METHODS: We investigated overall obesity and abdominal adiposity in relation to SIC in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), a large prospective cohort of approximately half a million men and women from ten European countries. Overall obesity and abdominal obesity were assessed by body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression modeling was performed to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Stratified analyses were conducted by sex, BMI, and smoking status.
RESULTS: During an average of 13.9 years of follow-up, 131 incident cases of SIC (including 41 adenocarcinomas, 44 malignant carcinoid tumors, 15 sarcomas and 10 lymphomas, and 21 unknown histology) were identified. WC was positively associated with SIC in a crude model that also included BMI (HR per 5-cm increase = 1.20, 95 % CI 1.04, 1.39), but this association attenuated in the multivariable model (HR 1.18, 95 % CI 0.98, 1.42). However, the association between WC and SIC was strengthened when the analysis was restricted to adenocarcinoma of the small intestine (multivariable HR adjusted for BMI = 1.56, 95 % CI 1.11, 2.17). There were no other significant associations.
CONCLUSION: WC, rather than BMI, may be positively associated with adenocarcinomas but not carcinoid tumors of the small intestine.
IMPACT: Abdominal obesity is a potential risk factor for adenocarcinoma in the small intestine.
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 2,377 Malaysian women aged 40-74 years. Physical activity information was obtained at screening mammogram and mammographic density was measured from mammograms by the area-based STRATUS method (n = 1,522) and the volumetric Volpara™ (n = 1,200) method. Linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between physical activity and mammographic density, adjusting for potential confounders.
RESULTS: We observed that recent physical activity was associated with area-based mammographic density measures among postmenopausal women, but not premenopausal women. In the fully adjusted model, postmenopausal women with the highest level of recent physical activity had 8.0 cm2 [95% confidence interval: 1.3, 14.3 cm2] lower non-dense area and 3.1% [0.1, 6.3%] higher area-based percent density, compared to women with the lowest level of recent physical activity. Physical activity was not associated to volumetric mammographic density.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the beneficial effects of physical activity on breast cancer risk may not be measurable through mammographic density. Future research is needed to identify appropriate biomarkers to assess the effect of physical activity on breast cancer risk.
METHODS: Adolescent vaccination providers (N = 151) and mothers of adolescent girls aged 9-14 years (N = 118) were recruited from Argentina, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea, and Spain. We assessed providers' preference for a 2- versus 3-dose HPV vaccination schedule via quantitative surveys. Mothers' attitudes towards a 2-dose schedule were assessed through focus group discussions.
RESULTS: Most adolescent providers preferred a 2- over a 3-dose HPV vaccination schedule (overall: 74%), with preference ranging from 45.2% (South Africa) to 90.0% (South Korea). Lower cost, fewer clinic visits, and higher series completion were commonly cited reasons for 2-dose preference among providers and mothers. Safety and efficacy concerns were commonly cited barriers to accepting a 2-dose HPV vaccination schedule among providers and mothers. Mothers generally accepted the reduced schedule, however requested further information from a trusted source.
CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent vaccination providers and mothers preferred the 2-dose over 3-dose HPV vaccination schedule. Acceptability of a 2-dose HPV vaccination could be improved with additional information to providers and mothers on HPV vaccination safety and efficacy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The national MPN registry conducted from 2009 to 2015 in Malaysia provided a comprehensive insight into the demographics, clinical characteristics and laboratory parameters of patients diagnosed with MPN nationwide. The study analysed the survival patterns and mortality outcomes and risk among 671 patients diagnosed with essential thrombocythaemia (ET), polycythaemia vera (PV), primary myelofibrosis (PMF) and unclassified MPN (MPN-U). Mortality status was traced and confirmed until the end of December 2018, with right censoring applied to patients alive beyond that.
RESULTS: The analysed cohort consisted of 283 (42.2%) ET, 269 (40.1%) PV, 62 (9.2%) PMF and 57 (8.5%) MPN-U incident cases with diagnosis made between 2007 and 2015. The majority of patients were male (52.3%) and Malay (48.9%), except for ET, in which the majority of patients were female (60.1%) and of Chinese origin (47.0%). Female patients were found to have significantly better overall survival (OS) rates in ET (p = 0.0285) and MPN-U (p = 0.0070). Patients with JAK2 V617F mutation were found to have marginally inferior OS over time. Multivariable Cox regression identified patients with increased age [hazard ratio (HR) 1.055, 95% CI 1.031; 1.064], reduced haemoglobin (HB) level (HR 0.886, 95% CI 0.831; 0.945, p = 0.0002), being male (HR 1.545, 95% CI 1.077; 2.217, p = 0.0182), and having MPN-U (HR 2.383, 95% CI 1.261; 4.503, p = 0.0075) and PMF (HR 1.975, 95% CI 1.054; 3.701, p = 0.0335) at increased risk for worse mortality outcomes.
CONCLUSION: Myeloproliferative neoplasm reduces patient survival. The degree of impact on survival varies according to sub-type, sex, bone marrow fibrosis and HB levels. The JAK2 V617F mutation was not found to affect the survival pattern or mortality outcome significantly.