Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Highest Tertile (highest + tertile)
Selected AbstractsExposure to cannabis in popular music and cannabis use among adolescentsADDICTION, Issue 3 2010Brian A. Primack ABSTRACT Background Cannabis use is referenced frequently in American popular music, yet it remains uncertain whether exposure to these references is associated with actual cannabis use. We aimed to determine if exposure to cannabis in popular music is associated independently with current cannabis use in a cohort of urban adolescents. Methods We surveyed all 9th grade students at three large US urban high schools. We estimated participants' exposure to lyrics referent to cannabis with overall music exposure and content analyses of their favorite artists' songs. Outcomes included current (past 30 days) and ever use of cannabis. We used multivariable regression to assess independent associations between exposures and outcomes while controlling for important covariates. Results Each of the 959 participants was exposed to an estimated 27 cannabis references per day [correction added on 19 January 2010, after first online publication: 40 has been changed to 27] (standard deviation = 73 [correction added on 19 January 2010, after first online publication: 104 has been changed to 73]). Twelve per cent (n = 108) were current cannabis users and 32% (n = 286) had ever used cannabis. Compared with those in the lowest tertile of total cannabis exposure in music, those in the highest tertile of exposure were almost twice as likely to have used cannabis in the past 30 days (odds ratio = 1.83; 95% confidence interval = 1.04, 3.22), even after adjusting for socio-demographic variables, personality characteristics and parenting style. As expected, however, there was no significant relationship between our cannabis exposure variable and a sham outcome variable of alcohol use. Conclusions This study supports an independent association between exposure to cannabis in popular music and early cannabis use among urban American adolescents. [source] Cloninger's temperament dimensions and epidermal growth factor A61G polymorphism in Finnish adultsGENES, BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR, Issue 1 2006L. Keltikangas-Järvinen This study examines a link between human temperament and epidermal growth factor (EGF). There is evidence that dopaminergic neurotransmission in the central nervous system has a role in temperament, especially in novelty seeking. Functional polymorphism in EGF gene has an impact on EGF production, and EGF, in turn, appears to affect the development of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Epidermal growth factor gene A61G polymorphisms were studied in a randomly selected sample of 292 Finnish adults. Their temperaments were assessed twice (with a 4-year test,retest interval) with Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory consisting of four dimensions, i.e. novelty seeking (NS), harm avoidance (HA), reward dependence (RD) and persistence (P). The findings on men showed a significant association between a presence of the G/G polymorphism and scoring in the highest tertile on NS in both test and retest. The same was true with men who scored high on RD, especially on sensitivity, in both tests. Among women, G/G polymorphism was associated with a stable high level of P. Importantly, temperament dimensions, as assessed with one test only, did not provide replicable associations with EGF polymorphism across the two measurements. Our results demonstrate the importance of reliable phenotype assessment and lend support to the hypothesis that dopaminergic activity is one factor underlying stable temperament. [source] Folate metabolism genes, vegetable intake and renal cancer risk in central EuropeINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 8 2008Lee E. Moore Abstract In a multicenter case-control study of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) conducted in central and eastern Europe, we reported a strong inverse association with high vegetable intake and RCC risk. The odds ratio (OR) for high compared to the lowest tertile of vegetable intake was OR = 0.67; (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.53,0.83; p -trend < 0.001). We hypothesized that variation in key folate metabolism genes may modify this association. Common variation in 5 folate metabolism genes (CBS: Ex9+33C > T (rs234706), Ex13 +41C > T (rs1801181), Ex18 ,391 G > A (rs12613); MTHFR: A222V Ex5+79C > T (rs1801133), Ex8,62A > C (rs1801131); MTR: Ex26 20A > G (rs1805087), MTRR: Ex5+136 T > C (rs161870), and TYMS:IVS2,405 C > T (rs502396), Ex8+157 C > T (rs699517), Ex8+227 A > G (rs2790)) were analyzed among 1,097 RCC cases and 1,555 controls genotyped in this study. Having at least 1 variant T allele of MTHFR A222V was associated with higher RCC risk compared to those with 2 common (CC) alleles (OR = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.17,1.77; p = 0.001). After stratification by tertile of vegetable intake, the higher risk associated with the variant genotype was only observed in the low and medium tertiles (p -trend = 0.001), but not among those in the highest tertile (p -interaction = 0.22). The association remained robust after calculation of the false discovery rate (FDR = 0.05). Of the 3 TYMS SNPs examined, only the TYMS IVS2 ,405 C (rs502396) variant was associated with a significantly lower risk compared to the common genotype (OR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.57,0.93). Vegetable intake modified the association between all 3 TYMS SNPs and RCC risk (p -interaction < 0.04 for all). In summary, these findings suggest that common variation in MTHFR and TYMS genes may be associated with RCC risk, particularly when vegetable intake is low. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Relationship between assertiveness and burnout among nurse managersJAPAN JOURNAL OF NURSING SCIENCE, Issue 2 2009Eiko SUZUKI Abstract Aim:, We aimed to clarify the relationship between assertiveness and burnout among nurse managers at university hospitals. Methods:, The directors at three university hospitals agreed to cooperate with our study. During a one-month period from May to June 2007, a self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 203 nurse managers (head and sub-head nurses). The Japanese version of the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule (J-RAS) and the Japanese version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) were used as scales. Burnout was operationally defined as a total MBI score in the highest tertile. Results:, Valid responses were obtained from 172 nurse managers. The mean J-RAS score of the burnout group (,14.3) was significantly lower than that of the non-burnout group (,3.3). Responses about work experience and age showed no significant group difference. Total MBI score was inversely correlated with J-RAS score (R = ,0.30, P < 0.01). Multiple logistic regression analyses indicated a decrease in the risk of burnout by 26% (0.74 times) for every 10 point increase in the J-RAS score, and by 60% (0.40 times) for greater satisfaction with own care provision. Conclusions:, The results suggest that increasing assertiveness and satisfaction with own care provision contributes to preventing burnout among Japanese nurse managers. [source] Plasma Carboxymethyl-Lysine, an Advanced Glycation End Product, and All-Cause and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in Older Community-Dwelling AdultsJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 10 2009Richard D. Semba MD OBJECTIVES: To determine whether older adults with high plasma carboxymethyl-lysine (CML), an advanced glycation end product, are at higher risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Population-based sample of adults aged 65 and older residing in Tuscany, Italy. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand thirteen adults participating in the Invecchiare in Chianti study. MEASUREMENTS: Anthropometric measures, plasma CML, fasting plasma total, high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, creatinine. Clinical measures: medical assessment, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, cancer. Vital status measures: death certificates and causes of death according to the International Classification of Diseases. Survival methods were used to examine the relationship between plasma CML and all-cause and CVD mortality, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: During 6 years of follow-up, 227 (22.4%) adults died, of whom 105 died with CVD. Adults with plasma CML in the highest tertile had greater all-cause (hazard ratio (HR)=1.84, 95% confidence interval) CI)=1.30,2.60, P<.001) and CVD (HR=2.11, 95% CI=1.27,3.49, P=.003) mortality than those in the lower two tertiles after adjusting for potential confounders. In adults without diabetes mellitus, those with plasma CML in the highest tertile had greater all-cause (HR=1.68, 95% CI=1.15,2.44, P=.006) and CVD (HR=1.74, 95% CI=1.00,3.01, P=.05) mortality than those in the lower two tertiles after adjusting for potential confounders. CONCLUSION: Older adults with high plasma CML are at higher risk of all-cause and CVD mortality. [source] Association Between Interleukin-6 and Lower Extremity Function After Hip Fracture,The Role of Muscle Mass and StrengthJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 6 2008Ram R. Miller MDCM OBJECTIVES: To examine whether an effect on muscle mass or strength explains the association between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and lower extremity function in the year after hip fracture. DESIGN: Analysis of data from a longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: Two Baltimore-area hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling women aged 65 and older admitted to one of two hospitals in Baltimore with a new, nonpathological fracture of the proximal femur between 1992 and 1995. MEASUREMENTS: At 2, 6, and 12 months postfracture, serum IL-6, appendicular lean muscle mass (aLM), and grip strength were measured, and the Lower Extremity Gain Scale (LEGS), a summary measure of performance of nine lower extremity tasks was calculated. Generalized estimating equations were used to model the longitudinal relationship between IL-6 tertile and LEGS. Whether muscle mass or strength explained the relationship between IL-6 and LEGS was examined by adding measures of aLM, grip strength, or both into the model. RESULTS: Subjects in the lowest IL-6 group performed better on the LEGS than those in the highest tertile by 4.51 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.50,7.52) points