The effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids on health outcomes in women with breast cancer: A systematic review.

This study aimed to systematically evaluate the impact of omega-3 fatty acids on the health outcomes of women with breast cancer in electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) for interventional studies. The risk of bias and the quality of the included articles were assessed by Cochrane Collaboration Handbook guidance. The statistical analyses were not conducted because of the heterogeneity of the included studies. Of 3676 identified articles, 11 articles were included in this study. The majority of the included studies were not of high quality. Median progression time and overall survival significantly improved. Additionally, surgical site healing complications and infection rates decreased. There was a significant decrease in perceived stress, sleep disturbance, depression, pain, joint stiffness, and fatigue throughout the intervention. Moreover, omega-3 fatty acids consumption significantly increased the total serum omega-3, EPA, and DHA, and decreased the omega-6: omega-3 ratio, total leukocytes, lymphocytes, leptin, and CRP, accordingly. Mild gastrointestinal symptoms were reported in only two studies without clinically relevant adverse events. Omega-3 fatty acids may cause improvement in physical, mental, and some inflammatory and metabolic indices during treatment or posttreatment course of breast cancer patients. Due to the possibility of free radical formation, omega-3 FAs supplementation and consumption must be done very carefully.

Blaming in women with breast cancer subjected to intimate partner violence: A hermeneutic phenomenological study.

Objective: The present study was conducted to determine the blaming experiences of women with breast cancer subjected to intimate partner violence (IPV). Methods: This hermeneutic phenomenological study explored blaming experiences of women with breast cancer subjected to IPV. Nine women with a mean age of 47.5 years referred to oncology hospitals in Tabriz (Iran) were interviewed using semi-structured in-depth interviews. Data analysis was performed based on Van Manen's thematic analysis method. Results: The main theme emerged from the data is "blaming as a shifting cognitive judgment" with three subthemes of patient blaming partner, partner blaming patient, and self-blame. Conclusions: The findings of the present study revealed that cognitive judgment shifting could be emerged as different types of blaming in the patients with breast cancer exposed to IPV. It is suggested that oncology nurses heed the psychological needs of women with breast cancer through holistic nursing considering couple and family-centered care.

Pain Self-management Strategies in Patients With Cancer: A Qualitative Study.

Successful pain management in patients with cancer is a significant challenge, and paying more attention to patients' experiences of pain self-management strategies has particular importance. This study aimed to explore pain self-management strategies in Iranian patients with cancer. This qualitative study was conducted on 14 patients with cancer. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and analyzed through the Graneheim and Lundman content analysis approach. Two main categories emerged from data analysis: (1) psychological pain self-management strategies, and (2) behavioral pain self-management strategies. Psychological strategies included pain distraction techniques, spiritual tendencies, increasing social interactions and support networks, pain tolerance and self-control, and resistance to pain. Behavioral strategies included massage and touch, heat and cold therapy, opium (Taryak in Persian) and tobacco use, herbal and home remedies, and proper diet.

Effects of cholecalciferol supplementation on serum angiogenic biomarkers in breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen: A controlled randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cholecalciferol supplementation on serum levels of angiogenic parameters in patients with breast cancer (BC) who were treated with tamoxifen. METHODS: This was a pilot-based, randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 52 patients with BC randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving weekly 50 000 IU cholecalciferol or a placebo group for 8 wk. At baseline and at end of study, serum levels of angiogenic growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, angiopoietin (Ang)-2, hypoxia-inducible factor (Hif)-1, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Every 4 wk, a completed 3-d, 24-h dietary record and daily sunlight exposure checklist were collected and anthropometric variables were measured. RESULTS: The ultimate number of participants in each arm was 22 for analyses. For premenopausal women, cholecalciferol supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in serum levels of Ang-2 and VEGF-A after 8 wk of treatment (P < 0.05). In the absence of vascular invasion, supplementation led to a significant decrease in Ang-2 levels compared with the placebo group (P < 0.05). Supplementation caused significant increases in Hif-1 in patients diagnosed with the infiltration of tumors into vascular or lymphatic vessels (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Cholecalciferol supplementation achieved sufficient efficacy among patients with BC taking tamoxifen and could be effective in the reduction of angiogenic biomarkers particularly dependent on the infiltration status of the tumor to vessels. Further studies with larger subgroups should be investigated.

Effect of taurine on attenuating chemotherapy-induced adverse effects in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of oral taurine supplementation on the incidence of chemotherapy-induced adverse drug reactions during chemotherapy in young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty young adult (aged over 16 years) with ALL, at the beginning of maintenance course of their chemotherapy, were recruited to the study. The study population was randomized in a double blind manner to receive either taurine or placebo. Life quality and adverse drug reactions were assessed using questionnaire. Blood cell count, hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), serum bilirubin, transaminases, urea, and creatinine concentrations were evaluated. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. RESULTS: Of total participants, 43.8% were female and 56.3% were male. The mean age was 19.16 ± 1.95 years (range: 16-23 years). The results indicated that the levels of white blood cells were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in taurine treated group, but other hematological values did not differ significantly in either group. Taurine administration improved liver and kidney functions, indicated by decline of serum bilirubin, transaminases, urea, and creatinine, respectively in comparison to the controls (P < 0.05). Moreover, taurine significantly reduced serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion our results indicated that taurine supplementation could be a protection against chemotherapy-induced toxicities probably by its antioxidant capacity. Present study showed effectiveness of taurineon the chemotherapy-related toxicities and some of the complications during the maintenance period of treatment following coadministration in young adults with ALL.

Dietary resistant starch contained foods and breast cancer risk: a case-control study in northwest of Iran.

