Biomedical subjects

A Tavani

Publications and source records attributed to A Tavani.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

Coffee intake and risk of hip fracture in women in northern Italy.

BACKGROUND: Information on a possible relation between coffee, caffeine, and other methylxanthine-containing beverages and hip fracture is relatively scanty and controversial. We present here the results of a case-control study conducted in northern Italy. METHODS: A total of 279 cases of hip fracture and 1,061 controls in hospital for acute, nonneoplastic nontraumatic, non-hormone-related diseases were interviewed during their hospital stay. Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) according to consumption of coffee and other methylxanthine-containing beverages were derived from multiple logistic regression equations including terms for age, education, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol drinking, calcium intake, menopausal status, and estrogen replacement therapy. RESULTS: Compared with nondrinkers, the OR was 1.2 (95% CI, 0.8 to 1.7) for coffee drinkers. No association emerged with number of cups/day (OR = 1.2 for 1 cup/day, 1.0 for 2, 1.4 for 3 and 4, and 1.2 for 5 or more cups/day) or with duration of coffee intake (OR = 1.0 for less than 30 years and OR = 1.1 for more than 30 years). Similarly, no statistically significant association was observed with decaffeinated coffee (OR = 1.3), tea (OR = 1.3), or cola intake (OR = 0.6). OR for coffee drinking were computed across strata of age, menopausal status, education, smoking status, total alcohol drinking, and calcium intake. CONCLUSIONS: The present study found no association between hip fractures among women and consumption of regular or decaffeinated coffee, tea, and cola.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Selected diseases and risk of cataract in women. A case-control study from northern Italy.

The relationship between cataract extraction in women and current body mass index, history of clinically relevant obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia was considered in a case-control study conducted in northern Italy. A total of 287 women who had cataract extraction and 1227 control subjects who were in the hospital for acute, nonneoplastic, nonophthalmologic, nonmetabolic, nongastroenterologic diseases were interviewed during their hospital stay. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived from multiple logistic regression equations, including terms for age, education, smoking status, current body mass index, and simultaneously the four diseases considered. Elevated current body mass index (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2 to 3.8, for > or = 30 versus < 20 kg/m2), diabetes (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4 to 3.4), hypertension (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.0), hyperlipidemia (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.7), and clinical history of obesity (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.0 to 2.2) were associated with an increased risk of cataract extraction. The OR in two separate strata of age (< 60 and > or = 60 years) indicated that the associations of diabetes and hyperlipidemia were stronger at a younger age: the OR for diabetes was 4.6 for those younger than 60 years and 1.7 for those age 60 or over, and for hyperlipidemia the ORs were 2.8 and 1.6, respectively. Thus, the results of this study support the association in women between cataract extraction and diabetes, current overweight, history of clinically relevant obesity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. These findings also suggest that these factors may have some biologically independent impact on the risk of cataract.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Fruit and vegetable consumption and cancer risk in a Mediterranean population.

Ecological, case-control, and cohort studies present convincing evidence that diets rich in fresh fruit and vegetables protect against several common epithelial neoplasms. Studies of the Mediterranean diet are of particular interest to better understand and quantify this effect in view of the frequency and range of fruit and vegetable consumption by these populations. We review the results of a large-scale, Italian, case-control study of dietary intake of fruit and vegetables and risk of cancer at several sites. The relative risks (RRs) for most common neoplasms ranged from 0.2 to 0.5 for the highest compared with the lowest tertile of vegetable intake. Protective effects of vegetables were also observed against hormone-related neoplasms. Higher intakes of fruit were related to a reduced RR for cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx, esophagus, stomach, or larynx, as well as of the urinary tract, although protection was less evident for other digestive tract sites, as well as for other epithelial cancers. No association was observed between fruit and vegetable consumption and nonepithelial neoplasms. For upper respiratory and digestive tract cancers, population attributable risks for fresh vegetable and fruit intake ranged from 18% to 40% in men and from 15% to 30% in women; attributable risks for fresh vegetable and fruit intake, combined with tobacco and alcohol, exceeded 85% for men and 55% for women.

