bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mortality, morbidity and occupational exposure to airway-irritating agents among men with a respiratory diagnosis in adolescence
Authors: Wiebert P , Svartengren M , Lindberg M , Hemmingsson T , Lundberg I , Nise G 
Published: August 2007

Objectives:To examine the influence of an airway diagnosis in adolescence on future health and occupation in Swedish men.Methods:Data were collected from the linkage of four Swedish national registers: the Military Service Conscription Register, the Population and Housing Censuses, the Inpatient Care Register and the National Cause of Death Register. A job-exposure matrix for airway-irritating substances was developed for application on the conscription cohort. The cohort included 49 321 Swedish men born 1949–51. Three groups—(1) healthy, (2) asthmatics (mild and severe asthma) and (3) subjects with allergic rhinitis without concurrent asthma—were identified at conscription and analysed for mortality, in-patient care and strategies for choice of occupation with emphasis on airway-irritating job exposure. Analyses were adjusted for smoking and childhood socioeconomic position.Results:The prevalence of total asthma was 1.8%, severe asthma 0.45% and allergic rhinitis 2.7%. Mortality for all causes was significantly higher in total asthma, hazard ratio (HR) 1.49 (95% CI 1.00 to 2.23), and lower in allergic rhinitis, HR 0.52 (95% CI 0.30 to 0.91). Asthma was a risk factor for inpatient care while allergic rhinitis was associated with less in-patient care (odds ratio (OR) for total asthma 1.16 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.34), severe asthma 1.38 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.85), allergic rhinitis 0.92 (95% CI 0.82 to 1.03)). Those with asthma tended to avoid jobs with a high probability for airway-irritating exposure (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.09), but not to the same extent as subjects with allergic rhinitis (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.70) (ORs from 1990).Conclusion:Subjects with asthma did not change their exposure situation to the same extent as subjects with allergic rhinitis. Further, asthmatics had an increased risk for morbidity and mortality compared to healthy subjects and subjects with allergic rhinitis.
The effectiveness of two occupational health intervention programmes in reducing sickness absence among employees at risk. Two randomised controlled trials
Authors: Taimela S , Malmivaara A , Justén S , Läärä E , Sintonen H , Tiekso J , Aro T 
Published: August 2007

Objectives:To evaluate the effectiveness of two occupational health intervention programmes, both compared with usual care.Methods:Based on a health survey, 1341 employees (88% males) in construction, service and maintenance work were classified into three groups: “low risk” (n = 386), “intermediate risk” (n = 537) and “high risk” (n = 418) of sickness absence. Two separate randomised trials were performed in the groups “high risk” and “intermediate risk”, respectively. Those high risk subjects that were allocated to the intervention group (n = 209) were invited to occupational health service for a consultation. The intervention included, if appropriate, a referral to specialist treatment. Among the intermediate risk employees those in the intervention group (n = 268) were invited to call a phone advice centre. In both trials the control group received usual occupational health care. The primary outcome was sickness absence during a 12-month follow-up (register data).Results:The high risk group, representing 31% of the cohort, accounted for 62% of sickness absence days. In the trial for the high risk group the mean sickness absence was 30 days in the usual care group and 19 days in the intervention group; the mean difference was 11 days (95% CI 1 to 20 days). In the trial for the intermediate risk group the mean sickness absence was 7 days in both arms (95% CI of the mean difference –2.3 to 2.4 days).Conclusions:The identification of high risk of work disability was successful. The occupational health intervention was effective in controlling work loss to a degree that is likely to be economically advantageous within the high risk group. The phone advice intervention for the intermediate risk group was not effective in controlling work loss primarily due to poor adherence.
Computer mouse use predicts acute pain but not prolonged or chronic pain in the neck and shoulder
Authors: Andersen J H , Harhoff M , Grimstrup S , Vilstrup I , Lassen C F , Brandt L P A , Kryger A I , Overgaard E , Hansen K D , Mikkelsen S 
Published: August 2007

