PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

NYU researchers find a new solution in detecting breast-cancer related lymphedem

Findings suggest affective reliable and accurate measurement of Lymphedema may help ease breast-cancer survivors fears

2013-11-13
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Christopher James
christopher.james@nyu.edu
212-998-6876
New York University
NYU researchers find a new solution in detecting breast-cancer related lymphedem Findings suggest affective reliable and accurate measurement of Lymphedema may help ease breast-cancer survivors fears

Viewed as one of the most feared outcomes of breast cancer treatment, doctors struggle detecting and diagnosing breast-cancer related Lymphedema--a condition affecting the lymphatic system and causing psychosocial distress and physical challenges for patients.

Now, a team of researchers led by Mei R. Fu, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, associate professor of Chronic Disease Management at the New York University College of Nursing (NYUCN), offers supporting evidence for using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) ratios to assess Lymphedema. The study, "L-DEX Ratio in Detecting Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: Reliability, Sensitivity, and Specificity," published in Lymphology, argues because the low frequency electronic current cannot travel through cell membranes, it provides a direct measure of lymph fluid outside the cells. This allows for a more accurate assessment of lymphedema using a Lymphedema Index named L-Dex ratio.

"To lessen breast cancer survivors' worry about lymphedema development, the BIA may have a role in clinical practice by adding confidence in the detection of arm lymphedema among breast cancer survivors," says Dr. Fu, "even when pre-surgical BIA baseline measures are not available."

The objective of the study was to examine the reliability, sensitivity, and specificity of cross-sectional assessment of BIA in detecting lymphedema in a large metropolitan clinical setting.

Measuring lymphedema is challenging because most methods cannot distinguish bone and soft tissues from extracellular fluid. BIA is time-efficient, easy to operate and easy to interpret, making it ideal for clinical practice. Dr. Fu's research collected data from 250 women, including healthy female adults, breast cancer survivors with lymphedema, and those at risk for lymphedema, demonstrating that survivors with lymphedema had significantly higher L-Dex ratios, which shows the possibility of using BIA to discriminate between those cohorts of women.

"Our study also demonstrated that using a more sensitive L-Dex cutoff point, this allowed for BIA to catch 34% of the usually missed lymphedema cases," said Dr. Fu. "This allows for earlier treatment, which naturally leads to better outcomes for at-risk patients."

The American Cancer society estimates that in 2013 approximately 232,340 new cases of breast cancer are detected, adding to the already 2.9 million breast cancer survivors, all with a at a lifetime risk of Lymphedema.

"Giving that all the women who are treated for breast cancer are at a life-time risk for lymphedema, using assessment methods that can accurately identify true lymphedema cases among at-risk breast cancer survivors is of the ultimate importance for clinical practice," added Dr. Fu.



INFORMATION:



This study was supported by the Avon Foundation and the National Institute of Health. NINR project# 1R21NR012288-01A and NIMHD project# P60 MD000538-03.

The research team members are: M.R. Fu, C.M. Cleland, A.A. Guth, M. Kayal, J. Haber, F. Cartwright, R. Kleinman, Y. Kang, J. Scagliola, D. Axelrod Affiliations: College of Nursing (MRF,CMC,JH), New York University; Department of Surgery (AAG,DA), New York University School of Medicine, New York, ISA; NYU Clinical Cancer Center (AAG,RK,JS,DA); Department of Nursing and Oncology Services (FC), NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, USA; Departments of Medicine (MK) and Statistics (YK), Columbia University, New York, NY USA

About New York University College of Nursing

NYU College of Nursing is a global leader in nursing education, research, and practice. It offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master of Arts and Post-Master's Certificate Programs, a Doctor of Philosophy in Research Theory and Development, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. For more information, visit http://www.nyu.edu/nursing.



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Evidence of 3.5 billion-year-old bacterial ecosystems found in Australia

2013-11-13
Evidence of 3.5 billion-year-old bacterial ecosystems found in Australia Washington, D.C.— Reconstructing the rise of life during the period of Earth's history when it first evolved is challenging. Earth's oldest sedimentary rocks are not only rare, but also almost always altered ...

Clinical trial finds concurrent therapy not necessary to achieve high pathological in breast cancer

2013-11-13
Clinical trial finds concurrent therapy not necessary to achieve high pathological in breast cancer Phase III trial examines pathological complete response rate HOUSTON — Giving trastuzumab and anthracyclines at the same time ...

Parental monitoring lowers odds of a gambling problem

2013-11-13
Parental monitoring lowers odds of a gambling problem Parental supervision at ages 11-14 lowers risk for problem gambling by age 22 November 12, 2013—Keeping an eye on your child can lower their odds for gambling by young adulthood, ...

