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H Moller

Publications and source records attributed to H Moller.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Factors influencing the use of antitumoral chemotherapy in the South East of England.

Influences on the use of chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer within the South East region of England for patients diagnosed with colorectal, lung, breast and prostate cancer were investigated. The variables investigated as possibly influencing the selection of chemotherapy were the sex of the patients, their age, the year of diagnosis, the cancer site, the cancer stage, the index of multiple deprivation (IMD) and the cancer network of residence. Logistic regression used to adjust the proportion receiving chemotherapy in relation to other variables considered showed significant differences in the proportion of patients receiving chemotherapy between different cancer sites and different networks. There was also a highly significant trend seen in use of chemotherapy over time; the adjusted proportion of patients receiving chemotherapy increasing from 10.6% in 1993 to 24.3% in 2002. Age, stage and cancer site seemed to have the most influence on the use of chemotherapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Senescence, sleep, and circadian rhythms.

The goal of this review article is to summarize our knowledge and understanding of the overlapping (interdisciplinary) areas of senescence, sleep, and circadian rhythms. Our overview comprehensively (and visually wherever possible), emphasizes the organizational, dynamic, and plastic nature of both sleep and circadian timing system (CTS) during senescent processes in animals and in humans. In this review, we focus on the studies that deal with sleep and circadian rhythms in aged animals and how these studies have closely correlated to and advanced our understanding of similar processes in ageing humans. Our comprehensive summary of various aspects of the existing research on animal and human ageing, both normal and pathological, presented in this review underscores the invaluable advantage of close collaboration between clinicians and basic research scientists and the future challenges inherent in this collaboration. First, our review addresses the common age-related changes that occur in sleep and temporal organization of both animals and humans. Second, we examine the specific modifications that often accompany sleep and CTS during aging. Third, we discuss the clinical epidemiology of sleep dysfunctions during ageing and their current clinical management, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological. Finally, we predict the possible future promises for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that pave the way to the emergence of a "Holistic Sleep Medicine" approach to the treatment of sleep disorders in the ageing population. Further studies will provide additional valuable insights into the understanding of both sleep and circadian rhythms during senescence.

Aging↗
PubMed2000

Risk of testicular cancer in men with abnormal semen characteristics: cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the associations between semen characteristics and subsequent risk of testicular cancer. DESIGN: Cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: 32 442 men who had a semen analysis done at the Sperm Analysis Laboratory in Copenhagen during 1963-95. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Standardised incidence ratios of testicular cancer compared with total population of Danish men. RESULTS: Men in couples with fertility problems were more likely to develop testicular cancer than other men (89 cases, standardised incidence ratio 1.6; 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 1.9). The risk was relatively constant with increasing time between semen analysis and cancer diagnosis. Analysis according to specific semen characteristics showed that low semen concentration (standardised incidence ratio 2.3), poor motility of the spermatozoa (2.5), and high proportion of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa (3.0) were all associated with an increased risk of testicular cancer. The only other cancer group that showed increased incidence was "peritoneum and other digestive organs" (six cases; 3.7, 1.3 to 8.0). Of these, two cases were probably and two cases were possibly extragonadal germ cell tumours. CONCLUSIONS: The results point towards the existence of common aetiological factors for low semen quality and testicular cancer. Low semen quality may also be associated with increased incidence of extragonadal germ cell tumours.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

The scavenging behaviour of ferrets (Mustela furo), feral cats (Felis domesticus), possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) and harrier hawks (Circus approximans) on pastoral farmland in New Zealand: implications for bovine tuberculosis transmission.

