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Biomedical subjects

A Lluch

Publications and source records attributed to A Lluch.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Exercise in dietary restrained women: no effect on energy intake but change in hedonic ratings.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the short-term effects (one day) of exercise and diet composition on appetite control in restrained females. DESIGN: 2x2 repeated measures design, with exercise and lunch type used as the repeated factors. SETTING: The Human Appetite Research Unit at Leeds University Psychology Department. SUBJECTS: Twelve dietary restrained females, normal weight and regular exercisers INTERVENTIONS: A control (rest) and a bout of high intensity exercise (cycling 50 min., 70% VO2 max.) was followed by a free-selection lunch comprising high-fat (HF) or low-fat (LF) foods. Hunger and heart rate profiles were tracked. Energy Intake (EI) was monitored in the laboratory throughout the day. Post-meal hedonic ratings were completed after lunch and dinner. RESULTS: There was a significant effect of lunch type (HF vs LF) on EI following exercise and rest (P < 0.001) and on total 24 h EI (P < 0.05): EI increased during both HF conditions compared to the LF. A main effect of exercise on tastiness and pleasantness (P < 0.05) of the LF foods served at lunch was found. However, there was no effect of exercise on hunger, weight or energy value of food eaten. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise raises the perceived pleasantness of foods in dietary restrained women, but does not increase the drive to eat within 8 h of the cessation of exercise. The combination of physical activity and a low-fat diet could be used advantageously to control appetite, prevent overconsumption and protect against the development of obesity.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Prognostic significance of c-erbB-2/neu amplification and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in primary breast cancer and their relation to estradiol receptor (ER) status.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic significance of c-erbB-2/neu amplification and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in primary breast cancer (BC) and their prognostic implications when combined with estradiol receptor (ER) status. In this work, 825 BCs were studied. Neu amplification was evaluated by dot-blot and EGFR expression was evaluated by ligand binding assay using I125-EGF. Neu, EGFR, estradiol and progesterone receptors (ER and PR) had a marked influence on disease free survival (DFS) in univariate analysis. In node-negative (NO) cases only neu was associated with short DFS (p = 0.005). However, in node-positive (N+) cases both EGFR (p = 0.005) and neu (p = 0.002) influenced DFS. None of the biological markers were significant predictors for overall survival (OS) in NO/BC. On the contrary, in N+/BC, EGFR + (p = 0.003) was associated with short OS. The EGFR + /neu/phenotype represented a sub-group with an even worse prognosis with respect to DFS (p = 0.0034) as well as EGFR + /ER-tumors (p = 0.005). Moreover, neu + /ER-patients also had a high probability of relapse (p = 0.0000) and death (p = 0.006). C-erbB-2/neu, EGFR, histological grade, pN, pT and ER were subjected to a Cox multivariate regression analysis: neu was the most important parameter in predicting recurrence, and EGFR was a significant predictor for OS.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

High dose exercise does not increase hunger or energy intake in free living males.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of a high dose (two high-intensity exercise sessions) of exercise on energy intake (EI) and subjective states (hunger and mood). DESIGN: Using a within subjects design, there were two treatment conditions, each of two consecutive days. SETTING: The Human Appetite Research Unit at Leeds University Psychology Department. SUBJECTS: Eight lean males who were regular exercisers were recruited from the student/staff population of Leeds University. INTERVENTIONS: The effects of the high dose of exercise Ex1 were compared with the effects on the day immediately after exercise (Ex2) and two consecutive days of no exercise (R1 and R2). EI was monitored using self-record food diaries and subjective states were tracked using a new Electronic Appetite Rating System (EARS). Heart rate and physical activity were also measured. RESULTS: Feelings of hunger were not elevated by the high dose of exercise on Ex1 or on the day after exercise (Ex2). In fact, average daily feeling of hunger on Ex1 was significantly lower compared with the average daily feeling of hunger on Ex2 (t = 3.15, d.f. = 7, P < 0.05), but not when compared with R1 or R2. EI and macronutrient intakes were not different on Ex1, Ex2, R1 or R2. Therefore, there were no increase in EI on Ex1 or Ex2 to account for the measured increase in exercise-induced energy expenditure (1200 kcal). Continuously monitored heart rate and activity profiles indicated that there was no difference in activity during the non-exercise periods between the four days. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that a high dose of exercise in one day failed to have any effect on EI within the same day or on the day immediately after exercise, compared with days of no exercise. These results demonstrate that an acute but substantial increase in energy expenditure (EE) due to intense exercise does not automatically increase hunger or EI within 48 h. This indicates the absence of any strong coupling between EE and EI in the short-term, probably as a result of food intake being held in place by environmental contingencies and short-term pre-absorptive physiological responses arising from eating itself.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Paclitaxel plus doxorubicin in metastatic breast cancer: preliminary analysis of cardiotoxicity.

