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IntroductionCalcitonin is the most specific marker for medullary thyroid carcinoma, thus, low detectable calcitonin values after surgery can conceal persistent disease. The present study aimed to explore the prognostic role of pre-operative and early calcitonin levels in patients without distant metastases at diagnosis.MethodsA retrospective cohort of patients suffering from medullary thyroid carcinoma was considered (N=55). The final disease status, i.e. complete response (undetectable calcitonin levels and negative radiological assessments) or persistent disease (detectable calcitonin levels and/or positive radiological assessments), was deduced from the last available follow-up. Pre-operative and early calcitonin levels (i.e. six months after surgery) have been correlated to several clinical and histological features, according to the final disease status.ResultsPersistent disease patients showed higher pre-operative and early calcitonin values (p=0.028 and p<0.001, respectively), compared to complete response sub-cohort. Cox-regression models show that early detectable calcitonin increases up to 18-fold the risk of persistent disease, independently from tumour size and pre-operative calcitonin levels (p=0.006). Of note, when considering only patients who finally developed distant metastasis, ROC curve analysis shows that an early calcitonin level ≥16 pg/ml predicts the final disease status with a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 82% (AUC=0.911, CI95%: 0.819-1000, p<0.001).ConclusionCalcitonin levels six months after surgery represents an easy and effective predictor of persistent disease for medullary thyroid carcinoma without distant metastasis at diagnosis.

Background The level of education has been recognized as a cardiovascular risk factor; nevertheless, it is often neglected in cardiovascular risk prediction. Objectives To evaluate the psychobiological correlates of the level of education and if it could predict incident major adverse cardiovascular events in men consulting for erectile dysfunction. Methods Total 3733 men (49.8 ± 13.7 years old) attending an andrology outpatient clinic for erectile dysfunction were studied. Sexual and psychological symptoms, hormonal and metabolic, as well as instrumental (penile color Doppler ultrasound) parameters were evaluated according to the education level (university, upper secondary, lower secondary, and primary degree). For a subset of 956 patients, data on incident major adverse cardiovascular events were retrospectively collected for 3.9 ± 2.4 years. Results As compared with men with university degree, those with a lower education had an increased frequency of moderate–severe erectile dysfunction (odds ratio = 1.21 [0.99;1.48], 1.41 [1.14;1.73], 1.70 [1.26;2.30] for upper secondary, lower secondary, and primary school, respectively) and reduced flaccid peak systolic velocity at penile color Doppler ultrasound. Men with a lower level of education tend to suffer from metabolic syndrome (odds ratio = 1.38 [1.06;1.79], 1.73 [1.34;2.24], 1.72 [1.24;2.37] for upper secondary, lower secondary, and primary school, respectively) and were more likely to have history of previous cardiovascular events. In the longitudinal study, men with a higher level of education had a significantly lower incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events. The role of higher education as an independent predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events was established by multivariable Cox regressions (hazard ratio = 2.14 [1.24–3.69]). Discussion In erectile dysfunction subjects, lower level of education is associated with a more severely impaired erectile function with atherogenic pathogenesis and with a worse cardio‐metabolic profile. In addition, a lower level of education predicts forthcoming major adverse cardiovascular events. Therefore, education level should be considered as a costless but valuable information in the assessment of cardiovascular risk in patients with erectile dysfunction.

Introduction: Calcitonin is the most specific marker for medullary thyroid carcinoma, thus, low detectable calcitonin values after surgery can conceal persistent disease. The present study aimed to explore the prognostic role of pre-operative and early calcitonin levels in patients without distant metastases at diagnosis. Methods: A retrospective cohort of patients suffering from medullary thyroid carcinoma was considered (N=55). The final disease status, i.e. complete response (undetectable calcitonin levels and negative radiological assessments) or persistent disease (detectable calcitonin levels and/or positive radiological assessments), was deduced from the last available follow-up. Pre-operative and early calcitonin levels (i.e. six months after surgery) have been correlated to several clinical and histological features, according to the final disease status.Results: Persistent disease patients showed higher pre-operative and early calcitonin values (p=0.028 and p<0.001, respectively), compared to complete response sub-cohort. Cox-regression models show that early detectable calcitonin increases up to 18-fold the risk of persistent disease, independently from tumour size and pre-operative calcitonin levels (p=0.006). Of note, when considering only patients who finally developed distant metastasis, ROC curve analysis shows that an early calcitonin level ≥16 pg/ml predicts the final disease status with a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 82% (AUC=0.911, CI95%: 0.819-1000, p<0.001). Conclusion:Calcitonin levels six months after surgery represents an easy and effective predictor of persistent disease for medullary thyroid carcinoma without distant metastasis at diagnosis.