Vitamin D concentrations and breast cancer incidence among Black/African American and non-Black Hispanic/Latina women.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D may protect against breast cancer. Although Black/African American women and Hispanic/Latina women have lower circulating vitamin D levels than non-Hispanic White women, few studies have examined the association between vitamin D and breast cancer within these racial/ethnic groups. METHODS: The vitamin D-breast cancer association was evaluated using a case-cohort sample of self-identified Black/African American and non-Black Hispanic/Latina women participating in the US-wide Sister Study cohort. Circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (24,25(OH)2D) were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in blood samples collected at the baseline from 415 women (290 Black/African American women and 125 non-Black Hispanic/Latina women) who developed breast cancer. These were compared to concentrations in 1545 women (1084 Black/African American women and 461 Hispanic/Latina women) randomly selected from the cohort. Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Over a mean follow-up of 9.2 years, women with circulating 25(OH)D concentrations above the clinical cut point for deficiency (20.0 ng/mL) had lower breast cancer rates than women with concentrations ≤ 20 ng/mL (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.61-1.02). The inverse association was strongest among Hispanic/Latina women (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.29-0.93), with a weaker association observed among Black/African American women (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.68-1.18; P for heterogeneity = 0.13). There were no clear differences by menopausal status, follow-up time, estrogen receptor status, or invasiveness. Neither 24,25(OH)2 D nor the 24,25(OH)2 D to 25(OH)D ratio were independently associated with breast cancer risk. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study supports the hypothesis that vitamin D may be protective against breast cancer incidence in women, including non-Black Hispanic/Latina and Black/African American women. LAY SUMMARY: Vitamin D may protect against breast cancer. Although women of color have lower average vitamin D levels than non-Hispanic White women, few studies have considered the role of race/ethnicity. In a sample of self-identified Black/African American and Hispanic/Latina women, we observed that vitamin D concentrations measured in blood were inversely associated with breast cancer, particularly among Latinas. These findings indicate that vitamin D may protect women against breast cancer, including those in racial/ethnic groups with low average circulating levels.

Gestational Hypertensive Disorders and Maternal Breast Cancer Risk in a Nationwide Cohort of 40,720 Parous Women.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia and gestational hypertension are hypothesized to be associated with reduced maternal breast cancer risk, but the epidemiologic evidence is inconclusive. Our objective was to examine associations between gestational hypertensive disorders and breast cancer in a nationwide cohort of women with a family history of breast cancer. METHODS: Women ages 35-74 years who had a sister previously diagnosed with breast cancer, but had never had breast cancer themselves, were enrolled in the Sister Study from 2003 to 2009 (N = 50,884). At enrollment, participants reported diagnoses of eclampsia, preeclampsia, or gestational hypertension in each pregnancy. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between history of a gestational hypertensive disorder and incident invasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ among 40,720 parous women. We used age as the time scale and adjusted for birth cohort, race-ethnicity, and reproductive, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors. We examined effect measure modification by risk factors for gestational hypertensive disease and breast cancer and assessed possible etiologic heterogeneity across tumor characteristics. RESULTS: The prevalence of gestational hypertensive disease was 12%. During follow-up (mean = 10.9 years), 3,198 eligible women self-reported a breast cancer diagnosis. History of a gestational hypertensive disorder was not associated with breast cancer risk (HR = 1.0; 95% CI = 0.90, 1.1). We did not observe clear evidence of effect measure modification or etiologic heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: History of a gestational hypertensive disorder was not associated with breast cancer risk in a cohort of women with a first-degree family history of breast cancer.

Vitamin D Supplement Use and Risk of Breast Cancer by Race-Ethnicity.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D has anticarcinogenic properties, but a relationship between vitamin D supplement use and breast cancer is not established. Few studies have accounted for changes in supplement use over time or evaluated racial-ethnic differences. METHODS: The Sister Study is a prospective cohort of 50,884 women with 35-74 years of age who had a sister with breast cancer, but no breast cancer themselves at enrollment (2003-2009). We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between vitamin D supplement use and incident breast cancer (3,502 cases; median follow-up 10.5 years). RESULTS: Vitamin D supplement use was common, with 64% reporting ever use (at least once per month) in the year before enrollment. Considering supplement use over time, ever use of vitamin D supplements was not meaningfully associated with breast cancer (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.88, 1.0), relative to never use. However, after adjusting for prior use, recent use of vitamin D supplements ≥1/month was inversely associated with breast cancer (HR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.78, 1.0), relative to nonrecent use. The inverse association was stronger for ductal carcinoma in situ (HR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.52, 0.87) than invasive breast cancer (HR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.72, 1.1, p-for-heterogeneity = 0.02). Supplement use was less common among African American/Black (56%) and non-Black Hispanic/Latina (50%) women than non-Hispanic White women (66%), but there was limited evidence of racial-ethnic differences in HRs (p-for-heterogeneity = 0.16 for ever use, P = 0.55 for recent). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that recent vitamin D use is inversely associated with breast cancer risk.

