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There is scant knowledge of the effects of country of birth on the health of individuals in the years prior to and after retirement. The aim of this study was to consider country of birth in relation to health status, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and all-cause mortality when adjusted for socioeconomic status (SES). Cross-sectional data were collected between 1986 and 1991 on 8959 individuals between the ages of 55 and 74. Self-reported data were analysed using a logistic regression model while the mortality data were analysed by means of a proportional hazard model. In the present study, immigrants from Southern Europe, Eastern Europe and Finland carried significantly increased risks of poor health even after adjustment for SES. Southern Europeans, refugees from Developing countries and Finns exhibited an increased risk of impaired IADL compared to Swedes, even after adjustment for SES. In conclusion, country of birth was associated with poor health status and impaired IADL. This association remained after adjustment for SES. In accordance with pre-study expectations, mortality was predicted by impaired IADL and male gender. Country of birth was not associated with all-cause mortality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective. The knowledge of elderly migrants' health, particularly those who are retired or in transition to retirement is limited. The purpose of this study was to analyse the association between migration, socio-economic status (SES), and risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Design. A simple random sample of 253 foreign-born persons and 2847 Swedish-born persons aged 55-74 were drawn from the Swedish Population Registry. They were interviewed by Statistics Sweden in 1988-89. Outcome variables were leisure-time physical inactivity, smoker/non-smoker status, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Explanatory variables were sex, age, marital status, migration status (country of birth), and SES (income). Logistic and linear regression were used. Results. Elderly foreign-born people ran an increased risk of engaging in no physical activity (men only), being a current smoker, and having an increased BMI after adjustment for background factors. In addition, a low income (first tertile) was an independent risk factor for physical inactivity (men only), as was being a current smoker (men only), BMI, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Thus, the burden of being an elderly migrant increases the risk of a disadvantaged lifestyle between 50 and 80% compared with Swedes. Conclusions. This study shows that migrants who are retired or in transition to retirement have a disadvantaged risk profile for cardiovascular disease. It might be possible to improve this situation by intervention, as for example by increasing a person's interest in walking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We primarily aimed to determine whether the presence of enlarged cardiophrenic lymph nodes (CPLNs), visualized by computed tomography (CT), and CA-125 can be used to assess diaphragmatic carcinomatosis and residual disease (RD) in advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) patients treated with upfront surgery. The secondary aim was to determine the prognostic role of CT-CPLNs in overall survival (OS). A single-center, retrospective, population-based study was conducted of patients who underwent surgery for AOC from January 1, 2014-December 31, 2018. Suspicious CT-CPLNs were defined as having a short axis ≥5 mm. The median survival and rate of survival were calculated with the Kaplan–Meier method using multivariate Cox regression analyses, including comparisons of complete cytoreductive surgery (CCS; defined as the complete removal of all intra-abdominal tumor) versus noncomplete cytoreductive surgery (non-CCS) and analyses related to CT-CPLN status and preoperative CA-125 values. We included 208 patients. CT-CPLNs correlated with both diaphragmatic carcinomatosis (OR 3.59, 95% CI 1.81–7.16, p < 0.01) and RD (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.38–4.6, p = 0.003). When CCS was achieved, no differences in survival between patients with suspicious or nonsuspicious CT-CPLNs were found. The relationships between CA-125 ≥ 500 U/ml and diaphragmatic carcinomatosis (OR 3.51, 95% CI 1.86–6.64, p < 0.01) and RD (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.33–4.38, p = 0.004) were positive. All data were adjusted for age and ECOG performance status. Survival analyses were also adjusted for RD. Enlarged CPLNs on CT scans and CA-125 levels correlate with diaphragmatic carcinomatosis and RD at the end of the surgery. The strongest prognostic factor for OS remains CCS, regardless of the CT-CPLN status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Epithelial ovarian cancer is usually diagnosed in the advanced stages. To choose the best therapeutic approach, an accurate preoperative assessment of the tumour extent is crucial. This study aimed to determine whether the peritoneal cancer index (PCI), the amount of ascites, and the presence of cardiophrenic nodes (CPLNs) visualized by computed tomography (CT) can assess the tumour extent (S-PCI) and residual disease (RD) for advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) patients treated with upfront surgery. Methods: In total, 118 AOC cases were included between January 2016 and December 2018 at Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. Linear regression and interclass correlation (ICC) analyses were used to determine the relationship between CT-PCI and S-PCI. The patients were stratified in complete cytoreductive surgery (CCS) with no RD or to non-CCS with RD of any size. The amount of ascites on CT (CT-ascites), CA-125 and the presence of radiological enlarged CPLNs (CT-CPLN) were analysed to evaluate their impact on estimating RD. Results: CT-PCI correlated well with S-PCI (0.397; 95% CI 0.252–0.541; p < 0.001). The risk of RD was also related to CT-PCI (OR 1.069 (1.009–1.131), p < 0.023) with a cut-off of 21 for CT-PCI (0.715, p = 0.000). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 58.5, 70.3, 52.2 and 75.4%, respectively. CT-ascites above 1000 ml predicted RD (OR 3.510 (1.298–9.491) p < 0.013). Conclusion: CT is a reliable tool to assess the extent of the disease in advanced ovarian cancer. Higher CT-PCI scores and large volumes of ascites estimated on CT predicted RD of any size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the association of ethnicity on cardiovascular disease risk factors among older black, Mexican Americans and white women and men in the U.S. Prevalence of type II diabetes among Mexican American and black women; Likelihood that black women are going to have abdominal obesity and hypertension; Prevalence of hypertension and physical inactivity on black and white men.

Abstract: Objective: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the preoperative assessment of early-stage cervical cancer using pathologic findings as the reference standard. Patients and methods: Prospective multi-center trial enrolling 209 consecutive women with early-stage cervical cancer (FIGO IA2–IIA) scheduled for surgery. The following parameters were assessed on US and MRI and compared to pathology: remaining tumor, size, tumor stromal invasion<2/3 (superficial) or ≥2/3 (deep), and parametrial invasion. Results: Complete data were available for 182 patients. The agreement between US and pathology was excellent for detecting tumors, correctly classifying bulky tumors (>4cm), and detecting deep stromal invasion (kappa values 0.84, 0.82, and 0.81 respectively); and good for classifying small tumors (<2cm) and detecting parametrial invasion (kappa values 0.78 and 0.75, respectively). The agreement between MRI and histology was good for classifying tumors as <2cm, or >4cm, and detecting deep stromal invasion (kappa values 0.71, 0.76, and 0.77, respectively). It was moderately accurate in tumor detection, and in assessing parametrial invasion (kappa values 0.52 and 0.45, respectively). The agreement between histology and US was significantly better in assessing residual tumor (p <0.001) and parametrial invasion (p <0.001) than the results obtained by MRI. Imaging methods were not significantly influenced by previous cone biopsy. Conclusion: US and MRI are highly accurate for the preoperative assessment of women with early-stage cervical cancer, although US may be more accurate in detecting residual tumors and assessing parametrial invasion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]