Patterns of mortality differentials by marital status in low mortality countries

"This study examined mortality differentials by marital status in 11 low-mortality countries [for the period 1950-1980]. The results show that, in general, unmarried populations have a higher mortality rate than that of married populations. A more detailed analysis indicates that each country has its distinctive marital mortality features which are associated with cultural regions (East and West) but are not related to developmental factors. When marital mortality patterns of the East and West are compared, it demonstrates that mortality rates of never-married Asian women are strikingly higher than that of their Western counterparts. This phenomenon has persisted during the last two decades. Two possible cultural interpretations are suggested: differential family support theses versus differential marital selection." (SUMMARY IN CHI)

The superiority of combined therapy (surgery and postoperative irradiation) in parotid cancer

A retrospective evaluation was done on 120 patients treated for parotid cancer. The aim of the study was to establish the role of postoperative radiation therapy. Fifty-nine patients were treated by surgery plus postoperative radiation therapy. Two patients were treated by preoperative irradiation. The overall 5-, 10-, and 15-year survival rates were 81%, 62%, and 65%, respectively. Postoperative radiation therapy proved to increase local control over surgery alone whenever (1) there was locally advanced disease, (2) the tumor belonged to a so-called poorly differentiated variety, (3) the treatment was given for a recurrent lesion, and/or (4) there was tumor involvement of the facial nerve. It did not appear that postoperative radiation therapy increased the survival for patients with low-grade malignant tumors. Radiation therapy should be given as early as possible after surgery and the optimum dose ranges from 3,000 to 5,000 rad given in three to five weeks, respectively.