Perinatal and postnatal exposures and risk of young-onset breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Perinatal factors have been associated with some adult health outcomes, but have not been well studied in young-onset breast cancer. We aimed to evaluate the association between young-onset breast cancer and perinatal exposures and to explore etiologic heterogeneity in the relationship between associated perinatal factors and estrogen receptor status of the tumor. METHODS: We addressed this in a sister-matched case-control study. Cases were women who had been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive breast cancer before the age of 50. Each case had a sister control who was free of breast cancer up to the same age at which her case sister developed the disease. The factors considered were self-reported and included the mother's preeclampsia in that pregnancy, mother's smoking in that pregnancy, gestational hypertension, prenatal diethylstilbestrol use, and gestational diabetes, as well as low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds), high birth weight (greater than 8.8 pounds), short gestational length (less than 38 completed weeks), and being breastfed or being fed soy formula. RESULTS: In conditional logistic regression analyses, high birth weight (odds ratio [OR] = 1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-2.36) and preeclampsia (adjusted OR = 1.92, CI 0.824-4.5162) were positively associated with risk. The association with preeclampsia was stronger when the analysis was restricted to invasive breast cancer (OR = 2.87, CI 1.08-7.59). We also used case-only analyses to assess etiologic heterogeneity for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive versus estrogen receptor-negative cancer. Women who were born to a preeclamptic pregnancy and later developed young-onset breast cancer were at increased odds for the ER-negative type (OR = 2.27; CI 1.05-4.92). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that being born to a preeclamptic pregnancy may increase risk for young-onset breast cancer, especially for the ER-negative subtype.

Predictors of urinary phthalate biomarker concentrations in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Phthalates are ubiquitous endocrine disrupting chemicals present in a wide variety of consumer products. However, the personal characteristics associated with phthalate exposure are unclear. OBJECTIVES: We sought to describe personal, behavioral, and reproductive characteristics associated with phthalate metabolite concentrations in an ongoing study nested within the Women's Health Initiative (WHI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured thirteen phthalate metabolites in two or three archived urine samples collected in 1993-2001 from each of 1257 WHI participants (2991 observations). We fit multivariable generalized estimating equation models to predict urinary biomarker concentrations from personal, behavioral, and reproductive characteristics. RESULTS: Older age was predictive of lower concentrations of monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono-carboxyoctyl phthalate (MCOP), mono-3-carboxypropyl phthalate (MCPP), and the sum of di-n-butyl phthalate metabolites (ΣDBP). Phthalate metabolite concentrations varied by race/region, with generally higher concentrations observed among non-Whites and women from the West region. Higher neighborhood socioeconomic status predicted lower MBzP concentrations, and higher education predicted lower monoethyl phthalate (MEP) and higher concentrations of the sum of metabolites of di-isobutyl phthalate (ΣDiBP). Overweight/obesity predicted higher MBzP, MCOP, monocarboxynonyl phthalate (MCNP), MCPP, and the sum of metabolites of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (ΣDEHP) and lower MEP concentrations. Alcohol consumption predicted higher concentrations of MEP and ΣDBP, while current smokers had higher ΣDBP concentrations. Better diet quality as assessed by Healthy Eating Index 2005 scores predicted lower concentrations of MBzP, ΣDiBP, and ΣDEHP. CONCLUSION: Factors predictive of lower biomarker concentrations included increased age and healthy behaviors (e.g. lower alcohol intake, lower body mass index, not smoking, higher quality diet, and moderate physical activity). Racial group (generally higher among non-Whites) and geographic regions (generally higher in Northeast and West compared to South regions) also were predictive of phthalate biomarker concentrations.

