18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography in staging of locally advanced breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate the effect of adding whole-body (18)F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) to conventional screening for distant metastases in patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: All women with LABC referred for participation in the LABC Spinoza trial were considered eligible for this study. Patients were included if chest x-ray, bone scan, liver ultrasound, or computed tomography scan performed by the referring physician failed to reveal distant metastases. They underwent whole-body FDG PET scanning before therapy. Patients with subsequently proven distant metastases were switched to alternative forms of chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or both. RESULTS: Among the 48 patients evaluated with PET, 14 had abnormal FDG uptake, and metastases were suspected in 12. After simple clinical evaluation (plain x-ray, history), 10 sites that were suggestive of abnormality remained. Further work-up revealed that four sites were metastases. Proven false positivity occurred in one patient with sarcoidosis. In the other five patients, the reason for abnormal FDG uptake (liver, lung, bone) remained unclear, and patients were treated as planned. Eleven months later, distant metastases were found in one patient at sites unrelated to the previous FDG uptake. CONCLUSION: The addition of FDG PET to the standard work-up of patients with LABC may lead to the detection of unexpected distant metastases. This may contribute to a more realistic stratification between patients with true stage III breast cancer and those who are in fact suffering from stage IV disease. Abnormal PET findings should be confirmed to prevent patients from being denied appropriate treatment.     

Thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography as an early predictor of outcome in recurrent glioma.

PURPOSE: With limited response rates and potential toxicity of chemotherapeutic treatment in patients with recurrent glioma, reliable response assessment is essential. Currently, the assessment of treatment response in glioma patients is based on the combination of radiologic and clinical findings. However, response monitoring with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is hampered by several pitfalls and is prone to interobserver variability. The aim of this study was to establish the value of thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography (201Tl-SPECT) as a predictor of overall survival and response to chemotherapy in recurrent glioma, and to compare the value of 201Tl-SPECT with that of CT and MRI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied patients who underwent CT or MRI and 201Tl-SPECT before chemotherapy (n = 57), and patients who also had undergone CT or MRI and 201Tl-SPECT after two courses of chemotherapy (n = 44). The value of the radiologic variables (CT-MRI tumor size, 201Tl-SPECT tumor size, and maximal tumor intensity) at baseline and at follow-up in predicting overall survival, and the percentage of patients alive and progression-free at 6 months (APF6) were examined using Cox regression and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Both at baseline and at follow-up, 201Tl-SPECT maximal tumor intensity was the strongest predictive variable and was inversely related to overall survival and APF6. In particular, progression of maximal tumor intensity after two courses of chemotherapy was a powerful predictor of poor outcome. CONCLUSION: 201Tl-SPECT is superior to conventional CT-MRI in the early prediction of overall survival and response to chemotherapy in patients with recurrent glioma.     

The quality of communication between parents and adolescent children in the case of parental cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to investigate: (i) parent-adolescent communication in families of cancer patients; (ii) relationships between parent-adolescent communication and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in adolescent children; and (iii) associations between parents' illness characteristics and parent-adolescent communication. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 212 adolescents completed the Impact of Event Scale and Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale. RESULTS: Adolescents communicated less openly with mothers with cancer than controls with mothers; this was the only significant difference with the reference group. Daughters communicated more openly with ill parents than with healthy parents. More open communication with healthy parents was related to fewer PTSS in daughters. More problem communication with both parents was related to more PTSS in both sons and daughters. Sons reported more problems in communication with ill parents in case of more intensive treatment or recurrent disease. Daughters experienced less open communication with both parents when ill parents received more intensive treatment. Time since diagnosis was not related to parent-adolescent communication. Multivariate analyses showed that communication patterns specifically affected PTSS of daughters. Problem communication with the healthy parent was the strongest predictor of intrusion while problem communication with the ill parents was the strongest predictor of avoidance. CONCLUSIONS: Parent-adolescent communication in families of cancer patients differs little from that in families not confronted with parental cancer. Problem communication outweighed lack of openness with respect to development of PTSS. Recurrent disease and intensive treatment regimens affected parent-adolescent communication negatively.     

Metabolic Aspects of Selenium Action and Toxicity

The nutritional observations, on which the activity of selenium is based, are briefly reviewed, and the interactions of the trace element with vitamin E, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and sulfur amino acids at the dietary level highlighted. Brief mention is made of early morphological effects of vitamin E and selenium deficiency and of “classical” interpretations of these in biochemical terms. The concept is developed, based on recent observations in a number of laboratories, that selenium participates in enzyme systems that have an oxidation/reduction role. In this connection, work on glutathione peroxidase on a selenoenzyme of lamb nuscle, on certain bacterial reductases, and on rat liver electron-transfer systems is discussed.

