• Title/Summary/Keyword: cancer epidemic

Search Result 30, Processing Time 0.024 seconds

Survey Methods on Cancer Epidemic (암의 집단발병에 관한 역학조사방법)

  • Park, Byung-Joo;Bae, Jong-Myon;Ahn, Yoon-Ok;Yoo, Keun-Young
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
    • /
    • v.27 no.3 s.47
    • /
    • pp.411-423
    • /
    • 1994
  • The survey methods for confirming the epidemicity and identifying the possible causes of the cancer epidemic can be different from those for infectious diseases. The procedure for confirming whether the outbreak is epidemic or not is quite different. Household survey for identifying cancer cases and residents actually living at the area should be done. Hospital survey for medical record review should be performed to identify all cancer cases among the residents of the outbreak area and confirmig the final diagnoses of the cancer cases. Comparing the level of cancer incidence or mortality with other areas can be done by using Poisson distribution, or calculating SIR (Standard Incidence Ratio) from cumulative incidence rates. Case-control study can be conducted to identify the etiologic, factors of the cancer epidemic and to establish strategy for preventing further recurrence of the outbreak.

  • PDF

Natural Occurrence of Fusarium Mycotoxins in Cereals (곡류에서의Fusarium속 곰팡이 독소의 오염)

  • 이인원;김진철
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
    • /
    • v.8 no.2
    • /
    • pp.23-32
    • /
    • 1993
  • Species of the genus Fusarium are worldwide in their distribution. They are saprophytes as soil inhabitants and parasites of cultivated plants. Some isolates of certain species car capable of producing mycotoxins. Mycotoxicoses, including moldy corn toxicosis, alimentary toxic aleukia, fusariotoxicosis, and rel mold disease are known to be associated with trichothecene-producing fungi. Historically severe epidemic of cereal scab occred in the southern part of Korea in 1963. The epidemic caused a social problem because of not only heavy economic losses but also mycotoxicoses to humans and farm animals. However the toxic principles were remained unknown until some publications in 1980's indicated that trichothecenes and zearalenone were major mycotoxins in Korea cereals contaminated with Fusarium moniliforme have been found to be associated with human and animal disease such as leukoencephalomalacia in horses, pulmonary edema in swine and esophageal cancer in humans. High concentrations of fumonisins have been detected in corn samples from high espohoageal cancer risk areas of South Africa and China. Thus fumonisins have been implicated in the etiolgy of human esophageal cancer in those high incidence countries. Recently increase of imported cereals from foreign countries demands to assess the safety of mycotoxins in Korea. The informations on the natural occurrence of mycotoxins are needed to solve the toxicological problems in humans and farm animals associated with the consumption of moldy cereals.

  • PDF

Prostate Cancer and Metabolic Syndrome: Is there a link?

  • McGrowder, Donovan A.;Jackson, Lennox Anderson;Crawford, Tazhmoye V.
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.13 no.1
    • /
    • pp.1-13
    • /
    • 2012
  • Metabolic syndrome has become quite prevalent within our society. Over the past two decades, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome has sharply increased worldwide and it has become a major public health problem in several countries. It is associated with the global epidemic of obesity and diabetes mellitus and imposes numerous cardiovascular risks. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, surpassed only by non-melanoma skin cancer. A considerable body of evidence exists suggesting that some components of the metabolic syndrome have been associated with the risk of prostate cancer. These components include obesity, an abdominal fat distribution, and hyperinsulinemia. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the most widely used therapeutic modality in prostate cancer. It changed the body composition and lipid profile of men with prostate cancer. Androgen deficiency is associated with increased levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, increased production of proinflammatory factors, and increased thickness of the arterial wall and contributes to endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this review is to evaluate the association between metabolic syndrome and prostate cancer and to discuss the implications of androgen deficiency in men with cardiovascular risk factors. A comprehensive literature search was carried out with the use of PubMed from 1980 through 2011, and relevant articles pertinent to metabolic syndrome and prostate cancer are evaluated and discussed.

Implementation of Health Behavior Education Concerning Liver Flukes among Village Health Volunteers in an Epidemic Area of Thailand

  • Kaewpitoon, Soraya J;Rujirakul, Ratana;Wakkuwattapong, Parichart;Matrakool, Likit;Tongtawee, Taweesak;Norkaew, Jun;Kujapun, Jirawoot;Kampangsri, Wilas;Kaewpitoon, Natthawut
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.17 no.4
    • /
    • pp.1713-1716
    • /
    • 2016
  • Background: Liver fluke infection is associated with cholangiocarcinoma; the bile duct cancer found frequently in the northeast and north of Thailand. Prevention and control particularly requires health education and behavior change. Objective: This study aimed to improve health behavior among village health volunteers (VHV) regarding liver fluke exposure in an epidemic area. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was performed during July 2015 to January 2016 in Sang Kha district of Surin province, Thailand. A total of 67 VHVs underwent a health education program (HEP) and data were collected on knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) before and after participation for HEP 3 months with a pre-designed questionnaire. The Students paired T-test was used for comparisons of mean KAP levels before/after the intervention. Results: The results revealed that knowledge (P-value=0.004), attitude (P-value=0.004), and practice level (P-value=0.000) were significantly improved after participation in the HBP. Attitude was significantly associated with knowledge (r=0.266, p<0.05), and practice (r=0.348, p<0.01). Conclusions: The implementation of health education among VHVs is feasible and increases their KAP. This improvement should have potential in liver fluke prevention and control in local communities in rural Thailand.

