[Returning to work after diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer]. / Reinserción laboral posterior a diagnóstico y tratamiento del cáncer de mama.

Background: Returning to work and performing housework tasks (HWT) is the final step in overcoming breast cancer (BC). Objective: To assess whether clinical characteristics and type of treatment impact employment status and performance of HWT. Material and methods: A total of 119 patients diagnosed with early BC were enrolled. Occupational and HWT-related variables were measured. Results: At diagnosis, most of the patients were employed and performed HWT. Two years after the end of treatment, 50% of the patients who were working continued to work and 68.6% of these had issues returning to work. Patients who did not return to work were diagnosed at more advanced stages and had more postoperative complications (p < 0.005). Regarding the execution of HWT, 83.3% had some degree of difficulty to perform them. Patients who underwent axillary nodal removal, those who received more frequent psychological support, and those who had more postoperative complications performed HWT with greater difficulty (p < 0.005). Conclusions: Once treatment had finished, 50% of patients did not come back to their work. In this case, the stage negative effect and the postoperative complications materialized. These data reveal that returning to work after BC diagnosis and treatment is complicated.

Introducción: la reinserción laboral y la reanudación de las tareas del hogar suponen el último paso en la superación del cáncer de mama (CM). Objetivo: evaluar si las características clínicas y el tipo de tratamiento afectan de forma negativa el desempeño en el puesto de trabajo y en el hogar. Material y métodos: se incluyeron 119 pacientes diagnosticadas de CM precoz. Se midieron las variables laborales y las relacionadas con las tareas del hogar. Resultados: al ser diagnosticadas, la mayoría de las pacientes tenía trabajo y realizaba las tareas del hogar. A los dos años de finalizado el tratamiento, el 50% de las pacientes que trabajaban continuaba trabajando y el 68.6% de estas tuvieron dificultades para retomar su trabajo. Las pacientes que no retomaron su actividad laboral fueron diagnosticadas en estadios más avanzados y tuvieron más complicaciones postoperatorias (p < 0.005). En cuanto a la ejecución de las tareas del hogar, el 83.3% tuvieron algún grado de dificultad para llevarlas a cabo. Las pacientes que fueron sometidas a vaciamiento axilar ganglionar, las que recibieron más frecuentemente apoyo psicológico y las que tuvieron más complicaciones postoperatorias realizaron las tareas del hogar con mayor esfuerzo (p < 0.005). Conclusiones: una vez terminado el tratamiento, el 50% de las pacientes no se reincorporó a su actividad laboral. En este caso, se objetivó el efecto negativo del estadio y de las complicaciones postoperatorias (p < 0.005). Estos datos revelan que la reinserción laboral tras el diagnóstico y tratamiento del CM es complicada.

Professional quality improvement project in vaccination services: results of a 5-year survey.

A voluntary professional quality improvement project involving preventive departments and vaccination centres of an Italian region was carried out through two surveys (in 2001 and in 2006) performed using a quality assessment manual including 12 standards and 157 criteria. After the first survey, a feedback was sent to all participating centres. All six local health authorities participated, as well as all regional vaccination centres, 48 in 2001 and 41 in 2006. The overall adherence rate to the criteria was 56.0% (3258/5820) in 2001 and 74.4% (3784/5085) in 2006. The improvement was obtained without mandatory interventions from regional authorities.

[Adherence to adjuvant hormonal therapy in patients with breast cancer]. / Adhesión a la hormonoterapia adyuvante en pacientes con cáncer de mama.

BACKGROUND: Adherence to hormonal therapy (HT) treatment is a complex and multifaceted issue that can determine variations in response to treatment. However, it is little known about it in routine clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To assess adherence to HT from 1 to 5 years of 190 patients treated at the Hospital de Clínicas (in Montevideo, Uruguay), and to identify factors for the interruption of therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 190 patients treated with HT due to S I-III breast cancer were included from 2002 to 2012. The Kaplan Meier method was used to assess the proportion of patients who discontinued HT, and the univariate analysis with log-rank test was used to identify factors leading to its interruption. RESULTS: Out of 190 patients enrolled in the study, 95.3, 87.9, 80.6, 76.4, and 69.5% were still complying with their HT by the first, second, third, fourth and fifth year, respectively. Therapy continuity was greater in patients who received HT combined with tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors vs. those who received a single drug (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: This real-life evaluation showed that HT adherence was reduced by 30.5% at 5 years, despite that there is a well-known benefit of this treatment on overall survival (OS), that it is well-tolerated, and provided for free. In view of the significant impact that HT interruption may have on OS, further investigation is required to determine what cause patients to discontinue their HT, in order to guide our efforts and enable us to increase and optimize adherence.

