Pediatric Thyroid Carcinoma Incidence and Temporal Trends in the USA (1973–2007): Race or Shifting Diagnostic Paradigm?

Pediatric thyroid carcinoma is relatively uncommon. But variability in incidence rate by race, sex, age at onset/diagnosis, and geographic local had been observed in adult thyroid carcinoma in the USA. We aimed to examine the patterns, rates, and temporal trends of thyroid carcinoma among pediatric patients (0–19 years) between 1973 and 2007. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data of the National Cancer Institute were utilized. Data were available on sex, age at diagnosis, race/ethnicity, and geographic locale (9 SEER registries) and were used for rates and trends computation. The frequency and percentage, percent changes (PCs) were calculated by using 1 year of each endpoint. Similarly, the annual percent changes (APCs) were calculated as well, with APCs estimated using weighted least square methods. Between 1973 and 2007, 1,360 thyroid cancer cases were ascertained in the 9 SEER areas (n = 247,638,734) in the USA. The percent change was 47.9, while the APC was significantly different from 0, 1.0 (95% CI: 0.5–1.6, P < 0.0001). The rate ratio (RR) was significantly lower in 1975 (RR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.38–0.98, P = 0.03) relative to the rate between 1973 and 2007 (RR: 1.60, per 100,000, 95% CI: 1.50–1.70), but higher in 2007 (RR: 2.3 per 100,000, 95% CI: 1.70–3.10; RR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.05–1.93, P = 0.02). The rate was significantly higher in whites relative to blacks, highest among age group of 15–19 years and girls, and in some SEER registries, with some significant PC in Connecticut. This temporal trend study of pediatric thyroid carcinoma indicates increase in the rate of this malignancy given the percent change and the annual percent change between 1973 and 2007. In addition, the incidence was higher among girls, lower among blacks, highest in age group of 15–19 years, and relatively higher in SEER registries with predominantly white or Hispanic populations

Racial /ethnic disparities in hypertension in United States residents: A cross-sectional study of potential explanatory covariates

Racial/ethnic disparities persist in hypertension (HTN) prevalence in the United States, and African Americans are disproportionately affected. The incidence is more than two-folds in African Americans compared to Caucasians, and mortality is highest among African Americans. Understanding the risk factors in HTN and how these factors vary across racial/ethnic groups is essential to reducing the mortality among African Americans. This study examined the prevalence of HTN among a sample non-institutionalized U.S. residents (N = 30,852), assessed racial/ethnic disparities and determined factors associated with racial/ethnic variance in HTN. A cross-sectional design was used to address these aims, utilizing the National Health Interview Survey, 2003 dataset. Chi square and logistic regression techniques were employed in the data analyses. The race-nonspecific prevalence of HTN was 26.7% (N = 8,243). African Americans had the highest prevalence (35.5%), Caucasians (27.5%), and Hispanics (18.6%), p \u3c 0.01. African Americans were 45% more likely to be hypertensive relative to Caucasians, Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.45, 99% Confidence Interval (CI), 1.16-1.82. African Americans significantly differed from Caucasians in the factors that were associated with HTN: smoking, alcohol, physical activities, age, higher income, college education, body mass index, marital status, higher cholesterol and diabetes mellitus. After controlling for these factors, ethnic/racial disparities in HTN persisted. Compared to Caucasian, African Americans had a 61% increased in HTN prevalence, (OR = 1.61, 99% CI, 1.39-1.86) and Hispanics had a 27% decreased prevalence, (OR = 0.73, 99% CI, 0.68-0.79). Confirming that HTN differed by race/ethnicity while controlling for associated factors, this study contributes to positive social change by highlighting the importance of biologic or biologic-environmental interactions for future research or intervention planning

