Preventing Breast Cancer Through Identification and Pharmacologic Management of High-Risk Patients

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in women in the United States. For certain women at high risk for breast cancer, endocrine therapy (ET) can greatly decrease the risk. Tools such as the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (or Gail Model) and the International Breast Cancer Intervention Study risk calculator are available to help identify women at increased risk for breast cancer. Physician awareness of family history, reproductive and lifestyle factors, dense breast tissue, and history of benign proliferative breast disease are important when identifying high-risk women. The updated US Preventive Services Task Force and American Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines encourage primary care providers to identify at-risk women and offer risk-reducing medications. Among the various ETs, which include tamoxifen, raloxifene, anastrozole, and exemestane, tamoxifen is the only one available for premenopausal women aged 35 years and older. A shared decision-making process should be used to increase the usage of ET and must be individualized. This individualized approach must account for each woman’s medical history and weigh the benefits and risks of ET in combination with the personal values of the patient.     

Psychosocial predictors of long-term adjustment to lower-limb amputation and phantom limb pain

PURPOSE: To evaluate the utility of a biopsychosocial model to predict long-term adjustment to lower-limb amputation and phantom limb pain (PLP). METHOD: One month after lower-limb amputation, 70 participants completed measures of PLP intensity, cognitions (catastrophizing, perceived control over pain), coping (pain-contingent rest), social environment (social support, solicitous responding), and functioning (pain interference, depressive symptoms). The measures of functioning were administered again at 1- and 2-years post-amputation. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the ability of the psychosocial variables at 1-month post-amputation to predict changes in the functioning measures over time. RESULTS: The psychosocial variables at 1-month post-amputation, controlling for initial PLP intensity, accounted for 21% of the variance in change in depressive symptoms at 1-year (p < 0.05), and 27% and 22% (p's < 0.01 and 0.05, respectively) of the variance in change in pain interference and depressive symptoms, respectively, at 2-years post-amputation. Catastrophizing and social support were associated with decreases (improvement) in both criterion measures, while solicitous responding was associated with increases (worsening) in both measures. DISCUSSION: The findings support a biopsychosocial model of long-term adjustment to amputation and PLP. In addition, results suggest that some psychosocial variables are more important than others for predicting adjustment, providing important implications for early interventions after amputation.     

Randomized Controlled Trial of Intensive Versus Conservative Glucose Control in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: GLUCO-CABG Trial

OBJECTIVE

The optimal level of glycemic control needed to improve outcomes in cardiac surgery patients remains controversial.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We randomized patients with diabetes (n = 152) and without diabetes (n = 150) with hyperglycemia to an intensive glucose target of 100–140 mg/dL (n = 151) or to a conservative target of 141–180 mg/dL (n = 151) after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) surgery. After the intensive care unit (ICU), patients received a single treatment regimen in the hospital and 90 days postdischarge. Primary outcome was differences in a composite of complications, including mortality, wound infection, pneumonia, bacteremia, respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, and major cardiovascular events.

RESULTS

Mean glucose in the ICU was 132 ± 14 mg/dL (interquartile range [IQR] 124–139) in the intensive and 154 ± 17 mg/dL (IQR 142–164) in the conservative group (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the composite of complications between intensive and conservative groups (42 vs. 52%, P = 0.08). We observed heterogeneity in treatment effect according to diabetes status, with no differences in complications among patients with diabetes treated with intensive or conservative regimens (49 vs. 48%, P = 0.87), but a significant lower rate of complications in patients without diabetes treated with intensive compared with conservative treatment regimen (34 vs. 55%, P = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

Intensive insulin therapy to target glucose of 100 and 140 mg/dL in the ICU did not significantly reduce perioperative complications compared with target glucose of 141 and 180 mg/dL after CABG surgery. Subgroup analysis showed a lower number of complications in patients without diabetes, but not in patients with diabetes treated with the intensive regimen. Large prospective randomized studies are needed to confirm these findings.     

