Characterization of Antithrombotic Regimens for Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation and Obesity Discharged from Cardiology Wards.

Background: Despite data derived from observational studies, optimal anticoagulation strategies have yet to be established for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and obesity. Objective: To describe direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) regimens prescribed for adult patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who weighed more than 120 kg. Methods: This single-centre, retrospective cohort study, conducted in the Saskatchewan Health Authority - Regina Area, involved adult patients with body weight greater than 120 kg who had an indication for oral anticoagulation to treat nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and were discharged by a cardiologist between June 2019 and July 2021. Results: A total of 62 patients were included (median weight 135 kg). At discharge, DOACs were prescribed for 57 (92%) of the patients and warfarin for 5 (8%). In numeric terms, patients receiving warfarin were at higher risk of thromboembolism or thrombosis; however, the small sample size limited the ability to draw conclusions. Conclusions: Practice patterns in the Saskatchewan Health Authority - Regina Area indicated substantial use of DOACs for patients with body weight greater than 120 kg; however, for those with the highest weights, warfarin was still in use.

Contexte: Malgré les données dérivées d'études observationnelles, les stratégies d'anticoagulation optimales n'ont pas été consolidées pour les patients atteints de fibrillation auriculaire non valvulaire et d'obésité. Objectif: Décrire les schémas thérapeutiques d'anticoagulants oraux (ACO) prescrits aux patients adultes atteints de fibrillation auriculaire non valvulaire et qui pesaient plus de 120 kg. Méthodes: Cette étude de cohorte rétrospective monocentrique menée dans l'office de la santé de la Saskatchewan à Regina a porté sur des patients adultes pesant plus de 120 kg qui avaient une indication de traitement anticoagulant oral pour traiter la fibrillation auriculaire non valvulaire et qui ont été renvoyés par un cardiologue entre juin 2019 et juillet 2021. Résultats: Au total, 62 patients ont été inclus (poids médian, 135 kg). Au congé, des ACO ont été prescrits à 57 (92 %) des patients et de la warfarine à 5 (8 %) d'entre eux. En termes numériques, les patients traités par warfarine présentaient un risque plus élevé de thromboembolie ou de thrombose; cependant, la petite taille de l'échantillon a limité la capacité de tirer des conclusions. Conclusions: Les modèles de pratique de l'office de la santé de la Saskatchewan à Regina indiquaient une utilisation importante des ACO pour les patients dont le poids corporel était supérieur à 120 kg; cependant, pour les personnes ayant le poids le plus élevé, la warfarine était toujours utilisée.

Lifestyle, genetic risk and incidence of cancer: a prospective cohort study of 13 cancer types.

BACKGROUND: Genetic and lifestyle factors are associated with cancer risk. We investigated the benefits of adhering to lifestyle advice by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) with the risk of 13 types of cancer and whether these associations differ according to genetic risk using data from the UK Biobank. METHODS: In 2006-2010, participants aged 37-73 years had their lifestyle assessed and were followed up for incident cancers until 2015-2019. Analyses were restricted to those of White European ancestry with no prior history of malignant cancer (n = 195 822). Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) were computed for 13 cancer types and these cancers combined ('overall cancer'), and a lifestyle index was calculated from WCRF recommendations. Associations with cancer incidence were estimated using Cox regression, adjusting for relevant confounders. Additive and multiplicative interactions between lifestyle index and PRSs were assessed. RESULTS: There were 15 240 incident cancers during the 1 926 987 person-years of follow-up (median follow-up = 10.2 years). After adjusting for confounders, the lifestyle index was associated with a lower risk of overall cancer [hazard ratio per standard deviation increase (95% CI) = 0.89 (0.87, 0.90)] and of eight specific cancer types. There was no evidence of interactions on the multiplicative scale. There was evidence of additive interactions in risks for colorectal, breast, pancreatic, lung and bladder cancers, such that the recommended lifestyle was associated with greater change in absolute risk for persons at higher genetic risk (P < 0.0003 for all). CONCLUSIONS: The recommended lifestyle has beneficial associations with most cancers. In terms of absolute risk, the protective association is greater for higher genetic risk groups for some cancers. These findings have important implications for persons most genetically predisposed to those cancers and for targeted strategies for cancer prevention.

