Medical Bulletin 07/December/2023

Here are the top medical news of the day:

LGB survivors of adolescent and young adult cancers have underlying chronic health conditions

Studies have indicated that minority sexual orientation and gender identity populations have higher prevalence rates of many chronic conditions including heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, lung disease, and kidney disease than heterosexual populations.

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adolescents and young adult cancer survivors in the United States are more likely to report experiencing chronic health conditions than their heterosexual peers with a history of cancer as well as their LGB peers without a past cancer diagnosis. The findings come from a survey-based study published by Wiley online in CANCER, journal.

Reference: Lesbian, gay, and bisexual survivors of adolescent and young adult cancers often have chronic health conditions; WILEY, Cancer; DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35015

Studies help explain why some prostate cancers become resistant to hormone therapy

Two new studies led by researchers from the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center give insight into how cells use energy to influence the way prostate tumors survive and grow — advancements that can help explain why some prostate cancers become resistant to hormone therapy, the most commonly used treatment for men with advanced stages of the disease.

In the first study, published today in Nature Cell Biology, the team of investigators identified a specific process in prostate cells that helps determine how they evolve from one type of cell to another, which plays a crucial role in determining a response to treatment.

Hormone therapy, also known as antiandrogen therapy, plays a crucial role in temporarily halting the growth of prostate cancer cells. Over time, however, the majority of patients eventually see their cancer return and progress, underscoring the pressing need for continued advancements to enhance clinical outcomes.

Reference: Studies help explain why some prostate cancers become resistant to hormone therapy; Nature Cell Biology, DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01274-x

Eating disorder hospitalizations on the rise, affecting 'atypical' groups the most

There was a disproportionate rise in pediatric eating disorder hospitalizations among males, younger adolescents, and individuals with eating disorder diagnoses other than anorexia or bulimia, according to a new study from researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and ICES. The study was published in JAMA Network Open.

This large, population-based study spanned a 17-year period in Ontario, Canada (2002-2019), and tracked an overall increase of 139% in eating disorder hospitalizations among children and adolescents, with a total of 11,654 hospitalizations. The number of co-occurring mental illness diagnoses for each hospitalization also rose.

Across all age groups, the researchers observed the largest absolute increases for females and those in mid-adolescence. However, other groups of individuals were disproportionately affected. 

Reference: Eating disorder hospitalizations on the rise, affecting 'atypical' groups the most; JAMA Network Open, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.46012