Heart disease risk factors and hormone use in postmenopausal women.

A population of 1,496 women aged 55 to 74 years was studied for the distribution of heart disease risk factors in the presence or absence of postmenopausal estrogens. Current hormone use was reported by 39%. Hormone users were significantly slimmer than nonusers at all ages. After adjustment for the effect of obesity, hormone users had significantly lower mean levels of plasma cholesterol and higher mean levels of plasma triglycerides than nonusers. Blood pressure and fasting plasma glucose concentration tended to be lower among hormone users, although the differences were not statistically significant in all age groups. This article discusses the theoretical implications of these observations for cardiovascular disease mortality and contrasts them with the cancer risk of postmenopausal estrogen use.     

Endometrial cancer in relation to patterns of menopausal estrogen use.

Female residents of King County, Washington, in whom endometrial cancer developed between January 1975 and April 1976 were interviewed concerning prior use of menopausal estrogens. Their responses were compared with those of a random sample of women from the same population. Among current estrogen users, endometrial cancer risk was strongly related to duration of use; although only a minimal elevation of risk was present during the first two years, there was a rapid rise to a 20-fold excess after about ten to 15 years. Cessation of estrogen use led to a decline in incidence of endometrial cancer within several years, but the risk remained higher than in nonusers through the first decade after administration of the drug was stopped. Risk was elevated whether or not the regimen was cyclic and whether conjugated or other types of estrogens had been used. Dosages of less than 0.625 mg/day of conjugated estrogens produced a smaller increase in risk than did other dosages.     

A meta-analysis of the effect of estrogen replacement therapy on the risk of breast cancer

To quantify the effect of estrogen replacement therapy on breast cancer risk, we combined dose-response slopes of the relative risk of breast cancer against the duration of estrogen use across 16 studies. Using this summary dose-response slope, we calculated the proportional increase in risk of breast cancer for each year of estrogen use. For women who experienced any type of menopause, risk did not appear to increase until after at least 5 years of estrogen use. After 15 years of estrogen use, we found a 30% increase in the risk of breast cancer (relative risk, 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2 to 1.6). The increase in risk was largely due to results of studies that included premenopausal women or women using estradiol (with or without progestin), studies for which the estimated relative risk was 2.2 (CI, 1.4 to 3.4) after 15 years. Among women with a family history of breast cancer, those who had ever used estrogen replacement had a significantly higher risk (3.4; CI, 2.0 to 6.0) than those who had not (1.5; CI, 1.2 to 1.7).     

Prospective study of estrogen replacement therapy and risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women

We prospectively examined the use of estrogen replacement therapy in relation to breast cancer incidence in a cohort of women 30 to 55 years of age in 1976. During 367 187 person-years of follow-up among postmenopausal women, 722 incident cases of breast cancer were documented. Overall, past users of replacement estrogen were not at increased risk (relative risk, 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.81 to 1.18), including even those with more than 10 years since last [corrected] use (relative risk after adjustment for established risk factors, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.45 to 1.10). However, the risk of breast cancer was significantly elevated among current users (relative risk, 1.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.11 to 1.67). Among current users, a stronger relationship was observed with increasing age but not with increasing duration of use. These data suggest that long-term past use of estrogen replacement therapy is not related to risk of breast cancer but that current use may modestly increase risk.     

Estrogen replacement therapy and ovarian cancer mortality in a large prospective study of US women

CONTEXT: Postmenopausal estrogen use is associated with increased risk of endometrial and breast cancer, 2 hormone-related cancers. The effect of postmenopausal estrogen use on ovarian cancer is not established. OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between postmenopausal estrogen use and ovarian cancer mortality and to determine whether the association differs according to duration and recency of use. DESIGN AND SETTING: The American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention Study II, a prospective US cohort study with mortality follow-up from 1982 to 1996. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 211 581 postmenopausal women who completed a baseline questionnaire in 1982 and had no history of cancer, hysterectomy, or ovarian surgery at enrollment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Ovarian cancer mortality, compared among never users, users at baseline, and former users as well as by total years of use of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). RESULTS: A total of 944 ovarian cancer deaths were recorded in 14 years of follow-up. Women who were using ERT at baseline had higher death rates from ovarian cancer than never users (rate ratio [RR], 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.96). Risk was slightly but not significantly increased among former estrogen users (RR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.99-1.37). Duration of use was associated with increased risk in both baseline and former users. Baseline users with 10 or more years of use had an RR of 2.20 (95% CI, 1.53-3.17), while former users with 10 or more years of use had an RR of 1.59 (95% CI, 1.13-2.25). Annual age-adjusted ovarian cancer death rates per 100 000 women were 64.4 for baseline users with 10 or more years of use, 38.3 for former users with 10 or more years of use, and 26.4 for never users. Among former users with 10 or more years of use, risk decreased with time since last use reported at study entry (RR for last use <15 years ago, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.29-3.25; RR for last use >/=15 years ago, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.79-2.17). CONCLUSIONS: In this population, postmenopausal estrogen use for 10 or more years was associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer mortality that persisted up to 29 years after cessation of use.     

