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Biomedical subjects

F Sturmans

Publications and source records attributed to F Sturmans.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Dietary fat and the risk of breast cancer.

Age-adjusted dietary fat intake of 133 incident Dutch breast cancer cases was significantly (p less than 0.01) higher than in 289 apparently healthy controls (mean and standard deviation: 102 +/- 36 g and 92 +/- 30 g, respectively). The age-adjusted relative odds of breast cancer showed a positive trend (p less than 0.05) with increasing fat intake. The multivariate adjusted relative odds was 3.5 (95% Cl = 1.6-7.6) for subjects in the highest quintile of fat intake (above 113 g) compared to those in the lowest quintile (below 65 g); this corresponds to a 30% increased risk per 10% of energy derived from fat. The association could not be attributed to energy intake, nor to the degree of saturation of the fat nor to any specific dietary source of fat.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Selenium in diet, blood, and toenails in relation to breast cancer: a case-control study.

The association between breast cancer and selenium, measured in the diet, plasma, erythrocytes, and toenails, was investigated in a case-control study in the Netherlands during 1985-1987. Dietary selenium intake was assessed by a structured dietary history technique among 133 breast cancer cases and 238 population controls. Absolute and energy-adjusted selenium intake and selenium concentrations in plasma, erythrocytes, and toenails were similar in cases and controls. The multivariate adjusted odds ratios of breast cancer for subjects in the lowest quartile compared with the highest quartile were 1.6 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8-3.4) for dietary selenium, 2.0 (95% CI 0.9-4.4) for plasma selenium, 0.9 (95% CI 0.4-1.9) for erythrocyte selenium, and 1.1 (95% CI 0.6-2.1) for toenail selenium. No statistically significant trend was observed in the odds ratios for any of the four indicators of selenium. These results do not suggest a substantial association between selenium and breast cancer for both short- and long-term markers of selenium status.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Trends and geographical patterns of pleural mesotheliomas in the Netherlands 1970-87.

The sex and age related trends and geographical distribution of asbestos related mortality from pleural mesothelioma in the Netherlands between 1970 and 1987 were investigated. Deaths from pleural malignancies recorded by the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) were used and death rates were age adjusted per year by the indirect method. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) were computed for 43 regions over the period 1979-86. For men, total mortality increased from 10.8 per million in the period 1970-8 to 20.9 per million during 1979-87. The highest mortality occurred in the group aged between 65 and 74 with 147.7 per million in 1987. The death rate for the group aged between 55 and 64 was 96.5 per million in 1987. For women, total death rates for pleural mesothelioma showed a moderate increase from 2.5 per million in the period 1970-8 to 3.6 per million during 1979-87. The highest mortality occurred in the group aged over 65, fluctuating around 10-15 per million. For men and women under 45 mortality was very low and presented no upward trend. The geographical distribution over the country for the period 1979-86 showed a pattern with a clear concentration of deaths from mesothelioma in men, in conurbations with many harbours, shipyards, and heavy industry near the river mouths and along the North Sea Coast.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Consumption of fermented milk products and breast cancer: a case-control study in The Netherlands.

In a case-control study in The Netherlands, we observed a significantly lower consumption of fermented milk products (predominantly yogurt and buttermilk) among 133 incident breast cancer cases as compared to 289 population controls (mean +/- SD among users only, 116 +/- 100 versus 157 +/- 144 g/day; P less than 0.01). The age-adjusted odds ratio of daily consumption of 1.5 glasses (greater than or equal to 225 g) of fermented milk versus none was 0.50 (95% confidence interval, 0.23-1.08). When fermented milk was entered as a continuous variable (per g) in either age-adjusted or multivariate analysis, the odds ratio expressed per 225 g was 0.63 (multivariate-adjusted 95% confidence interval, 0.41-0.96). After multivariate adjustment for intake of fat and other confounders, a statistically significant decrease in breast cancer risk was also observed for increasing intake of Gouda cheese. The multivariate-adjusted odds ratio expressed per 60 g of this fermented product was 0.56 (95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.95). For daily intake of milk, no statistically significant differences were observed between cases and controls. These results support the hypothesis that high consumption of fermented milk products may protect against breast cancer.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Exposure-outcome relationships between organic solvent exposure and neuropsychiatric disorders: results from a Dutch case-control study.

In this article the material collected for a case-control study is analyzed in order to evaluate the existence of relationships between organic solvent exposure and the entitlement to disability benefits due to neuropsychiatric disorders. Questionnaires were used to collect information on 252 cases receiving compensation due to neuropsychiatric disorders and 822 controls about their occupational history and work practices related to organic solvent exposure. In order to estimate the exposure to organic solvents, three exposure indices were used: duration of exposure, painters' index, and general exposure index. Analysis showed some tendencies indicating positive exposure-outcome relationships. Furthermore, some work activities and working conditions associated with high exposure to organic solvents (e.g., poor ventilation, using paint removers) resulted in a marked increase of the likelihood for receiving disability benefits due to neuropsychiatric disorders.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1989

Symptoms and selection bias: the influence of selection towards specialist care on the relationship between symptoms and diagnoses.

