Early effects of low dose C ion or x-ray irradiation on peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with alimentary tract cancer.

The aim of this study was to examine the early effects of low dose (12)C(6+) irradiation or X-ray on peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of patients with alimentary tract cancer and to explore mechanisms that may be involved in an antitumor immune response. We found that the percentage of T lymphocyte subsets, the mRNA expression levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ in PBL, and their protein levels in supernatant were significantly increased 24 hours after exposure to low dose radiation. The effects were more pronounced in the group receiving 0.

Dietary nitrate and nitrite and the risk of thyroid cancer in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study.

During the past several decades, an increasing incidence of thyroid cancer has been observed worldwide. Nitrate inhibits iodide uptake by the thyroid, potentially disrupting thyroid function. An increased risk of thyroid cancer associated with nitrate intake was recently reported in a cohort study of older women in Iowa.

Meat and components of meat and the risk of bladder cancer in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study.

Background: Meat could be involved in bladder carcinogenesis via multiple potentially carcinogenic meat-related compounds related to cooking and processing, including nitrate, nitrite, heterocyclic amines (HCAs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The authors comprehensively investigated the association between meat and meat components and bladder cancer.

Methods: During 7 years of follow-up, 854 transitional cell bladder-cancer cases were identified among 300,933 men and women who had completed a validated food-frequency questionnaire in the large prospective NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study.

Fertility among testicular cancer survivors: a case-control study in the U.S.

Introduction: Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) disproportionately affect men between the ages of 15 and 49 years, when reproduction is typical. Although TGCT treatment directly affects gonadal tissues, it remains unclear whether there are long-term effects on fertility.

Methods: To examine post-TGCT treatment fertility, study participants in a previously conducted case-control study were contacted.

Dietary components related to N-nitroso compound formation: a prospective study of adult glioma.

Background: N-nitroso compounds (NOC) are found in processed meat and are formed endogenously from intake of nitrite and nitrate. Endogenous NOC formation is antagonized by nitrosation inhibitors in fruit and vegetables (e.g.

Nitrate intake and the risk of thyroid cancer and thyroid disease.

Background: Nitrate is a contaminant of drinking water in agricultural areas and is found at high levels in some vegetables. Nitrate competes with uptake of iodide by the thyroid, thus potentially affecting thyroid function.

Methods: We investigated the association of nitrate intake from public water supplies and diet with the risk of thyroid cancer and self-reported hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in a cohort of 21,977 older women in Iowa who were enrolled in 1986 and who had used the same water supply for >10 years.

Risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and nitrate and nitrite from the diet in Connecticut women.

It has been estimated that 65,980 individuals were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and 19,500 died from NHL in the United States in 2009. Although established risk factors such as immunodeficiency and viral infections may be responsible for a portion of the cases, the majority of NHL cases remain unexplained. Dietary nitrate and nitrite intake are exposures of particular interest for NHL risk as they are precursors in the endogenous formation of N-nitroso compounds, which cause lymphomas in animal studies.

Genetic polymorphisms in cytochrome P450s, GSTs, NATs, alcohol consumption and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether genetic polymorphisms in cytochrome P450s (CYPs), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and N-acetyltransferases (NATs) genes modify the relationship between alcohol consumption and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in a population-based, case-control study including 1,115 Connecticut women. Although we did not find strong evidence that the genetic polymorphisms modify the relationship between alcohol consumption and risk of NHL, we identified significant interactions for multiple GSTs and NATs and alcohol intake among persons with DLBCL. Our results confer support investigation of the gene-environment interaction in a larger study population of DLBCL.

Genetic variation in N-acetyltransferases 1 and 2, cigarette smoking, and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Cigarette smoke contains many carcinogens that are metabolically activated through xenobiotic metabolism by phase I and II enzymes, including N-acetyltransferases 1 and 2 (NAT1 and NAT2). We investigated non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk in general and by subtype in relation to NAT1 and NAT2 genotypes and cigarette smoking in a population-based case-control study in Connecticut. Of the 535 controls, 53.

A birth cohort analysis of the incidence of papillary thyroid cancer in the United States, 1973-2004.

Background: The incidence of papillary thyroid cancer has been reported to be increasing during the past three decades, with a 65-126% increase between 1975 and 2004. The reason for the increase is currently unknown. This study examined the incidence pattern of papillary thyroid cancer in the United States, and evaluated the components of birth cohort (defined based on year of birth), time period, and age as determinants of the observed time trend of the disease.

Time trends in oral clefts in Chinese newborns: data from the Chinese National Birth Defects Monitoring Network.

Background: Although the prevalence of oral clefts in China is among the highest in countries worldwide, little is known about its descriptive epidemiology.

Methods: Data used in this study were collected from 1996 to 2005 using the nationwide hospital-based registry, the Chinese Birth Defects Monitoring Network. A total of 4,891,472 newborns (live or still births with 28 weeks of gestation or more) delivered in member hospitals were assessed for birth defects within 7 days following birth.

Genetic polymorphisms in nitric oxide synthase genes modify the relationship between vegetable and fruit intake and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species and other free radicals is involved in carcinogenesis. It has been suggested that high vegetable and fruit intake may reduce the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) as vegetables and fruit are rich in antioxidants. The aim of this study is to evaluate the interaction of vegetable and fruit intake with genetic polymorphisms in oxidative stress pathway genes and NHL risk.

