![Brenda Breuer](https://assets.montefioreeinstein.org/profiles/images/9403-brenda-breuer.jpg)
Brenda Breuer, M.P.H., Ph.D.
- Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family and Social Medicine
Phone
Location
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus 1300 Morris Park Avenue Block 423 Bronx, NY 10461
Professional Interests
My research areas has spanned hepatitis, cancer, geriatrics, and pain management, and I have served as principal investigator in studies of each of these areas. My projects include I. Observational studies, such as A. The transmission of hepatitis B to classroom contacts of deinstitutionalized carriers B. The relationships of blood levels of sex hormones to cognition and depression in the elderly frail C. development of statistical models to predict remaining life expectancy in the elderly frail D. biomarkers of benign and malignant breast disease E. A national survey of board-certified pain management physicians II. Clinical drug trials for pain in A. The lower back B. MS C. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome D. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Selected Publications
Original Communications in Reviewed Journals:
- Breuer B, Friedman SM, Millner ES, Kane MA, Snyder RH, Maynard JE: Transmission of hepatitis b to classroom contacts of mentally retarded carriers. JAMA, 254: 3190-3195, 1985.
- Sorock G, Bush T, Golden A, Fried LP, Breuer B, Hale W: The relationship between exercise and fracture incidence in a free-living elderly cohort. The Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 43:M134-139, 1988.
- Bartfield JM, Gennis P, Barbera J, Breuer B, Gallagher EJ: Buffered versus plain lidocaine as a local anesthetic for simple laceration repair. Ann Emergency Med, 19:1387-1389, 1990.
- Pace WB, Cosgrove JM, Breuer B, Margolis IB: Interoperative cholangiography Revisited. Arch Surg 127:448‑50 1992.
- Smoller SW, Davis B, Breuer B, Alderman M, Blaufox MD, Chang CJ, Langford HG: Differences in precision of dietary estimates among different population subgroups. Annals of Epidemiol, 3:619-628, 1993.
- Breuer B, Kash K, Rosenthal G, Diemer K, Osborne MP, Miller DG: Reporting bilaterality status in first degree relatives with breast cancer: A validity study. Genetic Epidemiology, 10:245-256, 1993.
- Breuer B, DeVivo I, Luo J, Smith S, Pincus M, Tatum A, Dauscher J, Minick R, Osborne MP, Miller DG, Nowak E, Cody III HS, Niman R, Carney W, Brandt-Rauf P: ErbB-2 oncoprotein in sera and tumors of breast cancer patients. Med Sci Res 21:383-384, 1993.
- DeVivo I, Breuer B, Smith S, Milling C, Pincus M, Tatum A, Dauscher J, Niman R, Minick R, Osborne MP, Miller DG, Nowak E, Cody H, Brandt-Rauf P: Detection of serum c-myc oncoprotein in cancer patients by immunoblot. Med Sci Res 21:345-347, 1993.
- Breuer B, DeVivo I, Luo J-C, Smith S, Pincus MR, Tatum AH, Daucher J, Minick R, Miller DG, Nowak EJ, Cody III HS, Niman H, Carney WP, Brandt-Rauf P W: erbB-2 and myc oncoproteins in sera and tumors of breast cancer patients. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention 3:63-66, 1994.
- Libow L, Neufeld R, Olson E, Breuer B, Starer P: Sequential outbreak of influenza a and b in a nursing home: Efficacy of vaccine and amantadine. J Am Geriatr Soc 44:1153-1157, 1996.
- Cohen C, Neufeld RR, Dunbar J, Pflug L, Breuer B: Old problems, different approaches: alternatives to physical restraints before and after a clinical intervention program. J Gerontol Nursing 22:23-29,1996.
- Breuer B, Smith S, Osborne MP, Simons RM, Carney WP, Brandt-Rauf P: ErbB-2 protein levels in healthy, asymptomatic women. Biomarkers 1:141-143, 1996.
