Indoor mold odor in the workplace increases the risk of Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome: a population-based incident case-control study

Background

Previous studies have suggested an increased risk of asthma related to indoor dampness problems, but their role in the etiology of Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome has not been studied. We utilized a population-based incident case–control study to assess potential effect of indoor dampness and molds at home and at work on development of ACOS.

Methods

We recruited systematically all new cases of asthma diagnosed during a 2.5-year study period (1997–2000) and randomly selected controls from the source population of adults 21–63 years old and representing 500,000 persons-years in the Pirkanmaa Hospital District, South Finland. Exposure indicators included water damage, damp stains or paint peeling, visible mold, and mold odor, asked separately for home and workplace. The clinically diagnosed case series consisted of 521 adults with newly diagnosed asthma. Altogether 25 of them satisfied the criteria for ACOS-cases, i.e. FEV1/FVC < 0.70 in post-bronchodilator spirometry. The control series, including 932 controls, were from a random sample of source population, after excluding 76 (7.5%) controls with asthma.

Results

In logistic regression analysis adjusting for confounders, the risk of ACOS was significantly related to presence of mold odor in the workplace (OR 3.43; 95% CI 1.04–11.29), but not to other dampness indicators. The fraction of ACOS attributable to workplace mold odor was 70.8% (95% CI 3.8–91.1%) among the exposed. The risk of ACOS was not related to mold exposures at home.

Conclusions

Present results provide new evidence of the significant relation between workplace exposure to mold odor and adult-onset ACOS.

Case-control study of endogenous sex steroid hormones and risk of endometrial cancer

BACKGROUND

Epidemiologic evidence regarding the role of endogenous sex hormones in endometrial cancer etiology remains inconsistent. The objective of this study was to investigate if circulating levels of endogenous estrone, estradiol, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), testosterone, and androstenedione are associated with endometrial cancer risk.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based case-control study of 522 incident endometrial cancer cases and 976 population controls, in Alberta, Canada from 2002 to 2006. Study participants completed in-person interviews and provided fasting blood samples. Sex hormone levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

RESULTS

Higher levels of androstenedione were associated with increased endometrial cancer risk (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.04-2.02). Endometrial cancer risk in pre- and peri-menopausal women was reduced for the highest versus lowest quartiles of estrone (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.22-0.88) and estradiol (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.14-0.65), but in post-menopausal women, the endometrial cancer risk was increased for the highest versus lowest quartile of androstenedione (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.25-2.65). In addition, endometrial cancer risk in normal/underweight women was decreased for the highest versus lowest quartile of serum SHBG (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.19-0.84).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, positive associations were found for androstenedione concentrations, while sub-group analyses revealed = inverse associations with estrogens and SHBG. Results of this study provide empirical evidence for the role of circulating sex hormones in endometrial cancer etiology and highlight the importance of modifiable factors that contribute to changes in sex hormone concentration levels.

Association of Caspase-8 Genotypes With Oral Cancer Risk in Taiwan

BACKGROUND/AIM

Recently, mounting evidence has shown that caspase-8 (CASP8) rs3834129 (-652, 6N insertion/deletion) polymorphism may serve as a genetic biomarker for personal risk of various cancer types. The contribution of CASP8 rs3834129 polymorphism has been investigated in several oral cancer populations, but not in Taiwan. This study investigated the role of CASP8 rs3834129 polymorphism on oral risk in Taiwan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CASP8 rs3834129 polymorphic genotypes were determined and their associations with oral cancer risk were investigated among 788 patients with oral cancer and 956 age- and gender-matched healthy controls via polymerase chain reaction-restrictive fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methodology. In addition, the interaction of CASP8 rs3834129 genotype with personal behavior and clinicopathological features were also examined.

RESULTS

The frequencies of II, ID and DD genotypes for CASP8 rs3834129 were 57.5, 36.5 and 6.0% in the patient group and 54.0, 39.0 and 7.0% in the healthy control group, respectively (p for trend=0.3052), genotypes were not significantly differentially distributed between the two groups. The comparisons in allelic frequency distribution also supported the findings that the D variant allele may not serve as a determinant of risk for oral cancer. There was no interaction of CASP8 rs3834129 genotype with age, gender, smoking, alcohol or betel quid consumption in regard to oral cancer risk.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that the caspase-8 genotype does not appear to play a direct role in personal susceptibility to oral cancer in Taiwan.