BACKGROUND: A protective effect of resistant starch (RS) containing foods on carcinogenesis has been shown from several lines of experimental evidence for gastrointestinal cancers. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between RS contained foods and breast cancer (BC) risk in a hospital-based, age- and origin- matched, case-control study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A validated, semi-quantitative, food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was completed by 306 women newly diagnosed with BC aged 25 to 65 years, and 309 healthy women as matched controls. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated using conditional logistic regression models. RESULTS: Reduced BC risk was associated with the highest tertile of whole-wheat bread and boiled potato consumption with adjusted ORs at 0.34 (95%CI: 0.19-0.59) and 0.61 (95%CI: 0.37- 0.99), respectively. Among consumers of whole-wheat bread consumers were considered, the protective role of cereals remained relatively apparent at higher intakes level of fiber rich breads at adjusted models (OR=0.53, 95%CI: 0.28-1.01). Moreover, high intake of legumes was found out to be a significant protective dietary factor against risk of BC development with an OR of 0.01 (95%CI: 0.03-0.13). However, consumption of white bread and biscuits was positively related to BC risk. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that certain RS containing foods, in particular whole wheat bread, legumes and boiled potato may reduce BC risk, whereas higher intake of white bread and biscuits may be related to increased BC risk.

Taurine attenuates chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Taurine has multiple physiological activities and it is decreased by chemotherapy. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of oral taurine supplementation on the incidence of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Forty young patients aged over 16 (range: 16-23 years) suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (all receiving same chemotherapy regimen) were recruited for the study at the beginning of maintenance course of their chemotherapy. The study population was randomized in a double-blind manner to receive either taurine or placebo (2 g per day orally, divided into two doses, taken 6 h after chemotherapeutic agents) for 6 months. Life quality and adverse effects including nausea and vomiting, taste and smell alterations, and weariness were assessed using a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Pearson's Chi-square test. Of 40 participants, 32 finished the study (14 female and 18 male; mean age 19.2 ± 1.9 years). Four treatment and four placebo arm patients discontinued: one immigrated from the province, one died during the study, and six refused to continue. The results indicated that taurine-supplemented patients reported a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in chemotherapy-induced nausea and/or vomiting after taking taurine during study. Taurine significantly improved chemotherapy-induced taste and smell alterations (P < 0.05). Moreover, taurine significantly reduced weariness compared to placebo group (P < 0.05). This study showed that taurine co-administration decreased chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting during the maintenance therapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Influence of chemotherapy on the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Chemotherapeutic agents used in patients with cancer cause to generate the enormous amounts of free radicals associated with cell injury. In this study we assess the effects of chemotherapy regimen on oxidant/antioxidant status in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). 38 newly diagnosed patients with acute myeloid leukemia were recruited in this study. All patients received cytarabine and daunorubicin as chemotherapy regimen. Plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant status (TAS), and the levels of erythrocyte activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were determined before chemotherapy and 14 days after chemotherapy with cytarabine and daunorubicin. Plasma MDA concentrations increased significantly (from 2.68 ± 0.89 nmol/L to 3.14 ± 1.29 nmol/L) during the 14 days post-chemotherapy period (P=0.04). Plasma TAS concentrations changed with chemotherapy from 1.09 ± 0.15 mmol/L to 1.02 ± 0.14 mmol/L with P=0.005. Erythrocyte SOD and GPX activity decreased overtime from 1157.24 ± 543.61 U/g Hb to 984.01 ± 419.09 U/g Hb (P=0.04) and 46.96 ± 13.70 U/g Hb to 41.40 ± 6.44 U/g Hb (P=0.02) respectively. We report here that there is an increase in malondialdehyde levels and a decrease in the levels of antioxidant enzymes and total antioxidant status. This suggests that chemotherapy causes these changes as a result of enormous production of reactive oxygen species in the patients with AML. Antioxidant supplementation must be approached with caution because of the probability of reduction the therapeutic efficacy of these cytotoxic drugs.

Association of serum level of 25 hydroxy-vitamin D with prognostic factors for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In recent years, there has been considerable interest in whether vitamin D inhibits breast cancer development. Experimental studies have shown that vitamin D promotes cell differentiation and retards or terminates proliferation of breast cancer cells. However, there is little evidence supporting the association of vitamin D and prognosis of breast cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In this analytic-descriptive study, 119 female patients with histological proven breast cancer were recruited in Tabriz oncology clinics in a 15-month period of time. History of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or receiving vitamin D/Ca supplements and presence of other malignancies were exclusion criteria. Serum level of 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured in all patients. RESULTS: One hundred and nineteen patients with a mean age of 50.4∓12.6 (26-76) years were enrolled in the study. Metastasis was present in 21.8% of the cases. Stage of tumor was I, II, III and IV in 11, 56, 26 and 26 patients, respectively. The Tumor grade was low in 37 cases, intermediate in 46 cases, and high in 36 cases. The P53, Ki-67, HER2, ER and PR were positive in 30.3%, 49.6%, 17.6%, 61.2% and 55.5% of the patients, respectively. The mean serum level of 25(OH)D was 15.7∓17.8 (4-122) ng/ml, deficient in 66 cases, insufficient in 36 cases and normal level in 17 cases. The median level of 25(OH)D was lower in the P53+ group in a borderline trend (17.3 vs. 13.6 ng/ml; p=0.07). The median level of 25(OH)D was significantly higher in the patients with metastasis, as well (27.7 vs. 12.0 ng/ml; p=0.03). There was no significant association between the serum level of 25(OH)D and other studied parameters. CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, there may be an association between the serum level of 25(OH)D and prognosis of breast cancer.