The appearance of breast cancer metastases on dry bone: Implications for forensic anthropology

Breast carcinoma is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in women. The study of bone pathologies presents considerable potential in anthropology, paleopathology, forensic science and medicine. In this paper, we present and discuss metastatic lesions found in the skeletons of known individuals from the CAL Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection, clinically diagnosed with breast cancer during life. Fourteen skeletons from a contemporary and identified collection were macroscopically studied and metastases were identified by comparison with clinical literature. As a result, bone metastases were observed in 43% of the study sample. They were located most commonly on the ribs (28.1%), pelvic girdle (19.8%), vertebrae (15.6%), skull (15.6%), scapulae (10.2%) as well as proximal segment of the femora (8.4%) and humeri (2.4%) respectively, favoring sites of high vascularization. The majority of the lesions were osteolytic, although osteoblastic and mixed metastases did occur. Osteolytic metastases appear as coalescent porosity or round to oval perforating lesions on bones with denticulated margins and pitted surrounding bone, whereas osteoblastic metastases thickened the existing trabecula (spongiosclerosis). Mixed metastases were perforating lytic lesions exposing the osteoblastic activity in the underlying trabecular bone. These results, consistent with the data from the literature, strengthen the diagnostic criteria for metastases and illustrate the aspect of bone metastases in breast carcinoma.     

Gastric Cancer and Paraneoplastic Pemphigus

Paraneoplastic pemphigus is a relatively rare but significant acquired autoimmune mucocutaneous disorder that is characterised by diffuse erythema, painful blistering and sores of the skin and mucus membranes. The underlying pathogenesis is believed to be triggered by altered immune system in response to underlying neoplasm. The manifestations can predate, occur at the same time or after the diagnosis of cancer. Associations with gastric cancer have only been reported twice. A 78-year-old lady presented with a month’s history of extensive skin lesions that started off as bullous lesions and biopsy revealed bullous pemphigus. Endoscopy for anemia revealed gastric cancer. This case reinforced the need to consider underlying malignancy in elderly patient with new onset dermatological presentation.     

Nidogen 1 regulates proliferation and migration/invasion in murine claudin-low mammary tumor cells

Nidogen 1 (NID1) is a glycoprotein found in basement membranes involved in cross-linking collagen IV and laminin. The role of NID in breast cancer has only been evaluated in a small number of studies and the findings of these studies have been inconsistent. Our previous work revealed that highly tumorigenic murine mammary tumor cells express high levels of Nid1 while weakly tumorigenic mammary tumor cells express low levels of Nid1. To investigate Nid1, two stable knockdown lines were created, and Nid1 knockdown was confirmed at both the mRNA and protein level. Nid1 knockdown significantly reduced cell proliferation and migration/invasion and these reductions in proliferation and migration/invasion could be rescued by conditioned media containing NID1 protein. The reduced migration/invasion observed in the Nid1 knockdown cells was not associated with significant alterations in the epithelial gene Cdh1 or the mesenchymal genes Snai1, Snai2, Twist1, Twist2, Zeb1 and Zeb2. Therefore, suppression of Nid1 expression reduces proliferation and migration/invasion in claudin-low murine mammary tumor cells.     

BCAN基因在肾透明细胞癌中的表达及临床意义

目的以基因表达数据集资料为研究对象,分析BCAN基因在肾透明细胞癌中的表达情况以及对患者预后的影响。方法在Oncomine数据库中挖掘BCAN在肾透明细胞癌(ccRCC)中的表达情况。从TCGA数据库中获取ccRCC患者临床资料和目的基因的表达信息并进行统计分析。利用GEO数据库中GSE73731数据集的ccRCC样本进行基因富集分析。利用String数据库分析与BCAN相关的蛋白。结果BCAN低表达组的ccRCC患者在病理分期及T分期方面低于高表达组(P<0.001;P=0.001);N分期及M分期差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。BCAN低表达组患者的总生存期优于高表达组(P=0.033)。BCAN基因高表达组的样本主要富集在KRAS信号通路。结论BCAN可以通过多种途径来促进肿瘤细胞的侵袭能力,有望成为ccRCC不良预后的重要生物标志物之一。     

Information autour du dépistage organisé du cancer du sein. L’INCa et Cancer Rose répondent-ils aux critères des outils d’aide à la décision ?

BackgroundControversies around organized breast cancer screening emphasize the need for information for women. In France, the institute of cancer (INCa) is in charge of conveying this information. Cancer Rose's website (CR) provides complementary information considering INCa's incomplete. The objective of this study was to identify if these informations meet criteria for decision aid.MethodsInformation documents were selected and analyzed using International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS). Each item was noted A (absent), P (present) or I (present but incomplete).ResultsInformation booklet and press kit for INCa and studies section for CR were the document meeting most criteria. The document meeting fewer criteria were the INCa's video and information leaflet for CR. Videos are more accessible tools for people with lower levels of health literacy. INCa's video did not present the risks of screening and CR's emphasized the risks.ConclusionThese documents have not been evaluated for intelligibility, clarity and readability. Addressing these criteria limits social inequities and improves health literacy.     

