Medical Bulletin 3/October/2023

Here are the top medical news of the day:

Common breast cancer drug Alpelisib may have an alarming side effect, finds study

A recent retrospective study conducted at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has uncovered concerning rates of hyperglycemia among metastatic breast cancer patients treated with alpelisib, a promising PI3K inhibitor. The study, spanning from 2013 to 2021, aimed to shed light on the incidence, risk factors, and treatment options for this condition.

Reference: Incidence, risk factors, and management of alpelisib-associated hyperglycemia in metastatic breast cancer, Sherry Shen MD et al, First published: 25 September 2023, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.34928

Study links Erythritol, a common sugar substitute, with cardiovascular risks

A recent groundbreaking research published in Nature Medicine, suggests that erythritol, a commonly used sugar substitute, is associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and promotes heightened platelet reactivity and thrombosis formation.

The study began with untargeted metabolomics studies involving 1,157 patients undergoing cardiac risk assessment, referred to as the discovery cohort. The findings revealed a noteworthy association between circulating levels of multiple polyol sweeteners, particularly erythritol, and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). These events encompassed serious outcomes such as death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (heart attack), or stroke and occurred within a three-year period.

Reference: Marco Witkowski et al, The artificial sweetener erythritol and cardiovascular event risk, Nature Medicine

Plant-based diets linked to reduced gastrointestinal cancer risk, systematic review finds

A systematic review of dietary patterns has unveiled a compelling association between vegetarian diets and a reduced risk of gastrointestinal tumorigenesis. This study, which encompassed data from various observational research, offers promising evidence that embracing a vegetarian diet may be associated with a lower risk of gastrointestinal cancer.

Researchers conducted an extensive search of medical databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, spanning from the inception of these databases to August 2022. The systematic review incorporated data from eight original studies, comprising seven cohort studies and one case-control study, and involved a substantial cohort of 686,691 participants.

Reference: Bai, Tongtonga; Peng, Juanjuanb; Zhu, Xinqic; Wu, Chengyua. Vegetarian diets and the risk of gastrointestinal cancers: a meta-analysis of observational studies. European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology 35(11): 1244-1252, November 2023. | DOI: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000002643