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Biomedical subjects

P Boyle

Publications and source records attributed to P Boyle.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Modelling population movement into the Scottish highlands and islands from the remainder of Britain, 1990-1991.

"In this analysis, data are used from the 1991 Census Special Migration Statistics to model the migration flows into the Scottish highlands and islands, from the remainder of Britain, between 1990 and 1991. A Poisson regression approach is used to identify the origins of unusually large flows into this broad destination area, and to introduce origin-based explanatory variables which help to explain the factors influencing these flows. The flows into this area which originate in Scotland are contrasted with those which originate in England and Wales and the findings suggest that middle class in-migration from southern England continues to be a significant element of population change in this remote rural destination."

Demography↗
PubMed1995

Impact of symptoms of prostatism on level of bother and quality of life of men in the French community.

The impact of symptoms of prostatism on level of bother and quality of life of French men was assessed nationwide, in a representative community sample of 2,011 subjects 50 to 84 years old. Bothersome level and quality of life associated with 12 urinary symptoms were assessed by face-to-face interviews, using a previously validated questionnaire for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The international prostate symptom score and the American Urological Association (AUA) bothersome index were also computed. Urgency was by far the most bothersome symptom in French men. Nocturia and wetting underclothes ranked second in subjects who did not undergo prostate surgery and among symptomatic patients, respectively. Overall, symptom frequency accounted for 72% of the variability of symptom bother but the form and strength of this correlation varied among symptoms from 0.18 to 0.43. Among the symptomatic subjects who had not yet undergone prostate surgery 11%, 10% and 79%, respectively, were dissatisfied, neutral and satisfied with the current urinary condition. Satisfaction with the urinary condition was positively linked to symptom frequency (p < 0.001) and symptom bother level (p < 0.001). Nocturia, dysuria, daytime repeat voiding, wetting clothes and urgency, when severely bothersome, were independent predictors of decreased satisfaction with the urinary condition (p = 0.01). Approximately half of the patients with severe BPH symptoms expressed serious worries and concerns with the urinary condition, and sizable levels of interference by the symptoms with daily activities, which are potentially affected by urinary troubles. The AUA bother index was the best determinant of subject level of worry about the urinary condition and of interference with daily life. This study supported the concomitant use of the international prostate symptom score and the AUA bother index in further research studies of BPH related impairments in quality of life.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Pancreatitis and the risk of pancreatic cancer.

To offer quantitative evidence on the association between pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, we analyzed data from a hospital-based case-control study conducted in northern Italy between 1983 and 1992, including a total of 362 incident cases of histologically confirmed pancreatic cancer and 1,408 controls admitted to hospital for acute, nonneoplastic, nondigestive tract disorders. Information was obtained using a structured questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle habits (including tobacco and alcohol consumption) and a problem-oriented medical history, which included history of pancreatitis and age at its first diagnosis. Pancreatitis was reported by 24 (6.6%) cases and 18 (1.3%) controls, yielding an age- and sex-adjusted relative risk (RR) of 5.7 (95% confidence interval, 2.9-11.4). The risk of pancreatic cancer was appreciably higher 5 or more years after diagnosis of pancreatitis (RR = 6.9) than in the first 4 years (RR = 2.1), and in subjects below age 60 (RR = 8.3) than in elderly ones (RR = 2.6), but similar in males and females. The time-risk relationship is strongly indicative of a real relationship between pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. After allowing for tobacco and alcohol, besides area of residence and education, the association between pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer appeared to be partly explained by such covariates (RR = 3.9); however, this may represent some degree of overadjustment if, for instance, alcohol is causally linked to pancreatitis, which, in turn, is causally related to pancreatic cancer. In terms of population attributable risk, pancreatitis would explain approximately 5% of pancreatic cancer cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Effect of glyceryl trinitrate on sperm motility and lipid peroxidation in normozoospermic men.

