Circulating endothelial progenitor cells correlate to stage in patients with invasive breast cancer.

Tumor growth and metastasis is dependent on the formation and assembly of new blood vessels, a process known as neo-angiogenesis. Both pre-existing and circulating vascular cells have been shown to contribute to the assembly of tumor neo-vessels in specific tumors. Mobilization of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from the bone marrow constitutes a crucial step in the formation of de novo blood vessels, and levels of peripheral blood EPCs have been shown to be increased in certain malignant states.

Quality of life and everyday activities in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Unlabelled: Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is generally a slowly progressive disease that may lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. However, patients with PBC often suffer from a variety of symptoms long before the development of cirrhosis that include issues of daily living that have an impact on their work environment and their individual quality of life. We therefore examined multiple parameters by taking advantage of the database of our cohort of 1032 patients with PBC and 1041 matched controls.

Oestrogen metabolites in relation to isoprostanes as a measure of oxidative stress.

Objective: Oestradiol (E2) and its metabolites 2-hydroxyoestrone (2-OHE1) and 16alpha-hydroxyoestrone (16alpha-OHE1) are thought to curtail the greater oxidative stress found in the development and progression of disease conditions including atherosclerosis. We related oestrogen levels to F(2a)-isoprostane levels, a biomarker of oxidative stress.

Design And Participants: Data were obtained from 1647 women, aged 47-57 years, participating in the fifth annual follow-up of the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a study of the menopausal transition.

Dietary fat subgroups, zinc, and vegetable components are related to urine F2a-isoprostane concentration, a measure of oxidative stress, in midlife women.

Smoking, diet, and physical activity may impact chronic diseases in part by promoting or attenuating oxidative stress. We evaluated associations between lifestyle factors and urine F(2a)-isoprostanes, a marker of oxidative stress in 1610 participants of the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). Dietary intake and physical activity were assessed at baseline and the 5th year 05 (Y05).

Telephone counseling helps maintain long-term adherence to a high-vegetable dietary pattern.

Achieving long-term adherence to a dietary pattern is a challenge in many studies investigating the relationship between diet and disease. The Women's Healthy Eating and Living Study was a multi-institutional randomized trial in 3088 women at risk for breast cancer recurrence. At baseline, the average participant followed a healthy dietary pattern of 7 vegetable and fruit servings, 21 g/d of fiber, and 28.

Adiposity and reporting of vasomotor symptoms among midlife women: the study of women's health across the nation.

It has long been hypothesized that increased adiposity would be associated with decreased vasomotor symptoms during menopause because of conversion of androgens to estrogens in body fat. However, recent thermoregulatory models have postulated that increased adipose tissue would be associated with a greater likelihood of vasomotor symptoms. The authors evaluated these hypotheses in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, a multiethnic, community-based observational study of US women transitioning through menopause.

A randomized trial of the effect of a walking regimen on the functional status of 100 adult allogeneic donor hematopoietic cell transplant patients.

To investigate the impact of exercise on adult allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients, we randomized 100 patients to either a structured walking regimen or to a control group with no formal exercise program. Starting on the day of admission for transplant, patients in the exercise arm were asked to walk on a treadmill twice a day for 15 minutes while in the hospital. After discharge, they were asked to walk once a day for 30 minutes.

Influence of a diet very high in vegetables, fruit, and fiber and low in fat on prognosis following treatment for breast cancer: the Women's Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) randomized trial.

Context: Evidence is lacking that a dietary pattern high in vegetables, fruit, and fiber and low in total fat can influence breast cancer recurrence or survival.

Objective: To assess whether a major increase in vegetable, fruit, and fiber intake and a decrease in dietary fat intake reduces the risk of recurrent and new primary breast cancer and all-cause mortality among women with previously treated early stage breast cancer.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Multi-institutional randomized controlled trial of dietary change in 3088 women previously treated for early stage breast cancer who were 18 to 70 years old at diagnosis.

Diet and lifestyle factors associated with premenstrual symptoms in a racially diverse community sample: Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN).

Aims: We sought to determine if the frequency of reported physical or emotional premenstrual symptoms (PMSx) was associated with (1) dietary intake of phytoestrogens, fiber, fat, or calcium, (2) consumption of alcohol or caffeine, (3) active or passive smoke exposure or lack of physical exercise, and (4) race/ethnicity or socioeconomic status.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted of PMSx and demographic and lifestyle factors reported at baseline in the multiethnic sample of 3302 midlife women in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). Stepwise multiple logistic regression analyses were performed for the overall sample and for each racial/ethnic group for each of five PMSx groupings.

Tamoxifen, hot flashes and recurrence in breast cancer.

