[THE CULT OF ST. ROCH IN CASTELLI (ABRUZZO) AND THE EARTHENWARE ANATOMICAL EX VOTO]. / IL CULTO DI S. ROCCO A CASTELLI E I VOTIVI ANATOMICI IN MAIOLICA.

Ex voto are devotional objects, widely used in Italy as a form of prayer or wish, or as thanksgiving for a grace received. In a broader historical perspective, votive offerings are hung in Greek, Etruscan, Roman shrines and later in churches or to show gratitude for miracles obtained, healing from illness or infirmity, or as a simple supplication and prayer. The ex voto here presented seem to be unique in the world: made of majolica, they come from the church of St. Roch in Castelli (Abruzzo). They depict breast benign and malignant lesions (mastitis, abscess, fat necrosis, inflammatory cancer, infiltrating carcinoma) in three dimensions, performing an accurate and personalized portrait of breast diseases (in some cases with the depicted name of the sick woman), showing fine details of each disease, and demonstrating accurate knowledge of the female anatomy and pathology.

Tuberous breast: revised classification and a new hypothesis for its development.

The tuberous breast classification proposed by Grolleau does not account for a minor form of the deformity characterized by isolated nipple-areola protrusion with a normal breast base. We have observed this minor form in six patients with normal breast shape and in ten patients with hypertrophic breasts. We propose an anatomical and physiological hypothesis for the development of the mammary gland. The breast is subjected to hormonal influences as early as the prepubertal period. These influences result in thrusting forces with both horizontal (estrogen) and vertical (progesterone) vectors, unfortunately not always balanced and harmonious. Close observation of the anomaly in our patients substantiated the basic anatomical defect, namely, the structural congenital dermal weakness of the nipple-areola complex (NAC) already described in all forms of tuberous breast deformity. This weakness explains the morphologic anomaly and confirms that all types of tuberous breast deformity constitute a spectrum of a single entity. It indicates also that the classification of tuberous breasts should include, in addition to the three types (types I-III) already described, a fourth type (type 0) to describe isolated simple areola protrusion, either permanent or intermittent, that is associated with a normal mammary base. The revised classification of tuberous breasts and the proposed hypothesis of breast development allow better assessment of all possible variants of breast morphologic anomalies. In the six cases of isolated herniated NAC, the deformity was corrected through a perinipple approach (not circumareolar), with adequate stable correction of the deformity and minimal scarring.

Mondor's disease: what's new since 1939?

Mondor's disease (MD) is a rare and self-limited benign disease first described in 1939. Originally its clinical presentation was a superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) without contiguous skin inflammation of the chest wall veins. Over time its definition has evolved and now also includes subcutaneous thrombosis of the dorsal vein of the penis but also retractile scarring of the fascia after breast surgery without concomitant SVT. In all cases clinical examination constitutes the first step of diagnostic management. It is followed by an ultrasound exploration (US) to search for a thrombus. In about half of all cases the disease is considered as idiopathic and cancer is rare. Whatever the location considered, the follow-up is usually uneventful with low rates of recurrence and of subsequent cancer. Treatment is debated and ranges from therapeutic abstention to anticoagulants or even surgery. It is likely that the new locations and mechanisms (without thrombosis) of the MD have lead to the constitution of a heterogeneous entity precluding from a consensual mode of care.

Cultural practices and medical beliefs in pre-revolutionary Russia compared to modern textbook advice: did Russian women breastfeed the "wrong" way?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Historical accounts of infant feeding practices can inform our understanding of current-day practices and the ways in which cultural traditions are incorporated into infant care. Pre-revolutionary Russian feeding practices have not previously been summarized, to our knowledge. The purpose of this study is to collect information about pre-revolutionary feeding practices. We may then be able to better understand the motivation for suboptimal practices and tailor feeding messages to the specific population. METHODS: Materials were collected from libraries and from the Internet regarding medical, demographic, and ethnographic literature of the 19(th) century and early 21(st) century, primarily in Russian. RESULTS: Breastfeeding was pervasive in pre-revolutionary Russia, but suboptimal patterns such as withholding colostrum and early introduction of other foods and liquids were common. Breast problems were treated with folk remedies and comfort measures, some of which are similar to modern-day treatments. Around 1906, child rearing and infant feeding recommendations were subsumed by male physicians espousing the "scientific approach." CONCLUSIONS: Many of these medical recommendations were detrimental to the previously successful breastfeeding practices that, despite barriers, had allowed Russian women to continue breastfeeding for 2 years or longer.