The objective of this study was to assess the in-vitro effects of the nitric oxide substrate glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) on sperm motility and membrane lipid peroxidation. Nitric oxide (NO) can impair sperm motility, possibly by an alteration of cyclic nucleotide levels. NO may also be protective against lipid peroxidation. Semen samples from nine normospermic men were prepared by a swim-up technique. Each specimen was divided into four aliquots, one of which was the control sample. The other three had 10(-6), 10(-8) or 10(-10) M GTN added. Sperm motility was then analysed over 180 min using a Hamilton Thorn motility analyser. Lipid peroxidation was assessed by measuring media malondialdehyde (MDA) levels at 180 min. Compared with control, the following measurements were reduced (p < 0.05) over the first 60 min in the 10(-6) M GTN aliquots only: mean path velocity (reduced by 14-15%), curvilinear velocity (reduced by 12-21%), straight-line velocity (reduced by 18-19%) and percentage of hyperactivated spermatozoa (reduced by 38-43%). MDA levels and head movement parameters were comparable amongst all aliquots (p > 0.05). The depressant effects of GTN on sperm motility appeared to be transient and reversible. The effects observed may be due to NO generated by GTN, or to GTN itself. This suggests that NO may have a role in vivo as a physiological inhibitor of sperm motility. The addition of GTN did not appear either to cause sperm membrane damage or to protect the spermatozoa from lipid peroxidation.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1995

Determinants of treatment-seeking behaviour for urinary symptoms in older men.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors associated with seeking treatment for urinary symptoms among older men in a European population. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A community survey involving a representative nationwide sample of 2011 French men aged between 50 and 80 years was performed and information collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Visiting a doctor for urinary symptoms was associated with the perceived bothersomeness of urinary symptoms, in addition to and independently of the level of symptom severity. It was also associated with higher socio-economic class. Many partners of men with urinary symptoms were unaware of their condition. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the importance of including the perception of bother associated with urinary symptoms in addition to urinary severity and provides information useful for inclusion in education programmes on urinary symptoms.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Comparison of anti-TNF alpha autoantibodies in plasma and from EBV transformed lymphocytes of autoimmune and normal individuals.

To examine the ability of normal and autoimmune individuals to produce circulating anti-TNF alpha antibodies, plasma samples from 10 RA patients, 10 SLE patients and 5 normal subjects were assessed for anti-TNF alpha antibody. While every individual tested demonstrated circulating IgM anti-TNF alpha antibody, IgG anti-TNF alpha autoantibody was seen predominantly in autoimmune patients. Only 1 of 5 normal individuals, but 15 of 20 autoimmune individuals had plasma IgG anti-TNF alpha antibodies. To examine the ability of normal and autoimmune individuals to produce anti-TNF alpha autoantibody from their circulating lymphocytes, EBV transformation was performed. Oligoclonal immortal cell lines were successfully established from 13 patients and each one secreted detectable IgM anti-TNF alpha autoantibody. Transformed cells from only 1 of 5 normal individuals secreted IgM anti-TNF alpha autoantibody. These results indicate a higher prevalence of anti-TNF alpha autoantibody production among autoimmune individuals although normal individuals are also capable of producing these autoantibodies.

Antibody Affinity↗
PubMed1995

The epidemiology of benign prostatic hyperplasia and observations on concomitant hypertension.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and hypertension are highly prevalent, age-related disorders in men which place a considerable burden on healthcare resources worldwide. Evidence of pathological BPH can be found in over 80% of autopsies conducted in men over 70 years of age; around 40% of men aged 50-64 years have symptoms compatible with the disease. Population studies suggest that over 50% of people aged 65-74 years may be hypertensive, and that cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death worldwide. The continued ageing of the population means that more people are living to older ages; life expectancy for men is likely to exceed 80 years by the end of this century in some developed countries. While BPH and hypertension are apparently diverse disease processes, they have some features in common (e.g. underlying aetiology of the sympathetic nervous system). However, little else is known about any associations between the two or the frequency of concomitant disease. There are clearly opportunities for further epidemiologic studies and the development of preventive strategies aimed at the early detection and treatment of concomitant BPH and hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Italian study on the chemoprevention of breast cancer with tamoxifen].

There is currently a large breast cancer chemoprevention trial in Italy. The trial is based on the use of the antioestrogen tamoxifen, which is one of the most successful and most studied anticancer drugs. There is a strong evidence that this drug can prevent the growing of controlateral cancer in women previously operated for breast cancer. The chemoprevention trial using tamoxifen includes healthy women, aged 35 to 70 and hysterectomised. The participants are taking either 20 mg/day of tamoxifen or placebo for 5 years, in double blind; then they are followed-up clinically and instrumentally every 6 months for the further 5 years. The main end-point of the study is to verify the reduction of incidence and mortality from breast cancer. It was decided to recruit only hysterectomised women on the consideration that, according to some studies, tamoxifen could give an additional risk of endometrial cancer: the Italian study was especially designed with the intention of avoiding this unjustified risk.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Dietary fat, olive oil intake and breast cancer risk.

