Search

Introduction: Maternal mortality has long been considered as a very good indicator for healthcare quality provided. Pregnancy is considered to be a physiological phase in the lifetime of a woman carrying serious implications on morbidity and mortality. It has been agreed upon that many of the maternal deaths in developing countries can be prevented. Aim: To study the prevalence of maternal mortality between March 2014-March 2018 in our hospital. Methods and Materials: It’s a retrospective observational study done at a tertiary care centre in southern part of India. Maternal deaths from March 2014 to March 2018 were looked into. Maternal mortality ratio and causes for the maternal deaths were analyzed and compared. Demographic details were collected and data regarding parity, mode of delivery, gestational age at delivery, antenatal check-ups, co morbid conditions, causes of death were noted and neonatal outcomes were noted. Results: Overall live births in the period between March 2014-March 2018 were 18978, of which the number of LSCS were 9590(50.5%), the number of vaginal deliveries were 9388(49.5%), the number of maternal deaths were 39(MMR-205/100000 live births).The leading cause was sepsis 48.6% followed by postpartum hemorrhage (20%). The most common indirect cause was anemia (42.85%). Conclusion: Sepsis & hemorrhage emerged as the greatest killers. Many of the reasons of maternal mortality were found to be preventable. Early identification and stratification of risks with prompt initiation of necessary management measures are necessary to prevent these deaths. Keywords: Maternal mortality, Sepsis, hemorrhage, preeclampsia, direct cause, indirect cause.

Objective The primary objective of this study was to delineate differences in management, overall and distant disease-free survival in males diagnosed with breast cancer and treated at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center as compared to comprehensively matched female subjects. Secondary objectives included assessment of clinical and histopathologic features and recurrence score, as measured by Oncotype DX and the modified Magee equation #2. Materials and methods This single institution retrospective study compared male and comprehensively matched female patients (1:2) with stage I-III breast cancer between 1994 and 2014. Recurrence risk was estimated using a modified Magee equation. Overall survival and distant disease-free survival were estimated and compared using Kaplan-Meier and Log-rank methods. Results Forty-five male breast cancer patients were included (stage I: 26.7%; stage II: 53.3%; stage III: 20.0%; hormone receptor positive: 97.8%; human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative: 84.4%) with a median age of 63.8 (43.0-79.4) years at diagnosis. Intermediate and low recurrence scores were most common in male and female patients respectively; mean score was similar between groups (20.3 vs. 19.8). The proportion of male breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and post-mastectomy radiation was lower compared to female patients (42.2% vs. 65.3%, p=0.013; 22.7% vs. 44.4%, p=0.030, respectively). Overall survival and distant disease-free survival between male and female patients were similar. Conclusion Male breast cancer patient outcomes were similar compared to well-matched female patients suggesting that breast cancer specific factors are more prognostic than gender.

