Care of Seniors with Breast Cancer – Treatment Received and Refining Decision Making

AimsTreatment decisions for older patients with breast cancer are complex and evidence is largely extrapolated from younger populations. Frailty and comorbidity need to be considered. We studied the baseline characteristics and treatment decisions in older patients in Christchurch with breast cancer and assessed survival outcomes and prognostic/discriminatory performance of several tools.Materials and methodsWe searched the Canterbury Breast Cancer Registry and identified patients aged 70 years or older at diagnosis with invasive, non-metastatic breast cancer between 1 June 2009 and 30 June 2015. We retrieved demographics, treatment and outcome information. Overall survival and breast cancer-specific survival were estimated. Tools analysing performance status and comorbidity were assessed for their prognostic and discriminatory power.ResultsIn total, 440 patients were identified. Primary surgery was carried out for 362 patients (82.3%): breast-conserving surgery in 114 (of whom 88.6% received radiation therapy); mastectomy in 248 (of whom 24.6% received radiation). Hormone therapy was given for 265 (71.1%) patients with oestrogen receptor-positive cancers. Two hundred and seventy-four (62.3%) patients received full standard treatment, which was associated with significantly improved 5-year survival and 5-year breast cancer-specific survival. The median estimated overall survival was 8.2 years (95% confidence interval 7.3–9.1 years). Of those who died, 71.3% of deaths were due to causes other than breast cancer or unknown causes. The comorbidity-adjusted life expectancy (CALE) showed partial prognostic accuracy. CALE, Charlson and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group tools all showed discriminatory value.ConclusionIn this population-based series of older patients with breast cancer, showing high levels of primary and adjuvant treatment, patients were more likely to die of causes other than breast cancer. Performance status and comorbidity tools showed prognostic and discriminatory potential in this population supporting their use in treatment decision making. CALE showed the most potential to improve treatment decisions but requires validation in this population to improve prognostic accuracy.     

Association of weight-adjusted-waist index with incident hypertension: The Rural Chinese Cohort Study

AimsTo explore the association between WWI and the incidence of HTN in the Rural Chinese Cohort Study.Methods and ResultsWe examined data for 10,338 non-hypertensive participants (39.49% men) aged ≥ 18 years from the Rural Chinese Cohort Study who completed a baseline examination during 2007–2008 and follow-up during 2013–2014. WWI was calculated as waist circumference (cm) divided by the square root of weight (kg). Multiple logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the probability of HTN across four WWI categories. Restricted cubic splines analysis was used to model the dose–response association of WWI and HTN. A total of 2078 participants had HTN during a median follow-up of 6 years. After adjusting for potential confounders, as compared with the lowest WWI category (<9.94 cm/√kg), with WWI 9.94 to 10.42, 10.42 to 10.91 and ≥ 10.91 cm/√kg, the ORs (95% CIs) for HTN were 1.12 (0.93–1.35), 1.40 (1.17–1.69) and 1.50 (1.24–1.82), respectively. Results of the sensitivity analyses were robust. The ORs were generally consistent on subgroup analysis by sex, smoking status, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Multiple logistic regression models with restricted cubic splines showed a non-linear positive association between WWI and HTN (P_nonlinearity < 0.001).ConclusionThe highest WWI category was significantly associated with increased risk of HTN. Our findings may facilitate the development and promotion of obesity prevention strategies aimed at reducing the risk of HTN and provide evidence for healthcare policy in rural China.     

The impact of PTEN deletion and ERG rearrangement on recurrence after treatment for prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Clinical and Translational Oncology - The specific association between PTEN deletion or ERG rearrangement and the recurrence of prostate cancer (PC) treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) or...     