Risk factor assessment for clinical malaria among forest-goers in a pre-elimination setting in Phu Yen Province, Vietnam

Background

The transition from malaria control to elimination requires understanding and targeting interventions among high-risk populations. In Vietnam, forest-goers are often difficult to test, treat and follow-up for malaria because they are highly mobile. If undiagnosed, forest-goers can maintain parasite reservoirs and contribute to ongoing malaria transmission.

Methods

A case–control study was conducted to identify malaria risk factors associated with forest-goers in three communes in Phu Yen Province, Vietnam. Cases (n = 81) were residents from the study area diagnosed with malaria and known to frequent forest areas. Controls (n = 94) were randomly selected forest-going residents from within the study area with no identified malaria infection. Participants were interviewed face-to-face using a standard questionnaire to identify malaria risk factors. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CI for risk factors after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics.

Results

Among the cases, malaria infection varied by species: 66.7% were positive for Plasmodium falciparum, 29.6% for Plasmodium vivax, and 3.7% were diagnosed as mixed infection. Cases were less likely than controls to use treated nets (aOR = 0.31; 95% CI 0.12–0.80), work after dark (aOR = 2.93; 95% CI 1.35, 6.34), bath in a stream after dark (aOR = 2.44; 95% CI 1.02–5.88), and collect water after dark (aOR = 1.99; 95% CI 1.02–3.90).

Conclusions

As Vietnam moves toward malaria elimination, these findings can inform behaviour change communication and malaria prevention strategies, incorporating the risk of after-dark and water-related activities, in this priority and difficult-to-access population group.

Gulf War Illness-associated increases in blood levels of interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein: biomarker evidence of inflammation

OBJECTIVE

Gulf War Illness is a chronic multisymptom disorder severely impacting the health and well-being of many Veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War. Symptoms that define the disease include pain, fatigue, mood and memory impairments, gastrointestinal problems, lung disorders, and skin rashes. In our previous biomarker study, we discovered Gulf War Illness-associated proinflammatory blood biomarkers. Therefore, we hypothesized that chronic inflammation causes the symptoms that define this disorder. Testing the chronic inflammation hypothesis is the objective of this study.

RESULTS

The biomarker fingerprint of Gulf War Illness is the end-product of a cascade of proinflammatory cytokine signals. In particular, the observed increase in C-reactive protein predicts a corresponding increase in interleukin 6, the cytokine that stimulates hepatocytes to produce C-reactive protein. Therefore, in this study we measured potential upstream cytokine signals in plasma samples from Gulf War Veterans. As predicted, a positive correlation between interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein was observed.

The impact of neuropsychiatric disease on fetal growth: a case-control study

PURPOSE

To determine the impact of depression, epilepsy and drug abuse during pregnancy on delivery and fetal outcome. Due to the worldwide increasing prevalence of neurological and psychiatric diseases and drug abuse, the number of affected pregnant women is increasing.

METHODS

A large-scale retrospective case-control analysis of pregnancies affected by depression, epilepsy or drug abuse with and without medication was conducted in two German perinatal centres between 2013 and 2017. The case group consisted of 706 pregnant women who had a diagnosis of depression, epilepsy or drug abuse vs. 12,574 pregnant women without neuropsychiatric diagnosis (control group). The analysis included the rate of intrauterine growth restriction, birth weight and length, neonatal head circumference.

RESULTS

Significant differences in the subgroups were found in the parameters intrauterine growth restriction, birth weight, length and head circumference. Women with epilepsy were affected less often than women with depression and substance abuse. Major differences were found in the group of women with substance abuse. Negative associations were found within the non-pharmacologically managed disease group itself compared to women exposed to medication.

CONCLUSION

The present results demonstrated a negative association between maternal neurological or psychiatric disease and pregnancy outcome in the examined parameters. However, the non-pharmacologically treated maternal disease was identified as a risk factor itself.