As part of a population-based case-control study on diet and breast cancer in Spain, the role of dietary fat and vegetable oils in breast cancer etiology was examined. A validated, semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire was completed by 762 women, 18-75 years of age, with histologically confirmed, newly diagnosed breast cancer, and 988 randomly selected female controls. For each food item and nutrient, the study subjects were divided into quartiles according to intake levels, with the lowest quartile serving as the reference category. Adjustment for total energy intake and other potential confounders was made using multiple logistic regression for all women as well as separately for pre- and post-menopausal women. Neither total fat intake nor specific types of fat were significantly associated with breast cancer in pre- or post-menopausal women. However, higher consumption of olive oil (rich in monounsaturated fat) was significantly related to a lower risk of breast cancer [for highest vs. lowest quartile of consumption, odds ratio (OR) = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.46-0.97] with a significant dose-response trend. While these findings do not support a relation between total fat intake and breast cancer risk, they do provide evidence for an inverse association between olive oil (and suggest one between monounsaturated fat) and risk of breast cancer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Time trend and the age-period-cohort effect on the incidence of histologic types of lung cancer in Connecticut, 1960-1989.

BACKGROUND: Recent epidemiologic studies have suggested changing patterns of lung cancer incidence by histologic type. The observed time trends have been attributed to a change in the rate of cigarette smoking, changes in exposure to new environmental carcinogens, and changes in the criteria for the histopathologic diagnosis of lung cancer. The current study was designed to examine the incidence patterns of lung cancer by histologic type in Connecticut and to use this information to project the future trend of the disease in this population. METHODS: This study was based on all the lung cancer cases reported to the Connecticut Tumor Registry between 1960 and 1989. On the basis of this data set, crude and age-adjusted incidence rates of lung cancer were calculated by histologic type for each sex. The age-specific incidence rates are presented by calendar year and cohort year of birth. A regression model was used to identify birth cohort, period, and age as determinants of the observed time trends. RESULTS: For the overall age-adjusted incidence rates, squamous cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma have stabilized in men, whereas they are still increasing in women. The incidence of adenocarcinoma has been increasing in both men and women, but there has been a much sharper incidence among females since the mid-1970s. An examination of age-specific incidence rates by birth cohort and the results from age-period-cohort modeling indicate that incidences of all three major histologic types of lung cancer in the recent birth cohorts either have started decreasing (squamous cell carcinoma) or shown a clear reduction in the rate of increase (adenocarcinoma and small cell carcinoma). This study, however, did not indicate an increase of bronchoalveolar lung carcinoma, which was reported by other clinically based studies. CONCLUSION: While the overall age-adjusted incidence rates showed different incidence patterns for different histologic types of lung cancer, a decreasing or stabilized rate for all three major histologic types of lung cancer was observed in recent birth cohorts in both males and females. The observed incidence pattern is consistent with smoking trends over time including changes in smoking prevalence and the consumption of low tar and filter cigarettes. It is expected that if the current trend in tobacco smoking continues and if there are no major changes in other risk factors for lung cancer, a forthcoming stabilization or decrease in the rate of lung cancer incidence for all major histologic types (including adenocarcinoma) in both sexes in Connecticut could be anticipated.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1994

Mothers' active and passive smoking during pregnancy and risk of brain tumours in children.

As part of a collaborative study of risk factors for childhood brain tumours, the effects of the mother's smoking and her potential for passive smoking exposure during the pregnancy were assessed in a case-control study. Parents of 91 cases and 321 population controls from Northern Italy, matched for age, sex and residence, were interviewed about their lifetime smoking habits. Mother's smoking during pregnancy was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.7 (95% CI 0.8, 3.8) of brain tumour in her child although this was not statistically significant. Among non-smoking mothers, the risk for light and heavy exposure to passive smoking was 1.7 (0.8, 3.6) and 2.2 (1.1, 4.5) respectively, and a statistically significant dose-response relationship was found (p trend = 0.02). These results must be interpreted within the constraints of the relatively small sample size and the likely misclassification produced by the difference between the potential for exposure to passive smoke and the true exposure. However, they add another piece of information to the growing body of evidence available about the health consequences both of active and of passive smoking and highlight the need for more information about this putative association.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Antenatal risk factors for malignant brain tumours in New South Wales children.