The postmenopausal estrogen/breast cancer controversy.

OBJECTIVE--To provide an overview of the postmenopausal estrogen/breast cancer controversy emphasizing the sources of disagreement in the literature and their clinical and research implications. DATA SOURCE AND SELECTION--A MEDLINE search of the English-language literature and a review of bibliographies of meta-analyses describing the association between postmenopausal estrogen use and breast cancer risk. DATA EXTRACTION--Twenty-four original articles and three meta-analyses were reviewed. In addition, five studies that attempted to minimize detection bias were reviewed to assess the potential role of this bias on risk estimates. DATA SYNTHESIS--Among the original articles, risk estimates ranged from a protective to an adverse effect in women who ever used estrogens; no consistent quantitative effects of estrogens on breast cancer risk were found. In the meta-analyses, summary risk estimates were not significantly elevated in women who ever used estrogen. Findings from European-based studies may account for the increased risk associated with increasing duration of use reported in one meta-analysis. In studies that controlled for detection bias, risk estimates were 1 or less in the ever-used category; there was no consistent effect across other categories of use. CONCLUSION--These findings do not support an overall increased risk of breast cancer in women who ever used postmenopausal estrogens or a conclusive or consistent effect across other measures of use. Cross-national differences in estrogen use and inequalities in breast cancer detection between estrogen users and nonusers may account for the increased risk estimates reported in some studies. Newer estrogen and progestin-opposed regimens need to be evaluated further.     

Uterine cancers in Alberta: trends of incidence and mortality.

Death certificates were reviewed for the 543 Alberta women who died during the period 1969 through 1978 and for whom the underlying cause of death was coded as uterine cancer. To evaluate the recorded cause of death Alberta Cancer Registry records, which existed for 97% of the women, were examined. Calculations from the revised information showed an increase in the mortality of cancer of the corpus uteri and a decrease in the mortality of cancer of the cervix uteri over the 10-year period, but neither was statistically significant. During the same period in Alberta the incidence of cancer of the corpus uteri increased significantly and the incidence of cancer of the cervix uteri decreased significantly.     

Five-year survival of women with breast cancer in northern Alberta.

Five-year survival rates for all 519 women with breast carcinoma in northern Alberta in 1971 and 1972 were analysed with the use of data from the computerized northern Alberta breast registry and the Alberta cancer registry. The relative 5-year survival was 73%, which is higher than most rates reported from other centres. Lymph node involvement was significant as a prognostic factor, with the relative 5-year survival falling from 92% in the group without lymph node involvement to 58% in the group with three or more involved nodes. The prognosis was also significantly affected by the stage of the disease according to the 1973 TNM classification: the 5-year survival rates ranged from 88% for patients with stage 1 disease to 17% for those with stage IV disease. Women 40 to 59 years of age had a higher survival rate (79%) than those under 40 years (65%) or over 60 years (66%) of age. Analyses by 5-year age groups showed that women 35 to 39 years old had a particularly poor survival rate (59%). Postmenopausal women less than 55 years old had a higher survival rate than did perimenopausal or premenopausal women in the same age group. Further follow-up is indicated to correlate possible high-risk factors with survival.     

Modulation of uterine contractility and peristalsis by oxytocin in estrogen-primed non-pregnant swine uteri

