Ovarian cancer in the elderly: an analysis of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program data

With use of a unique data set from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute for 11,062 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer from 1973 to 1982, this study focuses on the impact of old age on this malignancy. Aspects of ovarian cancer as it pertains especially to elderly women (those 65 years or older) are examined according to age/stage relationships at initial diagnosis and age variations in treatment and survival. Elderly women are more likely than younger women to be in advanced stages of ovarian cancer at initial diagnosis, and they constitute about 42% of this group. In the stage-unknown category, over 50% are 65 years or older. Data suggest that elderly women are treated more conservatively than younger patients. The National Cancer Institute data also illustrate the increased preference to treat this neoplasm with surgical procedures and chemotherapy rather than surgical procedures and radiation. For Stages III and IV disease, 5-year relative survival rates for elderly women are almost one half of the rate observed for women under 65. Although the prognosis of patients with advanced ovarian tumors is poor for all, it is even worse as age progresses.     

Varia

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Prevalence of depression in coronary heart disease in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Coronary heart diseases （CHD） have been identified as one of topmost diseases affecting the Chinese population.However,depression in CHD has not been reported and there are limited high quality empirical studies in China focused on the prevalence of the comorbidity.This study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of depression with CHD in China.Methods Systematic review and meta-analysis of published epidemiologic studies on the depression in CHD patients in China were conducted.The research findings dated before 30 September 2013 were obtained from Ovid Medline,EMBASE and two Chinese electronic publication libraries WANFANG and CNKI.We used ＂cardiovascular disease＂,＂depression＂ and ＂China＂ as the search themes in Ovid Medline and EMBASE and ＂cardiovascular disease＂ and ＂depression＂ in WANFANG and CNKI.Random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the prevalence of depression in CHD patients.Results Twenty-seven studies were included in the review.Twenty-three studies had 5 236 participants who were hospitalized and four studies had 1 353 participants from community.The overall prevalence of depression in CHD from hospital was 51% （95% CI：0.43,0.58; Ⅰ-squared=97%,P=-0.000）.The prevalence of depression in CHD from community ranged between 34.6% to 45.8%,and the severe depression was found ranging between 3.1% to 11.2%.Conclusions On comparing data with other countries,the prevalence of depression in CHD among admitted patients in China was found to be high.The physicians and healthcare providers should pay more attention to the ＂physical-mental＂ health of the CHD patients.     

从澳大利亚护理实践的演变看中国社区护理的发展(二)——中国社区护理的发展和挑战

目的从历史纵深角度,探讨我国护理的发展沿革及社区护理面临的严峻挑战,揭示阻碍社区护理发展的历史和文化渊源,从而为制定发展社区护理的政策,迎接老龄化社区卫生服务挑战,提供有意义的依据。方法以文献研究和政策分析作为主要的研究手段。结果中国的护士源于鸦片战争后医学传教士带来的西医技术医学体系,从传统的家庭护理一步跨入医院为中心的护理。然而机构内护理与东方文化传统的矛盾,医护比例的严重倒置,以及护理培训制度不健全,不但影响了医院护理质量,也使得社区护理资源奇缺。社区护理教育边缘化和人力发展严重滞后,是困扰我国社区卫生服务发展的主要障碍。结论大力发展社区护理是保证社区协调发展和满足人群健康需要的关键战略。我国的社区护理发展与其他国家一样,受到历史传承因素的影响,面临迅速增长的社区需要与发育不良的社区护理之间的矛盾,医学界和政府都应该从历史和文化的角度理解这个问题的背景,并从中获得启迪。     

Identifying Counseling Needs of Nulliparous Adolescent Intrauterine Contraceptive Users: A Qualitative Approach

