Blood Levels of DDT and Breast Cancer Risk Among Women Living in the North of Vietnam

A positive association has been reported between elevated tissue organochlorines (p,p′-DDT/p,p′-DDE, PCBs, dioxins) and breast cancer in some case–control studies and occupational cohort studies. We previously reported high serum levels of p,p′-DDT and its metabolite p,p′-DDE in women living throughout Vietnam. We report here the results of a small hospital-based case–control study examining the association between blood levels of p,p′-DDT/p,p′-DDE and the risk of invasive breast cancer among residents of the north of Vietnam—an area where insecticides such as p,p′-DDT have been heavily used in the recent past. The study was conducted among patients admitted to a single hospital in the capital city of Hanoi in 1994. Study subjects were 21 women newly diagnosed with invasive adenocarcinoma of the breast, who served as cases, and 21 women of similar age with fibrocystic breast disease, who served as controls. No increase was evident in the relative risk of breast cancer with increasing tertiles of serum concentration of the compounds of interest, even after adjustment for major potential confounders, such as age at menarche, parity, history of lactation, and body weight. These results suggest that recent and past exposure to p,p′-DDT does not play an important role in the etiology of breast cancer among women living in a country with a tropical climate where insecticide use for mosquito control is common. Received: 13 February 1997/Accepted: 2 May 1997     

有机氯农药及谷胱甘肽转移酶M1基因多态性与乳腺癌关系的研究

目的 研究血清中有机氯农药水平及谷胱甘肽转移酶M1(GSTM1)基冈多态性对女性乳腺癌患病风险的交互作用.方法 自2006年9月至2007年10月,在唐山市5所二甲以上医院收集经病理学确诊的乳腺癌患者70例.选取病例所在医院同期住院的女性患者,年龄相差不超过2岁,按相近居住地Ⅸ进行1:1配比作为对照.采用气相色谱-电子捕获(GC-ECD)方法检测血清中有机氯农药[滴滴涕(DDT)包括4种同分异构体:P,P'DDE、P,P'DDT、o,p'DDT、P,P'-DDD;六六六(HCH)包括4种同分异构体:α-HCH、β-HCH、γ-HCH、δ-HCH]残留水平,采用聚合酶链反应(PCR)检测GSTMl基因多态性,根据交互作用系数(γ)判断交互作用存在与否以及不同的基因.环境作用类型.结果 GSTM1基因多态性与DDT及HCH间存在一定的交互作用,交互作用系数分别为1.237、1.379,交互作用分别表现为次相乘模型和超相乘模型.结论 乳腺癌的发生是环境和遗传因素综合作用的结果.GSTM1基因多态性与环境危险因素DDT、HCH的暴露在乳腺癌发生中存在一定的交互作用.

Abstract：

Objective To study the potential effect of gene-environment interaction between glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and serum organochlorines residues on the risk of breast cancer in women, in China. Methods Seventy newly pathologically diagnosed female patients with breast cancer from September 2006 to October 2007 were selected as the cases from five large hospitals in Tangshan. The controls were identified at the same hospital as cases. 1:1 matched case-control study. Between the cases and controls, the difference of age was not over two years and the residence was similar. The organochlorine residues levels in the serum were measured by gas chromatography (GC). Genotypes of GSTM1 polymorphisms were analyzed by multiplex allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Interaction indexes (γ) were calculated to determine the type of gene-environment interaction. Results After confounding factors adjusted, the result showed that interaction existed in genetic polymorphisms of GSTM1 and DDT, HCH residues, and interaction indexes (γ) value were 1.237 and 1.379. Conclusion GSTM1 genetic polymorphisms and DDT, HCH may present an interaction in the development of breast cancer.     

