Fetal growth and the risk of childhood CNS tumors and lymphomas in Western Australia.

The etiology of childhood cancers is largely unknown, although the early age at diagnosis has led to particular interest in in utero and perinatal factors. Birth weight is the most frequently studied perinatal factor in relation to risk of childhood cancers, and results have been inconsistent. We investigated whether the risk of CNS tumors and lymphomas in children was associated with three measures of the appropriateness of intra-uterine growth: proportion of optimal birth weight (POBW), birth length (POBL) and weight for length (POWFL).

Trends in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Western Australia, 1960-2006.

Increases in the incidence of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have been reported in some countries, while other reports from similar geographical regions have indicated stable rates. The reasons for the discrepancies have been debated in the literature, with the focus on whether the observed increases are "real" or an artifact resulting from improvements in diagnosis, case ascertainment and population coverage over time. We used population-based data from Western Australia to investigate trends in the incidence of childhood ALL between 1960 and 2006.

Fetal growth and acute childhood leukemia: looking beyond birth weight.

The authors examined the relation between birth weight, intrauterine growth, and risk of childhood leukemia using population-based linked health data from Western Australia. A cohort of 576,593 infants born in 1980-2004 were followed from birth to diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (n = 243) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (n = 36) before their 15th birthday, death, or the end of follow-up (December 31, 2005). Data were analyzed using Cox regression.

Physical and mental health of mothers caring for a child with Rett syndrome.

Objectives: Our goal was to investigate the physical and mental health of mothers who care for a child with Rett syndrome.

Methods: We assessed maternal physical and mental health by using the SF-12 version 1 physical component summary and mental component summary scores as the outcome measures of interest. Mothers (n = 135) of children with Rett syndrome completed the SF-12 measure as part of the Australian Rett Syndrome Study in 2002.

Rett syndrome in Australia: a review of the epidemiology.

Objective: To examine the prevalence, cumulative incidence, and survival in an Australian cohort with Rett syndrome (RTT).

Study Design: The Australian Rett Syndrome Database is a longitudinal data collection that included 276 verified female cases at the end of 2004. Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier product limit method, and cumulative incidence was determined using the complement of the Kaplan-Meier method.

p.R270X MECP2 mutation and mortality in Rett syndrome.

Among cases in the Australian Rett Syndrome Database, the nonsense mutation p.R270X is one of the most commonly occurring single pathogenic MECP2 mutations. In two recent published reports of the MECP2 mutational spectrum the p.

Ovarian cancer in Western Australia (1982-98): incidence, mortality and survival.

Objectives: To investigate the trends in incidence and mortality and estimate survival for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Western Australia. CASE SELECTION AND METHODS: There were 1,336 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1982-98. Age-standardised rates were calculated by the direct method.

Long-term relative survival in elderly patients after carotid endarterectomy: a population-based study.

Background And Purpose: Octogenarians were not included in the major trials of carotid endarterectomy. Concern has been expressed about the role of carotid endarterectomy in this age group. This concern is based in part on uncertainty about the long-term survival of elderly patients after carotid endarterectomy.

Ovarian cancer in Western Australia (1982-1998): trends in surgical intervention and relative survival.

Objectives: We aimed to review the utilisation and trends in surgical procedures for the primary management of ovarian cancer and the survival outcomes of patients surgically treated in Western Australia.

Methods: The population-based Western Australia Data Linkage System was used to link hospital morbidity and mortality data for all women diagnosed with malignant primary ovarian cancer in the State Cancer Registry in the period 1982-1998. Poisson regression was used to analyse trends in surgical procedure rates.

Trends and outcomes for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Australia.

Background: Cancer of the ovary is the sixth most common cancer in women and the leading cause of death from a gynaecological malignancy. Early disease is asymptomatic and often results in a late diagnosis with approximately two-thirds of all cases presenting at an advanced stage.

Objective: To provide an overview of ovarian cancer trends and disease management, and the implications of these for general practice.