Pregnancy termination in relation to risk of breast cancer

Article Abstract:

The risk of breast cancer in women who have had a spontaneous or induced abortion appears to be small and could be confounded by biases in reporting abortions. Researchers identified 6,650 cases of breast cancer from cancer registries in Wisconsin, Maine, New Hampshire and western Massachusetts. They compared the history of induced or spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) between these women and 9,227 women without breast cancer. Twenty-seven percent of the women with breast cancer had had an abortion compared to 25% of those without breast cancer. In over 90% of the cases and controls, the fetus was lost through a miscarriage. Women with a history of spontaneous or induced abortion were 12% more likely to develop breast cancer than those who never had an abortion. Induced abortions gave a woman a slightly higher risk than miscarriages, especially those performed before abortion was legalized. This could reflect biases in reporting abortion statistics.

Abortion

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A controlled trial of diazepam administered during febrile illnesses to prevent recurrence of febrile seizures

Article Abstract:

Diazepam may be a safe and effective therapy for preventing febrile seizures in children. Febrile seizures can cause brain injuries. Children between the ages of six months and five years were randomly assigned to receive either diazepam or a placebo at the onset of a fever. Diazepam treatment was assigned to 202 children and the placebo was assigned to 204. Parents were instructed to give the drug at the first sign of fever and to continue treatment until the child had been without a fever for 24 hours. Seven children in the diazepam group had seizures, compared with 29 children in the placebo group. This is an 82% reduction in the risk of seizures in the children taking diazepam. Most side effects from the drug were mild and some lessened when the dose was reduced.

Prevention, Convulsions in children, Convulsions, Pediatric neurology, Febrile convulsions, Febrile seizures, Diazepam

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Breast cancer in mothers prescribed diethylstilbestrol in pregnancy: further follow-up

Article Abstract:

Use of diethylstilbestrol (DES) during pregnancy appears to increase the risk of breast cancer, but the risk does not appear to increase dramatically over time. In a long term study, there was almost no difference in the rate of breast cancer in the first 20 years after exposure between women who were exposed to DES during pregnancy and women who were not. At 20 years of follow-up, the incidence of breast cancer was 1.53% among women exposed to DES and 1.29% among unexposed women. At 30 years of follow-up, the incidence of breast cancer was 3.77% among women exposed to DES and 2.87% among unexposed women. A 1984 study, which was based on only 25 cases, had suggested the risk might double over time, but the more recent findings indicate otherwise.

Diethylstilbestrol

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