No abstract

Two hundred and five histologically confirmed cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in southern China, and an equal number of matched controls, were investigated for their dietary habits, occupational exposure, use of tobacco and alcohol, history of relatives with NPC, and IgA against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) capsid antigen (IgA/VCA). Positive IgA/VCA and intake of salted fish were associated with a strong excess risk of NPC. The association persisted after adjustment for other factors. The combination of salted fish and EBV was strongly associated with NPC, and more so than EBV or salted fish per se. Multivariate analyses showed that IgA/VCA was the most important predictor of NPC, and salted fish the second most important. These results suggest that EBV has a strong effect on the development of NPC. The exclusion of EBV and genetic factors in earlier epidemiological studies may have resulted in an overestimation of salted fish as important etiological factor causing NPC.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are a large high-risk population for HIV infection in recent years in China. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Hangzhou, China, to determine rates of condomless anal intercourse (CAI), recent HIV testing (in the recent year) and associated factors using respondent-driven sampling. Questionnaires using face-to-face interviews were employed to collect data on sexual risk behaviors and HIV testing. Five hundred eleven MSM were recruited, of which 459 (89.8%) had anal intercourse in the past 6 months. Of these 459 participants, 457 (99.6%) answered whether they had taken an HIV test in the recent year, so only their data were analyzed. Weighted data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The CAI rate with male partners in the past 6 months was 43.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 34.0–51.5%), while the rate of condomless vaginal intercourse (CVI) was 21.6% (95% CI, 15.6–32.3%). The prevalence of recent HIV testing was 56.8% (95% CI, 48.7–66.5%), while the prevalence of HIV and syphilis were 8.8% and 6.5%, respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that CAI was associated with earlier homosexual debut, suicidal inclinations, childhood sexual abuse, HIV testing in the recent year, and lower estimate of HIV prevalence. Recent HIV testing was associated with homosexual debut age, engaging in CAI with male partners in the past 6 months, having oral sex in the past 6 months, self-perceived higher likelihood of HIV infection, knowing about antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS, receiving AIDS/sexually transmitted infection (STI) interventions in the past year, and syphilis infection. Given high prevalence of HIV and syphilis, high levels of CAI and CVI, and low HIV testing rate, the results indicated high risk of HIV infection and transmission among MSM. HIV prevention interventions should target MSM with early homosexual debut and psychosocial health problems, while HIV/AIDS education among MSM should focus on increasing knowledge of HIV risk, estimated HIV prevalence and antiretroviral therapy, and improving risk perception of HIV acquisition.

Epidemiological studies have implied that Chinese salted fish is a human nasopharyngeal carcinogen. In the present study, 162 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of four experimental groups. Rats in groups 1 (n = 41) and 3 (n = 40) were exposed to salted fish from birth through the breast feeding period by giving the maternal rats a diet containing 10% and 5% salted fish, respectively, later feeding the rats with pellets containing 10% and 5% of salted fish respectively. In group 2, the rats (n = 41) were given pellets containing 10% of salted fish from 6 weeks of age. Rats in group 4 (n = 40), serving as controls, were only given ordinary pellets. Three rats had nasopharyngeal tumours, 2 from group 1 had a poorly differentiated carcinoma and a squamous cell carcinoma. One rat from group 2 had a squamous cell carcinoma. Four rats had nasal tumours, one fibrosarcoma and one adenocarcinoma were found in rats from group 1. One rhabdomyosarcoma was found in group 2, and one soft tissue sarcoma was found in a rat in group 3. No nasal or nasopharyngeal tumours appeared in the control group. The difference in the occurrence of malignant nasal and nasopharyngeal tumours among the four experimental groups was statistically significant (one tailed p for trend = 0.041). The frequency of tumours appearing in other organs such as the breast, kidney, lung, liver and brain was not significantly different between the salted fish treated groups and the control group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

We have examined I 7 primary undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma biopsies for allelic loss on 3p, comparing the findings in tumors with those in normal lymphocyte D N A from the same patients. Ten polymorphic microsatellite markers were used between 3p I 3 and 3p26. Allelic IOU was observed in I 2 samples (70%). Two loci were most frequently affected D3S I067 (3p2 I. I-14.3) in 60% and D3S I 2 I 7 (3p 14.2-14. I) in 58%. One tumor seemed to have a homozygous deletion at 3p26, detected by the D3S I297 marker. Analysis of the clinical data showed that an increased number of aberrations in 3p was correlated with more advanced tumor stages. Genes Chromosom Cancer 17:118-126 (1996).