We utilized data from the comparison group of the Women's Healthy Eating and Living randomized trial to investigate an "a priori" hypothesis suggested by CYP2D6 studies that hot flashes may be an independent predictor of tamoxifen efficacy. A total of 1551 women with early stage breast cancer were enrolled and randomized to the comparison group of the WHEL multi-institutional trial between 1995 and 2000. Their primary breast cancer diagnoses were between 1991 and 2000.

Mammographic density in a multiethnic cohort.

Objectives: To compare mammographic density among premenopausal and early perimenopausal women from four racial/ethnic groups and to examine density and acculturation among Japanese and Chinese women.

Design: The study included 391 white, 60 African American, 171 Japanese, and 179 Chinese participants in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, a multisite study of US women transitioning through menopause. Mammograms done when women were premenopausal or early perimenopausal were assessed for area of dense breast tissue and the percent of the breast occupied by dense tissue (percent density).

Cross-sectional analysis of specific complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by racial/ethnic group and menopausal status: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN).

Objective: To examine the relationships of race/ethnicity, menopausal status, health characteristics, and symptoms with use of 21 types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in midlife women.

Design: Cross-sectional, multiple logistic regression analyses of 2,118 women completing the sixth annual visit in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, a multisite, multiethnic, longitudinal study.

Results: More than half of women used some type of CAM.

Complementary and alternative medicine use among American women: findings from The National Health Interview Survey, 2002.

Background: The prevalence of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among Americans is high, especially among women, but a national profile of women CAM users has yet to be characterized. This study identified sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle factors associated with use of various types of CAM among women in the United States and examined health conditions and reasons for use.

Methods: Data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a nationally representative sample of U.

Factors associated with prevalent and incident urinary incontinence in a cohort of midlife women: a longitudinal analysis of data: study of women's health across the nation.

To compare the characteristics of and baseline factors associated with prevalent and incident urinary incontinence in a diverse cohort of midlife women, the authors analyzed the baseline and first five annual follow-up visits of the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), 1995-2001. From responses to annual questionnaires, the authors defined prevalent incontinence as at least monthly incontinence reported at baseline and incident incontinence as at least monthly incontinence first reported over follow-up. They used multiple logistic regression for their comparison.

Increases in plasma carotenoid concentrations in response to a major dietary change in the women's healthy eating and living study.

Background: Cohort studies suggest that higher circulating carotenoid concentrations through food sources may reduce breast cancer events. Other intervention studies have not achieved the level of change in circulating carotenoids required to properly test this hypothesis.

Methods: In a randomized trial of 2,922 breast cancer survivors, we examined blood and self-reported diet at baseline and 1 year.

Vasomotor symptom prevalence is associated with polymorphisms in sex steroid-metabolizing enzymes and receptors.

The relation of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of genes involved in estrogen function to vasomotor symptoms (VMS) has been inadequately explored. We evaluated SNPs in sex steroid-metabolizing genes and estrogen receptors (ERs) for their association with VMS (hot flashes, night sweats, and/or cold sweats) reported by women who were premenopausal or in early perimenopause at baseline. The study population was drawn from participants in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN).

Dietary genistein intake and cognitive performance in a multiethnic cohort of midlife women.

Objective: To examine the relationship between food frequency questionnaire estimated isoflavone intakes and cognitive performance.

Design: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), is a multiethnic, community based, longitudinal study of women aged 42 to 52 years at entry. Dietary isoflavone intakes were estimated from an interviewer-administered food frequency questionnaire at baseline.

Nutrition and eating in female college athletes: a survey of coaches.

The purpose of the present study was to gather information from coaches regarding their monitoring/management of athlete eating and weight, knowledge of nutritional health issues, availability of prevention/intervention services for athletes at their school, experience with athletes exhibiting symptoms of eating and body image disturbances, and their attitudes toward eating and weight in the sport. A total of 303 coaches (51% response rate) involved in six sports (i.e.

Dietary factors and vasomotor symptoms in breast cancer survivors: the WHEL Study.

Objective: Vasomotor symptoms (VMS)(hot flashes, night sweats) are associated with natural or surgically or chemotherapy-induced menopause, the latter occurring frequently in women treated for breast cancer. To manage VMS, some women seek alternatives to menopausal hormone therapy, such as supplements or modified food choices. The objective of the present analyses was to assess associations of VMS occurrence and change in severity of VMS over 12 months with dietary intakes of fiber, fat, and selected soy-containing foods, and use of phytoestrogen or vitamin E supplements in women with recent early stage breast cancer, adjusting for covariates.

Longitudinal analysis of the association between vasomotor symptoms and race/ethnicity across the menopausal transition: study of women's health across the nation.

Objectives: We investigated whether vasomotor symptom reporting or patterns of change in symptom reporting over the perimenopausal transition among women enrolled in a national study differed according to race/ethnicity. We also sought to determine whether racial/ethnic differences were explained by sociodemographic, health, or lifestyle factors.

Methods: We followed 3198 women enrolled in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation during 1996 through 2002.