Selenium is inversely associated with bladder cancer risk: A report from the Belgian case–control study on bladder cancer

AIM: Selenium is an essential trace element with suspected anticarcinogenic properties in humans. To date, eight epidemiological studies have examined the association between serum selenium concentration and bladder cancer risk. METHODS: The authors carried out a population case-control study in 178 cases and 362 controls to assess the relationship between bladder cancer risk and selenium serum concentrations. Unconditional logistic regression was calculated to determine odds ratios (OR) for bladder cancer occurrence with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Effect modification by smoking status, low fruit and vegetable intake, retinol equivalent, vitamin C, vitamin E and total antioxidant status were also assessed. RESULTS: Serum selenium level was negatively associated with bladder cancer risk. After adjustment for sex, age, smoking and occupational exposure, the OR was 0.48 (95% CI 0.29-0.79) comparing the second with the lowest tertile (serum selenium concentration >82.40 microg/L). The adjusted OR for the highest tertile (serum selenium concentration >96.00 microg/L), was 0.30 (95% CI 0.17-0.52) (P-trend <0.001). An increase of 10 microg/L in serum selenium concentration was associated with a significant decreased bladder cancer risk (OR: 0.76; 95% CI 0.67-0.85). CONCLUSION: This case-control study suggests an inverse association between serum selenium concentration and bladder cancer risk.     

Subgroup studies of black admixture within a mixed population of Bahia, Brazil

Genetic, anthropological and medical data are shown to support the conclusion that subgroup studies of Black admixture within a mixed population are feasible, even if to some extent subjective. Thus, the use of subgroup racial classification for studies within mixed populations can be defended as the only choice to avoid excessive heterogeneity.     

Severe childhood encephalopathy with dyskinesia and prolonged cognitive disturbances: evidence for anti‐N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor encephalitis

Aim We report four cases of acquired severe encephalopathy with massive hyperkinesia, marked neurological and cognitive regression, sleep disturbance, prolonged mutism, and a remarkably delayed recovery (time to full recovery between 5 and 18mo) with an overall good outcome, and its association with anti‐N‐methyl‐d ‐aspartate (anti‐NMDA) receptor antibodies. Method We reviewed the four cases retrospectively and we also reviewed the literature. Results Anti‐NMDA receptor antibodies (without ovarian teratoma detected so far) were found in the two children tested in this study. Interpretation The clinical features are similar to those first reported in 1992 by Sebire et al., 1 and rarely recognized since. Sleep disturbance was not emphasized as part of the disorder, but appears to be an important feature, whereas coma is less certain and difficult to evaluate in this setting. The combination of symptoms, evolution (mainly seizures at onset), severity, paucity of abnormal laboratory findings, very slow recovery, and difficult management justify its recognition as a specific entity. The neuropathological substrate may be anatomically close to that involved in encephalitis lethargica, in which the same target functions (sleep and movement) are affected but in reverse, with hypersomnolence and bradykinesia. This syndrome closely resembles anti‐NMDA receptor encephalitis, which has been reported in adults and is often paraneoplastic.