Case-Control Studies↗

PubMed1995

Calcium, dairy products, and the risk of hip fracture in women in northern Italy.

We report the relation between hip fracture and intake of calcium and dairy products in postmenopausal women age 45 years or over. We conducted a case-control study in northern Italy. We interviewed a total of 241 cases of hip fracture and 719 controls in hospital for acute, nonneoplastic, nontraumatic, nondigestive, non-hormone-related diseases during their hospital stay. We derived odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI), according to intake of calcium, milk, and cheese from multiple logistic regression equations, including terms for age, education, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol drinking, and estrogen replacement therapy. Cutoff points for extreme quintiles of calcium intake were 443 and 1,026 mg per day. Compared with the lowest quintile of calcium intake, the multivariate ORs were 1.2 (95% CI = 0.7-2.0), 1.1 (95% CI = 0.6-1.7), 1.1 (95% CI = 0.6-1.7), and 1.2 (95% CI = 0.8-2.0) for subsequent quintiles of intake. Similarly, there was no appreciable association with milk (compared with less than 7 drinks per week, ORs were 1.2 and 1.0, respectively, for 7 and more than 7 drinks per week) or cheese intake (compared with less than 4 portions per week, ORs were 1.2 for 4-6 portions and 1.0 for more than 6 portions per week). OR estimates for calcium intake (tertiles) were consistent across strata of age, education, smoking status, and alcohol drinking. Thus, within the range of variation of intake of the main sources of calcium in this population, there was little association between hip fractures in women and intake of calcium, milk, and cheese.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

Epidemiological evidence on hair dyes and the risk of cancer in humans.

Epidemiological data on occupational exposure and personal use of hair dyes was reviewed with specific focus on bladder cancer and lymphoid neoplasms. At least seven cohort and 11 case-control studies included data on occupational exposure to hair dyes by hairdressers, barbers and beauticians, and their subsequent bladder cancer risk. The relative risk (RR) estimate was 1.4 (183 observed vs 129 expected) for cohort studies, and in several case-control studies the RRs were somewhat above unity. These results are compatible with some moderate association between past professional exposure to hair dyes and subsequent bladder cancer risk, but also with errors and biases in observational epidemiological studies, particularly since allowance for smoking was lacking or inadequate in most studies. An open question is whether current occupational exposure to modern hair dyes is still related to some excess bladder cancer risk. Five case-control studies included information on personal use of hair dyes and bladder cancer risk. There was no evidence of any association. Nine cohort and eight case-control studies considering occupational exposure to hair dyes and lymphoid neoplasms were reviewed. In the cohort studies, a total of 100 lymphoid neoplasms was observed compared with 84.4 expected (RR 1.2). The RR estimates were 1.5 for non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL, 17 observed vs 11.2 expected) and 1.1 for multiple myeloma (MM, 19 observed cases vs 16.8 expected). Interpretation of case-control studies of occupational exposure is seriously hampered by the small number of exposed cases. Five case-control studies considered personal use of hair dyes and the risk of lymphoid neoplasms. Of these, three reported some association, particularly with NHL and MM. However, the RR estimates were only moderately above unity, and inadequate allowance was made for potential confounding factors, including social class and greying hair, which could be correlates of both hair dye use and lymphoid neoplasms. Further, there is little information on the biodistribution and bioavailability of potential carcinogens in hair dyes, particularly their concentrations in lymphoid tissue. These findings, therefore, require further research, particularly since they may be influenced by selective publication of positive findings (publication bias). None of the other neoplasms extensively studied, including breast, skin and lung was related to hair dye use.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Influence of some covariates on the reproducibility of an Italian semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire.

We studied the influence of age, sex, education and time between interviews on the reproducibility of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) developed in Italy for a case-control study on cancers of the breast and digestive tract. The questionnaire had been administered twice to 452 Italian men and women and included the weekly consumption of 77 food items or groups of foods, seven summary questions and three questions on some general dietary habits. Spearman correlation coefficients for the 77 dietary items plus the seven summary questions did not differ between males (median 0.61) and females (median 0.58), volunteers younger than 50 years (median 0.58) and aged 50 or more (median 0.59), volunteers with fewer than 10 years of education (median 0.58) and with 10 or more (median 0.59). A slightly higher Spearman correlation coefficient was found when the two interviews were conducted 5-6 months apart (median 0.60) or more than 6 (median 0.59) than when less than 5 (median 0.55). Similarly, Pearson correlation coefficients for the intake of 27 nutrients or micronutrients, plus caloric intake, computed from the FFQ showed no differences between males (median 0.65) and females (median 0.64), two age groups (median 0.67 for subjects aged < 50 years and 0.65 for those aged > or = 50), and two educational levels (median 0.68 for < 10 years and 0.65 for > or = 10 years). The median Pearson correlation coefficient for nutrients was slightly higher for those subjects who were interviewed with the planned interval (5-6 months, median 0.71) than when the interval was shorter (median 0.57) or longer (median 0.64).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Smoking habits and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a case-control study in northern Italy.

BACKGROUND: A potential relationship between non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and tobacco smoking has been reported. This was further considered in a case-control study conducted in northern Italy in the provinces of Milan and Pordenone. METHODS: A total of 429 cases of incident, histologically confirmed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 1,157 controls in hospital for acute, nonneoplastic, nonimmunological, non-tobacco-related diseases were interviewed during their hospital stay. Relative risk (RR) estimates and their 95% confidence intervals (CI), according to various measures of tobacco smoking, were derived from multiple logistic regression equations including terms for age, sex, study center, body mass index, and alcohol and coffee drinking. RESULTS: Compared with that for never smokers, the multivariate RR was 1.0 (95% CI, 0.8 to 1.4) for both current smokers and ex-smokers. No trend in risk emerged with the number of cigarettes smoked per day (RR = 0.9, 95% CI, 0.7 to 1.3 for less than 20 cigarettes/day, and RR = 1.2, 95% CI, 0.8 to 1.8, for 20 or more cigarettes/day), or tar yield (RR = 1.2 for less than 17 mg, 1.0 for 17-20 mg, and 0.9 for more than 20 mg). Similarly, no trend in risk was observed with duration of smoking (RR = 1.0 for less than 30 years, 1.0 for 30-39 years, and 1.1 for 40 or more years) or age at starting smoking (RR = 1.1 for less than 20 years, 1.0 for 20-29 years, and 1.1 for 30 years or over) and, for ex-smokers, with time since quitting (RR = 1.1 for less than 10 years and 1.0 for 10 or more years of smoking cessation). CONCLUSIONS: The present study found no association between various measures of tobacco smoking and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Coffee consumption and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

There is no adequate information on the carcinogenicity of coffee and, specifically, on a potential association of coffee drinking with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Consumption of coffee and other methylxanthine-containing beverages has been researched in a case-control study conducted in northern Italy. A total of 429 cases of incident histologically confirmed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 1,157 controls in hospital for acute, non-neoplastic, non-immunological, non-digestive tract diseases were interviewed during their hospital stay. Relative risk (RR) estimates and their 95% confidence intervals (CI), according to consumption of coffee and other methylxanthine-containing beverages, were derived from multiple logistic regression equations including terms for age, sex, study centre, body mass index, alcohol and smoking status. Compared with non-drinkers, the RR was 1.2 (95% CI, 0.8-1.7) for coffee drinkers. No trend in risk emerged with number of cups of coffee consumed/day (RR = 1.1 for one and three cups; RR = 1.2 for two; or RR = 0.9 for four cups/day), or duration of coffee intake (RR = 1.2 for less than 20 years; RR = 1.3 for 21-30 years; and RR = 1.1 for more than 30 years). Similarly, no significant association was observed with consumption of decaffeinated coffee (RR = 0.9) or tea (RR = 1.2). Consumption of cola was associated with a borderline risk (RR = 1.7; 95% CI 1.0-2.7). We found no association between non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and consumption of regular or decaffeinated coffee and tea.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Determinants of body mass index: a study from northern Italy.

Overweight and obesity are associated with increased mortality and morbidity, and human weight is influenced by multiple factors, both genetically and environmentally determined. We investigated the influence of some socioeconomic, behavioral, dietary and reproductive factors on body mass index (BMI). Data were obtained from a comparison group of a case-control study of gastrointestinal cancers from the four largest teaching and general hospitals in Milan, northern Italy. The subjects were 1,188 men and 832 women admitted between January 1985 and June 1992 to the hospitals under study for diseases other than malignant or digestive and not known or suspected to be related to alcohol or tobacco. The following were measured: BMI (Quetelet's index, weight, kg/height, m2) and the corresponding standard errors (s.e.) in strata of selected variables, linear regression coefficients (beta) and correlation coefficients between BMI and each variable. Mean BMI increased with age until 35-44 years in men and 45-54 years in women. In both sexes BMI was inversely associated with education and social class. Smokers tended to be leaner than non-smokers, but no consistent trend was observed with increasing numbers of cigarettes. Alcohol drinkers had mean BMI similar to non-drinkers, except heavy drinking women who were lighter. BMI was not significantly associated with coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea, bread, vegetable and fruit consumption. No relation was observed between total estimated caloric intake and BMI. In women BMI was directly associated with marriage and number of children, and inversely with oral contraceptive use.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Attributable risk for laryngeal cancer in northern Italy.

Using data from a case-control study conducted between 1986 and 1992 in Northern Italy on 367 cases of laryngeal cancers (350 men and 17 women) and 1931 hospital controls (1373 men and 558 women), we estimated the relative risks (RR) and the population attributable risks (AR) for laryngeal cancer in relation to tobacco and alcohol consumption and a diet containing little fresh fruit and vegetables (low beta-carotene intake). In men, the RR and their 95% confidence interval (CI), derived from multiple logistic regression, including terms for center, age, and education, plus, simultaneously, tobacco, alcohol, and beta-carotene) were 3.3 (95% CI, 1.9 to 5.5) for ex- or moderate smokers (< 15 cigarettes/day) and 8.8 (95% CI, 5.2 to 14.8) for heavy current smokers compared to never smokers; the RR were 1.5 (95% CI, 1.0 to 2.2) for drinkers of 6 to < 8 alcoholic drinks/day and 2.2 (95% CI, 1.6 to 3.0) for drinkers of 8 or more drinks/day compared to teetotallers or moderate drinkers; with respect to carotene intake the RR were 1.4 (95% CI, 1.0 to 2.0) for the intermediate tertile and 1.8 (95% CI, 1.3 to 2.5) for the lowest tertile, as compared to the highest tertile of intake. AR were estimated assuming a multiplicative model: the single factor with the largest AR was smoking, which accounted for about 77% of laryngeal cancers in men; alcohol intake explained about 25% of cases, low beta-carotene intake accounted for about 18% of cases, and together the three factors were responsible for about 86% of laryngeal cancers in men.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Alcohol consumption and risk of prostate cancer.

