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ABO blood group has been associated with risks of various malignancies, including pancreatic cancer. No study has evaluated the association of ABO blood group with incidence of pancreatic carcinogenesis during follow-up of patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN).

Among 3,164 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cysts at the University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan) from 1994 through 2019, we identified 1,815 patients with IPMN with available data on ABO blood group. We studied the association of ABO blood group with incidence of pancreatic carcinoma, overall and by carcinoma types [IPMN-derived carcinoma or concomitant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)]. Utilizing competing-risks proportional hazards models, we estimated subdistribution hazard ratios (SHR) for incidence of pancreatic carcinoma with adjustment for potential confounders, including cyst characteristics.

During 11,518 person-years of follow-up, we identified 97 patients diagnosed with pancreatic carcinoma (53 with IPMN-derived carcinoma and 44 with concomitant PDAC). Compared with patients with blood group O, patients with blood groups A, B, and AB had multivariable SHRs (95% confidence intervals) for pancreatic carcinoma of 2.25 (1.25-4.07;

= 0.007), 2.09 (1.08-4.05;

= 0.028), and 1.17 (0.43-3.19;

= 0.76), respectively. We observed no differential association of ABO blood group with pancreatic carcinoma incidence by carcinoma types.

In this large long-term study, patients with IPMN with blood group A or B appeared to be at higher risk of pancreatic carcinoma compared with those with blood group O.

ABO blood group can be a biomarker for pancreatic cancer risk among patients with IPMNs.

ABO blood group can be a biomarker for pancreatic cancer risk among patients with IPMNs.

Observational evidence has shown that smoking is a risk factor for breast and colorectal cancer. We used Mendelian randomization (MR) to examine causal associations between smoking and risks of breast and colorectal cancer.

Genome-Wide Association Study summary data were used to identify genetic variants associated with lifetime amount of smoking (

= 126 variants) and ever having smoked regularly (

= 112 variants). Using two-sample MR, we examined these variants in relation to incident breast (122,977 cases/105,974 controls) and colorectal cancer (52,775 cases/45,940 controls).

In inverse-variance weighted models, a genetic predisposition to higher lifetime amount of smoking was positively associated with breast cancer risk [OR per 1-SD increment 1.13; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.26;

= 0.04]; although heterogeneity was observed. Similar associations were found for estrogen receptor-positive and estrogen receptor-negative tumors. Higher lifetime amount of smoking was positively associated with colorectal cancer (OR per 1-SD increment, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.04-1.40;

= 0.01), colon cancer (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.11-1.55;

< 0.01), and rectal cancer (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.07-1.73;

= 0.01). Ever having smoked regularly was not associated with risks of breast (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.90-1.14;

= 0.85) or colorectal cancer (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.86-1.10;

= 0.68).

These findings are consistent with prior observational evidence and support a causal role of higher lifetime smoking amount in the development of breast and colorectal cancer.

The results from this comprehensive MR analysis indicate that lifetime smoking is a causal risk factor for these common malignancies.

The results from this comprehensive MR analysis indicate that lifetime smoking is a causal risk factor for these common malignancies.Oxygen therapy is frequently prescribed for the palliation of breathlessness, despite lack of evidence for its effectiveness in people who are not hypoxaemic. This study aimed to compare and contrast patients’, caregivers’ and clinicians’ experiences of palliative oxygen use for the relief of chronic breathlessness in people with advanced life-limiting illnesses, and how this shapes prescribing.A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative data was conducted. MEDLINE, CINAHL and PsycINFO were searched for peer-reviewed studies in English (2000-present) reporting perspectives on palliative oxygen use for reducing breathlessness in people with advanced illnesses in any healthcare setting. After data extraction, thematic synthesis used line-by-line coding of raw data (quotes) to generate descriptive and analytical themes.Of 457 articles identified, 22 met the inclusion criteria by reporting perspectives of patients (n=337), caregivers (n=91) or clinicians (n=616). Themes common to these perspectives were 1) benefits and burdens of palliative oxygen use; 2) knowledge and perceptions of palliative oxygen use beyond the guidelines; and 3) longitudinal trajectories of palliative oxygen use.There are differing perceptions regarding the benefits and burdens of using palliative oxygen. Clinicians should be aware that oxygen use may generate differing goals of therapy for patients and caregivers. These perceptions should be taken into consideration when prescribing oxygen for the symptomatic relief of chronic breathlessness in patients who do not quality for long term oxygen therapy.As many as 1 in 10 patients experience dyspnea at hospital admission but the relationship between dyspnea and patient outcomes is unknown. We sought to determine whether dyspnea on admission predicts outcomes.We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a single, academic medical center. BBI608 STAT inhibitor We analysed 67 362 consecutive hospital admissions with available data on dyspnea, pain, and outcomes. As part of the Initial Patient Assessment by nurses, patients rated “breathing discomfort” using a 0 to 10 scale, (10=”unbearable”). Patients reported dyspnea at the time of admission and recalled dyspnea experienced in the 24 h prior to admission. Outcomes included in-hospital mortality, 2-year mortality, length of stay, need for rapid response system activation, transfer to the intensive care unit, discharge to extended care, and 7- and 30-day all cause readmission to the same institution.Patients who reported any dyspnea were at an increased risk of death during that hospital stay; the greater the dyspnea, the greater the risk of death (dyspnea=0, 0.