Background:Computer use may have an adverse effect on musculoskeletal outcomes. This study assessed the risk of neck and shoulder pain associated with objectively recorded professional computer use.Methods:A computer programme was used to collect data on mouse and keyboard usage and weekly reports of neck and shoulder pain among 2146 technical assistants. Questionnaires were also completed at baseline and at 12 months. The three outcome measures were: (1) acute pain (measured as weekly pain); (2) prolonged pain (no or minor pain in the neck and shoulder region over four consecutive weeks followed by three consecutive weeks with a high pain score); and (3) chronic pain (reported pain or discomfort lasting more than 30 days and “quite a lot of trouble” during the past 12 months).Results:Risk for acute neck pain and shoulder pain increased linearly by 4% and 10%, respectively, for each quartile increase in weekly mouse usage time. Mouse and keyboard usage time did not predict the onset of prolonged or chronic pain in the neck or shoulder. Women had higher risks for neck and shoulder pain. Number of keystrokes and mouse clicks, length of the average activity period, and micro-pauses did not influence reports of acute or prolonged pain. A few psychosocial factors predicted the risk of prolonged pain.Conclusions:Most computer workers have no or minor neck and shoulder pain, few experience prolonged pain, and even fewer, chronic neck and shoulder pain. Moreover, there seems to be no relationship between computer use and prolonged and chronic neck and shoulder pain.
Epidemiologic Assessment of Sugars Consumption Using Biomarkers: Comparisons of Obese and Nonobese Individuals in the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer Norfolk
Authors: Bingham Sheila , Luben Robert , Welch Ailsa , Tasevska Natasa , Wareham Nick , Khaw Kay Tee 
Published: August 2007

AbstractWe have previously shown that urinary sugars excretion in 24 h urine collections can serve as an independent biomarker of sugars consumption. In the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC) Norfolk study of nutrition and cancer, this biomarker in spot urines has been assessed in a cross-sectional comparison of 404 obese individuals aged 45 to 75 years with a body mass index (BMI) of &gt;30 kg/m2 and 471 normal weight individuals aged 45 to 75 years with a BMI of &lt;25 kg/m2. In individuals of normal weight, sucrose, protein, and vitamin C intake were positively and highly significantly related to biomarkers in spot urine or plasma (P &lt; 0.001), but there were no significant associations between biomarkers and food intake reports in the obese. Odds ratios for a BMI of &gt;30 were significantly elevated for urinary sucrose [trend per milligram per liter quintile, 1.13; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.02-1.25; P = 0.016], and the odds ratio for urinary sucrose/fructose ratio was highly significant (trend per quintile, 1.264; 95% CI, 1.142-1.401; P &lt; 0.001). No associations for sugars intake and obesity were found using a food frequency questionnaire, and dietary vitamin C was apparently associated with increased risk (P &lt; 0.001) despite an inverse association for plasma vitamin C. Nutritional biomarkers of consumption can complement existing methods for assessing cancer risk from diet in epidemiologic studies. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(8):1651–4)
Variants in the α-Methylacyl-CoA Racemase Gene and the Association with Advanced Distal Colorectal Adenoma
Authors: Daugherty Sarah E. , Platz Elizabeth A. , Shugart Yin Yao , Fallin M. Daniele , Isaacs William B. , Chatterjee Nilanjin , Welch Robert , Huang Wen-Yi , Hayes Richard B. 
Published: August 2007

Abstract
Background: α-Methylacyl-CoA racemase (AMACR), an enzyme involved in oxidation of branched chain fatty acids and cholesterol metabolites, as well as ibuprofen metabolism, is overexpressed in colorectal adenomas and cancer. AMACR gene variants have been associated with hereditary prostate cancer, but no studies have evaluated their etiologic role in colorectal carcinogenesis.
Methods: We conducted a case-control study of 725 advanced distal colorectal adenoma cases and 729 frequency-matched controls from the screening arm of the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. Seven AMACR polymorphisms were genotyped. Unconditional logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations adjusting for age at randomization and gender.
Results: The 201L allele of S201L [TT versus CC: odds ratio (OR), 1.74; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.15-2.62; TC versus CC: OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.93-1.49] and the 277E allele of K277E (GG versus AA: OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.03-2.68; GA versus AA: OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.96-1.53) were associated with increased risk of advanced distal colorectal adenoma (both Ptrend ≤ 0.02); the TGTGCG haplotype of six informative single nucleotide polymorphisms was also associated with increased risk (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.03-1.55). Regular ibuprofen users who were homozygous for the variant allele at either M9V or D175G were at reduced risk for adenoma (both Pinteraction &lt; 0.05).
Conclusion: Our study identified variants in AMACR associated with advanced distal colorectal adenoma and pointed to potential interactions with ibuprofen use. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(8):1536–42)
Tobacco Smoking and Urinary Levels of 2-Amino-9H-Pyrido[2,3-b]Indole in Men of Shanghai, China
Authors: Turesky Robert J. , Yuan Jian-Min , Wang Renwei , Peterson Sabrina , Yu Mimi C. 
Published: August 2007

