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Biomedical subjects

M Staples

Publications and source records attributed to M Staples.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Prevalence of urinary symptoms in urban Australian men aged 40-69.

BACKGROUND: This study was devised to determine the prevalence of urinary symptoms among men living in the Australian cities of Melbourne, Sydney or Perth, and to identify factors associated with the presence of moderate-to-severe urinary symptoms. METHODS: The study comprised a population-based sample of 1,216 men, aged 40-69 years, whose names were obtained through electoral rolls and who participated as controls in a case-control study of risk factors for prostate cancer. As part of a structured face-to-face interview, the men completed the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). Men with moderate (IPSS = 8-19) or severe (IPSS > or = 20) urinary symptoms were compared with those with mild or no symptoms (IPSS < 8) using unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: The age-specific prevalence of moderate-to-severe urinary symptoms (IPSS > or = 8) in men aged 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 years was 16%, 23% and 28%, respectively. Compared with men with no or mild urinary symptoms (IPSS < 8), men with moderate-to-severe symptoms were more likely to report not currently living as married [odds ratio (OR) = 1.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-2.0] and being circumcised (OR = 1.5; 95% Cl 1.2-2.0). The increased likelihood associated with drinking an average of > 60 g day(-1) of alcohol in the 2 years before interview was of marginal statistical significance (OR = 1.6; 1.0-2.6). There were no significant differences between men with IPSS > or = 8 and those with IPSS < 8 with respect to body mass index, education level, having had a vasectomy, or cigarette smoking. CONCLUSION: Among Australian men, being circumcised, or not currently living as married, were associated with increased prevalence of urinary symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of breast cancer incidence: is the increase due entirely to mammographic screening?

OBJECTIVES: To examine the trends in the incidence rates of breast cancer in a population with mammographic screening and in the unscreened women within that population. METHODS: Data consisted of incident cases of breast cancer notified to the Victorian Cancer Registry in Victoria, Australia, between 1988 and 1996 and cases detected in the population-based BreastScreen Program. These data were grouped by age (25-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and > or = 70 years of age) and size of tumor (< or =10 mm, > 10-< or =15 mm, and > 15 mm). Poisson regression modeling was used to examine trends by age, tumor size, calendar year and availability of screening. RESULTS: The incidence rate of breast cancer in the total population increased between 1988 and 1996. The greatest increase was seen after 1993 when population-based screening became available. In unscreened women, modeling demonstrated a statistically significant (p < 0.01) 1.5% annual increase in the incidence rate. The annual increase in this rate differed by size of tumor and was approximately 8% (p < 0.01) for small tumors (< or = 10 mm) but not significant for tumors > 10 mm. The greatest increase was in small tumors for women > or = 50 years of age. CONCLUSION: The incidence of breast cancer has increased since population-based mammographic screening was introduced in 1994. The rate in unscreened women also showed a significant increase. This was greatest in small tumors for women > or = 50 years of age. Whether this will translate into an increase in mortality is uncertain and long-term monitoring is required to determine if cohort and period effects impact on the underlying incidence of breast cancer in Victoria.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Myocardial contractility is not constant during spontaneous atrial fibrillation in patients.

BACKGROUND: The variation in stroke volume and pulse pressure characteristic of atrial fibrillation is usually ascribed to time-dependent ventricular filling, implying a single positive relationship between end-systolic pressure and volume, which defines a single state of myocardial contractility. We tested the hypothesis that contractility also varies. METHODS AND RESULTS: We measured the left ventricular pressure and volume continuously with a conductance catheter with catheter-tip micromanometer introduced retrogradely into the left ventricle. The end-systolic pressure-volume relationship was determined in 6 patients in atrial fibrillation undergoing cardiac catheterization for diagnostic purposes and 4 control patients in sinus rhythm undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The normal positive relationship between end-systolic pressure and volume was found in the control patients, but no such positive relationship was found in any patient in atrial fibrillation. In the latter, the slopes of the linear regressions were either not significantly different from zero or significantly negative (r values <0.08), both results indicating a change in contractility from beat to beat. Significantly negative relationships were found between end-systolic volume and preceding R-R interval (-0.82<r<-0.24), indicating the presence of mechanical restitution. Significantly positive relationships were found between end-systolic volume and the R-R interval before the preceding R-R interval (0.35<r<0.74), indicating the presence of postextrasystolic potentiation. CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial contractility is constantly changing from beat to beat in atrial fibrillation because of the influence of the force-interval relationships.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Trends in the incidence of non-melanocytic skin cancer (NMSC) treated in Australia 1985-1995: are primary prevention programs starting to have an effect?

