Arsenic concentrations in prediagnostic toenails and the risk of bladder cancer in a cohort study of male smokers.

At high concentrations, inorganic arsenic can cause bladder cancer in humans. However, it is unclear whether low exposure to inorganic arsenic in drinking water (<100 microg/liter) is related to bladder cancer risk. No study has been known to use biomarkers to assess the relation between individual arsenic exposure and bladder cancer risk.

Inhibitory effects of cystatins on proteolytic activities of the Plum pox potyvirus cysteine proteinases.

In an effort to develop new antiviral strategies effective against potyviruses, several cystatins were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the cysteine proteinases of Plum pox potyvirus (PPV) using in vitro proteolytic assays. The following cystatins were purified as GST fusion proteins and shown to be active against papain:oryzacystatins I and II (OCI and OCII), corn cystatin II (CCII), human stefin A (HSA), the domain 8 of tomato multicystatin (TMC-8) and a large 24kDa tomato cystatin (LTCyst). These cystatins did not inhibit the activity of purified recombinant PPV NIa proteinase, a serine-like cysteine proteinases related to the 3C proteinases of picornaviruses and to chymotrypsin.

A prospective study of folate intake and the risk of pancreatic cancer in men and women.

Laboratory and human studies suggest that folate intake may influence the risk of some cancers. However, prospective information about the relation between folate intake and the risk of exocrine pancreatic cancer is limited. The authors examined the relation of dietary folate intake to the risk of pancreatic cancer in two large prospective US cohorts.

Dietary intake of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and the risk of prostate cancer.

Background: Laboratory studies have shown that n-3 fatty acids inhibit and n-6 fatty acids stimulate prostate tumor growth, but whether the dietary intake of these fatty acids affects prostate cancer risk in humans remains unclear.

Objective: We prospectively evaluated the association between intakes of alpha-linolenic (ALA; 18:3n-3), eicosapentaenoic (EPA; 20:5n-3), docosahexaenoic (DHA; 22:6n-3), linoleic (LA; 18:2n-6), and arachidonic (AA; 20:4n-6) acids and prostate cancer risk.

Design: A cohort of 47 866 US men aged 40-75 y with no cancer history in 1986 was followed for 14 y.

[The impact of a case management approach for total hip and knee arthroplasty patients].

The primary goal of this research was to evaluate the impact of introducing a case management approach for total hip (THA) and knee (TKA) arthroplasty patients, on the number of complications, visits to the emergency clinic and readmissions, as well as on length of stay (LS). The period covered by this retrospective study was fiscal 1999-2000. Subjects were divided into an experimental group, with the case management, and a control group receiving the usual care.

Colorado potato beetles show differential digestive compensatory responses to host plants expressing distinct sets of defense proteins.

Herbivorous insects fed plants expressing proteinase inhibitors (PIs) compensate for the loss of digestive proteolytic functions by producing novel proteinases. We assessed here whether such compensatory responses represent a general, non-specific adaptation to defense-related proteins in host plant tissues, or if distinct responses occur depending on the stress exerted on the plant. As a model, growth, development, and digestive proteases of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) were monitored after feeding larvae with plants pre-treated with either methyl jasmonate or arachidonic acid, two compounds inducing different sets of defense genes in potato.

Colorado potato beetles compensate for tomato cathepsin D inhibitor expressed in transgenic potato.

We reported earlier the importance of digestive cathepsin D-like activity for initiating dietary protein hydrolysis in Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say [Brunelle et al. (1999) Arch. Insect Biochem.

Peptic ulcer disease and the risk of bladder cancer in a prospective study of male health professionals.

Helicobacter pylori is a risk factor for gastric and duodenal ulcers, but gastric ulcers generally occur in individuals who have low acid production and diffuse gastritis, whereas duodenal ulcers are more likely to occur with high acid output and antrum-predominant gastritis. Low acid production, gastritis, and ulcer healing each contribute to poor antioxidant absorption, oxidative stress, and elevated nitrite levels in the stomach. N-Nitrosamines are known carcinogens, and nitrate ingestion has been related to bladder cancer risk.

A prospective study of aspirin use and the risk of pancreatic cancer in women.

Background: In vitro experiments and limited animal studies suggest that aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may inhibit pancreatic carcinogenesis. Because few studies have examined the association between aspirin use and pancreatic cancer in humans and the results have been inconsistent, we examined the relationship between aspirin use and the development of pancreatic cancer in the Nurses' Health Study.

Methods: Among 88 378 women without cancer at baseline, we documented 161 cases of pancreatic cancer during 18 years of follow-up.