Abstract
Carcinogenic heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAA) are formed in cooked meats, poultry, and fish and arise in tobacco smoke. We measured the concentrations of four prevalent HAAs in spot urine samples collected at baseline from 170 participants of the Shanghai Cohort study, a population-based cohort study of adult men recruited during 1986 to 1989 in Shanghai, China. Sixteen (18.6%) of 86 nonsmokers were positive for urinary 2-amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (AαC) versus 41 (48.8%) of 84 cigarette smokers; the difference was statistically significant (P &lt; 0.001). The number of cigarettes smoked per day was positively and significantly related to urinary levels of AαC in study subjects (P &lt; 0.001); the mean level among nonsmokers was 2.54 ng/g creatinine, whereas the means for light (1-19 cigarettes per day) and heavy (20+ cigarettes per day) smokers were 7.50 and 11.92 ng/g creatinine, respectively. 2-Amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline was undetected in the urine of the 170 subjects. Only 5 (2.9%) and 6 (3.5%) subjects, respectively, showed detectable levels of urinary 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline, and smoking status was unrelated to levels of either HAA. Quantitative measurements of HAAs in commonly eaten pork and chicken dishes in Shanghai showed low concentrations of HAAs (&lt;1 ng/g meat). Our data indicate that AαC represents a major HAA exposure in adult men of Shanghai, China, and that tobacco smoke is an important point source of their AαC exposure. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(8):1554–60)
Levels of Zinc, Selenium, Calcium, and Iron in Benign Breast Tissue and Risk of Subsequent Breast Cancer
Authors: Cui Yan , Vogt Stefan , Olson Neal , Glass Andrew G. , Rohan Thomas E. 
Published: August 2007

Abstract
Previous studies that have assessed breast cancer in relation to zinc, selenium, calcium, and iron have yielded inconsistent results but have not measured breast tissue levels. In a case-control study involving 252 matched pairs nested in a cohort of 9,315 women with benign breast disease, we investigated these associations by directly measuring elemental levels in breast tissue using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Quintile analyses revealed positive associations of breast cancer, of borderline statistical significance, with zinc [highest versus lowest quintile: odds ratio (OR), 1.37; 95% confidence limit (95% CL), 0.91, 2.05; Ptrend = 0.04], iron (highest versus lowest quintile: OR, 1.58; 95% CL, 1.02, 2.44; Ptrend = 0.07), and calcium (highest versus lowest quintile: OR, 1.46; 95% CL, 0.98, 2.17; Ptrend = 0.14), but little association with selenium (highest versus lowest quintile: OR, 1.10; 95% CL, 0.72, 1.68; Ptrend = 0.76). The associations were weakened by mutual adjustment. Furthermore, after stratification by menopausal status, the positive association between iron and breast cancer was confined to postmenopausal women (highest versus lowest quintile: OR, 2.77; 95% CL, 1.25, 6.13; Ptrend = 0.008), whereas the associations for zinc, calcium, and selenium did not differ by menopausal stratum. In conclusion, our data raise the possibility that relatively high levels of zinc, iron, and calcium in benign breast tissue may be associated with a modest increase in risk of subsequent breast cancer. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(8):1682–5)
Evidence for Common Ancestral Origin of a Recurring BRCA1 Genomic Rearrangement Identified in High-Risk Hispanic Families
Authors: Weitzel Jeffrey N. , Lagos Veronica I. , Herzog Josef S. , Judkins Thaddeus , Hendrickson Brant , Ho Jason S. , Ricker Charité N. , Lowstuter Katrina J. , Blazer Kathleen R. , Tomlinson Gail , Scholl Tom 
Published: August 2007

