Comparative evaluation of a language model and human specialists in the application of European guidelines for the management of inflammatory bowel diseases and malignancies

BACKGROUND

Society guidelines on colorectal dysplasia screening, surveillance, and endoscopic management in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are complex, and physician adherence to them is suboptimal. We aimed to evaluate the use of ChatGPT, a large language model, in generating accurate guideline-based recommendations for colorectal dysplasia screening, surveillance, and endoscopic management in IBD in line with European Crohn's and Colitis Organization (ECCO) guidelines.

METHODS

30 clinical scenarios in the form of free text were prepared and presented to three separate sessions of ChatGPT and to eight gastroenterologists (four IBD specialists and four non-IBD gastroenterologists). Two additional IBD specialists subsequently assessed all responses provided by ChatGPT and the eight gastroenterologists, judging their accuracy according to ECCO guidelines.

RESULTS

ChatGPT had a mean correct response rate of 87.8%. Among the eight gastroenterologists, the mean correct response rates were 85.8% for IBD experts and 89.2% for non-IBD experts. No statistically significant differences in accuracy were observed between ChatGPT and all gastroenterologists (P=0.95), or between ChatGPT and the IBD experts and non-IBD expert gastroenterologists, respectively (P=0.82).

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the potential of language models in enhancing guideline adherence regarding colorectal dysplasia in IBD. Further investigation of additional resources and prospective evaluation in real-world settings are warranted.

Long term persistence and risk factors for anorectal symptoms following low anterior resection for rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Rectal cancer is commonly treated by chemoradiation therapy, followed by the low anterior resection anal sphincter-preserving surgery, with a temporary protecting ileostomy. After reversal of the stoma a condition known as low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) can occur characterized by a combination of symptoms such as urgent bowel movements, lack of control over bowel movements, and difficulty fully emptying the bowels. These symptoms have a significant negative impact on the quality of life for individuals who have survived the cancer. Currently, there is limited available data regarding the presence, risk factors, and effects of treatment for these symptoms during long-term follow-up.

AIMS

To evaluate long term outcomes of low anterior resection surgery and its correlation to baseline anorectal manometry (ARM) parameters and physiotherapy with anorectal biofeedback (BF) treatment.

METHODS

One hundred fifteen patients (74 males, age 63 ± 11) who underwent low anterior resection surgery for rectal cancer were included in the study. Following surgery, patients were managed by surgical and oncologic team, with more symptomatic LARS patients referred for further evaluation and treatment by gastroenterologists. At follow up, patients were contacted and offered participation in a long term follow up by answering symptom severity and quality of life (QOL) questionnaires.

RESULTS

80 (70%) patients agreed to participate in the long term follow up study (median 4 years from stoma reversal, range 1-8). Mean time from surgery to stoma closure was 6 ± 4 months. At long term follow up, mean LARS score was 30 (SD 11), with 55 (69%) patients classified as major LARS (score > 30). Presence of major LARS was associated with longer time from surgery to stoma reversal (6.8 vs. 4.8 months; p = 0.03) and with adjuvant chemotherapy (38% vs. 8%; p = 0.01). Patients initially referred for ARM and BF were more likely to suffer from major LARS at long term follow up (64% vs. 16%, p < 0.001). In the subgroup of patients who underwent perioperative ARM (n = 36), higher maximal squeeze pressure, higher maximal incremental squeeze pressure and higher rectal pressure on push were all associated with better long-term outcomes of QOL parameters (p < 0.05 for all). 21(54%) of patients referred to ARM were treated with BF, but long term outcomes for these patients were not different from those who did not perform BF.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant number of patients continue to experience severe symptoms and a decline in their quality of life even 4 years after undergoing low anterior resection surgery. Prolonged time until stoma reversal and adjuvant chemotherapy emerged as the primary risk factors for a negative prognosis. It is important to note that referring patients for anorectal physiology testing alone tended to predict poorer long-term outcomes, indicating the presence of selection bias. However, certain measurable manometric parameters could potentially aid in identifying patients who are at a higher risk of experiencing unfavorable functional outcomes. There is a critical need to enhance current treatment options for this patient group.

