Molecular Study of Thyroid Cancer in World Trade Center Responders.

Thyroid cancer incidence is higher in World Trade Center (WTC) responders compared with the general population. It is unclear whether this excess in thyroid cancer is associated with WTC-related exposures or if instead there is an over-diagnosis of malignant thyroid cancer among WTC first responders due to enhanced surveillance and physician bias. To maximize diagnostic yield and determine the false positive rate for malignancy, the histological diagnoses of thyroid cancer tumors from WTC responders and age, gender, and histology matched non-WTC thyroid cancer cases were evaluated using biomarkers of malignancy. Using a highly accurate panel of four biomarkers that are able to distinguish benign from malignant thyroid cancer, our results suggest that over-diagnosis by virtue of misdiagnosis of a benign tumor as malignant does not explain the increased incidence of thyroid cancer observed in WTC responders. Therefore, rather than over-diagnosis due to physician bias, the yearly screening visits by the World Trade Center Health Program are identifying true cases of thyroid cancer. Continuing regular screening of this cohort is thus warranted.

Risk factors for gastroesophageal reflux disease in very low birth weight infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess risk factors for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in very low birth weight infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out in 23 cases and 23 control subjects with bronchopulmonary dysplasia submitted to 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring between January 2001 and October 2005. Cases and controls were compared for gestational age, birth weight, gender, use of antenatal steroids, duration of assisted ventilation, duration of oxygen therapy, length of gastric tube use, administration of xanthines, postconceptual age, and weight at esophageal pH monitoring. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to establish the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI). RESULTS: None of the groups (with and without GERD) showed statistically significant differences in terms of demographic variables and postnatal outcome, use of antenatal and postnatal corticosteroids, or in terms of caffeine use and duration of mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy. However, feeding intolerance (OR = 6.55; 95%CI 1.05-40.8) and length of gastric tube use (OR = 1.67; 95%CI 1.11-2.51) turned out to be risk factors for GERD. Postconceptual age at the time of pH monitoring (OR = 0.02; 95%CI < 0.001-0.38) was regarded as a protective factor against GERD. CONCLUSION: The data obtained allow inferring that prolonged gastric tube use and feeding intolerance increase the risk for GERD. On the other hand, older postconceptual age at the time of pH monitoring reduces the risk for GERD in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia weighing less than 1,500 g.

Fatores de risco para a doença por refluxo gastroesofágico em recém-nascidos de muito baixo peso portadores de displasia broncopulmonar / Risk factors for gastroesophageal reflux disease in very low birth weight infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

OBJETIVO: Conhecer os fatores de risco para a doença por refluxo gastroesofágico (DRGE) em recém-nascidos de muito baixo peso com displasia broncopulmonar. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se um estudo caso-controle incluindo 23 casos e 23 controles com displasia broncopulmonar, sendo realizada investigação por monitorização prolongada do pH esofágico no período de janeiro de 2001 a outubro de 2005. Para cada caso, selecionou-se um controle, e foram comparados pela idade gestacional, peso ao nascimento, gênero, uso de corticóide pré-natal, tempo de ventilação assistida, tempo de oxigenoterapia, tempo de uso de sonda gástrica, uso de xantinas, idade pós-conceptual e peso durante a monitorização do pH esofágico. Realizou-se a análise por regressão logística múltipla para estabelecer o odds ratio (OR) com intervalo de confiança de 95 por cento (IC95 por cento). RESULTADOS: Os dois grupos (com e sem DRGE) não apresentaram diferenças significativas em relação às variáveis demográficas e de evolução pós-natal, uso de corticóide pré e pós-natal, bem como ao tempo de uso de cafeína, ventilação mecânica e oxigenoterapia. Entretanto, as variáveis intolerância alimentar (OR = 6,55; IC95 por cento 1,05-40,8) e tempo de uso de sonda gástrica (OR = 1,67; IC95 por cento 1,11-2,51) comportaram-se como fatores de risco para DRGE. A variável idade pós-conceptual ao exame de monitorização do pH (OR = 0,02; IC95 por cento < 0,001-0,38) comportou-se como fator protetor para DRGE. CONCLUSÃO: Os dados obtidos permitem inferir que o tempo prolongado de uso de sonda gástrica e a intolerância alimentar aumentam a probabilidade para DRGE. Já a maior idade pós-conceptual ao exame diminui a chance para DRGE em prematuros com menos de 1.500 g com displasia broncopulmonar.

OBJECTIVE: To assess risk factors for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in very low birth weight infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out in 23 cases and 23 control subjects with bronchopulmonary dysplasia submitted to 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring between January 2001 and October 2005. Cases and controls were compared for gestational age, birth weight, gender, use of antenatal steroids, duration of assisted ventilation, duration of oxygen therapy, length of gastric tube use, administration of xanthines, postconceptual age, and weight at esophageal pH monitoring. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to establish the odds ratio(OR) with a 95 percent confidence interval (95 percentCI). RESULTS: None of the groups (with and without GERD) showed statistically significant differences in terms of demographic variables and postnatal outcome, use of antenatal and postnatal corticosteroids, or in terms of caffeine use and duration of mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy. However, feeding intolerance (OR = 6.55; 95 percentCI 1.05-40.8) and length of gastric tube use (OR = 1.67; 95 percentCI 1.11-2.51) turned out to be risk factors for GERD. Postconceptual age at the time of pH monitoring (OR = 0.02; 95 percentCI < 0.001-0.38) was regarded as a protective factor against GERD. CONCLUSION: The data obtained allow inferring that prolonged gastric tube use and feeding intolerance increase the risk for GERD. On the other hand, older postconceptual age at the time of pH monitoring reduces the risk for GERD in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia weighing less than 1,500 g.