No abstract

Purpose Adjuvant endocrine treatment is essential for treating luminal subtypes of breast cancer, which constitute 75% of all breast malignancies. However, the detrimental side effects of treatment make it difficult for many patients to complete the guideline-required treatment. Such non-adherence may jeopardize the lifesaving ability of anti-estrogen therapy. In this systematic review, we aimed to assess the consequences of non-adherence and non-persistence from available studies meeting strict statistical and clinical criteria. Methods A systematic literature search was performed using several databases, yielding identification of 2,026 studies. After strict selection, 14 studies were eligible for systematic review. The review included studies that examined endocrine treatment non-adherence (patients not taking treatment as prescribed) or non-persistence (patients stopping treatment prematurely), in terms of the effects on event-free survival or overall survival among women with non-metastatic breast cancer. Results We identified 10 studies measuring the effects of endocrine treatment non-adherence and non-persistence on event-free survival. Of these studies, seven showed significantly poorer survival for the non-adherent or non-persistent patient groups, with hazard ratios (HRs) ranging from 1.39 (95% CI, 1.07 to 1.53) to 2.44 (95% CI, 1.89 to 3.14). We identified nine studies measuring the effects of endocrine treatment non-adherence and non-persistence on overall survival. Of these studies, seven demonstrated significantly reduced overall survival in the groups with non-adherence and non-persistence, with HRs ranging from 1.26 (95% CI, 1.11 to 1.43) to 2.18 (95% CI, 1.99 to 2.39). Conclusion The present systematic review demonstrates that non-adherence and non-persistence to endocrine treatment negatively affect event-free and overall survival. Improved follow-up, with focus on adherence and persistence, is vital for improving health outcomes among patients with non-metastatic breast cancer.

or dysregulated at the molecular level in endometriosis, but interestingly, progestin-based treatment of this disorder is variably effective. Thus, the term "progesterone resistance," was coined to describe a decreased responsiveness of target tissue to bioavailable P 4 and a dysregulation of differentiation-specific gene networks in the endometrium of women with endometriosis (5-8). The activated progesterone receptor (PR) is the master regulator of the tissue remodeling process in the uterus. It is a member of the steroid receptor superfamily and its activity is tightly regulated by interaction with co-regulators and cellspecific transcription factors; and by specific posttranslational modifications that respond dynamically to a variety of environmental and inflammatory signals (9). Today, it is still unclear what causes the downregulated P 4 response in endometriosis, but research has shown that several molecular markers related to P 4 and PRs are dysregulated (6, 10). The aim of this review is to present and discuss recent research concerning P 4 resistance in endometriosis, and to provide an overview of the most significant molecular perturbations in relation to the P 4 pathway that may cause or influence the P 4 resistance by comparing eutopic endometrium from women with and without endometriosis.

Background Spigelian hernia is a rare hernia of the abdominal wall. Due to lack of evidence, there is no standard recommendation for surgical technique of Spigelian hernia repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes after open and laparoscopic, elective and emergency repair of Spigelian hernias on a nationwide basis. Methods Nationwide data from the Danish Ventral Hernia Database and the National Patient Registry was assessed to analyze outcomes after Spigelian hernia repair. A total of 365 patients were operated for Spigelian hernia in Denmark from 2007 to 2018. Ninety-day readmission, 90-day reoperation and long-term operation for recurrence were evaluated, as well as possible differences between open and laparoscopic, and elective and emergency repairs. Results Most of the patients (80.5%, 294/365) were operated by laparoscopic approach and 19.5% (71/365) were operated by open approach. Elective surgery was performed in 83.6% (305/365) of the patients and 16.4% (60/365) underwent emergency repair. There were no significant differences in 90-day readmission or reoperation rates between open or laparoscopic Spigelian hernia repairs, P = 0.778 and P = 0.531. Ninety-day readmission and 90-day reoperation rates were also comparable for elective versus emergency repair, P = 0.399 and P = 0.766. No difference was found in operation for recurrence rates between elective and emergency, nor open and laparoscopic Spigelian hernia repairs. Conclusions This study demonstrates that 16% of Spigelian hernia repairs are done in the emergency setting. Open and laparoscopic approach are comparable in terms of early readmission, reoperation, and recurrence rates.