Prognostic factors of patients with myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary artery disease: a seven-year longitudinal follow-up

Background

Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a common condition associated with major adverse events (MAE). Unlike obstructive coronary artery disease (OCAD), data regarding the prognosis of MINOCA are scarce.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study among consecutive patients with MINOCA in a large tertiary medical center in Israel between the years 2005–2018. We assessed parameters associated with MAE, defined as all-cause mortality or recurrent MI. Patients with probable alternative cause for myocardial injury, as stress-induced cardiomyopathy and myocarditis, were excluded.

Results

Among 36,501 admitted with AMI during the study period, 1,544 patients (4.2%) had MINOCA. The mean age was 61±13, and 710 (46%) were females. At a median follow-up of 7 years, the MAE rate was 17%, as 153 (9.9%) died, and 117 (7.5%) had recurrent MI. ST-elevation MI at presentation and older age were associated with increased 30-day MAE. In multivariate models, independent factors associated with MAE were female gender (HR=0.58; 95% CI 0.43–0.76), age (HR=1.04; 95% CI 1.03–1.05), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) &lt;40% (HR=2.68; 95% CI 1.74–4.12), increased serum-creatinine (HR=1.11; 95% CI 1.02–1.21), higher hemoglobin (HR=0.81; 95% CI 0.76–0.88), and documented sinus rhythm (HR=0.58; 95% CI 0.38–0.86).

Conclusion

MINOCA carries an increased risk for long-term MAE. Among MINOCA patients older age, LVEF &lt;40%, and increased serum-creatinine are associated with increased MAE risk, while female gender, higher hemoglobin, and sinus rhythm are associated with lower MAE risk.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

The prognostic impact of coronary anatomy in myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary artery disease: a seven-year longitudinal follow-up

Background

Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a common condition associated with major adverse events (MAE) that may occur presence of normal or nonobstructive coronary artery anatomy (NCAA and NOCAA, respectively). The prognostic impact presence of NOCAA on long-term outcomes of MINOCA patients remains unclear.

Methods

This is a retrospective study among consecutive MINOCA patients in a large referral medical center in Israel between the years 2005–2018. Patients with probable alternative cause for myocardial injury, as stress-induced cardiomyopathy and myocarditis, were excluded. Patients were classified according to their coronary angiography diagnosis into NCAA and NOCAA. The primary outcome was MAE, defined as the composite of all-cause mortality and recurrent acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We performed survival analyses using multivariable Cox regression, controlling for potential cofounders.

Results

Among 36,501 admitted with AMI during the study period, 1,544 patients (4.2%) had MINOCA. Among MINOCA patients, 651 (42%) had NCAA, and 893 (58%) had NOCAA. The mean age was 61.2±12.6 years, and 710 (46.0%) were females. The NOCAA group had more females and were older with higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, atrial fibrillation, and chronic renal failure (p&lt;0.05 for all). At a median follow-up of 7 years, MAE occurred in 203 (22.7%) patients and 67 (10.3%) patients in the NOCAA and NCAA groups, respectively (p&lt;0.01). In fully-adjusted multivariable model, NOCAA remained a significant risk factor for long-term MAE [adjusted-hazard-ratio (aHR) 1.67, 95% confidence-interval (95% CI) 1.25–2.23; p&lt;0.001; figure]. Other factors associated with MAE were older age (aHR 1.05, 95% CI 1.03–1.06; p&lt;0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) &lt;40% (aHR 3.04, 95% CI 2.03–4.57; p&lt;0.001)

Conclusion

Among MINOCA patients, NOCAA was associated with a worse long-term prognosis than NCAA. Other risk factors for long-term MAE were older age and LVEF &lt;40%, while female sex and sinus rhythm at presentation were associated with lower MAE risk.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Long-term outcome of patients with myocardial infraction with nonobstructive coronary arteries

Background

Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a condition of growing interest and research. We aimed to evaluate the long-term prognosis of MINOCA patients and identify possible risk factors associated with long term mortality in this patient's population.

