Lack of prospective associations between plasma and urinary phytoestrogens and risk of prostate or colorectal cancer in the European Prospective into Cancer-Norfolk study

Dietary phytoestrogens are suggested to reduce the risk of prostate and colorectal cancer, but the results of epidemiologic studies have not yielded consistent support for this proposed effect, possibly due to inadequate databases of phytoestrogen levels in foods. Biomarkers of phytoestrogen intakes may provide a clearer insight into the relationship between phytoestrogen exposure and the risk of prostate or colorectal cancer risks. From the European Prospective into Cancer-Norfolk cohort (ages 45-75), serum and urine samples were analyzed for seven phytoestrogens [daidzein, enterodiol, enterolactone, genistein, glycitein, O-desmethylangolensin (O-DMA), and equol] among 193 cases of prostate cancer and 828 controls, and 221 cases of colorectal cancer with 889 controls. Summary variables of total lignans (enterodiol and enterolactone) and total isoflavones (daidzein, genistein, O-DMA, equol, and glycitein) were created and analyzed in conjunction with individual phytoestrogens. Logistic regression analyses revealed that there was no significant association between prostate cancer risk and total serum isoflavones [odds ratio (OR), 1.01; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.93-1.10] or total serum lignans (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.86-1.04) or between colorectal cancer risk and total serum isoflavones (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.94-1.08) or total serum lignans (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.94-1.12). Similarly, null associations were observed for individual serum phytoestrogens and for all urinary phytoestrogen biomarkers. In conclusion, we have found no evidence to support an inverse association between phytoestrogen exposure and prostate or colorectal cancer risk.     

Factors influencing compliance with dietary advice: the Diet And Reinfarction Trial (DART)

Factors influencing compliance with dietary advice were investigated in the Diet and Reinfarcation Trial (DART). In terms of achieved intakes, smokers had a lower mean P/S ratio and fibre intake than non-smokers; manual workers had a lower mean fibre intake than non-manual workers; and obese men had a higher percentage of energy from fat and lower P/S ratio than non-obese men. However the effect of the advice (difference in intakes of those advised and thosen not advised) was similar in smokers and non-smokers and was similar in all social classes. The effect of fat advice was less among obese men than among non-obese men, probably as a result of weight-reducing advice given to all overweight men. Fat advice tended to have a greater effect among those who gave up smoking after their heart attack than among non-smokers and those who continued to smoke but the difference was not statistically significant. This suggests that advice on diet and smoking can be given simultaneously and still be effective.     

The Association of Keratosis Pilaris Atrophicans with Hereditary Woolly Hair

Abstract: We describe a father and his daughter with keratosis pilaris atrophicans facei, ulerythema ophryogenes, and hereditary woolly hair, an association that has been described only once in the literature.     

Perforation of the inferior vena cava with aortic and vertebral penetration by a suprarenal Greenfield filter

Various complications have been reported after insertion of the Greenfield filter. This report describes an unusual complication after suprarenal placement of this filter: spreading of the filter struts, with perforation of the inferior vena cava, and penetration of the aorta and a vertebral body, followed by fracture of one of the struts.     

The effect of dietary advice on nutrient intakes: evidence from the diet and reinfarction trial (DART)

The effect of dietary advice on nutrient intakes was examined in a random subsample of 459 men who were taking part in a randomized controlled trial of secondary prevention of myocardial infarction. The trial is of factorial design, to examine the effect of three dieteary aims, alone and in combination:

• (1) 

  A reduction in total fat to 30% of energy, together with an increase in polyunsaturated/saturated fat ratio (P/S) to 1.0.
• (2) 

  An increase in fatty fish consumption to at least 300 g/week (3 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)).
• (3) 

  An increase in cereal fibre intake to 18 g/day (total fibre 30 g/day). Men were randomly allocated to one of the eight regimens (fat, fish, fibre, fat plus fish, fat plus fibre, fish plus fibre, fat plus fish plus fibre, or none of these) and are being followed up for at least two years. Six months after the advice was given, nutrient intakes were assessed from 7-d weighed intake records. Of those advised to reduce fat intake and increase P/S ratio, mean intakes were 31% of energy and 0.85, respectively. This compared with 35% of energy and 0.45 for those not given this advice. Mean EPA intake was 2.5 g/week for the fish advice group and 0.79 g/week for the no fish advice group. Mean cereal fibre intake of the fibre advice group was 15 g/d (26 g/d total fibre) compared with 9 g/d (20 g/d total fibre) for the no fibre advice group. Thus for each of the dietary aims, the advice had a substantial effect on intakes.

     

Fibrinogen and cigarette smoking in men and women in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer in Norfolk (EPIC-Norfolk) population.

BACKGROUND: Plasma fibrinogen may be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Cigarette smoking is a well-recognized determinant of plasma fibrinogen however it remains unclear how fibrinogen levels relate to the degree and duration of smoking, or to time since smoking cessation. METHODS: In a population-based study of 11 059 men and women aged 45-74 years, we examined the cross-sectional relationship between plasma fibrinogen and cigarette smoking habit. RESULTS: Mean fibrinogen concentrations were higher in current smokers compared to non-current smokers (men: 3.13+/-0.77 versus 2.80+/-0.71 g/l, P<0.0001; women: 3.03+/-0.72 versus 2.95+/-0.71 g/l, P=0.01), independent of age, body mass index and hormone replacement therapy in women In men, fibrinogen concentrations declined with years since stopping smoking but remained higher than in life-long non-smokers for 15 years. No relationship between fibrinogen and duration of smoking cessation was observed in women. On multivariate analysis, age, body mass index, use of hormone-replacement therapy, smoking status and pack-years of smoking were independent predictors of plasma fibrinogen. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma fibrinogen is strongly associated with cigarette smoking with a dose-response relationship with total pack-years of smoking. In men who stop smoking plasma fibrinogen may remain elevated for several years after cessation.     

Dietary fibre (non-starch polysaccharides) in cereal products

Dietary fibre, measured as non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) has been determined in 114 cereals and cereal products using the Englyst technique. No diffculties were encountered with the analysis of any food and the results for cooked foods such as bread and breakfast cereals were comparable with the raw materials. The amount of total NSP ranged widely from 0.1% in cornflour to 37% in wheat bran. Detailed analysis of the materials indicated that most of the NSP in wheat and maize was an insoluble arabinoxylan whilst in oats a soluble β-glucan predominated. Barley and rye contained high amounts of both arabinoxylan and β-glucan. The NSP content of cereal products such as breakfast cereals and biscuits reflected the flours and grains from which they were made. When comparing the present data with other published results the importance of complete removal of starch for accurate dietary fibre measurement is stressed.     

High-resolution MR imaging with local coils

We propose the following rules to govern the choice of local coils by the practicing radiologist: 1. Smaller coils permit smaller FOVs and better resolution. The coil should be as small as possible. 2. Match the ROS of the coil to the FOV, which will be determined by the anatomic region of interest. 3. For the case of a choice between surface coils or between a surface and a whole- or partial-volume coil, the anatomic region should lie on the high side of the crossover point. For the case of a choice among whole-volume coils, the smallest coil that surrounds the region of interest should be chosen. 4. Considerations in regard to the anatomic shape or the need to vary the position of the structure may alter the choice of coil from that obtained by S/N considerations alone.