The clinical significance of metastatic breast carcinoma to intramammary lymph node

The incidence of involved intramammary lymph node (intra‐MLN) with breast carcinoma (BC) is rare. Its clinical significance and impact on the clinical decision making is unclear. A total of 113 BC cases with at least one positive intra‐MLN were collected from 11 academic institutions. The inclusion criteria were subsequent axillary lymph node dissection, and the availability of information on T‐stage, size of node metastasis, extranodal extension status, biomarkers status, and clinical follow‐up. Stage 4 cases and/or neo‐adjuvant treated patients were excluded. AJCC TN‐stage was calculated twice, with and without intra‐MLN. Five‐year overall survival (OS) and relapse (local and/or distant)‐free survival (RFS) were calculated and correlated with the clinicopathologic variables. Excluding intra‐MLN, TN‐stage correlated with OS (P = .016) but not with RFS (P = .19). However, when intra‐MLN was included, TN‐stage correlated with both OS (P < .001) and RFS (P = .016). In the multivariate analysis, when intra‐MLN was excluded, only radiation therapy (RT) correlated with RFS (HR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.054‐0.66, P = .009). However, when intra‐MLN was included in the TN‐stage both RT (HR = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.04‐0.45, P = .001) and TN‐stage 3 (HR = 8.92, 95% CI: 1.47‐54, P = .017) correlated with RFS. Tumor multifocality was the only variable correlated with OS when the intra‐MLN involvement was excluded. When intra‐MLN was included, multifocality became insignificant but TN‐stage 3 correlated with OS (HR = 8.59, 95% CI: 1.06‐69.71, P = .044). Positive intra‐MLN is an independent factor in predicting both RFS and OS.     

Sonographic assessment of the carotid intima-media thickness on B-mode ultrasonography in a Nigerian population

Background:

Hypertension is a common health problem and a major risk factor of cardiovascular disease. The most important mechanism by which hypertension acts as a cardiovascular risk factor is the induction of arteriosclerosis. The early phase of atherosclerosis before its clinical manifestation can be studied using B-mode ultrasonography.

Aims and Objectives:

This study evaluated the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (CCA), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) of subjects with essential hypertension as a way of detecting these early changes of atherosclerosis.

Subjects and Methods:

The study was performed on 200 subjects with newly diagnosed hypertension and 100 apparently normal controls that were consecutively recruited by a cardiologist. An ultrasound examination of both CCA were done to obtain the CIMT. Data were analyzed using the SPSS data analysis software.

Results:

The CIMT of males were greater in the hypertensive group compared to the controls (0.10 ± 0.02 cm vs. 0.077 ± 0.02 cm [P < 0.0001] and 0.10 ± 0.02 cm vs. 0.078 ± 0.02 cm [P < 0.0001] for the right and left sides, respectively). The female group showed a similar pattern of results (0.09 ± 0.02 cm vs. 0.072 ± 0.02 cm [P < 0.0001] and 0.1 ± 0.02 cm vs. 0.076 ± 0.02 cm [P < 0.0001] for the right and left sides respectively).

Conclusion:

A statistically significant increase in CIMT was noted in both male and female hypertensives in comparison to a normal population.     

PreSMA stimulation changes task‐free functional connectivity in the fronto‐basal‐ganglia that correlates with response inhibition efficiency

Previous work using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) demonstrated that the right presupplementary motor area (preSMA), a node in the fronto‐basal‐ganglia network, is critical for response inhibition. However, TMS influences interconnected regions, raising the possibility of a link between the preSMA activity and the functional connectivity within the network. To understand this relationship, we applied single‐pulse TMS to the right preSMA during functional magnetic resonance imaging when the subjects were at rest to examine changes in neural activity and functional connectivity within the network in relation to the efficiency of response inhibition evaluated with a stop‐signal task. The results showed that preSMA‐TMS increased activation in the right inferior‐frontal cortex (rIFC) and basal ganglia and modulated their task‐free functional connectivity. Both the TMS‐induced changes in the basal‐ganglia activation and the functional connectivity between rIFC and left striatum, and of the overall network correlated with the efficiency of response inhibition and with the white‐matter microstructure along the preSMA–rIFC pathway. These results suggest that the task‐free functional and structural connectivity between the rIFCop and basal ganglia are critical to the efficiency of response inhibition. Hum Brain Mapp 37:3236–3249, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Invasive carcinomas of the male breast: a morphologic study of the distribution of histologic subtypes and metastatic patterns in 778 cases

