Overall obesity is leveling-off while abdominal obesity continues to rise in a Chinese population experiencing rapid economic development: analysis of serial cross-sectional health survey data 2002-2010.

Background: Obesity epidemic is related to industrialization and urbanization that have lead to changes in nutrition, lifestyle and socio-economic status. However, information on the trajectory of the obesity epidemic in populations experiencing rapid economic development is limited. We therefore investigate trends in obesity from 2002 to 2010 in a southern Chinese population experiencing world's fastest economic development.

Dietary and circulating lycopene and stroke risk: a meta-analysis of prospective studies.

Epidemiological studies support a protective role of lycopene against stroke occurrence or mortality, but the results have been conflicting. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the relationship between dietary or circulating lycopene and stroke risk (including stroke occurrence or mortality). Relevant papers were collected by screening the PubMed database through October 2013.

Meta-analysis of the association between dietary lycopene intake and ovarian cancer risk in postmenopausal women.

Accumulating evidence suggests the protective role of dietary lycopene against the risk of ovarian cancer due to its antioxidant activity, but not all relevant studies have deduced positive results. The aim of the present study was to investigate the exact relationship between dietary lycopene intake and ovarian cancer risk by conducting a meta-analysis. The 10 studies included in our meta-analysis were selected from the PubMed database, and final risk estimates were calculated by using a random-effects model.

China's laws, rights, and administrative structures in occupational safety and health: a comparison with the United States.

China has achieved rapid economic development, but faces tremendous challenges in occupational safety and health (OSH). We describe China's laws, rights, and administrative structures in OSH and in workers' compensation. The article compares these with comparable laws, rights, and administrative structures in the United States.

Comparison of Drug Approvals in Europe Versus the United States: An Analysis of Discrepancies Between Drug Products Reviewed by EMA and FDA.

Background: Regulators from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) do not always agree on interpretation of data for a drug's safety and efficacy.

Methods And Results: The authors compared all new molecular entities approved or rejected in a 5-year period from 2007 to 2011, identified where FDA and EMA reviews resulted in different regulatory decisions, and explored potential mechanisms for the discrepancies. Thirteen entities were associated with different regulatory decisions, and 2 drugs were withdrawn from their respective markets in 2010: one from the US (Mylotarg; gemtuzumab ozogamicin) and the other in Europe (Thelin; sitaxentan sodium).

Rare and low-frequency coding variants in CXCR2 and other genes are associated with hematological traits.

Hematological traits are important clinical parameters. To test the effects of rare and low-frequency coding variants on hematological traits, we analyzed hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit levels, white blood cell (WBC) counts and platelet counts in 31,340 individuals genotyped on an exome array. We identified several missense variants in CXCR2 associated with reduced WBC count (gene-based P = 2.

Global incidence of human Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections and deaths: a systematic review and knowledge synthesis.

Objectives: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are an important cause of foodborne disease, yet global estimates of disease burden do not exist. Our objective was to estimate the global annual number of illnesses due to pathogenic STEC, and resultant hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and death.

Materials: We searched Medline, Scopus, SIGLE/OpenGrey, and CABI and World Health Organization (WHO) databases for studies of STEC incidence in the general population, published between January 1, 1990 and April 30, 2012, in all languages.

Treatment of dyslipidemia and cardiovascular outcomes: the journey so far--is this the end for statins?

Dyslipidemia is common and is associated with the highest population-attributable risk for cardiovascular disease. Of various cardiovascular preventive therapies, the evidence from randomized controlled trials supporting the importance of aggressive lipid lowering is the most robust, particularly for statins. Despite the use of proven therapies, cardiovascular disease event rates remain relatively high, underpinning the development of novel therapies.

Acute care utilization for inherited metabolic diseases among children identified through newborn screening in New York state.

Background: Currently, very few studies on long-term follow up of health outcomes and health-care utilization of children with inherited metabolic disorders identified through newborn screening are available. In this project, we analyzed acute care utilization for children with inherited metabolic disorders.

Methods: A cohort of children up to 3 years of age who were born to New York State residents in 2006-2007 with confirmed inherited metabolic disorders identified through newborn screening, was linked to hospital discharge records.

The feasibility of a physical activity referral network for pediatric obesity.

Background: Pediatricians cite a lack of physical activity referral (PAR) opportunities as a major barrier to treating obesity. However, no literature exists on PARs for youth in the clinical setting. This study explores the feasibility of implementing PARs in a pediatric obesity clinic.

A quantitative analysis of the mass media coverage of genomics medicine in China: a call for science journalism in the developing world.

Science journalism is a previously neglected but rapidly growing area of scholarship in postgenomics medicine and socio-technical studies of knowledge-based innovations. Science journalism can help evaluate the quantity and quality of information flux between traditional scientific expert communities and the broader public, for example, in personalized medicine education. Newspapers can play a crucial role in science and health communication, and more importantly, in framing public engagement.

The association of assistive mobility devices and social participation in people with spinal cord injuries.

Objective: We assumed that assistive technology in mobility devices (that is, wheelchairs with external power and driving modified vehicle (MV) with or without driving on wheelchair) may facilitate social participation for wheelchairs users who have spinal cord injuries (SCIs). This study examined the relationship between mobility devices and social participation in this population.

Methods: We included 2986 individuals who had received initial rehabilitation at one of 18 regional centers of the Model Spinal Cord Injury System in the United States, had been interviewed between 2004 and 2010, and were wheelchair users (use a wheelchair > or = 40 h per week and cannot ambulate 150 feet at home).

Value-engineered translation for regenerative medicine: meeting the needs of health systems.

Despite high expectations of economic returns, large investments in regenerative medicine technology have yet to materialize, partly due to a lack of proven business and investment models, regulatory hurdles, and a greater focus on cost-effectiveness for reimbursement decisions by payors. Adoption of new economic modeling methods will better link investment decisions to value-based criteria of health systems.

Association of sedentary behaviour with colon and rectal cancer: a meta-analysis of observational studies.

Background: Sedentary behaviour is ubiquitous in modern society. Emerging studies have focused on the health consequences of sedentary behaviour, including colorectal cancer, but whether sedentary behaviour is associated with the risks of colon and rectal cancer remains unclear. No systematic reviews have applied quantitative techniques to independently compute summary risk estimates.

Body mass index and incident hospitalisation for cardiovascular disease in 158 546 participants from the 45 and Up Study.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between fine gradations in body mass index (BMI) and risk of hospitalisation for different types of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Design, Subjects And Methods: The 45 and Up Study is a large-scale Australian cohort study initiated in 2006. Self-reported data from 158 546 individuals with no history of CVD were linked prospectively to hospitalisation and mortality data.

The perceptions of UK youth of branded and standardized, 'plain' cigarette packaging.

Background: Tobacco packaging is an important form of promotion. Standardizing cigarette packages ('plain' packaging) represents a novel tobacco control policy. This study examined perceptions of branded and standardized cigarette packages among British youth.

Assessment of mealtime environments and nutrition practices in child care centers in Georgia.

Background: The amount of time children spend in child care each week has increased in recent years. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to describe the nutritional quality of foods served and the mealtime environment in 24 child care centers in Georgia.

Methods: Data were collected between April 2010 and September 2010.

Cadmium induced cell apoptosis, DNA damage, decreased DNA repair capacity, and genomic instability during malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells.

Cadmium and its compounds are well-known human carcinogens, but the mechanisms underlying the carcinogenesis are not entirely understood. Our study was designed to elucidate the mechanisms of DNA damage in cadmium-induced malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells. We analyzed cell cycle, apoptosis, DNA damage, gene expression, genomic instability, and the sequence of exons in DNA repair genes in several kinds of cells.

Burnout, job satisfaction, and medical malpractice among physicians.

Objectives: Our objective was to estimate the incidence of recent burnout in a large sample of Taiwanese physicians and analyze associations with job related satisfaction and medical malpractice experience.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey. Physicians were asked to fill out a questionnaire that included demographic information, practice characteristics, burnout, medical malpractice experience, job satisfaction, and medical error experience.

The effect of heat waves on ambulance attendances in Brisbane, Australia.

Unlabelled: Introduction Heat waves have significant impacts on mortality and morbidity. However, little is known regarding effects on pre-admission health outcomes such as ambulance attendances, particularly in subtropical regions. Problem This study investigated both main temperature effects and the added effects of heat waves on ambulance attendances in Brisbane, a subtropical city in Australia.

Acceptance of male circumcision among male rural-to-urban migrants in western China.

To describe the acceptability of male circumcision (MC) and explore potential factors associated with MC acceptability among male rural-to-urban migrants in western China, a cross-sectional survey of MC acceptability was conducted with 1,904 subjects in three western provinces with high HIV prevalence (Guangxi, Chongqing, and Xinjiang) in China between June 2009 and November 2009. Through face-to-face interviews, the participants completed a self-administered questionnaire about demographics, MC knowledge, willingness and reasons to accept or refuse MC, sexual behaviors, and other psychosocial variables. Factors associated with acceptability of MC were identified by multiple logistic regression analysis.

Vigorous physical activity and longitudinal associations with cardiometabolic risk factors in youth.

Objective: To examine the longitudinal associations between different physical activity (PA) intensities and cardiometabolic risk factors among a sample of Canadian youth.

Methods: The findings are based on a 2-year prospective cohort study in a convenience sample of 315 youth aged 9-15 years at baseline from rural and urban schools in Alberta, Canada. Different intensities (light, moderate and vigorous) of PA were objectively assessed with Actical accelerometers.

Prevalence and severity of household food insecurity of First Nations people living in an on-reserve, sub-Arctic community within the Mushkegowuk Territory.

Objective: To measure and describe the prevalence and severity of household food insecurity in a remote on-reserve First Nations community using the Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM) and to evaluate the perceived relevance of the HFSSM for this population.

Design: Household food security status was determined from the eighteen-item HFSSM following the classifications developed by Health Canada for the Canadian Community Health Survey, Cycle 2·2 Nutrition. One adult from each household in the community was invited to complete the HFSSM and to comment on its relevance as a tool to measure food security for First Nations communities.

Mastitis in Chinese breastfeeding mothers: a prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Mastitis is a common problem encountered by breastfeeding mothers. This study investigated the incidence and risk factors of lactation mastitis among Chinese women.

Subjects And Methods: A prospective cohort study on infant feeding practices was conducted during 2010 and 2011 in Jiangyou, Sichuan Province, China.