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Biomedical subjects

M J Messina

Publications and source records attributed to M J Messina.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Soy for breast cancer survivors: a critical review of the literature.

A variety of health benefits, including protection against breast cancer, have been attributed to soy food consumption, primarily because of the soybean isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, glycitein). Isoflavones are considered to be possible selective estrogen receptor modulators but possess nonhormonal properties that also may contribute to their effects. Concern has arisen over a possible detrimental effect of soy in breast cancer patients because of the estrogen-like effects of isoflavones. Genistein exhibits a biphasic effect on the growth of MCF-7 cells in vitro, stimulating proliferation at low concentrations but inhibiting it at high concentrations. In ovariectomized athymic mice implanted with MCF-7 cells, both genistein and soy protein stimulate tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, in intact mice fed estrogen, genistein inhibits tumor growth. Although two studies in premenopausal women suggested that soy exerts estrogenic-like effects on breast tissue, recently conducted year-long studies indicated that isoflavone supplements do not affect breast tissue density in premenopausal women and may decrease density in postmenopausal women. These latter effects are opposite to those of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Importantly, substantial data suggest that the progestogen, not the estrogen, component of HRT increases risk of developing breast cancer. Furthermore, recently conducted studies have failed to find that even HRT reduces survival in breast cancer patients. Overall, the data are not impressive that the adult consumption of soy affects the risk of developing breast cancer or that soy consumption affects the survival of breast cancer patients. Consequently, if breast cancer patients enjoy soy products, it seems reasonable for them to continue to use them.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Legumes and soybeans: overview of their nutritional profiles and health effects.

Legumes play an important role in the traditional diets of many regions throughout the world. In contrast in Western countries beans tend to play only a minor dietary role despite the fact that they are low in fat and are excellent sources of protein, dietary fiber, and a variety of micronutrients and phytochemicals. Soybeans are unique among the legumes because they are a concentrated source of isoflavones. Isoflavones have weak estrogenic properties and the isoflavone genistein influences signal transduction. Soyfoods and isoflavones have received considerable attention for their potential role in preventing and treating cancer and osteoporosis. The low breast cancer mortality rates in Asian countries and the putative antiestrogenic effects of isoflavones have fueled speculation that soyfood intake reduces breast cancer risk. The available epidemiologic data are limited and only weakly supportive of this hypothesis, however, particularly for postmenopausal breast cancer. The data suggesting that soy or isoflavones may reduce the risk of prostate cancer are more encouraging. The weak estrogenic effects of isoflavones and the similarity in chemical structure between soybean isoflavones and the synthetic isoflavone ipriflavone, which was shown to increase bone mineral density in postmenopausal women, suggest that soy or isoflavones may reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Rodent studies tend to support this hypothesis, as do the limited preliminary data from humans. Given the nutrient profile and phytochemical contribution of beans, nutritionists should make a concerted effort to encourage the public to consume more beans in general and more soyfoods in particular.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1995

Laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy: cost analysis and review of initial experience in a community hospital.

During the past 2 years, an increasing number of gynecologic surgeons have performed laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH). Although these procedures have become more common, they are still considered controversial. Many gynecologists question their cost, safety, efficacy, and indications. We reviewed and analyzed the perioperative and postoperative course of ten patients as well as the total cost. The patients who underwent these procedures were compared with ten matched patients who underwent abdominal hysterectomy for similar indications. Compared with control subjects, patients in the laparoscopic group had a shorter hospitalization stay (2.2 days vs 4.2 days), shorter recovery (2 weeks vs 5 weeks), and 28% fewer complications. Although the LAVH took significantly longer than TAH (3.28 hours vs 1.75 hours), the total hospital costs and charges for both procedures were similar. As technology advances and techniques are modified, the laparoscopic approach should reduce hospital costs and charges significantly. The current results suggest that LAVH may eventually be preferred to the TAH approach by physicians and their patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Soy intake and cancer risk: a review of the in vitro and in vivo data.

International variations in cancer rates have been attributed, at least in part, to differences in dietary intake. Recently, it has been suggested that consumption of soyfoods may contribute to the relatively low rates of breast, colon, and prostate cancers in countries such as China and Japan. Soybeans contain a number of anticarcinogens, and a recent National Cancer Institute workshop recommended that the role of soyfoods in cancer prevention be investigated. In this review, the hypothesis that soy intake reduces cancer risk is considered by examining relevant in vitro, animal, and epidemiological data. Soybeans are a unique dietary source of the isoflavone genistein, which possesses weak estrogenic activity and has been shown to act in animal models as an antiestrogen. Genistein is also a specific inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinases; it also inhibits DNA topoisomerases and other critical enzymes involved in signal transduction. In vitro, genistein suppresses the growth of a wide range of cancer cells, with IC50 values ranging from 5 to 40 microM (1-10 micrograms/ml). Of the 26 animal studies of experimental carcinogenesis in which diets containing soy or soybean isoflavones were employed, 17 (65%) reported protective effects. No studies reported soy intake increased tumor development. The epidemiological data are also inconsistent, although consumption of nonfermented soy products, such as soymilk and tofu, tended to be either protective or not associated with cancer risk; however, no consistent pattern was evident with the fermented soy products, such as miso. Protective effects were observed for both hormone- and nonhormone-related cancers. While a definitive statement that soy reduces cancer risk cannot be made at this time, there is sufficient evidence of a protective effect to warrant continued investigation.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Oxidative stress status and cancer: methodology applicable for human studies.

There is convincing evidence to suggest that oxidative stress status might be involved in the etiology of cancer, but relatively little direct human data are available. The National Cancer Institute recently sponsored a workshop evaluating methodology for measuring oxidative stress status with potential application to human studies.

Free Radicals↗
PubMed1991

Cancer.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Treatment decision-making: student choices of autonomy versus paternalism.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate dental students' use of the Hippocratic Principle versus a patient-autonomy approach to ethical decision-making. A questionnaire composed of three independent case situations was distributed to 113 junior dental students. The survey instrument allowed subjects to prioritize their choices of action from a series of alternative responses and to identify factors that influence their choice of action. A majority of responses appear to reflect a decision-making process based on patient-autonomy principles. Patient rights are important for this population, and their choice of action and the factors influencing these choices consistently emphasized autonomy.

Chi-Square Distribution↗