2024-03-28T19:41:50Zhttp://open-archive.highwire.org/handler
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:148/8/7192015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:148:8
Levels of Maternal Serum Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in Pregnant Women and Subsequent Breast Cancer Risk
Richardson, B. E.
Hulka, B. S.
Peck, J. L. David
Hughes, C. L.
van den Berg, B. J.
Christianson, R. E.
Calvin, J. A.
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
High maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels during pregnancy may be instrumental in reducing the subsequent risk of breast cancer. This hypothesis was tested in a nested case-control study using stored frozen sera accrued between 1959 and 1966 by the University of California at Berkeley Child Health and Development Studies (CHDS) group from a cohort of pregnant women. Cases with histologically confirmed breast cancer were identified from California Cancer Registry files covering their date of enrollment in the CHDS until 1994. Controls were selected from the CHDS cohort by using randomized recruitment. Third-trimester maternal serum AFP levels were analyzed by using both a radioimmunoassay and an immunoen-zymatic method. After controlling for multiple confounders in logistic regression models, the authors found an inverse association between high levels of maternal serum AFP (top quartile) during the index pregnancy and the risk of breast cancer. The protective effect of high levels of maternal serum AFP varied by age at first full-term pregnancy (age 20 years or less: odds ratio (OR) = 0.43, 95% confidence interval (Cl) 0.28–0.65; age 21–23 years: OR = 0.62, 95% Cl 0.41–0.92). After age 27 years, the estimated risk exceeded unity (OR = 1.67, 95% Cl 1.14–2.45). These study findings suggest that some of the protection against breast cancer conferred by early first full-term pregnancy may result from high levels of maternal serum AFP. After age 27 years, a high maternal serum AFP level is not protective and may increase risk. <it>Am J Epidemiol</it> 1998; 148:719–27.
Oxford University Press
1998-10-15 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/148/8/719
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009691
en
Copyright (C) 1998, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:148/8/7282015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:148:8
Beyond the Twinning Effect: Invited Commentary on "Levels of Maternal Serum Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in Pregnant Women and Subsequent Breast Cancer Risk"
Thompson, W. Douglas
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Oxford University Press
1998-10-15 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/148/8/728
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009692
en
Copyright (C) 1998, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:148/8/7302015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:148:8
Senior Authors' Reply to Invited Commentary: "Beyond the Twinning Effect"
Richardson, Barbara E.
Hulka, Barbara S.
Peck, Jennifer L. David
Calvin, James A.
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Oxford University Press
1998-10-15 00:00:00.0
TEXT
text/html
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/148/8/730
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009693
en
Copyright (C) 1998, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:148/8/7322015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:148:8
Analytical Considerations in the Use of Capture-Recapture to Estimate Prevalence: Case Studies of the Estimation of Opiate Use in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, Spain
Domingo-Salvany, Antònia
Hartnoll, Richard L.
Maguire, Andrew
Brugal, M. Teresa
Albertin, Pilar Albertin
Caylà, Joan A.
Casabona, Jordi
Suelves, Josep M.
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Capture-recapture, an indirect method widely used to estimate undetected populations, has been criticized because it causes problems due to a lack of compliance with several important assumptions and model selection strategies. This paper expands on the problems encountered when applying this methodology to drug abuse estimations, specifically the prevalence of opiate use in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, Spain, in 1993. Three samples of opiate users (from hospital emergency rooms, treatment centers, and prisons) were available in the area studied; an additional sample (mortality data) was analyzed for the city of Barcelona. Log-linear models that provided a good fit were considered, to which further model selection strategies were applied. A total of 3,207 unique individuals aged 15–44 years were identified in the three samples from the greater Barcelona area; the mortality sample from the city of Barcelona contained an additional 83 individuals. Heterogeneity was observed in different age, sex, and residence area subgroups. Population estimates differed widely according to the log-linear model chosen. Minimum Akaike‘s information criterion model and saturated model estimates were used to produce population prevalence rates. The main problems the authors encountered in this study were related to population definition, source heterogeneity, and assessment of an adequate model, a problem associated with sample size. Am J Epidemiol 1998;148:732–40.
