Pretreatment serum albumin as a predictor of cancer survival: A systematic review of the epidemiological literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There are several methods of assessing nutritional status in cancer of which serum albumin is one of the most commonly used. In recent years, the role of malnutrition as a predictor of survival in cancer has received considerable attention. As a result, it is reasonable to investigate whether serum albumin has utility as a prognostic indicator of cancer survival in cancer. This review summarizes all available epidemiological literature on the association between pretreatment serum albumin levels and survival in different types of cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A systematic search of the literature using the MEDLINE database (January 1995 through June 2010) to identify epidemiologic studies on the relationship between serum albumin and cancer survival. To be included in the review, a study must have: been published in English, reported on data collected in humans with any type of cancer, had serum albumin as <it>one of the </it>or <it>only </it>predicting factor, had survival as one of the outcome measures (primary or secondary) and had any of the following study designs (case-control, cohort, cross-sectional, case-series prospective, retrospective, nested case-control, ecologic, clinical trial, meta-analysis).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 29 studies reviewed on cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, all except three found higher serum albumin levels to be associated with better survival in multivariate analysis. Of the 10 studies reviewed on lung cancer, all excepting one found higher serum albumin levels to be associated with better survival. In 6 studies reviewed on female cancers and multiple cancers each, lower levels of serum albumin were associated with poor survival. Finally, in all 8 studies reviewed on patients with other cancer sites, lower levels of serum albumin were associated with poor survival.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Pretreatment serum albumin levels provide useful prognostic significance in cancer. Accordingly, serum albumin level could be used in clinical trials to better define the baseline risk in cancer patients. A critical gap for demonstrating causality, however, is the absence of clinical trials demonstrating that raising albumin levels by means of intravenous infusion or by hyperalimentation decreases the excess risk of mortality in cancer.</p

Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Atmospheric Deposition of Dissolved Organic Carbon

Atmospheric deposition of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to terrestrial ecosystems is a small, but rarely studied component of the global carbon (C) cycle. Emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and organic particulates are the sources of atmospheric C and deposition represents a major pathway for the removal of organic C from the atmosphere. Here, we evaluate the spatial and temporal patterns of DOC deposition using 70 data sets at least one year in length ranging from 40° south to 66° north latitude. Globally, the median DOC concentration in bulk deposition was 1.7 mg L−1. The DOC concentrations were significantly higher in tropical (25°) latitudes. DOC deposition was significantly higher in the tropics because of both higher DOC concentrations and precipitation. Using the global median or latitudinal specific DOC concentrations leads to a calculated global deposition of 202 or 295 Tg C yr−1 respectively. Many sites exhibited seasonal variability in DOC concentration. At temperate sites, DOC concentrations were higher during the growing season; at tropical sites, DOC concentrations were higher during the dry season. Thirteen of the thirty-four long-term (>10 years) data sets showed significant declines in DOC concentration over time with the others showing no significant change. Based on the magnitude and timing of the various sources of organic C to the atmosphere, biogenic VOCs likely explain the latitudinal pattern and the seasonal pattern at temperate latitudes while decreases in anthropogenic emissions are the most likely explanation for the declines in DOC concentration.publishedVersio

Eradication of multi-resistant Salmonella typhimurium DT104 infections in 15 Danish swine herds

Multi-resistant Salmonella typhimurium DTI 04 (=DTI 04) was first isolated in United Kingdom in the 1980s. DT104 was isolated in Denmark for the first time in 1996 (1). Retrospective analysis of isolates detected DTI 04 in a Danish swine herd in 1991. The majority of the Danish isolates are characterized by being resistant to 5 frequently used antibiotics; ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulphonamides and tetracycline (ACStSuT), but isolates being resistant to e.g. flouroquinolones as well have been detected. DTI 04 is now known as an important and emerging pathogen in many countries (2, 3, 4, 5). DTI 04 has spread rapidly between animals within the herd, between herds and to other species (6). Salmonella \u27JYphimurium DTl 04 remains the second most common Salmonella in humans in England and Wales in 1997,95 pet. of the isolates were resistant to four or more antibiotics with the most common resistance pattern is that of ACStSuT (7). The described combination of the ability to spread rapidly and the multiresistance towards antibiotics used frequently in animals and humans implies that DTI 04 can be a serious problem for both animals and humans. By June 1999 DTI04has been detected in 16 swine herds, 12 combined swine and cattle herds and 2 cattle herds in Denmark. HumaneDTI04 cases have slightly increased in Denmark from 1997 to 1998. DTI04 now accounts for 13 pet. of Salmonella typhimurium phage types compared to 7 pet. in 1997. This increase is explained by the first community outbreak of DTI 04 in Denmark