Managing the Breast Cancer Survivor in Primary Care

Early detection and improved treatments for breast cancer are increasing survival rates, thereby growing the number of survivors to almost 4 million in the United States. Continuing care after treatment is frequently provided in primary care. Evidence-based care includes a history review, physical examination, and imaging for recurrence and new cancers, along with health maintenance and health promotion. Additionally, survivors often experience long-term side effects from their disease and/or treatment, affecting health and quality of life. This article provides a synopsis of breast cancer treatment-related side effects and current evidence-based guidelines to assist the primary care provider caring for survivors.     

植物花青素对肿瘤抑制作用的研究进展

植物花青素是一类可溶于水的类黄酮,主要存在于各种蔬菜水果中。常见的植物花青素主要分为天竺葵色素(Pelargonidin)、芍药色素(Peonidin)、矢车菊色素(Cyanidin)、锦葵色素(Malvidin)、矮牵牛色素(Petunidin)、飞燕草色素(Delphinidin)六种;植物花青素分子中含有共轭双键体系,并含有碱性或酸性基团,因而具有抗氧化、抗炎、调节免疫、抗衰老和抑癌等生物学作用,尤其以抑癌作用最为突出。因此,本文将对植物花青素的抑癌作用及可能的机制进行综述。     

Neurodevelopmental outcomes of extremely preterm infants: theoretical and epidemiological perspectives to guide shared-care decision-making

Although births below 28 completed weeks' of gestation contribute to less than 1% of all preterm births globally, the impact of extreme prematurity (EPT) on neurodevelopmental outcomes across the life-course is disproportionately large. Higher rates and increased severity of neurodevelopmental impairments (NDIs) are reported among extremely preterm infants (EPIs). Cognitive skills, motor skills (manifesting as cerebral palsy) and vision are most commonly affected, with effects pervasive throughout school, adolescence and early adulthood. In addition, poorer academic outcomes and higher rates of psychiatric morbidity are seen among EPTs. Consistent improvements in EPI survival in recent years has not been matched with improvements in neurodevelopmental outcomes, especially for those born at less than 25 gestational weeks. However, over the last 20 years, several national and cross-national cohort studies have helped advance our understanding of extreme prematurity's developmental and life-course consequences. Here we provide an overview of the key findings from 13 multi-centre cohorts measuring neurodevelopmental outcomes and discuss the theoretical and epidemiological perspectives of NDIs in the context of extreme prematurity to guide communication with families and shared care decision-making.     

The impact of neighborhoods and friendships on interracial anxiety among medical students and residents: A report from the medical student CHANGES study

Objective

To examine the experience of interracial anxiety among health professionals and how it may affect the quality of their interactions with patients from racially marginalized populations. We explored the influence of prior interracial exposure—specifically through childhood neighborhoods, college student bodies, and friend groups—on interracial anxiety among medical students and residents. We also examined whether levels of interracial anxiety change from medical school through residency.

Data Source

Web-based longitudinal survey data from the Medical Student Cognitive Habits and Growth Evaluation Study.

Study Design

We used a retrospective longitudinal design with four observations for each trainee. The study population consisted of non-Black US medical trainees surveyed in their 1st and 4th years of medical school and 2nd and 3rd years of residency. Mixed effects longitudinal models were used to assess predictors of interracial anxiety and assess changes in interracial anxiety scores over time.

Principal Findings

In total, 3155 non-Black medical trainees were followed for 7 years. Seventy-eight percent grew up in predominantly White neighborhoods. Living in predominantly White neighborhoods and having less racially diverse friends were associated with higher levels of interracial anxiety among medical trainees. Trainees' interracial anxiety scores did not substantially change over time; interracial anxiety was highest in the 1st year of medical school, lowest in the 4th year, and increased slightly during residency.

Conclusions

Neighborhood and friend group composition had independent effects on interracial anxiety, indicating that premedical racial socialization may affect medical trainees' preparedness to interact effectively with diverse patient populations. Additionally, the lack of substantial change in interracial anxiety throughout medical training suggests the importance of providing curricular tools and structure (e.g., instituting interracial cooperative learning activities) to foster the development of healthy interracial relationships.     

