Recreational Physical Activity and Premenstrual Syndrome in Young Adult Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: It is estimated that up to 75% of premenopausal women experience at least one premenstrual symptom and 8-20% meet clinical criteria for premenstrual syndrome. Premenstrual syndrome substantially reduces quality of life for many women of reproductive age, with pharmaceutical treatments having limited efficacy and substantial side effects. Physical activity has been recommended as a method of reducing menstrual symptom severity. However, this recommendation is based on relatively little evidence, and the relationship between physical activity, premenstrual symptoms, and premenstrual syndrome remains unclear. METHODS: We evaluated the relationship between physical activity and premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual symptoms among 414 women aged 18-31. Usual premenstrual symptom experience was assessed with a modified version of the Calendar of Premenstrual Experiences. Total, physical, and affective premenstrual symptom scores were calculated for all participants. Eighty women met criteria for moderate-to-severe premenstrual syndrome, while 89 met control criteria. Physical activity, along with dietary and lifestyle factors, was assessed by self-report. RESULTS: Physical activity was not significantly associated with total, affective, or physical premenstrual symptom score. Compared to the women with the lowest activity, women in tertiles 2 and 3 of activity, classified as metabolic equivalent task hours, had prevalence odds ratios for premenstrual syndrome of 1.5 (95% CI: 0.6-3.7) and 0.9 (95% CI: 0.4-2.4), respectively (p-value for trend = 0.85). CONCLUSIONS: We found no association between physical activity and either premenstrual symptom scores or the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome.

Correlation of urine and plasma cytokine levels among reproductive-aged women.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is implicated in many adverse health conditions, and recent interest has focused on the effects of chronic low-grade inflammation in generally healthy populations. Cytokines measured in plasma or serum are commonly used as biomarkers of systemic levels of inflammation. Measurement of cytokines in urine may offer a simpler and less invasive alternative, although the degree to which levels of cytokines correlate in plasma and urine among healthy individuals is unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed the correlation of blood and urine levels of 13 cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12(p70) and IL-13, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interferon gamma and tumour necrosis factor alpha in 61 healthy women aged 18-30. Cytokine concentrations were considered with and without correction for creatinine. RESULTS: Plasma and urine levels of the 13 cytokines were not significantly correlated using measured urinary cytokine concentrations and after adjustment for creatinine. Correlation coefficients for log-transformed cytokine concentrations in paired plasma and urine specimens ranged from -0.28 to 0.087. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that urine has limited utility as a proxy for plasma for the measurement of inflammatory factors in a healthy population with low levels of inflammation.

Household chemical exposures and the risk of canine malignant lymphoma, a model for human non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies of companion animals offer an important opportunity to identify risk factors for cancers in animals and humans. Canine malignant lymphoma (CML) has been established as a model for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Previous studies have suggested that exposure to environmental chemicals may relate to development of CML. METHODS: We assessed the relation of exposure to flea and tick control products and lawn-care products and risk of CML in a case-control study of dogs presented to a tertiary-care veterinary hospital (2000-2006). Cases were 263 dogs with biopsy-confirmed CML. Controls included 240 dogs with benign tumors and 230 dogs undergoing surgeries unrelated to cancer. Dog owners completed a 10-page questionnaire measuring demographic, environmental, and medical factors. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, weight, and other factors, use of specific lawn care products was associated with greater risk of CML. Specifically, the use of professionally applied pesticides was associated with a significant 70% higher risk of CML (odds ratio(OR)=1.7; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.1-2.7). Risk was also higher in those reporting use of self-applied insect growth regulators (OR=2.7; 95% CI=1.1-6.8). The use of flea and tick control products was unrelated to risk of CML. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that use of some lawn care chemicals may increase the risk of CML. Additional analyses are needed to evaluate whether specific chemicals in these products may be related to risk of CML, and perhaps to human NHL as well.