Because alcohol influences metabolism and serum levels of sex hormones and specifically increases metabolic clearance of testosterone, some role of alcohol consumption in the process of prostatic carcinogenesis is biologically plausible. The relationship between prostate cancer and total alcohol consumption was therefore investigated in a case-control study conducted in Northern Italy between 1985 and 1992 on 281 cases and 599 controls admitted to hospital for acute nonneoplastic diseases apparently unrelated to alcohol and tobacco consumption. No noteworthy relationship was found for major measures of alcohol intake: compared with teetotallers, the multivariate relative risks (RRs) of prostate cancer, after adjustment for age, study center, education, marital status, body mass index, and smoking status, were 1.3, 0.9, 1.2, and 1.1, respectively, for men drinking fewer than three, three to less than five, five to less than eight, or more than eight alcoholic beverages per day. None of the estimates was significant, nor was the trend in risk significant. Multivariate risks were also close to unity in the separate analysis of intake of wine (RR = 1.2 and 0.9 for < 5 and or = 5 drinks/day, respectively, compared with wine abstainers), beer (RR = 1.1 for beer drinkers compared with beer abstainers), and spirit (RR = 0.8 for spirit intake compared with beer abstainers). No relationship was observed with duration of use (< 40 and > or = 40 yrs, multivariate RRs = 1.1 and 1.3, respectively), and the alcohol-related risk estimates were similar for men < 70 and > or = 70 years of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Risk factors for esophageal cancer in women in northern Italy.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of esophageal cancer in women in Italy is low, and its risk factors have not been studied extensively. METHODS: The relationship between risk of esophageal cancer and frequency of consumption of tobacco, alcohol, and a few selected dietary items was studied in 57 Italian women with histologically confirmed incident cancers of the esophagus and 344 hospital control patients, using data from a case-control study conducted in Milan, Italy, 1984-1991. RESULTS: The major risk factor for cancer of the esophagus in Italian women was cigarette smoking (relative risk [RR], 1.5 for < 15 cigarettes/day, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6-3.8; and RR, 4.8 for > or = 15 cigarettes/day, 95% CI, 2.2-10.3; compared with those who never smoked), followed by elevated alcohol consumption (RR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.0-5.4 for three or more drinks/day, relative to teetotalers), which together explained more than 50% of cases. Among dietary items, high intake of fresh fruit showed a statistically significant protective effect (RR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.9 for the highest versus the lowest tertile of intake). There was an inverse relationship with an estimate of beta-carotene intake (RR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.2-1.0 for the highest versus the lowest level of intake). No association was evident with preformed vitamin A (retinol). CONCLUSION: On a population scale, tobacco is the major risk factor for esophageal cancer in Italian women. Although the incidence of esophageal cancer is much lower in women than in men, major risk and protective factors are similar for both sexes.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Risk factors for epithelial ovarian cancer in women under age 45.

Risk factors for ovarian cancer in young women were investigated using data from a case-control study conducted between 1983 and 1992 in Milan, northern Italy, on 194 women below age 45 with histologically confirmed incident cancers of the ovary and 710 controls admitted to the same network of hospitals for acute non-gynecological, nonhormonal and non-neoplastic diseases. An elevated relative risk (RR) of ovarian cancer was found among women reporting 12 or more years of education [RR 1.6, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.0-2.03] and belonging to the highest social class (RR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-3.0). Women whose mothers had had ovarian cancer had a multivariate RR of 2.7 (95% CI 0.7-10.5) compared to those with no family history. Menarche above age 13 and irregular menstrual cycles were significantly protective against ovarian cancer (RR 0.6 for both risk factors). There was a significant inverse relationship with abortions, the RR being 0.6 both for spontaneous and for induced abortions, while protection of parity was not significant. Higher risks of ovarian cancer were observed in women having first or last birth when older than 30 years (RR 2.0 and 2.4, respectively, compared to those delivering under age 25). A significant trend toward an increased risk of ovarian cancer was also observed with decreasing time since last birth. Compared with women whose last birth occurred 10 or more years before diagnosis, the RR was 2.1 (95% CI 1.1-3.9) for those reporting a birth during the last 5 years. The RR for oral contraceptive users was 0.7 (95% CI 0.5-1.0) and the protection increased with duration, with RR of 0.3 (95% CI 0.1-0.7) for 5 or more years of use. This study indicates that, although the incidence of ovarian cancer is higher in older women, recognised risk and protective factors are similar below age 45. An excess risk in the few years after a term delivery is also suggested.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Decaffeinated coffee and acute myocardial infarction. A case-control study in Italian women.

