Risk factors for familial and sporadic ovarian cancer among French Canadians: a case-control study

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to compare risk factors between familial and sporadic ovarian cancer by means of a case-control approach. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a case-control study among French Canadian women in Montreal during 1995-1996. One hundred seventy women 20 to 84 years old with histologically confirmed diagnoses of primary ovarian carcinomas or borderline tumors were interviewed concerning their reproductive, family, and medical histories. During the same period 170 randomly selected population control subjects, frequency-matched to the case patients according to age and ethnic group, were also interviewed. Unconditional logistic regression methods were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The major factors influencing the risk of development of ovarian cancer were as follows: (1) family history of breast or ovarian cancer, (2) a late age at use of oral contraceptives (a protective effect), and (3) a late age at last childbirth (a protective effect for familial case patients only). CONCLUSION: These factors had equally great impacts in familial and sporadic cases, implying that the underlying mechanisms of carcinogenesis in sporadic and familial ovarian cancer may be similar and that hereditary ovarian cancer may be preventable.     

Risk factors for multiple sclerosis: a case-control study in Israel

This case-control study was aimed at identifying environmental risk factors for multiple-sclerosis (MS). Ninety-three Israeli-born MS patients identified in country-wide studies and 94 age- and sex-matched controls were interviewed. The questionnaire covered a large span of factors at ages 0, 10 and onset of the disease, with particular emphasis on socioeconomic status (SES) and sanitary conditions (SAN). A significantly larger percentage of patients reported frequent respiratory educational levels than controls. The SES and SAN at age 10 were also systematically higher among patients, but significance was reached only when the frequencies of conditions indicating extremely low values of SES or SAN were compared. It is possible that the protective effect of low SES or SAN on risk of MS can be detected only when living conditions are well below average, as is frequent in developing countries.     

Risk factors for prosthetic joint infection: case-control study

Topology-representing neural networks are employed to generate pseudo-atomic structures of large-scale protein assemblies by combining high-resolution data with volumetric data at lower resolution. As an application example, actin monomers and structural subdomains are located in a three-dimensional (3D) image reconstruction from electron micrographs. To test the reliability of the method, the resolution of the atomic model of an actin polymer is lowered to a level typically encountered in electron microscopic reconstructions. The atomic model is restored with a precision nine times the nominal resolution of the corresponding low-resolution density. The presented self-organizing computing method may be used as an information-processing tool for the synthesis of structural data from a variety of biophysical sources.     

Risk factors for rifampin-monoresistant tuberculosis: A case-control study

Rifampin is the cornerstone of short-course chemotherapy for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Rifampin monoresistance (RMR) is less common than resistance to isoniazid alone or in combination with other antituberculous medications. We conducted a retrospective case-control study to identify risk factors for RMR-TB. Complete records for 21 of a total of 26 RMR patients from 1990 to 1997 were available for review, and were compared with those of 48 patients with drug-susceptible TB, controlling for year of diagnosis. Cases more frequently had a history of TB than did controls (61% versus 22%, p < 0.01), and were more often human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive (81% versus 46%, p = 0.02). With control for HIV status, cases were more likely to have extrapulmonary involvement (47.6% versus 11.6%, p = 0.05). Four cases (19%) and one control (2. 1%) died (p = 0.02) during hospitalization. Cases more often had a history of incarceration (71.4% versus 37.5%, p = 0.09). Among the 13 cases with a history of TB, five had evidence of malabsorption (vomiting and/or diarrhea), versus none of the 11 controls with prior TB. These data support the hypothesis that RMR is seen primarily in individuals with a history of TB and who are HIV positive. Cases were frequently noncompliant with previous treatment for TB, had a history of incarceration, and had poor outcomes.     

Risk factors for acute myocardial infarction in Indians: a case-control study

BACKGROUND: South Asians who have settled overseas and those in urban India have an increased risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Reasons for this increased risk are unclear. Most studies have been based on migrants to western nations, so their findings may not apply to most south Asians, who live in their own countries. Therefore, we assessed the relative importance of risk factors for IHD among South Asians in Bangalore, India. METHODS: We conducted a prospective hospital-based case-control study of 200 Indian patients with a first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 200 age and sex matched controls. We recorded prevalence of the following risk factors for IHD: diet, smoking, alcohol use, socioeconomic status, waist to hip ratio (WHR), blood glucose, serum insulin, oral glucose tolerance test, and lipid profile. FINDINGS: The most important predictor of AMI was current smoking (odds ratio [OR] 3.6, p < 0.001) of cigarettes or beedis (a local form of tobacco), with individuals who currently smoked 10 or more per day having an OR of 6.7 (p < 0.001). History of hypertension and of overt diabetes mellitus were also independent risk factors (OR 2.69 [p = 0.001] and 2.64 [p = 0.004], respectively). Among all individuals, fasting blood glucose was a strong predictor of risk over the entire range, including at values usually regarded as normal (OR adjusted for smoking, hypertension, and WHR 1.62 for 1 SD increase, p < 0.001). Abdominal obesity (as measured by WHR) was also a strong independent predictor across the entire range of measures (OR adjusted for smoking, hypertension, and blood glucose 2.24 for 1 SD increase; p < 0.001). Compared with individuals with no risk factors, individuals with multiple risk factors had greatly increased risk of AMI (eg, OR of 10.6 for the group with smoking and elevated glucose). Lipid profile was not associated with AMI. In univariate analyses, higher socioeconomic (income) status (OR 0.32, p = 0.005 highest vs lowest; OR 0.75 middle vs lowest) and vegetarianism (OR = 0.55, p = 0.006), seemed to be protective. The impact of vegetarianism was closely correlated with blood glucose and WHR. INTERPRETATION: Smoking cessation, treatment of hypertension, and reduction in blood glucose and central obesity (perhaps through dietary modification) may be important in preventing IHD in Asian Indians.     

Risk factors for myocardial infarct: a case-control study in Oporto, Portugal

A case-control study of coronary heart disease (CHD) was conducted in Oporto, Portugal. The cases series consisted of 100 consecutive patients with first time acute myocardial infarction who were admitted to the Coronary and Intermediate Care Units of a major teaching hospital. The community controls were 198 individuals without evidence of CHD by the Rose questionnaire and electrocardiography, selected by random digit dialing, with a participation rate of 70%. Data was collected by trained interviewers using a structured questionnaire and blood samples were obtained for selected laboratory data. The main analysis was made through unconditional logistic regression with calculations of odds ratios (OR). Age, OR: 1.5 (95% CI: 0.8-2.9), male gender, OR: 6.7 (3.6-12.3), family history of premature CHD, OR: 2.4 (1.4-4.3), diabetes, OR: 3.4 (1.6-7.4), antecedents of hypertension, OR:1.9 (1.1-3.1), history of high cholesterol levels, OR: 2.3 (1.4-3.9), high levels of physical activity, OR: 2.0 (0.9-4.1) and tobacco smoking, OR: 8.3 (3.8-18.5) were significant risk factors of acute myocardial infarction. After controlling for demographic variables and for the mutual confounding effects of the risk factors, the investigated factors that remained significantly associated with the risk of developing acute myocardial infarction were male gender, OR: 17.3 (4.8-62.3), family history of CHD, OR: 3.6 (1.4-9.6), diabetes, OR: 4.2 (1.0-18.1), high cholesterol levels OR: 2.7 (1.2-6.1) and smoking habits, OR: 7.7 (1.8-32.4). A negative association with high education levels was significant after controlling for all the variables, OR: 0.01 (0.01-0.5).     

Risk factors for Trypanosoma cruzi infection among children in central Brazil: a case-control study in vector control settings

This population-based case-control study was conducted in northern Goias State, central Brazil, in rural settings under vector control surveillance. One hundred forty-nine children seropositive for Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies, selected in a cross-sectional survey carried out in village schools, were compared with 298 seronegative classmate controls matched for age, sex, and place of residence. Information on potential environmental, familiar, and social economic risk factors for T. cruzi infection was collected during household visits, and interviews with parents and entomologic inspections of domestic and peridomestic environments were conducted. The presence of triatomines in dwellings or evidence of triatomine colonization was found to be statistically associated with seropositivity in children. The presence of exuviae and a report of triatomines indoors or outdoors by householders in the past were strong predictors of an infected child. Children from seropositive mothers had a 3.9-fold increase in the risk of having anti-T. cruzi antibodies after adjusting for the confounding variables, including triatomine capture, mother's age, and family size in multivariate analysis. Parent's report of vector presence showed a 97.7% sensitivity in identifying a dwelling with at least one seropositive child. The possibility of transplacental T. cruzi transmission and its implication for Chagas' disease control were considered.     

