Hiroko Yako-Suketomo

Comparison of Time Trends in Lip, Oral Cavity and Pharynx Cancer Mortality (1990–2006) Between Countries Based on the WHO Mortality Database

Mortality data, abstracted from the World Health Organization (WHO) database, are available for various countries. We used lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer mortality (ICD-10: C00 – C14) in 11 countries during the period 1990 – 2006. These countries were Japan, China (Hong Kong) and the Republic of Korea (Asian countries); the United States of America (USA); Australia; the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom (UK), Italy, Spain, France and Germany (European countries). For the USA, Spain and France, data were available only for 1990–2005; and for Australia and Italy, for 1990–2003. The world population was used for age standardization. Age-standardized rates for lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer mortality (ICD-10: C00–C14) in the 11 selected countries between 1990 and 2006 are shown for males (Fig. 1) and for females (Fig. 2). Lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer mortality rates for males were from 3 to 10 times higher than for females (note that Figs 1 and 2 use different vertical scales). For both males and females, age-standardized rates in China (Hong Kong) were high and have decreased apparently over the period. The mortality rates in the USA and Australia showed a decreasing trend throughout the observation period. Among males, in Europe, the mortality rate in France was the highest of all countries studied in the 1990s showing a strong decreasing trend and falling below the rate in the Russian Federation from the year 2000. The rates in Spain and Germany were similar, while the UK showed the lowest rates. Mortality rates in the USA, Australia and Asian countries except China (Hong Kong) were at the same level as the rate in the UK, which showed the lowest rate in Europe throughout the observation period. Among females, few differences in mortality rates were observed for all the countries studied with the exception of China (Hong Kong).

Time Trends in Breast Cancer Mortality Between 1950 and 2008 in Japan, USA and Europe Based on the WHO Mortality Database

Mortality data, abstracted from the World Health Organization (WHO) database, are available for various countries. We used breast cancer mortality data from Japan, the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK), Italy and France for the period 1950–2008. For the USA and the UK, data were available for 1950–2005 and 1950–2007, respectively. For Italy, data were available for 1951–2003 and 2006–2007, and for France, data were available for 1950–2007. Age-specific breast cancer mortality rates in adults over 40 years of age in the five countries between 1950 and 2008 are shown for females (Fig. 1).

Breast Cancer Clustering in Kanagawa, Japan: A Geographic Analysis

BACKGROUND The purpose of the present study was to determine geographic clustering of breast cancer incidence in Kanagawa Prefecture, using cancer registry data. The study also aimed at examining the association between socio-economic factors and any identified cluster. MATERIALS AND METHODS Incidence data were collected for women who were first diagnosed with breast cancer during the period from January to December 2006 in Kanagawa. The data consisted of 2,326 incidence cases extracted from the total of 34,323 Kanagawa Cancer Registration data issued in 2011. To adjust for differences in age distribution, the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of breast cancer were calculated for each of 56 municipalities (e.g., city, special ward, town, and village) in Kanagawa by an indirect method using Kanagawa female population data. Spatial scan statistics were used to detect any area of elevated risk as a cluster for breast cancer deaths and/ or incidences. The Student t-test was performed to examine differences in socio-economic variables, viz, persons per household, total fertility rate, age at first marriage for women, and marriage rate, between cluster and other regions. RESULTS There was a statistically significant cluster of breast cancer incidence (p=0.001) composed of 11 municipalities in southeastern area of Kanagawa Prefecture, whose SIR was 35 percent higher than that of the remainder of Kanagawa Prefecture. In this cluster, average value of age at first-marriage for women was significantly higher than in the rest of Kanagawa (p=0.017). No statistically significant clusters of breast cancer deaths were detected (p=0.53). CONCLUSIONS There was a statistically significant cluster of high breast cancer incidence in southeastern area of Kanagawa Prefecture. It was suggested that the cluster region was related to the tendency to marry later. This study methodology will be helpful in the analysis of geographical disparities in cancer deaths and incidence.

