Novel Methylated DNA Markers in the Surveillance of Colorectal Cancer Recurrence.

PURPOSE: We aimed to assess the concordance of colorectal cancer-associated methylated DNA markers (MDM) in primary and metastatic colorectal cancer for feasibility in detection of distantly recurrent/metastatic colorectal cancer in plasma. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A panel of previously discovered colorectal cancer-associated MDMs was selected. MDMs from primary and paired metastatic colorectal cancer tissue were assayed with quantitative methylation-specific PCR. Plasma MDMs were measured blindly by target enrichment long-probe quantitative-amplified signal assays. Random forest modeling was used to derive a prediction algorithm of MDMs in archival plasma samples from primary colorectal cancer cases. This algorithm was validated in prospectively collected plasma samples from recurrent colorectal cancer cases. The accuracy of the algorithm was summarized as sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: Of the 14 selected MDMs, the concordance between primary and metastatic tissue was considered moderate or higher for 12 MDMs (86%). At a preset specificity of 95% (91%-98%), a panel of 13 MDMs, in plasma from 97 colorectal cancer cases and 200 controls, detected stage IV colorectal cancer with 100% (80%-100%) sensitivity and all stages of colorectal cancer with an AUC of 0.91 (0.87-0.95), significantly higher than carcinoembryonic antigen [AUC, 0.72 (0.65-0.79)]. This panel, in plasma from 40 cases and 60 healthy controls, detected recurrent/metastatic colorectal cancer with 90% (76%-97%) sensitivity, 90% (79%-96%) specificity, and an AUC of 0.96 (0.92-1.00). The panel was positive in 0.30 (0.19-0.43) of 60 patients with no evidence of disease in post-operative patients with colorectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma assay of novel colorectal cancer-associated MDMs can reliably detect both primary colorectal cancer and distantly recurrent colorectal cancer with promising accuracy.

Accurate Nonendoscopic Detection of Barrett's Esophagus by Methylated DNA Markers: A Multisite Case Control Study.

INTRODUCTION: Nonendoscopic Barrett's esophagus (BE) screening may help improve esophageal adenocarcinoma outcomes. We previously demonstrated promising accuracy of methylated DNA markers (MDMs) for the nonendoscopic diagnosis of BE using samples obtained from a capsule sponge-on-string (SOS) device. We aimed to assess the accuracy of these MDMs in an independent cohort using a commercial grade assay. METHODS: BE cases had ≥ 1 cm of circumferential BE with intestinal metaplasia; controls had no endoscopic evidence of BE. The SOS device was withdrawn 8 minutes after swallowing, followed by endoscopy (the criterion standard). Highest performing MDMs from a previous study were blindly assessed on extracted bisulfite-converted DNA by target enrichment long-probe quantitative amplified signal (TELQAS) assays. Optimal MDM combinations were selected and analyzed using random forest modeling with in silico cross-validation. RESULTS: Of 295 patients consented, 268 (91%) swallowed the SOS device; 112 cases and 89 controls met the pre-established inclusion criteria. The median BE length was 6 cm (interquartile range 4-9), and 50% had no dysplasia. The cross-validated sensitivity and specificity of a 5 MDM random forest model were 92% (95% confidence interval 85%-96%) and 94% (95% confidence interval 87%-98%), respectively. Model performance was not affected by age, gender, or smoking history but was influenced by the BE segment length. SOS administration was well tolerated (median [interquartile range] tolerability 2 [0, 4] on 10 scale grading), and 95% preferred SOS over endoscopy. DISCUSSION: Using a minimally invasive molecular approach, MDMs assayed from SOS samples show promise as a safe and accurate nonendoscopic test for BE prediction.

Malignant Hyperthermia Susceptibility and Fitness for Duty.