急进高原人群红细胞谷胱甘肽,谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶和超氧歧？…

为探讨急进高原环境人群,早期适应过程中红细胞抗氧化指标－谷胱甘肽（ＧＳＨ）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（ＧＳＨ－Ｐｘ）和超氧歧化酶（ＳＯＤ）的变化及其生理意义。以急进高原的健康人群为研究对象,年龄１８￣２１岁。分为对照组和高原低氧组进行研究。结果表明高原低氧组红细胞ＧＳＨ含量和ＧＳＨ－Ｐｘ活力显著低于对照组（Ｐ〈０．０５）。高原低氧组红细胞ＳＯＤ含量显著高于对照组（Ｐ〈０．０５）。说明人体急进高原后血红细     

急进高原人群红细胞谷胱甘肽、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶和超氧歧化酶的变化

为探讨急进高原环境人群,早期适应过程中红细胞抗氧化指标-谷胱甘肽(GSH)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)和超氧歧化酶(SOD)的变化及其生理意义.以急进高原的健康人群为研究对象,年龄18～21岁.分为对照组和高原低氧组进行研究.结果表明高原低氧组红细胞GSH含量和GSH-Px活力显著低于对照组(P＜0.05).高原低氧组红细胞SOD含量显著高于对照组(P＜0.05).说明人体急进高原后血红细胞中抗氧化系统发生一系列适应性反应,但在低氧适应过程中的生理作用仍需进一步探讨.     

Association of Serum Levels of Zinc,Copper, and Iron with Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

The association between serum concentrations of zinc, copper, or iron and the risk of metabolic syndrome are inconclusive. Therefore, we conduct a case-control study to explore the relationship between serum levels of zinc, copper, or iron and metabolic syndrome as well as each metabolic factor and insulin resistance. We enrolled 1165 adults, aged ≥ 40 (65.8 ± 10) years in a hospital-based population to compare the serum levels of zinc, copper, and iron between subjects with and without metabolic syndrome by using multivariate logistic regression analyses. The least square means were computed by general linear models to compare serum concentrations of zinc, copper, and iron in relation to the number of metabolic factors. The mean serum concentrations of zinc, copper, and iron were 941.91 ± 333.63 μg/L, 1043.45 ± 306.36 μg/L, and 1246.83 ± 538.13 μg/L, respectively. The odds ratios (ORs) of metabolic syndrome for the highest versus the lowest quartile were 5.83 (95% CI: 3.35–10.12; p for trend < 0.001) for zinc, 2.02 (95% CI: 1.25–3.25; p for trend: 0.013) for copper, and 2.11 (95% CI: 1.24–3.62; p for trend: 0.021) for iron after adjusting for age, sex, personal habits, body mass index, and homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance. Additionally, the serum zinc, copper, and iron concentrations increased as the number of metabolic factors rose (p for trend < 0.001). This was the first study to clearly demonstrate that higher serum levels of zinc, copper, and iron were associated with the risk of metabolic syndrome and the number of metabolic factors independent of BMI and insulin resistance.     

桑植地区儿童血液中锌、铁、铜、钙、镁含量分析

目的检测桑植地区儿童血液中锌、铁、铜、钙、镁5种微量元素的含量,研究本地区不同年龄、性别儿童中血液中5种微量元素含量的差异和相关性。为指导儿童合理补充营养及相关疾病的诊断和治疗提供依据。方法采用火焰原子吸收分光光度法(FAAS)检测2003年1月-2006年12月间,来本院就诊的1750名儿童血液中锌、铁、铜、钙、镁5种微量元素的含量。结果儿童血液中锌、铁、铜、钙、镁5种微量元素的含量均值分别为(46.33±14.82)μmol/L、(8.26±1.61)mmol/L、(24.47±8.84)μmol/L、(1.42±0.12)mmol/L、(4.37±0.18)mmol/L。锌、钙含量低于正常对照值,且有显著性差异(P<0.05)。铜、铁、镁与正常对照无差异。不同性别儿童的6种微量元素水平均无显著性差异。结论本地区儿童血液中钙、锌元素普遍缺乏。     

Differences in the Levels of Gastric Cancer Risk Factors Between Nanjing and Minqing Counties,China

Objectives:

In Fujian Province, China, gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality among all malignant tumors. Nanjing county and Minqing county are located in inland Fujian and have similar general demographics. However, the adjusted mortality rate of gastric cancer in Minqing was found to be much higher than that in Nanjing. We sought to explore factors associated with this increased risk of gastric cancer between the two counties.

