Mental health and social connection among older lesbian and bisexual women.

Objective: To assess differences in psychosocial and mental health outcomes between older lesbian and bisexual women compared to heterosexual women.

Design: Cross sectional study.

Setting: The study was carried out in the California Teachers Study, a prospective cohort study.

Urinary cadmium and timing of menarche and pubertal development in girls.

Background: Cadmium (Cd) is a developmental toxicant that is released into the environment during industrial processes. Previous animal studies suggest that Cd may impact the onset of puberty.

Objectives: To determine whether Cd exposure, measured as urinary Cd concentration, was associated with ages at menarche and pubertal development.

Heavy Metals in California Women Living in a Gold Mining-Impacted Community.

Gold mining activities occurred throughout the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California, leaving behind persistent toxic contaminants in the soil, dust, and water that include arsenic and cadmium. Despite a high level of concern among local residents about potential exposure and high breast cancer rates, no biomonitoring data has been collected to evaluate the levels of heavy metals. We conducted a study to characterize the urinary levels of heavy metals among women in this region by working with the community in Nevada County.

Development, Evaluation, and Implementation of a Pan-African Cancer Research Network: Men of African Descent and Carcinoma of the Prostate.

Purpose: Cancer of the prostate (CaP) is the leading cancer among men in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A substantial proportion of these men with CaP are diagnosed at late (usually incurable) stages, yet little is known about the etiology of CaP in SSA.

Methods: We established the Men of African Descent and Carcinoma of the Prostate Network, which includes seven SSA centers partnering with five US centers to study the genetics and epidemiology of CaP in SSA.

Determinants and within-person variability of urinary cadmium concentrations among women in northern California.

Background: Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Urinary Cd (U-Cd) concentration is considered a biomarker of long-term exposure.

Objectives: Our objectives were to evaluate the within-person correlation among repeat samples and to identify predictors of U-Cd concentrations.