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Biomedical subjects

F Parazzini

Publications and source records attributed to F Parazzini.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Determinants of risk of invasive cervical cancer in young women.

We analysed determinants of risk of cervical cancer in women aged less than 45 years using data from a case-control study conducted in Italy. Cases were 261 women aged < 45 years with histologically confirmed invasive cervical cancer. Controls were 257 women aged < 45 years, with acute, non-neoplastic conditions, judged to be unrelated to any of the known or suspected risk factors for cervical cancer. In comparison with women reporting one or no sexual partner, the multivariate odds ratio (OR) of cervical cancer was 2.4 (95% confidence interval, CI, 1.3-4.6), for women reporting two or more sexual partners, and, in comparison with women reporting their first intercourse at 17 years of age or before, the multivariate OR was 0.5 (95% CI 0.3-0.9) in women aged > or =23 years at first intercourse. The risk of cervical cancer was higher in parous women and increased with number of births (OR = 8.1 for three or more births). Among parous women the risk tended to increase with later age at last birth; in comparison with parous women reporting their last birth before age 25, the OR was 1.9 in those reporting their last birth at > or =35 years. No clear association emerged between oral contraceptive use, smoking, education, social class and risk of cervical cancer.

Acute Disease↗

Survival and prognostic factors of early ovarian cancer.

Survival and prognostic factors were analysed in 150 patients with histologically confirmed epithelial ovarian cancer stage IA-IIA. The relapse-free and overall survival rates were, respectively, 81% and 88% after 3 and 74% and 84% after 5 years. The analysis of various prognostic factors indicates as the main factor the grade differentiation of the tumour.

Adult↗

Trends in male:female ratio among newborn infants in 29 countries from five continents.

We have analysed trends in male:female ratios among newborns between 1950 and 1990 in 29 countries from five continents. The numbers of liveborn males and females over the period 1950-1994 were derived from the World Health Organization (WHO) database. Countries for which reliable data were available included 20 major European countries (excluding the former Soviet Union, Albania and a few small countries), Canada, the USA, selected countries of Central and South America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. From the original numbers of males and females, we computed the proportion of males among liveborns for each country and for selected broader areas within Europe. In most countries the proportion of male liveborns was constant during the study period. In particular, the proportion of male newborns in the European Union was 0.515 in 1950-1954, 0.514 in 1970-1974 and 0.514 in 1990-1994. In the USA, corresponding values were 0.513, 0.513 and 0.512. In Japan the ratios were 0.513 in 1950-1954, 0.516 and 1970-1974 and 0.514 in 1990-1994. Decreasing ratios were observed in some northern and eastern European countries plus Greece and Portugal and, particularly, in Mexico. In contrast, the proportion of male liveborns tended to increase in southern Europe and Australia. Overall, among the 29 countries considered, the proportion of males declined in 16, increased in six, and remained stable in seven.

Americas↗

Semen preparation by standard swim-up versus swim-up with test yolk buffer incubation in intrauterine insemination: a randomized study.

In order to compare the standard swim-up semen preparation with and without test yolk buffer (TYB) incubation in intrauterine insemination (IUI), we conducted a prospective multicentre randomized trial. A total of 121 infertile couples with male factor (n = 52) or unexplained infertility (n = 69) was randomly assigned to two groups following ovulation induction. Semen was prepared by standard swim-up in group A (n = 64) and by swim-up followed by TYB incubation in group B (n = 57). A maximum of two IUI cycles was performed. A total of 104 cycles was performed in the swim-up group and 90 in the TYB group. Overall, 15 pregnancies were achieved in group A and 23 in group B, with an overall pregnancy rate of 24.8 and 50.0% per patient respectively (chi2(1), P < 0.05). In the male factor group, pregnancy was achieved in six out of 24 couples (25%) following standard swim-up and in six out of 28 (21.4%) following swim-up and TYB incubation (chi2(1), not significant). In the unexplained infertility group, pregnancy was recorded in nine out of 40 couples (22.5%) following standard swim-up and in 17 out of 29 couples (58.6%) following swim-up and TYB incubation (chi2(1), P < 0.05).

Female↗

Coffee consumption and risk of hospitalized miscarriage before 12 weeks of gestation.

