Ethnic identity and acculturation in a young adult Mexican-origin population

The relations among ethnic identity, measured by the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) and acculturation, as measured by the Acculturation Rating Scale-II (ARSMA-11) were studied in 1,367 freshmen college students, 87% of whom were of Mexican origin. The results strongly support the concept that ethnic identity and acculturation are related but separate processes. Ethnic identity scores were found to be highest in first generation, less acculturated subjects, and traditional acculturative types. Higher levels of acculturation were associated with less feelings of affirmation and belonging, and less feelings of ethnic identity achievement. The Pearson correlation coefficient obtained for Ethnic Identity and Acculturation was r = -.32 (p \u3c .001). Ethnic Identity Achievement (r = -.25), Affirmation and Belonging (r = -.35), and Ethnic Behaviors (r = -.14), were all negatively correlated with linear acculturation. High Biculturals were found to obtain higher scores in ethnic identity than Low Biculturals, and High Biculturals were found to be oriented more toward others than those who were classified as Traditional or Assimilated. The findings suggest that one\u27s sense of ethnic group membership diminishes with behavioral acculturation among Mexican Americans

Quality of Life after Radical Prostatectomy or Watchful Waiting with or without Androgen Deprivation Therapy: The Scandinavian Prostate Cancer Group-4 Randomized Trial

Background: Men with prostate cancer experience adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) differently. Objective: To evaluate ADT effect on quality of life, the experience of clinical check-ups, and differences in cancer information as explanatory factors. Design, setting, and participants: All living men (400/695), randomized in the Scandinavian Prostate Cancer Group Study Number 4(SPCG-4) to radical prostatectomy (RP) or watchful waiting (WW) and a control group of 281 men were sent a study-specific questionnaire. Intervention: ADT Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: Self-assessed quality of life, worry at clinical check-ups, and amount of information received. Estimated relative risks with associated 95% confidence intervals (CI) for risk comparisons between groups using a log-binomial regression. Results and limitations: The SPCG-4 men had a median follow-up of 12.2 years, a median age of 77.0 years, 26% in the RP-group received ADT treatment and 40% in the WW-group. High quality of life for men without ADT was 36% for the RP-group, 44% for the WW- group and 45% for the control group. High quality of life for men with ADT was 30% for the RP-group and 20% for the WW-group. Men with ADT in the WW-group received significantly less information about the disease than men with ADT in the RP-group. Receiving no or little information about the prostate cancer disease was reported by 17% of men with ADT in RP-group and 39% among men with ADT in WW-group; relative risk 0.44 (95% CI 0.22-0.89). At clinical check-ups men treated with ADT had significantly higher levels of worry, regardless of study group than men without ADT. Limitation: lacking longitudinal data and a low number of ADT in RP- group. Conclusion: Men in WW without ADT reported levels of high quality of life comparable with men without prostate cancer. ADT treatment in the WW-group was associated with the lowest scores for all psychological parameters and they reported to be least informed about prostate cancer and its consequences. Patients summary: Good communication and information from caregivers is associated with less negative psychological effects at a disease progression

Psychiatric treatment in men with prostate cancer - Results from a Nation-wide, population-based cohort study from PCBaSe Sweden

Aim: To explore whether the self-reported psychological distress among men with prostate cancer was to the extent that it required psychiatric treatment. Methods: PCBaSe Sweden, a merged database based on the National Prostate Cancer Register including 97% of all prostate cancers registered as well as age-matched controls. We calculated relative risks and 95% confidence intervals to compare risks of psychiatric treatment due to depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder controlling for age and socio-economic factors. We used odds ratios to compare use or no use of antidepressants. Findings: In total 72,613 men with prostate cancer and 217,839 men without prostate cancer were included for analyses. Psychiatric hospitalisation due to depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder were significantly increased (RR 1.29, (95% CI 1.14-1.45), RR 1.42 (95% CI 1.12-1.80) and RR 1.61 (95% CI 1.16-2.24), respectively). However, hospitalisations due to anxiety were only increased in men with more advanced tumours RR 2.28 (95% CI 1.45-3.57). The use of antidepressants was increased for all men with prostate cancer RR 1.65 (95% CI 1.54-1.77) and treatment strategies RR 1.93 (95% CI 1.75-2.13). Interpretation: Men diagnosed with prostate cancer had increased risk of psychiatric treatment for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and use of antidepressants regardless of risk group and treatment strategy compared to age-matched controls, whilst more advanced prostate cancer was associated with severe anxiety disorders. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Suicide Risk in Men with Prostate-Specific Antigen-Detected Early Prostate Cancer: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study from PCBaSe Sweden

