Browsing by Author "Patel, Milan"

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    CT-scan Based Liver and Spleen Volume Measurement as a Prognostic Indicator for Patients with Cirrhosis
    (Elsevier, 2021-09) Patel, Milan; Tann, Mark; Liangpunsakul, Suthat; Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine
    Background: Complications of patients with liver disease generally occurs as the consequence of advanced fibrosis and portal hypertension. Non-invasive tools to predict the complications may allow for better risk-stratification and medical management in patients with cirrhosis. The goals of this study were to determine the utility of CT-scan based liver and spleen volume measurement in association with complications and outcomes in patients with cirrhosis. Methods: Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of 556 patients with cirrhosis who underwent CT scan of the abdomen between January 1-June 30,2009 were reviewed. Liver and spleen volume were measured using semi-automated interactive software and compared to 47 healthy controls. The association between liver and spleen volume and complications of cirrhosis was determined. Independent predictors of survival were analyzed with Cox regression model. Results: Patients with cirrhosis had significantly lower total and functional liver volume, larger total and functional spleen volume, and significantly lower total liver to spleen volume ratio when compared to controls. Liver volume, spleen volume, and liver to spleen volume ratio were significantly altered in patients with decompensated stage. Patients with hepatic encephalopathy had significantly lower total liver volume and spleen size was associated with the presence of esophageal varices. Patients with cirrhosis who underwent liver transplantation had significantly lower total liver volume and larger total spleen volume. However, spleen volume was not an independent predictor for mortality. Conclusions: Baseline liver and spleen volume and its ratio are significantly altered in patients with cirrhosis. Spleen volume is also associated with the presence of esophageal varices.
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    Does providing routine liver volume assessment add value when performing CT surveillance in cirrhotic patients?
    (Springer, 2019-07-29) Patel, Milan; Puangsricharoen, Pimpitcha; Arshad, Hafiz Muhammad Sharjeel; Garrison, Sam; Techasatian, Witina; Ghabril, Marwan; Sandrasegaran, Kumar; Liangpunsakul, Suthat; Tann, Mark; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Background: The measurement of liver volume (LV) is considered to be an effective prognosticator for postoperative liver failure in patients undergoing hepatectomy. It is unclear whether LV can be used to predict mortality in cirrhotic patients. Methods: We enrolled 584 consecutive cirrhotic patients who underwent computerized topography (CT) of the abdomen for hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance and 50 age, gender, race, and BMI-matched controls without liver disease. Total LV (TLV), functional LV (FLV), and segmental liver volume (in cm3) were measured from CT imaging. Cirrhotic subjects were followed until death, liver transplantation, or study closure date of July 31, 2016. The survival data were assessed with log-rank statistics and independent predictors of survival were performed using Cox hazards model. Results: Cirrhotic subjects had significantly lower TLV, FLV, and segmental (all except for segments 1, 6, 7) volume when compared to controls. Subjects presenting with hepatic encephalopathy had significantly lower TLV and FLV than those without HE (p=0.002). During the median follow up of 1,145 days, 112 (19%) subjects were transplanted and 131 (23%) died. TLV and FLV for those who survived were significantly higher than those who were transplanted or dead (TLV:1740 vs 1529 vs 1486, FLV 1691 vs 1487 vs 1444,p <0.0001). In the Cox regression model, age, MELD score, TLV or FLV were independent predictors of mortality. Conclusion: Baseline liver volume is an independent predictor of mortality in subjects with cirrhosis. Therefore it may be useful to provide these data while performing routine surveillance CT scan as an important added value. Further studies are needed to validate these findings and to better understand their clinical utility.
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    Structural and functional characterization of endothelial microparticles released by cigarette smoke
    (SpringerNature, 2016-08-17) Serban, Karina A.; Rezania, Samin; Petrusca, Daniela N.; Poirier, Christophe; Cao, Danting; Justice, Matthew J.; Patel, Milan; Tsvetkova, Irina; Kamocki, Krzysztof; Mikosz, Andrew; Schweitzer, Kelly S.; Jacobson, Sean; Cardoso, Angelo; Carlesso, Nadia; Hubbard, Walter C.; Kechris, Katerina; Dragnea, Bogdan; Berdyshev, Evgeny V.; McClintock, Jeanette; Petrache, Irina; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, IU School of Medicine
    Circulating endothelial microparticles (EMPs) are emerging as biomarkers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in individuals exposed to cigarette smoke (CS), but their mechanism of release and function remain unknown. We assessed biochemical and functional characteristics of EMPs and circulating microparticles (cMPs) released by CS. CS exposure was sufficient to increase microparticle levels in plasma of humans and mice, and in supernatants of primary human lung microvascular endothelial cells. CS-released EMPs contained predominantly exosomes that were significantly enriched in let-7d, miR-191; miR-126; and miR125a, microRNAs that reciprocally decreased intracellular in CS-exposed endothelium. CS-released EMPs and cMPs were ceramide-rich and required the ceramide-synthesis enzyme acid sphingomyelinase (aSMase) for their release, an enzyme which was found to exhibit significantly higher activity in plasma of COPD patients or of CS-exposed mice. The ex vivo or in vivo engulfment of EMPs or cMPs by peripheral blood monocytes-derived macrophages was associated with significant inhibition of efferocytosis. Our results indicate that CS, via aSMase, releases circulating EMPs with distinct microRNA cargo and that EMPs affect the clearance of apoptotic cells by specialized macrophages. These targetable effects may be important in the pathogenesis of diseases linked to endothelial injury and inflammation in smokers.