A Case-Control Study of Alcohol Consumption and Esophageal Cancer in the Northeast State of Mizoram, India
Pages 255-262
Lalpawimawha
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-6029.2016.05.04.4
Published: 09 December 2016

Abstract: Summary: Esophageal cancer is one of the main health issues in Mizoram. The risk factors of the disease are related to consumption of alcohol. There have not been any epidemiological studies on this subject in the state. The aim of the study is to assess the relationship between esophageal cancer and consumption of alcohol.

Materials and Methods: A hospital based matched case-control study was conducted comprising of 138 cases with histologically confirmed diagnosis of esophageal cancer and 276 controls that were cancer and esophageal cancer disease free. Cases and controls matched by gender and age (± 5 years). Ratio of cases and controls were 1:2. A questionnaire was used to collect information on possible risk factors of esophageal cancer. The odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for gastric cancer were calculated by a conditional logistic regression.

Results: Cases had significantly lower education level. Most of the cases are from middle income class. After adjustment for consumption of betel quid, tobacco, smoking, body mass index (BMI), family history of cancer, education level and income level, higher risk of esophageal cancer was found for those who have the habit of consuming alcohol in the morning. After controlling for consumption of betel quid, tobacco, smoking, body mass index (BMI), family history of cancer, education level, income level, dietary habits, physical activity, consumption of Zu(locally brewed alcohol) and both Zu(locally brewed alcohol) and commercial alcohol(rum, whisky, vodka and beer, etc) are also associated with higher risk of esophageal cancer (O.R = 9.820, 95% CI = 2.029-47.523).

A Method to Assess Neurological Effectiveness of a Spinal Adjustment for an Individual Patient: A Descriptive Study
Pages 168-174
John Hart
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-6029.2016.05.03.2
Published: 16 July 2016

Abstract: Introduction: A hallmark in health care research is comparison, typically done by comparing groups of patients, e.g., intervention group versus no intervention group. The clinician may be interested in bringing these research methods to the level of the individual patient in practice. Such is done in the present study, where the neurological indicator of resting pulse rate (RPR) is compared pre versus post spinal adjustment, and also compared to instances of no adjustment – for one individual patient. Research indicates that a lower RPR is healthier than a higher RPR.

Methods: Neurological disturbance was operationally defined in the present study as at least two increases in RPR on consecutive visits. Based on this criterion, the patient, over hundreds of RPR measures observed over approximately 2 years, had 16 instances of neurological disturbance; in one of these instances a chiropractic spinal adjustment was given. The 15 other instances were used to estimate a predicted post RPR, which was compared to the observed post-adjustment RPR.

Results: Post-adjustment RPR was 67.5 beats per minute (BPM) which was only slightly lower than the average predicted post RPR of 68.1 BPM.

Conclusion: The method described may help clinicians determine if their intervention was neurologically effective. The method also provides normative RPR data for future comparisons of adjustment versus no adjustment. In the present case, the chiropractic adjustment post RPR was better (lower) than the predicted post RPR, but only slightly so.