AIMS: To identify species that scavenge carcasses in pastoral habitats in New Zealand; to determine whether there were interspecific or intraspecific differences in scavenging behaviour and; to document any interspecific or intraspecific interactions occurring at carcasses. METHODS: Scavenging by ferrets (Mustela furo), feral cats (Felis domesticus), possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) and harrier hawks (Circus approximans) was studied from autumn to midwinter on pastoral farmland near Palmerston (45S, 170E), Otago, New Zealand. Time-lapse video recorders and camera lens mounted with infra-red light illumination were used to monitor carcasses of 10 ferrets, 12 possums, 2 hedgehogs and 7 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) until they were totally scavenged. RESULTS: Ferrets scavenged 5/8 ferret carcasses, 8/9 possum carcasses and 6/7 rabbit carcasses encountered. Feral cats scavenged 3/8 ferret carcasses, 5/7 rabbit carcasses, and 3/8 possum carcasses encountered. Possums scavenged 1/2 ferret carcasses and 3/4 rabbit carcasses encountered. The proportion of encounters resulting in feeding on ferret carcasses differed between ferrets (45.7%) and possums (6.3%), and between possums and cats (29.7%). Similarly, for possum carcasses, differences were found between ferrets (76.6%) and possums (0%), ferrets and cats (60.6%) and possums and cats. No interspecific differences were found in the proportion of encounters that resulted in feeding on rabbit carcasses between ferrets (85.2%), possums (75%) and cats (73.1%). In 8/12 instances of ferrets coming into contact with other ferrets whilst feeding, ferrets fed together at the carcass. On 1 occasion, 4 ferrets were recorded feeding together. In 7/8 instances where cats and ferrets came into contact over carrion, ferrets maintained possession or displaced the cat from the carcass. CONCLUSIONS: Communal carrion feeding by ferrets may facilitate intraspecific and interspecific transmission of bovine tuberculosis (caused by Mycobacterium bovis) by the consumption of contaminated carrion, fighting, or close-contact activities. Cannibalism may be one mechanism by which tuberculosis is transmitted within ferret populations. Our results also suggest that possums may acquire infection from carrion, despite being mainly herbivorous.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Offspring sex ratio of subfertile men and men with abnormal sperm characteristics.

Previous work has suggested an association between male subfertility and a female-biased offspring sex ratio. This study of the reproduction of men who had a semen analysis at the Sperm Analysis Laboratory in Copenhagen in the period 1963-1993 showed that the subfertile men had an offspring sex ratio as expected (51.0% boys versus 51.3%, P: = 0.56), and within the cohort, the offspring sex ratio had no material association with particular semen characteristics. Our results thus suggest that no important association exists between general male subfertility and a female-biased offspring sex ratio.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed1995

The prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) infections in feral populations of cats (Felis catus), ferrets (Mustela furo) and stoats (Mustela erminea) in Otago and Southland, New Zealand.

Twenty-one properties in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand were surveyed for the presence of gross lesions due to Mycobacterium bovis infection in feral cats (Felis catus), ferrets (Mustela furo) and stoats (Mustela erminea) during 1993 and 1994. In total, 1293 cats, ferrets, stoats and weasels (Mustela nivalis) were examined for the presence of tuberculous lesions. The properties surveyed were selected according to the history and incidence of bovine tuberculosis infection in their cattle herds. Sixteen infected cattle properties were trapped in areas of Otago that were endemic for bovine tuberculosis and five properties were trapped in non-endemic areas that were considered to be free from tuberculosis infection in the cattle. No tuberculous cats, ferrets, stoats or weasels were found in non-endemic areas, and prevalence rates in the endemic areas were 0.9% for cats (n=215, 0.12<mu<3.6 at 95% CI), 17.9% for ferrets (n=.548, 14.9<mu<21.5), and 1.6% for stoats (n=62, 0.04<mu<8.95). Bovine tuberculosis was not found in any of the four weasels examined. A statistically significant association (p=0.019) was shown between the prevalence of tuberculosis in ferrets from infected properties compared to uninfected properties. High prevalences of bovine tuberculosis in ferrets, the geographically widespread nature of bovine tuberculosis infections in ferrets, and the association of tuberculous ferrets with infected cattle herds suggest that ferrets may transmit infection to domestic stock.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

The distribution of gross lesions of tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis in feral ferrets (Mustela furo) from Otago, New Zealand.

