Carotenoid analyses of selected raw and cooked foods associated with a lower risk for cancer.

We examined the carotenoid content of selected foods consistently found to be associated with a lower risk for various epithelial cancers in epidemiologic studies. Both raw and cooked samples of green, leafy vegetables and yellow or orange vegetables were quantitatively examined by high-performance liquid chromatography for individual carotenoid content. The results indicated that fresh, green, leafy vegetables were moderately high in beta carotene (0.5-14.6 mg/100 g) and very high in oxygenated carotenoids or xanthophylls, primarily lutein and its stereoisomers (2.3-63.0 mg/100g) [corrected]. The fresh, yellow or orange vegetables examined were very high in beta carotene (16.0-120.5 mg/100 g) [corrected] but had no detectable nonhydrocarbon carotenoids. Cooking differentially reduced the lutein content compared with the beta carotene content in green, leafy vegetables. These analyses suggest that consumption of carotenoids in addition to beta carotene may be associated with a lower risk for cancer.

Adult stature and risk of cancer.

We examined the relationship between adult stature and cancer incidence using data from the first U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and its follow-up study. Among 12,554 participants 25-74 years old, 460 cancers occurred in men and 399 in women after an average follow-up period of approximately 10 years. The age-adjusted relative risk of cancer for the second (Q2) through fourth (Q4) quartiles of stature compared to the first quartile among men were significantly increased: 1.5, 1.4, and 1.4. After adjustment for race, cigarette smoking, income, and body mass index, the all-sites cancer relative risk increased slightly to 1.6, 1.5, and 1.6. For most cancer sites in men, and particularly colorectal cancer (relative risk = 2.1 for Q4), the lowest incidence was observed among those in the shortest quartile of stature. A weaker, positive association was evident among women, restricted primarily to cancer of the breast and colorectum (relative risk in Q4 = 2.1 and 1.6 for the two cancers, respectively). These findings indicate that short stature is associated with reduced risk of cancer, particularly in men, and suggest a role for nutrition early in life in human carcinogenesis.

Relation of body size and composition to clinical biochemical and hematologic indices in US men and women.

Small but significant variations in clinical biochemical indices may be of great biological significance. Earlier studies conducted on small, chronically ill, hospitalized, anemic, and/or malnourished population samples suggested associations between body size and composition and indices of iron metabolism, serum protein, and plasma cholesterol. We studied a large, nonhospitalized probability sample of women and men in the First US Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) to characterize these associations. Greater weight, stature, body mass index (BMI), skinfold thickness, and lean body mass (LBM) are associated with higher hemoglobin, hematocrit, and total iron-binding capacity. LBM and body fat are weakly related to serum albumin concentrations in men and to serum total protein concentrations in women. Total cholesterol concentrations are directly associated with weight, body fat, and LBM and are more strongly associated with central than peripheral obesity. Constitutional factors may be important for clinical assessment and for interpretation of epidemiologic studies.

Carotenodermia in men with elevated carotenoid intake from foods and beta-carotene supplements.

We evaluated the relation between plasma levels of carotenoids and carotenodermia in 30 men receiving carotenoid supplementation for 42 d. Five subjects each were randomly assigned to one of six treatment groups: 30 mg purified beta-carotene supplement, 12 mg beta-carotene supplement, 272 g cooked carrots, 300 g cooked broccoli, 180 g tomato juice, and placebo. Definite carotenodermia was observed only in the five subjects who took 30 mg of purified beta-carotene daily. Carotenodermia was first noted between 25 and 42 d after supplementation and persisted from 14 to greater than 42 d posttreatment and was observed only after plasma total carotenoid levels exceeded 4.0 mg/L. These observations may be useful to investigators planning clinical trials with beta-carotene and to clinicians assessing the significance of carotenodermia in men taking beta-carotene supplements or following diets high in carotenoid-containing foods.

Correlations of body mass indices with weight, stature, and body composition in men and women in NHANES I and II.

It is useful to develop indices of weight and stature, or body mass indices (BMIs), that are highly correlated with weight, are independent of stature, and accurately reflect body composition. The anthropometric data collected in the NHANES I (1971-74) and NHANES II (1976-80) US population samples were used to test the statistical characteristics and biologic correlations of various BMIs reported in the literature. BMIs that are independent of stature and still highly correlated to weight (r = 0.89-0.98) over all ages and distributions of fatness and leanness are W/S2 in men and both W/S and W/S1.5 in women. These BMIs are also highly correlated to measured and calculated estimates of body composition including subscapular skinfold thickness (r = 0.78-0.80), arm circumference (r = 0.83-0.89), and arm fat area (r = 0.71-0.83).

