Body mass index, waist circumference, and risk of hearing loss: a meta-analysis and systematic review of observational study

BACKGROUND@#Emerging evidence implicates excess weight as a potential risk factor for hearing loss. However, this association remained inconclusive. Therefore, we aimed to systematically and quantitatively review the published observational study on the association between body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC) and hearing loss.@*METHODS@#The odds ratios (ORs) or relative risks (RRs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled under a random-effects model. Fourteen observational studies were eligible for the inclusion in the final analysis.@*RESULTS@#In the meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies, the ORs for prevalent hearing loss were 1.10 (95% CI 0.88, 1.38) underweight, 1.14 (95% CI 0.99, 1.32) for overweight, OR 1.40 (95% CI 1.14, 1.72) for obesity, 1.14 (95% CI 1.04, 1.24) for each 5 kg/m increase in BMI, and 1.22 (95% CO 0.88. 1.68) for higher WC. In the meta-analysis of longitudinal studies, the RRs were 0.96 (95% CI 0.52, 1.79) for underweight, 1.15 (95% CI 1.04, 1.27) for overweight, 1.38 (95% CI 1.07, 1.79) for obesity, 1.15 (95% CI 1.01, 1.30) for each 5 kg/m increase in BMI, and 1.11 (95% CI 1.01, 1.22) for higher WC.@*CONCLUSIONS@#In summary, our findings add weight to the evidence that elevated BMI and higher WC may be positively associated with the risk of hearing loss.

Research progress on Bifidobacterium BB-12 and human immune regulation / 上海预防医学

Bifidobacterium BB-12 belongs to the 12th strain of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp.lactis BB-12, commonly used in infant formula powder, food additives and yogurt, and is the most documented Bifidobacterium.In this review, we describe the effect of BB-12 on gut microbiota, and investigate the effects of BB-12 on regulating immune function, reducing infection and improving resistance in infants, children and adults.

Meta-analysis of the relationship between soybean product consumption and gastric cancer / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of soybean products consumption on the risk of gastric cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Literatures published in English and Chinese reporting the relationship between soybean product consumption and gastric cancer from 1988 to 2008 were searched in this study. Fifty-three relevant articles were selected and 28 of them met the criteria. Meta-analysis was applied to estimate the combined odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) between soybean product consumption and gastric cancer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 28 independent studies were selected including 16 case-control studies, 10 cohort studies and 2 cross sectional studies. The random-effect model was used due to the heterogeneity among these studies. The overall ORs (95%CI) of Meta-analysis on subjects who consumed soybean products, tofu and miso were 0.58 (0.52 - 0.65), 0.90 (0.80 - 1.00) and 1.18 (1.09 - 1.28), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Consumption of soybean products and tofu was inversely associated with gastric cancer, while miso consumption could increase the risk to gastric cancer.</p>

The measurement of estrogen and progesterone in commercial and traditional cow milk / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the content of estrogen and progesterone in commercial milk in China and to compare the differences between commercial cows and traditional cows in the content of estrogen and progesterone of the milk, the breeding of cows and the process of milk production.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to investigate the estrone, estradiol and progesterone in commercial and traditional milk, and literature review and field investigation was used to compare the differences of breeding and milk production.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean concentration of estrone, estradiol and progesterone in Mongolian traditional cow milk was (98.5 +/- 12.4) pg/ml, (24.6 +/- 3.0) pg/ml and (0.2 +/- 0.3) ng/ml, respectively. The concentrations of estrone were (150.2 +/- 8.4), (131.3 +/- 16.3) and (128.9 +/- 13.0) pg/ml; The concentrations of estradiol were (35.4 +/- 2.2), (30.3 +/- 3.1) and (30.0 +/- 2.0) pg/ml; The concentrations of progesterone were (20.2 +/- 1.5), (18.1 +/- 2.2) and (16.5 +/- 2.4) ng/ ml, respectively. The content of estrogen and progesterone in commercial milks were higher than that in traditional milks (estrone comparison: t = 5.43, 19.23, 5.89; estradiol comparison: t = 4.14, 4.93, 14.03; progesterone comparison: t = 28.47, 32.73, 22.82; P < 0.05). Mongolian traditional cows did not lactate during the latter half of pregnancy. However, modern commercial cows might lactate almost in an entire period of pregnancy. Moreover, the lactating period was longer and milk production was higher in modern commercial cows than that in traditional cows.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The content of estrogen and progesterone in commercial milk in Chinese market detected might be higher than that in traditional milk.</p>

Meta-analysis of the relationship between dairy product consumption and gastric cancer / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To clarify the effect of milk consumption on gastric cancer in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and other Chinese databases were searched for randomized controlled trials reporting the relationship between dairy products consumption and gastric carcinoma patients from January 1985 to June 2008. Manual searching was also performed. Gastric carcinoma, dietary, milk or diary product were using as key words. A Meta-analysis method was applied to estimate the combined odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) between dairy product consumption and gastric cancer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eight case-control studies published between 1985 and 2008 were selected for Meta-analysis. The cumulative cases and controls were 1684 and 5410, respectively. Fixed-effect model was used because of homogeneity among these studies. The overall pooled OR estimate was 0.57 (95% CI = 0.46 - 0.71), suggesting a negative association between dairy product consumption and gastric cancer.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This Meta-analysis supports the hypothesis that dairy product consumption might decrease the risk of gastric cancer.</p>

Testing potential effect of environmental endocrine disruptors in cow milk on reproductive index in female rats / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of endocrine disruptor chemicals in cow milk on female reproductive system.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A two-generation reproduction was conducted according to U. S. FDA standard. Milk was fed in special bottle to Wistar rats of both sexes through two successive generations (F0 and F1) in the milk group while artificial milk was fed to rats in the control group. Twenty-four rats of each sex were mated in each group. Measurements were made according to this guideline.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Reproductive parameters in the milk group such as fertility index, gestation index, weights of uterus and ovary, days of vaginal opening, estrous cycles, histological morphological changes were comparable to those in the control group. However, the means of body weight had some differences. The body weight gains increased significantly in the milk-treated group in F1 and F2 generation compared with those in the control group. The concentration of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in blood in the milk group was comparable to that in the control group, but the standard deviation changed greatly in the milk-treated rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Endocrine disruptor chemicals in milk have no severe effects on the female reproductive system.</p>

The effects of estrogen-like products in milk on prostate and testes / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To study the effects of estrogen-like products in milk on the male reproductive system.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The incidence rates of testicular and prostatic cancers in 42 countries (regions), collected from the cancer incidence in five continent database (1988-1992), were correlated with the relative food consumption in these countries, which was provided by FAO database (1961-1990); two-generation reproduction test was taken by using Wistar rats according to FDA standard.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the food items examined, milk was most closely correlated (r = 0.711) with prostatic cancer incidence, followed by meat and coffee. As for testicular cancer, cheese was most closely correlated (r = 0.804) with the incidences in ages of 20-39, followed by animal fat and milk. No significant decreases of reproductive organ weight were found after the rats had been fed a lot of milk for long time.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The results suggest that further studies should be taken on the effects of estrogen-like products in milk on the male reproductive health.</p>