In order to analyse the association between drinking coffee in pregnancy and risk of spontaneous abortion, a case-controlled study was conducted in Milan, Northern Italy. Cases were 782 women with spontaneous abortion within the 12th week of gestation. The control group was recruited from women who gave birth at term (> 37 weeks gestation) to healthy infants on randomly selected days at the same hospitals where cases had been identified: 1543 controls were interviewed. A total of 561 (72%) cases of spontaneous abortion and 877 (57%) controls reported coffee drinking during the first trimester of the index pregnancy. The corresponding multivariate odds ratios of spontaneous abortion, in comparison with non-drinkers, were 1.2, 1.8 and 4.0, respectively, for drinkers of 1, 2 or 3, and 4 or more cups of coffee per day. No relationship emerged between maternal decaffeinated coffee, tea and cola drinking in pregnancy, as well as paternal coffee consumption, and risk of spontaneous abortion. With regard to duration in years of coffee drinking, the estimated multivariate odds ratios of spontaneous abortion were, in comparison with non-coffee drinkers, 1.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9-1.4) and 1.9 (95% CI 1.5-2.6) for women reporting a duration of coffee consumption < or = 10 or > 10 years. In conclusion, coffee drinking early in pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of abortion. This has biological implications, but epidemiological inference on the causality is difficult and still open to debate.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Efficacy of preoperative medical treatment in facilitating hysteroscopic endometrial resection, myomectomy and metroplasty: literature review.

The evidence of the efficacy of preoperative medical treatment with danazol, gonadotrophin releasing-hormone agonists (GnRHa) or progestins in facilitating surgery and improving the long-term results of myomectomy, hysteroscopic metroplasty and endometrial resection has been reviewed. Sixteen randomized and non-randomized controlled clinical trials, published in the English literature between 1990 and 1996, were identified. In all studies comparing GnRHa or danazol versus no treatment, fluid absorption during surgery was less in subjects who underwent medical treatment independently of the drug used and the type of intervention, the reduction ranging from 142 to 572 ml. A reduction in operating time (between 2 and 25 min) was observed in both the danazol and GnRHa-treated groups in comparison with untreated controls, regardless of the type of operation (endometrial resection, myomectomy or metroplasty). With regard to long-term results, amenorrhoea tended to be more frequent in patients who received GnRHa: the pooled odds ratio (OR) of amenorrhoea for GnRHa-treated women compared with untreated controls was 2.0 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1-3.8]. In studies comparing GnRHa with danazol, no marked differences were observed in mean operating time, but the OR of amenorrhoea at 6-12 months after surgery was 1.9 (95% CI 1.0-3.3).

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

A randomised trial of mode of delivery in women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.

OBJECTIVE: During the pilot phase of a trial to evaluate the effectiveness of caesarean section delivery compared with vaginal delivery in reducing mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, the feasibility of randomisation to mode of delivery was assessed. DESIGN: At 36 weeks of pregnancy, women infected with HIV were randomly allocated to either caesarean section delivery at 38 weeks or vaginal delivery. Information was also collected on the reasons why women were not enrolled, either because they refused or had a contraindication. SETTING: Fifty-one centres in six European countries. POPULATION: Pregnant women with confirmed HIV-1 infection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Randomisation. RESULTS: Three-hundred and thirty-nine women had been randomised by the end of 1996, the large majority from Italy (n = 250) and France (n = 54), with 22 from South Africa, three from Sweden, nine from Barcelona and one from London. A further 150 women were eligible but had not been randomised. Forty-eight women (14%) were not delivered according to the arm to which they were randomised; the majority (n = 44) were changed from vaginal to caesarean section delivery. There is wide variation between European countries in the acceptability and adherence to the mode of delivery trial. CONCLUSION: The pilot phase of this trial has shown that in some settings randomisation to mode of delivery is feasible and acceptable, but that in other settings clinicians and pregnant women are more reluctant to be randomised. Pending further information on transmission rates and accrual, enrollment into the trial continues.