Background: The risk of suicide is increased among cancer patients including men with prostate cancer (PCa). However, whether this increased risk applies to men diagnosed subsequent to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing is not known. Objective: To assess the risk of suicide among men diagnosed with PCa subsequent to PSA testing. Design, setting, and participants: The Prostate Cancer Base Sweden (PCBaSe Sweden) database, the Swedish Cause of Death Register, and the Swedish census database were used. The PCBaSe Sweden is a merged database that includes data from the Swedish National Prostate Cancer Register (NPCR) for cases diagnosed between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2006. The number of suicides registered for cases in the PCBaSe cohort was compared with the expected number of suicides in an age-matched general male Swedish population. Measurements: Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for different categories of cases. Results and limitations: There were 128 suicides among the 77 439 PCa cases in the NPCR compared with an expected number of 85 (SMR: 1.5; 95% CI, 1.3-1.8). The risk of suicide was not increased for the 22 405 men with PSA-detected T1c tumours (SMR: 1.0; 95% CI, 0.6-1.5), whereas the 22 929 men with locally advanced nonmetastatic tumours (SMR: 2.2; 95% CI, 1.6-2.9) and the 8350 men with distant metastases (SMR: 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2-3.6) had statistically significant increased SMRs for suicide. Potential effects of comorbid medical and psychiatric conditions could not be investigated. Conclusions: No increased risk of committing suicide was observed among men with PCa diagnosed subsequent to PSA testing, whereas the risk was twice as high among men with locally advanced or metastatic disease, compared with an age-matched male population. (C) 2009 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved

A New Value-Weighted Total Return Index for the Finnish Stock Market

This paper presents a new monthly value-weighted, all-share total return index for the Finnish stock market. The index covers the period from the establishment of the Helsinki Stock Exchange in October 1912 to the beginning of 1970, after which the WI index by Berglund et al (1983) and later in December 1990, the Exchange s own HEX index are available. When combined, these can be used to study the development of the Finnish equity market without a break from the beginning of the stock market until the present day. We also provide a detailed description of the construction methodology and a comparison between our index and those available earlier. The new index replaces the Unitas price index, which has been the only index available for long-term studies from 1928 onwards. The new index also provides an alternative to the book equity weighted Poutvaara (1996) price index for the period 1912 1929

Inguinal Hernia After Radical Prostatectomy for Prostate Cancer: Results From a Randomized Setting and a Nonrandomized Setting.

BACKGROUND: Observational data indicate that retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) for prostate cancer (PCa) may induce inguinal hernia (IH) formation. Little is known about the influence of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RALP) on IH risk. OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence of IH after RRP and RALP to that of nonoperated patients with PCa and to a population control. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We studied two groups. All 376 men included in the Scandinavian Prostate Cancer Group Study Number 4 constitute study group 1. Patients were randomly assigned RRP or watchful waiting (WW). The 1411 consecutive patients who underwent RRP or RALP at Karolinska University Hospital constitute study group 2. Men without PCa, matched for age and residence to each study group, constitute controls. MEASUREMENTS: Postoperative IH incidence was detected through a validated questionnaire. The participation rates were 82.7% and 88.4% for study groups 1 and 2, respectively. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: The Kaplan-Meier cumulative occurrence of IH development after 48 mo in study group 1 was 9.3%, 2.4%, and 0.9% for the RRP, the WW, and the control groups, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the RRP group and the WW and control groups, but not between the last two. In study group 2 the cumulative risk of IH development at 48 mo was 12.2%, 5.8%, and 2.6% for the RRP, the RALP, and the control group, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the RRP group and the RALP and control groups, but not between the last two. CONCLUSIONS: RRP for PCa leads to an increased risk of IH development. RALP may lower the risk as compared to open surgery

The Determinants of Global Bank Credit-Default-Swap Spreads

Using a sample of 161 global banks in 23 countries, we examine the applicability of structural models and bank fundamentals to price global bank credit risk. First, we find that variables predicted by structural models (leverage, volatility, and risk-free rate) are significantly associated with bank CDS spreads. Second, some CAMELS indicators, including asset quality, cost efficiency, and sensitivity to market risk, contain incremental information for bank CDS prices. Moreover, leverage and asset quality have had a stronger impact on bank CDS since the onset of the recent financial crisis. Banks in countries with lower stock market volatility and/or more financial conglomerates restrictions tend to have lower CDS spreads. Deposit insurance appears to have an adverse effect on CDS spreads, indicating a moral hazard problem