Breast density quantitative measures and breast cancer risk among screened Black women.

Mammographic density is a strong predictor of breast cancer but only slightly increased the discriminatory ability of existing risk prediction models in previous studies with limited racial diversity. We assessed discrimination and calibration of models consisting of the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRAT), Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System density and quantitative density measures. Patients were followed up from the date of first screening mammogram until invasive breast cancer diagnosis or 5-year follow-up. Areas under the curve for White women stayed consistently around 0.59 for all models, whereas the area under the curve increased slightly from 0.60 to 0.62 when adding dense area and area percent density to the BCRAT model for Black women. All women saw underprediction in all models, with Black women having less underprediction. Adding quantitative density to the BCRAT did not statistically significantly improve prediction for White or Black women. Future studies should evaluate whether volumetric breast density improves risk prediction.

Galectin-3 is Associated with Heart Failure Incidence: A Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of death worldwide. The global prevalence of heart failure is projected to increase rapidly in the coming decades, and significant attention has turned to improving biomarker-based risk prediction of incident HF. This paper aimed to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the evidence associating levels of galectin-3 with the risk of incident HF. METHODS: A review of PUBMED-indexed peer-reviewed literature was performed. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, and all nine had data eligible for conversion and pooling. A randomeffects meta-analysis was performed using hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals from a minimally adjusted model, a further adjusted model, and from subgroups within the further-adjusted model. RESULTS: The minimally-adjusted model provided an HR of 1.97 (95% CI 1.74-2.23) when comparing the top quartile of log-gal-3 to the bottom quartile. The further-adjusted model provided an HR of 1.32 (95% CI 1.21-1.44) for the same comparison. The positive, significant association was conserved during sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSION: There is a significant positive association between circulating galectin-3 and the risk of incident heart failure. Given the complex mechanistic relationship between galectin-3 and cardiovascular pathophysiology, further investigation is recommended for the possible implementation of galectin-3 into clinical risk prediction models.

Comparing Musculoskeletal Injuries across Dance and Gymnastics in Adolescent Females Presenting to Emergency Departments.

(1) Background: Studies have yet to identify if there are any differences in musculoskeletal injury patterns between dance and gymnastics. This study aimed to determine if different injury patterns exist in adolescent females participating in those two popular sports. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data collected from patients presenting to U.S. emergency departments participating in the publicly available, de-identified U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) throughout the year 2020. Regression analyses were performed to explore if injury patterns were predictive of gymnastics or dancing participation. (3) Results: 518 adolescent females with dance-related injuries and 597 adolescent females with gymnastics-related injuries in 2020 were examined. Strain/sprains (33.3%) and fractures (37.3%) were the most reported dance- and gymnastics-related diagnoses, respectively. Participants were 74% less likely to have a strain/sprain diagnosis in gymnastics compared to dance (OR = 0.26, 95% CI [0.18, 0.38]) and were 3.84 times more likely to have a fracture diagnosis from gymnastics compared to dance (OR = 3.84, 95% CI [2.67, 5.57]), even after adjusting for body party injured. (4) Conclusions: Dance is associated with more sprains while gymnastics typically resulted in a greater likelihood for fractures.