Worry content across the lifespan: an analysis of 16- to 74-year-old participants in the British National Survey of Psychiatric Morbidity 2000.

PubMed

Lindesay, James; Baillon, Sarah; Brugha, Traolach; Dennis, Michael; Stewart, Robert; Araya, Ricardo; Meltzer, Howard

2006-11-01

Previous studies suggest that worry content and prevalence may vary as a function of age, but evidence is limited. Cross-sectional national survey of 8580 householders in Great Britain aged between 16 and 74 years. This analysis examined the relationship between age, worry content (relationships/family, financial/housing, work, health, miscellaneous), common mental disorders, and functional limitation, adjusting for other sociodemographic factors. Overall, the prevalence of worries declined with age. However, with the exception of worry about relationships, the strength of associations between worry types and mental disorder either remained constant or increased in the older age groups. Compared to the 16-24 years reference group, worries about relationships/family, finances/housing and work were lower in the 55-74 years age groups. Financial/housing worries were increased in the 25-44 years group, and health worries were increased in the 25-64 years groups. There were independent associations between all worry items and the categories of mental disorder. All worry types apart from miscellaneous worries were independently associated, positively or negatively, with functional limitation. Worry content in the general population varies as a function of age, gender, marital status, and educational attainment. All categories of worry are more prevalent in individuals with common mental disorders. The lower prevalence of worries and their stronger association with mental disorder in old age emphasize the clinical significance of these symptoms in this age group.

Young Adult Migration: 2007-2009 to 2010-2012. American Community Survey Reports. ACS-31

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Benetsky, Megan J.; Burd, Charlynn A.; Rapino, Melanie A.

2015-01-01

Young adults in the United States have the highest rate of migration compared with other age groups. The most common reasons for moving among all ages are job, housing, or family related. Many of these moves are made between the ages of 18 to 34, an age group marked by various life course transitions associated with moving. These include getting a…

Epidemiology of psoriasis in malaysia: a hospital based study.

PubMed

Sinniah, B; Saraswathy Devi, S; Prashant, B S

2010-06-01

Psoriasis is a complex chronic inflammatory skin disease with a worldwide distribution. To determine the prevalence of psoriasis according to age, gender and ethnicity among outpatients attending the dermatology clinic in Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang Malaysia. All outpatients attending the specialist clinic of the dermatology department in Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang, Malaysia from January 2003 to December 2005. This is a retrospective descriptive study of all outpatients who attended the specialist clinic from January 2003 to December 2005 and diagnosed for psoriasis. The study population consisted of patients of all ages, both gender and different ethnic groups (Malay, Chinese, Indians and foreign workers) living in the Klang Valley and the surrounding areas. A total of 5607 patients were examined during a period of three years and 9.5% were found to be suffering with psoriasis. It was more common in males (11.6%) than in females (7.2%). Patients within the 40-60 year age group had the highest (17.2%) rate and were lower in the younger age group including those aged over 60 years (8.1%). With regards to ethnicity, it was more common in Indians followed by Malays, Chinese and migrant foreign workers respectively. The study indicates that psoriasis is common in Malaysia and its distribution varies with age, ethnicity and gender.

Flame burns involving kerosene pressure stoves in India.

PubMed

Sawhney, C P

1989-12-01

The author has analysed 339 patients with extensive burns admitted to a teaching hospital and found them to be most common in poor socioeconomic groups with low incomes, poor housing and illiteracy. Thermal injuries afflicted 89 per cent of the patients and were generally accidental and occurred in homes with floor-level cooking: chemical and electrical burns (the remaining 11 per cent) were uncommon. Kerosene pressure stove accidents were a common cause of thermal burns and occurred in 65 per cent of the patients. These were reported in both sexes but were 3.5 times more common in females. Mishandling of kerosene pressure stoves was the commonest cause and occurred in 65.7 per cent of the patients and the next most common cause was wearing loose garments. Kerosene pressure stove accidents occurred commonly in the age group 16-35 years and were rare in other age groups. These burns were relatively more extensive, deep and carried a high mortality.

Evolutionary tree design: An exploratory study of the influence of linear versus branching format on visitors' interpretation and understanding across age groups

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

MacDonald, Teresa Elise

This exploratory study sought to investigate the influence of tree graphic design---specifically linear versus branching depictions of taxa---on visitors in three different age groups (aged 11-13, 14-18, adults) interpretation and understanding using a multiple-case study strategy. The findings from this research indicate that linear and branched depictions elicit qualitatively different narratives and explanations about the relationships between the taxa in all age groups. Branched tree graphics support scientifically appropriate explanations of evolutionary relationships, i.e. that taxa are related via shared or common ancestry; while linear representations reinforce intuitive interpretations of ancestor-descendant or anagenic relationships. Furthermore, differences in the language used for linear and branched trees suggests that there is a spectrum within an analogy of developmental change that is thought to serve as a transitional concept between intuitive and scientific understanding--with 'evolved from' for branched depictions of taxa representing a shift towards an interpretation of shared ancestry rather than an individual transformation from one thing into another. In addition, branched graphics appear to support the correct reading and interpretation of shared or common ancestry in tree diagrams. Mixed reasoning was common and overall reasoning patterns were broadly similar among participants in all age groups, however, older youth (aged 14 to 18) and adults often provided more detail in their explanations and sometimes included references to evolutionary ideas such as variation, inheritance and selection.

