Publications (39) View all
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Article: Aspirin but not ibuprofen use is associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer: a PLCO study.
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ABSTRACT: Although most epidemiological studies suggest that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use is inversely associated with prostate cancer risk, the magnitude and specificity of this association remain unclear. We examined self-reported aspirin and ibuprofen use in relation to prostate cancer risk among 29 450 men ages 55-74 who were initially screened for prostate cancer from 1993 to 2001 in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. Men were followed from their first screening exam until 31 December 2009, during which 3575 cases of prostate cancer were identified. After adjusting for potential confounders, the hazard ratios (HRs) of prostate cancer associated with <1 and ≥ 1 pill of aspirin daily were 0.98 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.90-1.07) and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.85-0.99), respectively, compared with never use (P for trend 0.04). The effect of taking at least one aspirin daily was more pronounced when restricting the analyses to men older than age 65 or men who had a history of cardiovascular-related diseases or arthritis (HR (95% CI); 0.87 (0.78-0.97), 0.89 (0.80-0.99), and 0.88 (0.78-1.00), respectively). The data did not support an association between ibuprofen use and prostate cancer risk. Daily aspirin use, but not ibuprofen use, was associated with lower risk of prostate cancer risk.British Journal of Cancer 06/2012; 107(1):207-14. · 5.04 Impact Factor -
Article: Epstein-Barr virus microRNAs and lung cancer.
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ABSTRACT: We conducted the first analysis of viral microRNAs (miRNAs) in lung cancer, with a focus on Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). We evaluated viral miRs with a two-channel oligo-array targeting mature, anti-sense miRNAs in 290 cases. In 48 cases, we compared microarray and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) expression for three EBV miRNAs. We tested for EBV DNA, RNA, and protein in tumour tissue from six cases with and six cases without strong qPCR-based evidence of EBV miRNAs. The EBV miRNAs strongly differentiated between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma using the microarray (P<0.01 for 9 out of 16 EBV miRNAs). However, microarray and qPCR measurements of BART1, BART2, and BHRF1-3 expression were not significantly correlated (P=0.53, 0.94, and 0.47, respectively). Although qPCR provided substantial evidence of EBV miRNAs in 7 out of 48 cases, only 1 of these 7 cases had detectable EBV DNA in tumour tissue. None had detectable EBV RNA or protein by histochemical stains. In a comprehensive evaluation of EBV miRNA, DNA, RNA, and protein in lung cancer, we found little evidence of EBV in lung tumour tissue. Discrepancies between microarray- and qPCR-based strategies highlight the difficulty of validating molecular markers of disease. Our results do not support a role of EBV in lung cancer.British Journal of Cancer 06/2011; 105(2):320-6. · 5.04 Impact Factor -
Article: Epstein–Barr virus microRNAs and lung cancer
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ABSTRACT: Background: Methods: Results: Conclusion: Materials and methods Results Discussion References Acknowledgements Figures and TablesBackground: We conducted the first analysis of viral microRNAs (miRNAs) in lung cancer, with a focus on Epstein–Barr virus (EBV).British Journal of Cancer 06/2011; 105(2):320-326. · 5.04 Impact Factor -
Article: Accuracy of ICD-9-CM codes in identifying infections of pneumonia and herpes simplex virus in administrative data.
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ABSTRACT: PURPOSE: Clinical epidemiology studies increasingly rely on electronic medical records data. The validity of International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnosis codes is crucial as they are often used to identify conditions of interest. We evaluated the use of archived ICD-9-CM codes to identify two representative infection-related conditions, pneumonia and herpes simplex virus (HSV), in a defined health system. METHODS: Records were obtained for a sample of 175 and 179 patients with ICD-9-CM codes for pneumonia and HSV, respectively. An adjudicated case status was assigned for each subject. RESULTS: The presence of a single ICD-9-CM code had a positive predictive value of 88% for pneumonia and 86% for HSV. False positives (noncases) accounted for less than 10% of records evaluated for each condition. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that ICD-9-CM codes for pneumonia and HSV were valid markers of a true history of these conditions, suggesting that ICD-9-CM codes can be used to successfully identify infection-related conditions in epidemiologic studies. However, validation studies for individual conditions may help identify condition-specific strategies to improve the performance of diagnostic codes.Annals of epidemiology 03/2013; · 2.95 Impact Factor -
Article: Biliary tract cancer incidence in the United States- demographic and temporal variations by anatomic site.
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ABSTRACT: We evaluated incidence patterns of biliary tract cancers (gallbladder, extrahepatic bile duct, ampulla of Vater, and not otherwise specified) to provide potential insight into the etiology of these cancers. Data were obtained from the population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. Rates for cases diagnosed during 1992-2009 were calculated by racial/ethnic, gender, and age groups. Temporal trends during 1974-2009 and annual percentage changes (APC) during 1992-2009 were estimated. Age-adjusted rates by site were higher among American Indian/Alaska Natives, Hispanics (white) and Asian/Pacific Islanders (Asian/PI) and lower among whites and blacks. Gallbladder cancer was more common among women in all ethnic groups (female-to-male incidence rate ratio [IRR] ranged from 1.24 to 2.86), but bile duct and ampulla of Vater cancers were more common among men (female-to-male IRR 0.57 to 0.82). Gallbladder cancer rates declined among all racial/ethnic and gender groups except blacks (APC -0.4% to -3.9%). In contrast, extrahepatic bile duct cancer rates rose significantly in most female racial/ethnic groups; the APCs among whites were 0.8 among females and 1.3 among males, both significant. Rates for ampulla of Vater cancer decreased among Asian/PI females (APC -2.7%) but remained stable for the other groups. In addition to confirming that biliary tract cancer incidence patterns differ by gender and site, and that the gallbladder cancer incidence rates have been declining, this study provides novel evidence that extrahepatic bile duct cancer rates are rising. These observations may help guide future etiologic studies. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.International Journal of Cancer 03/2013; · 5.44 Impact Factor
