The Relevance of Cultural, Fatalistic and Psychosocial Factors in Breast Cancer Screening Behavior in Middle Age and Older Women

The aim of this study was to analyze cultural and social factors in advantaged and disadvantaged women in relation to mammographic screening. A cross-sectional study was performed; 850 women aged 45-79 years were interviewed; based on socioeconomic aspects, women were grouped in low economic power (Low group, LG) (379 women) and middle economic power (MG) (471). A questionnaire previously validated was employed and information about cultural, fatalistic, and psychosocial factors as well as breast cancer and mammographic screening was assessed. An extensive statistical analysis was performed including three regression models and a principal component analysis. 98% MG and 49.7% LG had a high level of education. Women who stated having a high level of education, regularly visit a doctor and being communicatively open showed the most positive mammographic screening behaviors. In general, analysis of fatalistic affirmatives in relation to mammogram variables did not show a significant difference in relation to total MG and LG while psychosocial variables showed a very low significant relationship with mammographic screening. Regression analysis showed similar results. This study highlights that communication as well as family and social support constitute important factors which impact on mammographic screening, while fatalism, although present, should not constitute a crucial aspect.Centro de Investigaciones Inmunológicas Básicas y Aplicada

Invasive breast cancer in Argentine women: Association between risk and prognostic factors with antigens of a peptidic and carbohydrate nature

Objective: In breast cancer, several tumor markers have been identified. The marker most extensively associated with breast cancer is MUC1. The objective of the study was to analyze prognostic and risk factors in relation to tumor markers in order to clarify breast cancer biology. A total of 349 primary tumor samples and lymph nodes from breast cancer patients were studied. Risk and prognostic factors were considered. An immunohistochemical approach was applied and an extensive statistical analysis was performed, including frequency analysis and analysis of variance. Correlation among variables was performed with principal component analysis. Results: All the antigens showed an increased expression according to tumor size increment; moreover, sialyl Lewis x expression showed a significant increase in relation to disease stage, whereas Tn and TF presented a positive tendency. Vascular invasion was related to sialyl Lewis x expression and number of metastatic lymph nodes. Taking into account risk factors, when a patient had at least one child, Lewis antigens diminished their expression. In relation to breastfeeding, sialyl Lewis x expression diminished, although its apical expression increased. Conclusion: Associations between MUC1 and carbohydrate antigens and risk and prognostic factors show the complexity of the cellular biological behavior that these antigens modulate in breast cancer.Facultad de Ciencias Médica

Evidencia orientada al problema: beta-bloqueantes y deterioro de la función pulmonar en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica y cardiopatía isquémica

Objetivo del trabajo: analizar a través de la EOP la relación entre betabloqueantes y el deterioro de la función pulmonar en pacientes EPOC.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Invasive breast cancer in Argentine women: Association between risk and prognostic factors with antigens of a peptidic and carbohydrate nature

Objective: In breast cancer, several tumor markers have been identified. The marker most extensively associated with breast cancer is MUC1. The objective of the study was to analyze prognostic and risk factors in relation to tumor markers in order to clarify breast cancer biology. A total of 349 primary tumor samples and lymph nodes from breast cancer patients were studied. Risk and prognostic factors were considered. An immunohistochemical approach was applied and an extensive statistical analysis was performed, including frequency analysis and analysis of variance. Correlation among variables was performed with principal component analysis. Results: All the antigens showed an increased expression according to tumor size increment; moreover, sialyl Lewis x expression showed a significant increase in relation to disease stage, whereas Tn and TF presented a positive tendency. Vascular invasion was related to sialyl Lewis x expression and number of metastatic lymph nodes. Taking into account risk factors, when a patient had at least one child, Lewis antigens diminished their expression. In relation to breastfeeding, sialyl Lewis x expression diminished, although its apical expression increased. Conclusion: Associations between MUC1 and carbohydrate antigens and risk and prognostic factors show the complexity of the cellular biological behavior that these antigens modulate in breast cancer.Facultad de Ciencias Médica

