Purpose Evidence from cross-sectional studies suggests that higher levels of light-intensity physical activity (LPA) are associated with better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors. However, these associations have not been investigated in longitudinal studies that provide the opportunity to analyse how within-individual changes in LPA affect HRQoL. We investigated longitudinal associations of LPA with HRQoL outcomes in CRC survivors, from 6 weeks to 2 years post-treatment. Methods Data were used of a prospective cohort study among 325 stage I–III CRC survivors (67% men, mean age: 67 years), recruited between 2012 and 2016. Validated questionnaires were used to assess hours/week of LPA (SQUASH) and HRQoL outcomes (EORTC QLQ-C30, Checklist Individual Strength) at 6 weeks, and 6, 12 and 24 months post-treatment. We applied linear mixed regression to analyse longitudinal confounder-adjusted associations of LPA with HRQoL. Results We observed statistically significant longitudinal associations between more LPA and better global quality of life and physical, role and social functioning, and less fatigue over time. Intra-individual analysis showed that within-person increases in LPA (per 8 h/week) were related to improved HRQoL, including better global quality of life (β = 1.67, 95% CI 0.71; 2.63; total range scale: 0–100) and less fatigue (β = − 1.22, 95% CI − 2.37; − 0.07; scale: 20–140). Stratified analyses indicated stronger associations among participants below the median of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at diagnosis. Conclusion Higher levels of LPA were longitudinally associated with better HRQoL and less fatigue in CRC survivors up to two years post-treatment. Further prospective studies using accelerometer data are necessary to inform development of interventions targeting LPA.

We investigated longitudinal associations of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and light-intensity physical activity (LPA) with plasma concentrations of 138 metabolites after colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. Self-reported physical activity data and blood samples were obtained at 6 weeks, and 6, 12 and 24 months post-treatment in stage I-III CRC survivors (n = 252). Metabolite concentrations were measured by tandem mass spectrometry (BIOCRATES AbsoluteIDQp180 kit). Linear mixed models were used to evaluate confounder-adjusted longitudinal associations. Inter-individual (between-participant differences) and intra-individual associations (within-participant changes over time) were assessed as percentage difference in metabolite concentration per 5 h/week of MVPA or LPA. At 6 weeks post-treatment, participants reported a median of 6.5 h/week of MVPA (interquartile range:2.3,13.5) and 7.5 h/week of LPA (2.0,15.8). Inter-individual associations were observed with more MVPA being related (FDR-adjusted q-value < 0.05) to higher concentrations of arginine, citrulline and histidine, eight lysophosphatidylcholines, nine diacylphosphatidylcholines, 13 acyl-alkylphosphatidylcholines, two sphingomyelins, and acylcarnitine C10:1. No intra-individual associations were found. LPA was not associated with any metabolite. More MVPA was associated with higher concentrations of several lipids and three amino acids, which have been linked to anti-inflammatory processes and improved metabolic health. Mechanistic studies are needed to investigate whether these metabolites may affect prognosis.

A typical fibroxanthoma is a solitary tumour of the skin, which occurs mostly on sun-exposed areas in elderly people. The diagnosis can only be made with certainty on the typical histological findings, which suggest a bizarre malignant tumour. Although metastasizing tumours are reported in the literature, the authors believe that the true atypical fibroxanthoma is benign. Correct diagnosis obviates the need for unnecessary radical surgery. The possibility of atypical fibroxanthoma should always be considered when a histologically bizarre tumour is found on sun-damaged or irradiation-damaged skin in elderly patients or on previously traumatized sites. In this paper five cases are added to the 346 cases culled from the literature. Electron microscopic investigations in one case demonstrated cells with delicate cytoplasmic fibrils in small bundles. This does not necessarily suggest filaments of myofibroblasts, as has been previously reported.

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Complete resolution of glomerular changes in toxemia of pregnancy has been reported to occur as early as 4 weeks postpartum, whereas their persistence for as long as 2 years in some instances has been noted. However, the mechanism of resolution remains obscure. Percutaneous renal biopsy was performed in 22 patients between 10 and 14 days after delivery. These women fulfilled the criteria for toxemia of pregnancy (edema-protein -uria-hypertension gestosis). Biopsy specimens were examined, using light, immunofiuorescence and electron microscopy. Semithin sections were studied in view of greater reliability and better relation with further electron microscopic studies. A diffuse increase in mesangial cellularity and matrix was seen in all glomeruli with varying intensity, compatible with mesangium activity, more than endothelial proliferation. So-called capillary occlusions by endothelial swelling were not observed in the biopsies taken 10 days after delivery, but expulsed mesangial cytoplasm could be observed incidentally in the capillary lumen. This phenomenon may explain the wrong interpretation of paraffin sections studied by light microscopy. The presence of immunoglobulins in the glomeruli, seen by immunofluorescence, seems to be nonspecific trapping. In view of experimental studies of mesangium function in macromolecular uptake and processing, it is possible that resolution of the characteristic renal lesions in toxemia is promoted by mesangium activity.