Femoral neck stress fracture and medial tibial stress syndrome following high intensity interval training: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUNDFemoral and tibial stress injuries are commonly found in long distance running athletes. Stress fractures have rarely been reported in athletes performing high intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise. The objective of this study was to report a case of a patient who presented with medial tibial stress syndrome and femoral neck stress fracture after performing HIIT exercises. CASE SUMMARYA 26 year old female presented with bilateral medial tibial pain. She had been performing HIIT exercise for 45 min, five times weekly, for a seven month period. Her tibial pain was gradual in onset, and was now severe and worse on exercise, despite six weeks of rest. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed bilateral medial tibial stress syndrome. As she was taking norethisterone for birth control, a dual energy X-ray absorbitometry scan was performed which demonstrated normal bone mineral density of her lumbar spine and femoral neck. She was managed conservatively with analgesia and physiotherapy, but continued to exercise against medical advice. She presented again six months later with severe right hip pain. MRI of her right hip demonstrated an incomplete stress fracture of her subtrochanteric region. Her symptoms resolved with strict rest and physiotherapy. CONCLUSIONHIIT may cause stress injury of the tibia and femur in young individuals.     

Women's perceived control of their birth outcomes in the Central Pennsylvania Women's Health Study: implications for the use of preconception care.

PURPOSE: This study examines nonpregnant women's beliefs about whether or not they can influence their future birth outcomes with respect to the baby's health and factors associated with internal locus of control for birth outcomes. Perceived internal control of birth outcomes could be a predisposing factor for use of preconception care, which is recommended for all women of childbearing age by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The overall hypothesis is that internal control of birth outcomes is a function of prior pregnancy experiences, current health status and stress levels, access to health care, and sociodemographics. METHODS: Data are from the Central Pennsylvania Women's Health Study random digit dial telephone survey of 2,002 women ages 18-45; the analytic sample is 614 nonpregnant women with current reproductive capacity who reported that they are considering a future pregnancy. Internal control of birth outcomes is measured using 1) a 4-item Internal Control of Birth Outcomes Scale, 2) a single-item measure of Preconceptional Control, and 3) a score reflecting high internal control on both of these measures. FINDINGS: In multiple logistic regression analyses, internal control of birth outcomes is positively associated with older age (35-45 vs. 18-34 years), higher education (some college or more), marital status (currently married or living with a partner), and higher self-rated physical health status on the SF-12v2 (but not mental health status or psychosocial stress). Previous adverse pregnancy outcomes and current access to health care have no association with internal control for birth outcomes. CONCLUSION: Variables associated with internal control of birth outcomes among women contemplating a future pregnancy are primarily sociodemographic and physical health related. Educational and social marketing efforts to increase women's use of preconception care may be particularly important for women who are likely to have lower internal control, including younger, less educated, unmarried, and less healthy women.     

Is there a role for bowel rest in nutrition management of Crohn's disease?

In 1988, Greenberg and colleagues published a large randomized controlled trial to address whether bowel rest could lead to improved disease activity in patients with active Crohn's disease. The results of this study provide substantial evidence that bowel rest is not necessary to achieve remission in patients with active Crohn's disease receiving nutrition support. Before this study, great controversy existed about the use of nutrition support and bowel rest in the treatment of active Crohn's disease because of a limited number of conflicting studies providing evidence for and against its application. The results of the publication by Greenberg et al are fundamental because they helped to settle this important argument. Furthermore, this pivotal paper changed the clinical guidelines for the use of nutrition support in the management of active Crohn's disease. Since the publication of this pivotal article, many developments in the field of nutrition and in the treatment of Crohn's disease have helped validate and further its results. Subsequent studies and debate center on the use of enteral nutrition as primary treatment in patients with active Crohn's disease. Data regarding the efficacy, composition, and overall role of adult enteral nutrition in the management of Crohn's disease are presented. This article revisits the Greenberg paper and discusses some of these innovations in nutrition.