Comparative Assessment of CMR-Determined Extracellular Volume Metrics in Predicting Adverse Outcomes.

Extracellular volume (ECV) by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is associated with disease burden and clinical outcomes. Recent studies in patients with valvular heart disease (VHD) have suggested that the indexed total ECV (iECV) = ECVx(LV/1.05)/body surface area may supersede ECV in terms of prognostication.

Adequate bowel preparation of patients undergoing screening colonoscopy : Does educational status matter? A retrospective data analysis.

Background: In order to achieve a high-quality screening colonoscopy, a high-quality bowel preparation is essential. To perform an adequate bowel cleansing patients need to understand and act on medical information, also known as health literacy. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the patients' educational status as a proxy for health literacy and adequate bowel preparation.

Association of epicardial adipose tissue on magnetic resonance imaging with cardiovascular outcomes: Quality over quantity?

Objective: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) quantity is associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes. However, the quality of EAT may be of incremental prognostic value. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is the gold standard for tissue characterization but has never been applied for EAT quality assessment.

Mortality from upper gastrointestinal tumors in colorectal cancer screening patients.

Currently, gastric cancer screening is only cost-effective in countries with high incidence. Integrated screening, in which gastroscopy is performed in conjunction with colonoscopy, could help reduce the gastric cancer screening procedure burden in countries with low or intermediate incidence. However, there is a lack of population-based studies to identify high-risk groups.

Impact of Bowel Preparation Quality on Colonoscopy Findings and Colorectal Cancer Deaths in a Nation-Wide Colorectal Cancer Screening Program.

Introduction: Adequate bowel preparation is paramount for a high-quality screening colonoscopy. Despite the importance of adequate bowel preparation, there is a lack of large studies that associated the degree of bowel preparation with long-term colorectal cancer outcomes in screening patients.

Methods: In a large population-based screening program database in Austria, quality of bowel preparation was estimated according to the Aronchick Scale by the endoscopist (excellent, good, fair, poor, and inadequate bowel preparation).

Polyp size is associated with colorectal cancer death across histologic polyp subtypes: a retrospective study of a screening colonoscopy registry.

Background: Surveillance colonoscopy after polyps have been detected at screening aims to reduce the risk for subsequent colorectal cancer, so-called post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer (PCCRC). Inconsistencies exist as to whether the risk should be stratified by histologic subtype. We aimed to compare the risk for PCCRC mortality in screening participants with sessile serrated lesions (SSLs)/traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs), hyperplastic polyps (HPPs), or conventional adenomas.

Colorectal polypectomy and endoscopic mucosal resection: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline - Update 2024.

1:  ESGE recommends cold snare polypectomy (CSP), to include a clear margin of normal tissue (1-2 mm) surrounding the polyp, for the removal of diminutive polyps (≤ 5 mm).Strong recommendation, high quality of evidence. 2:  ESGE recommends against the use of cold biopsy forceps excision because of its high rate of incomplete resection.

Association between endoscopist adenoma detection rate and serrated polyp detection: Retrospective analysis of over 200,000 screening colonoscopies.

Serrated lesions have been identified as precursor lesions for 20% to 35% of colorectal cancers (CRCs) and may contribute to a significant proportion of interval-cancer. Sessile-serrated-lesions (SSLs), in particular, tend to be flat and located in the proximal colon, making their detection challenging and requiring expertise. It remains unclear whether the detection rate for serrated polyps should be considered as a quality indicator in addition to the adenoma detection rate (ADR).

Differences between men and women with respect to colorectal cancer mortality despite screening colonoscopy.

Background And Aims: Women aged 55 to 59 years have a similar prevalence rate and number needed to screen for colorectal adenomas as men at a 10-year younger age. The aim of this study was to determine sex-specific differences in colorectal cancer mortality and estimate the association with adenomas at screening colonoscopy.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 323,139 individuals who underwent colonoscopy within a national colorectal cancer screening program in Austria between January 2007 and December 2020.

Colorectal Cancer and Precursor Lesion Prevalence in Adults Younger Than 50 Years Without Symptoms.

Importance: Incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasing among younger adults. However, data on precursor lesions in patients who are asymptomatic, especially those aged younger than 50 years, are lacking.

Objective: To analyze the prevalence and number needed to screen (NNS) for adenomas, advanced adenomas, and serrated lesions, as well as the incidence of CRC in patients older than age 20 years.

Detection of high-risk polyps at screening colonoscopy indicates risk for liver and biliary cancer death.

Background: Hepatobiliary cancers share risk factors with colorectal cancer (CRC), but there are no combined screening programs for these conditions.

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess whether patients with high-risk colonic polyps are more likely to die from liver related tumors than patients with a negative colonoscopy.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis of mortality data, Austrian screening participants were included.

Polyp characteristics at screening colonoscopy and post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer mortality: a retrospective cohort study.

Background And Aims: Polyp size and high-grade dysplasia in polyps at screening colonoscopy are considered risk factors for post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer (PCCRC) development and death, which might be averted by surveillance colonoscopy. However, robust evidence backing these risk factors is lacking. We aimed to investigate whether polyp size or dysplasia grade is associated with PCCRC mortality.

Comparison of adenoma detection rate and proximal serrated polyp detection rate and their effect on post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer mortality in screening patients.

Background: Patients with serrated polyps are at increased risk for post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer (PCCRC); however, evidence for a dedicated serrated polyp detection rate is lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the proximal serrated polyp detection rate (PSDR) and adenoma detection rate (ADR) with PCCRC death.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis within the Austrian quality assurance program for screening colonoscopy.

