Body fatness and cancer - viewpoint of the IARC working group

not availabl

A critical assessment of the WHO responsiveness tool: lessons from voluntary HIV testing and counselling services in Kenya

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Health, fair financing and responsiveness to the user's needs and expectations are seen as the essential objectives of health systems. Efforts have been made to conceptualise and measure responsiveness as a basis for evaluating the non-health aspects of health systems performance. This study assesses the applicability of the responsiveness tool developed by WHO when applied in the context of voluntary HIV counselling and testing services (VCT) at a district level in Kenya.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A mixed method study was conducted employing a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods concurrently. The questionnaire proposed by WHO was administered to 328 VCT users and 36 VCT counsellors (health providers). In addition to the questionnaire, qualitative interviews were carried out among a total of 300 participants. Observational field notes were also written.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A majority of the health providers and users indicated that the responsiveness elements were very important, e.g. confidentiality and autonomy were regarded by most users and health providers as very important and were also reported as being highly observed in the VCT room. However, the qualitative findings revealed other important aspects related to confidentiality, autonomy and other responsiveness elements that were not captured by the WHO tool. Striking examples were inappropriate location of the VCT centre, limited information provided, language problems, and concern about the quality of counselling.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results indicate that the WHO developed responsiveness elements are relevant and important in measuring the performance of voluntary HIV counselling and testing. However, the tool needs substantial revision in order to capture other important dimensions or perspectives. The findings also confirm the importance of careful assessment and recognition of locally specific aspects when conducting comparative studies on responsiveness of HIV testing services.</p

Leptin and leptin receptor polymorphisms are associated with increased risk and poor prognosis of breast carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Leptin (LEP) has been consistently associated with angiogenesis and tumor growth. Leptin exerts its physiological action through its specific receptor (LEPR). We have investigated whether genetic variations in LEP and LEPR have implications for susceptibility to and prognosis in breast carcinoma. METHODS: We used the polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme digestion to characterize the variation of the LEP and LEPR genes in 308 unrelated Tunisian patients with breast carcinoma and 222 healthy control subjects. Associations of the clinicopathologic parameters and these genetic markers with the rates of the breast carcinoma-specific overall survival (OVS) and the disease free survival (DFS) were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: A significantly increased risk of breast carcinoma was associated with heterozygous LEP (-2548) GA (OR = 1.45; P = 0.04) and homozygous LEP (-2548) AA (OR = 3.17; P = 0.001) variants. A highly significant association was found between the heterozygous LEPR 223QR genotype (OR = 1.68; P = 0.007) or homozygous LEPR 223RR genotype (OR = 2.26; P = 0.001) and breast carcinoma. Moreover, the presence of the LEP (-2548) A allele showed a significant association with decreased disease-free survival in breast carcinoma patients, and the presence of the LEPR 223R allele showed a significant association with decreased overall survival. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that the polymorphisms in LEP and LEPR genes are associated with increased breast cancer risk as well as disease progress, supporting our hypothesis for leptin involvement in cancer pathogenesis

Demand and Price Structure for Shrimp

This study attempts to describe and quantitatively measure the forces determining the level of consumption of shrimp and the price level of shrimp in the United States. This is the first study concerned primarily with the nature of aggregate demand for shrimp. Professor John P. Doll of the Uftiversity of Missouri is developing a quarterly model of the U. S. shrimp market focusing on the ex-vessel and wholesale markets. Further work is needed in more detailed studLes of all aspects of the world market for shrimp and prawns

Assistance Programs in Overcapitalized Areas

Most domestic and international fisheries pursued by United States fishermen are fully or overcapitalized. It is becoming increasingly recognized that fishery management programs should be aimed to balance the use of human and capital resources with available fishery resources and this may involve the elimination of redundant fishing effort. At the same time, however, there is considerable pressure for the Federal Government to provide programs of assistance to help vessel owners meet both obstacles to economic well-being and proposed regulations on safety, pollution abatement and mandatory product inspection. This paper examines the conflict between financial assistance which would maintain or expand capacity and fishery management which would reduce the number of vessels in overcapitalized fisheries. In the past, Federal financial assistance programs have stimulated vessel construction, conversions and repairs that have added to fleet harvesting capacity. Even though Federal financial assistance programs have affected only a portion of the net addition of vessels in various fleets, these programs are being carefully considered in light of the fishery management problem

Assistance Programs in Fully Capitalized or Overcapitalized Fisheries

Most domestic and international fisheries pursued by United States fishermen are fully or overcapitalized. It is becoming increasingly recognized that fishery management programs should be aimed to balance the use of human and capital resources with available fishery resources and this may involved the elimination or redundant fishing effort. At the same time, however, there is considerable pressure for the Federal Government to provide programs of assistance to help vessel owners meet both obstacles to economic well-being and proposed regulations on safety, pollution abatement and mandatory product inspection. This paper examines the conflict between financial assistance which would maintain or expand capacity and fishery management which would reduce the number of vessels in overcapitalized fisheries. In the past, Federal financial assistance programs have stimulated vessel construction, conversions and repairs that have added to fleet harvesting capacity. Even though Federal financial assistance programs have affected only a portion of the net addition of vessels in various fleets, these programs are being carefully considered in light of the fishery management problem