Purpose Obesity increases mortality for several malignancies, but for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) the association between body mass index (BMI) and survival is unclear. We examined the association of pre-diagnostic BMI with overall and NHL-specific survival in the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) study of African Americans, Native Hawaiians, Japanese Americans, Latinos, and Caucasians. Methods MEC participants free of NHL at cohort entry and diagnosed with NHL during follow-up were included in the analyses (N=1331). BMI was based on self-reported weight and height at cohort entry and after 6.1 years of cohort entry. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) with BMI as time-varying exposure in relation to all-cause and NHL-specific mortality while adjusting for known confounders. Results The mean age at NHL diagnosis was 70.5 (range 45–89) years. After a mean follow-up of 4.3±3.5 years, 667 deaths including 450 NHL-specific deaths occurred. In multivariable models, obese patients (BMI ≥30.0 kg/m2) had higher all-cause (HR=1.46, 95%CI 1.13–1.87) and NHL-specific (HR=1.77, 95%CI 1.30–2.41) mortality compared to patients with high-normal BMI (22.5–24.9 kg/m2). For overweight patients (BMI=25.0–29.9 kg/m2), the respective HRs were 1.21 (95%CI 0.99–1.49) and 1.36 (95%CI 1.06–1.75). Cases with low-normal BMI (<22.5 kg/m2) experienced a significant 45% higher all-cause and a 40% higher NHL-specific mortality. After stratification by NHL type, the adverse effect of BMI was stronger for chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma than for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma. Conclusions Pre-diagnostic BMI may be a suitable prognostic marker for NHL patients.

We report a case of cavernous sinus thrombosis in a 55-year-old Chinese man who presented with headache, ophthalmoplegia and ptosis. Campylobacter rectus was eventually isolated from the blood cultures. He was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, anticoagulation and steroids with improvement in his condition. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of septic cavernous sinus thrombosis caused by C. rectus.

Background/ObjectivesTo understand the possible effect of modifiable health behaviors on the prognosis of the increasing number of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) survivors, we examined the pre-diagnostic intake of major food groups with all-cause and NHL-specific survival in the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC).Subjects/MethodsThis analysis included 2,339 participants free of NHL at cohort entry and diagnosed with NHL as identified b cancer registries during follow-up. Deaths were ascertained through routine linkages to state and national death registries. Cox proportional hazards regression was applied to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for overall and NHL-specific mortality according to prediagnostic intake of vegetables, fruits, red meat, processed meat, fish, legumes, dietary fiber, dairy products, and soy foods assessed by food frequency questionnaire.ResultsThe mean age at diagnosis was 71.8±8.5 years. During 4.5±4.1 years of follow-up, 1,348 deaths, including 903 NHL-specific deaths, occurred. In multivariable models, dairy intake was associated with higher all-cause mortality (highest vs. lowest tertile: HR=1.14, 95% CI 1.00–1.31, ptrend=0.03) and NHL-specific (HR=1.16, 95% CI 0.98–1.37) mortality. Legume intake above the lowest tertile was related to significant 13–16% lower all-cause and NHL-specific mortality, while red meat and fish intake in the intermediate tertiles was associated with lower NHL-specific mortality. No association with survival was detected for the other food groups.ConclusionThese data suggest that pre-diagnostic dietary intake may not appreciably contribute to NHL survival although the higher mortality for dairy products and the better prognosis associated with legumes agree with known biologic effects of these foods.