Latest news with #Toriola
Observer
02-05-2025
- Health
- Observer
Breast cancer is becoming less deadly for younger women: US study
Young US women with breast cancer are not dying from the disease as often as a decade ago, researchers reported at the American Association for Cancer Research 2025 meeting in Chicago. From 2010 to 2020, breast cancer deaths among women ages 20-49 declined significantly across all breast cancer subtypes and racial and ethnic groups, with marked declines starting after 2016, according to an analysis of data from the national Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registry. Overall, the breast cancer death rate in this age group fell from 9.70 per 100,000 women in 2010 to 1.47/100,000 in 2020. The decline was sharper after 2016, likely due to advancements in treatment options, greater uptake of precision medicine, and expanded access to care and screening in women ages 40-49, study leader Adetunji Toriola of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis said in a statement. While breast cancer mortality declined in every racial and ethnic group, non-Hispanic Black women had the highest rate in both 2010 (16.56/100,000) and 2020 (3.41/100,000). Non-Hispanic white women had the lowest rates in 2010 (9.18/100,000) and 2020 (1.16/100,000). 'We have made tremendous advances in reducing mortality from breast cancer in young women but there are still opportunities for improvements, especially in relation to eliminating disparities,' Toriola said. 'We must continue to perform impactful research to ensure a further reduction in breast cancer mortality, including research into understanding the tumour biology and molecular mechanisms driving carcinogenesis and treatment response in younger women.' GLP-1 DRUGS MAY CURB ATRIAL FIBRILLATION GLP-1 drugs that are used to treat diabetes and have become wildly popular for weight loss, may also be useful for controlling the common heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation, researchers reported at the Heart Rhythm 2025 meeting in San Diego. Researchers looked at more than 2,500 patients with type 2 diabetes, atrial fibrillation and obesity at 170 US Veterans Affairs medical centres. Those who were receiving a GLP-1 drug experienced a 13% reduction in major AF-related events during a median follow-up of three years, compared to patients receiving other medications for their diabetes. AF-related events included hospitalisations for the disorder, need for electroshock therapy to reset the heart rhythm, and ablation procedures to heat heart tissue in order to create scars that interrupt the electrical signals causing the arrhythmia. Researchers did not identify the drugs being taken but common examples of GLP-1 medicines for diabetes include Novo Nordisk's Ozempic, Rybelsus and Victoza, and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Trulicity. Because patients were taking low doses of GLP-1 drugs, rather than higher doses used for weight loss, the results suggest the arrhythmia benefits are independent of any weight-loss benefit, the researchers noted. The study was not designed to prove the GLP-1 drugs caused the reduction in AF events. But study leader Dr Varun Sundaram of the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University said, 'Given the growing obesity epidemic and the rising prevalence of atrial fibrillation,' it lays the foundation for a new approach to treating AF if larger trials confirm the potential benefits. — Reuters
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Breast cancer is becoming less deadly for younger women, US study finds
London: Young U.S. women with breast cancer are not dying from the disease as often as a decade ago, researchers reported at the American Association for Cancer Research 2025 meeting in Chicago. From 2010 to 2020, breast cancer deaths among women ages 20-49 declined significantly across all breast cancer subtypes and racial and ethnic groups, with marked declines starting after 2016, according to an analysis of data from the national Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry. Overall, the breast cancer death rate in this age group fell from 9.70 per 100,000 women in 2010 to 1.47/100,000 in 2020. The decline was sharper after 2016, likely due to advancements in treatment options, greater uptake of precision medicine, and expanded access to care and screening in women ages 40-49, study leader Adetunji Toriola of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis said in a statement. While breast cancer mortality declined in every racial and ethnic group, non-Hispanic Black women had the highest rate in both 2010 (16.56/100,000) and 2020 (3.41/100,000). Non-Hispanic white women had the lowest rates in 2010 (9.18/100,000) and 2020 (1.16/100,000). "We have made tremendous advances in reducing mortality from breast cancer in young women but there are still opportunities for improvements, especially in relation to eliminating disparities," Toriola said. "We must continue to perform impactful research to ensure further reduction in breast cancer mortality, including research into understanding the tumor biology and molecular mechanisms driving carcinogenesis and treatment response in younger women." GLP-1 DRUGS MAY CURB ATRIAL FIBRILLATION GLP-1 drugs that are used to treat diabetes and have become wildly popular for weight loss, may also be useful for controlling the common heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation, researchers reported at the Heart Rhythm 2025 meeting in San Diego. Researchers looked at more than 2,500 patients with type 2 diabetes, atrial fibrillation and obesity at 170 U.S. Veterans Affairs medical centers. Those who were receiving a GLP-1 drug experienced a 13% reduction in major AF-related events during a median follow-up of three years, compared to patients receiving other medications for their diabetes. AF-related events included hospitalizations for the disorder, need for electroshock therapy to reset the heart rhythm, and ablation procedures to heat heart tissue in order to create scars that interrupt the electrical signals causing the arrhythmia. Researchers did not identify the drugs being taken but common examples of GLP-1 medicines for diabetes include Novo Nordisk's Ozempic, Rybelsus and Victoza, and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Trulicity. Because patients were taking low doses of GLP-1 drugs, rather than higher doses used for weight loss, the results suggest the arrhythmia benefits are independent of any weight-loss benefit, the researchers noted. The study was not designed to prove the GLP-1 drugs caused the reduction in AF events. But study leader Dr. Varun Sundaram of the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University said, "given the growing obesity epidemic and the rising prevalence of atrial fibrillation," it lays the foundation for a new approach to treating AF if larger trials confirm the potential benefits.
Reuters
02-05-2025
- Health
- Reuters
Health Rounds: Breast cancer is becoming less deadly for younger women, US study finds
May 2 (Reuters) - (To receive the full newsletter in your inbox for free sign up here) Young U.S. women with breast cancer are not dying from the disease as often as a decade ago, researchers reported, opens new tab at the American Association for Cancer Research 2025, opens new tab meeting in Chicago. Keep up with the latest medical breakthroughs and healthcare trends with the Reuters Health Rounds newsletter. Sign up here. From 2010 to 2020, breast cancer deaths among women ages 20-49 declined significantly across all breast cancer subtypes and racial and ethnic groups, with marked declines starting after 2016, according to an analysis of data from the national Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry. Overall, the breast cancer death rate in this age group fell from 9.70 per 100,000 women in 2010 to 1.47/100,000 in 2020. The decline was sharper after 2016, likely due to advancements in treatment options, greater uptake of precision medicine, and expanded access to care and screening in women ages 40-49, study leader Adetunji Toriola of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis said in a statement. While breast cancer mortality declined in every racial and ethnic group, non-Hispanic Black women had the highest rate in both 2010 (16.56/100,000) and 2020 (3.41/100,000). Non-Hispanic white women had the lowest rates in 2010 (9.18/100,000) and 2020 (1.16/100,000). 'We have made tremendous advances in reducing mortality from breast cancer in young women but there are still opportunities for improvements, especially in relation to eliminating disparities,' Toriola said. 'We must continue to perform impactful research to ensure further reduction in breast cancer mortality, including research into understanding the tumor biology and molecular mechanisms driving carcinogenesis and treatment response in younger women.' GLP-1 DRUGS MAY CURB ATRIAL FIBRILLATION GLP-1 drugs that are used to treat diabetes and have become wildly popular for weight loss, may also be useful for controlling the common heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation, researchers reported, opens new tab at the Heart Rhythm 2025, opens new tab meeting in San Diego. Researchers looked at more than 2,500 patients with type 2 diabetes, atrial fibrillation and obesity at 170 U.S. Veterans Affairs medical centers. Those who were receiving a GLP-1 drug experienced a 13% reduction in major AF-related events during a median follow-up of three years, compared to patients receiving other medications for their diabetes. AF-related events included hospitalizations for the disorder, need for electroshock therapy to reset the heart rhythm, and ablation procedures to heat heart tissue in order to create scars that interrupt the electrical signals causing the arrhythmia. Researchers did not identify the drugs being taken but common examples of GLP-1 medicines for diabetes include Novo Nordisk's ( opens new tab Ozempic, Rybelsus and Victoza, and Eli Lilly's (LLY.N), opens new tab Mounjaro and Trulicity. Because patients were taking low doses of GLP-1 drugs, rather than higher doses used for weight loss, the results suggest the arrhythmia benefits are independent of any weight-loss benefit, the researchers noted. The study was not designed to prove the GLP-1 drugs caused the reduction in AF events. But study leader Dr. Varun Sundaram of the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University said, "given the growing obesity epidemic and the rising prevalence of atrial fibrillation," it lays the foundation for a new approach to treating AF if larger trials confirm the potential benefits.
