Menopausal Status Impact on the Quality of Life in Kazakhstani Healthcare Workers: A Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Menopausal quality of life (MenQoL) is a common concern that primary healthcare workers often encounter. Menopause has a significant impact on women's health, but studies examining its effect on the MenQoL of menopausal healthcare employees have produced conflicting results.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life related to menopausal status (pre-, peri-, or postmenopausal) in healthcare workers from various clinical settings in Kazakhstan.

DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional study.

PARTICIPANTS

In total, 222 menopausal healthcare workers (physicians, nurses/midwives, administrative staff, and cleaners) were enrolled from hospitals affiliated with the University Medical Center (UMC) in Kazakhstan.

MAIN MEASURES

The outcome variable was assessed using the Menopausal Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL), which evaluates MenQoL across four domains of menopausal symptoms: physical, psychological, vasomotor, and sexual.

KEY RESULTS

The most frequently reported menopausal symptoms were physical ones, such as feeling tired or worn out (70.7%), followed by feeling a lack of energy (65.3%) and dry skin (64.1%). The postmenopause group had the highest mean MenQoL score in the vasomotor domain (mean 3.46 ± 1.84). There was a borderline statistical significance when comparing postmenopause and perimenopause groups in the physical domain. The pairwise comparison of mean sexual scores revealed that postmenopause women had the highest average score (3.3 ± 2.36) compared to both premenopause (mean 2.3 ± 1.82) and perimenopause (mean 2.22 ± 1.58) groups (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Menopausal status has influence on the MenQoL of healthcare workers. The study findings could have important implications for policymakers as they provide insight into the factors influencing the quality of life of menopausal healthcare employees. Creating a more menopause-friendly work environment may not only enhance the well-being of healthcare personnel but also improve their overall job satisfaction and performance.

Breast adiposity: Menopausal status impact and its influence on glycemic and anthropometric metabolic parameters

CONTEXT

Ectopic fat depots are related to the deregulation of energy homeostasis, leading to diseases related to obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS). Despite significant changes in body composition over women's lifespan, little is known about the role of breast adipose tissue (BrAT) and its possible utilization as an ectopic fat depot in women of different menopausal statuses.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to assess the relationship between BrAT and metabolic glycemic and lipid profiles and body composition parameters in adult women.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled adult women undergoing routine mammograms to perform history and physical examination, body composition assessment, semi-automated assessment of breast adiposity (BA) from mammograms and fasting blood collection for biochemical analysis. Correlations and multivariate regression analysis were used to examine the associations of the BA with metabolic and body composition parameters.

RESULTS

Of the 101 participants included in the final analysis, 76.2% were in menopause, and 23.8% were in premenopause. The BA was positively related with fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, body mass index, waist circumference, body fat percentage, abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat when adjusted for age among women in postmenopause. Also, the BA was an independent predictor of hyperglycemia and metabolic syndrome. These associations were not present among women in premenopause.

CONCLUSION

The BA was related to different adverse body composition and metabolic factors in women in postmenopause. The results suggest that there might be a relevant BrAT endocrine role during menopause, whose mechanisms are yet to be clarified, which thus opens up research perspectives on the subject as well as on clinical settings.

The association between menopausal status and clinical outcomes of female patients with carpal tunnel release: a retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND

The relationship between menopausal status and clinical outcomes of female patients with carpal tunnel release (CTR) has been not clearly investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of CTR among women with different menopausal statuses.

METHODS

Two hundred-eighteen consecutive female patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) who underwent surgery at our hospital between May 2016 and May 2020 were included in this study. Based on whether subjects had undergone menopause before surgery, they were divided into three groups: the premenopausal group, the early postmenopausal group (less than 10 years since menopause) and the late postmenopausal group (more than 10 years since menopause). The clinical outcome was assessed before surgery and at six-month postoperative visits using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ).

RESULTS

There were 86 patients in the premenopausal group, 70 patients in the early postmenopausal group and 62 patients in the late postmenopausal group. All the groups showed significant improvements in their Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) and Functional Status Scale (FSS) compared with preoperative scores. Although, there was a significant difference between the groups based and post-surgical SSS and FSS (p < 0.05). Patients in the postmenopausal group had less improvement in SSS and FSS in comparison with those in the other groups (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that all the groups had significant improvement in their SSS and FSS. However, the clinical outcomes were poorer in late postmenopausal patients than in premenopausal or early postmenopausal patients. These findings can be used in pre-operative counseling and interpretation of outcomes in women with CTR.

Breast cancer but not the menopausal status is associated with small changes of the gut microbiota

Background

Possible relationships between gut dysbiosis and breast cancer (BC) development and progression have been previously reported. However, the results of these metagenomics studies are inconsistent. Our study involved 88 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and 86 cancer-free control women. Participants were divided into groups based on their menopausal status. Fecal samples were collected from 47 and 41 pre- and postmenopausal newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and 51 and 35 pre- and postmenopausal controls, respectively. In this study, we performed shotgun metagenomic analyses to compare the gut microbial community between pre- and postmenopausal BC patients and the corresponding controls.

Results

Firstly, we identified 12, 64, 158, and 455 bacterial taxa on the taxonomy level of phyla, families, genera, and species, respectively. Insignificant differences of the Shannon index and β-diversity were found at the genus and species levels between pre- and postmenopausal controls; the differences concerned only the Chao index at the species level. No differences in α-diversity indexes were found between pre- and postmenopausal BC patients, although β-diversity differed these subgroups at the genus and species levels. Consistently, only the abundance of single taxa differed between pre- and postmenopausal controls and cases, while the abundances of 14 and 23 taxa differed or tended to differ between premenopausal cases and controls, and between postmenopausal cases and controls, respectively. There were similar differences in the distribution of enterotypes. Of 460 bacterial MetaCyc pathways discovered, no pathways differentiated pre- and postmenopausal controls or BC patients, while two and one pathways differentiated cases from controls in the pre- and postmenopausal subgroups, respectively.

Conclusion

While our findings did not reveal an association of changes in the overall microbiota composition and selected taxa with the menopausal status in cases and controls, they confirmed differences of the gut microbiota between pre- and postmenopausal BC patients and the corresponding controls. However, these differences were less extensive than those described previously.

Diabetes and incidence of breast cancer and its molecular subtypes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been proposed to be positively associated with breast cancer (BCa) risk due to shared risk factors, metabolic dysfunction, and the use of antidiabetic medications. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between DM and BCa risk. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for cohort and case-control studies assessing the association between DM and BCa published before 10 December 2021. Two reviewers independently screened the studies for inclusion, abstracted article data, and rated study quality. Random effects models were used to estimate summary risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). From 8396 articles identified in the initial search, 70 independent studies were included in the meta-analysis. DM was associated with an overall increased risk of BCa (RR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.11-1.29). The 24 case-control studies demonstrated a stronger association (RR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.13-1.40) than the 46 cohort studies (RR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.05-1.27). Studies reporting risk by menopausal status found that postmenopausal women had an elevated risk of developing BCa (RR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.07-1.17). No association between DM and BCa risk was observed among premenopausal women (RR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.85-1.05). In addition, DM was associated with significantly increased risks of oestrogen receptor (ER)+ (RR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.00-1.20), ER- (RR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.04-1.30), and triple negative BCa (RR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.01-1.96). The association estimate for human epidermal growth factor 2-positive BCa was also positive (RR = 1.21, 95% CI: 0.52-2.82), but the CI was wide and crossed the null. Our meta-analysis confirms a modest positive association between DM and BCa risk. In addition, our results suggest that the association between DM and BCa may be modified by menopausal status, and that DM may be differentially associated with BCa subtypes defined by receptor status. Additional studies are warranted to investigate the mechanisms underlying these associations and any influence of DM on BCa receptor expression.

Light at night exposure and risk of breast cancer: a meta-analysis of observational studies

Objective

The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the impact of light at night (LAN) exposure on the risk of breast cancer across varying factors.

Method

We conducted a systematic search of literature up to July 15, 2023, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases, using keywords related to breast cancer and LAN exposure. Cohort study and case-control study literature on night light exposure and breast cancer risk were included. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata software version 17.0. To address heterogeneity among different studies, we employed a random-effects model for analysis and assessed publication bias using funnel plots and Egger's test.

Results

We included 13 case-control and 8 cohort studies with 734,372 participants worldwide. In the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) assessments, the average score was 7.43 (ranging from 5 to 9). The overall meta-analysis demonstrated a significant association between exposure to LAN and risk of breast cancer (RR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.06-1.17; I2 = 31.3%, p < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, the results of the analysis for study types (case-control studies: RR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.06-1.27; I2 = 40.4%, p = 0.001; cohort studies: RR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.04-1.14; I2 = 0.0%, p < 0.001) and the results for light exposure types (outdoor LAN: RR = 1.07; 95% CI: 1.02-1.13; I2 = 30.9%, p = 0.004) are presented. In the analysis conducted for continents, the highest breast cancer risk was observed in the Asian population (Asian: RR = 1.24; 95% CI: 1.15-1.34; I2 = 0.0%, p < 0.001) and in the analysis of estrogen receptor status (ER+: RR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.03-1.18; I2 = 17.0%, p = 0.005;). We also conducted an analysis on menopausal status and various lifestyles but did not find any statistically significant findings.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that LAN exposure is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, particularly in the Asian population. Among the existing hypotheses, the idea that LAN exposure leads to a decrease in melatonin is widely accepted. However, until the mechanism of this effect is clearly elucidated, it is not recommended to take melatonin supplements for breast cancer prevention without medical advice. We hope to conduct more high-quality research, especially concerning the investigation of other environmental confounding factors, to further advance this field.