Urinary concentrations of phthalate biomarkers and weight change among postmenopausal women: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Some phthalates are endocrine disrupting chemicals used as plasticizers in consumer products, and have been associated with obesity in cross-sectional studies, yet prospective evaluations of weight change are lacking. Our objective was to evaluate associations between phthalate biomarker concentrations and weight and weight change among postmenopausal women. METHODS: We performed cross-sectional (N = 997) and longitudinal analyses (N = 660) among postmenopausal Women's Health Initiative participants. We measured 13 phthalate metabolites and creatinine in spot urine samples provided at baseline. Participants' weight and height measured at in-person clinic visits at baseline, year 3, and year 6 were used to calculate body mass index (BMI). We fit multivariable multinomial logistic regression models to explore cross-sectional associations between each phthalate biomarker and baseline BMI category. We evaluated longitudinal associations between each biomarker and weight change using mixed effects linear regression models. RESULTS: In cross-sectional analyses, urinary concentrations of some biomarkers were positively associated with obesity prevalence (e.g. sum of di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites [ΣDEHP] 4th vs 1st quartile OR = 3.29, 95% CI 1.80-6.03 [p trend< 0.001] vs normal). In longitudinal analyses, positive trends with weight gain between baseline and year 3 were observed for mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate, monoethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-hydroxybutyl phthalate, and mono-hydroxyisobutyl phthalate (e.g. + 2.32 kg [95% CI 0.93-3.72] for 4th vs 1st quartile of MEP; p trend < 0.001). No statistically significant associations were observed between biomarkers and weight gain over 6 years. CONCLUSIONS: Certain phthalates may contribute to short-term weight gain among postmenopausal women.

Bisphenol-A in breast adipose tissue of breast cancer cases and controls.

We evaluated whether bisphenol-A (BPA) could be quantified in breast adipose tissue samples provided by 36 breast cancer mastectomy patients and 14 reduction mammoplasty patients. Samples of breast adipose tissue were collected and BPA concentration was quantified using HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. BPA was detectable above the limit of quantitation of 0.38 ng/g in 30.6% of samples. BPA concentrations varied within- and between breasts and were similar between cases and controls (0.39 vs 0.41 ng/g, p = 0.74).

Repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer actions in a Brazilian state.

Objective: To analyze whether the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the screening, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in women up to 50 years of age in the state of Pará. Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, using data from the Information Technology Department of the Brazilian Unified Health System. (DATASUS). The number of exams carried out in the pre-pandemic (2018-2019) and pandemic (2020-2021) period was analyzed based on the percentage variation, application of the chi-square test and G test for the time of exams and start time of treatment. Results: During the pandemic period, there was a greater number of screening mammograms (+3.68%), cytological (+23.68%), histological (+10.7%) and a lower number of diagnostic mammograms (-38.7%). The time interval for carrying out the exams was up to 30 days for screening and diagnostic exams and more than 60 days to start treatment during the pandemic period. Conclusion: Although the results indicate an increase in the number of screening and diagnostic procedures for breast cancer during the pandemic period, with the exception of diagnostic mammography, when considering probability values, the study points out that statistically the COVID-19 pandemic did not interfere with actions of breast cancer, in women over 50 years of age, in the state of Pará. Considering the autonomy of nursing and its role in public health, it is up to the professionals who are in charge of primary care programs to implement contingency plans in periods of crisis so that the population is not left unassisted.

Understanding intimate self-care among riverine women: qualitative research through the lens of the Sunrise Model.

OBJECTIVES: to contribute to the change in understandings and knowledge of the popular system among riverine women about female intimate self-care before and after the application of an educational dynamic. METHODS: a qualitative-participative study based on the Sunrise Model. Twenty women registered at a Basic Health Unit on the Combu island, state of Pará, Brazil, participated in the second half of 2022. Semi-structured interviews were conducted before and after the educational dynamic; followed by reflective inductive analysis. RESULTS: these are pointed out: a female mechanism of generational education; the cultural act of bathing as synonymous with intimate self care and disease prevention; intimate care with medicinal herbs; lack of professional system approach to the topic; fear of using "muddy water"; and lack of financial resources to purchase specific products for genitourinary care. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: companionship and social factors drive intimate self-care; however, riverine women experience taboos, ignorance, and poverty.

Nursing care protocol for critical users with tracheostomy under mechanical ventilation.

OBJECTIVES: to develop and assess a nursing care protocol for critically ill users with tracheostomy under mechanical ventilation. METHODS: a methodological study, developed through two phases, guided by the 5W2H management tool: I) target audience characterization and II) technology development. RESULTS: thirty-four nursing professionals participated in this study, who presented educational demands in relation to care for critical users with tracheostomy, with an emphasis on standardizing care through a protocol and carrying out continuing education. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: the creation and validity of new technologies aimed at this purpose enhanced the participation of nursing professionals and their empowerment in the health institution's microsectoral actions and in macrosectoral actions, highlighting the need for public policies that guarantee the conduct of a line of care for users with tracheostomy.