Background Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC) is a complication of advanced malignancies wherein metastatic disease invades the meninges of the central nervous system via contiguous spread from bone or brain metastases or hematogenous spread from systemic disease. Breast cancer is the most common solid tumor etiology of LMC. Approximately 5% of patients (pts) with breast cancer develop LMC. LMC has a median survival of 4 weeks when untreated and 8-16 weeks with treatment. The diagnosis of LMC remains challenging with only 60% of pts having cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) positive for malignant cells. There is no generally accepted standard of care for treatment of LMC but it may involve intrathecal or systemic chemotherapy, whole brain or spinal radiotherapy, or a combination of modalities. We aimed to assess detection and treatment strategies of LMC in pts with breast cancer treated at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-James (OSUCCC-James) to better characterize the disease and guide clinical care. Methods An IRB-approved single-institution retrospective protocol was developed. Medical records of 469 pts who had undergone a procedure related to LMC diagnosis or treatment were identified and reviewed to determine study eligibility. Comprehensive data was obtained through information warehouse and chart review was performed for the eligible 69 pts with breast cancer diagnosed with LMC and treated at the OSUCCC-James between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2015. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic and clinical characteristics. Overall survival (OS) was defined as time from LMC diagnosis to death or last known follow-up, and was generated using Kaplan Meier methods. Comparisons in OS between groups were analyzed using Log-rank tests. Results Sixty-nine female pts were included in the analysis with the following characteristics: median age 55.7 years (range: 48-60.6 years), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2 (86%; N=59), and Caucasian (78%; N=54). They had the following subtypes hormone receptor positive (HR +), and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2) negative (61%, N=42), triple negative (25%, N=17) and HER2 positive (10%, N=7). The most common sites of metastases included bone (42%), brain (28%), and lung (12%). The median time between the diagnosis of first metastasis and LMC was 0.9 years (range: 0-3.2 years). Of the 40 (58%) pts who underwent lumbar puncture, 21 (52%) pts had positive CSF cytology. Sixty-eight pts (99%) had MRI findings suggestive of LMC. The most common treatment modalities were systemic chemotherapy (N=14, 41%), radiotherapy (N=12, 35%), and intrathecal chemotherapy (N=14, 35%). Fifty-six pts (81%) had a change in systemic chemotherapy agent after diagnosis. The median OS of all pts was 2.4 months (95% confidence interval: 1.2-4.4). Pts with ER+/PR+/HER2- had a better OS (4.4 months, 95%CI 1.5, 6.1)) compared to those with HER2+ (1.3 months, 95%CI 0.2, 1.9) or ER-/PR-/HER2- (0.6 months, 95%CI 0.0, 15.8) subtypes (p-value=0.004). Pts with negative CSF cytology had a greater OS compared to those with positive CSF cytology (9.8 vs. 0.7 months, p=0.026) and pts who had a change in systemic treatment had a greater OS compared with patients who had no new treatment (2.5 months vs. 1.2 months, p =0.039). No significant difference was seen in OS between ECOG performance status groups. Conclusions LMC is a relatively rare yet devastating complication of breast cancer. Based on our institutional experience, LMC remains a clinical challenge and is associated with poor OS. Pts with triple negative and HER2 positive disease and those with high disease burden fare worse. Pts who had change in systemic therapy fare better. Dedicated clinical trials are urgently needed to improve outcomes. Citation Format: Hannah Rinehardt, Nicole Williams, Evan Morgan, Mahmooud Kassem, Marilly Palettas, Abdul Miah, Iyad Alnahhas, Pilar Guillermo Prieto Eibl, Anupama Suresh, Vinay Puduvalli, Pierre Giglio, Maryam Lustberg, Robert Wesolowski, Sagar Sardesai, Daniel Stover, Jeffrey VanDeusen, Jose Bazan, Bhuvaneswari Ramswamy, Anne Noonan. Assessment of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis management and outcomes in patients with advanced breast cancer from 2005 to 2015: A single institution experience [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-20-07.

Purpose Capecitabine is widely used as a single agent on a 21-day cycle in the management of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Our primary objective was to compare the standard dosing of capecitabine (Arm A: days 1–14 on 21-day cycle) to biweekly dosing (Arm B: days 1–7 and 15–21 on 28-day cycle) using retrospective data analysis. Methods 166 patients with MBC treated with single agent capecitabine at The Ohio State University from 2002 to 2014 were considered eligible. Median time to treatment failure (TTF) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier (KM) methods. KM curves were compared using log-rank tests with Holm’s correction for multiplicity. Results Patients were grouped by dose schedule into one of three arms: Arm A (21-day cycle; capecitabine given at 1000 mg/m2 orally, twice daily on days 1–14 of 21-day cycle); Arm B (28-day cycle; capecitabine given at 1000 mg/m2 orally, twice daily on days 1–7 and 15–21 of 28-day cycle); and Arm C (changeover regimen where patients started on the 21-day cycle, but changed to a 28-day cycle for tolerability). No difference was found in TTF or OS for patients with MBC between those who received capecitabine on either standard dosing (Arm A) and those on a biweekly cycle (Arm B or C). Overall, 41% of patients required dose reduction. Conclusions Our single institution experience showed that alternate dosing of capecitabine (biweekly, 28-day cycle) may be a reasonable alternative to standard 21-day cycle with similar efficacy and fewer dose reductions.

The screening test for diabetes mellitus during pregnancy is done for all the pregnant women by Glucose Challenge Test (GCT) and if raised oral Glucose Tolerance Test ( OGTT) is done. In this study, single elevated 100gm OGTT value associated with effects on the neonate out come like, APGAR Score, large for gestational age & hyperbilirubinemia were studied in 500 pregnant women. GCT was considered high if the glucose level was >140 mg/dl and are considered as positive and OGTT were done with 100 gm glucose. The result of our study suggest that having a positive GCT is an independent risk factor for adverse neonatal outcome like large for gestational age 2.2% in normal GTT group in compared to 10.8% in impaired GTTgroup, and hyperbilirubinemia were significantly high in those patients. Gestational diabetes mellitus is diagnosed by a 2-step method, with a 3-hour, 100-g oral glucose tolerance test that is reserved for women with an abnormal 1-hour, 50-g glucose challenge test. Although the increased maternal-fetal morbidity with gestational diabetes mellitus is well established, controversy remains about the risk that is associated with an isolated abnormal value during a 3-hour, 100-g oral glucose tolerance test [1,2]. The result of Chaturvedi [3] suggest that having a positive GCT is an independent risk factor for adverse perinatal outcome like preeclamsia, post partum hemorrhage, and incidence of ceaserian sections were significantly high in these patients.

