Serum Dioxin, Testosterone, and Subsequent Risk of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Prospective Cohort Study of Air Force Veterans

BACKGROUND: Operation Ranch Hand veterans were involved in spraying herbicides, including Agent Orange, during the Vietnam War in 1962–1971; Agent Orange was contaminated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). It has been hypothesized that dioxins may be partially responsible for an increase of male reproductive tract disorders such as testicular cancer, cryptorchidism, and hypospadias. OBJECTIVES: In this study, our objective was to assess the effect of serum TCDD concentration on the risk of development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and on serum testosterone levels. METHODS: This study was a longitudinal, prospective cohort study made up of U.S. Air Force veterans involved in Operation Ranch Hand. Other Air Force veterans who did not spray herbicides were included as comparisons. BPH was determined by medical record review and by medical examinations conducted during the study. Data were available for 971 Ranch Hand and 1,266 comparison veterans. We investigated the relationship between BPH and serum TCDD level using the Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for testosterone levels, body mass index (BMI), and the percentage change in BMI per year. RESULTS: In univariate and multivariate analyses, the risk of BPH decreased with increasing serum TCDD in the comparison group. The multivariate risk ratio for BPH in the comparison group was 0.84 (95% confidence interval, 0.73–0.98). Excluding men with prostate cancer, inflammatory or other prostatic diseases did not substantially alter the association. Serum testosterone levels were inversely associated with serum TCDD levels in both Ranch Hand and comparison groups. CONCLUSIONS: TCDD exposure at general population levels is associated with a decreasing risk of BPH with higher exposure levels. TCDD exposure is also negatively associated with serum testosterone levels

Association of Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load With Risk of Incident Coronary Heart Disease Among Whites and African Americans With and Without Type 2 Diabetes: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

This study examined whether high glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) diets are associated with increased risk of developing CHD in Whites and African Americans with and without type 2 diabetes

Evaluation of a novel stool native catalase antigen test for Helicobacter pylori infection in asymptomatic North American children

Rapid immunochromatographic tests for Helicobacter pylori infection have been developed to allow near-patient testing. We therefore performed a pilot study to test a rapid immunochromatographic stool antigen test for the diagnosis of H pylori infection in asymptomatic children. We tested stool specimens collected from children participating in a cohort study in the United States and Mexico. H pylori-positive status was defined by positivity on at least 2 tests: a commercial H pylori stool antigen enzyme immunoassay, an immunoglobulin G antibody enzyme immunoassay, and the C-urea breath test. Negative H pylori status was defined by negative findings of all of these tests. Of 52 children (22 girls, 30 boys) 25 were H pylori-positive, 19 H pylori-negative, and 8 uncertain (eg, presumably negative; positive findings on 1 of the 3 noninvasive tests). The sensitivity and specificity of the new stool antigen test for those with definite H pylori status were 100% (exact 95% CI 86.3%-100% and 82.4%-100%, respectively). This rapid stool antigen test may prove useful for point-of-care testing and epidemiological field studies. Larger prospective studies are needed in symptomatic and asymptomatic children for more precise estimates. © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc

Association of Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load With Risk of Incident Coronary Heart Disease Among Whites and African Americans With and Without Type 2 Diabetes: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

PURPOSE: This study examined whether high glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) diets are associated with increased risk of developing CHD in Whites and African Americans with and without type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Data on 13,051 individuals aged 45-64 years from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study were analyzed. The ARIC food frequency questionnaire baseline data provided GI and GL indices. A propensity score was created to estimate the effect of an individual's covariates on energy-adjusted GI or GL. During a maximum of 17 years of follow-up, 1,683 cases of CHD (371 with diabetes and 1,312 without diabetes) were recorded. RESULTS: For every 5-units increase in GI, there was a 1.16-fold (95% CI:1.01, 1.33) increased risk of incident CHD in African Americans. For every 30-units increase in GL, there was a 1.11-fold (95% CI:1.01, 1.21) increased risk of incident CHD in Whites. High GL was an especially important CHD risk factor for Whites without diabetes (per 30-units increase) (HR=1.14; 95% CI:1.02, 1.26). However, these relationships were not seen in individuals with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional advice to reduce the GI and GL in diets of African Americans, and Whites (without diabetes) may play a role in reducing CHD risk