Effects of tamoxifen on normal breast tissue histological composition: Results from a randomised six-arm placebo-controlled trial in healthy women

Tamoxifen prevents recurrence of breast cancer and is suggested for preventive risk-reducing therapy. Tamoxifen reduces mammographic density, a proxy for therapy response, but little is known about its effects in remodelling normal breast tissue. Our study, a substudy within the double-blinded dose-determination trial KARISMA, investigated tamoxifen-specific changes in breast tissue composition and histological markers in healthy women. We included 83 healthy women randomised to 6 months daily intake of 20, 10, 5, 2.5, 1 mg of tamoxifen or placebo. The groups were combined to “no dose” (0-1 mg), “low-dose” (2.5-5 mg) or “high-dose” (10-20 mg) of tamoxifen. Ultrasound-guided biopsies were collected before and after tamoxifen exposure. In each biopsy, epithelial, stromal and adipose tissues was quantified, and expression of epithelial and stromal Ki67, oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) analysed. Mammographic density using STRATUS was measured at baseline and end-of-tamoxifen-exposure. We found that different doses of tamoxifen reduced mammographic density and glandular-epithelial area in premenopausal women and associated with reduced epithelium and increased adipose tissue. High-dose tamoxifen also decreased epithelial ER and PR expressions in premenopausal women. Premenopausal women with the greatest reduction in proliferation also had the greatest epithelial reduction. In postmenopausal women, high-dose tamoxifen decreased the epithelial area with no measurable density decrease. Tamoxifen at both low and high doses influences breast tissue composition and expression of histological markers in the normal breast. Our findings connect epithelial proliferation with tissue remodelling in premenopausal women and provide novel insights to understanding biological mechanisms of primary prevention with tamoxifen.     

RWMAs in critically ill patients with non-obstructed coronary arteries

Introduction

Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is estimated to occur in 10%–25% of the general intensive care unit (ICU) population and is frequently seen as regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMAs). Although RWMA is mostly attributed to myocardial ischemia or infarction, some studies have suggested that nonischemic RWMA might also be prevalent. We sought to establish that RWMA can be seen in critically ill patients with normal coronary arteries and to explore reasons for RWMA in this population.

Methods

In this retrospective study, data from the hospital angiography register and the ICU register were collated between 2012 and 2019. Patients were identified who underwent angiography in conjunction with their ICU stay and had RWMA on echocardiography. Patients were divided into either those with non-obstructed or those with obstructed coronary arteries. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) examinations were reviewed if they had been performed on patients with non-obstructed coronaries.

Results

We identified 53 patients with RWMA and non-obstructed coronary arteries and 204 patients with RWMA and obstructed coronary arteries. Patients with non-obstructed coronary arteries were more often female, younger, and had fewer cardiovascular risk factors. They less commonly had ST elevation, but more frequently had T-wave inversion or serious arrhythmias. Troponin levels were higher in patients with obstructed coronary arteries, but NT-proBNP was similar between the groups. There were no differences in risk-adjusted 90-day mortality between patients with non-obstructed versus obstructed coronary arteries (OR 1.21, [95% CI 0.56–2.64], p = .628). In those with non-obstructed coronary arteries, follow-up echocardiography was available for 38 patients, of whom 30 showed normalization of cardiac function. Of the 14 patients with non-obstructed coronary arteries on whom cMRI was performed, 7 had a tentative diagnosis of Takotsubo syndrome or myocardial stunning; 4 had a myocardial infarction (preexisting in 3 cases); 1 patient had acute myocarditis; 1 patient had post-myocarditis; and 1 patient was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Conclusion

RWMA can be seen to occur in critically ill patients in the absence of coronary artery obstruction. Several conditions can cause regional hypokinesia, and cMRI is useful to evaluate the underlying etiology.     

Correction: Thrombotic and bleeding events,mortality, and anticoagulant use among 546,656 hospitalized patients with COVID‑19 in the United States: a retrospective cohort study

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis -     

Epstein–Barr-virus-associated hepatitis with aplastic anemia: A case report

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia (HAAA) is a rare condition. Patients with HAAA usually present with acute hepatitis, jaundice and significantly increased transaminase. After 1–2 mo, hepatitis gradually improves, but progressive hemocytopenia, bone marrow hematopoietic failure, and severe or extremely severe aplastic anemia are manifest. Most cases of HAAA are fulminant and usually lethal if left untreated. The literature on Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-associated HAAA is sparse. CASE SUMMARY We report a 30-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital because of pale yellow urine and skin with a simultaneous decrease in peripheral blood ternary cells. We made a diagnosis of EBV-associated HAAA. The treatment strategy for this patient included eltrombopag, an immunosuppressive regimen of rabbit anti-human thymocyte immunoglobulin, cyclosporine, and supportive care. The patient was discharged in normal physical condition after five months. A hemogram performed on follow-up revealed that he had achieved a complete response. CONCLUSION Eltrombopag plus anti-thymocyte globubin and cyclosporine may be a therapeutic option for EBV-associated HAAA.Larger studies are warranted to confirm.     