Profile of scientific production on nursing technology construction, validity and application: a bibliometric study.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the profile of scientific production on nursing technology construction, validity and application. METHODS: this is a bibliometric study, carried out in six databases, based on the Methodi Ordinatio application, arranged in nine stages. To represent the findings, the VOSviewer® software was used. RESULTS: 346 studies were identified, obtained from BDENF, CINAHL, EMBASE, LILACS, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science. There was a predominance of the English language, and 20% of the authors hold more than 25% of studies. Only two journals account for 25% of studies in the period studied. Twenty-six studies were selected for the InOrdinatio classification. Nursing Process (23%) stood out among the studies. The most produced technology was software (27%), and 50% of works describe construction and validity. CONCLUSIONS: there is an emphasis on the creation of educational technologies, especially information technology. The data demonstrates opportunities for future research in the area.

"Fala-M@no-COVID-19": technological development of a health navigation program for men during the pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: to develop a care-educational technology similar to a health navigation program for men during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: a methodological and qualitative study of a care-educational technology of health navigation program, structured by Program Development Cycle, with 16 patient navigators and 10 professional navigators. It used reflective thematic content analysis and an adaptation model for data processing. RESULTS: the "Fala-M@ano-COVID-19"; navigation program was developed by: I) Observation of reality, problem mapping, needs assessment: content selection, creation of domains and questions; II) Theoretical-conceptual and methodological definition, creation of product under the elaboration of care plans, based on theory, process and taxonomies by a flowchart of operationalization of actions; and III) Self-assessment: qualitative research with professional navigators. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: the technology developed, with theoretical and methodological support, allowed to derive a viable navigation program compatible with reality based on the audience's needs.

Persistence of Risk for Type 2 Diabetes After Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: Gestational diabetes mellitus complicates ∼6% of pregnancies and strongly predicts subsequent type 2 diabetes. It has not been fully elucidated how risk depends on the number of affected pregnancies or how long the excess risk persists. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We assessed reproductive histories in relation to risk of type 2 diabetes using a nationwide cohort of 50,884 women. Among participants who initially did not have diabetes, 3,370 were diagnosed with diabetes during 10 years of follow-up. We used Cox proportional hazards models that allowed risk to depend on age, cumulative number of pregnancies with gestational diabetes mellitus, and time since the most recent affected pregnancy, adjusting for BMI, educational level, and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: History of one or more pregnancies with gestational diabetes mellitus predicted elevated age-specific risk of type 2 diabetes, with a hazard ratio of 3.87 (95% CI 2.60-5.75) 6-15 years after an affected pregnancy. Risk increased steeply with multiple affected pregnancies. The age-specific associations attenuated over time after an affected pregnancy, with an estimated 24% reduction of the hazard ratio per decade. Risk remained elevated, however, for >35 years. CONCLUSIONS: Gestational diabetes mellitus predicted markedly increased rates of type 2 diabetes. Relative risk increased substantially with each additional affected pregnancy. The estimated hazard ratio declined with time after a pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus but remained elevated for >35 years. Women recalling a history of gestational diabetes mellitus should be screened regularly for type 2 diabetes, even late in life.

A peripheral artery disease screening study in Puerto Rico.

UNLABELLED: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) of the lower extremities is frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated. The results of screening for PAD in adults attending outpatient clinics at different sites in Puerto Rico from 2007 to 2010 are presented. METHODS: A total of 33 outpatients screening clinics were conducted at different sites throughout the Island. Following the ACC/AHA Guideline recommendations, asymptomatic patients who qualified were screened for PAD using the ankle-brachial index (ABI). An ABI < 0.9 was considered positive for PAD. We estimated the prevalence of PAD in the study population and used logistic regression models to assess factors associated with a positive screening test for PAD. RESULTS: A total of 933 patients were screened for PAD. Out of the 933 patients, the ABI was < 0.9 in 390 (41.8%) of them. Bivariate analysis showed a significant difference in PAD screening results by gender (P = 0.004) and history of arterial hypertension (P = 0.004). Regarding clinical characteristics, leg edema 44.7% (P = 0.001), intermittent claudication 40.3% (P = 0.002), distal extremity coldness 29.0% (P = 0.012), and weak lower extremity pulses 67.5% (P < 0.001) were more prevalent on patients with an ABI < 0.9. In the multivariate analysis, male gender (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.18, 3.11) and arterial hypertension (OR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.28, 3.65) were significantly associated with PAD after adjusting for specific confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Arterial hypertension, cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia are known key factors in development of PAD. Practicing physicians must be aware of the importance of an early diagnosis of PAD, particularly in the asymptomatic patient, so as to institute preventive and management measures.

Experiences, dietary behavior and cultural characteristics of people with colorectal neoplasms.