Plasma carotenoids in normal men after a single ingestion of vegetables or purified beta-carotene.

Changes in seven plasma carotenoids were measured in 30 men for 11 d after ingesting a single dose of pure beta-carotene or a high carotenoid vegetable. A controlled, low-carotenoid diet was fed in a crossover design. Maximum plasma concentrations of beta-carotene occurred 24-48 h after dosing with beta-carotene (12 or 30 mg) or carrots (270 g). A large intake of broccoli (600 g) or tomato juice (180 g) did not change any plasma carotenoids. We concluded that 1) normal subjects vary widely, three to fourfold, in efficiency of carotenoid absorption; 2) peak plasma response to beta-carotene in a capsule occurs at 24-48 h; 3) a large single intake of carrots produces a small increase in plasma beta-carotene but single intakes of broccoli or tomato juice do not change plasma carotenoids; and 4) plasma response to pure beta-carotene is greater than the response to a similar amount of beta-carotene in carrots.

Plasma carotenoid response to chronic intake of selected foods and beta-carotene supplements in men.

We determined serial changes in four major plasma carotenoid fractions (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein/zeaxanthin, and lycopene) in 30 men consuming defined daily doses of carotenoids from foods (broccoli, carrots, or tomato juice) or from purified beta-carotene in capsules (12 or 30 mg) for 6 wk while fed a controlled diet. Compared with baseline, beta-carotene increased in the 30- and 12-mg-capsule and carrot groups whereas alpha-carotene increased in the carrot group and lutein increased in the broccoli group. Lower lutein concentrations in recipients of beta-carotene capsules suggested an interaction between these two carotenoids. Lycopene declined in all groups except the tomato-juice group. Total carotenoid concentration changes only reflected the large increases in beta-carotene concentrations and not the smaller changes observed in other individual carotenoids. Overall, purified beta-carotene produced a greater plasma response than did similar quantities of carotenoids from foods sources. However, some foods increased plasma concentrations of certain carotenoids.

An overview of body weight of older persons, including the impact on mortality. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I--Epidemiologic Follow-up Study.

The authors studied distributions of body weight for height, change in body weight with age, and the relationship between body mass index and mortality among participants in the Epidemiologic Follow-up Study of the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHEFS) (n = 14,407), a cohort study based on an representative sample of the U.S. population. Percentiles of body weight for height according to age and sex are presented. Cross-sectional analyses of body weight suggest that mean body weight increases with age until late middle age, then plateaus and decreases for older aged persons. However, longitudinal analysis of change in weight with age shows that younger persons in the lower quintile at baseline tend to gain more than those in the higher quintile. Older persons in the higher quintile at baseline have the greatest average loss in weight. The relationship of body mass index to mortality is a U-shaped curve, with increased risks in the lowest and highest 15% of the distribution. Increased risk of mortality associated with the highest 15th percentile of the body mass index distribution, as well as the highest 15% of the joint distribution of body mass index and skinfold thickness, is statistically significant for white women. However, the risk diminishes when adjusted for the presence of disease and factors related to disease. More noteworthy is the fact that there is a statistically significant excess risk of mortality for both race and sex groups in the lowest 15% of the body mass index distribution after adjusting for smoking history, and presence of disease. Those in the lowest 15% of the joint body mass index and skinfold thickness distribution, were also at increased risk. Risk of mortality for both men and women who have lost 10% or more of their maximum lifetime weight within the last 10 years is statistically significant, even when controlling for current weight. This study has replicated previously reported relationships, while correcting for several methodological issues.

Abnormal growth processes in plants and animals: a comparison.

Tumorigenesis in eukaryotic organisms is based on the deregulation of normal cell growth and development. This deregulation may be elicited by external as well as endogenous factors. We distinguish between benign and malignant growths depending on the inducing tumorigenic agents and on the genetic make-up of the affected organism. This review discusses similarities of neoplasmatic (epigenetic) and neoplastic transformations in plants and animals as well as inherent differences in the growth parameters between the two kingdoms. Examples given for neoplasmatic tissues are the hyperplasias and insect galls (zoocecidia) in plants and hypoplasia, aplasia and agenesis in animals (and man). Neoplastic transformation in plants is the result of either the incorporation of foreign nuclear material into the plant genome or an imbalance of inherited chromosomes (in hybrids). Examples for neoplasias are the crown gall disease and Kostoff's genetic tumors in plants, and the carcinomas and leukemias in animals. The more than 80 year old, but neglected, concept of a correlation between tumorigenesis in animals and plants has been revived through advances in molecular and cell biology and molecular genetics which will stimulate a new form of biological reasoning and thought, fueled by new insights into cellular regulatory processes.

