BACKGROUNDSurveying regional cancer incidence and mortality provides significant data that can assist in making health policy for local areas; however, the province- and region-based cancer burden in China is seldom reported. In this study, we estimated cancer incidence and mortality in Guangdong Province, China and presented basic information for making policies related to health resource allocation and disease control.

METHODSA log-linear model was used to calculate the sex-, age-, and registry-specific ratios of incidence to mortality (I/M) based on cancer registry data from Guangzhou, Zhongshan, and Sihui between 2004 and 2008. The cancer incidences in 2009 were then estimated according to representative I/M ratios and the mortality records from eight death surveillance sites in Guangdong Province. The cancer incidences in each city were estimated by the corresponding sex- and age-specific incidences from cancer registries or death surveillance sites in each area. Finally, the total and region-based cancer incidences and mortalities for the entire population of Guangdong Province were summarized.

RESULTSThe estimated I/M ratios in Guangzhou (3.658), Zhongshan (2.153), and Sihui (1.527) were significantly different (P < 0.001), with an average I/M ratio of 2.446. Significant differences in the estimated I/M ratios were observed between distinct age groups and the three cancer registries. The estimated I/M ratio in females was significantly higher than that in males (2.864 vs. 2.027, P < 0.001). It was estimated that there were 163,376 new cancer cases (99,689 males and 63,687 females) in 2009; it was further estimated that 115,049 people (75,054 males and 39,995 females) died from cancer in Guangdong Province in 2009. The estimated crude and age-standardized rate of incidences (ASRI) in Guangdong Province were 231.34 and 246.87 per 100,000 males, respectively, and 156.98 and 163.57 per 100,000 females, respectively. The estimated crude and age-standardized rate of mortalities (ASRM) in Guangdong Province were 174.17 and 187.46 per 100,000 males, respectively, and 98.59 and 102.00 per 100,000 females, respectively. In comparison with the western area and the northern mountain area, higher ASRI and ASRM were recorded in the Pearl River Delta area and the eastern area in both males and females.

CONCLUSIONSCancer imposes a heavy disease burden, and cancer patterns are unevenly distributed throughout Guangdong Province. More health resources should be allocated to cancer control, especially in the western and northern mountain areas.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Population Surveillance ; Registries ; Sex Distribution

INTRODUCTIONIn the past several decades, declining incidences of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) have been observed in Chinese populations in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Los Angeles, and Singapore. A previous study indicated that the incidence of NPC in Sihui County, South China remained stable until 2002, but whether age, diagnosis period, and birth cohort affect the incidence of NPC remains unknown.

METHODSAge-standardized rates (ASRs) of NPC incidence based on the world standard population were examined in both males and females in Sihui County from 1987 to 2011. Joinpoint regression analysis was conducted to quantify the changes in incidence trends. A Poisson regression age-period-cohort model was used to assess the effects of age, diagnosis period, and birth cohort on the risk of NPC.

RESULTSThe ASRs of NPC incidence during the study period were 30.29/100,000 for males and 13.09/100,000 for females. The incidence of NPC remained stable at a non-significant average annual percent change of 0.2% for males and -1.6% for females throughout the entire period. A significantly increased estimated annual percent change of 6.8% (95% confidence interval, 0.1%-14.0%) was observed from 2003 to 2009 for males. The relative risk of NPC increased with advancing age up to 50-59 and decreased at ages >60 years. The period effect curves on NPC were nearly flat for males and females. The birth cohort effect curve for males showed an increase from the 1922 cohort to the 1957 cohort and a decrease thereafter. In females, there was an undulating increase in the relative risk from the 1922 cohort to the 1972 cohort.

CONCLUSIONSThe incidence trends for NPC remained generally stable in Sihui from 1987 to 2011, with an increase from 2003 to 2009. The relative risks of NPC increased in younger females.

Age Factors ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carcinoma ; China ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Hong Kong ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; Sex Factors ; Singapore ; Taiwan

Objective: To observe the effect of modified Erchentang on the expression of interleukin-19 (IL-19), interleukin-20 (IL-20)and their receptor IL-20R₁, IL-20R₂ in bronchioles of rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to explore the molecular mechanism of modified Erchentang on anti-inflammatory of COPD. Method: The model of rat with COPD was established by cigarette smoke combined with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The experimental rats were randomly divided into 6 groups:normal group, model group, modified Erchentang high, medium and low dose group, and Jizhitangjiang group. Normal group and model group fed with normal saline 4 mL · d^-1, modified Erchentang high, middle, low dosage group(20,10,5 g · kg^-1 · d^-1).The dosage of Jizhitangjiang group was 12 g · kg^-1 · d^-1, all groups were given intragastric administration for 14 days, twice a day. To observe the general situation of rats.To evaluate the pulmonary function of rats. To detect the contents of IL-10, IL-19 and IL-20 in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).To observe the pathological changes of bronchiole tissue by light microscopy.To detect the expression of IL-20R₁ and IL-20R₂ in bronchiole tissue by immunohistochemistry. Result: Compared with normal group, peak expiratory flow(PEF), forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV₁/FVC in model group were significantly increased (P<0.05), the content of IL-19, IL-20 in serum significantly increased(P<0.05), the content of IL-10 in serum was significantly decreased (P<0.05), the expression of IL-20R₁ and in bronchioles tissue significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with model group, the PEF, FEV₁, FVC, FEV₁/FVC of Jizhitangjiang group, modified Erchentang high, medium and low dosage group were significantly increased(P<0.05).The content of IL-19, IL-20 in serum significantly decreased(P<0.05), the content of IL-10 in serum was significantly increased (P<0.05), the expression of IL-20R₁ and IL-20R₂ in bronchioles tissue was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion: Modified Erchentang can improve the lung function and protect the tissue structure of bronchioles in COPD rats, which may be related to the inhibition of the expression of IL-19, IL-20 and their receptor IL-20R₁, IL-20R₂ in bronchioles of rats with modified Erchentang.

BACKGROUNDWith industrial and econom ic development in recent decades in South China, cancer incidence may have changed due to the changing lifestyle and environment. However, the trends of lung cancer and the roles of smoking and other environmental risk factors in the development of lung cancer in rural areas of South China remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the lung cancer incidence trends and the possible causes of these trends.

METHODSJoinpoint regression analysis and the age-period-cohort (APC) model were used to analyze the lung cancer incidence trends in Sihui, Guangdong province, China between 1987 and 2011, and explore the possible causes of these trends.

RESULTSA total of 2,397 lung cancer patients were involved in this study. A 3-fold increase in the incidence of lung cancer in both sexes was observed over the 25-year period. Joinpoint regression analysis showed that while the incidence continued to increase steadily in females during the entire period, a sharp acceleration was observed in males starting in 2005. The full APC model was selected to describe age, period, and birth cohort effects on lung cancer incidence trends in Sihui. The age cohorts in both sexes showed a continuously significant increase in the relative risk (RR) of lung cancer, with a peak in the eldest age group (80-84 years). The RR of lung cancer showed a fluctuating curve in both sexes. The birth cohorts identified an increased trend in both males and females; however, males had a plateau in the youngest cohorts who were born during 1955-1969.

CONCLUSIONSIncreasing trends of the incidence of lung cancer in Sihui were dominated by the effects of age and birth cohorts. Social aging, smoking, and environmental changes may play important roles in such trends.

Aging ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Smoking