Bring a 50,000-degree plasma into your living room

2013-11-13
Bring a 50,000-degree plasma into your living room An online open-user experiment puts users in control of a real physics laboratory With the rise of online open course platforms such as Khan Academy, MIT OpenCourseWare and iTunes U, it has never been easier to ...

NASA sees Veteran's Day solar flare

2013-11-13
NASA sees Veteran's Day solar flare The sun emitted a significant solar flare that peaked at 12:14 a.m. EST on Nov. 10, 2013. Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth's atmosphere ...

Structure of bacterial nanowire protein hints at secrets of conduction

2013-11-13
Structure of bacterial nanowire protein hints at secrets of conduction Electrically conducting bacteria important for energy, environment and technology RICHLAND, Wash. -- Tiny electrical wires protrude from some bacteria and contribute to ...

Riding an electron wave into the future of microchip fabrication

2013-11-13
Riding an electron wave into the future of microchip fabrication Computer simulation explores how intense plasma waves generate suprathermal electrons, which are critical to microchip fabrication Advanced plasma-based etching is a key enabler of Moore's Law that ...

Putting a new spin on tokamak disruptions

2013-11-13
Putting a new spin on tokamak disruptions Rapid plasma rotation may be the key to softening the blow of powerful plasma disruptions In the quest for fusion energy on earth, researchers use magnetic fields to insulate hot plasma from the walls of the chamber to ...

Researcher finds potential new use for old drugs

2013-11-13
Researcher finds potential new use for old drugs From malaria to cancers and immune-related diseases PULLMAN, Wash. – A class of drugs used to treat parasitic infections such as malaria may also be useful in treating cancers and immune-related diseases, a new WSU-led ...

Our relationship with food: What drives us to eat and new insights into eating disorders

2013-11-13
Our relationship with food: What drives us to eat and new insights into eating disorders New treatments for binge eating, how our diet impacts brain function, and the connection between marijuana and obesity SAN DIEGO — A growing body of evidence shows the impact of ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Bimodal tactile tomography with bayesian sequential palpation for intracavitary microstructure profiling and segmentation

IEEE study reviews novel photonics breakthroughs of 2024

New method for intentional control of bionic prostheses

Obesity treatment risks becoming a ‘two-tier system’, researchers warn

Researchers discuss gaps, obstacles and solutions for contraception

Disrupted connectivity of the brainstem ascending reticular activating system nuclei-left parahippocampal gyrus could reveal mechanisms of delirium following basal ganglia intracerebral hemorrhage

Federated metadata-constrained iRadonMAP framework with mutual learning for all-in-one computed tomography imaging

‘Frazzled’ fruit flies help unravel how neural circuits stay wired

Improving care for life-threatening blood clots

Yonsei University develops a new era of high-voltage solid-state batteries

Underweight and unbalanced: Gut microbial diversity in underweight Japanese women

Astringent, sharper mind: Flavanols trigger brain activity for memory and stress response

New editorial urges clinicians to address sex-based disparities in sepsis treatment

Researchers at MIT develop new nanoparticles that stimulate the immune system to attack ovarian tumors

Opening the door to a vaccine for multiple childhood infections

New clue to ALS and FTD: Faulty protein disrupts brain’s ‘brake’ system

Detailed map of US air-conditioning usage shows who can beat the heat — and who can’t

An electronic fiber for stretchable sensing

New image captures spooky bat signal in the sky

Cobalt single atom-phosphate functionalized reduced graphene oxide/perylenetetracarboxylic acid nanosheet heterojunctions for efficiently photocatalytic H2O2 production

World-first study shows Australian marsupials contaminated with harmful ‘forever chemicals’

Unlocking the brain’s hidden drainage system

Enhancing smoking cessation treatment for people living with HIV

Research spotlight: Mapping how gut neurons respond to bacteria, parasites and food allergy

Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Experimental Physics Investigators awards to UCSB experimentalists opens the door to new insights and innovations

Meerkats get health benefit from mob membership

COVID-19 during pregnancy linked to higher risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children

How a chorus of synchronized frequencies helps you digest your food

UAlbany researcher partners on $1.2 million NSF grant to explore tropical monsoon rainfall patterns

Checkup time for Fido? Wait might be longer in the country

[Press-News.org] NYU researchers find a new solution in detecting breast-cancer related lymphedem
Findings suggest affective reliable and accurate measurement of Lymphedema may help ease breast-cancer survivors fears