Socioeconomic and Occupational Risk Factors for Pancreatic Cancer:

Spatial distribution and clusters of pancreatic cancer mortality in Shandong Province, China

This study aimed to explore the geographic distribution and risk clusters of pancreatic cancer mortality from 2011 to 2013 in Shandong, China, and to detect the differences between urban and rural areas. Our data were obtained from the Shandong Death Registration System (SDRS) and were adjusted according to the underreporting level. The distribution of mortality was displayed with GIS-based maps at the county level. The results showed an increasing trend in pancreatic cancer mortality from the western region to the eastern region of Shandong. Additionally, four significant risk clusters were detected, and the most likely cluster was focused in the northeastern and northern regions. Urban-rural differences in the mortality distribution and risk clusters were also detected. In conclusion, our study identified pancreatic cancer mortality clusters in Shandong in urban and rural areas; these results can contribute to the development of effective and targeted strategies to control pancreatic cancer in different areas.

Association of various risk factors with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and its cytogenetic characteristics

This study aimed to investigate whether occupational and environmental exposures, lifestyle, family, and medical history are associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) risk and its chromosomal abnormalities. The study included 138 CLL cases and 141 age- and sex-matched controls. Information data were collected through in-person interviews from cases and controls. Cytogenetic analysis was performed on CLL bone marrow cells. Positive associations were found between CLL and cancer family history, smoking, pneumonia, and exposure to petroleum, metals, pesticides/chemical fertilizers, detergents, and medical radiation. Chromosome deletions of 11q and 13q were more frequent in patients exposed to pesticides and rubber, respectively. This study investigated for the first time specific risk factors in relation to CLL aberrations and presented positive correlations. Moreover, it indicates the possible involvement of specific occupational and lifestyle risk factors in the onset of CLL.

Incidence of cancer in patients with schizophrenia and their first-degree relatives: a population-based study in Sweden

CONTEXT

Previous studies of the association between schizophrenia and cancer have produced conflicting results, probably because of the failure to control for confounding factors.

OBJECTIVE

To test if the possible association between schizophrenia and cancer is genetic by investigating the incidence of cancer in patients with schizophrenia and their relatives.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study with follow-up between 1965 and 2008. Estimated smoking rates were used to adjust the incidence rates of smoking-related cancers.

PARTICIPANTS

The entire Swedish population.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Risk of overall cancer and 34 site-/type-specific cancers.

RESULTS

A total of 59,233 patients in Sweden with schizophrenia were identified, of whom 6137 developed cancer during the study period, giving a decreased standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of 0.79 (95% CI 0.77-0.81). The decrease was more pronounced (SIR 0.40, 95% CI 0.38-0.43) before the first diagnosis of schizophrenia. The overall risk was significantly reduced among their unaffected parents (SIR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.98) and siblings (SIR 0.92, 95% CI 0.89-0.96). Sex-stratified analyses indicated different incidence rates between males and females, with female patients having higher cancer risks than the general population.

CONCLUSIONS

The significantly decreased incidences of cancers in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and their unaffected relatives suggest that familiar/genetic factors contributing to schizophrenia may protect against the development of cancer, especially for those cancer sites observed in both settings. The increased risk of breast, cervical, and endometrial cancers after the first diagnosis of schizophrenia could be attributed to nongenetic factors such as antipsychotics administration, which may justify preventive medical screening.

Fatores associados ao nível de participação em atividades físicas em estudantes de uma universidade pública no sul do Brasil

Objetivou-se analisar os fatores associados ao nível de participação em atividades físicas (NPAF) em estudantes de uma universidade pública no Sul do Brasil. Para a avaliação do NPAF, foi utilizado o questionário da Associação Canadense de Fisiologia do Exercício. O NPAF foi classificado em adequado e inadequado. O estado nutricional foi verificado por meio do IMC, classificado em normal (< 25 kg/m²) e excesso de peso (> 25 kg/m²). As variáveis sociodemográficas foram: sexo, idade, trabalho, escolaridade da mãe, turno de estudo e estado civil. A regressão Poisson foi usada para examinar as associações entre o desfecho e variáveis independentes, considerando p < 0,05. A amostra representativa foi de 738 universitários (59,2% do sexo masculino). A prevalência inadequada de participação em atividades físicas foi de 30,8%. Os resultados na análise ajustada indicaram que universitários do sexo feminino (RP=2,79; IC95%:2,10-3,68) e com excesso de peso (RP=1,53; IC95%:1,04-2,23) apresentaram maior risco de inadequação para participação em atividades físicas. Estes achados são úteis para o desenvolvimento de programas de promoção da saúde, na universidade, com atenção especial aos calouros do sexo feminino e com excesso de peso.

Differences in serum concentrations of organochlorine compounds by occupational social class in pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

The relationships between social factors and body concentrations of environmental chemical agents are unknown in many human populations. Some chemical compounds may play an etiopathogenic role in pancreatic cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the relationships between occupational social class and serum concentrations of seven selected organochlorine compounds (OCs) in exocrine pancreatic cancer: dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p'-DDT), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethene (p,p'-DDE), 3 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene, and beta-hexachlorocyclohexane.

METHODS

Incident cases of exocrine pancreatic cancer were prospectively identified, and interviewed face-to-face during hospital admission (n=135). Serum concentrations of OCs were analyzed by high-resolution gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. Social class was classified according to occupation.

RESULTS

Multivariate-adjusted concentrations of all seven compounds were higher in occupational social classes IV-V (the less affluent) than in classes I-II; they were higher as well in class III than in classes I-II for four compounds. Concentrations of six OCs were higher in manual workers than in non-manual workers (p<0.05 for PCBs). Social class explained statistically between 3.7% and 5.7% of the variability in concentrations of PCBs, and 2% or less variability in the other OCs.

CONCLUSIONS

Concentrations of most OCs were higher in the less affluent occupational social classes. In pancreatic cancer the putative causal role of these persistent organic pollutants may not be independent of social class. There is a need to integrate evidence on the contribution of different social processes and environmental chemical exposures to the etiology of pancreatic and other cancers.