at 12 months postfracture. Adjusting for aLM and grip strength, this difference was 4.28 points (95% CI=1.14,7.43) and 3.81 points (95% CI=0.63,7.00), respectively. Adjusting for both aLM and grip strength, the mean difference in LEGS score was 3.88 points (95% CI=0.63,7.13). CONCLUSION: In older women, after hip fracture, reduced muscle strength, rather than reduced muscle mass, better explains the poorer recovery of lower extremity function observed with higher levels of the inflammatory marker IL-6. [source] Pretreatment Levels of Bone Turnover and the Antifracture Efficacy of Alendronate: The Fracture Intervention TrialJOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2006Douglas C Bauer MD Abstract The influence of pretreatment bone turnover on alendronate efficacy is not known. In the FIT, we examined the effect of pretreatment bone turnover on the antifracture efficacy of daily alendronate given to postmenopausal women. The nonspine fracture efficacy of alendronate was significantly greater among both osteoporotic and nonosteoporotic women with higher baseline levels of the bone formation marker PINP. Introduction: Previous trials have shown that high bone turnover is associated with greater increases in BMD among bisphosphonate-treated women. The influence of pretreatment bone turnover levels on antifracture efficacy has not been well studied. Materials and Methods: We randomized women 55,80 years of age with femoral neck BMD T scores , ,1.6 to alendronate (ALN), 5,10 mg/day (n = 3105), or placebo (PBO; n = 3081). At baseline, 3495 women were osteoporotic (femoral neck BMD T score , ,2.5 or prevalent vertebral fracture), and 2689 were not osteoporotic (BMD T score > ,2.5 and no prevalent vertebral fracture). Pretreatment levels of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSALP), N-terminal propeptide of type 1 collagen (PINP), and C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type 1 collagen (sCTx) were measured in all participants using archived serum (20% fasting). The risk of incident spine and nonspine fracture was compared in ALN- and PBO-treated subjects stratified into tertiles of baseline bone marker level. Results and Conclusions: During a mean follow-up of 3.2 years, 492 nonspine and 294 morphometric vertebral fractures were documented. Compared with placebo, the reduction in nonspine fractures with ALN treatment differed significantly among those with low, intermediate, and high pretreatment levels of PINP levels (p = 0.03 for trend). For example, among osteoporotic women in the lowest tertile of pretreatment PINP (<41.6 ng/ml), the ALN versus PBO relative hazard for nonspine fracture was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.65, 1.21) compared with a relative hazard of 0.54 (95% CI: 0.39, 0.74) among those in the highest tertile of PINP (>56.8 ng/ml). Results were similar among women without osteoporosis at baseline. Although they did not reach statistical significance, similar trends were observed with baseline levels of BSALP. Conversely, spine fracture treatment efficacy among osteoporotic women did not differ significantly according to pretreatment marker levels. Spine fracture treatment efficacy among nonosteoporotic women was related to baseline BSALP (p = 0.05 for trend). In summary, alendronate nonspine fracture efficacy is greater among both osteoporotic and nonosteoporotic women with high pretreatment PINP. If confirmed in other studies, these findings suggest that bisphosphonate treatment may be most effective in women with elevated bone turnover. [source] Premenopausal Smoking and Bone Density in 2015 Perimenopausal WomenJOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2000Dr. A. P. Hermann Abstract The importance of cigarette smoking in relation to bone mass remains uncertain, especially in younger women. In a recent meta-analysis including 10 studies in premenopausal women no effect was seen in this age group. We used baseline data from a large national cohort study (Danish Osteoporosis Prevention Study [DOPS]) to study the cumulated effect of pre- and perimenopausal smoking on bone mineral density (BMD) measured shortly after the cessation of cyclic bleedings. Baseline observations on 2015 recently menopausal women were available. Eight hundred thirty-two women were current smokers and 285 were exsmokers. Significant negative associations of cigarette smoking coded as current, ex-, or never smoking were seen on bone mass in the lumbar spine (P = 0.012), femoral neck (P < 0.001), and total body (P < 0.001). Quantitatively, the differences between current smokers and never smokers were limited to 1.6, 2.9, and 1.9%, respectively. A statistical interaction was found between smoking and fat mass, indicating that women in the highest tertile of fat mass were unaffected by cigarette smoking. Serum vitamin D levels and osteocalcin were inversely related to the number of cigarettes smoked per day (r = 0.11 and P < 0.001; r = 0.17 and P = 0.04), respectively. Bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and urinary hydroxyproline (U-OHP) were unaffected by current smoking. The average cumulated effect of premenopausal smoking on bone is small but biologically significant. Reduced body mass in smokers explains part of the negative effect on the skeleton and a complex interaction between smoking and fat mass on the skeleton is indicated. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and osteocalcin are lower in smokers, which may effect rate of bone loss. [source] Cigarette smoking, oral moist snuff use and glucose intoleranceJOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 2 2000P.-G. Persson Abstract. Persson P-G, Carlsson S, Svanström L, Östenson C-G, Efendic S, Grill V (Karolinska Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden). Cigarette smoking, oral moist snuff use and glucose intolerance. J Intern Med 2000; 248: 103,110. Objective. To investigate the association between cigarette smoking and use of oral moist snuff and impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes. Design. We performed a population-based cross-sectional study of glucose intolerance and tobacco use in Stockholm during 1992,94. The sample consisted of 3128 men, aged 35,56 years, of whom 52% had a family history of diabetes. In an oral glucose tolerance test, we detected 55 men with type 2 diabetes and 172 with impaired glucose tolerance. Information on cigarette smoking and oral moist snuff use was collected by a questionnaire. Results. The odds ratio of type 2 diabetes was increased for smokers of 25+ cigarettes day,1 (odds ratio = 2.6, 95% confidence interval = 1.1,5.9) as well as for moist snuff dippers of 3+ boxes week,1 (odds ratio = 2.7, 95% confidence interval = 1.3,5.5). The odds ratio of relatively high (highest tertile) fasting insulin levels in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance associated with cigarette smoking of 25+ cigarettes day,1 was 1.5 (95% confidence interval = 0.7,3.6). The corresponding estimate of a relatively low (lowest tertile) 2 h insulin response was 2.5 (95% confidence interval = 0.9,7.1). Conclusions. These results indicate that heavy users of cigarettes or moist snuff have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. The results could suggest that tobacco use is associated with a low insulin response. [source] Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 predicts coronary in-stent restenosis of drug-eluting stentsJOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 3 2008K. M. KATSAROS Summary. Background:,We tested the hypothesis that plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) are influenced by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with the implantation of drug eluting stents (DES) and are able to predict the occurrence of in-stent restenosis (ISR). Methods and results:,PAI-1 active antigen plasma levels were determined in 75 patients before and 24 h after PCI with DES implantation. Patients with ISR after six to eight months (16%) showed significantly lower PAI-1 plasma levels before PCI (ISR, 11.7 ± 8.1 ng mL,1; non-ISR, 22.8 ± 18.8 ng mL,1; P <0.05). PAI-1 levels in the lowest tertile were associated with a 9.5-fold increased risk of ISR, independent of clinical risk factors, angiographic or procedural characteristics, compared to the highest tertile (P < 0.05). The induced change of PAI-1 active antigen 24 h after PCI was significantly higher in patients with ISR (ISR, +5.6 ± 8.0 ng mL,1; non-ISR, ,3.2 ± 12.1 ng mL,1; P < 0.05) with positive correlation to late lumen loss (r = 0.30; P < 0.05).Conclusions:,ISR after DES implantation is significantly related to plasma levels of PAI-1 active antigen before and after PCI. If confirmed by larger multicenter studies, the determination of PAI-1 plasma levels might be clinically helpful in the identification of patients at high risk of developing of ISR, even after DES implantation. [source] Urinary cysteinyl leukotriene E4 is associated with increased risk for pain and acute chest syndrome in adults with sickle cell disease,AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Joshua J. Field Leukotriene E4 (LTE4) levels are associated with rate of pain episodes in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). Because complications of SCD manifest differently in adults than children, we examined a cohort of adults with SCD to determine the relationship between baseline LTE4 and SCD-related morbidity. Baseline LTE4 levels were associated with increased rates of pain and acute chest syndrome (ACS) episodes, when those with LTE4 values in the highest tertile were compared with those in the lowest tertile (pain: risk ratio 7.1, 95% CI 1.8,27.5, P = 0.005; ACS: risk ratio 12.2, 95% CI 2.1,69.8, P = 0.005). Am. J. Hematol., 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Integrating nine prescription opioid analgesics and/or four signal detection systems to summarize statewide prescription drug abuse in the United States in 2007,PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY, Issue 9 2009Michael F. Schneider MS Abstract Purpose Integrate statewide rankings of abuse across different drugs and/or signal detection systems to summarize prescription drug abuse in each state in 2007. Methods Four signal detection systems (Opioid Treatment Programs, Key Informants, Drug Diversion, and Poison Centers) that covered heterogeneous populations collected data on the abuse of nine opioids: hydrocodone, immediate-release oxycodone, tramadol, extended-release [ER] oxycodone, fentanyl, morphine, methadone, hydromorphone, and buprenorphine). We introduce here linearized maps which integrate nine