Estimating the occurrence of traffic accidents near school locations: A case study from Valencia (Spain) including several approaches

Traffic safety around school locations is a topic of particular interest given the large number of vulnerable users, such as pedestrians or cyclists, that commute to them at certain times of the day. A dataset of traffic accidents recorded in Valencia (Spain) during 2014 and 2015 is analyzed in order to estimate the effects that school locations produce on traffic risk within their surroundings. The four typologies of school in this city according to the academic levels they offer (All-level, Preschool, Primary, Secondary) are distinguished and taken into consideration for the analysis. Two time windows comprising the starting time in the morning and the evening time once day school has ended are analyzed independently. Several statistical methods are used, including observed vs expected ratios, macroscopic conditional autoregressive modelling, logistic regression in the context of a case-control study design and risk modelling in relation to several school locations. The distances to each type of school and a set of environmental, traffic-related, demographic and socioeconomic covariates are employed for the analysis. The macroscopic modelling of accident counts and the modelling of risk as a function of the distance to each type of school serves to confirm that proximity to a school has an effect on the incidence of traffic accidents in particular time windows. Specifically, school types coexisting in Valencia show differential behaviour in this regard. In addition, several covariates have displayed a positive (bus stop density, complex intersections, main road length) and negative (land use entropy) association with accident counts in the time windows investigated. Finally, the definition of a case-control study design enabled us to observe some differences undetected by the macroscopic approaches that would require further research.

Overweight and obesity among children under five in Ethiopia: further analysis of 2016 national demographic health survey: a case control study

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the determinants of overweight and obesity among children under 5 years in Ethiopia.

RESULTS

Data from a total of 672 (224 cases and 448 controls) under 5 years of age children were included in the study. Urban residence (AOR = 2.63, 95% CI 1.29, 5.34), boys (AOR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.10, 2.22) and age of the child less than 6 months (AOR = 3.40, 95% CI 2.05, 5.64) were the determinants for being childhood overweight and obesity.

The coexistence of gout in ankylosing spondylitis patients: a case control study

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and gout are common inflammatory arthropathies. It had been claimed previously that the two conditions rarely coexist. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of gout in a population of AS patients to its prevalence in the general population. To conduct this population-based case-control study, data of adult patients with a physician diagnosis of AS were retrieved from the database of the largest health-care provider organization in Israel, Clalit Health Services. For each patient with AS, five age- and sex-matched subjects without AS were randomly selected from the same database. Different parameters including the existence of gout, hypertension, body mass index, socioeconomic status, and smoking were evaluated in both the AS and the control groups. The study included 3763 patients with AS and 19,214 controls. The proportion of gout in the AS group was higher than in the control group: 73 subjects in the AS group had gout, while only 107 subjects in the non-AS group had gout (1.94% and 0.56%, respectively, OR 3.53, P < 0.001). Logistic regression adjusting for possible confounding variables found that AS was independently associated with gout (OR 1.41, P = 0.037). Our study suggests that gout is not less common in AS patients in comparison with the general population, and that it might even be more common in AS patients.

Validation of self-reported occupational noise exposure in participants of a French case-control study on acoustic neuroma

OBJECTIVES

To validate self-reported occupational loud noise exposure against expert evaluation of noise levels in a French case-control study on acoustic neuroma and to estimate the impact of exposure misclassification on risk estimation.

METHODS

Noise levels were evaluated in 1006 jobs held by 111 cases and 217 population controls by an expert. Case-control differences in self-reporting were analyzed with logistic models. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and observed agreement of the self-reports were computed relative to the expert evaluation. They were used to calibrate the odds ratio (OR) between lifetime ever occupational loud noise exposure and the risk of acoustic neuroma, without adjustment for measurement error of the expert assessments.

RESULTS

Cases reported noise levels in individual jobs closer to the expert assessment than controls, but the case-control difference was small for lifetime exposures. For expert-rated exposure of 80 dB(A), reporting of individual jobs by cases was more sensitive (54% in cases, 37% in controls), whereas specificity (91% in cases, 93% in controls) and observed agreement (82% in cases, 81% in controls) were similar. When lifetime exposure was considered, sensitivity increased (76% in cases, 65% in controls), while cases specificity decreased (84%). When these values were used to calibrate self-reports for exposure misclassification compared to expert evaluation at 80 dB(A), the crude OR of 1.7 was reduced to 1.3.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the relatively accurate reporting of loud noise, the impact of the calibration on the OR was non-negligible.

