Cost of illness of leukemia in Japan – Trend analysis and future projections

Background

Leukemia is a deadly hematological malignancy that usually affects all age groups and imposes significant burden on public funds and society. The objective of this study was to analyze the cost of illness (COI) of leukemia, and to mark out the underlying driving factors, in Japan.

Self-awareness of premalignant oral lesions among veterans attending six U.S. Veterans Affairs Medical Centers

Early identification is key to reducing the morbidity and mortality of oropharyngeal cancer. This study identified factors associated with self-awareness among patients newly diagnosed with a premalignant oral lesion. Data describing sociodemographics, medical/dental histories, tobacco/alcohol use and oral health were obtained by questionnaire and clinical examination of 73 veterans at six U.S. Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. Lesion types included homogenous and non-homogenous leukoplakia, smokeless tobacco lesion (STL), papilloma, lichen planus and erythroplakia. Prior to diagnosis, 29 subjects (39.7%) were unaware of their lesion. In bivariate analyses, lesion self-awareness was associated with anatomic location, multifocal/generalized appearance, pain, oral sores, and cigar use (p<0.05). Awareness varied with lesion diagnosis and was more likely with STL and less likely with homogenous leukoplakia (p<0.05). In multivariate analyses, awareness was predicted by the presence of a lesion on easily visible mucosa (adjusted odds ratio, OR=11.2) and a history of mouth sores (OR=11.2). These findings identified marked variations in patient self-awareness of oral premalignant conditions.     

Ego defense mechanisms in COPD: impact on health-related quality of life and dyspnoea severity

Purpose  

To assess chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) patients’ defensive profile compared with healthy participants and to test whether specific ego defense mechanisms are associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and self-reported dyspnoea severity.     

Arsenic exposure and motor function among children in Bangladesh

Background: Several reports indicate that drinking water arsenic (WAs) and manganese (WMn) are associated with children’s intellectual function. Very little is known, however, about possible associations with other neurologic outcomes such as motor function.Methods: We investigated the associations of WAs and WMn with motor function in 304 children in Bangladesh, 8–11 years of age. We measured As and Mn concentrations in drinking water, blood, urine, and toenails. We assessed motor function with the Bruininks-Oseretsky test, version 2, in four subscales—fine manual control (FMC), manual coordination (MC), body coordination (BC), and strength and agility—which can be summarized with a total motor composite score (TMC).Results: Log-transformed blood As was associated with decreases in TMC [β = –3.63; 95% confidence interval (CI): –6.72, –0.54; p < 0.01], FMC (β = –1.68; 95% CI: –3.19, –0.18; p < 0.05), and BC (β = –1.61; 95% CI: –2.72, –0.51; p < 0.01), with adjustment for sex, school attendance, head circumference, mother’s intelligence, plasma ferritin, and blood Mn, lead, and selenium. Other measures of As exposure (WAs, urinary As, and toenail As) also were inversely associated with motor function scores, particularly TMC and BC. Square-transformed blood selenium was positively associated with TMC (β = 3.54; 95% CI: 1.10, 6.0; p < 0.01), FMC (β = 1.55; 95% CI: 0.40, 2.70; p < 0.005), and MC (β = 1.57; 95% CI: 0.60, 2.75; p < 0.005) in the unadjusted models. Mn exposure was not significantly associated with motor function.Conclusion: Our research demonstrates an adverse association of As exposure and a protective association of Se on motor function in children.     

Non-standard employment and mortality in Belgian workers: A census-based investigation

Objectives:Evidence is growing that non-standard employment is associated with adverse health. However, little is known about the relationship between different non-standard employment arrangements and subsequent all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Using population-wide data, the present study investigated this link.Methods:Data was derived from the 2001 Belgian census and a 13-year-long follow-up. The analyses comprised 1 454 033 healthy and disability-free employees aged 30–59 years at baseline. Cox regressions were fitted to analyze the mortality risks of those in non-standard employment forms (temporary agency, seasonal, fixed-term, causal work and employment program) compared to permanent employees.Results:Several groups of workers in non-standard employment arrangements in 2001 exhibited a higher mortality risk relative to permanent employees during the follow-up after adjusting for socio-economic and work-related factors. This was especially the case among men. The relative mortality disadvantage was particularly elevated for male temporary agency workers. External causes of death played an important role in this association.Conclusions:A mortality gradient between the core and outer periphery of the Belgian labor market has been observed. This study also shows that the excess risk of death, previously attributed to non-permanent employment as a whole, hides inequalities between specific forms of non-standard work (eg, temporary agency, seasonal, fixed-term employment).     

Socioeconomic factors and adolescent pregnancy outcomes: distinctions between neonatal and post-neonatal deaths?

Background  

Young maternal age has long been associated with higher infant mortality rates, but the role of socioeconomic factors in this association has been controversial. We sought to investigate the relationships between infant mortality (distinguishing neonatal from post-neonatal deaths), socioeconomic status and maternal age in a large, retrospective cohort study.     

Oral administration of Aloe vera and honey reduces walker tumour growth by decreasing cell proliferation and increasing apoptosis in tumour tissue

Cancer is diagnosed in approximately 11 million people and is responsible for almost 8 million deaths worldwide every year. Research in cancer control has shown the importance of co‐adjuvant therapies. Aloe vera may reduce tumour mass and metastasis rates, while honey may inhibit tumour growth. This study verified the influence of Aloe vera and honey on tumour growth and in the apoptosis process by assessing tumour size, the cell proliferation rate (Ki67‐LI) and Bax/Bcl‐2 expression at 7, 14 and 20 days after Walker 256 carcinoma implant in Wistar rats distributed into two groups: the WA group – tumour‐bearing rats that received a gavage with a 670 µL/kg dose of Aloe vera and honey solution daily, and the CW group – tumour‐bearing rats which received only a 0.9% NaCl solution. The effect of Aloe vera and honey against tumour growth was observed through a decrease in relative weight (%) and Ki67‐LI in tumours from the WA group compared with those from the CW group. The Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio increased in tumours from the WA group at all tested timepoints. These data suggest Aloe vera and honey can modulate tumour growth by reducing cell proliferation and increasing apoptosis susceptibility. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.