A geographical study of thyroid cancer incidence in north-west England following the Windscale nuclear reactor fire of 1957.

The Windscale nuclear reactor fire at Sellafield, United Kingdom, in October 1957 led to an uncontrolled release of iodine-131 (radioactive half-life, 8 d) into the atmosphere. Contamination from the accident was most pronounced in the counties of Cumbria and Lancashire, north-west England. Radioiodine concentrates in the thyroid gland producing an excess risk of thyroid cancer, notably among those exposed as children, which persists into later life.

The androgen receptor gene CAG repeat in relation to 4-year changes in androgen-sensitive endpoints in community-dwelling older European men.

Context: The androgen receptor (AR) gene exon 1 CAG repeat length has been proposed to be a determinant of between-individual variations in androgen action in target tissues, which might regulate phenotypic differences of human ageing. However, findings on its phenotypic effects are inconclusive.

Objective: To assess whether the AR CAG repeat length is associated with longitudinal changes in endpoints that are influenced by testosterone (T) levels in middle-aged and elderly European men.

UK case control study of brain tumours in children, teenagers and young adults: a pilot study.

Background: Tumours of the central nervous system are the second most common group of childhood cancers in 0-14 year olds (24% of total cancers) and represent a major diagnostic group in 15-24 year olds. The pilot case-control study aimed to establish methodologies for a future comprehensive aetiological investigation among children and young adults.

Methods: Eligible cases were newly diagnosed with an intracranial tumour of neuroepithelial tissue aged 0-24 years.

Median percent change: a robust alternative for assessing temporal trends.

A typical summary statistic for temporal trends is the average percent change (APC). The APC is estimated by using a generalized linear model, usually under the assumption of linearity on the logarithmic scale. A serious limitation of least-squares type estimators is their sensitivity to outliers.

A survey of procedural sedation and analgesia practices in pediatric oncology centers in India.

Objective: Repeated lumbar punctures (LP) and bone marrow aspirations (BMA) are part of childhood cancer management. Adequate sedation and analgesia for these procedures in a safe environment is desirable. We evaluate current practice related to this in pediatric oncology centers in India.

Comparative incidence patterns and trends of gonadal and extragonadal germ cell tumors in England, 1979 to 2003.

Background: It is believed that gonadal and extragonadal germ cell tumors (GCTs) arise from primordial germ cells and may have similar etiopathogenesis. Unlike testicular GCTs, there has been limited comprehensive population-based analysis of ovarian and extragonadal GCTs.

Methods: All malignant GCTs and all central nervous system (CNS) GCTs with benign and uncertain behavior that were registered in England in the age group 0 to 84 years from 1979 to 2003 were included in the current study.

The contrasting age-incidence patterns of bone tumours in teenagers and young adults: Implications for aetiology.

Bone tumours comprise 0.2% of cancers overall but 5.7% in 15-24 year olds.

Relationship between height at diagnosis and bone tumours in young people: a meta-analysis.

Objective: Some evidence exists that patients with osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma are taller than the general population. However, previous studies are under-powered, lack comprehensive data and show inconsistencies.

Methods: Relevant studies linking osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma with height at diagnosis were identified in two major online databases, Medline (1950 to 2009) and Embase (1980 to 2009).

Cancer at ages 15-29 years: the contrasting incidence in India and England.

Background: There has been a steady increase in published research from Europe and North America on the epidemiology of cancers in young people. There are limited data from the developing world. We contrast the incidence of cancer at ages 15-29 years in India and England.

Are reported increases in incidence of primary CNS tumours real? An analysis of longitudinal trends in England, 1979-2003.

Reported increases in the incidence of CNS tumours in the developed world in the 1970s to 1990s have been a cause for concern and debate. It still remains to be adequately answered whether these increases are true or an artefact of changes in diagnostic and registration practices. Using high-quality national cancer registration data, we have analysed incidence trends for each major histological subgroup of CNS tumour (2000 World Health Organisation (WHO) classification) registered in those aged 0-84 years for the whole of England during the period 1979 through 2003.

Age-incidence patterns of primary CNS tumors in children, adolescents, and adults in England.

Around 25% of all tumors in those 0-14 years of age and 9% in those 15-24 years of age involve the CNS. They are the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in both age groups. In adults 25-84 years of age, the proportion of CNS tumors is 2%; 5-year overall survival is 10%-15%; and survivors have considerable morbidity.

Changes in cancer incidence in teenagers and young adults (ages 13 to 24 years) in England 1979-2003.

Background: Cancer for teenagers and young adults represents a major source of morbidity and mortality. Trends in cancer incidence can provide pointers concerning how changes in the environment and in personal behavior affect cancer risks.

Methods: Data on 39,129 neoplasms in individuals ages 13 to 24 years who were diagnosed in England from 1979 to 2003 were analyzed.

Cancer risks among relatives of children with Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

A role for genetic susceptibility in the aetiology of childhood lymphomas was investigated in 454 families of children with histologically confirmed Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) from Northwest England. Cancers in parents were obtained from the UK National Health Service Central Register and in other close relatives by interview with the parents. The cancer incidence among relatives was compared with expected incidence based on cancer registry data for England.

Further clues concerning the aetiology of childhood central nervous system tumours.

Previously, we reported space-time clustering and seasonal variation in childhood central nervous system (CNS) tumours for the period 1954-1998. These previous studies provided evidence that infections may be involved in aetiology. To determine whether there were also localised spatial factors involved in aetiology we analysed the geographical distribution of CNS tumours in children aged 0-14 years using Manchester Children's Tumour Registry (MCTR) data for the period 1976-2000.

Geographical and ecological analyses of childhood acute leukaemias and lymphomas in north-west England.

Childhood leukaemias and lymphomas have been associated with exposure to environmental factors, including infections, which show geographical variation. This study examined the geographical distribution of the incidence of acute leukaemia and lymphoma using Manchester Children's Tumour Registry (MCTR) data 1976-2000. A total of 910 children were included, all of whom had histologically and/or cytologically verified leukaemia or lymphoma.

Geographical and ecological analyses of childhood Wilms' tumours and soft-tissue sarcomas in North West England.

The aim of this paper was to study the geographical distribution of Wilms' tumours (WT) and soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) for 0-14 year olds included in a population-based registry from North West England during 1976-2000. Standardised morbidity ratios (SMRs) were calculated. Relationships between incidence rates and small area (ward) population density, ethnic composition, deprivation index and urban-rural status were examined using Poisson regression.