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- Lambe, Mats, et al.
(author)
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Ethnic differences in breast cancer risk : a possible role for pregnancylevels of alpha-fetoprotein?
- 2003
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In: Epidemiology. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1044-3983 .- 1531-5487. ; 14:1, s. 85-89
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Breast cancer incidence rates are up to five times higher in white women in the United States compared with Asian women in China and Japan. A search for factors that modify estrogen's biological effect differentially between ethnic groups may add to the understanding of international variations in breast cancer risk. Recent evidence indicates that alpha-fetoprotein, a glycoprotein produced by the fetal liver, has important antiestrogenic properties. During pregnancy, alpha-fetoprotein reaches peak concentrations in maternal serum during the third trimester. METHODS: We compared pregnancy levels of alpha-fetoprotein in a population with high risk of breast cancer (Boston, MA) and low risk (Shanghai, China). Blood samples were collected around the 16th week and around the 27th week of gestation among women enrolled from March 1994 to October 1995. The number of specimens available for alpha-fetoprotein analysis was 1,033. RESULTS: Alpha-fetoprotein levels, adjusted for gestational length, were substantially higher in Shanghai compared with Boston women at both time points. When adjustments were made for prepregnancy weight, parity, offspring's sex and maternal age, alpha-fetoprotein levels remained 13% higher in Shanghai at 16 weeks of pregnancy but not at 27 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may explain, at least in part, the difference in breast cancer risk between Chinese and American women. On the population level, alpha-fetoprotein may influence risk by modifying the effect of biologically active estrogens both in the mother and in female offspring.
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- Mantzoros, Christos, et al.
(author)
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Serum adiponectin concentrations in relation to maternal and perinatal characteristics in newborns.
- 2004
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In: European Journal of Endocrinology. - 0804-4643 .- 1479-683X. ; 151:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To assess serum adiponectin levels of neonates in relation to ponderal index and birth length with and without adjustment for potential confounding factors including maternal factors and perinatal characteristics.DESIGN: A cross-sectional study.METHODS: Three hundred and three newborns (Caucasian, singleton, full term, with a birth weight of > or =2500 g, and apparently healthy) were included in the study. Blood samples were collected from the newborns no later than the fifth day of life for measurements of adiponectin and major IGF system components (IGF-I, IGF-II, IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3)). The data were analyzed using simple and multiple regression analyses.RESULTS: Adiponectin is substantially higher in neonates than in adults, with no evidence of the gender dimorphism observed among adults. We found an inverse association between neonatal adiponectin levels and newborn ponderal index and a positive association with newborn length by univariate analysis. We also found a statistically significant inverse association of adiponectin with jaundice/bilirubin, and a marginally significant positive association of this hormone with IGFBP-3 but no significant association with any maternal factors. In multivariate analysis, the inverse association between serum adiponectin and ponderal index does not remain significant after adjustment for potential confounding factors. In contrast, neonatal adiponectin levels correlate inversely significantly and independently with liver maturity and IGF-II and tend to remain positively associated with IGFBP-3 and increased birth length.CONCLUSIONS: An inverse association of adiponectin with ponderal index by univariate analysis is not independent from confounding factors. In contrast, the positive association between serum adiponectin and birth length may reflect either a direct effect of adiponectin or an adiponectin-mediated increase in the sensitivity of tissues to insulin and components of the IGF system, and needs to be explored further.
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- Petridou, Eleni, et al.
(author)
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A role of sunshine in the triggering of suicide.
- 2002
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In: Epidemiology. - 1044-3983 .- 1531-5487. ; 13:1, s. 106-9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Several reports indicate that suicide follows a seasonal pattern with a dominant peak during the month of maximum daylight. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that sunshine exposure may trigger suicidal behavior. We found a remarkably consistent pattern of seasonality with peak incidence around June in the northern hemisphere and December in the southern hemisphere. Moreover, there was a positive association between the seasonal amplitude of suicide (measured by relative risk) and total sunshine in the corresponding country. These findings indicate that sunshine may have a triggering effect on suicide, and suggests further research in the field of sunshine-regulated hormones, particularly melatonin.
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- Skalkidou, Alkistis, et al.
(author)
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Determinants and consequences of major insulin-like growth factor components among full-term healthy neonates.
- 2003
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In: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. - 1055-9965 .- 1538-7755. ; 12:9, s. 860-5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of this research was to investigate determinants of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system among healthy full-term newborns and explore their relation with anthropometric variables at birth. Components of the IGF system have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several forms of cancer, and perinatal events have been linked to chronic diseases in later life. Measurements of weight and length, as well as blood samples, were obtained from 331 healthy full-term newborns delivered during 1999 in Athens, Greece. Because the liver is important for IGF production, newborns were chosen to have bilirubin levels either < or = 8 mg/dl or > or = 12 mg/dl to operationally distinguish them according to the liver function. IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGF binding protein-3 were inversely associated with the presence of neonatal jaundice and blood creatinine, after controlling for blood protein levels. IGF-I increased rapidly and significantly over a period of a few days and was strongly positively associated with both birth weight and ponderal index. Newborn levels of IGF-I declined with maternal age. In comparison with first-born newborns, later-born ones had significantly higher blood IGF-I levels. We conclude that IGF-I plays a dominant role in growth during the perinatal period and that all three studied components of the IGF system are sensitive to liver and kidney function. These findings provide an insight into the processes involved in perinatal growth.
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