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Biomedical subjects

A B Miller

Publications and source records attributed to A B Miller.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

The effect of hysterectomies and screening on mortality from cancer of the uterus in Canada.

The trends in mortality from cancer of the uterine cervix, cancer of the endometrium and all uterus in Canada and the ten Canadian Provinces from 1951-53 to 1974-76 at ages 30-64 have been re-evaluated in relation to screening for cancer of the cervix in 1966 and 1971 and hysterectomies for non-malignant conditions from 1969 to 1976. By means of series of mathematical models, the effect of different prior extrapolations of the numbers of hysterectomies performed by age and province has enabled the potential impact of hysterectomies on the trends of mortality from uterine cancer to be evaluated by relating deaths to "uteri at risk" rather than "women at risk" irrespective of the presence of an intact uterus. It has been found that the numbers of hysterectomies performed have little impact on the fall in mortality certified to cancer of the cervix or to all uterine cancer, but in the decade 1964-66 to 1974-66 they convert an apparent fall in mortality from cancer of the endometrium to stability. Re-evaluation of the fall in mortality from 1960-62 to 1970-72 in relation to the intensity of screening shows little impact of the hysterectomies performed on the significant correlation reported previously. However, after extension of the analysis to 1974-76 the correlation disappears. This finding may indicate a more limited potential for the application of screening, as practised in Canada, to reduce mortality from cancer of the cervix, than has been anticipated previously.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Breast Cancer.

The pre-eminence of breast cancer as a significant cause of premature mortality and as the most prevalent cancer of women in North America justifies a major thrust in prevention. In the past, a number of hormonal risk factors were identified. Increasingly, evidence is being obtained to support the role of dietary risk factors and most particularly the total level of dietary fat. Overweight as a risk factor in postmenopausal women also points to the importance of dietary factors. It is concluded that the time is ripe for an active program of evaluating the effect of reduction in the consumption of total fat, particularly in adolescent, early adult and premenopausal women, and in reducing overweight in postmenopausal women, both as aspects of national policy and as special investigations in defined population groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Estimated benefits and risks of screening for breast cancer.

A controlled randomized trial of breast cancer screening has been initiated in Canada. This paper presents an analysis of the possible benefit from screening relative to the possible radiation risk from mammography for those women who will be screened in the trial. It shows that with modern low-dose mammography, even when a conservative estimate of possible reduction in mortality due to early detection is applied to the data, the estimated benefit substantially exceeds any possible hazard.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Reporting results of cancer treatment.

On the initiative of the World Health Organization, two meetings on the Standardization of Reporting Results of Cancer Treatment have been held with representatives and members of several organizations. Recommendations have been developed for standardized approaches to the recording of baseline data relating to the patient, the tumor, laboratory and radiologic data, the reporting of treatment, grading of acute and subacute toxicity, reporting of response, recurrence and disease-free interval, and reporting results of therapy. These recommendations, already endorsed by a number of organizations, are proposed for international acceptance and use to make it possible for investigators to compare validly their results with those of others.

Humans↗
PubMed1981

Tobacco, alcohol, asbestos, and nickel in the etiology of cancer of the larynx: a case-control study.

A case-control study of laryngeal cancer was conducted in southern Ontario between 1977 and 1979 with 204 subjects with newly diagnosed cancer and 204 controls, individually matched by sex, age, and residence. Tobacco products and alcohol showed strong associations with cancer of the larynx for males, with relative risks (RR) for users of cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos, pipes, and alcohol of 6.1, 2.9, 1.6, and 5.2, respectively. The population attributable risk percent for males using tobacco products and alcohol together was estimated to be 94%. Cigarette smoking was also an important risk factor for females, although the small number of female pairs (20) precluded any meaningful detailed analysis of other possible risk factors. The RR for males for exposure to asbestos after the effects of cigarette smoking were controlled was 2.3, and the effects seemed restricted to cigarette smokers. The findings on asbestos were based on small numbers of cases and controls exposed and consequently were subject to large sampling errors. The estimate was consistent, however, with that from other studies and supported a causal role for asbestos exposure and cancer of the larynx. The RR for males for exposure to nickel was 0.9.

