Irish journal of medical science
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There is a paucity of data on the health status of breast cancer survivors. ⋯ The self-perceived health status of breast cancer survivors merits further research in the Irish context. Inclusion of the SF-36 questionnaire as an outcome measure is recommended.
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Intravenous drug misuse, principally heroin, occurs primarily in the Greater Dublin area. Methadone maintenance treatment has been an important part of the response to opiate misuse in Dublin since 1992. ⋯ Opiate-related deaths occur primarily in males in the 25-34 year age group and are associated with a high level of polydrug use. Diverted methadone accounted for the majority of deaths involving
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The mortality and morbidity of patients with breast cancer can vary even between individuals with similar histological stage at diagnosis. Identification of those individuals with prognostically poorer tumours is an essential prerequisite in planning adjuvant therapies. Some prognostic indices of tumour size, grade, oestrogen receptor status and nodal status are well established. ⋯ The profiling of individual tumour genetic expression of proto-oncogenes may allow for more specific identification of patients at higher risk of recurrence in breast cancer.
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Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterised by low bone density and micro architectural deterioration of bone tissue with a consequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture. It is a silent disease. It is the result of the negative balance between bone formation and bone resorption, i.e. more bone is lost than is formed. ⋯ Peak bone mass is determined by sex, heredity family history, race, diet and exercise. Sixty per cent of bone growth occurs during adolescence. Moderate exercise protects against osteoporosis, but too little or excessive exercise may cause osteoporosis.