Cesarean Section↗

Induced abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy and risk of miscarriage.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the relation between induced abortion and risk of subsequent miscarriage. DESIGN: Case-control study conducted between February 1990 and May 1995. PARTICIPANTS: Case group included 782 women (median age 32 years, range 14-46) admitted for spontaneous abortion (within the 12th week of gestation) to a network of obstetric departments in the greater Milan area. The control group was recruited among women who gave birth at term (> 37 weeks of gestation) to healthy infants on randomly selected days at the hospitals where cases had been identified. A total of 1543 controls (median age 30 years, range 14-45) were interviewed. RESULTS: A total of 102 cases (13%) and 181 controls (12%) reported one or more induced abortions. No clear relation emerged between miscarriage and induced abortions. In comparison with women reporting no induced abortion the odds ratio (OR) for miscarriage were 1.1 (95% CI 0.8-1.4) in women reporting one induced abortion and 0.9 (95% CI 0.4-1.8) in women reporting two or more. Likewise, there was no association between time since last and age at first induced abortion and risk of miscarriage. CONCLUSIONS: This study did not find any strong association between induced and spontaneous abortion.

Abortion, Induced↗

Ovarian stimulation with low-dose pure follicle-stimulating hormone in polycystic ovarian syndrome anovulatory patients: effect of long-term pretreatment with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue.

A randomised clinical trial was performed to evaluate the effect of a 3-month gonadotrophin-releasing-hormone analogue (GnRH-a) in one cycle of ovulation induction with low-dose pure follicle-stimulating hormone (pFSH) in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) anovulation. Twenty patients with chronic anovulation due to PCOS were randomised to ovulation induction with pFSH administered in a low-dose schedule with (10 patients) and without (10 patients) a 3-month pretreatment with GnRH-a. Ultrasound scan only monitoring of follicular growth, evaluation of plasmatic oestradiol at the day of triggering of ovulation with human chorionic gonadotrophin 5,000 IU and evaluation of plasmatic progesterone 8 days after were the main outcome measures. Ovulation occurred in 9 patients treated with pFSH and in 2 patients treated with GnRH-a plus pFSH. Five pregnancies in the pFSH group and no pregnancy in the GnRH-a group were obtained. Five cycles were stopped due to multifollicular growth in the GnRH-a group and 1 in the pFSH group. Pretreatment with a 3-month administration of a GnRH-a did not improve the ovulation rate and pregnancy rate in PCOS patient ovulation induction with low-dose pFSH.

Adult↗

Erectile dysfunction in diabetic subjects in Italy. Gruppo Italiano Studio Deficit Erettile nei Diabetici.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to analyze the prevalence and risk factors for erectile dysfunction (ED) in men with diabetes in Italy in a cross-sectional study. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Eligible for the study were men aged 20-69 years with a diagnosis of IDDM or NIDDM who were observed on randomly selected days in 178 diabetes centers in Italy. ED was defined as a failure to achieve and maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance. RESULTS: Of the 9,868 diabetic men interviewed, 3,534 (35.8%) reported ED. The prevalence increased with age, from 4.6% in men aged 20-29 to 45.5% in those aged > or =60 years (test for trend, P = 0.0001). After taking into account the confounding role of age, men with NIDDM reported ED less frequently than did men with IDDM (odds ratio [OR], 0.7; 95% CI 0.6-0.8). In comparison with men reporting diabetes lasting < or =5 years, the ORs for ED were 1.3 and 2.0 for subjects with diabetes lasting 6-10 and 11-30 years, respectively. In comparison with men with good metabolic control, the ORs for ED were 1.7 and 2.3 in men with fair and poor control, respectively. A history of diabetes-related arterial, retinal, or renal diseases and neuropathy was associated with an increased risk of ED. Finally, in comparison with never-smokers, the ORs for ED were 1.5 (95% CI 1.3-1.6) for current smokers and 1.4 (95% CI 1.3-1.6) for ex-smokers. The OR increased with number of cigarettes smoked per day: in comparison with men smoking <12 cigarettes per day, the OR was 1.5 (95% CI 1.3-1.7) for those smoking > or =30 cigarettes day. CONCLUSIONS: The study offers a quantitative estimate of the prevalence of ED and of its main risk factors in Italian men with diabetes.

Adult↗

Hormone replacement therapy and risk of colon and rectal cancer.

