• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10735-10738
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• 2015

Background: Cancers of the breast, uterine cervix and ovary are common cancers amongst females of North East India. Not much is known about the descriptive epidemiology of these cancers in our population. The present retrospective analysis was therefore performed. Materials and Methods: The data set available at the hospital based cancer registry of a regional cancer center of North-East India, containing information on patients registered during the period of January 2010 to December 2012, was applied. A total of 2,925 cases of breast, uterine cervix and ovarian cancer were identified. Results: Of the total, 1,295 (44.3%) were breast cancers, 1,214 (41.5%) were uterine cervix and 416 (14.2%) ovarian cancer, median age (range) for breast, uterine cervix and ovary were 45 (17-85), 48 (20-91) and 45 years (7-80), respectively. Some 43.5% of cases with uterine cervix patients were illiterate, 5.4% and 5.7% stage I in breast and cervix respectively and 96.4% of ovarian cancers in advanced stage. Conclusions: Improvement of female education can contribute to increase the proportion of early stage diagnosis of breast and uterine cervix in our population. Any population-based intervention for the detection of cancers of breast, uterine cervix and ovarian cancer should be started early in our population.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.255-262
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• 2024

Background: Nearly half of patients diagnosed with cancer are in the middle of their traditional working age. The return to work after cancer entails challenges because of the cancer or treatments and associated with the workplace. The study aimed at providing more insight into the occupational outcomes encountered by workers with cancer and to provide interventions, programs, and practices to support their return to work. Methods: A scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O'Malley framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for scoping review guidelines. Relevant studies were systematically searched in PubMed/MEDLINE, SCOPUS and Grey literature from 01 January 2000 to 22 February 2024. Results: The literature search generated 3,017 articles; 53 studies were considered eligible for this review. Most of the studies were longitudinal and conducted in Europe. Three macroarea were identified: studies on the impact of cancer on workers in terms of sick leave, employment, return to work, etc.; studies reporting wider issues that may affect workers, such as the compatibility of treatment and work and employment; studies reporting interventions or policies aiming to promote the return to work. Conclusion: There is a lack in the literature in defining multidisciplinary interventions combining physical, psycho-behavioural, educational, and vocational components that could increase the return-to-work rates. Future studies should focus on interdisciplinary return to work efforts with multiple stakeholders with the involvement of an interdisciplinary teamwork (healthcare workers and employers) to combine these multidisciplinary interventions at the beginning of sick leave period.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.209-212
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• 2003

Because of advances of technologies in the field of genmic epidemiology in the recent years, specimen collection, storage and analysis became an essential part of research methodologies. DNA is now being used in epidemiologic studies to evaluate genetic risk factors and specimens other than the fresh whole blood can De used for PCR. Therefore, All nucleated cells, such as buccal swabs and urine specimens, are suitable for DNA analysis. For an unlimited source of genomic DNA, EBV transformation of lymphocytes can be used for immortalization. However, the type of specimen collected in genomic epidemiologic studies will depend on the study where the epidemiologist play a leading role for the design. We also briefly described various finds of analysis for SNP that is an essential part of the genomic epidemiology.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.401-407
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• 2005

Objectives : We wanted to investigate the relationship between heavy metal, especially lead and mercury, to the blood pressure and cholesterol level in children. Methods : This study was undertaken in three primary schools and the study subjects were a total of 274 children. The lead in the blood and the urine mercury were analyzed by performing atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results : All of participants' blood lead levels and urine mercury concentrations were below the suggested level of concern according to the criteria of the CDC and ATSDR. We found no significant correlation between lead, mercury and the blood pressure. The blood lead level did not show any relationship with the blood pressure and cholesterol. However, the urine mercury levels were associated with the serum cholesterol. Conclusion : Our study suggests that mercury can induce an increase of cholesterol as a risk factor of myocardial infraction and coronary/cardiovascular disease.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2019

Background: Police officers' stress perception, frequency of stressful events (stressors), and police work characteristics may contribute to poor sleep quality through different mechanisms. Methods: We investigated associations of stress severity (measured by stress rating score) and frequency of stressors with sleep quality and examined the influence of police work characteristics including workload, police rank, prior military experience, and shift work on the associations. Participants were 356 police officers (256 men and 100 women) enrolled in the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress Study from 2004 to 2009. A mean stress rating score and mean frequency of stressors occurring in the past month were computed for each participant from the Spielberger Police Stress Survey data. Sleep quality was assessed using the global score derived from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index survey. Linear associations of the stress rating score and frequency of stressors with sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index global score) were tested. Age, sex, race/ethnicity, and smoking status were selected as potential confounders. Results: The stress rating score was positively and independently associated with poor sleep quality (${\beta}=0.17$, p = 0.002). Only workload significantly modified this association (${\beta}=0.23$, p = 0.001 for high workload group; p-interaction = 0.109). The frequency of stressors was positively and independently associated with poor sleep quality (${\beta}=0.13$, p = 0.025). Only police rank significantly modified the association (${\beta}=0.007$, p = 0.004 for detectives/other executives; p-interaction = 0.076). Conclusion: Both police officers' perception of stress severity and the frequency of stressors are associated with poor sleep quality. Stress coping or sleep promotion regimens may be more beneficial among police officers reporting high workloads.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.334-337
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• 2008

