Endonasal Endoscopic Optic Canal Decompression for Nontraumatic Optic Neuropathy: Long-Term Visual Outcomes in 36 Patients.

Background: The management of compressive optic neuropathy (CON) arising from nontraumatic compression of the optic nerve within the optic canal (OC) remains a topic of controversy. In this study, our aim was to assess the effectiveness and safety of endonasal endoscopic optic nerve decompression (EEOND). In addition, we conducted an analysis of prognostic factors that could potentially influence visual outcomes.

Endoscopic Rhizotomy for Facetogenic Back Pain: A Review of the History, Financial Considerations, Patient Selection Criteria, and Clinical Outcomes.

Background: Chronic back pain (CBP) is a condition that places a considerable burden on society, with several million people affected in the United States alone. Treatment options to address this problem and relieve CBP are constantly evolving, and one of the most promising treatment modalities for CBP that is refractory to conservative treatment options is endoscopic rhizotomy (ER).

Methods: A thorough search of the PubMed (MEDLINE) database was conducted to assess the full progression of ER from its earliest uses to present day in a historical narrative review of ER, with treatment of facetogenic pain as a model pathology.

Therapeutic properties of glass-ionomer cements: Their application to orthodontic treatment.

Fluoride has been shown to be an effective agent in the prevention of caries during orthodontic treatment. Resin-modified glass-ionomer cements possess therapeutic anticariogenic properties acting as a fluoride reservoir and releasing fluoride into the environment, particularly at low pH where there is a threat of enamel demineralisation and white spot lesions (WSL's). Patient compliance to instructions in standard oral hygiene measures limits the success of caries prevention and the routine use of glass-ionomer cements can mitigate the lack of compliance, although RMGIC's are not a panacea against WSL's.

Diagnostic chest X-rays and breast cancer risk among women with a hereditary predisposition to breast cancer unexplained by a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.

Background: Diagnostic ionizing radiation is a risk factor for breast cancer (BC). BC risk increases with increased dose to the chest and decreases with increased age at exposure, with possible effect modification related to familial or genetic predisposition. While chest X-rays increase the BC risk of BRCA1/2 mutation carriers compared to non-carriers, little is known for women with a hereditary predisposition to BC but who tested negative for a BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) mutation.

Incorporating conflict risks in pedestrian-motorist interactions: A game theoretical approach.

At "semi-controlled" crosswalks with yield signs and markings, negotiations as to the right-of-way occur frequently between pedestrians and motorists, to determine who should proceed first. This kind of "negotiation" often leads to traffic delay and potential conflicts. To minimize misunderstandings between pedestrian and motorist that can have serious safety consequences, it is essential that we understand the decision-making process as the "players" interact in real street-crossing situations.

Oral contraceptive use and ovarian cancer risk for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers: an international cohort study.

Background: Ovarian cancer risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers has been shown to decrease with longer duration of oral contraceptive use. Although the effects of using oral contraceptives in the general population are well established (approximately 50% risk reduction in ovarian cancer), the estimated risk reduction in mutation carriers is much less precise because of potential bias and small sample sizes. In addition, only a few studies on oral contraceptive use have examined the associations of duration of use, time since last use, starting age, and calendar year of start with risk of ovarian cancer.

The Partial Pressure of Inspired Carbon Dioxide Exposure Levels in the Extravehicular Mobility Unit.

NASA has been making efforts to assess the carbon dioxide (CO₂) washout capability of spacesuits using a standard CO₂ sampling protocol. This study established the methodology for determining the partial pressure of inspired CO₂ (Pco₂) in a pressurized spacesuit. We applied the methodology to characterize Pco₂ for the extravehicular mobility unit (EMU).

Investigating pedestrian waiting time at semi-controlled crossing locations: Application of multi-state models for recurrent events analysis.

"Semi-controlled" crosswalks are unsignalized, but clearly marked with "yield to pedestrian within crosswalk" signs. Ideally, pedestrians can cross the street immediately after they arrive at the curb. However, real world observations show that pedestrians and vehicles are often involved in non-verbal "negotiations" to decide who should proceed first.

