Early life exposures and the risk of adult glioma

Abstract Exposure to common infections in early life may stimulate immune development and reduce the risk for developing cancer. Birth order and family size are proxies for the timing of exposure to childhood infections with several studies showing a reduced risk of glioma associated with a higher order of birth (and presumed younger age at infection). The aim of this study was to examine whether birth order, family size, and other early life exposures are associated with the risk of glioma in adults using data collected in a large clinic-based US case-control study including 889 glioma cases and 903 community controls. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on family structure, childhood exposures and other potential risk factors. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for the association between early life factors and glioma risk. Persons having any siblings were at significantly lower risk for glioma when compared to those reporting no siblings (OR = 0.64; 95 % CI 0.44-0.93; p = 0.020). Compared to first-borns, individuals with older siblings had a significantly lower risk (OR = 0.75; 95 % CI 0.61-0.91; p = 0.004). Birth weight, having been breast fed in infancy, and season of birth were not associated with glioma risk. The current findings lend further support to a growing body of evidence that early exposure to childhood infections reduces the risk of glioma onset in children and adults

The Association Between Risk Taking And Personality

The aim of this study was to examine the association between personality and risk taking in a sample of 461 older adults from the Charlotte County Healthy Aging Study (CCHAS). The personality factors of openness to experience, extraversion, neuroticism, agreeableness and conscientiousness were measured with the NEO Five Factor Inventory. Risk-taking was measured with an 8-item questionnaire and a single-item question that assessed subjects\u27 participation in sensation seeking behaviors. Spearman correlation coefficients, hierarchical linear regression and hierarchical logistic regression were used to assess the association. As consistent with past research, high scores on openness to experience (beta = 0.16, P\u3c.0001) and low scores on neuroticism (β = -0.14, P\u3c.01) and agreeableness (β = -0.16, P\u3c.01) were associated with the total score of the 8-item risk taking questionnaire. The single-item risk question was also associated with openness [OR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.05-1.13], neuroticism [OR = 0.94; 95% CI: 0.90-0.97] and agreeableness [OR = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.92-0.99]. After stratifying by gender, only openness was still significantly associated with risk-taking. Interaction terms including gender and personality factors were added to the models to test if gender was an effect modifier. Although personality differences existed between men and women, none of the interaction terms were statistically significant

The Natural History of Human Papillomavirus Related Condyloma In a Multinational Cohort of Men

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, but few studies have examined the progression from HPV infection to disease in men. Genital condyloma are the most common clinical manifestation of HPV infection. Though not associated with mortality, condyloma are a source of emotional distress, and treatment is often painful with a high recurrence rate. The aims of this study were to examine the distribution of HPV types present on the surface of condyloma, estimate the incidence of condyloma overall and after type-specific HPV infections, assess the sociodemographic and sexual behavior factors independently associated with incident condyloma, and examine the concordance between HPV types detected on the surface and in the tissue of condyloma. Participants included 2,487 men from the United States, Brazil, and Mexico who were enrolled in the prospective HPV in Men (HIM) Study and followed every six months for up to four years. At each study visit men completed a computer-assisted-self-administered risk factor questionnaire and samples of healthy penile skin were obtained to test for HPV DNA. A trained clinician examined men for the presence of condyloma and swabbed the surface of lesions to test for HPV DNA. Men were followed for a median of 17.9 months and 112 incident condyloma were identified. Thirty-four external genital lesions were also biopsied to test for HPV within the lesion tissue. PCR was used to test for HPV DNA and Linear Array was used to genotype 13 oncogenic and 24 non-oncogenic HPV types in samples obtained from swabbing the lesion surface. The LiPa assay was used to genotype 20 HPV types in biopsy samples. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate incidence and Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine factors independently associated with incident condyloma. Using biopsy samples as the gold standard, sensitivity and specificity were calculated to examine concordance between HPV types detected on the surface and within the tissue of condyloma. Condyloma incidence was 2.35 per 1,000 person-years. HPV 6 (43.8%), 11 (10.7%), and 16 (9.8%) were the most common types detected on condyloma. The probability of developing condyloma within 24-months of an incident HPV 6/11 infection was 14.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 7.5-21.1). The median time to condyloma development was 17.1 months (95% CI: 12.4-19.3), with the shortest time to detection observed among men with incident HPV infections with types 6/11 only (6.2 months; 95% CI: 5.6-24.2). Factors associated with condyloma were incident HPV 6/11 infection (hazard ratio (HR)=12.42; 95% CI: 3.78-40.77), younger age (HR=0.43; 95% CI: 0.26-0.77; 45-70 vs. 18-30 years), high lifetime number of female partners (HR=5.69; 95% CI: 1.80-17.97); ≥ 21 vs. 0), and sexual behaviors in the previous three months including infrequent condom use (HR=2.44; 95% CI: 1.16-5.14; \u3c half the time vs. always), number of male sexual partners (HR=4.53; 95% CI: 1.68-12.20; ≥ 3 vs. none), frequent vaginal intercourse (HR=4.14; 95% CI: 1.32-13.01); ≥ 21 times vs. none), having a partner with condyloma (HR=2.38; 95% CI: 1.01-5.61), and being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (HR=1.99; 95% CI: 1.17-3.39). HPV 6/11 plays an important role in condyloma development with the highest incidence and shortest time to condyloma development observed among men with incident HPV 6/11 infections. Recent sexual history was also strongly associated with incident condyloma in men, suggesting that prevention efforts targeting behavioral modification may be effective at reducing condyloma incidence among men who are not vaccinated. Samples obtained from the surface of condyloma lesions were both sensitive and specific as markers for the presence of any HPV, HPV6 and HPV11 in condyloma tissue, suggesting that sampling the surface of condyloma is a non-invasive and accurate marker of the HPV types present within the tissue