Sonographic association of polycystic ovaries with intraovarian arterial pulsatility and resistive index

The aim of the research is to know the sonographic association of polycystic ovaries with intraovarian arterial pulsatility index (PI) and resistive index (RI).We observed the PI and resistive index (RI) of 50 polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and 50 normal individuals. Polycystic ovary was seen with gray scale transabdominal and endo-vaginal sonography and labeled according to the developed sonographic criteria. The results were correlated and cross tabulated with independent sample t-test to determine the existing relationship among them. According to the results, PI and RI of the intraovarian artery were seen to decreases during PCOS as compared with the PI and RI of normal group women at the follicular phase. In case of polycystic ovary, the stroma undergoes hyperstimulation as a result of vascular remodeling and hypervascularity. It is concluded that Doppler analysis is very helpful in the diagnosis of PCOS and to give detailed information about the pathophysiology of the hemodynamics of diseased ovary.

Body size and dietary risk factors for aggressive prostate cancer: a case-control study

PURPOSE

Diet and body size may affect the risk of aggressive prostate cancer (APC), but current evidence is inconclusive.

METHODS

A case-control study was conducted in men under 75 years of age recruited from urology practices in Victoria, Australia; 1,254 with APC and 818 controls for whom the presence of prostate cancer had been excluded by biopsy. Dietary intakes were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Multivariable unconditional logistic regression estimated odds ratios and confidence intervals for hypothesized risk factors, adjusting for age, family history of prostate cancer, country of birth, socioeconomic status, smoking, and other dietary factors.

RESULTS

Positive associations with APC (odds ratio, 95% confidence intervals, highest vs. lowest category or quintile) were observed for body mass index (1.34, 1.02-1.78, P_trend = 0.04), and trouser size (1.54, 1.17-2.04, P_trend = 0.001). Intakes of milk and all dairy products were inversely associated with APC risk (0.71, 9.53-0.96, P_trend = 0.05, and 0.64, 0.48-0.87, P_trend = 0.012, respectively), but there was little evidence of an association with other dietary variables (P_trend > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

We confirmed previous evidence for a positive association between body size and risk of APC, and suggest that consumption of dairy products, and milk more specifically, is inversely associated with risk.

Food consumption, meat cooking methods and diet diversity and the risk of bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

Since food metabolites are eliminated by the urinary tract, several studies have investigated the association between diet and bladder cancer risk. Recently, the World Cancer Research Fund International/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) suggested a potential beneficial effect of some foods (mainly vegetables, fruit, and milk) in the development of bladder cancer. We investigated the association between food groups and bladder cancer risk, seeking insights into food diversity as well as meat cooking methods.

METHODS

Data were derived from an Italian multicentre case-control study, conducted between 2003 and 2014, including 690 bladder cancer cases and 665 frequency-matched controls. Odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) for various dietary aspects were estimated by unconditional logistic regression models adjusted for energy intake and the major known risk factors for bladder cancer.

RESULTS

Comparing the highest versus the lowest quartiles, consumption of vegetables (OR = 0.62; 95%CI: 0.44-0.88) and milk/yogurt (OR = 0.62; 95%CI: 0.44-0.87) reduced the risk of bladder cancer. Conversely, consumption of meat increased bladder cancer risk with an OR of 1.57 (95%CI: 1.07-2.31), particularly when the meat was stewed (OR = 1.47; 95%CI: 1.03-2.09) or roasted (OR = 1.41; 95%CI: 1.00-1.99). There was a suggestion that a diversified diet reduced the risk of bladder cancer, but this was not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study consolidates the role of diet in bladder cancer aetiology, showing a reduced risk for vegetable and milk/yogurt consumption and an increased risk for meat consumption, especially when the meat is stewed or roasted.

Primary and secondary breast angiosarcoma: single center report and a meta-analysis

Background

Primary and secondary breast angiosarcoma is a rare and aggressive malignancy with limited published literature. Optimal management is mostly based on expert opinion. Our study aims to describe a single institution experience with breast angiosarcoma and evaluate other publications on this topic to further clarify prognostic outcomes and treatment modalities in this disease.

Methods

Twenty two cases of breast angiosarcoma from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center were retrospectively analyzed. Additionally, a systemic review and meta-analysis was conducted to study the association between survival outcomes, overall survival (OS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in both primary (PAS) and secondary breast angiosarcoma (SAS).