This ongoing phase II trial was designed to determine the antitumor activity and cardiotoxicity of a combination of doxorubicin (50 mg/m2) and paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) (175 to 225 mg/m2 over 3 hours) as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer. Of 76 patients entered so far, 57 who had received at least three courses of chemotherapy are assessable for efficacy and cardiac toxicity. A slight majority (57%) of the patients entered had prior adjuvant chemotherapy, including 33% with anthracycline-containing combinations. An objective response was achieved by 70% of patients, with 18% complete responders. The main noncardiac toxicities were alopecia, neutropenia, mucositis, and peripheral neuropathy. Overall, after a median cumulative doxorubicin dose of 350 mg/m2, the evolution of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) values did not significantly decrease from baseline to the sixth course of therapy. However, LVEF values decreased significantly in eight patients (14%). The LVEF decreased by more than 14% over basal values in three patients, although the final determination was still above the lower limits of normal. The remaining five patients had LVEF decreases that fell below the lower limits of normal (33% to 48%). None of the patients developed clinically evident heart failure. Our results indicate that the combination of doxorubicin (50 mg/m2) plus paclitaxel (175 to 225 mg/m2) is effective and does not induce a clinically relevant cardiotoxicity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Value of CA 15.3 in breast cancer and comparison with CEA and TPA: a study of specificity in disease-free follow-up patients and sensitivity in patients at diagnosis of the first metastasis.

The specificity and sensitivity of a tumor marker (TM) are important in establishing its potential clinical utility for a specific type of neoplasm. CA 15.3 is a TM specific for breast cancer; it is defined by two monoclonal antibodies (DF3 and 115D8), whose specificity, in disease-free follow-up patients, and sensitivity, in patients at diagnosis of first metastasis, have been evaluated in the present study and compared with those of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA). Serum concentrations of all three TMs were quantified in 618 individuals: 80 healthy controls, 421 patients with local breast cancer who became free of disease following locoregional treatment, and 117 patients with disseminated disease at diagnosis of metastasis. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was the method employed, and the cut-off values obtained were 30 U/ml for CA 15.3, 5 ng/ml for CEA, and 120 U/I for TPA. The results showed CA 15.3 and CEA specificities to be analogous (95.7 and 95.5%, respectively). TPA specificity (81.9%) was lower (p < 0.001). During adjuvant therapy, CA 15.3 serum levels were seen to increase, followed by a normalization of concentration after terminating therapy. On the other hand, CA 15.3 and TPA sensitivities (64.1 and 67.5%, respectively) were greater than for CEA (44.4%, p < 0.01). It is concluded that CA 15.3 is a useful TM for breast cancer, as it offers a greater sensitivity than CEA and a higher specificity than TPA. Combining CA 15.3 and CEA fails to increase CA 15.3 sensitivity, while combining CA 15.3 with TPA increases false-positives and so likewise offers no additional benefit.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Family resemblance in energy and macronutrient intakes: the Stanislas Family Study.

BACKGROUND: There seems to be a consensus that family influences on dietary habits are important but few studies have addressed this issue directly. The purpose of this study was to determine if and how dietary intake aggregates within families. METHODS: We examined the family aggregation of energy intake and the proportion of protein, fat and carbohydrate in the diet, estimated by a 3-day food consumption diary in 387 middle-class French families. RESULTS: For energy and all macronutrients, spouse-spouse and child-child correlations were higher than parent-child correlations suggesting the minor contribution of genetics and the preponderant role of cultural and residual random environment. Variance component analysis confirmed the absence of genetic component for energy and all macronutrients and underlined the important role of a cohabitational effect for parents. Cultural inheritance represented 30-40% of dietary intake variance for children. Families who shared meals together more often had a lower residual random component. With the increasing number of meals eaten together (> 45/week versus < or = 45/week), between-generation components increased by about 10% for fat and carbohydrate, while for protein intake, the between-generation component for both parents (about 27%) and children (about 37%) remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: The general finding that dietary intake aggregates within families and that the individual behaviours are greatly influenced by characteristics within the family unit such as the number of meals eaten together provides additional justification for health promotion programmes that target the family as the unit for intervention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Chronobiology, nutrition and metabolism].