Risk factors for colorectal cancer in a prospective study among U.S. white men

The mRNA expression of presenilin-1 (PS1) and beta-amyloid precursor protein (betaAPP) was investigated in the embryonic day 20 rat olfactory bulb, nasal cavity, and inner ear using in situ hybridization histochemistry. In the olfactory bulb, PS1 mRNA was strongly expressed in both olfactory bulb neuroepithelium and the differentiating olfactory bulb. In contrast, betaAPP mRNA was preferentially expressed in differentiating fields. In the nasal cavity, PS1 mRNA was strongly expressed throughout the olfactory epithelium, while betaAPP mRNA expression was concentrated in the middle part of the epithelium. In the membrane labyrinth of the inner ear, although PS1 mRNA was evenly distributed in both sensory epithelium and supporting cells, betaAPP mRNA was exclusively expressed in the sensory epithelium. These data suggest that PS1 is expressed earlier than betaAPP, and that PS1 and betaAPP co-operatively play pivotal roles in the development of the olfactory and vestibulocochlear systems.     

Risk factors for clinically diagnosed Alzheimer's disease: a case-control study of a Greek population

Many efforts have been made to trace the causes of Alzheimer's disease (AD). There are, however, many points of controversy among reports from the same country as well as among reports from different countries. The current study is a case-control study to determine the risk factors in the development of AD in Greece. Sixty-five patients with AD and 69 age-matched controls were examined. All patients with AD fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for AD and NINCDS-ADRDA criteria for probable AD. Demographic characteristics such as gender, current marital status, who he/she is living with, education, main place of residence in childhood, adulthood, and late life, occupational hazards, patient's medical history (history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension), life habits like alcohol consumption and smoking, and a history of head trauma, heart attack, stroke, parkinsonism, or depression were collected from the subject or from an informant. A family history of selected diseases (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dementia, Parkinson's disease, Down's syndrome, stroke) was also elicited. Ages of father and mother at birth were also recorded. Chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance, cluster analysis, and logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. The results (chi-square test) showed a statistically significant difference between patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type and controls as far as marital status (p = .04), the subject's history of major depressive episode (p = .02), and family history of dementia (p = .002) were concerned. Logistic regression analysis results produced a complex model of family aggregation of dementia, with patients with a history of depression and family history of dementia having an up to seven times higher risk of developing AD. These findings, especially a family history of dementia, are consistent with most of the literature.     

Risk factors for incident and recurrent condylomata acuminata among men. A population-based study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The rapid increase in the number of physician office visits for condylomata acuminata and the association of human papillomavirus and cancer has prompted renewed interest in the epidemiology of this sexually-transmitted disease. Few epidemiologic studies have examined what risk factors are associated with condylomata acuminata in men. GOAL: To determine what factors may predispose a man to the occurrence of condylomata acuminata. STUDY DESIGN: A population-based case-control study was conducted among male members of a health maintenance organization. Patients were men 18 years or older who were seen for condyloma at one of four primary care clinics of Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound between April 1, 1987 and September 30, 1991. Control subjects were frequency matched to the patients on clinic site, race, and age. In-person interviews were used to ascertain exposure histories from both patients and control subjects. RESULTS: Recurrent condyloma was reported by about one third of our patients. Patients with multiple partners were strongly associated with developing the disease. Several factors were either more strongly or only associated with recurrent disease. Other behavioral measures, such as recreational drug use, were also related the occurrence of condyloma. CONCLUSION: These results confirm the sexual-transmitted mechanism of condyloma in men. Exposure to multiple partners was associated with elevated risk of both recurrent and incident disease. Other cofactors may be involved in the etiology of condyloma.     

Homeless men and women: Differential associations among substance abuse, psychosocial factors, and severity of homelessness.

Latent variable multiple-group confirmatory factor analyses assessed gender differences in relationships among drug and alcohol use, measures indicating severity of homelessness, criminal history, prior institutionalization, and mental illness (N?=?531 homeless persons; 386 men and 145 women). Severity was indicated by length of time homeless, housing quality, and victimization. Men reported more substance use, a longer time homeless, poorer housing quality, greater criminal involvement, and less likelihood of living with a child. Constrained multiple-group models surfaced 5 significantly different relationships between latent constructs. Men had stronger relationships between mental illness and prior institutionalization, drug use and mental illness, and drug use and victimization, whereas women had stronger relationships between drug use and alcohol use, and criminal involvement and drug use. Service delivery implications and suggestions for future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Risk factors for osteoporosis in men

Three months after the launch of the MMR programme in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a postal questionnaire was sent to all GP scheme trainees in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The response rate was 81%. All trainees were enthusiastic about promoting MMR immunisation; with 27% favouring compulsory immunisation. 9% had never seen a patient with measles. This did not alter their attitude towards the beneficial effects of MMR immunisation. Of pre-practice year trainees 26% felt their level of knowledge of immunisation was inadequate, 59% claimed to have received no education on immunisation during their vocational training to date. This may reflects deficiencies in their medical curriculum to-date. 95% of third-year trainees indicated that their practice experience had been the source of at least some of their education on immunisation. Only 46% of trainees in the Republic of Ireland were aware of their Department of Health's aims in launching the MMR immunisation campaign.     

