Introduction: Red cell distribution width (RDW), a parameter traditionally used to assess anemia, has emerged as a potential prognostic biomarker in various cancers, including breast cancer. Studies suggested that elevated RDW levels are associated with worse outcomes in terms of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Objectives: This study aims to explore the utility of RDW as a predictive marker for 5-year OS and PFS in breast cancer patients. Patients and Methods: This retrospective cohort study investigated the prognostic significance of RDW as a predictive marker for 5-year OS and PFS in breast cancer patients. Conducted on 144 women treated at Shariati hospital and the cancer institute of Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran, Iran, between 2011 and 2016, the study collected demographic, clinical, and pathological data from patient records and pathology reports. RDW values were derived from routine blood tests, while survival outcomes were assessed through phone interviews with patients or their families. The primary outcome focused on the association between RDW levels and 5-year OS, while the secondary outcome examined its correlation with 5-year PFS. Results: The results revealed that higher RDW was significantly associated with poorer outcomes of both OS and PFS, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.89 and 1.41, respectively. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that, for patients with no 5-year OS, RDW demonstrated an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.783, ranging from 0.671 to 0.895. Similarly, for patients with no 5-year PFS, RDW showed an AUC of 0.679 (0.576-0.783). Conclusion: These findings highlight RDW as a potential prognostic biomarker for breast cancer survival outcomes, with higher RDW values correlating with poorer prognosis in terms of both OS and PFS.
Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis is a prevalent condition contributing to disability worldwide, primarily treated with non-surgical approaches to alleviate pain and improve function. Transfer energy capacitive and resistive (TECAR) therapy is a non-invasive method gaining attention for managing musculoskeletal conditions, though its efficacy for knee osteoarthritis remains underexplored. Objectives: To compare the effects of TECAR therapy and physiotherapy on symptoms and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Patients and Methods: This single blind, randomized clinical trial compared the efficacy of TECAR therapy to standard physiotherapy in treating knee osteoarthritis at Amin hospital's physical therapy clinic (Isfahan university of medical sciences) during 2023-2024. Forty patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis were divided into two groups: one received standard physiotherapy for 10 sessions, and the other underwent six sessions of TECAR therapy. Pain and functional outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) at baseline and during follow-ups immediately after the treatment and at one and three months. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements from baseline in VAS and WOMAC scores (P< 0.001). However, TECAR therapy yielded greater reductions in pain and improvements in function, particularly at the three-month follow-up (P < 0.001). The TECAR group also showed significant enhancements in WOMAC pain and stiffness sub-scores, attributed to TECAR's deep tissue heating effect, which facilitates improved circulation and cellular repair (P< 0.001 and P< 0.005, respectively). Conclusion: TECAR therapy was effective for managing knee osteoarthritis, with greater improvements in pain and function than standard physiotherapy. Although limited by sample size and lack of placebo control, these findings support TECAR therapy as a promising non-surgical treatment for knee osteoarthritis.
The mechanistic sequence from hyperandrogenism to tumorigenesis in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) encompasses a constellation of structural and functional aberrations spanning the endocrine, metabolic, immunologic, and genetic domains. Chronic hyperandrogenism incites an interconnected cascade through chronic anovulation and unopposed estrogen action, insulin resistance with hyperinsulinemia, low-grade systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and gut dysbiosis, each playing a synergistic role in promoting oncogenesis. It has been demonstrated that, this syndrome is most strongly associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer, with a more modest and less consistent association with ovarian and breast cancers. Thyroid cancer risk may also be elevated, particularly in younger women. The underlying mechanisms involve hormonal imbalances, metabolic dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and genetic predisposition. Women with PCOS should be monitored for early signs of these cancers, and management should focus on mitigating risk factors such as obesity, insulin resistance, and chronic anovulation.
Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common carcinoma around the world, and oxidative stress may play a role in the occurrence of colorectal cancer. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between oxidative balance score (OBS) and the risk of CRC occurrence. Materials and Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis article, databases Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase, and Google Scholar Search Engine were conducted for articles published until November 1, 2025. Data was analyzed using STATA 14. Results: A total of 9 observational studies were examined, and the results revealed that high OBS levels reduced the risk of CRC and colorectal adenoma by 17% and 34%, respectively. Furthermore, high OBS levels in the US (29%), UK (24%), China (6%), case-control studies (9%), and cohort studies (25%) reduced the risk of CRC. Additionally, increased OBS levels in men (32%) and women (22%) reduced the risk of CRC, and high dietary oxidative balance scores (DOBS) and lifestyle oxidative balance scores (LOBS) levels decreased the risk of CRC by up to 23% and 24%, respectively. Conclusion: High OBS levels significantly lowered the risk of CRC occurrence, and high OBS levels in men were more likely to prevent CRC compared with women. Additionally, the difference between the effect of DOBS and LOBS on reducing the risk of CRC was insignificant. Registration: This study has been compiled based on the PRISMA checklist, and its protocol was registered on the PROSPERO (ID: CRD420251230751) and Research Registry (UIN: reviewregistry2061) websites.
A growing body of evidence implicates dysbiosis of the oral microbiome as a significant, modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This dysbiosis, often manifesting as periodontitis, initiates local inflammation and tissue destruction, however its systemic consequences are profound. Key mechanisms linking oral dysbiosis to cardiovascular disease involve the induction of endothelial dysfunction and chronic systemic inflammation. Pathogens and their virulence factors enter the bloodstream through inflamed periodontal tissues, directly impairing endothelial nitric oxide production and bioavailability, promoting vasoconstriction, leukocyte adhesion, and a pro-thrombotic state. Concurrently, microbial components activate innate immune receptors on endothelial and immune cells, triggering sustained release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and acute-phase proteins. The low-grade, systemic inflammation accelerates atherosclerosis by promoting foam cell formation, plaque instability, and vascular remodeling. Epidemiological studies consistently associate periodontitis with increased risks of myocardial infarction, stroke, and atherosclerosis severity, independent of traditional risk factors.