The Impact of HER2-Low Expression on Oncologic Outcomes in Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a prevalent malignancy with increasing incidence, particularly in Asian countries. Classification based on estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status is pivotal in determining treatment. Recent advances have challenged the traditional dichotomy in HER2 classification, prompting investigation into the HER2-low subtype's characteristics and outcomes. This retrospective study analyzed 10,186 non-metastatic hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer cases treated from 2008 to 2020. Data encompassed clinical, pathological, and treatment information. Oncologic outcomes included disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS). In total, 56.5% were HER2-low cases. Differences in patient characteristics were noted, with more BRCA1/2 mutations and higher mastectomy rates in the HER2-low group (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, respectively). Fewer received adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and fewer histologic and nuclear grade 1 tumors were identified (all p < 0.001). With a median follow-up of 64 months (range: 13-174), HER2-low cases exhibited better DFS, OS, and BCSS than HER2-0 cases (p = 0.012, p = 0.013, and p = 0.013, respectively). Notably, the prognosis differed between premenopausal and postmenopausal subgroups, with BCSS benefitting premenopausal patients (p = 0.047) and DFS and OS benefitting postmenopausal patients in the HER2-low group (p = 0.004, p = 0.009, respectively). Multivariate analysis confirmed HER2 status as an independent predictor of these outcomes (p = 0.010, p = 0.008, and p = 0.014, respectively). This extensive single-center study elucidates the favorable prognosis associated with HER2-low status in HR-positive breast cancer. However, this effect differs among premenopausal and postmenopausal patients, necessitating further research into the underlying tumor biology.

Lifestyle Quality Indices and Female Breast Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Breast cancer (BC) poses an important burden of disease, which probably could be reduced by adopting healthy lifestyles like healthy body weight, healthy diet, and physical activity, among others. Many studies have reported that adherence to healthy lifestyles may decrease BC risk. The main objective of this study was to estimate a summary association of studies evaluating a healthy lifestyle index and BC risk. A systematic review and meta-analysis following the Cochrane methodology were carried out. Observational studies, including healthy lifestyle indices and their association with BC, were searched from 4 databases. For the meta-analysis, random-effects model was used to evaluate overall BC risk, BC by molecular subtype and menopausal status. Thirty-one studies were included in the systematic review, and 29 studies in the meta-analysis. When the highest vs. the lowest category to a healthy lifestyle index were compared, the study identified a 20% risk reduction for BC in prospective studies (hazard ratio [HR] 0.80 95% CI: 0.78, 0.83) and an odds ratio (OR) of 0.74 (95% CI: 0.63, 0.86) for retrospective studies. The inverse association remained statistically significant when stratified by menopausal status, except for premenopausal BC in prospective studies. Furthermore, an inverse association was found for molecular subtypes estrogen receptor (ER+)/progesterone receptor (PR+): HR = 0.68 (95%CI: 0.63, 0.73), ER+/PR-: HR = 0.78 (95% CI: 0.67, 0.90) and ER-/PR-: HR = 0.77 (95% CI: 0.64, 0.92). Most studies scored at a low risk of bias and a moderate score for the certainty of the evidence. Adherence to a healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of BC, regardless of its molecular subtypes, which should be considered a priority to generate recommendations for BC prevention at a population level. International prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) ID: CRD42021267759.

Associations between postprandial triglyceride concentrations and sex, age, and body mass index: cross-sectional analyses from the Tromsø study 2015-2016

Introduction

Elevated serum triglyceride concentrations increase the risk of developing atherosclerosis, the leading cause of cardiovascular disease. Postprandial triglyceride concentrations have shown to be a stronger predictor of cardiovascular disease compared to fasting triglycerides. It is therefore clinically relevant to study patterns of postprandial triglyceride concentrations in a general adult population.

Aims

The aim of this cross-sectional analysis was to examine postprandial triglyceride concentrations in women and men, and the association with age, body mass index and menopausal status.

Methods

Non-fasting blood samples from 20,963 women and men aged 40 years and older, attending the seventh survey of the Tromsø Study (2015-2016), were analyzed for postprandial triglyceride concentrations using descriptive statistics and linear regression models. Self-reported time since last meal before blood sampling was categorized into 1-h intervals with 7+ hours considered fasting.

Results

Men had higher triglyceride concentrations compared to women. The pattern of postprandial triglyceride concentrations differed between the sexes. In women, the highest triglyceride concentration (19% higher compared to fasting level, p < 0.001) was found 3-4 h postprandially compared to 1-3 h in men (30% higher compared to fasting level, p < 0.001). In women, all subgroups of age and BMI had higher triglyceride concentrations than the reference group (age 40-49 years and BMI < 25 kg/m²), but no linear trend for age was observed. In men, triglyceride concentrations were inversely associated with age. Body mass index was positively associated with triglyceride concentration in both women (p < 0.001) and men (p < 0.001), although this association was somewhat modified by age in women. Postmenopausal women had significantly higher triglyceride concentrations compared to premenopausal women (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Postprandial triglyceride concentrations differed in groups of sex, age, body mass index, and menopausal status.

Effect of Clinical and Laboratory Parameters on HDL Particle Composition

The functional status of High-Density Lipoprotein (HDLs) is not dependent on the cholesterol content but is closely related to structural and compositional characteristics. We reported the analysis of HDL lipidome in the healthy population and the influence of serum lipids, age, gender and menopausal status on its composition. Our sample comprised 90 healthy subjects aged between 30 and 77 years. HDL lipidome was investigated by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Among serum lipids, triglycerides, apoAI, apoB and the ratio HDL-C/apoAI had a significant influence on HDL lipid composition. Aging was associated with significant aberrations, including an increase in triglyceride content, lysophosphatidylcholine, free cholesterol, and a decrease in esterified cholesterol, phospholipids, and sphingomyelin that may contribute to increased cardiovascular risk. Aging was also associated with an atherogenic fatty acid pattern. Changes occurring in the HDL lipidome between the two genders were more pronounced in the decade from 30 to 39 years of age and over 60 years. The postmenopausal group displayed significant pro-atherogenic changes in HDLs compared to the premenopausal group. The influence of serum lipids and intrinsic factors on HDL lipidome could improve our understanding of the remodeling capacity of HDLs directly related to its functionality and antiatherogenic properties, and also in appropriate clinical research study protocol design. These data demonstrate that NMR analysis can easily follow the subtle alterations of lipoprotein composition due to serum lipid parameters.

Study of risk factors and marker status in women with breast cancer in Brunei Darussalam

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the associations between breast cancer staging and body mass index (BMI), menopausal status, and family history of breast cancer, as well as to assess the expression of tumor markers in women with breast cancer in Brunei Darussalam.

METHODS

A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out at The Brunei Cancer Centre. Cases of women with breast cancer between 2000 and 2013 were retrieved from the medical records section and entered into a clinical proforma. These were reviewed and analyzed using appropriate statistical methods.

RESULTS

Overall, the mean age at diagnosis was 53.6 years ± 9.83. The postmenopausal women had a significantly higher risk of being diagnosed with late-onset breast cancer than premenopausal women (P = 0.022). The expressions of PR (P = 0.034), Her2 (P = 0.046), and CatD (P = 0.004) were significantly different in breast cancer staging. Other factors did not have a statistically-significant association with breast cancer staging.

CONCLUSION

While most of the factors studied were not significantly different in breast cancer staging, our findings showed that it is recommended that high-risk women perform regular breast screening after the age of 40 years old. A future study highly appreciates comparing breast cancer risk factors among the Bruneian and Western populations.

NFκB-Mediated Mechanisms Drive PEDF Expression and Function in Pre- and Post-Menopausal Oestrogen Levels in Breast Cancer

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) protein regulates normal bone, with anti-tumour roles in bone and breast cancer (BC). Pre- and post-menopausal oestrogen levels may regulate PEDF expression and function in BC, though the mechanisms behind this remain unknown. In this study, in vitro models simulating pre- and post-menopausal bone microenvironments were used to evaluate if PEDF regulates pro-metastatic biomarker expression and downstream functional effects on BC cells. PEDF treatment reduced phosphorylated-nuclear factor-κB p65 subunit (p-NFκB-p65), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα), C-X-C chemokine receptor type-4 (CXCR4), and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) in oestrogen receptor (ER)+/human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)- BC cells under post-menopausal oestrogen conditions. In triple negative BC (TNBC) cells, PEDF treatment reduced pNFκB-p65 and uPAR expression under pre-menopausal oestrogen conditions. A potential reciprocal regulatory axis between p-NFκB-65 and PEDF in BC was identified, which was BC subtype-specific and differentially regulated by menopausal oestrogen conditions. The effects of PEDF treatment and NFκB inhibition on BC cell function under menopausal conditions were also compared. PEDF treatment exhibited superior anti-viability effects, while combined PEDF and NFκB-p65 inhibitor treatment was superior in reducing BC cell colony formation in a subtype-specific manner. Lastly, immunohistochemical evaluation of p-NFκB-p65 and PEDF expression in human BC and bone metastases specimens revealed an inverse correlation between nuclear PEDF and NFκB expression in bone metastases. We propose that menopausal status is associated with a PEDF/NFκB reciprocal regulatory axis, which drives PEDF expression and anti-metastatic function in a subtype-specific manner. Altogether, our findings identify pre-menopausal TNBC and post-menopausal ER+/HER2- BC patients as target populations for future PEDF research.

