European journal of epidemiology
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Review Meta Analysis
Whole grain and refined grain consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of cohort studies.
Several studies have suggested a protective effect of intake of whole grains, but not refined grains on type 2 diabetes risk, but the dose-response relationship between different types of grains and type 2 diabetes has not been established. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies of grain intake and type 2 diabetes. We searched the PubMed database for studies of grain intake and risk of type 2 diabetes, up to June 5th, 2013. ⋯ Our meta-analysis suggests that a high whole grain intake, but not refined grains, is associated with reduced type 2 diabetes risk. However, a positive association with intake of white rice and inverse associations between several specific types of whole grains and type 2 diabetes warrant further investigations. Our results support public health recommendations to replace refined grains with whole grains and suggest that at least two servings of whole grains per day should be consumed to reduce type 2 diabetes risk.
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Presence of cerebral microbleeds indicates underlying vascular brain disease and has been implicated in lobar hemorrhages and dementia. However, it remains unknown whether microbleeds also reflect more systemic vascular burden. We investigated the association of microbleeds with all-cause and cardiovascular related mortality in the general population. ⋯ Mortality risk increased with increasing number of microbleeds. The presence of microbleeds, particularly multiple microbleeds and those in deep or infratentorial regions, indicates an increased risk of mortality, independent of other MRI markers of cerebral vascular disease. Our data suggest that microbleeds may mark severe underlying vascular pathology associated with poorer survival.
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Smoking is an established risk factor for cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction, stroke and cardiovascular death. However, most pertinent studies primarily relied on middle aged adults. We aimed to provide empirical evidence on the association of smoking with cardiovascular events and the benefits of smoking cessation in people aged 50 years or older. ⋯ Most of the excess risk and risk advancement disappeared within 5 years after smoking cessation. Smoking is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular events even at older age. Smoking cessation is highly and rapidly beneficial also at advanced age.
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Although vaccines against influenza can reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, large-scale data on adverse effects in the offspring are scarce. Historical cohort study in Stockholm County, Sweden. We linked H1N1 vaccination data (Pandemrix(®), a mono-valent AS03 adjuvanted H1N1 vaccine) with pregnancy and birth data from 21,087 women with singleton offspring conceived between February 2009 and January 2010 (vaccinated during pregnancy: n = 13,297 vs. unvaccinated: n = 7,790). ⋯ Compared with infants of non-vaccinated women, infants of vaccinated women had similar adjusted ORs (95 % CI) for LBW (0.91; 0.79-1.04), preterm birth (0.99; 0.89-1.10), SGA (0.97; 0.90-1.05), low Apgar score (1.05, 0.84-1.31), and a marginal risk reduction for caesarean section (0.94, 0.89-0.99). H1N1 vaccination during pregnancy, using an AS03-adjuvanted vaccine, does not appear to adversely influence offspring risks of LBW, preterm birth, SGA, or low Apgar score. Our results suggest that this vaccine is safe for the offspring when used in different stages of pregnancy.