The distribution of gross lesions of Mycobacterium bovis was examined in 94 tuberculous feral ferrets (Mustela furo) collected from 1992 to 1995 from areas of Otago endemic for bovine tuberculosis. Overall, 56.4% of tuberculous ferrets had single-site lesions, 24.5% had multiple infections and 19.1% had generalised infections. The mesenteric lymph node was the most common site of infection (34.5% of all lesions), with the retropharyngeal (17%) and the prescapular lymph nodes (16.4%) also frequently infected. Only 2.9% of lesions involved the respiratory tract. Of single-site lesions, 60.4% were in the mesenteric lymph node. The high proportion of lesions in the alimentary tract suggests that the ingestion of infectious material, possibly carrion or prey, is an important source of infection. Peripheral lymph nodes contributed to 24.5% of all infections, suggesting that within species transmission by social contact such as fighting and mating also occurs. Open and respiratory lesions were found in 11.7% of tuberculous ferrets, which suggests that ferrets are potentially infectious and therefore may be involved in the transmission of bovine tuberculosis to domestic stock and other mammals. The distribution of gross M. bovis lesions in ferrets is compared to those observed in possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) and badgers (Meles meles).

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

Partial gastrectomy and subsequent gastric cancer risk.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim was to analyse the relationship between partial gastrectomy and gastric cancer risk. DESIGN: This was a case control study, using a structured questionnaire to obtain problem orientated medical history and sociodemographic data. SETTING: The study was conducted in a network of hospitals in the Greater Milan area between January 1985 and February 1990. SUBJECTS: Subjects were 563 incident cases of histologically confirmed gastric carcinoma (347 males, 216 females, median age 60 years, range 28 to 74) and 1501 controls (885 males, 626 females, median age 58 years, range 23 to 74) in hospital for acute, non-neoplastic, non-digestive-tract disorders. Less than 3% of cases or controls refused to be interviewed. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Relative risks (RR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined, adjusted for age and sex plus area of residence, education, and smoking when specified. Within 20 years after gastrectomy, the relative risk of gastric cancer was not significantly raised (RR = 1.2, 95% CI 0.5-2.8), but a positive association emerged after longer time intervals. The RR was 1.6 (95% CI 0.7-4.1) after 20 to 29 years, and 3.5 (95% CI 1.3-10.0) after 30 years or more. These results were consistent in the two sexes and in the subsequent age groups, and not materially influenced by allowance for a number of identified potential confounding factors using multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of gastric cancer is increased in the long term (20 years or more) after gastrectomy. This is explainable in terms of increased intragastric carcinogen formation following gastrectomy, and/or potential similarities in aetiological correlates of gastric ulcer and carcinoma of the stomach.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

N-nitrosoproline excretion by rural Nebraskans drinking water of varied nitrate content.

The N-nitrosoproline (NPRO) test for in vivo nitrosation was applied in a study of 44 rural Nebraska men drinking high- or low-nitrate water from private wells. The subjects followed diets low in NPRO and nitrate for 5 days. On days 4 and 5 they avoided ascorbate-rich foods. Urine was collected for 24 h on day 4 while the subjects followed normal activities and on day 5 after an overnight fast and taking 500 mg L-proline. We determined NPRO, nitrate, creatinine, and specific gravity in the urines, and nitrite and nitrate in single saliva specimens collected on days 4 and 5. Results for all variables were separated into those above and below the median values and were analyzed by univariate and multivariate consideration of the contingency tables. Nitrate concentration in drinking water (> or = or < 10 ppm nitrate-nitrogen) was significantly associated with both day 4 and day 5 NPRO (> or = or < 1.5 micrograms/day; P < 0.04); and with urine nitrate (> or = or < 1.5 mmol/day), saliva nitrite (> or = or < 5 mg/liter), and saliva nitrate (> or = or < 25 mg/liter) (P < or = 0.002). Urine nitrate was significantly (P < or = 0.03) associated with both day 4 and day 5 NPRO, with odds ratios of 4.2 and 5.4, respectively. Creatinine was positively associated with NPRO on day 4 (P = 0.04). These findings, like those of a recent study in Denmark, showed an association between nitrate intake in water and NPRO formation. Their significance for people drinking high-nitrate water remains to be determined.

Adult↗