Bariatric surgery and menopause

Introduction

Menopause is a process that affects hormonal levels and metabolic processes in women. The decline in oestrogen levels can predispose to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity.

Material and methods

The study group included 614 women with a history of bariatric surgery, who were divided into 2 groups according to their menopausal status. The purpose of the study was to assess the influence of menopausal status on the effects of bariatric surgery in terms of weight loss.

Results

The percentage of estimated weight loss (%EWL), total weight loss (TWL), percentage of total weight loss (%TWL), and change in body mass index (BMI) after bariatric surgery are lower in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women.

Conclusions

Menopause can be considered as a factor influencing the efficacy of bariatric surgery, with lower effects in postmenopausal women.

Body Weight, Central Adiposity, and Fasting Hyperglycemia Are Associated with Tumor Characteristics in a Brazilian Cohort of Women with Breast Cancer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of overweight, obesity, excess central adiposity, hyperglycemia, and diabetes mellitus with tumor characteristics in breast cancer. In this retrospective cohort study that enrolled 2127 women with breast cancer, the independent variables collected were fasting blood glucose, body mass index, central adiposity (waist circumference and waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR)), and waist-to-height ratio. The tumor characteristics (infiltrating, ductal grade, hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor, triple negative, size, lymph node involvement, and clinical stage) were the dependent variables. Most of the women were postmenopausal (73.5%), with an infiltrating tumor (83.0%), HR+ (82.0%), and overweight or obese (71.0%). For the premenopausal women, obesity was associated with grade 3 ductal tumor (odds ratio (OR): 1.70; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.09-2.66), triple negative (OR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.08-3.24), and size ≥ 2 cm (OR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.36-3.56). For the postmenopausal women, obesity was associated with WHR, infiltrating tumor (OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.56-1.95), size ≥ 2 cm (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.11-1.71), lymph node involvement (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.02-1.56), and stages III-IV (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.30-2.65). Excess body weight and central adiposity were associated with tumor aggressiveness characteristics in women with breast cancer, confirming the importance of nutritional status.

Does the Association of Sedentary Time or Fruit/Vegetable Intake with Central Obesity Depend on Menopausal Status among Women?

(1) Background: The prevalence of central obesity is growing rapidly among women, and the prevalence differs by menopausal status. Longer sedentary time and less fruit/vegetable (F/V) intake increased the risk of central obesity. Among women of different menopausal statuses, controversy surrounds the association between sedentary time or F/V intake and central obesity. This study aimed to explore whether the independent and joint associations between sedentary time or F/V intake and menopausal status are correlated with central obesity, respectively. (2) Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Hunan, China. Self-reported questionnaires were used to gather information on demographic characteristics, menopausal status, sedentary time, and F/V intake. Waist circumference was measured at the study site. Binary logistic regression and multiple interaction models were used to explore the independent and joint associations of menopausal status and the above two lifestyle variables with central obesity. (3) Results: A total of 387 women with a mean age of 47.7 ± 6.6 years old participated in the study. The prevalence of central obesity was 52.8%. Peri- and post-menopause statuses and not taking five servings of F/V per day were risk factors of central obesity (p < 0.05), whereas no significant association was found between sedentary time and central obesity (p > 0.05). Among peri-menopausal (mutual odds ratio (OR): 2.466, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.984−6.182; p < 0.05) and post-menopausal women (mutual OR: 2.274, 95% CI: 1.046−4.943; p < 0.05), more than 4 h of sedentary time per day was associated with a high risk of central obesity. Among pre-menopausal women, the consumption of five servings of F/V per day was associated with a low risk of central obesity (mutual OR: 0.444, 95%CI: 0.236−0.837, p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: More than half of women in the central south of China presented with central obesity, spent >4 h of sedentary time per day, or did not engage in recommended F/V intake. Healthier lifestyle intervention is warranted to prevent central obesity development, including reducing the sedentary time to <4 h per day for peri- and post-menopausal women, while increasing taking five servings of F/V per day for pre-menopausal women.

Dose-Response Relationship of Uric Acid With Fasting Glucose, Insulin, and Insulin Resistance in a United States Cohort of 5,148 Non-diabetic People

Background

There is a limited number of studies on the dose-response relationship between serum uric acid and impaired glucose metabolism in people without diabetes, and no large-scale research exploring the relationship in women without diabetes is based on menopausal status. Consequently, the present study aimed to investigate the above relationship in United States adults without diabetes.

Materials and Methods

Data from 2,498 men and 2,650 women aged ≥20 years were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2016 conducted in the United States. Binary logistic regression analysis was applied to evaluate the association between uric acid and impaired glucose metabolism. Restricted cubic spline analysis, sensitivity analysis, and stratified analysis by menopausal status were performed to explore the above relationships.

Results

A positive correlation was found between uric acid and the risk of insulin resistance in all participants (P < 0.05). In binary logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for confounding factors, compared with the lowest quartile of uric acid, the odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) of insulin resistance in the highest quartile was 1.9 (1.1-3.1) and 2.2 (1.2-4.3) in men and women, respectively. A significant positive relationship was also observed between uric acid and impaired fasting glucose and hyperinsulinemia in women, while in men, uric acid was positively associated with the risk of hyperinsulinemia but not impaired fasting glucose. Restricted cubic spline showed that the odds ratios of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia increased with elevating uric acid levels in both men and women. When stratified by menopause, the association remained significant in pre-menopausal women aged ≥20, but insignificant in post-menopausal women.

Conclusion

Uric acid was positively associated with the risk of impaired glucose metabolism in a cohort of United States adults, and uric acid increased the risk of insulin resistance in pre-menopausal, but not in post-menopausal women.

Physical Activity and Long-Term Risk of Breast Cancer, Associations with Time in Life and Body Composition in the Prospective Malmö Diet and Cancer Study

Being physically active as part of everyday life reduces breast cancer risk. Less is known whether the benefits of an active lifestyle differ depending on the timing of physical activity in life or anthropometric characteristics. The aim of this study was to bring further insights to the association of physical activity in relation to menopausal status and body composition with breast cancer risk by making use of a prospective Swedish cohort (Malmö Diet and Cancer Study) with long-term follow-up. Physical activity information of 15,983 participants for the past 12 months prior to study entry was assessed according to metabolic equivalent task (MET)-hours/week to integrate duration and intensity of reported activities. During 23.2 years median follow-up, 1302 invasive breast cancers occurred. Women reporting a high physical activity at study baseline, corresponding to >1 h daily walking/week (≥28.5 MET-h/week), had a 23% lower long-term breast cancer risk (HRadj = 0.77, 95% CI 0.66−0.90) than those reporting low physical activity, being most pronounced among perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, and women with waist circumference, body fat percentage, or BMI in the upper-normal and overweight range. For premenopausal women or women having obesity or the largest body composition, high physical activity alone did not modify the breast cancer risk, suggesting additional preventive measures indicated in these groups to reduce the long-term risk of breast cancer.

Urinary Concentrations of Triclosan, Bisphenol A, and Brominated Flame Retardants and the Association of Triclosan with Demographic Characteristics and Body Fatness among Women with Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer

Background: Triclosan, bisphenol A (BPA), and brominated flame retardants are environmental estrogenic endocrine-disrupting compounds that may influence the prognosis of breast cancer. We examined the urinary concentrations of these compounds and their associations with demographic characteristics and body fatness in a population of women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Methods: Overnight urine collection and anthropometric measures were obtained from 302 participants. Triclosan, BPA, tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), and tetrabromobenzoic acid (TBBA) concentrations were determined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry. Regression analyses were conducted to examine associations of urinary compound concentration with age, menopause, race, ethnicity, educational level, estrogen receptor status, body size, and body composition. Results: Triclosan, BPA, and TBBA were detected in urine samples from 98.3%, 6.0%, and 0.3% of patients, respectively; TBBPA was undetectable. Among patients with quantifiable values, the geometric mean concentrations were 20.74 µg/L (27.04 µg/g creatinine) for triclosan and 0.82 µg/L (1.08 µg/g creatinine) for BPA. Body mass index ≥ 30 vs. <25 kg/m2 was associated with lower creatinine-corrected urinary concentrations of triclosan (−40.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −77.19 to −2.81; p = 0.0351). The observed association was predominantly in postmenopausal women (−66.57; 95% CI: −109.18% to −23.96%). Consistent results were found for associations between triclosan levels and fat mass variables. Conclusion: In this study population, women with newly diagnosed breast cancer had triclosan exposure. Assessments of the implications of urinary concentrations of triclosan for women should consider body fatness and menopausal status.