Methods:

We recruited 231 and 224 residents from Nanjing and Minqing, respectively, and analyzed differences between their dietary habits, Helicobacter pylori infection rates, and concentrations of serum pepsinogen I, pepsinogen II, gastrin-17, and ratio of pepsinogen I:II.

Results:

Subjects in Minqing had more first-degree relatives who had been diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal tumor, more unhealthy dietary habits, a higher Helicobacter pylori positive rate, and greater proportion of abnormal serum gastrin-17 than those in Nanjing did.

Conclusions:

The factors that differed between these two counties might indicate that residents in Minqing have a higher risk for developing gastric cancer than those in Nanjing do.     

Cumulative Coffee Consumption and Reduced Risk of Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer

We examined the association between coffee consumption and oral cancer in a hospital-based case-control study comprising 143 patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma attended at 3 major hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil, and 240 controls without cancer, recruited from outpatient units of the same hospitals and matched with cases by sex and age. Associations were assessed by multivariate logistic regression conditioned on sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics. Tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, and higher intake of bacon and deep-fried foods were directly related to disease; the inverse was observed to family income and salad intake. Coffee consumption and tobacco smoking were partially correlated (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.14 among cases, 0.31 among controls). When adjusted for all covariates, a cumulative coffee consumption higher than 18.0 daily liters × year during lifetime was indicated to be protective against disease (adjusted odds ratio 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.16–0.94, P = 0.037). This observation may have pharmacological implications for clinical medication of these cancers and is relevant to programs aimed at reducing the burden of disease.     

长沙市1688名儿童血铅水平与钙、铁、锌的关系

目的探讨儿童血铅水平与钙、铁、锌的相互关系。方法采用钨舟法和火焰法,分别测定我院门诊1688名患儿的血铅和钙、铁、锌水平。结果1688名儿童中,平均血铅水平为48.35μg/L,铅中毒发生率为15.9%,统计分析显示,不同性别之间血铅、钙、铁、锌含量无显著性差异(P>0.05),儿童血铅与钙、锌水平差异有显著性(P<0.05),呈负相关关系。结论儿童铅中毒可导致血钙、锌水平下降。     

富阳市768名儿童血中铅、钙、铁和锌水平调查

目的了解本地区学龄前儿童血中铅、钙、铁和锌水平。方法 2008年1～12月选择门诊(富阳城区幼儿园)4～7岁儿童768例,其中男436例,女332例,平均年龄5.3±1.1岁,分别检测血中铅、钙、铁和锌水平。结果 768名患儿的血铅水平分布于10.73～214.62μg/L间,平均水平为(78.37±22.52)μg/L,铅中毒患儿148例,占19.2%。血铅水平和铅中毒比例随年龄增加呈上升趋势。血钙水平分布于1.78～2.86mmol/L间,平均水平为(2.37±0.31)μg/L,低钙血症患儿9例,占1.2%。血铁水平分布于710～2 200μg/L间,平均水平为(1 337.83±230.57)μg/L,缺铁患儿23例,占3.9%。血锌水平分布锌于720～1 800μg/L间,平均水平为(1 147.51±322.27)μg/L,低锌血症患儿237例,占30.8%。结论该地区4～7岁儿童铅中毒和低锌血症仍比较常见,加强预防和干预十分必要。     

Maternal Blood Lead Levels and the Risk of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension: The EDEN Cohort Study

Background

Prior studies revealed associations of environmental lead exposure with risks of hypertension and elevated blood pressure.

Objective

We examined the effect of blood lead levels on blood pressure and the incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Methods

One thousand seventeen pregnant women were enrolled in two French municipalities between 2003 and 2005 for the EDEN (Etude des Déterminants pré et post natals du développement et de la santé de l′ Enfant) cohort study. Blood lead concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry in mothers between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation.

Results

PIH was diagnosed in 106 subjects (10.9%). Age, parity, weight gain, alcohol, smoking habits, and calcium supplementation were comparable between hypertensive and nonhypertensive women. Lead levels were significantly higher in PIH cases (mean ± SD, 2.2 ± 1.4 μg/dL) than in normotensive patients (1.9 ± 1.2 μg/dL; p = 0.02). Adjustment for potential confounder effects slightly attenuated but did not eliminate the significant association between blood lead levels and the risk of PIH (adjusted odds ratio of PIH = 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–9.7). We also observed geographic differences in lead exposure and in the incidence of PIH and found significant correlations between blood lead levels and unadjusted as well as adjusted systolic and diastolic blood pressures after 24 weeks of gestation.

Conclusions

These findings confirm the relationship between blood lead levels at mid-pregnancy and blood pressure and suggest that environmental lead exposure may play an etiologic role in PIH.     

常州市部分高血压家系人群血压水平及高血压危险度调查

[目的]了解有高血压家族史的人群高血压的危害程度及血压分布特点。[方法]2003～2004年，在常州市随机抽取2个乡镇，对104个高血压家系802名15岁以上人群进行调查。[结果]平均收缩压、平均舒张压。男性与女性均为直系高于旁系。正常血压者所占比例为33．42％，直系为26．32％，旁系为46．02％；高血压患病率为55．86％，直系为63．93％，旁系为41.52％。高血压患者中，3级、2级和1级高血压者的比例为1：1．90：5．88。直系为1：1．87：5．53，旁系为1：2．0：7．0；低危、中危、高危、很高危者分别占5．58％、31.92％、35．49％、27．01％，直系分别占5．18％、28．35％、37．50％、28．96％，旁系分别占6．67％、41．67％、30．01％、21．67％。[结论]高血压家系人群血压水平较高，其中高血压患者中的高危、很高危者所占比例较高。     

Micronutrient Supplementation Trials and the Reduction of Cancer and Cerebrovascular Incidence and Mortality

Epidemiological evidence suggests that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of various forms of cancer, most likely contributable to their vitamin and mineral content. It is believed that the vitamins and minerals in these foods contribute to a reduced risk of cancer. The population of Linxian, China is known to have one of the highest rates of esophageal/gastric cardia cancer in the world. Recent intervention studies from this particular geographic area for the first time have indicated that vitamin and mineral supplementation, specifically beta-carotene, vitamin E, and selenium, may play a role in the reduction of cancer risk.     

Chronic Arsenic Exposure and Blood Glutathione and Glutathione Disulfide Concentrations in Bangladeshi Adults

