Current medical research and opinion
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Guideline panels recognize the need to increase the accuracy of identifying women at high risk of developing breast cancer who would benefit from prevention strategies. The characterization of proliferative epithelial disease found in nipple aspirate fluid (PED-NAF) may be a relevant risk factor. ⋯ PED-NAF among women free of breast cancer, compared with no fluid being obtained, has an independent risk of developing breast cancer comparable to the risk of a woman with a positive family history of breast cancer. These findings have implications for augmenting risk prediction and clinical decisions concerning breast cancer surveillance and chemoprevention. As with all reviews, heterogeneity across studies may have influenced the results. The limited literature calls for prospective studies on asymptomatic women with long-term follow-up.
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Guideline panels recognize the need to increase the accuracy of identifying women at high risk of developing breast cancer who would benefit from prevention strategies. The characterization of proliferative epithelial disease found in nipple aspirate fluid (PED-NAF) may be a relevant risk factor. ⋯ PED-NAF among women free of breast cancer, compared with no fluid being obtained, has an independent risk of developing breast cancer comparable to the risk of a woman with a positive family history of breast cancer. These findings have implications for augmenting risk prediction and clinical decisions concerning breast cancer surveillance and chemoprevention. As with all reviews, heterogeneity across studies may have influenced the results. The limited literature calls for prospective studies on asymptomatic women with long-term follow-up.
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Venous thromboembolism (VTE), comprising deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a major cause of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenditure. Anticoagulant therapy is recommended for at least 3 months in patients with acute VTE to prevent recurrence. Conventional anticoagulants are associated with inherent limitations including route of administration, required monitoring and dose adjustments, potential for food-drug and drug-drug interactions, unpredictable pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and possible severe adverse events. ⋯ NOACs offer additional oral anticoagulation treatment options for patients with VTE.