Oxford University Press
1998-10-15 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/148/8/732
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009694
en
Copyright (C) 1998, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:148/8/7412015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:148:8
Ethnic Disparities in Patient Recall of Physician Recommendations of Diagnostic and Treatment Procedures for Coronary Disease
Sanderson, Bonnie K.
Raczynski, James M.
Cornell, Carol E.
Hardin, Michael
Taylor, Herman A.
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Despite the proven benefits of many cardiac procedures, some are used less frequently for African American than for white patients with known or suspected coronary disease. This study explored differences between ethnic groups that may affect patient recall of physician recommendations of cardiac procedures. Also examined were patients' responses when asked about adhering to those recommendations. The data examined were collected from interviews with 1,333 African American and white hospital inpatients with known coronary disease admitted to the Birmingham-Black Health Seeking for Coronary Heart Disease Project (1989–1990) in Alabama. Respondents were asked to recall previous health care encounters, physician recommendations of cardiac procedures, and adherence to those recommendations. Compared with whites, fewer African American patients recalled physicians recommending some cardiac procedures. If procedure recommendations were recalled, no ethnic differences were found in patient recall of adhering to those recommendations. Predictors of recall of the recommended procedures were identified by multivariate logistic regression. Patients' knowledge of having coronary disease was the common factor that predicted their recall of all cardiac procedures. Other predictor variables included some cardiac risk factors and symptoms, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity. Although health care practice is influenced by many factors, it is important to examine variables that may lead to a reduction in ethnic disparities in coronary disease morbidity and mortality. <it>Am J Epidemiol</it> 1998; 148: 741–9.
Oxford University Press
1998-10-15 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/148/8/741
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009695
en
Copyright (C) 1998, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:148/8/7502015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:148:8
African American-White Differences in Lipids, Lipoproteins, and Apolipoproteins, by Educational Attainment, among Middle-aged Adults: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study
Metcalf, Patricia A.
Sharrett, A. Richey
Folsom, Aaron R.
Duncan, Bruce B.
Patsch, Wolfgang
Hutchinson, Richard G.
Szklo, Moyses
Davis, C. E.
Tyroler, H. A.
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Measures of socioeconomic status have been shown to be related positively to levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in white men and women and negatively in African American men. However, there is little information regarding the association between educational attainment and HDL fractions or apolipoproteins. The authors examined these associations in 9,407 white and 2,664 African American men and women aged 45–64 years who participated in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study baseline survey, and they found racial differences. A positive association for HDL cholesterol, its fractions HDL<inf>2</inf> and HDL<inf>3</inf> cholesterol, and its associated apolipoprotein A-l was found in white men and white women, but a negative association was found in African American men, and there was no association in African American women. In whites, there was also an inverse association of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein B with educational attainment. With the exception of African American men, advanced education was associated with a more favorable cardiovascular lipid profile, which was strongest in white women. Racial differences in total cholesterol (women only), plasma triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B (women only), HDL cholesterol, HDL<inf>2</inf> and HDL<inf>3</inf> cholesterol, and apolipoprotein A-l were reduced at higher levels of educational attainment. Apart from triglycerides in men and HDL<inf>3</inf> cholesterol in women, these African American-white lipid differences associated with educational attainment remained statistically significant after multivariable adjustment for lifestyle factors. Lipoprotein(a) showed no association with educational attainment. These findings confirm African American-white differences in lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins across levels of educational attainment that were not explained by conventional nondietary lifestyle variables. Understanding these differences associated with educational attainment will assist in identifying measures aimed at prevention of cardiovascular disease. <it>Am J Epidemiol</it> 1998; 148:750–60.
Oxford University Press
1998-10-15 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/148/8/750
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009696
en
Copyright (C) 1998, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:148/8/7612015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:148:8
Dietary Risk Factors for Colon Cancer in a Low-risk Population
Singh, Pramil N.
Fraser, Gary E.
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
In a 6-year prospective study, the authors examined the relation between diet and incident colon cancer among 32, 051 non-Hispanic white cohort members of the Adventist Health Study (California, 1976–1982) who, at baseline, had no documented or reported history of cancer. The risk of colon cancer was determined from proportional hazards regression with adjustment for age and other covariates. The authors found a positive association with total meat intake (risk ratio (RR) for ≥1 time/week vs. no meat intake = 1.85, 95% confidence interval (Cl) 1.19–2.87; p for trend = 0.01) and, among subjects who favored specific types of meat, positive associations with red meat intake (RR for ≥ 1 time/week vs. no red meat intake = 1.90, 95% Cl 1.16–3.11; p for trend = 0.02) and white meat intake (RR for ≥1 time/week vs. no white meat intake = 3.29, 95% CI 1.60–6.75; p for trend = 0.006). An inverse association with legume intake (RR for ≥2 times/week vs. <1 time/week = 0.53, 95% Cl 0.33–0.86; p for trend = 0.03) was observed. Among men, a positive association with body mass index was observed (relative to the RR for tertile III (>25.6 kg/m2) vs. tertile I (<22.5 kg/m2) = 2.63, 95% Cl 1.12–6.13; p for trend = 0.05). A complex relation was identified whereby subjects exhibiting a high red meat intake, a low legume intake, and a high body mass experienced a more than threefold elevation in risk relative to all other patterns based on these variables. This pattern of putative risk factors would likely contribute to increases in both insulin resistance (high body mass, high red meat intake) and glycemic load (low legume intake), a synergism that, if causal, implicates hyperinsulinemic exposure in colon carcinogenesis. The overall findings from this cohort identify both red meat intake and white meat intake as important dietary risk factors for colon cancer and raise the possibility that the risk due to red meat intake reflects a more complex etiology. <it>Am J Epidemiol 1998</it>; 148: 761–74.
Oxford University Press
1998-10-15 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/148/8/761
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009697
en
Copyright (C) 1998, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:148/8/7752015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:148:8
Asymptomatic Incidence and Duration of Prostate Cancer
Etzioni, Ruth
Cha, Raymond
Feuer, Eric J.
Davidov, Ori
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Prostate cancer is known as a disease with an extremely high prevalence relative to its clinical incidence in the population. The combination of preclinical incidence and duration that could yield this phenomenon is of tremendous interest to researchers trying to understand the natural history of the disease and to develop efficient screening strategies. In this article, the authors present estimates of the age-specific asymptomatic incidence and average preclinical duration of prostate cancer. The methodological approach is to first estimate the age-specific incidence of new (stage Al) prostate cancers using preclinical prevalence data from autopsy studies performed between 1941 and 1964 and clinical incidence data for the years 1960–1986 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program of the National Cancer Institute. Then, the preclinical prevalence estimates are divided by the derived preclinical incidence estimates to yield estimates of the average duration of asymptomatic disease. The estimated mean duration among white men is between 11 and 12 years and appears to be approximately 1 year shorter for blacks than for whites. Comparison of the lifetime risks of preclinical and clinical disease suggests that approximately 75% of prostate cancers will never become diagnosed if clinical incidence remains at levels observed in 1984–1986, prior to the introduction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening in the population. <it>Am J Epidemiol</it> 1998; 148: 775–85.
Oxford University Press
1998-10-15 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/148/8/775
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009698
en
Copyright (C) 1998, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:148/8/7862015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:148:8
Postservice Mortality of US Air Force Veterans Occupationally Exposed to Herbicides in Vietnam: 15-Year Follow-up
Michalek, Joel E.
Ketchum, Norma S.
Akhtar, Fatema Z.
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
The US Air Force continues to assess the mortality of veterans of Operation Ranch Hand, the unit responsible for aerially spraying herbicides in Vietnam. The authors of this study found that the cumulative all-cause mortality experience of these veterans was not different from that expected (standardized mortality ratio (SMR) = 1.0). Overall, cause-specific mortality did not differ from that expected regarding deaths from accidents, cancer, or circulatory system diseases, but the authors found that there was an increased number of deaths due to digestive diseases (SMR = 1.7, 95% confidence interval (Cl) 0.9–3.2). When analyzing by military occupation, they found an increase in the number of deaths caused by circulatory system diseases (SMR = 1.5, 95% Cl 1.0–2.2) among enlisted ground personnel, the subgroup with the highest dioxin levels. Most of the increase in the number of deaths from digestive diseases was caused by chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, and more than half of the increase in the number of deaths from circulatory system diseases was a result of atherosclerotic heart disease. In the subgroup of Ranch Hand veterans who had survived more than 20 years since their military service in Southeast Asia, the authors found no significant increase in the risk of death due to cancer at all sites (SMR = 1.1) and a nonsignificant increase in the number of deaths due to cancers of the bronchus and lung (SMR = 1.3). <it>Am J Epidemiol</it> 1998; 148:786–92.
