An 8-gene qRT-PCR-based gene expression score that has prognostic value in early breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gene expression profiling may improve prognostic accuracy in patients with early breast cancer. Our objective was to demonstrate that it is possible to develop a simple molecular signature to predict distant relapse. METHODS: We included 153 patients with stage I-II hormonal receptor-positive breast cancer. RNA was isolated from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples and qRT-PCR amplification of 83 genes was performed with gene expression assays. The genes we analyzed were those included in the 70-Gene Signature, the Recurrence Score and the Two-Gene Index. The association among gene expression, clinical variables and distant metastasis-free survival was analyzed using Cox regression models. RESULTS: An 8-gene prognostic score was defined. Distant metastasis-free survival at 5 years was 97% for patients defined as low-risk by the prognostic score versus 60% for patients defined as high-risk. The 8-gene score remained a significant factor in multivariate analysis and its performance was similar to that of two validated gene profiles: the 70-Gene Signature and the Recurrence Score. The validity of the signature was verified in independent cohorts obtained from the GEO database. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies a simple gene expression score that complements histopathological prognostic factors in breast cancer, and can be determined in paraffin-embedded samples.

The prognostic value of capillary glucose levels in acute stroke: the GLycemia in Acute Stroke (GLIAS) study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Evidence is accumulating regarding the prognostic influence of hyperglycemia in patients with acute ischemic stroke. However, the level associated with poor outcome is unknown. Our objectives were to establish the capillary glucose threshold with the highest predictive accuracy of poor outcome and to evaluate its hypothetical value in influencing functional outcome by adjusting for other well-known prognostic factors in acute stroke. METHODS: The authors conducted a multicenter, prospective, and observational cohort study of 476 patients with ischemic stroke within less than 24 hours from stroke onset. Capillary finger-prick glucose and stroke severity were determined on admission and 3 times a day during the first 48 hours. Poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale >2) was evaluated at 3 months. RESULTS: The receiver operating characteristic curves showed the predictive value of maximum capillary glucose at any time within the first 48 hours with an area under the curve of 0.656 (95% CI, 0.592 to 0.720; P<0.01) and pointed to 155 mg/dL as the optimal cutoff level for poor outcome at 3 months (53% sensitivity; 73% specificity). This point was associated with a 2.7-fold increase (95% CI, 1.42 to 5.24) in the odds of poor outcome after adjustment for age, diabetes, capillary glucose on admission, infarct volume, and baseline stroke severity and with a 3-fold increase in the risk of death at 3 months (hazard ratio, 3.80; 95% CI, 1.79 to 8.10). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperglycemia >or=155 mg/dL at any time within the first 48 hours from stroke onset, and not only the isolated value of admission glycemia, is associated with poor outcome independently of stroke severity, infarct volume, diabetes, or age.

Is SPPB useful as a screening method of functional capacity in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease? / ¿Es útil el SPPB como método de screening de capacidad funcional en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica avanzada?

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: One of the consequences of the CKD, is the deterioration of the functional capacity, being able to manifest from different stages of the disease, until renal replacement therapy. The objective of this study was to determine the functionality of patients with CKD through functional capacity test, valuing the usefulness of the SPPB as a screening test in parallel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It assessed the functional capacity of patients with CKD, using the test SPPB, 6MM, TUTG and STS. Also found the muscle strength with manual dynamometry. RESULTS: Of 121 patients who came to the CKD query, 118 presented a minimum functionality to perform tests of functional capacity, a 71.2% of the patients were able to perform 4 tests, a 28.8% only could make the SPPB test. To a 71.43% of patients who presented a low score in SPPB, not could follow assessed them with the rest of the test, while the 92.31% of which had a high score, continued with the rest of the evidence. To differentiate by age ranges, the majority of young patients have minimal limitations, finding higher rates of disability in older age ranges. A good score in SPPB meant to present good functional capacity and allowed to continue evaluating the patient, obtaining better results with the rest of test and more muscle strength. A good nutritional better status and body composition was a better functionality. CONCLUSION: In the absence of a consensus of what is the best method of determining the functional capacity of the kidney patient, and to assess all patients, propose to use the test SPPB as screening method, and depending on the result used as the rest of the test to more complete if it is necessary to study.

Employment in a cohort of cancer patients in Spain. A predictive model of working outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer patients can have problems remaining in employment but the importance of this issue has until now received little attention in Spain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 347 consecutive cancer patients who were employed at diagnosis. Diagnosis had been confirmed at least 6 months before the interview. Participants completed a questionnaire concerning cancer-related symptoms and work-related factors and clinical details were obtained from their medical records. The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of La Paz Hospital. All patients gave consent to participate. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent of patients were unable to work after diagnosis, but 59% returned to work at the end of treatment. Gender, age, type of worker and type of treatment were independently associated with the ability to work after diagnosis. At the end of treatment these factors were age, education, tumour stage, overall response to the therapy, associated co-morbidity and sequelae of the disease or its treatment. Twenty-one percent noticed changes in their relationship with co-workers and managers, usually in the sense that they tried to be helpful. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the strongest predictors for remaining in employment were age, overall response and sequelae of the disease or its treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer survivors in this study encountered some problems in returning to work, mainly linked to the sequelae of their disease and its treatment, rather than to discrimination by employers or colleagues. Prediction of working outcomes is possible to recommend interventions.