The relationship between consumption of decaffeinated coffee and acute myocardial infarction was analyzed in a case-control study conducted in Italy between 1983 and 1992. Case patients were 433 women with acute myocardial infarction, aged 24 to 69 years (median age, 52 years), and control subjects included 869 women in hospital for a wide spectrum of acute conditions, other than cardiovascular, neoplastic, digestive, and hormone-related diseases or conditions associated with long-term modification of diet. Regular use of decaffeinated coffee was reported by 11% of the case patients and 7% of the control subjects. Compared with women who did not drink decaffeinated coffee, the relative risk (RR) was 1.3 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.8 to 2.2) for one cup/d and 2.1 (95% CI, 1.1 to 3.9) for 2 or more cups (chi 2(1) for trend = 5.62, P = 0.02). The estimates were somewhat higher after allowance for education, marital status, body mass index, and smoking status (RR for > or = 2 cups of decaffeinated coffee per day, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.9), and somewhat lower after further allowance for diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia (RR, 1.7; 95% CI, 0.8 to 3.6). There was no association between duration of use of decaffeinated coffee and infarction risk. The relationship between decaffeinated coffee and infarction was consistent across strata of age, education, smoking, and history of hyperlipidemia. Thus, a relationship of marginal significance was observed in this study between decaffeinated coffee and myocardial infarction, of similar magnitude to that described for caffeinated coffee. This indicates that (i) caffeine is unlikely to be a relevant factor in any potential coffee-myocardial infarction relationship, and (ii) shifting from caffeinated to decaffeinated coffee is unjustified in order to reduce any possible coffee-related infarction risk.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Female hormone utilisation and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The relationship between female hormone use and primary liver cancer was analysed using data from a case-control study conducted between 1984 and 1992 in Milan on 82 female incident cases with histologically or serologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma and 368 controls admitted to hospital for acute non-neoplastic, non-hormone-related diseases. An elevated relative risk (RR) or primary liver cancer was observed in oral contraceptive (OC) users (RR 2.6, for ever versus never users, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.0-7.0). The RR was directly related to duration of use (RR 1.5 for < or = 5 years and 3.9 for > 5 years) and persisted for longer than 10 years after stopping use (RR 4.3%, 95% CI 1.0-18.2). The RR were below unity, although not significantly, for women ever using oestrogen replacement therapy (RR 0.2, 95% CI 0.03-1.5) and female hormones for indications other than contraception and menopausal therapy (RR 0.4, 95% CI 0.1-1.5). The long-lasting, association between risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and OC use has potential implications on a public health scale, since primary liver cancer is a relatively rare disease among young women, but much more common at older ages. This study provides limited but reassuring evidence on the possible relationship between oestrogen replacement treatment and subsequent risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Oral contraceptives and breast cancer in northern Italy. Final report from a case-control study.

To assess the relation between oral contraceptive (OC) use and breast cancer, we analysed data from a case-control study conducted in Northern Italy between 1983 and 1991 on 2,309 cases below age 60 and 1,928 controls admitted to hospital for acute diseases unrelated to OC use and to any of the known or potential risk factors for breast cancer. OC use was reported by 16% of cases and 14% of controls. The multivariate relative risk (RR) for ever vs never use of combination OC was 1.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-1.4). However, there was no trend in risk with duration. The RR was elevated for very short use, but declined to 0.8 (95% CI = 0.5-1.0) for five or more years' use. No noteworthy relationship was found for other major measures of OC use, although RR estimates were above unity for women who had stopped use less than 5 years before (RR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.1-2.0), started use less than 10 years before (RR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.0-1.9), started when 25 or more years old (RR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1-1.7), or after first birth (RR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.0-1.5). No interaction was observed between OC use and family history of breast cancer, parity and age at first birth. A separate analysis of 373 cases and 456 control below age 40 showed no association with ever use (RR = 0.9, 95% CI = 0.6-1.2).

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Characterization of opioid binding sites in rat spinal cord.

