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Biomedical subjects

L Gordis

Publications and source records attributed to L Gordis.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

An apparent increase in the incidence of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in black children.

A community-wide study was conducted to examine time trends in incidence rates of leukemia in children. Cases of acute leukemia, both lymphocytic (ALL) and nonlymphocytic (ANLL), newly diagnosed in children ages 0-19 years in the Baltimore area from 1960 to 1974 were ascertained. Over the 15 years, 286 children with acute leukemia were identified, of whom 77% had ALL. Incidence rates of ALL were two to three times as high in whites as in blacks, and remained virtually unchanged over time. However, the picture was quite different for ANLL. Initially, incidence rates were higher in whites than in blacks, but during the final five years the incidence increased dramatically in blacks so that it actually exceeded the rate among whites. The increase of ANLL in black children occurred primarily in blacks of high socioeconomic status. This suggests that the increase may have resulted from environmental influences associated with upward socioeconomic mobility in the black population in recent years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Breast cancer incidence in women with a history of progesterone deficiency.

In order to investigate the nature of the association of involuntarily delayed first birth and risk of breast cancer, 1083 white women who had been evaluated and treated for infertility from 1945-1965 were followed prospectively through April 1978 to ascertain their breast cancer incidence. These women were categorized as to the cause of infertility into two groups, those with endogenous progesterone deficiency (PD) and those with nonhormonal causes (NH). Women in the PD group had 5.4 times the risk of premenopausal breast cancer compared to women in the NH group. This excess risk could not be explained by differences between the two groups in ages at menarche or menopause, history of oral contraceptive use, history of benign breast disease or age at first birth. Women in the PD group also experienced a 10-fold increase in deaths from all malignant neoplasms compared to the NH group. The incidence of postmenopausal breast cancer did not differ significantly between the two groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Patterns of incidence of brain tumors in children.

A population-based community-wide study of the incidence of brain tumors in children from 1960 through 1974 was conducted in the Baltimore area. Incidence rates in boys declined from 1960 to 1974 and were higher in whites than in blacks in all age groups except children under 5 years. A peak in incidence rates was observed in white 5- to 9-year-olds and in blacks from 0 to 4 years of age. In addition, incidence rates tended to be higher in boys than in girls at all ages except at puberty-the 10- to 14-year-old age group-when rates in girls exceeded those in boys. The findings suggest that both host and environmental factors may be involved in the cause of brain tumors in children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Determinants of survival in children with brain tumors.

A study was conducted in metropolitan Baltimore to examine time trends in survival and factors which influence survival of children with brain tumors. One hundred eighty-four cases diagnosed from 1960 to 1975 were identified; 76.5% occurred in white children and 48% were girls. Five-year survival rates were 35% for children diagnosed in 1960-64, 34% in 1965-69, and 49% in 1970-74. Girls had consistently better survival rates than boys. White children experienced consistently better survival rates than blacks. Of those who survived the first year, children with supratentorial tumors had better five-year survival rates (46%) than those which with infratentorial tumors (27%). Of those who survived the first year, children with astrocytomas had better survival rates than those with other types of tumors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

The association of low levels of HDL cholesterol and arteriographically defined coronary artery disease.

Epidemiologic studies have found associations between low levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and increased risk of coronary artery disease, using myocardial infarction or angina pectoris as endpoints. However, since most studies have not correlated HDL cholesterol with the presence, severity, or location of anatomically proven coronary disease, the present study measured HDL cholesterol levels in 483 men and women undergoing coronary arteriography. Consistent and statistically significant trends of decreasing mean HDL cholesterol levels with increasing numbers of diseased coronary arteries were observed in both men and women and in younger and older age groups. Although women without coronary disease had much higher levels of HDL cholesterol than men without coronary disease, the differences between men and women with similar degrees of coronary disease were small. Low levels of HDL cholesterol were associated with left main coronary disease; patients with both triple vessel disease and left main disease had lower levels of HDL cholesterol than did patients with triple vessel disease without left main disease. These results were not explained by the possible associations of low density lipoprotein cholesterol or triglycerides with HDL cholesterol. These findings suggest that low levels of HDL cholesterol are important risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis and that they may be useful for identifying patients at high risk of certain anatomic patterns of coronary artery disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Risk factors for brain tumors in children.

An exploratory case-control study was conducted in 15 hospitals in the Baltimore, MD, SMSA of possible etiologic factors associated with brain tumors in children. Eighty-four children with brain tumors were compared to normal children and to children with other malignancies. Parents of these children were interviewed about a variety of possible etiologic factors. The findings included: 1) children with brain tumors as well as children with other cancers had a greater tendency than normal children to have been first births and to have had higher birth weights; 2) more children with brain tumors had a sibling with epilepsy or seizures than did normal children, and several of the mothers of children with brain tumors had themselves had epilepsy or a stroke at a relatively young age; 3) there were no significant differences between the groups with regard to several maternal characteristics, including smoking during pregnancy and prior radiation exposure; 4) more children with brain tumors and children with other cancers were found to have had exposures to insecticides than had normal children; 5) fewer children with brain tumors or with other cancers were reported to have had tonsillectomies than normal children; and 6) more of the children with brain tumors as well as the children with other malignancies were reported to have been exposed to farm animals and to sick pets. This exploratory study is one of the first case-control studies of the epidemiology of brain tumors in children, and the results suggest directions for future epidemiologic studies in this relatively uncharted field.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

The changing survivorship of white and black children with leukemia.

A study was conducted in metropolitan Baltimore to examine changes in survival of white and black children with acute leukemia from 1960 through 1975. Two-hundred eighty-seven cases were identified, of which 77% were acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Eighty-three percent of all cases occurred in white children. In white children with ALL, two-year survival rates increased from 32% in 1960--64 to 47% in 1965--69, and to 79% in 1970--75 (p less than .005). In the small sample of black children with ALL, two-year survival rates increased from 25% in 1960--64 to 59% in 1965--69 (p less than .01), with no further increase in 1970--75. For acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL), survivorship was analyzed in white children, among whom one-year survival rates increased from 42% in 1965--69 to 71% in 1970--75 (p less than .005). The increasingly better survival over time of white children with acute leukemia probably reflects the increasing efficacy of new therapeutic approaches.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1978

Increased risk of brain tumors in children exposed to barbiturates.

The possible etiologic role of barbiturates in the development of brain tumors in children was examined. Interviews were conducted with mothers of children with brain tumors and results compared with those from interviews with mothers of normal children and mothers of children with other cancers. Mothers of children with brain tumors more frequently reported having used barbiturates during their pregnancy with the index child than did mothers of normal children or mothers of children with other cancers. In addition, more children with brain tumors were reported to have used barbiturates than were normal children or children with other malignant diseases, with most of such uses appearing to be unrelated to symptoms resulting from the brain tumor itself. The results suggested that barbiturates may play an etiologic role, and it is estimated that as many as 8% of brain tumors in children may be attributable to use of barbiturates either by the child or prenatally by the mother.

Adolescent↗