Investigating the Presence and Makeup of Plastic Waste at Valparaiso University

Plastic maintains its presence throughout our daily lives due to its convenience, durability, and usability across industries, despite its significant negative impact on the environment and human health. Prior to our study, the plastic waste problem at Valparaiso University was widely unknown. This study aimed to analyze the waste stream in the Center for the Sciences (CFS), as well as complement a campus-wide waste audit focused on plastic content and composition. This was executed through a one-week waste audit of the CFS in conjunction with several lab analyses. Unknown plastic items were identified using Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), and further analyses were conducted using a Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (GCMS) method to identify any additives present. After analysis, it was evident that the most common types of plastics were single use plastics. It was determined that the present practices of recycling on campus are inefficient and unsustainable, and that several common plastic types were frequently mishandled or contaminated with food. Campus-wide education and additional signage should be a priority in improving the plastic waste problem, with a focus on limiting single-use plastics and understanding their external costs

Breast cancer risk assessment for prescription of Menopausal Hormone Therapy in women who have a family history of breast cancer

Background Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) can alleviate menopausal symptoms but is associated with increased risk of breast cancer (BC). MHT prescription should be preceded by individualised risk/benefit evaluation; however, data outlining the impact of family history alongside different MHT therapeutic approaches are lacking. Aim To quantify the risks associated with MHT use in women with varying BC family histories of i) developing and ii) dying from BC. Design and setting An epidemiological modelling study (UK women). Method We used i) background risks of BC by age and family history, ii) relative risks for BC associated with MHT use, and iii) 10-year BC-specific net mortality rates to model the risk of developing and dying from BC between the ages of 50 and 80 in women with four different BC family history profiles: 'average', 'modest', 'intermediate', and 'strong'. Results For a woman of 'average' family history taking no MHT, the cumulative BC risk (age 50-80) is 9.8%, and the risk of dying from the BC is 1.7%. Five years' exposure to combined-cyclical MHT (age 50-55) increases these risks to 11.0% and 1.8%, respectively. For a woman with a 'strong' family history taking no MHT, the cumulative BC risk is 19.6%, and the risk of dying is 3.2%. With 5 years of MHT (age 50-55), this increases to 22.4% and 3.5%. Conclusion Both family history and MHT are associated with increased risk of BC. Estimates of the risks associated with MHT for women with different family histories can support decision-making around MHT prescription.</p

Population based germline testing of BRCA1, BRCA2 and PALB2 in breast cancer patients in the UK: evidence to support extended testing and definition of groups who may not require testing

PurposeTo assess the contribution of germline pathogenic variants (PVs) in population-based series of breast cancers and the best strategy to improve detection rates.MethodsThree cohort studies were utilized, including a hospital-based series identified from new UK mainstream testing criteria (group-1), offering testing to all women (group-2-BReast CAncer [BRCA]-DIRECT), and a Greater Manchester cohort study recruited from the mammography screening population (group-3-Predicting Risk of Cancer at Screening). DNA samples from women with breast cancer were sequenced for PVs in BRCA1, BRCA2, and Partner and Localiser of BRCA2 (PALB2). The Manchester score (MS) was used at different points thresholds. Current mainstream criteria include women diagnosed ResultsThirty-six PVs (BRCA1 = 9, BRCA2 = 18, PALB2 = 9) were identified among 1061 women with breast cancer (3.4%). Mainstreaming criteria identified 21 of 36 (58%) of PVs by testing 190 women; detection rate (8.4%), specificity = 83.5%. A better detection rate was found using an MS threshold of 12-points with 66.7% (24/36) sensitivity and 85.7% specificity in 171 women. No PVs were identified in 158 women with grade-1 invasive cancers. The best strategy to detect all PVs was an MS ≥3 with specificity of 32.6%.ConclusionIn order to detect higher PV rates on a population basis the best strategy is to reduce the MS threshold for genetic testing.</p