Dynamics of anti-Müllerian hormone during controlled ovarian stimulation.

AIM: To evaluate the dynamics of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) during controlled ovarian stimulation (COH) and to correlate changes in AMH to age, estradiol (E2) levels, and the presence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected from women presenting for COH in the outpatient clinic of a university hospital between January and July 2011. Concentrations of AMH and E2 during COH with gonadotropins for in vitro fertilization (IVF) (n = 68) and clomiphene or low-dose gonadotropin stimulation cycles (n = 27) for intrauterine insemination were evaluated. Percentage change in AMH and E2 from pre-stimulation values was calculated. Dynamics of hormonal changes were analyzed using non-parametric tests. Correlations between changes in AMH and E2 were analyzed with Spearman correlation. RESULTS: During IVF stimulation, AMH declined steadily from pre-stimulation values. No significant change in AMH dynamics was observed during clomiphene or low-dose stimulation cycles. Percentage decline in AMH during IVF stimulation correlated with rise in E2 at all time points. CONCLUSIONS: The observed phenomena contribute to an improved understanding of AMH expression and its role in the follicular development. Our data support the concept that AMH is produced by secondary, preantral and small antral follicles in the early part of stimulation and declines as these follicles are recruited into dominant growing follicles.

High-dose imatinib induction followed by standard-dose maintenance in pre-treated chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients--final analysis of a randomized, multicenter, phase III trial.

BACKGROUND: Previous data suggest that the response of chronic myeloid leukemia cells to imatinib is dose-dependent. The potential benefit of initial dose intensification of imatinib in pre-treated patients with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia remains unknown. DESIGN AND METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-seven pre-treated patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase were randomly assigned to continuous treatment with a standard dose of imatinib (400 mg/day; n=113) or to 6 months of high-dose induction with imatinib (800 mg/day) followed by a standard dose of imatinib as maintenance therapy (n=114). RESULTS: The rates of major and complete cytogenetic responses were significantly higher in the high-dose arm than in the standard-dose arm at both 3 and 6 months (major cytogenetic responses: 36.8% versus 21.2%, P=0.01 and 50.0% versus 34.5%, P=0.018; complete cytogenetic responses: 22.8% versus 6.2%, P<0.001 and 40.4% versus 16.8%, P<0.001) on the basis of an intention-to-treat analysis. At 12 months, the difference between treatment arms remained statistically significant for complete cytogenetic responses (40.4% versus 24.8%, P=0.012) but not for major cytogenetic responses (49.1% versus 44.2%, P=0.462). The rate of major molecular responses was also significantly better at 3 and 6 months in the high-dose arm (month 3: 14.9% versus 3.5%, P=0.003; month 6: 32.5% versus 8.8%, P<0.001). Overall and progression-free survival rates were comparable between arms, but event-free survival was significantly worse in the high-dose arm (P=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Standard-dose imatinib remains the standard of care for pre-treated patients with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00327262).

[Changes in self-referent emotions during inpatient psychotherapy: the role of mindfulness and acceptance]. / Veranderung von selbst-bezogenen Emotionen im therapeutischen Prozess: Die Rolle von Achtsamkeit und Akzeptanz.

OBJECTIVES: Current theoretical and clinical approaches conceive the avoidance and acceptance of emotions as critical factors in the maintenance and alleviation of psychological problems. This study investigates the role of mindfulness, experiential avoidance (EA), and positive and negative meta-emotions (emotional reactions towards the emotional self) on the symptoms and psychological well-being of inpatients. METHOD: Changes of mindfulness measured during a 6-week stay at a psychosomatic clinic were explored in a sample of 293 inpatients with diverse psychological problems. Multivariate analyses were performed to determine the predictive power of mindfulness and acceptance on symptoms and psychological well-being. RESULTS: Staying on an inpatient ward was associated with reductions in EA and negative meta-emotions as well as improvements in mindful awareness and positive meta-emotions, i.e., participants reported greater acceptance of their own emotional reactions. These aspects were associated with a reduction in symptom severity and greater psychological well-being. A differentiation of meta-emotions allowed the meaningful identification of possible processes of change. CONCLUSIONS: Anger and contempt seem to have distinctive functions in self-regulation. Reducing the amount of contempt/shame for one's own emotions and generating greater interest were associated with symptom reduction and greater psychological well-being. Self-compassion was negatively associated with symptoms, though it had no association with psychological well-being. The theoretical implications are discussed.

Regression tree construction by bootstrap: model search for DRG-systems applied to Austrian health-data.

BACKGROUND: DRG-systems are used to allocate resources fairly to hospitals based on their performance. Statistically, this allocation is based on simple rules that can be modeled with regression trees. However, the resulting models often have to be adjusted manually to be medically reasonable and ethical. METHODS: Despite the possibility of manual, performance degenerating adaptations of the original model, alternative trees are systematically searched. The bootstrap-based method bumping is used to build diverse and accurate regression tree models for DRG-systems. A two-step model selection approach is proposed. First, a reasonable model complexity is chosen, based on statistical, medical and economical considerations. Second, a medically meaningful and accurate model is selected. An analysis of 8 data-sets from Austrian DRG-data is conducted and evaluated based on the possibility to produce diverse and accurate models for predefined tree complexities. RESULTS: The best bootstrap-based trees offer increased predictive accuracy compared to the trees built by the CART algorithm. The analysis demonstrates that even for very small tree sizes, diverse models can be constructed being equally or even more accurate than the single model built by the standard CART algorithm. CONCLUSIONS: Bumping is a powerful tool to construct diverse and accurate regression trees, to be used as candidate models for DRG-systems. Furthermore, Bumping and the proposed model selection approach are also applicable to other medical decision and prognosis tasks.

CT-based SPECT attenuation correction and assessment of infarct size: results from a cardiac phantom study.

