190 research outputs found
Creatine kinase BB isoenzyme levels in tumour cytosols and survival of breast cancer patients.
Creatinine kinase BB (CK-BB) is elevated in many tumours including those of the breast. We have recently described a new, highly sensitive and specific method for measuring CK-BB, based on monoclonal antibodies and time-resolved fluorometry. Using this method, we quantitated CK-BB in 172 breast tumour cytosols and examined the associations between CK-BB and other clinicopathological variables and patient survival. High CK-BB levels were seen more frequently in tumours from patients who were younger (age < 50 years), patients who qualified for chemotherapy and patients with oestrogen receptor-positive tumours. No association was seen between CK-BB and tumour stage, grade, size, histological type or the progesterone receptor. In univariate analysis, the risk of relapse or death was higher in the group with tumours containing high CK-BB levels but the difference did not reach statistical significance. In multivariate analysis, the risk of death was statistically significantly higher in the high-CK-BB group. Analysis of subsets of patients revealed that patients with oestrogen receptor-negative cancer have higher risk of death if their tumours contain high levels of CK-BB. Our data suggest that, in general, CK-BB is associated with more aggressive tumours but its value as a prognostic indicator is limited. CK-BB content of breast tumours may be more useful as an aid in selecting therapy directed at inhibiting this enzyme activity and thus depriving tumour cells of their energy source
Management of risk of breast carcinoma in postmenopausal women.
Breast carcinoma is the most frequent tumor in the female population. Many factors can influence the risk of breast cancer; some of them, such as old age and breast cancer 1/2 (BRCA1/BRCA2) gene mutations, are associated with a fourfold increase in risk. A previous diagnosis of atypical ductal or lobular hyperplasia or having a first-degree relative with a carcinoma are factors associated with a two- to fourfold increase in risk. A relative risk between 1 and 2 is associated with longer exposure to endogenous hormones as a result of early menarche, late menopause and obesity, or with recent and prolonged use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or with behavioural factors such as high alcohol and fat intake. Is it possible to modify breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women? Risk factors related to lifestyle can be changed, even if it is not clear whether modifying these behavioural factors during the postmenopausal period will influence the overall breast cancer risk. For instance, the influence of exogenous hormones throughout life (both oral contraceptives and HRT) should be evaluated according to the individual risk-benefit ratio. The problem is even more complex for women who carry genetic mutations and for those who have close relatives with breast cancer, who may be candidates for risk reduction strategies. Prophylactic bilateral mastectomy is still controversial, but is frequently offered to or requested by this group of women and may be indicated in BRCA1/BRCA2 carriers. Chemoprevention with tamoxifen and with the new selective estrogen receptor modulators, namely raloxifene, is very promising and deserves a thorough discussion for all high-risk women
Clinical outcome of adjuvant endocrine treatment according to PR and HER-2 status in early breast cancer
The "O3E" program: raising awareness on natural hazards
Earthquakes may be traumatic events and as many other environmental emergencies, like storm or
floods, may cause more damages than expected when who experiences the phenomena does not
know how to behave in the fall.
Provided that it is always not feasible to rely on prediction when dealing with earthquakes or extreme
meteorological events, preparedness proves to be an efficient (and certainly the most recommendable
and cheap) way to face emergencies. Education and training are thus two ingredients to help citizens
to perceive the scientific information formerly confined in the laboratories, in particular in the domain of
the environmental risk.
The “O3E” innovative program (European Observatory for Education and Environment) is established
after 10 years (1997-2007) of regional and national original programs (“Sismos of the Schools”), and
from Italian and Swiss experiences concerning environment tools for education. The project, that is a
cooperation between France, Italy and Switzerland, is born to promote a responsible behaviour of
citizens in front of the evolution of a society where scientific information is promptly available. ARGAL
(Agency for Geological Risk in the Latin Arc) operates the administrative and technical coordination.
The objective of this program is to create a school network in the Alpine and Mediterranean areas
equipped with environmental sensors of an educational vocation. The data on the movement of the
ground (seismometers), the temperatures and precipitations (weather stations), the flows of rivers
(hydrogeology) recorded in the schools and processed by the students are collected on dedicated
servers and then made available through internet to the entire educational community.
This network “O3E”, once installed, is the starting point of activities. Indeed, various general objectives are pursued:
- To promote the applied sciences and new technologies.
- To put in network the actors of Education and formation.
- To develop the sense of the autonomy and the responsibility in the young people.
- To reinforce and develop relationships with regional partners of the educational and university fields.
- To support a rational awakening for the prevention of the natural risks that can make the difference
during the event in terms of safety.
With these premises, the “O3E” experience sets up a permanent educational network of citizens in the
Alpine and Mediterranean areas, building an exchange of knowledge on natural risks prevention.PublishedAix en Provence5.9. Formazione e informazioneope
Reoperation rate after breast conserving surgery as quality indicator in breast cancer treatment: A reappraisal
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