Project description:BackgroundWe report the results of a retrospective analysis of localized prostate cancer (LPCa) treated with transperineal ultrasound image-guided radiotherapy (TPUS-IGRT).MethodsA total of 124 patients (median age: 74 y, 46-84 y) with LPCa who underwent TPUS-IGRT (Clarity Autoscan system; CAS, Elekta; Stockholm, Sweden) between April 2016 and October 2021 for curative/after hormone induction were enrolled. The number of patients by risk (National Comprehensive Cancer Network 2019) was 7, 25, 42, and 50 for low (LR), good intermediate (good IR), poor intermediate (poor IR), and high (HR)/very high (VHR), respectively. Ninety-five patients were given neoadjuvant hormonal therapy. The planning target volume margin setting was 3 mm for rectal in most cases, 5-7 mm for superior/inferior, and 5 mm for anterior/right/left. The principle prescribed dose is 74 Gy (LR), 76 Gy (good IR), and 76-78 Gy (poor IR or above). CAS was equipped with a real-time prostate intrafraction monitoring (RTPIFM) system. When a displacement of 2-3 mm or more was detected, irradiation was paused, and the patients were placed on standby for prostate reinstatement/recorrection. Of the 3135 fractions in 85 patients for whom RTPIFM was performed, 1008 fractions (32.1%) were recorrected at least once after starting irradiation.ResultsA total of 123 patients completed the radiotherapy course. The 5-year overall survival rate was 95.9%. The 5-year biological prostate-specific antigen relapse-free survival rate (bPFS) was 100% for LR, 92.9% for intermediate IR, and 93.2% for HR/VHR (Phoenix method). The 5-year late toxicity rate of Grade 2+ was 7.4% for genitourinary (GU) and 6.5% for gastrointestinal (GI) organs. Comparing the ≤ 76 Gy group to the 78 Gy group for both GU and GI organs, the incidence was higher in the 78 Gy group for both groups.ConclusionThese results suggest that TPUS-IGRT is well tolerated, as the bPFS and incidence of late toxicity are almost comparable to those reported by other sources of image-guided radiotherapy.
Project description:Estimating the time of delivery is of high clinical importance because pre- and postterm deviations are associated with complications for the mother and her offspring. However, current estimations are inaccurate. As pregnancy progresses toward labor, major transitions occur in fetomaternal immune, metabolic, and endocrine systems that culminate in birth. The comprehensive characterization of maternal biology that precedes labor is key to understanding these physiological transitions and identifying predictive biomarkers of delivery. Here, a longitudinal study was conducted in 63 women who went into labor spontaneously. More than 7000 plasma analytes and peripheral immune cell responses were analyzed using untargeted mass spectrometry, aptamer-based proteomic technology, and single-cell mass cytometry in serial blood samples collected during the last 100 days of pregnancy. The high-dimensional dataset was integrated into a multiomic model that predicted the time to spontaneous labor [R = 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.79 to 0.89], P = 1.2 × 10-40, N = 53, training set; R = 0.81, 95% CI [0.61 to 0.91], P = 3.9 × 10-7, N = 10, independent test set]. Coordinated alterations in maternal metabolome, proteome, and immunome marked a molecular shift from pregnancy maintenance to prelabor biology 2 to 4 weeks before delivery. A surge in steroid hormone metabolites and interleukin-1 receptor type 4 that preceded labor coincided with a switch from immune activation to regulation of inflammatory responses. Our study lays the groundwork for developing blood-based methods for predicting the day of labor, anchored in mechanisms shared in preterm and term pregnancies.
Project description:BackgroundRecent studies have shown that elective induction of labor versus expectant management after 39 weeks of pregnancy result in lower incidence of perinatal complications, while the proportion of cesarean deliveries remains stable, or even decreases. Still, evidence regarding collateral consequences of the potential increase of induction of labor procedures is still lacking. Also, the results of these studies must be carefully interpreted and thoroughly counter-balanced with women's thoughts and opinions regarding the active management of the last weeks of pregnancy. Therefore, it may be useful to develop a tool that aids in the decision-making process by differentiating women who will spontaneously go into labor from those who will require induction.ObjectiveTo develop a predictive model to calculate the probability of spontaneous onset of labor at term.MethodsWe designed a prospective national multicentric observational study including women enrolled at 39 weeks of gestation, carrying singleton pregnancies. After signing an informed consent form, several clinical, ultrasonographic, biophysical and biochemical variables will be collected by trained staff. If delivery has not occurred at 40 weeks of pregnancy, a second visit and evaluation will be performed. Prenatal care will be continued according to current hospital guidelines. Once recruitment is completed, the information gathered will be used to develop a logistic regression-based predictive model of spontaneous onset of labor between 39 and 41 weeks of gestation. A secondary exploration of the data collected at 40 weeks, as well as a survival analysis regarding time-to-delivery outcomes will also be performed. A total sample of 429 participants is needed for the expected number of events.ConclusionThis study aims to develop a model which may help in the decision-making process during follow-up of the last weeks of pregnancy.Trial registrationNCT05109247 (clinicaltrials.gov).
