Genetic removal of Nlrp3 protects against sporadic and R345W Efemp1-induced basal laminar deposit formation.

Chronic, unresolved inflammation has long been speculated to serve as an initiating and propagating factor in numerous neurodegenerative diseases, including a leading cause of irreversible blindness in the elderly, age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Intracellular multiprotein complexes called inflammasomes in combination with activated caspases facilitate production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1 beta. Specifically, the nucleotide-binding oligomerization (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) has received heightened attention due to the wide range of stimuli to which it can respond and its potential involvement in AMD.

A randomized study to improve care for young women with breast cancer at community and academic medical oncology practices in the United States: The Young and Strong study.

Background: The authors conducted a cluster randomized study to determine the effect of an exportable educational intervention for young women with breast cancer (YWI) on improving care.

Methods: Sites were randomized 1:1 to the YWI or a contact time control physical activity intervention (PAI) stratified by academic or community site. Up to 15 women aged ≤45 years with newly diagnosed breast cancer were enrolled at each of 14 academic sites and 10 were enrolled at each of 40 community sites.

Randomized phase 2 trial of a coordinated breast cancer follow-up care program.

Background: Previous research has demonstrated that cancer survivors often fail to receive recommended care and also undergo unnecessary care; this reduces care quality and increases costs.

Methods: This phase 2 trial randomized 100 stage 0 to IIIa breast cancer patients who had primary care providers within a large Massachusetts-based hospital network (with accessible online records) to either coordinated follow-up care (CC), which entailed a tailored survivorship care plan (SCP) and patient navigator calls every 3 months, or standard care (SC), which did not include an SCP or patient navigation, for 1 year after the completion of their last chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation treatment. The primary endpoint was the frequency of redundant examinations (>1 breast/chest wall examination per patient within any 30-day period in the absence of a new breast or chest wall complaint) over the year of follow-up.

Evaluating the Utility of Baseline Cardiac Function Screening in Early-Stage Breast Cancer Treatment.

Background: Cardiotoxicity can be a complication of anthracycline- or trastuzumab-based therapy for breast cancer patients. Screening echocardiograms (ECHOs) and radionuclide ventriculograms (RVGs) are often performed before administration of these agents to evaluate cardiac function. Limited evidence for the clinical utility of these screening tests is available.