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oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/12015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
THE HUMEAN FOG: CANCER AND CHOLESTEROL
LILIENFELD, ABRAHAM M.
REVIEWS AND COMMENTARY
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/1
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Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/1022015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
INCAPACITATING EFFECTS OF SCHISTOSOMIASIS MANSONI ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF SUGAR-CANE CUTTERS IN NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL
BARBOSA, F. S.
DA COSTA, D. P. PEREIRA
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Studies were carried out on two sugar estates in the humid coastal forest region of northeastern Brazil, a highly endemic area of schistosomiasis mansoni. Results obtained In a retrospective study were not conclusive, but clear-cut results emerged from a prospective study. The latter was conducted on a sugar estate (Catende) where the severe hepatosplenic clinical form of the disease is seen in 4% of the field-working population. Comparison was made between two groups of paired subjects: one composed of workers with the hepatosplenic form of the disease and the other composed of workers with the intestinal form. Reduction of productivity among the hepatosplenic subjects compared to intestinal subjects was 35.1%. The loss to the Catende sugar estate from reduced productivity caused by schistosomiasis mansoni for the harvest season of 1978 was calculated as 0.93% of the estate's total production, or approximately US$135,000. When this figure is extrapolated to the State of Pernambuco (16 million tons of sugar total annual production), the annual loss in the state is estimated to be US$2 million.
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/102
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/112015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
SERUM CHOLESTEROL AND MORTALITY IN A JAPANESE-AMERICAN POPULATION: THE HONOLULU HEART PROGRAM
KAGAN, A.
MCGEE, D. L.
YANO, K.
RHOADS, G. G.
NOMURA, A.
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
The authors have examined the relation of baseline serum cholesterol level to subsequent 9-year mortality in a cohort of Japanese-American men. The baseline serum cholesterol level was positively related to coronary heart disease mortality. It was inversely related to total cancer mortality and to mortality from cancers of the esophagus, colon, liver and lung and to malignancies of the lymphatic and hematopoletic system. When mortality in the first two years after examination was removed from consideration in an attempt to allow for existing clinical or subclinical disease, the inverse relation to cancer persisted but was statistically significant only for colon cancer and lung cancer among the common sites as well as for malignancies of the lymphatic and hematopoietlc system. When known prevalence cases of cancer were eliminated from the computation, the inverse relation between cholesterol level and cancer mortality persisted significantly only for colon among the common cancer sites. The relation of baseline serum cholesterol level to total mortality in this cohort was quadratic; that is, there was an excess of deaths associated with serum cholesterol level at the high end of the distribution (mainly due to coronary heart disease) and at the low end (mainly due to cancer).
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/11
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/1122015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
GENOTYPIC VARIETIES OF LA CROSSE VIRUS ISOLATED FROM DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS OF THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES AND EVIDENCE FOR A NATURALLY OCCURRING INTERTYPIC RECOMBINANT LA CROSSE VIRUS
KLIMAS, RICHARD A.
THOMPSON, WAYNE H.
CALISHER, CHARLES H.
CLARK, GARY G.
GRIMSTAD, PAUL R.
BISHOP, DAVID H. L.
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
The tripartite ribonucleic acid (RNA) genomes of 23 alternate isolates of La Crosse virus have been analyzed by the procedure of oligonucleotide fingerprinting. By comparison with the fingerprints of the three viral RNA species (large, medium and small) of prototype La Crosse virus, the viruses have been categorized in terms of the degree of their RNA sequence relatedness. The A type La Crosse viruses, which have been recovered from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana and Ohio, have viral RNA sequences that are closely related to those of prototype La Crosse virus. The B type La Crosse viruses, which have been recovered from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois, have RNA sequences which, although related, are easily distinguished from those of type A viruses. A La Crosse virus isolate obtained from Rochester, Minnesota, appears to be an intertypic type A/B recombinant, it has a small size RNA segment like those of the B type La Crosse virus isolates, but medium- and large-sized RNA species like those of the A type La Crosse virus isolates. The C type La Crosse viruses have viral RNA sequences that neither closely resemble the A or B type La Crosse viruses. They have been recovered from eastern Ohio, New York State, Texas, Georgia and North Carolina.
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/112
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/1322015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
A NEW ESTIMATOR FOR INFECTION RATES USING POOLS OF VARIABLE SIZE
LE, CHAP T.
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
A new estimator is proposed for the infection rate in a population of organisms when variably sized sample pools are analyzed. This new estimator has a closed form that can be easily evaluated and updated.
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/132
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/1372015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
THE EFFECT OF RESPONSE BIAS ON THE ODDS RATIO
AUSTIN, MELISSA A.
CRIQUI, MICHAEL H.