Asbestos↗
PubMed1980

A case-control study of diet and colo-rectal cancer.

A case-control study of cancer of the colon and rectum has been conducted in Calgary, Alberta and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A total of 348 cases of cancer of the colon and 194 cases of cancer of the rectum were individually matched by age, sex and neighbourhood of residence to 542 population controls and frequency match to 535 hospital controls who had undergone an abdominal operation. Each subject received a personal medical history questionnaire and a quantitative diet history questionnaire. Data on a number of potential non-nutrient risk factors for bowel cancer and on the consumption of 9 nutrients in the 2-month period up to 6 months before interview were analysed. The dietary data thus refer to recent diet consumed in a period antedating the diagnosis of, and in most cases symptoms from, large-bowel cancer in the cases, and a corresponding time period in the controls. The major findings were an elevated risk for those with a history of bowel polyps, and for those with an elevated intake of calories, total fat, total protein, saturated fat, oleic acid and cholesterol. No association was seen with an elevated intake of crude fibre, Vitamin C and linoleic acid. The nutrients for which an increased risk was demonstrated were highly correlated, though multivariate analysis using logistic regression indicated highest risk for saturated fat, with evidence of a dose-response relationship. The findings in both cancer sites, both sexes and with both sets of controls were quantitatively very similar. The population-attributable risk for colon and rectal cancer combined was estimated from the neighbourhood controls to be 41% for males and 44% for females for saturated fat intake and 9.8% and 6.4% respectively for any history of polyps.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Combination v. sequential therapy with melphalan, 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate for advanced ovarian cancer.

The results of a national clinical trial to compare combination and sequential chemotherapy for stage III or IV ovarian cancer are reported. Of the 253 patients from 16 centres across Canada who were admitted to the trial 13 were excluded from the analysis. All the patients were observed for 2 to 5 years from entry into the trial. There were no differences in response to therapy or in survival between the patients treated with melphalan followed by 5-fluorouracil and then by methotrexate in high dosage and the patients treated with the same agents in combination. Patients with minimal residual disease after resection of stage III ovarian cancer had a good prognosis. Other favourable prognostic factors were age (less than 55 years), performance status (90% or 100% on the Karnofsky scale) and histologic grade of the tumour.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Appraisal of the World Health Organization classification of lung tumours.

The 1967 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of the histologic types of lung tumours has been examined in relation to 303 tumours of patients admitted to a national trial of the treatment of lung cancer. In 63 instances (20%) there was disagreement between the diagnoses of the local pathologist and the reference pathologist. The slides for these 63 tumours were reviewed by two other pathologists, and the slides for 60 tumours for which there was agreement between the local and reference pathologists were reviewed by one of the other pathologists. The main disagreement was in the diagnosis of epidermoid (squamous) tumours. It is apparent that many pathologists do not adhere to the strict criterion of the presence of keratinization or intercellular prickles or both for the diagnosis of epidermoid carcinoma. In addition, there was substantial variation in the use of subtypes within the WHO classification. Use of the revised classification proposed by the WHO would have removed a small amount of the variation from these findings but would not have affected the main discrepancy. Stricter attention to the definition of types is required for a uniform approach to the histologic classification of lung tumours.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1980

Methodologic considerations for trials of lung cancer prophylaxis.

Prophylaxis is likely to be of increasing importance in the control of lung cancer. Areas already suggested as potential fields of investigation include the use of specific immunoprophylaxis or synthetic retinoids. Thorough evaluation of the effects and hazards of such prophylaxis will be required, and the most satisfactory approach is to conduct controlled prophylactic trials. Such trials must rest on the same basic principles as those established for therapeutic trials. However, new problems bearing on ethical requirements, the sampling procedure, and the practical conduct of the trials will arise. Compliance, adverse effects, end points for analysis of the prophylactic effects, and rules for when to stop a trial are discussed.

Antineoplastic Agents↗