Results

9 PAS patients (41%) and 13 SAS patients (59%) were retrospectively analyzed. No significant differences were noted in tumor characteristics and survival outcomes between PAS and SAS. Treatment modality had no significant effects on survival outcomes although adjuvant chemotherapy demonstrated a trend towards improved RFS in high grade tumors. 380 PAS and 595 SAS patients were included in the outcome meta-analysis. Survival outcomes were significantly worse with high grade tumors and tumor size of > 5 cm. Adjuvant radiation therapy demonstrated significantly better RFS, while adjuvant chemotherapy had no effect on survival outcomes.

Conclusion

Tumor size and grade seem to be reliable predictors of survival in both PAS and SAS. Mastectomy does not seem to be adding any additional benefit to BCS. Adjuvant radiation therapy showed statistically significant RFS benefit, while adjuvant chemotherapy can be beneficial in high grade tumors.

Association of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and norepinephrine transporter (NET) genes polymorphism with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Genetic factors in combination with environmental factors play a critical role in the development type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) which is growing as an epidemic globally. In present study we aim to assess the association of eNOS (G894T, rs1799983) and NET (G1287A, rs5569) genes polymorphism with T2DM. A case-control study including a total of 400 North Indian subjects (200 T2DM cases and 200 controls) was performed using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) approach to analyze genetic polymorphism. Alleles/genotype frequencies between cases and controls were compared using χ² and Student's t-tests. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by logistic regression to assess the relative association between disease and genotypes. In case of NET gene, GG (P = 0.002 in T2DM males, 0.053 in overall T2DM cases) genotype and G allele (P = 0.003 in T2DM males, 0.027 in overall T2DM cases) were found to be a positive risk factors and AG genotype (P = 0.012 in T2DM males) and A allele (P = 0.003 in T2DM males, P = 0.027 in overall T2DM cases) as negative risk factor for T2DM. No association of eNOS gene polymorphism was found with T2DM (P values of all genotypes and alleles were greater than 0.05). NET gene polymorphism might be associated with the risk of T2DM whereas; eNOS gene polymorphism do not confer any risk of T2DM in North Indian Ethnic group. It is hoped that understanding genetic causes of T2DM will lead to earlier diagnosis, preventive measures and more effective and specific treatment.

Perinatal risk factors for type 1 diabetes revisited: a population-based register study

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Single-centre studies and meta-analyses have found diverging results as to which early life factors affect the risk of type 1 diabetes during childhood. We wanted to use a large, nationwide, prospective database to further clarify and analyse the associations between perinatal factors and the subsequent risk for childhood-onset type 1 diabetes using a case-control design.

METHODS

The Swedish Childhood Diabetes Register was linked to the Swedish Medical Birth Register and National Patient Register, and 14,949 cases with type 1 diabetes onset at ages 0-14 years were compared with 55,712 matched controls born from the start of the Medical Birth Register in 1973 to 2013. After excluding confounders (i.e. children multiple births, those whose mother had maternal diabetes and those with a non-Nordic mother), we used conditional logistic regression analyses to determine risk factors for childhood-onset type 1 diabetes. We used WHO ICD codes for child and maternal diagnoses.

RESULTS

In multivariate analysis, there were small but statistically significant associations between higher birthweight z score (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.06, 1.10), delivery by Caesarean section (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.02, 1.15), premature rupture of membranes (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01, 1.16) and maternal urinary tract infection during pregnancy (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.04, 1.86) and the subsequent risk of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes. Birth before 32 weeks of gestation was associated with a lower risk of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes compared with full-term infants (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.38, 0.76), whereas birth between 32 and 36 weeks' gestation was associated with a higher risk (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.14, 1.35). In subgroup analyses (birth years 1992-2013), maternal obesity was independently associated with subsequent type 1 diabetes in the children (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.15, 1.41) and rendered the association with Caesarean section non-significant. In contrast to previous studies, we found no association of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes with maternal-child blood-group incompatibility, maternal pre-eclampsia, perinatal infections or treatment of the newborn with phototherapy for neonatal jaundice. The proportion of children with neonatal jaundice was significantly higher in the 1973-1982 birth cohort compared with later cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Perinatal factors make small but statistically significant contributions to the overall risk of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes. Some of these risk factors, such as maternal obesity, may be amendable with improved antenatal care. Better perinatal practices may have affected some previously noted risk factors over time.

