Gout of feet and ankles in different disease durations: diagnostic value of single-source DECT and evaluation of urate deposition with a novel semi-quantitative DECT scoring system

Abstract Objectives: To investigate the diagnostic performance of single-source dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) based on gemstone spectral imaging technology (including Discovery CT750HD and Revolution CT) in patients with suspected feet/ankles gouty arthritis, and evaluate the urate deposition with a novel semi-quantitative DECT scoring system. Methods: A total of 196 patients were consecutively included. Feet and ankles were evaluated in all patients by single-source DECT scan. The 2015 EULAR/ACR criteria were used as the reference for the diagnosis of gout. The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of DECT for the diagnosis of gout in the early (≤1 year), middle (1-3 years), and late (> 3 years) disease durations were calculated. Besides, a novel semi-quantitative DECT scoring system was assessed for the measurement of urate deposition, and the correlation between the scores and the clinical and serological data were also evaluated. Moreover, the influences of artifacts on the diagnostic performance of DECT were also determined. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of DECT in 196 patients were 38.10, 96.43%, and 0.673 in the early-stage group; 62.96, 100.00%, and 0.815 in the middle-stage group; and 77.55, 87.50%, and 0.825 in the late-stage group, respectively. The overall diagnostic accuracies in the AUC of DECT (Discovery CT750HD and Revolution CT) in the middle and late stages of gout were higher than that in the early stage of gout. Besides, the monosodium urate crystals were deposited on the first metatarsophalangeal joints and ankles/midfeet. Age, the presence of tophus, bone erosion, and disease duration considerably affected the total urate score. No statistical difference in the positive detection of nail artifact, skin artifact, vascular calcification, and noise artifact was found between the case and control groups. Conclusion: DECT (Discovery CT750HD and Revolution CT) showed promising diagnostic accuracy for the detection of urate crystal deposition in gout but had limited diagnostic sensitivity for short-stage gout. Longer disease duration, the presence of tophus, and bone erosion were associated with the urate crystal score system. The artifacts do not remarkably affect the diagnostic performance of DECT in gout.

Disease activity is associated with LV dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis patients without clinical cardiovascular disease

Abstract Objectives: The cross-sectional study aimed to assess left ventricular systolic function using global longitudinal strain (GLS) by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) and arterial stiffness using cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) in Thai adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and no clinical evidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods: Confirmed RA patients were selected from a list of outpatient attendees if they were 18 years (y) without clinical, ECG and echocardiographic evidence of CVD, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and excess alcoholic intake. Controls were matched with age and sex to a list of healthy individuals with normal echocardiograms. All underwent STE and CAVI. Results: 60 RA patients (females = 55) were analysed. Mean standard deviation of patient and control ages were 50 ± 10.2 and 51 ±9.9 y, respectively, and mean duration of RA was 9.0 ± 6.8 y. Mean DAS28-CRP and DAS28-ESR were 2.9 ± 0.9 and 3.4 ± 0.9, respectively. There was no between-group differences in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), LV sizes, LVMI, LV diastolic function and CAVI were within normal limits but all GLSs values was significantly lower in patients vs. controls: 17.6 ± 3.4 vs 20.4 ± 2.2 (p = 0.03). Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated significant correlations between GLSs and RA duration (p = 0.02), and GLSs and DAS28-CRP (p = 0.041). Conclusions: Patients with RA and no clinical CV disease have reduced LV systolic function as shown by lower GLSs. It is common and associated with disease activity and RA disease duration. 2D speckle-tracking GLSs is robust in detecting this subclinical LV systolic dysfunction.

Avaliação da função pancreática em pacientes com diabetes melito tipo 1 de acordo com a duração da doença / Pancreatic function assessment in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients according to disease duration

Os pacientes com diabetes melito tipo 1 (DM1) podem apresentar secreção residual de insulina por longos períodos, o que tem sido associado a prognóstico mais favorável. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a secreção de insulina por meio da dosagem de peptídeo C (PC) em pacientes com DM1 de curta (<5 anos; grupo 1) e longa (> 5 anos; grupo 2) duração da doença. PACIENTES E MÉTODOS: Voluntários com DM1 coletaram sangue em jejum e 6 minutos após a infusão de glucagon para dosagem de PC, HbA1c e anti-GAD. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 43 pacientes, 22 no grupo 1 e 21 no grupo 2. Secreção de insulina preservada (PC > 1,5 ng/mL) foi identificada em seis (13,9 por cento) e oito (18,6 por cento) casos nas coletas basal (PC1) e após estímulo (PC2), sem diferença entre os grupos (p = 0,18 e 0,24). PC1 foi detectável (> 0,5 ng/mL) em 13 (30,2 por cento) e PC2 em 18 (41,9 por cento) casos, mais frequentes no grupo 1 do que no 2 (p = 0,045 para PC1/p = 0,001 para PC2). Os títulos de PC1 (1,4 ±0,8 versus 1,2 ±1,0; p = 0,69) ou PC2 (1,8 ±1,5 versus 1,7 ±0,8; p = 0,91) não diferiram entre os grupos. No grupo 1 houve correlação inversa entre tempo de doença e PC2 (R = -0,58; p = 0,025). CONCLUSÃO: Uma proporção significativa dos pacientes com DM1 apresenta secreção residual de insulina, especialmente nos primeiros cinco anos da doença. Tais indivíduos representam a população ideal para estudos visando à prevenção secundária da doença.

Patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) may exhibit some residual insulin secretion for many years after their diagnosis. This has been associated with a more favorable prognosis. OBJECTIVE: To analyze insulin secretion in individuals with T1D using C-peptide (CP) response to glucagon and comparing patients with recent onset (<5 years - Group 1) and long-standing disease (>5 years -Group 2). METHODS: Subjects with T1D had their blood sampled before (fasting) and 6 minutes after glucagon infusion for CP, HbA1c and anti-GAD measurement. RESULTS: Forty-three individuals were evaluated, 22 in Group 1 and 21 in Group 2. Preserved insulin secretion (CP >1.5 ng/mL) was observed in 6 (13.9 percent) and in 8 (18.6 percent) patients before (CP 1) and after (CP 2) glucagon stimulus, respectively, showing no difference between the groups (p=0.18 and 0.24). CP 1 and CP 2 were detectable (>0.5 ng/dL) in 13 (30.2 percent) and 18 (41.9 percent) patients, respectively. Both were more frequent in Group 1 than in Group 2 (p=0.45 for CP1/p=0.001 for CP 2). Similar serum levels where seen between the groups, both before and after stimulus (1.4±0.8 vs. 1.2±1.0; p=0.69 and 1.8±1.5 vs. 1.7±0.8; p=0.91). Group 1 presented an inverse correlation between disease duration and CP 2 (R=-0.58; p=0.025). CONCLUSION: A significant number of patients with T1D have detectable residual insulin secretion, especially in the first 5 years of disease. These subjects are an ideal population for clinical trials that target the prevention of â cell function loss in T1D.