Journal of epidemiology and community health
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Nov 1999
Association between coffee drinking and K-ras mutations in exocrine pancreatic cancer. PANKRAS II Study Group.
To analyse the relation between coffee consumption and mutations in the K-ras gene in exocrine pancreatic cancer. ⋯ Pancreatic cancer cases without activating mutations in the K-ras gene had drank significantly less coffee than cases with a mutation, with a significant dose response relation: the less they drank, the less likely their tumours were to harbour a mutation. In exocrine pancreatic cancer the K-ras gene may be activated less often among non-regular coffee drinkers than among regular drinkers. Caffeine, other coffee compounds or other factors with which coffee drinking is associated may modulate K-ras activation.
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Jan 1999
Smoking, drinking, and other life style factors and cognitive function in men in the Caerphilly cohort.
To examine the cognitive function in a large, ongoing cohort study of older men, and to identify associations with social and lifestyle factors. ⋯ Age and social class show strong associations with cognitive function. Leisure persuits and social contact are also both positively associated. Neither tobacco smoking nor the drinking of alcohol seem to be associated with cognitive function, though there is evidence suggestive of self selection of both men who had never smoked and ex-smokers.
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Nov 1998
Measuring social class differences in cancer patient survival: is it necessary to control for social class differences in general population mortality? A Finnish population-based study.
Estimation of cancer patient survival by social class has been performed using observed, corrected (cause specific), and relative (with expected survival based on the national population) survival rates. Each of these measures are potentially biased and the optimal method is to calculate relative survival rates using social class specific death rates to estimate expected survival. This study determined the degree to which the choice of survival measure affects the estimation of social class differences in cancer patient survival. ⋯ Although each of the three measures gave comparable results, it is recommended that relative survival rates are used with expected survival adjusted for social class when studying social class variation in cancer patient survival. If this is not an available option, it is recommended that corrected survival rates are used. Relative survival rates without the social class correction overestimate social class differences and should be used with caution.
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Nov 1998
Comparative StudyHospitalisation of the elderly during the last year of life: an application of record linkage in Western Australia 1985-1994.
To measure the trend, pattern, and cost of time spent in hospital during the last year of life in Western Australia and to identify trends in the place of death. The results were compared with those reported from the Oxford Record Linkage Study. ⋯ Recent gains in life expectancy and higher per capita health expenditure have not been accompanied by more time spent in hospital during the last year of life at ages 75+ years. International differences between Western Australia and Oxford can be explained by differences in aged care provision.
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Sep 1998
Health benefits of joint replacement surgery for patients with osteoarthritis: prospective evaluation using independent assessments in Scotland.
To determine extent of change in psychological, functional, and social health after knee and hip joint replacement surgery using independent assessments. ⋯ The main benefit of joint replacement surgery is pain relief. Gains in functional activity, particularly mobility and leisure activities are made by many patients. Paradoxically, surgery for osteoarthritis seems to act as a "gateway" to increases in formal and informal community support, which are maintained into the longer term.