Gallbladder Cancer Incidence Among American Indians and Alaska Natives, US, 1999–2004

BACKGROUND. Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is rare; however, it disproportionately affects the American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) population. The purpose of the study was to characterize GBC among AI/AN in the US population. METHODS. Cases of GBC diagnosed between 1999 and 2004 and collected by state-based cancer registries were included. Registry records were linked with Indian Health Service (IHS) administration records to decrease race misclassification of AI/AN. GBC rates and/or percent distributions for AI/AN and non-Hispanic whites (NHW) were calculated by sex, IHS region, age, and stage for all US counties and IHS Contract Health Service Delivery Area (CHSDA) counties, in which approximately 56% of US AI/AN individuals reside. RESULTS. In CHSDA counties, the GBC incidence rate among AI/AN was 3.3 per 100,000, which was significantly higher than that among NHW (P \u3c .05). Rates varied widely among IHS regions and ranged from 1.5 in the East to 5.5 in Alaska. Rates were higher among AI/AN females than males in all regions, except the Northern Plains. Higher percentages of GBC were diagnosed among AI/AN aged CONCLUSIONS. To the authors’ knowledge to date, this is the most comprehensive study of GBC incidence among AI/AN in the US. The accurate characterization of GBC in this population could help inform the development of interventions aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality from this diseas

The role of the pathologist in tissue banking: European Consensus Expert Group Report

Human tissue biobanking encompasses a wide range of activities and study designs and is critical for application of a wide range of new technologies (-“omics”) to the discovery of molecular patterns of disease and for implementation of novel biomarkers into clinical trials. Pathology is the cornerstone of hospital-based tissue biobanking. Pathologists not only provide essential information identifying the specimen but also make decisions on what should be biobanked, making sure that the timing of all operations is consistent with both the requirements of clinical diagnosis and the optimal preservation of biological products. This document summarizes the conclusions of a Pathology Expert Group Meeting within the European Biological and Biomolecular Research Infrastructure (BBMRI) Program. These recommendations are aimed at providing guidance for pathologists as well as for institutions hosting biobanks on how to better integrate and support pathological activities within the framework of biobanks that fulfill international standards

History of acute knee injury and osteoarthritis of the knee: a prospective epidemiological assessment The Clearwater Osteoarthritis Study

AbstractObjective To evaluate the association between acute joint injury to the knee and knee osteoarthritis (OA).Design Prospective cohort. Sample size=1,436. Men and women aged 40 years and older participating in the population-based Clearwater Osteoarthritis Study (1988–current) with biennial physical exams including serial radiographs. Radiologically confirmed knee OA=27%; self-reported knee injury=11%. Lawrence and Kellgren ordinal scale was used to determine radiological evidence of the study outcome, knee OA. Self-reported history of knee injury was used to determine the study exposure.ResultsIndividuals with a history of knee injury were 7.4 (95% C.I. 5.9–9.4) times as likely to develop knee OA than were those individuals who did not have a history of knee injury.Conclusion Acute knee joint injury appears to be a risk factor for the development of knee OA. Prevention strategies for OA should be targeted to those individuals with a history of acute knee injury. Copyright 2002 OsteoArthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS AND RADIOGRAPHIC KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS: THE CLEARWATER OSTEOARTHRITIS STUDY

Objective: To evaluate the association between vitamin supplements and the incidence and progression of radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA). Study Design: Prospective cohort. Methods: Men and women aged 40 years and older (N = 2239) participating in the community-based Clearwater Osteoarthritis Study (1988–current) with biennial, sequential radiographs. The Lawrence &amp; Kellgren ordinal scale was used to determine evidence of the study outcome, radiographic knee OA, and progression of radiographic knee OA. The study exposure was baseline history of self-reported vitamin supplement usage. Results: Individuals without baseline knee OA who self-reported vitamin supplement usage were 12% less likely to develop knee OA than were those individuals who self-reported no vitamin supplement usage (RR = 0.88; 95% C.I. 0.86–0.89). Those with baseline knee OA who self-reported vitamin supplement usage were 7% less likely to experience knee OA progression than were those individuals who self-reported no vitamin supplement usage (RR = 0.93; 95% C.I. 0.87–0.99). Conclusion: After consideration of BMI, gender, age, history of knee trauma, exercise and vitamin supplement usage prior to study baseline, these findings suggest that vitamin supplement usage may play a protective role in knee OA. Vitamin supplements may be a cost-effective strategy to reduce the incidence and/or slow the progression of knee OA. As many approved OA drugs are accompanied by adverse side effects, the role of vitamin supplements in the development and progression of knee OA warrants further investigation. </jats:p

The 50 most frequent diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), diagnoses, and procedures : statistics by hospital size and location /

"September 1990"--P. ii.At head of title: AHCPR Division of Provider Studies.Includes bibliographical references (p. 109).Mode of access: Internet