BACKGROUND Ectopic pregnancy is among the leading causes of mortality among pregnant women in the first trimester. Ectopic pregnancy occurs at a rate of 1-2% of all the pregnancies and can occur in any sexually active woman of reproductive age. We wanted to analyse the various risk factors associated with ectopic pregnancy, assess the morbidity and outcome associated with the risk factors and assess the results of management of ectopic pregnancy. METHODS A five-year retrospective cohort study was conducted from July 2011 to June 2016 at a hospital in Southern India. RESULTS 199 out of 29,548 pregnancies were diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy, leading to an incidence of 6.73 per 1000 deliveries. Majority of the ectopic pregnancies were seen in the age group of 26-30 years and among multigravidas. Missed menstrual cycle (62%) and bleeding per vagina (45.7%) were the most common presenting symptoms. The most common risk factor was history of a previous abdominal surgery (26%), followed by pelvic inflammatory disease (17%) and previous abortion (14.5%). The most common site of ectopic gestation was tubal ectopic (96.4%), of which 65% was ruptured at the time of diagnosis. 97.9% patients were surgically managed, 2.5% patients were successfully treated medically with methotrexate. Five patients were shifted to ICU in view of severe shock. There was no mortality. CONCLUSIONS Early diagnosis with clinical examination, use of ultrasonography, beta HCG levels, and immediate intervention is crucial in the management of ectopic pregnancy to reduce the mortality. Surgical morbidity can be avoided with conservative surgeries. Literacy, health education, good ambulance services plays vital role in reducing the morbidity in rural areas.

Introduction: The protective effects of breastfeeding against developing breast cancer are well known; however, it is unknown whether women are aware of this breastfeeding benefit. Researc...

PurposeLeptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC), a common complication of advanced malignancies, is associated with high morbidity and mortality, yet diagnosis and treatment decisions remain challenging. This study describes the diagnostic and treatment modalities for LMC and identifies factors associated with overall survival (OS). MethodsWe performed a single-institution retrospective study of 153 patients diagnosed with LMC treated at The Ohio State University between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2015. ResultsMedian age at diagnosis was 55.7 years, and 61% had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group baseline performance status ≤1. Most common primary tumors were breast (43%), lung (26%), and cutaneous melanoma (10%). At presentation, most patients were stage III-IV (71%) with higher grade tumors (grade III: 46%). Metastases to bone (36%), brain (33%), and lung (12%) were the most common sites with a median of 0.5 years (range, 0-14.9 years) between the diagnosis of first metastasis and of LMC. 153 (100%) patients had MRI evidence of LMC. Of the 67 (44%) who underwent lumbar puncture (LP), 33 (22%) had positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology. Most patients received radiotherapy for LMC (60%) and chemotherapy (93%) for either the primary disease or LMC. 28 patients received intrathecal chemotherapy, 22 of whom had a primary diagnosis of breast cancer. 98% died with median OS of all patients was 1.9 months (95% CI: 1.3-2.5 months). ConclusionDespite improved treatments and targeted therapies, outcomes of LMC remain extremely poor. Positive CSF cytology was associated with lower OS in patients who had cytology assessed and specifically in patients with breast cancer. CSF cytology serves as an important indicator for prognosis and helps aid in developing individualized therapeutic strategies for patients with LMC.

Background: Advanced technology and improved outcomes have led to rapid growth of ventricular assist devices (VADs) throughout the world, but little exists regarding their structure. We sought to study trends in VAD programs on a global level. Methods: We distributed a 26-question online survey to 321 individuals who work within those programs. Four categories of questions were formed: patient management, coordinator role, multidisciplinary support, and leadership. Results: Fifty-eight surveys (47 United States, 11 international) were analyzed. The majority of programs cared for 26 to 100 device-assisted patients (62%), 26% cared for ≤25 patients, and 12% cared for ≥100 patients. Advanced practice providers (APPs) were used in 69% of programs as a device coordinator. In-hospital rounding was performed equally among the APPs and registered nurses. Most programs used a social worker (90%), nutritionist (74%), pharmacist (72%), palliative care (66%), and finance coordinator (64%). Less than half (43%) included a case manager and only 33% used a pharmacist. The program leader was identified as a cardiologist (31%) or surgeon (26%) or both equally (43%). Conclusion: This study demonstrates differences and similarities between VAD program structures. Additional research is warranted to evaluate the effect of program structure on outcomes, job satisfaction, and retention regions.