Project description:PurposeTo evaluate transrectal (TR) and transperineal (TP) approaches for MRI/ultrasound (MRI/US) fusion-guided biopsy to detect prostate cancer (PCa).Materials and methods154 men underwent multiparametric MRI and MRI/US fusion-guided biopsy between July 2012 and October 2016. 79/154 patients were biopsied with a TR approach and 75/154 with a TP approach. MRI was retrospectively analyzed according to PI-RADS version 2. PI-RADS scores were compared with histopathological results. Descriptive statistics, accuracy, and negative and positive predictive values were calculated. Histopathological results of first, second, and third MRI targeted biopsy cores were compared to evaluate the impact of one verus multiple targeted cores.ResultsDetection rates of PCa were 39% for TR biopsy and 75% for TP biopsy. Sensitivity/specificity for tumor detection with PI-RADS ≥ 4 were 81/69% for TR biopsy and 86/84% for TP biopsy. In 31% for TR biopsy and 19% for TP biopsy, PCa was found in the second or third MRI targeted biopsy core only.ConclusionMRI/US fusion-guided biopsy may be conducted with the TR as well as the TP approach with high accuracy, giving more flexibility for diagnosis and the option for focal treatment of PCa.
Project description:BackgroundProstate biopsies are primarily conducted using either the transrectal or transperineal approach, with the ultrasound probe positioned in the rectum to obtain a clear view of the prostate. Reports on the utilization of transperineal prostate biopsies with the ultrasound probe placed on the perineal skin are limited.MethodsA retrospective investigation was conducted on 119 patients who underwent transperineal ultrasound guided transperineal prostate biopsy (TP-TPPB). Additionally, 85 patients who underwent transrectal ultrasound guided transperineal prostate biopsy (TR-TPPB) were included as controls. The prostate cancer detection rates (PCDRs) and postoperative complication rates were compared between the two groups, and their application values were also evaluated.ResultsThe overall PCDRs were 35.3% (42/119) in the TP-TPPB and 32.9% (28/85) in the TR-TPPB group (χ2 = 0.122, p = 0.727). When categorized by PSA level, there was no significant difference between the two groups in PCDRs in any category (p > 0.05). However, the single-needle PCDRs in some regions (L4, L5, R2, and apex) showed significant differences (p < 0.05). There was no difference in postoperative complication rates between the groups.ConclusionThe PCDRs and the postoperative complication rates of TP-TPPB and TR-TPPB are similar. However, TP-TPPB requires simpler equipment and does not require intestinal preparation, which is especially useful for patients with rectal contraindications, such as those with severe hemorrhoids and rectal/anal diseases.
Project description:BackgroundThe anorectal angle (ARA) has been assessed with different imaging methods and its measurement has traditionally been based on defecography or magnetic resonance studies. Different ultrasound methodologies have also been used for ARA assessment and have been validated as alternatives for the ARA measurement, such as three-dimensional (3D) endovaginal ultrasound and 3D transperineal ultrasound. 3D transperineal ultrasound does not require the introduction of ultrasound transducers inside the anal canal. Therefore, it is reasonable to think that the use of transperineal ultrasound can provide more reproducible ARA measurements, something that has not been established by 3D endovaginal probe or defecography. Our objective is to determine the intraobserver and interobserver variability of transperineal ultrasound for the assessment of ARA.MethodsA retrospective observational study was performed with 40 patients. The study of the ARA was performed from the mid-sagittal plane (at rest, Valsalva and maximum contraction), visualizing the anorectal canal, the anorectal junction and the rectal ampulla. ARA measurements were performed initially by explorer 1 (E1), subsequently by explorer 2 (E2) and finally again by E1. Intraobserver and interobserver variability was calculated by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsIntraobserver variability was excellent for all measurements of the ARA at rest, Valsalva and maximal contraction, with ICC ranging from 0.968 to 0.975. Interobserver variability was also superb for all measurements of the ARA at rest, Valsalva and maximal contraction, with ICC ranging from 0.971 to 0.979.ConclusionsIntraobserver and interobserver variability were excellent for the ARA measurements by transperineal ultrasound.