Uptake of genetic counseling among adult children of BRCA1/2 mutation carriers in France.

Objective: Genetic counseling in at-risk families is known to improve cancer prevention. Our study aimed to determine the rate of uptake of genetic counseling among adult children of BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and to identify the potential psychosocial factors associated with uptake of genetic counseling.

Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was mailed to 328 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers 10 years after BRCA1/2 test disclosure.

Endoscopic Phenotype of Monoallelic Carriers of MUTYH Gene Mutations in the Family of Polyposis Patients: A Prospective Study.

Background: Almost no prospective data on endoscopy in MUTYH monoallelic carriers are available.

Objective: This study aimed to define the prevalence of colorectal and duodenal adenomas in a population of people presenting with a single mutation of the MUTYH gene and being first-degree relatives of biallelic MUTYH mutation carriers.

Design: This study is a prospective cohort evaluation.

Familial breast cancer and DNA repair genes: Insights into known and novel susceptibility genes from the GENESIS study, and implications for multigene panel testing.

Pathogenic variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2 only explain the underlying genetic cause of about 10% of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer families. Because of cost-effectiveness, multigene panel testing is often performed even if the clinical utility of testing most of the genes remains questionable. The purpose of our study was to assess the contribution of rare, deleterious-predicted variants in DNA repair genes in familial breast cancer (BC) in a well-characterized and homogeneous population.

Morphology and genomic hallmarks of breast tumours developed by ATM deleterious variant carriers.

Background: The ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene is a moderate-risk breast cancer susceptibility gene; germline loss-of-function variants are found in up to 3% of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) families who undergo genetic testing. So far, no clear histopathological and molecular features of breast tumours occurring in ATM deleterious variant carriers have been described, but identification of an ATM-associated tumour signature may help in patient management.

Methods: To characterise hallmarks of ATM-associated tumours, we performed systematic pathology review of tumours from 21 participants from ataxia-telangiectasia families and 18 participants from HBOC families, as well as copy number profiling on a subset of 23 tumours.

Telomere length, ATM mutation status and cancer risk in Ataxia-Telangiectasia families.

Recent studies have linked constitutive telomere length (TL) to aging-related diseases including cancer at different sites. ATM participates in the signaling of telomere erosion, and inherited mutations in ATM have been associated with increased risk of cancer, particularly breast cancer. The goal of this study was to investigate whether carriage of an ATM mutation and TL interplay to modify cancer risk in ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) families.

Efficacy of anthracycline/taxane-based neo-adjuvant chemotherapy on triple-negative breast cancer in BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers.

This study aims to estimate the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and to compare disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) between pCR and non-pCR groups of patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and deleterious BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. We carried out a retrospective analysis of 53 patients including 46 BRCA1, 6 BRCA2, and 1 combined BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation. All patients had been diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) between 1997 and 2014.

Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Increases Inflammation-Chemokine Modulation Suppresses Activation of Leukocytes Isolated after Ablation.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is associated with increased circulating markers of inflammation. Innate immune or inflammation pathways up-regulate mononuclear cell responses and may increase the risk for recurrent arrhythmia. Chemokines and serine protease coagulation pathways both activate innate immune responses.

Risks of Breast, Ovarian, and Contralateral Breast Cancer for BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutation Carriers.

Importance: The clinical management of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers requires accurate, prospective cancer risk estimates.

Objectives: To estimate age-specific risks of breast, ovarian, and contralateral breast cancer for mutation carriers and to evaluate risk modification by family cancer history and mutation location.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Prospective cohort study of 6036 BRCA1 and 3820 BRCA2 female carriers (5046 unaffected and 4810 with breast or ovarian cancer or both at baseline) recruited in 1997-2011 through the International BRCA1/2 Carrier Cohort Study, the Breast Cancer Family Registry and the Kathleen Cuningham Foundation Consortium for Research into Familial Breast Cancer, with ascertainment through family clinics (94%) and population-based studies (6%).