BARRETT-CONNOR, ELIZABETH
HOLDBROOK, MARK J.
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
The effect of response bias on odds ratio results was determined based on data from a population-based cardiovascular disease survey. The study subjects consisted of 5000 adult residents of a predominantly white, upper-middle class community. Information from 60% of the 1100 non-respondents was obtained by telephone. Consistent patterns of participation associated with risk factors and diseases under study were found. A simple error term was developed to convert the odds ratio for respondents to the odds ratio for the target population using individual cell response rates. This error term demonstrates that the response patterns found tended to minimize the error in odds ratio calculations for respondents. Only by obtaining relevant information on non-respondents can investigators accurately estimate response bias and its effects on the odds ratio.
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/137
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/1442015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE PROPORTIONATE MORTALITY RATIO
MIETTINEN, OLLI S.
WANG, JUNG-DER
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
The conditions that are generally considered to justify the use of the proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) to compare exposed and nonexposed populations also permit the computation of the ratio of mortality odds between the cause (of death) of interest and the “other” causes considered. This mortality odds ratio (MOR) comparing the exposed with the nonexposed equals the exposure odds ratio comparing deaths from the cause of interest with those from the auxiliary (“other”) causes, and, in contrast to the PMR, it can be interpreted as the observed-to-expected ratio or the standardized mortality ratio on the assumption that the mortality rate for the auxiliary causes is unrelated to the exposure. Related to this, the MOR is free of the arbitrary element in the PMR, which is dependent on the size of the auxiliary-causes domain. These properties make the proposed measure superior to the PMR statistic. Consideration of the proposed statistic for “PMR data” also under scores the need to view “PMR studies” as case-referent studies, and this has important implications for the choice of the auxiliary causes (reference series).
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/144
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/1492015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
A MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF FAMILY DATA
DONNER, ALLAN
KOVAL, JOHN J.
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
The authors describe the application of multivariate analysis to the problem of estimating intra-family correlations and testing them for statistical significance. This is illustrated by a re-analysis of survey data collected by Miall and Oldham (<it>Clin Sci</it> 1958;17:459-87) on the familial aggregation of blood pressure. The multivariate analysis provides collective tests of significance for parent-child and child-child correlations based on likelihood ratio theory, and maximum likelihood estimates for individual intra-family correlations.
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/149
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Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/1552015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
RE: "SPECIAL ISSUE ON PARTICULATE AIR POLUTION"
Goldsmith, John R.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/155
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Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/1592015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
THE AUTHORS REPLY
Holland, W. W.
Bennett, A. E.
Cameron, I. R.
Florey, C. Du V.
Leeder, S. R.
Swan, A. V.
Waller, R. E.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/159
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/1612015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
RE: "ASBESTOS IN DRINKING WATER AND CANCER INCIDENCE IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA"
Higgins, Ian T. T.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/161
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/1632015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
THE AUTHORS REPLY
Kanarek, Marty S.
Conforti, Paul M.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/163
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/1642015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
RE: "COMPARISON OF THE PROPORTIONATE MORTALITY RATIO AND STANDARDIZED MORTALITY RATIO RISK MEASURES"
Saracci, Rodolfo
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/164
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/1662015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
THE AUTHORS REPLY
Decouflé, Pierre
Thomas, Terry
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/166
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/1672015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
MORE ON INDEPENDENCE AND INTERACTION
Vandenbroucke, Jan P.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/167
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/212015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
SERUM CHOLESTEROL AND MORTALITY: THE YUGOSLAVIA CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE STUDY
KOZAREVIC, Dj.
MCGEE, D.
VOJVODIC, N.
GORDON, T.
RACIC, Z.
ZUKEL, W.
DAWBER, T.
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
The relationship of level of baseline serum cholesterol to the seven-year incidence of death from all causes and from specific causes was examined in a cohort of 11,121 Yugoslav males aged 35–62 years at the time of their initial examination (1964–1965). Serum cholesterol was negatively related to mortality, i.e., those with a lower choiesterol experienced a higher mortality than those with a higher cholesterol. The negative relationship was significant (as assessed by logistic regression) and remained significant after adjusting for obesity, systolic blood pressure, cigarette smoking, age, history of intestinal parasitism, and socioeconomic status (as measured by years of education). The negative association of serum cholesterol and subsequent mortality appeared to be due to the relationship of cholesterol to deaths due to cancer and to deaths due to respiratory disease (tuberculosis and cor pulmonale). The cancer death-serum cholesterol relationship was not statistically significant but the respiratory disease death-serum cholesterol relationship was. Serum cholesterol, as expected, was positively related to the incidence of coronary heart disease death.
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/21
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Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/292015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
AN APPARENT INVERSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERUM CHOLESTEROL AND CANCER MORTALITY IN PUERTO RICO
GARCIA-PALMIER, MARIO R.