Purpose Capecitabine is widely used as a single agent on a 21-day cycle in the management of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Our primary objective was to compare the standard dosing of capecitabine (Arm A: days 1-14 on 21-day cycle) to biweekly dosing (Arm B: days 1-7 and 15-21 on 28-day cycle) using retrospective data analysis. Methods 166 patients with MBC treated with single agent capecitabine at The Ohio State University from 2002 to 2014 were considered eligible. Median time to treatment failure (TTF) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier (KM) methods. KM curves were compared using log-rank tests with Holm's correction for multiplicity. Results Patients were grouped by dose schedule into one of three arms: Arm A (21-day cycle; capecitabine given at 1000 mg/m

Background Metaplastic breast cancer remains poorly characterized given its rarity and heterogeneity. The majority of metaplastic breast cancers demonstrate a phenotype of triple-negative breast cancer; however, differences in clinical outcomes between metaplastic breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer in the era of third-generation chemotherapy remain unclear. Methods We compared the clinical outcomes between women with metaplastic breast cancer and women with triple-negative breast cancer diagnosed between 1994 and 2014. Metaplastic breast cancer patients were matched 1:3 to triple-negative breast cancer patients by stage and age at diagnosis. Distant disease-free survival (DDFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using Kaplan Meier methods and Cox proportional hazard regression models. Immune checkpoint markers were characterized by immunohistochemistry in a subset of samples. Results Forty-four metaplastic breast cancer patients (stage I 14%; stage II 73%; stage III 11%; stage IV 2%) with an average age of 55.4 (± 13.9) years at diagnosis. Median follow-up for the included metaplastic breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer patients (n = 174) was 2.8 (0.1–19.0) years. The DDFS and OS between matched metaplastic breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer patients were similar, even when adjusting for clinical covariates (DDFS: HR = 1.64, p = 0.22; OS: HR = 1.64, p = 0.26). Metaplastic breast cancer samples (n = 27) demonstrated greater amount of CD163 in the stroma (p = 0.05) and PD-L1 in the tumor (p = 0.01) than triple-negative breast cancer samples (n = 119), although more triple-negative breast cancer samples were positive for CD8 in the tumor than metaplastic breast cancer samples (p = 0.02). Conclusions Patients with metaplastic breast cancer had similar outcomes to those with triple-negative breast cancer based on DDFS and OS. The immune checkpoint marker profile of metaplastic breast cancers in this study may prove useful in future studies attempting to demonstrate an association between immune profile and survival.

Fractional CO2 laser therapy is an emerging treatment for genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of fractional CO2 laser therapy in breast cancer survivors. This was a single arm feasibility study of breast cancer survivors with dyspareunia and/or vaginal dryness. Participants received three treatments of fractional CO2 laser therapy at 30-day intervals and returned for a 1-month follow-up. Feasibility was defined as treatment completion without serious adverse events (SAE) in 80% of patients. We collected data on the Vaginal Assessment Scale (VAS), the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Urinary Distress Index (UDI), and SAE. A total of 64 patients participated in the study. The majority of women had Estrogen receptor/Progesterone receptor (ER/PR) positive/Her2neu negative (n = 37; 63%), stage I (n = 32, 54%) or II (n = 19, 32%) breast cancer. Most were receiving endocrine therapy (n = 54, 92%), most commonly aromatase inhibitors (AI; n = 40, 68%). Fifty-nine (88.1%) of those enrolled completed all treatments according to protocol with no reported SAE. No patient withdrew due to SAE. The scores of the VAS (mean Δ − 0.99; 95% CI [− 1.19, − 0.79], p

Globalisation is the new age colonization whereby the hegemonic capitalist state has overtaken the world. The dialectics of economics has reignited the argument of open economy versus closed economy. Present scenario is such that the less developed countries and UDCs cannot afford an inward looking economy but it is also true that the sovereignty of these nation states is at risk. Deliberations have to be made to find a mid way which does not take away the very soul of these states. Statesmen like Chanakya and economists like Adam Smith have all been consensual to the fact that politics and economics are intertwined and therefore the analysis of one is incomplete without the other. Political narrative in today’s world has changed from globalisation to glocalisation to rashtr nirman; thereby making it compulsive for analysts and commentators to include them in their views. Lastly, the future of globalisation also has to be looked into because the future of India depends on it.

