Biomedical subjects

E Negri

Publications and source records attributed to E Negri.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

PubMed1996

Food and nutrient intake and risk of cataract.

The relationship between cataract extraction and diet was considered in a case-control study conducted in northern Italy. A total of 207 patients who had cataract extraction and 706 control subjects in a hospital for acute, nonneoplastic, nonoculistic, nondigestive tract diseases were interviewed during their hospital stay. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs), according to the intake of alcohol, coffee, tea, and cola, and frequency of intake of 34 food items and 8 micronutrients were derived from multiple logistic regression equations, including terms for age, sex, education, smoking status, body mass index, diabetes, and total calorie intake. Alcohol, coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea, and cola intakes were not associated with cataract extraction. Among food items, reduced ORs for cataract extraction (highest tertile of intake compared to the lowest), with a significant inverse trend in risk, were found for intake of meat (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4 to 0.9), cheese (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 1.0), cruciferae (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3 to 0.8), spinach (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4 to 0.9), tomatoes (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.4 to 0.8), peppers (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.4 to 1.1), citrus fruit (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.2 to 1.3), and melon (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.4 to 0.8). A significant increase in risk was found for the highest intake of butter (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.2 to 6.4), total fat (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.8), and salt (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4 to 4.0) compared to the lowest, and for consumption of oil other than olive oil (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.2). Among micronutrients, lower ORs for cataract extraction (highest quintile of intake compared to the lowest) were found for intake of calcium (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3 to 0.8), folic acid (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.7), and vitamin E (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3 to 1.0), while estimated intakes of methionine, retinol, beta-carotene, and vitamins A, C, and D were not associated. Thus, this study indicates that diet plays a considerable role in the risk of cataract extraction in this Italian population, with a protective action played by some vegetables, fruit, calcium, folic acid,and vitamin E, and an increased risk associated with elevated salt and fat intake.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Validation of a food-frequency questionnaire to assess dietary intakes in cancer studies in Italy. Results for specific nutrients.

The validity of a 77-item food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) developed for a multicenter case-control study on diet and cancer in Italy was assessed. Trained interviewers administered the same FFQ to 452 volunteers from three Italian provinces (Pordenone, Genoa, and Forli) completed in two different seasons, at an interval of 3 to 10 months. For 395 (130 males, 265 females; median age = 52 years; range = 35 to 69 years) volunteers, two 7-day dietary (7-DD) records were available. Average intake obtained by means of the FFQ was overestimated by approximately 18% in comparison with the corresponding values based on the two 7-DD records (reference method). Pearson partial correlation coefficients, adjusted for total energy intake between the nutrient intakes assessed by the FFQ and reference method, ranged from 0.19 for vegetable fat to 0.64 for sugar (median value r = 0.46). The unadjusted deattenuated coefficients, which took into account the interindividual variability of consumption, estimated by means of the two 7-DD records, ranged from 0.29 for vegetable fat to 0.72 for starch (median value r = 0.54). The proportion of subjects correctly classified within the lowest two quintiles ranged between 59% for vegetable fat and vitamin E, and 96% for alcohol, and those correctly classified within the highest two quintiles ranged between 44% for vegetable fat and 94% for alcohol. The average proportion of subjects correctly classified within one quintile was 73%. These data indicate that this FFQ provides valid estimates of intakes for major nutrients, comparable to those reported from other studies in North America and other European countries.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy and the risk of colorectal cancer.

The relationship between oral contraceptives (OCs), menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the risk of colorectal cancer was investigated in a case-control study conducted in northern Italy between 1985 and 1992 on 709 women with incident colorectal cancer and 992 controls admitted to hospital for a wide spectrum of acute, non-neoplastic, non-digestive tract, non-hormone-related disorders. A reduced risk of colorectal cancer was observed in women who had ever used OCs [multivariate odds ratio (OR) = 0.58; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.36-0.92]. The OR was 0.52 (95% CI 0.27-1.02) for use over 2 years. For women ever using HRT, the multivariate OR was 0.40 (95% CI 0.25-0.66). The risk was inversely related to duration of use, with ORs of 0.46 for 2 years or less and 0.25 for more than 2 years of use. No consistent pattern of trends was observed with time since first or last use. This study provides further evidence that OC and HRT do not increase, and possibly decrease, the risk of colorectal cancer. These results, if confirmed, would have important implications for the ultimate risk-benefit assessment of female hormone preparations.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Fertility treatment and risk of breast cancer.