Subsequent Ultrasonographic Non-Visualization of the Ovaries Is Hastened in Women with Only One Ovary Visualized Initially

Because the effects of age, menopausal status, weight and body mass index (BMI) on ovarian detectability by transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) have not been established, we determined their contributions to TVS visualization of the ovaries when one or both ovaries are visualized on the first ultrasound exam. A total of 29,877 women that had both ovaries visualized on their first exam were followed over 202,639 prospective TVS exams and 9703 women that had only one ovary visualized on their first exam were followed over 63,702 ultrasonography exams. All images were reviewed by a physician. While non-visualization of both ovaries increased with age in women selected on the basis of the visualization of only one ovary on their first ultrasound exam, one or both ovaries could be visualized in two out of every three women at 80 years of age and more than 50% of women over 80 years of age. At each age, more non-visualizations were associated with women that had only one ovary visualized on their first visit. Having only one ovary visualized on the first exam advanced non-visualizations by an average of ~10 years across all ages and by >20 years in women under 40 years of age. Conclusions: Having only one ovary visualized on an initial ultrasound exam considerably hastens complete non-visualization for this population; however, in these women, ovaries can still be visualized well past menopause, and body habitus is not limiting to TVS ovarian imaging, thus TVS should be considered capable of capturing an ovarian image in two out of every three women at 80 years of age.

Sex Differences in Hypercortisolism and Glucose-Metabolism Disturbances in Patients with Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion: Findings From a Single Center in China

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) presents with a marked female preponderance, but whether the sex difference in its distribution has any relevance to the presentation and outcome of the disease is unknown. The aim of this study was therefore to compare biochemical indices of hypercortisolism and impaired glucose metabolism between male and female patients with MACS.

METHOD

We enrolled a total of 98 patients with autonomous/possible autonomous cortisol secretion in our study, and indices of hypercortisolism and glucose metabolism were collected and compared between the male and female patients. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between sex and cortisol-secretory ability, as well as between the latter and glucose metabolism. In addition, we conducted further stratified analyses according to the degree of autonomous cortisol secretion and menopausal status.

RESULTS

Cortisol levels at 00:00 and 08:00 h after a 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and low-dose DST were significantly higher in female than in male MACS patients, and the inhibition rate of 1-mg DST was lower in the women than in the men. This significant difference still remained after adjusting for age, BMI, and the course of the disease. Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between autonomous cortisol secretion and fasting C-peptide, as well as with the C-peptide-to-glucose ratio in females relative to male patients. In addition, stratified analyses indicated that this association was observed only among women with autonomous cortisol secretion and who were premenopausal.

CONCLUSION

The level of autonomic cortisol secretion in female patients with MACS was higher than in male patients, and the association between autonomous cortisol secretory ability and glucose homeostasis was only noted in patients with autonomous cortisol secretion and in premenopausal women. This phenomenon will, however, require closer follow-up.

Consumption of Dairy Products and the Risk of Developing Breast Cancer in Polish Women

Lack of consistency in the relationship between dairy products consumption and breast cancer (BC) risk motivated us to evaluate this association in a case-control study of BC among Polish women. The study includes 1699 women 26–79 years of age, 823 BC cases identified in Cancer Registries and 876 randomly selected controls from the national population registry. Using a validated, semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), the consumption of dairy products was collected for a time period of 10–15 years prior to BC diagnosis. We used logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders, to assess the relationship between total dairy consumption as well as individual dairy groups of milk, cottage cheese and hard cheese and BC risk for premenopausal and postmenopausal women. For total consumption, a significant decrease in BC risk was observed with increased consumption of one serving/week, OR _trend = 0.98, 2% decrease in risk, for premenopausal women only. For milk, a significant decrease in BC risk was observed for an increase in consumption of one glass/week, OR _trend = 0.95, 5% decrease, in both strata of menopause. In contrast, for hard cheese, a significant increase in the risk of 10% was observed only in premenopausal women, OR _trend = 1.10. Cottage cheese consumption significantly reduced BC risk by 20%, OR _trend = 0.80, for an increase in one serving/week for postmenopausal women only. Our results show that individual dairy products have a statistically significant but bi-directional relationship with BC risk, which differs for premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Long-Term Nightshift Work and Breast Cancer Risk: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with Special Attention to Menopausal Status and to Recent Nightshift Work

This systematic review discusses long-term NSW and female BC risk, with special attention to differences between pre- and postmenopausal BC, to test the association with recent NSW. The review follows PRISMA guidelines (Prospero registry: CRD42018102515). We searched PubMed, Embase, and WOS for case-control, nested case-control, and cohort studies addressing long-term NSW (≥15 years) as risk exposure and female BC as outcome until 31 December 2020. Risk of bias was evaluated with the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Eighteen studies were finally included (eight cohorts; five nested case-control; five case-control). We performed meta-analyses on long-term NSW and BC risk; overall and by menopausal status; a subanalysis on recent long-term NSW, based on studies involving predominantly women below retirement age; and a dose-response meta-analysis on NSW duration. The pooled estimate for long-term NSW and BC was 1.13 (95%CI = 1.01-1.27; 18 studies, I² = 56.8%, p = 0.002). BC risk increased 4.7% per 10 years of NSW (95%CI = 0.94-1.09; 16 studies, I² = 33.4%, p = 0.008). The pooled estimate for premenopausal BC was 1.27 (95%CI = 0.96-1.68; six studies, I² = 32.0%, p = 0.196) and for postmenopausal BC 1.05 (95%CI = 0.90-1.24,I² = 52.4%; seven studies, p = 0.050). For recent long-term exposure, the pooled estimate was 1.23 (95%CI = 1.06-1.42; 15 studies; I² = 48.4%, p = 0.018). Our results indicate that long-term NSW increases the risk for BC and that menopausal status and time since exposure might be relevant.

Dietary Vitamin A and Breast Cancer Risk in Black Women: The African American Breast Cancer Epidemiology and Risk (AMBER) Consortium

BACKGROUND

Studies in women of European descent showed an inverse association of dietary vitamin A (retinol and carotenoids) intake with breast cancer risks, mainly in premenopausal women.

OBJECTIVES

We examined whether higher compared with lower levels of dietary vitamin A are associated with reduced breast cancer risks among Black women by estrogen receptor (ER) and menopausal statuses.

METHODS

In this pooled analysis, data were from 3564 breast cancer cases and 11,843 controls (mean ages = 56.4 and 56.3 years, respectively) in the African American Breast Cancer Epidemiology and Risk (AMBER) Consortium. Dietary intake was assessed by FFQs. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to estimate ORs and 95% CIs for study-specific quintiles of total vitamin A equivalents and individual carotenoids, and a pooled OR was estimated by a random-effect model.

RESULTS

We observed an inverse association of total vitamin A equivalents with ER-positive breast cancer (quintiles 5 compared with 1: pooled OR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.67-1.00; P-trend = 0.045). The association was seen among premenopausal women (pooled OR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.43-0.83; P-trend = 0.004), but not among postmenopausal women (pooled OR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.77-1.28; P-trend = 0.78). Additionally, there were inverse associations of dietary β-carotene (quintiles 5 compared with 1: pooled OR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.51-0.95; P-trend = 0.08) and lutein (pooled OR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.45-0.87; P-trend = 0.020) with ER-positive breast cancer among premenopausal women. There was no evidence for an association of total vitamin A equivalents or individual carotenoids with ER-negative breast cancer, regardless of menopausal status.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings on dietary vitamin A and breast cancer risks in Black women are consistent with observations in women of European descent and advance the literature showing an inverse association for ER-positive disease.

Cumulative menstrual months and breast cancer risk by hormone receptor status and ethnicity: The Breast Cancer Etiology in Minorities Study

Reproductive and hormonal factors may influence breast cancer risk via endogenous estrogen exposure. Cumulative menstrual months (CMM) can be used as a surrogate measure of this exposure. Using harmonized data from four population-based breast cancer studies (7284 cases and 7242 controls), we examined ethnicity-specific associations between CMM and breast cancer risk using logistic regression, adjusting for menopausal status and other risk factors. Higher CMM was associated with increased breast cancer risk in non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanics and Asian Americans regardless of menopausal status (all FDR adjusted P trends = .0004), but not in African Americans. In premenopausal African Americans, there was a suggestive trend of lower risk with higher CMM. Stratification by body mass index (BMI) among premenopausal African American women showed a nonsignificant positive association with CMM in nonobese (BMI <30 kg/m² ) women and a significant inverse association in obese women (OR per 50 CMM = 0.56, 95% CI 0.37-0.87, P_trend  = .03). Risk patterns were similar for hormone receptor positive (HR+; ER+ or PR+) breast cancer; a positive association was found in all premenopausal and postmenopausal ethnic groups except in African Americans. HR- (ER- and PR-) breast cancer was not associated with CMM in all groups combined, except for a suggestive positive association among premenopausal Asian Americans (OR per 50 CMM = 1.33, P = .07). In summary, these results add to the accumulating evidence that established reproductive and hormonal factors impact breast cancer risk differently in African American women compared to other ethnic groups, and also differently for HR- breast cancer than HR+ breast cancer.

Association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and odds of breast cancer by molecular subtype: analysis of the MEND study

Breast cancer (BC) in Nigeria is characterized by disproportionately aggressive molecular subtypes. C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with risk and aggressiveness for several types of cancer. We examined the association of high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) with odds of BC by molecular subtype among Nigerian women. Among 296 newly diagnosed BC cases and 259 healthy controls, multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between hsCRP and odds of BC overall and by molecular subtype (luminal A, luminal B, HER2-enriched and triple-negative or TNBC). High hsCRP (> 3 mg/L) was observed in 57% of cases and 31% of controls and was associated with 4 times the odds of BC (aOR: 4.43; 95% CI: 2.56, 7.66) after adjusting for socio-demographic, reproductive, and clinical variables. This association persisted regardless of menopausal status and body mass index (BMI) category. High hsCRP was associated with increased odds of TNBC (aOR: 3.32; 95% CI: 1.07, 10.35), luminal A BC (aOR: 4.03; 95% CI: 1.29, 12.64), and HER2-enriched BC (aOR: 6.27; 95% CI: 1.69, 23.25). Future studies are necessary in this population to further evaluate a potential role for CRP as a predictive biomarker for BC.

