Opportunistic skeletal muscle metrics as prognostic tools in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients candidates to receive Radium-223

Objective: Androgen deprivation therapy alters body composition promoting a significant loss in skeletal muscle (SM) mass through inflammation and oxidative damage. We verified whether SM anthropometric composition and metabolism are associated with unfavourable overall survival (OS) in a retrospective cohort of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients submitted to 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (FDG PET/CT) imaging before receiving Radium-223. Patients and methods: Low-dose CT were opportunistically analysed using a cross-sectional approach to calculate SM and adipose tissue areas at the third lumbar vertebra level. Moreover, a 3D computational method was used to extract psoas muscles to evaluate their volume, Hounsfield Units (HU) and FDG retention estimated by the standardized uptake value (SUV). Baseline established clinical, lab and imaging prognosticators were also recorded. Results: SM area predicted OS at univariate analysis. However, this capability was not additive to the power of mean HU and maximum SUV of psoas muscles volume. These factors were thus combined in the Attenuation Metabolic Index (AMI) whose power was tested in a novel uni- and multivariable model. While Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Lactate Dehydrogenase and Hemoglobin, Metabolic Tumor Volume, Total Lesion Glycolysis and AMI were associated with long-term OS at the univariate analyses, only PSA, ALP and AMI resulted in independent prognosticator at the multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The present data suggest that assessing individual 'patients' SM metrics through an opportunistic operator-independent computational analysis of FDG PET/CT imaging provides prognostic insights in mCRPC patients candidates to receive Radium-223. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Spinal cord hypermetabolism extends to skeletal muscle in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a computational approach to [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT images

Purpose: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease leading to neuromuscular palsy and death. We propose a computational approach to [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT images to analyze the structure and metabolic pattern of skeletal muscle in ALS and its relationship with disease aggressiveness. Materials and methods: A computational 3D method was used to extract whole psoas muscle\u2019s volumes and average attenuation coefficient (AAC) from CT images obtained by FDG PET/CT performed in 62 ALS patients and healthy controls. Psoas average standardized uptake value (normalized on the liver, N-SUV) and its distribution heterogeneity (defined as N-SUV variation coefficient, VC-SUV) were also extracted. Spinal cord and brain motor cortex FDG uptake were also estimated. Results: As previously described, FDG uptake was significantly higher in the spinal cord and lower in the brain motor cortex, in ALS compared to controls. While psoas AAC was similar in patients and controls, in ALS a significant reduction in psoas volume (3.6 \ub1 1.02 vs 4.12 \ub1 1.33 mL/kg; p < 0.01) and increase in psoas N-SUV (0.45 \ub1 0.19 vs 0.29 \ub1 0.09; p < 0.001) were observed. Higher heterogeneity of psoas FDG uptake was also documented in ALS (VC-SUV 8 \ub1 4%, vs 5 \ub1 2%, respectively, p < 0.001) and significantly predicted overall survival at Kaplan\u2013Meier analysis. VC-SUV prognostic power was confirmed by univariate analysis, while the multivariate Cox regression model identified the spinal cord metabolic activation as the only independent prognostic biomarker. Conclusion: The present data suggest the existence of a common mechanism contributing to disease progression through the metabolic impairment of both second motor neuron and its effector

Is there a subjective well-being premium in voluntary sector employment?

Previous studies have found that employment in the voluntary sector offers a so-called ‘job satisfaction premium’: despite lower salaries, voluntary sector employees are more satisfied with their jobs than workers in other sectors. This paper examines whether voluntary sector employees also experience a subjective well-being premium. Using data from the UK Annual Population Survey 2012/2013, we find that voluntary sector employees do have higher levels of subjective well-being but this subjective well-being premium is not evenly distributed between men and women. Men score higher on happiness and life satisfaction. However, women in the voluntary sector have lower levels of life satisfaction compared with their counterparts in the public sector. We discuss the implications of our findings for policy and practice in the voluntary sector in the UK

The rationality of rainy day savers: objective and subjective determinants of individual savings in Britain

Using the largest and richest data on savings in Great Britain, six waves of the Wealth and Assets Survey from the Office for National Statistics, we compare standard life cycle models of saving with models using more 'subjective' measures, and the added dimension of longitudinal data. Whilst the life cycle model provides a benchmark, regular criticisms remain, particularly people's propensity to continue saving at older ages. Data on attitudes attenuate that issue, and panel data largely eliminate it. Our results confirm empirically, for Great Britain, the importance of some of the objective determinants of savings included in life cycle theory. When we look at more subjective ones, we show that other factors, including self-rated health and financial pressure, provide an enhanced direct explanation of the propensity to save. Individuals who regard themselves as 'rainy day savers' tended to save more, irrespective of their demographic or financial circumstances. Results are robust to different specifications

