Benign gynecologic conditions are associated with ovarian cancer risk in African-American women: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The association between common benign gynecologic conditions and ovarian cancer remains under-studied in African Americans. Therefore, we examine the association between self-reported history of benign gynecologic conditions and epithelial ovarian cancer risk in African-American women. METHODS: Data from a large population-based, multi-center case-control study of epithelial ovarian cancer in African-American women were analyzed to estimate the association between self-reported history of endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), fibroid, and ovarian cyst with epithelial ovarian cancer. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the associations between individual and composite gynecologic conditions and ovarian cancer. RESULTS: 600 cases and 752 controls enrolled in the African American Cancer Epidemiology Study between 1 December 2010 and 31 December 2015 comprised the study population. After adjusting for potential confounders, a history of endometriosis was associated with ovarian cancer (OR 1.78; 95% CI 1.09-2.90). A non-significant association of similar magnitude was observed with PID (OR 1.33; 95% CI 0.82-2.16), while no association was observed in women with a history of fibroid or ovarian cyst. A positive trend was observed for an increasing number of reported gynecologic conditions (p = 0.006) with consistency across histologic subtypes and among both oral contraceptive users and non-users. CONCLUSION: A self-reported history of endometriosis among African-American women was associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer. Having multiple benign gynecologic conditions also increased ovarian cancer risk.

A Comparison of Survival and Recurrence Outcomes in Patients With Endometrial Cancer Undergoing Robotic Versus Open Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To compare recurrence and survival outcomes in women who underwent either robotic or open surgical procedures to treat endometrial cancer. DESIGN: A retrospective chart review (Canadian Tack Force classification II-2). SETTING: A single academic institution. PATIENTS: A total of 936 patients who underwent surgical staging for endometrial cancer between 2001 and 2013. INTERVENTION: Through retrospective chart review, data were collected on patient characteristics, surgical procedures, intraoperative and postoperative complications, histopathology, adjuvant therapies, and recurrence and survival outcomes. Estimated 3-year progression-free survival and 5-year overall survival were calculated using Kaplan-Meier curves. MAIN RESULTS: Of the 936 patients who underwent endometrial cancer surgery, 350 had robotic-assisted surgery and 586 had laparotomy. Both groups were comparable in terms of age, race, body mass index, and comorbid conditions. The laparotomy group had significantly more patients with grade 2-3 tumors, nonendometrioid histology, and stage III-IV disease. In a multivariate analysis, operative type was not an independent prognostic factor for intraoperative complications, but robotic surgery was associated with decreased postoperative complications and readmission rate. Median duration of follow-up was 30 months in the robotic cohort and 42 months in the laparotomy cohort. Estimated 3-year progression-free survival was 90.87% for the robotic group and 78.30% for the laparotomy group, and estimated 5-year overall survival was 89.14%for the robotic group and 79.47% for the laparotomy group. In a multivariate analysis, including stage, grade, histology, operative type, and adjuvant therapy, operative type was not an independent prognostic factor for recurrence or overall survival. CONCLUSION: Compared with laparotomy, robotic staging for endometrial cancer is associated with less postoperative morbidity without compromising short-term recurrence rates or survival outcomes.

High resolution mapping and positional cloning of ENU-induced mutations in the Rw region of mouse chromosome 5.

BACKGROUND: Forward genetic screens in mice provide an unbiased means to identify genes and other functional genetic elements in the genome. Previously, a large scale ENU mutagenesis screen was conducted to query the functional content of a ~50 Mb region of the mouse genome on proximal Chr 5. The majority of phenotypic mutants recovered were embryonic lethals. RESULTS: We report the high resolution genetic mapping, complementation analyses, and positional cloning of mutations in the target region. The collection of identified alleles include several with known or presumed functions for which no mutant models have been reported (Tbc1d14, Nol14, Tyms, Cad, Fbxl5, Haus3), and mutations in genes we or others previously reported (Tapt1, Rest, Ugdh, Paxip1, Hmx1, Otoe, Nsun7). We also confirmed the causative nature of a homeotic mutation with a targeted allele, mapped a lethal mutation to a large gene desert, and localized a spermiogenesis mutation to a region in which no annotated genes have coding mutations. The mutation in Tbc1d14 provides the first implication of a critical developmental role for RAB-GAP-mediated protein transport in early embryogenesis. CONCLUSION: This collection of alleles contributes to the goal of assigning biological functions to all known genes, as well as identifying novel functional elements that would be missed by reverse genetic approaches.

Risk of dermal and inhalation exposure to chlorantraniliprole assessed by using whole-body dosimetry in Korea.

BACKGROUND: We determined the characteristics and evaluated associated risks of sprayed pesticide exposure among workers cultivating Korean cabbage. The test pesticide, a mixture of 3% chlorantraniliprole and 4% indoxacarb wettable granules diluted 2000 times, was sprayed on Korean cabbage within a 3000 m2 area in Goesan, Korea. Dermal exposures were measured using a whole-body dosimetry method. RESULTS: Exposure to chlorantraniliprole was observed among ten individuals, ranging from 140.4 to 4234.0 µg person-1 . The legs were the most prominent exposure area (86.35%), with the face being the least exposed (0.06%). Exposure risk was assessed by calculating the margin of safety (MOS) on the exposure amount for each body part. The MOS based on dermal and inhalation exposure doses ranged from 59 to 1765. CONCLUSION: Exposure was the greatest for the legs, probably as a result of the low height of the crop and the use of a long-wand sprayer. An MOS value >1 indicates a low risk for applicators using this method of application. However, with tall crops, exposure level and MOS values can vary widely, as MOS increases or decreases based on exposure dose. Therefore, future research is needed to better understand appropriate safety precautions when working with potent pesticides. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dissipation, persistence, and risk assessment of fluxapyroxad and penthiopyrad residues in perilla leaf (Perilla frutescens var. japonica Hara).

The objective of this study was to determine the residual characteristics and to calculate the persistence of the fungicides fluxapyroxad (15.3% suspension concentrate) and penthiopyrad (20% emulsifiable concentrate) on the leaves of greenhouse-cultivated perilla (Perilla frutescens var. japonica Hara). Fluxapyroxad was diluted 2,000-fold and penthiopyrad was diluted 4,000-fold. Each solution was sprayed 3 times onto crops at 7-d intervals before harvest. Leaf samples were collected at 3 h (0 d), 1, 3, 5 and 7 d after the third and final treatment. The recovery ranges of fluxapyroxad and penthiopyrad and their metabolites were 74.2%-104.1%. Pesticide residue analyses indicated that fluxapyroxad and penthiopyrad residues in perilla leaves dissipated over time. The persistence of fluxapyroxad and penthiopyrad residues 7 d after the final spray were 50.0% ± 4.9% and 44.2% ± 2.8% of those measured 3 h (0 d) after the final spray, respectively. The percent acceptable daily intake (%ADI)-which was assessed according to the daily food intake by Koreans according to age-was < 7.3%. Therefore, it was determined that the health risk was low. The perception that residual pesticides are present in large amounts in perilla leaf has led to consumer concern. However, in this study, the amounts of pesticide in perilla leaf decreased over time. Although it has been hypothesized that the risk of pesticide intake would be higher in younger children, the results actually suggest the opposite. Therefore, the pesticides in question are considered to be safe for use on perilla leaves.

The Epidemiology of Cancer Among Homeless Adults in Metropolitan Detroit.

BACKGROUND: Homeless individuals suffer and die disproportionately from chronic diseases and disorders. We describe the epidemiology of cancer among homeless persons in metropolitan Detroit. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed using 1973-2014 data from the Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System, a population-based cancer registry and member of the National Institutes of Health-National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Homeless adults were identified through address at diagnosis listed as a homeless shelter, hospital, or supplemental field indicating homelessness. Age-adjusted, sex-specific proportional incidence ratios (PIR) compared cancer incidence proportions by primary tumor site of homeless patients to the nonhomeless referent population. Kaplan-Meier curves depicted unadjusted survival differences in a propensity score matched sample. Differences in 10-year survival were assessed using the score test with a sandwich estimator accounting for matched cluster effects. Statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS: A total of 388 individuals experienced homelessness at first primary invasive cancer diagnosis. Statistically significantly higher proportions of respiratory system (PIR = 1.51; 95% confidence interval = 1.28 to 1.79) and female genital system (PIR = 1.83; 95% confidence interval = 1.31 to 2.55) cancers were observed among homeless men and women, respectively. Homeless persons had poorer overall and cancer-reported survival compared with a propensity score matched referent population (median: overall survival, 20.0 vs 38.0 months, respectively, P < .001; cancer-reported survival, 38.0 vs 64.0 months, respectively, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Disparities in disease burden exist between adults who are experiencing homelessness compared with the nonhomeless population at cancer diagnosis. These findings provide clinically relevant information to understand the cancer burden in this medically underserved population and suggest an urgent need to develop cancer prevention and intervention programs to reduce disparities and improve the health of homeless persons.

Recent Trends in Ovarian Cancer Incidence and Relative Survival in the United States by Race/Ethnicity and Histologic Subtypes.

Background: Incidence and survival rates of nonserous epithelial ovarian cancer in racial/ethnic minorities remain relatively unknown in the United States. We examined the trends in incidence and survival rates for epithelial ovarian cancer by histologic subtypes and race/ethnicity.Methods: Ovarian cancer incidence and mortality data from 2000 to 2013 were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Age-adjusted incidence rate, incidence rate ratio, and annual percentage changes (APC) were calculated by histology and race/ethnicity subgroups and stratified by age at diagnosis. Five-year relative survival rates were calculated by stage and race/ethnicity.Results: A small but significant decrease in incidence rates was seen in non-Hispanic white (NHW), non-Hispanic black (NHB), and Hispanic women (APC -1.58, -0.84, and -1.31, respectively), while incidence rates remained relatively stable in Asian women (APC -0.37). With exception of significant increase in the incidence rate of clear cell carcinoma among Asian woman (APC 1.85), an overall trend toward decreasing incidence rates was seen across histologic subtypes and age-strata, although not all results were statistically significant. Compared with NHW women, NHB women experienced poorer 5-year survival at every stage across histologic subtypes, while Hispanic and Asian women had equivalent or better survival.Conclusions: Over the last decade, incidence rates of epithelial ovarian cancer in the United States have decreased or remained stable across race/ethnic and histologic subgroups, except for clear cell carcinoma. Survival remains poorest among NHB women.Impact: Comparative histologic subtype distribution and incidence trends do not explain the ovarian cancer survival disparity disproportionately affecting NHB women. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(10); 1511-8. ©2017 AACR.