Generalized headache among Chinese climacteric women: findings from a prospective cohort

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to prospectively identify the prevalence of generalized headache and associated risk factors in Chinese midlife women.

METHODS

We identified 411 qualified women from a Chinese urban community, contributing a total of 2544 surveys. The presence of generalized headache was measured. Climacteric symptoms and other risk factors were evaluated by generalized estimating equations.

RESULTS

The prevalence of headache complaints is associated with menopausal stages. Perimenopausal women have relatively high prevalence of headache symptoms, especially stage +1a women (59.0%) compared to late postmenopausal women (37.8%), although menopause stages were not statistically significant in the multivariate analysis. Women who had headache at baseline and depression were much more likely to have headache during menopause. According to the univariate and multivariate analyses in women without headache at baseline, starting menopausal status, insomnia, sweats, and depression were independently associated with newly developed headache.

CONCLUSIONS

Symptoms of generalized headache were less prevalent in late postmenopausal women. Our findings highlight the association between headache and climacteric changes.

Practical consensus recommendations on ovarian suppression in early breast cancer (adjuvant)

Substantial survival benefits exist for patients with early-stage breast cancer who undergo treatment with single-modality ovarian suppression, but its value is uncertain. Expert oncologist discussed to determine whether additional benefits exist with ovarian suppression plus multiple adjuvant therapy which provides a new treatment option that reduces the risk of recurrence in early breast cancer. This expert group used data from published literature, practical experience and opinion of a large group of academic oncologists to arrive at this practical consensus recommendations for the benefit of community oncologists.

Fine-mapping of a novel premenopausal breast cancer susceptibility locus at Chr4q31.22 in Caucasian women and validation in African and Chinese women

We previously identified a novel breast cancer susceptibility variant on chromosome 4q31.22 locus (rs1429142) conferring risk among women of European ancestry. Here, we report replication of findings, validation of the variant in diverse populations and fine-mapping of the associated locus in Caucasian population. The SNP rs1429142 (C/T, minor allele frequency 18%) showed association for the overall breast cancer risk in Stages 1-4 (n = 4,331 cases/4271 controls; p = 4.35 × 10^-8 ; odds ratio, OR_C-allele ,1.25), and an elevated risk among premenopausal women (n = 1,503 cases/4271 controls; p = 5.81 × 10^-10 ; OR_C-allele 1.40) in European populations. SNP rs1429142 was associated with premenopausal breast cancer risk in women of African (T/C; p-value 1.45 × 10^-02 ; OR_C-allele 1.2) but not from Chinese ancestry. Fine-mapping of the locus revealed several potential causal variants which are present within a single association signal, revealed from the conditional regression analysis. Functional annotation of the potential causal variants revealed three putative SNPs rs1366691, rs1429139 and rs7667633 with active enhancer functions inferred based on histone marks, DNase hypersensitive sites in breast cell line data. These putative variants were bound by transcription factors (C-FOS, STAT1/3 and POL2/3) with known roles in inflammatory pathways. Furthermore, Hi-C data revealed several short-range interactions in the fine-mapped locus harboring the putative variants. The fine mapped locus was predicted to be within a single topologically associated domain, potentially facilitating enhancer-promoter interactions possibly leading to the regulation of nearby genes.

Breast Cancer Survival Defined by Biological Receptor and Menopausal Status in Vietnamese Women

Little is known about breast cancer in Vietnamese women. Previous studies have reported the frequencies of prognostic factors of breast cancer in this population. The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic factors associated with the survival rates of patients with breast cancer treated at the National Cancer Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam. We recruited 248 women with operable breast cancer treated with surgery and adjuvant therapy. Tumor tissue samples were stained by many immunohistochemical approaches and analyzed for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 gene amplification status. A Cox model was used to determine the relationship between survival and the prognostic factors. The disease-free survival rate, overall survival rate, and cancer-specific survival rate were 75.8%, 80.6%, and 86.4%, respectively, at 5 years and 62.3%, 68.1%, and 78.9%, respectively, at 10 years. The lung was the most common metastatic site. Women with factors associated with a poor prognosis (eg, advanced clinical stage, high tumor grade, progesterone receptor [PR] negativity, HER2 amplification) had significantly lower survival rates. Patients with PR-negative breast cancer had significantly worse survival rates compared to those who were PR positive, according to multivariate analysis (hazard ratio = 1.77, 95% confidence interval: 1.01-3.11, P = .045); however, there was only a statistically significant difference in postmenopausal patients. The PR was a prognostic factor in postmenopausal women with breast cancer, but not in premenopausal women.

Bone mineral density in old age: the influence of age at menarche, menopause status and habitual past and present physical activity

INTRODUCTION

In this study, the hypothesis that bone mineral density (BMD) of peri-, pre- and postmenopausal women is associated with the current level of habitual physical activity, as well as past physical activity, at the age of building peak bone mass, was tested.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study involved 500 Polish women aged 40 to 70. For the assessment of BMD and bone mineral content (BMC) the densitometry method (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, DXA) of the forearm bone was used. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to assess the present level of physical activity. The assessment of past physical activity was related to adolescence.

RESULTS

There was a significant, strong influence on the norm BMD in the distal forearm sections values in the distal forearm sections of such variables as: older age of the first menstruation (OR = 1.37; p = 0.002), sufficient present physical activity (OR = 1.57; p = 0.001), and particularly high past physical activity (OR = 6.77; p = 0.003). Significantly lower chances for the norm BMD dis were found in women with the oldest hormonal status (OR = 0.09; p < 0.001). In the proximal segment, the analogous conditions of the norm BMD, and in addition the chances for good mineralization, were increased by higher body mass index (OR = 1.11; p < 0.001). Sufficient present activity increased the chances of good forearm mineralization in the proximal part more than four times (OR = 4.2; p < 0.001), and a high level of past physical activity increased these chances several dozen times (OR = 69.9; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Physical activity proved to be one of the most important factors determining the statistically significant correct mineralization of bone tissue of women.

Differences in the Association Among the Vitamin D Concentration, Dietary Macronutrient Consumption, and Metabolic Syndrome Depending on Pre- and Postmenopausal Status in Korean Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

To assess whether the consumption of dietary macronutrient could change metabolic syndrome (MetS) related to vitamin D deficiency according to menopausal status.

METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN

In a cross-sectional study of 8326 Korean women from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V (2010-2012), we investigated the combined interaction effect of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration and menopausal status on MetS-related variables.

RESULTS

The prevalence rates of 25(OH)D deficiency (vitamin D <50 nmol/L) among premenopausal and postmenopausal women were 84.5% and 67.9%, respectively. Significant differences in MetS-related variables such as body mass index (P<0.001), waist circumference (P=0.005), fast glucose (P=0.048), triglycerides (P=0.001), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P=0.027) based on 25(OH)D concentration were observed among postmenopausal women but not among premenopausal women. Among the postmenopausal women with high consumption of dietary carbohydrate, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) [95% confidence intervals (95% CIs)] of MetS among participants with 25(OH)D deficiency increased 1.380-fold (95% CI = 1.086-1.753) using the 25(OH)D-sufficient group as a reference. In contrast, the participants with 25(OH)D deficiency showed an increased risk of MetS [OR (95% CI) = 1.313 (1.041-1.655)] with low-fat consumption. However, the aforementioned findings did not differ among premenopausal women.

CONCLUSION

Thus, MetS due to 25(OH)D deficiency among postmenopausal women may be modified by the consumption of dietary macronutrient.

Breast-Associated Adipocytes Secretome Induce Fatty Acid Uptake and Invasiveness in Breast Cancer Cells via CD36 Independently of Body Mass Index, Menopausal Status and Mammary Density

Breast adiposity is correlated with body mass index, menopausal status and mammary density. We here wish to establish how these factors influence the cross-talk between breast adipocytes and normal or malignant breast cells. Adipocyte-derived stem cells (ASCs) were obtained from healthy women and classified into six distinct groups based on body mass index, menopausal status and mammary density. The ASCs were induced to differentiate, and the influence of their conditioned media (ACM) was determined. Unexpectedly, there were no detectable differences in adipogenic differentiation and secretion between the six ASC groups, while their corresponding ACMs had no detectable influence on normal breast cells. In clear contrast, all ACMs profoundly influenced the proliferation, migration and invasiveness of malignant breast cells and increased the number of lipid droplets in their cytoplasm via increased expression of the fatty acid receptor CD36, thereby increasing fatty acid uptake. Importantly, inhibition of CD36 reduced lipid droplet accumulation and attenuated the migration and invasion of the breast cancer cells. These findings suggest that breast-associated adipocytes potentiate the invasiveness of breast cancer cells which, at least in part, is mediated by metabolic reprogramming via CD36-mediated fatty acid uptake.

