SYNOPSISThis prospective study of 2163 women attending a breast-screening clinic, or for a routine medical check-up, indicates that there is a statistically small but potentially important clinical link between the methods used to cope with stressful situations and breast disease.

No abstract

SynopsisThis quasi-prospective study of 2163 women attending breast-screening clinics (and controls), indicates that there is a link between personality factors and breast disease. Certain aspects of Type A behaviour seem to be associated with breast-disease states.

The contribution of postjunctional α₁ and α₂- adrenoceptors and P₂-purinoceptors to the neuroeffector response was examined in isolated segments of human subcutaneous resistance arteries. Electrical field stimulation (EFS, 20 V, 0.2 ms, 1-25 Hz) elicited a maximum contractile response which was 38.2 ± 1.6% of that elicited by exogenously applied (5 µM)noradrenaline (n = 56). Tetrodotoxin (1 µM), used to inhibit neurotransmission, reduced the electrically evoked response to 24.7 ± 4.4% (n = 10) of the control response. The α₁-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (1 µM)reduced the maximum EFS contractile response to 64.8 ± 5.5% of the control response (n = 17). Application of the α₂-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine (0.1 µM)reduced the maximum EFS response to 68.2 ± 8.2 % of the control response (n = 9). In the presence of prazosin plus yohimbine at the above-mentioned concentrations the maximum response to EFS was reduced to 47.6 ± 6.7 % (n = 11). Responses following α-blockade were not statistically different from those in the presence of tetrodotoxin, but the mean responses indicate that a non-adrenergic component to the EFS response cannot be discounted. Desensitisation of P₂-purinoceptors with αβ-methylene ATP had no effect on responses to EFS; therefore under the conditions studied these receptors do not appear to be involved in neurotransmission. These results confirm the presence of postjunctional α₁-and α₂-adrenoceptors in human resistance arteries and for the first time demonstrate that the postjunctional α_2-adrenoceptor is important in modulating vascular responses elicited by intramural sympathetic nerve fibres.

To the Editor: A recent Editorial (McGee et al. 26, 441–447) posed the general question ‘Are life events related to the onset of breast cancer?’, but then debated whether or not life events are directly related to the diagnosis of this condition. The distinction is small but vital. On the basis of our own large study (Cooper & Faragher, 1993) we, too, would be reluctant to infer a direct link ; however, we would infer that the occurrence of a major stress event will increase the risk of a breast cancer being detected in some women if other important psychosocial factors are present also.