Abstract
Background: Large rearrangements account for 8% to 15% of deleterious BRCA mutations, although none have been characterized previously in individuals of Mexican ancestry.
Methods: DNA from 106 Hispanic patients without an identifiable BRCA mutation by exonic sequence analysis was subjected to multiplexed quantitative differential PCR. One case of Native American and African American ancestry was identified via multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Long-range PCR was used to confirm deletion events and to clone and sequence genomic breakpoints. Splicing patterns were derived by sequencing cDNA from reverse transcription-PCR of lymphoblastoid cell line RNA. Haplotype analysis was conducted for recurrent mutations.
Results: The same deletion of BRCA1 exons 9 through 12 was identified in five unrelated families. Long-range PCR and sequencing indicated a deletion event of 14.7 kb. A 3-primer PCR assay was designed based on the deletion breakpoints, identified within an AluSp element in intron 8 and an AluSx element in intron 12. Haplotype analysis confirmed common ancestry. Analysis of cDNA showed direct splicing of exons 8 to 13, resulting in a frameshift mutation and predicted truncation of the BRCA1 protein.
Conclusions: We identified and characterized a novel large BRCA1 deletion in five unrelated families—four of Mexican ancestry and one of African and Native American ancestry, suggesting the possibility of founder effect of Amerindian or Mestizo origin. This BRCA1 rearrangement was detected in 3.8% (4 of 106) of BRCA sequence-negative Hispanic families. An assay for this mutation should be considered for sequence-negative high-risk Hispanic patients. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(8):1615–20)
Concentrations of the Carcinogen 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-Pyridyl)-1-Butanone in Sidestream Cigarette Smoke Increase after Release into Indoor Air: Results from Unpublished Tobacco Industry Research
Authors: Schick Suzaynn F. , Glantz Stanton 
Published: August 2007

Abstract
Research has shown that the toxicity of sidestream cigarette smoke, the primary constituent of secondhand smoke, increases over time. To find potential mechanisms that would explain the increase in sidestream smoke toxicity over time, we analyzed unpublished research reports from Philip Morris Co. using the internal tobacco industry documents now available at the University of California San Francisco Legacy Tobacco Documents Library and other Web sites. Unpublished research from Philip Morris Tobacco Company shows that 4-(methylnitrosamino)-I-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), a highly carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamine, can form in sidestream cigarette smoke after it has been released into ambient air. In experiments done between 1983 and 1997, Philip Morris scientists measured the concentration of NNK in sidestream smoke in a sealed stainless steel test chamber at initial particle concentrations of 24 mg/m3 over the course of 6 to 18 h. They repeatedly showed that airborne NNK concentrations in sidestream cigarette smoke can increase by 50% to 200% per hour during the first 6 h after cigarettes are extinguished. Two experiments done in a real office showed that NNK concentrations increase for the first 2 h after cigarettes are extinguished. If NNK formation also occurs in the lower smoke concentrations observed in real smoking environments, these results suggest that nitrosation of nicotine and/or nicotine breakdown products in aging secondhand smoke is a significant contributor to nitrosamine exposure in humans. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(8):1547–53)
Potentially Functional Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Core Nucleotide Excision Repair Genes and Risk of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
Authors: An Jiaze , Liu Zhensheng , Hu Zhibin , Li Guojun , Wang Li-E , Sturgis Erich M. , El-Naggar Adel K. , Spitz Margaret R. , Wei Qingyi 
Published: August 2007

