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Biomedical subjects

B Rodu

Publications and source records attributed to B Rodu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Tobacco use among Swedish schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of snus use and of smoking among Swedish schoolchildren from 1989 to 2003. DESIGN: Surveys conducted by the Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other Drugs. SETTING: All of Sweden. SUBJECTS: 84,472 boys and girls age 15-16 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects are classified as non-smokers, occasional smokers, and regular smokers, and into three similar categories for snus use. Tobacco use is reported as sex specific prevalence. RESULTS: During the period 1989 to 2003, the prevalence of tobacco use declined both among boys and girls. For boys, regular smoking declined after 1992 from 10% to 4%. Their snus use was about 10% in the 1990s but increased to 13% by 2003. Regular smoking among girls was 20% in early years and declined to 15%. Smoking among girls was always double that among boys. Patterns of occasional tobacco use were similar to those of regular use. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of snus use in Sweden not only reduces smoking rates among Swedish men, but suppresses smoking among boys as well.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

The influence of smoking and smokeless tobacco use on weight amongst men.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of tobacco use (smoking and smokeless tobacco) and cessation on body weight. DESIGN: Cross-sectional and prospective follow-up study. SETTING: Northern Sweden. SUBJECTS: A total of 2993 men aged 25-64 years who participated in the northern Sweden MONICA study in 1986, 1990 or 1994, 1650 of whom were followed up in 1999. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The prevalence of overweight [body mass index (BMI) >/= 27] amongst tobacco users was compared with nonusers at entry into the study. The average annual percentage weight gain amongst men was also determined according to tobacco use both at entry and at follow-up, and the development of overweight amongst tobacco-use groups was reported using standardized incidence ratios. RESULTS: Smokers who quit tobacco during the follow-up period gained significantly more weight than smokers who switched to snus (annual gain 0.96% vs. 0.51%, P < 0.05). At entry, ex-smokers had higher prevalence of overweight than nonusers of tobacco [prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.10-1.40]. Snus users had slightly higher prevalence of overweight at entry (PR = 1.20, CI = 1.01-1.42). Snus users who quit gained more weight than nonusers (0.70% vs. 0.44%, P < 0.05) or those who continued to use snus (0.42%). CONCLUSIONS: Cessation of tobacco, either cigarettes or snus, leads to significantly increased weight gain. However, snus use may play a role in lowering the weight gain following smoking cessation.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Influence of smoking and snus on the prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes amongst men: the northern Sweden MONICA study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of smoking and smokeless tobacco, 'snus', on the risk of type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional and prospective follow-up study in northern Sweden. SUBJECTS: A total of 3384 men, aged 25-74 years, who participated in the MONICA study in 1986, 1990, 1994 or 1999, 1170 of whom had an oral glucose tolerance test. In 1999, 1757 men from previous cohorts returned for re-examination. Main outcome measures. We compared the prevalence of type 2 diabetes or pathological glucose tolerance (PGT) amongst tobacco users to that of nonusers at entry into the study and at follow-up, using odds ratios. RESULTS: Compared with never users, the age-adjusted risk of prevalent clinically diagnosed diabetes for ever smokers was 1.88 (CI 1.17-3.0) and for smokers 1.74 (0.94-3.2). Corresponding odds ratios for snus users were 1.34 (0.65-2.7) and 1.18 (0.48-2.9). We found no increased risk of prevalent PGT in snus users or smokers. Former smokers and snus users had an insignificantly increased risk for PGT. Compared with nonusers, the age-adjusted risk of developing clinically diagnosed diabetes during follow-up was 4.63 (1.37-16) in consistent exclusive smokers, 3.20 (1.16-8.8) in ex-smokers and no cases in consistent snus users. The risk of PGT during follow-up was not increased in consistent tobacco users but evident, although not statistically significant, in those who quit snus during the follow-up period, 1.85 (0.60-5.7). Adjustment for physical activity and alcohol consumption did not change the major findings. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of diabetes for snus users was not significantly increased. Smoking was associated with prevalent and incident cases of diabetes. Ex-tobacco users tended towards more PGT.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Evolving patterns of tobacco use in northern Sweden.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cross-sectional data from northern Sweden suggest that the increased use of Swedish moist snuff (snus) may have contributed to a decline in the prevalence of smoking, especially amongst men. This study describes the evolving patterns of tobacco use in this population over the period 1986-1999. DESIGN: This is a prospective follow-up study of 1651 men and 1756 women, aged 25-64 years, who were enrolled in the northern Sweden MONICA project (entry in 1986, 1990, 1994) and who were followed-up in 1999. Information on tobacco use at entry and at follow-up was used to describe the stability of tobacco use over a period of 5-13 years ending in 1999. RESULTS: Snus was the most stable form of tobacco use amongst men (75%); only 2% of users switched to cigarettes and 20% quit tobacco altogether. Smoking was less stable (54%); 27% of smokers were tobacco-free and 12% used snus at follow-up. Combined use (smoking and snus) was the least stable (39%), as 43% switched to snus and 6% switched to cigarettes. Former users of both products were much less stable than former users of either cigarettes or snus. The stability of smoking amongst women was 69%, which was higher than that amongst men (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of snus played a major role in the decline of smoking rates amongst men in northern Sweden. The evolution from smoking to snus use occurred in the absence of a specific public health policy encouraging such a transition and probably resulted from historical and societal influences.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Impact of smokeless tobacco use on smoking in northern Sweden.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: For many years Swedish men have had the world's lowest rates of smoking and smoking-related mortality. Despite these facts, a thorough analysis of tobacco use patterns in Sweden has not been performed. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and interaction of cigarette smoking and use of Swedish moist snuff (snus) in the population of northern Sweden. DESIGN: The study cohort of 2998 men and 3092 women aged 25-64 was derived from the northern Sweden MONICA study, consisting of population-based surveys in 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1999. Detailed information on tobacco use was used to develop prevalence data, and the prevalence ratio was used to compare rates amongst various subgroups. RESULTS: Amongst men ever-tobacco use was stable in all survey years at about 65%, but the prevalence of smoking declined from 23% in 1986 to 14% in 1999, whilst snus use increased from 22% to 30%. In women the prevalence of smoking was more stable in the first three surveys (approximately 27%) but was 22% in 1999, when snus use was 6%. In all years men showed higher prevalence of ex-smoking than women. A dominant factor was a history of snus (PR = 6.18, CI = 4.96-7.70), which was more prevalent at younger ages. CONCLUSIONS: The recent transition from smoking to snus use amongst men, and incipiently amongst women, in northern Sweden is remarkable and relevant to the global discussion on strategies to reduce smoking.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The fifty-year decline of cancer in America.

PURPOSE: From 1950 to 1990, the overall cancer mortality rate increased steadily in the United States, a trend which ran counter to declining mortality from other major diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of lung cancer on all-cancer mortality over the past 50 years. METHODS: Data from the National Centers for Health Statistics were used to develop mortality rates for all forms of cancer combined, lung cancer, and other-cancer (all-cancer minus lung cancer) from 1950 to 1998. RESULTS: When lung cancer is excluded, mortality from all other forms of cancer combined declined continuously from 1950 to 1998, dropping 25% during this period. The decline in other-cancer mortality was approximately 0.4% annually from 1950 to 1990 but accelerated to 0.9% per year from 1990 to 1996 and to 2.2% per year from 1996 to 1998. CONCLUSION: The long-term decline is likely due primarily to improvements in medical care, including screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

Humans↗
PubMed2001

Mortality among employees at a petrochemical research facility.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective follow-up study evaluated mortality during 1970-1996 among 6,956 employees at a petrochemical research facility in Illinois. METHODS: Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) compared employees' mortality rates with those of the Illinois general population. Poisson regression procedures estimated rate ratios for various subject subgroups compared to other facility employees. RESULTS: Subjects had 267 observed/524 expected deaths (SMR = 51) from all causes combined and a large deficit of deaths from all cancers (76/136, SMR = 56) and from most other major diseases. Other results included fewer than expected brain cancers (1/4.0, SMR = 25) and a slight increase in colorectal cancer (20/14, SMR = 139) that was concentrated in white male scientists employed for one of the three main companies at the facility (SMR = 295, RR = 2.6). CONCLUSIONS: The deficit of brain cancer deaths contrasts with an excess incidence seen in a companion study. Subjects' generally favorable mortality experience probably reflects socioeconomic advantages of employees relative to the Illinois general population.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Aggressive osteoblastoma of the mandible closely simulating calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor. Report of two cases with unusual histopathologic findings.

