Case-control study of multiple myeloma with special reference to diet as risk factor.

The case-control study was conducted in Belgrade (Yugoslavia) during the period 1994-1998. The objective of the study was to investigate factors related to the occurrence of multiple myeloma (MM). The study group consisted of 100 newly diagnosed MM patients and the same number of matched hospital controls. In the analysis conditional univariate and multivariate logistic regression were applied. According to multivariate analysis the following factors were significantly related to MM: smoking > or =25 cigarettes per day (Odds ratio--OR=6.7, 95% confidence interval--95% CI=1.3-34.3); having more than two brothers (OR=2.7, 95% CI=1.3-5.3), rheumatoid arthritis in personal history (OR=4.2, 95% CI=1.2-14.8), and frequent (4-7 times per week vs. lower frequency) consumption of yogurt (OR=3.1, 95% CI=1.6-6.0) and vegetables (OR=0.4, 95% CI=0.1-1.0).

Risk factors for basal cell carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to assess the risk factors for basal cell carcinoma (BCC). A case-control study, carried out in two towns in Yugoslavia, comprised 200 BCC cases and 399 controls. For statistical analysis, univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used. The risk factors found for BCC were: freckling before the age 15, seven or more weeks per year spent at the seaside during holidays (lifetime average), outdoor work during summer-time, occupational exposure to organic and non-organic dissolvents and organophosphatic compounds, use of tar for cosmetic purposes, and previous BCC in personal history. Subjects who tended to burn and not to tan after sun exposure also showed a significantly higher risk for BCC. Brown eyes and history of acne had a protective effect. This study confirmed the role of both constitutional and environmental factors in the development of BCC.

Infectious diseases mortality in central Serbia.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence and the effect of the war in the former Yugoslavia and of the United Nations economic sanctions on mortality from infectious diseases. DESIGN: This was a descriptive study analysing mortality data time series. SETTING: Central Serbia, Yugoslavia. PARTICIPANTS: The population of central Serbia was the subject of the study (about six million inhabitants). MEASUREMENTS: Mortality rates were standardised directly, using the "European population" as the standard. Regression analysis and analysis of covariance were undertaken. MAIN RESULTS: During the period 1973-93, mortality from infectious diseases showed a decreasing trend. From 1987-90, and infectious diseases was significantly higher than expected on the basis of the trend for the preceding period (p = 0.020 and p = 0.00). In addition, there was a statistically significant departure from the preceding trend (p = 0.036) in men between 1991 and 1993 (the period of the war and UN sanctions)--the main effect being in younger age groups. CONCLUSION: The economic crisis in the former Yugoslavia during the 1980s followed by the outbreak of the war and the damaging effects of UN economic sanctions had a distinctly adverse effect on mortality from infectious diseases.

Effect of caffeine intake during pregnancy on birth weight.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of caffeine consumption during pregnancy on birth weight and its possible interaction with smoking. The sample included 1,011 women who were interviewed during their first 3 days after delivery in one of the hospitals of Belgrade, Yugoslavia. A significant reduction in birth weight was found to be associated with an average caffeine intake of > or = 71 mg per day, after adjustment for gestational age, infant sex, parity, and maternal height and weight, but only in infants born to nonsmoking mothers.

Malignant tumors in families of thyroid cancer patients.

A case-control study comprised 177 patients with various types of thyroid cancer and the same number of hospital controls individually matched by age, sex and place of residence. Malignant tumors were more frequent among first and second degree relatives of cases as compared to controls. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 2.43 (1.33-4.44) and 5.33 (1.77-16.01) respectively. The most frequent were cancers of uterus and stomach with odds ratio of 6.00 (1.61-22.36) and 9.00 (1.64-49.35). Thyroid cancer was present only in first-degree relatives of two cases and none of controls.

[Epidemiological characteristics of cancer of the pancreas in Serbia (without provinces)]. / Epidemioloske odlike raka pankreasa u Srbiji bez pokrajina.

Over the period from 1980 to 1993 the average age standardized mortality rate of cancer of the pancreas was 4.51 per 100000 of population (8.83% per hundred thousand in men and 3.37% per hundred thousand in women). Mortality rates were very low below the age of 34-0.09% per hundred thousand (0.14% per hundred thousand in men and 0.04% per hundred thousand in women). With aging rates showed steady increase, and they were the highest in the age group of 75 and more years--37.21% per hundred thousand (42.60% per hundred thousand in men and 33.60% per hundred thousand in women). During the period observed mortality of cancer of the pancreas showed an increasing trend (y = 3.50 + 0.11x), present in both sexes (y = 4.49 + 0.14x in men and y = 2.73 + 0.07x in women) and in all age groups exept in women aged 0-34 and 35-44 in whom a slightly decreasing trend was found.