Methods

We performed a retrospective observational cohort study including all patients aged ≥18 years hospitalized to a large tertiary center between 2005–2018 with a primary diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and non-obstructive lesions with less than &lt;50% stenosis in all coronary arteries. The aim of the study was to assess the long-term mortality and to evaluate factors associated with increased mortality in this population.

Results

MINOCA was diagnosed in 1544 patients during the study period. Mean age of patients was 61±12.3 and 46% were female. Common comorbidities were dyslipidemia (32.6%) and hypertension (21.2%) and 17% had prior PCI. More than third of the patients were treated with statins (37.2%), micropirin (32.7%) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitors (30.4%). While short-term prognosis was favorable with only 1.2% mortality at 30-days, 1-year mortality was 3.9% and 19.9% mortality at mean follow-up time of 8.5 years. While many factors were associated with unfavorable long-term outcome in the univariate analysis, only advanced age (HR =1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.07; p&lt;0.001) and congestive heart failure (HR=3.53, 95% CI 1.74–7.18; P&lt;0.001) were independently associated with increased mortality risk in the adjusted model.

Conclusions

MINOCA is not an infrequent condition that carries a good short-term outcome, but long-term outcome may be comparable to patients with obstructive coronary disease. Further research should be performed to elucidate the various mechanisms of MINOCA.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Comparison of coronary bifurcation lesions stenting techniques- a network meta-analysis

Background

Coronary bifurcations lesions (CBL) are account for 15–20% of all percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and constitute a major challenge for interventionists in terms of procedural success rate and long-term cardiac events. Based on data from multiple randomized trials and registries, current guidelines advocate the use of provisional side branch (SB) stenting strategy for the majority of CBL's. However, for true or complex CBL's (long side branches lesions, difficult side branches access or high risk of side branches compromise), which account for up to 25% of CBL's, this strategy may by unsafe and ineffective due to a potential risk of intraprocedural or long-term occlusion of a significant side branch and a two-stenting technique may be needed in order to achieve optimal results. Up to date, the optimal two- stenting technic for CBL remains in debate. Accordingly, our aim was to compare different stenting techniques in coronary bifurcation lesions.

Methods

We performed a MEDLINE search for randomized controlled trials (RCT) and observational studies comparing stenting techniques in CBL's with reported clinical outcomes. Mixed treatment comparison model generation was performed to directly and indirectly compare culotte, T and protrusion (TAP), crush and provisional techniques

Results

A total of 13 RCT and 12 observational studies were identified including 6806 patients, among whom 1,201 were treated with cullotte, 2,731 with crush, 797 with TAP and 2077 with provisional stenting. The Bayesian hierarchical random-effects model demonstrated a significant reduction in target lesion revascularization (TLR) rate with crush techniques compared with provisional technique (OR 0.64 95% CI 0.42–0.97) along with a trend for reduction in major adverse cardiovascular (MACE) events (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.55–1.02). TAP and culotte techniques did not show similar results. Equality of other endpoints, including mortality, myocardial infarction and re-stenosis was found between all CBL's techniques (Figure 1).

Discussion

Our findings suggest improved outcomes with crush technique compared to other double stenting techniques in terms of TLR with a trend towards MACE reduction. Further research is required to determine the optimal stenting technique for coronary bifurcations lesions along with the utility of imaging and physiology in this complex subset.

Figure 1. Comparison of double stentin techniques

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Aspirin withdrawal in patients treated with ticagrelor presenting with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction

Essentials Strong P2Y12 blockade may cause platelet inhibition that is only minimally enhanced by aspirin. We evaluated aspirin withdrawal on platelet reactivity in ticagrelor treated patients. Aspirin withdrawal resulted in increased platelet reactivity to arachidonic acid. Aspirin withdrawal caused little difference in adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation.