Aggressive osteoblastoma is a rare bone-forming neoplasm composed of prominent epithelioid cells that demonstrate locally invasive growth with a high rate of recurrence but no metastatic potential. Clinical, radiographic and pathologic features of mandibular aggressive osteoblastoma in a 21-year-old African-American male and a 12-year-old Caucasian female are presented. Both tumors were resected with wide surgical margins and neither patient had adjuvant radiation or chemotherapy. The patients showed no evidence of local recurrence or distant spread either clinically or radiographically after two years of follow-up. These tumors were composed of solid sheets of pleomorphic epithelioid cells, eosinophilic amorphous osteoid with foci of calcification, which closely simulated amyloid. Differentiation of this tumor from histologically similar calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor and low-grade osteosarcoma proved difficult. Immunohistochemical study with osteocalcin confirmed the osteoblastic nature of these epithelioid cells.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Cancer incidence among employees at a petrochemical research facility.

This investigation evaluated cancer incidence among workers at a petrochemical research facility in Illinois. A cluster of brain cancer and other intracranial tumors had occurred at the facility before the study began. The subjects were 5641 people who had worked at the facility from 1970 through 1996 and who had lived in Illinois at any time between 1986 and 1997. Data on cancer cases came primarily from the Illinois State Cancer Registry. Analyses compared the 1986-to-1997 cancer incidence rates of employees with Illinois general population rates. Subjects had 18% fewer than expected total cancers (125 observed/153 expected cases; standardized incidence ratio [SIR], 82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 68 to 98), which was primarily attributed to a large deficit of lung cancer (10/26; SIR, 39; CI, 19 to 72). Brain cancer was increased in the overall study group (6/2.7; SIR, 222; CI, 81 to 484). This excess was restricted to white men who were scientists or technicians for one of the three companies at the facility (6/0.8; SIR, 750; CI, 275 to 1633); all cases in this group had worked in the "500 building complex" (6/0.6; SIR, 968; CI, 355 to 2106). Subjects also had an increased incidence of thyroid cancer (7/2.6; SIR, 265; CI, 106 to 546) that was not concentrated in particular occupational or building groups. The brain cancer incidence patterns indicated that an unidentified occupational exposure might have been responsible for the excess. Chance, socioeconomic factors leading to better case detection in facility employees than in the general population, and confounding by potential nonoccupational risk factors are plausible explanations of the observed increase in thyroid cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Cancer and benign tumor incidence among employees in a polymers research complex.

The detection of several intracranial tumors among employees in one building complex (C500) at a petrochemical research facility prompted investigation of a possible workplace cause. This retrospective follow-up study included 1847 subjects, of whom 1735 had worked in C500. Medical records, death certificates, and Illinois State Cancer Registry data confirmed self-reported cancers and tumors. Analyses compared the subjects' cancer and benign intracranial tumor incidence rates with national general population rates. C500 employees had 15% fewer than expected total cancers (92 observed/108 expected; standardized incidence ratio [SIR], 85; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 69 to 104). An excess of brain cancer (6/2.0; SIR, 302; 95% CI, 111 to 657) was concentrated among white men who had 10 or more years since hire and 5 or more years of C500 employment (4/0.7; SIR, 602; 95% CI, 165 to 1552) and who had worked in a particular building of C500 (5/0.7; SIR, 735; 95% CI, 239 to 1716). An excess of benign intracranial tumors (6/1.6; SIR, 385; 95% CI, 142 to 839) was not restricted to a single type of tumor and was not concentrated in any particular building. Occupational exposure may have caused the increased rate of brain cancer but is a less likely explanation for the elevated rate of benign intracranial tumors.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Case-control study of intracranial tumors among employees at a petrochemical research facility.

