Abstract P6-08-01: Perceptions of breast cancer risk, psychological adjustment and behaviors in adolescent girls at high-risk and population-risk for breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Preliminary evidence suggests that many girls from breast cancer (BC) families are aware of their increased risk for BC. How this awareness impacts their psychosocial adjustment and health behaviors remains unknown.

METHODS: 11–19 YO girls at high-risk (HR) or population-risk (PR) for BC completed self-administered quantitative surveys informed by the Self-Regulation Theory of Health Behavior. Girls with a first or second-degree relative with BC were classified as HR. For hypothesis testing, we used simple linear and logistic regressions. To account for correlation of responses within families, we used robust (cluster-corrected) standard errors or Generalized Estimating Equations.

RESULTS: 47 PR and 89 HR girls have completed surveys. Age did not differ between groups (Mage = 15.6; SD=2.4). 30% of HR girls have a mother with BC. 67% of HR girls vs. 30% of PR girls reported self-perceived risk for adult BC to be “higher than other girls my age,” (p = <0.01, Table 1).

Aspartame and seizure susceptibility: results of a clinical study in reportedly sensitive individuals

The high intensity sweetener aspartame has been implicated anecdotally in seizure provocation. This possibility was investigated with a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. After an extensive search, 18 individuals (16 adults and 2 children) who had seizures allegedly related to aspartame consumption were admitted to adult or pediatric epilepsy monitoring units where their EEG was monitored continuously for 5 days. Aspartame (50 mg/kg) or identically enpackaged placebo was administered in divided doses at 0800, 1000, and 1200 h on study days 2 and 4. All meals were uniformly standardized on treatment days. No clinical seizures or other adverse experiences were observed after aspartame ingestion. Mean plasma phenylalanine (Phe) concentrations increased significantly after aspartame ingestion (83.6 microM) as compared with placebo (52.3 microM). Results suggest that aspartame, in acute dosage of approximately 50 mg/kg, is no more likely than placebo to cause seizures in individuals who reported that their seizures were provoked by aspartame consumption.

Comparative bioavailability of a generic phenytoin and Dilantin

Generic substitution of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) has been controversial, with many alleged instances of biologic and therapeutic inequivalence reported. The recall of a generic phenytoin (PHT) formulation used in the Veterans Administration (VA) medical system allowed us to evaluate the question of biologic equivalence systematically in a relatively large number of patients at the Bronx VA Medical Center. Serum PHT levels were 22-31% lower during the period of generic intake as compared with levels in the same patients receiving Dilantin. Review of the literature showed only one other adequately documented report of potential clinically significant inequivalence between a brand name and generic AED. Despite the apparent infrequency of generic inequivalence, several areas in which procedures for certification of therapeutic equivalence should be improved were identified.