Hepatocellular carcinoma incidence in Florida. Ethnic and racial distribution.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the primary form of liver carcinoma, is increasing in incidence worldwide. The increasing numbers of Hispanic immigrants in Florida suggest that the rate of HCC in the Hispanic population should be of special concern. This study describes racial and ethnic distribution and trends of incident HCC in Florida from 1985 to 1995. METHODS: A total of 2837 cases of incident HCC from 1985 to 1995 were examined from Florida's incident cancer registry, the Florida Cancer Data System. Age standardized and age specific average annual incidence rates were calculated for the state of Florida by gender and by racial and ethnic group. RESULTS: Over the study period, the average annual incidence HCC rates in Florida among male and female Hispanics and blacks were consistently and significantly twice the rate of white males and females as standardized rate ratios. Males were at least twice as likely to have HCC compared with females in all three racial and ethnic subpopulations. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of HCC in Florida was comparable to the overall U.S. incidence with respect to average annual incidence and gender distribution. Florida blacks and Hispanics are at significantly increased risk for HCC incidence compared with Florida whites. These results have implications for preventive HCC recommendations in growing racial and ethnic subpopulations in the United States.

Posttraumatic stress disorder: a thirty-year delay in a World War II veteran.

Some clinicians doubt the validity of a diagnosis of delayed posttraumatic stress disorder for Vietnam veterans. Precombat psychopathology, drug abuse, factitious symptoms, and malingering in pursuit of disability compensation are cited as alternative explanations for the syndrome. The authors discuss the case of a much decorated World War II veteran whose symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder first occurred more than 30 years after combat. They consider the alternative explanations for his symptoms to be inadequate.

A survey of cancer morbidity and mortality in vaccinees seven to 12 years after the administration of live vaccine propagated in human diploid cells.

Using record linkage, cancer morbidity and mortality were examined in 2973 recipients of RA 27/3 strain rubella vaccine propagated in WI 38 cells. During the follow-up reported (mean duration 9.8 years; range seven to 12 years) the rate of cancer notifications and of deaths from cancer were similar to those observed in the equivalent age range of the general population.

Vaccination of schoolgirls against rubella. Assessment of serological status and a comparative trial of Wistar RA 27/3 and Cendehill strain live attenuated rubella vaccines in 13-year-old schoolgirls in Dudley.

A total of 1525 schoolgirls aged 13 years from 21 schools in the County Borough of Dudley, were bled for titration of rubella haemagglutinating inhibiting antibody and then were immediately vaccinated with either Wistar RA 27/3 or Cendehill strain live attenuated. Both vaccines were administered subcutaneously by syringe and needle but the Wistar RA 27/3 vaccine was also given by multiple injection apparatus. Significnatly higher conversion rates and geometric mean haemagglutinating inhibiting antibody titres were obtained in girls initially seronegative given the Wister RA 27/3 than in those given the Cendehill vaccine, regardless of the method of vaccination. The RA 27/3 strain was associated with a small but significantly greater incidence of local pain immediately on injection. With this exception, differences in the occurrence of reactions were not found between vaccines, between those initially susceptible and immune or with the level of antibody response.