Mortality attributable to tobacco by selected countries based on the WHO Global Report.

In order to study the correlation between tobacco consumption and disease risk across the world, we prepared an abstract of estimated adult (age 30 years and above) deaths attributable to tobacco consumption for all types of malignant neoplasm (ICD-10 code: C00–97), cardiovascular disease (I00–99) and respiratory disease (J30–98), on the basis of the WHO Global Report entitled, Mortality Attributable to Tobacco, which was recently published in 2012. In this publication, countryand region-specific death rates per 100 000 and proportion attributable to tobacco consumption (%) as of 2004 reported by WHO are available by age and sex. Figures 1 and 2 show the overall death rates and death rates attributable to tobacco consumption for males and females, respectively, for all types of malignant neoplasm, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease in the selected countries, along with rough estimates of rates and the proportion of mortality attributable to tobacco consumption. For males, the USA and the UK had high tobacco-attributable death rates for all three disease groups. France and Poland had high tobacco-attributable death rates for malignant neoplasm and cardiovascular disease, but not for respiratory disease. Japan and Korea (Republic of Korea) had high tobacco-attributable death rates for malignant neoplasm, but not for cardiovascular disease. China is characterized by a high tobacco-attributable death rate for respiratory disease. Australia had low tobacco-attributable death rates for all three disease groups. Brazil is characterized by a high tobacco-attributable death rate for cardiovascular disease. For females, the tobacco-attributable death rates were lower than those for males. The USA and the UK had high tobacco-attributable death rates for all three disease groups. Unlike the pattern observed for males, tobacco-attributable death rates were not notably high for females in France and Poland. Australia and China had high tobacco-attributable death rates for respiratory disease.

Practical Use of Cancer Control Promoters in Municipalities in Japan

The Cancer Control Act in Japan became effective in 2006. In Ibaraki, Toyama, and Hyogo prefectures, the Cancer Control Promoter (CCP) plan was created to strengthen partnerships for cancer prevention. This study aimed to examine the curre nt status of CCP utilization and analyze relationships with intersectoral collaboration, both within the government and with outside partners. In 2008, we mailed questionnaires to 100 administrators responsible for disease prevention and health promotion in municipal governments of the three prefectures. Ninety-one administrators responded (response rate, 91.0%). We analyzed responses to questions regarding whether or not the municipalities had used CCPs. Items assessing intersectoral collaboration examined municipality characteristics and relationships with outside partners and sectors specializing in areas other than community health. Among 90 administrators with valid data, 33 municipalities (36.7%) used CCPs while 57 (63.3%) did not. The Fishers exact test revealed that intersectoral collaboration for using CCPs was associated with communication with all of the municipal government sectors not related to health. The present study indicated that CCPs were not consistently used in municipalities. However, we found that intersectoral collaborations, especially within the local government, may be related to the practical use of CCPs. This, in turn, may result in effective cancer control and prevention, as well as improvement in community health.

Cancer mortality attributable to tobacco by selected countries based on the WHO Global Report.

In order to compare the impact of tobacco on cancer risk across different countries of the world, we abstracted the estimated adult (age 30 years and above) deaths attributable to tobacco for all-malignant neoplasm, trachea, bronchus and lung cancer, and all other malignant neoplasms from the WHO Global Report entitled, Mortality Attributable to Tobacco, which was recently published in 2012. In this publication, WHO region and country-specific death rate per 100 000 and proportion attributable to tobacco (%) in 2004 are available by age and sex. We selected for evaluation all-malignant neoplasm (ICD-10 code: C00– 97), trachea, bronchus and lung cancer (C33– 34), and all other malignant neoplasms (C00 – 97 except for C33 – 34). Figures 1 and 2 show the overall death rates and death rates attributable to tobacco by selected countries for all-malignant neoplasm, trachea, bronchus and lung cancer, and all other malignant neoplasms in males and females, respectively. Crude rates and the proportion of mortality attributable to tobacco are presented. For males, Poland had high tobacco-attributable death rates for all three disease groups. France, the UK, Japan and Korea also had high tobacco-attributable death rates. The USA had high tobacco-attributable death rates for lung cancer. Brazil, Australia and China are characterized by a low tobacco-attributable death rate for three disease groups. For lung cancer, China had a higher tobacco-attributable death rate than Brazil in spite of a lower proportion attributable to tobacco (55% versus 82%). For females, the tobacco-attributable death rates were lower than those for males. The USA and UK had high tobacco-attributable death rates and proportion attributable to tobacco for all three disease groups.