The hypothesis that sex hormones may influence colorectal cancer risk was formulated in the early 1980s, but epidemiological studies on a relationship between colorectal cancer risk and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have only accumulated over the last few years. To investigate the relationship between HRT and colon and rectal cancer and the role of other covariates that might modify it, we analyzed combined data from two case-control studies conducted in Italy between 1985 and 1996, including 994 women with incident colon cancer, 542 with rectal cancer, and 3110 controls with acute, non-neoplastic, nondigestive, non-hormone-related disorders. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived from unconditional multiple logistic regression equations including terms for age, center/study period, education, family history of colorectal cancer, status and age at menopause, parity, use of oral contraceptives, total energy intake, and body mass index. Ever use of HRT was inversely associated with cancer of the colon (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.46-0.88) and of the rectum (OR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.29-0.72). Increasing duration of use of HRT was related to decreasing risk for colon and rectal cancers (P for trend < 0.01). No interaction emerged, and the inverse association persisted across separate strata of other risk factors. This study, one of the largest case-control investigations on exogenous female hormones and colorectal cancer thus far, provides further evidence that women who have ever used HRT are at lower risk of colon and rectal cancer. Because colorectal cancer is the second most common neoplasm and cause of death among nonsmoking women in developed countries, these results may have a major public health impact.

Aged↗

Oral contraceptive use and risk of colorectal cancer.

To evaluate the relation between oral contraceptives and colon and rectal cancer, we analyzed combined data from two case-control studies conducted in six Italian regions between 1985 and 1996. The studies included 803 women with incident colon cancer, 429 with rectal cancer, and 2,793 controls with acute, nonneoplastic, nondigestive, non-hormone-related disorders. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from unconditional multiple logistic regression equations, including terms for age, center/study period, education, family history of colorectal cancer, menopausal status, age at menopause, parity, use of hormone replacement therapy, body mass index [weight (kg) per height squared (m2)], and total energy intake. Ever-use of oral contraceptives was inversely associated with colon cancer (OR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.45-0.87) and rectal cancer (OR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.43-1.01). Duration of use of oral contraceptives was inversely related to risk of colon but not rectal cancer. This study suggests that women who have ever used oral contraceptives are at lower risk of colon and rectal cancer.

Adult↗

Family history of cancer and risk of breast cancer.

The relationship between breast cancer risk and family history of cancer in first-degree relatives was investigated using data from a multicentric case-control study conducted in Italy between June 1991 and April 1994 on 2,569 women aged less than 75 years, with histologically confirmed incident breast cancer, and 2,588 control women admitted to hospital for acute, non-neoplastic, non-gynaecological conditions. Relative to women with no history, those with a family history of breast cancer had an odds ratio (OR) of 2.4 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9-3.0], and those with family history of intestinal cancer had an OR of 1.3 (95% CI 1.0-1.7). No significant relations emerged between breast cancer risk and family history of prostate (OR 1.1), ovarian (OR 1.3), cervical or endometrial (OR 1.2) or other cancers, except gallbladder (OR 8.6). The OR for family history of any type of cancer except breast cancer was 1.1. For family history of breast cancer the ORs were similar across strata of age of the proband, being 2.4 below age 45, 2.2 at age 45-59 and 2.7 above age 60, and whether the relative affected was the mother, sister(s) or both, while the risk appeared higher if the age at onset of breast cancer in the relative was lower than 40 years (OR 3.5), rather than higher (OR 2.2). Thus, our results, based on the investigation of all neoplasms in first-degree relatives, confirm that breast cancer risk is increased in women with a family history of breast cancer, while there was no material association with family history of cancer in general, excluding breast cancer.

Adult↗

Case-control study of oestrogen replacement therapy and risk of cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relation between use of oestrogen replacement therapy and risk of cervical cancer. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Northern Italy. SUBJECTS: 645 women aged 40-75 years with cervical cancer admitted between 1981 and 1993 to university and general hospitals. The control group consisted of 749 women aged 40-75 years admitted to the same hospitals with acute conditions judged to be unrelated to any of the known or suspected risk factors for cervical cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Use of oestrogen replacement therapy and risk of cervical cancer. RESULTS: 40 cases versus 86 controls had ever used oestrogens, and the corresponding multivariate odds ratio was 0.5 (95% confidence interval 0.3 to 0.8). The odds ratios of cervical cancer decreased with duration of use, being 0.6 (0.4 to 1.1) for less than 12 months' use and 0.5 (0.2 to 1.0) for use for 12 months or more compared with never users. The protection tended to be somewhat stronger for women reporting first oestrogen use before age 50. The odds ratio was 0.9 (0.5 to 1.7) for women who had taken oestrogens within the past 10 years and 0.4 (0.2 to 0.7) for those who had taken them 10 or more years ago. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that exogenous oestrogens do not increase the risk of cervical cancer and may decrease the risk.

Adenocarcinoma↗