Organochlorines in Danish women: predictors of adipose tissue concentrations

Organochlorines (OCs) are ubiquitously present in the environment, and food of animal origin is currently reported as the major source of exposure. Carcinogenicity in animals raises concern, and OCs may also be a risk factor for both neurological and immunological effects. Our primary objective was to study predictors of adipose tissue levels of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Danish women. We showed that adipose tissue concentrations of DDE and PCBs were consistently positively associated with age and the consumption of fish with a high fat content, while total lifetime duration of lactation had an inverse relationship. The direction of the association with body mass index (BMI) depended on the OC studied. The consumption of meat, fruit, lean fish, medium-fat-content fish, poultry, and eggs was not associated with OC concentrations in our study. We classified fish according to fat percentage, which seems more relevant than considering only total fish consumption. When PCBs were subdivided according to their chemical structure, similar results were obtained for the mono-, di-, and tri-ortho PCBs, indicating that PCBs can be treated as a homogenous group when studying predictors of concentrations in humans. In conclusion, the present study shows that age, lactation, and BMI are consistent predictors of human adipose tissue concentrations of DDE and PCBs and that dietary factors other than fish with a high fat content are not important predictors of these concentrations.     

A hidden HIV epidemic among women in Vietnam

Background  

The HIV epidemic in Vietnam is still concentrated among high risk populations, including IDU and FSW. The response of the government has focused on the recognized high risk populations, mainly young male drug users. This concentration on one high risk population may leave other populations under-protected or unprepared for the risk and the consequences of HIV infection. In particular, attention to women's risks of exposure and needs for care may not receive sufficient attention as long as the perception persists that the epidemic is predominantly among young males. Without more knowledge of the epidemic among women, policy makers and planners cannot ensure that programs will also serve women's needs.     

Transvestites' women revisited: A nonpatient sample

Data obtained from seven female partners of nonpatient transvestites are presented. None were receiving psychiatric treatment. The group was self-assembled and affiliated with a cross-dressing social organization. The sample was divided into Acceptors and Rejectors based on the degree of acceptance of their mate's cross-dressing activities. Mean relationship duration was 9.9 years. None were traumatized by accidental discovery of their mate's transvestism. Childhood loss of parent(s), substance abuse, and divorce were rare. None had had homosexual experiences. Four of seven transvestite mates were reported by their partners to have gender dysphoric symptoms at some point in their lives. All of the couples' children (two male, three female) knew of their father's transvestism by direct observation at young ages; sons from two different families were noted to cross-dress spontaneously.     

Sources and determinants of vitamin D intake in Danish pregnant women

Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy has been associated with the development of several adverse health outcomes, e.g., pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm delivery, low birth weight, birth length, and bone mineral content. The aims of the present study were to estimate the intake and sources of vitamin D in Danish pregnant women and to examine potential determinants of vitamin D intake of the recommended level (10 μg per day). In 68,447 Danish pregnant women the mean ± SD for vitamin D intake was 9.23 ± 5.60 μg per day (diet: 3.56 ± 2.05 μg per day, supplements: 5.67 ± 5.20 μg per day). 67.6% of the women reported use of vitamin D supplements but only 36.9% reported use of vitamin D supplements of at least 10 μg. Supplements were the primary source of vitamin D for the two higher quartiles of total vitamin D intake, with diet being the primary source for the two lower quartiles. Determinants of sufficient total vitamin D intake were: high maternal age, nulliparity, non-smoking, and filling out of the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) during summer or fall. We propose that clinicians encourage vitamin D supplementation among pregnant women, with special focus on vulnerable groups such as the young, smokers and multiparous women, in order to improve maternal and fetal health both during and after pregnancy.     

An epidemic pattern of murder

The dates and places of 105 suspected or proven murders committed by Dr H. Shipman of Hyde in Greater Manchester between 1984 and 1998 were subjected to epidemiological analysis. These interim data were assembled through a variety of media sources and were based upon court proceedings and police investigations. The analysis revealed a significant excess of case pairs separated jointly by distances <0.6 km and by times <7 days. These sequences were also associated with purely geographical groupings within spatial diameters <0.2 km, but with longer time intervals. This was confirmed by an extended analysis of case triplets occurring within short times and distances. They showed a significant excess. These clusters were probably generated by a combination of psychopathic obsession, of local opportunity, and of caution; and in similar circumstances could occur again. The findings demand the regular display of mortality data in a format permitting the intuitive recognition of similar phenomena elsewhere.     

Causes of death behind low life expectancy of Danish women

AIMS: The authors examined causes of death contributing to the relatively high mortality of Danish women born 1915-45, and evaluated the impact of smoking related causes of death. METHODS: Age-period-cohort analysis of mortality of Danish women aged 40-89 in 1960-98. Estimate of the negative curvature in parabola patterns for 50 causes of death. RESULTS: A total of 34 causes of death contributed to the relatively high mortality for women born 1915-45. The main contribution came from smoking-related causes of death. CONCLUSION: The results indicate a high smoking prevalence to be the main explanation behind the relatively low life expectancy of Danish women born 1915-45.     