[Agueda of Catania: the patron saint of patients with breast diseases]. / Águeda de Catania: santa patrona de las enfermedades de la glándula mamaria.

For those suffering from breast cancer, Agatha is their patron saint. She was a beautiful Christian maiden, from Catania, Sicily, who dedicated her life to God. As she rejected the love proposals of consul Quintiliano, she suffered cruel tortures. One of the tortures she suffered was to have her breast cut off, with iron shears, a detail that furnished to the Christian medieval iconography, the peculiar characteristic of Agatha. Catania honors Agatha as her patron saint and throughout the region around Mt. Etna. Saint Agatha's feast day is February 5. All of those dedicated to the treatment and prevention of breast cancer are known as "the soldiers of Saint Agatha".

Body, gender, and disease: the female breast in late imperial Chinese medicine.

This paper examines the diverse ways in which Chinese medical experts historically gendered breast disease as a female ailment. By comparing representations of the female breast from the "Imperially-Compiled Golden Mirror of Medical Learning (Yuzuan yizong jinjian, 1742)" to those from earlier and contemporary texts, this paper analyzes how breast disease was alternately categorized as an ailment of childbearing and as a disease rooted in pathological female emotion. Medical awareness of breast disease in men did somewhat challenge these connections between womanhood and disease. Nevertheless, medical illustrations of women helped to reinforce the idea that breast disease was a characteristically female problem.

The breast: from Ancient Greek myths to Hippocrates and Galen.

This is a historical article about Ancient Greek literature from mythological times until the first centuries AD with regard to the female breast. We endeavoured to collect several elegant narratives on the topic as well as to explore the knowledge of Ancient Greek doctors on the role, physiology and pathology of breast and the treatment of its diseases. We identified such descriptions in myths regarding Amazons, Hercules, Zeus, Hera and Amaltheia. Furthermore, descriptions on the topic were also found in the work of Hippocrates, Aristoteles, Soranos, Alexander of Aphrodisias, Celsus, Archigenis, Leonides, Galen and Oribasius. We may conclude that some of today's medical knowledge or practice regarding the breast was also known in the historical period.

The evolution of breast implants.

Female glandular hypomastia is a frequently encountered entity that occurs either developmentally or by postpartum involution. Historically, women have long sought breast enlargement to improve physical proportions, to foster a more feminine appearance, or to enhance self-image. This article explores the evolution of breast implants.

El códice de la Cruz-Badiano y las enfermedades mamarias / Breast disease and "El Codice de la Cruz-Badiano"

Objetivo:Dar a conocer como se trataban algunas enfermedades de la mama en la época de los aztecas, según el Códice de la Cruz-Badiano, documento que fuera escrito en latín y castellano dedicado al hijo de Antonio de Mendoza, virrey de la Nueva España y enviado a su majestad Carlos V, el cual se encontró apenas el siglo pasado y fue publicado a mediados de los años sesenta.Método:Se recopilo información del Libellus de medicinalibus indorum herbi también llamado códice de la Cruz -Badiano así como de bibliografía adicional referida a este códice, como una recopilación de la medicina tradicional de ese entonces, encontrando en el mismo dos apartados que refieren como se trataban médicamente algunas enfermedades de la glándula mamaria.Resultados:Se reviso el códice de la Cruz-Badiano, haciendo las referencias necesarias con respecto al tratamiento para la tumoración de las mamas, así como para la medicina lactógena, encontrando dos tratamientos en la época azteca para el manejo de estas.Conclusiones:El Libellus de medicinalibus indorum herbi también llamado códice de la Cruz -Badiano, es una obra con gran valor cultural, sumamente valioso para la cultura en América, es el mas antiguo sobre medicina que se elaboró en todo el continente en 1552, 30 años después de la caída de la Gran Tenochtitlan, en donde se recopilan muchos de los remedios y curas para diferentes enfermedades haciendo énfasis en esta ocasión de la aportación de la cultura mexica a algunas enfermedades de la glándula mamaria

