Cancers in Australia attributable to exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation and prevented by regular sunscreen use

Objectives: To estimate the proportion and numbers of cancers occurring in Australia attributable to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and the proportion and numbers prevented by regular sun protection factor (SPF) 15+ sunscreen use. Methods: We estimated the population attributable fraction (PAF) and numbers of melanomas and keratinocyte cancers (i.e. basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas) due to exposure to ambient UVR resulting from residing in Australia versus residing in the UK (for melanoma) or Scandinavia (for keratinocyte cancers). We also estimated the prevented fraction (PF): the proportion of cancers that would have occurred but were likely prevented by regular sunscreen use. Results: An estimated 7,220 melanomas (PAF 63%) and essentially all keratinocyte cancers occurring in Australia were attributable to high ambient UVR levels in Australia. We estimated that regular sunscreen use prevented around 14,190 (PF 9.3%) and 1,730 (PF 14%) people from developing SCC and melanoma, respectively. Conclusions: Although our approach was conservative, a high proportion of skin cancers in Australia are attributable to high ambient levels of UVR. Prevailing levels of sunscreen use probably reduced skin cancer incidence by 10–15%. Implications: Most skin cancers are preventable. Sunscreen should be a component of a comprehensive sun protection strategy.     

Cancers in Australia in 2010 attributable to total breastfeeding durations of 12 months or less by parous women

Objectives: To estimate the proportion and number of cancers occurring in Australia in 2010 attributable to parous women having breastfed for total durations of ≤12 months. Methods: We estimated the population attributable fraction (PAF) of breast cancers (the only cancer site with convincing evidence of causal association) associated with women breastfeeding for ≤12 months in total, using standard formulae incorporating breastfeeding prevalence data, relative risks associated with breastfeeding and cancer incidence. We also estimated the proportion change in disease incidence (potential impact fraction [PIF]) that might have occurred under two hypothetical scenarios of women breastfeeding for longer durations. Results: An estimated 235 (1.7%) breast cancer cases that occurred in Australian in 2010 could be attributed to women breastfeeding for total durations of ≤12 months. Assuming a hypothetical increase in breastfeeding, we estimated that the number of breast cancers prevented would range from 36 to 51 (prevented fraction = 0.3% to 0.4%). Conclusions: More than 200 breast cancers were attributable to women breastfeeding for total durations of ≤12 months. Implications: Policies to increase breastfeeding duration may help prevent breast cancers in the future.     

Cannabis Use amongst British University Students: II. Patterns of Use and Attitudes to Use

Three hundred and five students with experience of cannabis from 2 university colleges in Southern England were classified according to their degree of experience of the drug. Approximately half the sample had used it 10 times or less (‘novices’) and half more than 10 times (‘experienced users’). Forty per cent considered they had now stopped using (63 per cent of novices, 18 per cent of experienced users), and 25 per cent were using once a week or more (‘regular users’), this latter figure including 7 per cent using at least 4 times per week (‘heavy users’). More experienced users were differentiated from less experienced users on a number of other characteristics of their drug use. They differed in the nature of their first experience (with more experienced users being more likely to have it earlier, at school, enjoy it and want it for drug effect rather than curiosity), the attributed importance of the drug in their lives (the heavier the use the more attributed importance), the social role of the drug (with it playing a greater part in the lives of more experienced), the preferred level of intoxication (heavy users tending to aim for higher levels), the effects experienced (greater range with greater experience) the reasons given for using, the reservations about using, and experience with other drugs. Discussion focusses on what the drug may offer individuals by looking at differences between those who decide to stop (and when) and those who continue using, and amongst those who continue, different patterns of use and the costs and benefits associated with them. Questions raised for future analyses include whether use patterns may be predicted by non-drug variables.     

Prevalence of Antibodies to Hepatitis E Virus in Immigrants: A Seroepidemiological Survey in the District of Foggia (Apulia‐Southern Italy)

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the etiologic agent of endemically transmitted viral hepatitis. HEV is endemic in developing countries where it occurs in sporadic and endemic forms, but autochthonous sporadic cases of hepatitis E have been reported in North America and in Europe, including Italy. The aim of the present study was to assess the seroprevalence of antibodies to HEV in immigrants from developing countries to the province of Foggia. The seroprevalence of HEV was determined in a cohort of 412 immigrants (mostly from countries in sub‐Saharan Africa) who had arrived recently in Italy. Serum samples were tested for anti‐HEV by a commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA) based on recombinant proteins; positive results were confirmed by a Western blot assay (Recomblot HEV). A total of 88 (21.3%) of the 412 serum samples examined were reactive to IgG anti‐HEV. Eighty‐one of these samples (19.7%) were confirmed by Western blot. Anti‐HEV IgM was found in 34/81 subjects (41.9%) of the anti‐HEV IgG positive serum samples. Almost all anti‐HEV positive subjects were asymptomatic clinically, but alanine aminotransferase serum values were elevated in 28/34 (82.3%) patients with IgM anti‐HEV‐positive. The results of this study indicate high circulation of HEV in the immigrant population. The high prevalence of acute hepatitis involved mainly subjects who arrived in Italy during the same period from the same countries (Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia). J. Med. Virol. 85:261–265, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The nonsense mutation stop+4 model correlates with motor changes in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

The aim was to assess 3-year longitudinal data using 6MWT in 26 ambulant boys affected by DMD carrying nonsense mutations and to compare their results to other small mutations. We also wished to establish, within the nonsense mutations group, patterns of change according to several variables. Patients with nonsense mutations were categorized according to the stop codon type newly created by the mutation and also including the adjacent 5′ (upstream) and 3′ (downstream) nucleotides. No significant difference was found between nonsense mutations and other small mutations (p > 0.05) on the 6MWT. Within the nonsense mutations group, there was no difference in 6MWT when the patients were subdivided according to: Type of stop codon, frame status of exons involved, protein domain affected. In contrast, there was a difference when the stop codon together with the 3′ adjacent nucleotide (“stop+4 model”) was considered (p < 0.05) with patients with stop codon TGA and 3′ adjacent nucleotide G (TGAG) having a more rapid decline. Our finding suggest that the stop+4 model may help in predicting functional changes. This data will be useful at the time of interpreting the long term follow up of patients treated with Ataluren that are becoming increasingly available.