Barriers to colorectal cancer screening in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a scoping review using the theoretical domains framework.

Background: Colorectal cancer screening plays a key role in mitigating morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. Regions such as the Eastern Mediterranean Region experience a particularly large burden of colorectal cancer. While trends have been described at the country level within the region, it is important to understand what barriers exist to colorectal cancer screening, so that more effective interventions can be conceptualized and implemented.

Risk Stratification of Prostatic Adenocarcinoma Metastatic to the Lymph Nodes.

Context.—: The pathologic nodal staging of prostatic adenocarcinoma is binary for regional lymph nodes. Stages pN0 and pN1 indicate the absence or presence of regional nodal metastasis, respectively, whereas patients with metastasis to nonregional lymph nodes are staged as pM1a.

Distribution of hemoglobinopathy disorders in Saudi Arabia based on data from the premarital screening and genetic counseling program, 2011-2015.

The prevalence rates of β-thalassemia (β-thal) and Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in Saudi Arabia are considered one of the highest compared to surrounding countries in the Middle East (0.05% and 4.50%, respectively).

An overview of mortality & predictors of small-cell and non-small cell lung cancer among Saudi patients.

Lung cancer ranks as the top cancer worldwide in terms of incidence and constitutes a major health problem. About 90% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at advance stage where treatment is not available. Despite evidence that lung cancer screening improves survival, guidelines for lung cancer screening are still a subject for debate.

Cholera outbreak in Homa Bay County, Kenya, 2015.

Cholera is among the re-emerging diseases in Kenya. Beginning in December 2014, a persistent outbreak occurred involving 29 out of the 47 countries. Homa Bay County in Western Kenya was among the first counties to report cholera cases from January to April 2015.

Mercury health risk assessment among a young adult Lebanese population.

Mercury (Hg) exposure represents a significant public health concern at a global level. This study aims at assessing Hg exposure and risk among Lebanese young adults based on Hg biomonitoring and seafood intake. A group of 166 young adults were administered a questionnaire to assess Hg exposure and were asked to provide a hair sample.

Public knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS in Bahrain: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: HIV/AIDS is one of the major health problems worldwide. Despite the low prevalence of HIV in Bahrain, educational and awareness programs remain highly important in controlling and preventing the spread of the disease. This study aimed to assess the public's knowledge, risk perceptions, and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS in Bahrain.

Association of CYP3A4/5 genotypes and expression with the survival of patients with neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a rare pediatric disease in Lebanon for which poor prognosis remains a major challenge. Genetic polymorphism of genes coding for drug‑metabolizing enzymes may influence the response of a patient to chemotherapy. This study investigates a possible association between CYP3A4/5 polymorphism and expression levels and survival in NB patients.

Age, body mass, usage of exogenous estrogen, and lifestyle factors in relation to circulating sex hormone-binding globulin concentrations in postmenopausal women.

Background: Circulating concentrations of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) have been associated with cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and hormone-dependent cancers; however, correlates of SHBG concentrations are not well understood.

Methods: We comprehensively investigated correlates of SHBG concentrations among 13 547 women who participated in the Women's Health Initiative and who had SHBG measurements. We estimated study- and ethnicity-specific associations of age, reproductive history, usage of exogenous estrogen, body mass index (BMI), and lifestyle factors such as physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, coffee intake, and dietary factors with SHBG concentrations.

Sex hormone levels and risk of breast cancer with estrogen plus progestin.

Background: Although high endogenous sex hormone levels and estrogen plus progestin (E+P) therapy are associated with increased breast cancer risk, it is unknown whether pretreatment levels of sex hormones modify E+P effect on breast cancer.

Methods: We conducted a nested case-control study within the Women's Health Initiative randomized clinical trial of E+P. The trial enrolled 16608 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years with intact uterus and no breast cancer history.

Relationship between mammographic density and breast cancer death in the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium.

Background: Women with elevated mammographic density have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. However, among women diagnosed with breast cancer, it is unclear whether higher density portends reduced survival, independent of other factors.

Methods: We evaluated relationships between mammographic density and risk of death from breast cancer and all causes within the US Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium.

The association of menopause status with physical function: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether postmenopause status is associated with self-reported limitations in physical function.

Methods: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation is a multisite, multiethnic, longitudinal study of midlife women. Women aged 45 to 57 years (N = 2,566) completed the physical function scale of the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 on visit 4 (2000-2001).

Quantifying mediating effects of endogenous estrogen and insulin in the relation between obesity, alcohol consumption, and breast cancer.

Background: Increased exposure to endogenous estrogen and/or insulin may partly explain the relationship of obesity, physical inactivity, and alcohol consumption and postmenopausal breast cancer. However, these potential mediating effects have not been formally quantified in a survival analysis setting.

Methods: We combined data from two case-cohort studies based in the Women's Health Initiative-Observational Study with serum estradiol levels, one of which also had insulin levels.

Sex hormone levels and risks of estrogen receptor-negative and estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers.

Background: Endogenous sex hormone levels are associated with risks of breast cancer overall and estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast tumors; however, their associations with ER-negative tumors remain unclear.

Methods: In a case-cohort study within the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study among postmenopausal women aged 50-79 years, we examined associations between endogenous testosterone and estradiol levels and the risks of ER-negative and ER-positive breast cancers. Serum levels of bioavailable testosterone and estradiol were assessed at the baseline visit in 317 invasive breast cancer case subjects and in a subcohort of 594 women.

Changes in invasive breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ rates in relation to the decline in hormone therapy use.

Purpose: To assess trends in invasive breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) incidence in association with changes in hormone therapy (HT) use in regular mammography screeners.

Methods: We included 2,071,814 screening mammography examinations performed between January 1997 and December 2006 on 696,385 women age 40 to 79 years; 9,586 breast cancers were diagnosed within 12 months of a screening examination. We calculated adjusted annual rates (mammogram level) for prevalent HT use, incident invasive breast cancer (overall and by tumor histology and estrogen receptor [ER] status), and incident DCIS.

The association of bone mineral density with prostate cancer risk in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study.

We investigated the association of bone mineral density (BMD) measures with prostate cancer (PCa) risk in older men enrolled in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study. We hypothesized that men with higher BMD, a marker of exposure to endogenous sex hormones, would have an increased incidence of PCa. The cohort included 4,597 men (89% White, 65 years or older) with no prior history of PCa.

The link between osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and osteoporosis are common age-related conditions associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and disability.Traditionally, these two conditions were considered unrelated and their coexistence was attributed to independent age-related processes. However, an increasing body of biological and epidemiological evidence has provided support for a link between the two conditions that cannot be explained by age alone.

Volumetric BMD and vascular calcification in middle-aged women: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation.

Unlabelled: The association of spine vBMD with AC and CAC was studied in a biracial cohort of 490 middle-aged women in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Lower vBMD was related to high AC, but not to CAC, independent of age and shared risk factors between osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.

Introduction: This analysis studied the association of spine volumetric BMD (vBMD) with aortic (AC) and coronary artery (CAC) calcification in middle-aged women and evaluated whether such associations were independent of age and shared risk factors between osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) or explained by endogenous estradiol levels.

Weight change is associated with change in arterial stiffness among healthy young adults.

Risk factors for arterial stiffness progression have not been well characterized. We examined the relationship between arterial stiffness progression and body weight and weight gain in a group of healthy young adults. Aortic pulse-wave velocity was assessed at 2 time points approximately 2 years apart in 152 white and black adults aged 20 to 40 years, and was standardized by the time between visits to obtain annualized pulse-wave velocity changes.