Project description:BackgroundChanges in body temperature anticipate labor onset in numerous mammals, yet this concept has not been explored in humans.MethodsWe evaluated patterns in continuous skin temperature data in 91 pregnant women using a wearable smart ring. Additionally, we collected daily steroid hormone samples leading up to labor in a subset of 28 pregnancies and analyzed relationships among hormones and body temperature trajectory. Finally, we developed a novel autoencoder long-short-term-memory (AE-LSTM) deep learning model to provide a daily estimation of days until labor onset.ResultsFeatures of temperature change leading up to labor were associated with urinary hormones and labor type. Spontaneous labors exhibited greater estriol to α-pregnanediol ratio, as well as lower body temperature and more stable circadian rhythms compared to pregnancies that did not undergo spontaneous labor. Skin temperature data from 54 pregnancies that underwent spontaneous labor between 34 and 42 weeks of gestation were included in training the AE-LSTM model, and an additional 40 pregnancies that underwent artificial induction of labor or Cesarean without labor were used for further testing. The model was trained only on aggregate 5-minute skin temperature data starting at a gestational age of 240 until labor onset. During cross-validation AE-LSTM average error (true - predicted) dropped below 2 days at 8 days before labor, independent of gestational age. Labor onset windows were calculated from the AE-LSTM output using a probabilistic distribution of model error. For these windows AE-LSTM correctly predicted labor start for 79% of the spontaneous labors within a 4.6-day window at 7 days before true labor, and 7.4-day window at 10 days before true labor.ConclusionContinuous skin temperature reflects progression toward labor and hormonal status during pregnancy. Deep learning using continuous temperature may provide clinically valuable tools for pregnancy care.
Project description:BackgroundChanges in body temperature anticipate labor onset in numerous mammals, yet this concept has not been explored in humans. We investigated if continuous body temperature exhibits similar changes in women and whether these changes may be linked to hormonal status. Finally, we developed a deep learning model using temperature patterning to provide a daily forecast of time to labor onset.MethodsWe evaluated patterns in continuous skin temperature data in 91 (n = 54 spontaneous labors) pregnant women using a wearable smart ring. In a subset of 28 pregnancies, we examined daily steroid hormone samples leading up to labor to analyze relationships among hormones and body temperature trajectory. Finally, we applied an autoencoder long short-term memory (AE-LSTM) deep learning model to provide a novel daily estimation of days until labor onset.ResultsFeatures of temperature change leading up to labor were associated with urinary hormones and labor type. Spontaneous labors exhibited greater estriol to α-pregnanediol ratio, as well as lower body temperature and more stable circadian rhythms compared to pregnancies that did not undergo spontaneous labor. Skin temperature data from 54 pregnancies that underwent spontaneous labor between 34 and 42 weeks of gestation were included in training the AE-LSTM model, and an additional 37 pregnancies that underwent artificial induction of labor or Cesarean without labor were used for further testing. The input to the pipeline was 5-min skin temperature data from a gestational age of 240 days until the day of labor onset. During cross-validation AE-LSTM average error (true - predicted) dropped below 2 days at 8 days before labor, independent of gestational age. Labor onset windows were calculated from the AE-LSTM output using a probabilistic distribution of model error. For these windows AE-LSTM correctly predicted labor start for 79% of the spontaneous labors within a 4.6-day window at 7 days before true labor, and 7.4-day window at 10 days before true labor.ConclusionContinuous skin temperature reflects progression toward labor and hormonal change during pregnancy. Deep learning using continuous temperature may provide clinically valuable tools for pregnancy care.
Project description:This study assessed the feasibility of dynamic transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) pre/post-radical prostatectomy (RP). Ninety-eight patients were scanned pre-operatively and at four time-points post-operatively. TPUS was performed in 98 patients using an abdominal transducer at rest, during pelvic floor contraction (PFC) and Valsalva (VS) maneuver in supine and standing positions. Urodynamic evaluations included bladder neck angle at rest/PFC/VS, and degree of bladder neck movement. Pre-operative and post-operative measurements were technically feasible in >85% (supine) and >90% (standing) of patients. TPUS offers a reliable non-invasive dynamic assessment of the pelvic floor post-prostatectomy and may prove a useful adjunct for guiding exercises to preserve continence.