Is human epididymis protein 4 an effective tool for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant endometrial tumours?

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: This study was designed to evaluate the use of human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) as a biomarker in the differential diagnosis of malignant and benign endometrial tumours. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study, conducted between July 2009 and June 2014, included a total of 150 patients with endometrioid adenocarcinoma and a control group of 150 patients with benign endometrial lesions. The serum of all patients was analyzed with respect to HE4 and CA125 levels. The median and ranges of serum levels were determined in relation to histological results. The statistical analysis procedure employed in this study utilized logarithmic-transformed values of biomarkers and logistic regression. RESULTS: An analysis of two groups of patients with different histologies yielded a statistically significant difference (p-value < 0.05) only in the case of HE4, in which case a cut-off value of 48.5 pmol/l resulted in an achieved sensitivity of 87.8%, a specificity of 56.6%, and a negative predictive value of 81.1%. CONCLUSION: In combination with clinical and ultrasound findings, HE4 could help with the differentiation of prognostically varied patient groups as well as with the decision-making process associated with the development of individual treatment plans. However, the optimal cut-off for HE4 has not been established yet and further studies are needed.

[The importance of HE4 in differential diagnosis of endometrial cancer]. / Význam HE4 v diferenciální diagnostice patologií endometria.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) and cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) biomarkers in differential diagnosis of malignant and benign endometrial tumours in a population of Czech women. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine at Masaryk University and Faculty Hospital in Brno. METHODS: Our prospective study includes 115 patients with endometrioid adenocarcinoma and 106 patients with benign endometrial tumours in the control group. They were diagnosed with endometrial biopsy in the period from 7/2010 to 6/2013. The patients with cancer underwent definitive surgical treatment to determine the stage of disease. The median and ranges of serum levels were determined in relation to the histological result (benign vs malignant disease). Statistical analysis operates with logarithm values of markers because their distribution is not normal and uses logistic regression. RESULTS: While analysing two groups of patients with different histology, there was demonstrated a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05), only in HE4, by cut-off 48,5 pmol/l there was achieved sensitivity of 87.8%, specificity of 56.6% and negative predictive value of 81.1%. COCLUSION: Diagnostic benefit of HE4 can be considered especially in patients with increased risk of endometrial cancer and in patients with serious internal co-morbidities. HE4 could help in combination with clinical and ultrasound finding in the differentiation of prognostically various groups of patients and in decision-making in relation to the individualization of the treatment plan. However, the optimal cut-off for HE4 has not been solved yet, and to do so, it will require more research with larger studies and their comparative analysis..

[S-100B protein elevation in patients with the acute coronary syndrome after resuscitation is a predictor of adverse neurological prognosis]. / Elevace proteinu S-100B u pacientu s akutním koronárním syndromem po resuscitaci je prediktorem nepríznivé neurologické prognózy.

INTRODUCTION: The annual incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is around 90-190 cases per 100 000 inhabitants. The limiting factor for further prognosis of patients after out-of-hospital arrest is their neurological status. The S100B protein is mainly the nervous system cells product, its glial-specific and mostly expressed by astrocytes. It has been shown that after circulatory arrest its increased level correlates with the prognosis of patients. Work aims to determine the level of protein S100B in the group of patients with acute myocardial infarction without circulatory arrest, and compare it to the value in patients with acute myocardial infarction after out-of-hospital resuscitation. METHODS: 24 patients were evaluated after out-of-hospital resuscitation for the malignant arrhythmias during acute coronary syndrome (ACS). All patients were treated with mild therapeutic hypothermia. The control group consisted of 19 patients with ACS. The sample for the determination of S-100B was taken immediately on admission. Neurological status was evaluated according to the CPC scores (Cerebral Performance Categories) at discharge, patients were divided into 3 groups: CPC1 - good condition, CPC2 - moderate neurological disability, CPC3-5 - serious neurological impairment, coma or death. RESULTS: The values of protein S-100B fluctuated, in patients with no resuscitation, in range between 0.038 to 0.204 pg/ml. In patients after resuscitation without subsequent neurological disability (CPC 1) was range 0.077 to 0.817 pg/ml, in patients with moderate to severe neurological disability (CPC 2) was range 0.132-2.59 pg/ml, patients with severe neurological disabilities or deaths had S-100B levels from 0.70 to 8.53 pg/ml. According to ROC analysis we found the cut-off value for the S-100B. Cut-off value for probably a good neurological condition is < 0.23 pg/ml (specificity 93%, sensitivity 70%), and value testify for supposed severe neurological disability or death is > 1.64 pg/ml (specificity 95%, sensitivity 83%). CONCLUSION: Protein S-100B is one of the early and sensitive markers of severe brain damage in patients after cardiac arrest. Its early determination can help in prediction of patient neurological condition and help doctors to decide further action.

[Factors related to NT-proBNP values in haemodynamically stable patients with normal systolic function of the left ventricle]. / Faktory se vztahem k hodnotám NT-proBNP u hemodynamicky stabilních pacientu s normální systolickou funkcí levé komory.

INTRODUCTION: Increased values ofnatriuretic peptides are considered prognostically significant in normal population with respect to mortality and the incidence of cardiovascular events, regardless of the left ventricular function. The objective of the study is to point out the factors related to NT-proBNP values in patients without the heart failure syndrome and with normal left ventricular systolic function. METHODS: The group consisted of 290 elective patients aged between 50 and 82, with the mean age of 62 years, of whom 47% were women. The enrolled patients were heamodynamically stable, without a history of MI, with a normal left ventricular systolic function and with the serum creatinine level < 150 micromol/l. On the same day, the following procedures were performed: left heart catheterisation, NT-proBNP sampling and echocardiographic examination. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary heart disease, body mass index, age, sex, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and aortic pulse pressure were chosen as factors with possible impact on the level of NT-proBNP. We used echo parametres to assess the size of the left ventricle, the left ventricular mass index and the presence of left ventricular diastolic function. RESULTS: The median of NT-proBNP was 110 pg/ml (min. 11; max. 1,943 pg/ml), and higher values were recorded for 116 (i.e. 40%) of the total number of patients. Based on the above-referred factors, a significant relation was demonstrated between NT-proBNP and age (p < 0.01), sex (p < .01), BMI (p = 0.03), left ventricular size (p = 0.02), left ventricular mass index (p = 0.01), and aortic pulse pressure (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The study has shown that the level of NT-proBNP in patients does not solely depend on the haemodynamic status and left ventricular function, but is related to many other risk factors of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity.