Association of LEP G2548A and LEPR Q223R polymorphisms with cancer susceptibility: evidence from a meta-analysis.

Background: Numerous epidemiological studies have examined associations of genetic variations in LEP (G2548A, -2548 nucleotide upstream of the ATG start site) and LEPR (Q223R, nonsynonymous SNP in exon 6) with cancer susceptibility; however, the findings are inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to comprehensively evaluate such associations.

Methods: We searched published literature from MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and CBM for eligible publications.

Personal, Social and Environmental Risk Factors of Problematic Gambling Among High School Adolescents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Understanding risk factors of problematic gambling is prerequisite to effective intervention design to alleviate the negative consequences of gambling. This study explored the personal, social and environmental risk factors of problematic gambling in four high schools in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, among students (N = 422) ranging from 12 to 21 years of age. Results from the cross-sectional survey showed that personal feelings (e.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between diabetes mellitus and incidence and mortality in breast and colorectal cancer.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with increased cancer incidence and mortality. Several mechanisms involved in diabetes, such as promotion of cell proliferation and decreased apoptosis, may foster carcinogenesis. This study investigated the association between DM and cancer incidence and cancer-specific mortality in patients with breast and colorectal carcinoma.

Predicting blood donation maintenance: the importance of planning future donations.

Background: Interventions to retain blood donors need to target the most influential and changeable factors. This study tested antecedents of three successive donation decisions.

Study Design And Methods: Participants were donors who had donated for the first time 1 year previous (n = 1018).

Qualitative evaluation of the Teenage Mothers Project in Uganda: a community-based empowerment intervention for unmarried teenage mothers.

Background: A large proportion of unmarried teenage mothers in Uganda face physical, psychological, and social problems after pregnancy and childbirth, such as obstetric complications, lack of education, and stigmatisation in their communities. The Teenage Mothers Project (TMP) in Eastern Uganda empowers unmarried teenage mothers to cope with the consequences of early pregnancy and motherhood. Since 2000, 1036 unmarried teenage mothers, their parents, and community leaders participated in economic and social empowerment interventions.

Investigating the influence of working memory capacity when driving behavior is combined with cognitive load: An LCT study of young novice drivers.

Distracted driving has received increasing attention in the literature due to potential adverse safety outcomes. An often posed solution to alleviate distraction while driving is hands-free technology. Interference by distraction can occur however at the sensory input (e.

Targeted molecular trait stacking in cotton through targeted double-strand break induction.

Recent developments of tools for targeted genome modification have led to new concepts in how multiple traits can be combined. Targeted genome modification is based on the use of nucleases with tailor-made specificities to introduce a DNA double-strand break (DSB) at specific target loci. A re-engineered meganuclease was designed for specific cleavage of an endogenous target sequence adjacent to a transgenic insect control locus in cotton.

Threatening communication: a critical re-analysis and a revised meta-analytic test of fear appeal theory.

Despite decades of research, consensus regarding the dynamics of fear appeals remains elusive. A meta-analysis was conducted that was designed to resolve this controversy. Publications that were included in previous meta-analyses were re-analysed, and a number of additional publications were located.

A qualitative study of the coverage of influenza vaccination on Dutch news sites and social media websites.

Background: Information about influenza and the effectiveness of vaccination against influenza is largely available on the Internet, and may influence individual decision making about participation in future influenza vaccination rounds. E-health information has often been found to be inaccurate, or even to contradict Health Authority recommendations, especially when it concerns controversial topics.

Methods: By means of an online media monitoring programme, Dutch news sites and social media websites were scanned for the Dutch counterparts of the terms influenza, vaccination, vaccine and epidemic during February, March and April 2012.

A genome-wide association study for venous thromboembolism: the extended cohorts for heart and aging research in genomic epidemiology (CHARGE) consortium.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common, heritable disease resulting in high rates of hospitalization and mortality. Yet few associations between VTE and genetic variants, all in the coagulation pathway, have been established. To identify additional genetic determinants of VTE, we conducted a two-stage genome-wide association study (GWAS) among individuals of European ancestry in the extended cohorts for heart and aging research in genomic epidemiology (CHARGE) VTE consortium.

[Reasons for having oneself vaccinated against HPV: implications for the future provision of information].