Inclusion has become the mainstay of economic planning in the last one decade. In this change in the outlook in policy, women have however been left out in the sense that there is entitlement but empowerment has not taken place. The state is a bystander in the banking policies when it comes to empowering women through financial inclusion. The problems faced by women along with other marginalized sections of the society have remained the same. Financial Inclusion in India has been bank led and this policy has not helped in the economic development of women. Business loans to women remain negligible and most of the policy changes are cosmetic in nature.

Aim Denture cleansers are used not only to clean dentures but also for disinfection of dentures. Among household denture cleansers, bleach (which contains sodium hypochlorite) and vinegar (which contains acetic acid) have been found to be powerful disinfecting agents. The objectives of this in vitro study were to evaluate and compare the color stability and tensile bond strength of Trevalon and Lucitone 199 heat-cured resins after immersing in household denture cleansers like 1% household bleach and 50% vinegar. Methodology A total of 48 Trevalon and Lucitone 199 heat- cure resin samples respectively were fabricated. The samples were divided into three groups of 16 samples each. They were immersed in 1% bleach, 50% vinegar and water (control) respectively. The samples were alternatively immersed in cleanser and water for 8 hours for 20 days simulating 30 days of use. At the end of 20 days, color stability and tensile strength were assessed with the help of spectro-guide and Instron universal testing machine respectively. Results Sodium hypochlorite and vinegar affected the color stability of Lucitone 199 heat-cure acrylic resin. The color of Trevalon heat-cure resin remained unaltered after immersion in both the cleansers. The change in tensile strength of both the resins was not significant after immersion in both the cleansers as compared with water which was used as control group. Conclusion This study concludes that for disinfection and cleansing of denture, sodium hypochlorite can be considered as long as the acrylic used is cross linked. How to cite this article Patankar AS, Meshramkar R, Nadiger R, Bagchi P. Effect of Household Denture Cleansers on Color Stability and Tensile Bond Strength of Two Different Heat Polymerized Acrylic Resins. Int J Prosthodont Restor Dent 2015;5(4):95-100.

There are various methods have been described for preoperative cervical priming prior to vacuum aspiration (VA) in first trimester pregnancy termination, to facilitate cervical dilatation and shorten the abortion procedure. Recently, misoprostol has been globally the most investigated drug for medical abortion. Misoprostol is affordable, is easily stored at room temperature, and possesses a shelf life of several years. In our prospective interventional comparative study misoprostol (800µg) administered per vaginally was compared tomisoprostol (800µg) administered per rectally for first trimester termination of pregnancy and were observed for spontaneous expulsion of products of conception. The complete abortion rate was 62.86% in vaginal group in contrast to 20% in rectal group which was statically significant and majority of cases in rectal group had incomplete abortions. In vaginal group, patients with < 8 weeks gestational age aborted completely comparable to the patients with gestational age 8-12 weeks while in rectal group, patients< 8 weeks gestational age had aborted completely in contrast to the patients with gestational age 8-12 weeks which was significant statistically and hence the efficacy of rectal misoprostol was

e13554 Background: Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC) is a complication of advanced malignancies wherein primary tumors metastasize to the leptomeninges surrounding brain and spinal cord. LMC complicates 4-15% of malignant solid tumors with incidence increasing as survival of patients with advanced cancer improves. Diagnostic methods include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology. MRI findings may be nonspecific, and the gold standard of diagnosis is malignant cytology on CSF analysis. We assessed detection methods, incidence, and outcomes of LMC at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center from 2005-2015. Methods: This was an IRB-approved single-institution retrospective study of 160 patients with confirmed diagnosis of LMC who were treated at the OSUCCC-James between Jan 1, 2005 and Dec 31, 2015. Patients with hematologic and central nervous system malignancies were excluded. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic and clinical characteristics. Overall survival (OS) was defined as time from LMC diagnosis to death or last known follow-up, and was generated using Kaplan-Meier methods. Results: Median age of LMC diagnosis was 55.8 years (range: 48, 62.5). 69 (43%) patients had primary breast cancer, 41 (26%) had lung cancer, and 17 (11%) had melanoma. 73 patients (46%) presented with stage IV disease at initial diagnosis of the primary cancer, 41 (26%) with stage III disease, and 26 (16%) with stage II disease. Median time from diagnosis of primary cancer to diagnosis of LMC was 2 years (range: 0, 31.2). 158 (99%) patients had metastases at the time of LMC diagnosis, predominantly in bone (36%) or brain (36%). Median OS was 1.9 months (CI: 1.3, 2.5). 160 (100%) patients had an MRI of the brain or spine and 155 (97%) had MRI findings consistent with LMC. 75 (47%) patients underwent lumbar puncture, and 39 (52%) had CSF cytology positive for malignancy. Conclusions: Patients with LMC commonly presented with stage IV breast cancer, lung cancer, or melanoma with metastases to the brain or bone. Despite treatment, prognosis remains poor and confirmation of diagnosis can be challenging. Clinicians should have a low threshold for investigating LMC in high risk patients presenting with neurologic signs or symptoms.

