Iranian Journal of Breast Diseases
Year:2019 | Volume:12 | Issue:1 (44) |Papers Count:9

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer that has concerned Iranian women. Early detection is a major determinant of disease prognosis. Thus, participation in prevention behaviors is the only available option for women. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a protection motivation theory (PMT)-based scale for assessing the participation of Iranian women in breast cancer prevention behaviors. Methods: A sequential exploratory mixed methods design was used. In the qualitative phase, 14 semistructured interviews were done with women. After directed qualitative content analysis, primary items were phrased. Validity of the questionnaire was assessed by a panel of experts, calculation of CVR and CVI, and using confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability of the scale was measured using Cronbach’ s alpha. Then, a cross-sectional study was performed on 420 women. The data were analyzed using SPSS 19 and AMOS 16 software packages. Results: All of the items gained impact scores >1. 5 in qualitative and quantitative face validity assessment. In the dimension of content validity, 9 items were deleted. Reliability of the questionnaire was acceptable. The final draft of the questionnaire was prepared in two sections including demographics and PMT constructs comprising 56 items and 8 domains. Factor analysis confirmed the fitness of the model representing the measurement theory. Conclusion: The present study is a pioneer in assessing the applicability of PMT for assessing the participation of Iranian women in breast cancer prevention behaviors. The developed scale has acceptable psychometric properties among Iranian women, and it can be used as a reliable instrument.

Introduction Many deaths from cancer are due to metastases, a process which involves the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). On the other hand, regular exercise plays an important role in inhibiting the progression of breast cancer. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of interval training on the expression of VIM, the gene encoding for EMT biomarker vimentin, and tumor volume in mice with breast cancer. Methods: Thirty-two female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: Exercise-Tumor-Exercise (ETE), Rest-Tumor-Rest (RTR), Rest-Tumor-Exercise (RTE), and Exercise-Tumor-Rest (ETR). Interval training was performed six weeks before and four weeks after the induction of 4T1 mammary carcinoma. The real-time PCR method was used to evaluate the expression of vimentin. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc methods, considering a P value of < 0. 05 significant. Results: Tumor tissue VIM expression in the ETE group decreased significantly (P < 0. 001, F = 270. 85), Also, a significant decrease in tumor volume was observed in both RTE and ETE groups compared to the control group (RTR) (F = 23. 81, P < 0. 001). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, a period of interval training (before and after tumor) may decrease tumor growth and the expression of VIM. This kind of exercise can, in addition to the preventive role, may play a role in the treatment of breast cancer.

Introduction: Both physical inactivity and breast cancer incidence have increased dramatically during the last two decades in Iranian women. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of physical activity with breast cancer incidence in premenopausal women. Methods: In this case-control study, which was performed from March 2017 to May 2018, 150 incident cases with histological confirmation of breast cancer and 146 age-matched controls were recruited (aged 20-55 years). The patients were selected from Ayatollah Khonsari hospital in Arak, Iran. Height and weight were measured by standard methods and used for calculation of body mass index. Demographics, fertility status, and physical activity level were obtained by interview using valid questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statics and logistic regressions on SPSS 18. Results: Household activities accounted for about 78% of the total lifetime physical activities. Only about 2. 5% of the total lifetime physical activities were in the form of recreational/sports. The results of logistic regressions showed that except for the common risk factors for breast cancer (older marital age, family history of breast cancer, and smoking), occupational activities, transportation activities, recreational/sport activities, and total lifetime physical activities had a protective effect against breast cancer incidence in young women. Conclusion: These findings suggest that lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity are risk factors associated with the incidence of premenopausal breast cancer in Arak.