Interrelation of energy intake, body size, and physical activity with prostate cancer in a large prospective cohort study.

Energy restriction reduces prostate tumor growth in transplantable tumor models in rodents, which suggests that excessive energy intake may contribute to the risk of prostate cancer. The association of total energy intake across the normal range with prostate cancer has not been consistent in epidemiological studies. We prospectively evaluated the joint associations of energy intake and body size or physical activity with prostate cancer.

Oryzacystatin I expressed in transgenic potato induces digestive compensation in an insect natural predator via its herbivorous prey feeding on the plant.

We observed recently that the rice cysteine proteinase inhibitor, oryzacystatin I (OCI) expressed in transgenic potato does not affect growth and development of the two-spotted stinkbug predator (Perillus bioculatus) via its herbivorous prey feeding on the plant. Here we monitored the inhibitory activity of recombinant OCI along this potato --> herbivore --> predator continuum, to determine if the absence of effect was associated with a digestive compensatory response of the predator following inhibition of its proteinases by the recombinant cystatin. After confirming that OCI is present in the plant, and ingested in an active form by potato beetle larvae, quantitative and electrophoretic assays allowed us to determine that the recombinant cystatin (representing about 0.

Molecular interactions between an insect predator and its herbivore prey on transgenic potato expressing a cysteine proteinase inhibitor from rice.

Transgenic plants expressing resistance to herbivorous insects may represent a safe and sustainable pest control alternative if they do not interfere with the natural enemies of target pests. Here we examined interactions between oryzacystatin I (OCI), a proteinase inhibitor from rice genetically engineered into potato (Solanum tuberosum cv. Kennebec, line K52) to increase resistance to insect herbivory, and the insect predator Perillus bioculatus.

Comparison of estimated renal net acid excretion from dietary intake and body size with urine pH.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine whether estimated net acid excretion (NAE) from two dietary assessment instruments can predict urine pH in healthy volunteers.

Design: The Observing Protein and Energy Nutrition (OPEN) study, which was designed to assess dietary measurement error, included men and women aged 40 to 69 years. Participants were asked to complete two food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) and two 24-hour recalls at approximately three-month intervals, and to return two 24-hour urine samples during the same period.

Intra-abdominal pressure monitoring for critically ill patients.

Increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is associated with a variety of clinical situations and has profound effects, both locally and systemically, that may result in organ dysfunction and failure. If not identified and treated promptly, increased IAP can be fatal. Urinary bladder pressure monitoring is a simple and reliable method of quantifying IAP and is a key factor leading to prompt management and a successful outcome for patients.

Dietary meat, dairy products, fat, and cholesterol and pancreatic cancer risk in a prospective study.

Case-control studies suggest that meat and cholesterol intakes may be related to elevated risks of pancreatic cancer. Few prospective studies have examined associations between diet and pancreatic cancer, although in one recent study saturated fat consumption was related to higher risk. In a cohort of US women, the authors confirmed 178 pancreatic cancer cases over 18 years of follow-up.

Parity, reproductive factors, and the risk of pancreatic cancer in women.

Incidence rates for pancreatic cancer are consistently lower in women than in men. Previous studies suggest that reproductive factors, particularly parity, may reduce pancreatic cancer risk in women. We examined parity, breast feeding history, age at first birth, menstrual factors, and exogenous hormone use in relation to pancreatic cancer risk in a prospective cohort study of women.

A prospective study of intake of fish and marine fatty acids and prostate cancer.

Experimental studies suggest that marine fatty acids have an antitumor effect on prostate tumor cells. The aim of this study was to investigate whether high consumption of fish and marine fatty acids reduces the risk of prostate cancer in humans. We followed 47882 men participating in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

Dietary carotenoids, serum beta-carotene, and retinol and risk of lung cancer in the alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene cohort study.

Findings from several beta-carotene supplementation trials were unexpected and conflicted with most observational studies. Carotenoids other than beta-carotene are found in a variety of fruits and vegetables and may play a role in this important malignancy, but previous findings regarding the five major carotenoids are inconsistent. The authors analyzed the associations between dietary beta-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein/zeaxanthin, lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin, vitamin A, serum beta-carotene, and serum retinol and the lung cancer risk in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study cohort of male smokers conducted in southwestern Finland between 1985 and 1993.

Dietary sugar, glycemic load, and pancreatic cancer risk in a prospective study.

Background: Evidence from both animal and human studies suggests that abnormal glucose metabolism plays an important role in pancreatic carcinogenesis. We investigated whether diets high in foods that increase postprandial glucose levels are associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

Methods: In a cohort of U.