- Shah P, Neufeld R, Likourezos A, Epstein D, Tamres D, Libow LS, Breuer B: Do advance directives have an impact in a nursing home? Nursing Home Medicine: The Annals of Long-Term Care, 5(9):302-307, 1997.
- Breuer B, Subramaniam G, Marchello V, Giambanco, V: A Study of the Effects of Tamoxifen in the Frail Elderly: Difficulties Encountered in Nursing Home Research. Women & Health, 25(1):37-51, 1997.
- Ziemba C, Foster G, Neufeld R, Breuer B: Haloperidol Holiday: Is it a beneficial vacation for some nursing home residents? Clinical Gerontologist, 17: 15-24, 1997.
- Breuer B, Wallenstein S, Feinberg C, Libow LS; Assessing life expectancies of elderly, frail nursing home residents. J Am Geriatr Soc, 46:954-962,1998.
- Breuer B, Smith S, Thor A, Edgerton S, Osborne MP, Minick R, Cody HS, III; Nowak E, Cortese A, Simmons RM, Carney WP, Brandt-Rauf PW: erbB-2 protein in sera and tumors of breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment;49:261-270,1998.
- Breuer B, Wallenstein S, Anderson R: Effect of tamoxifen on bone fractures in elderly nursing home residents. J Am Geriatr Soc;46:968-972,1998.
- Marin DB, Breuer B, Marin ML, Silverman J, Schmeidler J, Greenberg D, Flynn S, Mare M, Lantz M, Libow L, Neufeld R, Alsteil L, Davis KL, Mohs RC: The relationship between apolipoprotein e, dementia, and vascular illness. Atherosclerosis, 140:183 - 80, 1998.
- Neufeld R, Libow LS, Foley WJ, Dunbar JM, Cohen C, Breuer B: Restraint reduction reduces serious injuries among nursing home residents. J Am Geriatr Soc, 47:1202-1207,1999.
- Breuer B, Anderson R: The relationship of tamoxifen with dementia, depression and dependence in activities of daily living in elderly nursing home residents. Women & Health 31:71-85. 2000.
- Levine JM, Hammond M, Marchello V, and Breuer B. Changes in bedrail prevalence during bedrails- reduction initiative. J Am Med Dir Assoc 1:34-36, 2000.
- Breuer B, Trungold S, Martucci C, Wallenstein S, Likourezos A, Libow LS: Relationships of sex hormone levels to dependence in activities of daily living in the frail elderly. Maturitas 39:147-159, 2001.
- Lesser G, Kandiah K, Libow L S, Likourezos A, Breuer B, Marin D, Mohs R, Hartounian V Neufeld R. Elevated serum total and LDL cholesterol in very old patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia Geriatr Cogn Disord 12:138-145, 2001.
- Breuer B, Martucci C, Wallenstein S, Likourezos A, Libow LS, Peterson A, Zumoff B. The relationship between endogenous levels of sex hormones and cognition and depression in frail, elderly women. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry10: 311-320, 2002.
- Manfredi PL, Breuer B, Meier DM, Libow L. Pain assessment in elderly patients with severe dementia. J Pain Symptom Manage 25:48-52, 2003.
- Pappagallo M, Breuer B, Schneider A, and Sperber K: Treatment of chronic mechanical spinal pain with intravenous pamidronate. J Pain Symptom Manage 26 (1):678-683, 2003.
- *Manfredi PL, Breuer B, Wallenstein, S. Stegmann M, Bottomley G, Libow L. Opioid treatment for refractory agitation in patients with advanced dementia. Int. J. Geriatr. Psychiatry 18:700-705, 2003.
- Huang ZB, Neufeld RR, Likourezos A, Breuer B, Khaski A, Milano E et al. Sociodemographic and health characteristics of older Chinese on admission to a nursing home: a cross-racial/ethnic study. J Am Geriatr Soc 2003; 51(3): 404-409.
