| 1. |
- Glimskär Stålberg, Karin, 1971-
(författare)
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Prenatal Ultrasound and X-ray - Potentially Adverse Effects on the CNS
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aim with this thesis was to assess the impact of prenatal ultrasound exposure on psychotic illness, childhood brain tumors (CBT) and school achievement, and to evaluate prenatal X-ray exposure and the risk of CBT.In a cohort study, children born in Malmö 1973-1978, where prenatal ultrasound was used routinely, were considered exposed (n=13, 212) and children born at hospitals with no use of ultrasound, were considered unexposed (n=357,733). Exposed men had a tendency toward a higher risk of schizophrenia. For other psychoses there were no differences between groups. Other factors related to place of birth might have influenced the results. In a case control study, children born 1975-1984 with a diagnosis of CBT (n=512), and randomly selected control children (n=524) were included. Exposure data on X-ray and ultrasound from antenatal records was completed with information from the Medical Birth Register. We found no overall increased risk for CBT after prenatal X-ray exposure. When stratifying by histological subgroups, primitive neuroectodermal tumors had the highest risk estimates. For ultrasound exposure, no increased risk for CBT was seen and numbers of examinations or gestational age at exposure had no substantial impact on the results. In a follow-up of a randomized trial on prenatal ultrasound scanning 1985-87, we assessed the children’s school grades when graduating from primary school (15-16 years of age). We performed analyses according to randomization, ultrasound exposure in the second trimester and exposure at any time during pregnancy. There were no differences in school performance for boys or girls according to randomization or exposure in the second trimester. Boys exposed to ultrasound any time during fetal life had a reduced mean score in physical education and small, non-significant increased risk of poor school performance in general.
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| 2. |
- Papadopoulos, Fotios C., et al.
(författare)
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Doping use among tertiary education students in six developed countries
- 2006
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Ingår i: European Journal of Epidemiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0393-2990 .- 1573-7284. ; 21:4, s. 307-313
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Data on doping among young non-professional athletes are scarce. In order to estimate the prevalence and predictors of doping use, a standardized, anonymous questionnaire was self-administered by 2650 tertiary education students from five European Union countries (Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy) and Israel. The reported usage rate of a doping agent (at least once) was 2.6%, with no significant variation in the frequency of doping reporting among the participating countries. Doping was, however, less common among students of biomedical schools (OR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.27-0.89) and was higher among males (OR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.25-3.74). Students, who use to drink coffee or recall frequent occasions of involvement in drunkenness episodes, were more likely (twice and three times, respectively) to report doping, and students using nutritional supplements or having participated in a major athletic event were more likely (four times and twice, respectively) to report doping in comparison with students who do not. Of note is the high odds ratio for reporting individual doping when having a friend who uses doping (OR: 8.61, 95% CI: 4.49-16.53). Given the large size of the physically active young individuals in the population and the small number of professional athletes, doping in the general population may be, in absolute terms, as sizeable problem as it is among the professional athletes. There was evidence that high-risk behaviour and supplement use increased the risk of doping.
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| 3. |
- Papadopoulos, Fotios C., et al.
(författare)
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Preventing suicide and homicide in the United States : the potential benefit in human lives
- 2009
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Ingår i: Psychiatry Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0165-1781 .- 1872-7123. ; 169:2, s. 154-158
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In order to assess the potential benefit in human lives if all geographical regions in the US (Northeast, South, Midwest, and West) achieved the lowest suicide and homicide rates observed within these regions, age-, race- and gender-adjusted suicide and homicide rates for each of the four regions were calculated based on data retrieved using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention database for 1999-2004. Data on known risk factors were retrieved from online sources. Overall suicide rates (10.42 per 100,000) exceeded homicide rates (6.97 per 100,000). Almost 27% (12,942 lives per year) of the 288,222 suicide and homicide deaths during the study period might have been avoided if all US regions achieved the mortality rate reported by the Northeast. A firearm was used in 55% of all suicides and 66% of all homicides. In the total estimate of avoidable deaths, firearm suicides (90%) and firearm homicides (75%) were overrepresented. The Northeast had the lowest access to firearms (20%) contrasted to almost double in the other regions, whereas greater firearms availability was related to unrestricted firearm legislation. Measures to restrict firearms availability should be highly prioritized in the public health agenda in order to achieve an impressive benefit in human lives.
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| 4. |
- Papadopoulos, Fotios, 1976-, et al.
(författare)
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Exploring lag and duration effect of sunshine in triggering suicide
- 2005
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Ingår i: Journal of Affective Disorders. - : Elsevier BV. - 0165-0327 .- 1573-2517. ; 88:3, s. 287-297
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND:Sunshine is considered to have a beneficial impact on mood. Interestingly, it has been consistently found that the incidence of suicide reaches a peak during early summer.METHODS: In order to explore the pattern of sunshine and suicide risk in a time frame of up to nine days and investigate possible lag and duration parameters of sunshine in the triggering of suicide, Greek daily suicide and solar radiance data were analyzed for a 10-year period using logistic regression models.RESULTS:The solar radiance during the day before the suicide event was significantly associated with an increased suicide risk (OR=1.020 per MW/m2). The average solar radiance during the four previous days was also significantly associated with an increased suicide risk (OR=1.031 per MW/m2). Differences among genders include the longer sunshine exposure needed in males to trigger suicide, compared to females and a lag period of three to four days that was found to lapse in females till the suicide. The increase in suicide risk in June compared to December, attributable to the daily sunshine effect, varies from 52% to 88%, thus explaining the already known suicide monthly seasonality.LIMITATIONS:No individual data on solar radiance exposure, mental disorders, alcohol consumption or suicide method were available.CONCLUSION:The effect of sunshine in the triggering of suicide may be mediated through a mechanism with a specific lag and duration effect, during the nine days preceding suicide. We hypothesize that sunshine acts as a natural antidepressant which first improves motivation, then only later improves mood, thereby creating a potential short-term increased risk of suicide initially upon its application.
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| 5. |
- Petridou, Eleni, et al.
(författare)
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Neonatal leptin levels are strongly associated with female gender, birth length, IGF-I levels and formula feeding.
- 2005
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Ingår i: Clinical Endocrinology. - : Wiley. - 0300-0664 .- 1365-2265. ; 62:3, s. 366-71
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To investigate predictors of circulating leptin in healthy full-term newborns and to explore the relationship with anthropometric variables, serum levels of adiponectin and the major components of the IGF system at birth. To explore whether leptin levels are regulated by breastfeeding vs. formula feeding.DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study.PATIENTS: Three hundred and nineteen healthy full-term newborns delivered during 1999 in Athens, Greece.MEASUREMENTS: Anthropometric measurements, formula feeding information and blood samples were obtained. Leptin and adiponectin determinations were performed using a radioimmunoassay (RIA).RESULTS: Multivariate regression analyses showed that leptin levels were positively associated with female gender, newborn length, ponderal index and IGF-I levels, but not with adiponectin levels. Newborns who were fed exclusively with milk formulas had more than twice the leptin levels of those who were exclusively breastfed.CONCLUSIONS: Leptin levels are positively related to female gender and anthropometric characteristics of neonates but, contrary to studies in adults, are not correlated with adiponectin levels. We also found evidence that formula feeding imparts a considerable increase in leptin levels in newborns.
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| 6. |
- Petridou, Eleni T., et al.
(författare)
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Circulating adiponectin levels and expression of adiponectin receptors in relation to lung cancer : two case-control studies
- 2007
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Ingår i: Oncology. - : S. Karger AG. - 0030-2414 .- 1423-0232. ; 73:3-4, s. 261-269
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Decreased circulating levels of adiponectin, an adipocyte-secreted hormone and endogenous insulin sensitizer, have been associated with several obesity-related malignancies. Thiazolidinedione administration, which increases adiponectin levels, decreases risk for lung cancer. Whether circulating adiponectin levels are associated with lung cancer and/or whether adiponectin receptors are expressed in lung cancer remains unknown. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study of 85 patients with incidental, histologically confirmed lung cancer and 170 healthy controls matched by gender and age. In a separate study, archival lung specimens from 134 cancerous and 8 noncancerous tissues were examined for relative expression of adiponectin receptors AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Tobacco smoking, heavy alcohol intake and education were all associated with lung cancer risk, whereas serum adiponectin levels were not significantly different between cases and controls (multiple logistic regression, odds ratio per SD of adiponectin among controls: 1.13, 95% confidence interval: 0.64-2.02). Adiponectin levels were significantly lower (odds ratio: 0.25, 95% confidence interval: 0.10-0.78) among patients with advanced compared to those with limited disease stage. Expression of adiponectin receptors was apparent only in the cancerous lung tissue (64.2% AdipoR1 and 61.9% AdipoR2 in cancerous vs. 0% among noncancerous tissue). Specifically, AdipoR1 was expressed in all disease types, but no difference was noted with disease stage, whereas AdipoR2 was mainly expressed in the non-small cell carcinomas and more prominently in the advanced disease stage (80%). CONCLUSIONS: Circulating adiponectin levels are not different in cases of this malignancy - which seems to be unrelated to obesity and insulin resistance - compared to their healthy controls, though hormonal levels were significantly lower in advanced versus limited lung cancer. Both adiponectin receptors were expressed in cancerous lung tissue, but not in normal control tissue and there was a differential expression by disease stage. These findings should be further explored, especially in the context of the recently reported protective effect of thiazolidinediones in diabetic patients with lung cancer.
