Breast cancer - Analysis of the selected risk factors.

Epidemiological research for decades has focused on identifying the impact of environmental and genetic factors on the incidence of cancer. Aim of this study was to select the risk factors responsible for the increase or decrease in the odds ratio of developing breast cancer in women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included healthy women with correct outcome in both subjective and objective examinations conducted by a specialist as well as women diagnosed with breast cancer on basis of histopathological examination. A total of 762 women aged 21-84 years were included into the research. RESULTS: The consumption of whole meal bread reduces the risk of breast cancer (OR = 0.30; 95% CI 0.12-0.77). The respondents consuming 100 grams of red meat such as veal, pork, and mutton a day, have the risk of developing cancer thrice as high (OR = 3.34; 95% CI 0.43-25.97). Women consuming one milk product a day in amount of 125 grams have the risk decreased (OR = 0.58; 95% CI 0.30 -1.11), compared to women not consuming dairy products at all. CONCLUSIONS: A diet rich in fruit, vegetables, and whole grains with limited consumption of red meat and the elimination of popular fast food such as fries and chips should be introduced to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. Consumption of pasta with a low glycemic index, especially soy and whole wheat pasta in amount of 100 grams per day is advisable.

Evaluation of preoperative diagnosis with results of histopathological examinations of ovarian tumors in women of reproductive age.

Ovarian tumors are the most frequent lesions encountered by gynecologists. Ovarian carcinoma most often develops asymptomatically and until now no sufficient screening diagnostic methods have been developed, which is why various diagnostic methods are being tried concurrently to increase diagnostic sensitivity. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the compliance of the preoperative diagnoses with the results of histopathological examinations of ovarian tumors and to determine the usefulness of simultaneous application of gynecological, ultrasonographic, and Doppler examinations together with determination of CA-125 antigen in the diagnostic process of ovarian tumors. The study comprised a group of 250 women in reproductive age who were operated on for tumors of the ovary. Results of histopathological examinations were compared with the preoperative diagnosis based on the above-mentioned examinations and prognostic indicators: sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive prediction value as well as accuracy were determined. The results showed that combining the four diagnostic methods is a useful research panel in the preoperative diagnostic process of ovarian tumors and makes selecting the appropriate procedure and surgical treatment viable.

Clinical usefulness of evaluation of quality parameters of blood flow: pulsation index and resistance index in the uterine arteries in the initial differential diagnostics of pathology within the endometrium.

Detection of neoplastic changes in the pelvis minor in early stages is a critical prognostic factor for patients suffering from uterine carcinoma. Due to the problem presented, the evaluation of clinical usefulness of ultrasonographic examination including color Doppler in the process of detecting pathologic changes within the endometrium was the main aim of this paper. Quality parameters of blood flow in the uterine arteries, such as the pulsation index (PI) and resistance index (RI) were evaluated. A group of 100 female patients diagnosed with and treated for abnormal genital bleeding in the Clinic of Gynecological Surgery, Gynecological-Obstetrics Clinical Hospital, Poznan University of Medical Sciences from December 2005 until January 2007 constituted the subjects for this work. Analyzing patients with pathology of the endometrium, we obtained lower values of quality parameters of blood flow in the terine arteries in comparison to the control group. Reduction of the resistance and pulsation indexes of the uterine arteries may be useful elements in the process of differentiating pathological changes within the endometrium.

Difficulties in the diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma: case report of squamous cell ovarian carcinoma in a 26-year-old woman.

A 26-year-old woman who was admitted to the Gynecology Department with abdominal pain was later diagnosed with a multi-chamber tumor in the left ovary. Neoplastic markers were within normal limits. It was proposed that the patient should be operated on in order to remove the tumor, and a left salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. During the intraoperative histopathological examination, the tumor was described as being benign. However, in the final histopathological examination, a malignant neoplasm, a squamous cell carcinoma (G-2) of the ovary (pT1a), was found. It was decided that a hysterectomy and a right salpingo-oophorectomy should be performed. No other neoplastic foci were found in the postoperational material. The patient is currently undergoing periodic control examinations.

Vaginal hysterectomy aided with surgery by the abdominal approach as a method of hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy due to endometrial carcinoma in a woman with morbid obesity. Case report.

The most important risk factors of endometrial carcinoma are fat consumption, obesity (BMI > or = 25 kg/m2) and use of unbalanced estrogen therapy. Other factors include lack of physical activity, a high-calorie diet, arterial blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg and high concentrations of glucose in the blood. The basic treatment in cases of endometrial carcinoma is surgery including hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy and complete interoperational assessment of the development degree of the disease. Basic operational treatment is difficult as far as obese women are concerned (BMI > or = 50 kg/m2). This is linked with poor access to operated tissues and limited visibility, mainly in the area of the bottom of the pelvis minor. Our 69-year-old patient was admitted to and operated on at the Gynecological Department due to endometrial carcinoma. Because of her giant obesity, BMI - 51.30 kg/m2, surgery by the abdominal approach was very difficult to perform, so vaginal hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy was carried out.

Analysis of odds ratio of increased relative risk of developing breast cancer in different groups of women.

Taking into account the large number and variety of factors of breast cancer there is constant need and necessity to monitor the risk of developing the disease. It is important to take preventive actions--health education concerning lifestyle and possible ways to modify unhealthy aspects. Quantitive assessment of risk of developing invasive breast carcinoma can be performed using the Gail model (GM). This method is designed to estimate relative and cumulative risk during the entire lifetime or at a certain age of a patient, considering risk factors. It is possible to identify women with increased risk of breast carcinoma and to choose a proper diagnostic path. The purpose of this study was to estimate the relative risk (RR) and to analyze the odds ratio (OR) of increased risk of developing breast cancer. The participants in the study were healthy women with no focal changes in mammary glands and women with diagnosed malignant or benign breast neoplasms. The total number of participants was 555 females aged 35-70 years. The study was carried on in the Great Poland and Lubuskie provinces between 2005 and 2006. High 5-year relative risk of developing breast cancer assessed by the Gail method, proved that this method was a useful tool in confronting reality. In classification of women to a group of increased risk of breast carcinoma, apart from assessment by the Gail method, factors like: BMI, education, medical interventions in puerperium and number of cases of familial invasive cancers should be taken into account.