The "nutrition" function is fulfilled by a succession of physiologic actions of which the first is eating and the last is the intracellular metabolism of nutrients. These actions involve not only sensory processes subjected to neurocentral regulation but also peripheral metabolic, and hormonal processes. The physiologic "nutrition" function involves a number of parameters for which fundamental rhythms have been demonstrated, such as eating behaviors, intra- and extracellular metabolisms, hormone secretions and their effects on target organs, and use of food and nutrients. Each of these rhythms can be demonstrated under physiologic conditions but can be modified by environmental factors (temperature, light, seasons, physical and mental activity), disease states (many diseases can produce profound alterations in nutritional regulation processes), and drugs. Interactions between these rhythms also exist; for instance, eating behavior rhythms can be modified by sociocultural pressures and this can, in turn, modify the fundamental rhythms of biologic parameters. The unit of time that allows the study of these rhythms varies: in addition to circadian and ultradian rhythms, weekly (cisaseptian) and annual (circannual) cyclical changes should be taken into account when investigating human nutrition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Economic study of neutropenia induced by myelotoxic chemotherapy.

This article describes the economic and social impact of neutropenia induced by myelotoxic chemotherapy in patients with cancer during the period 1 January-31 December 1991. Neutropenia is a life-threatening complication of chemotherapy in patients with cancer. The episodes of fever and infections originating from neutropenia require hospitalization of the patient until the granulocyte levels are restored. The calculation of the economic cost was based on the following parameters: length of stay in hospital, analytical tests performed on the patient, type and cost of drug therapy administered, blood transfusions performed, health assistance received, cost of isolation and absence from work. The overall economic cost of neutropenia in patients with cancer reached 329,775 pesetas ($2,893). Cost of the health-care staff was the largest budget item in relation to the total health resources estimated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Estradiol receptors in combination with neu or myc oncogene amplifications might define new subtypes of breast cancer.

Amplifications of neu and c-myc were evaluated in 218 and 145 breast cancers (BC), respectively. Oncogene amplifications were determined for the most part by Southern blot. An association between the proportion of nodes affected and the intensity of neu amplification in estadiol receptor negative (ER-) BC was found (P = 0.028), which was confirmed by the multi-factor analysis of variance (P = 0.05). A significantly greater incidence in neu amplifications among BC with metastases was also found (P = 0.031). A strong association (P = 0.01) between the neu and myc amplification was observed. There is a strong association between myc amplification and ER- BC (P < 0.01). It is concluded that (1) the combination ER- with neu amplification might define a new group of more aggressive BC, as is suggested by their associated nodal involvement; (2) the linkage of myc amplifications with ER- BC and high grade of neu amplification might reflect a trait of tumor aggressivity.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Phase II trial of weekly IV vinorelbine in first-line advanced breast cancer chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: The study investigated the therapeutic effect of single-agent IV weekly vinorelbine (Navelbine, Pierre Fabre Oncologie, Boulogne, France) a semi-synthetic vinca-alkaloid, in women who had received no prior treatment for advanced or metastatic breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-four patients with assessable advanced or metastatic breast cancer who had received no prior chemotherapy were entered into the study. Fifty patients were evaluable for toxicity and response by WHO criteria; 4 patients were not evaluated because they did not meet the eligibility criteria of the study. Vinorelbine was given as a weekly 30 mg/m2 short IV infusion; and treatment was continued until disease progression or the occurrence of unacceptable toxicity. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 50% (complete response 2%, partial response 48%). The response rate according to target was: lymph nodes 64%; liver 28%; lung 66%; local recurrence 60%. The median duration of response was 9 months, the median time to treatment failure was 5 months and the median survival was 15 months. TOXICITY: Six-hundred thirty cycles were given to 54 patients (53 assessable for tolerance). At least one episode of WHO grade 3/4 granulocytopenia was seen in each of 71% of the patients. Significant nausea/vomiting (WHO grade 3) was seen in less than 1% of cycles and other side effects were uncommon. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that vinorelbine has major single-agent anti-tumour activity as front-line therapy in advanced breast cancer. Given its excellent tolerance profile and low morbidity, it should be considered for inclusion in first-line combination chemotherapy regimens.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1994

Clinical activity of chronic oral etoposide in previously treated metastatic breast cancer.

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to assess the antitumor activity and tolerance of chronic oral etoposide (50 mg/m2/d for 21 days every 4 weeks) in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-three consecutive metastatic breast cancer patients with at least one site of measurable disease entered the study. All patients had received prior chemotherapy (adjuvant, three patients; adjuvant plus chemotherapy for metastases, 21; chemotherapy for metastases, 19). Twenty-two and 21 patients had also received prior hormonal and radiation therapy, respectively. RESULTS: Thirty-five percent of patients (15 of 43; 95% confidence interval, 21% to 51%) had objective responses, according to an intention-to-treat analysis. Responses were seen in lymph nodes (six of 14), skin and soft tissues (eight of 16), lung (six of 14), lytic lesions of the bone (two of six), liver (four of 23), and peritoneum (one of one). The median duration of response was 7 months (range, 3+ to 12). The main toxic side effects were leukopenia (overall, 65% of patients; World Health Organization [WHO] grade 4, 21%), thrombocytopenia (21%; WHO grade 4, 5%) and anemia (51%; WHO grade 4, 5%). Nine patients (21%) required a 25% dose reduction because of myelosuppression, and one patient abandoned treatment because of gastrointestinal toxicity and severe asthenia. Ninety-one percent of patients developed alopecia, 39.5% had mucositis (WHO grade 3, 9.5%) and 60.5% had some degree of emesis (11.5% nausea, 46.5% transient vomiting, 2.5% intractable vomiting). No toxic deaths occurred. CONCLUSION: Chronic oral etoposide appears to be an active and well-tolerated regimen in MBC patients previously exposed to chemotherapy. This schedule of etoposide administration warrants further studies, alone or in combination, in MBC.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1993