Oxford University Press
1998-10-15 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/148/8/786
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009699
en
Copyright (C) 1998, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:148/8/7932015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:148:8
Co-twin Study of the Effect of Environment and Dietary Elements on Acquisition of Helicobacter pylori Infection
Malaty, Hoda M.
Graham, David Y.
Isaksson, Inger
Engstrand, Lars
Pedersen, Nancy L.
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
The rate of <it>Helicobacter pylori</it> infection is inversely related to socioeconomic status, and childhood is thought to be the major acquisition period. The authors investigated the importance of childhood environment in the acquisition of <it>H. pylori</it> infection. A cross-sectional study was conducted of monozygotic and dizygotic twins who were reared apart or reared together. Three hundred twins from a subregistry of the Swedish Twin Registry were studied. <it>H. pylori</it> status was evaluated by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-<it>H. pylori</it> immunoglobulin G. Socioeconomic status during childhood was assessed on the basis of the density of the living conditions and the economic situation of the family that reared the twins. Current socioeconomic status was estimated by using a scale that combined income and education. Dietary elements that were studied included fat and fiber intake and ascorbic acid consumption. The density of the childhood home was consistently found to be significantly associated with the acquisition of <it>H. pylori</it> infection (<it>p</it> = 0.04). Among monozygotic twins reared apart and discordant for <it>H. pylori</it> status, affected twins were raised in homes under poorer socioeconomic conditions than those of their unaffected co-twins (<it>p</it> = 0.02). Additionally, infected twins consumed more ascorbic acid than their unaffected co-twins (<it>p</it> = 0.04). The finding of an effect of socioeconomic status during childhood on the acquisition of <it>H. pylori</it> among monozygotic twins who were reared apart and had an identical genetic makeup but not a common environment confirms the hypothesis that childhood acquisition of <it>H. pylori</it> infection is linked to hygiene practices. <it>Am J Epidemiol</it> 1998; 148:793–7.
Oxford University Press
1998-10-15 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/148/8/793
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009700
en
Copyright (C) 1998, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:148/8/7982015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:148:8
Short Interpregnancy Intervals and the Risk of Adverse Birth Outcomes among Five Racial/Ethnic Groups in the United States
Khoshnood, Babak
Lee, Kwang-sun
Wall, Stephen
Hsieh, Hui-lung
Mittendorf, Robert
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
The authors studied the effects and population-level impact of short (≤12 months) interpregnancy intervals on the risks for low (<2.5 kg) birth weight and preterm (<37 weeks) delivery of liveborn singleton infants to US African American, Mexican, Native American, non-Hispanic white, and Puerto Rican mothers (<it>n</it> = 4,841,418) from 1989 to 1991. Statistical analyses were done by using the Mantel-Haenszel correlation statistic chi-square test and logistic regression. The proportion of livebirths associated with ≤12-month interpregnancy intervals was the lowest among non-Hispanic whites (18.5%, 95% confidence interval 18.5–18.5) and the highest among Native Americans (29.7%, 95% confidence interval 29.2–30.2). As compared with mothers with >12-month intervals, mothers with <6-month intervals had an approximately 50% to 80% increased risk of very low (<1.5 kg) birth weight delivery and a 30% to 90% increased risk of very preterm (<32 weeks) delivery. Logistic regression analyses showed that the adverse effects of short intervals were reduced by about 10% but remained for the most part significant after controlling for potential confounding by maternal age, education, parity, marital status, prenatal care, smoking, and previous preterm delivery. <it>Am J Epidemiol</it> 1998; 148:798–805.