Health and Economic Costs of Physical Inactivity

  • Kruk, Joanna
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.15 no.18
    • /
    • pp.7499-7503
    • /
    • 2014
  • Physical inactivity has reached epidemic levels in developed countries and is being recognized as a serious public health problem. Recent evidence shows a high percentages of individuals worldwide who are physically inactive, i.e. do not achieve the WHO's present recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity per week in addition to usual activities. Living in sedentary lifestyle is one of the leading causes of deaths and a high risk factor for several chronic diseases, like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes type 2, and osteoporosis. This article summarizes evidence for relative risk of the civilization diseases attributable to physical inactivity and the most important conclusions available from the recent investigations computing the economic costs specific to physical inactivity. The findings provide health and economic arguments needed for people to understand the meaning of a sedentary lifestyle. This may be also useful for public health policy in the creation of programmes for prevention of physical inactivity.

Nano-Micelle of Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil Triggers Mitochondrial Cancer Cell Apoptosis

  • Abd-Rabou, Ahmed A;Zoheir, Khairy M A;Kishta, Mohamed S;Shalby, Aziza B;Ezzo, Mohamed I
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.17 no.11
    • /
    • pp.4929-4934
    • /
    • 2016
  • Cancer, a worldwide epidemic disease with diverse origins, involves abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade other parts of the body. Globally, it is the main cause of mortality and morbidity. To overcome the drawbacks of the commercially available chemotherapies, natural products-loaded nano-composites are recommended to improve cancer targetability and decrease the harmful impact on normal cells. This study aimed at exploring the anti-cancer impacts of Moringa oleifera seed oil in its free- (MO) and nano-formulations (MOn) through studying whether it mechanistically promotes mitochondrial apoptosis-mediating cell death. Mitochondrial-based cytotoxicity and flow cytometric-based apoptosis analyses were performed on cancer HepG2, MCF7, HCT 116, and Caco-2 cell lines against normal kidney BHK-21 cell line. The present study resulted that MOn triggered colorectal cancer Caco-2 and HCT 116 cytotoxicity via mitochondrial dysfunction more powerful than its free counterpart (MO). On the other side, MOn and MO remarkably induces HCT 116 mitochondrial apoptosis, while sparing normal BHK-21 cells with minimal cytotoxic effect. The present results concluded that nano-micelle of Moringa oleifera seed oil (MOn) can provide a novel therapeutic approach for colorectal and breast cancers via mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis, while sparing normal and even liver cancer cells a bit healthy or with minimal harmful effect. Intriguingly, MOn induced breast cancer not hepatocellular carcinoma cell death.

Predictors of Tobacco Use among Youth in India: GATS 2009-2010 Survey

  • Sharma, Shailja;Singh, Mitasha;Lal, Pranay;Goel, Sonu
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.16 no.17
    • /
    • pp.7535-7540
    • /
    • 2015
  • Background: Early initiation of smoking and chewing of diverse forms of tobacco among youth in India is a significant driver for tobacco epidemic in India. Several socio-demographic factors are predictors of tobacco use in populations, especially among youth. Interventions which address these socio-demographic factors can help policy makers to curb new initiations and avert morbidity and mortality due to tobacco use. Objective: To study the various sociodemographic variables associated with tobacco use among youth in India. Materials and Methods: Secondary analysis of data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey-India 2009-10 for the age group of 15-24 years was performed and predictors of smoking and smokeless tobacco were analyzed using data on occupation, education, and other sociodemographic factors. Results: In India there are a total of 51.3 million (22.1%) youth (15-24 years) tobacco users. Of these 35.1 million consumes chewable tobacco (15.1%), 16.2 million smoke (7%) and 1.6 million are dual users (3.1%). Males, urban, less educated, un-employed and those belonging to middle class preferred smoking over chewing; whereas, females, rural, students and those belonging to low socio-economic class are predictors of smokeless tobacco use. The major determinants of dual users are male sex, poor socio-economic strata and student class. The overall tobacco use was higher among males, rural populations, lower socioeconomic strata and un-employed class. Conclusions: India's youth is more susceptible to the tobacco addiction, especially of smokeless tobacco. Youth from rural India especially students, girls and those from poor socio-economic strata prefer to use smokeless tobacco products whereas urban, male and those less educated prefer smoking tobacco products. More population-based and region-focused research is needed to understand initiation patterns into tobacco use among youth so as to inform policymakers to devise new policy measures to curb the growing epidemic.