Oxytocin is one of the most potent uterotonic agents and is known to fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle, showing an increase during sexual stimulation and arousal, with a peak during orgasm in women. To date, limited data are available on the effects of oxytocin on the regulation of uterine contractility and transport mechanisms in human reproduction. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of oxytocin on uterine contractility and peristalsis in estrogen-primed non-pregnant uteri. In an extracorporeal perfusion model of the swine uterus the effect of dynamic changes in uterine contractility and peristalsis in response to oxytocin and estrogen administration was observed. Spontaneous uterine contractility and oxytocin-induced uterine contractility and peristalsis with and without estrogen perfusion were assessed using an intrauterine double-chip microcatheter. Spontaneous peristalsis and oxytocin induced contraction waves without estrogen perfusion resulted in a slightly higher intrauterine pressure in the isthmus uteri in comparison with the corpus uteri, while the peristaltic waves were seen to start mostly in the corpus uteri, moving in the direction of the cervix. While after estrogen perfusion oxytocin produced a significant increase in intrauterine pressure in the isthmus uteri compared to the corpus uteri, and 80% of the peristaltic waves started in the isthmus uteri, moving in the direction of the corpus uteri. This observation strengthens the view that oxytocin is able to support directed transport mechanism in the female genital tract only in the presence of estrogens. The biological role of oxytocin increase during sexual stimulation and arousal with a peak during orgasm for the mechanisms of reproduction may be to stimulate directed uterine transport mechanisms in the presence of estrogens.     

Menopausal estrogen and estrogen-progestin replacement therapy and breast cancer risk

CONTEXT: Whether menopausal hormone replacement therapy using a combined estrogen-progestin regimen increases risk of breast cancer beyond that associated with estrogen alone is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether increases in risk associated with the estrogen-progestin regimen are greater than those associated with estrogen alone. DESIGN: Cohort study of follow-up data for 1980-1995 from the Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project, a nationwide breast cancer screening program. SETTING: Twenty-nine screening centers throughout the United States. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 46355 postmenopausal women (mean age at start of follow-up, 58 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Incident breast cancers by recency, duration, and type of hormone use. RESULTS: During follow-up, 2082 cases of breast cancer were identified. Increases in risk with estrogen only and estrogen-progestin only were restricted to use within the previous 4 years (relative risk [RR], 1.2 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-1.4] and 1.4 [95% CI, 1.1-1.8], respectively); the relative risk increased by 0.01 (95% CI, 0.002-0.03) with each year of estrogen-only use and by 0.08 (95% CI, 0.02-0.16) with each year of estrogen-progestin-only use among recent users, after adjustment for mammographic screening, age at menopause, body mass index (BMI), education, and age. The P value associated with the test of homogeneity of these estimates was .02. Among women with a BMI of 24.4 kg/m2 or less, increases in RR with each year of estrogen-only use and estrogen-progestin-only use among recent users were 0.03 (95% CI, 0.01-0.06) and 0.12 (95% CI, 0.02-0.25), respectively. These associations were evident for the majority of invasive tumors with ductal histology and regardless of extent of invasive disease. Risk in heavier women did not increase with use of estrogen only or estrogen-progestin only. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the estrogen-progestin regimen increases breast cancer risk beyond that associated with estrogen alone.     

Reproductive events and family history as risk factors for breast cancer in northern Alberta.

Reproductive events and family history as risk factors for breast cancer in northern Alberta were investigated with the use of data from a computerized population-based registry. Women aged 30 to 79 years attending diagnostic breast clinics at the Cross Cancer Institute from 1971 through 1975 constituted the two study groups; 1232 women had diagnosed breast cancer (malignant disease group) and 602 women were clinically free of all types of breast disease (control group). An increased relative risk of breast cancer was found in women with a family history of breast cancer, those who gave birth to their first term infant at age 30 years or older, those in whom more than 15 years elapsed between menarche and that birth, and those with a late natural menopause. There was a decreased risk, relative to nulliparity, in the postmenopausal women who first gave birth to a term infant 5 years or less after menarche. Artificial menopause (bilateral oophorectomy), parity and age at menarche had no apparent effect on the risk. The pattern of risk factors in northern Alberta differed from that reported for other geographic areas, including other provinces of Canada, thus emphasizing the need for local studies in the planning of screening programs.     

城镇妇女宫颈上皮内瘤变高危因素流行病学调查

将2006月7月至2007年8月在门诊开展宫颈癌机会性筛查确诊为宫颈上皮内瘤变（CIN）122例患者作为调查对象（CIN组），并取同期宫颈炎症患者122例作对照组，开展流行病学问卷调查。结果表明，72％的妇女2年内未做过宫颈癌筛查；55％的妇女有婚前性行为；CIN发病高峰集中在30～34岁；75％的CIN是通过机会性筛查确诊；CIN组初次性交年龄早、早婚、早育、多次妊娠、多次流产者明显高于对照组（P〈0．05）。提示加强门诊宫颈癌机会性筛查，扩大受益人群比改进筛查技术更重要．     

