Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Altered Risk of Lung Cancer in a Population-Based Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been consistently associated with increased risk of lung cancer. However, previous studies have had limited ability to determine whether the association is due to smoking. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The Environment And Genetics in Lung cancer Etiology (EAGLE) population-based case-control study recruited 2100 cases and 2120 controls, of whom 1934 cases and 2108 controls reported about diagnosis of chronic bronchitis, emphysema, COPD (chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema), or asthma more than 1 year before enrollment. We estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using logistic regression. After adjustment for smoking, other previous lung diseases, and study design variables, lung cancer risk was elevated among individuals with a history of chronic bronchitis (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.5-2.5), emphysema (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.4-2.8), or COPD (OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 2.0-3.1). Among current smokers, association between chronic bronchitis and lung cancer was strongest among lighter smokers. Asthma was associated with a decreased risk of lung cancer in males (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.30-0.78). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These results suggest that the associations of personal history of chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and COPD with increased risk of lung cancer are not entirely due to smoking. Inflammatory processes may both contribute to COPD and be important for lung carcinogenesis

Wear and corrosion interactions on titanium in oral environment : literature review

The oral cavity is a complex environment where corrosive substances from dietary, human saliva, and oral biofilms may accumulate in retentive areas of dental implant systems and prostheses promoting corrosion at their surfaces. Additionally, during mastication, micromovements may occur between prosthetic joints causing a relative motion between contacting surfaces, leading to wear. Both processes (wear and corrosion) result in a bio-tribocorrosion system once that occurs in contact with biological tissues and fluids. This review paper is focused on the aspects related to the corrosion and wear behavior of titanium-based structures in the oral environment. Furthermore, the clinical relevance of the oral environment is focused on the harmful effect that acidic substances and biofilms, formed in human saliva, may have on titanium surfaces. In fact, a progressive degradation of titanium by wear and corrosion (tribocorrosion) mechanisms can take place affecting the performance of titanium-based implant and prostheses. Also, the formation of wear debris and metallic ions due to the tribocorrosion phenomena can become toxic for human tissues. This review gathers knowledge from areas like materials sciences, microbiology, and dentistry contributing to a better understanding of bio-tribocorrosion processes in the oral environment.(undefined

Detection of Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Corresponding Biomarkers Using Optical Spectroscopy

OBJECTIVES: 1) Investigate the use of optical reflectance spectroscopy to differentiate malignant and non-malignant tissues in head and neck lesions; 2) Characterize corresponding oxygen tissue biomarkers that are associated with pathologic diagnosis STUDY DESIGN: Prospective non-randomized clinical study SETTING: Tertiary VA Medical Center SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All patients undergoing panendoscopy with biopsy for suspected head and neck cancer were eligible. Prior to taking tissue samples, the optical probe was placed at three locations to collect diffuse reflectance data. These locations were labeled “tumor”, “immediately adjacent”, and “distant normal tissue”. Biopsies were taken of each of these respective sites. The diffuse reflectance spectra were analyzed, and biomarker specific absorption data was extracted using an inverse Monte Carlo algorithm for malignant and non-malignant tissues. Histopathological analysis was performed and used as the gold standard to analyze the optical biomarker data. RESULTS: 21 patients with mucosal squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were identified and selected to participate in the study. Statistically significant differences in oxygen saturation (p = 0.004) and oxygenated hemoglobin (p = 0.02) were identified between malignant and non-malignant tissues. CONCLUSION: Our study established proof of principle that optical spectroscopy can be used in the head and neck areas to detect malignant tissue. Furthermore, tissue biomarkers were correlated with a diagnosis of malignancy

Assessment of Tissue Autofluorescence and Reflectance for Oral Cavity Cancer Screening

OBJECTIVE: Although approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for clinical use, the utility of hand-held tissue reflectance and autofluorescence devices for screening head and neck cancer patients is poorly defined. There is limited published evidence regarding the efficacy of these devices. We investigated the sensitivity and specificity of these modalities compared to standard exam. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, cross sectional analysis. SETTING: Tertiary care medical center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients who were treated previously for head and neck cancer (n=88) between 2009-2010 were included. Patients were screened using white light visualization (standard of care) and compared to tissue reflectance and autofluorescence visualization. Screening results were compared to biopsy or long term follow-up. RESULTS: Autofluorescence visualization had inferior specificity (81%) and equivalent sensitivity (50%), for detecting oral cavity cancer, when compared to white light visualization (98% specificity, 50% sensitivity). Tissue reflectance visualization had poor sensitivity (0%) and good specificity (86%). The positive and negative predictive values for standard white light exam (50% and 98% respectively) were superior to either tissue reflectance or autofluorescence. CONCLUSION: Standard clinical lighting has a higher sensitivity than tissue reflectance and autofluorescence visualization for detection of disease in patients with a history of head and neck cancer. This study does not support the added costs associated with these devices