Although higher BMI and other related factors have been frequently associated with colorectal cancer, whether the metabolic syndrome is associated with the risk of colorectal cancer is unclear. We therefore assessed the association of the metabolic syndrome with the

Selleckchem SNX-5422 risk of colorectal cancer in a subsample of participants of the Women’s Health Initiative who had repeated measurements of the components of the syndrome at baseline and during follow-up. Women with diabetes at baseline enrollment were excluded. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) at baseline and in time-dependent analyses. Among 4862 eligible women, 81 incident cases of colorectal cancer were identified over a median follow-up of 12 years. Presence of the metabolic syndrome at baseline was associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer (HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.30-3.53) buy PLX4032 and colon cancer (HR 2.28, 95% CI 1.31-3.98). These associations were largely explained by positive associations of serum glucose and systolic blood pressure with both outcomes. Time-dependent covariate analyses supported the baseline findings. Our results suggest that the positive association of the metabolic syndrome

with risk of colorectal cancer is largely accounted for by serum glucose levels and systolic blood pressure. The biological mechanism underlying these associations remains to be clarified. European Journal of Cancer Prevention 21:326-332 (C) 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.”
“Objective. Catastrophizing has been broadly conceived as an exaggerated negative “”mental set”" brought to bear during actual or anticipated pain experience and has risen to the status of one of the most important psychological predictors of pain. The present study aimed at investigating the relationship Selleck LY2835219 between catastrophizing and postoperative pain outcomes (pain intensity and analgesia use) in patients undergoing elective instrumented lumbar fusion surgery.

Design. On the day before surgery, 61 patients completed the Greek versions of the Pain Catastrophizing

Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. On postoperative days 1 and 2, pain intensity (at rest and during activity) on the Verbal Rating Scale as well as intravenous patient-controlled analgesia fentanyl use were assessed.

Results. Catastrophizing and gender predicted postoperative pain intensity at rest, whereas catastrophizing emerged as the unique predictor of postoperative pain intensity during activity. Catastrophizing and anxiety predicted analgesic use.

Conclusions. The present study findings suggest that it is possible to preoperatively identify patients at risk for experiencing more severe pain in the postoperative recovery period. In such cases, consideration might be given to utilizing a variety of resources to ameliorate or prevent pain.