AbstractSusceptibility to cancer has been associated with DNA repair capacity, a global reflection of all functional variants, most of which are relatively rare. Among the 1,098 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) identified in the eight core nucleotide excision repair genes, only a few are common nonsynonymous or regulatory SNPs that are potentially functional. We tested the hypothesis that seven selected common nonsynonymous and regulatory variants in the nucleotide excision repair core genes are associated with risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) in a hospital-based, case-control study of 829 SCCHN cases and 854 cancer-free controls. Assuming a recessive genetic model, we found that only carriers of the XPC 499Val/Val genotype had a significantly increased SCCHN risk (adjusted odds ratio, 1.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-2.36). In analysis of the joint effects, the number of observed risk genotypes was associated with SCCHN risk in a dose-response manner (P for trend = 0.017) and those who carried four or more risk genotypes exhibited a borderline significant 1.23-fold increased SCCHN risk (adjusted odds ratio, 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.99-1.53). In the stratified analysis, the dichotomized combined effect of the seven SNPs was slightly more evident among older subjects, women, and laryngeal cancer. These findings suggest that these potentially functional SNPs may collectively contribute to susceptibility to SCCHN. These findings need to be validated in larger, independent studies. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(8):1633–8)
Polymorphisms in Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Control Genes and Risk of Brain Tumors in Adults
Authors: Rajaraman Preetha , Wang Sophia S. , Rothman Nathaniel , Brown Merideth M. , Black Peter M. , Fine Howard A. , Loeffler Jay S. , Selker Robert G. , Shapiro William R. , Chanock Stephen J. , Inskip Peter D. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractDespite the potential importance of the cell cycle and apoptosis pathways in brain tumor etiology, little has been published regarding brain tumor risk associated with common gene variants in these pathways. Using data from a hospital-based case-control study conducted by the National Cancer Institute between 1994 and 1998, we evaluated risk of glioma (n = 388), meningioma (n = 162), and acoustic neuroma (n = 73) with respect to 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms from 10 genes involved in apoptosis and cell cycle control: CASP8, CCND1, CCNH, CDKN1A, CDKN2A, CHEK1, CHEK2, MDM2, PTEN, and TP53. We observed significantly decreased risk of meningioma with the CASP8 Ex14-271A&gt;T variant [odds ratio (OR)AT, 0.8; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.5-1.2; ORAA, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.9; Ptrend = 0.03] and increased risk of meningioma with the CASP8 Ex13+51G&gt;C variant (ORGC, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.9-2.1; ORCC, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.0-13.1; Ptrend = 0.04). The CT haplotype of the two CASP8 polymorphisms was associated with significantly increased risk of meningioma (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1-2.6), but was not associated with risk of glioma or acoustic neuroma. The CCND1 Ex4-1G&gt;A variant was associated with increased risk for glioma, and the Ex8+49T&gt;C variant of CCNH was associated with increased risk of glioma and acoustic neuroma. The MDM2 Ex12+162A&gt;G variant was associated with significantly reduced risk of glioma. Our results suggest that common variants in the CASP8, CCND1, CCNH, and MDM2 genes may influence brain tumor risk. Future research in this area should include more detailed coverage of genes in the apoptosis/cell cycle control pathways. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(8):1655–61)
Moving towards a Rights-Based Fisheries Management Regime for the Tuna Fisheries in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean
Authors: Aqorau Transform 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe 2000 Convention for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPF Convention) establishes a Commission which will be responsible for setting catch limits and effort controls for the fishery. The Convention will require the Pacific Island States to impose some form of catch limits and this presents them with the opportunity to explore ways to enhance the fisheries regimes they manage. This paper explores the legal issues surrounding a possible rights-based regime, both as a collective approach by the Pacific Island States, and individually. The paper suggests possible legal approaches to the introduction of a rights-based fisheries management regime, drawing on ways in which they may structure their fisheries legislation, and on experiences from other regions. The paper concludes by examining the implications for the Pacific Island States of such an approach.
A Fingerprinting Technique for Major Weather Events
Authors: Root Benjamin , Knight Paul , Young George , Greybush Steven , Grumm Richard , Holmes Ron , Ross Jeremy 
Published: August 2007

Abstract
Advances in numerical weather prediction have occurred on numerous fronts, from sophisticated physics packages in the latest mesoscale models to multimodel ensembles of medium-range predictions. Thus, the skill of numerical weather forecasts continues to increase. Statistical techniques have further increased the utility of these predictions. The availability of large atmospheric datasets and faster computers has made pattern recognition of major weather events a feasible means of statistically enhancing the value of numerical forecasts. This paper examines the utility of pattern recognition in assisting the prediction of severe and major weather in the Middle Atlantic region. An important innovation in this work is that the analog technique is applied to NWP forecast maps as a pattern-recognition tool rather than to analysis maps as a forecast tool. A technique is described that employs a new clustering algorithm to objectively identify the anomaly patterns or “fingerprints” associated with past events. The potential refinement and applicability of this method as an operational forecasting tool employed by comparing numerical weather prediction forecasts with fingerprints already identified for major weather events are also discussed.