OBJECTIVES: to interpret the socio-cultural, religious, and spiritual aspects of the experience of people who have colorectal cancer and were submitted to surgical treatment with ostomy. METHODS: ethnographic study under the perspective of the Sociology of Health, in the comprehensive aspect, in a surgical unit of an oncologic hospital of the state of Pará, Brazil. Eighteen deponents participated, eleven patients, and seven caregivers, between December 2018 and March 2019. Data were obtained with non-participant observation, field diary records, and semi-structured interviews with subsequent inductive content analysis. RESULTS: religious attachment and socio-cultural aspects of the illness were interpreted, emphasizing the social fact of the Immediate Dream, emotional shock, modern totemism, toxic food as taboo, and medicalization in the sphere of common sense and biomedical system. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: microsocial and macrosocial factors of the participants' experiences contribute to the qualification of oncologic assistance in the public system, assuming the need for specialized interprofessional assistance.

Mothers' knowledge of premature newborn care and application of Kangaroo Mother Care at home.

OBJECTIVE: to identify mothers' knowledge about premature newborn care and application of Kangaroo Mother Care at home. METHODS: a descriptive, qualitative study carried out with 15 mothers of premature newborns in a reference Maternal and Child Hospital in northern Brazil using two semi-structured interviews with open- and closed-ended questions. The testimonies were analyzed using thematic analysis technique, proposed by Bardin. RESULTS: two thematic categories originated: "Caring for a premature newborn at home: strengths and weaknesses" and "Applying Kangaroo Mother Care at home: new knowledge acquired during hospitalization". FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: the speeches of the interviewed mothers pointed out their knowledge about home care of premature NBs and understanding the importance of Kangaroo Mother Care, mainly acquired and improved with the guidance of professionals during hospitalization and application of the method, in addition to fears, possible difficulties in home care and the need to be better informed at hospital discharge.

Cultural, social, and healthcare access factors associated with delays in gastric cancer presentation, diagnosis, and treatment: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify the time intervals between the demand for health services and the initiation of cancer treatment, and to explore the associated factors, in gastric cancer patients being treated in an oncology hospital in northern Brazil. METHODS: This cross-sectional study. Gastric cancer patients receiving treatment in a northern Brazil reference hospital were interviewed. A Mann-Whitney test was used to verify associations between the time intervals of access to treatment and socioeconomic factors, clinical variables, and patient difficulties, adopting a 0.05 significance level. RESULTS: The average time intervals were 471.3 days between symptom onset and primary health service request and 180.9 days between diagnosis and treatment. The average time between the onset of symptoms and the treatment of gastric cancer was 747.8 days. Patients using herbal home remedies showed the longest times before seeking primary health care (p = 0.04). Delays between diagnosis and treatment were associated with unemployment (p = 0.03). High average times until oncologist appointments were related to the absence of comorbidities (p = 0.004). Personal difficulties and a lack of hospital beds were associated with long time intervals to specialist appointments and between diagnosis and treatment. Personal difficulties were associated with long time intervals between the onset of symptoms and the treatment of gastric cancer. CONCLUSION: Gastric cancer patients faced delays and healthcare access barriers in a region with high mortality for this disease. Appropriate interventions are necessary to reduce delays and better control the disease. POLICY SUMMARY: In this paper we have explored the barriers to access to diagnosis and treatment for patients with gastric cancer in a major cancer centre in Northern Brazil. The results will inform strategies for improving timely access to critical cancer services.

[That so-called papanicolaou: women's social representations about the screening test for cervical cancer]. / Esse tal Nicolau: representações sociais de mulheres sobre o exame preventivo do câncer cérvico-uterino.

This research aims to identify women's social representations of women regarding cervical cancer and describe the relationship of these social representations with preventive care. The study used a qualitative-exploratory approach, with the theory of social representations as the theoretical-conceptual support. Data collection was performed using two techniques: the free association of words and the semi-directed interview with open questions. The thematic analysis technique was used for data interpretation. The research resulted in two thematic units: cervical cancer: an early treatable wound and the screening test: taking because of fearing. It was observed that women have great fear of having cervical cancer and, therefore, recognize the importance of the screening test and see it as an act of self-care towards their health.

[Social representations of women submitted to mastectomy and the implications for self-care]. / Representações sociais de mulheres mastectomizadas e suas implicações para o autocuidado.

The purposes of this research was to identify the social representations of women on breast mastectomy and to analyze the implications of these social representations to care for self-care. This is a qualitative study using the Theory of Social Representations as theoretical reference. For data collection it was employed two techniques: the free association of ideas and observation. For data analysis the thematic analysis was used. The research resulted in two thematic units: the breast and its representations of social change in the body and social representations of women mastectomy: implications for self care. In the study, showed that women objected care of the breasts through the realization of self-examination.