A Retrospective Study of Clinical and Histopathological Features of 81 Cases of Canine Apocrine Gland Adenocarcinoma of the Anal Sac: Independent Clinical and Histopathological Risk Factors Associated with Outcome.

Canine apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma (AGASAC) is a malignant tumour with variable clinical progression. The objective of this study was to use robust multivariate models, based on models employed in human medical oncology, to establish clinical and histopathological risk factors of poor survival. Clinical data and imaging of 81 cases with AGASAC were reviewed. Tissue was available for histological review and immunohistochemistry in 49 cases. Tumour and lymph node size were determined using the response evaluation criteria in the solid tumours system (RECIST). Modelling revealed tumour size over 2 cm, lymph node size grouped in three tiers by the two thresholds 1.6 cm and 5 cm, surgical management, and radiotherapy were independent clinical variables associated with survival, irrespective of tumour stage. Tumour size over 1.3 cm and presence of distant metastasis were independent clinical variables associated with the first progression-free interval. The presence of the histopathological variables of tumour necrosis, a solid histological pattern, and vascular invasion in the primary tumour were independent risk factors of poor survival. Based upon these independent risk factors, scoring algorithms to predict survival in AGASAC patients are presented.

Different patterns of Australian adults' knowledge of foods and nutrients related to metabolic disease risk.

A nationwide survey of 2022 consumers was conducted in Australia in late 2011. A short list of questions about knowledge of the nutrient composition of common foods was administered along with questions about the respondents' food attitudes, demographics, school education and dieting practices. Overall, the results showed that nutrition knowledge was relatively high. Latent class analysis showed two groups of consumers with 'high' and 'low' knowledge of nutrition. Higher knowledge was positively associated with age, female sex, university education, experience of home economics or health education at school, having a chronic disease, and attitudes to food issues, and negatively with type 1 diabetes or the use of diabetes-control diets. The implications of the findings for nutrition communication are discussed.

Patterns of food safety knowledge among Australians: a latent class approach.

This study aimed to examine food safety knowledge and its associations among Australians. An Internet-based nationwide survey of 2,022 consumers was conducted in 2011. Quota sampling was used to ensure that the age, gender, educational background, and state of residence of the respondents were representative of the Australian population. A list of 10 food safety knowledge items was administered along with questions about the respondents' food attitudes, demographics, school education, and diet practices. Overall, the results showed that safety knowledge was relatively poor. Latent class analysis identified two groups of respondents with different levels of food safety knowledge. Poor knowledge was negatively associated with age, the female gender, university education, experience of home economics or health education at school, the use of salt reduction diets, and general interest in food issues. The study's limitations and implications are discussed.

How pilot-hole size affects bone-screw pullout strength in human cadaveric cancellous bone.

OBJECTIVE: Screw failure of cancellous bone screws is not uncommon. To compare the effect of varying pilot-hole size on pullout strength of cancellous bone screws in human cadaveric bone, we designed and performed a biomechanical study to allow quantitative analysis. METHODS: Three pairs of distal femurs and 4 pairs of proximal tibias from embalmed human cadavers were stabilized in a mould, and the bone cortex was overdrilled. Four sites in a linear transverse plane were randomly assigned, anatomically matched with the paired bone and drilled with either pilot-hole size 3.2 mm or 2.5 mm. The cancellous screw (Synthes noncannulated 4.5-mm shaft, 6.5-mm external diameter) was guided into the pilot hole and pulled on by a test frame (Instron 8874 biaxial servo-hydraulic test frame) with increasing force to the point of failure, and the forces at which failure resulted were compared. RESULTS: A comparison of 25 anatomically paired sites with a 2-tailed paired t test and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test indicated significantly stronger pullout strength (p = 0.047 and p = 0.047) of the 2.5-mm compared with the 3.2-mm pilot hole. Subanalysis of the 4 studied locations indicated that 3 supported the above findings and 1 supported a reverse trend. CONCLUSIONS: Generally, cancellous screws demonstrated a significantly (p < 0.05) stronger hold using a smaller size pilot hole than the recommended standard diameter. All locations except the inner lateral site supported this finding.