drugs within each system; four systems for each drug; or all drugs and systems. Results When rankings were integrated across drugs, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, West Virginia, and Michigan were in the highest tertile of abuse in three systems. When rankings were integrated across signal detection systems, there was a geographic clustering of states with the highest rates for ER oxycodone (in Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont) and methadone (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, and New Jersey). When rankings were integrated across both drugs and signal detection systems, states with 3-digit ZIP codes below 269 (i.e., from Massachusetts to West Virginia): Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Washington DC, Virginia, and West Virginia were in the highest tertile and only Delaware was in the lowest tertile. Conclusions We have presented methods to integrate data on prescription opioid abuse collected by signal detection systems covering different populations. Linearized maps are effective graphical summaries that depict differences in the level of prescription opioid abuse at the state level. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Informal social status among coworkers and risk of work-related injury among nurse aides in long-term careAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 5 2010Douglas J. Myers ScD Abstract Background A social network measure was used to explore whether one's rank in an informal social hierarchy of nurse aides employed in a single long-term care facility was associated with risk of work-related injury. Methods Six months of administrative staff schedule data and self-reported injury records were examined. Using survey data, social status rank in the informal hierarchy for each aide was operationalized as the number of coworkers who would approach the aide for advice about work-related matters. Conditional logistic regression was used to model the effect of social status on injury risk; cases were matched to controls consisting of coworkers present on the floor, shift, and date of the injury event. This allowed for a comparison of social status rank within social groups among workers with the same job title. Results Injury incidence rates decreased across tertiles of social status rank scores. A non-significant drop in injury risk in the highest tertile of social status was observed (adjusted OR,=,0.24 95% CI [0.05, 1.32]). Conclusion Findings of this exploratory study were internally consistent and support a theoretical framework suggesting that patterns of social relations between individuals based on informal social status in the workplace may contribute to differences in work-related injury risk among individuals with the same job title. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:514,523, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Original Article: Prenatal family support, postnatal family support and postpartum depressionAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Ri-Hua XIE Background:, Inadequate social support is an important determinant of postpartum depression (PPD). Social support for pregnant women consists of supports from various sources and can be measured at different gestation periods. Differentiating the effects of social support from different sources and measured at different gestation periods may have important implications in the prevention of PPD. In the family centred Chinese culture, family support is likely to be one of the most important components in social support. Aims:, The aim of this study was to assess the association of prenatal family support and postnatal family support with PPD. Methods:, A prospective cohort study was conducted between February and September 2007 in Hunan, China. Family support was measured with social support rating scale at 30,32 weeks of gestation (prenatal support) and again at 2 weeks of postpartum visit (postnatal support). PPD was defined as Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score ,13. Results:, A total of 534 pregnant women were included, and among them, 103 (19.3%) scored 13 or more on the EPDS. PPD was 19.4% in the lowest tertile versus 18.4% in the highest quartile (adjusted odds ratio: 1.04, 95% confidence interval 0.60, 1.80) for prenatal support from all family members, and PPD was 39.8% in the lowest tertile versus 9.6% in the highest tertile (adjusted odds ratio: 4.4, 95% confidence interval 2.3, 8.4) for postnatal support from all family members. Among family members, support from husband had the largest impact on the risk of developing PPD. Conclusions:, Lack of postnatal family support, especially the support from husband, is an important risk factor of PPD. [source] Lipids, lipoproteins and the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia in community-dwelling menBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2008J. Kellogg Parsons OBJECTIVE To examine the associations of serum lipids and lipoproteins with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in community-dwelling men. SUBJECTS AND METHODS This analysis was conducted within the Rancho Bernardo Study, a prospective, community-based cohort study. BPH was defined as a history of prostate surgery for other than cancer, or a medical diagnosis of BPH. Logistic