Reproductive period and risk of dementia in postmenopausal women

CONTEXT: Exogenous estrogen use may lower risk of dementia in postmenopausal women. A relationship between long-term exposure to endogenous estrogens and incident dementia has been hypothesized but not studied. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a longer reproductive period, as an indicator of longer exposure to endogenous estrogens, is associated with lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer disease (AD) in women who have natural menopause. DESIGN AND SETTING: The Rotterdam Study, a population-based prospective cohort study conducted in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 3601 women aged 55 years or older who did not have dementia at baseline (1990-1993) and had information on age at menarche, age at menopause, and type of menopause. Participants were reexamined in 1993-1994 and 1997-1999 and were continuously monitored for development of dementia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of dementia, based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised Third Edition criteria, and AD, based on National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association criteria, compared by quartiles of reproductive period among women with natural menopause. RESULTS: During 21 046 person-years of follow-up (median follow-up, 6.3 years), 199 women developed dementia, including 159 who developed AD. After adjusting for age, dementia was not clearly associated with length of reproductive period. However, after adjusting for multiple covariates, women with natural menopause and more reproductive years had an increased risk of dementia (adjusted rate ratio [RR] for women with >39 reproductive years [highest quartile] compared with <34 reproductive years [lowest quartile], 1.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-2.84). The adjusted RR per year of increase was 1.04 (95% CI, 1.01-1.08). For risk of AD, the adjusted RRs were 1.51 (95% CI, 0.91-2.50) and 1.03 (95% CI, 1.00-1.07), respectively. Risk of dementia associated with a longer reproductive period was most pronounced in APOE epsilon4 carriers (adjusted RR for >39 reproductive years compared with <34 reproductive years, 4.20 [95% CI, 1.97-8.92] for dementia and 3.42 [95% CI, 1.51-7.75] for AD), whereas in noncarriers, no clear association with dementia or AD was observed. CONCLUSION: Our findings do not support the hypothesis that a longer reproductive period reduces risk of dementia in women who have natural menopause.     

Risk factors for uterine fibroids: reduced risk associated with oral contraceptives

Risk factors for pathologically confirmed uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) were investigated using data from the Oxford Family Planning Association study, a long term follow up study of women using various methods of contraception. For each of 535 women who had had a fibroid an individual control was selected who matched the patient on age, date of entry into the cohort, and family planning clinic at recruitment and who was alive (and still being followed up) at the date the patient underwent surgery for fibroids. Case-control analysis showed that reproductive experiences were closely linked to development of fibroids. Risk of fibroids decreased consistently with increasing number of term pregnancies; women with five term pregnancies had only a quarter of the risk of women who had had none. Risk also decreased consistently with increasing duration of oral contraceptive use; the risk of fibroids was reduced by some 31% in women who had used oral contraceptives for 10 years. Risk was strongly related to weight: women who weighed under 55 kg had a particularly low risk, and overall the risk rose roughly 21% for each 10 kg increase. Cigarette smoking was associated with a decreased risk of fibroids; smokers of 20 cigarettes a day had a risk roughly two thirds that of non-smokers. These risk factors have all previously been identified as risk factors for endometrial cancer; this strongly suggests that the underlying risk factor is "unopposed" oestrogen.     

成年女性体检者中子宫肌瘤检出率及其与心血管疾病影响因素的关系

目的 了解成年女性体检者中子宫肌瘤检出情况并分析其相关心血管疾病影响因素。方法经过数据结构化与标准化后,分析172 764名成年女性体检者的子宫附件彩超检查及生理生化检测结果［体质指数（BMI）、收缩压（SBP）、舒张压（DBP）、空腹血糖（FBG）、总胆固醇（TC）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C)、三酰甘油（TG）］,使用两独立样本t检验、2检验、二元logistic回归分析相关影响因素,计算比值比（odd ratio,OR）和95%置信区间（95% CI）。结果总体上子宫肌瘤、血压偏高、血糖偏高、血脂异常、代谢综合征的总体检出率分别为10.03%、7.74%、1.84%、48.19%、31.19%。子宫肌瘤及代谢综合征检出率最高年龄段均为45~59岁;血脂异常检出率最高年龄段60~74岁女性。不同年龄段疾病检出率差异有统计学意义（均P<0.001）。子宫肌瘤组与非子宫肌瘤组在年龄、BMI、SBP、DBP、FBG、TC、LDL-C、HDL-C、TG、血脂异常、血压偏高、血糖偏高及代谢综合征的差异有统计学意义（均P<0.001）。二元logistic回归分析显示,青年女性中超重或肥胖、血脂异常、高血压可能使子宫肌瘤检出风险升高;中年女性中消瘦或高血压者得子宫肌瘤风险最低;当年龄达到75岁以上时,各种心血管疾病相关风险因素与子宫肌瘤检出率之间的关系未见统计学差异。结论不同年龄段女性体检者的子宫肌瘤检出风险因素有所不同。体检指标对青年女性预防子宫肌瘤的指导意义更大,其更需要关注体重、血脂及血压并保持健康水平。在女性体检人群中普及子宫彩超检查对子宫疾病早期防治有重要的临床意义。     