Objective:To know how were treated some breast illaeness at the Azteca age, that was wrote in "El Codice de la Cruz-Badiano", book that was wrote in Spanish and Latin language dedicated to Antonio de Mendoza, virrey from the New Spain and sent to his majesty Carlos V, it was found the last century and published at the middle of 60's.Material and methods:We recuperated information about Libellus de medici-nalibus indorum herbi also named Códice de la Cruz -Ba-diano and additional bibliographies about the traditional medicine, and how were treated some of the breast illness.Results:We check "El Codice de la Cruz-Badiano" and some others references about the treatment of breast tumors, and lactogenic treatment, founding two ways how to cure this breast process.Conclusions:Libellus de medicinalibus indorum herbi also named El Codice de la Cruz-Badiano is a very important cultural book, and for the America's culture, is the oldest medicine book wrote in America in 1552, 30 years after the bigTenochtitlan fall, there, we found much kind of treatments for many illness and we found some of them for the breast illness

A brief historical perspective on the pathology of the breast: from Cheatle to Azzopardi and beyond.

The modem pathological study of disorders of the breast begins with the intraoperative macroscopical examinations of such late-nineteenth-century American and British surgeons as Drs. John Collins Warren, Joseph Colt Bloodgood, and Sir George Lenthal Cheatle. Technical advances in the fields of microscopy and histology led to a shift in the nature and conduct of pathological studies in the first part of the twentieth century. Microscopical examination became the primary method of study, and pathologists assumed the leading role in this line of research. With the studies of Drs. Frank W. Foote, Fred W. Stewart, and Arthur Purdy Stout, pathologists began to explore the territory of breast pathology in detail, describing the microscopical features of breast lesions and developing theories regarding their pathogenesis. The spread of the use of biopsy procedures to establish diagnoses led pathologists of the mid-twentieth century to assume the new role of clinical diagnostician. Exemplified by the work of Dr. John G. Azzopardi, pathological research of the latter half of the twentieth century came to emphasize microscopical diagnostic criteria and differential diagnosis. With ever more sophistication and increasingly powerful techniques, this trend continues to this day.

[The history of Schimmelbusch's disease].

In 1982, Curt Schimmelbusch published a paper named "Cystadenoma of the breast", describing the clinical & pathological criteria of Schimmelbusch's disease. For many years this condition was one variant of fibrocystic mastopathy. Today, Schimmelbuuschs disease can be classified as part of ANDI-Aberration of normal development and iInvolution, The histopathological description is synonymous to adenosis. This is a short survey of the history of Schimmelbusch's Disease.

Breast imaging: from 1965 to the present.

The current state of the art for breast imaging is reviewed in comparison with the methods of practice commonly in use 25-35 years ago to demonstrate the most important advances that have taken place in imaging techniques, operational considerations, interpretive approaches, and interventional procedures. Since 1965, breast imaging has progressed from the simple assessment of breast disease in a selected small number of symptomatic women to the comprehensive evaluation of both breast health and disease in a substantial percentage of all women aged 40 years and older. In the process, breast imaging has become an established radiologic subspecialty that accounts for at least 10% of all examinations performed by radiologists. Indeed, mammography now is the most common imaging examination that directly results in the reduction of mortality from disease.

[Reports on breast disease in the Zentralblatts für Gynäkologie in the first half of the 20th century]. / Mammaerkrankungen im Spiegel des Zentralblatts für Gynäkologie in der ersten Hälfte unseres Jahrhunderts.

We report on papers concerning in topic "Diseases of the breast", which were published in the Zentralblatt für Gynäkologie during the first half of the 20th century. Only 26 publications about senologic problems were found in 44 years. Papers about the mammary theory of eclampsia, mastitis, plastic operations and breast cancer are reported.