Harvesting Monoclonal Antibodies from Plants

Geographical correlations between standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) of cancers and consumption of different types of alcoholic beverages (sake synthetic sake', shochu, beer, wine, and whisky), of cigarettes, and urbanization were examined for all 46 prefectures in Japen. Suggestive correlations were observed between cancer of the oesophagus in males and both shochu and whisky (r=0 27 and 022 respectively), between cancer of the rectum in males and wine (r=0.45), and between cancer of the prostate and shochu (r=0*50). These correlations were also confirmed in the partial correlations between SMRs of cancers and consumption of alcoholic beverages, controlling for the two variables urbanization and consumption of cigarettes. Although cancers of other sites were also correlated with certain types of alcoholic beverages, their associations seemed to be secondary to other factors. The validity of higher-order partial correlations and the problems of correlation study are also referred to. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES have been reviewed as a risk factor in the development of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, and oesophagus. However, the associations between cancers of other sites and alcohol have not so far been well established (Lowenfels, 1974; Rothman, 1975). On the other hand, it was considered that alcoholic beverages, not alcohol per se, may be related to certain cancers (Roth-man, 1975). As in other parts of the world there are many kinds of alcoholic beverages in Japan, the consumption of which varies from region to region (Nukada, 1972). Sake' (fermented product from rice) and shochu (distilled spirits made from rice and other grains), which are traditional Japanese liquors, are consumed more in the rural areas, while beer and whisky feature in the urban areas. There have been several publications on the correlation between cancer and alcohol However, it is still meaningful to conduct a similar study, using different observational backgrounds, with different patterns and intensities of exposure to aetiological factors (Bjelke, 1974). The present study examined the geographical correlation between cancer mortality of different sites and consumption of different types of alcoholic beverages in Japan, in order to find any clues for distinguishing the causes of cancer, as well as to confirm the reported hypotheses. The materials for the present study consist of data on consumption of alcoholic beverages , of cigarettes, urbanization, and cancer mortality. Per capita average annual consumption of alcoholic beverage by type and by prefecture was calculated from the taxed