline values. RESULTS: The authors followed 59 implants for 12 months after loading. Higher baseline levels of pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline found in HIV-positive participants did not interfere with osseointegration after 12 months of follow-up. Average peri-implant bone loss after 12 months was 0.49 millimeters in group 1, 0.47 mm in group 2 and 0.55 mm in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The placement of dental implants in HIV-positive patients is a reasonable treatment option, regardless of CD4(+) cell count, viral load levels and type of antiretroviral therapy. Longer follow-up periods are necessary to ascertain the predictability of the long-term success of dental implants in these patients. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Limited published scientific evidence is available to guide clinicians in regard to possible increased risks associated with dental implant placement in HIV-positive patients.

Serum cross-linked n-telopeptides of type 1 collagen (NTx) in patients with solid tumors.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen (NTx) increase in concentration in situations in which bone resorption is increased, such as osteoporosis and bone metastasis (BM). We aimed to evaluate the serum concentrations of NTx in a sample of patients with several types of solid tumors. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional analytical study with a control group in a tertiary public hospital. METHODS: We performed the quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on serum NTx levels in 19 subjects without a history of cancer and 62 patients with various solid tumors who had been referred for a bone scan. Three experienced analysts read all bone scans. RESULTS: The serum NTx levels in patients with cancer and BM, with cancer but without BM and without cancer were 46.77 +/- 2.58, 32.85 +/- 2.05 and 22.32 +/- 2.90 respectively (P < 0.0001). We did not find any significant correlations of serum NTx with age, gender, history of bone pain, tumor type and bone alkaline phosphatase levels. We found a significant correlation between serum NTx and alkaline phosphatase levels (R(2) = 0.08; P = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Serum NTx levels are significantly higher in patients with solid tumors and bone metastases than they are in patients without bone metastases and in normal controls.

Serum cross-linked n-telopeptides of type 1 collagen (NTx) in patients with solid tumors / Dosagem sérica do N-telopeptídeo do colágeno tipo I (NTx) em pacientes com tumores sólidos

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen (NTx) increase in concentration in situations in which bone resorption is increased, such as osteoporosis and bone metastasis (BM). We aimed to evaluate the serum concentrations of NTx in a sample of patients with several types of solid tumors. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional analytical study with a control group in a tertiary public hospital. METHODS: We performed the quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on serum NTx levels in 19 subjects without a history of cancer and 62 patients with various solid tumors who had been referred for a bone scan. Three experienced analysts read all bone scans. RESULTS: The serum NTx levels in patients with cancer and BM, with cancer but without BM and without cancer were 46.77 ± 2.58, 32.85 ± 2.05 and 22.32 ± 2.90 respectively (P < 0.0001). We did not find any significant correlations of serum NTx with age, gender, history of bone pain, tumor type and bone alkaline phosphatase levels. We found a significant correlation between serum NTx and alkaline phosphatase levels (R² = 0.08; P = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Serum NTx levels are significantly higher in patients with solid tumors and bone metastases than they are in patients without bone metastases and in normal controls.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Os N-telopeptídeos do colágeno tipo-I (NTx) elevam-se quando a reabsorção óssea está aumentada, devido a condições como osteoporose e metástase óssea. Sendo assim, temos por objetivo avaliar os níveis séricos de NTx em uma população heterogênea de pacientes com tumores sólidos. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo transversal analítico com grupo controle, realizado em hospital público terciário. MÉTODOS: 19 pacientes sem história de câncer e 62 pacientes com tumores sólidos de vários tipos, encaminhados para estadiamento e investigação dos sintomas esqueléticos, foram avaliados pela técnica de ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay) quantitativa para a dosagem de NTx. Três especialistas leram todas as imagens ósseas. RESULTADOS: O nível de NTx encontrado em pacientes com câncer e metástase óssea, sem metástase óssea e sem diagnóstico de câncer foi 46,77 ± 2,58, 32,85 ± 2,05 e 22,32 ± 2,90, respectivamente (P < 0,0001). Não encontramos correlação entre o NTx, idade, sexo, história de dor óssea, tipo de tumor e níveis de fosfatase alcalina óssea. Encontramos correlação significativa entre os níveis de NTx e de Fosfatase Alcalina (r² = 0,08, P = 0,022). CONCLUSÃO: O NTx sérico é significativamente mais elevado em pacientes com tumores sólidos e metástases ósseas quando comparado com pacientes sem metástases ósseas e controles normais.

Sensibilidade e especificidade da dosagem sérica do N-telopeptídeo do colágeno tipo I (NTx) em pacientes com tumores sólidos / Sensitivity and specificity of serum cross-linked N-telopeptides of type 1 collagen (NTx) in patients with solid tumors

Objetivo: Os N-telopeptídeos do colágeno tipo-I (NTx) se elevam quando a reabsorção óssea está aumentada, devido a condições como a osteoporose e a metástase óssea, sendo assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a utilidade da dosagem de NTx em uma população heterogênea de pacientes com tumores sólidos para o diagnóstico de metástases ósseas. Métodos: Foi conduzido um estudo prospectivo em um hospital público terciário. Foram analisados 19 pacientes sem história de câncer e 62 pacientes com tumores sólidos de vários tipos, encaminhados para estadiamento e investigação dos sintomas esqueléticos. Utilizou-se a técnica de ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) quantitativa para a dosagem de NTx. Três especialistas leram todas as imagens ósseas, obtidas por medicina nuclear. Rresultados: Não foi encontrada correlação entre o NTx, idade, sexo, história de dor óssea, tipo de tumor e níveis de fosfatase alcalina óssea. Foi encontrada correlação significativa entre os níveis de NTx e de fosfatase alcalina (r² = 0,08, p = 0,022). Os valores preditivos positivo e negativo, assim como os valores de sensibilidade, especificidade e da curva ROC (receiver operating characteristic) para a presença de metástase óssea foram: 0,34, 0,92, 0,95, 0,22 e 0,59, respectivamente. Cconclusões: Concluiu-se que o NTx é altamente sensível para o diagnóstico de metástase óssea em pacientes com tumores sólidos e metástases ósseas.