QuickStats: Brain Cancer Death Rates Among Children and Teens Aged 1-19 Years,* by Sex† and Age Group - United States, 2013-2015.

PubMed

2017-05-05

The death rate for brain cancer, the most common cancer cause of death for children and teens aged 1-19 years, was 24% higher in males (0.73 per 100,000) than females (0.59) aged 1-19 years during 2013-2015. Death rates were higher for males than females for all age groups, but the difference did not reach statistical significance for the age group 5-9 years. Death rates caused by brain cancer were highest at ages 5-9 years (0.98 for males and 0.85 for females).

Effects of supplemental dietary arginine on the exogenous advanced glycosylation end product-induced interleukin-23/interleukin-17 immune response in rats.

PubMed

Yeh, Chiu-Li; Hu, Ya-Mei; Liu, Jun-Jen; Chen, Wei-Jao; Yeh, Sung-Ling

2012-10-01

Arginine (Arg) is known to possess numerous useful physiological properties and immunomodulatory effects. Th17 cells are a unique T-helper cell lineage. Regulation of Th17 cells plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders. This study investigated the effect of Arg on the exogenous advanced glycosylation end product (AGE)-induced Th17-mediated immune response. Rats were randomly divided into three groups. The control BSA (CB) group was fed a common diet and given a tail vein injection of non-glycated bovine serum albumin (BSA). The control AGE (CA) group was fed the common diet and injected with 2 mg AGE-BSA. Arg-AGE (AA) group was fed the Arg-supplemented diet and injected with 2 mg AGE-BSA. The experimental diets were identical in energy and nutrient distributions except for the amino acid content. Arg provided 2% of the total energy. Tail vein injections and diets were given daily. After 10 d, all rats were sacrificed, and blood samples were collected for further analysis. The AA group had the highest inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase expression and plasma NO levels. The percentage of Foxp3 T-regulatory cells in the AA group was lower than those of the CA and CB groups. Transforming growth factor-β1, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-17A gene expression was higher in the AGE-administered groups. The AA group had higher TGF-β1 and IL-17A expression than did the CA group. These results suggest that in a condition of exogenous AGE administration, supplemental dietary Arg resulted in a more pronounced IL-23/IL-17 immune response, possibly by increasing NO secretion. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Prevalence of triangular fibrocartilage complex abnormalities regardless of symptoms rise with age: systematic review and pooled analysis.

PubMed

Chan, Jimmy J; Teunis, Teun; Ring, David

2014-12-01

Triangular fibrocartilage complex abnormalities seem to be more common with age, but the degree to which this is so, and the degree to which the presence of an abnormality is associated with symptoms, are topics of controversy. We wished to perform a systematic review to determine the prevalence of triangular fibrocartilage complex abnormalities, and to determine if the prevalence of abnormalities are greater with increasing age. In addition, we stratified age groups based on symptoms. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library through August 15, 2013. Studies that reported triangular fibrocartilage complex abnormalities by age were included. Fifteen studies including 977 wrists met our criteria and reported a total of 368 (38%) triangular fibrocartilage complex abnormalities. Eight studies included symptomatic patients; the remainder studied cadavers (six studies) or asymptomatic volunteers (one study). Patients were divided into four age groups (< 30, 30-49, 50-69, and 70 years and older) for pooled analysis, comparing the proportions of patients with and without abnormalities between groups using chi-square analysis. We also evaluated the proportions after stratifying each age group by symptoms. Overall, the prevalence of triangular fibrocartilage complex abnormalities increased with age, from 27% (80/301) in patients younger than 30 years to 49% (130/265) in patients 70 years and older (p < 0.001), odds ratio (OR), 2.7, 95% CI, 1.9-3.8 (p < 0.001). In asymptomatic patients, triangular fibrocartilage complex prevalence abnormality increased from 15% (24/159) to 49% (129/263) in the same age groups (p < 0.001), OR, 5.4, 95% CI, 3.3-8.9 (p < 0.001). For symptomatic patients prevalence ranged from 39% (56/142) to 70% (14/20) in patients between 50 and 69 years old (p < 0.034), OR, 3.6, 95% CI, 1.3-9.9 (p < 0.014). Triangular fibrocartilage complex abnormalities are common in symptomatic and asymptomatic wrists, and they are increasingly common with age. As in all situations where abnormalities are so common that they may be incidental, we need (1) a reliable and accurate method for determining whether these abnormalities are the cause of symptoms; and (2) evidence that treatment of these abnormalities improves symptoms better than placebo. Level III, prognostic study. See the Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Motivators of and Barriers to Engaging in Physical Activity: Perspectives of Low-Income Culturally Diverse Adolescents and Adults