- Breuer B, Sperber K, Wallenstein S, Kiprovski K, Calapa A, Snow B, Pappagallo M: Clinically significant placebo analgesic response in a pilot trial of botulinum b in patients with hand pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. Pain Medicine 2006; 7(1): 16-24.
- Breuer B, Pappagallo M, Portenoy R: U.S. Board-certified pain physician practices: Uniformity & census data of their locations. The Journal of Pain, 2007;8(3)244-250.
- Breuer B, Pappagallo M, Knotkova H, Guleyupoglu N, Wallenstein S, Portenoy RK: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial of Lamotrigine for Central Pain Due to Multiple Sclerosis. Clin Ther, 2007;29(9) 2022-2030 (DOI information: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2007.09.023).
- Breuer B, Goldfarb R, Ongseng F, Pappagallo, M: What is the Association between Low Back Pain and Signs of Abnormal Skeletal Metabolism Detected by Bone Scans? Pain Med. 2008;9 (2):222-226.
- Breuer B, Pappagallo M, Ongseng F, Chen CI, and Goldfarb R. An open-label pilot trial of ibandronate for complex regional pain syndrome. Clin J Pain, 2008;24 (8):685-689.
- Breuer B, Portenoy RK, Cruciani R: Pain management by primary care physicians, pain physicians, chiropractors, and acupuncturists: A national survey. Med J. 2010; 103 (8):738-747.
- Breuer B, Rosner F, Glatt AE: A Proposal to Improve Rabbinic Decision-Making for Serious Medical Problems. Hakirah, Spring 2011; 11:199-223.
- Breuer B, Fleishman SB, Cruciani, R, Portenoy, RK: Medical oncologists' attitudes and practice in cancer pain management: a national survey. Clin.Oncol. 2011; 29(36):4769-4777(DOI 10.1200/JCO.2011.35.0561; Accompanying editorial doi: 10.1200/JCO.2011.39.2043; and podcast by Dr. Bruera at www.jco.org/podcast).
- Pappagallo M, Breuer B, Lin HM, Moberly JB, Tai J, Noto C, Sanchez A, Manfredi PL: A pilot trial of intravenous pamidronate for chronic low back pain. Pain 2014;155:108-17.
- Breuer B, Chang VT, Von Roenn JH, von Gunten C, Neugut AI, Kaplan R, Wallenstein S, Portenoy RK: How Well Do Medical Oncologists Manage Chronic Cancer Pain? A National Survey. The Oncologist. 2015; 20:202–209; Supplemental Appendix First Published Online January 12, 2015 doi: 10.1634/theoncologist. 2014-0276
- Riggs A, Breuer B, Dhingra L, Chen J, MBS; Hiney B, McCarthy M, Portenoy RK, Knotkova H: hospice enrollment following referral to community-based, specialist-level palliative care: Incidence, timing and predictors. J Pain Symptom Manage.2016;52:170-7.
- Dhingra L, Dieckmann NF, Knotkova H, Chen J, Riggs A, Breuer B, Hiney B, Lee B, McCarthy M, Portenoy R: A “High-Touch” Model of Community-based Specialist Palliative Care: Latent Class Analysis Identifies Distinct Patient Subgroups. J Pain Symptom Manage.2016;52:178-86.
- Riggs A, Breuer B, Dhingra L, Chen J, Portenoy RK, Knotkova H: Hospice Enrollment After Referral to Community-Based, Specialist Palliative Care: Impact of Telephonic Outreach. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2017;54: 219-225.
- Riggs A, Breuer B, Patel V, Harounian J, Chen J, Dhingra L, Portenoy RK, Knotkova H: Pain-related distress among patients referred to a community-based palliative care program. Palliat Support Care.17: 338-344(2019).