Business Mayor
01-05-2025
- Health
- Business Mayor
Breast cancer mortality in women ages 20-49 significantly dropped between 2010 and 2020
From 2010 to 2020, breast cancer deaths among women ages 20-49 declined significantly across all breast cancer subtypes and racial/ethnic groups, with marked declines starting after 2016, according to an analysis of data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2025, held April 25-30. Breast cancer incidence rates in women aged 20 to 49 years have been increasing over the past 20 years across most racial and ethnic groups, but few studies have examined mortality data for patients in this age group, according to Adetunji Toriola, MD, PhD, MPH, professor in the Department of Surgery and Division of Public Health Sciences and Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University School of Medicine. 'Understanding recent trends in mortality will enable us to assess progress over the years and inform where to direct resources to reduce cancer burden in this age group,' explained Toriola, who presented the study. Toriola and colleagues analyzed data from the SEER Program 17 registry, which included data on 11,661 breast cancer deaths among women ages 20-49 between 2010 and 2020. They evaluated breast cancer incidence-based mortality by race and molecular subtypes — including luminal A, luminal B, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-enriched, and triple-negative breast cancer — and identified differences in trends using annual percent changes (APC). Additionally, they performed relative survival analyses by examining the 10-year survival rate for each group and subtype. Across all subtypes and racial/ethnic groups, incidence-based mortality declined from 9.70 per 100,000 women in 2010 to 1.47/100,000 in 2020. Luminal A had the most pronounced decline among the four subtypes, with a decline throughout the time period and the largest drop in 2017 (-32.88% APC). Triple-negative breast cancer followed a similar trend, with 2018 marking its largest decline (-32.82% APC). Even though the decline in incidence-based mortality was the largest for luminal A overall, the 10-year relative survival for women with this breast cancer subtype varied depending on age. Among women ages 40-49, luminal A had the highest 10-year survival while among women ages 20-39, luminal A (78.3%) had lower 10-year survival than luminal B (84.2%). 'This was unexpected as luminal A is generally the least aggressive subtype with the most favorable prognosis,' Toriola said. 'This requires confirmation in other studies but may suggest that luminal A tumors in women ages 20-39 may represent a more biologically heterogeneous and potentially aggressive subgroup.' While incidence-based mortality declined for each of the racial/ethnic groups, non-Hispanic Black women had the highest incidence-based mortality in both 2010 (16.56/100,000) and 2020 (3.41/100,000) and non-Hispanic white women had the lowest incidence-based mortality in 2010 (9.18/100,000) and 2020 (1.16/100,000). Declines became most pronounced for non-Hispanic Black women in 2016 (-24.15% APC), for non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander women in 2013 (-18.46% APC), for Hispanic women in 2017 (-30.15% APC), and for non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native women in 2018 (-47.97% APC). The 10-year relative survival analysis found that non-Hispanic Black women had the worst survival outcomes, while non-Hispanic white women and non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander women had the best. 'We have made tremendous advances in reducing mortality from breast cancer in young women but there are still opportunities for improvements, especially in relation to eliminating disparities,' Toriola said. Toriola explained that the more drastic declines seen after 2016 likely reflect advancements in treatment options, greater uptake of precision medicine, and expanded access to care and screening in women ages 40-49. For example, he mentioned how the broader adoption of CDK4/6 inhibitors and optimization of endocrine therapy, which began receiving FDA approval and clinical adoption between 2015 and 2016, likely played key roles in improving mortality rates for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative cancers — including luminal A. Read More Black women most likely to die in medieval London plague 'We must continue to perform impactful research to ensure further reduction in breast cancer mortality, including research into understanding the tumor biology and molecular mechanisms driving carcinogenesis and treatment response in younger women,' Toriola said. 'Additionally, we must encourage and provide access to population-based screening in women ages 40-49 and targeted screening in younger high-risk women, and advocate for access to high-quality treatment and care for all women.' Key limitations of this study include a follow-up time limited to 10 years and a relatively smaller number of breast cancer deaths in some racial/ethnic groups. Funding for this study was provided by the Washington University School of Medicine. Toriola declares no conflicts of interest.
IOL News
30-04-2025
- Business
- IOL News
MTN Nigeria reports a significant financial rebound with surge in subscribers
MTN Nigeria's financial results have struggled during the past two years due to economic policy changes that resulted in the significant depreciation of the currency, the Naira, but its results for the first quarter to March 31, 2025, indicate a turnaround. Image: supplied MTN Nigeria Communications has reported a substantial increase in its subscriber base and an financial turnaround for the quarter ending March 31. The mobile network operator and biggest subsidiary of JSE-listed MTN Group added 3.2 million new subscribers, boosting its total subscriber count by 8.2% to reach 84.1 million in a period marked by economic challenges. Once jeopardised by macroeconomic policy shifts that led to the naira's substantial depreciation, MTN Nigeria's latest results reveal a robust recovery. In a stark contrast to a taxed loss of N392.7 billion during the same period last year, the company announced a profit of N133.7bn, reflecting an ability to adapt and thrive amidst economic turbulence. 'We reported a significant turnaround in our bottom line. This reflects the successful delivery of the five strategic priorities we committed to at the Extraordinary General Meeting on April 30, 2024,' said CEO Karl Toriola. This resulted in an improvement of retained earnings from negative N607.5bn to negative N474.1bn, while shareholders' equity also saw a positive shift, moving from negative N458bn to negative N324.6bn. The financial outlook appears promising, with an anticipated recovery in free cash flow (FCF) following the impact of a recent tariff increase. During the first quarter, MTN Nigeria noted a 40.5% surge in service revenue, totalling N1 trillion, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) surged by 65.9% to N492.7bn. Active data users also saw a healthy rise of 13%, reaching 50.3 million. The positive momentum was not unnoticed in the market; MTN Group's share price rose by 3.04% on the JSE on Wednesday, contributing to an annual gain of 32.8%. 'Building on the momentum from the fourth quarter, our first-quarter results place us on the path to restoring profitability and achieving a positive net asset position within the current financial year, while increasing our investments to improve network and service quality,' said Toriola. During the quarter, the regulatory approval for price adjustments facilitated an acceleration of network investments aimed at enhancing capacity and user experience. While macroeconomic uncertainties persisted, Toriola said that a relatively stable naira and easing inflation rates following the rebasing of Ghana's Consumer Price Index were positive factors towards the outlook for the rest of the financial year..
