Place of birth and risk of gallbladder cancer in India.

CONTEXT: Within India, the incidence of gallbladder cancer (GBC) is characterized by marked geographical variation; however, the reasons for these differences are unclear. AIMS: To evaluate the role of place of birth, length of residence, and effect of migration from high- to low-risk region on GBC development. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Population-based cancer registries (PBCRs); case-control study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data of PBCRs were used to demonstrate geographical variation in GBC incidence rates. A case-control study data examined the role of birth place, residence length, and effect of migration in etiology of GBC. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Rate ratios for different PBCRs were estimated using Chennai Cancer Registry as the reference population. Odds ratios (ORs) for developing GBC in a high-risk region compared to a low-risk region and associated 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated through unconditional logistic regression models using case-control study. RESULTS: GBC shows marked variation in incidence with risk highest in Northeast regions and lowest in South India. OR of 4.82 (95% CI: 3.87-5.99) was observed for developing GBC for individuals born in a high-risk region compared to those born in a low-risk region after adjusting for confounders. A dose-response relationship with increased risk with increased length of residence in a high-risk region was observed (OR lifetime 5.58 [95% CI: 4.42-7.05]; Ptrend ≤ 0.001). The risk persisted even if study participant migrated from high- to low-risk region (OR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.02-1.82). CONCLUSIONS: The present study signifies the importance of place of birth, length of stay, and effect of migration from high- to low-risk region in the development of GBC. The data indicate role of environmental and genetic factors in etiology of disease.

Rural urban differences in breast cancer in India.

Context: Breast cancer incidence rates are high in developed countries and much lower in less developed countries including India. Aims: The aim of the following study is to compare breast cancer incidence rates in rural, urban and metro regions of India and to estimate risk of developing breast cancer associated with residence in a rural area. Settings and Design: Descriptive and analytical study design. Materials and Methods: We extracted age adjusted incidence rate from 26 population-based cancer registries and data from hospital-based case-control study to estimate rate and risk ratio for developing breast cancer in an urban region compared with a rural residence. Statistical Analysis: The rate ratios and 95% confidence interval (CI) for developing breast cancer in the urban and metro region compared with rural registry of Barshi were estimated. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI for developing breast cancer in women residing in a rural region was estimated by fitting unconditional logistic regression using hospital-based case-control study data. Average annual percentage change in most recent 15 years (1996-2010) for Barshi (rural), Aurangabad (urban), and Mumbai (metro) cancer registry was obtained by fitting a log-linear model using joint point regression. Results: Living first 20 years of life in a rural area reduces the risk of breast cancer (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.56-0.76). Conclusions: The current study demonstrates that lifestyle operative in a rural area is protective against risk of developing breast cancer.

Uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria following the administration of dimethyl sulphoxide.

A single intraperitoneal injection of 275 mg of dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) to rats (100-125 g body weight) effectively uncouples oxidative phosphorylation in liver mitochondria during the period from 2 hr to 5 day post-injection. Higher doses of DMSO are inhibitory to mitochondrial respiration. DMSO has however no uncoupling action on oxidative phosphorylation in vitro. On the other hand, dimethyl sulphide (DMS), a known metabolite of DMSO, brings about the uncoupling effect in vitro. The uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation by normal mitochondria could also be achieved if these are pre-incubated (30 min at 0 degrees C) with the post-mitochondrial liver supernatant derived from rat injected with DMSO, 2-24 hr prior to sacrifice. These results provide explanation for the observed uncoupling effect exerted by DMSO in vivo.