202 Background: Fractional CO2 laser therapy is an emerging treatment for GSM. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of fractional CO2 laser therapy in BC survivors. Methods: This was a single arm feasibility study of BC survivors with dyspareunia and/or vaginal dryness. Participants received three treatments with office-based fractional CO2 laser on at least 30 day intervals and returned for a one-month follow-up. Feasibility was defined as treatment completion without serious adverse events (SAE) in a minimum of 80% of patients. Primary efficacy was evaluated using the mean change (∆) in the score on the Vaginal Assessment Scale (VAS). Secondary efficacy endpoints included mean ∆ in scores on the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI). Descriptive statistics (means and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for continuous variables and proportions for categorical variables) were used. Results: The study is ongoing with 65 patients enrolled. To date, 37 patients have completed all study treatments and follow-up. Median age for those who have completed treatment was 57 years (range 34-72). Most were ER/PR positive (78%) and Her 2 negative (81%) with stage I (43%) or II (41%) BC. Ninety-five percent were receiving endocrine therapy, most commonly aromatase inhibitors (73%). No SAEs were reported in the 37 patients who have completed study treatments and their outcomes are as follows. Based on the VAS, 78% reported moderate-severe dyspareunia and 89% reported moderate-severe vaginal dryness at baseline. At follow up, 28% reported moderate-severe dyspareunia and 28% reported moderate-severe vaginal dryness. The VAS score improved from baseline to follow up (mean ∆ 4.1; 95% CI [3.1, 5.1]). Similarly, the FSFI score improved (mean ∆ -10.0; 95% CI [-13.2, -6.9]) and the UDI score improved (mean ∆ -5.7; 95% CI [-10.1, -1.3]). Final efficacy analysis will be reported once all patients have completed all time points. Conclusions: Fractional CO2 laser treatment is feasible and tolerable in BC survivors and may reduce symptom burden from GSM. A randomized controlled trial with sham laser is currently in development. Clinical trial information: NCT03307044.

