13 research outputs found
Ovarian cancer in Switzerland : incidence and treatment according to hospital registry data
Objective: The methods used to diagnose and classify ovarian cancer have changed over the past decade. We used hospital registry data to assess the incidence, treatment durations and hospital costs of ovarian cancer in Switzerland.
Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of a hospital registry covering all inpatient care episodes in Switzerland between 1998 and 2012. Ovarian cancer incidence was assessed by identifying patients with a first ovarian cancer diagnosis as the main reason for hospital stay after an event-free period. We assessed the duration and cost of ovarian cancer treatment sequences as well as the evolution of hospital patient volume over time.
Results: The average age-adjusted incidence rate was 14.6 per 100,000 women per year between 2004 and 2012. This rate is substantially higher (+35.5%) than the corresponding rate published by the National Institute for Cancer Epidemiology and Registration (NICER). Hospital patient volume was low in most cases, with more than 40% of patients treated in hospitals with fewer than 20 cases per year. However, the share of patients treated in hospitals with more than 30 cases per year has increased substantially since 2009.
Conclusions: We found a substantial difference between the ovarian cancer incidence estimate based on hospital registry data and the corresponding estimate by NICER. The reasons for this substantial difference should be carefully explored. A case-wise comparison could determine whether the difference is due to over- or under-reporting in one of the two registries. The low ovarian cancer patient volume in many hospitals is in conflict with the numbers required for certified specialised cancer centres. The recent increase in patient volume in specialised cancer centres, however, might reflect a growing understanding of the needs and requirements of comprehensive cancer care
Group B streptococcal colonization in elderly women.
BACKGROUND
In non-pregnant adults, the incidence of invasive Group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease is continuously increasing. Elderly and immunocompromised persons are at increased risk of infection. GBS commonly colonizes the vaginal tract, though data on colonization in the elderly are scarce. It is unknown whether the prevalence of GBS colonization is increasing in parallel to the observed rise of invasive infection. We conducted a three-year (2017-2019) prospective observational cross-sectional study in two teaching hospitals in Switzerland to determine the rate of GBS vaginal colonization in women over 60âyears and i) to compare the proportions of known risk factors associated with invasive GBS diseases in colonized versus non-colonized women and ii) to evaluate the presence of GBS clusters with specific phenotypic and genotypic patterns in this population.
METHODS
GBS screening was performed by using vaginal swabs collected during routine examination from women willing to participate in the study and to complete a questionnaire for risk factors. Isolates were characterized for antibiotic resistance profile, serotype and sequence type (ST).
RESULTS
The GBS positivity rate in the elderly was 17% (44/255 positive samples), and similar to the one previously reported in pregnant women (around 20%). We could not find any association between participants' characteristics, previously published risk factors and GBS colonization. All strains were susceptible to penicillin, 22% (8/36) were not susceptible to erythromycin, 14% (5/36) were not susceptible to clindamycin and 8% (3/36) showed inducible clindamycin resistance. Both M and L phenotypes were each detected in one isolate. The most prevalent serotypes were III (33%, 12/36) and V (31%, 11/36). ST1 and ST19 accounted for 11% of isolates each (4/36); ST175 for 8% (3/36); and ST23, ST249 and ST297 for 6% each (2/36). Significantly higher rates of resistance to macrolides and clindamycin were associated with the ST1 genetic background of ST1.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate a similar colonization rate for pregnant and elderly women.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Current Controlled Trial ISRCTN15468519 ; 06/01/2017
Relationship between sedentary behavior and depression: a mediation analysis of influential factors across the lifespan among 42,469 people in low- and middle-income countries
Background:
Sedentary behavior (SB) is associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and low mood. There is a paucity of multi-national research investigating SB and depression, particularly among low- and middle-income countries. This study investigated the association between SB and depression, and factors which influence this.
Methods:
Cross-sectional data were analyzed from the World Health Organization's Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health. Depression was based on the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The association between depression and SB (self-report) was estimated by multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses. Mediation analysis was used to identify influential factors.
Results:
A total of 42,469 individuals (50.1% female, mean 43.8 years) were included. People with depression spent 25.6 (95%CI8.5-42.7) more daily minutes in SB than non-depressed participants. This discrepancy was most notable in adults aged â„65â
y (35.6â
minutes in those with depression). Overall, adjusting for socio-demographics and country, depression was associated with a 1.94 (95%CI1.31-2.85) times higher odds for high SB (i.e., â„8â
h/day). The largest proportion of the SB-depression relationship was explained by mobility limitations (49.9%), followed by impairments in sleep/energy (43.4%), pain/discomfort (31.1%), anxiety (30.0%), disability (25.6%), cognition (16.1%), and problems with vision (11.0%). Other health behaviors (physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking), body mass index, and social cohesion did not influence the SB-depression relationship.
Conclusion:
People with depression are at increased risk of engaging in high levels of SB. This first multi-national study offers potentially valuable insight for a number of hypotheses which may influence this relationship, although testing with longitudinal studies is needed
Multi-messenger Observations of a Binary Neutron Star Merger
On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later
designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through
gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors.
The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray
burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ⌠1.7 {{s}} with respect to
the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was
initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a
luminosity distance of {40}-8+8 Mpc and with
component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses
were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 {M}ÈŻ
. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the
electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical
transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC
4993 (at ⌠40 {{Mpc}}) less than 11 hours after the merger by the
One-Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The
optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an
hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment.
Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded
within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward
evolution over âŒ10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and
radio emission were discovered at the transientâs position ⌠9
and ⌠16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and
radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct
from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No
ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with
the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support
the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron
stars in NGC 4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and
a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process
nuclei synthesized in the ejecta.</p
Management of human papillomavirus-related gynecological malignancies
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections affect women in every age group and in various benign, premalignant as well as malignant gynecological conditions. As a benign condition, condylomata acuminata of the whole female genital tract can be observed, transmitted by low risk HPV types 6 and 11, whilst dysplastic changes of the vulva appear as vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, of the vagina as vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia and of the cervix as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and are caused by high risk HPV types most notably 16 and 18. These dysplastic changes give rise to precursor lesions of vulvar and cervical cancer, both driven via immune regression and potentially hormonal changes by promoting the malignant transformation profile of HPV subtypes. Attributes which can support this process are smoking, immunodeficiency, vitamin deficiency, stress, vaginal infections and hormonal influence. The causal relationship between persistent infection with high-risk HPV genotypes and vulvar and cervical cancer has been clearly demonstrated and is stronger than the relationship observed between smoking and lung cancer. New global cancer prevention can be envisaged by implementing vaccination against HPV in young women, with 2 vaccines currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration: the quadrivalent Gardasil (HPV-6, -11, -16, -18) and the bivalent Cervarix (HPV-16, -18)
Highâgrade serous peritoneal cancer follows a high stromal response signature and shows worse outcome than ovarian cancer
In the era of personalized medicine, where transition from organâbased to individualized genetic diagnosis takes place, the tailoring of treatment in cancer becomes increasingly important. This is particularly true for highâgrade, advanced FIGO stage serous adenocarcinomas of the ovary (OC), fallopian tube (TC), and peritoneum (PC), which are currently all treated identically. We analyzed three independent patient cohorts using histopathologically classified diagnosis and various molecular approaches (transcriptomics, immunohistochemistry, nextâgeneration sequencing, fluorescent and chromogenic in situ hybridization). Using multivariate Cox regression model, we found that PC is more aggressive compared with advancedâstage OC independent of residual disease as shown by an earlier relapseâfree survival in two large cohorts (HR: 2.63, CI: 1.59â4.37, P < 0.001, and HR: 1.66, CI: 1.04â2.63, P < 0.033). In line with these findings, transcriptomic data revealed differentially expressed gene signatures identifying PC as high stromal response tumors. The third independent cohort (n = 4054) showed a distinction between these cancer types for markers suggested to be predictive for chemotherapy drug response. Our findings add additional evidence that ovarian and peritoneal cancers are epidemiologically and molecularly distinct diseases. Moreover, our data also suggest consideration of the tumorâsampling site for future diagnosis and treatment decisions
Sexuell ĂŒbertragbare Koinfektionen Bei Patienten Mit Anogenitalen Warzen - Eine Retrospektive Analyse Von 196 Patienten
Anogenitale Warzen (AGW) werden vorwiegend durch Niedrigrisiko-Typen des humanen Papillomavirus (HPV) verursacht. Obgleich sie die hĂ€ufigste sexuell ĂŒbertragbare Virusinfektion darstellen, ist ĂŒber Koinfektionen mit anderen sexuell ĂŒbertragbaren Infektionen (sexual transmitted infections, STI) bei den betroffenen Patienten wenig bekannt. Ziel unserer Studie war es, die Rate der Koinfektionen mit STI bei Patienten mit AGW zu ermitteln, STI-Koinfektionen zu spezifizieren und fĂŒr jede STI die number needed to screen (NNS) zu berechnen. In einer retrospektiven Querschnittsstudie wurden die DatensĂ€tze von AGW-Patienten auswertet, die zwischen 2008-2016 in unserer Klinik behandelt wurden. 142/196 (72 %) Patienten waren in unterschiedlicher Weise auf Infektionen mit HIV, HBV, HCV, Treponema pallidum, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium und HSV untersucht worden. Die STI-Koinfektionsrate bei allen getesteten Patienten betrug 24,6 %, was einer NNS von 4,1 zum Nachweis einer STI entspricht. Interessanterweise unterschied sich die Koinfektionsrate zwischen heterosexuellen MĂ€nnern, homosexuellen MĂ€nnern und Frauen nicht signifikant. Die NNS fĂŒr Syphilis betrug 8,4, fĂŒr HIV 14,0, fĂŒr HCV 28,5 und fĂŒr HBV 39,0. Die NNS bei asymptomatischen Patienten, die auf HSV, Chlamydia trachomatis und Mycoplasma genitalium getestet wurden, betrug 1,4, 5,3 bzw. 12,0. Aufgrund der hohen PrĂ€valenz von STI-Koinfektionen sollten AGW-Patienten stets auf das Vorhandensein weiterer STI untersucht werden
Sexually transmitted coinfections in patients with anogenital warts - a retrospective analysis of 196 patients
Anogenital warts (AGWs) are most commonly caused by low-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types, and although they are the most frequent viral sexually transmitted infections (STIs), little is known about STI coinfections in affected patients. We therefore sought to assess STI coinfection rates in patients with AGW, specify STI coinfections and calculate the number needed to screen (NNS) for each STI.; A retrospective cross-sectional study analyzing data sets from AGW patients treated in our clinic between 2008-2016.; 142/196 (72 %) patients had been variably screened for infections with HIV, HBV and HCV, Treponema pallidum, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium and HSV. The STI coinfection rate in all tested patients was 24.6 %, yielding an NNS of 4.1 to detect any STI. Of note, the coinfection rate did not differ significantly between heterosexual men, homosexual men and women, respectively. The NNS for syphilis was 8.4, for HIV 14.0, for HCV 28.5 and for HBV 39.0. The NNS for asymptomatic patients tested for HSV, Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium were 1.4, 5.3 and 12.0, respectively.; Due to the high prevalence of STI coinfections, AGW patients should be screened for other STIs