Integration between primary care and mental health care in Bologna

Introduction: Integration between primary care and mental health care is critical for health-care systems. Some years ago, the Emilia-Romagna Region undertook a project (the "Leggieri Project") aimed at rationalizing pathways to care and improving the quality of treatments for common psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to monitor and assess local implementation of the stepped care model outlined by the regional project. Materials and methods: We examined all new cases referred to Bologna Mental Health Centers (MHCs) from 2007 through 2009 (N = 15,534). Data on patients, referrals and treatments were collected from Department of Mental Health's Adult Psychiatry database. Standardized incidence rates, rates of referrals from general practitioners (GPs), and stepped care levels were investigated. We compared patient characteristics and treatments of cases referred by GPs and all other cases. A similar analysis was carried out for groups defined by stepped care level. Results: The annual incidence of MHC referral ranged from 64.7 to 65.8 per 10,000 adult inhabitants. On the whole, 52% of the new cases were referred to the MHCs by GPs: this rate increased over time from 48% to 54%. As for stepped care, MHC care was planned for 55% of the patients referred by GPs, 14% were managed with joint GP and MHC care, and 31% of the new cases were back-referred after a psychiatric consultation. The differences between these levels of care narrowed over the three-year period: cases managed with psychiatric consultations or joint GP-MHC care increased, while those managed exclusively by the MHC decreased. Almost 50% of all cases involving non-Italian immigrants were referred by GPs, although this rate was lower than that observed among Italian patients. These trends were evident in each departmental area. Patients referred by GPs were more likely to be elderly women with common psychiatric disorders. Among these, the cases managed in MHCs had the most severe diagnoses and received the most intensive and long-lasting treatments. Conclusions: Integration of primary care and mental health care is increasing and seems to be appropriate. In accordance with the recommendations of the regional project, integrated care is used above all for patients with common psychiatric disorders. Collaborative care for severe disorders requires further investigation. For these disorders, which often affect young patients and are frequently associated with comorbidity and a high risk of chronicity evolution, early detection and integrated care are crucial goals for the immediate future

FDG-PET Imaging of Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity: a New Window on an Old Problem

Purpose of Review The present review focus on the published literature about the use of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT imaging in the early recognition of anthracyclines-related cardiotoxicity. Recent Findings The application of PET/CT may represent an early predictor of subsequent cardiotoxicity in cancer patients treated with doxorubicin (DXR). However, the application of PET/CT may also extend beyond mere cardiotoxicity identification and monitoring to provide mechanistic delineation of the cardiotoxic pathophysiology. Indeed, this tool further enriched the current knowledge on energy metabolism impairment in the DXR-induced cardiotoxic cascade. The capability of FDG to selectively track the early endoplasmic reticulum pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) response to oxidative stress rather than the later occurring contractile dysfunction might imply the abrupt occurrence of metabolic abnormality during the course of chemotherapy, possibly identifying the ongoing myocardial damage in time to change the chemotherapy scheme or to initiate targeted cardioprotective treatments. Future prospective studies encompassing a specific dietary or pharmacologic preparation before FDG injection, as already performed in infectious and inflammatory heart diseases, are needed to move the obtained preclinical findings supporting the role of FDG imaging in DXR cardiotoxicity from bench to bedside

Disparities in mental health care provision to immigrants with severe mental illness in Italy

Aim. To determine whether disparities exist in mental health care provision to immigrants and Italian citizens with severe mental illness in Bologna, Italy. Methods. Records of prevalent cases on 31/12/2010 with severe mental illness and ≥1 contact with Community Mental Health Centers in 2011 were extracted from the mental health information system. Logistic and Poisson regressions were carried out to estimate the probability of receiving rehabilitation, residential or inpatient care, the intensity of outpatient treatments and the duration of hospitalisations and residential care for immigrant patients compared to Italians, adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates. Results. The study population included 8602 Italian and 388 immigrant patients. Immigrants were significantly younger, more likely to be married and living with people other than their original family and had a shorter duration of contact with mental health services. The percentages of patients receiving psychosocial rehabilitation, admitted to hospital wards or to residential facilities were similar between Italians and immigrants. The number of interventions was higher for Italians. Admissions to acute wards or residential facilities were significantly longer for Italians. Moreover, immigrants received significantly more group rehabilitation interventions, while more social support individual interventions were provided to Italians. Conclusions. The probability of receiving any mental health intervention is similar between immigrants and Italians, but the number of interventions and the duration of admissions are lower for immigrants. Data from mental health information system should be integrated with qualitative data on unmet needs from the immigrants' perspective to inform mental health care programmes and policie