BackgroundThe objective of this study was to analyse the association between area deprivation at municipality level and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity across Germany, controlling for individual socioeconomic status (SES).MethodsThe analyses are based on a large survey conducted in 2006. Information was included from 39,908 adults aged 20 years or above. Area deprivation was assessed using the German Index of Multiple Deprivation (GIMD) at municipality level. About 4,700 municipalities could be included and assigned to a deprivation quintile. Individual SES was assessed by income and educational level. Multilevel logistic models were used to control for individual SES and other potential confounders such as age, sex and physical activity.ResultsWe found a positive association of area deprivation with T2D and obesity. Controlling for all individual-level variables, the odds ratios for municipalities in the most deprived quintile were significantly increased for T2D (OR 1.35; 95% CI 1.12–1.64) as well as for obesity (OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.02–1.26). Further analyses showed that these associations were relatively similar for both men and women.ConclusionsBased on a nationwide dataset, we were able to show that area deprivation at municipality level is significantly associated with the prevalence of T2D and obesity. It will be important to focus preventive efforts on very deprived municipalities.

Background: A growing body of evidence suggests that alterations of dietary fatty acid (FA) profiles are associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. However, data from large-scale epidemiological studies using circulating FA measurements to objectively assess individual FA and FA categories are scarce. Methods:To investigate the association between red blood cell (RBC) membrane FAs and risk of CRC in a case-control study nested within a large prospective cohort. After a median follow-up of 6.4 years, 1069 incident CRC cases were identified and matched to 1069 controls among participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). The FA composition of RBC phospholipids (in mol%) was analyzed by gas chromatography, and their association with risk of CRC was estimated by multivariable adjusted conditional logistic regression models. Results:After correction for multiple testing, subjects with higher concentrations of RBC stearic acid were at higher risk for CRC (OR=1.23; 95% CI=1.07-1.42, per 1 mol%).Conversely, CRC incidence decreased with increasing proportions of RBC n-3 PUFA, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (0.75; 0.62-0.92, per 1 mol%). The findings for the n-6 PUFA arachidonic acid were inconsistent. Conclusion:The positive association between pre-diagnostic RBC stearic acid and CRC reflects putative differences in FA intake and metabolism between cancer cases and matched controls which deserve further investigation. The inverse relationship between EPA and CRC is in line with the repeatedly reported protective effect of fish consumption on CRC risk.

Low income countries seldom possess adequate means to effectively carry out rigorous epidemiological studies in the fight against infectious diseases such as Tuberculosis and Acute Lower Respiratory Infections. To do so, they require solid health infrastructures and qualified researchers trained in the latest laboratory techniques. Where international collaborative programs presently operate in developing countries, the sustainability of research practices often represents a major challenge. The lack of coordination and support between political decision makers and scientific experts also accounts for the inefficiency of existing programs. The GABRIEL network was therefore recently created by the Fondation Mé rieux to help developing countries improve their research capacity for the detection, expertise, characterization, and surveillance of pathogens. The members of GABRIEL, being institutionally and geographically diverse, comprise laboratories, such as academic research laboratories, governmental institutions, and NGOs. GABRIEL's mission is to enhance health research capacity in developing countries by implementing sustainable research projects.

Adding bevacizumab to chemotherapy in mCRC may be beneficial only in patients with left-sided primary tumor, while those with right-sided primary tumors may have no additional benefit from the addition of bevacizumab. This hypothesis-generating analysis should provide a basis for in-depth analysis of this issue in future prospective trials.