A systematic literature review of the epidemiology and burden of herpes zoster in selected locales in Asia Pacific.

Herpes zoster (HZ) is a painful rash which typically affects older adults. This is of concern in Asia-Pacific given its aging population. As HZ epidemiology and burden are evolving, this systematic literature review aimed to update the current understanding of HZ burden and associated costs for selected Asia-Pacific locales.

Post-diagnosis physical activity and survival after breast cancer diagnosis: the Long Island Breast Cancer Study.

Physical activity (PA) is associated with physiological responses thought to beneficially affect survival after breast cancer diagnosis, yet few studies have considered the entire survivorship experience. Effects of post-diagnosis activity on survival were examined in a cohort of 1,423 women diagnosed with in situ or invasive breast cancer in 1996-1997. Subjects were interviewed soon after diagnosis and again after approximately 5 years to assess breast cancer-related factors, including recreational PA before and after diagnosis.

Postdiagnosis change in bodyweight and survival after breast cancer diagnosis.

Background: Weight gain after diagnosis is common among women with breast cancer, yet results have been inconsistent among the few studies examining its effects on survival.

Methods: We examined the effects of weight gain on mortality among a cohort of 1436 women diagnosed with a first primary breast cancer in 1996-1997, on Long Island, NY. Subjects were interviewed soon after diagnosis and again after approximately 5 years.

Characteristics of patients with venous thromboembolism and atrial fibrillation in Venezuela.

Background: Studies describing venous thromboembolic event (VTEE) and atrial fibrillation (AF) in South American populations are limited. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to describe the characteristics of Venezuelan patients admitted and treated for these conditions.

Methods: A retrospective medical record review of 1397 consecutive patients admitted to three private hospitals or clinics between January 2000 and December 2005 was performed.

Prevalence and predictors of antioxidant supplement use during breast cancer treatment: the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project.

Background: Although many patients take antioxidant dietary supplements during breast cancer treatment, the benefits of such supplementation are unproven. The authors of this report analyzed the prevalence of and factors associated with antioxidant supplement use during breast cancer (BC) treatment among women who participated in the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project.

Methods: From 2002 through 2004, women with BC who had participated a case-control study from 1996 to 1997 were invited to participate in a follow-up interview.

The incidence of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura among adults: a population-based study and literature review.

Published data on the epidemiology of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) among adults are very limited. We conducted a study of ITP incidence using the General Practice Research Database in the United Kingdom. From 1992 to 2005, there were 840 cases of ITP among adults considering 21 749 623 person-years (PYs) of follow-up, for a crude incidence of 3.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-DNA adducts and survival among women with breast cancer.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are mammary carcinogens in animal studies, and a few epidemiologic studies have suggested a link between elevated levels of PAH-DNA adducts and breast cancer incidence. An association between PAH-DNA adducts and survival among breast cancer cases has not been previously reported. We conducted a survival analysis among women with newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer between 1996 and 1997, enrolled in the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project.

No effect of exercise on colon mucosal prostaglandin concentrations: a 12-month randomized controlled trial.

Background: Epidemiologic studies provide evidence that exercise is associated with reduced risk of colon cancer. Exercise may exert protective effects on the colon by influencing prostaglandin production. We hypothesized that an exercise intervention would decrease prostaglandin E(2) concentrations and increase prostaglandin F(2alpha) in colon biopsies compared with controls.

Dietary flavonoid intake and breast cancer survival among women on Long Island.

Background: Laboratory research and a growing number of epidemiologic studies have provided evidence for a reduced risk of breast cancer associated with dietary intake of certain classes of flavonoids. However, the effects of flavonoids on survival are not known. In a population-based cohort of breast cancer patients, we investigated whether dietary flavonoid intake before diagnosis is associated with subsequent survival.

Oral contraceptives and survival in breast cancer patients aged 20 to 54 years.

Recent oral contraceptive (OC) use is associated with modestly higher breast cancer incidence among younger women, but its impact on survival is unclear. This study examined the relationship between OC use before breast cancer diagnosis and survival. A population-based sample of 1,264 women aged 20 to 54 years with a first primary invasive breast cancer during 1990 to 1992 were followed up for 8 to 10 years.