INTRODUCCIÓN: la adhesión al tratamiento con hormonoterapia (HT) es un tema complejo y polifacético que puede determinar variantes en la respuesta al tratamiento. Sin embargo, se sabe poco acerca de la misma en la práctica clínica habitual. OBJETIVO: evaluar la adherencia a HT de uno a cinco años de 190 pacientes tratadas en el Hospital de Clínicas (de Montevideo, Uruguay) e identificar factores de interrupción de la terapia. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: se incluyeron, de 2002 a 2012, 190 pacientes tratadas con HT por cáncer de mama E I-III. Se utilizó el método de Kaplan Meier para valorar la proporción de pacientes que abandonó la HT y el análisis univariado con prueba de log-rank para identificar los factores que podrían influir en su interrupción. RESULTADOS: de las 190 pacientes incluidas, las proporciones de quienes mantuvieron adhesión a la HT, desde el primero hasta el quinto año, fueron sucesivamente de 95.3, 87.9, 80.6, 76.4 y 69.5%. Las pacientes que recibieron HT combinada con tamoxifeno e inhibidores de la aromatasa tuvieron mayor continuidad en el tratamiento respecto de aquellas que recibieron una única droga (p = 0.017). CONCLUSIÓN: evaluamos la adhesión a la HT en la vida real y se redujo un 30.5% en cinco años, a pesar de su conocido beneficio en sobrevida global (SVG), de ser un tratamiento bien tolerado y brindado en forma gratuita. Se deben investigar los motivos de su interrupción, a fin de optimizar su adhesión y ahondar en los esfuerzos para aumentar su cumplimiento, dado el impacto que puede tener en la SVG.

[Occupational accidents among immigrant women in the Italian North-Eastern regions (Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia)]. / Gli infortuni sul lavoro tra le donne immigrate nelle regioni del Nord-Est (Veneto e Friuli Venezia Giulia).

OBJECTIVES: to describe occupational accidents among foreign women working in two regions of North-Eastern Italy, in the perspective of a desirable prevention policy. SETTING AND DESIGN: frequency distribution of occupational accidents among foreign women covered by the National Institute for Insurance against Work Accidents (INAIL) in 2000. PARTICIPANTS: foreign female workers employed in two regions of North-Eastern Italy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: frequency distribution of work accidents. RESULTS: 1003 occupational accidents to foreign female workers occurred in Veneto and 383 in Friuli Venezia Giulia. The most frequent places of origin of injured workers in Friuli Venezia Giulia (borderline region with Slovenia) were former Yugoslavia (113) and Albania (28). In Veneto, corresponding countries of origin were Africa (156), Romania (84) and Albania (80).

Evaluación de la sexualidad en las pacientes sobrevivientes de cáncer de mama y del grado de interés en resolver sus disfunciones sexuales en la consulta médica / Assessment of the sexual health of breast cancer survivors and their Interest in discussing their difficulties with their doctors during Follow-Up / Avaliação da saúde sexual nas pacientes sobreviventes ao câncer de mama e do grau de interesse em resolver as dificuldades na consulta médica

