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New research has revealed factors that may increase the risk of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) in Israelis and Palestinians.
This large-scale, epidemiological study indicated that each group had its own unique risk factors.
However, in both groups, recreational sun exposure, black hair-dye use, a history of hospitalization for infection, and having a first-degree relative with a hematopoietic malignancy were all associated with B-NHL.
A team of Palestinian and Israeli researchers reported these findings in PLOS ONE.
The researchers noted that Israelis and Palestinians share the same ecosystem but differ in terms of lifestyle, health behaviors, and medical systems. Yet both populations report high incidences of NHL.
To gain some insight into this phenomenon, the team conducted a study examining risk factors for B-NHL and its subtypes in these two populations.
The researchers looked at medical history, environmental factors, and lifestyle factors in 823 B-NHL patients and 808 healthy controls.
There were 516 Israeli Jews with B-NHL and 307 Palestinian Arabs with B-NHL. The mean age at diagnosis was 60 and 51, respectively.
The proportion of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was 71% of Palestinian Arabs and 41% of Israeli Jews. The proportion of patients with follicular lymphoma was 14% and 28%, respectively. And the proportion of patients with marginal zone lymphoma was 2% and 14%, respectively.
Using data from questionnaires, pathology review, serology, and genotyping, the researchers uncovered potential risk factors for B-NHL common to both populations and other factors unique to each population.
Results
The data showed that, in both Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jews, B-NHL was associated with:
- Recreational sun exposure (odds ratio [OR]=1.4)
- Black hair-dye use (OR=1.70)
- A history of hospitalization for infection (OR=1.68)
- Having a first-degree relative with a hematopoietic malignancy (OR=1.69).
Smoking was associated with follicular lymphoma in both populations (OR=1.46). And greater-than-monthly indoor pesticide use was associated with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in both populations (OR=2.01).
There was an inverse association between alcohol use and B-NHL for both populations (OR=0.46).
Among Palestinian Arabs only, risk factors for B-NHL included gardening (OR=1.93) and a history of herpes (OR=3.73), mononucleosis (OR=6.34), rubella (OR=2.86), and blood transfusion (OR=2.53).
Risk factors that applied to Israeli Jews only included growing fruits and vegetables (OR=1.87) and self-reported autoimmune diseases (OR=1.99).
The researchers said differences in risk factors by ethnicity could reflect differences in lifestyle, medical systems, and reporting patterns, while variations by B-NHL subtypes suggest specific causal factors for different types of disease. However, these findings require further investigation to reveal their mechanisms.
“Apart from the scientific contribution that this research provides in terms of understanding risk factors for NHL, the study entails an important research cooperation among many institutions,” said study author Ora Paltiel, of Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Organization in Jerusalem, Israel.
“The study provided opportunities for training Palestinian and Israeli researchers and will provide for intellectual interaction for years to come. The data collected will also provide a research platform for the future study of lymphoma. Epidemiologic research has the potential to improve and preserve human health, and it can also serve as a bridge to dialogue among nations.” 
New research has revealed factors that may increase the risk of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) in Israelis and Palestinians.
This large-scale, epidemiological study indicated that each group had its own unique risk factors.
However, in both groups, recreational sun exposure, black hair-dye use, a history of hospitalization for infection, and having a first-degree relative with a hematopoietic malignancy were all associated with B-NHL.
A team of Palestinian and Israeli researchers reported these findings in PLOS ONE.
The researchers noted that Israelis and Palestinians share the same ecosystem but differ in terms of lifestyle, health behaviors, and medical systems. Yet both populations report high incidences of NHL.
To gain some insight into this phenomenon, the team conducted a study examining risk factors for B-NHL and its subtypes in these two populations.
The researchers looked at medical history, environmental factors, and lifestyle factors in 823 B-NHL patients and 808 healthy controls.
There were 516 Israeli Jews with B-NHL and 307 Palestinian Arabs with B-NHL. The mean age at diagnosis was 60 and 51, respectively.
The proportion of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was 71% of Palestinian Arabs and 41% of Israeli Jews. The proportion of patients with follicular lymphoma was 14% and 28%, respectively. And the proportion of patients with marginal zone lymphoma was 2% and 14%, respectively.
Using data from questionnaires, pathology review, serology, and genotyping, the researchers uncovered potential risk factors for B-NHL common to both populations and other factors unique to each population.
