Male breast cancer

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease representing less than 1% of all breast cancers (BC) and less than 1% of cancers in men. Age at presentation is mostly in the late 60s. MBC is recognized as an estrogen-driven disease, specifically related to hyperestrogenism. About 20% of MBC patients have family history for BC. Mutations in BRCA1 and, predominantly, BRCA2, account for approximately 10% of MBC cases. Because of its rarity, MBC is often compared with female BC (FBC). Based on age-frequency distribution, age-specific incidence rate patterns and prognostic factors profiles, MBC is considered similar to late-onset, postmenopausal estrogen/progesterone receptor positive (ER+/PR+) FBC. However, clinical and pathological characteristics of MBC do not exactly overlap FBC. Compared with FBC, MBC has been reported to occur later in life, present at a higher stage, and display lower histologic grade, with a higher proportion of ER+ and PR+ tumors. Although rare, MBC remains a substantial cause for morbidity and mortality in men, probably because of its occurrence in advanced age and delayed diagnosis. Diagnosis and treatment of MBC generally is similar to that of FBC. Men tend to be treated with mastectomy rather than breast-conserving surgery. The backbone of adjuvant therapy or palliative treatment for advanced disease is endocrine, mostly tamoxifen. Use of FBC-based therapy led to the observation that treatment outcomes for MBC are worse and that survival rates for MBC do not improve like FBC. These different outcomes may suggest a non-appropriate utilization of treatments and that different underlying pathogenetic mechanisms may exist between male and female BC

Social Withdrawal During Middle Childhood: An Exploration of Social Information Processing, Friendship Experiences, and Psychological Adjustment

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the social information processing of socially withdrawn children within the unique context of best friendship. Specifically, social cognitive processes were investigated for relational and instrumental conflict situations involving a best friend. Furthermore, friendship quality was explored as a potential protective factor against concurrent symptoms of social anxiety and depression. Finally, gender differences in social withdrawal, social information processing, and adjustment were examined. Participants were 194 (80 males) children in the 4th and 5th grades from elementary schools in Maine. Children completed a peer nomination measure of social behavior, self-report measure of socially withdrawn behavior, friendship nominations, measure of friendship quality, and measures of social anxiety and depressive symptoms. Participants also responded to a measure of attributions, social goals, and social strategies for hypothetical instrumental and relational conflict scenarios involving a best friend. Results indicated that friendship quality served a protective function for more socially withdrawn boys against concurrent depressive symptoms. A differing pattern of relationships was found among variables for more socially withdrawn boys and girls, and self-rated social withdrawal was more strongly associated with outcome variables than peer-rated withdrawal. Consistent with expectations, more socially withdrawn boys showed evidence of the self-defeating attribution bias. For boys, self-rated withdrawal was also associated with social anxiety and depressive symptoms and adult dependent social strategies for both instrumental and relational conflicts. Girls showed evidence of the self-defeating attribution bias for instrumental conflicts. Contrary to expectations, more socially withdrawn boys and girls showed evidence of the hostile attribution bias, and self-rated social withdrawal was associated with physically and relationally aggressive social strategies for both boys and girls. Girls also tended to endorse retaliation goals for instrumental situations. Results of this study point to the importance of a focus on improving friendship quality and adaptive social information processing in intervention programs designed for socially withdrawn children. Future research should investigate socially withdrawn children\u27s social information processing and friendship experiences in real-life rather than hypothetical scenarios, and researchers should consider conducting longitudinal investigations to help better understand the true nature of socially withdrawn children\u27s social information processing

Tics and Shorter Stature: Should We Be Looking for an Association?

Background: Tic disorders have commonly occurring and well recognized comorbidities including obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Shorter stature is not generally appreciated as an associated feature.Methods: Case reports and a literature review.Results: We describe four recently encountered patients with tics and shorter stature. The literature suggests that in addition to OCD and ADHD, shorter stature may also commonly accompany tic disorders. A variety of neuroendocrine mechanisms have been proposed.Discussion: The potential associations between shorter stature and tic disorders and the common comorbidities OCD and ADHD deserve more attention. More research is needed to establish the strength of these associations and the underlying neurobiological mechanisms.</p