Childhood indicators of susceptibility to subsequent cervical cancer

Common warts could indicate cervical cancer susceptibility, as both are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Eczema was also investigated, as atopic eczema has been negatively associated with warts, but non-atopic eczema may be associated with compromised host defences, as observed in patients with HIV, suggesting increased susceptibility to HPV infection and cervical cancer. ‘Cervical cancer’ was self-reported during an interview by 87 of 7594 women members of two longitudinal British birth cohorts. The accuracy of the diagnoses is limited by lack of confirmation using medical records. Odds ratios are adjusted for common warts and eczema in childhood; and cigarette smoking, number of cohabiting partners and social class in early adult life. The odds ratios of warts and eczema with cervical cancer are 2.50 (95% confidence interval 1.14–5.47) and 3.27 (1.95–5.49), respectively. The association of eczema with cervical cancer is independent of hay fever as a marker of atopy, suggesting the importance of non-atopic eczema. Both heavier smoking compared with non-smoking and four or more cohabiting partners compared with one/none have odds ratios for cervical cancer of 8.26 (4.25–15.10) and 4.89 (1.39–17.18), respectively. Common warts in childhood may indicate cervical cancer susceptibility; this and the relationship with eczema deserves investigation

Nationwide study of appendicitis in children

Background: Paediatric surgical care is increasingly being centralized away from low-volume centres, and prehospital delay is considered a risk factor for more complicated appendicitis. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of paediatric appendicitis in Sweden, and to assess whether distance to the hospital was a risk factor for complicated disease. Methods: A nationwide cohort study of all paediatric appendicitis cases in Sweden, 2001–2014, was undertaken, including incidence of disease in different population strata, with trends over time. The risk of complicated disease was determined by regression methods, with travel time as the primary exposure and individual-level socioeconomic determinants as independent variables. Results: Some 38 939 children with appendicitis were identified. Of these, 16·8 per cent had complicated disease, and the estimated risk of paediatric appendicitis by age 18 years was 2·5 per cent. Travel time to the treating hospital was not associated with complicated disease (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1·00 (95 per cent c.i. 0·96 to 1·05) per 30-min increase; P = 0·934). Level of education (P = 0·177) and family income (P = 0·120) were not independently associated with increased risk of complicated disease. Parental unemployment (adjusted OR 1·17, 95 per cent c.i. 1·05 to 1·32; P = 0·006) and having parents born outside Sweden (1 parent born in Sweden: adjusted OR 1·12, 1·01 to 1·25; both parents born outside Sweden: adjusted OR 1·32, 1·18 to 1·47; P < 0·001) were associated with an increased risk of complicated appendicitis. Conclusion: Every sixth child diagnosed with appendicitis in Sweden has a more complicated course of disease. Geographical distance to the surgical facility was not a risk factor for complicated appendicitis

Consistency of blood pressure and impact on cardiovascular structure over 20 years in young men

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links fieldOBJECTIVE: To identify, in a prospective study, how blood pressure levels at the age of twenty predict hypertension and cardiovascular remodelling 20 years later. METHODS: Twenty-year-old men with blood pressure (BP) elevation [systolic blood pressure (SBP) 140-160 and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 85-95 mmHg; blood pressure elevation (BPE) group] or normal BP [SBP 110-130 and DBP 60-80 mmHg; normal controls (NC) group] entered the study in 1987. In 2007, follow-up was conducted including ambulatory BP, echocardiography, anthropometric and intima media thickness (IMT) measurements. RESULTS: Assessed with 24-h ambulatory BP, the prevalence of hypertension was 35/47 (74.5%) and 1/17 (5.9%) in the BPE and NC group at follow-up respectively. Twenty-four hour mean arterial pressure (MAP) increased from 86.6 (0.8) to 97.2 (1.2) (P < 0.0001), and from 83.1 (1.5) to 88.1 (1.2) mmHg (P < 0.01) from baseline to follow-up in the BPE and NC group respectively. At follow-up, left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was 122 (4) and 106 (4) g m(-1) in the BPE and NC group (unpaired t-test; P < 0.01) respectively, whilst IMT was 0.61 (0.01) and 0.57 (0.01) mm in the BPE and NC group (P < 0.05) respectively. In a logistic regression model, prevalence of hypertension was best explained by office MAP and 24-h DBP at baseline (R(2) 0.333; P < 0.05). A combined model of office MAP, body mass index and insulin levels at baseline explained 56% of LVMI at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: BP elevation in young age predicts hypertension and adverse cardiovascular remodelling at the age of 40 years. Baseline office MAP is the best predictor of hypertension, 24-h MAP and LVMI