OhioHealth to offer breast cancer patients the opportunity to avoid unnecessary surgery
OhioHealth now offers breast cancer patients access to a groundbreaking surgical technique, which could spare them an invasive axillary procedure, according to the health system.
It is called ‘delayed’ sentinel lymph node biopsy, and is only possible to perform with Magtrace®, the world’s first non-radioactive, dual-tracer breast cancer staging technology. The technique gives physicians the opportunity to delay the surgery often used to assess the spread of breast cancer until they know it is needed, and spare surgery altogether for those who do not.
The lymph node biopsy that Magtrace® offers is performed by injecting Magtrace® into the breast at the time of mastectomy to remove the DCIS. The tracer, made from iron oxide particles, then migrates to the underarm, where it will remain for as long as the surgeon needs, marking the nodes most likely to contain cancer if it has spread.
The DCIS is then analyzed by pathology for any presence of an invasive component. If it is found to be invasive, the lymph nodes will still be marked with the Magtrace® meaning the patient can be scheduled to return for underarm surgery to confirm if the cancer requires upstaging. However, for roughly 80% of patients’ pathology will show that no further surgery is needed.
Peripheral artery disease: Leg pain, leg cramps, lingering foot wounds among symptoms
Leg pain and leg cramps aren’t always an orthopedic issue: Both can be signs of peripheral artery disease, or PAD, a serious blood-flow issue with implications for the heart. In peripheral artery disease, narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the affected limbs. They do not get enough blood flow to keep up with the demand. It is important to manage PAD as early as possible. In the worst cases, PAD can progress to open sores that do not heal, causing tissue death and limb loss.
Common symptoms include leg pain or cramps while walking and small sores on the feet that do not heal, according to Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Young Erben. Your first inclination might be to think of these as small things to ignore, but it is best to bring up these symptoms with your healthcare team.
Treatment depends on where someone is on the spectrum. Early on the spectrum, treatment typically includes:
- Addressing risk factors for peripheral artery disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and smoking.
- Screening for additional blood-flow problems, such as coronary artery disease, may be needed.
- Developing a walking program – typically involving time on a treadmill – that the patient can pursue at home or with a physical therapist or trainer.
Researchers discover new bacterium that causes gut immunodeficiency
Cleveland Clinic researchers have discovered a new bacterium that weakens the immune system in the gut, potentially contributing to certain inflammatory and infectious gut diseases. The team identified the bacterium, Tomasiella immunophila (T. immunophila), which plays a key role in breaking down a crucial immune component of the gut’s multi-faceted protective immune barrier.
Identifying this bacterium is the first step to developing new treatments for a variety of inflammatory and infectious gut diseases. These conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, are associated with decreased levels of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), an antibody that protects mucosal surfaces.