Long-term prevention of bladder cancer progression by alpha1-oleate alone or in combination with chemotherapy

Bladder cancer is common and one of the most costly cancer forms, due to a lack of curative therapies. Recently, clinical safety and efficacy of the alpha1-oleate complex was demonstrated in a placebo-controlled study of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer. Our study investigated if long-term therapeutic efficacy is improved by repeated treatment cycles and by combining alpha1-oleate with low-dose chemotherapy. Rapidly growing bladder tumors were treated by intravesical instillation of alpha1-oleate, Epirubicin or Mitomycin C alone or in combination. One treatment cycle arrested tumor growth, with a protective effect lasting at least 4 weeks in mice receiving 8.5 mM of alpha1-oleate alone or 1.7 mM of alpha-oleate combined with Epirubicin or Mitomycin C. Repeated treatment cycles extended protection, defined by a lack of bladder pathology and a virtual absence of bladder cancer-specific gene expression. Synergy with Epirubicin was detected at the lower alpha1-oleate concentration and in vitro, alpha1-oleate was shown to enhance the uptake and nuclear translocation of Epirubicin, by tumor cells. Effects at the chromatin level affecting cell proliferation were further suggested by reduced BrdU incorporation. In addition, alpha1-oleate triggered DNA fragmentation, defined by the TUNEL assay. The results suggest that bladder cancer development may be prevented long-term in the murine model, by alpha1-oleate alone or in combination with low-dose Epirubicin. In addition, the combination of alpha1-oleate and Epirubicin reduced the size of established tumors. Exploring these potent preventive and therapeutic effects will be of immediate interest in patients with bladder cancer.     

基于网络药理学研究黄连解毒汤抗幽门螺杆菌感染作用机制

目的运用网络药理学方法预测黄连解毒汤抗Hp感染的主要有效成分、靶点及信号通路,挖掘其潜在作用机制,为后续实验研究提供依据。方法应用TCMSP筛选黄连解毒汤中黄连、黄芩、黄柏、栀子4味中药的主要有效成分及其潜在作用靶点。通过GeneCards数据库和人类孟德尔遗传数据库(OMIM)筛选Hp感染相关靶点,并取药物和疾病的交集靶点。将交集靶点导入Cytoscape 3.7.2构建有效成分和Hp感染相关靶点网络,并进行拓扑学分析。应用STRING在线分析平台构建靶蛋白相互作用(PPI)网络并进行分析。运用R语言在线检索Bioconductor平台对靶点进行GO功能富集;通过DAVID数据库对靶点进行KEGG通路富集分析。结果黄连解毒汤中共筛选出85个有效成分,主要包括槲皮素、小檗碱、山柰酚、汉黄芩素、黄芩素等。对应靶点112个,疾病相关靶点1960个,药物疾病共同靶点71个。网络中度值最高的有效成分为槲皮素,度值最高的靶点为环加氧酶1(PTGS1)。PPI网络中69个节点中度值较高的靶蛋白包括半胱氨酸蛋白酶3(CASP3)、IL6、MAPK8、原癌基因(MYC)、VEGFA、表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)等。GO功能富集分析共获得89个条目,KEGG通路富集分析共筛选12条存在显著差异的信号通路,其中发挥主要作用的有癌症通路、ErbB信号通路、p53信号通路、凋亡、黏附斑等。结论黄连解毒汤可通过多成分、多靶点、多通路发挥对Hp的治疗作用,可通过抗肿瘤机制调控胃癌进程,本研究可为其有效成分研究和抗Hp机制研究提供依据。     

乳腺癌随访和药物副作用管理策略的研究进展

乳腺癌是全球女性发病率最高的恶性肿瘤,随着诊断技术及治疗手段的不断提高,乳腺癌患者接受系统治疗后生存期明显延长。乳腺癌患者需要长时间的随访以便及早监测到局部复发和远处转移。此外,激素敏感性乳腺癌患者还需要给予5~10年的内分泌治疗,针对其副作用的全程管理也需要随访,进而提高患者的生活质量,减轻患者疾病负担。本文就近年来乳腺癌随访相关方面进行简要综述。     

The use of isotretinoin for acne – an update on optimal dosing,surveillance, and adverse effects

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Acne is a chronic, inflammatory, and immune mediated disease of pilosebaceous unit, highly prevalent in adolescents. It involves face, trunk, and back; may leave scars and affect quality of life. Early, effective, and safe treatment is the key for disease resolution. Oral isotretinoin is the unique treatment for cure or prolonged remission for moderate and severe acne, preventing psychosocial impact and scars. It inhibits sebaceous glands activity and has anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties.