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Biomedical subjects

J W Meigs

Publications and source records attributed to J W Meigs.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Trends in the incidence of cancer of the corpus uteri in Connecticut, 1964-1979, in relation to consumption of exogenous estrogens.

The incidence of cancer of the uterine corpus diagnosed in the localized 1964 and 1969. During the next six years, however, it increased substantially, reaching a peak in 1975, followed by an irregular decline through 1979. Women aged 45-64 years showed both the largest increase and the sharpest decline. The incidence of tumors diagnosed with regional or distant spread has been rising slightly but consistently through the period 1970-1979; this upward trend is statistically significant (p less than 0.01). Rates corrected for hysterectomized women not truly at risk are 40-50% higher than uncorrected rates but trends are the same. Explanations which are considered are changes in diagnostic practices and changes in risk factor prevalence. The use of noncontraceptive oral estrogens, a well documented risk factor for endometrial cancer, increased between 1964 and 1975 and then declined sharply through 1979 in the United States. The importance of these compounds in explaining the observed incidence trends is considered in terms of the major time- and stage-specific features of the exogenous estrogen-endometrial cancer association reported in the case-control studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Scrotal carcinoma in Connecticut metalworkers: sequel to a study of sinonasal cancer.

An excess risk for sinonasal cancer among Connecticut metalworkers with potential exposure to cutting oils led to the hypothesis of a relationship between the same occupational category and squamous cell carcinoma of the scrotum. Cases of this latter tumor (n = 45) diagnosed in 1935-1973 were identified by the Connecticut Tumor Registry. For decedents, male controls from Connecticut death certificates were matched to decedent cases on age, year of birth, and availability of occupational information; for living subjects, male controls from records of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles were matched on the above variables and town of residence. Death certificates and city directories provided occupational information. For the narrowly defined indicator of cutting oil exposure (toolmaker, setter, set-up man, hardener, polisher, automatic screw machine operator), the odds ratio for squamous cell carcinoma of the scrotum was 4.9, 95% confidence limits (CL): 1.8, 15.9. The broad indicator of cutting oil exposure (not otherwise specified) categories plus machinist and machine operator (not otherwise specified) had an odds ratio of 10.5, 95% CL: 4.0, 36.9 and explained 57% of the cancers. For this broad category, the risk persisted in the most recent time period of diagnosis, 1966-1973 (OR = 18.6). For this broad category, major biases could not be detected when the following additional covariables were taken into account individually where possible: source of occupation, nativity, town of residence, stage at diagnosis, and cause of death. City directory and death certificate information implied that at least 80% of cases in the high risk category worked in the Connecticut region before age 40.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Relationship of sociodemographic factors to blood lead concentrations in New Haven children.

From September 1974 to 28th February 1977 80% of the children in New Haven, Connecticut, aged from 1 month to 72 months were screened for blood lead concentrations. This report examines the relationship of several socioeconomic factors to blood lead concentrations. In addition, a set of hypotheses regarding the effect of environmental and social factors on blood level concentrations in racially defined groups was tested. Characteristics associated with increased blood lead concentrations were found to be those that tend to impair the ability of a family to provide the necessary care and supervision for the young child. The risk factors, however, produce different effects on the various race groups. The analyses support the belief that the elimination of childhood lead poisoning as a public health problem will require recognition of social-demographic and family operational factors that underlie the interactions of childhood behaviour and environmental lead potentially available to children.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1982

Children's blood lead levels in New Haven: a population-based demographic profile.

This report presents the geometric mean blood lead levels of an 80% cross-sectional sample of children aged 1-72 months in New Haven, Connecticut. Blood lead levels were related to age, sex and race. It was found that age and race were independently important sources of variation in blood lead levels. Sex of children in this age group was not related to differences in blood lead levels. The highest geometric mean blood lead levels occurred in children between 25 and 36 months of age. Black children had higher levels than white or Hispanic children.

Aging↗
PubMed1980

Sinonasal cancer and occupation: a case-control study.

In reviews of malignancy and occupation, cancer of the nose and paranasal sinuses (sinonasal cancer (SNC) is frequently mentioned. In a case-control study of SNC among subjects who died in Connecticut in the period 1935--1975, occupations from death certificates and city directories were compared to job titles taken from previous literature. The results do not support an association of the cancer with nickel (odds ratio = 0.7, 95% confidence limits (CL): 0.4, 1.5) but do support an association with cutting oils (odds ratio = 2.8, 95% CL: 1.4, 5.7) and wood dust (odds ratio = 4.0, 95% CL: 1.5, 10.8). Actual exposure to these agents was not documented, but the results were consistent with other features of the study and with previous literature. In a search for other occupational correlates, SNC was also found to be positively associated with cutters and with construction workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

The influence of occupational and environmental asbestos exposure on the incidence of malignant mesothelioma in Connecticut.

Medical, occupational and demographic data were collected for 229 cases of malignant mesothelioma and 38 other pleural tumours, their spouses, and 605 controls. Methods were developed for classifying subjects into probable asbestos exposure categories. Although disease incidence rates exhibited a rapid increase from 1955 to 1977, there remains a serious question of diagnostic reliability. A case review is being undertaken.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1979

Occupations of fathers of patients with Wilms's tumour.

A case-control study of 149 Connecticut-born children with Wilms's tumour reported to the Connecticut Tumor Registry during the period 1935--1973 and of 149 matched controls was undertaken in order to explore the possibility that children with Wilms's tumour may have been exposed perinatally to carcinogenic agents. The occupation of the father at the time of the child's birth was investigated and used as an indicator of potential sources of carcinogens to which infants in the study may have been exposed. An association was found between paternal occupations related to lead in the group developing Wilms's tumour compared with the controls.

Carcinogens↗
PubMed1978

An investigation of the use of asbestos cement pipe for public water supply and the incidence of gastrointestinal cancer in Connecticut, 1935-1973.

The age adjusted sex specific incidence data for stomach, colon, and rectal cancer for Connecticut townships for the period 1935 to 1973 were used to investigate whether asbestos cement pipe usage for domestic drinking water is associated with gastrointestinal cancer. The townships were grouped according to the Assessment of Exposure (AOE) and Risk Factor (RF) for asbestos. These are composite indices of asbestos exposure including factors relating to the age of the pipe, the ability of water to leach asbestos from the pipe, and the length of pipes used by the population. No association was noted between these asbestos risk scores and gastrointestinal tumor incidence.

Asbestos↗
PubMed1977

Changes in site distribution of colorectal carcinoma in Connecticut, 1940-1973.

The proportion of colorectal cancer occurring above the rectosigmoid junction has been increasing over time. The 40,771 cases of colorectal carcinoma reported to the Connecticut Tumor Registry from 1940 through 1973 were analyzed to determine the incidence in the ascending colon, the transverse, descending, and sigmoid colon, and the rectum. The numbers of cases, the proportion, and incidence rates of cancer in the ascending colon and sigmoid have increased over the 34 years. The increases were greatest among people over 65 years old. Only about half of colorectal cancer can now be identified with the rigid sigmoidoscope. Other tests must be used for early diagnosis of the increased numbers of cancers in the upper parts of the colon.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

An emergency medical care facility: program characteristics and patient attributes.

The objectives of this research were: (1) to describe the programmatic structure and characteristics of an emergency medical care facility that is a satellite clinic of a community hospital; (2) to describe the types of illness treated, and (3) to characterize the patients who used the facility. One-half of the presenting patients were treated for traumatic conditions; a major factor of clinic use for such patients was proximity. For patients with nontraumatic illnesses, the clinic was used when private physicians were unavailable. Almost 20% of all presentations resulted from referrals, suggesting acceptance of the clinic by private practitioners in the area. Previous users had more tenuous relationships with private physicians than did initial users and no difference was found between initial and previous users in the amount of nontraumatic illness. Patient attributes of high mobility, lower socio-economic status, and younger age were associated positively with frequent clinic use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Epidemiology of renal cell carcinoma in Connecticut, 1935-1973.

Data on over 3,700 patients with renal cell carcinoma, reported to the Connecticut Tumor Registry from 1935 through 1973, were used to assess incidence, survival, and associations of risk with demographic characteristics. Incidence increased over time among men, but not among women; a birth cohort effect suggesting increasing incidence rate over time was demonstrated for men. A comparison of male and female age-specific incidence rates indicated that, in the 15- to 39-year-old age group, men were three times more likely than women to develop the disease; after age 40, renal cell carcinoma was diagnosed in men twice as often as in women. Survival probability has increased from 1940 to the present time. A high density of persons per square mile was associated with a higher-than-expected incidence. No trends in incidence according to socioeconomic status were observed.

Adenocarcinoma↗