Significant Association Between Low Baseline Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Improved Progression-free Survival of Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer Treated With Eribulin But Not With Nab-Paclitaxel

Introduction

Although eribulin and nab-paclitaxel are chemotherapy agents widely used for locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC), their predictive factors remain unknown. Because the absolute neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a significant prognostic factor for early-stage breast cancer, we investigated its usefulness in terms of the eribulin or nab-paclitaxel treatment efficacy for MBC.

Liver Cirrhosis Complicated by Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis Caused by the Burkholderia cepacia Complex

A 79-year-old man with underlying alcoholic liver cirrhosis presented with complaints of a fever, abdominal pain, and difficulty walking. A diagnostic work-up revealed liver atrophy and chylous ascites, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) was diagnosed based on the cell and neutrophil counts. The Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) was detected on blood and ascitic fluid cultures. Although broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy was initiated, the infection was difficult to control, and the patient died of multiple organ failure. Bcc is often multidrug-resistant and difficult to treat. SBP caused by Bcc has been rarely reported and may have a serious course, thus necessitating caution.     

Surfactant Protein D Inhibits Interleukin-12p40 Production by Macrophages Through the SIRPα/ROCK/ERK Signaling Pathway

Objective

Interleukin (IL)-12 has a pivotal profibrotic role in the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Medical research trials based on IPF registry databases have actively recruited patients. Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is a useful biomarker in patients with IPF. SP-D binds to signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα), which acts as an inhibitory receptor, and this SP-D/SIRPα interaction may have an anti-inflammatory effect. Accordingly, the inhibitory effect of SP-D on IL-12p40 production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages was investigated.

Sexuality of women attended in family health program: a social poetic production

The concept of promotion of health is one of the main axes of current health policies in Brazil. The adoption of this concept implies a change in the care model involving valuing a greater autonomy of subjects to work improving their conditions of life. From this perspective, several elements of health practices have to be reviewed, sexuality among them. Thus, we aimed at producing sexuality concepts as of the knowledge of women cared for in a health unity. This is a qualitative study adopting a social poetic approach. The results pointed out several affections that involve the concept of sexuality going beyond the biological aspect. We understand that this study may help professionals caring for women in a health unity because it broadens the concept of sexuality allowing for reflection on the nursing practice in collective health.     

Digital volumetric measurement of mammographic density and the risk of overlooking cancer in Japanese women

Background

Breast density often affects cancer detection via mammography (MMG). Because of this, additional tests are recommended for women with dense breasts. This study aimed to reveal trends in breast density among Japanese women and determine whether differences in breast density differentially affected the detection of abnormalities via MMG.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 397 control women who underwent MMG screening as well as 269 patients who underwent surgery for breast cancer for whom preoperative MMG data were available. VolparaDensity? (Volpara), a three-dimensional image analysis software with high reproducibility, was used to calculate breast density. Breasts were categorized according to the volumetric density grade (VDG), a measure of the percentage of dense tissue. The associations between age, VDG, and MMG density categories were analyzed.

Results

In the control group, 78% of women had dense breasts, while in the breast cancer group, 87% of patients had dense breasts. One of 36 patients with non-dense breasts (2.7%) was classified as category 1 or 2 (C-1 or C-2), indicating that abnormal findings could not be detected by MMG. The proportion of patients with breast cancer who had dense breasts and were classified as C-1 or C-2 was as high as 22.3%.

Conclusions

The proportions of Japanese women with dense breasts were high. In addition, the false-negative rate for women with dense breasts was also high. Owing to this, Japanese women with dense breasts may need to commonly undergo additional tests to ensure detection of breast cancer in the screening MMG.