基于网络药理学和分子对接技术探讨黄芪干预腹膜纤维化的机制

目的 运用网络药理学方法及分子对接技术探讨黄芪干预腹膜纤维化的可能机制。方法 利用中药系统药理学数据库及分析平台(TCMSP)检索黄芪的主要化学成分及靶点,并补充文献报道相关药理作用的成分作为潜在活性成分。以"peritoneal fibrosis"为关键词分别在OMIM、Genecards获取目前已知的与腹膜纤维化相关的疾病靶点,后取两者的交集靶点;对交集基因通过STRING数据库与Cytoscape 3.7.2软件构建"药物-成分-靶点-疾病"网络及蛋白互作(PPI)网络并筛选核心网络。基于R软件使用Bioconductor生物信息软件对核心靶点进行GO及KEGG富集分析,最终采用AutoDock软件将主要有效成分与核心靶点进行分子对接,得出其结合能力。结果 筛选出20个黄芪活性成分及文献报道有相关药理作用4个, 457药物作用靶点,与674个腹膜纤维化病靶点取交集,得到86个共同靶点。GO功能富集分析提示黄芪拮抗腹膜纤维化主要参与了蛋白激酶B信号转导的调节、细胞对化学的应激反应、炎症反应的调节等通路; KEGG通路富集分析主要涉及调控肿瘤、磷脂酰肌醇-3-羟激酶-蛋白激酶B(PI3K-Akt)、晚期糖基化终末产物/晚期糖基化终末产物受体(AGE-RAGE)、人类巨细胞病毒感染、HIF-1信号通路等;分子对接结果显示关键靶点与活性成分具有较好的结合能力。结论 黄芪治疗腹膜纤维化的分子机制,可能与抑制炎症及氧化应激反应、调节多种信号通路等相关。     

我国老年人认知水平变化轨迹及其分化

目的 探究影响我国老年人认知水平的变化趋势，分离出年龄、队列效应。方法 基于CLHLS（2002—2018）多重队列追踪数据，以Stata16.0软件为工具，运用分层生长曲线模型进行统计分析。结果 本研究发现，个体行为生活方式、社会经济地位、性别、慢性病数量对认知水平均具有统计学意义；年龄、队列对认知水平的变化具有独立效应；随着年龄的增长，我国老年人认知水平下降，认知水平的城乡、性别差异明显；较年轻出生队列的老年人认知水平较好，认知水平的城乡差异随着队列的年轻化而变大，性别差异在较年轻队列有略微缩小的趋势。结论 影响认知水平因素复杂，认知障碍会增加医疗成本及照护负担，因此需准确把握老年认知水平的变化规律与作用路径，从而为卫生服务、养老保障、长期医疗照护的资源配置提供科学依据。     

PKP术中不同注入量高粘度骨水泥治疗骨质疏松性腰椎骨折的疗效分析

目的探讨经皮椎体后凸成形术（PKP）术中不同注入量高粘度骨水泥治疗骨质疏松性腰椎骨折（OLVF）的疗效及安全性。 方法前瞻性收集2016年9月至2018年9月本院OLVF患者150例，男84例，女66例，年龄（60±8）岁。依据随机数字表分为高量组、中量组、低量组，每组50例，高量组、中量组、低量组PKP术中高粘度骨水泥注入量分别为5.0~7.0 ml、3~4.9 ml、<3.0 ml，比较三组疗效及安全性。 结果150例患者获得满意随访，随访时间（19±7）个月。高量组、中量组、低量组手术时间、术中出血量比较，差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）；高量组和中量组术后3、6个月椎体前缘高度[（27.3±3.1）mm、（26.0±2.7）mm和（26.9±3.0）mm、（25.7±2.8）mm]明显高于低量组[（23.8±2.8）mm、（21.3±2.5）mm]，高量组和中量组术后3、6个月Cobb角及疼痛视觉模拟评分法（VAS）、Oswestry功能障碍指数问卷表（ODI）评分[（40.2±4.7）°、（41.5±4.8）°、（2.6±0.4）分、（1.6±0.3）分、（25.8±3.5）分、（26.9±3.5）分和（40.9±4.8）°、（42.1±4.8）°、（2.6±0.4）分、（1.6±0.3）分、（26.2±3.5）分、（27.2±3.7）分]明显低于低量组[（46.3±5.3）°、（47.8±5.6）°、（3.3±0.4）分、（2.3±0.4）分、（33.3±4.1）分、（34.3±4.2）分]，差异有统计学意义（F=25.371、18.914、29.334、22.457、34.276、30.217、29.364、20.071，均P<0.001）；高量组骨水泥渗漏率（28.00%）明显高于中量组和低量组（8.00%和4.00%），差异有统计学意义（χ²=10.241，P=0.005）。 结论PKP术中不同注入量高粘度骨水泥治疗OLVF的疗效及安全性存在一定的差异，其中注入中量（3~4.9 ml）高粘度骨水泥可获得良好的疗效及安全性，值得临床推广。