Binding sites were characterized in rat whole spinal cord crude membrane preparations using selective labelling techniques with multiple methods of mathematical analysis of experimental curves. Mathematical analysis of single [3H]-[D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly-ol5] enkephalin (DAGO) saturation curves suggested binding of the [3H]-ligand at one site, while displacement curves of low concentrations of [3H]-DAGO with selective mu-ligands indicated the presence of high- and low-affinity sites. All the [3H]-DAGO curves processed simultaneously by LIGAND analysis showed the presence of high (27%) and low (73%) affinity components, with a total Bmax of 3.19 pmol/g tissue. Eighty percent of [3H]-[D-Ala2,D-Leu5] enkephalin (DADLE) binding was displaced by DAGO with high affinity, indicating that a high percentage of [3H]-DADLE binding was at mu-sites. Saturation curves of [3H]-DADLE after inhibition of mu-sites by unlabelled DAGO (delta-sites) were monophasic with non-linear fitting analysis and the Bmax was 0.90 pmol/g tissue. Most mathematical analysis of single saturation curves of [3H]-(-)-bremazocine indicated binding at more than one site. DAGO, DADLE, U-69,593 and PD 117302 displaced 0.15 nM of [3H]-(-)-bremazocine biphasically: the percentages of displacement calculated with the non-linear fitting program were respectively 50 (mu-sites), 64 ((mu + delta)-sites), 18 and 25 (kappa-sites). Haloperidol displaced [3H]-(-)-bremazocine only at microM concentrations. suggesting no binding at sigma-sites. In the presence of 225 nM of DAGO, DADLE displaced only 21% of [3H]-(-)-bremazocine 0.15 nM binding (delta-sites). Most mathematical analysis of saturation curves of [3H]-(-)-bremazocine, after inhibition of binding at mu- and delta-sites by DAGO and DADLE, still indicated binding at more than one site and the selective kappa-ligands U-69,593 and PD 117302 displaced [3H]-(-)-bremazocine in these experimental conditions. LIGAND analysis of saturation and inhibition curves of [3H]-(-)-bremazocine by U-69,593 and PD 117302 showed the presence of high (43%) and low (57%) affinity components, with a total Bmax of 2,73 pmol/g tissue. Thus in rat spinal cord there are at least two mu-sites bound by [3H]-DAGO which amount together to approximately 47% of total opioid sites, delta-sites bound by [3H]-DADLE amounting to approximately 13%, kappa-sites and other unknown sites (possibly a kappa-subtype) bound by [3H]-(-)-bremazocine, which together are approximately 40% of total opioid sites.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Binding capacities and affinities at mu-, delta- and kappa-opioid sites in membrane suspensions from guinea-pig brain regions.

Binding capacities and affinities (KD) of ligands at mu-, delta- and kappa-opioid binding sites were determined by selective labelling techniques together with analysis of saturation curves in seven regions of the guinea-pig brain. The kappa-sites predominated over the other sites in most regions and were 90% of the total in the cerebellum; binding capacities at kappa-sites were highest in the cortex, intermediate in the cerebellum, striatum and mesencephalon and lowest in the diencephalon, hippocampus and pons-medulla. At the mu-sites, binding capacities were highest in the diencephalon and mesencephalon, with intermediate levels in the pons-medulla, cortex and striatum, and low levels in the hippocampus and cerebellum. The highest binding capacity at the delta-sites was in the striatum, intermediate in the cortex, diencephalon and hippocampus, low in the mesencephalon and pons-medulla and not detectable in the cerebellum. No regional differences in binding affinities were found at mu-, delta- and kappa-sites with [3H]-[D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin (KD = 1.10-2,61 nM), [3H]-[D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin (KD = 0.81-1.94 nM) and [3H]-(-)-bremazocine (KD = 0.083-0.185 nM). Thus in guinea-pig brain there are regional differences in opioid binding capacity and in the distribution of mu-, delta- and kappa-sites, but not in binding affinities.

Animals↗