PubMed Central

Bragg, Marie A.; Tucker, Carolyn M.; Kaye, Lily B.; Desmond, Frederic

2017-01-01

Background Obesity rates are rising in the United States, especially among low-income and racial/ethnic minority individuals. Exploring motivators and barriers relative to engaging in physical activity is imperative. Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify motivators and barriers relative to engagement in physical activity as reported by culturally diverse low-income adolescents and adults. Methods A total of 91 adolescent (11 to 15 years of age) and adult (18 years of age or older) participants who self-identified as African American, Hispanic, or non-Hispanic White engaged in age group-, race/ethnicity-, and gender-concordant focus groups. Results Qualitative data analysis indicated that the motivators and barriers most commonly identified among the adolescent and adult focus groups were: social influence; time and priorities; physical environment; fun and enjoyment; inherently physical activities; weight concerns; fatigue, physical discomfort and current fitness level; and immediate positive feelings. Discussion Findings were generally similar across age group, gender and race/ethnicity. Age group-specific, gender-specific and race/ethnicity-specific motivators and barriers were related to how commonly the motivators and barriers were identified among each group. Translation to Health Education Practice Implications for increasing physical activity among low-income culturally diverse adolescents and adults are discussed. PMID:29527247

Associations of gender and age groups on the knowledge and use of drug information resources by American pharmacists.

PubMed

Carvajal, Manuel J; Clauson, Kevin A; Gershman, Jennifer; Polen, Hyla H

2013-04-01

To explore knowledge and use of drug information resources by pharmacists and identify patterns influenced by gender and age-group classification. A survey questionnaire was mailed nationwide to 1,000 practitioners working in community (n = 500) and hospital (n = 500) settings who answer drug information questions as part of their expected job responsibilities. Responses pertaining to drug information resource use and knowledge of different types of drug-related queries, resource media preferences, and perceived adequacy of resources maintained in the pharmacy were analyzed by gender and age group. The t statistic was used to test for significant differences of means and percentages between genders and between age groups. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize other findings. Gender and age group classification influenced patterns of knowledge and use of drug information resources by pharmacists. They also affected pharmacists' perceptions of the most common types of questions prompting them to consult a drug information reference, as well as the resources consulted. Micromedex, exclusively available in electronic format, was the most commonly consulted resource overall by pharmacists. Lexi-Comp Online was the leading choice by women, preferred over Micromedex, but was not one of the top two resources selected by men. This study successfully identified the influence of gender and age-group classification in assessing drug information resource knowledge and use of general and specific types of drug-related queries.

Comparison of early versus late onset familial Mediterranean fever.

PubMed

Yasar Bilge, Nazife Sule; Sari, Ismail; Solmaz, Dilek; Senel, Soner; Emmungil, Hakan; Kilic, Levent; Yilmaz Oner, Sibel; Yildiz, Fatih; Yilmaz, Sedat; Ersozlu Bozkirli, Duygu; Aydin Tufan, Muge; Yilmaz, Sema; Yazisiz, Veli; Pehlivan, Yavuz; Bes, Cemal; Yildirim Cetin, Gozde; Erten, Sukran; Gonullu, Emel; Sahin, Fezan; Akar, Servet; Aksu, Kenan; Kalyoncu, Umut; Direskeneli, Haner; Erken, Eren; Sayarlioglu, Mehmet; Cınar, Muhammed; Kasifoglu, Timucin

2018-04-01

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is the most common autoinflammatory disease. One of the common characteristics of this disease is its young age predominance. Nearly 90% of patients experience disease flares during early adult age periods. Currently there are limited data for the comparison of early versus late onset FMF and therefore the primary aim of this study was to investigate these two subsets with regard to their certain demographic, clinical and genetic differences. Early (≤ 20 years, Group 1) and late (> 20 years, Group 2) onset FMF patients were identified from the national FMF registry that involves 2246 patients from 15 adult rheumatology clinics located in different geographical areas of Turkey. Of the 2246 patients, 1633 (72.7%) were aged ≤ 20 years old (Group 1) and the remaining 613 were older than 20 years (Group 2). Delay in diagnosis was longer in Group 1 and fever, peritonitis, pleuritis, erysipelas-like erythema (ELE), arthritis, family history of FMF and amyloidosis were more common in Group 1. On the other hand, sex distribution, rates of amyloidosis, vasculitis and kidney failure were not different between the groups. Among patients with available genotypes, homozygous and heterozygous M694V mutations were significantly higher and heterozygous E148Q mutation was significantly lower in Group 1 compared to Group 2. Patients with FMF whose symptoms start before 20 years of age seem to have severe symptoms and M694V mutation may be responsible for the early expression of the disease. © 2018 Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Subjective daytime functioning assessment in people with insomnia.