Associations of reproductive factors with breast cancer prognosis and the modifying effects of menopausal status

Reproductive factors associated with breast cancer risk may also affect the prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the associations of multiple reproductive factors with breast cancer prognosis and the modifying effects of menopausal status. We obtained data from 3805 breast cancer patients recruited between October 2008 and June 2016 in Guangzhou. The subjects were followed up until 30 June 2018. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using multivariate Cox models to estimate the associations. It was found that there were U‐shaped patterns for the associations of age at first birth and durations from first/last birth to diagnosis with breast cancer prognosis. The adverse effects of old age at first birth [>30 years vs 23‐30 years, HR (95% CI): 1.59 (1.01‐2.50)] and long intervals from first [≥20 years vs 10‐19 years, HR (95% CI): 1.55 (1.07‐2.27)] or last [≥20 years vs 10‐19 years, HR (95% CI): 1.63 (1.08‐2.46)] birth to diagnosis on progression‐free survival (PFS) were significantly more pronounced among premenopausal women. Additionally, long interval (>5 years) between first and second birth was associated with a better PFS [HR (95% CI): 0.64 (0.42‐0.97)]. These results suggested that age at first birth, durations from first/last birth to diagnosis, and intervals between first and second birth should be taken into account when following the patients and assessing the prognosis of breast cancer, particularly for premenopausal patients. These findings would also have implications for further insight into the mechanisms of breast cancer development.

[Association of metabolic syndrome with chronic kidney disease in premenopausal and postmenopausal women]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MS) and the risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study among 1346 community-based women from June to October 2012 and collected the data of personal history, lifestyle, physical measures and laboratory indicators. The diagnosis of CKD was established for an eGFR of less than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m² or albuminuria. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was based on the International Diabetes Federation Guide. According to an epidemiological survey in Guangdong province, women older than 48.9 years were classified as having a postmenopausal status. The prevalence of MS and CKD was determined in both the premenopausal and postmenopausal women, and the association between MS and CKD was analyzed using logistic regression models.

RESULTS

MS was significantly correlated with CKD in premenopausal women in both unadjusted analyses (OR=3.10, 95% CI: 1.32-7.28, P=0.009) and in analysis after adjustment for potential confounders (OR=4.09, 95% CI: 1.63- 10.32, P=0.003). When adjusted for diabetes, hypertension, and hyperuricemia, no correlation was found between MS and CKD in premenopausal women (OR=1.56, 95% CI: 0.31-7.63, P= 0.592); in the unadjusted analyses, MS was significantly correlated with CKD in postmenopausal women (P &lt; 0.001). After further adjustment for age, education status, current smoking, physical inactivity, and current drinking, MS was still significantly correlated with CKD (OR=2.60, 95% CI: 1.69-3.99, P &lt; 0.001). When adjusted for diabetes, hypertension, and hyperuricemia, the correlation between MS and CKD was still significant (OR=1.61, 95% CI: 1.09-2.37, P=0.018). In the unadjusted model, a high blood pressure (OR=2.77, 95%CI: 1.57-4.89, P &lt; 0.001), an elevated serum triglyceride level (OR=1.84, 95%CI: 1.16-2.90, P=0.009) and a high fast glucose level (OR=2.07, 95%CI: 1.30-3.28, P=0.002) were all significantly correlated with CKD in postmenopausal women. After adjusting for age, current smoking, current alcohol use, education status and physical inactivity, a high blood pressure (OR=2.28, 95%CI: 1.22-4.26, P=0.01), a high serum triglyceride level (OR=1.71, 95%CI: 1.03-2.86, P=0.039) and a high fast glucose (OR=2.25, 95%CI: 1.36-3.73, P=0.002) were still significantly correlated with CKD in postmenopausal women. Blood pressure, serum triglyceride level, fast glucose, serum HDL cholesterol level and central obesity were not correlated with CKD in either the unadjusted model or adjusted model in premenopausal women (P &gt; 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

MS is correlated with CKD in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women, and the association is dependent on diabetes, hypertension, and hyperuricemia in premenopausal women but not in postmenopausal women.

Molecular Subtypes and Prognostic Factors among Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Thai Women with Invasive Breast Cancer: 15 Years Follow-up Data

Background and Purpose: This study focused on molecular subtypes and prognostic factors for survival of preand post-menopausal breast cancer patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed on 523 patients with invasive carcinoma of the breast treated at Ubon Ratchathani Cancer Hospital,Thailand from 2002 to 2016. Patient characteristics were collected based on a systematic chart audit from medical records. Prognostic factors were performed by observe survival analysis. A Cox regression model was used to calculate hazard ratios of death, taking into account the age and menopause status, molecular subtype, stage of disease, histological grade, lymphatic and vascular invasion, resection margin, hormone receptor expression, and treatment modality. Results: The median time from the diagnosis of invasive breast cancer to the last follow-up or death was 10.2 [95% CI = 9.28-11.95] years in premenopausal women, and 7.4 [95% CI = 6.48-8.44] years in postmenopausal cases. The overall survival estimates at 5 and 10 years for younger woman of 71.2% and 51.8% respectively, appeared slightly better than the 68.3% and 40.9% for postmenopausal women [HRadj = 1.27, 95% CI =0.99-1.63]. In the multivariate analysis, 3 prognostic indicators significantly predicted a worse overall survival in premenopausal patients, triple negative subtype [HRadj = 6.03, 95% CI = 1.94-18.74], HER2-enriched status [HRadj = 4.11, 95% CI = 1.59-10.65] and stage III [HRadj = 2.73, 95% CI = 1.10-6.79]. Statistically significant increased risk of death in postmenopausal patients was noted for only chemotherapy after mastectomy [HRadj = 8.76, 95% CI = 2.88-26.61], and for a Luminal B status [HRadj = 3.55, 95% CI = 1.47-8.53]. Conclusion: Postmenopausal women with invasive breast cancer experience a significantly shorter survival than do their premenopausal counterparts. The predictors of worse overall survival were molecular subtype, stage of disease and type of treatment administered.

Could Anthropometric and Lipid Parameters Reflect Susceptibility to Breast Cancer? Comparison of Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer and Apparently Healthy Women

Objectives:

To determine and compare the serum lipid profiles and anthropometric parameters of newly diagnosed BC patients and healthy women.

Methods:

Serum total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), triglyceride (TG) and TC: HDL-C were measured in consent obtained newly diagnosed BC patients (n=155) and age matched apparently healthy females (n=75). Weight (W), height (H), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC) and mid upper arm circumference (MUC) of each women were recorded. Cut off values for each parameter was found by receiver operative characteristic (ROC) curves and risk associated with was calculated using SPSS version 16.

Results:

Majority (67%) of BC women were postmenopausal. The mean TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C, TC: HDL-C, TG concentrations of BC patients who were not on cholesterol lowering drugs (n= 126) were 234 mg/dL (±51), 43 mg/dL (±10), 164 mg/dL (±44), 27 mg/dL (±14), 5.7(±1.7) and 135 mg/dL (±69) respectively. TC, LDL-C and TC: HDL-C of BC patients were significantly elevated when compared with healthy females. Significant difference in serum lipid profile parameters was not observed (p> 0.05) according to the menopausal status of BC and healthy women. One third (30.3%) of BC patients were overweight and 45% were obese. Majority had elevated WC (72%), W: H ratios (89%) and MUC (89%). BMI, W: H and MUC of BC women were significantly higher (p<0.05) when compared with healthy females.

Conclusions:

The lipid parameters TC, LDL-C and TC: HDL-C above 203 mg/dL, 139 mg/dL and 3.9 respectively were risk factors. Among anthropometric measures, BMI>25 kg/m² showed the highest risk while elevated W:H and MUC were also significant risk factors among the study group.

Impact of menopausal status and HER-2/neu protein on efficacy of EGFR-TKI in EGFR mutant patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Clinical studies have confirmed epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) used in lung cancer patients with EGFR mutations can obtain a better result, but still part of the patients with poor efficacy. EGFR mutation is highly related to female, nonsmoking and adenocarcinoma. Thus, we hypothesize that estrogen and circulating HER-2/neu protein might influence the efficacy of EGFR-TKIs in EGFR mutant patients with non-small cell lung cancer. HER-2/neu expression level of 357 eligible patients in its peripheral serum was determined using ELISA. The median progression-free survival (PFS) in five groups (premenopausal group, perimenopause group, peri to postmenopausal group, postmenopausal group and control group) was statistically difference (P = 0.025). Premenopausal group could predict the efficacy of EGFR-TKI (HR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.42-4.23, P = 0.001). No statistical significance was found in median overall survival (OS) among five groups. Optimal diagnostic cut off value of HER-2/neu was set at 47.5 ng/ml, with P = 0.0607. As the cutoff value to 47.5 ng/ml division, concentrations and menopausal status was of no significant difference (P = 0.874). PFS of the group below 47.5 ng/ml was significantly longer than that of the group over 47.5 ng/ml (P = 0.000). HER-2/neu concentration was positively correlated with optimal efficacy (P = 0.042). HER-2/neu concentration over than 47.5 ng/ml was a risk factor of EGFR-TKI prognosis. Premenopausal status is an independent predictor of EGFR-TKI curative effect and circulating HER-2/neu protein is an independent prognostic factor in patients with advanced NSCLC.

Female reproductive history and risk of type 2 diabetes: A prospective analysis of 126 721 women

AIM

To examine the prospective associations between aspects of a woman's reproductive history and incident diabetes.

