Assessing the Relationship between Socioeconomic Status, Race, and Psychological Distress in Cancer Survivors: A Population Based Study.

Psychological distress is more common in cancer survivors than the general population, and is associated with adverse outcomes. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES), race and psychological distress, using data from a nationally representative sample of cancer survivors in the United States. Outcomes of interest were mild, moderate, and severe psychological distress as assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). In our univariate model, there was no statistically significant difference in the PHQ-4 scores of Caucasian and African American respondents. On the other hand, a lower SES correlated with a higher likelihood of psychological distress, and this persisted in our multivariate model. This study brings additional awareness to the negative impact of a lower socioeconomic status on mental health outcomes in cancer survivors, and further highlights the importance of the timely identification and screening of individuals at a high risk of psychological distress, in order to limit missed opportunities for relevant mental health interventions in this population.

Trends in HPV and HPV Vaccine Awareness among Gay and Bisexual Males in the U.S.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States (US). It is often discussed within the context of women's sexual health due to its association with cervical cancer. However, HPV is also associated with other cancers and conditions which affect men. Gay and bisexual males (GBM) in the US have higher risks of HPV infection and a higher incidence of HPV-associated anal cancer than heterosexual males. In addition, GBM in the US have a higher prevalence of some high-risk strains of HPV than in other regions. HPV vaccination is highly effective at preventing HPV-associated cancers and genital warts. Several resources have been directed towards improving HPV awareness in the US over the past couple of years to improve vaccination rates. Given the low rates of HPV vaccination among GBM in the US, this study aimed to assess the trends in HPV and HPV vaccine awareness using a nationally representative sample of GBM. We found an overall increase in HPV and HPV vaccine awareness between 2017 and 2020. However, the sociodemographic differences in awareness levels highlight the need for more interventions to improve vaccination rates, especially in this high-risk population.

Radiation Recall Dermatitis following Radioactive Iodine Therapy: A New Observation.

A 47-year-old female, who had previously received adjuvant right breast radiation for ductal carcinoma in situ, presented with right breast edema, erythema, and pain. This developed about two and a half weeks following radioactive iodine therapy for thyroid carcinoma. A biopsy was performed to rule out malignancy, since inflammatory breast cancer can present with similar symptoms. This confirmed radiation recall dermatitis (RRD) as the most likely diagnosis. RRD is an inflammatory reaction occurring in a previously irradiated field and was first described in 1959. Subsequent reports in the literature have associated it with the administration of other drugs, mostly chemotherapy. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of RRD following radioactive iodine therapy.

Bilateral Renal Lymphangiectasia Associated With Polycythemia: A Rare Case Report.

Renal lymphangiectasia is a rare benign mesenchymal tumor of unclear etiology resulting from dilatation of perinephric lymphatic channels and formation of cystic masses. Polycythemia is a rarely associated finding with only five cases reported in the literature. We report a case of bilateral renal lymphangiectasia associated with polycythemia in a 38-year-old man who was managed conservatively with pain control. There are no clear guidelines for the management of renal lymphangiectasia; although most patients can be treated conservatively, some cases, whose diagnosis is unclear or develop complications, require definitive surgical excision.

Exercise leads to metabolic changes associated with improved strength and fatigue in people with MS.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this exploratory study was to evaluate the effects of an exercise intervention - progressive resistance training (PRT) on the metabolome of people with MS (pwMS) and to link these to changes in clinical outcomes. METHODS: 14 pwMS with EDSS <4.0 and 13 age- and sex-matched healthy controls completed a 12-week in-person PRT exercise intervention. Outcome measures included: plasma metabolomics analysis, cardiovascular fitness tests, EDSS, timed 25-foot walk (T25FW), six-minute walk test (6MWT), hip strength, and modified fatigue impact scale (MFIS). We identified changes in the metabolome with PRT intervention in both groups using individual metabolite abundance and weighted correlation network defined metabolite module eigenvalues and then examined correlations in changes in metabolite modules with changes in various clinical outcomes. RESULTS: In both groups PRT intervention improved hip strength, distance walked in 6WMT, speed of walking, while fatigue (MFIS) was improved in pwMS. Fatty acid, phospholipid, and sex steroid metabolism were significantly altered by PRT in pwMS but not in controls. Changes in fatigue (MFIS score) were strongly inversely correlated and hip strength was moderately correlated with change in sex steroid metabolite module in pwMS. A similar relationship was noted between change in dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate abundance (sex steroid metabolite) and fatigue in pwMS. We also noted an inverse correlation between changes in fatty acid metabolism and cardiovascular fitness in pwMS. INTERPRETATION: PRT-induced metabolic changes may underlie improved clinical parameters in pwMS and may warrant investigation as potential therapeutic targets in future studies.