SORLIE, PAUL D.
COSTAS, RAUL
HAVLIK, RICHARD J.
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
In the Puerto Rico Heart Health Program, a prospective epidemiologic study, 9824 men living in defined urban and rural areas of Puerto Rico have been followed for approximately eight years. Periodic examinations have been used to assess potential cardiovascular risk factors and to monitor coronary heart disease events. Although the emphasis of the study has been oriented to cardiovascular disease, all causes of death have been closely monitored. During the observation period, 179 deaths from cancer have occurred in the age group 45–64 years. The distribution of cancer deaths varies from that of the mainland, with a greater percentage being oral, pharyngeal and stomach, and a lesser frequency being lung. Serum cholesterol measured at the first examination in 1965 was found to vary inversely with subsequent mortality from cancer. This trend was significant overall for the rural area and in the age group 45–54 years in the urban area. Muitivariate analysis with other covariables did not eliminate the cholesterol relationship in the rural men, although relative weight, ventricular rate, hematocrit and cigarette smoking made independent contributions in certain age groups in both locations. The association between serum cholesterol and cancer mortality in the rural area and in the younger urban area suggests that further investigation is needed to determine whether the relationship is causal, a secondary association to some other unidentified set of primary factors, or merely a physiological reaction to early and undiagnosed stages of the cancer process.
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/29
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/412015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
MORTALITY AFTER BEREAVEMENT
HELSING, KNUD J.
SZKLO, MOYSES
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
A nonconcurrent prospective study in Washington County, Maryland, identified 4032 (1204 male, 2828 female) white persons aged 18 years and over who were enumerated in a 1963 nonofficial census and became widowed between 1963 and 1974, and an equal number of married persons, each matched to a widowed person as to race, sex, year of birth and geography of residence. All were followed to 1975, the date of a second census. Mortality rates based on person-years at risk were virtually no different for female widowed than married, but significantly higher for male widowed than married, even after adjustment for a number of demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral variables. The male widowed in all age groups experienced higher mortality than the male married, the relative risk attaining statistical significance oniy in age groups 55–64 and 65–74 years, although the indicated relative risk was even higher in the younger age groups. There was little evidence of higher mortality in the first or second six-month intervals following bereavement than in subsequent years for either sex, but a suggestively higher mortality in year 2 for female widowed under age 65 years.
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/41
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/52015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
ON A POSSIBLE INVERSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERUM CHOLESTEROL AND CANCER MORTALITY
FEINLEIB, MANNING
REVIEWS AND COMMENTARY
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/5
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/532015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
PERSONAL USAGE OF MEDICAL RADIOLOGICAL PROCEDURES BY RADIOLOGISTS, PATHOLOGISTS, AND THEIR FAMILIES
JESSUP, GORDON L.
SILVERMAN, CHARLOTTE
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
The Radiation Registry of Physicians was established to study the biologic effects of prolonged occupational exposure to low levels of ionizing radiation. Questionnaire responses from radiologists and a comparable group of medical specialists, pathologists, provided information about personal and familial exposure to medical radiation. This first report from the 1973 survey of radiologists and pathologists (5077 and 2914 respondents, respectively) shows that a significantly greater percentage of male radiologists, their spouses and their children reported diagnostic and therapeutic radiographic procedures than did male pathologists and their immediate family members. Responses from female physicians show similar relationships but the number of such specialists is too small for meaningful analysis. The exposure differential between radiologists and pathologists suggests that personal medical radiation exposure is an important component of the total x-ray exposure of radiologists.
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/53
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/632015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
A GENETIC ANALYSIS OF MELANOMA-POLYGENIC INHERITANCE AS A THRESHOLD TRAIT
DUGGLEBY, WILLIAM F.
STOLL, HOWARD
PRIORE, ROGER L.
GREENWALD, PETER
GRAHAM, SAXON
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
A total of 214 melanoma patients and 193 age- and sex-matched controls, interviewed at the Roswell Park Memorial institute during the years 1974–1978, provided information regarding 1134 and 1043 New York State first order relatives (parents, offspring and siblings). The vital information provided was checked against the records of the New York State Tumor Registry to find cases of melanoma among relatives. Five cases of melanoma were found among the 1027 New York State relatives of melanoma index cases alive during the period 1949–1978, inclusive. No cases of melanoma were found among New York State relatives of controls. The expected number of melanomas among a cohort of relatives of identical sex and age composition for the interval was 0.625 cases, giving a ratio of observed to expected of 8.0. A similar analysis, restricted to parent-offspring pairs, yielded a ratio of ob served to expected of 12.7. A search for additional melanoma cases among second degree reiatives of familial index cases yielded no further affected relatives. The incidence of melanoma among relatives of melanoma cases and in a comparable general population were used to estimate the heritability of liability to melanoma as a polygenic trait. A heritability estimate of 0.49 was obtained, using parent-offspring data, indicating that nearly half of the variability in liability to melanoma in this population may be attributed to the additive action of many genes, each with small effect. Pending the replication of these findings, the 12-fold increase in incidence of melanoma among parents and offspring of melanoma cases suggests the importance of counseling and surveillance of relatives of affected Individuals by the clinician.
