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Lifestyle Choices Can Reduce Breast Cancer Risk Regardless of Genetics

A “favorable” lifestyle was associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer even among women at high genetic risk for the disease in a study of more than 90,000 women, researchers reported.

The findings suggest that, regardless of genetic risk, women may be able to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer by getting adequate levels of exercise; maintaining a healthy weight; and limiting or eliminating use of alcohol, oral contraceptives, and hormone replacement therapy.

Kawthar Al Ajmi, MSc, of the University of Manchester (England), and colleagues published these findings in JAMA Network Open.

With almost a quarter of breast cancers thought to be preventable in the United Kingdom, “it is important to understand the contribution of modifiable risk factors … and how they affect or add to the inherited genetic factors,” the researchers wrote.

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Novel Artificial Heart Valve Could Be Better Than Current Options

A novel polymeric heart valve with potentially greater benefits than current artificial valves has been developed by UK scientists.

The latest animal model and laboratory results of the valve, which could be tested in patients within five years, have been published in  Biomaterials Science.

Researchers developed and tested at International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) standards a novel prosthetic heart valve (PoliValve) manufactured by injection moulding.

The unique feature of this polymeric valve is that it is made of a self-assembling polymer with a microstructure conferring mechanical anisotropy analogous to that of natural valve tissue.

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COVID-19 : Risk of Post-surgery Complications

A UK-led global study shows COVID-19 patients who undergo surgery are at increased risk of postoperative death and pulmonary complications. 

Mortality rates for coronavirus patients after surgery approached those of the most seriously ill patients admitted to intensive care after contracting the virus in the community.

Global Study

Experts at the University of Birmingham-led National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery published their findings in The Lancet. The study was an international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries, and included 1128 patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery.

The study showed that pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) patients, in whom the 30-day mortality was 38·0% (219 of 577), which accounted for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. Independent risk factors for mortality included male sex, age 70 years or older, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification grades 3–5, surgery for malignant disease, emergency surgery, and major surgery. Overall 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128 patients).

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