PubMed

Grabowski, Karol; Nowicka-Sauer, Katarzyna; Zdrojewski, Tomasz; Rutkowski, Marcin; Bandosz, Piotr; Nowicki, Zbigniew

2017-10-29

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and severity of subjective daytime functioning impairment among people with insomnia complaints. Another goal was to establish its relationships with age, gender, type and duration of subjective insomnia. Study group consisted of NATPOL study participants - 2,413 people (1,245 women and 1,168 men) aged 18-79. We extracted group with declared insomnia complaints, consisting of 1,221 people (736 women and 485 men) aged 18-79. Data on insomnia symptoms characteristics, their duration and subjective functioning impairment were further analyzed. Functioning impairment was declared by 825 people (67.7% of those who declared subjective insomnia) and it was more common in women. It was most common among people with insomnia complaints lasting over two weeks - 72.4%. In people with symptoms lasting less than two weeks or for a few days it was 70.7% and 64.9% respectively. People with insomnia symptoms lasting over two weeks accounted for 20% of group with severe functioning impairment. For shorter duration of symptoms it was 8.6% and 6.9% respectively. Among people with mild functioning impairment, persons with symptoms lasting for a few days and less than two weeks were predominant - 32.5% and 35.3% respectively. In people aged 18-24 years mild functioning impairment was predominant (66.66%). Subjective daytime functioning impairment is common in people declaring insomnia symptoms. It is more common in women and its prevalence and intensity are greater in people with longer duration of sleep problems. Its prevalence is not correlated with age and it is the mildest in people aged 18-24.

Maxillofacial trauma of pediatric patients in Malaysia: a retrospective study from 1999 to 2001 in three hospitals.

PubMed

Rahman, Roslan Abdul; Ramli, Roszalina; Rahman, Normastura Abdul; Hussaini, Haizal Mohd; Idrus, Sharifah Munirah Ai; Hamid, Abdul Latif Abdul

2007-06-01

Maxillofacial trauma in children is not common worldwide. Domestic injuries are frequently seen in younger children while older children are mostly involved in motor vehicle accidents (MVA). The objective of this study was to analyze the pattern of maxillofacial injuries in pediatric patients referred to three government main hospitals in different areas of West Malaysia. Patients' records of three selected hospitals in Malaysia (National University of Malaysia Hospital, Kajang Hospital and Seremban Hospital) from January 1999 to December 2001 were reviewed. Data associated with demographics, etiology of injury in relation to age group, type of injuries whether soft tissues of hard tissue in relation to age group and treatment modalities were collected. A total of 521 pediatric patients' records were reviewed. Malays made up the majority of patients with maxillofacial injuries in the three hospitals. Males outnumbered females in all the three hospitals. Injuries commonly occur in the 11-16 years old. MVA was the most common etiology followed by fall and assault. Soft tissue injuries were the most common type of injuries in all the hospitals. In relation to fractures, mandible was the most common bone to fracture with condyle being the most common site. Orbital fracture was the most common fracture in the midfacial area. Most of the fractures were managed conservatively especially in the younger age groups. Open reduction with or without internal fixation was more frequently carried out in the 11-16 years old group. Children exhibit different pattern of clinical features depending on the etiology and stage of their bone maturation. A dedicated team, who is competent in trauma and aware of the unique anatomy, physical and psychological characteristics of children, should manage pediatric patient with trauma.

AGE-Related Differences of Novel Atherosclerotic Risk Factors and Angiographic Profile Among Gujarati Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients

PubMed Central

Joshi, Hasit; Sahoo, Sibasis; Virpariya, Kapil; Parmar, Meena; Shah, Komal

2015-01-01

Context Although numerous risk factors have been established to predict the development of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), the risk factor profile may be different between the younger and older individuals. Aim To analyse the frequency and pattern of atherogenic risk factors and angiographic profiles in age-stratified Gujarati patients with ACS. Materials and Methods ACS patients undergoing coronary angiography at U.N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research, Gujarat, India between January 2008 and December 2012 were classified in to two age groups with 40y as cut-off. Patients were assessed for conventional risk factors (diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, smoking, obesity), novel risk factors (high sensitivity C-reactive protein, lipoprotein (a), homocysteine), and angiographic profiles.The statistical difference between two age groups was determined by Student’s t-test for continuous variables and Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables. Results A total of 200 patients, 100 patients ≤40 y of age and 100 patients >40 y of age, were evaluated. Older patients had higher frequency of hypertension (32 vs. 16%, p=0.008), while family history of coronary artery disease was more common among younger patients (19 vs. 9%, p=0.041). The incidence of diabetes, dyslipidaemia, smoking and tobacco chewing did not vary significantly between the two groups. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly higher in the younger group (p<0.05). Lipoprotein (a), homocysteine and high-sensitivity C reactive protein levels were comparable between two age groups. Multi-vessel coronary artery disease was more common among older group. The most commonly affected coronary artery was the left anterior descending artery among younger patients (44%) and the left circumflex artery among older patients (38.1%). Conclusion Young patients with ACS had different atherosclerotic risk profile and less extensive coronary artery disease as compared to older counterparts. Emphasis should be given on diagnosis and management of major modifiable risk factors. PMID:26266146

Most common causes of natural and injury-related deaths in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

PubMed

Gemechu, Tufa; Tinsae, Mihrete; Ashenafi, Senait; Rodriguez, Victor Manuel; Lori, Alfredo; Collins, Michelle; Hurford, Rosemary; Haimanot, Rahel; Sandoval, Melissa; Mehari, Enawgaw; Langford, T Dianne

2009-01-01

In Ethiopia, like many developing countries, autopsy is rare unless conducted in the medico-legal arena, making vital statistics that include pathological diagnoses sparse. To determine the most common factors contributing to death among individuals who died from natural or injury-related events in Ethiopia 200 consecutive autopsies were conducted in 2006 at the Forensic Medico-legal Pathology Department, Menelik II Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The results describe significant pathological observations, putative cause of death, age distribution, and gender ratios. Eighty-one percent of the cases were male, and the mean age was 38.9 (+/-15.5 years). Fifty-two percent of the individuals died from natural causes, including infections, and 48% died from injury-related events. In the natural deaths group, as determined by gross examination at autopsy pulmonary complications were the most commonly reported cause of death, with suspected tuberculosis accounting for 12%. Tuberculosis (21, 8%) and liver disease (14, 5%) were the most common histopathological findings in the natural and injury-related causes groups, respectively. In the injury-related group, automobile accident was the most common cause of accidental death (80%), and homicide by beating was the most common cause of death in the intentional injury group (31%). These data provide valuable unbiased analyses of causes of death among individuals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Why patients visit their doctors: assessing the most prevalent conditions in a defined American population.

PubMed

St Sauver, Jennifer L; Warner, David O; Yawn, Barbara P; Jacobson, Debra J; McGree, Michaela E; Pankratz, Joshua J; Melton, L Joseph; Roger, Véronique L; Ebbert, Jon O; Rocca, Walter A

2013-01-01

To describe the prevalence of nonacute conditions among patients seeking health care in a defined US population, emphasizing age, sex, and ethnic differences. The Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP) medical records linkage system was used to identify all residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, on April 1, 2009, who had consented to review of their medical records for research (142,377 patients). We then electronically extracted all International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes noted in the records of these patients by any health care institution between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2009. We grouped International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes into clinical classification codes and then into 47 broader disease groups associated with health-related quality of life. Age- and sex-specific prevalence was estimated by dividing the number of individuals within each group by the corresponding age- and sex-specific population. Patients within a group who had multiple codes were counted only once. We included a total of 142,377 patients, 75,512 (53%) of whom were female. Skin disorders (42.7%), osteoarthritis and joint disorders (33.6%), back problems (23.9%), disorders of lipid metabolism (22.4%), and upper respiratory tract disease (22.1%, excluding asthma) were the most prevalent disease groups in this population. Ten of the 15 most prevalent disease groups were more common in women in almost all age groups, whereas disorders of lipid metabolism, hypertension, and diabetes were more common in men. Additionally, the prevalence of 7 of the 10 most common groups increased with advancing age. Prevalence also varied across ethnic groups (whites, blacks, and Asians). Our findings suggest areas for focused research that may lead to better health care delivery and improved population health. Copyright © 2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

May nasal hyperreactivity be a sequela of recurrent common cold?

PubMed

Cassano, M; Cassano, P; Ciprandi, G

2011-01-01

Respiratory viral infections may worsen bronchial hyperreactivity. However, there is no data on the possible role of recurrent infectious rhinitis in nose hyperreactivity. This study was therefore designed to investigate whether subjects suffering from recurrent common cold have nasal hyperreactivity, assessed by histamine nasal challenge. This study included a group of 40 patients (19 males, mean age 34.1 years) with history of at least five episodes of common cold in the previous year, but without documented allergy, and twenty healthy subjects (8 males, mean age 32.3 years) were enrolled as control group, all of whom were non-allergic. Nasal provocation test with histamine was performed in all subjects. Nasal provocation test with histamine induced a 200% increase in nasal resistance after provocation in 24 (60%) patients suffering from recurrent viral rhinitis. No normal subject had an increase >180% in nasal resistance. There was a significant difference between the patient group and the control group (p<0.05). In conclusion, this study shows that nasal hyperreactivity might be a sequela of recurrent common cold. Further studies should be conducted to confirm this preliminary finding.

Age at treatment predicts reason for discontinuation of TNF antagonists: data from the BIOBADASER 2.0 registry.

PubMed

Busquets, Noemí; Tomero, Eva; Descalzo, Miguel Ángel; Ponce, Andrés; Ortiz-Santamaría, Vera; Surís, Xavier; Carmona, Loreto; Gómez-Reino, Juan J

2011-11-01

To assess the retention rate of TNF antagonists in elderly patients suffering from chronic arthropathies and to identify predictive variables of discontinuation by inefficacy or by adverse events (AEs). All patients treated with TNF antagonists in BIOBADASER 2.0, with a diagnosis of either RA or spondyloarthritis (SpA: AS and PsA) were included and classified as <65 (younger) or ≥65 years of age (older) at start of the treatment. Cumulative incidence function for discontinuation (inefficacy or AE) was estimated as being the alternative reason for a competing risk. Competing-risks regression models were used to measure the association between study groups, covariates and reason for discontinuation. A total of 4851 patients were studied; 2957 RA (2291 in the younger group and 666 in the older group) and 1894 SpA (1795 in the younger group and 99 in the older group). Retention curves were statistically differently stratified by age groups, with the SpA younger group having the largest retention rate. Competing-risks regression models showed that in the older group, AEs were the most common reason for discontinuation regardless of the diagnosis of the patient and TNF antagonist molecule, whereas in the younger group, the most common cause of discontinuation was inefficacy. In conclusion, factors predicting discontinuation of TNF antagonists due to AEs are older age and diagnosis of RA. On the other hand, younger age predicts discontinuation due to lack of efficacy.

Non-fatal self-poisoning across age groups, in Sri Lanka.

PubMed

Rajapakse, Thilini; Christensen, Helen; Cotton, Sue; Griffiths, Kathleen Margaret

2016-02-01

Attempted or non-fatal self-poisoning in common in Sri Lanka, but little is known about variation of psychiatric morbidity and suicidal intent across differing ages. The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with non-fatal self-poisoning in Sri Lanka across three different age groups (namely 14-24 years, 25-34 years and ≥ 35 years). It was anticipated that the findings of the study would inform and guide development of preventive interventions for non-fatal self-poisoning in this country. 935 participants were interviewed within one week of admission to hospital for medical management of non-fatal self-poisoning, over a consecutive 14-month period. Socio-demographic factors, types of poison ingested, triggers and psychiatric morbidity was examined as a function of age. Results showed that a majority (83%) of participants were aged below 35 years. Younger participants aged <25 years were significantly more likely to ingest medicinal overdoses, compared to older persons (aged 25-34 years, and ≥ 35 years), who were more likely to ingest pesticides. Recent interpersonal conflict was a proximal trigger seen in all age groups, but suicidal intent, depression and alcohol use disorders increased with age. The overall study findings indicate that most who carry out acts of non-fatal self-poisoning in Sri Lanka are young (aged <35 years). Interpersonal conflict as a trigger is common to all age groups, but psychiatric morbidity and suicidal intent is higher in the older age groups, as is pesticide ingestion. Age specific interventions may be efficacious in the prevention of non-fatal self-poisoning in Sri Lanka. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The fine structure of intracranial neoplasms induced by the inoculation of avian sarcoma virus in neonatal and adult rats.

PubMed Central

Copeland, D. D.; Talley, F. A.; Bigner, D. D.

1976-01-01

Groups of F-344 rats were inoculated with the Bratislava-77 strain of avian sarcoma virus (B-77 ASV) within 24 hours of birth, at 9 days of age, or between 97 and 119 days of age. Intracranial tumors developed in each age group. Multiple tumors with mixed histologic patterns developed in rats inoculated at 1 or 9 days of age. Solitary tumors with a uniform histologic pattern developed in rats inoculated as adults. On the basis of light and electron microscopic study, the majority of tumors in each age group were classified as astrocytomas and divided into either poorly differentiated, gemistocytic, pilocytic, or polymorphic varieties. The polymorphic astrocytomas were most common among neonatally inoculated rats, while the pilocytic astrocytomas were most common among rats inoculated as adults. Ultrastructural characteristics of astrocytes, including gap junctions and 7- to 9-nm filaments, were present in the majority of tumors in each age groups. Astrocytomas induced in adult rats were remarkable for the presence of extensive basement membrane alone the astrocytic cell surfaces. Intracytoplasmic virus-like particles (R particles) were common in the tumor cells. These virus-like particles are morphologically distinct from C-type B-77 ASV, and no morphologic evidence of C-type virus replication was observed in any of the tumors. Images Figure 16 Figure 17 Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 18 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10 Figure 11 Figure 12 Figure 13 Figure 14 Figure 15 PMID:179328

Safety and Immunogenicity of a Quadrivalent Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine and Commonly Administered Vaccines After Coadministration.

PubMed

Gasparini, Roberto; Tregnaghi, Miguel; Keshavan, Pavitra; Ypma, Ellen; Han, Linda; Smolenov, Igor

2016-01-01

Given the broad age range across which the quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine MenACWY-CRM is used, coadministration with routine vaccines should be evaluated across age groups for possible immunologic interference and impact on vaccine reactogenicity and safety. We summarize data from a large population of infants, adolescents and international travelers from 10 phase 3 or 4 clinical studies to evaluate coadministration of MenACWY-CRM with commonly administered vaccines. Noninferiority analyses of immune responses were performed across studies and age groups for each vaccine. Reactogenicity and safety were also assessed. In infants, MenACWY-CRM coadministered with routine vaccines did not reduce immune responses to diphtheria, tetanus, poliovirus, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcal conjugate, measles-mumps-rubella, varicella or pertussis antigens. Noninferiority criteria were not met for some pneumococcal conjugate serotypes at 7 months of age, but no consistent trends were observed. In adolescents, coadministration did not reduce immune responses to tetanus, diphtheria and human papilloma virus vaccine antigens. Noninferiority criteria for pertussis antigens were not uniformly met in infant and adolescent studies, although the clinical relevance is unclear. In adults, coadministration did not reduce immune responses to hepatitis A/B, typhoid fever, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and rabies antigens. Immune responses to MenACWY-CRM were not impacted by coadministration of commonly administered vaccines. Coadministration did not increase frequencies of postvaccination adverse events in any age group. With no clinically relevant vaccine interactions or impact on vaccine reactogenicity or safety, these results support the coadministration of MenACWY-CRM with routine vaccines in all age groups.

Differential characteristics of bacteraemias according to age in a community hospital.

PubMed

Toyas, C; Aspiroz, C; Martínez-Álvarez, R M; Ezpeleta, A I; Arazo, P; Ferrando, J C

To describe the characteristics of bacteraemias, according to age, in a community hospital. A prospective study of bacteraemias was conducted in 2011. The patients were classified into 3 age groups: younger than 65 years, 65 to 79, and 80 or older. The study collected variables on the patients and episodes. The study analysed 233 bacteraemias in 227 patients (23.8% in those younger than 65 years; 38.3% in the 65 to 79 age group; and 37.9% in the 80 years or older group). The most common underlying disease in all the groups was diabetes mellitus. In the most elderly patients, the Charlson index was highest, there was a lower proportion of exogenous factors, and almost 25% were severely dependent (Barthel index<20). Escherichia coli was the most common germ, and the main focus was urological. The patients aged 80 years or older had predominantly healthcare-associated infections, less severe symptoms (sepsis) (66.3%) and higher mortality (29.1%) compared with the younger patients. The very elderly patients with bacteraemia presented fewer exogenous factors, greater comorbidity and a poorer functional situation. The most common focus was urological and the origin was healthcare related. Despite their less severe clinical presentation, these patients' mortality was greater, and their degree of dependence was a highly relevant independent risk factor. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Medicina Interna (SEMI). All rights reserved.

Mandibular fractures in children: analysis of 61 cases and review of the literature.

PubMed

Glazer, Michael; Joshua, Ben Zion; Woldenberg, Yitzhak; Bodner, Lipa

2011-01-01

The purpose was to evaluate the incidence, etiology, site and patterns, management and treatment methods, and outcome of pediatric patients with mandibular fractures. Pediatric patients (1.5-16 years old) with mandibular fractures, treated at the Soroka University Medical Center were included in the study. Age, gender, etiology, site and type of fracture, associated injuries, mode of treatment, outcome, complications, and follow up were evaluated. The cases were divided into 3 age groups: Group A: 1.5-5 years, Group B: 6-11 years, and Group C: 12-16 years. Sixty one patients were included in the study. The male to female ratio was 2:1. Motor vehicle accident was the most common cause. Associated trauma was more common in young children. The condyle was involved in 54% of the fractures. Closed reduction and intermaxillary fixation was the most common treatment used. Complications were rare. Management of mandibular fracture in the pediatric age group is a challenge. The anatomical complexity of the developing mandible and teeth strongly suggest the use of surgical techniques that are different from those routinely used in adults. The conservative approach is recommended. Whenever possible closed reduction should be the treatment of choice. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of Obesity Level on the Longitudinal Arch in 7- to 12-Year-Old Rural and Urban Children.

