ABSTRACT
The formidable impact of breast cancer extends globally, with South Africa facing pronounced challenges, including significant disparities in breast cancer screening, treatment and survival along ethnic and socioeconomic lines. Over the last two decades, breast cancer incidence has increased and now accounts for a substantial portion of cancers in women. Ethnic disparities in terms of screening, incidence and survival exacerbate the issue, leading to delayed diagnosis among Black patients and highlighting healthcare inequities. These concerning trends underscore the urgency of enhancing breast cancer screening while mitigating treatment delays, although obstacles within the healthcare system impede progress. The intersection of breast cancer and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) further complicates matters and particularly affects the Black population. Tackling the aforementioned disparities in breast cancer in South Africa mandates a multifaceted strategy. Robust screening efforts, particularly those targeting marginalised communities, are crucial for early detection. Concurrently, expedited treatment initiation is imperative. Addressing HIV-related complexities requires tailored interventions to ensure effective care. These multifaceted disparities require pan African research and cooperation as well as tailored interventions to enhance breast cancer care within the African region.
ABSTRACT
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a very aggressive subtype of breast cancer that lacks estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptor expression. TNBC is thought to be produced by Wnt, Notch, TGF-beta, and VEGF pathway activation, which leads to cell invasion and metastasis. To address this, the use of phytochemicals as a therapeutic option for TNBC has been researched. Plants contain natural compounds known as phytochemicals. Curcumin, resveratrol, and EGCG are phytochemicals that have been found to inhibit the pathways that cause TNBC, but their limited bioavailability and lack of clinical evidence for their use as single therapies pose challenges to the use of these phytochemical therapies. More research is required to better understand the role of phytochemicals in TNBC therapy, or to advance the development of more effective delivery mechanisms for these phytochemicals to the site where they are required. This review will discuss the promise shown by phytochemicals as a treatment option for TNBC.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In scenarios of a dorsal hump with minor bony cap, ideal esthetic dorsal lines can be preserved and refined by component separation of the upper lateral cartilages from the septal T, resection of a septal strip and ethmoid bone wedge, adjustment of width and symmetry and final re-suture of the cartilaginous dorsum after pushdown, improving width and symmetry. The associated bony cap is managed by osteoplasty only with or without narrowing osteotomies, and septal deviations can be concomitantly corrected. OBJECTIVES: A novel technique of modified dorsal cartilaginous pushdown after component separation is described in detail. This method illustrates the importance of preserving the integrity of the septal T anatomy and the elastic keystone junction. METHODS: A preliminary series of 41 consecutive patients with follow-up up to 1 year, with a mean of 6 months, is reviewed. RESULTS: All patients presented favorable outcomes with a natural looking dorsum. A learning curve led to progressive improvements by suture fixation of the septal T, finesse adjustment of dorsal width and symmetry, fine-tuning of deviation and gradual extension of the technique to include cases that required osteotomies without transverse element and those with any degree of septal manipulation. CONCLUSION: Disrupting the keystone area is fraught with potential complications which often lead to secondary revision. A modified dorsal preservation technique with pushdown limited to the septal T component of the cartilaginous dorsum combines the popular component separation concept with the preservation of the delicate anatomy of the mid-vault. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
