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Aim: To evaluate the effect of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) on the success rate of labor induction of preterm pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders. Methods: A retrospective cohort study conducted using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Linked Birth‐Infant Death File in the United States from 2009 to 2013. Our cohort included live normal singleton cephalic pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders that underwent induction of labor and delivered between 24 and 35.6 weeks' gestation. Study subjects were categorized by the presence or absence of IUGR. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted effect of IUGR on risk of caesarean deliveries. Results: Of 41 640 births meeting study criteria, 39 890 had no IUGR and 1750 had IUGR infants. The overall caesarean delivery rate was 22.2%, with caesarean delivery risk being higher among pregnancies complicated by IUGR versus those not complicated by IUGR (33.2% vs 21.7%, respectively) (odds ratio 2.00, 95% confidence interval 1.78–2.25). The effect of IUGR on risk of caesarean sections was most pronounced for gestational ages between 28 and 36 weeks. The effect of IUGR was highest among obese women, with the risk of caesarean in IUGR vs non‐IUGR pregnancies being 62.8% vs 41.4%, respectively (odds ratio 2.53, 95% confidence interval 1.98–3.24). Conclusion: Induction of labor of preterm pregnancy complicated by hypertensive disorders should be considered a reasonable option for delivery; however, in the context of IUGR, women should be informed of the considerable higher risk of caesarean delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) may be related to nutritional status. To determine the impact of nutritional status on TB incidence, the authors analyzed data from the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) Epidemiologic Follow-up Study (NHEFS). NHANES I collected information on a probability sample of the US population in 1971–1975. Adults were followed up in 1982–1992. Incident TB cases were ascertained through interviews, medical records, and death certificates. TB incidences were compared across different levels of nutritional status after controlling for potential confounding using proportional hazards regression appropriate to the complex sample design. TB incidence among adults with normal body mass index was 24.7 per 100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval (CI): 13.0, 36.3). In contrast, among persons who were underweight, overweight, and obese, estimated TB incidence rates were 260.2 (95% CI: 98.6, 421.8), 8.9 (95% CI: 2.2, 15.6), and 5.1 (95% CI: 0.0, 10.5) per 100,000 person-years, respectively. Adjusted hazard ratios were 12.43 (95% CI: 5.75, 26.95), 0.28 (95% CI: 0.13, 0.63), and 0.20 (95% CI: 0.07, 0.62), respectively, after controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, and medical characteristics. A low serum albumin level also increased the risk of TB, but low vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, and iron status did not. A population's nutritional profile is an important determinant of its TB incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: This study presents an adaptive intelligent algorithm for forecasting gasoline demand based of artificial neural network (ANN), conventional regression and design of experiment (DOE). To show the superiority and applicability of the proposed algorithm it has been applied for monthly demand estimation of gasoline in Japan, USA, Kuwait, Canada and Iran within 1992–2005. The economic indicators used in this paper are price, GDP (Gross Domestic Production), population, number of vehicles, gasoline demand in the last periods and correlation coefficient between variables. The proposed algorithm may be used to estimate gasoline demand in the future by optimizing parameter values. The proposed algorithm uses ANOVA to select either ANN or regression for future demand estimation. Furthermore, if the null hypothesis in ANOVA and F-test is rejected, the Duncan method is used to identify which model is closer to actual data at α level of significance. Neural network is an intelligent, adaptive and optimizing method for solving the complicated problems. The results show that ANN provides far less error than regression. Moreover, the proposed algorithm provides near optimal solution for gasoline demand estimation due to its flexibility and intelligibility. The intelligent algorithm is therefore ideal for policy making with respect to gasoline consumption estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecologic malignancies. The present study was designed to compare age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) of ovarian cancer in Iran with that in Australia and some other developed countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from the Cancer Registry Program of Iran, as a base, were compared with the cancer registry reports of surveillance, epidemiology and end results program in the USA, considering the population of the USA in the year 2000 as the standard population. RESULTS: In all the age groups, ASR of ovarian cancer was much lower in Iran. Overall rates of ovarian cancer in Iran and the USA were 3.9 and 16.2 per 100,000, respectively. CONCLUSION: Age-standardized ovarian cancer rate in Iran was much lower in comparison with high incidence areas in the world. Encouraging oral contraceptive use and reduction in fat intake may be effective in decreasing the rate of ovarian cancer or keeping its rate constant in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the utility of using external estimates of within-person variation to adjust usual nutrient intake