Background: In vitro and rodent studies have shown that arsenic (As) exposure can deplete glutathione (GSH) and induce oxidative stress. GSH is the primary intracellular antioxidant; it donates an electron to reactive oxygen species, thus producing glutathione disulfide (GSSG). Cysteine (Cys) and cystine (CySS) are the predominant thiol/disulfide redox couple found in human plasma. Arsenic, GSH, and Cys are linked in several ways: a) GSH is synthesized via the transsulfuration pathway, and Cys is the rate-limiting substrate; b) intermediates of the methionine cycle regulate both the transsulfuration pathway and As methylation; c) GSH serves as the electron donor for reduction of arsenate to arsenite; and d) As has a high affinity for sulfhydryl groups and therefore binds to GSH and Cys.Objectives: We tested the hypothesis that As exposure is associated with decreases in GSH and Cys and increases in GSSG and CySS (i.e., a more oxidized environment).Methods: For this cross-sectional study, the Folate and Oxidative Stress Study, we recruited a total of 378 participants from each of five water As concentration categories: < 10 (n = 76), 10–100 (n = 104), 101–200 (n = 86), 201–300 (n = 67), and > 300 µg/L (n = 45). Concentrations of GSH, GSSG, Cys, and CySS were measured using HPLC.Results: An interquartile range (IQR) increase in water As was negatively associated with blood GSH (mean change, –25.4 µmol/L; 95% CI: –45.3, –5.31) and plasma CySS (mean change, –3.00 µmol/L; 95% CI: –4.61, –1.40). We observed similar associations with urine and blood As. There were no significant associations between As exposure and blood GSSG or plasma Cys.Conclusions: The observed associations are consistent with the hypothesis that As may influence concentrations of GSH and other nonprotein sulfhydryls through binding and irreversible loss in bile and/or possibly in urine.Citation: Hall MN, Niedzwiecki M, Liu X, Harper KN, Alam S, Slavkovich V, Ilievski V, Levy D, Siddique AB, Parvez F, Mey JL, van Geen A, Graziano J, Gamble MV. 2013. Chronic arsenic exposure and blood glutathione and glutathione disulfide concentrations in Bangladeshi adults. Environ Health Perspect 121:1068–1074; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1205727     

谷胱甘肽转硫酶M1和T1基因型与食管癌危险性:病例-对照研究

为探讨参与致癌物代谢的谷胱甘肽转硫酶（ＧＳＴ）Ｍ１和Ｔ１基因多型性与食管癌危险性的关系，以病例－对照分子流行病学方法，分析食管癌高发区河南林县的食管癌、食管上皮重度增生病例和性别、年龄配对的正常对照者（各４５例）的ＧＳＴＭ１和ＧＳＴＴ１基因型分布的差异。基因组ＤＮＡ来自研究对象的食管外科手术标本或细胞学检查获得的食管上皮细胞，以多重聚合酶链反应方法进行基因分型。结果：食管癌、食管上皮重度增生病例和     

Risk for Elevated Blood Lead Levels in 3- and 4-Year-Old Children

Objective We conducted a study to evaluate the relation between environmental, demographic, and medical risk factors and late-onset childhood lead poisoning, defined as children who were poisoned at age 3 or older. Methods We performed a retrospective case–control study of 262 children whose test results showed non-elevated (<10 μg/dl) blood lead levels (BLLs) before age 2 but levels ≥10 μg/dl after age 3 and of 300 control children who had non-elevated BLL test results before age 2 and also after age 3. The target population was children receiving care at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, OH. We modeled the association between demographic and clinical risk factors and BLLs ≥10 μg/dl after age 3. Covariates considered were race, gender, body mass index, immunization status, mean corpuscular volume, hematocrit, red cell volume distribution width (RDW), red blood count, hemoglobin, baseline BLL result, and time between the baseline and second BLL test. Results Case children were more likely to be male (P < 0.0001), black (P = 0.0189) and to have a high RDW defined as ≥14.5 % (P = 0.0083). On the basis of the final model, children with BLLs 7–9 μg/dl before age 2 and again after a follow-up BLL test (<21 months) were more likely to become lead poisoned than were control children. The risk of black children developing lead poisoning increased over time, regardless of the child’s first BLL test result. Conclusions Although national recommendations are to test children’s blood lead levels at ages 1 and 2, children living in high-risk areas with such risk factors should have a blood lead test at these older ages. Jaime S. Raymond and Roberta Anderson contributed equally to this work.     