Genetic polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferases and cytochrome P450s, tobacco smoking, and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

We investigated variation in glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and cytochrome P450s (CYPs), and smoking in a population-based case-control study of NHL including 1,115 women. Although risk of NHL was not altered by variant polymorphisms in GSTs or CYPs, it was significantly changed for DLBCL when considered in conjunction with smoking behavior, though only in nonsmokers. An increased risk of DLBCL in nonsmokers was associated with the variant G allele for GSTP1 (OR = 1.

Gender is an age-specific effect modifier for papillary cancers of the thyroid gland.

Background: Thyroid cancer incidence rates have increased worldwide for decades, although more for papillary carcinomas than other types and more for females than males. There are few known thyroid cancer risk factors except female gender, and the reasons for the increasing incidence and gender differences are unknown.

Methods: We used the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 9 Registries Database for cases diagnosed during 1976-2005 to develop etiological clues regarding gender-related differences in papillary thyroid cancer incidence.

Do Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) Increase the Risk of Thyroid Cancer?

An increased incidence of thyroid cancer has been reported in many parts of the world including the United States during the past several decades. Recently emerging evidence has demonstrated that polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAHs), particularly polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), alter thyroid hormone homeostasis and cause thyroid dysfunction. However, few studies have been conducted to test whether exposure to PBDEs and other PHAHs increases the risk of thyroid cancer.

International patterns and trends in thyroid cancer incidence, 1973-2002.

During the past several decades, an increasing incidence of thyroid cancer has been reported in many parts of the world. To date, no study has compared the trends in thyroid cancer incidence across continents. We examined incidence data from cancer incidence in five continents (CI5) over the 30-year period 1973-2002 from 19 populations in the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

Family history of malignancies and risk of breast cancer: prospective data from the Shanghai women's health study.

A population-based cohort study was conducted in Shanghai, China, to investigate the relationship between family cancer history in first-degree relatives and risk of breast cancer. A total of 570 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients were identified from the cohort of 73,222 women during the follow-up period. Breast cancer risk was elevated (RR = 1.

Lymphoma survival patterns by WHO subtype in the United States, 1973-2003.

With the incidence and prevalence of lymphoid neoplasms increasing, a comparison of survival patterns by subtype may provide critical clues for improving the disease burden. We conducted a comprehensive survival analysis for 254,702 lymphoid neoplasm cases diagnosed during 1973-2003 at 17 Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registries according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification introduced in 2001. The best survival was observed for Hodgkin lymphoma among young patients, and the worst survival was observed among cases with plasma cell neoplasms, particularly plasma cell leukemia, in all racial groups.

COL1A2 gene polymorphisms (Pvu II and Rsa I), serum calciotropic hormone levels, and dental fluorosis.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between dental fluorosis, polymorphisms in the COL1A2 gene, and serum calciotropic hormone levels.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study among children between 8 and 12 years of age with (n = 75) and without (n = 165) dental fluorosis in two counties in Henan Province, China. The PvuII and RsaI polymorphisms in the COL1A2 gene were genotyped using the PCR-RFLP procedure.

"Look at your health": outcomes associated with a computer-assisted smoking cessation counseling intervention for community college students.

Community college students represent 44% of all students enrolled in U.S. higher education facilities.

Family history of cancer and risk of lung cancer among nonsmoking Chinese women.

The relationship between family cancer history in first-degree relatives and risk of lung cancer was evaluated among a population-based cohort of 71,392 female nonsmokers in Shanghai, China. A total of 179 newly diagnosed lung cancer patients were identified during 441,410 person-years of follow-up. Lung cancer risk was not elevated among those with a family history of lung cancer.

Tobacco control in state comprehensive cancer control plans: opportunities for decreasing tobacco-related disease.

Introduction: Comprehensive cancer control plans published by state, tribal, and territorial health agencies present an excellent opportunity to help prevent tobacco-related and other cancers. In this analysis, we sought to estimate the extent to which tobacco control activities outlined in state comprehensive cancer control plans incorporated the tobacco control recommendations presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs-August 1999 (Best Practices) and The Guide to Community Preventive Services: Tobacco Use Prevention and Control (The Guide).

Methods: We analyzed the 39 available state comprehensive cancer control plans to determine which of the CDC tobacco control recommendations were incorporated.

Ultraviolet radiation exposure and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Sun exposure has been suggested to increase the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The authors analyzed data from a population-based, case-control study of Connecticut women between 1996 and 2000 to study the hypothesis. Women who reported having had a suntan experienced an increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with increasing duration (p(trend) = 0.

Pharmacy placement of nonprescription nicotine replacement therapy products and community pharmacists' counseling for product use.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between nonprescription nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) product placement within community pharmacies and the number of patients whom pharmacists report counseling for use of these products.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Four Northern California counties.

The epidemiology of tobacco use and dependence.

Tobacco use continues to be a public health issue of great importance. Acute and critical care nurses in particular have a unique opportunity to become a cornerstone for the nation's tobacco control efforts through integration of prevention and cessation interventions as part of patient care. This article provides readers with a working knowledge of tobacco use and dependence as background reading for the subsequent articles presented in this special issue addressing tobacco cessation in acute and critical care settings.