Archive for the 'Epidemiological' Category
Studies of the causes, distribution, and control of mesothelioma and asbestos diseases in populations.
March 14th, 2008. Malignant Mesothelioma Resistance to Apoptosis: Recent Discoveries and their Implication for Effective Therapeutic Strategies
The understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible of the malignant mesothelioma resistance to apoptosis is now advancing, allowing developing new therapeutic strategies to change the natural history and improve survival of patients. This review gives an overview of the main anti-apoptotic strategies devised by malignant mesothelioma and the therapeutic implication and opportunities for this cancer.
March 11th, 2008. Malignant mesothelioma in the Veneto Region (north-east of Italy), 1988-2002: incidence, geographical analysis, trends and comparison with mortality
Conclusions: the incidence of MM in the Veneto region appears similar to that of other northern Italian regions (904 new MM cases from 1988 to 2002, 650 among males, 819 pleural; age-standardized annual incidence rates x 100,000 in the period 1988-1999): 1.75 (IC 95% 1.59-1.91) among males, based on 460 cases, and 0.67 (IC 95% 0.57-0.77) among females, based on 196 cases, and displays an increasing trend among both genders. Among males incidence doubles during the study period. High risks are detected among males in a cluster formed by the city of Venice and surrounding municipalities (Standardized Incidence Ratio, SIR, for pleural mesothelioma, 1988-1999, 2.94 (p = 0.001) for the cluster based on 110 observed cases), and, in addition to Venice, in the province of Padua among females (SIR from pleural mesothelioma, 1988-1999, 1.98 (p = 0.001) for the cluster based on 95 observed cases). Mortality from TPP turns out to be higher than incidence and tends to approach incidence in more recent years; this may be explained by the increasing application of diagnostic procedures, inclusive of histopathological tests, among old patients.
February 28th, 2008. Pleural mesothelioma: diagnostic problems and evaluation of prognostic factors
Conclusion: MPM is an increasing disaster in Egypt which is underestimated and neglected. A panel of immunohistochemical markers should be used for proper evaluation. p27 has proven to be a potential biologic prognostic marker for mesothelioma and more studies as regard its significance are recommended on a larger number.
February 26th, 2008. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma tumours. Evolution, treatment, prognosis
The diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma is often delayed, in part because of the usually long latent period (peaking at 40-45 years from the time of initial exposure to asbestos) and because the common presenting symptoms of weight loss, usually with a full abdomen, malaise, and abdominal discomfort, are mild and nonspecific. This paper aim is to present a case report regarding a patient diagnosed with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma with an unpredictable evolution.
February 22nd, 2008. Epidemiology, molecular biology, diagnostic and therapeutic strategy of malignant pleural mesothelioma in 2007 – an update
Antiangiogenic agents such as bevacizumab (Avastatin) may be of interest but need to be tested in phase 3 trials. The Mesothelioma Avastatin Pemetrexed Study (MAPS) is ongoing, coordinated by the French Thoracic Cancer Intergroup (IFCT).
Posted in Angiogenesis, Bevacizumab (Avastatin), Causation, Chemotherapy, CT or CAT scan, Diagnosis & Differentiation, Epidemiological, Extrapleural Pneumonectomy (EPP), Full Archive, General, Immunohistochemistry or IHC, Pemetrexed (Alimta), PET Scan, Pleural, Surgery, thoracoscopy, Treatment, Type of Assessment:, Type of Mesothelioma: | No Comments »
February 19th, 2008. Mesothelin-related predictive and prognostic factors in malignant mesothelioma: A nested case–control study
High age (>65 years) was an independent negative prognostic factor that was related to both mesothelin expression and asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma of the epithelial type of the peritoneum had a significantly longer survival than epithelial type in pleura and was also related to mesothelin expression.
January 22nd, 2008. Risk assessment due to environmental exposures to fibrous particulates associated with taconite ore
77 excess cancer case in 1,000,000 lifetimes. Finally, we briefly review the epidemiology studies of grunerite asbestos (amosite) focusing on the exposure conditions associated with increased risk of human mesothelioma.
January 19th, 2008. Population-based epidemiology and prognosis of mesothelioma in Leeds, United Kingdom
Conclusion: This comprehensive population based audit has shown that the median age at presentation of malignant mesothelioma is increasing and baseline performance status and survival is worse than in selected series. 37% of patients were considered suitable for palliative chemotherapy but less than 20% accepted this offer. Thorascopic pleurodesis appears to be associated with fewer recurrences. The role of prophylactic radiotherapy to chest drain and biopsy sites needs re-appraisal.