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| 7. |
- Petridou, Eleni Th., et al.
(författare)
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Sun exposure, birth weight, and childhood lymphomas : A case control study in Greece
- 2007
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Ingår i: Cancer Causes and Control. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0957-5243 .- 1573-7225. ; 18:9, s. 1031-1037
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives To explore whether the inverse association of sun exposure with non Hodgkin lymphoma among adults is also evident among the childhood population and test the specificity of the relation by contrasting the findings to those for Hodgkin lymphoma. Methods A total of 87 cases of childhood (0–14 years) with non Hodgkin lymphoma and 71 with Hodgkin lymphoma, diagnosed in Greece through the national network of childhood Hematology-Oncology Units, during a 7-year period, along with 164 age- and gender-matched control children were enrolled in the study. The guardians of all eligible children were interviewed in person on the basis of a structured questionnaire covering socio-demographic, anthropometric, and perinatal characteristics. Average time of sunbathing per year at a seaside resort was used as a proxy variable of exposure to sun controlling for use of sun protection measures. Results The estimated incidence of 10.2 cases per 1,000,000 children-years {95% Confidence Intervals (CI), 8.4–12.1} for NHL during the study period in Greece is around the average figure in countries of the European Union. There was an inverse association of sun exposure with Non Hodgkin lymphoma, namely, for an increment of 15 days of sunbathing at seaside resorts children had almost 40% lower risk (Odds Ratio: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.43–0.83), whereas no such association was evident for Hodgkin lymphoma. The risk for non Hodgkin lymphoma has been found to be statistically and significantly higher in birth weight (Odds ratio: 1.42 and 95% CI, 1.04–1.92, for every 500 g increment), whereas there was no substantial indication that maternal education or maternal smoking during the child’s life were important risk factors for the disease. Conclusions This is the first study to provide epidemiological evidence that increased sun exposure of children may also be associated with a decreased risk of developing childhood non Hodgkin, but not Hodgkin lymphoma.
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| 8. |
- Spyridopoulos, Themistoklis N., et al.
(författare)
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Inverse association of leptin levels with renal cell carcinoma : results from a case-control study
- 2009
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Ingår i: Hormones (Athens, Greece). - 1109-3099. ; 8:1, s. 39-46
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Leptin is primarily produced in adipose tissue and appears to play a modulatory role between metabolism and immunity. Given that obesity, a state of chronic inflammation, is an established risk factor for Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC), we investigated the association between plasma leptin levels and RCC risk. DESIGN: This case-control study included 70 patients with newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed RCC and 280 age-, gender- and district of residence-matched controls. Anthropometric data, socio-demographic variables, medical history, lifestyle habits and dietary data were derived from a personal interview. Serum leptin and adiponectin levels were determined using standard commercial kits. Adjusted odds ratios for RCC risk were derived through multiple logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Leptin levels were inversely associated with RCC risk (OR: 0.53, CI: 0.28- 0.99, p = 0.05), even after controlling for potential confounding factors, such as Body Mass Index (BMI), recent weight change, history of diabetes mellitus and other obesity related hormones, notably adiponectin. CONCLUSIONS: The precise mechanism linking obesity with RCC remains unclear; however, the inverse association of leptin with RCC might be attributed, at least in part, to hormonal cross-talk with complex neuron-endocrine and immune circuits. These findings, if confirmed in prospective and interventional studies, might further elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
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| 9. |
- Spyridopoulos, Themistoklis N., et al.
(författare)
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Low adiponectin levels are associated with renal cell carcinoma : A case-control study
- 2007
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cancer. - : Wiley. - 0020-7136 .- 1097-0215. ; 120:7, s. 1573-1578
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Adiponectin is a novel endogenous insulin sensitizer, secreted by mature adipocytes. Circulating levels of adiponectin are inversely associated with obesity and insulin resistance. Because obesity is a risk factor for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), we hypothesized that low adiponectin levels are associated with RCC. To evaluate this hypothesis, we conducted a case- control study of 70 patients with histologically confirmed RCC and 280 healthy controls matched by gender, age and county of residence. Study subjects were interviewed and blood samples were collected during a 32-month period in Athens, Greece. Serum adiponectin levels were statistically, significantly and inversely associated with RCC when compared with controls (OR = 0.76, p = 0.05) and this association remained practically unchanged after controlling for BMI; the introduction of waist to hip ratio along with adiponectin in the multiple logistic regression analysis model rendered the association between adiponectin and RCC risk insignificant, indicating that altered levels of adiponectin may mediate the effect of central or intra-abdominal obesity on RCC. Prospective studies as well as studies exploring underlying mechanisms are needed to fully explore the role of adiponectin in predicting future risk of RCC in humans.
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