Alcohol drinking and risks of total and site-specific cancers in China: A 10-year prospective study of 0.5 million adults.

Alcohol drinking is associated with increased risks of several site-specific cancers, but its role in many other cancers remains inconclusive. Evidence is more limited from China, where cancer rates, drinking patterns and alcohol tolerability differ importantly from Western populations. The prospective China Kadoorie Biobank recruited >512 000 adults aged 30 to 79 years from 10 diverse areas during 2004 to 2008, recording alcohol consumption patterns by a standardised questionnaire. Self-reported alcohol consumption was estimated as grams of pure alcohol per week based on beverage type, amount consumed per occasion and drinking frequency. After 10 years of follow-up, 26 961 individuals developed cancer. Cox regression was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) relating alcohol consumption to incidence of site-specific cancers. Overall, 33% (n = 69 734) of men drank alcohol regularly (ie, ≥weekly) at baseline. Among male current regular drinkers, alcohol intake showed positive dose-response associations with risks of cancers in the oesophagus (655 events; HR = 1.98 [95%CI 1.79-2.18], per 280 g/wk), mouth and throat (236; 1.74 [1.48-2.05]), liver (573; 1.52 [1.31-1.76]), colon-rectum (575; 1.19 [1.00-1.43]), gallbladder (107; 1.60 [1.16-2.22]) and lung (1017; 1.25 [1.10-1.42]), similarly among never- and ever-regular smokers. After adjustment for total alcohol intake, there were greater risks of oesophageal cancer in daily drinkers than nondaily drinkers and of liver cancer when drinking without meals. The risks of oesophageal cancer and lung cancer were greater in men reporting flushing after drinking than not. In this male population, alcohol drinking accounted for 7% of cancer cases. Among women, only 2% drank regularly, with no clear associations between alcohol consumption and cancer risk. Among Chinese men, alcohol drinking is associated with increased risks of cancer at multiple sites, with certain drinking patterns (eg, daily, drinking without meals) and low alcohol tolerance further exacerbating the risks.

Associations of toothbrushing behaviour with risks of vascular and nonvascular diseases in Chinese adults.

Accumulating evidence has shown that poor oral hygiene is associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases in Western populations. However, its relevance about the relationships in Chinese adults remains unclear. The China Kadoorie Biobank enrolled 512 715 adults aged 30-79 years in China during 2004-2008. Cox regression was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for each disease associated with measures of oral hygiene. Overall 9.3% of the participants reported rarely or never brushing teeth at baseline. Participants who rarely or never brushed teeth had adjusted HR of 1.12 (95% CI: 1.09, 1.15) for MVE, with similar HRs for stroke (1.08, 1.05-1.12), intracerebral haemorrhage (1.18, 1.11-1.26) and pulmonary heart disease (1.22, 1.13-1.32) compared with those who brushed teeth regularly. Those who did not brush teeth also had increased risk of cancer (1.09, 1.04-1.14), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (1.12, 1.05-1.20), liver cirrhosis (1.25, 1.09-1.44) and all-cause death (1.25, 1.21-1.28) but not type 2 diabetes (0.94, 0.86-1.03) and chronic kidney disease (0.98, 0.81-1.18). Among Chinese adults, we found that poor oral hygiene is associated with higher risks of major vascular disease, cancer, COPD, liver cirrhosis and all-cause deaths, but not type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

Experimental study on repair of the facial nerve with Schwann cells transfected with GDNF genes and PLGA conduits.

CONCLUSIONS: Schwann cells transfected by GDNF genes + PLGA were superior to Schwann cells + PLGA and direct anastomesis. This is a new and effective strategy for repair of facial nerve defects. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of bioactive artificial nerve conduits in the repair of facial nerve defects in Sprague-Dawley rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Schwann cells were harvested and transfected with PcDNA3.1 (+)/GDNF. After injection with Schwann cells, the conduits were cultured in the culture medium for 2 weeks. Thirty female Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and randomly divided into three groups (A, B, and C), which were treated as follows: A, direct anastomesis; B, Schwann cells + PLGA conduits; C, Schwann cells transfected by GDNF genes + PLGA conduits. General observation, electrophysiological study, histological study, and image analysis were performed 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The recovery of nerve regeneration and electrophysiological results in group C were superior to those in groups A and B; the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01).

[Repair of facial nerve with bioactive artificial nerve conduit: experiment with rats].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of bioactive artificial nerve conduits in the repair of facial nerve defects. METHODS: Schwann cells (SC) were collected from the sciatic nerve and brachial plexus of a newborn SD rat, cultured, transfected with the plasmid pcDNA3. 1 (+)/GDNF containing glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor gene, digested by pancreatin to make mixture of cell suspension to be injected into poly (L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) conduits. After injected with SCs, the conduits were cultured in for 2 weeks. Thirty female SD rat underwent buccal branch of facial nerve and then were randomly divided into 3 groups: Group A, undergoing direct anastomosis of the amputated dextral nerve; Group B, in which the 2 sides of amputated nerve were put into the PLGA conduit without transfected GDNF; and Group C in which the 2 sides of amputated nerve were put into the PLGA conduit with transfected GDNF. The motion of the facial muscles and whisker was observed. Two weeks, and 1, 2, and 3 months after the operation electrophysiological study was conducted to measure the action potential of the facial nerve. Then the rata were killed with their bilateral facial nerve and pontes were taken out to undergo histological examination. RESULTS: Compound action potential could be detected in all groups at any time points except in Groups A and B 2 weeks after the operation. The values of compound action potential of Group C at different time points were all significantly higher than those of Groups A and B (all P < 0.01). However, there were not significant differences in the compound action potential values at any time point between Groups A and B (all P > 0.05). The mean number of myelinated nerve fibers, thickness of myelin sheath, and number of motor neuron of Group C were all significantly higher than those of Groups A and B (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Conduit with SCs transfected with GDNF gene + PLGA is superior to that with SCs + PLGA and direct anastomosis in repair of facial nerve.

[Biocompatibility study of polylactic/glycolic acid and Schwann cell].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the biocompatibility of polylactic/glycolic acid (PLGA) and Schwann cells. METHOD: Schwann cells were harvested from rat brachial and sciatic nerves. Schwann cells were cultured with PLGA, observed by phase-contrast microscopy and electron microscopy. RESULT: Schwann cells could attach and proliferate on the surface of the PLGA. CONCLUSION: The PLGA has good cellular biocompatibility. It can be used as biomaterial for tissue engineering.