Background: The approved dosing schedule of capecitabine monotherapy in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is 1250 mg/m2/dose administered days 1 through 14 of a 21-day cycle, but many patients (pts) have difficulty with this schedule due to side effects. Use of a lower starting dose such as 1000 mg/m2/dose or use of an alternative 28-day administration schedule (7 day on, 7 day off, repeat) allows for greater tolerability. Given limited data regarding efficacy of the alternative 28-day schedule, the primary objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of different schedules of capecitabine in patients with MBC. Methods: A retrospective chart review of pts with metastatic breast cancer who received capecitabine as monotherapy between 2002 and 2014 at the Ohio State University James Cancer Hospital was performed. We excluded any HER2-positive patients who had received concurrent HER2-targeted therapy. Pts who initiated therapy at a dose of 1000 mg/m2/dose were classified by these dosing schedules: Arm A (21 day), B (28 day), and C (changeover from 21 day to 28 day). Time to treatment failure (TTF) and overall survival (OS) were compared between dosing schedules using Kaplan Meier curves and log-rank tests. Results: A total of 181 MBC patients (Arm A: n = 113, Arm B: n = 25, Arm C: n = 43) with the following patient characteristics met eligibility criteria; 86.2% Caucasians, 13.8% non-Caucasians, 64.64% estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, 3.31% ER positive/HER2-positive, 2.22% ER negative/HER2-positive, and 29.83% triple-negative. The HER2-positive patients were excluded as they received concurrent therapy. A significant difference was seen in TTF (Arm A: 2.7 mo, Arm B: 2.8 mo, Arm C: 7.1 mo, p = 0.001) when comparing all dosing schedules as well as in OS (Arm A: 5.7 yrs, Arm B: 9.6 yrs, Arm C: 7.8 yrs, p = 0.006). After an initial dose reduction, patients on Arm B tolerated capecitabine for a longer period of time than patients on Arm A before needing a second dose reduction (Table 1). The median time on capecitabine for Arm A was 11.9 weeks and 12.6 weeks for Arm B, and the mean time of both Arm A and Arm B on capecitabine was 22.2 weeks. Patients with ER-positive breast cancer had improved TTF (4.45 months vs 2.32 months, p < 0.001) and OS (7.26 years vs 3.99 years, p < 0.001) compared to ER-negative breast cancer. Caucasians had improved TTF compared to African Americans (AA) and other races (3.90 mo vs 2.87 mo, p = 0.004); however, there was no significant difference in OS. Median starting dose (mg/m2): Arm A - 1000; Arm B - 1043; Arm C - 1000 Time to 1st dose reduction (weeks): Arm A - 6; Arm B - 6; Arm C - 6.5 Dose after 1st reduction (mg/m2): Arm A - 808; Arm B - 848.5; Arm C - 802 Time to 2nd dose reduction (weeks): Arm A - 6; Arm B - 20; Arm C - 8 Dose after 2nd reduction (mg/m2): Arm A - 599.5; Arm B - 690; Arm C - 697 Time to 3rd dose reduction (weeks): Arm A - 6; Arm B - 0; Arm C - 24 Dose after 3rd reduction (mg/m2): Arm A - 575; Arm B - 0; Arm C - 557 Table 1: Median dose (mg/m2) and median time to reductions (in weeks) Conclusions: Our study shows that patients who received the 28-day cycle initially or who were switched to the 28-day cycle appeared to have improved TTF and OS compared to patients on the 21-day cycle. It also shows that AA women had worse TTF on capecitabine when compared to Caucasians. One hypothesis for the improved TTF and OS is that this could be due to a higher total dose of capecitabine received in Arm B and C as shown in Table 1. We acknowledge that the limitations of our study include the sample size and the retrospective nature, and that further work needs to be done. However, the 28-day dosing schedule for capecitabine could be an alternative for elderly patients or patients with poor performance status who are at higher risk for drug toxicities. Citation Format: Nicole Olivia Williams, Anupama Suresh, Julie Stephens, Marilly Palettas, Michael J. Berger, Akaansha Ganju, Raquel Reinbolt, Robert Wesolowski, Anne M. Noonan, Jeffrey Bryan VanDeusen, Sagar Sardesai, Maryam Lustberg, Maryam B. Lustberg, Bhuvaneswari Ramaswamy. Efficacy of alternative 28-day capecitabine dosing schedule in metastatic breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Breast Cancer Research; 2017 Oct 7-10; Hollywood, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2018;16(8_Suppl):Abstract nr A69.

