Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Testicular Germ Cell Tumors Following In Utero Exposure to Diethylstilbestrol

Background Early exposure to estrogen-like compounds has been implicated in the etiology of testicular cancer, but individual level epidemiologic data addressing this hypothesis are scarce. The synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES) was administered during pregnancy from 1948 to 1971, but sequelae of in utero exposure have been more extensively characterized in females than in males. Methods By systematic review, we sought to identify all epidemiologic research relating testicular cancer to a history of in utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol. Identified studies were critically appraised to assemble a set of nonredundant data in which any in utero exposure to DES was compared between men with incident testicular cancer and cancer-free men. These data were synthesized using random effects meta-analysis to estimate the summary association between in utero DES exposure and testicular cancer. Results By meta-analysis of data from the six qualifying studies, the summary odds ratio estimate of the in utero DES-testicular cancer association was 2.98 (95% confidence interval = 1.15 to 7.67). Conclusions Results of this comprehensive meta-analysis accord with a threefold increase in testicular cancer risk among men who were exposed in utero to DES, implicating early hormonal exposures in etiology of testicular cancer. Because use of DES ceased in 1971, this work may provide the most comprehensive estimate of this association that will be made.

Hepatitis B Vaccine Acceptability among Nurses: A Theory Based Conceptualization

BACKGROUND Hepatitis B is the most common occupational disease in health care providers. It can be followed by several complications. The aim of this study was to determine the cognitive determinants of hepatitis B (HB) vaccination Acceptability among nurses based on the Health Belief Model (HBM). METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted among 330 nurses in educational hospitals of Kermanshah city, during 2016. Samples were randomly selected with the proportional to size among different educational hospitals in Kermanshah. A structured questionnaire was applied for collecting data and data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16 by using bivariate correlations and logistic regression statistical tests. RESULTS The mean age of the respondents was 30.5 years [SD: 6.62]. About, 58.5% of the participants reported to have completed (three times) vaccination of HB. Female nurses were more likely to be fully vaccinated against HB than male nurses, with adjusted odds ratio estimate of 2.507 [95% CI: 1.523-4.125] and those who had family or friends with a history of HB with odds ratio estimate of 3.706 [95% CI: 1.317-10.425], making these the most influential predictive determinants for full uptake (three time) of HB vaccination. Among the HBM variables: perceived threat with odds ratio estimate of 1.264 [95% CI: 1.160-1.376], perceived self-efficacy with odds ratio estimate of 1.179 [95% CI: 1.020-1.363], and cues to action with odds ratio estimate of 1.335 [95% CI: 1.015-1.756], were the more influential predictors of full uptake (three time) of HB vaccination. CONCLUSION To development uptake vaccination programs promotion in addition to focusing on male nurses, using the results of the predictive constructs include; perceived threat perceived self-efficacy suggested. Based on our result, it seems that development and implementation of health promotion programs to increase threat about side effect of HB and self-efficacy regarding HB vaccination uptake may be usefulness of the findings to promotion of vaccination of HB.

Association between genetically elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers and risk of schizophrenia: a two-sample Mendelian randomisation study

BackgroundPositive associations between inflammatory biomarkers and risk of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, have been reported in observational studies. However, conventional observational studies are prone to bias such as reverse causation and residual confounding.MethodsIn this study, we used summary data to evaluate the association of genetically elevated C reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and soluble interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) levels with schizophrenia in a two-sample Mendelian randomisation design.ResultsThe pooled odds ratio estimate using 18 CRP genetic instruments was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.84; 0.97) per two-fold increment in CRP levels; consistent results were obtained using different Mendelian randomisation methods and a more conservative set of instruments. The odds ratio for soluble IL-6R was 1.06 (95% CI: 1.01; 1.12) per two-fold increment. Estimates for IL-1Ra were inconsistent among instruments and pooled estimates were imprecise and centred on the null.ConclusionUnder Mendelian randomisation assumptions, our findings suggest a protective causal effect of CRP and a risk-increasing causal effect of soluble IL-6R (potentially mediated at least in part by CRP) on schizophrenia risk.