Epidemiological risk factors for clinical malaria infection in the highlands of Western Kenya

Background

Understanding the complex heterogeneity of risk factors that can contribute to an increased risk of malaria at the individual and household level will enable more effective use of control measures. The objective of this study was to understand individual and household factors that influence clinical malaria infection among individuals in the highlands of Western Kenya.

Methods

This was a matched case–control study undertaken in the Western Kenya highlands. Clinical malaria cases were recruited from health facilities and matched to asymptomatic individuals from the community who served as controls. Each participant was screened for malaria using microscopy. Follow-up surveys were conducted with individual households to collect socio-economic data. The houses were also checked using pyrethrum spray catches to collect mosquitoes.

Results

A total of 302 malaria cases were matched to 604 controls during the surveillance period. Mosquito densities were similar in the houses of both groups. A greater percentage of people in the control group (64.6%) used insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) compared to the families of malaria cases (48.3%). Use of ITNs was associated with lower level of clinical malaria episodes (odds ratio 0.51; 95% CI 0.39–0.68; P < 0.0001). Low income was the most important factor associated with higher malaria infections (adj. OR 4.70). Use of malaria prophylaxis was the most important factor associated with less malaria infections (adj OR 0.36). Mother’s (not fathers) employment status (adj OR 0.48) and education level (adj OR 0.54) was important malaria risk factor. Houses with open eaves was an important malaria risk factor (adj OR 1.72).

Conclusion

The identification of risk factors for clinical malaria infection provides information on the local malaria epidemiology and has the potential to lead to a more effective and targeted use of malaria control measures. These risk factors could be used to assess why some individuals acquire clinical malaria whilst others do not and to inform how intervention could be scaled at the local level.

Human papillomavirus and lung cancer: an overview and a meta-analysis

PURPOSE

This review is devoted to assessing the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in lung cancer (LC) in the world. HPV is recognized as the etiological factor of cervical cancer, however, there is widespread evidence that this virus is detected not only in gynecological carcinomas, but also in tumors of other organs, in particular the upper respiratory tract and digestive tract.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 A search was conducted to a depth of 29 years in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, databases. The review includes 95 articles.

RESULTS

Of all the analyzed studies (9195 patients), 12 works showed a complete absence of HPV in the biological material in patients with LC. The absence of a virus among lung cancer patients has been established for Canada, the Netherlands and Singapore. The highest average percent of occurrence of this virus is shown for such countries as: Brazil, Korea, Greece and Taiwan (more than 40%). But the highest percentage of HPV occurrence by region is observed in Latin America (33.5%), followed by the Asian countries (31%), in European countries the frequency is 18%. Interestingly, the highest occurrence of high oncogenic types (16 and 18) is observed in Asia (40.3%), then in Latin America (33.6%), Europe (25.6%) and North America (15.4%). Low-oncogenic types (6 and 11) are also predominantly observed in Asia (39.9%), while in Europe and North America 30% and 12.8%, respectively. A meta-analysis of the prevalence of HPV was conducted using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis 3.0. Program, which included 26 studies, the results of which revealed: the prevalence of HPV infection in tumor lung tissue was compared with normal lung tissue OR (95% CI) = 5.38 (3.21-9.00) p < 0.0001, significance was also found for Chinese studies OR = 6.3, 95% CI 3.42-11.53, p < 0.0001, I2 = 71.8% and for nine studies in Europe OR = 6.3, 95% CI 1.8-22.18, p = 0.004, I2 = 51.0%. However, given the fact that the frequency of occurrence of HPV in lung tumor tissue varies greatly, a question may arise about the real role of HPV in LC carcinogenesis, which makes further research relevant and promising.

Contribution of Caspase-8 Genotypes to Colorectal Cancer Risk in Taiwan

BACKGROUND/AIM

The aim of this study was to examine the role of caspase-8 rs3834129 polymorphism on colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in Taiwanese CRC patients and healthy controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The caspase-8 rs3834129 (-652 6N insertion/deletion) polymorphic genotypes were analyzed in 362 patients with CRC and the same number of age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. The interaction of caspase-8 rs3834129 genotypes with personal behaviors and clinicopathological features were also examined.