NLR和PLR对腹膜透析患者腹膜炎的预测价值

目的:通过分析影响腹膜透析患者腹膜炎患病特征,探究血清中性粒细胞/淋巴细胞比值（NLR）和血小板/淋巴细胞比值（PLR）对腹膜透析患者腹膜炎的预测价值。方法:纳入2020年1月—2021年10月首次接受腹膜透析患者共203例为研究对象,随访6个月,诊断腹膜炎41例。比较腹膜炎组与无腹膜炎组性别、年龄、体重指数、原发肾脏疾病、基础疾病、吸烟、透析龄、肺炎和肠道感染情况,实验室指标包括白细胞计数、中性粒细胞计数、淋巴细胞计数、血小板计数、血红蛋白、血肌酐、血钾、血钙、白蛋白、总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白、空腹血糖、C反应蛋白（CRP）和降钙素原（PCT）,计算NLR、PLR和估算的肾小球滤过率（eGFR）。结果:41例患者发生1次腹膜炎34例,两次及以上7例,发生时间为透析后1~6个月,中位时间3.5个月。病原学检查发现,41例患者革兰阳性菌（G+）感染22例,革兰阴性菌（G-）感染17例,真菌2例。单因素比较发现,腹膜炎组比无腹膜炎组年龄增加,糖尿病和肠道感染增多,透析龄延长,白细胞计数、中性粒细胞计数、血小板计数、血肌酐、总胆固醇、空腹血糖、CRP和PCT、NLR和PLR水平升高,而白蛋白降低,差异均有统计学意义（χ2＝12.433～5.968;t＝4.526～22.325,均P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,肠道感染（OR=3.652,95%CI:2.485~5.023,P＜0.001）、透析龄（OR=5.524,95%CI:3.896~7.215,P＜0.001）、高NLR（OR=4.425,95%CI:2.967~5.632,P＜0.001）和高PLR（OR=4.021,95%CI:2.536~5.021,P＜0.001）是腹膜透析患者发生腹膜炎的独立危险因素。受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线显示,NLR和PLR预测腹膜炎的曲线下面积（AUC）分别为0.852和0.813,临界值分别为2.8和106.7,敏感性分别为85.6%和80.7%,特异性分别为77.9%和86.4%。结论:腹膜透析有较高的腹膜炎发生率,发生峰值在3.5个月,以G+或G-感染为主,肠道感染、透析龄延长、高NLR和高PLR水平是腹膜炎的独立危险因素,血清NLR和PLR监测对早期预测腹膜炎有重要的应用潜力。     

PLPP2: Potential therapeutic target of breast cancer in PLPP family

PLPPs (Phospholipid phosphatases) are widely expressed in different human tissues, regulate cell signal transduction, and are overexpressed in cancers such as gliomas, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, and so on. As a member of the PLPP family, PLPP2 (phospholipid phosphatase 2) plays a vital role in the occurrence and development of breast cancer, but its mechanism is still unclear. Our research found that PLPP2 was overexpressed in breast cancer, and the higher expression level of PLPP2 showed a worse prognosis for breast cancer patients. Further analysis showed that overexpression of PLPP2 affected the expression of CDC34 (cell-division cycle 34), LSM7 (Like-Smith 7), and SGTA (small glutamine-rich tetratricopeptide repeat-containing protein alpha) through EMT (epigenetic-mesenchymal transition) related pathways to promote the occurrence and development of breast cancer. In vitro, silencing PLPP2 significantly reduced the proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities of human breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231. ER+ is a common subtype of breast cancer. Furthermore, we found that the overexpression of PLPP2 was significantly related to the poor prognosis of ER+ breast cancer. These results indicate that PLPP2 has value as a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer, especially for ER+ breast cancer.     

Study of electroacupuncture with different frequencies for the treatment of headache and anxiety-depression symptoms in patients with migraine: A randomized clinical trial: 不同频率电针改善偏头痛患者头痛及焦虑抑郁症状的差异性研究-随机临床试验