Reproductive patterns and non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk in Danish women and men

Reproductive patterns have been inconsistently linked to risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in women, and fathering patterns in relation to NHL risk have not been studied. The authors conducted a register-based cohort study of 4.1 million Danes to investigate associations of livebirths with subsequent NHL incidence (85 million person-years, 3819 NHL cases). The impact of induced abortions, ectopic pregnancies, spontaneous abortions, missed abortions, stillbirths, and hydatidiform moles on subsequent NHL incidence was studied in a subcohort of 1.2 million women. Ratios of NHL incidence rates, accompanying trend tests and two-sided p-values were calculated by log-linear Poisson regression analyses. Pregnancies, whether ending in livebirths or not, were unrelated to NHL incidence in women. The only statistically significant finding in women was that, among parous women, age at first child-birth was inversely associated with NHL incidence (p-trend = 0.001). In men, there was no overall difference in NHL incidence between fathers and non-fathers. However, in men with children, NHL risk declined with increasing number of children (p-trend = 0.02) and increased with time since birth of the most recent child (p-trend < 0.001). Pregnancies have limited impact, if any, on subsequent NHL risk in women. Our findings in men need replication, but, if verified, they may reflect lymphomagenesis-associated male subfertility prior to NHL diagnosis.     

An epidemic of poliomyelitis in southern Kerala

An epidemic of poliomyelitis was recognized in May 1987 when there was a sharp increase in the number of children with acute paralytic poliomyelitis admitted to the SAT Hospital in Trivandrum in Kerala State. From May through September, 392 cases were admitted; the total admitted cases in 1987 were 458 in contrast to 119 in 1986. Evidence for type 1 poliovirus infection was found in 33 (85%) of the 39 children in whom virological investigations were done during the epidemic. In addition, evidence for poliovirus type 3 infection was found in four children. Data on the immunization status was available on 231 affected children in the epidemic; 175 (76%) had not received oral polio vaccine (OPV); 55 (24%) had received one or two doses and only one child had received three doses. Thus, lack of immunization was a major risk factor for disease. The estimated vaccine coverage with three doses of OPV in Kerala, based on the quantity of vaccine distributed during the years 1985, 1986 and 1987 were 94%, 100% and 91%, respectively. This outbreak occurred in spite of high vaccine coverage, and it illustrates the need for even higher coverage rates; the usefulness of hospitals as sentinel surveillance centres; the need for decentralized vaccine coverage data in order to prevent build-up of unimmunized susceptible children in any region; and the urgent need of a mechanism to respond to an epidemic quickly, with immunization, in order to curtail it.     

Dietary determinants for Hb-acrylamide and Hb-glycidamide adducts in Danish non-smoking women

Acrylamide (AA) is a probable human carcinogen that is formed in heat-treated carbohydrate-rich foods. The validity of FFQ to assess AA exposure has been questioned. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to investigate dietary determinants of Hb-AA and Hb-glycidamide (GA) adducts. The study included 537 non-smoking women aged 50-65 years who participated in the Diet, Cancer and Health cohort (1993-97). At study baseline, blood samples and information on dietary and lifestyle variables obtained from self-administered questionnaires were collected. From blood samples, Hb-AA and Hb-GA in erythrocytes were analysed by liquid chromatography/MS/MS. Dietary determinants were evaluated by multiple linear regression analyses adjusted for age and smoking behaviour among ex-smokers. The median for Hb-AA was 35 pmol/g globin (5th percentile 17, 95th percentile 89) and for Hb-GA 21 pmol/g globin (5th percentile 8, 95th percentile 49). Of the dietary factors studied, intakes of coffee and chips were statistically significantly associated with a 4?% per 200?g/d (95?% CI 2, 7; P?相似文献   

Postpartum vitamin D insufficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism in healthy Danish women

OBJECTIVE: To examine vitamin D status and parathyroid function in normal Danish women postpartum. DESIGN: Three cross-sectional measures during follow-up of 89 women postpartum. SUBJECTS AND INTERVENTION: We assessed vitamin D status by measuring plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (P-25OHD) and the degree of secondary hyperparathyroidism by measuring plasma parathyroid hormone (P-PTH) in 89 Caucasian women at three consecutive visits: (mean (range)) 23 (10-37) days (spring), 117 (95-140) days (late summer) and 274 (254-323) days (winter) postpartum. RESULTS: P-25OHD showed seasonal variations with higher values in late summer than in the other periods (P < 0.001). At the first visit, 65% received vitamin D supplements. At the following visits, almost 50% were supplemented. Vitamin D insufficiency (P-25OHD < 50 nmol/l) occurred more often during winter (28%) than in spring (14%) (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.02) or late summer (7%) (P = 0.0001). Irrespective of season, vitamin D insufficiency occurred most frequent in women who did not take vitamin D supplements (Fisher's exact test, P < 0.02). Frank vitamin D deficiency (P-25OHD < 25 nmol/l) was observed during winter in 6%. At all three periods, P-25OHD correlated inversely with P-PTH indicating secondary hyperparathyroidism at deficient vitamin D status. During spring, late summer and winter three, one and four females, respectively, had elevated plasma PTH. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D insufficiency with secondary hyperparathyroidism is a frequent finding in healthy Danish women postpartum and especially during winter. Vitamin D supplements reduced the risk of vitamin D insufficiency, especially during winter. Our results support the importance of increased alertness regarding information of pregnant and lactating women about vitamin D supplements. Furthermore, it has to be studied whether the present recommendations of an intake of 5-10 microg vitamin D/day are sufficient, especially during winter months.