The relationship between fertility treatment and breast cancer was investigated in a multicentric case-control study conducted in Italy on 2569 women with incident, histologically confirmed breast cancer and 2588 control women admitted to hospitals for acute, non-neoplastic, non-hormonal or gynaecological conditions, unrelated to fertility problems. The odds ratio of breast cancer was 1.08 (95% confidence interval 0.8-1.5) in those reporting fertility treatment compared with those who did not receive fertility treatment. Similarly, the odds ratio was 0.60 for women with tubal occlusion, 0.99 for those reporting hormonal imbalances and 1.32 for other/unspecified reasons. There was no consistent pattern of risk according to age at treatment and time since treatment. Women reporting fertility treatment with drug use had an odds ratio of 1.43, while those who did not report drug therapy had an odds ratio of 0.85. None of these odds ratio estimates was significant. Likewise, there was no heterogeneity among strata of parity, menopausal status, education and family history of breast cancer. Thus, our study, while providing reassuring evidence on the relationship between fertility treatment and breast cancer risk, cannot exclude the possibility that the use of specific drugs may be related to breast carcinogenesis.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Validity and reproducibility of alcohol consumption in Italy.

BACKGROUND: The reproducibility and validity of alcohol consumption has not been adequately studied, particularly in mediterranean countries, where alcohol drinking is a widespread habit, especially during meals. METHODS: We compared alcohol consumption measured by two interviewer-administered food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) with average intake derived from two 7-day dietary (7-DD) records (the reference method) on 395 volunteers. Different types of alcoholic beverages were considered separately in order to verify the ability of the questionnaire to assess detailed patterns of alcohol intake. RESULTS: A satisfactory level of reproducibility and validity of the pattern of alcohol consumption across different levels and types of alcoholic beverage intake was observed. The reproducibility of wine and total alcohol intake showed correlation coefficients > 0.75 in both sexes. The validity was somewhat higher for wine (around 0.70) than for other alcoholic beverages and total alcohol intake. This is probably accounted for by the more regular pattern of wine consumption during the year as compared to other alcoholic beverages (beer, grappa, etc) which are more strongly influenced by seasonal and daily variations. However, about 30% of abstainers according to FFQ were drinkers by the reference method. The opposite was observed in only 4% of subjects. CONCLUSION: The FFQ is a reliable and valid instrument for collecting alcohol intake in regular drinkers. Lower validity in irregular drinkers may be due to seasonal variation and/or inadequacy of the FFQ to capture irregular patterns of consumption and/or inadequacy of the average of two 7-DD as a reference method. Furthermore, a considerable degree of misclassification was observed between non-drinkers and moderate drinkers.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Reliability of information on cigarette smoking and beverage consumption provided by hospital controls.

We compared data from interviews of patients admitted to hospital and interviews repeated at home for 400 hospital controls. Of these, 294 (73.5%) could be re-interviewed (responders). Never smoking was reported by 44% of subjects in the in-hospital interviews and by 40% in the repeat at-home interviews. Among those interviewed in hospital, 38% claimed to be nondrinkers, as did 38% of responders, but only 28% characterized themselves as nondrinkers in the repeat interview. For consumption of regular coffee, 15% reported none in the selected sample, 14% among responders, but only 6% in the repeat at-home interview. Agreement was good for decaffeinated coffee and tea consumption.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMed1996

Reproductive factors and risk of uterine fibroids.

We analyzed the relation between reproductive history and risk of uterine fibroids using data from a case-control study. Cases were 621 women with histologically confirmed diagnosis of uterine fibroids. Controls were 1,051 non-hysterectomized patients. Compared with nulliparae, parous women had a relative risk (RR) of fibroids of 0.5 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.4-0.6], and the risk declined with number of births. The risk of fibroids also decreased with number of induced abortions (RR = 0.8 and 0.6 for women reporting one or two or more abortions, respectively). A total of 24 cases (3.9%) and 19 controls (1.8%) reported a history of infertility (RR = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.1-3.7).

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Cigarette smoking and the risk of breast cancer.