Epidermal growth factor in human breast cancer, endometrial carcinoma and lung cancer. Its relationship to epidermal growth factor receptor, estradiol receptor and tumor TNM.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) were measured in 60 breast cancers (BC), 6 benign mammary tumors (BM), 8 samples of normal breast (NB), 6 endometrial carcinomas (EC) and 30 lung cancers (LC). EGF was measured in plasma, saliva and urine from 20 patients with BC, before and after tumor excision, and in 8 patients with metastatic disease. The median EGF in BM and BC was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in NB. No significant correlation between EGF and EGFR was found in BC. Neither tumor excision nor the spreading of the disease significantly modified the EGF concentrations in biological fluids. In LC there was an inverse relationship between EGF and EGFR (rs = -0.36; P = 0.09), which disappeared in normal lung. It is concluded that EGF may play a role in malignant transformation; however, the weak correlation between EGF and EGFR lessens the importance of EGF in either autocrine or paracrine stimulation of tumor growth.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Preliminary results of a phase II trial of chronic oral etoposide in breast cancer.

Twenty-seven women with metastatic breast cancer (at least one site of measurable disease) entered a phase II study of chronic oral etoposide (50 mg/m2/day x 21 days, given every 4 weeks). To date, 23 patients are evaluable for response and toxicity. All patients had received prior chemotherapy (adjuvant therapy, one patient; adjuvant plus chemotherapy for metastases, six patients; chemotherapy for metastases, 16 patients). Thirteen patients had previously received anthracyclines, and 10 had also received prior hormonal therapy. Of the 23 evaluable patients, one obtained a complete response and six achieved partial responses (objective response rate 30.4%, 95% confidence interval, 13 to 53%). Responses were seen in lymph nodes (three of eight sites), skin and soft tissue (five of seven), lung (two of six), lytic lesions of the bone (one of three), and liver (1 of 12). The median duration of responses was 6 months (range, 1+ to 8). The main toxic side-effects were leukopenia (74% of patients), thrombocytopenia (22%), and anemia (69.5%). Myelosuppression in four patients (17%) necessitated a 25% dose reduction. Other toxicities included alopecia (83%), mucositis (52%), and emesis (35%). Chronic oral etoposide appears to be an active regimen in metastatic breast cancer patients previously exposed to chemotherapy.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1992

Aromatase activity and estradiol in human breast cancer: its relationship to estradiol and epidermal growth factor receptors and to tumor-node-metastasis staging.

PURPOSE: The present report attempts to clarify whether there is a relationship between aromatase activity (ARAC) and estradiol (E2), hormonal receptors, E2 receptor (ER), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), as well as with tumor stage and histopathology in human breast cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 225 breast carcinomas, 67 of which were premenopausal and 158 postmenopausal. In each sample, ARAC, EGFR, ER, and E2 were quantified. ARAC was quantified by Thompson and Siiterii's method, EGFR was quantified with a two-point assay method using radioactive iodine (125I)-EGF as ligand, and ER was measured by the Scatchard method using 3H-E2. E2 was quantified by radioimmunoassay in the diethylether tumor extract. RESULTS: ARAC was found in 64% of the cancers studied. There is a strong direct association between ARAC and tumor size in postmenopausal patients (P = .001). In the postmenopausal group, the proportion of ARAC-positive (ARAC+) tumors is significantly higher among ER-positive (ER+) than ER-negative (ER-) ones (P less than .001). ER+ tumors also have significantly higher levels of E2 than do ER- ones (P less than .0001); similarly, ARAC+ tumors have significantly higher levels of E2 than do ARAC- ones (P less than .0001). There is a significant multiple linear correlation between the log of the levels of ARAC, ER, and EGFR and the log of tumor E2 (P less than .0001). The correlation coefficients obtained show that ARAC and ER have a positive effect on tumor E2. CONCLUSION: The results obtained suggest the importance of tumor ARAC in the tumoral levels of E2 and reinforce the possible biologic significance of tumor ARAC, especially in postmenopausal breast carcinoma patients.

Adult↗