METHODS

We pooled individual data from 126 721 middle-aged women from eight cohort studies contributing to the International Collaboration for a Life Course Approach to Reproductive Health and Chronic Disease Events (InterLACE). Associations between age at menarche, age at first birth, parity and menopausal status with incident diabetes were examined using generalized linear mixed models, with binomial distribution and robust variance. We stratified by body mass index (BMI) when there was evidence of a statistical interaction with BMI.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up of 9 years, 4073 cases of diabetes were reported. Non-linear associations with diabetes were observed for age at menarche, parity and age at first birth. Compared with menarche at age 13 years, menarche at ≤10 years was associated with an 18% increased risk of diabetes (relative risk [RR] 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.37) after adjusting for BMI. After stratifying by BMI, the increased risk was only observed in women with a BMI ≥25 kg/m² . A U-shaped relationship was observed between parity and risk of diabetes. Compared with pre-/peri-menopausal women, women with a hysterectomy/oophorectomy had an increased risk of diabetes (RR 1.17, 95% CI 1.07-1.29).

CONCLUSIONS

Several markers of a woman's reproductive history appear to be modestly associated with future risk of diabetes. Maintaining a normal weight in adult life may ameliorate any increase in risk conferred by early onset of menarche.

Alcohol Consumption and Breast Cancer Risk According to Hormone Receptor Status in Japanese Women: A Case-Control Study

Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for breast cancer in Western countries, but few studies have evaluated the risk for Japanese women, who have a relatively low alcohol intake. This case-control study investigated the association of alcohol consumption with breast cancer risk according to estrogen-receptor and progesterone-receptor (ER/PgR) status in Japanese women. From female patients aged 30 years and over admitted to a single hospital in Japan between 1997 and 2011, 1,256 breast cancer cases (669 ER+/PgR+, 162 ER+/PgR-, 21 ER-/PgR+, 305 ER-/PgR-, and 99 missing) and 2,933 controls were selected. Alcohol-related measures were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was performed. Alcohol-related measures were not associated with breast cancer risk among the women overall. Moreover, no association was observed between ever drinking and the risk of a concordant receptor subtype (ER+/PgR+ or ER-/PgR-). Conversely, ever drinking was inversely associated with the risk of discordant subtype (ER+/PgR-, odds ratio (OR) = 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.41-0.95; ER-/PgR+, OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.14-1.42). For ER+/PgR-, an inverse association with the amount of alcohol consumed per day was observed (P for trend = 0.04), and this inverse association was limited to premenopausal women. Alcohol consumption may have differential effects on concordant and discordant receptor subtypes of breast cancer. In view of the low frequency of discordant subtype in Japanese women and their relatively low alcohol intake, our findings may provide a clue for elucidating the etiology of breast cancer rather than for preventing discordant subtype.

Epidemiological Evidences on Dietary Flavonoids and Breast Cancer Risk: A Narrative Review

Epidemiological studies on associations between intake of flavonoids and breast cancer risk are highly needed to assess the actual effects of flavonoids in humans. Experimental investigations in vitro conditions cannot detect and model the real action of these phytochemicals due to the limitations to consider absorption and metabolic biotransformation as well as several complex interactions. Therefore, the data about association findings between intake of flavonoids and breast cancer risk are compiled and analyzed in the current review by evaluating both the results obtained using food composition databases as well as different biomarkers. Although several case-control studies demonstrate some reduction in breast cancer risk related to high consumption of flavones and flavonols, large-scale prospective cohort studies with follow-up times of many years do not confirm these findings. Intake of isoflavones can be associated with a decrease in breast tumorigenesis only in Asian countries where the consumption of soy foods is high but not among Western women with significantly lower ingestion amounts, suggesting the presence of so-called threshold level of effect. Besides doses, the timing of exposure to isoflavones seems also to be a significant factor as childhood and prepubertal age can be critical periods. Although women may need to consume high amounts of isoflavones typical to Asian diets to gain beneficial effects and protection against mammary carcinogenesis, it is still too early to give any specific recommendations to prevent breast tumors by diet rich in certain flavonoids.

Correlation of mammographic density and serum calcium levels in patients with primary breast cancer

Percentage mammographic breast density (PMD) is one of the most important risk factors for breast cancer (BC). Calcium, vitamin D, bisphosphonates, and denosumab have been considered and partly confirmed as factors potentially influencing the risk of BC. This retrospective observational study investigated the association between serum calcium level and PMD. A total of 982 BC patients identified in the research database at the University Breast Center for Franconia with unilateral BC, calcium and albumin values, and mammogram at the time of first diagnosis were included. PMD was assessed, using a semiautomated method by two readers. Linear regression analyses were conducted to investigate the impact on PMD of the parameters of serum calcium level adjusted for albumin level, and well‐known clinical predictors such as age, body mass index (BMI), menopausal status and confounder for serum calcium like season in which the BC was diagnosed. Increased calcium levels were associated with reduced PMD (P = 0.024). Furthermore, PMD was inversely associated with BMI (P < 0.001) and age (P < 0.001). There was also an association between PMD and menopausal status (P < 0.001). The goodness‐of‐fit of the regression model was moderate. This is the first study assessing the association between serum calcium level and PMD. An inverse association with adjusted serum calcium levels was observed. These findings add to previously published data relating to vitamin D, bisphosphonates, denosumab, and the RANK/RANKL signaling pathway in breast cancer risk and prevention.

Mammographic Density and Vitamin D Levels - A Cross-sectional Study

Background Some studies have already proposed an inverse association between vitamin D levels and breast density. As breast density is already considered an established risk factor for breast cancer, such a connection could offer a new starting point for the prevention of breast cancer. Material and Methods To investigate this suggested connection, a total of 412 pre- and 572 post-menopausal women for whom mammography was indicated were recruited into this cross-sectional study. In addition to a questionnaire-based interview on the patient's general and gynecological medical history, her eating habits and lifestyle, serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], calcium, phosphate and creatinine were determined. Breast density was determined by mammography and categorized as 1 to 4 according to the ACR classification. In addition to performing descriptive analysis to get a better overview of the data, a number of multivariate regression models were developed to determine the impact of confounders and the connection between vitamin D and mammographic density. Results More than half of all participants had low levels of 25(OH)D (< 20 ng/ml) and only a small minority of women (5.7 %) had what are currently considered to be optimal serum levels of 25(OH)D of at least 30 ng/ml. The significant majority of the cohort had a medium mammographic density (n = 463 had ACR 2; n = 343 had ACR 3). Logistic regression analysis showed that lower 25(OH)D serum levels were associated significantly more often with high rather than medium breast density. This association remained, even after adjusting for other factors which influence breast density such as age, BMI and menopausal status (p = 0.032 for ACR 4 vs. ACR 2; p = 0.028 for ACR 4 vs. ACR 3). When the same analysis was done separately for pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women, BMI in both groups was found to be inversely correlated with breast density and this inverse correlation was highly significant. In post-menopausal women, age was found to be similarly correlated while 25(OH)D did not appear to be associated with ACR. In pre-menopausal women the opposite was the case: although there was no correlation between age and breast density, higher vitamin D levels tended to be associated with lower breast density (p = 0.06 for ACR 2 vs. ACR 4) in this smaller sample (n = 412). When vitamin D-rich food and food supplements were also taken into account, regular intake of vitamin D preparations was associated with lower breast density; this association achieved borderline statistical significance (p = 0.05 for ACR 3 vs. ACR 4). When the analysis also took menopausal status into account, the breast density of pre-menopausal women was lower following regular vitamin D intake and this lower breast density of pre-menopausal women was statistically highly significant (p < 0.001 for ACR 1 and ACR 2 vs. ACR 4, respectively). This effect was not found in post-menopausal women. Frequent intake of vitamin D-containing nutrition had no significant impact on ACR in either of the groups. Conclusion These results reinforce the assumption previously proposed by several authors that higher levels of 25(OH)D pre-menopause and vitamin D substitution are associated with lower breast density and could reduce the risk of breast cancer. The findings did not confirm any post-menopausal association between vitamin D and mammographic breast density.

Ratios of soluble and insoluble dietary fibers on satiety and energy intake in overweight pre- and postmenopausal women

BACKGROUND: Fibers’ properties impact different mechanisms involved in satiety and energy intake regulation and metabolic outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effect of fiber types and menopausal status on satiety and metabolic responses in overweight women.

METHODS: In a randomized within-subjects design, 19 overweight/obese women [9 premenopausal and 10 postmenopausal] consumed 3 preloads that varied by fiber content and source: 1) 3:1 ratio of soluble:insoluble fiber (SF), 2) 1:3 ratio of soluble:insoluble fiber (IF), 3) no fiber control (NFC). Subjective satiety, cholecystokinin (CCK), glucose, insulin, and triglyceride (TG) were measured for 3 h post-preload followed by in-lab ad libitum test meal and 32 hour food intake monitoring.

RESULTS: Significant preload, time and preload by menopausal status interaction was apparent for hunger and fullness (p < 0.05 for both) with SF preload predominantly more satiating in postmenopausal women. CCK and insulin were significantly lower after SF preload (p < 0.0001 for both). Post-preload glucose responses differed by menopausal status: postmenopausal women distinguished between fiber types unlike premenopausal women (p = 0.02). TG was significantly elevated after the IF preload compared to NFC and SF (p = 0.007 and p = 0.008, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:Customized/personalized dietary recommendations for women during their premenopausal and postmenopausal years can help maximize metabolic and appetite control.