PurposeTo describe the intrauterine contraception (IUC) adoption process among nulliparous adolescents and to identify the role of the medical provider in this trajectory.MethodsWe conducted semistructured interviews with a clinic-based sample of 20 nulliparous adolescents (aged 15–24 years) with a history of IUC use. Interviews were analyzed using modified grounded theory and cross-case analysis to reveal a process model for IUC adoption, with a focus on the role of the medical provider.ResultsThe model includes the following stages: first awareness, initial reaction, information gathering, adoption, and adjustment and reassessment. It is influenced by personal preferences and experiences, friends, family, sexual partner(s), and medical providers. Interactions with medical providers that study participants found helpful in navigating the adoption process included the use of visuals; tailored counseling to address specific contraceptive needs; assurance that IUC discontinuation was an option; information on a wide range of side effects; medical provider self-disclosure regarding use of IUC; and addressing and validating concerns, both before and after IUC insertion.ConclusionsNulliparous adolescents in this study described a complex IUC adoption process in which the medical provider plays a substantial supportive role. Findings from this study may be used to counsel and support future nulliparous adolescents regarding IUC use.     

Dietary patterns and risk for Crohn's disease in children

BACKGROUND: Some dietary foods are considered protective (vegetables and fruits), whereas others (fatty foods) are thought to enhance the risk for Crohn's disease (CD). The evidence, however, is inconsistent. METHODS: We postulated that specific dietary patterns may influence the risk for CD. A case-control study was carried out. Newly diagnosed CD cases with population and/or hospital-based controls < or =20 years were selected from 3 tertiary hospitals across Canada. Pre-disease diet was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) administered within 1 month of diagnosis. Factor analyses and unconditional logistic regression (adjusted) was used to determine gender-specific dietary patterns and assess associated risks for CD. Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated. RESULTS: A total of 149 cases and 251 controls were included. The mean age (range) of the cases was 13.3 (2.6-20 years). There were more boys (61.1%). Four dietary patterns each were observed among both boys and girls. Pattern 1 in girls, characterized by meats, fatty foods, and desserts, was positively associated with CD (OR 4.7, 95% CI 1.6-14.2). Pattern 2, common to both boys and girls, was characterized by vegetables, fruits, olive oil, fish, grains, and nuts and was inversely associated with CD in both genders (girls: OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.9; boys: OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.5). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that specific dietary patterns could be associated with higher or lower risks for CD in children. Larger prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.     

Association of Roadway Proximity with Fasting Plasma Glucose and Metabolic Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in a Cross-Sectional Study of Cardiac Catheterization Patients

Background

The relationship between traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) and risk factors for cardiovascular disease needs to be better understood in order to address the adverse impact of air pollution on human health.

Objective

We examined associations between roadway proximity and traffic exposure zones, as markers of TRAP exposure, and metabolic biomarkers for cardiovascular disease risk in a cohort of patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study of 2,124 individuals residing in North Carolina (USA). Roadway proximity was assessed via distance to primary and secondary roadways, and we used residence in traffic exposure zones (TEZs) as a proxy for TRAP. Two categories of metabolic outcomes were studied: measures associated with glucose control, and measures associated with lipid metabolism. Statistical models were adjusted for race, sex, smoking, body mass index, and socioeconomic status (SES).

Results

An interquartile-range (990 m) decrease in distance to roadways was associated with higher fasting plasma glucose (β = 2.17 mg/dL; 95% CI: –0.24, 4.59), and the association appeared to be limited to women (β = 5.16 mg/dL; 95% CI: 1.48, 8.84 compared with β = 0.14 mg/dL; 95% CI: –3.04, 3.33 in men). Residence in TEZ 5 (high-speed traffic) and TEZ 6 (stop-and-go traffic), the two traffic zones assumed to have the highest levels of TRAP, was positively associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; β = 8.36; 95% CI: –0.15, 16.9 and β = 5.98; 95% CI: –3.96, 15.9, for TEZ 5 and 6, respectively).

Conclusion

Proxy measures of TRAP exposure were associated with intermediate metabolic traits associated with cardiovascular disease, including fasting plasma glucose and possibly HDL-C.

Citation

Ward-Caviness CK, Kraus WE, Blach C, Haynes CS, Dowdy E, Miranda ML, Devlin RB, Diaz-Sanchez D, Cascio WE, Mukerjee S, Stallings C, Smith LA, Gregory SG, Shah SH, Hauser ER, Neas LM. 2015. Association of roadway proximity with fasting plasma glucose and metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease in a cross-sectional study of cardiac catheterization patients. Environ Health Perspect 123:1007–1014; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1306980