Noncontraceptive estrogens and nonfatal myocardial infarction.

We obtained information on 107 women younger than 46 years discharged from a hospital with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. In the series there were 17 women aged 39 to 45 years who were otherwise apparently healthy and had had a natural menopause, hysterectomy, or tubal ligation or whose spouse had had a vasectomy. Among them, nine (53%) were taking noncontraceptive estrogens just prior to admission. Among 34 control women, four (12%) were taking estrogens. The relative risk estimate, comparing estrogen users with nonusers, is 7.5, with 90% confidence limits of 2.4 and 24. All but one of the 17 ml subjects were cigarette smokers. While this illness is rare in most healthy young women, the risk in women older than about 38 years who both smoke and take estrogens appears to be substantial.     

体外受精-胚胎移植中反复种植失败后宫腔镜检查的临床意义

目的宫腔镜下观察反复种植失败(RIF)后妇女宫腔异常检出率和异常类型,评价RIF妇女再次体外受精-胚胎移植(IVF-ET)前行宫腔镜检查的临床意义。方法回顾性分析197例既往IVF-ET失败≥2次者(RIF组)与176例行输卵管插管通液拟供精人工授精者(对照组)的宫腔镜检查结果,比较两组宫腔异常检出率和异常类型。结果宫腔镜检查发现,RIF组宫腔异常检出率显著高于对照组(51.78%和28.98%,P<0.01)。RIF组宫腔异常类型较对照组更多,主要为内膜异常,包括息肉或息肉样增生(26.39%)和内膜炎(4.06%);其次为宫腔形态异常,包括宫腔狭小(9.64%)和宫腔粘连(5.08%)。各年龄段RIF组患者的宫腔异常检出率均高于对照组,其中25～29岁和30～34岁年龄段的对照组与RIF组比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01,P<0.05)。Logistic回归分析发现,RIF病例类型(P=0.001,OR=2.320,95%CI:1.440～3.736)和年龄(P=0.039,OR=1.403,95%CI:1.016～1.935)是宫腔异常的危险因素,而不孕年限(P=0.747,OR=1.038,95%CI:0.827～1.303)不是宫腔异常的危险因素。RIF妇女中,原发不孕组与继发不孕组的宫腔异常检出率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);但原发不孕组的内膜息肉或息肉样增生检出率高于继发不孕组(31.45%和17.80%,P<0.05),宫腔粘连检出率低于继发不孕组(2.42%和9.59%,P<0.05)。结论 RIF妇女宫腔异常率显著高于正常妇女,宫腔异常的主要类型为内膜息肉和息肉样增生。向RIF妇女推荐宫腔镜检查和治疗以改善宫腔环境、提高内膜容受性是合理且必要的。建议RIF妇女再次接受ET前常规行宫腔镜检查。     

Prolonged estrogen therapy in postmenopausal women

The therapeutic use of estrogens for more than 25 years made it possible to examine evidence of their safety and effectiveness in a study of 292 postmenopausal women who had undergone prolonged estrogen therapy. Diethylstilbestrol and conjugated equine estrogens have been used most frequently since 1945. The study showed that only 5% of patients necessitated discontinuation from severe side effects; the latter of the 2 compounds was tolerated without side effects among almost all patients. Hot flashes were completely relieved in 93 of 94 patients. Prolonged estrogen therapy was the treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis in 119 patients, 103 of whom had suffered collapse of vertabrae. Either complete or significant relief from pain occurred in 90%. A group of 27 women showed evidence that estrogen is a prophylactic against postmenopausal osterporosis. Justification for the fear that mammary and cervical carcinoma may result from this therapy is absent. When combined with periodic pelvic and vaginal cytological examinations, prolonged cyclic oral estrogen therapy is safe and effective treatment for postmenopausal women with disabling symptoms or osteoporosis.     