Factors associated with breast cancer in an Argentine city

In Argentina, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the first leading cause of cancer deaths; this information is mainly based on estimations since only recently, Argentina has organized a National Registry of Tumors. Argentine studies addressing socioeconomic factors and their possible effect on breast cancer prevalence are scarce, and there is not any systematic action to prevent and control breast cancer as well. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship among socioeconomic factors, breast cancer risk factors, women's adherence to mammography screening, and breast cancer prevalence in La Plata, the capital city of Buenos Aires Province (Argentina), an administrative and University city. We performed a cross‐sectional study of women with low socioeconomic power (low group, LG) and a middle group (MG) from October 2012 to December 2012; 739 women between 45 and 79 years old were personally interviewed, being 360 (MG) and 379 (LG). A structured questionnaire previously validated was employed. Variables included were as follows: socioeconomic group, breast cancer risk and socioeconomic factors, mammographic screening parameters, ever diagnosed breast cancer, Physician Enrollment, and Health System which consists of three sectors: Public (free), Private, and Social/Union Security.Centro de Investigaciones Inmunológicas Básicas y Aplicada

Access of patients with breast and lung cancer to chemotherapy treatment in public and private hospitals in the city of Buenos Aires

Objectives: Describe the time elapsed from the diagnosis to treatment with chemotherapy for patients with breast and lung cancer at public and private hospitals in Buenos Aires. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Three public and three private academic hospitals in Buenos Aires. Participants: Patients with breast (n = 168) or lung cancer (n = 100) diagnosis treated with chemotherapy. Main outcomes measures: Clinical and sociodemographic data were collected in a stratified sample. We used the Kaplan–Meier estimator to analyse the time elapsed and the log rank test to compare both groups Results: For breast cancer patients, median time elapsed between diagnosis and treatment with chemotherapy was 76 days (95% CI: 64–86) in public and 60 days (95% CI: 52–65) in private hospitals (P = 0.0001). For adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatments, median time was 130 (95% CI: 109–159) versus 64 (95% CI: 56–73) days (P < 0.0001) and 57 days (95% CI: 49–75) versus 26 (95% CI: 16–41) days, respectively (P = 0.0002). There were no significant differences in the time from first consultation to diagnosis. In patients with lung cancer, median time from diagnosis to treatment was 71 days (95% CI: 60–83) in public hospitals and 31 days (95% CI: 24–39) in private hospitals (P = 0.0002). In the metastatic setting, median time to treatment was 63 days (95% CI: 45–83) in public and 33 (95% CI: 26–44) days in private hospitals (P = 0.005). Conclusions: There are significant disparity in the access to treatment with chemotherapy for patients in Buenos Aires, Argentina.Fil: Recondo, Gonzalo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno". CEMIC-CONICET; ArgentinaFil: Cosacow, César. Centro de Educación Medica E Invest.clinicas; ArgentinaFil: Cutuli, Hernán Javier. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Oncología "Ángel H. Roffo"; ArgentinaFil: Cermignani, Luciano. Hospital Alemán; ArgentinaFil: Straminsky, Samanta. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández"; ArgentinaFil: Naveira, Martin. Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Pitzzu, Martin. Gobierno de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos Durand; ArgentinaFil: De Ronato, Gabriela. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández"; ArgentinaFil: Nacuzzi, Gabriela. Gobierno de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos Carlos Durand; ArgentinaFil: Taetti, Gonzalo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Oncología "Ángel H. Roffo"; ArgentinaFil: Corsico, Santiago. Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Berrueta, Mabel. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; ArgentinaFil: Colucci, Giuliana. Centro de Educación Medica E Invest.clinicas; ArgentinaFil: Gibbons, Luz. Centro de Educación Medica E Invest.clinicas; ArgentinaFil: Gutierrez, Laura. Centro de Educación Medica E Invest.clinicas; ArgentinaFil: García Elorrio, Ezequiel. Centro de Educación Medica E Invest.clinicas; Argentin

Invasive breast cancer in Argentine women: Association between risk and prognostic factors with antigens of a peptidic and carbohydrate nature

Objective: In breast cancer, several tumor markers have been identified. The marker most extensively associated with breast cancer is MUC1. The objective of the study was to analyze prognostic and risk factors in relation to tumor markers in order to clarify breast cancer biology. A total of 349 primary tumor samples and lymph nodes from breast cancer patients were studied. Risk and prognostic factors were considered. An immunohistochemical approach was applied and an extensive statistical analysis was performed, including frequency analysis and analysis of variance. Correlation among variables was performed with principal component analysis. Results: All the antigens showed an increased expression according to tumor size increment; moreover, sialyl Lewis x expression showed a significant increase in relation to disease stage, whereas Tn and TF presented a positive tendency. Vascular invasion was related to sialyl Lewis x expression and number of metastatic lymph nodes. Taking into account risk factors, when a patient had at least one child, Lewis antigens diminished their expression. In relation to breastfeeding, sialyl Lewis x expression diminished, although its apical expression increased. Conclusion: Associations between MUC1 and carbohydrate antigens and risk and prognostic factors show the complexity of the cellular biological behavior that these antigens modulate in breast cancer.Facultad de Ciencias Médica