Introducción: Las disfunciones sexuales producidas por el cáncer de mama y sus diversas formas de tratamiento se encuentran presentes hasta en el 60 % de las pacientes. En la actualidad la sexualidad sigue siendo un tema eludido, a menudo los médicos omiten tratarlo aduciendo falta de tiempo, conocimiento y experiencia para abordarlo. Objetivos: Evaluar la sexualidad de las pacientes sobrevivientes de cáncer de mama, indagar sobre el grado de interés en recibir ayuda para resolver las disfunciones sexuales vinculas al diagnóstico y al tratamiento de la enfermedad y el nivel de satisfacción con la atención recibida. Materiales y métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes diagnosticadas de cáncer de mama precoz asistidas en la Unidad de Mastología del Servicio de Oncología del Hospital de Clínicas. Se contó con la aprobación del Comité de Ética del Hospital de Clínicas. El cuestionario seleccionado es el utilizado en la Clínica de Oncología Médica de la Universidad de Chicago. Se incluyeron 128 pacientes, la mayoría eran mayores de 50 años y tenían pareja, 98 pacientes (76,5 %) estuvieron sexualmente activas en los últimos 12 meses y 85 (86,7 %) tuvieron problemas sexuales. Resultados: La mayoría (67 pacientes, 68,3 %) respondió que la sexualidad era importante en su vida, 85 (86,6 %) se mostró interesada en recibir atención para tratar sus problemas sexuales y 72 (73,4 %) considera probable abordar los mismas con un médico. Sin embargo, tan sólo 29 (29,6 %) había solicitado ayuda médica para tratarlos, y la mayoría quedó insatisfecha con la atención recibida. El 80,6 % (79) estaría dispuesta a participar de un programa dirigido a confrontar los problemas sexuales. Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados revelan la necesidad de atención de los problemas sexuales de las pacientes diagnosticadas y tratadas por cáncer de mama. Los futuros estudios deberán enfocarse en desarrollar y evaluar el éxito de las intervenciones específicas en el tratamiento de la disfunción sexual en estas pacientes y, lo que es más importante aún, diseñar estrategias para su prevención.

Introduction: Sexual dysfunction from breast cancer and its various therapies is present in up to 60 % of the breast cancer patients. Sexuality remains a neglected issue; doctors often ignore it, claiming they lack the time, knowledge or expertise required to address it. Objectives: To evaluate the sexuality of breast cancer survivors', inquire about the degree of interest in receiving help to resolve sexual dysfunctions related to the diagnosis and treatment of the disease and the level of satisfaction with the care received. Materials and methods: The subjects enrolled had an early breast cancer and were treated at the Mastology Unit of the Cancer Department of the Hospital de Clínicas. The study was approved by the hospital's Ethics Committee. The selected questionnaire is the one used at the University of Chicago Medical Oncology Clinic. Most of the 128 patients included were over 50 years old and had a sexual partner, 98 patients (76.5 %) had been sexually active within the last 12 months and 85 (86.7 %) reported having sexual problems. Results: Most patients (67/128, 68.3 %) responded that sexuality was important in their lives; 85 (86.6 %) were interested in receiving support to treat their sexual difficulties, and 72 (73.4 %) saw the feasibility of addressing them with a doctor. However, only 29 (29.6%) had sought medical help for that purpose, and most were unhappy with the care received. Seventy-nine patients (80.6 %) would be willing to participate in a program aimed at confronting their sexual problems. Conclusions: Our results reveal the need to address the sexual problems of patients diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer as part of their medical care. Future studies should focus on developing and evaluating the success of specific interventions in the management of these patients' sexual dysfunction and ―even more importantly― designing strategies for its prevention.

Introdução: A disfunção sexual produzida pelo CM e suas diversas formas de tratamento está presente em até 60 % das pacientes. Atualmente, a sexualidade continua sendo uma questão evitada, e muitas vezes os médicos não abordam o assunto alegando falta de tempo, conhecimento e experiência para tratá-lo. Objetivos: Avaliar a saúde sexual das pacientes sobreviventes ao CM e o grau de interesse em receber ajuda médica para abordar e tratar seus problemas sexuais. Material e métodos: Foram incluídas pacientes diagnosticadas com CM precoce, atendidas na Unidade de Mastologia do Serviço de Oncologia do Hospital de Clínicas, com a aprovação do Comitê de Ética do Hospital de Clínicas. O questionário selecionado é o utilizado na Clínica de Oncologia Médica da Universidade de Chicago. Resultados: Foram incluídas 128 pacientes, a maioria tinha parceiro e idade acima de 50 anos, 98 pacientes (76,5 %) se mantiveram sexualmente ativas nos últimos 12 meses e 85 (86,7 %) tiveram problemas sexuais. A maioria (67 pacientes; 68,3 %) respondeu que a sexualidade era importante na sua vida, 85 (86,6 %) mostraram interesse em receber atendimento para tratar suas dificuldades sexuais, e 72 (73,4 %) consideraram provável falar sobre essas dificuldades com um médico. No entanto, apenas 29 (29,6 %) tinham procurado ajuda médica para tratá-las, e a maioria delas ficaram insatisfeitas com o atendimento recebido. 80,6 % (79) estariam dispostas a participar de um programa voltado a confrontar os problemas sexuais. Conclusões: Nossos resultados revelam a necessidade de atendimento médico na saúde sexual das pacientes diagnosticadas e tratadas por CM. Os futuros estudos deverão estar focados em desenvolver e avaliar o sucesso das intervenções específicas no tratamento da disfunção sexual nessas pacientes e, o que é ainda mais importante, em desenhar estratégias para sua prevenção.