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/63
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/732015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
NOSOCOMIAL BLOODSTREAM INFECTIONS IN A NEWBORN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: A CASE-MATCHED CONTROL STUDY OF MORBIDITY, MORTALITY AND RISK
TOWNSEND, TIMOTHY R.
WENZEL, RICHARD P.
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Routine surveillance of 1252 newborns admitted over a four-year period to a newborn intensive care unit (ICU) identified 49 (4%) with nosocomial bloodstream infections. Forty-nine control subjects without such infections were selected, matching for birth weight, gestational age, and at least three diagnoses per patient. Overall, 27% of cases and 6% of controls died (<it>p</it> = 0.01) and significant differences persisted when cases with multiple bloodstream infections were removed from analysis. Although small numbers of case-control pairs remained for analysis, significant differences disappeared when cases with multiple bloodstream infections plus case-control pairs discordant for presence/absence of nosocomial infections at other sites were eliminated from comparison. On the average, all cases and controls were hospitalized for 70 ± 14 days and 50 ± 8 days, respectively, but when cases with multiple bloodstream infections or the multiple bloodstream infections-discordant pair group were removed from analysis, the significant difference in hospitalization disappeared. A strong association between nosocomial infections at sites other than the bloodstream and bloodstream infections was demonstrated and may suggest a means of reducing the incidence of bloodstream infections in a high risk population.
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/73
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/812015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
CHANGES IN SMOKING, SERUM CHOLESTEROL AND BLOOD PRESSURE LEVELS DURING A COMMUNITY-BASED CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE PREVENTION PROGRAM--THE NORTH KARELIA PROJECT
SALONEN, JUKKA T.
PUSKA, PEKKA
KOTTKE, THOMAS E.
TUOMILEHTO, JAAKKO
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
A comprehensive community-based program to control cardiovascular disease was carried out in North Karelia, Finland, in 1972–1977. Reductions in smoking, serum cholesterol and blood pressure (BP) levels were among the central intermediate objectives. The effect was evaluated by examining independent population samples at the outset and at the end, both in the program area and in a matched reference area. More than 10,000 subjects were studied each time (participation rate about 90%). This paper presents the analyses of the estimated effect of the program on the risk factor means by comparing the baseline and terminal situations among the population aged 30–59 years. The effect of the program among men was estimated to be a reduction of 13% in smoking, 4% in serum cholesterol and 3% in systolic and diastolic BP means. Among women, there was a net reduction of 5% in systolic BP and 4% in diastolic BP means. The net reductions in smoking (8%) and serum cholesterol (1%) among women were within sampling variation. It is concluded that the population means of the major coronary heart disease risk factors were reduced during the program more in the intervention area than in the reference area, and it seems likely that most of this difference was due to the program.
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/81
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:114/1/952015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:114:1
HEPATITIS B TESTING IN THE FAMILIES AND VILLAGES OF FIVE YOUNG ESKIMOS WITH PRIMARY HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA
BOSS, LESLIE P.
BENDER, THOMAS R.
SCHREEDER, MARSHALL T.
LANIER, ANNE P.
HARDISON, H. HUNTLEY
MAYNARD, JAMES E.
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
A 15-year-old female Eskimo and a 22-year-old male Eskimo from a south western Alaskan village (population 540) were diagnosed as having primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) in December, 1977. The fathers of both patients also died of PHC. Three additional cases of PHC affecting young Alaskan Eskimos had been diagnosed since 1972, all from neighboring viliages. Four of the five young patients were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and the family members of three patients were all positive for HBsAg or antibody to this antigen (anti-HBs). The other two families had no members positive for HBsAg. The prevalence of HBsAg in the villages of these patients ranged from 0–5%, and the prevalence of anti-HBs ranged from 3–25%. This part of Alaska has a high rate of infection with hepatitis B virus and an increased incidence of PHC. However, other Alaskan villages of similar ethnic background have considerably higher rates of hepatitis B infection than the four villages described and to date they have no PHC. This suggests that genetic and/or environmental factors in addition to hepatitis B infection may have a role in the etiology of PHC in Alaska.
Oxford University Press
1981-07-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/114/1/95
en
Copyright (C) 1981, Oxford University Press