The Single Cigarette Economy in India - a Back of the Envelope Survey to Estimate its Magnitude

  • Lal, Pranay;Kumar, Ravinder;Ray, Shreelekha;Sharma, Narinder;Bhattarcharya, Bhaktimay;Mishra, Deepak;Sinha, Mukesh K.;Christian, Anant;Rathinam, Arul;Singh, Gurbinder
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.16 no.13
    • /
    • pp.5579-5582
    • /
    • 2015
  • Background: Sale of single cigarettes is an important factor for early experimentation, initiation and persistence of tobacco use and a vital factor in the smoking epidemic in India as it is globally. Single cigarettes also promote the sale of illicit cigarettes and neutralises the effect of pack warnings and effective taxation, making tobacco more accessible and affordable to minors. This is the first study to our knowledge which estimates the size of the single stick market in India. Materials and Methods: In February 2014, a 10 jurisdiction survey was conducted across India to estimate the sale of cigarettes in packs and sticks, by brands and price over a full business day. Results: We estimate that nearly 75% of all cigarettes are sold as single sticks annually, which translates to nearly half a billion US dollars or 30 percent of the India's excise revenues from all cigarettes. This is the price which the consumers pay but is not captured through tax and therefore pervades into an informal economy. Conclusions: Tracking the retail price of single cigarettes is an efficient way to determine the willingness to pay by cigarette smokers and is a possible method to determine the tax rates in the absence of any other rationale.

Association between Smoking and Mortality: Khon Kaen Cohort Study, Thailand

  • Kamsa-ard, Siriporn;Promthet, Supannee;Lewington, Sarah;Burrett, Julie Ann;Sherliker, Paul;Kamsa-ard, Supot;Wiangnon, Surapon;Parkin, Donald Maxwell
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.14 no.4
    • /
    • pp.2643-2647
    • /
    • 2013
  • Background: Despite anti-smoking campaigns, smoking prevalence among Thai males aged 30 or older is high, at around 50%. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between smoking and mortality in a rural Thai community. Materials and Methods: Subjects enrolled into the Khon Kaen cohort study between 1990 and 2001 were followed up for their vital status until $16^{th}$ March 2012. The death resource was from the Bureau of Policy and Strategy, Ministry of Interior, Thailand. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyse the association between smoking and death, controlling for age, education level and alcohol drinking, and confidence intervals were calculated using the floating risk method. Results: The study recruited 5,962 male subjects, of whom 1,396 died during a median 13.5 years of follow-up. Current smokers were more likely to die than never smokers after controlling for age, education level and alcohol drinking (HR, 95%CI: 1.41, 1.32-1.51), and the excess mortality was greatest for lung cancer (HR, 95%CI: 3.51, 2.65-4.66). However, there was no increased risk with increasing dose of tobacco, and no difference in risk between smokers of yamuan (hand-rolled cigarettes) and manufactured tobacco. Conclusion: Mortality from cancer, particularly lung cancer, and from all causes combined is dependent on smoking status among men in rural Thailand, but the relative risks are lower than have been reported from studies in high income countries, where the tobacco epidemic is more established.

A Consensus Plan for Action to Improve Access to Cancer Care in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Region

  • Woodward, Mark
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.15 no.19
    • /
    • pp.8521-8526
    • /
    • 2014
  • In many countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), cancer is an increasing problem due to ageing and a transition to Western lifestyles. Governments have been slow to react to the health consequences of these socioeconomic changes, leading to the risk of a cancer epidemic overwhelming the region. A major limitation to motivating change is the paucity of high-quality data on cancer, and its socioeconomic repercussions, in ASEAN. Two initiatives have been launched to address these issues. First, a study of over 9000 new cancer patients in ASEAN - the ACTION study - which records information on financial difficulties, as well as clinical outcomes, subsequent to the diagnosis. Second, a series of roundtable meetings of key stakeholders and experts, with the broad aim of producing advice for governments in ASEAN to take appropriate account of issues relating to cancer, as well as to generate knowledge and interest through engagement with the media. An important product of these roundtables has been the Jakarta Call to Action on Cancer Control. The growth and ageing of populations is a global challenge for cancer services. In the less developed parts of Asia, and elsewhere, these problems are compounded by the epidemiological transition to Western lifestyles and lack of awareness of cancer at the government level. For many years, health services in less developed countries have concentrated on infectious diseases and mother-and-child health; despite a recent wake-up call (United Nations, 2010), these health services have so far failed to allow for the huge increase in cancer cases to come. It has been estimated that, in Asia, the number of new cancer cases per year will grow from 6.1 million in 2008 to 10.6 million in 2030 (Sankaranarayanan et al., 2014). In the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), corresponding figures are 770 thousand in 2012 (Figure 1), rising to 1.3 million in 2030 (Ferlay et al., 2012). ASEAN consists of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. It, thus, includes low- and middle-income countries where the double whammy of infectious and chronic diseases will pose an enormous challenge in allocating limited resources to competing health issues. Cancer statistics, even at the sub-national level, only tell part of the story. Many individuals who contract cancer in poor countries have no medical insurance and no, or limited, expectation of public assistance. Whilst any person who has a family member with cancer can expect to bear some consequential burden of care or expense, in a poor family in a poor environment the burden will surely be greater. This additional burden from cancer is rarely considered, and even more rarely quantified, even in developed nations.