Breast Cancer Risk and Prognostic Factors in Two Argentine Settings

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare risk and prognostic factors of invasive breast cancer in two Argentine populations. Patients and Methods: a total of 625 women with invasive breast cancer at different stages were studied: 270 patients from the city of La Plata, and 355 patients from the city of Neuquén. Demographic features and reproductive history were considered as risk factors, while prognostic factors included histopathological features. Statistical analysis was performed. Results: The age at diagnosis was significantly lower in Neuquén than in La Plata; stage III was observed in La Plata at a mean age of 49 years versus 54 years in Neuquén; cutaneous and/or thoracic wall invasion was found at diagnosis in Neuquén, while it was absent in all La Plata patients. Tumor size versus age showed a negative statistical significant relationship; the percentage of HER2/neu-positives in Neuquén was significantly higher than in La Plata, while estrogen/progesterone receptor status showed the contrary. Histological and nuclear grades in Neuquén compared to La Plata were significantly higher, while vascular invasion showed the converse. Considering the number of children, significant differences between groups were found, and also, patients who had breastfed presented a lower number of metastatic lymph nodes than those who had not. Conclusions: La Plata and Neuquén constitute two different populations. The factors that contribute to dividing the groups could be related to the malignant histological characteristics of the tumors, but also the length of breastfeeding and number of children could play a role.Centro de Investigaciones Inmunológicas Básicas y Aplicada

Nuclear localization of MUC1 extracellular domain in breast, head and neck, and colon cancer

Background: The glycoprotein MUC1 is overexpressed and underglycosylated in cancer cells. MUC1 is translated as a single polypeptide that undergoes autocleavage into 2 subunits (the extracellular domain and the cytoplasmic tail), and forms a stable heterodimer at the apical membrane of normal epithelial cells. The MUC1 cytoplasmic tail localizes to the cytoplasm of transformed cells and is targeted to the nucleus. Aims: To study the expression of the MUC1 extracellular subunit in cell nuclei of neoplastic breast, head and neck, and colon samples. Materials and methods: 330 primary tumor samples were analyzed: 166 invasive breast carcinomas, 127 head and neck tumors, and 47 colon tumors; 10 benign breast disease (BBD) and 40 normal specimens were also included. A standard immunohistochemical method with antigen retrieval was performed. Nuclear fractions from tissue homogenates and breast cancer cell lines (ZR-75, MDA-MB-231, MCF7, and T47D) were obtained and analyzed by Western blotting (WB). The anti-MUC1 extracellular subunit monoclonal antibody HMFG1 was used for immunohistochemistry. Results: 37/166 breast cancer specimens, 5/127 head and neck cancer specimens, 2/47 colon cancer samples, and 3/10 BBD samples showed immunohistochemical staining at the nuclear level. No nuclear reaction was detected in normal samples. By WB, breast and colon cancer purified nuclear fractions showed reactivity at 200 kDa in 3/30 breast and 3/20 colon cancer samples as well as purified nuclear fractions obtained from breast cancer cell lines. Conclusions: This study shows that the MUC1 extracellular domain might be translocated to the cell nucleus in breast, head and neck, and colon cancer as well as BBD.Facultad de Ciencias Médica

A review of the catalytic oxidation of carbon-carbon composite aircraft brakes

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version, made available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License CC BY NC-ND 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. The final, definitive version of this paper is available online at doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2015.08.100.The use of de-icing chemicals at airport runways has been shown to produce oxides and carbonates of sodium, potassium and calcium which catalyse the oxidation of carbon-carbon composite aircraft brakes leading to an increase of the oxidation rate by an order of magnitude. This review reports on studies that have characterised the catalytic oxidation and discusses the mechanism of the catalytic reaction based on investigations that were carried out with both C-C composites and carbon as a fossil fuel. The alkali metal oxides/carbonates are more active catalysts and in their case, the redox reaction between the monoxides and the peroxides has been identified as the most likely catalysis mechanism. In order to reduce or eliminate the problem of catalysis, doping with boron or phosphorus compounds has been investigated by a number of researchers. The effect of these along with the use of protective coatings is also reviewed.Peer reviewe