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) with varied frequencies on headache and anxiety-depression symptoms in patients with migraine and to screen optimal frequency of EA for patients with such conditions.DesignSingle-center, randomized, controlled clinical trial was designed, and the outcome assessors and statisticians were blinded. The patients with migraine were randomized into 2 Hz EA group, 100 Hz EA group and sham-stimulation group. In each group, the changes in migraine attacks, days with headache, the scores of visual analogy scale (VAS), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), self-rating depression scale (SDS) and migraine-specific quality-of-life questionnaire (MSQ), as well as the dosage of analgesics were observed at the baseline, during treatment, in 1, 2 and 3 months of follow-up separately.SettingPatients were enrolled in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, between 1^st August 2018 and 31^st July 2021.ParticipantsSixty-five migraine patients with or without aura.InterventionsIn the EA groups, the acupoints were bilateral Fengchi (GB20), Gongxue (Extra), Sizhukong (TE23), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Shuaigu (GB8), Waiguan (TE5) and Yanglingquan (GB34). Electric stimulation was exerted at GB20 and Gongxue (Extra), with 2 Hz and 100 Hz separately. In the sham-stimulation group, the shallow acupuncture was operated at the sites 1 cm lateral to GB20 and Gongxue (Extra), and on the radial side of TE5 and GB34. The output wires were cut off after attached to the acupoints. The patients in each group received the treatment 3 times weekly, once every two days, for consecutive 4 weeks. The complete intervention was composed of 12 treatments.Main outcome measuresChanges in numbers of migraine attacks at treatment phase (week 1 to week 4) from the baseline(week -4 to week 0) in patients of each groupResults(1) Changes in migraine attacks and days with headache: In the 2 Hz EA and 100 Hz EA groups, the changes for migraine attacks and days of headache were higher significantly when compared with that in the sham-stimulation group at the same time stage (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference between two EA groups. (2) Changes of VAS score: In the 2 Hz EA and 100 Hz EA groups, the changes of VAS score were significantly higher when compared with that in the sham-stimulation group at the same time stage (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference between two EA groups. (3) Assessment of anxiety and depression: The differences in the changes of SAS and SDS scores had no statistical significance in patients of each group at each assessment stage (P > 0.05). (4) Assessment on the quality of life: Compared with the sham-stimulation group at the same time stage, the improvement in MSQ score was increased significantly during treatment in patients of the 2 Hz EA and 100 Hz groups (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference between two EA groups. (5) Assessment on safety and compliance: The patients of each group had sound compliance. There was no adverse events during trial, suggesting promising safety of treatment.ConclusionEA may effectively reduce the migraine attacks, and the days and intensity of headache, presenting promising safety. However, there was no significant improvement on anxiety-depression symptoms, and no significant difference between high and low frequencies of EA treatment in relieving headache and anxiety/depression symptoms in the patients with migraine.Trial registrationChiCTR1800017259     

The association between plant-based diet and erectile function in Chinese young healthy men: A population-based study

The study was designed and conducted to evaluate the plant-based diet status and its association with erectile function (EF) in Chinese young healthy men. From July 2018 to May 2020, 116 objectively proved physically and psychologically healthy men were selected. Clinical questionnaires, detailed physical examinations and blood tests were all assessed. An overall plant-based diet index (PDI) and a healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI) were developed from each participant to measure plant-based diet quantitatively. The EF was measured by both the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and the surrogated measures of endothelial function, peripheral levels of nitric oxide (NO) and E-selectin. In subjects, the mean PDI and hPDI were 53.8 ± 8.2 and 54.7 ± 8.9 respectively. Results of multivariate analysis showed that both PDI and hPDI were negatively associated with BMI (all p < .05), but had no relationships with NO, E-selectin, TT levels and IIEF-5 scores (all p > .05). In a subgroup of male population, Chinese young healthy men, the plant-based diet, measured by PDI and hPDI, was not related to erectile function. The population can adhere to plant-based diet to keep healthy without concerns of negative influence on erectile function.     

基于生物信息学探讨SARS-CoV-2介导免疫炎症反应诱发动脉粥样硬化进展的潜在机制与防治中药筛选

目的 应用生物信息学技术,从免疫炎症角度探索严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒-2(severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2,SARS-CoV-2)感染诱导动脉粥样硬化（atherosclerosis,AS）进展的核心靶点及重要通路,进而预测潜在防治中药。方法 从基因表达数据库（Gene Expression Omnibus,GEO）中获取新型冠状病毒肺炎患者和动脉粥样硬化患者芯片数据,利用“limmar”包及“Venn”包筛选2种疾病的共同差异表达基因（differentially expressed genes,DEGs）,对共同DEGs进行基因本体论（gene ontology,GO）和京都基因与基因组百科全书（Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes,KEGG）分析,注释其功能及重要通路。对2组基因集进行免疫细胞和免疫功能打分,评估免疫细胞浸润水平。利用STRING数据库,构建蛋白-蛋白互作（protein-protein interaction,PPI）网络;通过Cytoscape的CytoH...