Dietary Iron Intake and Risk of Endometrial Cancer: A Population-Based Case-Control Study in Shanghai,China

Dietary red meat and animal fat have been linked to endometrial cancer (EC) risk, but the impact of bioavailable iron in animal-derived foods has been less well studied. Our objective was to investigate the effects of iron and fats on the risk of EC in a large, population-based, case-control study. The Shanghai Endometrial Cancer Study enrolled 1,204 EC cases and 1,212 controls who completed in-person interviews, including a food frequency questionnaire. Animal-derived iron and fat intakes were calculated from dietary intakes and food composition tables. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate independent and joint effects of iron and fat on EC risk. Animal-derived iron intake was positively associated with EC risk [adjusted OR = 1.9; 95% CI = 1.4–2.7, P _trend < 0.01, highest vs. lowest quartile], predominantly after menopause (OR = 2.2; 95%CI = 1.4–3.4, P _trend < 0.01) and in women with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m ² (OR = 3.2; 95% CI = 1.4–7.5 in postmenopausal obese women, P _trend < 0.01). Animal-derived fat was also associated with postmenopausal EC risk (OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.2–2.5, P _trend < 0.01). Multiplicative interactions between animal-derived iron and BMI or animal-derived fat intake were not observed. Animal-derived iron intake is associated with increased risk of EC after menopause and among obese women. Avoidance of animal-derived (heme) iron may reduce the risk of EC in these women.     

Effects of High Fruit-Vegetable and/or Low-Fat Intervention on Plasma Micronutrient Levels

Objectives: Higher plasma micronutrient levels have been associated with decreased cancer risks. The objective of this study was to determine the relative effects of reduced fat and/or increased fruit-vegetable (FV) intakes on plasma micronutrient levels.

Methods: Healthy, premenopausal women with a family history of breast cancer (n = 122) were randomized across four diet arms for one year in a 2 × 2 factorial design study: control, low-fat, high fruit-vegetable and combination low-fat/high FV diets. Levels of plasma micronutrients were measured in plasma at 0, 3, 6 and 12 months.

Results: The high FV intervention, regardless of fat intake, significantly increased α-carotene, β-carotene and vitamin C levels in plasma. Only the combination high FV, low-fat intervention significantly increased plasma β-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin levels over time. Although α-tocopherol was not affected, a potential concern is that the low-fat intervention resulted in significantly decreased both γ-tocopherol dietary intakes and plasma levels, regardless of whether or not FV intakes were concomitantly increased.

Conclusions: Unlike α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol plasma levels were decreased by a low fat diet, perhaps because γ-tocopherol is not generally added to foods nor widely used in vitamin E supplements. The decreased dietary intakes and plasma levels of γ-tocopherol with a low-fat diet may have implications for health risks since the biological functions of the different tocopherol isomers have been reported to be distinct.     

Micronutrient Status in Female University Students: Iron,Zinc, Copper,Selenium, Vitamin B12 and Folate

Young women are at an increased risk of micronutrient deficiencies, particularly due to higher micronutrient requirements during childbearing years and multiple food group avoidances. The objective of this study was to investigate biomarkers of particular micronutrients in apparently healthy young women. Female students (n = 308; age range 18–35 year; Body Mass Index 21.5 ± 2.8 kg/m²; mean ± SD) were recruited to participate in a cross-sectional study. Blood samples were obtained from participants in the fasted state and analysed for biomarkers of iron status, vitamin B₁₂, folate, homocysteine, selenium, zinc, and copper. The results show iron deficiency anaemia, unspecified anaemia, and hypoferritinemia in 3%, 7% and 33.9% of participants, respectively. Low vitamin B₁₂ concentrations (<120 pmol/L) were found in 11.3% of participants, while 4.7% showed sub-clinical deficiency based on serum methylmalonic acid concentrations >0.34 μmol/L. Folate concentrations below the reference range were observed in 1.7% (serum) or 1% (erythrocytes) of participants, and 99.7% of the participant had erythrocyte-folate concentrations >300 nmol/L. Serum zinc concentrations <10.7 μmol/L were observed in 2% of participants. Serum copper and selenium concentrations were below the reference range in 23% and 11% of participants, respectively. Micronutrient deficiencies including iron and vitamin B₁₂, and apparent excess of folate are present in educated Australian female students of childbearing age, including those studying nutrition. The effects of dietary behaviours and food choices on markers of micronutrient status require further investigation.