Pesticide use and risk of Hodgkin lymphoma: results from the North American Pooled Project (NAPP).

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between pesticide exposures and risk of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) using data from the North American Pooled Project (NAPP).

Methods: Three population-based studies conducted in Kansas, Nebraska, and six Canadian provinces (HL = 507, Controls = 3886) were pooled to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for single (never/ever) and multiple (0, 1, 2-4, ≥ 5) pesticides used, duration (years) and, for select pesticides, frequency (days/year) using adjusted logistic regression models. An age-stratified analysis (≤ 40/ > 40 years) was conducted when numbers were sufficient.

Glyphosate use and associations with non-Hodgkin lymphoma major histological sub-types: findings from the North American Pooled Project.

Objectives Some epidemiological studies have suggested positive associations between glyphosate use and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but evidence is inconsistent and few studies could evaluate histological sub-types. Here, associations between glyphosate use and NHL incidence overall and by histological sub-type were evaluated in a pooled analysis of case-control studies. Methods The analysis included 1690 NHL cases [647 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), 468 follicular lymphoma (FL), 171 small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), and 404 other sub-types] and 5131 controls.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk and organophosphate and carbamate insecticide use in the north American pooled project.

Organophosphates and carbamates have been among the most commonly used insecticides, with both agricultural and residential uses. Previous studies have suggested associations of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) with some of these chemicals; however, many studies have been limited in their ability to evaluate associations with lymphoma subtypes. We evaluated the use of eleven organophosphate and two carbamate insecticides in association with NHL in the North American Pooled Project, which includes data from case-control studies in the United States and Canada (1690 cases/5131 controls).

Diabetes and Overall Survival among Breast Cancer Patients in the U.S. Military Health System.

Although research suggests that type II diabetes mellitus (DM-2) is associated with overall and breast cancer-specific decreased survival, most prior studies of breast cancer survival investigated the effect of preexisting DM-2 without assessing the effect of DM-2 diagnosed at or after breast cancer diagnosis. This study examined the relationship between DM-2 diagnosed before and after breast cancer diagnosis and overall survival. This study uses linked Department of Defense cancer registry and medical claims data from 9,398 women diagnosed with breast cancer between 1998 and 2007.

Metformin use and survival after non-small cell lung cancer: A cohort study in the US Military health system.

Research suggests that metformin may be associated with improved survival in cancer patients with type II diabetes. This study assessed whether metformin use after non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) diagnosis is associated with overall survival among type II diabetic patients with NSCLC in the U.S.

Pesticide exposures and the risk of multiple myeloma in men: An analysis of the North American Pooled Project.

Multiple myeloma (MM) has been consistently linked with agricultural activities, including farming and pesticide exposures. Three case-control studies in the United States and Canada were pooled to create the North American Pooled Project (NAPP) to investigate associations between pesticide use and haematological cancer risk. This analysis used data from 547 MM cases and 2700 controls.

Overall and recurrence-free survival among black and white bladder cancer patients in an equal-access health system.

Background: While the incidence of bladder cancer is twice as high among whites than among blacks, mortality is higher among blacks than whites. Unequal access to medical care may be an important factor. Insufficient access to care could delay cancer detection and treatment, which can result in worse survival.

A Prognostic Model to Predict Mortality among Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients in the U.S. Military Health System.

Introduction: Accurate prognosis assessment after non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) diagnosis is an essential step for making effective clinical decisions. This study is aimed to develop a prediction model with routinely available variables to assess prognosis in patients with NSCLC in the U.S.

Survival among Black and White patients with renal cell carcinoma in an equal-access health care system.

Purpose: Unequal access to health care may be a reason for shorter survival among Black patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) than among their White counterparts. No studies have investigated survival disparity among RCC patients in an equal-access health care delivery system. This study aimed to examine racial differences in survival among clear cell RCC patients in the Department of Defense's (DoD) Military Health System (MHS), which provides equal access to care to all persons.

IARC monographs: 40 years of evaluating carcinogenic hazards to humans.

Background: Recently, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Programme for the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans has been criticized for several of its evaluations, and also for the approach used to perform these evaluations. Some critics have claimed that failures of IARC Working Groups to recognize study weaknesses and biases of Working Group members have led to inappropriate classification of a number of agents as carcinogenic to humans.

Objectives: The authors of this Commentary are scientists from various disciplines relevant to the identification and hazard evaluation of human carcinogens.

The inclusion of women in studies of occupational cancer: a review of the epidemiologic literature from 1991-2009.

Introduction: Since the early 1990s, researchers have been concerned with the low rate at which women are included in epidemiologic studies of occupational cancer. A previous evaluation determined that one-third of articles published between 1970 and 1990 included women.

Methods: To assess whether there has been an improvement in recent years, papers on occupational cancer between 1991 and 2009 were reviewed in fifteen journals.

