Summary Worldwide, colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs have significantly increased the detection of sub-mucosal (pT1) adenocarcinoma. Completion surgery may be indicated after endoscopic ...excision of these potentially metastasizing early cancers. However, the post-surgical prevalence of nodal implants does not exceed 15%, leading to questions concerning the clinical appropriateness of any post-endoscopy surgery. Eastern scientific societies (Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon-Rectum, in particular) include tumor budding (TB), defined as the presence of isolated single cancer cells or clusters of fewer than five cancer cells at the tumor invasive front, among the variables that must be included in histological reports. In Western countries, however, no authoritative endorsements recommend the inclusion of TB in the histology report due to the heterogeneity of definitions and measurement methods as well as its apparent poor reproducibility. To assess the prognostic value of TB in pT1-CRCs, this meta-analysis evaluated 41 studies involving a total of 10,137 patients. We observed a strong association between the presence of TB and risk of nodal metastasis in pT1-CRC. In comparing TB-positive (684/2,401; 28.5%) versus TB-negative (557/7,736; 7.2%) patients, the prevalence of nodal disease resulted in an OR value of 6.44 (95%CI: 5.26–7.87; p<0.0001; I2=30%). This increased risk of regional nodal metastasis was further confirmed after accounting for potential confounders. These results support the priority of histologically reporting TB in any endoscopically removed pT1-CRC to direct more appropriate patient management.
To investigate whether polypharmacy is associated with a higher incidence of frailty in a large cohort of North Americans during 8 years of follow-up.
Longitudinal study, follow-up of 8 years.
A ...total of 4402 individuals at high risk or having knee osteoarthritis free from frailty at baseline.
Details regarding medication prescription were captured and categorized as 0-3, 4-6, and ≥7. Frailty was defined using the Study of Osteoporotic Fracture index as the presence of ≥2 out of (1) weight loss ≥5% between baseline and the subsequent follow-up visit; (2) inability to do 5 chair stands; and (3) low energy level according to the Study of Osteoporotic Fracture definition. Cox's regression models calculating a hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for potential confounders, were undertaken.
During the 8-year follow-up, from 4402 participants at baseline, 361 became frail. Compared with participants taking 0-3 medications, the incidence of frailty was approximately double in those taking 4-6 medications and 6 times higher in people taking ≥7 medications. After adjusting for 11 potential baseline confounders, participants using 4-6 medications had a higher risk of frailty of 55% (HR = 1.55; 95% CI 1.22-1.96; P < .0001), whereas those using more than 7 drugs were at approximately 147% (HR = 2.47; 95% CI 1.78-3.43; P < .0001). Each additional drug used at the baseline increased the risk of frailty at the follow-up of 11% (HR = 1.11; 95% CI 1.07-1.15; P < .0001).
Polypharmacy is associated with a higher incidence of frailty over 8-year follow-up period. Our data suggest evidence of a dose response relationship. Future research is required to confirm our findings and explore underlying mechanisms.
Abstract Objectives Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability, but the relationship with premature mortality remains uncertain. We aimed to investigate the relationship between OA and ...mortality from any cause and from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods Electronic literature databases searches were conducted to identify prospective studies comparing mortality in a sample of people with and without OA. Risk of all-cause and CVD mortality were summarized using adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for joint specific (hand, hip, and knee) and joint non-specific OA. New data from the Progetto Veneto Anziani (PRO.V.A.) study were also included. Results From the PRO.V.A. study ( N = 2927), there was no significant increase in mortality risk for participants with any joint OA ( N = 1858) compared to non-OA (all-cause, HR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.77–1.15 and CVD, HR = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.82–1.54). On meta-analysis, seven studies (OA = 10,018/non-OA = 18,541), with a median 12-year follow-up, reported no increased risk of any-cause mortality in those with OA (HR = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.97–1.25). After removing data on hand OA, a significant association between OA and mortality was observed (HR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.08–1.28). There was a significant higher risk of overall mortality for (1) studies conducted in Europe, (2) patients with multi-joint OA; and (3) a radiological diagnosis of OA. OA was associated with significantly higher CVD mortality (HR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.10–1.34). Conclusions People with OA are at increased risk of death due to CVD. The relationship with overall mortality is less clear and may be moderated by the presence of hand OA.
