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Biomedical subjects

S Franceschi

Publications and source records attributed to S Franceschi.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Oesophageal cancer in women: tobacco, alcohol, nutritional and hormonal factors.

We analysed 3 case-control studies from Italy and Switzerland including 114 women with squamous cell oesophageal cancer and 425 controls. The multivariate odds ratio was 4.5 for heavy smoking and 5.4 for heavy alcohol drinking. Fruit intake, vegetable intake, oral contraceptive and HRT use were inversely related to oesophageal cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma among young adults with and without AIDS in Italy.

To compare the presentation and prognosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in people with AIDS (PWA) and in the general Italian population, a record linkage study was carried out. The fraction of NHLs attributable to HIV/AIDS was also estimated. Information from the National AIDS Registry (RAIDS) was linked with records from 13 cancer registries (CR), covering about 15% of the Italian population. During the period 1985--94, among PWA ages 15--49, 136 NHLs were identified (8% of all NHLs) and were compared with 1,481 concurrent incident NHL cases of the same age group among non-PWA. Percentages above 13% of all NHLs were registered in the northern areas of Genoa and Varese, i.e., the most heavily affected by the AIDS epidemic. Between 1 year prior to and 3.5 years after AIDS diagnosis, PWA showed an overall standardised incidence ratio (SIR) for NHL of 302. SIR was particularly high (394) within 3 months after AIDS diagnosis and subsequently declined to 170. SIR was somewhat higher in females (428) than in males (280) but similar among intravenous-drug users (299) and other HIV-transmission groups (309). High-grade NHL, particularly immunoblastic and Burkitt's lymphoma, were twice as frequent among PWA than non-PWA. Conversely, low-grade NHL were less frequent. Except for the high proportion of brain localisation, no clear difference emerged in the pattern of NHL presentation site in PWA compared with non-PWA. At variance with NHL in the general population, among PWA histological grade had little impact on survival, which overall appeared to be very poor (2-year survival: 10%; 95% confidence interval: 3%--17%). Our present linkage of RAIDS and CRs represents an efficient tool for the surveillance of trends in incidence and survival of NHL among PWA in Italy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Risk factors for cancer of the oral cavity and oro-pharynx in Cuba.

In terms of worldwide levels, Cuba has an intermediate incidence of cancer of the oral cavity and oro-pharynx. We studied 200 cases of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx, of whom 57 women (median age = 64) and 200 hospital controls, frequency matched with cases by age and sex, in relation to smoking and drinking history, intake of 25 foods or food groups, indicators of oral hygiene and sexual activity, and history of sexually transmitted diseases. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were obtained from unconditional multiple logistic regressions and adjusted for age, sex, area of residence, education, and smoking and drinking habits. In the multivariate model, high educational level and white-collar occupation, but not white race, were associated with halving of oral cancer risk. Smoking > or =30 cigarettes per day showed an OR of 20.8 (95% CI: 8.9-48.3), similar to smoking > or =4 cigars daily (OR = 20.5). Drinking > or = 70 alcoholic drinks per week showed an OR of 5.7 (95% CI: 1.8-18.5). Hard liquors were by far the largest source of alcohol. Increased risk was associated with the highest tertile of intake for maize (OR = 1.9), meat (OR = 2.2) and ham and salami (OR = 2.0), whereas high fruit intake was associated with significantly decreased risk (OR = 0.4). Among indicators of dental care, number of missing teeth and poor general oral condition at oral inspection showed ORs of 2.7 and 2.6, respectively. Number of sexual partners, marriages or contacts with prostitutes, practice of oral sex and history of various sexually transmitted diseases, including genital warts, were not associated with oral cancer risk. 82% of oral cancer cases in Cuba were attributable to tobacco smoking, 19% to smoking cigars or pipe only. The fractions attributable to alcohol drinking (7%) and low fruit intake (11%) were more modest. Thus, decreases in cigarette and cigar smoking are at present the key to oral cancer prevention in Cuba.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Calcium, dairy products, and the risk of prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Calcium intake has been suggested to play a role in the etiology of prostate cancer, since it is inversely related to vitamin D levels, which, in turn, would have an antiproliferative effect on human cancer cell lines. The hypothesis that high calcium and low vitamin D levels are associated with prostate cancer risk, however, remains unconvincingly demonstrated. METHODS: This relation was investigated in a case-control study of prostate cancer conducted in Northern Italy between 1985 and 1992 on 288 cases and 762 controls admitted to hospital for acute non-neoplastic diseases. RESULTS: No significant relation was found for calcium intake: compared to the lowest quintile of intake, the multivariate odds ratios (OR) of prostatic cancer, after adjusting for age, study center, education, body mass index, and meat intake, for increasing intake quintiles were 1.21, 0.68, 0.64, 1.12, with no trend in risk. The OR was 0.99 for an increment of 500 mg per day of calcium. The risk estimates were consistent in two strata of age (< 65 and > or = 65 years at diagnosis). CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not support an association between calcium and the risk of prostate cancer. However, the present study cannot address the effect of calcium in the ranges where an increased risk of prostate cancer has been noted previously, and with specific reference to advanced disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Reactivity at the interface of chiral amphiphilic dendrimers. High asymmetric reduction by NaBH(4) of various prochiral ketones.

New amphiphilic dendrimers derived from PAMAM and D-gluconolactone were found to induce chirality in the reduction of prochiral ketones by NaBH(4), in heterogeneous (THF) and homogeneous (water) conditions. The third generation of these amphiphilic dendrimers, G(3)G, was found to be a good chiral ligand for the reduction of various prochiral ketones in heterogeneous conditions. Even with substrates well-known to give poor results (especially linear ketones), good enantioselectivities were obtained. It is also important to notice that under heterogeneous conditions (THF) the dendrimer could be recovered by filtration, regenerated, and recycled (up to 10 times), leading to reproducible results in asymmetric reduction of ketones. We have also discussed the reduction of acetophenone in water. Evidence is presented that the selectivity is dominated by the architecture of the dendrimer and some supramolecular ordering in the position of the ketone at the chiral solvating interface. The results obtained showed a correlation between stereoselectivity of the reduction and the compact character of the dendritic particles.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Oral contraceptives and colorectal cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

Several studies have suggested an inverse association between use of combined oral contraceptives (OC) and the risk of colorectal cancer and here we present a meta-analysis of published studies. Articles considered were epidemiological studies published as full papers in English up to June 2000 that included quantitative information on OC use. The pooled relative risks (RR) of colorectal cancer for ever OC use from the 8 case-control studies was 0.81 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.69-0.94), and the pooled estimate from the 4 cohort studies was 0.84 (95% CI: 0.72-0.97). The pooled estimate from all studies combined was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.74-0.92), without apparent heterogeneity. Duration of use was not associated with a decrease in risk, but there was some indication that the apparent protection was stronger for women who had used OCs more recently (RR = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.30-0.71). A better understanding of this potential relation may help informed choice of contraception.

Case-Control Studies↗