INTRODUCTION: Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is an inherited hypermetabolic condition characterized by uncontrolled calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle, usually from exposure to inhaled general anesthetics and/or the depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent succinylcholine. Multiple case reports now reveal that crises may be precipitated by environmental factors such as exercise or high ambient temperatures. Common signs of an MH crisis include life-threatening hyperthermia, metabolic acidosis, muscle rigidity, and tachycardia. Treatment consists of stopping triggering agents, administering dantrolene, and actively cooling the patient. MH is a medically disqualifying condition for service in the U.S. Armed Forces. However, patients with MH-causative mutations may never have experienced an MH episode. If they previously have had an event concerning for MH, details are often sparse and a formal evaluation is absent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present 2 case reports with military service implications, one as a formal applicant to the service academies and the other as the father of an active duty Navy chief. Both patients experienced prior MH-like reactions to anesthesia but had not undergone testing with a caffeine-halothane contracture test (CHCT) or genetic analysis. Both patients underwent skeletal muscle biopsies of the left vastus lateralis with nontriggering anesthetics at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC, and MH diagnostic CHCT at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, Maryland. The CHCT was performed according to the North American MH Registry Protocol. With USUHS Institutional Review Board approval, ryanodine receptor type 1 gene (RYR1) and L-type calcium channel α-1 subunit gene (CACNA1S) sequencing was performed on the remaining muscle at USUHS. RESULTS: Each subject was CHCT positive, confirming a diagnosis of MH. One was found to have a known MH-causative gene mutation. The applicant to the service academy was therefore determined unfit for military service. The active duty son of the MH-positive patient underwent muscle biopsy and CHCT in order to continue his military career. CONCLUSION: A personal or familial history concerning for MH raises important questions on fitness for duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. Department of Defense regulation uniformly defines MH as a disqualifying condition; however, screening for a history of anesthetic complications during accession into the military is inconsistent. Medical standards across the services are also variable in the context of a familial history of MH. These case reports highlight the need for clinicians to seek expert consultation about how to proceed with MH-related issues. They also stress the importance of applying current understanding of heritable conditions to our fitness for duty determinations. Further investigation is also recommended to establish an MH-susceptible individual's propensity for exercise or heat-related injury outside the operating room. Department of Defense policy may thereafter be updated to reflect a quantitative assessment of MH's relative risk during inherently strenuous military operations.

Predictors of Delayed Postoperative Respiratory Depression Assessed from Naloxone Administration.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify patient and procedural characteristics associated with postoperative respiratory depression or sedation requiring naloxone intervention. METHODS: We identified patients who received naloxone to reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression or sedation within 48 hours after discharge from anesthetic care (transfer from the postanesthesia care unit or transfer from the operating room to postoperative areas) between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2010. Patients were matched to 2 control subjects based on age, sex, and exact type of procedure performed during the same year. A chart review was performed to identify patient, anesthetic, and surgical factors that may be associated with risk for intervention requiring naloxone. In addition, we identified all patients who developed adverse respiratory events (hypoventilation, apnea, oxyhemoglobin desaturation, pain/sedation mismatch) during phase 1 anesthesia recovery. We performed conditional logistic regression taking into account the 1:2 matched set case-control study design to assess patient and procedural characteristics associated with naloxone use. RESULTS: We identified 134 naloxone administrations, 58% within 12 hours of discharge from anesthesia care, with an incidence of 1.6 per 1000 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-1.9) anesthetics. The presence of obstructive sleep apnea (odds ratio [OR] = 2.45; 95% CI, 1.27-4.66; P = 0.008) and diagnosis of an adverse respiratory event in the postanesthesia recovery room (OR = 5.11; 95% CI, 2.32-11.27; P < 0.001) were associated with an increased risk for requiring naloxone to treat respiratory depression or sedation after discharge from anesthesia care. After discharge from anesthesia care, patients administered naloxone used a greater median dose of opioids (10 [interquartile range, 0-47.1] vs 5 [0-24.8] IV morphine equivalents, P = 0.020) and more medications with sedating side effects (n = 41 [31%] vs 24 [9%]; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Obstructive sleep apnea and adverse respiratory events in the recovery room are harbingers of increased risk for respiratory depression or sedation requiring naloxone after discharge from anesthesia care. Also, patients administered naloxone received more opioids and other sedating medications after discharge from anesthetic care. Our findings suggest that these patients may benefit from more careful monitoring after being discharged from anesthesia care.