The effect of antioxidative vitamins A and E and coenzyme Q on the morphological picture of the lungs and pancreata of rats intoxicated with sodium fluoride.

Fluorides, when taken in amounts exceeding the standard therapeutic dosage, are regarded as toxic substances. Recent studies show that fluorides may affect the oxidoreductive processes of cells. The aim of the following study is to investigate the effect of antioxidative vitamins A and E and coenzyme Q on the morphological picture of the lungs and pancreata of rats exposed to high doses of sodium fluoride. The study was performed on 18 female rats, which were divided into 3 groups: a control group and 2 experimental groups. The control group received distilled water and standard fodder. Experimental groups I and II both received sodium fluoride (2.5mg/rat/24h). In addition, animals in group II received vitamin A (250 IU/rat/24h), vitamin E (3mg/rat/24h), and coenzyme Q (200 microg/rat/24h). The experiment was conducted for a period of 35 days. Upon dissection, lungs and pancreata were taken for histopathological examination. Pathomorphological evaluations of the removed organs were performed using paraffin preparations, stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The aldolase activity in the pancreata was measured using colorimetric methods and the protein concentration by the Lowry method. In the case of group I, pathomorphological examinations of the lungs revealed the appearance of erythrorrhagia, hyperaemia, necrosis of epithelium cells, numerous macrophages in interalveolar septa, infiltrations in the area of blood vessels and emphysematous blebs. Focal vacuolar degeneration cells and inflammatory infiltrations appeared only in pancreata. The results confirmed that the administration of vitamins A and E and coenzyme Q has a counteracting influence upon the degenerative changes seen in the examined organs.

Women's lifestyle and the risk of breast tumors.

The first behavioral aspect of mankind that has been commonly acknowledged as one of the main reasons for neoplasms is lifestyle. The specified lifestyle determines the exposure to the variety of carcinogens, whose crucial role in carcinogenesis is doubtless. The purpose of this study was to analyze women's lifestyle and its influence on the risk of developing breast cancer and benign tumors. The participants of the study were healthy women with no changes in mammary glands and women with diagnosed breast cancer or benign tumor. The total number of participants was 555 females aged 35-70 years. Every patient voluntarily filled in an anonymous questionnaire consisting of questions about socioeconomic conditions, number of cigarettes/daily, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. Proper education concerning a healthy lifestyle can positively contribute to a reduction in breast cancer. A high value of BMI, especially in the postmenopausal period, is a negative predictive factor increasing the risk of breast cancer. Physical activity decreases the risk of breast cancer. No such relation concerning smoking cigarettes has been proven.

Past obstetric history and risk of malignant breast neoplasms.

Many studies indicate hormonal disorders as a crucial reason for breast pathology. They are also probably responsible for the development of benign neoplasms and play a role in the origin and development of breast carcinoma. Although the mammary gland is under the influence of many steroid and peptide hormones such as thyroid hormones, prolactin, growth hormone, glucocorticosteroids, it is estrogen that plays an important role in the development of breast cancer. The purpose of the study was to analyze the obstetrical past of patients and the potential influence on the risk of developing malignant breast neoplasms. The participants in the study were healthy women with no changes in mammary glands (control group) and women with diagnosed malignant or benign breast neoplasms (study group). The total number of participants was 555 females aged 35-70 years. The study was carried out in the Greater Poland and Lubuskie province between 2005 and 2006. Hormonal disorders in childhood and puberty symptoms of early menarche play a crucial role in increasing the risk of malignant breast neoplasms. In women who experienced one or more miscarriages the risk of malignant breast neoplasms is significantly increased. On the basis of our study we calculated the odds ratio (OR) of malignant breast neoplasms among women who during lactation experienced problems needing medical intervention (OR = 2.25; 95% CI, 1.20-4.19) in comparison to women who experienced no problems).

Metabolic and antioxidative changes in liver steatosis induced by high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet in rabbits.

Significantly decreased amounts of carbohydrates and increase of fat in diet (Atkins' diet, Jan Kwasniewski's diet) may interfere with liver metabolism because main source of liver energy are carbohydrates. Large amount of fatty acid in diet may induce overproduction of reactive oxygen species in mitochondria because of increased oxidation and may cause steatosis. The influence of high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet (contained 14 g% protein, 25 g% fat, 8 g% carbohydrate) and compared to usual habitual diet (13 g% protein, 3 g% fat, 28 g% carbohydrate) as a control on liver function was examined in adult male rabbits. Fodder and water was ad libitum. The experiment lasted 24 weeks. At the beginning and every six weeks rabbits were weighed and blood was taken. Plasma glucose and cholesterol concentration, activity of glutamate dehydrogenase, alanine and aspartate in plasma and liver did not change. Concentrations of triacylglycerols (TG) in plasma were lower in the study group. Activity of aldolase increased in plasma and in liver in the study group while activity of sorbite dehydrogenase decreased in plasma at the end of the experiment. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration increased in aorta with no changes in liver and erythrocytes. Activity of glutathione peroxidase increased in erythrocytes and liver while total SOD increased only in the liver. High-fat, low-carbohydrate diet despite the lack of growth of the body mass, modifies significantly the homeostasis of carbohydrates and antioxidants in liver and enhanced production of TG in this organ, resulting in its steatosis.