Physical activity, early first delivery and residence as parameters for breast cancer prevention: an observational study.

PURPOSE: To determine the impact of physical activity, obesity, history of maternity, residence and socioeconomic status on the prevention of breast cancer (BC). METHODS: We established a questionnaire in order to record several potential parameters associated with BC in women aged between 30 and 60 years. The parameters evaluated in the present study were physical activity (years and days per week), obesity, age of menarche, age of first delivery, breast feeding, family history of BC, vegetarian diet, residence and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: A total of 120 women who worked in administrative jobs in large hospitals in Athens entered the study. Eleven of them had a history of BC. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed as independent risk variables for BC the following: family history of BC (p<0.001), absence of physical activity (p<0.001), first delivery after 35 years (p=0.011) and residence in city center (p=0.036). CONCLUSION: According to our results, because women who have family history of BC, sedentary and delivery after 35 years have higher risk to develop BC, risk reduction methods for these groups may need to be identified and implemented. Further studies are needed for the confirmation of our results.

Hypothesis: Is heroin a 'barrier' against cancer? A retrospective analysis of heroin-addicted individuals untreated for opioid dependence between 2001-2010.

PURPOSE: The findings of previous studies attracted our interest in searching and defining the percentage of deaths from cancer in 'heroin regular addicts' i.e. those who had never stopped taking the drug since they started. METHODS: The archives of the Greek Reitox Focal Point of the years 2001 to 2010 were retrospectively searched, focusing on the number of deaths from cancer of the regular heroin addicts. RESULTS: The records from 2,321 regular heroin addicts showed that none of them died from cancer. It seems that heroin might act as a "barrier" against cancer. CONCLUSION: Further studies are needed to confirm our results and to explore the potential cause for this surprising finding.

The Amount of Phosphorus in the Blood of Heroin Abusers Compared to that of Healthy Subjects.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current retrospective study was to assess any difference in terms of serum phosphate (P) between heroin addicts and healthy subjects. METHODS: Between 2011 and 2012, under the authority of the Greek Organization Against Drugs (OKANA), 30 regular heroin addicts, 22 males and 8 females (Group A) participated at the study. Between 2010 and 2011, 30 healthy individuals, 22 males and 8 females (Group B), presented on an outpatient basis for either fatigue or common flu symptoms without fever at the 424 Military Hospital of Thessaloniki. RESULTS: No significant difference between group A and B, in terms of either age (p = 0.454, Mann-Whitney test) or male/female ratio (p = 0.573, Chi2 test), suggesting a homogeneity for the population of individuals participating in the study. The mean values of serum-P in group A and B were 3.47 ± 0.65 and 3.35 ± 0.58, respectively (p = 0.45, Mann Whitney test). CONCLUSIONS: The absence of statistical difference of serum-P between heroin addicts and healthy subjects as shown in our results should be confirmed in further studies.

Is there any potential clinical impact of serum phosphorus and magnesium in patients with lung cancer at first diagnosis? A multi-institutional study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine whether the expression of baseline phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg) levels were prognostic in terms of stage and overall survival (OS) in newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospectively, 130 patients were selected at the time of diagnosis oflung cancer (100 with NSCLC and 30 with SCLC), before the initialization of any chemo-radiotherapy. The median age was 67 (range 29-92). IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB and IV stages were present in 3, 4, 19, 6, 25, 8, and 65 patients, respectively. After centrifugation, the levels of serum P and Mg were measured using the nephelometric method/ photometry and evaluated before any type of treatment. RESULTS: Higher than normal levels of P were found in 127/130 patients, while only four patients had elevated Mg serum values. In terms of Spearman test, higher P serum values correlated with either stage (rho=- 0.334, p<0.001) or OS (rho=-0.212, p=0.016). Additionally, a significant negative correlation of Mg serum levels was found with stage of disease (rho=-0.135, P=0.042). On multivariate cox-regression survival analysis, only stage (p<0.01), performance status (p<0.01) and P serum (p=0.045) showed a significant prognostic value. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicated that pre-treatment P serum levels in lung cancer patients are higher than the normal range. Moreover, P and Mg serum levels are predictive of stage of disease. Along with stage and performance status, the P serum levels had also a significant impact on survival. This information may be important for stratifying patients to specific treatment protocols or intensifying their therapies. However, larger series are now needed to confirm our results.

Pheromones: a new ergogenic aid in sport?

Nowadays, antidoping laboratories are improving detection methods to confirm the use of forbidden substances. These tests are based both on direct identification of new substances or their metabolites and on indirect evaluation of changes in gene, protein, or metabolite patterns (genomics, proteomics, or metabolomics). The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) officially monitors anabolic steroids, hormones, growth factors, ß-agonists, hormone and metabolic modulators, masking agents, street drugs, manipulation of blood and blood components, chemical and physical manipulation, gene doping, stimulants, narcotics, glucocorticosteroids, and ß-blockers. However, several other substances are under review by WADA. Pheromones accomplish the structure and function of life from its first step, while they have an impact on the body's performance. Both testosterone and pheromones have an ergogenic effect that could potentially affect an athlete's performance. The authors share their questions concerning the potential impact of pheromones in sports.