Globally, there is increasing usage and legalization of cannabis. In addition to its reported therapeutic effects, cannabis has several health risks which are not clearly defined. Erectile ...dysfunction (ED) is the most common male sexual disorder and there are plausible mechanisms linking cannabis use to ED. No attempt has been made to collate the literature on this topic. The aim of this review was to summarize the prevalence and risk of ED in cannabis users compared to controls.
A systematic review of major databases from inception to January 1, 2019, without language restriction, was undertaken to identify studies investigating cannabis use and presence of ED. The analysis compared the prevalence of ED in cannabis users versus controls. Consequently, the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated, applying a random-effect model.
Five case–control studies were included with data from 3,395 healthy men, 1,035 using cannabis (smoking) and 2,360 nonusers. The overall prevalence of ED in cannabis users was 69.1% (95% CI: 38.0–89.1), whilst the correspondent figure in controls was 34.7% (95% CI: 20.3–52.7). The OR of ED in cannabis users was almost four times that of controls (OR = 3.83; 95% CI: 1.30–11.28; p = .02), even if characterized by high heterogeneity (I2 = 90%) and the prediction intervals overlapped 1.00 (95% CI: 0.35–7.26).
Data suggest that ED is twice as high in cannabis users compared to controls. Future longitudinal research is needed to confirm/refute this and explore if a dose–response relationship between cannabis and ED may be evident.
Little is known about clinical outcomes other than transition to psychosis in people at Clinical High-Risk for psychosis (CHR-P). Our aim was to comprehensively meta-analytically evaluate for the ...first time a wide range of clinical and functional outcomes beyond transition to psychosis in CHR-P individuals.
PubMed and Web of Science were searched until November 2020 in this PRISMA compliant meta-analysis (PROSPERO:CRD42020206271). Individual longitudinal studies conducted in individuals at CHR-P providing data on at least one of our outcomes of interest were included. We carried out random-effects pairwise meta-analyses, meta-regressions, and assessed publication bias and study quality. Analyses were two-tailed with α=0.05.
75 prospective studies were included (n=5,288, age=20.0 years, females=44.5%). Attenuated positive symptoms improved at 12 (Hedges’ g=0.753, 95%CI=0.495-1.012) and 24 (Hedges’ g=0.836, 95%CI=0.463-1.209), but not ≥36 months (Hedges’ g=0.315. 95%CI=-0.176–0.806). Negative symptoms improved at 12 (Hedges’ g=0.496, 95%CI=0.315–0.678), but not 24 (Hedges’ g=0.499, 95%CI=-0.137–1.134) or ≥36 months (Hedges’ g=0.033, 95%CI=-0.439–0.505). Depressive symptoms improved at 12 (Hedges’ g=0.611, 95%CI=0.441–0.782) and 24 (Hedges’ g=0.583, 95%CI=0.364–0.803), but not ≥36 months (Hedges’ g=0.512 95%CI=-0.337–1.361). Functioning improved at 12 (Hedges’ g=0.711, 95%CI=0.488–0.934), 24 (Hedges’ g=0.930, 95%CI=0.553–1.306) and ≥36 months (Hedges’ g=0.392, 95%CI=0.117–0.667). Remission from CHR-P status occurred in 33.4% (95%CI=22.6–44.1%) at 12 months, 41.4% (95%CI=32.3–50.5%) at 24 months and 42.4% (95%CI=23.4–61.3%) at ≥36 months. Heterogeneity across the included studies was significant and ranged from I2=53.6% to I2=96.9%. The quality of the included studies (mean±SD) was 4.6±1.1 (range=2-8).
CHR-P individuals improve on symptomatic and functional outcomes over time, but these improvements are not maintained in the longer term, and less than half fully remit. Prolonged duration of care may be needed for this patient population to optimize outcomes.
None.
Highlights • The pathogenesis of frailty is poorly understood. • Frailty and pre-frailty are associated with higher CRP and IL 6. • Inflammatory parameters are not able to predict the onset of ...frailty.
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