Medical Bulletin 04/November/2023

Here are the top medical news of the day:

Is frequent mobile phone use linked to reduced sperm quality in young men? Swiss study finds

A nationwide cross-sectional study conducted in Switzerland has revealed an association between high-frequency mobile phone use and decreased sperm concentration and total sperm count in young men.

The study involved 2,886 participants aged 18 to 22 who were recruited during military conscription between 2005 and 2018. Participants delivered a semen sample and completed a questionnaire on health and lifestyle, including the number of hours they spent using their mobile phones and where they placed them when not in use.

Reference: Association between self-reported mobile phone use and the semen quality of young men, Rita Rahban et al, Published:October 31, 2023, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.09.009

Docetaxel use associated with significant reduction in prostate cancer death in very poor prognostic group: Study

In a new study, investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a meta-analysis of five prospective randomized clinical trials (RCTs) found that adding docetaxel to standard-of-care (SOC) treatment was associated with a 70% reduction in death from prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM). The study was published in JAMA Network Open.

Investigators performed a meta-analysis of the RCTs evaluating SOC treatment with radiotherapy and androgen deprivation therapy or with radical prostatectomy versus SOC plus docetaxel. The final study cohort of 2,184 patients included 145 eligible patients (6.6%) across four eligible RCTs.

Reference: Mortality Risk for Docetaxel-Treated, High-Grade Prostate Cancer With Low PSA Levels

Higher risk of breast cancer in women with false-positive mammography result

Women who receive a false positive mammography result are more likely to develop breast cancer over the subsequent 20 years, report researchers from Karolinska Institute in a study published in JAMA Oncology. The risk is highest for women aged between 60 and 75 and who have low breast density.

At each screening visit, approximately three per cent of the women who undergo screening have a false positive result, which means that they are recalled for further examination without any cancer diagnosis. False-positive mammography results can cause psychological anxiety and influence screening attendance. Previous studies indicated that false-positive mammography results were associated with a short-term increased risk of breast cancer.

Reference: Breast cancer incidence after a false-positive mammography result, JAMA Oncology, DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.4519