Endogenous Levels of Circulating Androgens Are Not Associated with Risk of Microscopic Colitis.

BACKGROUND: Microscopic colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that most commonly affects post-menopausal women. Exogenous hormone use has recently been linked with increased risk of microscopic colitis. Yet, it is unclear whether levels of endogenous sex hormones are also associated with risk of microscopic colitis. AIM: To evaluate the association between prediagnostic plasma androgens and subsequent risk of microscopic colitis. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study nested within prospective cohort studies of the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and NHSII. Cases of microscopic colitis were each matched to two controls according to age, cohort, menopause status, fasting status, and season of plasma collection. Prediagnosis plasma levels of androgens including dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, testosterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin were measured. We examined the association of each analyte with risk of microscopic colitis using conditional logistic regression models. RESULTS: Our study included 96 cases of microscopic colitis matched to 190 controls. Plasma levels of testosterone were not associated with risk of microscopic colitis (Ptrend = 0.70). Compared to participants in the lowest quartile of plasma testosterone levels, the aOR of microscopic colitis for women in the highest quartile was 0.88, 95% CI 0.45-1.71. Similarly, we did not observe an association between dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and sex hormone-binding globulin and risk of microscopic colitis (all Ptrend > 0.52). CONCLUSION: Among women, prediagnostic circulating levels of testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and sex hormone-binding globulin are not associated with risk of microscopic colitis.

Perceptions, knowledge, and satisfaction with contralateral prophylactic mastectomy among young women with breast cancer: a cross-sectional survey.

UNLABELLED: Chinese translation BACKGROUND: Rates of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) have increased dramatically, particularly among younger women with breast cancer, but little is known about how women approach the decision to have CPM. OBJECTIVE: To examine preferences, knowledge, decision making, and experiences of young women with breast cancer who choose CPM. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: 8 academic and community medical centers that enrolled 550 women diagnosed with breast cancer at age 40 years or younger between November 2006 and November 2010. PATIENTS: 123 women without known bilateral breast cancer who reported having bilateral mastectomy. MEASUREMENTS: A 1-time, 23-item survey that included items related to decision making, knowledge, risk perception, and breast cancer worry. RESULTS: Most women indicated that desires to decrease their risk for contralateral breast cancer (98%) and improve survival (94%) were extremely or very important factors in their decision to have CPM. However, only 18% indicated that women with breast cancer who undergo CPM live longer than those who do not. BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers more accurately perceived their risk for contralateral breast cancer, whereas women without a known mutation substantially overestimated this risk. LIMITATIONS: The survey, which was administered a median of 2 years after surgery, was not validated, and some questions might have been misinterpreted by respondents or subject to recall bias. Generalizability of the findings might be limited. CONCLUSION: Despite knowing that CPM does not clearly improve survival, women who have the procedure do so, in part, to extend their lives. Many women overestimate their actual risk for cancer in the unaffected breast. Interventions aimed at improving risk communication in an effort to promote evidence-based decision making are warranted. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy in women with breast cancer: trends, predictors, and areas for future research.

Recent studies have revealed increasing rates of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) among women with unilateral early stage breast cancer. This trend has raised concerns, given the lack of evidence for a survival benefit from CPM and the relatively low risk of contralateral breast cancer for most women in this setting. In this article, we review available data regarding the value of CPM, predictors, and outcomes related to CPM, and areas for future research and potential intervention.

Association Between Opioid Use and Outpatient Visits for Dysphagia: An Analysis of the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey in 2008-2018.

INTRODUCTION: Opioid-induced esophageal dysfunction has been described with characteristic manometric patterns, but the population burden of dysphagia attributable to opioid use remains unclear. METHODS: The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2008 to 2018 was used to assess the relationship between opioid use and outpatient visits for dysphagia. RESULTS: After controlling for potential confounders, there were no significant difference in ambulatory visits for dysphagia between opioid users and nonusers (adjusted odds ratio = 0.98, confidence interval: 0.59-1.65). DISCUSSION: No correlation between opioid use and ambulatory visits for dysphagia was found in a nationwide sample. Opioid-related manometric changes may be clinically relevant only in a small proportion of patients.

Protein-Losing Enteropathy in the Setting of Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Case Series.

Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) in the setting of severe iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and excessive cow milk intake is an uncommonly recognized phenomenon. Here, we describe a series of 7 toddlers who presented for evaluation of edema in the setting of excessive cow milk intake between November 2016 and January 2019. Laboratory studies in each patient were consistent with IDA and hypoalbuminemia with evidence of PLE. Diagnostic evaluation and treatment of each patient differed, although all were instructed to restrict cow milk and provided with oral iron supplementation. The edema had resolved, and the IDA had improved in all 7 patients by the time of their follow-up outpatient appointments. Iron deficiency and PLE should be considered in patients who present with anasarca.