Background: This study evaluates the role of social isolation on inflammation and cancer mortality among women. Methods: Data were abstracted from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1988 to 1994. The Social Network Index was used to assess participants’ degree of social isolation. C-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels were included as markers of inflammation. We used the National Death Index to identify causes and dates of mortality. Chi-square and multivariable Cox regressions were employed for statistical analyses. Results: Of 3360 women (median age: 54 years), the most isolated, very isolated, somewhat isolated, and not isolated comprised 14.5, 30.2, 37.1, and 18.2% of the sample, respectively. The most isolated participants were more likely to have low income (56.8% vs 12.2%, p < 0.001), have fewer years of education (40.8% vs 12.3%; p < 0.001), have low physical activity (27.3% vs 14.7%; p < 0.003), be obese (32.5% vs 24.4%; p = 0.02), and be current smokers (34.2% vs 10.3%; p < 0.001) compared to the not isolated ones. Mean fibrinogen levels increased with degree of social isolation (p = 0.003), but C-reactive protein showed no association (p = 0.52). Kaplan-Meier estimates indicated higher cancer mortality rates among participants with elevated fibrinogen levels, though not with statistical significance (p = 0.08). Furthermore, there was no association between social isolation and cancer mortality (p = 0.54). On multivariate analysis, obesity (HR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.11–2.18), higher education (HR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.01–1.83), and smoking (HR = 4.42, 95% CI: 2.84–6.88) were independent predictors for cancer mortality, while high physical activity predicted for lower mortality from cancer (HR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.51–0.87). However, social isolation was not a predictor. Conclusion: Social isolation among women was associated with an increased level of fibrinogen, but not associated with cancer mortality. The relationship between inflammation and cancer mortality warrants further investigation.

The present study aims to compare the rate of depressive symptoms and inflammation levels between sexual minorities and heterosexuals. Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2005 to 2010. Depressive-related symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scoring system. C-reactive protein was analyzed with the Behring Nephelometer. Of 8538 participants, 95.8% self-reported as heterosexual and 4.2% as sexual minority. Depressive symptoms were reported in 7.1% of heterosexuals compared to 15.8% in sexual minorities (P = 0.001). In heterosexuals, C-reactive protein was higher in those with depressive symptoms compared to those without (P < 0.001). In sexual minorities, similar results were found, however, it was statistically insignificant. The intersection group of black sexual minority females reported the highest rate of depressive symptoms at 33.4%. We found that depressive symptoms were higher in sexual minorities compared to heterosexuals. Furthermore, systemic inflammation was highest in the intersection group of black sexual minority females.

The purpose of this study was to determine the disparities and trends in demographics, social behaviors, and occupations for cadmium exposure in the U.S. Data were obtained from the NHANES database from 2007 to 2016. Analysis of variance tests were used to compare the association of the geometric mean values of urinary cadmium levels and various demographic and behavioral characteristics. We also conducted multivariable logistic regression while adjusting for these factors to determine the risk of toxic urinary cadmium levels (≥2 µg/g) across various patient characteristics. Of the 9639 participants, 52.8% were ≥45 years old, 51.7% female, and 48.3% male. White, Black, Mexican American, other Hispanic, and Asian comprised 66.4%, 11.5%, 8.7%, 5.8%, and 5.5%, respectively. Over 82% of participants were U.S. born. A total of 19.6% were current smokers. On multivariate analysis, older age (OR: 8.87), current smoking (OR = 5.74), Asian race (OR = 4.52), female sex (OR = 4.32), and foreign nativity (OR = 1.83) were significantly associated with higher cadmium levels. Older, Asian, foreign-born females showed a measurement of 0.69 μg/g, a value more than three-fold the sample population’s mean of 0.20 μg/g. A trend analysis demonstrated a cadmium level decrease over time (OR = 0.47). Asians had the highest urinary cadmium levels, especially older, foreign-born females. Smoking and poverty were also associated with significant elevations in cadmium levels.

Chow S, et al. J Gynecol Oncol. 2019 Jun;31:e81. https://doi.org/10.3802/jgo.2020.31.e81

5545 Background: With the December 19, 2018 regulatory approval by the US FDA of olaparib tablets as maintenance therapy for women with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline or somatic BRCAmut advanced ovarian carcinoma, it becomes important to clarify the role of PARP inhibitors in this disease. We evaluated cost-effectiveness of olaparib in the upfront (SOLO1) versus the recurrent maintenance setting (SOLO2). Methods: Data were obtained from SOLO1, the phase 3 placebo-controlled randomized upfront maintenance study among gBRCAmut patients [median PFS greater than 49.8 vs 13.8m: HR 0.30; 95% CI, 0.23-0.41; p < 0.001, NCT01844986] and SOLO2, the phase 3 placebo-controlled randomized maintenance study among gBRCAmut patients with platinum-sensitive recurrence and at least two prior lines of therapy [median PFS 19.1 vs 5.5m: HR 0.30; 95% CI, 0.22-0.41; p < 0.0001, NCT01874353]. Investigator-assessed median PFS and toxicity data from the trials were incorporated in a Markov model which transitioned patients through response, hematologic complications, non-hematologic complications, progression, and death. Using TreeAge Pro 2015, the costs of pre-treatment testing (eg. gBRCAmut), medications, and management of adverse effects were analyzed. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) per month of life gained and individual PFS-life year saved (PFS-LYS) were also calculated and compared. Results: In SOLO1, cost prior to progression was 1.7x that of SOLO2 ($937,440 vs $564,451). With the extended, estimated median PFS of at least 49.8m for SOLO1 and 19.1m for SOLO2, upfront maintenance therapy was more cost-effective. SOLO 1 was associated with $312,480 PF-LYS per individual patient, while SOLO2 demonstrated $498,045 PF-LYS. Maintenance olaparib was found to be more cost-effective in the 1st-line setting, with an ICER of $12,149 per month of life gained when compared directly to SOLO2. Conclusions: Although the higher cost associated with olaparib in SOLO1 reflects the longer time patients stay on drug due to extended PFS, the ICER supports early use in the disease course as first-line maintenance therapy among women with gBRCAmut advanced ovarian carcinoma.