A Comparison of Height, Weight, and Triceps Skinfold Thickness of Children Ages 5-12 in Michigan (1978), Forsyth County North Carolina (1978), and HANES I (1971-1974)

Height, weight, and triceps skinfold measurements were made on 1,668 Forsyth County, North Carolina students ages 5-12 during 1978. These data were compared to a representative sample of Michigan children taken during the same year and to their United States counterparts in HANES I (1971-74). The North Carolina children more closely resembled their US counterparts than did the Michigan group, casting doubt on the secular trend toward heavier children suggested by the Michigan researchers. (Am J Public Health 1982; 72:730-733.)     

Cancer incidence in Gipuzkoa, Spain (1998-2002), and time trends from 1986

OBJECTIVES: To determine the cancer incidence in Gipuzkoa (Spain) from 1998 to 2002 and describe time trends since 1986. METHODS: The annual incidence of cancer in Gipuzkoa from 1998 to 2002 was estimated as a rate per 100,000 inhabitants. Incidence trends for the period 1986-2002 were studied for all cancers and for the main cancer sites using Poisson regression and Joinpoint regression for prostate tumours. RESULTS: On average, one in 3 men and one in 5 women would probably be diagnosed with cancer at some time during their life (0-74 years). Among men, prostate surpassed lung as the most frequent cancer site. Among women, breast cancer represented approximately 30% of all cases of cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers). There was an annual increase in the incidence of cancer of 1.5% (95% CI, 1.1-1.8) in men and 0.9% (95% CI, 0.5-1.3) in women. The incidence of prostate cancer in men increased over the study period, and especially between 1996 and 1999, with an annual increase of 34.7% (95% CI, 5.9-71.5). The incidence of lung cancer in women presented an annual increase of 5.2% (95% CI, 3.4-7.1). In contrast, the incidence of stomach cancer decreased during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer incidence in Gipuzkoa increased during the study period. This increase was particularly marked in lung cancer and skin melanoma, for which preventive strategies are fundamental.     

Association of europium(III), americium(III), and curium(III) with cellulose, chitin, and chitosan

The association of trivalent f-elements-Eu(III), Am(III), and Cm(III)--with cellulose, chitin, and chitosan was determined by batch experiments and time-resolved, laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). The properties of these biopolymers as an adsorbent were characterized based on speciation calculation of Eu(III). The adsorption study showed that an increase of the ionic strength by NaCl did not affect the adsorption kinetics of Eu(III), Am(III), and Cm(III) for all the biopolymers, but the addition of Na2CO3 significantly delayed the kinetics because of their trivalent f-element complexation with carbonate ions. It also was suggested from the speciation calculation study that all the biopolymers were degraded under alkaline conditions, leading to their masking of the adsorption of Eu(III), Am(III), and Cm(III) on the nondegraded biopolymers. The masking effect was higher for cellulose than for chitin and chitosan, indicating that of the three, cellulose was degraded most significantly in alkaline solutions. Desorption experiments suggested that some portion of the adsorbed Eu(III) penetrated deep into the matrix, being isolated in a cavity-like site. The TRLFS study showed that the coordination environment of Eu(III) is stabilized mainly by the inner spherical coordination in chitin and by the outer spherical coordination in chitosan, with less association in cellulose in comparison to chitin and chitosan. These results suggest that the association of these biopolymers with Eu(III), Am(III), and Cm(III) is governed not only by the affinity of the functional groups alone but also by other factors, such as the macromolecular steric effect. The association of degraded materials of the biopolymers also should be taken into consideration for an accurate prediction of the influence of biopolymers on the migration behavior of trivalent f-elements.