Risk factors for antisperm antibodies in infertile men

PROBLEM: The prevalence of anti-sperm antibodies (ASAs) in the general population is 0 to 2%; the prevalence in infertile men is much higher at 7 to 26%. However, the role of ASAs in male infertility remains controversial to date. Although several risk factors for ASA development have been defined (such as testicular torsion, varicocele, cryptorchidism, vasectomy, and genital tract infection), there are no specific indications for ASA testing. METHOD: In order to examine if a single parameter exists identifying patients with elevated ASA titers, serum ASA testing was performed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 226 consecutive male patients. The new assay, synchron ELISA (Synelisa) used in our study represents a new type of ELISA without fixation of the sperm surface antigens by formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde. Therefore, the quantitative assay is highly sensitive and reproducible since the structure of sperm surface antigens is not altered by the fixation process. RESULTS: The prevalence of ASAs in this population was 14%, while the prevalence of the control group was 2.5%. Of all factors analyzed only a history of vasectomy, an acute epididymitis, and an abnormal result in the bovine mucus penetration test was associated with elevated ASA titers (P < .001). In addition, we could demonstrate a time related formation of ASAs in men after vasectomy. CONCLUSIONS:     

Risk factors for pulmonary mycobacterial disease in South African gold miners. A case-control study

OBJECTIVE: To measure monocular distance visual acuity, near visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and visual field extent in full-term, 10-year-old children tested according to the protocol used to test 10-year-old preterm children in the Cryotherapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Subjects were 106 healthy, full-term children, 9.8 to 10.9 years of age, who had no ocular abnormalities other than ametropia. All were tested monocularly using Early Treatment and Diabetic Retinopathy Study distance and near visual acuity charts and Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity charts, with refractive error corrected according to Cryotherapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity study criteria. Goldmann perimetry was tested without correction using the V-4-e and III-4-e stimuli along 8 meridia. A standard pediatric eye examination was performed on each subject. RESULTS: Mean (SD) distance visual acuity was 20/19.6 OD (0.082 log unit [lu]) and mean near visual acuity was 20/19.5 OD (0.100 lu). Mean (SD) contrast sensitivity was 1.69 OD (0.12 lu), with a mean (SD) of 36.4 (2.2) letters read. Visual field extent was larger for the V-4-e stimulus than for the III-4-e stimulus. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide the first monocular normative data from a large sample of 10-year-old children tested with Early Treatment and Diabetic Retinopathy Study distance and near visual acuity charts and the Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity charts, and add to the literature on Goldmann perimetry in children.     

Risk factors for sensitisation and respiratory symptoms among workers exposed to acid anhydrides: a cohort study

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relation between exposure to acid anhydrides and the risk of developing immediate skin prick test responses to acid anhydride human serum albumin (AA-HSA) conjugates or work related respiratory symptoms; to assess whether these relations are modified by atopy or smoking. METHODS: A cohort of 506 workers exposed to phthalic (PA), maleic (MA), and trimellitic anhydride (TMA) was defined. Workers completed questionnaires relating to employment history, respiratory symptoms, and smoking habits. Skin prick tests were done with AA-HSA conjugates and common inhalant allergens. Exposure to acid anhydrides was measured at the time of the survey and a retrospective exposure assessment was done. RESULTS: Information was obtained from 401 (79%) workers. Thirty four (8.8%) had new work related respiratory symptoms that occurred for the first time while working with acid anhydrides and 12 (3.2%) were sensitised, with an immediate skin prick test reaction to AA-HSA conjugates. Sensitisation to acid anhydrides was associated with work related respiratory symptoms and with smoking at the time of exposure to acid anhydride. When all subjects were included and all three acid anhydrides were taken into account there was no consistent evidence for an exposure-response relation, but with the analysis restricted to a factory where only TMA was in use there was an increased prevalence of sensitisation to acid anhydrides and work related respiratory symptoms with increasing full shift exposure. This relation was apparent within the current occupational exposure standard of 40 micrograms.m-3 and was not modified significantly by smoking or atopy. CONCLUSIONS: Intensity of exposure and cigarette smoking may be risk factors for sensitisation to acid anhydrides. Exposure is also a risk factor for respiratory symptoms. As there was evidence for sensitisation to TMA at full shift exposures within the occupational exposure standard this standard should be reviewed.     