regression modelling, with adjustments for age and stratification by diabetes diagnosis, was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of BPH associated with fasting serum concentrations of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, and the triglyceride to HDL ratio. RESULTS Among 531 eligible participants, 259 (48%) reported BPH and 272 (52%) reported no BPH. Men with BPH, with a mean (range) age of 75.8 (76.1,80.1) years, were older than men without BPH , at 72.7 (72.4,74.0) years. There were no significant associations of total cholesterol (P trend, 0.52), HDL cholesterol (0.56), triglycerides (0.30), or triglyceride to HDL ratio (0.13) with the risk of BPH. In a subset analysis in men with diabetes, those in the highest tertile (>133 mg/dL) of LDL cholesterol, compared with those in the lowest tertile (<110 mg/dL), were four times more likely to have BPH (odds ratio 4.00, 95% confidence interval 1.27,12.63, P trend 0.02). These results were not explained by the use of statins. CONCLUSIONS In these community-dwelling men, higher serum LDL was associated with a greater risk of BPH among diabetics. These data suggest that diabetic men with increased LDL cholesterol are at greater risk of BPH. This observation is consistent with the concept that cardiac risk factors are involved with the pathogenesis of BPH. [source] Food groups and the risk of colorectal carcinoma in an Asian populationCANCER, Issue 11 2002Adeline Seow M.D. Abstract BACKGROUND Singapore Chinese have experienced a rapid transition toward a pattern of disease in which lifestyle-related, chronic, degenerative diseases are major public health concerns. The rates of colorectal carcinoma have increased 2-fold over the last 3 decades. It has long been known that dietary factors play a role in the risk of this disease, although studies in Asian populations, with their unique dietary intake, have been few. METHODS The authors conducted a population-based case-control study that included 121 Chinese patients with colorectal carcinoma and 222 healthy control participants who provided information on usual intake of major food groups in the preceding 3 years, physical activity, family history of colorectal carcinoma, and demographic variables through an in-person questionnaire. RESULTS High intake of red meat, but not other meats, indicated a predisposition to risk of colorectal carcinoma (adjusted odds ratio [OR] for the highest tertile vs. the lowest tertile, 2.2; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 1.1,4.2). A low vegetable intake also was associated with a higher risk, and the combined effect appeared to be additive. Those in the highest tertile of meat intake and the lowest quartile of vegetable intake had an OR of 2.6 (95%CI, 1.0,6.7). The authors observed a slight, albeit nonsignificant, positive association with foods high in refined sugars. There was no association observed with fruit or soy-legume intake in this study. Among nondietary variables, a family history of colorectal carcinoma conferred a significant increase in risk (OR, 6.7; 95% CI 2.4,18.7). CONCLUSIONS Meat intake and vegetable intake were associated significantly with risk of colorectal carcinoma in this Asian population, and further studies on the effects of changes in these specific types of food may shed light on how best to reduce the rapid increase in rates in similar populations. Cancer 2002;95:2390,6. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10971 [source] Adipocytokines and the metabolic syndrome among older persons with and without obesity: the InCHIANTI studyCLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 1 2010Sari Stenholm Summary Objectives, Adipose tissue-derived inflammation may contribute to metabolic alterations and eventually to the metabolic syndrome (MetS). The purpose of this study was to: (1) examine the role of adipocytokines in the association between obesity and the MetS and (2) to determine whether the association is different in obese and non-obese persons. Design, Cross-sectional population-based InCHIANTI study. Subjects, A total of 944 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older living in Tuscany, Italy. Measurements, Obesity was defined as body mass index ,30 kg/m2 and MetS as ,3 of the ATP-III criteria. Circulating levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), IL-18, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-, R1, adiponectin, resistin and leptin were measured. Additionally, insulin resistance was determined using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Results, The prevalence of the MetS was 32%. Both overall and abdominal obesity were significantly associated with the MetS after adjusting for inflammatory cytokines, adipokines and lifestyle factors. After adjusting for multiple confounders and HOMA-IR, IL-1ra, TNF-, R1 and adiponectin (P < 0·05) remained significantly associated with the MetS. Having multiple cytokines in the highest tertile increased the likelihood of having the MetS in both obese (P for trend 0·002) and non-obese persons (P for trend 0·001) independent of insulin resistance. Conclusions, Non-obese and obese individuals who develop an intense pro-inflammatory state may be more prone to develop the MetS than those with lower levels of inflammation. [source] Use of the Significant Caries