Recent advances in particulate anti-malarial drug delivery systems: A review

Malaria remains a tremendous health burden in tropical areas, causing a life-threatening disease and accounts for 1 to 2 million deaths round the globe yearly. Researchers have explored different novel approaches to deliver and improve the biopharmaceutical performance of drugs used in malaria chemotherapy. These novel drug delivery systems (NDDS) enhanced bioavailability of these drugs and also may offer controlled release of these drugs. The major aim of the NDDS is to improve the efficacy of these drugs, and at the same time to eliminate their toxicity. These NDDS include: micro/nanoparticulate DDS, emulsion based DDS, dendrimers and liposomes among others. The development of these particulate carriers as vehicles for the delivery of active compounds is a novel area of research that provides a new hope in malarial chemotherapy. The work presents various trends in malarial chemotherapy, as well as an exhaustive screening of different particulate drug delivery systems (PDDS) and the recent advances in the delivery of anti-malarial drugs using the novel particulate drug delivery systems (NPDDS)

Désavantage de la survie spécifique du cancer du sein à cinq ans chez les femmes afro-américaines.

Racial/ethnic disparities in female breast cancer survival continue to persist in United States. However, disparities comparing African Americans (AA), Asians and Caucasians remain to be assessed. We aimed to assess multi-racial/ethnic disparities in breast cancer survival, and to examine the factors that may explain the variability. A total of 6,951 women diagnosed with breast cancer between 1992 and 1998 were identified from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results tumor registries. The effect of race/ethnicity and the prognostic factors on survival was assessed using Cox proportional hazard model. AA demonstrated a survival disadvantage. Compared to Asians, Caucasians had 74% increased risk of dying (HR= 1.74, 95% CI = 1.31 – 2.33), while AA were almost three times as likely as Asians to die, (HR=2.78, 95% CI 2.02 – 3.86). After adjustment for the relevant covariates the survival disadvantage of AA persisted. Relative to Asians, Caucasians were 45% more likely to die (HR=1.45, 95% CI 1.10 – 1.93),while AA were more than two times as likely to die (HR=2.57, 95% CI 1.86 - 3.55). There were substantial racial/ethnic disparities in breast cancer survival among United States women. AA demonstrated survival disadvantage compared with either Caucasians or Asians, which persisted even after controlling factors known to influence breast cancer survivalLes disparités raciales/ethniques dans la survie du cancer du sein chez la femme persistent encore aux Etats-Unis. Néanmoins, l&apos;on n&apos;a pas encore évalué les disparités de manière comparative chez les Afro-Américains (AA), les Asiatiques et les Caucasiens. Nous avions comme objectif d&apos;avancer les disparités dans la survie du cancer du sein et d&apos;examiner les facteurs qui puissent expliquer la variabilité. Au total, on a diagnostiqué le cancer du sein chez 6951 femmes entre 1992 et 1998 qui ont été identifiées à travers la surveillance, l&apos;épidémiologie et des listes des résultats définitifs de la tumeur. L&apos;effet de la race / l&apos;ethnie et les facteurs pronostiqués sur la survie ont été évalués à l&apos;aide du modèle du danger proportionnel de Cox. L&apos;AA a démontré un désavantage de la survie. Par rapport aux Asiatiques, les Caucasiens couraient un risque accru à74% de mourir (HR1, 74, 95% Cl = 1,31-2,33), alors que les AA avaient presque trois fois plus la possibilité de mourir que les Asiatiques (HR=2,78, 95%Cl 2,92-3,86). Après les ajustements pour arriver aux co-variables, le désavantage de la survie de l&apos;AA a persisté. Par rapport aux Asiatiques, les Caucasiens avaient 45% plus la possibilité de mourir (HR=1,45, 95% CL 110-1,93), tandis que les AA avaient plus de deux fois la possibilité de mourir (HR=2,57, 95%CL 1,86-3,55). Il y avait beaucoup de disparités raciales/ethniques à l&apos;égard de la survie du cancer du sein chez les femmes américaines. Les AA ont démontré un désavantage de la survie par rapport soit aux Caucasiens soit aux Asiatiques qui ont persisté même après avoir contrôlé les facteurs qui influent sur la survie du cancer du sei