RESULTS

The percentage of variants ID and DD for caspase-8 rs3834129 genotype were 37.6 and 5.8% in CRC group and 39.0 and 6.6% in the control group, respectively (p for trend=0.7987). The allelic frequency distribution analysis showed that caspase-8 rs3834129 D allele conferred a non-significant lower susceptibility for CRC compared with I allele (OR=0.92, 95%CI=0.74-1.20, p=0.5063). There was no obvious link between caspase-8 rs3834129 genotype and CRC risk among ever-smokers, non-smokers, non-alcohol drinkers or alcohol drinkers. No statistically significant correlation was observed between caspase-8 rs3834129 genotypic distribution and age, gender, tumor size, location or metastasis status.

CONCLUSION

Overall, caspase-8 rs3834129 genotypes may not serve as predictors for CRC risk or prognosis.

Workplace Diesel Exhausts and Gasoline Exposure and Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Four Nordic Countries

BACKGROUND

Evidence on associations between occupational diesel exhaust and gasoline exposure and colorectal cancer is limited. We aimed to assess the effect of workplace exposure to diesel exhaust and gasoline on the risk of colorectal cancer.

METHODS

This case-control study included 181,709 colon cancer and 109,227 rectal cancer cases diagnosed between 1961 and 2005 in Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Cases and controls were identified from the Nordic Occupational Cancer Study cohort and matched for country, birth year, and sex. Diesel exhaust and gasoline exposure values were assigned by country-specific job-exposure matrices. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by using conditional logistic regression models. The results were adjusted for physical strain at work and occupational exposure to benzene, formaldehyde, ionizing radiation, chlorinated hydrocarbons, chromium, and wood dust.

RESULTS

Diesel exhaust exposure was associated with a small increase in the risk of rectal cancer (odds ratio = 1.05, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.08). Gasoline exposure was not associated with colorectal cancer risk.

CONCLUSION

This study showed a small risk increase for rectal cancer after workplace diesel exhaust exposure. However, this finding could be due to chance, given the limitations of the study.

Methodological approaches to the study of cancer risk in the vicinity of pollution sources: the experience of a population-based case-control study of childhood cancer

Background

Environmental exposures are related to the risk of some types of cancer, and children are the most vulnerable group of people. This study seeks to present the methodological approaches used in the papers of our group about risk of childhood cancers in the vicinity of pollution sources (industrial and urban sites). A population-based case–control study of incident childhood cancers in Spain and their relationship with residential proximity to industrial and urban areas was designed. Two methodological approaches using mixed multiple unconditional logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were developed: (a) “near vs. far” analysis, where possible excess risks of cancers in children living near (“near”) versus those living far (“far”) from industrial and urban areas were assessed; and (b) “risk gradient” analysis, where the risk gradient in the vicinity of industries was assessed. For each one of the two approaches, three strategies of analysis were implemented: “joint”, “stratified”, and “individualized” analysis. Incident cases were obtained from the Spanish Registry of Childhood Cancer (between 1996 and 2011).

Results

Applying this methodology, associations between proximity (≤ 2 km) to specific industrial and urban zones and risk (OR; 95% CI) of leukemias (1.31; 1.04–1.65 for industrial areas, and 1.28; 1.00–1.53 for urban areas), neuroblastoma (2.12; 1.18–3.83 for both industrial and urban areas), and renal (2.02; 1.16–3.52 for industrial areas) and bone (4.02; 1.73–9.34 for urban areas) tumors have been suggested.

Conclusions

The two methodological approaches were used as a very useful and flexible tool to analyze the excess risk of childhood cancers in the vicinity of industrial and urban areas, which can be extrapolated and generalized to other cancers and chronic diseases, and adapted to other types of pollution sources.

Risk factors for community-onset bloodstream infection with extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae: national population-based case-control study

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to investigate risk factors for community-onset bloodstream infections with extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (EPE BSI).