This case-control study evaluated the relation between potential exposure to chemical and physical agents and the occurrence of intracranial tumors among employees at a petrochemical research facility. Cases were employees with glioma (n = 6) or benign intracranial tumors (n = 6). Controls (n = 119) were individually matched to cases on gender and birth year, and they were alive and did not have an intracranial tumor at the case's diagnosis date. Exposure information came from interviews with subjects or surrogates and from corporate records on agents used in research projects. Analyses computed matched odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for self-reported exposure to 15 agents and project-based estimates of exposure to 29 agents. For gliomas, the OR was elevated for self-reported exposure to ionizing radiation (OR, 15.7; CI, 1.4 to 179.4), n-hexane (OR, infinity; CI, 1.4 to infinity), organometallics (OR, 9.4; CI, 1.5 to 59.7), and amines other than nitrosamines (OR, 6.0; CI, 1.0 to 35.7). The OR also was elevated for project-based potential use of ionizing radiation (OR, 9.6; CI, 1.7 to 55.2) and for potential use of n-hexane lasting at least 4 years (OR, 16.2; CI, 1.1 to 227.6). For benign intracranial tumors, the OR was elevated only for self-reported exposure to ionizing radiation (OR, 5.4; CI, 1.7 to 43.1) and other amines (OR, 5.2; CI, 0.9 to 29.5). Occupational exposure may have contributed to the glioma excess, but the specific causal agents remain unknown. The study indicated that benign intracranial tumors were unlikely to be work-related.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Case-series investigation of intracranial neoplasms at a petrochemical research facility.

BACKGROUND: From 1970 through 1997, 17 intracranial neoplasms were identified among 6,800 employees of a petrochemical research facility. This investigation describes the case-series. METHODS: The intracranial neoplasms were identified by self reports and record linkages, and were confirmed by medical records and a pathology review. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) compare observed and expected numbers of cases according to certain work characteristics. RESULTS: Overall, there were 17 observed and 10.5 expected intracranial neoplasms, including 11/4.7 benign intracranial tumors and 6/5.9 brain cancers. All brain cancers occurred among male research scientists or technicians. Four had worked at some time on the same floor of one building (SIR=12.6, 95% CI=3.4-32.1), and several had worked on a research project with at least one other brain cancer case. The benign intracranial neoplasm cases did not have common building assignments or work activities. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence pattern of brain cancers, but not that of benign tumors, suggests a possible occupational etiology.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1998

A pilot study of smokeless tobacco in smoking cessation.

PURPOSE: The substitution of smokeless tobacco for cigarette smoking is a harm reduction alternative for inveterate smokers and reduces others' passive exposure to smoke. Two million smokers have used smokeless tobacco to quit on their own, but no formal program has employed this method of smoking cessation. We conducted a pilot study to determine if smokeless tobacco could be successfully employed in a smoking cessation program. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Subjects attended a lecture about the health effects of all forms of tobacco use and about the use of smokeless tobacco as an aid to quit smoking. The study population consisted of 63 evaluable subjects. Follow-up was accomplished by quarterly telephone interviews. Smoking abstinence was confirmed at 1 year by measurement of expired air carbon monoxide. RESULTS: At 1 year, 31% of men and 19% of women had attained smoking cessation, for an overall success rate of 25%. An additional 7% of subjects had reduced their cigarette consumption by at least 50%. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the use of smokeless tobacco warrants evaluation as a potential smoking cessation strategy.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Ameloblastic fibrosarcoma in a bull.

This report describes a malignant odontogenic neoplasm in a 7-year-old bull. The mass, involving the right mandible, was locally invasive and destructive. Histologically, it consisted of islands and cords of benign odontogenic epithelium, entrapped in a population of malignant mesenchymal cells. These morphological features are characteristic of ameloblastic fibrosarcoma in man, an odontogenic tumour not previously described in animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Caliber-persistent labial artery. A common vascular anomaly.