Oxford University Press
1998-10-15 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/148/8/798
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009701
en
Copyright (C) 1998, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:148/8/8062015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:148:8
How Accurate Is Male Recall of Reproductive Information?
Coughlin, Michael T.
E.LaPorte, Ronald
OLeary, Leslie A.
A.Lee, Peter
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
The purpose of this study was to determine how well men recall reproductive information. By using a questionnaire, the authors surveyed men who had undergone orchiopexy for undescended testes and a group of matched control men, all of whom had had surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Piottsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (n= 77), and their spouses. Subjects were a random subset of a larger (n= 1, 212) male fertility study, which has been ongoing since 1992. In 1994, the spouses of men who participated in the study completed a short telephone survey that contained questions previously asked of their partners. Pearson correlations and kappa statistics were calculated to evaluate the accuracy of male recall of reproductive information. For the continuous measures, such as time and conception and frequency of intercourse, the correlations were high to moderate (r = 0.84 (p <0.001) and r = 0.45 (p < 0.001), respectively). Agreement between the men and their spouses on the majority of bivariate (yes/no) questions, such as those concerning the use of birth control, as measured by the kappa statistic, was moderate to very good (k ranged from 0.14 to 0.69). Statistics were similar for formerly cryptorchid and control men. Male participants‘ responses to questions about their reproductive histories were accurate as compared with the responses given by their spouses. In this sample from a large cohort study, men appeared to recall reproductive information with acceptable accuracy. Am J Epidemoil 1998; 148: 806–9.
Oxford University Press
1998-10-15 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/148/8/806
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009702
en
Copyright (C) 1998, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:148/8/8102015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:148:8
Validity of Dietary Recall Over 20 Years among California Seventh-day Adventists
Fraser, Gary E.
Lindsted, Kristian D.
Knutsen, Synnøve F.
Beeson, W. Lawrence
Bennett, Hannelore
Shavlik, David J.
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Past dietary habits are etiologically important to incident disease. Yet the validity of such measurements from the previous 10–20 years is poorly understood. In this study, the authors correlated food frequency results that were obtained in 1994–1995 but pertained to recalled diet in 1974 with the weighted mean of five random 24-hour dietary recalls obtained by telephone in 1974. The subjects studied were 72 Seventh-day Adventists who lived within 30 miles of Loma Linda, California; had participated in a 1974 validation study; were still alive; and were willing to participate again in 1994. A method was developed to allow correction for random error in the reference data when these data had differentially weighted components. The results showed partially corrected correlation coefficients of greater than 0.30 for coffee, whole milk, eggs, chips, beef, fish, chicken, fruit, and legumes. Higher correlations on average were obtained when the food frequencies were scored simply 1–9, reflecting the nine frequency categories. The 95% confidence intervals for 15 of the 28 correlations excluded zero. Incorporation of portion size information was unhelpful. The authors concluded that in this population, data recalled from 20 years ago should be treated with caution but, for a number of important foods, that the degree of validity achieved approached that obtained when assessing current dietary habits. <it>Am J Epidemiol</it> 1998; 148:810–18.
Oxford University Press
1998-10-15 00:00:00.0
TEXT
text/html
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/148/8/810
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009703
en
Copyright (C) 1998, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:148/8/8192015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:148:8
RE: "ASSOCIATIONS OF RACE/ETHNICITY, EDUCATION, AND DIETARY INTERVENTION WITH THE VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF A FOOD FREQUENCY QUESTIONNAIRE. THE WOMEN'S HEALTH TRIAL FEASIBILITY STUDY IN MINORITY POPULATIONS"
Stram, Daniel O.
Pike, Malcolm C.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Oxford University Press
1998-10-15 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/148/8/819
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009704
en
Copyright (C) 1998, Oxford University Press
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:amjepid:148/8/8202015-05-11HighWireOUPamjepid:148:8
AUTHORS' REPLY
Kristal, Alan R.
Feng, Ziding
AUTHORS' REPLY
Oxford University Press
1998-10-15 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/148/8/820
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009705
en
Copyright (C) 1998, Oxford University Press