[Quality Assurance of Screening Colonoscopy in Austria and Europe].

Screening colonoscopy, an efficient tool for reducing the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer, is only effective if it is performed under high quality standards. The European Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy has identified the following key performance measures for screening: adenoma detection rate, cecal intubation rate, and adequate bowel preparation rate. The Quality Certificate for Colorectal Cancer Screening-which was launched as a quality assurance program on a voluntary basis by the Austrian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology together with the umbrella organization of Austrian social insurance carriers and the Austrian Cancer Aid for endoscopists throughout Austria-monitors these quality parameters.

Hepatic T1-Time Predicts Cardiovascular Risk in All-Comers Referred for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance: A Post-Hoc Analysis.

Background: Liver damage is frequently observed in patients with cardiovascular disease but infrequently quantified. We hypothesized that in patients with cardiovascular disease undergoing cardiac magnetic resonance, liver T1-times indicate liver damage and are associated with cardiovascular outcome.

Methods: We measured hepatic T1-times, displayed on standard cardiac T1-maps, in an all-comer cardiac magnetic resonance-cohort.

Comparison of Hepatic Tissue Characterization between T1-Mapping and Non-Contrast Computed Tomography.

Background: Non-contrast computed tomography (CT) is frequently used to assess non-alcoholic/metabolic fatty liver disease (NAFLD/MAFLD), which is associated with cardiovascular risk. Although liver biopsy is considered the gold standard for diagnosis, standardized scores and non-contrast computed tomography (CT) are used instead. On standard cardiac T1-maps on cardiovascular imaging (CMR) exams for myocardial tissue characterization hepatic tissue is also visible.

Effect of PCSK9 inhibition with evolocumab on lipoprotein subfractions in familial dysbetalipoproteinemia (type III hyperlipidemia).

Background And Aims: Familial dysbetalipoproteinemia (FDBL) is a rare inborn lipid disorder characterized by the formation of abnormal triglyceride- and cholesterol-rich lipoproteins (remnant particles). Patients with FDBL have a high risk for atherosclerotic disease. The effect of PCSK9 inhibition on lipoproteins and its subfractions has not been evaluated in FDBL.

Gradient boosting for linear mixed models.

Gradient boosting from the field of statistical learning is widely known as a powerful framework for estimation and selection of predictor effects in various regression models by adapting concepts from classification theory. Current boosting approaches also offer methods accounting for random effects and thus enable prediction of mixed models for longitudinal and clustered data. However, these approaches include several flaws resulting in unbalanced effect selection with falsely induced shrinkage and a low convergence rate on the one hand and biased estimates of the random effects on the other hand.

Impact of restrictions due to COVID-19 on a quality-assured screening colonoscopy program.

On February 25, 2020, the first patient was diagnosed with COVID-19 in Austria. On March 16, 2020, the Austrian government imposed restrictions and subsequently the Austrian Medical Association recommended minimizing screening examinations in compliance with government restrictions. The aims of this study were to evaluate the impact of this recommendation on the number of colonoscopies performed weekly and detection of non-advanced adenomas, advanced adenomas (AA) and colorectal cancer (CRC) and to calculate how many undetected adenomas could have developed into CRC.

New risk stratification after colorectal polypectomy reduces burden of surveillance without increasing mortality.

Background: The 2020 postpolypectomy surveillance guideline update of European Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy defines a more restrictive group of individuals in need for surveillance 3 years after colonoscopy.

Aim: The aim of this cohort study was to validate the new guideline recommendation.

Methods: Based on a national quality assurance program, we compared the 2020 risk group definition with the previous 2013 recommendations for their strength of association with (1) colorectal cancer death, and (2) all-cause death.

Postprandial Lipid Metabolism in Normolipidemic Subjects and Patients with Mild to Moderate Hypertriglyceridemia: Effects of Test Meals Containing Saturated Fatty Acids, Mono-Unsaturated Fatty Acids, or Medium-Chain Fatty Acids.

Fasting and postprandial hypertriglyceridemia are causal risk factors for atherosclerosis. The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia is approximately 25-30% and most hypertriglyceridemic patients suffer from mild to moderate hypertriglyceridemia. Data regarding dietary interventions on postprandial triglyceride metabolism of mildly to moderately hypertriglyceridemic patients is, however, sparse.

Association of Adenoma Detection Rate and Adenoma Characteristics With Colorectal Cancer Mortality After Screening Colonoscopy.

Background & Aims: The adenoma detection rate (ADR) and characteristics of previously resected adenomas are associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality. However, the combined effect of both factors on CRC mortality is unknown.

Patients And Methods: Using data of the Austrian quality assurance program for screening colonoscopy, we evaluated the combined effect of ADR and lesion characteristics on subsequent risk for CRC mortality.

More than one way: exploring the capabilities of different estimation approaches to joint models for longitudinal and time-to-event outcomes.

The development of physical functioning after a caesura in an aged population is still widely unexplored. Analysis of this topic would need to model the longitudinal trajectories of physical functioning and simultaneously take terminal events (deaths) into account. Separate analysis of both results in biased estimates, since it neglects the inherent connection between the two outcomes.

An unusual case of struma ovarii.

Summary: Struma ovarii is a teratoma of the ovaries predominantly composed of thyroid tissue. Hyperthyroidism associated with struma ovarii is rare, occurring in approximately 8% of cases. Due to the rarity of struma ovarii, available data are limited to case reports and small case series.