- Dhingra, L, Cheung, W, Breuer, B, Huang, P, Chen, J, Zhou, X, Lam, K, Chang, V, Chui, T, Hicks, S, Portenoy, R: Attitudes and beliefs towards advance care planning among underserved Chinese-American immigrants, Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, in-press (10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.04.013.)
Books, Chapters in Books, and Review Articles:
- Breuer, B: The Epidemiology of Pain, In: Pappagallo M (ed): The Neurological Basis of Pain, McGraw-Hill (2005)
Abstracts and Letters:
- Breuer B: Models that Predict the Risk of Developing Breast Cancer (letter). J Natl Cancer Inst, 82:1853-1854, 1990.
- Breuer B, Miller DG, Salane M, Wolfe JN: Mammographic Parenchymal Patterns and Family History of Breast Cancer (letter). Cancer, 69:602, 1992.
- Alvarez I, Kaminska-Eddy B, Mouradian J, Breuer B, Zuna R: Impact of Carcinoma in situ (CIS) on DNA Ploidy Analysis of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast (Abstract). Laboratory Investigation, 68:11A, 1993.
- Zuna RE, Breuer B, Stein J, Cohn K: DNA Ploidy of Colorectal Carcinoma by Image Analysis (Abstract). Cytometry, 14(Suppl 6):32A, 1993.
- Breuer B, Kash KM, Rosenthal G, Diemer K, Miller DG: Reports on the Laterality Status of Breast Cancer in First Degree Relatives: How Often are They Correct? (Abstract). Psycho-Oncology V: Psychosocial Factors in Cancer Risk and Survival, p.176 (1993).
- Breuer B: Determination of Causality (letter). J. Am. Geriatr. Soc., 43:82-83,1995
- Breuer B, Wallenstein S, Feinberg C, Libow LS: A Model that Predicts Survival in Elderly Nursing Home Residents. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc., 45:S33, P91, 1997.
- Si M, Huang Z, Likourezos A, Kim W, Breuer B: Predicting Functional Status Twenty Days after Admission to a Nursing Home Subacute Unit. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc., 45:S80, P277, 1997.
- Breuer B, Anderson R: The effects of tamoxifen on independence in ADLs and on the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in nursing home residents. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc., 46: S27, P41, 1998.
- Breuer B, Wallenstein S, Trungold S, Likourezos A, Martucci C, Libow L: Endogenous levels of sex hormones and ADL, depression, and cognition in nursing home residents. (Abstract). The Gerontologist, 39 (Special Issue 1), 334, p.518-519, 1999.
- McCurdy LD, Breuer B, Lebow L, Bernstein J, Desnick RJ, Eng CM: Age-related differences in heterozygote frequencies of mutations commonly found in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. (Abstract). Am J Hum Genet 65: (4) A390-A390 Suppl. S Oct 1999
- Breuer B, Sperber K, Wallenstein S, Kiprovski K, Calapa A, Snow B, Pappagallo M: Can muscle needling relieve hand pain in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome? The Journal of Pain, 5(suppl 3) Abstract 774, 2004
- Breuer B, R Goldfarb, Ongseng F, Pappagallo M: What is the Association between Low Back Pain and Signs of Abnormal Bone Activity Detected by Bone Scans? The Journal of Pain 2005; (abstract 312-G09), p. S3
- Breuer B, Portenoy RK, Pappagallo M, Ongseng F, Chen C-I: An Open-Label Pilot Trial of Ibandronateä for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. The Journal of Pain 2005; (abstract 747), p. S37
- Breuer B, Cruciani R, Portenoy, RK: authors reply to Charalambous H and Silbermann M: Clinically based Palliative Care Training is needed urgently for all Oncologists. J.Clin.Oncol. 2012 (Published Ahead of Print on September 17, 2012 as 10.1200/JCO.2012.45.5709. The latest version is at http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/doi/10.1200/JCO.2012.45.5709)
* The manuscript notes that the contributions of the first two authors were equivalent