Assessing Biomarkers of Breast Cancer Risk in Underserved Women in a Midwestern County.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of collecting risk factor information and accessing digitized mammographic data in a medically marginalized population. A secondary aim was to examine the association between vitamin D status and mammographic density. METHODS: Breast-screening examinations were provided for age-appropriate patients, and a referral for no-cost screening mammography was offered. Study participants were asked to undergo 25-hydroxyvitamin D testing at mammography and 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: Of 62 women approached, 35 (56%) consented to participate. Of 32 participants who had baseline mammography, the median mammographic density measured by VolparaDensity (Volpara Solutions Limited) was 5.7%. After 1 year, 9 women obtained follow-up mammograms, with a median density of 5.7%. Vitamin D status was measured for 31 participants at baseline and 13 participants in the following year. Insufficient vitamin D status (<30 ng/mL) was noted in 77% at each time point. Mammographic density was not significantly correlated with vitamin D status (P = .06). CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of this small pilot study, vitamin D insufficiency is common in this study population. Owing to the small sample size, an association between vitamin D insufficiency and breast density was not clear. Additional unexpected findings included substantial barriers in initial access to care and longitudinal follow-up in this population. Further study of these issues is needed.

A personalized, web-based breast cancer decision making application: a pre-post survey.

BACKGROUND: Every case of breast cancer is unique, and treatment must be personalized to incorporate a woman's values and preferences. We developed an individually-tailored mobile patient education application for women with breast cancer. METHODS: Pre-post surveys were completed by 255 women who used the tool. RESULTS: Patients thought the application included helpful information (N = 184, 72%) and was easy to navigate (N = 156, 61%). Most patients thought the amount of information in the tool was "about right" (N = 193, 87%). Decision making confidence increased by an average of 0.8 points (10-point scale) following a consultation and use of the tool (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Tailored mobile applications may optimize care by facilitating shared decision making and knowledge transfer, and they may also enhance the experience of patients as they navigate through their breast cancer journey.

Rosiglitazone reduces blood pressure in female Dahl salt-sensitive rats.

Postmenopausal women (PMW) are at greater risk for salt-sensitive hypertension and insulin resistance than premenopausal women. Peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) agonists reduce blood pressure (BP) and insulin resistance in humans. As in PMW, ovariectomy (OVX) increases salt sensitivity of BP and body weight in Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) rats. This study addressed whether rosiglitazone (ROSI), a PPARgamma agonist, attenuates salt-sensitive hypertension in intact (INT) and OVX DS rats, and if so, whether insulin resistance, nitric oxide (NO), oxidative stress, and/or renal inflammation were contributing mediators. Telemetric BP was similar in OVX and INT on low salt diet (0.3% NaCl), but was higher in OVX than INT on high salt (8% NaCl). ROSI reduced BP in OVX and INT on both low and high salt diet, but only attenuated salt sensitivity of BP in OVX. Nitrate/nitrite excretion (NO(x); index of NO) was similar in INT and OVX on low salt diet, and ROSI increased NO(x) in both groups. High salt diet increased NO(x) in all groups but ROSI only increased NO(x) in OVX rats. OVX females exhibited insulin resistance, increases in body weight, plasma leptin, cholesterol, numbers of renal cortical macrophages, and renal MCP-1 and osteopontin mRNA expression compared to INT. ROSI reduced cholesterol and macrophage infiltration in OVX, but not INT. In summary, PPARgamma activation reduces BP in INT and OVX females, but attenuates the salt sensitivity of BP in OVX only, likely due to increases in NO and in part to reductions in renal resident macrophages and inflammation.