Dry eye signs and symptoms in aromatase inhibitor treatment and the relationship with pain

PurposeAromatase inhibitors (AIs) limit the synthesis of oestrogen in peripheral tissues thus lowering levels of oestrogen. The primary aim was to evaluate whether women treated with AIs have altered dry eye symptoms and signs. A sub-aim was to investigate whether symptoms of dry eye in postmenopausal women were associated with symptoms of non-eye pain, ocular pain and self-rated pain perception.MethodsThis cross-sectional, observational, single visit study recruited 56 postmenopausal women (mean age 64.1 + 7.9 years) and 52 undergoing AI treatment (mean age 66.6 + 9.0). Ocular symptoms (OSDI, MGD14) and pain questionnaires (PSQ, OPAS) were administered and signs of dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction were evaluated.ResultsAlmost half of each group reported dry eye symptoms, defined as OSDI>12 (48% control, 46% AI). The PSQ score was significantly higher in the AI group (p = 0.04). Neither frequency or severity of dry eye (or MGD) symptoms scores were significantly different between groups. In the AI group, meibomian gland expressibility score was worse (p = 0.003); there were no differences in any other signs. Higher OSDI scores were associated with higher OPAS eye-pain scores (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), but not OPAS non-eye pain (r = 0.09, p = 0.35). Pain perception (PSQ) showed a moderate positive association with OPAS eye-pain (r = 0.30, p = 0.003).ConclusionsIn this study elevated ocular symptoms were observed in both the AI treated and the untreated groups, with no difference between the groups. Women undergoing AI treatment for early stage breast cancer had worse meibum expressibility score and increased pain perception compared to an untreated group of women.     

电视辅助胸腔镜下解剖性肺切除治疗I期肺癌的临床效果

目的 探讨电视辅助胸腔镜下解剖性肺切除治疗Ⅰ期肺癌的临床效果。方法 采用回顾性研究方法,选取2015年5月至2017年1月广西医科大学附属肿瘤医院收治的I期肺癌患者84例,按照手术方法不同将患者分为两组:观察组和对照组,每组各42例。观察组患者实施电视辅助胸腔镜下解剖性肺切除术治疗,对照组患者给予传统开胸肺叶切除术治疗。比较两组患者的住院时间、切口长度、术中出血量、手术时间、1年和3年生存情况及生活质量评分(SF-36生活量表)变化。结果 观察组患者的住院时间短于对照组(6. 13±1. 46 vs. 10. 39±2. 41 d),切口长度小于对照组(4. 38±1. 09 vs. 11. 84±3. 25 cm),术中出血量少于对照组(284. 62±54. 21 vs. 397. 57±61. 49 ml),差异均具有统计学意义(P <0. 05);而两组手术时间比较(165. 28±33. 24 vs. 156. 39±30. 92 min),差异无统计学意义(P> 0. 05)。观察组患者的1、3年生存率[97. 62%(41/42)、90. 48%(38/42)]均高于对照组[88. 10%(37/42)、76. 19%(32/42)],但差异无统计学意义(P> 0. 05)。观察组患者的各项生活质量评分[精神健康(75. 42±6. 87 vs 61. 30±4. 15分)、情感职能(81. 38±7. 15 vs. 73. 49±5. 76分)、社会功能(82. 67±5. 78 vs. 75. 42±4. 35分)、一般健康状况(79. 49±6. 17 vs.70. 31±5. 04分)、精力(84. 37±5. 45 vs. 74. 13±6. 07分)、生理职能(86. 52±6. 88 vs. 76. 93±6. 42分)、躯体疼痛(83. 46±7. 49 vs. 74. 33±5. 79分)、生理功能(70. 39±4. 31 vs. 61. 38±3. 56分)]均高于对照组,且差异具有统计学意义(P <0. 05)。结论 与传统开胸肺叶切除术相比,电视辅助胸腔镜下解剖性肺切除治疗I期肺癌手术损伤更小、短期生存率更高,且有助于提高患者术后生活质量水平,这对改善患者预后有重要意义,值得临床推广应用。     

Stereotactic body radiotherapy for Stage I lung cancer with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: special reference to survival and radiation-induced pneumonitis

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate radiation-induced pneumonitis (RIP) and a related condition that we define in this report—prolonged minimal RIP (pmRIP)—after stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for Stage I primary lung cancer in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We assessed 136 Stage I lung cancer patients with COPD who underwent SBRT. Airflow limitation on spirometry was classified into four Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grades, with minor modifications: GOLD 1 (mild), GOLD 2 (moderate), GOLD 3 (severe) and GOLD 4 (very severe). On this basis, we defined two subgroups: COPD-free (COPD −) and COPD-positive (COPD +). There was no significant difference in overall survival or cause-specific–survival between these groups. Of the 136 patients, 44 (32%) had pmRIP. Multivariate analysis showed that COPD and the Brinkman index were statistically significant risk factors for the development of pmRIP. COPD and the Brinkman index were predictive factors for pmRIP, although our findings also indicate that SBRT can be tolerated in early lung cancer patients with COPD.