Experimental study of postmortem change under field conditions: effects of freezing, thawing, and mechanical injury.

Understanding the processes of postmortem change in biologic systems is important to the forensic sciences. Previous experimental studies of postmortem change in animals under field conditions made use of animal carcasses that had been incidentally exposed to the effects of freezing and thawing or mechanical damage, or both, and were limited to gross observations. The current study was designed to document intrinsic processes of postmortem change, and the effects of freezing-thawing and mechanical injury, under controlled conditions in the field, using histologic and microbiologic techniques, as well as gross observation. Insect and microbiologic succession sequences, and patterns of decomposition and disarticulation, were observable over time. Previously frozen-thawed animals showed predominantly decay (aerobic decomposition) in the field, while freshly killed animals showed predominantly putrefaction (anaerobic decomposition). Previously frozen animals showed the same sequence, but accelerated rates, of disarticulation. Mechanically injured tissues showed accelerated rates of decomposition. These findings have implications for the interpretation of results of previous studies, as well as the interpretation of human and animal remains subjected to freezing and thawing.

Intravenous amphetamine abuse, primary cerebral mucormycosis, and acquired immunodeficiency.

Two intravenous amphetamine abusers had fatal, rapidly progressive cerebral mucormycosis with abscess formation in the presence of absolute lymphopenia. Postmortem examination confirmed the primary nature of the fungal cerebritis, documented by postmortem culture and histology. The clinical and pathologic features of these cases are compared to previously reported occurrences of primary fungal cerebritis (and abscess) among intravenous drug abusers, including cocaine users. Primary fungal cerebritis associated with intravenous abuse of stimulant drugs is discussed as a possible variant of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Evaluation of cast methods for estimating age from the os pubis.

Age-related changes of the pubic symphysis have gained wide acceptance among physical anthropologists as one basis for estimating adult skeletal age. However, these methods have not been tested by independent observers on large samples with known ages at death that represent contemporary populations. In this study 202 female and 116 male pairs of pubes collected at autopsy were blindly evaluated for age using the McKern-Stewart or Gilbert-McKern and Suchey-Brooks methods. Performance of the methods was measured by mean absolute deviation of true age from scored interval means and frequencies of true age falling within +/- 1 and +/- 2 standard deviations from the mean. The results suggest that the Suchey-Brooks methods are superior in forensic applications and that the racially specific refinement for males should be used. Age estimates should include +/- 2 standard deviations, and chances of error should be considered, especially when advanced age or debilitation is suspected.

Experimental observations on adipocere formation.

Adipocere, "grave wax," is a waxy or greasy decomposition product formed by hydrolysis and hydrogenation of tissue fats. Once formed, it appears stable for extended periods. Adipocere has generally been considered to result from bacterial action, commonly in warm, damp, anaerobic environments. However, its frequency, rate of formation, factors affecting its formation and physical characteristics are not well defined. To study the frequency, time course, and effects of temperature and clothing on adipocere formation, we submerged human adipose tissue samples in aquaria under controlled conditions and conducted serial observations. Adipocere formed with high frequency, within a few months, in tissues submerged in warm tap water; similar changes took longer, 12 to 18 months in cold water submersion. Presence of clothing over the tissue appeared to accelerate adipocere formation.

a case of pulmonary paragonimiasis in Mindanao, Philippines.

A case of pulmonary paragonmiasis was diagnosed in a woman of the Manobo tribe in Marilog, Calinan, in the Davao region of Mindanao, the second-largest island in the Phillippine Archipelago. She had the first case of this disease reported in Mindanao. The patient was initially mis-diagnosed as having pulmonary tuberculosis, but failure of the standard triad regimen led to microscopic identification of Paragonimus westermani eggs in sputum. Therapy with Bithionol was successful in this case. One additional case was confirmed, and several more suspected, among members of this population group. From an epidemiologic standpoint, careful examination of chest x-rays will allow early differentiation between pulmonary paragonimiasis and tuberculosis, in areas where both conditions are endemic.

The need to teach alternative medicine.

Americans are turning more and more to alternative medicine for treatment of chronic conditions. Western medicine, however, has so far failed to recognize this trend. Many aspects of health care need to address this shift--beginning with training for health care practitioners.