Index in quantifying the changes in caries in Switzerland from 1964 to 2000COMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 3 2005Thomas Marthaler Abstract , Objectives:, To follow the changes in the Significant Caries Index (SiC) and the DMFT during the period 1964,2000 in children aged 12 and 15 in the Canton of Zurich. Methods:, Examinations of random samples of children in 16 communities of the Canton were repeated every 4 years from 1964 onwards using the same standards for diagnosing caries. Results:, In the 12-year-olds, the children in the low tertile had virtually no DMF-experience from 1980 on. On the contrary, the SiC, based on the children in the highest tertile, decreased until 1996. At the age of 15, the zero-average in the low tertile was reached in 1992 but the SiC continued to decrease until 2000. In the 12-year age group the reduction of the SiC from 1964 to 1996 was 81.3% and for the overall DMFT it was 89.7%. The corresponding reductions for the 15-year-olds, in this case from 1964 to 2000, were 77.0 and 88.4%, respectively. The DMFT-counts in the total samples had substantially higher coefficients of variation than those in the highest tertile. As a consequence, the SiC had relatively smaller confidence intervals than the average DMFT. Conclusions:, The SiC is a very useful measure of dental caries experience. On the basis of the results in the 15-year-old group, the target of an SiC below 5.0 is proposed. The decline of the SiC demonstrates that even in the high-risk children caries experience has been reduced substantially. [source] Low serum concentration of sulfatide and presence of sulfated lactosylceramid are associated with Type 2 diabetes.DIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 9 2005The Skaraborg Project Abstract Aims The glycosphingolipid sulfatide (sulfated galactosyl-ceramide) increases exocytosis of ,-cell secretory granules, activates KATP -channels and is thereby able to influence insulin secretion through its presence in the islets. A closely related compound, sulfated lactosylceramide (sulf-lac-cer), is present in the islets during fetal and neonatal life when, as in Type 2 diabetes, insulin is secreted autonomically without the usual first phase response to glucose. The aim was to examine whether serum concentrations of these glycolipids are associated with Type 2 diabetes. Methods A case,control study, comprising 286 women and 283 men, was designed using a population-based sample of patients with Type 2 diabetes and a population survey. Results Low serum concentrations of sulfatide were associated with Type 2 diabetes, independent of traditional risk factors for diabetes in a sex-specific analysis: odds ratio (OR) 2.1 (95% confidence interval 1.1, 3.9) in men, and 2.3 (1.2, 4.3) in women, comparing the lowest and the highest tertiles. Type 2 diabetes was also associated with detectable amounts of sulf-lac-cer in serum: OR 1.7 (0.9, 3.4) in men, and 7.6 (3.8, 15.2) in women. After adjustment for confounding from other diabetes risk factors, these associations remained basically unchanged. The connections between sulfatide and Type 2 diabetes, and sulf-lac-cer and Type 2 diabetes were independent of each other. Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was negatively correlated with sulfatide concentration and positively correlated with sulf-lac-cer (both P < 0.0001, independently). Conclusions We report a new, robust and highly significant independent association between Type 2 diabetes and serum concentrations of sulfatide in both sexes, and sulf-lac-cer in females. The associations were also independent of other known diabetes risk factors. [source] Association between maternal seafood consumption before pregnancy and fetal growth: evidence for an association in overweight women.PAEDIATRIC & PERINATAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 1 2009The EDEN mother-child cohort Summary Studies in countries with high seafood consumption have shown a benefit on fetal growth and child development. The objective of our study was to determine the association between seafood consumption in French pregnant women and fetal growth. Pregnant women included in the EDEN mother-child cohort study completed two food frequency questionnaires on their usual diet in the year before and during the last 3 months of pregnancy (n = 1805). Fetal circumferences were measured by ultrasound and anthropometry at birth. Variables were compared across tertiles of the mother's seafood consumption using multiple linear regression to adjust for confounding variables. Analyses were stratified by maternal overweight status because of an interaction between maternal seafood consumption and her body mass index (P < 0.01). There was no association between seafood intake and fetal growth in the whole sample of women. For overweight women (n = 464), higher consumption of seafood before pregnancy was associated with higher fetal biparietal and abdominal circumferences and anthropometric measures. From the lowest to the highest tertiles, mean birthweight was 167 g higher (P = 0.002). No significant association was found with consumption at the end of pregnancy. In conclusion, high seafood consumption before pregnancy is positively associated with fetal growth in overweight women. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||