A population-based case-control study of incident primary malignant brain tumours diagnosed during 1985 to 1989 in children aged 0 to 14 years was carried out in the coastal conurbation of New South Wales comprising Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle in the period 1988 to 1990. Personal interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire with mothers of 82 cases and 164 control children individually matched to the cases by sex and age. Among the hypotheses being examined were those related to exposure to parental tobacco smoke, N-nitroso compounds and possible protection from sources of vitamin C. No link was found with tobacco smoking by the mother before or during pregnancy. While exposure during pregnancy of the mother to tobacco smoke of the father appeared to double the risk of childhood brain tumours and a similar risk was found for father (but not mother) smoking before the index pregnancy, there was no "dose-response" and the increased risk was confined to data supplied by the mother (rather than the father himself). The risk of childhood brain tumours rose with reported increasing consumption, during pregnancy, of cured meats, which have high levels of N-nitroso compounds (or their precursors), and fell with rising consumption of vegetables. No association was found between the risk of childhood brain tumours and family history of epilepsy, cancer, or tumours of the nervous system, parental irradiation, previous miscarriage or procedures carried out during pregnancy, maternal consumption of antihistamines, barbiturates or diuretics, or maternal contact with cats or farm-life during pregnancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Perinatal and early postnatal risk factors for malignant brain tumours in New South Wales children.

A population-based case-control study of incident primary malignant brain tumours diagnosed during 1985-1989 in children aged 0 to 14 years was carried out in the coastal conurbation of New South Wales comprising Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle in the period 1988 to 1990. Personal interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire with mothers of 82 cases and 164 control children individually matched to the cases by sex and age. Among the hypotheses examined were those related to: N-nitroso compounds (sources included diet, dummies, medications, tobacco smoke); factors associated with the birth of the child; trauma to the head; and irradiation (X-rays and electromagnetic radiation through electric blankets or water beds). Reported ever-use of a dummy increased the risk of childhood brain tumours (OR = 2.9, 95% CI 1.6 to 5.4), although there did not appear to be any consistent indication of rising risk with reported increased levels of use. Compared with children who had never used a dummy, categories of use during the first year of life of a maximum of "no more than 1 hour per day or night", "several hours per day or night", and "most of the day or night" had statistically significant odds ratios of 2.6, 3.4, and 2.7 respectively. Consumption of fruit by the child before the age of one appeared to be protective. No association was found between childhood brain tumours and birth weight, being the first-born child, or factors linked with the child's birth; head injuries; exposure to X-rays; contact with horses, or living on a farm; pesticide treatment of the house during the child's lifetime; or exposure to burning incense.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Trends in cancer mortality in the USSR, 1965-1990.

Trends in age-specific and age-standardized mortality from 10 major cancer sites and total cancer mortality in the USSR were analyzed for the period 1965-1990, on the basis of the World Health Organization mortality database. Gastric cancer mortality declined substantially. Still, these rates were among the highest registered in the world, and in 1990 stomach cancer accounted for over 85,000 deaths, being the second cause of cancer death (and the first one until 1980); further, there was some indication of a levelling of the declines in gastric-cancer rates for both sexes over most recent calendar years. Likewise, uterine-cancer mortality declined between 1965 and 1985, but there was no further decline over the last 5 years. Upward trends were registered for cancers of the intestine, of the breast and of the prostate. Mortality from these neoplasms, however, was still comparatively low by worldwide standards. Leukaemia rates were stable in both sexes. Substantial rises were observed for cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx, larynx and, chiefly, lung. Even more unfavourable was lung-cancer mortality in young and middle-aged males, since the truncated rate of 121/100,000 in 1990 was higher than the values reached by countries like England and Wales or Finland even at the top of their epidemic in the 1960s, and trends in the USSR were still upwards. Thus, total cancer mortality was 176/100,000 males in 1965, declined to 170 in 1970, but increased thereafter, particularly over the last decade, to reach 203/100,000, i.e., one of the highest rates on a worldwide scale. Among females, the overall cancer mortality rate declined between 1965 and 1975, but rose thereafter to a value intermediate on a worldwide scale. These recent unfavourable trends of cancer mortality in the USSR indicate that, in the absence of adequate intervention, particularly on the tobacco-related cancer epidemic, overall cancer mortality will continue to rise in the foreseeable future.

Adult↗