The Impact of Prebiotic, Probiotic, and Synbiotic Supplements and Yogurt Consumption on the Risk of Colorectal Neoplasia among Adults: A Systematic Review.

Prebiotic and probiotic supplementation and yogurt consumption (a probiotic food) alter gut microbial diversity, which may influence colorectal carcinogenesis. This systematic review evaluates the existing literature on the effect of these nutritional supplements and yogurt consumption on colorectal neoplasia incidence among adults. We systematically identified ten randomized controlled trials and observational studies in adults age ≥ 18 without baseline gastrointestinal disease.

Variability in urinary phthalates, phenols, and parabens across childhood and relation to adolescent breast composition in Chilean girls.

Background: Epidemiologic evidence suggests that environmental factors acting as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are associated with mammographic breast density and the risk of breast cancer. Exposure to EDCs during puberty, a period of rapid breast development, may affect susceptibility to breast carcinogenesis.

Methods: In a cohort of 366 Chilean adolescents from the Growth and Obesity Cohort Study, we evaluated the relation between urinary concentrations of 15 suspected EDC biomarkers across three pubertal time points (Tanner breast stage 1 (B1), 4 (B4), and 1-year post-menarche) and breast fibroglandular volume (FGV; percent FGV [%FGV] and absolute FGV [aFGV]) and total breast volume (tBV) at 2-years post-menarche.

Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and breast composition in a longitudinal study of Chilean girls.

Background: Frequent sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake has been associated with indirect markers of breast cancer risk, such as weight gain in adolescents and early menarche. How SSB intake relates to breast composition in adolescent girls has not been explored.

Methods: We evaluated the association between prospective intake of SSB and breast density in a cohort of 374 adolescent girls participating in the Growth and Obesity Cohort Study in Santiago, Chile.

The Association Between Breast Density and Gut Microbiota Composition at 2 Years Post-Menarche: A Cross-Sectional Study of Adolescents in Santiago, Chile.

The gut microbiome has been linked to breast cancer immune, inflammatory, and hormonal mechanisms. We examined the relation between adolescent breast density and gut microbial composition and function in a cohort of Chilean girls. This cross-sectional study included 218 female participants in the Growth and Obesity Cohort Study who were 2 years post-menarche.

Characterizing the Effects of Calcium and Prebiotic Fiber on Human Gut Microbiota Composition and Function Using a Randomized Crossover Design-A Feasibility Study.

Consumption of prebiotic inulin has been found to increase calcium absorption, which may protect against gut diseases such as colorectal cancer. This dietary relation may be modulated by compositional changes in the gut microbiota; however, no human study has addressed this hypothesis. We determined the feasibility of a randomized crossover trial to evaluate the effect of three interventions (combined calcium and inulin supplementation, calcium supplementation alone, and inulin supplementation alone) on the intestinal microbiota composition and function.

Understanding and improving value frameworks with real-world patient outcomes.

Objectives: To provide recommendations that will improve approaches to measuring the value of new medical technologies to patients.

Study Design: Informed discussion by experts after literature review.

Methods: A working group was formed, and participants discussed how value frameworks should incorporate key features important to patients in evaluating new medical technologies, particularly for chronic diseases.

Evaluating HCV screening, linkage to care, and treatment across insurers.

Objectives: We examined how a population susceptible to hepatitis C virus (HCV) moves through the HCV screening and linkage-to-care (SLTC) continuum across insurance providers (Medicare, Medicaid, commercial) and identified opportunities for increasing the number of patients who complete the SLTC process and receive treatment.

Study Design: Discrete-time Markov model.

Methods: A cohort of 10,000 HCV-susceptible patients was simulated through the HCV SLTC process using a Markov model with parameters from published literature.

Modeling the impacts of restrictive formularies on patients with HIV.

Objectives: To model the impacts of restrictive formulary designs on outcomes for patients with HIV and to demonstrate the costs of restricting access to novel HIV regimens with better safety and efficacy profiles.

Study Design: We modified an epidemiological model of HIV incidence, progression, and treatment to simulate the effects of 5 formulary scenarios on patient outcomes in the United States.

Methods: Using a cohort of HIV-susceptible individuals, we followed patients through HIV infection, disease progression, and death.

Predictors of Interventional Treatment Use for Venous Thromboembolism in Cancer Patients.

Venous thromboembolic disease is a major cause of morbidity in cancer patients. The Perspective database was used to identify patients with solid tumors and a diagnosis of VTE from 2006 to 2012. We examined use of IVC filters, thrombolysis, and thrombectomy.

Risk Factors for Venous Thromboembolism Among Reproductive Age Women.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is rare among young women and is often presumed to occur in the setting of a genetic predisposition or during the use of estrogen-containing combined hormonal contraceptive or to have an unknown cause. This study aims to describe the distribution of VTE risk factors among women with a confirmed VTE.

Methods: We identified all women aged 15-46 years with a VTE diagnosis at Columbia University Medical Center from 2005 to 2012 using medical center databases.

Statin use and survival in elderly patients with endometrial cancer.

Background: Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States. Statins have demonstrated anti-cancer effects in other tumor types, such as the breast and lung cancers.

Aim: The objective of our study was to determine the association between statin use and endometrial cancer survival in a nationally-representative elderly population with endometrial cancer in the U.