[Epidemiology of HIV infection in Italy]. / Epidemiologia dell'infezione da HIV in Italia.

AIDS surveillance systems, which have provided for many years useful information on HIV epidemic dynamics, are no longer useful for estimating the evolution of the HIV epidemic due to the effect of anti-retroviral treatments that have strongly improved survival of HIV-infected persons. To obtain reliable data on the HIV epidemic, some Italian provinces and regions (Lazio, Veneto, Friuli Venezia-Giulia, Trento, Modena) have set up local surveillance systems of the new HIV diagnoses. Aggregated data collected by these systems since 1988, show that the rapid spread of the infection in the eighties has been followed by a progressive decrease in the number of new diagnoses during the nineties; in more recent years this trend has levelled-off. The composition of cases by exposure category has greatly changed over time: in 1988 75.2% of cases were injecting drug users, whereas in 2000 58.5% of cases acquired the infection through sexual contacts. HIV incidence for the considered areas decreased from 19.2 per 100.000 inhabitants in 1992, to 6.7 per 100.000 inhabitants in 2000. Median age at diagnosis increased over time, from 27 years in 1988 to 34 years in 2000. The changed pattern of the HIV epidemic in Italy stresses the need of a nation-wide surveillance system for HIV infections aimed at allocation of adequate economic resources and planning specific prevention programmes.

Encuestas sobre prevención del cáncer de mama en una población de mujeres uruguayas / Surveys on prevention of breast cancer in a population of Uruguayan women / Pesquisas sobre prevenção do câncer de mama em uma população de mulheres uruguaias

El cáncer de mama ocupa el primer lugar en incidencia y mortalidad en el Uruguay. El conocimiento de la distribución de los factores de riesgo relacionados con el desarrollo de la enfermedad facilita la incorporación de estrategias de prevención en la práctica clínica habitual, lo que podría contribuir a disminuir los índices de morbimortalidad. Objetivos: conocer el perfil epidemiológico para el cáncer de mama y la frecuencia del control mamográfico en la población encuestada. Material y Métodos: Se aplicó una encuesta a mujeres uruguayas, luego de realizada, se les brindó información sobre los factores de riesgo y protectores y sobre la importancia de realizar el control mamográfico. Resultados: Se incluyeron 182 encuestadas, la mediana de edad fue 34 años (18-75 años). Excluyendo el sexo femenino (factor de riesgo presente en todas las encuestadas), 73 encuestadas (48%) presentaban uno o más factores de riego. La mayoría de las mujeres mayores de 50 años (58; 87,8%), realizaban control mamográfico al menos en forma bianual. Conclusiones: Concordantemente con lo reportado por el Programa Nacional de Cáncer de Mama, 40% de las encuestadas tuvieron algún factor de riesgo. La mayoría de las encuestadas mayores de 50 años realizaban control mamográfico y clínico al menos en forma bianual. Si bien, debido a las características del trabajo, solamente podemos obtener conclusiones sobre las mujeres incluidas, los datos recogidos nos permiten conocer mejor el perfil epidemiológico de la población uruguaya, lo que puede contribuir a las prácticas de prevención.

Breast cancer ranks first in incidence and mortality in Uruguay. The knowledge of the distribution of risk factors related to the development of the disease facilitates the incorporation of prevention strategies in routine clinical practice, which could contribute to lower morbidity and mortality rates. Objectives: to know the epidemiological profile for breast cancer and the frequency of mammographic control in the surveyed population. Material and Methods: A survey was applied to Uruguayan women. After the same, they were given information about the risk and protective factors and the importance of performing mammographic control. Results: 182 respondents were included; the median age was 34 years (18-75 years). Excluding the female sex (risk factor present in all respondents), 73 respondents (48%) had one or more risk factors. The majority of women older than 50 years (58; 87.8%), performed mammographic control at least biannually. Conclusions: Consistent with what was reported by the National Breast Cancer Program, 40% of the respondents had some risk factor. The majority of respondents over 50 years of age performed mammographic and clinical control at least bi-annually. Although, due to the characteristics of the work, we can only draw conclusions about the women included, the data collected allow us to better understand the epidemiological profile of the Uruguayan population, which can contribute to prevention practices.