distributions.Design: Analyses of the prevalence of inadequate intake of an example nutrient by the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) cut-point method using three different methods of statistical adjustment of the usual intake distribution of a single 24-hour recall in Russian children in 1996, using the Iowa State University method for adjustment of the distribution. First, adjusting the usual intake distribution with day 2 recalls from the same 1996 sample (the correct method); second, adjusting the distribution using external variance estimates derived from US children in 1996; and third, adjusting the distribution using external estimates derived from Russian children of the same age in 2000. We also present prevalence estimates based on nave statistical analysis of the unadjusted distribution of intakes.Setting/subjects: Children drawn from the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey in 1996 and 2000 and from the 1996 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals.Results: When the EAR cut-point method is applied to a single recall, the resulting prevalence estimate in this study is inflated by 1001300%. When the intake distribution is adjusted using an external variance estimate, the prevalence estimate is much less biased, suggesting that any adjustment may give less biased estimates than no adjustment.Conclusions: In moderately large samples, adjusting distributions with external estimates of variances results in more reliable prevalence estimates than using 1-day data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The epidemiologic findings on the relationship between alcohol consumption and colon cancer are inconsistent. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) I Epidemiologic Follow-Up Study (NHEFS) included a prospective cohort population representative of the general U.S. population, which had not been fully utilized for examining the risk between colon cancer and alcohol drinking. The NHEFS consisted of 10,220 participants prospectively followed over a decade. Alcohol consumption, amount and type of beverage, and drinking patterns at baseline were considered in examination of the effect of alcohol consumption on the risk of colon cancer. The consumption of one or more alcoholic beverages a day at baseline was associated with approximately a 70% greater risk of colon cancer [relative risk (RR) = 1.69; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03, 2.79], with a strong positive dose-response relationship (P = 0.04). This association appeared to be exclusively related to daily drinking of one or more drinks of liquor (RR = 2.48; 95% CI = 1.66, 4.53). Additionally, more than a 70% increased risk of colon cancer was observed for more than 34 yr of alcohol drinking history compared with nondrinkers (RR = 1.73; 95% CI = 1.08, 2.78). Overall, alcohol consumption was significantly associated with increased risk of colon cancer. The most important factor for colon cancer seems to be liquor consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective To examine the adequacy of dietary intake of calcium; folate; and vitamins C, D, E, B-6, and B-12 in premenopausal US women of differing ethnicity. Design Analyses of single and duplicate 24-hour recalls were conducted to determine dietary intake during the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Subjects Three thousand five hundred eighty-five randomly selected women aged 20 to 50 years from across the United States who were not pregnant or lactating were examined between 1988 and 1994. Statistical analyses Usual nutrient intake distributions were estimated using the Iowa State University method for adjustment of the distribution. The Estimated Average Requirement cut-point method was used to determine the proportion of women with inadequate intake for each nutrient in each ethnic group. Results More than 75% of women irrespective of ethnic group had usual intakes of calcium lower than the new Adequate Intake. More than 90% of the women had inadequate intakes of folate and vitamin E from food sources alone. More than half of smokers had inadequate intakes of vitamin C. Intakes of vitamins B-6 and B-12 were low in less than 10% of these women. Applications/Conclusions This article provides evidence that a high proportion of premenopausal US women are underconsuming a variety of nutrients. Dietary intakes alone are not currently adequate to meet the new recommended intakes. Nutritional supplement use is widespread and effective, but does not eliminate the concerns for at-risk populations. Awareness of the general inadequacies in intakes of vitamin E and folic acid at large, and in many women vitamin C as well, can help direct individual dietary recommendations and place the emphasis in group counseling on nutrients that are of widespread concern. In addition, foods rich in vitamins B-6 and of general nutritional benefit should be emphasized among African American women in the United States as a substantial proportion of this group is still showing inadequate intakes from foods. J Am Diet Assoc. 2003;103:1008-1014. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The increasing prevalence of obesity in the United States (US) is well documented and presents a significant challenge for healthcare providers working with under-resourced communities that often face great obstacles to health-related weight loss. Specifically, it has been reported that obesity disproportionately affects US Latino communities. Yet, little is known about what obesity lifestyle interventions currently exist. Healthcare professionals working in predominantly Latino communities might be interested in learning about the designs and outcomes of existing lifestyle interventions that have been specifically tailored for Latino communities. Here, we report the results of a systematic review of obesity lifestyle interventions targeting Latino adults. We examine the designs and outcomes of the nine articles that met our inclusion criteria. All the studies had physical activity and/or nutritional education components, measurements of both crude weight loss and body mass index (BMI), and some used culturally relevant intervention designs. Two of the nine studies reported significant between-group differences in BMI. Significant barriers between studies include small sample size, low retention rate, enrollment, low adherence, differences in control group activities, and differences in outcomes measured. We recommend that future obesity interventions select and report BMI, raw weight, and body fat percentage as outcome variables and that multiple measurements over multiple days be recorded for pre- and post-intervention data points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Alcohol use and alcohol‐associated liver disease (ALD) burden are increasing in young individuals. Aim: To assess host factors associated with this burden. Methods: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), National Inpatient Sample (NIS), and United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) databases (2006‐2016) were used to identify individuals with harmful alcohol use, ALD‐related admissions, and ALD‐related LT listings respectively. Results: Of 15 981 subjects in NHANES database, weighted prevalence of harmful alcohol use was 17.7%, 29.3% in <35 years (G1) versus 16.9% in 35‐64 years (G2) versus 5.1% in ≥65 years (G3). Alcohol use was about 11 and 4.7 folds higher in G1 and G2 versus G3, respectively. Male gender and Hispanic race associated with harmful alcohol use. Of 593 600 ALD admissions (5%, 77%, and 18% in G1‐G3 respectively), acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) occurred in 7.2%, (7.2 in G2 vs 6.7% in G1 and G3, P < 0.001). After controlling for other variables, ACLF development among ALD hospitalizations was higher by 14% and 10% in G1 and G2 versus G3, respectively. Female gender and Hispanic race were associated with increased ACLF risk by 8% and 17% respectively. Of 20,245 ALD LT listings (3.4%, 84.4%, and 12.2% in G1‐G3 respectively), ACLF occurred in 28% candidates. Risk of severe (grade 2 or 3) ACLF was higher by about 1.7 fold in G1, 1.5 fold in females and 20% in Hispanics. Conclusion: Young age, female gender, and Hispanic race are independently associated with ALD‐related burden and ACLF in the United States. If these findings are validated in prospective studies, strategies will be needed to reduce alcohol use in high risk individuals to reduce burden from ALD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within- and between-person variation in nutrient intake has been characterized in different adult populations, but little is known of country, age, or sex differences among children. The objectives of this study were as follows: 1) to describe the mean intake, within- and between-individual CV and variance ratios of nutrient intake among children ages 9-18 y old in Russia and the United States in 1996; 2) to compare the age and sex-related differences in nutrient intake variance within and between countries; and 3) to hypothesize about the feasibility of using within-individual variance estimates from one nationally representative sample to adjust the usual intake distributions in another nationally representative sample. Mean intakes of all nutrients except magnesium were significantly higher among U.S. children (P < 0.001); within-person variation was higher among the U.S. children, possibly indicating greater access to a wide array of foods. Strong differentials existed in variance components by sex in both countries, although not in the same direction, and differed by age in U.S. girls. Ratios of within- to between-person variance in 8 of 11 nutrients were lower among Russian (range: 0.9-1.6) than U.S. children (range: 1.4-1.7), suggesting that day-to-day bias may not affect Russian dietary recalls as strongly as in the United States. Researchers are encouraged to use these estimates to conduct sensitivity analyses of usual intake distributions in their own data when multiple days of data collection are not feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Extensive studies have revealed the importance of a healthy lifestyle and the role of each lifestyle factor in health. However, lifestyle factors have rarely been studied simultaneously. The authors propose an integrated approach to summarize total healthfulness of lifestyles and to enhance understanding of lifestyle patterns across countries.Methods. The authors created an overall measure of lifestyle called the Lifestyle Index (LI), integrating diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use to provide a global tool of monitoring healthfulness and patterns of lifestyles. Using the LI, the authors conducted a cross-national comparison between China (n = 8352) and the United States (n = 9750).Results. The LI effectively reflected the healthfulness of lifestyle components in both countries. The mean of the LI scores was slightly higher in China than the US. Scores of diet quality, physical activity, and smoking were higher in China, but scores of alcohol behavior were higher in the US. Similar lifestyle patterns but different unhealthy behaviors were identified in these countries.Conclusions. An assessment of total healthfulness of lifestyles and a better understanding of lifestyle patterns across countries using the LI can provide practical guidance to developing and targeting public health promotion activities to improve global public health. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]