Results
The data showed that, in both Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jews, B-NHL was associated with:
- Recreational sun exposure (odds ratio [OR]=1.4)
- Black hair-dye use (OR=1.70)
- A history of hospitalization for infection (OR=1.68)
- Having a first-degree relative with a hematopoietic malignancy (OR=1.69).
Smoking was associated with follicular lymphoma in both populations (OR=1.46). And greater-than-monthly indoor pesticide use was associated with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in both populations (OR=2.01).
There was an inverse association between alcohol use and B-NHL for both populations (OR=0.46).
Among Palestinian Arabs only, risk factors for B-NHL included gardening (OR=1.93) and a history of herpes (OR=3.73), mononucleosis (OR=6.34), rubella (OR=2.86), and blood transfusion (OR=2.53).
Risk factors that applied to Israeli Jews only included growing fruits and vegetables (OR=1.87) and self-reported autoimmune diseases (OR=1.99).
The researchers said differences in risk factors by ethnicity could reflect differences in lifestyle, medical systems, and reporting patterns, while variations by B-NHL subtypes suggest specific causal factors for different types of disease. However, these findings require further investigation to reveal their mechanisms.
“Apart from the scientific contribution that this research provides in terms of understanding risk factors for NHL, the study entails an important research cooperation among many institutions,” said study author Ora Paltiel, of Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Organization in Jerusalem, Israel.
“The study provided opportunities for training Palestinian and Israeli researchers and will provide for intellectual interaction for years to come. The data collected will also provide a research platform for the future study of lymphoma. Epidemiologic research has the potential to improve and preserve human health, and it can also serve as a bridge to dialogue among nations.”
New research has revealed factors that may increase the risk of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) in Israelis and Palestinians.
This large-scale, epidemiological study indicated that each group had its own unique risk factors.
However, in both groups, recreational sun exposure, black hair-dye use, a history of hospitalization for infection, and having a first-degree relative with a hematopoietic malignancy were all associated with B-NHL.
A team of Palestinian and Israeli researchers reported these findings in PLOS ONE.
The researchers noted that Israelis and Palestinians share the same ecosystem but differ in terms of lifestyle, health behaviors, and medical systems. Yet both populations report high incidences of NHL.
To gain some insight into this phenomenon, the team conducted a study examining risk factors for B-NHL and its subtypes in these two populations.
The researchers looked at medical history, environmental factors, and lifestyle factors in 823 B-NHL patients and 808 healthy controls.
There were 516 Israeli Jews with B-NHL and 307 Palestinian Arabs with B-NHL. The mean age at diagnosis was 60 and 51, respectively.
The proportion of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was 71% of Palestinian Arabs and 41% of Israeli Jews. The proportion of patients with follicular lymphoma was 14% and 28%, respectively. And the proportion of patients with marginal zone lymphoma was 2% and 14%, respectively.
Using data from questionnaires, pathology review, serology, and genotyping, the researchers uncovered potential risk factors for B-NHL common to both populations and other factors unique to each population.
Results
The data showed that, in both Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jews, B-NHL was associated with:
- Recreational sun exposure (odds ratio [OR]=1.4)
- Black hair-dye use (OR=1.70)
- A history of hospitalization for infection (OR=1.68)
- Having a first-degree relative with a hematopoietic malignancy (OR=1.69).
Smoking was associated with follicular lymphoma in both populations (OR=1.46). And greater-than-monthly indoor pesticide use was associated with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in both populations (OR=2.01).
There was an inverse association between alcohol use and B-NHL for both populations (OR=0.46).
Among Palestinian Arabs only, risk factors for B-NHL included gardening (OR=1.93) and a history of herpes (OR=3.73), mononucleosis (OR=6.34), rubella (OR=2.86), and blood transfusion (OR=2.53).
Risk factors that applied to Israeli Jews only included growing fruits and vegetables (OR=1.87) and self-reported autoimmune diseases (OR=1.99).
The researchers said differences in risk factors by ethnicity could reflect differences in lifestyle, medical systems, and reporting patterns, while variations by B-NHL subtypes suggest specific causal factors for different types of disease. However, these findings require further investigation to reveal their mechanisms.
“Apart from the scientific contribution that this research provides in terms of understanding risk factors for NHL, the study entails an important research cooperation among many institutions,” said study author Ora Paltiel, of Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Organization in Jerusalem, Israel.
“The study provided opportunities for training Palestinian and Israeli researchers and will provide for intellectual interaction for years to come. The data collected will also provide a research platform for the future study of lymphoma. Epidemiologic research has the potential to improve and preserve human health, and it can also serve as a bridge to dialogue among nations.”