Introduction: Early diagnosis of breast cancer and the identification of effective genes are important issues in the treatment and survival of the patients. Gene expression data obtained using DNA microarray in combination with machine learning algorithms can provide new and intelligent methods for diagnosis of breast cancer. Methods: Data on the expression of 9216 genes from 84 patients across 5 different types of cancer was obtained using microarray technology. In this study, we proposed a feature selection method based on the correlation between abnormal expression of genes and cancer for diagnosis of breast cancer. Then, we used K-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), and naive Bayesian (NB) classifiers to evaluate the performance of the proposed method in the selection of relevant genes. Results: The proposed feature selection method coupled with the KNN classifier predicted all types of cancer with 100% accuracy and using 38 of the 9216 genes. The proposed method could also identify the genes associated with each class. Moreover, the proposed feature selection method coupled with NB and SVM classifiers achieved accuracy rates of 90% and 96. 67% using 17 and 22 genes, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that the proposed feature selection method has better performance compared with other methods. The proposed method is able to distinguish the genes involved in each cancer class and detect overexpression or underexpression of selected genes, which can be used by physicians and researchers in the field of health care.

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in Women, which, if diagnosed at an early stage, can be treated. Breast selfexamination is a simple and inexpensive way to screen for breast cancer. Students, especially medical students, as the educated class of the community, are expected to be knowledgeable with good attitudes and performance in this field. The purpose of this study was to compare the knowledge, attitude and performance of female Students of medical versus nonmedical Sciences toward Breast Self-examination in the city of Sirjan. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 228 medical students and 240 nonmedical students were enrolled. A researcher-made survey questionnaire was used for data collection. Content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by 10 nursing and midwifery experts, and its reliability was assessed by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: The mean breast self-examination knowledge scores for medical students and nonmedical students were 34 ± 3. 81 and 32. 84 ± 4. 40, respectively. The mean score of attitude toward breast self-examination was 68. 11 ± 8. 69 for medical students and 63. 54 ± 8. 90 for nonmedical students. Finally, the mean score of performance of breast self-examination was 23. 88 ± 6. 37 for medical students versus 22. 89 ± 7. 45 for nonmedical students. There was a significant difference in knowledge and attitude between medical and nonmedical students (P < 0. 05), but the difference in performance was not significant (P > 0. 05). Conclusion: Knowledge scores of medical and nonmedical students were moderate, and attitude scores of both groups were high, although medical students’ scores were significantly higher than those of nonmedical students. Nonetheless, both groups had poor performance of breast selfexamination. This indicates that efforts must be made on the part of the education system to promote awareness, attitude and performance of breast self-examination through effective and new methods.

Introduction: The relationship between social support and depression can have implications for the outcome of breast cancer treatment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine social support and its relation to depression in women with breast cancer. Methods: In this descriptive-correlational study performed in Tabriz in 2018. A total of 240 patients with breast cancer who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and Beck Depression Inventory were used for research purposes. The Spearman correlation test was used to determine the relationship between the two variables. A P value of < 0. 05 was considered significant. Results: 63% of women had moderate to severe depression, and mean ± SD of total social support score was 40. 29 ± 11. 99. Spearman’ s correlation results indicated a negative relationship between depression and social support (r =-512, P < 0. 001). Conclusion: The prevalence of moderate to severe depression in the current study sample was high (63%), which is consistent with similar studies. On the other hand, women with below average depression had higher perceived social support score, and the correlation between these variables was statistically significant.

Psychiatric disorders are one of the most common health problems among different communities including Iran. According to the latest national-width survey, the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among Iranian general population is 23. 44% by (1). Therefore, psychotropics, which are prescribed by psychiatrists, other specialists, and general practitioners, are among the most popular and best-selling medications. Galactorrhea is one of the noticeable side effects of some psychotropics, which can be annoying, especially, for young women. Galactorrhea is defined as the secretion of breast milk without being pregnant or breast feeding. It is a common manifestation of hormonal dysregulation which can be induced by medications or pituitary adenomas. Other causes such as hypothyroidism, pregnancy and renal failure should also be considered. Several symptoms like amenorrhea, decrease in sexual desire and infertility may be present in patients with galactorrhea. This complication may be diagnosed by surgeons, internists or gynecologists (2). As rates of prescription of medications which can cause galactorrhea continue to increase, it is important for specialists to have knowledge about this side effects.