The relation between cigarette smoking and breast cancer risk was investigated in a multicentric case-control study conducted in Italy on 2,569 women with incident, histologically confirmed breast cancer and 2,588 control women admitted to hospital for acute, non-neoplastic, non-hormonal, non-gynaecological or smoking-related conditions. Compared with women who had never smoked, current smokers had a multivariate odds ratio (OR) of 0.84 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7-1.0] and former smokers an OR of 1.14 (5% CI 0.9-1.4), while the OR for ever vs never smokers was 0.93 (95% CI 0.8-1.1). The ORs were 1.02 for < 5 cigarettes per day, 0.99 for 5-14 cigarettes per day, 0.78 for 15-24 cigarettes per day and 1.18 for > or = 25 cigarettes per day. No consistent pattern of risk was observed according to duration of smoking, age at starting and time since starting smoking. Compared with never smokers, former smokers had ORs of 1.45 for < 3 years since stopping smoking, 1.79 for 3-6 years, 1.16 for 7-15 years and 0.74 for > or = 16 years. No heterogeneity emerged across strata of selected covariates. Thus, this study, one of the largest conducted in Europe to date, does not support the presence of any association of practical importance between cigarette smoking and breast cancer risk.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Menstrual and reproductive factors and biliary tract cancers.

The relationship between the risk of biliary tract cancers and menstrual and reproductive factors has been studied in a case-control study conducted in Milan, northern Italy, between January 1984 and February 1993 on 31 incident, histologically confirmed cases and 377 controls in hospital for acute, non-neoplastic, non-gynaecological, non-hormone-related conditions. Odds ratios (ORs) together with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and the significance of the linear trends in risk were estimated by unconditional multiple logistic regression, after adjustment for age and cholelithiasis. Menopause was associated with a decreased risk of biliary tract cancers (OR 0.2), while late menopause and the use of hormone replacement therapy tended to increase the risk (ORs 1.8 and 2.2 respectively). Age at menarche and regular menstrual cycles were not associated. A trend in risk was found with parity, while total abortions and age at first and last birth were not related. Thus, the protective effect of early menopause and the apparent association of multiple full-term pregnancies suggest a role of female hormones in the aetiology of biliary tract cancers.

Abortion, Induced↗

PubMed1996

Comparative descriptive epidemiology of oral and oesophageal cancers in Europe.

The two main determinants of oral and oesophageal cancer in Europe are alcohol and tobacco, and the two cancer sites show several similarities in their descriptive epidemiology. This study compares mortality from cancers of the oral cavity and oesophagus in European countries to evaluate similarities and differences. From official death certification numbers and population estimates, we obtained age-standardized rates for all ages and truncated (35-64 years). In most countries, rates for men tended to increase between 1955-59 and 1990-92 for both sites, although the increases were more marked for oral cancer. In the UK and Ireland, however, oral cancer decreased and oesophageal cancer increased, while in Finland and Iceland mortality for both sites decreased. The most striking increases were in Hungary, where the truncated rate in most recent calendar periods reached the highest levels in Europe. In France, rates for both cancers were extremely high: oral cancer increased from 1955-59 to the early 1980s, but started to decline afterwards. Mortality rates were much lower for women than men, and the correlation between the two sites was less marked. An age, period and cohort model, applied to the rates for men in selected European countries, suggested strong cohort effects for both cancers, generally more marked for oral cancer, with substantial increases in the cohorts born after 1920. The mortality rates of cancers of the oral cavity and oesophagus show several analogies, as expected from their relation to tobacco and alcohol; but some discrepancies suggest that other, less well-identified, factors may also influence their rates and trends in Europe.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Tobacco and other risk factors for oesophageal cancer in alcohol non-drinkers.

