SNP rs11190870 near LBX1 is associated with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in southern Chinese

A study was conducted to validate the most significant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) from a genome-wide association study of Japanese adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients in an independent southern Chinese population. In total, 300 AIS patients fulfilled the clinical criteria and 788 controls with MRI scans of the spine were included in the replication study. We employed case-control analysis to study the association of SNP rs11190870 near LBX1 (ladybird homeobox 1) with AIS in a southern Chinese population. The results suggest that SNP rs11190870 is significantly associated with AIS (P=9.1 × 10 -10; odds ratio1.85; 95% confidence interval=1.52-2.25). The results of this study confirm that SNP rs11190870 is associated with AIS. © 2012 The Japan Society of Human Genetics All rights reserved.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Radiographic outcome of surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in males versus females

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Studies on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis have well documented the differences between natural history of male and female patients. There are also differences in responses to nonoperative treatment, but the results of operative treatment in male patients compared with females have not been widely reported. Only few studies had compared the outcomes of operative treatment between male and female patients with different results.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We retrospectively reviewed the outcome of 150 (112 girls and 38 boys) consecutive patients with diagnosis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis who were managed surgically between May 1996 and September 2005. Next, male radiographic parameters were compared with female ones pre- and postoperatively. Then, a subgroup of 38 matched girls was compared regarding the age, curve type, curve magnitude, and the instrumentation we used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In comparing male patients with unmatched girls, the boys had greater mean age (17.3 ± 2.3 vs. 16.3 ± 2.9; p = 0.049), greater primary curve (71.4 ± 21.3° vs. 62.7 ± 17.5°; p = 0.013), less flexibility (30.1 ± 13.5% vs. 40.3 ± 17.8%; p = 0.01), and less correction percentage (51.3 ± 12.9% vs. 58.8 ± 16.5%; p = 0/013). The loss of correction was comparable between the two groups. In the matched comparison, the flexibility in boys was less than girls (30.1 ± 13.5% vs. 38.1 ± 17.5%; p = 0.027). Also, the boys had a smaller correction percentage compared to the girls, but this finding was not statistically significant.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There was similar distribution curve pattern between male and female patients with AIS. Males had more rigid primary curves compared to females but a similar degree of postoperative scoliosis correction. Male AIS patients were older at the time of surgery. These preoperative gender differences, however; did not compromise the radiological outcomes of surgical treatment and the results were comparable between the genders.</p

Relação entre plano de saúde e a realização do exame Papanicolaou: uma aplicação de escore de propensão usando um inquérito amostral complexo Relationship between health care insurance and Papanicolaou exam: a propensity score application using a complex sample inquiry

O câncer de colo de útero é a segunda doença mais comum entre mulheres em todo o mundo. O esfregaço de Papanicolaou é um teste simples que pode detectar a doença em um estágio precoce e curável. Embora indicado para todas as mulheres adultas, a cobertura do teste é inferior a 70% das mulheres brasileiras. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar se a posse de plano de saúde privado está associada à realização do exame de Papanicolaou. Foram analisados dados de 6.299 mulheres com 35 anos ou mais de idade, residentes no Rio de Janeiro, entrevistadas na Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios (PNAD) em 2003. A fim de minimizar a ocorrência de vieses, utilizamos o escore de propensão com a técnica de pareamento, levando em consideração todas as informações do desenho amostral na estimação dos escores (pesos amostrais, estratos e unidades primárias de amostragem). Uma subamostra de 2.348 mulheres foi então obtida, com covariáveis socioeconômicas e biológicas distribuídas igualmente entre os grupos com e sem cobertura de plano de saúde privado (1.174 pares). Os resultados com utilização de modelo de regressão logística mostraram que a chance de realizar o exame Papanicolaou é 26,1% maior (OR=1,261; p=0,096; IC 95%=[0,96; 1,66]) para mulheres com plano de saúde quando comparadas às mulheres sem cobertura de plano de saúde, no nível de significância de 10%. Os resultados indicam a necessidade da extensão do rastreio periódico do câncer de colo de útero para todas as mulheres, reduzindo as desigualdades ainda presentes nos dias atuais.<br>Cervical uterine cancer is the second most common malignancy affecting women worldwide. Papanicolaou smear is a simple screening test that can detect the disease at an early and curable stage. Although indicated to every adult woman, Pap smear screening covers less than 70% of Brazilian women. This study aimed to evaluate if private health care insurance coverage was associated with Papanicolaou smear screening. We analyzed data from 6,299 women aged 35 years or older, resident in Rio de Janeiro state, who had been interviewed in the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD) in 2003. In order to minimize the occurrence of biases, we utilized the propensity score matching method, considering all information from sample design in the scores estimation (sample weights, strata and primary sampling units). A sub-sample of 2,348 women was then obtained, with socioeconomic and biological covariates equally distributed between the groups with and without private health insurance coverage (1,174 pairs). Logistic regression model was then used and the results showed that the chance of Papanicolaou smear screening is 26.1% higher (OR=1.261; p=0,096; CI 95%= [0.96;1.66]) for women with health insurance coverage when compared to women without health insurance coverage at 10% of significance. The results indicate the need of extending periodic cervical cancer screening for all women, reducing the inequalities still present nowadays