Serum vitamin D, vitamin D binding protein, and risk of colorectal cancer.

We previously reported a positive association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and colorectal cancer risk. To further elucidate this association, we examined the molar ratio of 25(OH)D to vitamin D binding protein (DBP), the primary 25(OH)D transport protein, and whether DBP modified the association between 25(OH)D and colorectal cancer risk.In a nested case-control study within the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study, controls were 1∶1 matched to 416 colorectal cancer cases based on age and date of blood collection. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for quartiles of 25(OH)D, DBP, and the molar ratio of 25(OH)D:DBP, a proxy for free, unbound circulating 25(OH)D.Comparing highest to lowest quartiles, DBP was not associated with colorectal cancer risk (OR = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.58, 1.42, p for trend  = 0.58); however, a positive risk association was observed for the molar ratio of 25(OH)D:DBP (OR = 1.44; 95% CI: 0.92, 2.26, p for trend  = 0.04). In stratified analyses, the positive association between 25(OH)D and colorectal cancer was stronger among men with DBP levels above the median (OR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.07, 3.36, p for trend  = 0.01) than below the median (OR = 1.20; 95% CI: 0.68, 2.12, p for trend  = 0.87), although the interaction was not statistically significant (p for interaction  = 0.24).Circulating DBP may influence the association between 25(OH)D and colorectal cancer in male smokers, with the suggestion of a stronger positive association in men with higher DBP concentrations. This finding should be examined in other populations, especially those that include women and non-smokers

Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between serum 25(OH)D, DBP, and the 25(OH)D:DBP molar ratio and colorectal cancer risk in stratified models, ATBC Study.

<p>Unconditional logistic regression was used for all models. OR  =  odds ratio; CI  =  confidence interval.</p>1<p>Cut-points for season specific quartiles (nmol/L): winter  = Q1: ≤18.3, Q2: >18.3–≤26.9, Q3: >26.9–≤42.0, Q4: >42.0;</p><p>Summer  = Q1: ≤27.0, Q2: >27.0 and ≤38.7, Q3: >38.7–≤53.4, Q4: >53.4.</p>2<p>Model adjusted for matching factors of age at randomization and date of blood collection.</p>3<p>Model adjusted for age at randomization, date of blood collection, years of smoking, serum α-tocopherol, serum β-carotene, serum retinol, BMI, height, and physical activity.</p>4<p>Adjusted for same factors in model 2, with additional adjustment for quartiles of 25(OH)D or DBP.</p

Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) Device Types and Flavors Used by Youth in the PATH Study, 2016&ndash;2019

The evolving electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) marketplace and recent regulatory actions may influence youth ENDS device preferences. Using data from Waves (W) 4, 4.5, and 5 (2016&ndash;2019) of the nationally representative Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, this study estimated the prevalence of open and closed system primary ENDS use by youth (12&ndash;17 years) current (past 30-day) ENDS users, and compared demographics, tobacco use characteristics, and patterns of ENDS use, including flavors, by device type. Among current ENDS users, closed system use was significantly higher than open system use in W4.5 (68.3% vs. 31.7%) and W5 (60.5% vs. 39.5%). In W5, closed system users were more likely to have a regular ENDS brand, believe their ENDS had nicotine, and use tobacco and mint or menthol flavors in the past 30 days compared to open system users. In W5, users of closed systems were less likely to use fruit, non-alcoholic drink, and candy, desserts, or other sweets flavors in the past 30 days than users of open systems. Youth were more likely to use closed over open system ENDS in 2017&ndash;2019. Differences were observed between device types, particularly with flavor use, reflecting recent changes in flavored product availability