Information on the aetiology of oesophageal cancer in alcohol non-drinkers will help us to understand and quantitate risk factors for the disease in the absence of alcohol. Out of a total of 316 cases with histologically confirmed incident cancers of the oesophagus, 40 (22 men and 18 women) who described themselves as alcohol non-drinkers were considered. These patients were compared with 151 alcohol non-drinkers (79 men and 72 women) admitted to hospital for acute, non-neoplastic, non-alcohol-, non-smoking-related conditions. The major risk factor for cancer of the oesophagus in non-drinkers was current elevated cigarette smoking: compared with never smokers, the odds ratio (OR) for all current smokers was 3.4 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.5-8.1]. The OR was 0.8 (95% CI 0.2-3.4) for ex-smokers, 1.3 (95% CI 0.4-4.2) for current smokers of fewer than 20 cigarettes per day and 7.5 (95% CI 2.7-20.4) for current smokers of more than 20 cigarettes per day. Risk also increased with duration of smoking (OR 4.9 for more than 30 years smoking), and in smokers starting the habit when aged 25 or younger (OR 3.9). Few years of education and gastrectomy were also associated with elevated risk, while a high fruit intake was associated with reduced risk (OR 0.6 and 0.4, respectively, for 7-13 and > 13 portions per week compared with < 7). When the combined effect of smoking and fruit intake on the risk of oesophageal cancer was considered, compared with non-smokers eating more than 7 fruit portions per week, the OR for current smokers eating 7 or less fruit portions per week was 7.3. Thus, even in the absence of alcohol drinking, cigarette smoking and a diet poor in fruit are important avoidable risk factors for oesophageal cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Breast size and breast cancer risk.

The relationship between brassière size, as an indicator of breast size, and breast cancer risk was considered in a case--control study conducted between 1991 and 1994 in six Italian centres. Cases were 2,557 women, below age 75, with histologically confirmed breast cancer, and controls were 2,566 women admitted to hospital for a wide spectrum of acute, non-neoplastic, non-hormone-related diseases. Odds ratio (ORs) of breast cancer and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained from multiple logistic regression equations including terms for study centre and age, as well as main breast cancer risk factors. A slight inverse relationship was observed between breast size and the risk of breast cancer, with an OR of 1.37 (95% CI 1.05-1.80) for the smallest brassière size compared with the largest; the increase in risk disappeared after adjustment for main recognized breast cancer risk factors, with an OR of 1.16 (95% CI 0.87-1.54) for brassière size < or = 1 compared with > or = 5. No significant heterogeneity in risk of breast cancer with breast size was found in strata of age at diagnosis, parity, age at first birth, age at menopause, family history of breast cancer, benign breast disease, ever use of oral contraceptives and/or hormone replacement therapy. Thus, this study, based on large number of caucasian women, provides conclusive evidence of a lack of appreciable association between breast size and breast cancer risk in this Italian population.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Uterine myomas and smoking. Results from an Italian study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between smoking and uterine myomas requiring surgery. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a case-control study in Milan between 1986 and 1992. Cases were 476 patients under 55 years of age with histologically confirmed myomas. Controls were 1,283 women admitted to the hospital for a spectrum of acute, other-than-gynecologic, hormonal or neoplastic conditions (30% trauma, 25% nontraumatic orthopedic conditions, 25% surgical, 20% other miscellaneous). RESULTS: Cases were less frequently current smokers (22%) than controls (32%). In comparison with never smokers, the multivariate relative risk (RR) for myomas was 0.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4-0.7) in smokers. Ex-smokers were 10% of cases versus 7% of controls (RR 1.2, 95% CI 0.9-1.8). No clear trend in risk was observed with the number of cigarettes smoked per day or duration of smoking and risk of fibroids. The estimated RRs were largely consistent when separate analyses were performed in strata of age and other selected covariates, including indices of body weight. CONCLUSION: Current smoking seems to reduce the risk of myomas.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Diet diversity and the risk of colorectal cancer in northern Italy.

The relationship between diet diversity (i.e., variety in food intake computed as the total number of foods consumed at least once per week) and the risk of colorectal cancer was investigated using data from a hospital-based, case-control study carried out between 1985 and 1992 in Northern Italy. Subjects were patients with histologically confirmed incident cancers of the colon (n = 828) and rectum (n = 498) and 2024 controls admitted for acute, nonneoplastic, non-digestive tract conditions. A significant inverse association (multivariate relative risk, 0.7) for the highest (more diverse diet) versus the lowest quartile of total diet diversity was observed, together with a significant trend in risk. A similar risk was observed for diversity within vegetables (RR, 0.6, highest versus lowers quartile), but no consistent association was found for fruit, meat and fish, and "other food" diversity. A similar pattern was observed when colon and rectal cancers were considered separately or across separate strata of sex and age. Diet diversity is related to a moderately decreased risk of colorectal cancer. These results add epidemiological support to the dietary guidelines recommending a more varied diet, and, if confirmed by other studies, would have considerable public health implications.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Pelvic inflammatory disease and risk of ovarian cancer.

