Methods: Using the key words "surgery stage IV breast cancer", a PubMed search for all related articles published in the English language, between January 1999 to December 2009, was done. Of 292 articles yielded by the search, 25 articles focused on the impact of surgery in stage IV breast cancer. Full texts of these of these articles were then collated for this review. Results: No randomized controlled trials comparing the outcome of surgery versus no surgery in metastatic breast cancer have been published thus far. The search yielded only heterogenous data from several retrospective studies for which no systematic reviews or meta-analysis had been done. A summary of these retrospective data was done and reported herein. The reports are grouped into two: those based on population registries, and those coming from single institutions.
NOT AVAILABLE

Background: Virgin coconut oil (VCO) IS PROMOTED AS A DIETARY SUPPLEMENT for people with various ailments. However, there have been few formal studies to validate its health benefits. Objectives: To determine the effect of VCO on lipid profile, FBS, weight and body mass index (BMI) of healthy humans and evaluate its safety profile by determining effect on creatinine, potassium,AST, ALT and CBC. Methods: Weight and height were obtained from 30 healthy males BMI was computed on first visit. Baseline laboratories were taken: FBS, 2hour glucose after 75 gram oral glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, HDL, creatinine, potassium, AST and ALT, and CBC. each subject took VCO 15 ml. t.i.d before meals. After 6 weeks, repeat laboratory examinations were done. Weight was taken and Bmi recomputed. Adverse events were reported. Results: There was significant increase in mean FBS(76.036.62 mg/dl, p=0.024), significant decrease in HDL (47.58, 7.54 TO 44.09, 7.10, P=0.028), significant increase in a creatinine (76.44, 9.88 umol/L to 82.99, 11 .29 umol/L, p=0.0002) and platelet count (281.03,52.6 X 10/L to 295.1,58.06 X 10/L to 6.855,1.5 x 10/L, p=0.012). There was no effect on the rest of the laboratory examinations done. twenty participants reported mild gastrointestinal (GI) complaints, including diarrhea (8), abdominal pain (3), diarrhea and abdominal pain (5), and diarrhea and vomiting. Conclusion: VCO significantly increases FBS and decreases HDL. VCO also increases creatinine and platelet count and decreases WBC count. Mild GI complaint were the most commonly reported adverse events. Further studies may be needed in order to validate the results of this exploratory study and elucidate the metabolic effects VCO.

Not Available