Observations with respect to the relationship between symptoms and diseases can seriously be biased by selection phenomena. This selection may occur from the general population, via consultation behavior, diagnostic and therapeutic activities of the general practitioner, and by referral. Relationships may be suggested and reproduced even if they do not exist in unselected populations, as a product of diagnostic routines. Correction for selection bias can only be achieved by choosing proper comparison groups. While this can be done in a general practice setting, this is almost impossible after referral, as is demonstrated in this paper. Surprisingly, the most unbiased estimation of the relationship between symptoms and diseases after referral can be made from patient groups that are referred for reason unrelated to the disease under study. Definitive answers for the general practitioner can only be provided by prospective studies from a primary care setting. In the meantime, however, biased relationships can be maintained by teaching knowledge derived from a specialist experience.

Anemia↗
PubMed1989

Alcohol dose, frequency and age at first exposure in relation to the risk of breast cancer.

Habitual alcohol consumption, in terms of dose and frequency, average daily intake, as well as drinking alcohol at age 25 were compared between 120 incident breast cancer cases and 164 population controls in The Netherlands. Dietary and lifestyle factors, past and present alcohol consumption were established in 1985-1987 in home interviews. In premenopausal women a protective effect of low alcohol consumption (1-4 g/day) as compared to non-drinkers was suggested. The multivariate adjusted odds ratio (OR) comparing women drinking greater than or equal to 30 g with women drinking 1 to 4 g alcohol daily was 8.5 (95% confidence interval: (Cl) = 1.1-65.1). The OR for a dose of alcohol of greater than or equal to 15 g versus 1-14 g was 4.0 (Cl = 1.0-15.6) and for drinking more versus less than three times a week the OR was 2.8 (Cl = 0.8-9.8). In post-menopausal women no association was observed between recent drinking habits and breast cancer risk. In these women, however, the adjusted OR for drinking alcohol before the age of 25 was 2.4 (Cl = 1.0-5.6). Although causal inference is hampered by the cultural aspects of drinking habits, the results suggest that moderate drinking does not increase risk. Drinking more than 30 g daily or a high dose may enhance risk in premenopausal women. Furthermore, an early start to drinking alcohol may increase the relative risk for breast cancer even beyond menopause.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Prenarcotic and neuraesthenic symptoms among Dutch workers exposed to organic solvents.

A population of 379 Dutch workers exposed to organic solvents was compared with a non-exposed population of 443 workers with regard to the prevalence of prenarcotic and neuraesthenic symptoms. Participants completed a questionnaire to collect information about their occupational history, exposure to organic solvents, and the occurrence of symptoms. The results of the study indicated that workers exposed to solvents have a higher reporting rate of prenarcotic symptoms than workers not exposed to solvents. The prevalence of chronic neurotoxic effects, however, in the form of neuraesthenic symptoms was only weakly associated with reported exposure to organic solvents. The influence of work stress in the development of these symptoms is perhaps more important than the role of exposure to organic solvents. It is concluded that the organic solvent syndrome type I, as defined by an international workshop, is not an important health hazard among Dutch painters.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

The organic solvent syndrome. A comparison of cases with neuropsychiatric disorders among painters and construction workers.

A study was conducted to investigate the existence of a "specific" neurotoxic effect due to long-term exposure to organic solvents. A comparison was made regarding diagnoses, symptoms and other relevant medical data between persons receiving a disability pension on the basis of a neuropsychiatric disorder selected from an exposed (painters) and non-exposed (construction workers) trade organization. Information was collected from their medical files at the occupational health department. Concerning diagnoses and symptoms, no significant differences were found between exposed and non-exposed patients. No indications were found for the existence of a "typical" complex of symptoms associated with exposure to organic solvents among painters in The Netherlands. The number of reported symptoms was not related to the duration of exposure, thus lending no support for a dose-effect relationship. If a neurotoxic effect does exist among Dutch painters, it is of a non-specific type and not clearly distinguishable from other mental disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Gastric cancer in coal miners: a case-control study in a coal mining area.

In collaboration with three pathology departments a case-control study was conducted in the southern part of the Netherlands to investigate the risk of gastric cancer in coal miners. Between 1 January 1973 and 31 December 1983, 323 male patients were diagnosed as having a malignant neoplasm of the stomach. For each case a control was selected from the same pathology department, matched on year of birth and regardless of diagnosis. The archives of the Central Coal Miners Pension Fund were searched to obtain information about whether or not a patient had ever worked for a coal mining company in the Netherlands. Twenty two per cent of the patients had been registered as an underground coal miner, compared with 20% of the control group (odds ratio of 1.14, 95% confidence interval: 0.33-1.73). Those with gastric cancer who had ever worked underground in a coal mine did so for an average period of 16.9 years compared with an average of 19.7 years in the control group. The study gives no indication that the underground workers of the Dutch coal mines had a raised risk of developing a malignant neoplasm of the stomach.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Reduction of breast cancer mortality through mass screening with modern mammography. First results of the Nijmegen project, 1975-1981.

Since 1975 four rounds of screening with modern mammography for breast cancer have been carried out among 30 000 Nijmegen women born before 1940. The results up to the end of 1981 shows that the odds ratio of screened vs unscreened subjects among women who died from breast cancer compared with women who did not, was 0.48 (95% confidence interval 0.23-1.00) in all age groups.

Adult↗