SUMMARY

Background Recent studies have shown that the thromboxane A2 -dependent pathway is dependent on the ADP-P2Y12 pathway, and that strong P2Y12 receptor blockade alone causes inhibition of platelet aggregation that is minimally enhanced by aspirin. Data from the PLATO trial suggested that, among ticagrelor-treated patients, high-dose versus low-dose (< 100 mg day-1 ) aspirin is associated with an increased risk fof ischemic events. Objectives To evaluate the impact of aspirin withdrawal on platelet reactivity in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients treated with a potent P2Y12 blocker. Patients/Methods This was a current prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over study. The study population comprised 22 consecutive ACS patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and were treated with aspirin (100 mg day-1 ) and ticagrelor. Thirty days post-ACS, open-label aspirin was stopped, and patients were randomized to either blinded aspirin or placebo for 2 weeks, with each patient crossing over to the other arm for an additional 2 weeks. Platelet reactivity to arachidonic acid and ADP determined with light-transmission aggregometry (LTA) and VerifyNow was evaluated at baseline, and 2 weeks and 4 weeks later. Results Aspirin withdrawal resulted in an increase in arachidonic-acid induced platelet reactivity as determined with both LTA (77.0% ± 11.3% versus 20.8% ± 4.4%) and VerifyNow (607.7 ± 10.6 aspirin reaction units [ARU] versus 408.5 ± 14.4 ARU). Platelet response to ADP, as determined with both LTA and VerifyNow, did not differ with either aspirin or placebo (32.9% ± 2.6% versus 35.8% ± 3.6%, and 33.5 ± 6.4 P2Y12 reaction units (PRU) versus 29.6 ± 5.7 PRU, respectively). Conclusions Aspirin withdrawal early post-ACS results in increased platelet reactivity in response to arachidonic acid, despite concomitant treatment with the potent P2Y12 blocker ticagrelor.

Diagnosis and Classification of 17 Diseases from 1404 Subjects via Pattern Analysis of Exhaled Molecules

We report on an artificially intelligent nanoarray based on molecularly modified gold nanoparticles and a random network of single-walled carbon nanotubes for noninvasive diagnosis and classification of a number of diseases from exhaled breath. The performance of this artificially intelligent nanoarray was clinically assessed on breath samples collected from 1404 subjects having one of 17 different disease conditions included in the study or having no evidence of any disease (healthy controls). Blind experiments showed that 86% accuracy could be achieved with the artificially intelligent nanoarray, allowing both detection and discrimination between the different disease conditions examined. Analysis of the artificially intelligent nanoarray also showed that each disease has its own unique breathprint, and that the presence of one disease would not screen out others. Cluster analysis showed a reasonable classification power of diseases from the same categories. The effect of confounding clinical and environmental factors on the performance of the nanoarray did not significantly alter the obtained results. The diagnosis and classification power of the nanoarray was also validated by an independent analytical technique, i.e., gas chromatography linked with mass spectrometry. This analysis found that 13 exhaled chemical species, called volatile organic compounds, are associated with certain diseases, and the composition of this assembly of volatile organic compounds differs from one disease to another. Overall, these findings could contribute to one of the most important criteria for successful health intervention in the modern era, viz. easy-to-use, inexpensive (affordable), and miniaturized tools that could also be used for personalized screening, diagnosis, and follow-up of a number of diseases, which can clearly be extended by further development.

Programmed Nanoparticles for Tailoring the Detection of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Disease via Breathprint

Chemical sensors based on programmable molecularly modified gold nanoparticles are tailored for the detection and discrimination between the breathprint of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The sensors are examined in both lab- and real-world clinical conditions. The results reveal a discriminative power accuracy of 81% between IBD and IBS and 75% between Crohn's and Colitis states.