Anterior cruciate ligament injury: Identifying information sources and risk factor awareness among the general population

Introduction Raising awareness on a disorder is important for its prevention and for promoting public health. However, for sports injuries like the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury no studies have investigated the awareness on risk factors for injury and possible preventative measures in the general population. The sources of information among the population are also unclear. The purpose of the present study was to identify these aspects of public awareness about the ACL injury. Materials and methods A questionnaire was randomly distributed among the general population registered with a web based questionnaire supplier, to recruit 900 participants who were aware about the ACL injury. The questionnaire consisted of two parts: Question 1 asked them about their sources of information regarding the ACL injury; Question 2 asked them about the risk factors for ACL injury. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the information sources that provide a good understanding of the risk factors. Results and discussion The leading source of information for ACL injury was television (57.0%). However, the results of logistic regression analysis revealed that television was not an effective medium to create awareness about the risk factors, among the general population. Instead “Lecture by a coach”, “Classroom session on Health”, and “Newspaper” were significantly more effective in creating a good awareness of the risk factors (p < 0.001).

Burden of cancer incidence in Asia extrapolated from the cancer incidence in five continents Vol. IX.

In order to compare the burden of cancer incidence in Asia, we abstracted the crude incidence rate from the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents Vol. IX (CI5 IX). The CI5 databases provide access to detailed information on the incidence of cancer recorded by cancer registries (regional and national) worldwide. We used crude incidence rate by cancer sites in 1998–2002 in Turkey from CI5 IX and in 2002 in Japan, China, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and India from the CI5plus database which contains the annual incidence for selected cancer registries published in CI5 for the longest possible period. Three registries (Miyagi, Osaka and Yamagata), two registries (Hong Kong and Shanghai), one registry (Manila), one registry (Chiang Mai), two registries (Chinese and Malay), two registries (Chennai and Mumbai) and one registry (Izmir) represent the respective cancer incidence in Japan, China, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, India and Turkey. We selected five cancer sites with the highest incidence rate in each country and compared the difference between the sites and the distribution of cancer burden. Figure 1 shows the burden of cancer incidence ranking highest for males; Fig. 2 shows these data for females. For males, in three countries (Japan, China and Turkey) the burden of incidence at five major primary sites accounts for .50% of the total cancer. Lung cancer was the most common form of cancer in most of the countries, except for Japan and India. In Japan, lung cancer was placed second, stomach cancer first. In contrast, the most common in India was oral cavity and pharynx cancer. Liver cancer was the second most frequent in China, Philippines and Thailand, the third most frequent in Singapore (Chinese and Malay) and the fourth most frequent in Japan. Colon cancer ranked high in five countries/registry: Japan, China, Philippines, Chinese in Singapore, and India. For females, in most of the countries the burden of incidence at five major primary sites accounts for .50% of the total cancer, except for China and Turkey (48.1 and 47.1%, respectively). Breast cancer was the most frequent cancer in each country to a varying proportion (14.2% in Japan, to 28.6% in Turkey), except for Thailand. Cervix uteri cancer was the primary most frequent in Thailand and the second most frequent in Philippines and India. Lung cancer ranked high in most of the countries, except for India. Colon cancer ranked high in five countries: Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore (Chinese and Malay) and Turkey.