Depression as a risk factor for ischaemic heart disease in men: population based case-control study

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relation between depression, anxiety, and use of antidepressants and the onset of ischaemic heart disease. DESIGN: Population based case-control study. SETTING: All 5623 patients registered with one general practice. SUBJECTS: 188 male cases with ischaemic heart disease matched by age to 485 male controls without ischaemic heart disease; 139 female cases with ischaemic heart disease matched by age to 412 female controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Adjusted odds ratios calculated by conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: The risk of ischaemic heart disease was three times higher among men with a recorded diagnosis of depression than among controls of the same age (odds ratio 3.09; 95% confidence interval 1.33 to 7.21; P=0.009). This association persisted when smoking status, diabetes, hypertension, and underprivileged area (UPA(8)) score were included in a multivariate model (adjusted 2.75; 1.13 to 6.69; P=0.03). Men with depression within the preceding 10 years were three times more likely to develop ischaemic heart disease than were the controls (3.13; 1.27 to 7.70; P=0.01). Men with ischaemic heart disease had a higher risk of subsequent depression [corrected] than men without ischaemic heart disease (adjusted 2.34; 1.34 to 4.10; P=0.003). Depression was not a risk factor for ischaemic heart disease in women on multivariate analysis (adjusted 1.34; 0.70 to 2.56; P=0.38). Anxiety and subsequent ischaemic heart disease were not significantly associated in men or women. CONCLUSION: Depression may be an independent risk factor for ischaemic heart disease in men, but not in women.     

Risk factors associated with uterine cervical cancer in Korea: a case-control study with special reference to sexual behavior

We have obtained sediment samples from the world's deepest sea-bottom, the Mariana Trench challenger point at a depth of 10,898 m, using the new unmanned submersible Kaiko. DNA was extracted from the sediment, and DNA fragments encoding several prokaryotic ribosomal RNA small-subunit sequences and pressure-regulated gene clusters, typically identified in deep-sea adapted bacteria, were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction. From the sequencing results, at least two kinds of bacterial 16S rRNAs closely related to those of the genus Pseudomonas and deep-sea adapted marine bacteria, and archaeal 16S rRNAs related to that of a planktonic marine archaeon were identified. The sequences of the amplified pressure-regulated clusters were more similar to those of deep-sea barophilic bacteria than those of barotolerant bacteria. These results suggest that deep-sea adapted barophilic bacteria, planktonic marine archaea, and some of the world's most widespread bacteria (the genus Pseudomonas) coexist on the world's deepest sea-bottom.     

Lifestyle factors and prostate cancer risk: a case-control study in Sweden

We examined associations between lifestyle factors and subsequent risk of prostate cancer in a population-based case-control study. Information on smoking and alcohol habits, socioeconomic factors, marital status, family history, and sexual habits were obtained from a questionnaire and a face-to-face interview with 256 (74.6%) eligible patients and 252 (76.6%) selected controls, frequency matched by age and screened for prostate cancer with negative findings. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs). Risk was elevated among current smokers of cigarettes (OR, 1.8) and current users of hard liquor (OR, 1.4); however, the lack of dose-response trend for both of these exposures argues against a causal association. We found tentative evidence that early first intercourse, a larger number of sexual partners, and other indices of high sexual activity are associated with increased risk. Similarly, adult height, an indicator of nutrition during childhood and adolescence, was weakly positively associated with risk, although larger studies are needed to establish this link. Unmarried men had a lower risk than married men (OR, 0.3), and socioeconomic status did not appear to be strongly associated with prostate cancer. Men with a father who had prostate cancer had a more than 2-fold increased risk of prostate cancer, whereas those with a brother affected had about a 5-folk risk.     

Anthropometric and other risk factors for ovarian cancer in a case-control study

Because it has been suggested that an environmental factor may play a role in the etiology of ovarian cancer, a case-control study was conducted to assess some environmental and other risk factors for ovarian cancer from 1994 to 1996 in northern Kyushu, Japan. We analyzed the data of 89 cases with epithelial ovarian cancer and 323 controls without any cancer or ovarian disorder. After controlling for the effect of potential confounders, the odds ratios of ovarian cancer across increasing quartiles of the heaviest body weight were 1.00, 1.15, 1.71, 2.29 (P = 0.008, test for trend). Significantly increased risks were noted for a history of diabetes mellitus (P < 0.05), and for a family history of ovarian cancer (P < 0.05). Significantly decreased trends for risk were obtained for the number of pregnancies (P < 0.01) and the number of live births (P < 0.001). This study provides additional support for an association between obesity and the risk of ovarian cancer. This relationship may at least partly explain the recent increase in the incidence of ovarian cancer in Japan, although possible contributions of other factors can not be ruled out.