Ultrasound-guided percutaneous splenic biopsy using an 18-G core biopsy needle: our experience with 52 cases

Objective:

The spleen is more commonly affected in multiorgan disease, but alternative sites are selected for biopsy owing to perceived haemorrhage risk. If these sites are inaccessible or, less commonly, the spleen is the only disease site, then splenic biopsy is considered, with most studies using a 20- to 22-G needle. The primary aim of biopsy is to exclude underlying malignancy or to obtain histological analysis in known malignancy, usually lymphoma, when reclassification is required for therapy. We present, to our knowledge, the largest series of 18-G ultrasound-guided splenic core needle biopsy assessing diagnostic and complication rates.

Methods:

All ultrasound-guided splenic biopsy cases from May 1990 to May 2015 were identified on the radiology information system. Histological diagnosis and complications were identified from laboratory reports, case notes and discharge summaries to assess diagnostic positive and complication rates. Haemorrhages requiring transfusion, embolization or splenectomy, pneumothorax, other significant intra-abdominal injury or death are classified as major complications, whilst conservative haemorrhage management is considered a minor complication.

Results:

A total of 52 splenic biopsies were performed in 47 patients. A positive diagnostic yield for all biopsies was 90.4%. The major and minor complication rates were 0% and 1.9% (1/52), respectively.

Conclusion:

Ultrasound-guided 18-G splenic biopsy is a safe and accurate procedure with no added risk of complications when compared with smaller needles or biopsy of other abdominal organs.

Advances in knowledge:

This is the largest case series of ultrasound-guided splenic biopsy with an 18-G needle, and our experience confirms a high diagnostic yield and a complication rate which compares favourably with the biopsy of other abdominal organs.     

Colorectal cancer: From prevention to personalized medicine

Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a very heterogeneous disease that is caused by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors.CRC develops through a gradual accumulation of genetic and epigenetic changes,leading to the transformation of normal colonic mucosa into invasive cancer.CRC is one of the most prevalent and incident cancers worldwide,as well as one of the most deadly.Approximately 1235108 people are diagnosed annually with CRC,and 609051 die from CRC annually.The World Health Organization estimates an increase of77%in the number of newly diagnosed cases of CRCand an increase of 80%in deaths from CRC by 2030.The incidence of CRC can benefit from different strategies depending on its stage:health promotion through health education campaigns(when the disease is not yet present),the implementation of screening programs(for detection of the disease in its early stages),and the development of nearly personalized treatments according to both patient characteristics(age,sex)and the cancer itself(gene expression).Although there are different strategies for screening and although the number of such strategies is increasing due to the potential of emerging technologies in molecular marker application,not all strategies meet the criteria required for screening tests in population programs;the three most accepted tests are the fecal occult blood test(FOBT),colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy.FOBT is the most used method for CRC screening worldwide and is also the primary choice in most population-based screening programs in Europe.Due to its non-invasive nature and low cost,it is one of the most accepted techniques by population.CRC is a very heterogeneous disease,and with a few exceptions(APC,p53,KRAS),most of the genes involved in CRC are observed in a small percentage of cases.The design of genetic and epigenetic marker panels that are able to provide maximum coverage in the diagnosis of colorectal neoplasia seems a reasonable strategy.In recent years,the use of DNA,RNA and protein markers in different biological samples has been explored as strategies for CRC diagnosis.Although there is not yet sufficient evidence to recommend the analysis of biomarkers such as DNA,RNA or proteins in the blood or stool,it is likely that given the quick progression of technology tools in molecular biology,increasingly sensitive and less expensive,these tools will gradually be employed in clinical practice and will likely be developed in mass.     

Effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy on cardiotrophin-1 circulating levels in patients with heart failure

Cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) is a member of the interleukin (IL-6) family of cytokines. Plasma CT-1 levels correlate with the left ventricle mass index in patients with dilatated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure (CHF). The aim of this paper was to evaluate CT-1 plasma levels, before and after cardiac resynchronization therapy CRT, and to characterizeits prognostic role in patients with CHF. Fifty-two consecutive patients (M/F = 39/13; 56 ± 11 years old) underwent clinical and echocardiographic evaluation, and blood sample collection at baseline. The same evaluation was repeated 6.4 ± 0.79 months after CRT. Patients with a decreased LV end-systolic volume by at least 15% (reverse remodeling) were considered echo responders to CRT. Twenty-nine patients (56%) were responders to CRT. After CRT, only 15 patients (29%) showed increased CT-1 after CRT. They were all non responders to CRT. A multivariate, logistic modelshowed CT-1 as an independent predictor of CRT echo response (p = 0.005; OR 0.97). During follow-up (18 ± 7 months), 21 cardiac events in 18 patients occurred. A Cox multivariable model showed plasma BNP pre-CRT (p = 0.02; CI 1.2–5.6; OR 3.1) and CT1 post-CRT (p = 0.01; CI 1.4–4.3; OR 2.7) as independent predictors of cardiac events. Analysis of CT-1 plasma levels deserves future consideration for larger, longitudinal studies in patients with CHF.     

Lateral mobility of individual integrin nanoclusters orchestrates the onset for leukocyte adhesion

Integrins are cell membrane adhesion receptors involved in morphogenesis, immunity, tissue healing, and metastasis. A central, yet unresolved question regarding the function of integrins is how these receptors regulate both their conformation and dynamic nanoscale organization on the membrane to generate adhesion-competent microclusters upon ligand binding. Here we exploit the high spatial (nanometer) accuracy and temporal resolution of single-dye tracking to dissect the relationship between conformational state, lateral mobility, and microclustering of the integrin receptor lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) expressed on immune cells. We recently showed that in quiescent monocytes, LFA-1 preorganizes in nanoclusters proximal to nanoscale raft components. We now show that these nanoclusters are primarily mobile on the cell surface with a small (ca. 5%) subset of conformational-active LFA-1 nanoclusters preanchored to the cytoskeleton. Lateral mobility resulted crucial for the formation of microclusters upon ligand binding and for stable adhesion under shear flow. Activation of high-affinity LFA-1 by extracellular Ca(2+) resulted in an eightfold increase on the percentage of immobile nanoclusters and cytoskeleton anchorage. Although having the ability to bind to their ligands, these active nanoclusters failed to support firm adhesion in static and low shear-flow conditions because mobility and clustering capacity were highly compromised. Altogether, our work demonstrates an intricate coupling between conformation and lateral diffusion of LFA-1 and further underscores the crucial role of mobility for the onset of LFA-1 mediated leukocyte adhesion.