The current investigation was conducted to evaluate the proportional distribution of the various histologic subtypes (including newly recognized variants) of male breast carcinomas, to determine whether any histologic subtypes occur with a frequency that is markedly discordant with the expected frequencies from published data on parallel female breast tumors. We also aimed to document the distribution of malignancies metastatic to the breast. Seven hundred fifty-nine archived cases of primary invasive carcinoma involving the male breast were retrieved and subcategorized into histologic subtypes according to contemporary criteria. Six hundred forty-three (84.7%) tumors were pure infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) not otherwise specified. The most common of the remainder included papillary carcinoma with invasion in the form of IDC (n = 34), mixed IDC and mucinous carcinoma (n = 26), and pure mucinous carcinoma (n = 21). In 19 cases, metastases from other sites involved the breast, most commonly (58%) cutaneous melanoma. Invasive carcinoma of the male breast appears to display a morphologic spectrum and distribution of histologic subtypes that is comparable to those of the female breast, with some expected variation. Compared with published experience on their female counterparts, there is a two-fold increase in the frequency of invasive papillary carcinoma in the male breast. Finally, the most common tumor metastatic to the male breast in this series was cutaneous melanoma. The opinions and assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be considered official or as necessarily reflecting the opinion of the United States Government or any of its subsidiaries.     

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among Nigerian primary school children Prevalence and co-morbid conditions

Objective  

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ADHD and co-morbid conditions in a sample of primary school children aged 7–12 years in Nigeria.     

Rohypnol-induced sexual dysfunction is via suppression of hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis: An experimental study in rats

Sexual activity is an essential part of reproductive functions and needed for the maintenance of fertility. Drugs, particularly substances of abuse, impair male reproductive function either by interrupting hormonal functions or through the nonhormonal pathways. This study evaluated the impact of Rohypnol use in sexual behaviour. Materials and methods: Thirty adult male Wistar rats of comparable weights (180–200 g) were randomly allocated into three groups, the control and low-dose and high-dose Rohypnol-treated groups. The control group received 0.5 ml of distilled water, while the low- and high-dose Rohypnol-treated groups received 2 mg/kg b.w and 4 mg/kg b.w of Rohypnol via oral lavage once daily for 28 days. Rohypnol significantly increased mount latency, intromission latency, ejaculation latency and post-ejaculatory interval, as well as lowered mount frequency, intromission frequency and ejaculation frequency. Rohypnol-induced sexual dysfunction was found to be associated with significant suppression of circulatory follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, testosterone and oestrogen. The present study reveals that Rohypnol induces sexual dysfunction through suppression of hypothalamic – pituitary – testicular axis. It also implicates Rohypnol as a potential candidate for drug-induced infertility.     

Lifetime prevalence and incidence of parasomnias in a population of young adult Nigerians

Lifetime prevalence, incidence, and risk factors for parasomnias were determined. Past experiences of non-REM, REM, and sleep-transition parasomnias were recorded. Diaries of night sleep duration, parasomnias, perception of aliens, levels of physical activity, headaches and intake of all substances, drugs, and tobacco were kept for 14 consecutive days. A total of 276 subjects were studied. Lifetime prevalences permillepermille (95% CI) were 725 (668–776) for occurrence of any parasomnia, 43 (25–74) for sleepwalking, 112 (80–155) for sleep terror, 475 (416–533) for nightmares, 225 (179–277) for sleep paralysis, 43 (25–74) for sleep starts, 322 (270–380) for sleep talking, and 344 (291–402) for enuresis. Incidences permillepermille (95% CI) were 210 (166–262) for occurrence of any parasomnia, 14 (6–37) for sleepwalking, 11 (4–31) for sleep terror, 170 (131–219) for confusional arousal, 18 (8–42) for nightmares, 14 (6–37) for sleep paralysis, 33 (17–61) for sleep starts, and 4 (1–20) for sleep enuresis. Multivariate analysis showed associations of increase occurrence of parasomnias and duration of sleep >7 h (p < 0.05) and intake of alcohol (p < 0.001), but heavy workload before sleep was associated with decreased occurrence of parasomnias (p < 0.01). Gender, smoking, caffeinated drinks, hypnotics, and headaches were not associated with parasomnias. Incidence of presence of aliens (95% CI) in the room was 25permille25permille (12–51). This study shows that more than 70% of the population have experienced parasomnias at any time in the past. Nightmares, enuresis, sleep paralysis and night terrors are the commonest parasomnias experienced in the past, while confusional arousal, sleep starts, and nightmares are the commonest parasomnias currently experienced. Incidence estimates show that all parasomnias persist into adulthood at reduced rates, but reduction of occurrence was greatest for enuresis. Long duration of night sleep and intake of alcohol predisposed subjects to higher occurrence of parasomnias.