ObjectivesThis study was performed to identify the differences in incidence, clinicopathological features, and survival in esophageal cancer among ethnic groups in the United States and to determine the reasons for the differences.ResultA total of 49,766 patients were included. Black and Asian groups had a higher proportion of squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) (85.5% and 75.4%, respectively) and mid-esophagus tumor (43.2% and 37.7% respectively) than the non-Hispanic white and Hispanic white groups. The incidences of ESCC in all ethnic groups declined since 1973, especially in black males. At the same time, incidences of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) dramatically increased in white males since 1973. And incidences of ESCC and EAC were the lowest and stable in Asian female. Multivariable models showed that patients who were male, or black, or had larger tumors, or positive lymph nodes had an increased risk of death from esophageal cancer, while patients with ESCC or diagnosed after 2005 or treated with surgery had a lower likelihood of death. For ESCC, the black patients had the lowest DSS, while for EAC there were no significant differences in DSS among the ethnic/racial groups.Materials and MethodFrom the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program database, patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer from 1998-2013 were identified. Differences in incidences, clinicopathological features, treatments, and disease-specific survival (DSS) in four broad racial/ethnic groups were compared.ConclusionHistological type distribution between racial groups could be an important consideration in the incidence and the survival trend but other factors could also have an effect.

Ethnic disparities in lung and bronchial cancer diagnoses and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates in the United States are well known. However, few studies have specifically assessed these differences in Asian subgroups. The primary objectives of the retrospective analysis described herein were to identify any significant differences in clinicopathologic features, treatment, and survival rate between Asian lung cancer patients and lung cancer patients in other broad ethnic groups in the United States and to determine the reasons for these differences among subgroups of Asian patients with lung or bronchial cancer. We searched the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program database to identify patients diagnosed with lung or bronchial cancer from 1990 to 2012. Differences in clinicopathologic features, treatment, and DSS rate in four broad ethnic groups and eight Asian subgroups were compared. The study population consisted of 849,088 patients, 5.2% of whom were of Asian descent. Female Asian patients had the lowest lung and bronchial cancer incidence rates, whereas male black patients had the highest rates. Asian patients had the best 5-year DSS rate. In our Asian subgroup analysis, Indian/Pakistani patients had the best 5-year DSS rate, whereas Hawaiian/Pacific Islander patients had the worst 5-year DSS rates. We found the differences in DSS rate among the four broad ethnic groups and eight Asian subgroups when we grouped patients by age and disease stage, as well. Asian patients had better DSS rates than those in the other three broad ethnic groups in almost every age and disease-stage group, especially in older patients and those with advanced-stage disease. In conclusion, we found that clinicopathologic features and treatment of lung and bronchial cancer differ by ethnicity in the United States, and the differences impact survival in each ethnic group.

Background Skeletal muscle atrophy is a debilitating complication of many chronic diseases, disuse conditions, and ageing. Genome‐wide gene expression analyses have identified that elevated levels of microRNAs encoded by the H19X locus are among the most significant changes in skeletal muscles in a wide scope of human cachectic conditions. We have previously reported that the H19X locus is important for the establishment of striated muscle fate during embryogenesis. However, the role of H19X‐encoded microRNAs in regulating skeletal mass in adults is unknown. Methods We have created a transgenic mouse strain in which ectopic expression of miR‐322/miR‐503 is driven by the skeletal muscle‐specific muscle creatine kinase promoter. We also used an H19X mutant mouse strain in which transcription from the locus is interrupted by a gene trap. Animal phenotypes were analysed by standard histological methods. Underlying mechanisms were explored by using transcriptome profiling and validated in the two animal models and cultured myotubes. Results Our results demonstrate that the levels of H19X microRNAs are inversely related to postnatal skeletal muscle growth. Targeted overexpression of miR‐322/miR‐503 impeded skeletal muscle growth. The weight of gastrocnemius muscles of transgenic mice was only 54.5% of the counterparts of wild‐type littermates. By contrast, interruption of transcription from the H19X locus stimulates postnatal muscle growth by 14.4–14.9% and attenuates the loss of skeletal muscle mass in response to starvation by 12.8–21.0%. Impeded muscle growth was not caused by impaired IGF1/AKT/mTOR signalling or a hyperactive ubiquitin–proteasome system, instead accompanied by markedly dropped abundance of translation initiation factors in transgenic mice. miR‐322/miR‐503 directly targets eIF4E, eIF4G1, eIF4B, eIF2B5, and eIF3M. Conclusions Our study illustrates a novel pathway wherein H19X microRNAs regulate skeletal muscle growth and atrophy through regulating the abundance of translation initiation factors, thereby protein synthesis. The study highlights how translation initiation factors lie at the crux of multiple signalling pathways that control skeletal muscle mass.

ObjectivesThis study investigated the frequency of child restraint system (CRS) use in cars and assessed parental knowledge and attitudes toward such restraint systems in western China.Study DesignCross‐sectional survey.MethodsThis cross‐sectional survey was conducted between December 2021 and January 2022. Hospitals and kindergartens were convenience sampling selected, and parents with cars were asked whether they owned and used CRS. Parents’ knowledge and attitudes toward such systems were also determined. Factors associated with CRS were explored using binary logistic regression.ResultsA total of 4764 questionnaires were distributed to parents with children 0–6 years old. Among the 4455 responses received, 50.8% of the respondents owned CRS, and most of which were front‐facing child seats (42.0%). Less than half (44.4%) reported using a CRS sometimes, but only 19.6% used it all the time. The possession and use of a CRS varied significantly with the parental education level, age of the child, place of residence, number of children, family income, travel frequency, and travel distance. Logistic regression analysis showed that the frequency of car travel with a child and monthly family income significantly affected CRS use. Most parents (85.2%) perceived that adult seat belt in cars are effective at protecting their children in the event of a crash. The most frequent reason for not using a CRS was the tendency for children to travel in the car less often.ConclusionsAlthough approximately half of the respondents owned a CRS, most of them used it rarely, if at all. Educating parents about safe ways for children to ride in a car and use of safety belts may promote CRS use.