Endometrial cancer survival after breast cancer in relation to tamoxifen treatment: pooled results from three countries.

Introduction: Tamoxifen is an effective treatment for breast cancer but an undesirable side-effect is an increased risk of endometrial cancer, particularly rare tumor types associated with poor prognosis. We investigated whether tamoxifen therapy increases mortality among breast cancer patients subsequently diagnosed with endometrial cancer.

Methods: We pooled case-patient data from the three largest case-control studies of tamoxifen in relation to endometrial cancer after breast cancer (1,875 patients: Netherlands, 765; United Kingdom, 786; United States, 324) and collected follow-up information on vital status.

Genomic profile of endometrial tumors depends on morphological subtype, not on tamoxifen exposure.

Tamoxifen has been a very effective treatment for breast cancer for several decades, however, at the same time increases the risk of endometrial cancer, especially after prolonged exposure. In addition, tamoxifen has been associated with a higher proportion of unfavorable uterine tumor subtypes (carcinosarcomas and serous adenocarcinomas) with worse survival. We investigated whether endometrial tumors, which developed after prolonged tamoxifen treatment for breast cancer, are genetically different from endometrial tumors without preceding tamoxifen exposure.

Prognosis of uterine corpus cancer after tamoxifen treatment for breast cancer.

Tamoxifen increases the risk of uterine corpus cancer. Since only few, mostly small, studies have examined prognosis of uterine corpus cancer following tamoxifen, we conducted a large retrospective cohort study to further investigate this. We examined histopathologic and immunohistochemical characteristics of 332 patients with uterine corpus cancer following breast cancer, according to tamoxifen use.

[Rapid tracing of new patients with cancer through the nationwide network and registry of histo- and cytopathology in the Netherlands (PALGA) in order to freeze tumour material for molecular-epidemiological research].

Objective: To examine the viability of tracing new patients with a malignancy preoperatively through the Nationwide Network And Registry Of Histo- and Cytopathology in the Netherlands (PALGA) in order to obtain fresh-frozen tumour tissue for molecular-epidemiological research.

Design: Prospective.

Method: Gene expression analysis using the microarray technique has become an important tool in cancer research.

Psychosocial work characteristics in relation to neck and upper limb symptoms.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between psychosocial work characteristics and neck and upper limb symptoms and to examine to what extent this relationship could be explained by other risk factors. Data were used from a prospective cohort study in a working population, with a follow-up period of 3 years. The 3-year cumulative incidence rates of neck or upper limb symptoms, neck/shoulder symptoms and elbow/wrist/hand symptoms were 32, 24 and 15%, respectively.

Prognostic factors related to recurrent low-back pain and sickness absence.

Objectives: This study aimed at determining the prognostic factors related to the recurrence of low-back pain and future sickness absence due to low-back pain.

Methods: Data were used from a prospective cohort study in a working population with a 3-year follow-up period. They were collected with annual questionnaires.

Working with a chronic disorder--the development of the Work and Handicap Questionnaire.

The Work and Handicap Questionnaire (WHQ) was developed to improve the vocational perspectives of patients with a chronic disorder. The WHQ differs from similar instruments in its explicit linkage between disabilities in daily life and job demands. This is an important feature, which allows for the development of specific strategies to counter work problems of people with a chronic disorder.

Modeling familial clustered breast cancer using published data.

The purpose of this research was to model the familial clustering of breast cancer and to provide an accurate risk estimate for individuals from the general population, based on their family history of breast and ovarian cancer. We constructed a genetic model as an extension of a model by Claus et al. (E.

Possible consequences of applying guidelines to healthy women with a family history of breast cancer.

Possible effects of consistently applying published guidelines on healthy women with breast cancer in their family history were analysed. We investigated 1060 unrelated breast cancer patients and calculated the numbers of first-degree relatives that would be referred to a familial cancer clinic if the guidelines were consistently applied. A first-degree relative was considered a candidate for referral if she was female, without breast cancer at the moment of the interview, alive and over the age of 24.

High physical and psychosocial load at work and sickness absence due to neck pain.

Objectives: This study investigates the relationship between physical and psychosocial load at work and sickness absence due to neck pain.

Methods: A prospective cohort study with a follow-up period of 3 years (1994-1998) was performed among a working population. At the beginning of the study, physical load at work was quantified by means of video recordings.

Comparison of two different approaches for the analysis of data from a prospective cohort study: an application to work related risk factors for low back pain.

Aims: To compare the results of a traditional approach using standard regression for the analysis of data from a prospective cohort study with the results of generalised estimating equations (GEE) analysis.

Methods: The research was part of a three year prospective cohort study on work related risk factors for low back pain. The study population consisted of a cohort of 1192 workers with no low back pain at baseline.

High physical work load and low job satisfaction increase the risk of sickness absence due to low back pain: results of a prospective cohort study.

Objective: To determine whether physical and psychosocial load at work influence sickness absence due to low back pain.

Methods: The research was a part of the study on musculoskeletal disorders, absenteeism, stress, and health (SMASH), a 3 year prospective cohort study on risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders. Workers from 21 companies located throughout The Netherlands participated in the part of this study on sickness absence due to low back pain.

High quantitative job demands and low coworker support as risk factors for neck pain: results of a prospective cohort study.

Study Design: A 3-year prospective cohort study among 1334 workers was conducted.

Objective: To determine whether the work-related psychosocial factors of quantitative job demands, conflicting job demands, skill discretion, decision authority, supervisor support, coworker support, and job security are risk factors for neck pain.

Summary Of Background Data: Among the various risk factors for neck pain, work-related psychosocial factors play a major role.

Psychosocial work characteristics and psychological strain in relation to low-back pain.

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between psychosocial work characteristics and low-back pain and the potential intermediate role of psychological strain variables in this relationship.

Methods: The research was part of a prospective cohort study of risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms. The study population consisted of 861 workers from 34 companies in The Netherlands who had no low-back pain at baseline and for whom data on the occurrence of low-back pain were obtained with annual questionnaires during a 3-year follow-up period.

Are neck flexion, neck rotation, and sitting at work risk factors for neck pain? Results of a prospective cohort study.

Objective: To study the relation between neck pain and work related neck flexion, neck rotation, and sitting.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed with a follow up of 3 years among 1334 workers from 34 companies. Work related physical load was assessed by analysing objectively measured exposure data (video recordings) of neck flexion, neck rotation, and sitting posture.

Flexion and rotation of the trunk and lifting at work are risk factors for low back pain: results of a prospective cohort study.

Study Design: A 3-year prospective cohort study among workers of 34 companies in the Netherlands.

Objectives: To investigate the relation between flexion and rotation of the trunk and lifting at work and the occurrence of low back pain.

Summary Of Background Data: Previous studies on work-related physical risk factors for low back pain either lacked quantification of the physical load or did not take confounding by individual and psychosocial factors into account.

Systematic review of psychosocial factors at work and private life as risk factors for back pain.

Study Design: A systematic review of observational studies.

Objectives: To assess whether psychosocial factors at work and in private life are risk factors for the occurrence of back pain.

Summary Of Background Data: Several reviews on risk factors for back pain have paid attention to psychosocial factors.

Physical load during work and leisure time as risk factors for back pain.

This systematic review assessed aspects of physical load during work and leisure time as risk factors for back pain. Several reviews on this topic are available, but this one is based on a strict systematic approach to identify and summarize the evidence, comparable with that applied in the clinical literature on the efficacy of intervention for back pain. A computerized bibliographical search was made of several data bases for studies with a cohort or case-referent design.