Magdalena Sowa

Ethylene and IAA interactions in the inhibition of photoperiodic flower induction of Pharbitis nil

It has been shown that both IAA and ethylene application inhibit flower induction in the short-day plant Pharbitis nil. However application of IAA has elevated ethylene production in this plant, as well. Strong enhancement of ethylene production is also correlated with the night-break effect, which completely inhibits flowering. In order to determine what the role of IAA and ethylene is in the photoperiodic flower induction in Pharbitis nil, we measured changes in their levels during inductive and non-inductive photoperiods, and the effects of ethylene biosynthesis and action inhibitors on inhibition of flowering by IAA. Our results have shown that the inhibitory effect of IAA on Pharbitis nil flowering is not physiological but is connected with its effect on ethylene biosynthesis.

Sagittal Plane Postural Changes in Female Patients with Breast Cancer after Different Surgical Techniques

To the Editor: One of the important objectives of the treatment of cancer patients is to minimize the adverse effects of the treatment while striving to maintain its radicality. Delayed outcomes of anticancer treatment may lead to postural changes of patients. Direct consequences of the disturbance in proper posture include a number of adverse outcomes such as motor organ deformities, back pains, circulatory and respiratory insufficiency, or headaches (1). Due to this facts, we think that it would be interesting to determine and compare postural changes as assessed within the sagittal plane in female patients after surgical treatment of breast cancer involving different surgical techniques and to compare sagittal plane postural changes women treated of breast cancer with body posture women before surgical procedure. We carried out a cross-sectional study which involved a group of 105 women who had undergone treatment for breast cancer. With 40 women was preformed Patey method (MAS) and with 35 women was preformed Breast Conserving Therapy (BCT). Table 1 presents somatic and clinical characteristics of study groups. Photogrammetric examinations were performed for researched groups (MAS and BCT) 2 year after the surgical procedure. All patients after mastectomy had used external breast prostheses. Patient in both exanimate groups have taken part in rehabilitation session. The scheme of examination was the following: 1 Determination of body weight, height and body mass index (BMI) 2 Examination with Moir e system Posturometric examination allows to determine about 30 postural parameters assessed in the sagittal plane. A total of six measurements (selected on the basis of the difference between the mean and median values) were used in the statistical analysis: • ALPHA – lumbosacral inclination angle, • BETA – thoracolumbar inclination angle, • GAMMA – thoracic inclination angle, • LLA – lumbar lordosis angle, • TKA – thoracic kyphosis angle, • TIA – trunk inclination angle. Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Iwona Głowacka, Department of Rehabilitation, Collegium Medicum of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Maria Curie-Skłodowskiej Street 9, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland, or e-mail: iwona.glowacka@cm.umk.pl

Assessment of quality of life in women five years after breast cancer surgery, members of Breast Cancer Self-Help Groups – non-randomized, cross-sectional study

Aim of the study To assess the quality of life in patients treated for breast cancer who were 5 years after diagnosis and were active members of Breast Cancer Self-Help Groups. Material and methods The study had a non-randomized, cross-sectional design. We enrolled 167 women who were more than 5 years after mastectomy and were active members of Breast Cancer Self-Help Groups (group A1). As a control group we enrolled 117 women after mastectomy – not members of such support groups (group A2). For the evaluation of the quality of life in both groups we used the following standardized questionnaires – EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23 as well the Mini-MAC scale for the assessment of strategies of coping with disease. Results Based on QLQ C30 scores, group A1 had better emotional functioning (p = 0.0005) and a higher general quality of life (p = 0.0259), whereas group A2 had better role functioning (p = 0.0042). Based on QLQ BR23 scores, there were statistically significant differences in body image (p = 0.0366) and life perspectives (p = 0.0313) in favor of group A1. In the control group, there was a greater use of destructive coping strategies and anxious preoccupation (p = 0.1957). Conclusions Membership in Amazon groups improves functioning in breast cancer patients that can also extend into a five-year period after treatment completion.

Does the presence of sentinel lymph node macrometastases in breast cancer patients require axillary lymph node dissection?—Single-center analysis

According to the current guidelines on treatment of breast cancer patients, identification of metastases in the sentinel lymph node (SLN (+)) is not an absolute indication for necessary axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). In our study, we present long‐term outcomes of treatment among SLN(+) patients referred for conservative treatment, for example, no further ALND. A total of 3145 breast cancer patients subjected to sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) between November 2008 and June 2015. SLN metastases were identified in 719 patients (22.9%). Locoregional recurrences and distant metastases as endpoints were distinquished. The mean follow‐up time for patients after ALND was 36.2 months (6‐74 months); 18.8 months (6‐38 months) for patients with SLN macrometastases without ALND; and 34.0 months (6‐74 months) for patients with micrometastases. Adjuvant ALND was performed in 626 of SLN(+) patients. Conservative treatment was applied in the remaining 93 cases. Among SLN(+) patients without adjuvant ALND, there was one case of recurrence (1.07%). In the group of patients without SLN, metastases recurrence was noted in 32 patients (1.32%). Among SLN(+) patients diagnosed with macrometastases, recurrence concerned 2.01% of analyzed cases (all subjected to ALND). Lack of radical surgical treatment in SLN(+) breast cancer patients did not lead to worsening long‐term outcomes. In the occurrence of macrometastases to the sentinel lymph node, abandoning completion axillary lymph node dissection might be a reasonable option. However, it would require continuation of current research, preferably involving a clinical trial.

Prevalence of biological types of breast cancer and their influence on disease staging and therapeutic management – a single-center study

According to the St. Gallen 2011 consensus, proper qualification of breast cancer patients for treatment requires taking into consideration the division into biological types of neoplasms. The goal of this work was to assess the prevalence of all biological types of breast cancer in the population of Kuyavian-Pomeranian province. We determined the influence of particular types of neoplasms on the degree of disease progression and the choice of therapeutic management. The study was conducted on a group of 2653 patients treated surgically due to malignant breast tumors in the Oncology Centre in Bydgoszcz. In the analyzed clinical material we determined the biological type of cancer as well as other prognostic factors. The most commonly identified types of cancer were luminal B1 type (38.4%) and luminal A type (27.4% of cases), followed by a triple-negative type, luminal B2 type and HER2-positive type (respectively: 11.4%, 10.2%, and 6.9% of patients). Estrogen receptors were present in 81.1% and progesterone receptors in 71.4% of subjects. HER2 overexpression was identified in 17.3% of patients. Routine use of a biology-based division into cancer types influences the choice of anti-cancer treatment. Diagnosis of luminal A type of tumor more commonly than other biological types of cancer coexists with lower clinical and pathological disease staging. It allows for more frequent use of sparing surgical techniques in patients. It also makes systemic neoadjuvant chemotherapy unnecessary in the majority of patients (differences in such cases exhibit statistical significance of p < 0.0001).

Zastosowanie elektroterapii TENS w łagodzeniu bólu porodowego / Application of TENS electrotherapy in alleviating labour pain

Abstract Introduction. Easing labour pain is an extremely important issue in obstetric practice. Various physiotherapy methods are increasingly often applied in obstetric practice. Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) aiming at central and peripheral modulation of pain sensation is one of them. Aim. The aim of the study was to analyse the impact of transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) on easing labour pain. Summary. The TENS method is regarded as effective since it increases both the pain threshold and secretion of endogenous opioids. Non-pharmacological methods of pain management during labour, including electrotherapy TENS methods are safe and can be used in most patients.