Three-dimensional finite element analysis of the effect of alveolar cleft bone graft on the maxillofacial biomechanical stabilities of unilateral complete cleft lip and palate.

Background: The objective is to clarify the effect of alveolar cleft bone graft on maxillofacial biomechanical stabilities, the key areas when bone grafting and in which should be supplemented with bone graft once bone resorption occurred in UCCLP (unilateral complete cleft lip and palate).

Methods: Maxillofacial CAD (computer aided design) models of non-bone graft and full maxilla cleft, full alveolar cleft bone graft, bone graft in other sites of the alveolar cleft were acquired by processing the UCCLP maxillofacial CT data in three-dimensional modeling software. The maxillofacial bone EQV (equivalent) stresses and bone suture EQV strains under occlusal states were obtained in the finite element analysis software.

[Changes of postoperative velopharyngeal function in children with cleft palate under 5 years old].

Objective: To demonstrate the regularity of velopharyngeal function recovery after primary cleft palatoplasty and its correlation with different surgical procedures, ages, cleft types, and follow-up times.

Methods: Patients with cleft palate under 5 years old who had more than two follow-up records were included in this study, and consecutive evaluations of postoperative velopharyngeal function were performed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to reveal the regularity of postoperative velopharyngeal function and the possible influencing factors.

The Association Between Bleeding and the Incidence of Warfarin Discontinuation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Aim: While bleeding is a well-known complication of warfarin use and is thought to be a contributory cause of treatment discontinuation, studies quantifying this association are limited. The objective of this study was to quantify the association between bleeding events and subsequent warfarin discontinuation in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

Methods: A nested case-control analysis was conducted within a cohort of patients with NVAF newly treated with warfarin.

Benefit-Risk Assessment, Communication, and Evaluation (BRACE) throughout the life cycle of therapeutic products: overall perspective and role of the pharmacoepidemiologist.

Purpose: Optimizing a therapeutic product's benefit-risk profile is an on-going process throughout the product's life cycle. Different, yet related, benefit-risk assessment strategies and frameworks are being developed by various regulatory agencies, industry groups, and stakeholders. This paper summarizes current best practices and discusses the role of the pharmacoepidemiologist in these activities, taking a life-cycle approach to integrated Benefit-Risk Assessment, Communication, and Evaluation (BRACE).

Pitfalls in meta-analyses on adverse events reported from clinical trials.

In recent years, comparative effectiveness research has been more aggressively pursued as a means to improve health care, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses to inform health policy decision making. Because most clinical trials have pre-specified approaches to collecting data on efficacy, the value of systematic reviews and meta-analyses in assessing efficacy outcomes is generally accepted. In contrast, collection of data on adverse events is seldom well structured.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in obesity-related genes and all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the associations between 16 specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 8 obesity-related genes and overall and cause-specific mortality. We also examined the associations between the SNPs and body mass index (BMI) and change in BMI over time.

Methods: Data were analyzed from 9,919 individuals who participated in two large community-based cohort studies conducted in Washington County, Maryland in 1974 (CLUE I) and 1989 (CLUE II).

Genetic polymorphisms of estrogen receptors alpha and beta and the risk of developing prostate cancer.

Estrogen may be involved in the development of prostate cancer. The association between genetic polymorphisms of estrogen receptors alpha (ESR1) and beta (ESR2) and prostate cancer risk was examined in a nested case-control study in Washington County, Maryland. Incident prostate cancer cases (n = 269) were matched to one or two controls (n = 440) by age, sex, race, and date of blood donation.

The risk of developing lung cancer associated with antioxidants in the blood: ascorbic acids, carotenoids, alpha-tocopherol, selenium, and total peroxyl radical absorbing capacity.

Lung cancer cases diagnosed during the period 1975 through 1993 and matched controls were identified in the rosters of Washington County, Maryland residents who had donated blood for a serum bank in 1974 or 1989. Plasma from participants in the 1989 project was assayed for ascorbic acid; serum or plasma was assayed for participants in either project for alpha- and beta-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin, lycopene, alpha-tocopherol, selenium, and peroxyl radical absorption capacity. Among the total group of 258 cases and 515 controls, serum/plasma concentrations were significantly lower among cases than controls for cryptoxanthin, beta-carotene, and lutein/zeaxanthin with case-control differences of -25.

A community-based study of cigarette smoking behavior in relation to variation in three genes involved in dopamine metabolism: Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) and monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A).

Objective: Cigarette smoking behavior may be influenced by catechol-O-methlyltransferase (COMT), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), and monamine oxidase-A (MAO-A), genes that play roles in dopamine metabolism. The association between common polymorphisms of these genes and smoking behavior was assessed among 10,059 Caucasian volunteers in Washington County, MD in 1989.

Methods: Age-adjusted logistic regression was used to measure the association between variants of these single nucleotide polymorphisms and smoking initiation and persistent smoking.

Genetic polymorphisms of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors and the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in a community-based cohort in washington county, Maryland.

The primary aim of this study was to examine prospectively the associations between 5 peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in a community-based cohort study in Washington County, Maryland. Data were analyzed from 9,364 Caucasian men and women participating in CLUE-II. Genotyping on 5 PPAR polymorphisms was conducted using peripheral DNA samples collected in 1989.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in inflammation-related genes and mortality in a community-based cohort in Washington County, Maryland.

