A Matched Case-Control Study of Risk Factors for Breast Cancer Risk in Vietnam.

Background. Vietnam has a low age-standardized incidence of breast cancer, but the incidence is rising rapidly with economic development. We report data from a matched case-control study of risk factors for breast cancer in the largest cancer hospital in Vietnam. Methods. 492 incident breast cancer cases unselected for family history or age at diagnosis and 1306 control women age 25-75 were recruited from the National Cancer Hospital (BVK), Hanoi. Structured interviews were conducted and pathology data was centrally reported at the National Cancer Hospital of Vietnam, in Hanoi. Results. Our analysis included 294 matched pairs. Mean age at diagnosis was 46.7 years. Lower mean parity, older age at first parity, increasing weight and BMI at age 18, and increasing BMI at diagnosis were positively correlated with breast cancer cases compared to controls. Age at first menarche and duration of breastfeeding were not statistically different between cases and controls. Conclusions. In this study we demonstrate that breast cancer in Vietnam is associated with some but not all of the published risk factors from Western populations. Our data is consistent with other studies of breast cancer in Asian populations.

[Evaluation of malaria vector control measures in central Vietnam (1976-1991)]. / Evaluation des mesures antivectorielles contre le paludisme dans le centre du Viêt-nam (1976-1991).

Activities used to control malaria transmission in the pilot station of Vanh Canh in the Binh Dinh Province of central Vietnam from 1976 to 1991 have been evaluated. These activities were: spraying DDT in and around the houses in the villages and the settlements in the fields; spraying lambdacyalothrin in the houses; and use of bed-nets impregnated with permethrin. Their efficacy was measured by the number of fever episodes due to malaria infections among the population. The spraying of DDT in the houses was followed by a reduction of malaria infection by more than 90%. However, spraying of the settlements was not advantageous. The termination of DDT spraying was not followed by an increase of malaria infections. Spraying with lambdacyalothrin was slightly more effective than with pyrimiphos and DDT. The use of pesticide-impregnated bed-nets was efficient, especially in the villages far away from the forest. Thus, these activities can contribute to the control of the malaria endemic in central Vietnam.

Expression of heparin/heparan sulfate interacting protein/ribosomal protein l29 during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy in the mouse.

Using a variety of approaches, we have examined the expression of the heparin/heparan sulfate (Hp/HS) interacting protein/ribosomal protein L29 (HIP/RPL29) in mouse uteri during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy. HIP/RPL29 selectively binds heparin and HS and may promote HS-dependent embryo adhesion. HIP/RPL29 was prominently expressed in both luminal and glandular epithelia under almost all conditions, including the phase of embryo attachment. In contrast, differences were noted in HIP/RPL29 expression in the stromal compartment both during the estrous cycle and during early pregnancy. Most notably, HIP/RPL29 accumulated in decidua, where it displayed a pattern complementary to that of pericellular deposition of the HS proteoglycan, perlecan. HIP/RPL29 protein was detected in implanted embryos at both initial and later stages of implantation; however, embryonic HIP/RPL29 mRNA accumulation was more pronounced at later stages (Day 7.5 postcoitum). In situ hybridization revealed similar spatial changes for HIP/RPL29 mRNA during these different physiological states. Whereas differences in the spatial pattern of HIP/RPL29 protein and mRNA expression were demonstrable, little change was detected in the level of HIP/RPL29 mRNA or protein in total endometrial extracts. Mouse blastocysts attached, but did not outgrow, on surfaces coated with recombinant murine HIP/RPL29. Surprisingly, soluble glycosaminoglycans including heparin, low molecular weight heparin, or chondroitin sulfate were not able to inhibit embryo attachment to HIP/RPL29-coated surfaces. These latter observations indicate that embryonic cell surface components other than HS proteoglycans can promote binding to HIP/RPL29 expressed by uterine cells.