Objective: To examine which factors determined the participation in HPV vaccination programme in 2009 and 2010.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Method: Random samples of Dutch girls who had been invited for the HPV vaccination programme in 2009 and 2010, as well as their mothers, were drawn from an Internet panel.

Thiazide-associated hyponatremia: a population-based study.

Background: Hyponatremia is one of the most common adverse reactions to thiazide diuretics. In the present study, we analyzed differences in thiazide-associated hyponatremia between men and women and between different categories of age, body mass index (BMI), daily thiazide dose, and estimated glomerular filtration rate.

Study Design: Population-based cohort study.

Recurrent and founder mutations in the Netherlands-Phospholamban p.Arg14del mutation causes arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Recently, we showed that the c.40_42delAGA (p.Arg14del) mutation in the phospholamban (PLN) gene can be identified in 10-15 % of Dutch patients with dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy.

[Graphic images on cigarette packages not effective].

The Dutch Government intends to make graphic images on cigarette packages mandatory. However, contrary to other policy measures to reduce smoking, health warnings do not work. There is no acceptable evidence in favour of graphic images and behaviour change theories suggest methods of change that improve skills, self-efficacy and social support.

The effect of thiazide and loop diuretics on urinary levels of free deoxypyridinoline: an osteoclastic bone-resorption marker.

What Is Known And Objective: Diuretics can cause changes in calcium levels due to renal effects. Moreover, calcium levels can also vary as a result of changes in intestinal absorption and in the activity of osteoclastic cells. A marker of osteoclastic bone-resorption activity is the level of urinary free deoxypyridinoline (FDP).

Social presence and use of internet-delivered interventions: a multi-method approach.

Objective: Internet-delivered interventions can effectively change health risk behaviors and their determinants, but adherence to intervention websites once they are accessed is very low. This study tests whether and how social presence elements can increase website use.

Methods: A website about Hepatitis A, B, and C virus infections was used in a preparatory lab-based eye-tracking study assessing whether social presence elements attract participants' attention, because this is a prerequisite for affecting website use.

Healthy and unhealthy social norms and food selection. Findings from a field-experiment.

The behavior of others in people's social environment (i.e., descriptive norms), as well as their opinions regarding appropriate actions (i.

Determinants of HPV vaccination intentions among Dutch girls and their mothers: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The Dutch government recently added universal Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination for 12-year-old girls to the existing national immunization program. The participation rate for the initial catch-up campaign for girls aged 13 to 16 years in 2009 was lower (47%) than expected (70%). To inform future HPV information campaigns, this paper examines the social and psychological determinants of the HPV vaccination intentions of girls aged 13 to 16 years and their mothers who were targeted by the Dutch catch-up campaign of 2009.

Intervening or interfering? The influence of injunctive and descriptive norms on intervention behaviours in alcohol consumption contexts.

In situations when people have been drinking, they often find it difficult to tell their friends to stop drinking, or not to drive home. Most people want to avoid being seen as a busybody, which may inhibit advice giving. In the current study, we investigated how positive and negative descriptive and injunctive norms (in alcohol consumption contexts) affect people's motivation to engage in intervening (e.

Factors that influence vaccination decision-making by parents who visit an anthroposophical child welfare center: a focus group study.

In recent years, parents have become more disparaging towards childhood vaccination. One group that is critical about the National Immunization Program (NIP) and participates less comprises parents with an anthroposophical worldview. Despite the fact that various studies have identified anthroposophists as critical parents with lower vaccination coverage, no research has been done to explore the beliefs underlying their childhood vaccination decision-making.

Does questionnaire distribution promote blood donation? An investigation of question-behavior effects.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of survey administration as a population-level intervention to increase blood donation.

Methods: Study 1 was a randomized controlled trial of new donors comparing 3,518 who received a questionnaire and 3,490 who did not. Study 2 compared matched, randomly selected samples of active donors; 5,789 received a questionnaire, while 6,000 did not.

Reactions to threatening health messages.

Background: Threatening health messages that focus on severity are popular, but frequently have no effect or even a counterproductive effect on behavior change. This paradox (i.e.

HIV voluntary counselling and testing among recently initiated and traditionally circumcised men in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

HIV voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) is a cornerstone of the national strategic plan for HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support in South Africa. However, research shows that the utilisation of VCT services is disappointingly low, particular among males. This article focuses on the factors associated with the intention to test for HIV-infection among recently initiated and traditionally circumcised men in the rural areas of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.