Breast cancer osteomimicry and its role in bone specific metastasis; an integrative, systematic review of preclinical evidence

Metastasis accounts for most of the deaths from breast cancer and the preference of invasive breast cancer metastasising to bone has been widely reported. However, the biological basis of breast cancer osteotropism is not fully understood. This paper provides, for the first time, an integrative, systematic review of evidence of molecular factors that have functional roles in the homing of metastatic breast cancer to the bone. Pubmed, Web of Science and EBSCOhost were searched using keywords and synonyms for molecular, metastasis, breast cancer and bone to identify articles published between January 2004 and August 2016. 4,491 potentially relevant citations were retrieved. 63 articles met the inclusion criteria, which were primary studies reporting evidence of molecular factors that have functional roles in predisposing breast cancer bone metastasis in vivo.12 of those 63 articles that additionally met quality criteria were included in the review. Extracted data were tabulated and key findings that indicated biological mechanisms involved in breast cancer metastasis to bone were synthesised. 15 proteins expressed by breast cancer cells were identified as factors that mediate breast cancer bone metastasis: ICAM-1, cadherin-11, osteoactivin, bone sialoprotein, CCN3, IL-11, CCL2, CITED2, CXCR4, CTGF, OPN, CX3CR1, TWIST1, adrenomedullin and Enpp1. Upregulation or overexpression of one or more of them by breast cancer cells resulted in increased breast cancer metastasis to bone in vivo, except for CCL2 where bone-metastatic cells showed a reduced expression of this factor. All factors identified, here expressed by breast cancer cells, are proteins that are normally expressed in the bone microenvironment and linked to physiologic bone functions. All have a functional role in one of more of the following: cell proliferation and differentiation, bone mineralization and remodeling, cell adhesion and/or chemokine signaling. Six of them (cadherin-11, ICAM-1, OPN, CX3CR1, CCN3 and osteoactivin) have a reported function in cell adhesion and another eight (CCN3, osteoactivin, Enpp1, IL-11, CTGF, TWIST1, adrenomedullin and CITED2) are reported to be involved in cell proliferation and differentiation. This review collates and synthesises published evidence to increase our understanding of the biology of breast cancer osteomimicry in the development of bone metastasis. Findings of this review suggest that changes in expression of proteins in breast cancer cells that confer ostemimicry facilitate homing to bone to enable the development of bone metastasis

Perceptions of dietary intake amongst Black, Asian and other minoritized ethnic groups in high-income countries: a systematic review of qualitative literature

Background Minority ethnic groups are a fast-growing population in many high-income countries, partly due to the increasing population of immigrants and second-generation migrants. The dietary practices of some of these minority ethnic groups might make them to be disproportionately affected by obesity and increase their risks of developing non-communicable diseases. Population-specific interventions and strategies are vital to addressing poor nutritional practices among this population. Thus, this study systematically reviewed the perceptions of dietary intake amongst Black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups in high-income countries. Methods This systematic review was conducted in line with the guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for systematic reviews, using a meta-aggregative design. This systematic review identified and synthesised qualitative literature on the perceptions of dietary intake amongst BlackAsian and other minority ethnic groups in high-income countries. An extensive and comprehensive database search was conducted between January 2000 – May 2022 and included twenty (20) studies that met the eligibility criteria from six countries. The included studies were assessed for quality using the JBI qualitative assessment and review instrument. The JBI data extraction tools were used to retrieve relevant data from included articles, and the data were thematically analysed. Results We identified eight major themes across this database: (1) “Social and Cultural Factors,” (2) “Availability and Accessibility,” (3) “Family and Community Influences,” (4) “Food Preferences”, (5) “Home Country Food Versus Host Country Food” (6) “Dietary Acculturation” (7) “Health and Healthy Eating” (8) “Perception of Nutritional Information.” Conclusion Overall, Black, Asian, and other minority ethnic groups individuals were found to be aware of the effects of unhealthy eating on their health, and some of them have nutritional knowledge, but social and cultural factors, including structural factors, were deterrents to their healthy eating behaviours. An important finding from this review is that some participants believed that nutritional information, based on bio-medical science, was intended for only White population groups and that it was antagonistic to their cultural and community well-being

Effects of donor HIV/AIDS funding on primary healthcare delivery in southwest Nigeria: Evidence from hospital administrators

Objectives: The global spread of the HIV epidemic has spurred dramatic increase in HIV/AIDS funding across the developing world. Over the last decade, this has resulted in large influx of funds to developing countries like Nigeria. This qualitative research explores the effect of a decade of donor HIV/AIDS funding on health services in southwest Nigeria, through the experiences of hospital administrators. Method: Twelve senior healthcare professionals participated in the study. Facilities running HIV/AIDS funded program in both rural and urban communities were selected for the study. Data collection was via in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Transcription of data was done by professional service and data analysis was aided with the use of QSR Nvivo 10. Findings: The findings from this qualitative research were grouped under four major themes: Difference in program experience, HIV program has changed how we work, HIV programs affect personnel availability, and HIV programs have promoted professional development. Conclusion: The findings from this study support previous contention that HIV/AIDS funding improves professional development, contributes toward infrastructural upgrade, and improves the quality and coverage of HIV services. In addition, however, this study raises further questions about the worrying discriminatory nature of program incentives, increasing workload without commensurate incentives, provision of laboratory equipment, and support for infrastructural upgrades. These are hitherto unreported effects of HIV programs on health services that need to be further explored for their impacts on primary healthcare delivery in beneficiary countries and design of potential strategies to confront the challenges to ensure a more positive program experience

Case Report Congenital Giant Hydroureteric Cistern in a Duplex System of an Infant

Duplex collecting system is a congenital genitourinary anomaly commonly found incidentally. Our experience with a duplex system associated with giant hydroureter presenting as mobile abdominal swelling that was noticed from birth, constipation, and failure to thrive is described. Ultrasound and IVU did not assist in making the diagnosis, while a barium enema suggested a colonic duplication. Congenital giant hydroureter should be considered as a differential diagnosis in infants with cystic abdominal swelling. A preserved renal moiety attributed to a dilated ureteric cistern was a unique theory in this case