Exposure-response relationships for select cancer and non-cancer health outcomes in a cohort of U.S. firefighters from San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia (1950-2009).

Objectives: To examine exposure-response relationships between surrogates of firefighting exposure and select outcomes among previously studied US career firefighters.

Methods: Eight cancer and four non-cancer outcomes were examined using conditional logistic regression. Incidence density sampling was used to match each case to 200 controls on attained age.

Adjuvant radioactive iodine use among differentiated thyroid cancer patients in the military health system.

Objective: Adjuvant radioactive iodine (RAI) for the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer has been associated with better prognosis, but no consensus has been reached on the best practices for RAI. Limited data on RAI use and factors associated with the receipt of postoperative RAI in the general population are available and, to our knowledge, no data on RAI use among the U.S.

Colon cancer treatment: are there racial disparities in an equal-access healthcare system?

Background: In the general US population, blacks and whites have been shown to undergo colon cancer treatment at disproportionate rates. Accessibility to medical care may be the most important factor influencing differences in colon cancer treatment rates among whites and blacks.

Objective: We assessed whether racial disparities in colon cancer surgery and chemotherapy existed in an equal-access health care system.

Colon cancer lymph node evaluation among military health system beneficiaries: an analysis by race/ethnicity.

Background: The number of lymph nodes examined during colon cancer surgery falls below nationally recommended guidelines in the general population, with Blacks and Hispanics less likely to have adequate nodal evaluation in comparison to Whites. The Department of Defense's (DoD) Military Health System (MHS) provides equal access to medical care for its beneficiaries, regardless of racial/ethnic background. This study aimed to investigate whether racial/ethnic treatment differences exist in the MHS, an equal-access medical care system.

Breast reconstruction after mastectomy among Department of Defense beneficiaries by race.

Background: Postmastectomy breast reconstruction increased approximately 20% between 1998 and 2008 in the United States and has been found to improve body image, self-esteem, and quality of life. These procedures, however, tend to be less common among minority women, which may be due to variations in health care access. The Department of Defense provides equal health care access, thereby affording an exceptional environment in which to assess whether racial variations persist when access to care is equal.

Racial/ethnic differences in breast cancer survival by inflammatory status and hormonal receptor status: an analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data.

Background: Compared to non-inflammatory breast cancer (non-IBC), inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) has less favorable survival and is more likely to be estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) negative. ER-/PR- tumors, regardless of histology, have less favorable survival. While black women are more likely to have IBC and ER-/PR- tumors than white women, it is unclear whether the racial disparity in survival is explained by these factors.

Recent trends in published occupational cancer epidemiology research: results from a comprehensive review of the literature.

Objective: To assess trends in occupational cancer epidemiology research through a literature review of occupational health and epidemiology journals.

Methods: Fifteen journals were reviewed from 1991 to 2009, and characteristics of articles that assessed the risk of cancer associated with an occupation, industry, or occupational exposure, were incorporated into a database.

Results: The number of occupational cancer epidemiology articles published annually declined in recent years (2003 onwards) in the journals reviewed.

Mortality and cancer incidence in a pooled cohort of US firefighters from San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia (1950-2009).

Objectives: To examine mortality patterns and cancer incidence in a pooled cohort of 29 993 US career firefighters employed since 1950 and followed through 2009.

Methods: Mortality and cancer incidence were evaluated by life table methods with the US population referent. Standardised mortality (SMR) and incidence (SIR) ratios were determined for 92 causes of death and 41 cancer incidence groupings.

Breast conserving surgery versus mastectomy: the influence of comorbidities on choice of surgical operation in the Department of Defense health care system.

Background: Studies on the effect of comorbidities on breast cancer operation have been limited and inconsistent. This study investigated whether pre-existing comorbidities influenced breast cancer surgical operation in an equal access health care system.

Methods: This study was based on linked Department of Defense cancer registry and medical claims data.

Race and colon cancer survival in an equal-access health care system.

Studies have shown that Whites have a higher colorectal cancer survival rate than Blacks. However, it is unclear whether racial disparities result from unequal access to medical care or factors other than health care access or both. This study assessed whether non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) and non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB) differ in colon cancer survival in an equal-access health care system and examined whether racial differences varied by demographic and tumor characteristics.

Lung cancer survival among black and white patients in an equal access health system.

Background: Racial disparities in lung cancer outcomes have been observed in the general population. However, it is unclear whether survival differences persist when patients have equal access to health care. Our objective was to determine if lung cancer survival differed among black and white patients in the U.

Thyroid cancer incidence among active duty U.S. military personnel, 1990-2004.

Background: Increases in thyroid papillary carcinoma incidence rates have largely been attributed to heightened medical surveillance and improved diagnostics. We examined papillary carcinoma incidence in an equal-access health care system by demographics that are related to incidence.

Methods: Incidence rates during 1990-2004 among white and black individuals aged 20 to 49 years in the military, and the general U.