The Risk of Being Obese According to Short Sleep Duration Is Modulated after Menopause in Korean Women

We previously reported that women with short sleep duration consumed more dietary carbohydrate and showed an increased risk for obesity compared to those who slept adequately, but not for men. Using a cross-sectional study of 17,841 Korean women, we investigated the influence of sleep duration on obesity-related variables and consumption of dietary carbohydrate-rich foods in relation to menopausal status. Premenopausal women with short sleep duration had significantly greater body weight (p = 0.007), body mass index (p = 0.003), systolic and diastolic blood pressures (p = 0.028 and p = 0.024, respectively), prevalence of obesity (p < 0.016), and consumption of more carbohydrate-rich foods such as staple foods (p = 0.026) and simple sugar-rich foods (p = 0.044) than those with adequate sleep duration after adjustment for covariates. Premenopausal women with short sleep duration were more obese by 1.171 times compared to subjects adequate sleep duration (95% confidence interval = 1.030–1.330). However, obesity-related variables, dietary consumption, and odds of being obese did not differ according to sleep duration for postmenopausal women. The findings suggest that the increased risk for obesity and consumption of dietary carbohydrate-rich foods with short sleep duration appeared to disappear after menopause in Korean women.

Lung Cancer in Women with a Family History of Cancer: The Spanish Female-specific Database WORLD07

BACKGROUND

The WORLD07 project is a female-specific database to prospectively analyze the characteristics of Spanish women with lung cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We analyzed and compared lung cancer features in women with and without a family history of cancer/lung cancer.

RESULTS

Two thousand and sixty women were included: 876 had a family history of cancer (lung cancer, 34%) and 886 did not, with no significant differences between groups, except for smoking status (p=0.036). We found statistically significant correlations between epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation and smoking status in patients with a family history of cancer (r=-0.211; p<0.001) and lung cancer (r=-0.176; p<0.001). Longer median overall survival was observed in women with a family history of cancer and lung cancer.

CONCLUSION

Among Spanish women with lung cancer, a greater proportion were current smokers in those with a family history of cancer/lung cancer. There was a significant correlation between the presence of EGFR mutation and smoking.

The association of soy food consumption with the risk of subtype of breast cancers defined by hormone receptor and HER2 status

Soy food intake has previously been associated with reduced breast cancer risk. Epidemiological evidence for subgroups of breast cancer, particularly by menopausal and hormone receptor status, is less consistent. To evaluate the role of hormone receptor and menopausal status on the association between soy food intake and breast cancer risk, we measured usual soy food intake in adolescence and adulthood via food frequency questionnaire in 70,578 Chinese women, aged 40-70 years, recruited to the Shanghai Women's Health Study (1996-2000). After a median follow-up of 13.2 years (range: 0.01-15.0), 1,034 incident breast cancer cases were identified. Using Cox models, we found that adult soy intake was inversely associated with breast cancer risk [hazard ratio (HR) for fifth versus first quintile soy protein intake = 0.78; 95% confidence interval (CI):0.63-0.97]. The association was predominantly seen in premenopausal women (HR = 0.46; 95% CI:0.29-0.74). Analyses further stratified by hormone receptor status showed that adult soy intake was associated with significantly decreased risk of estrogen receptor (ER)+/progesterone receptor (PR)+ breast cancer in postmenopausal women (HR = 0.72; 95% CI:0.53-0.96) and decreased risk of ER-/PR- breast cancer in premenopausal women (HR = 0.46; 95% CI:0.22-0.97). The soy association did not vary by human epidermal growth factor-2 (HER2) status. Furthermore, we found that high soy intake during adulthood and adolescence was associated with reduced premenopausal breast cancer risk (HR = 0.53; 95% CI: 0.32-0.88; comparing third vs. first tertile) while high adulthood soy intake was associated with postmenopausal breast cancer only when adolescent intake was low (HR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.43-0.91). Our study suggests that hormonal status, menopausal status and time window of exposure are important factors influencing the soy-breast cancer association.

Homocysteine Levels Show Significant Differences among Mediterranean Dietary Quality Index Variables Compared to Folate and Vitamin B(12) Status in Women

Results of epidemiologic studies and clinical trials have shown that subjects following the Mediterranean diet had lower inflammatory markers such as homocysteine (Hcy). Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess female diet quality with the Mediterranean diet quality index (MDQI) and to determine the correlation between MDQI, homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 levels in the blood. The study participants were 237 apparently healthy women (96 of reproductive age and 141 postmenopausal) between 25 and 93 years. For each participant, 24-hour dietary recalls for 3 days were collected, MDQI was calculated, and plasma Hcy, serum and erythrocyte folate and vitamin B12 levels were analysed. Total MDQI ranged from 8 to 10 points, which represented a medium-poor diet for the subjects. The strength of correlation using biomarkers, regardless of group type, age, gender and other measured parameters, was ranked from best (0.11) to worst (0.52) for olive oil, fish, fruits and vegetables, grains, and meat, in this order. Hcy levels showed the best response among all markers across all groups and food types. Our study shows significant differences between variables of the MDQI and Hcy levels compared to levels of folate and vitamin B12 in participants with medium-poor diet quality, as evaluated according to MDQI scores.

Body mass index and survival after diagnosis of invasive breast cancer: a study based on the Japanese National Clinical Database-Breast Cancer Registry

Few studies have reported the association between body mass index (BMI) and outcome among Asian breast cancer patients. We analyzed data for 20,090 female invasive breast cancer patients who had been followed‐up for a median period of 6.7 years entered in the National Clinical Database–Breast Cancer Registry between 2004 and 2006. We used mainly the WHO criteria for BMI (kg/m²) categories; <18.5 (underweight), ≥18.5–<21.8 (reference), ≥21.8–<25, ≥25–<30 (overweight), and ≥30 (obese). We divided normal weight patients into two subgroups because this category includes many patients compared to others. The timing of BMI measurement was not specified. The Cox proportional hazards model and cubic spline regression were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Smoking, alcohol, and physical activity were not controlled. A total of 1418 all‐cause, 937 breast cancer–specific deaths, and 2433 recurrences were observed. Obesity was associated with an increased risk of all‐cause (HR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.16–1.83) and breast cancer–specific death (HR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.11–1.93) for all patients, and with all‐cause (HR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.13–1.92) and breast cancer–specific death (HR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.13–2.20) for postmenopausal patients. Being underweight was associated with an increased risk of all‐cause death for all (HR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.16–1.71) and for postmenopausal patients (HR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.15–1.84). With regard to subtype and menopausal status, obesity was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer–specific death for all cases of luminal B tumor (HR: 2.59; 95% CI: 1.51–4.43; P_{heterogeneity} of Luminal B vs. Triple negative = 0.016) and for postmenopausal patients with luminal B tumor (HR: 3.24; 95% CI: 1.71–6.17). Being obese or underweight is associated with a higher risk of death among female breast cancer patients in Japan.

Effects of selected factors on the osseointegration of dental implants

Introduction

Osseointegration of dental implants with the maxillary and/or mandibular bone is the basis for implant prosthetic treatment. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of the patients’ gender, age, and in the case of women, their menopausal status (before menopause/after menopause/during hormone replacement therapy) on the osseointegration of dental implants.

Material and methods

The study evaluated the bone loss after implant loading and the success rate of the procedure in 71 women and 30 men. In the postmenopausal group, 20 (28.1%) women were receiving hormone replacement therapy. The implants used in the treatment of the studied patients were the two-phase dental implants. The extent of bone loss was estimated by comparing the post-implantation radiographs and the post-loading ones.

Results

The implantation procedure was entirely successful in 81 patients (80.2%). The patients’ age, gender and menopausal status did not significantly affect the implantation procedure success rate or bone loss (p > 0.05). A correlation between bone loss and hormone replacement therapy (p = 0.002) was found.

Conclusions

The hormone replacement therapy contributes to a greater peri-implant bone loss. The patients receiving hormone replacement therapy who consider replacement of missing teeth with implants should be informed about a greater risk of osseointegration failure, which may affect the success of implant therapy.

What has changed in the clinical presentation of breast carcinoma in 15 years?

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to investigate if there was a change in time in terms of age at diagnosis, menopausal status, pathologic tumor size, lymphatic metastasis and pathologic stage in patients with surgical treatment for breast carcinoma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The clinical and pathological characteristics of 1223 patients with breast carcinoma who underwent surgical treatment between January 1994 and December 1998, and of 1346 patients who underwent surgical treatment with the same diagnosis between January 2004 and December 2008 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

The median age at diagnosis was 48 (20-78) years during the first period, and 50 (20-91) years during the second period. While 27% of patients were 40 years of age or younger in the first period, this ratio decreased to 20% during the second period (p=0.0001). The rate of premenopausal patients was 54% in the first period and 46% in the second period (p=0.0001). The median tumor size at diagnosis was 3 cm at the first period, and 2.5 cm at the second period. The number of patients with tumor size ≤2 cm increased in time from 391 (32%) to 531 (39%) (p=0.0001). Among young patients (aged ≤40 years), the number of patients with tumor size 2 cm or smaller were 81 (24.5%) and 92 (33.8%) at the first and second periods, respectively (p=0.001). Lymphatic metastases rate of patients aged ≤40 years was higher than patients aged >40 years, in both study periods (p=0.0001). The number of patients staged as pN1 at the first period increased from 356 (50.8%) to 441 (56.3%) at the second interval, while those staged as pN3 decreased from 251 (35.8%) to 175 (22.3%) (p=0.0001).

CONCLUSION

It may be concluded that recently, breast cancer is diagnosed at older ages, the rate of young and premenopausal patients and size on diagnosis has decreased, and breast-conserving surgery is used more often.