The goal of this exploratory study was to develop and assess a prediction model which can potentially be used as a biomarker of breast cancer, based on anthropometric data and parameters which can be gathered in routine blood analysis. For each of the 166 participants several clinical features were observed or measured, including age, BMI, Glucose, Insulin, HOMA, Leptin, Adiponectin, Resistin and MCP-1. Machine learning algorithms (logistic regression, random forests, support vector machines) were implemented taking in as predictors different numbers of variables. The resulting models were assessed with a Monte Carlo Cross-Validation approach to determine 95% confidence intervals for the sensitivity, specificity and AUC of the models. Support vector machines models using Glucose, Resistin, Age and BMI as predictors allowed predicting the presence of breast cancer in women with sensitivity ranging between 82 and 88% and specificity ranging between 85 and 90%. The 95% confidence interval for the AUC was [0.87, 0.91]. These findings provide promising evidence that models combining age, BMI and metabolic parameters may be a powerful tool for a cheap and effective biomarker of breast cancer.

Pregnancy induces significant hemodynamic changes, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the leading causes of non-obstetric maternal morbidity and mortality during pregnancy or the postpartum period in developed countries. The effective diagnosis and management of CVDs in pregnant women require a thorough evaluation that considers the health of both the mother and the fetus. Imaging plays a pivotal role in this evaluation, offering essential insights into the most significant pregnancy-related CVDs. However, due to concerns about fetal exposure, the use of contrast agents and radiation exposure must be carefully managed. Following to the principle of “As Low As Reasonably Achievable” (ALARA), strategies to minimize these risks are crucial for ensuring patient safety while maintaining diagnostic accuracy. This review highlights the contribution of cardiovascular imaging techniques, particularly computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in the assessment of common pregnancy-related CVDs, and outlines strategies to reduce radiation exposure and limit contrast agent use when feasible, aiming to increase radiologists’ awareness of this crucial topic.