O câncer de mama ocupa o primeiro lugar em incidência e mortalidade no Uruguai. O conhecimento da distribuição dos fatores de risco relacionados ao desenvolvimento da doença facilita a incorporação de estratégias de prevenção na prática clínica de rotina, o que poderia contribuir para menores taxas de morbidade e mortalidade. Objetivos: Conhecer o perfil epidemiológico do câncer de mama e frequência de controle da população mamográfica in Material encuestada.- e Métodos: A pesquisa foi aplicada mulheres uruguaias. Após o mesmo, foram dadas informações sobre os fatores de risco e proteção e a importância da realização do controle mamográfico. Resultados: 182 respondentes foram incluídos, a mediana de idade foi de 34 anos (18-75 anos). Excluindo o sexo feminino (fator de risco presente em todos os entrevistados), 73 entrevistados (48%) apresentavam um ou mais fatores de risco. A maioria das mulheres com idade superior a 50 anos (58; 87,8%) realizaram o controle mamográfico pelo menos semestralmente. Conclusões: Consistente com o que foi relatado pelo National Breast Cancer Program, 40% dos respondentes tinham algum fator de risco. A maioria dos entrevistados com mais de 50 anos de idade realizou controle mamográfico e clínico pelo menos bianualmente. Embora, devido às características do trabalho, só podemos tirar conclusões sobre mulheres incluídas, os dados coletados nos permitem compreender melhor o perfil epidemiológico da população uruguaia, que pode contribuir para práticas de prevenção.

Epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor alpha mRNA expression in human breast cancer bipsies : analysis in relation to estradiol, progesterone and EGF receptor content

Among the peptide growth factors active in breast glandular cell proliferation epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF x) are thought to play a major role in tumour development. They operate through binding to and activation of a common membrane receptor, defined as AGF-R. Their production is modulated by hormones and local growth factors. After it was shown by previous investigation in this laboratory that EGF-R could be detected in 90 percent of the tumours, but was masked by endogenous ligand in 36 percent of them, the question wa raised as to the level of the ligand's expression in tumour biopsies. Therefore, we investigated the expression of EGF and TGFx mRNA in 146 breast cancer biopsies by slot blot analysis using specific 32P- showed that EGF and TGFX coexisted in all tumour samples, and that their level of MRNA expression was similar in half of the tumours. Northern blot and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis validated these findings. A significant direct correlation was found between the level of TGFx/EGF mRNA expression and the ER/progesterone receptor (PGR) content

Relación entre el contenido tumoral de receptores esteroideos y los niveles circulantes de prolactina, IGF-1 y hormona de crecimiento en pacientes con cáncer mamario

Además de los estrógenos , la prolactina (PRL), el factor de crecimiento insulino símil tipo 1 (IGF-1) y la hormona de crecimiento (GH), parecen jugar un papel importante en la regulaci{on del crecimiento del cáncer mamario. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar si el contenido tumoral de receptores de estrógenos (RE) y de progesterona (RP) está relacionado con los niveles séricos de PRL, IGF-1 y hGH enpacientes con cáncer de mama. Se estudiaron 90 pacientes portadoras de cáncer de mamario primario. Se midieron los niveles séricos preoperatorios de PRL (n=90), GH (n=89) e IGF-1 (n=45) mediante estudios radioinmunológicos y se determinó el contenido de RE y de RP mediante la técnica de competición usando ligandos radiactivos (método DCC). La significación estadística de la asociación entre las variables fue calculada mediante el test de Spearman. Se encontró una correlación negativa significativa entre los niveles de PRL y de RE (p=0.011). Asimismo se documentó una correlación negativa entre los niveles de IGF-1 y los de RE (p=0.002) y RP (p=0.018). Estos resultados están a favor de la importancia de la PRL en la regulación de los Re y sugieren que IGF-1 pueden tener un papel significativo en la regulación de la expresión de ambos receptores esteroideos en el cáncer mamario. Así tanto los niveles de PRL como los de IGF-1 pueden ser factores a tomar encuenta en la predicción de la hormonosensibilidad del cáncer mamario