We analyzed the association between history of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and the risk of subsequent epithelial ovarian cancer, using data from a large case-control study conducted between 1983-1991 in Italy. Data were collected from a network of hospitals, including the main teaching and general hospitals in the greater Milan area, Northern Italy. The cases studied were 971 women below the age of 75 years (median age, 54 years) with histologically confirmed epithelial ovarian cancer, diagnosed within 1 year before the interview. Control subjects were 2758 women admitted to the same hospitals where cases were identified for acute, nonmalignant, nonhormone-related conditions, who had not undergone bilateral oophorectomy. The median age of the control group was 52 years (range, 23-74). A total of 14 (1.4%) cases and 72 (2.6%) controls reported a history of PID/ salpingitis, the corresponding multivariate relative risk being 0.7 (95% confidence interval, 0.4-1.3). A separate analysis of the association between history of PID/salpingitis and risk of ovarian cancer in strata of parity and education confirmed the results based on the whole series. In conclusion, although based on limited numbers of cases and controls with PID, this studies was able to exclude, at the conventional 95% confidence limit, an increased risk of ovarian cancer of over 30% in women with previous PID in this population.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Physical activity and breast cancer risk.

Data from a multicentric case-control study on breast cancer conducted in Italy were used to analyze the relationship of occupational and leisure-time physical activity with breast cancer risk. Cases were 2569 histologically confirmed incident breast cancer cases, and controls were 2588 patients admitted to the same network of hospitals of cases for acute, nonneoplastic, nonhormone related diseases. After allowance for major identified potential confounding factors (including an estimate of total calorie intake), the odds ratios (ORs) were 0.70, 0.71, 0.64, and 0.54 in subsequent levels of physical activity at work at ages 30-39, compared to the lowest level. The association was similar for occupational physical activity at ages 15-19 and still apparent at ages 50-59, with risk estimates of 0.86, 0.85, 0.85, and 0.62. The ORs for the highest versus the lowest category of leisure-time physical activity were also below unity (ORs for the highest level of leisure-time physical activity at ages 15-19, 0.95; at ages 30-39, 0.76; and at ages 50-59, 0.66). The protection of physical activity was apparently stronger below age 60 at diagnosis and was consistent across the strata of selected covariates, although the protection was somewhat greater for more educated women.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Risk factors for functional ovarian cysts.

We evaluated risk factors for functional ovarian cysts using data from a case-control study conducted in Milan. Cases were 68 women with histologically confirmed functional cysts. Controls were 272 women admitted to hospital for acute conditions. Compared with women who were 11 years of age or younger at menarche, women who experienced menarche at 12-13 years or at 14 years or later had odds ratios (ORs) of 0.9 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.5-1.6] and 0.4 (95% CI = 0.2-0.9). In comparison with women reporting menstrual cycles lasting less than 26 days, the OR was 1.8 (95% CI = 0.7-5.0) in women reporting cycles lasting 26-30 days, 1.8 (95% CI = 0.4-7.4) in those reporting cycles greater than 30 days, and 1.9 (95% CI = 0.4-7.7) in those with totally irregular cycles. Body mass was inversely related to the risk of functional ovarian cysts: compared with women with a Quetelet index below 20, the OR was 0.9 (95% CI = 0.5-1.7) in those with an index in the range from 20-24 and 0.5 (95% CI = 0.2-1.2) in those with an index of 25 or more. We found little relation between the risk of functional ovarian cysts and education, smoking, marital status, or age at first marriage. For oral contraceptive use, we found an OR of 1.3 (95% CI = 0.7-2.6).

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

[Time trends of digestive system tumor mortality in Italy, 1970-89].

Time trends of mortality from digestive cancers in Italy during the period 1970-1989 were here studied either at the national level and for wide geographical areas (North, Center and South). Cancers of oral cavity and pharynx, of colon and rectum, of gallbladder and of the pancreas presented, during the considered period a generalized increasing trend. Stomach cancer mortality was decreasing in both sexes and in all areas, but a less marked rate of decrease appeared for younger cohorts, particularly for women. Trends almost stable, or contrasting across sexes and age classes, were observed for malignant tumours of the oesophagus and of the liver.

Adolescent↗