MCL1 expression has been found to be up-regulated during infection with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We investigated the genetic polymorphisms in MCL1 as potential candidate gene for a host genetic study of clinical TB infection. We have sequenced exons and their boundaries of MCL1, including the 1.5 kb promoter region, to identify polymorphisms, and eight polymorphisms were identified. The genetic associations of polymorphisms in MCL1 with clinical TB patients (n=486) and normal controls (n=370) were analyzed. Using statistical analyses, one common promoter polymorphism (MCL1-324C>A) which is absolutely linked with three other SNPs in the promoter and 3'UTR regions, were found to be significantly associated with increased risk of clinical TB disease. The frequency of the A-bearing genotype of -324C>A was higher in clinical TB patients than in normal controls (P=0.0008, OR=1.68). Our findings suggest that polymorphisms in MCL1 might be one of genetic factors for the risk of clinical tuberculosis development.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate air quality in Chungju, Korea, using data obtained with a local air quality monitoring system. We have utilised cohort studies to investigate the relations between environmental pollution and the health of residents near large industrial complexes since 2004. This study analyzes the $O_3,\;NO_2,\;SO_2,\;CO\;and\;PM_{10}$ concentration in Chungju from 2002 to 2006. Air pollutants are closely related to the number of manufacturing facilities and cars, energy utilization and weather conditions. Generally, the diurnal concentration of air pollutants in Chungju reached the highest level in the morning (about$08:00{\sim}$) and early evening (about$19:00{\sim}$). On the other hand, the diurnal concentration of ozone as recorded gives the highest amount in late afternoon (about$16:00{\sim}$) and lowest in early morning (about$08:00{\sim}$). The concentration of air pollutants in Chungju was highest from winter to spring and lowest during the summer season. On the other hand, the monthly variation of ozone concentration was greatest in June and smallest in December. Also the, $PM_{10}$ concentration posted the highest record in April and the lowest during September. In general, this study analyzed air pollution changes in Chungju as well as in large scale industrial complex regions within Korea such as Ulsan, Pohang, Kwangyang, Sihwa Panwol and Gangneung in Korea. We compared the air quality of Chungju with those of these cites and found that air pollutants except for CO in Chungju was generally lower than large industrial complex regions.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1205-1210
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• 2014

Background: Previous studies on the association of oral contraceptives (OC) use and lung cancer generated inconsistent findings. The aim of this study was to confirm any definite correlation between OC use and lung cancer risk. Methods: Publications were reviewed and obtained through PubMed and EMBASE databases literature search up to November, 2013. Reference lists from retrieved articles were also reviewed. The language of publication was restricted to English. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the association by calculating pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of 14 studies consisting of 9 case-control studies and 5 cohort studies were finally included in this meta-analysis. There was no significant association observed between OC use and lung cancer risk in the overall analysis (OR=0.91; 95% CI=0.81-1.03). There was a significant protective effect in Europe (OR=0.74; 95% CI=0.60-0.91) and a borderline significant protective effect with an adenocarcinoma histology (OR=0.90; 95% CI=0.80-1.01) in subgroup analyses. No association was observed for methodological quality of study, study design, smoking status and case number of study. Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that OC use is not likely to be associated with the risk of lung cancer at all. While a significant protective effect of OC use on lung cancer was observed in Europe, interpretation should be cautious because of the potential biases of low-quality studies. At the same time, more attention should be paid to the possible association of OC use with adenocarcinoma of lung. Our findings require further research, with well-conducted and large-scale epidemiological studies to confirm effects of OC use on lung cancer.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.316-316
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• 2005

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10143-10149
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• 2015

Background and Aim: No firm evidence of HPV infection in esophageal cancer has been established to date. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the prevalence of HPV 16 in esophageal cancer in China, which had a high burden of the disease. Materials and Methods: Studies on HPV infection and esophageal cancer were identified and a random-effects model was used to pool the summary prevalence and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of 3,429 esophageal cancer cases were evaluated from 26 eligible studies in this meta-analysis. The summary estimate for HPV16 prevalence was 0.381 (95% CI: 0.283, 0.479). The prevalence varied by geographical areas of the study, publication year, HPV detection method and types of specimen. In sensitivity analysis, HPV 16 prevalence ranged from 0.368 (95% CI: 0.276, 0.460) to 0.397 (95% CI: 0.286, 0.508). Conclusions: The results indicate a relatively high level of HPV 16 prevalence in esophageal cancer among Chinese population, although there was variation between different variables. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of HPV in esophageal carcinogenesis with careful consideration of study design and laboratory detection method, providing more accurate assessment of the HPV status in esophageal cancer.