Weight gain prior to diagnosis and survival from breast cancer.

Background: To examine the effects of prediagnostic obesity and weight gain throughout the life course on survival after a breast cancer diagnosis, we conducted a follow-up study among a population-based sample of women diagnosed with first, primary invasive, and in situ breast cancer between 1996 and 1997 (n = 1,508).

Methods: In-person interviews were conducted shortly after diagnosis to obtain information on height and weight at each decade of life from age 20 years until 1 year before diagnosis. Patients were followed to determine all-cause (n = 196) and breast cancer-specific (n = 127) mortality through December 31, 2002.

Active and passive cigarette smoke and breast cancer survival.

Purpose: The association between active and passive cigarette smoking before breast cancer diagnosis and survival was investigated among a cohort of invasive breast cancer cases (n = 1273) participating in a population-based case-control study.

Methods: Participants diagnosed with a first primary breast cancer between August 1, 1996, and July 31, 1997, were followed-up until December 31, 2002, for all-cause mortality (n = 188 deaths), including breast cancer-specific mortality (n = 111), as reported to the National Death Index.

Results: In Cox models, the adjusted hazards ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality were slightly higher among current and former active smokers, compared with never smokers (HR, 1.

Associations between the CYP17, CYPIB1, COMT and SHBG polymorphisms and serum sex hormones in post-menopausal breast cancer survivors.

Several polymorphisms have been identified in genes that code for enzymes involved with estrogen biosynthesis and metabolism. Little is known about the functional relevance of these polymorphisms on sex hormones in vivo. We examined the association between CYP17, CYP1B1, COMT or SHBG genotypes and serum concentrations of estrone, estradiol, free estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), testosterone, free testosterone and dehyroepiandrosterone in 366 post-menopausal breast cancer survivors in New Mexico, California and Washington.

General and abdominal obesity and survival among young women with breast cancer.

Among postmenopausal women, obesity is linked to increased risk of breast cancer and poorer subsequent survival. For premenopausal women, obesity may reduce incidence, but less is known about its effect on prognosis, particularly for abdominal obesity. This study investigated whether general or abdominal obesity at diagnosis influenced survival in a cohort of young women with breast cancer.

Association between reproductive factors and breast cancer survival in younger women.

This analysis investigated whether reproductive factors such as age at menarche, parity, and timing and outcomes of pregnancies were associated with survival among women with breast cancer younger than 55 years. Female residents of Atlanta, Georgia, and central New Jersey who were diagnosed with a primary, incident invasive breast cancer between 1990 and 1992 and enrolled in a population-based study (n = 1,264) were followed for 8-10 years. Detailed exposure and covariate information was collected via in-person interviews administered shortly after diagnosis.

Recreational physical activity and survival among young women with breast cancer.

Background: Most epidemiologic studies report a reduced risk of developing breast cancer associated with higher levels of recreational physical activity, but little is known regarding its effect on prognosis.

Methods: In this study, the authors investigated whether activity undertaken prior to diagnosis influenced breast cancer survival in a population-based cohort. A follow-up study was conducted among 1264 women ages 20 to 54 years who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 1990 and 1992.

Fruits, vegetables, and micronutrient intake in relation to breast cancer survival.

Objective: To determine whether fruit, vegetable, and micronutrient intake 1 year prior to breast cancer diagnosis is associated with a reduction in the subsequent risk of all-cause or breast cancer-specific mortality.

Methods: Follow-up data from 1,235 invasive breast cancer cases age 25-98 years from the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project were analyzed. At the 1996-1997 case-control interview, respondents completed a food frequency questionnaire, which assessed dietary intake of fruits, vegetables, and vitamin supplement use in the previous 12 months.

Factors predicting successful needle-localized breast biopsy.

Rationale And Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify factors that predict successful removal of nonpalpable breast lesions with mammography-guided needle-localized breast biopsy.

Materials And Methods: Of the 455 consecutive patients referred for needle-localized breast biopsy of one or more nonpalpable breast lesions between January 1990 and December 1994, 272 (59.8%) had sufficiently complete data to be included in this study.