Evaluation of Adjuvant Chemotherapy-Associated Steatosis (CAS) in Colorectal Cancer.

Chemotherapy-associated steatosis is poorly understood in the context of colorectal cancer. In this study, Stage II-III colorectal cancer patients were retrospectively selected to evaluate the frequency of chemotherapy-associated steatosis and to determine whether patients on statins throughout adjuvant chemotherapy develop chemotherapy-associated steatosis at a lower frequency. Baseline and incident steatosis for up to one year from chemotherapy start date was assessed based on radiology. Of 269 patients, 76 (28.3%) had steatosis at baseline. Of the remaining 193 cases, patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 135) had 1.57 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89 to 2.79) times the adjusted risk of developing steatosis compared to patients not receiving chemotherapy (n = 58). Among patients who underwent chemotherapy, those using statins for pre-existing hyperlipidemia (n = 37) had 0.71 (95% CI, 0.10 to 2.75) times the risk of developing steatosis compared to patients who were not prevalent users of statins (n = 98). Chemotherapeutic treatment of Stage II-III colorectal cancer appears to be consistent with a moderately increased risk of steatosis, although larger studies are necessary to assess the significance of this observation. Prospective trials should be considered to further explore the potential for protective use of statins in this curative patient population.

Awareness of bicycle light use of young adults.

Helmet use amongst bicyclists has been well documented in recent literature. Helmet use is not the only measure cyclists can take to reduce their chance of crashes. Many places, in addition to mandating helmet use by law for youths, also require bicycle lights to be used under low-light conditions (i.e. during sunrise, during sunset and at night). The aim of this study was to investigate the awareness of bicycle light use amongst young adults, with respect to the legalities and also utility of lights while cycling. An anonymous survey was developed and circulated to young adults in Canada, Ireland and the United States of America. A total of 112 individuals completed the survey. Only 13% of individuals had an unsatisfactory knowledge of bicycle light use. As knowledge is the first step towards advocating for new measures, young adults seem well -versed with respect to bicycle light use and may be able to be targeted to increase bicycle light use. Frequency of commute was related to the knowledge of bicycle light use; those who commuted more regularly were more knowledgeable. This study, however, was composed primarily of young adults residing in Canada. Future studies could investigate knowledge among young adults who reside in a region that more regularly commutes using a bicycle, to see whether this trend holds.