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes controlling inflammatory processes and mortality. Data were analyzed from 9,933 individuals who participated in two large community-based cohort studies conducted in Washington County, Maryland, in 1974 and 1989, designated "CLUE I" and "CLUE II," respectively. DNA from blood collected in 1989 was genotyped for 47 SNPs in 23 inflammation-related genes, including interferon-gamma (IFNgamma), lymphotoxin-alpha (LTalpha), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), C-reactive protein (CRP), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), and the human endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS).

Measurement of cyclin E genomic copy number and strand length in cell-free DNA distinguish malignant versus benign effusions.

Purpose: Previous studies have shown that the concentration of cell-free DNA was higher and its strand length longer in body fluids obtained from patients with cancer as compared to patients with benign diseases. We hypothesized that analysis of both DNA copy number and strand length of cell-free DNA from an amplified chromosomal region could improve the diagnosis of malignant diseases in body fluids.

Experimental Design: To test this hypothesis, we used ovarian cancer effusion as an example and applied a quantitative real-time PCR to measure the relative copy number and strand length of DNA fragments from one of the most frequently amplified genes, cyclin E, in ovarian serous carcinomas.

Body mass, polymorphisms in obesity-related genes, and the risk of developing breast cancer among women with benign breast disease.

Background: A cohort study was conducted among post-menopausal women to determine whether genetic polymorphisms in selected obesity-related genes (PPARG, LPL, LEPR, PON1, PON2, TNF-alpha) were associated with the progression of benign breast disease (BBD) to breast cancer and whether the selected polymorphisms modified the association between body mass and breast cancer among women with BBD.

Methods: Among participants in an ongoing cohort study, 994 Caucasian post-menopausal women had a breast biopsy for BBD. Of these women, 61 subsequently developed breast cancer.

Frequencies of single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes regulating inflammatory responses in a community-based population.

Background: Allele frequencies reported from public databases or articles are mostly based on small sample sizes. Differences in genotype frequencies by age, race and sex have implications for studies designed to examine genetic susceptibility to disease. In a community-based cohort of 9,960 individuals, we compared the allele frequencies of 49 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of genes involved in inflammatory pathways to the frequencies reported on public databases, and examined the genotypes frequencies by age and sex.

The efficacy and safety of multivitamin and mineral supplement use to prevent cancer and chronic disease in adults: a systematic review for a National Institutes of Health state-of-the-science conference.

Background: Multivitamin and mineral supplements are the most commonly used dietary supplements in the United States.

Purpose: To synthesize studies on the efficacy and safety of multivitamin/mineral supplement use in primary prevention of cancer and chronic disease in the general population.

Data Sources: English-language literature search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases through February 2006 and hand-searching of pertinent journals and articles.

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, cyclooxygenase polymorphisms, and the risk of developing breast carcinoma among women with benign breast disease.

Background: Biopsy-proven benign breast disease (BBD) is a risk factor for developing breast carcinoma; however, to the authors' knowledge, little is known regarding factors related to progression to carcinoma. A cohort study was conducted to examine the role of cyclooxygenase (COX) polymorphisms and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the progression of BBD to breast carcinoma.

Methods: Among participants in an ongoing cohort study, 1467 women underwent a breast biopsy for BBD.

C47T polymorphism in manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), antioxidant intake and survival.

Introduction And Objective: Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), an enzyme that catalyzes superoxide radical quenching, is hypothesized to protect against premature aging. A C47T transition in the MnSOD gene may affect the enzyme's distribution to the mitochondrion, a site of high oxidative stress. We examined the association between this polymorphism and survival.

The effects of vitamin C supplementation on serum concentrations of uric acid: results of a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Reductions in serum uric acid levels are clinically relevant. Previous studies have suggested a uricosuric effect of vitamin C. Whether vitamin C reduces serum uric acid is unknown.

A prospective study to assess the bladder distension effects on dosimetry in intracavitary brachytherapy of cervical cancer via computed tomography-assisted techniques.

Background And Purpose: Intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) is as important as external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for the radical radiotherapy of uterine cervical cancer. The degree of urinary bladder distension during ICBT may affect the dose distribution in the bladder and rectum, to which an overdose may increase the chance of developing treatment-related complications. The purpose of this prospective study was to assess and quantify the impact of bladder distension on dosimetry in ICBT in patients with cervical cancer.

Historical comparison of perfluorooctanesulfonate, perfluorooctanoate, and other fluorochemicals in human blood.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether there has been a change in the human blood concentration of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and five other fluorochemicals since 1974. Blood samples were collected in 1974 (serum) and 1989 (plasma) from volunteer participants of a large community health study. The study included a total of 356 samples (178 from each time period).

N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) genotypes, cigarette smoking, and the risk of breast cancer.

N-acetyltransferases (NATs) are important catalytic enzymes that metabolize carcinogenic arylamines. NAT2 genotype might modify the role of cigarette smoking, a source of arylamine exposure, in breast cancer. We conducted a nested case-control study to investigate the association between NAT2 genotype, smoking and breast cancer risk among women (110 cases, 113 matched controls) from the CLUE II cohort in Washington County, MD.

Supplementation of diets with alpha-tocopherol reduces serum concentrations of gamma- and delta-tocopherol in humans.

Despite promising evidence from in vitro experiments and observational studies, supplementation of diets with alpha-tocopherol has not reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer in most large-scale clinical trials. One plausible explanation is that the potential health benefits of alpha-tocopherol supplements are offset by deleterious changes in the bioavailability and/or bioactivity of other nutrients. We studied the effects of supplementing diets with RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (400 IU/d) on serum concentrations of gamma- and delta-tocopherol in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 184 adult nonsmokers.