Higher incidence of clear cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix and vagina among women born between 1947 and 1971 in the United States

Although the association between in utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) and clear cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix and vagina (CCA) was first reported among young women, subsequent case reports and cohort studies suggest that an elevated risk for CCA may persist with age. Data from the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program were used to construct indirect standardized incidence ratios (SIR) comparing CCA risk among women born during the exposure period 1947 through 1971, when DES was prescribed to pregnant women, to the relevant time period for nonexposed women born before or after DES exposure period. CCA incidence among the women born before the DES exposure period (ages 30–54 at diagnosis of CAA) or after the DES exposure period (ages 15–29 at diagnosis) were used to calculate the expected rates for women born during the DES exposure period. Among women aged 15–29 years, CCA risk increased with age and peaked in the 25–29 year age group, but the risk estimates were unstable (SIR = 6.06; 95% CI: 0.97, −251.07, SEER data). Among women aged 40–54 years, CCA risk was greatest in the 40–44 year age group (SIR = 4.55; 95% CI: 1.11, 40.19, SEER data and SIR = 3.94; 95% CI: 1.06, 33.01, NPCR/SEER data) and remained significantly elevated throughout this age group in the combined data set. Risk was not elevated among women aged 30–39 years. The observed risk of CCA, if causally related to DES exposure, reflects a persistent health impact from in utero exposure that is widespread in the general population. When assessing a woman’s cancer risks, whether her mother took DES while pregnant may still be a relevant aspect of the medical history for women born during the period of DES use in pregnancy

Different chromosomal imbalances in metastasized and nonmetastasized tongue carcinomas identified by comparative genomic hybridization.

Contains fulltext : 57813.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)Tumors of different metastatic behavior possibly differ in genomic constitution. We identified molecular cytogenetic differences between a group of metastasized and nonmetastasized primary tongue tumors by comparative genomic hybridization. Most frequent chromosome copy number changes for metastasized and nonmetastasized tumors were +8q (100% and 71%, respectively) and +3q (56% and 43%, respectively). Metastasized tumors showed significantly more chromosome copy number changes than nonmetastasized tumors. High copy number gains were exclusively found in metastasized tumors for 3q23-qter, 5p, 12p and 13q21-q22. Genomic imbalances occurring in metastasized tumors but not in nonmetastasized tumours were +7q21 (44%), +14q (33%), and -15q (33%). The genetic constitution of primary tongue tumors that metastasize differs from tongue tumors that do not metastasize. Our data, although obtained from a relative small group of tumors, spotlights copy number gain of chromosome region 7q21 as a potential marker for metastatic behavior

Airborne SARS-CoV-2 RNA excretion by patients with COVID-19 on different oxygen-delivery systems: a prospective observational study

Background: Concerns persist regarding the risk of airborne SARS-CoV-2 transmission by patients with COVID-19 on various modalities of oxygen therapy, such as high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC). Aim: We aimed to compare the presence of airborne RNA in air samples between groups of patients with COVID-19 on different oxygen-delivery systems. We also explored factors that were associated with SARS-CoV-2 RNA positivity in air samples. Results: Air samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in three of 39 patients (8%) on HFNC, 0 of 13 (0%) on masks, versus five of 20 (25%) on nasal cannula. Odds ratio for air sample positivity was 0.52 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.11–2.34) when comparing HFNC vs non-HFNC group, and 5.78 (1.24–27.01) for nasal cannula vs non-nasal cannula group. Patients with positive air samples in comparison with those with negative air samples were sampled earlier after symptoms onset (median: 7 vs 10 days; P=0.04) and had lower Ct values of diagnostic nasopharyngeal samples (median: 22 vs 26; P=0.02). Conclusions: Air sample positivity was not related to oxygen support device but to viral load. These data suggest that the use of personal protection equipment should be based on risk management according to viral load rather than oxygen support device. © 2022 The Healthcare Infection Societ