The toxicology of selenium is reviewed briefly, and interactions of the element with mercury, cadmium, silver, and arsenic are discussed. Mechanisms for selenium detoxication are considered, and probable biochemical pathways for treatment of toxic amounts of selenium are set out. Finally, an attempt is made to link together in biochemical terms the modes of treatment and utilization of selenium as a trace element with the pathways for the detoxication of large amounts of the element.     

Vital Exhaustion and Markers of Low‐Grade Inflammation in Healthy Adults: The Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study

This study analyses distinct trajectories of vital exhaustion (VE; a measure of mental health incorporating signs of stress and depression) over a period of 15 years in healthy adults and investigates further the consequences for markers of low‐grade inflammation as indicators of cardiovascular disease risk. Data of 341 participants of the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study were utilized. VE was measured by the Maastricht Questionnaire. Markers of low‐grade inflammation included interleukin‐6, interleukin‐8 and tumour necrosis factor‐α. Distinct trajectories of VE were obtained by latent class growth models, and consequences for markers of low‐grade inflammation of the trajectories were analysed by linear regressions. We found comparable trajectories of VE for men and women; a ‘never vitally exhausted’ subgroup (16.9% and 25.1%, respectively), a ‘stable preclinical VE’ subgroup (51.7% and 68.1%) and a ‘chronic VE state’ subgroup (31.5% and 6.7%). The subgroups had similar levels of the markers investigated. This study is the first to analyse VE longitudinally in healthy adults and indicates that although distinct trajectories of VE were identified, differential consequences for cardiovascular disease risk were unapparent. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Coccidioidomycosis Infection of a Total Knee Arthroplasty in a Nonendemic Region

Fungal prosthetic joint infections are rare and difficult to treat. There is an ongoing discussion about the type and duration of antifungal treatment and the necessity of prosthesis removal. We report the first European case of an infected total knee arthroplasty with Coccidioides immitis. Treatment consisted of lifelong treatment with oral fluconazole at a dose of 400 mg/d, without total knee arthroplasty removal. After 6 months, the initial complaints of pain and swelling were completely resolved. This case report clearly states that a travel history and culturing for fungi are helpful in patients with persisting complaints after joint arthroplasty.     

Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with lower chronic disease burden expressed in disability-adjusted life years: a prospective cohort study

The relation of alcohol consumption with disease burden remains debated partly due to opposite associations with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer. The relation of alcohol consumption with disease burden expressed in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) summarizes opposing associations of alcohol consumption on chronic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association of alcohol consumption with chronic disease burden expressed in DALYs based on individual-participant data. The study was a prospective study among 33,066 men and women from the EPIC-NL cohort. At baseline, alcohol consumption was assessed with a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Participants were followed for occurrence of and mortality from chronic diseases and DALYs were calculated. After 12.4 years follow-up, 6647 disease incidences and 1482 deaths were documented, resulting in 68,225 healthy years of life lost (6225 DALYs). Moderate drinkers (women 5–14.9 g/day, men 5–29.9 g/day) had a lower chronic disease burden (mean DALYs ?0.27; 95% CI ?0.43; ?0.11) than light drinkers (0–4.9 g/day), driven by a lower disease burden due to CVD (?0.18: ?0.29; ?0.06) but not cancer (?0.05: ?0.16; 0.06). The associations were most pronounced among older participants (≥50 years; ?0.32; ?0.53; ?0.10) and not observed among younger women (?0.08; ?0.43; 0.35), albeit non-significant (p_interaction > 0.14). Substantial drinking (women 15–29.9 g/day, men 30–59.9 g/day) compared to light drinking was not associated with chronic disease burden. Our results show that moderate compared to light alcohol consumption was associated with living approximately 3 months longer in good health. These results were mainly observed among older participants and not seen among younger women.     

Epidemiology of sporadic bloody diarrhea in rural Western Kenya

We conducted laboratory-based surveillance and a case-control study to characterize the epidemiology of bloody diarrhea in rural Western Kenya. From May 1997 through April 2001, we collected stool from 451 persons with bloody diarrhea presenting to four rural clinics. Cultures of 231 (51%) specimens yielded 247 bacterial pathogens: 198 Shigella (97 S. flexneri, 41 S. dysenteriae type 1, 39 S. dysenteriae type non-1, 13 S. boydii, 8 S. sonnei), 33 Campylobacter, 15 non-typhoidal Salmonella, and 1 Vibrio cholerae O1. More than 90% of the isolates (excluding Campylobacter) were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and tetracycline, and more than 80% were resistant to ampicillin. Most (74%) ill persons received medication to which their isolate was resistant. Drinking Lake Victoria water and sharing latrines between multiple households increased risk of bloody diarrhea. Washing hands after defecating was protective. Providing safe drinking water and more latrines, and promoting hand washing could reduce the burden of illness from bloody diarrhea while limiting injudicious antimicrobial use.