BRCA mutation testing for first-degree relatives of women with high-grade serous ovarian cancer

BackgroundWomen with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) have a 20% chance of carrying a BRCA1 or 2 mutation. Not all undergo genetic testing, and there is a large legacy group of untested patients. Their female first-degree relatives (FDR) may not qualify for testing unless they have specific ethnicity, or personal/family cancer history. We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis to evaluate risk-reducing strategies for these FDR who are ineligible for testing.MethodsA Markov Monte Carlo simulation model estimated the costs and benefits of 3 strategies for female FDR of HGSC patients whose BRCA status is unknown: (1) no BRCA testing; (2) universal BRCA testing, followed by risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RRBSO) for mutation carriers; (3) universal RRBSO, without BRCA testing. Effectiveness was estimated in quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gains over a 50-year time horizon. Sensitivity analyses accounted for uncertainty around various parameters.ResultsUniversal BRCA testing for female FDR of women with HGSC yielded a higher average QALY gain at acceptable cost compared to no BRCA testing, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $7888 per QALY. Universal BRCA testing was more effective and less costly than universal RRBSO (19.20 QALYs vs. 18.52 QALYs, and $10,135 vs. $14,231, respectively). Results were stable over wide ranges of plausible costs and estimates. Compliance with hormone replacement therapy had to exceed 79.3% for universal RRBSO to be the most effective strategy.ConclusionBRCA mutation testing should be offered to all female first-degree relatives of women with high-grade serous ovarian cancer when BRCA mutation status is unknown.     

Crystal methamphetamine use associated with non-fatal overdose among a cohort of injection drug users in Vancouver

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence and correlates of non-fatal overdose among a polysubstance-using cohort of injection drug users (IDU) in Vancouver. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: We evaluated factors associated with non-fatal overdose among participants enrolled in the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study (VIDUS) using univariate statistics. Self-reports of the awareness of drugs taken and drug potency, polysubstance use, and assistance received at the time of non-fatal overdose were also recorded. RESULTS: From 1 December 2003 to 1 June 2005, 551 participants who were active injectors were followed. In total, 37 (6.7%) individuals reported experiencing a non-fatal overdose in the previous 6 months. Factors positively associated with non-fatal overdose included public injecting (odds ratio (OR)=4.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.35-9.37, P<0.001), crystal methamphetamine use (OR=4.11) and injection (OR=3.63), morphine injection (OR=3.55), non-injection opiate use (OR=3.30), frequent heroin injection (OR=2.28) and sex trade work (OR=2.12). Factors negatively associated with non-fatal overdose included participation in methadone maintenance therapy (OR=0.31) and injecting alone (OR=0.36). Sixty-two percent of individuals were unaware of drug potency, 64.9% of IDU were taking other drugs at the time of overdosing, with crack being the main drug (37.0%). Fifty-four percent were assisted by ambulance personnel, 56.8% were taken to accident and emergency or hospital, 38.1% left accident and emergency or hospital before being released, and 35.1% were given Naloxone. CONCLUSION: Structural interventions are needed that seek to modify the social and contextual risks for overdose, increased access to treatment programmes, and trials of novel interventions for crystal methamphetamine users.     

Research on a Vulnerable Neighborhood—The Vancouver Downtown Eastside from 2001 to 2011

The Downtown Eastside (DTES) of Vancouver is the subject of considerable research due to high rates of drug use, poverty, crime, infectious disease, and mental illness. This paper first presents a brief background to the DTES and then presents a survey of literature addressing the issues in this area from 2001 to 2011. The literature surveyed includes a range of publications such as those from peer-reviewed journals and the grey literature of reports and dissertations. This survey investigates the themes and outcomes of the extant literature and highlights the notable lack of research on mental health in the DTES.     

白藜芦醇软膏治疗病理性瘢痕的临床疗效研究

[目的]探讨白藜芦醇软膏治疗病理性瘢痕的临床疗效。[方法]将68例病理性瘢痕患者随机分为治疗组和对照组,每组各34例。治疗组外用白藜芦醇软膏,对照组外用美宝疤痕软膏,分别于皮肤瘢痕部位外涂,每日早晚各涂一次,使用周期为90d。两组治疗前后均进行温哥华瘢痕量表(Vancouver scar scale,VSS)评分,治疗结束后进行临床疗效判定。[结果]治疗后两组患者VSS评分均低于治疗前,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后组间比较,治疗组VSS评分低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗组VSS评分降低程度高于对照组(P0.05);治疗组总显效率为87.75%,高于对照组总显效率68.08%,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。[结论]白藜芦醇软膏有较好的祛除瘢痕作用,未发现任何不良反应,不失为一种安全有效的祛瘢产品。     

复方倍他米松联合5-氟尿嘧啶在增生性瘢痕中的应用效果分析

【摘要】 目的 对比分析复方倍他米松联合 5-氟尿嘧啶与单纯复方倍他米松注射治疗小面积增生性瘢痕的临床效果。方法 选取 2018年1月至2019 年7月毕节市第一人民医院收治的36例小面积增生性瘢痕患者作为研究对象, 按照随机数表法将其随机分为观察组与对照组, 每组18例。观察组患者采用复方倍他米松联合 5-氟尿嘧啶注射治疗, 对照组患者单纯采用复方倍他米松注射治疗, 对比观察两组患者温哥华瘢痕量表 (VSS) 评分及临床疗效。结果 治疗结束后1个月, 观察组患者VSS评分为 (2.00±0.77) 分, 明显低于对照组患者的VSS评分 (6.22±1.93) 分 (t = 8.616, P < 0.001); 随访1年后, 观察组患者中治愈8例、显效10例, 明显优于对照组患者的治愈3例、显效11例、无效4例 (Z = - 2.340, P = 0.019)。结论 与单纯应用复方倍他米松相比,应用复方倍他米松联合5-氟尿嘧啶治疗小面积增生性瘢痕可有效促进瘢痕组织消退, 改善瘢痕症状, 疗效更显著。