RATIONALE: Myocardial perfusion SPECT is a commonly performed, well established, clinically useful procedure for the management of patients with coronary artery disease. However, the attenuation of photons from myocardium impacts the quantification of infarct sizes. CT-Attenuation Correction (AC) potentially resolves this problem. This contention was investigated by analyzing various parameters for infarct size delineation in a cardiac phantom model. METHODS: A thorax phantom with a left ventricle (LV), fillable defects, lungs, spine and liver was used. The defects were combined to simulate 6 infarct sizes (5-20% LV). The LV walls were filled with 100120 kBq/ml 99mTc and the liver with 10-12 kBq/ml 99mTc. The defects were filled with water of 50% LV activity to simulate transmural and non-transmural infarction, respectively. Imaging of the phantom was repeated for each configuration in a SPECT/CT system. The defects were positioned in the anterior as well as in the inferior wall. Data were acquired in two modes: 32 views, 30 s/view, 180° and 64 views, 15 s/view, 360° orbit. Images were reconstructed iteratively with scatter correction and resolution recovery. Polar maps were generated and defect sizes were calculated with variable thresholds (40-60%, in 5% steps). The threshold yielding the best correlation and the lowest mean deviation from the true extents was considered optimal. RESULTS: AC data showed accurate estimation of transmural defect extents with an optimal threshold of 50% [non attenuation correction (NAC): 40%]. For the simulation of non-transmural defects, a threshold of 55% for AC was found to yield the best results (NAC: 45%). The variability in defect size due to the location (anterior versus inferior) of the defect was reduced by 50% when using AC data indicating the benefit from using AC. No difference in the optimal threshold was observed between the different orbits. CONCLUSION: Cardiac SPECT/CT shows an improved capability for quantitative defect size assessment in phantom studies due to the positive effects of attenuation correction.

Predictive value of NT-pro BNP after acute myocardial infarction: relation with acute and chronic infarct size and myocardial function.

AIM OF THE STUDY: We sought to assess the relation of N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) determined on day 3 after onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) symptoms with acute and chronic infarct size and functional parameters assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. Furthermore, we wanted to investigate its predictive value for recovery of myocardial function. METHODS: CMR was performed in 49 consecutive patients within 6 days and in a subgroup 4 (n = 27) and 12 (n = 22) months after first acute ST-elevation AMI and successful primary angioplasty. NT-pro BNP was measured in the subacute phase at 66 ± 8 h after onset of symptoms. RESULTS: Log-transformed NT-pro BNP (lgNT-pro BNP) significantly correlated with infarct size in % of left ventricular myocardial mass (r = 0.59 to 0.64; p < 0.004), with ejection fraction (EF) (r = -0.49 to -0.55; p < 0.004) as well as with segmental wall thickening (SWT, mm) (r = 0.41 to -0.52; p < 0.04) at any time of assessment. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed baseline EF and lgNT-pro BNP to predict global functional recovery. Patients with NT-pro BNP concentrations 1115 pg/ml did not show significant functional recovery (all p = NS). CONCLUSION: NT-pro BNP on day 3 after admission correlates with acute and chronic infarct size and myocardial function after AMI. Global and regional myocardial function did not recover in patients with higher NT-pro BNP (>1115 pg/ml) during subacute phase of AMI.

The fate of facet joint and adjacent level disc degeneration following total lumbar disc replacement: a prospective clinical, X-ray, and magnetic resonance imaging investigation.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical, x-ray, and magnetic resonance imaging investigation following total lumbar disc replacement (TDR) with ProDisc II (Synthes, Paoli, PA). OBJECTIVE: To examine the progression of adjacent level degeneration (ALD), facet joint degeneration (FJD) as well as associated risk factors following TDR. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Fusion procedures have been associated with adjacent level morbidities and facet joint pathologies in a considerable number of patients. Whether the incidence of these negative side effects can be reduced with TDR remains unestablished. METHODS: Clinical outcome scores Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and patient satisfaction rates were acquired within the framework of an ongoing prospective study with ProDisc II. The mean index-level ROM was established for every patient over the entire postoperative period from multiple flexion/extension x-ray images. The progression of ALD and FJD was evaluated from pre- and postoperative magnetic resonance images by 2 independent radiologists. RESULTS: Results from 93 patients with an average follow-up of 53.4 months (range, 24.1-98.7 months) were included in this study. The overall results revealed a significant improvement from preoperative VAS and ODI levels (P < 0.0001).The incidence of ALD was 10.2% (n = 11/108 levels). The degenerative changes were mild and occurred late after surgery (mean, 65.2 months; range, 37.9-85.6 months). There was no significant correlation between index-level ROM and the occurrence of ALD (P > 0.05).Progression of FJD was observed in 20.0% of all facet joints (n = 44/220). FJD occurred significantly more often following TDR at the lumbosacral junction in comparison to the level above the lumbosacral junction (P < 0.02) and was observed more frequently at index-levels than at nonindex levels (P < 0.001).The degenerative changes were associated with a negative influence on postoperative outcome parameters VAS and ODI (P < 0.03) that were already detected early after surgery. The mean postoperative ROM was significantly lower in patients with progression of FJD in comparison to the remaining cohort (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: TDR proved to have a beneficial effect with respect to adjacent level disc preservation. The degenerative changes were mild, occurred late after surgery and did not reveal a negative effect on postoperative clinical outcome. There was no significant correlation between index-level ROM and the occurrence of ALD (P > 0.05).TDR was, however, associated with a progression of index-level FJD in a considerable number of patients, particularly at the lumbosacral junction. Lower segmental mobility and less favorable clinical results point to the fact that a particular cohort of patients may predominantly be affected in which TDR shows inferior compatibility with the index-segment's biomechanics.