Background: Adults over age 65 are the fastes- growing segment of the US population. However, clinicians have less evidence of how to treat older adults, because they are underrepresented in clinical trials, and studies designed specifically for older adults are rare. Therefore, clinicians have to extrapolate from trials conducted in younger, healthier populations when developing treatment plans for older adults. Over 40% of new breast cancer diagnoses in the US occur in women aged over 65 years. In general, breast cancer in the older woman has distinct biologic features, including less aggressive characteristics and greater expression of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor. Increasing age is associated with higher rates of comorbidity and frailty, which has been shown to potentially reduce the survival advantage of more aggressive breast cancer therapies. We are conducting a prospective cohort study of adults > or = 65 years with a new diagnosis of breast cancer (OSU-16153) in order to better understand the complex health issues faced by this population, and to collect data with which to support future studies designed to improve the management of these patients. Specific Aims: 1) To assess overall and progression-free survival of breast cancer patients ages 65 and older seen in the Breast Medical Oncology clinics at the Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center at The Ohio State University; 2) to examine the association of demographic, diagnostic, and treatment data with patient outcomes, such as progression-free and overall survival, within this patient population; 3) to evaluate the unique needs of breast cancer patients ages 65 and older by implementing a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) within the Breast Medical Oncology clinics at The Ohio State University. Methods: The study will enroll patients > or = 65 years with a new diagnosis of breast cancer. Participants will complete a brief baseline questionnaire, including items addressing demographics, lifestyle, and health history. Patients will then be asked to complete a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) at the time of enrollment, and approximately every six months while on follow-up. The CGA contains both performance-based assessments of patients’ function, completed by study staff, as well as the patients’ self-reports of symptoms and quality of life. The CGA contains a multifaceted battery of clinical instruments including the PROMIS Global Short Form, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) Fatigue Scale, The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Geriatric Depression Scale, The James Supportive Care Screening Tool, Timed Up & Go Test, Grip Strength, Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test, Mini-Cog Test, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Mini Nutritional Assessment, Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. Participant medical records will be reviewed every three months to assess survival, disease progression, and treatment changes. All questionnaire data will be completed using iPads, and will be directly recorded into the REDCap database. Electronic medical records will be reviewed by research staff, and relevant data will be manually entered into the REDCap database. The aim is to enroll 1,000 participants, and the recruitment period will be five years from study initiation. Participants will be followed for five years from the time of enrollment, resulting in a total study length of ten years. The study opened to accrual on 18 April 2017. To date 3 patients have been enrolled and have completed baseline assessments. Citation Format: Anne M. Noonan, Janine A. Overcash, Anupama Suresh, Laura K. Flora, Julie Stephens, Geetika Bhatt, Raquel Reinbolt, Nicole O. Williams, Robert Wesolowski, Jeffrey B. VanDeusen, Sagar D. Sardesai, Maryam B. Lustberg, Bhuvaneswari Ramaswamy. A prospective geriatric breast cancer cohort study to define unique features and outcomes in older breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Breast Cancer Research; 2017 Oct 7-10; Hollywood, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2018;16(8_Suppl):Abstract nr A55.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that higher parity and lack of breastfeeding associates strongly with the risk of developing the aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). There is a 25-50% reduction in risk of developing TNBC in women who have breastfed >4-6 months when compared to parous women who have never breastfed. Higher rates of breastfeeding and lower incidence of BC observed in native African women support this postulate. Observational studies and recent national statistics indicate that the prevalence of breastfeeding is markedly low among African-American women (AAW) (58.9%) compared to Caucasian women (CW) (75.2%). Due to the remarkable health and economic benefit of breastfeeding, we investigated whether patients received information about breast cancer risk reduction as part of breastfeeding counseling and whether this knowledge affected participants' decision to initiate and sustain breastfeeding. Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted from September 2016 to June 2017 at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (OSUCCC) on women aged 18-50 who had at least one live-born child. Participants completed an electronic survey that included demographic information and details of breastfeeding history. Recruitment occurred via primary care secure patient portal electronic messaging (MyChart) and an online national clinical research registry (Research Match). Summary statistics were used to describe responses. Wilcoxon Rank Sum test was used to compare length of breastfeeding. Results: A total of 724 women (496 CW and 152 AAW and 76 unknown) completed the online survey; 503 responses through Research Match, 197 through MyChart, and 24 unknown. 92% of those who responded had breastfed. 56% (60.7% Caucasians and 46.1% AA) of women said they were aware breastfeeding reduced the risk of cancer. Of those who were aware of the risk, 36.4% said that this knowledge affected their decision to breastfeed. Of the 39 who did not breastfeed, 23 (59.0%) said being aware of this risk would have influenced their decision. Only 16.6% of women reported they received this information from health care providers; others were informed through magazines and Internet. The mean length of breastfeeding among women who were aware of this benefit was significantly longer than the women who were not aware (13.2 months vs 9.3 months, respectively, p Conclusions: Our study showed that there are disparities between AAW and CW in the knowledge that breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer and in the duration of breast feeding. In addition, we showed that increased knowledge impacts decision-making regarding breastfeeding. Hence, development of culturally relevant communication strategies, especially in AAW, can impact initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding, and ultimately result in aggressive breast cancer reduction. Citation Format: Akaansha Ganju, Anupama Suresh, Julie Stephens, Marilly Palettas, Diana Burke, Laura Miles, Maryam Lustberg, Seuli Brill, Bhuvaneswari Ramaswamy. Knowledge of breastfeeding to reduce breast cancer risk [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr C57.

Occurrence of Pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, and ocular emphysema is very rare, but developed under General Anaesthesia (GA) immediately after insuflation. A defect in the diaphragm may be the cause. A female patient aged 21-years, with infertility was posted for diagnostic laparoscopy. The extravasation of carbon dioxide at the beginning of the diagnostic laparoscopy resulted in pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, and ocular emphysema. It was assumed that the intraperitoneal carbon dioxide traversed into the mediastinum via a defect in the diaphragm which resolved after abdominal deflation & chest tube decompression.