Increased Gustatory Response Score in Obesity and Association Levels with IL-6 and Leptin

Background. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the circulating IL-6 and leptin levels with taste alteration in young obese patients.Methods. A retrospective case-control study was conducted in thirty obese patients and thirty age- and sex-matched healthy controls.Results. Circulating levels of IL-6 and leptin were significantly increased in obese patients than in controls. However, catalase and ORAC levels were significantly decreased in obese patients compared to controls. Additionally, obese participants had high scores for the detection of fats (gustatory response scores [GRS];p<0.001). Moreover, IL-6 and leptin were strongly associated with GRS alteration among patients with GRS 4 (resp., OR =17.5 [95% CI, 1.56–193.32;p=0.007]; OR = 16 [95% CI, 1.69–151.11;p=0.006]). For the Mantel-Haenszel common odds ratio estimate (MH OR), IL-6 and leptin were strongly associated with obesity, in patients with either GRS 4 or GRS > 4 (resp., MH OR = 8.77 [95% CI, 2.06–37.44;p=0.003]; MH OR = 5.76 [95% CI, 1.64–20.24;p=0.006]).Conclusions. In a low grade inflammation linked to obesity, taste alteration is associated with high levels of IL-6 and leptin.

Predischarge Postpartum Methicillin ResistantStaphylococcus aureusInfection and Group B Streptococcus Carriage at the Individual and Hospital Levels

Background. We sought to characterize the relationship between individual group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization and pre-discharge postpartum methicillin resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) infection in United States women delivering at term. We also sought to examine the association between hospital GBS colonization prevalence and MRSA infection.Materials and Methods. Data was from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, a representative sample of United States community hospitals. Hierarchical regression models were used to estimate odds ratios adjusted for patient age, race, expected payer, and prepregnancy diabetes and hospital teaching status, urbanicity, ownership, size, and geographic region. We used multiple imputation for missing covariate data.Results. There were 3,136,595 deliveries and 462 cases of MRSA infection included in this study. The odds ratio for individual GBS colonization was 1.2 (95% confidence interval: 0.9 to 1.5). For a five-percent increase in the hospital prevalence of GBS colonization, the odds ratio was 0.9 (95% CI: 0.1 to 5.6).Conclusions. The odds ratio estimate for the association of hospital GBS prevalence with MRSA infection is too imprecise to make conclusions about its magnitude and direction. Barring major bias in our estimates, individual GBS carriage does not appear to be strongly associated with predischarge postpartum MRSA infection.

Gender/sex discrepancies in pronominal references to animals: a statistical analysis

Although the English gender system is a semantic system largely based on sex, it is well known that in references to animals there is widespread discrepancy between pronominal gender and sex, and that gender selection is dependent on speaker's point of view (degree of interest in the animal, projection of personality and so on). What is yet to be established, however, is whether point of view still prevails in references to animals when the antecedent noun specifies the sex of the referent (e.g. stallion, ewe). In that case the neuter is known to occur but there is no quantitative assessment of the phenomenon, although it is crucial to understanding the influence of sex on gender selection. This article therefore proposes a statistical analysis of gender use in personal pronouns focusing exclusively on cases in which the antecedent noun specifies the sex of the animal. The analysis is carried out at the scale of the multi-million-word Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA), using Pearson's chi-square test complemented by the odds ratio estimate. Three questions are considered: how common is the neuter? Is its relative frequency the same with female animals as with males? Finally, do the proportions vary according to the position of the anaphor relative to its antecedent?

Diet patterns and the risk of renal cell carcinoma

Objectives:Our objective was to identify food intake patterns that might be associated with the risk of renal cell carcinoma.Design:A total of 461 cases (210 females, 251 males) were age frequency matched to population controls. Diet factors were created using factor analysis of 69 food items from a food-frequency questionnaire. These factors were modelled using logistic regression to identify those associated with renal cell carcinoma.Setting:We investigated the role of diet in the aetiology of renal cell carcinoma using a population-based case–control study conducted in Ontario between 1995 and 1996.Subjects:Cases were Ontario residents 20 to 74 years of age identified through review of pathology reports in the Ontario Cancer Registry.Results:A ‘dessert’ diet factor was positively associated with disease for both sexes (odds ratio estimate (OR) for males = 3.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0–6.9; OR for females = 1.4, 95% CI 0.8–2.2, for the highest vs. lowest quartile). In males, a ‘beef’ diet factor was identified and was associated with an increased risk of renal cell carcinoma. Furthermore, a ‘juices’ diet factor also showed an association with increased risk in males ( OR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.0–3.1). For females, a positive association was observed between renal cell carcinoma and an ‘unhealthy’ diet factor ( OR = 1.4, 95% CI 0.8–2.4).Conclusions:Our findings confirmed that high-fat and high-protein diets might be risk factors for renal cell carcinoma. The data also suggest an increased risk associated with juice intake, a finding not previously reported.