Non-melanocytic skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common cancer in Australia, but data on its incidence are not routinely collected by cancer registries. National surveys were conducted in 1985, 1990 and 1995 to estimate NMSC incidence. Trends in incidence between 1985 and 1995 have been examined to determine the impact of primary prevention campaigns aimed at controlling skin cancer in Australia. National random household surveys of Australians aged over 13 years were used to estimate NMSC incidence in 1985, 1990 and 1995. Age- and sex-specific rates by survey year were modelled using Poisson regression. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) rates in 1995 were 788 per 100,000, an increase of 19% since 1985. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) rates rose by 93% over the same period, from 166 to 321 per 100,000. The ratio of BCC:SCC changed from 4:1 in 1985 to 2.5:1 in 1995. BCC rates in latitudes <29 degrees S remained at about 3 times those in latitudes >37 degrees S over the decade. The ratio of SCC incidence between these latitudes changed from around 7:1 to 3:1 over the same period. Although NMSC incidence rates continue to rise, there have been reductions in BCC observed in younger age groups. Incidence rates of NMSC continue to rise in Australia, but there is evidence of a reduction in BCC incidence in younger cohorts. This is evidence that public health campaigns to reduce sun exposure may be having a beneficial effect on skin cancer rates.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Effect of ethnic media on cervical cancer screening rates.

The effect on cervical screening rates of paid publicity on ethnic radio was evaluated. The radio publicity occurred during three discrete periods between 1992 and 1994. The numbers of women having Pap smears before and after the intervention were compared in postcode areas with high and low percentages of residents of non-English-speaking background. During the second and third publicity periods, when the media coverage was more intense, a larger increase in screening rates was evident in postcode areas with high percentages of women of non-English-speaking background. Across the three intervention periods, the media publicity appeared to generate an additional 6.7 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval 4.4 to 9.2 per cent) increase in screening in areas with a high proportion of women of non-English-speaking-background compared with changes in screening in areas with a low proportion of women of non-English-speaking background. Paid publicity on ethnic radio may be an effective strategy to increase cervical screening rates among women of non-English-speaking background.

Female↗
PubMed1996

Recurrent nonmelanoma skin cancer in southern Australia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In retrospective studies of non-melanoma skin cancers, the recurrence rates were relatively high. This study had as its aim to determine the recurrence rate of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and prospectively, risk factors for recurrence in southern Australia. STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective study of outpatients with histologically confirmed NMSC. All patients seen by a dermatologist between November 1988 and November 1989 were entered into the study and followed for at least 3 years. Any recurrent NMSCS were removed and recorded. RESULTS: Four hundred and eighty-one patients were entered and 420 followed for at least 3 years. A recurrent NMSC developed in 8% (adjusted for losses). A multivariate analysis determined that the main risk factor for recurrence within the first 3 years of follow-up was the number of NMSC a patient had when entering into the study. Those with 3 to nine NMSC were five times more likely to develop a recurrence than those with less than three NMSC. Those with 10 or more NMSC were 25 times more likely to develop a recurrence. Age, sex, and types of skin cancers removed were not risk factors within the first 3 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Patients who have had multiple skin cancers require careful follow-up because of the risk of developing recurrences.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Multiple primary melanomas: an analysis of cancer registry data from Victoria and New South Wales.

All primary invasive cutaneous malignant melanomas (CMM) diagnosed in Victoria and New South Wales from 1985 to 1989 were obtained from the population-based cancer registries. Altogether 14,590 people with first CMMs were followed for at least 2 years, during which time 496 multiple primary CMMs were identified. Of the study population, 3.4% developed a second primary CMM and 0.3% developed three or more. It was estimated that 4.5% of people would develop a second CMM within 5 years of the first and that the risk was higher in males, particularly in men aged over 70 years. With regard to metachronous primaries, only age and thickness of the first primary were significant predictors of the thickness of the second: older people tended to have thicker CMMs and second CMMs were generally thinner than the first. Body site concordance was higher than expected by chance, particularly for synchronous diagnoses. The high degree of site concordance of metachronous primaries lent support to the hypothesis that skin adjacent to the first CMM might have undergone a 'field effect', rendering it at increased susceptibility to malignancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Metastases from squamous cell carcinoma of the skin in southern Australia.

BACKGROUND: The frequency with which squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin metastasizes is a matter of dispute. Studies from private practices have reported much lower rates than hospital-based surveys, and one school of thought is that SCCs which arise in sun-damaged skin have a low risk of metastasis. METHODS: A prospective study of out-patients with histologically confirmed SCC was undertaken in southern Australia, a region with a very high incidence of skin cancer. RESULTS: Between November 1988 and November 1989, 481 patients were entered into the study and 420 followed for at least 3 years. An SCC was the initial diagnosis for 73 patients, 3 were immunosuppressed and 2 had an SCC of the lip, leaving 68 immunocompetent patients with SCC of the skin. Metastatic SCC developed in 2 patients (5.8% adjusted for losses) within 3 years. The SCCs were small and arose in sun-damaged skin. CONCLUSION: Patients with SCC of the skin need a careful follow-up because of the risk of metastasis.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The development of non-melanocytic skin cancers in people with a history of skin cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of new skin cancer formation in people who have had skin cancer removed. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study of Melbourne out-patients with histologically confirmed non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). All patients with NMSC seen by one author (D.C.) between November 1988 and November 1989 were entered into the study and reviewed regularly. New skin cancers were removed and recorded. RESULTS: Four hundred and eighty-one patients were entered and 420 followed for at least 3 years. New NMSC developed in 60% (adjusted for losses) by the end of 3 years. A multivariate analysis determined that the main risk factor for new NMSC formation was the number of previous skin cancers that a patient had. Those who had had multiple skin cancers (3 or more) were at significantly greater risk than those with less than 3. Age, sex and type of NMSC were not risk factors for new skin cancer formation. CONCLUSION: Patients with NMSC require long-term follow-up because of the risk of new skin cancer formation. Those with multiple NMSC need more careful follow-up, and possibly more frequent examinations, because they are at greater risk.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Psychological consequences of screening mammography.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the psychological consequences at a number of stages in the screening process for women attending a screening mammography programme. SETTING: A pilot mammographic screening programme in Melbourne, Australia. METHOD: The psychological consequences questionnaire (PCQ; a reliable and valid measure of the psychological consequences of screening mammography) was used to measure the emotional, social, and physical functioning of women in a mammographic screening programme and a control community sample. A screening group (in whom no abnormality was detected at initial screen; n = 142) had four measurements: at screening clinic; before results were received; one week after all-clear results were received; and eight months after initial visit. The recall group (who were recalled for further investigation which showed the detected abnormality to be benign; n = 58) had measurements at the same points as the screening group and an additional measurement while waiting at the recall assessment clinic. A randomly selected community control group (n = 52) had measurements one week, two weeks, three weeks, and eight months after consenting to participate. RESULTS: Emotional, social, and physical functioning of women in the screening group did not change over time and at no point differed significantly from that of community controls. The profiles of emotional and physical dysfunction of women in the recall group differed significantly from those of the screening and control groups. The level of emotional and physical dysfunction in the recall group was highest while waiting at recall assessment clinic, and scores were still significantly higher than scores obtained at comparable times from screening and control groups one week after obtaining notification that there was no sign of cancer (emotional P < 0.001; physical P < 0.05). This difference had disappeared eight months after the screening visit, when the level of emotional and physical functioning was similar to that of the screening and control groups. Social dysfunction scores did not change significantly over time and were similar for all three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Given that up to 10% of women are recalled for further investigations on first round screening, significant numbers of women may have psychological consequences. This speaks for the necessity for accurate reading of mammograms to minimise the false positive recall rate, and for counselling services to be available at recall assessment centres.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1993

Trends in non-melanocytic skin cancer treated in Australia: the second national survey.

An Australia-wide survey in 1985 recorded the highest rates of medically treated non-melanocytic skin cancer (NMSC) ever reported. We report the findings of a repeat survey conducted in 1990. This second survey confirmed the differences, by age, sex, body site, latitude, country of birth and skin reaction to strong sunlight, that were observed in 1985. Over the 5-year period certain changes were noted: the incidence of NMSCs increased by 19%, of basal-cell carcinomas (BCC) by 11% and of squamous-cell carcinomas (SCC) by 51%. With advancing age, men and women differed in their incidence, and this difference was greater for SCC than for BCC. Log-linear modelling, however, failed to detect either a cohort or a survey effect between the 2 surveys. The proportional distribution of BCCs and SCCs by body site indicated an increase in BCCs on the trunk in both men and women, and half the proportion of SCCs on the head and neck in women as compared with men. The latitudinal gradients observed in 1985 were even stronger in 1990; the population living north of 37 degrees S experienced a 30% increase in the incidence of treated NMSC between 1985 and 1990, while the population living south of 37 degrees S had a 25% decrease. The implications of these findings for cancer-control initiatives are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Primary tumors of the brain, cranial nerves and cranial meninges in Victoria, Australia, 1982-1990: patterns of incidence and survival.

This report presents for the first time a detailed analysis of the distribution of primary brain tumors in a population in Australia. Data on 3,575 cases of benign and malignant tumors of the brain, cranial nerves and cranial meninges diagnosed among residents of the state of Victoria from 1982 to 1990 are used to calculate incidence rates and survival by histologic type, age and sex and to compare incidence of birthplace, socioeconomic status and year of diagnosis. No sharp decline in incidence rates is seen among those over age 60 and only small increases in incidence over the 9-year period have been observed. The overall incidence rates, distributions by histologic type, and patterns of excess incidence among those born in Southern and Eastern Europe and the Middle East are similar to observations in other geographic areas. No clear trend relating incidence and socioeconomic status is observed. Survival after brain tumor diagnosis is better among women then men (52 vs. 37% survive 5 years); this difference is attributable to the greater frequency among men of the more aggressive tumor types. The most striking male over female excess is for medulloblastoma, a type that occurs predominantly in the pediatric age group. This excess coupled with the fact that this tumor occurs at a much younger age in males may suggest the presence of a genetic predisposition in some patients with this disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Use of benzhexol hydrochloride to control drooling of children with cerebral palsy.

The use of benzhexol hydrochloride to control drooling was evaluated in a group of 20 children with cerebral palsy. Drooling was measured before treatment and then repeatedly until an optimal dosage of benzhexol hydrochloride was attained. 17 of the 20 children showed an improvement in drooling, and side-effects were minimal. This type of medication appears to be useful in the treatment of drooling.

Cerebral Palsy↗