Sixteen cases of caliber-persistent labial artery of the lips have been reported to date in the English literature. Six of these were clinically misdiagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma and treated with wedge resection. To date, we have seen 187 cases clinically and an additional 23 cases through our surgical oral pathology services. Careful clinical observation usually reveals a soft linear or papular bluish elevation above the labial mucosal surface. The unique feature is pulsation--not simply pulsation toward and away from the observer, which can be caused by an underlying artery, but lateral pulsation, which only an artery can exhibit. All but 2 of our 187 clinical cases were asymptomatic. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of caliber-persistent labial artery of the upper lip. The upper:lower lip ratio for the clinical cases was almost 2:1. Three times as many lower lip as upper lip lesions were biopsied. Males and females were almost equally affected (clinical cases, 76:86; histopathologic cases, 9:13). Although a vascular term (artery, hemangioma, phlebolith, varix, vascular malformation) was used on the biopsy form in one half of the clinical differential diagnoses, none of the clinical histories mentioned pulsation. In contrast to the cases of Miko et al. in 1980 and 1983, none of our cases manifested itself as an ulcer, nor was carcinoma ever mentioned in the clinical differential diagnosis. The purpose of this article is to familiarize clinicians and pathologists with the clinical and histopathologic features of this seldom reported but common vascular anomaly. Clinicians should carefully look for lateral pulsation in lip mucosal papules so as to avoid unnecessary surgery and intraoperative arterial bleeding. Pathologists should recognize that a relatively large-caliber superficial artery in a lip biopsy may not be an incidental finding but rather the clinical lesion that was biopsied.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Sucralfate for radiation mucositis: results of a double-blind randomized trial.

PURPOSE: To determine if addition of the ulcer-coating polysaccharide sucralfate could improve symptomatic relief of radiation mucositis over a popular combination of antacid, diphenhydramine, and viscous lidocaine alone. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A double-blind study was conducted in which nurses and pharmacists coded patient groups and distributed medication in a manner blinded to both the patients and physicians. Eligible patients receiving radiation to the head and neck and/or chest sites that included the esophagus were randomized to a standard combination of antacid, diphenhydramine, and viscous lidocaine vs. the same solution plus sucralfate. Eligible patients were those receiving >40 Gy at 1.8 Gy/fraction, one fraction/day, five fractions/week. Participating patients were stratified between chest, small field head and neck, and large field head and neck. The patients subjective evaluation of throat soreness and relief with medication was elicited as well as physician observations and smears for Candidiasis screening. Medication was prescribed when the patient became symptomatic and concomitant use of other locally effective nonstudy agents was not allowed. The ability to eat various consistency of foods was graded 0-5, with 5 indicating no compromise of ability to ingest a food compared to baseline. Statistical analysis included mean + SD for food and soreness scores, paired t-test, and two-way analyses of variance to evaluate effects of site and treatment group on the changes in scores. RESULTS: Over 2 years, 111 patients were entered. Because some withdrew and others did not require medication, results are presented for evaluable patients in each category. Mild adverse effects from the medication solution (usually mouth discomfort) were reported by <10% of patients in each treatment group among 106 patients evaluable for toxicity. There was a comparable incidence of mild-moderate mucositis for the two treatment groups. Severe mucositis was noted in two patients of the standard medication group and none among patients receiving sucralfate. The groups were comparable for indicators including degree of soreness, dietary changes, and objective measures or mucosal irritation or infection. For the head and neck patients there was a significant worsening in soreness and in the ability to eat in both treatment groups, whereas patients treated to the chest had less nutritional change. Multivariate analysis including control for confounding factors did not detect treatment effects for any of the response measures. No patient had occult fungal infection detected by oral pathology evaluation of routine mucosal scrapings. CONCLUSIONS: A trend (that was not statistically significant) of less severe radiation mucositis was noted for patients receiving sucralfate in addition to the combination of viscous lidocaine, diphenhydramine, and antacid for nonulcerative radiation mucositis.

Anti-Ulcer Agents↗