Genetic variation in the ADIPOQ gene, adiponectin concentrations and risk of colorectal cancer: a Mendelian Randomization analysis using data from three large cohort studies

Higher levels of circulating adiponectin have been related to lower risk of colorectal cancer in several prospective cohort studies, but it remains unclear whether this association may be causal. We aimed to improve causal inference in a Mendelian Randomization meta-analysis using nested case–control studies of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC, 623…

Plasma microRNAs as biomarkers of pancreatic cancer risk in a prospective cohort study

Non-invasive biomarkers for early pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) diagnosis and disease risk stratification are greatly needed. We conducted a nested case-control study within the Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort to evaluate pre-diagnostic microRNAs (miRs) as biomarkers of subsequent PDAC risk. A panel of eight miRs (miR-10a, -10b, -21-3p, -21-5p, -30c, -106b, -155,…

Aromatic DNA adducts and breast cancer risk: a case-cohort study within the EPIC-Spain

Epidemiologic evidence linking environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) with breast cancer is limited. Measurement of DNA adducts formed by aromatic compounds, including PAH, has been carried in breast tissue samples and white blood cells from women with breast cancer and different kinds of controls. However, these studies provide inconsistent results and bias cannot…

Direct and indirect costs of diabetes mellitus in Mali: A case-control study

Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most burdensome chronic diseases and is associated with shorter lifetime, diminished quality of life and economic burdens on the patient and society as a result of healthcare, medication, and reduced labor market participation. We aimed to estimate the direct (medical and non-medical) and indirect costs of DM…

A cluster-randomized trial to reduce caesarean delivery rates in Quebec: cost-effectiveness analysis

Background Widespread increases in caesarean section (CS) rates have sparked concerns about risks to mothers and infants and rising healthcare costs. A multicentre, two-arm, cluster-randomized trial in Quebec, Canada assessed whether an audit and feedback intervention targeting health professionals would reduce CS rates for pregnant women compared to usual care, and concluded that it reduced…

Arquitectura Sanitaria en el Sistema Sanitario Público de Andalucía. Guía de diseño de Radiodiagnóstico Hospitalario

Título: Arquitectura sanitaria en el Sistema Sanitario Público de Andalucía: Guía de diseño de radiodiagnóstico hospitalario. Edición 2016 Autor: Servicio Andaluz de Salud y Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública Resumen: La información que contiene esta Guía define una base común para proyectar el diseño arquitectónico del Área de Radiodiagnóstico de los distintos hospitales del Sistema Sanitario Público de…

Human adipose tissue levels of persistent organic pollutants and metabolic syndrome components: Combining a cross-sectional with a 10-year longitudinal study using a multi-pollutant approach

We aimed to assess the influence of long-term exposure to POPs on the risk of metabolic syndrome, combining a cross-sectional with a 10-year longitudinal follow-up design. Residues of eight POPs were quantified in adipose tissue samples from 387 participants recruited between 2003 and 2004 in Granada province (Spain). The outcome (“metabolically compromised”) was defined as…

HTA and decision-making processes in Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe: Results from a survey

Objective To gain knowledge and insights on health technology assessment (HTA) and decision-making processes in Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe (CESEE) countries. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed. Based on the literature, a questionnaire was developed in a multi-stage process. The questionnaire was arranged according to 5 broad domains: (i) introduction/country settings; (ii) use…

A Procedure for Deriving Formulas to Convert Transition Rates to Probabilities for Multi-State Markov Models

For health-economic analyses that use multi-state Markov models, it is often necessary to convert from transition rates to transition probabilities, and for probabilistic sensitivity analysis and other purposes it is useful to have explicit algebraic formulas for these conversions, to avoid having to resort to numerical methods. However, if there are four or more states…