January 17th, 2008. Epidemiology of pleural mesothelioma in a population with non-occupational asbestos exposure
Conclusions: Environmental exposure to asbestos begins at birth and this may be important in the age of disease onset, if a threshold model for cancer initiation is operative. Both men and women had an excess risk of mesothelioma. Given that a family history of MPM was not common in this relatively homogenous patient group, a genetic predisposition to mesothelioma appears unlikely.
January 12th, 2008. Twenty-five years of fiber analysis: what have we learned?
The decrease in asbestos body and amosite concentrations over time is consistent with the banning of asbestos from insulation products in 1972. The source for the increased detection of crocidolite was not identified and needs further investigation.
January 4th, 2008. Environmental mesothelioma associated with tremolite asbestos: Lessons from the experiences of Turkey, Greece, Corsica, New Caledonia and Cyprus
It can also elucidate the effects of fibers that behave like amphibole asbestos. However, this type of exposure is not useful for studying the potential effects of small amounts of asbestos in the ambient air of big cities due to the differing nature of the fiber types and modes of exposure between the regions.
January 2nd, 2008. Malignant pleural mesothelioma: interrogations and hopes concerning the expected epidemic
In 2007, a more aggressive therapeutic approach is becoming common practice with the use of radiotherapy and the emergence of the concept of multimodal care centered on wide pleuropneumonectomy. These advances create real hope for improvement, but also many interrogations since no standard treatment protocol has been clearly identified.
Posted in Epidemiological, Extrapleural Pneumonectomy (EPP), Full Archive, General, Pleural, Pneumonectomy, Surgery, Treatment, Trimodality Therapy, Type of Assessment:, Type of Mesothelioma: | No Comments »
December 22nd, 2007. Cancer incidence among women and girls environmentally and occupationally exposed to blue asbestos at Wittenoom, Western Australia
A significant exposure-response relationship was present for mesothelioma, but not for lung cancer. Forty years after the asbestos mine and mill at Wittenoom were closed, there is a high toll from cancer among the former female residents of the town and company workers.
December 20th, 2007. Asbestos related diseases in Italy: an integrated approach to identify unexpected professional or environmental exposure risks at municipal level
Conclusions: Availability long-term national figures and the different etiology of asbestos related diseases are the key features of this exercise that was applied to Italy, but can be replicated wherever registration systems of diseases related to long term exposure to asbestos are available.
December 20th, 2007. Incidence and descriptive epidemiology of mesothelioma in the United States, 1999-2002
4%). Of 40 reporting states, 11 had incidence rates significantly higher than the national rate.
December 17th, 2007. Risk of gastrointestinal cancers from inhalation and ingestion of asbestos
The epidemiological evidence detracts from the hypothesis that occupational asbestos exposure increases the risk of stomach, colorectal, colon, and rectal cancer. Findings are briefly summarized below.
December 17th, 2007. The Burden of Cancer at Work: Estimation as the first step to prevention
Conclusions: Estimates for all but leukaemia are greater than those currently used in UK health and safety strategy planning and contrast with small numbers (200-240 annually) from occupational accidents. Sources of uncertainty in the estimates arise principally from approximate data and methodological issues. On balance, the estimates are likely to be a conservative estimate of the true risk. Long latency means that past high exposures will continue to give substantial numbers in the near future. Although levels of many exposures have reduced, recent measurements of others, such as wood dust and respirable quartz, show continuing high levels.
December 13th, 2007. Fluoro-edenite fibres induce lung cell apoptosis: an in vivo study
The integrity of alveolar epithelium and alveolar apoptosis are critical determinants in the pathways that initiate fibrogenesis in the lung and fibroblastic foci are usually found close to abnormal or denuded alveolar epithelium. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that apoptosis is an important mechanism for removing cells with irreparable fluoro-edenite-induced genetic changes that predispose them to a neoplastic evolution.
December 12th, 2007. Mesothelioma incidence around Goor, The Netherlands, and far beyond, the asbestos drama unfolds
The WHO and the International Labour Office are collaborating towards the elimination of asbestos-related diseases worldwide. More awareness is needed in order to prevent similar tragedies occurring from other side effects of work.
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