Risk factors for laryngeal cancer.

This case-control study comprised 100 histologically verified laryngeal cancer patients and 100 hospital controls matched with cases by sex, age and place of residence. The following variables were tested for their association with cancer of the larynx: marital status, educational level, hard liquor consumption, cigarette smoking, unfavorable working conditions, sudden and frequent temperature changes at work, cold housing, loud speech at work, frequent hoarseness, frequent and persistent cough, persistently swollen neck glands, tonsillectomy and laryngeal surgery. According to conditional logistic regression analysis, significant association with laryngeal cancer was found for unfavourable working conditions for more than 10 years (OR = 4.36; 95% CI = 1.92-9.91), hard liquor consumption for more than 5 years (OR = 2.59; 95% CI = 1.14-5.87), cigarette smoking for more than 10 years (OR = 7.29; 95% CI = 2.41-22.09), tonsillectomy (OR = 4.80; 95% CI = 1.61-14.30) and frequent and persistent cough prior to disease (OR = 8.17; 95% CI = 1.72-38.76).

Cardiovascular disease mortality in Belgrade: trends from 1975-89.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine trends in cardiovascular disease mortality. DESIGN: This was a descriptive study analysing mortality data. SETTING: Belgrade, Yugoslavia. PARTICIPANTS: The population of Belgrade in the age group 30-69 years was studied (about 760,000 inhabitants). MEASUREMENTS: Mortality rates were standardised directly using those of the "European population" as the standard, and regression analysis was undertaken. MAIN RESULTS: Between 1975 and 1989 "all causes" mortality increased by 27% (95% confidence interval 18.5, 35.9) in men and by 19% (11.6, 27.1) in women. The increase in cardiovascular disease mortality was 7% (1.7, 11.5) for men and 4% (0.2, 7.8) for women. Mortality from ischaemic heart disease fell in both sexes by 32% (23.0, 41.0), but mortality from other heart diseases rose by 31% (22.0, 40.2) in men and 25% (16.2, 33.0) in women. In men the death rate for cerebrovascular disease increased by 37% (27.8, 46.8), but in women the rate fell by 0.4% (-0.8, 1.6). Mortality from the observed causes of death was higher in men than in women. CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular mortality trends in Belgrade are similar to those in most eastern European countries. If the distribution of cigarette smoking and a "rich" diet in the Belgrade population is taken into account, a considerable decline in cardiovascular mortality trends cannot be expected in the near future.

Risk factors for thyroid cancer.

Case-control study comprised 100 histologically verified thyroid cancer patients (23 men, 77 women) and 100 hospital controls matched with cases by sex, age and place of residence. Various risk factors were studied to determine whether they were associated with the occurrence of thyroid cancer. According to the conditional logistic regression analysis, 6 were significantly related to the disease: Cigarette smoking (RR = 7.12 95% CI = 1.53-32.99), family history of any malignant tumors (RR = 5.84 95% CI = 1.76-19.44), history of goiter or thyroid nodules (RR = 27.69 95% CI = 3.11-246.14), long-term occupational exposure to chemicals (RR = 10.07 95% CI = 3.85-26.35), history of second primary tumors (RR = 15.49 95% CI = 3.46-69.30), and diagnostic X-rays exposure (RR = 7.56 95% CI = 2.85-20.07).

Case-control study of risk factors in laryngeal cancer.

A case-control study with 100 cases and 100 controls was conducted to test hypothetical risk factors in laryngeal cancer. McNemar's test helped to select 25 variables, 12 of which were indicated by the conditional logistic regression analysis as independently associated with laryngeal cancer. The association was proved to be statistically significant in the case of seven risk factors; smoking more than 10 cigarettes per day (RR = 18.17; 95% CI 1.95-169.76), predominantly tinned food and meat product diet (RR = 2.65; 95% CI 1.02-6.88), long-term work exposure to low temperatures and building, fabric and metal dust (RR = 4.53; 95% CI 1.80-11.37), extended stay in closed space filled with cigarette smoke (RR = 2.67; 95% CI 1.08-6.60), recurrent hoarseness persisting for more than 1 month (RR = 12.68; 95% CI 3.28-49.03), swollen neck lymph nodes over a number of years (RR = 12.81; 95% CI 1.57-104.29). It was inferred that these seven tested variables could represent risk factors in laryngeal cancer.