Meta-analysis of case-referent studies of specific environmental or occupational pollutants on lung cancer

BACKGROUND: Meta-analysis is a statistical tool for combining and integrating the results of independent studies of a given scientific issue. The present investigation was initiated to investigate case-referent studies of lung cancer risk from specific environmental and occupational pollutants, using detailed individual exposure data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To examine the risk of lung cancer associated with environmental and occupational pollutants, a meta-analysis of published case-control studies was undertaken using a random effects model. For this study, the papers were selected for review from electronic search of PubMed, Medline and Google Scholar during 1990-2006. The principal outcome measure was the odds ratio for the risk of lung cancer. Twelve study reports detailing the relationship between the lung cancer and the type of exposure were identified. RESULTS: The odds ratio of asbestos, cooking fuel, cooking fumes, motor and diesel exhaust related to lung cancer were 1.67, 1.99, 2.52 and 1.42 ( P < 0.001), respectively. The odds ratio of metal fumes related to lung cancer was 1.28 (0.001< P < 0.01). The combined odds ratio for the environmental and occupational exposure related to lung cancer was 1.67 ( P< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The meta-analysis of the present study shows the magnitude association between asbestos, cooking fumes, cooking fuels, motor and diesel exhaust, with lung cancer risk. Lung cancer risk may be reduced by controlling exposure levels

Supervised wavelet method to predict patient survival from gene expression data.

In microarray studies, the number of samples is relatively small compared to the number of genes per sample. An important aspect of microarray studies is the prediction of patient survival based on their gene expression profile. This naturally calls for the use of a dimension reduction procedure together with the survival prediction model. In this study, a new method based on combining wavelet approximation coefficients and Cox regression was presented. The proposed method was compared with supervised principal component and supervised partial least squares methods. The different fitted Cox models based on supervised wavelet approximation coefficients, the top number of supervised principal components, and partial least squares components were applied to the data. The results showed that the prediction performance of the Cox model based on supervised wavelet feature extraction was superior to the supervised principal components and partial least squares components. The results suggested the possibility of developing new tools based on wavelets for the dimensionally reduction of microarray data sets in the context of survival analysis

Effects of Small Group Education on Interdialytic Weight Gain, and Blood Pressures in Hemodialysis Patients

Background: One of the most common problems in patients undergoing hemodialysis is interdialytic weight gain due to high liquid intake. Many patients are not fully aware of the fluid restriction. Group educations, such as small-group education, are among powerful methods to enable patients correct their behaviors, and enhance their capabilities, knowledge, and awareness. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of small-group education on interdialytic weight gain, and blood pressures in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Patients and Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study. Data collected from 42 patients undergoing hemodialysis. Before education, the mean of interdialytic weight gain during one week, and blood pressure were recorded. Then small-group education performed in 4 sessions. One week, and one month after the education, the mentioned parameters were recorded again. Repeated measure analysis of variances was conducted and pair-wise comparison was done using the Bonferroni test. Descriptive statistics were calculated for demographic variables. Results: The mean, and standard deviation of interdialytic weight gain of participants was 3.64 ± 0.88 kg, before the education, and significantly decreased to 1.34 ± 0.61 kg, and 1.71 ± 0.72 kg one week, and one month after the education, respectively (P = 0.001). Also, the mean and standard deviation of participants' systolic blood pressure was 139.7 ± 16.45 mmHg before the education, and significantly decreased to 129.6 ± 12.16, and 129.5 ± 11.51 mmHg one week, and one month after the education, respectively (P = 0.001). But, the mean and standard deviation of diastolic blood pressure of the participants was 81.4 ± 6.07 mmHg before the education, and decreased to 79.7 ± 5.51 and 81.7 ± 5.27 mmHg one week, and one month after the education respectively. However, no statistically significant difference was observed between the diastolic blood pressure in the three phases (P = 0.061). Conclusions: Small-group education in patients undergoing hemodialysis leads to a decrease in interdialytic weight gain, and systolic blood pressure, but has no effect on diastolic blood pressure

Lipid composition of spermatozoa in normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic males

Introduction: Lipids play an important role in the structural and functional activity of spermatozoa. We investigated the phospholipids composition and fatty acid-bound phospholipid of spermatozoa from asthenozoospermic and normozoospermic men. Patients and methods: Semen samples were analyzed in 15 asthenozoospermic and eight normozoospermic subjects and the sperm phospholipids and fatty acids were determined using high performance thin layer chromatography and gas chromatography, respectively. Results: The most abundant (mean±SE) phospholipids in normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic samples were phosphatidylethanolamine (70.9±11.5 and 44.2±8.5 nmol/108 spermatozoa, respectively) and phosphatidylcholine (58.6±9.5 and 34.6±3.2 nmol/108 spermatozoa, respectively). Compared to normozoospermic samples, asthenozoospermic samples showed lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; p<0.01) and higher levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA; p<0.05). Discussion: Changes in content of phospholipids and its fatty acid composition of spermatozoa may be related to infertility in asthenozoospermic males. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Logistic discrimination, screening and the simulation of a heart surgery department

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