Biomedical subjects

M A Rêgo

Publications and source records attributed to M A Rêgo.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma risk derived from exposure to organic solvents: a review of epidemiologic studies.

The rate of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) has increased around the world during the last decades. Apart from the role of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the development of NHL, exposure to chemical agents like phenoxyacetic pesticides, hair dyes, metal fumes and organic solvents are suspected to be involved. The present review evaluates the results of studies that directly or indirectly searched for an association between solvent exposure and NHL. The selected studies comprised those published from 1979 to 1997, designed to investigate risk factors for NHL, whether specifically looking for solvent exposure or for general risks in which solvent exposure could be included. In 25 of the 45 reviewed studies (55.5%), fifty-four statistically significant associations between NHL and solvent exposure related occupations or industries were reported. Statistical significance was more frequently shown in studies where solvent exposure was more accurately defined. In eighteen of such studies, 13 (72.2%) defined or suggested organic solvents as possible risk factors for NHL.

Age Distribution↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Historical issues in case-control studies].

This paper presents the main issues in the evolution of case-control studies (CCS) as of the late 1980s. The comparison of two groups regarding exposure to a risk factor has been known since the 18th century. The latter half of the 19th century witnessed a decline in the "Epidemiology of Populations", and the first CCS were only done in the 1920s. Improvement of the method occurred in the latter half of the 20th century, related to increased mortality from chronic diseases, especially in research on lung cancer and smoking. The main scientific contributions to the method were: use of the odds ratio as an estimate of relative risk; definition of statistical data analysis for retrospective studies; calculation of attributed risk and etiologic fraction; and discussion of the essence of CCS. Critics pointed to the method's possible weakness and susceptibility to bias. Application of CCS increased in the final decades of the 20th century in various areas of Epidemiology and has been considered an important tool to improve Public Health.

Case-Control Studies↗