METHODS

It is mandatory to report EPE BSI to a national register at the Public Health Agency of Sweden. Using this register, we performed a population-based case-control study from 2007 to 2012 of 945 cases and 9390 controls. Exposure data on comorbidity, hospitalization, in- and outpatient antibiotic consumption and socio-economic status were collected from hospital and health registers.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of EPE BSI was 1.7 per 100 000 person-years. The 30-day mortality was 11.3%. Urological disorders inferred the highest EPE BSI risk, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.32 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 3.41-5.47), followed by immunological disorders, aOR 3.54 (CI 2.01-6.23), haematological malignancy, aOR 2.77 (CI 1.57-4.87), solid tumours, aOR 2.28 (1.76-2.94) and diabetes, aOR 2.03 (1.58-2.61). Consumption of fluoroquinolones or mostly non-EPE-active antibiotics with selective Gram-negative spectrum of activity within the previous 3 months was associated with EPE BSI, aORs 5.52 (CI 2.8-11.0) and 3.8, CI 1.9-7.7) respectively. There was a dose-response relationship in EPE BSI risk with increasing number of consecutive regimens. Antibiotic consumption >3 months before EPE BSI was not associated with increased risk. Higher age, malignancies and education ≤12 years (aORs >2) were associated with increased 30-day mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Targeted interventions should be directed towards improving care for patients with immunosuppression, urological disorders and subjects with lower socio-economic status. Antibiotic stewardship should focus on reduction of fluoroquinolones.

Adipokines, cortisol and cytokine alterations in recent onset anorexia nervosa. A case-control study

INTRODUCTION

Psychological and neuroendocrine alterations are typical characteristics in anorexia nervosa patients. The role of adipokines and cytokines as mediators of body systems' adaptations to the patients' abnormal eating behavior is not well understood. The duration of disease seems to be a determinant of nutritional status and associated hormone changes. We aimed to assess whether alterations in adipokines, cytokines and cortisol do already exist in patients with a recent disease onset by means of a case-control study.

METHODS

Forty-one adolescent female patients on their first-episode and diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, were matched by age and socioeconomic status (SES) (1:1) with healthy girls. Leptin, soluble leptin receptor (sOB-R), adiponectin, cortisol, and the cytokines IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α were examined.

RESULTS

The results showed reduced leptin and increased sOB-R and cortisol levels in AN patients. Adiponectin was also increased but opposite to the previous biomarkers did not correlate with BMI Z-score. Serum TNF-α and IL-2 showed significantly lower and higher values, respectively, in the AN patients than in the controls. Cortisol showed the strongest correlation with sOB-R (r=0.436; P=0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirms previous findings on adipokine and cortisol alterations in AN patients, while overall cytokine results did not show a clear disruption in AN patients with short disease duration. The results highlight the need to disentangle the role of the sOB-R in the interactions between leptin and cortisol secretion.

A novel phage from periodontal pockets associated with chronic periodontitis

Bacteriophages often constitute the majority of periodontal viral communities, but phages that infect oral bacteria remain uncharacterized. Here, we present the genetic analysis of the genome of a novel siphovirus, named Siphoviridae_29632, which was isolated from a patient with periodontitis using a viral metagenomics-based approach. Among 43 predicted open reading frames (ORFs) in the genome, the viral genes encoding structural proteins were distinct from the counterparts of other viruses, although a distant homology is shared among viral morphogenesis proteins. A total of 28 predicted coding sequences had significant homology to other known phage ORF sequences. In addition, the prevalence of Siphoviridae_29632 in a cohort of patients with chronic periodontitis was 41.67%, which was significantly higher than that in the healthy group (4.55%, P < 0.001), suggesting that this virus as well as its hosts may contribute to the ecological environment favored for chronic periodontitis.

Serum selenium and pancreatic cancer: a prospective study in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Trial cohort

PURPOSE

Pancreatic cancer(PCa) is one of the most lethal cancers with few known consistent nutrition-related risk factors. Epidemiologic associations between the trace element selenium and PCa are inconsistent. This study examined the association of pre-diagnostic serum selenium with incident PCa.

METHODS

We conducted a nested case-control study within the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Study (PLCO) cohort of men and women 55-70 years old at baseline (1993-2001). In total, 303 PCa cases developed during the 17-year follow-up period (1993-2009). We selected two controls (n = 606) for each case who were alive at the time the case was diagnosed who were matched on age, sex, race, and date of blood draw. We used conditional logistic regression analysis to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusting for smoking status and diabetes mellitus.

RESULTS

Mean serum selenium concentrations were slightly lower in cases (mean, 95% CI: 139.0 ng/ml, 135.6-138.9) compared to controls (142.5 ng/ml, 140.4-142.4, p = 0.08). Overall, serum selenium was not associated with PCa risk (continuous OR: 0.66; 0.32-1.37). There was no significant interaction by sex, smoking, diabetes, or follow-up time (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our results do not support the hypothesis that serum selenium is associated with PCa risk.