中国年轻乳腺癌的临床病理特征及预后分析

目的 分析中国年轻乳腺癌的临床病理特征,并探讨年轻乳腺癌患者的预后.方法 回顾分析北京肿瘤医院乳腺中心1994年12月至2003年12月收治的1538例Ⅰ～Ⅲ期可手术原发性乳腺癌患者的临床资料,其中年龄≤60岁且有完整随访资料者1075例.按年龄将1075例患者分为年轻组(≤40岁,208例)和对照组(41～60岁,867例),分析两组患者的预后及临床病理特征之间的差异.结果 与对照组相比,年轻组更倾向于淋巴结转移(P=0.016)、雌激素受体表达阴性(P=0.016)以及人表皮生长因子受体2表达阳性(P=0.001).年轻组和对照组5年无病生存率(DFS)分别为73.3%和84.1%(P<0.001),5年总生存率(OS)分别为83.5%和89.1%(P=0.004).进一步分层分析显示,在Ⅰ～Ⅱ期患者中年轻组预后不良,而在Ⅲ期患者中年轻组预后与对照组差异无统计学意义.在Ⅰ～Ⅱ期患者中,年龄≤40岁是影响DFS(HR=1.78,95%CI:1.19～2.66;P=0.005)和OS(HR=1.71,95%CI:1.01～2.90;P=0.046)的独立不良预后因素.结论 中国年轻乳腺癌患者预后不良,这种不良预后在临床Ⅰ～Ⅱ期乳腺癌患者中更为明显.

Abstract：

Objective To analyze the clinicopathologic characteristics and evaluate the prognosis in young Chinese women with breast cancer. Methods A total of 1538 female patients with operable primary breast cancer (stage Ⅰ - Ⅲ) treated at our hospital from December 1994 to December 2003 were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 1075 patients (≤60 yrs) with the complete follow-up data were divided into two groups according to age: young breast cancer group ( ≤40 yrs, n = 208) and control group (41-60 yrs, n = 867) to analyze the differences in their clinicopathologic characteristics and evaluate the prognosis of both groups. Results The patients with young breast cancer were more likely to have positive lymph nodes (P=0.016) , a negative expression of ER (estrogen receptor) (P = 0.016) and a positive expression of HER2 (P = 0. 001). The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates of young breast cancer group and control group were 73. 3% and 84. 1% (P <0. 001) and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rates 83. 5% and 89. 1% (P = 0.004) respectively. Moreover, the patients with young breast cancer had a worse DFS than control group in patients with stage Ⅰ - Ⅱ disease but not in those with stage Ⅲ disease. And ≤40 years was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor of DFS (HR = 1. 78, 95% CI: 1. 19 - 2. 66, P = 0. 005) and OS (HR = 1. 71, 95%CI: 1.01 -2.90, P = 0.046) in the patients with stage Ⅰ - Ⅱ disease. Conclusion Chinese women with young breast cancer have a worse prognosis, particularly in those with stage Ⅰ - Ⅱ disease.     

Hormone replacement therapies in women at risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis in South Australia in 1997.

OBJECTIVE: To describe changes in use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in an Australian population and to determine HRT use in women at risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporotic fracture. DESIGN: Data were derived from the 1997 South Australian Health Omnibus Survey (a representative population survey) and compared with data from 1991, 1993 and 1995 Omnibus Surveys. SETTING: South Australia, 1997. PARTICIPANTS: 1049 women aged 40 years and over from a random selection of 4400 households. RESULTS: Among women aged 55-64 years (and thus likely to be postmenopausal), 60% had used HRT (ever use). Nearly two-thirds of these women used it currently. In this age group, mean length of HRT use had increased to 70 months (median, 60 months). Rates of HRT use had not changed significantly between 1991 and 1997 in women under 55 years, but had increased significantly in women aged 55 years or over (P < or = 0.01). Among women currently using HRT, 5.4% had used testosterone therapy, while 4% used unregistered products purported to contain hormones. Rates of ever use of HRT in women with zero, one, two, or three or more cardiovascular risk factors were 33%, 37%, and 45%, respectively. Among women with a diagnosis of osteoporosis, 52% had used HRT, with a mean length of use of 86 months (median, 60 months). CONCLUSION: HRT use is increasing in older-age groups. Longer-term therapy with potential for primary prevention is now occurring, but half of those with osteoporosis and more than half of those with risk factors for cardiovascular disease have not used HRT.