PubMed

Woźniacka, Renata; Bac, Aneta; Matusik, Stanisław

2015-11-01

We sought to evaluate the influence of obesity level on the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) of the foot in 7- to 12-year-old children. The study group consisted of 925 children (450 girls and 475 boys). All of the children were subjected to podoscopic foot examination and measurement of weight, height, three skinfolds, fat weight, and fat-free body weight. The most common type of MLA was high-arched foot, which was observed in the left foot of 523 children (56.5%) and in the right foot in 592 children (64%). In almost all of the age groups, high-arched foot was the most common disorder. High-arched foot was more common in girls than in boys, and boys displayed a higher percentage of flatfoot. Also, sex-related differences were more prominent in urban children. There was a strongly positive correlation between obesity level and MLA in the examined group. These results suggest that the type of foot arch is influenced by parameters such as age, sex, and obesity level. High-arched foot seemed to be the most frequent pathologic abnormality in the examined group, and flatfoot, which was predominant in boys and obese children, diminished with age. High-arched foot was a more common MLA type than flatfoot regardless of obesity level assessed on the basis of body mass index and sum of three skinfolds.

Normative Values of Physical Examinations Commonly Used for Cerebral Palsy

PubMed Central

Moon, Seung Jun; Choi, Young; Chung, Chin Youb; Sung, Ki Hyuk; Cho, Byung Chae; Chung, Myung Ki; Kim, Jaeyoung; Yoo, Mi Sun; Lee, Hyung Min

2017-01-01

Purpose The aim of this study was to establish normative values and to identify age-related change in physical examinations that are commonly used while evaluating patients with cerebral palsy (CP). Materials and Methods One hundred four healthy volunteers (mean age 36 years, standard deviation 15 years) were enrolled and divided into four age groups: 13−20, 21−35, 36−50, and 51 years and older. The eighteen physical examination tests for CP were selected by five orthopedic surgeons in consensus-building session. The measurements were taken by three orthopedic surgeons. Results There was no significant difference in the measures of physical examination among all the age groups, except for the Staheli test (p=0.002). The post hoc test revealed that the mean hip extension was 2.7° higher in the 13−20-year-old group than in the other age groups. The bilateral popliteal angle had a tendency to increase in those over 36-years-old. There were 31 participants (30%) with a unilateral popliteal angle greater than 40°. Conclusion We documented normative values that can be widely used for evaluating CP in patients 13 years and older. PMID:29047241

Pregnancy Outcome of Multiparous Women Aged over 40 Years

PubMed Central

Ates, Seda; Batmaz, Gonca; Sevket, Osman; Molla, Taner; Dane, Cem; Dane, Banu

2013-01-01

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of maternal age on prenatal and obstetric outcome in multiparaous women. Materials and Methods. A retrospective case control study was conducted, including women aged 40 years and over (study group, n = 97) who delivered at 20 week's gestation or beyond and women aged 20–29 years (control group, n = 97). Results. The mean age of women in the study group was 41.2 ± 1.7 years versus 25.4 ± 2.3 years in the control group. Advanced maternal age was associated with a significantly higher rate of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, fetal complication, and 5-minute Apgar scores <7 (P < 0.05). Caeserean section rate, incidence of placental abruption, preterm delivery, and neonatal intensive care unit admission were more common in the older group, but the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions. Advanced maternal age is related to maternal and neonatal complications. PMID:25954770

Redefining meaningful age groups in the context of disease.

PubMed

Geifman, Nophar; Cohen, Raphael; Rubin, Eitan

2013-12-01

Age is an important factor when considering phenotypic changes in health and disease. Currently, the use of age information in medicine is somewhat simplistic, with ages commonly being grouped into a small number of crude ranges reflecting the major stages of development and aging, such as childhood or adolescence. Here, we investigate the possibility of redefining age groups using the recently developed Age-Phenome Knowledge-base (APK) that holds over 35,000 literature-derived entries describing relationships between age and phenotype. Clustering of APK data suggests 13 new, partially overlapping, age groups. The diseases that define these groups suggest that the proposed divisions are biologically meaningful. We further show that the number of different age ranges that should be considered depends on the type of disease being evaluated. This finding was further strengthened by similar results obtained from clinical blood measurement data. The grouping of diseases that share a similar pattern of disease-related reports directly mirrors, in some cases, medical knowledge of disease-age relationships. In other cases, our results may be used to generate new and reasonable hypotheses regarding links between diseases.

Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration. Lessons learned after 200 cases.

PubMed

Abellán Morcillo, Israel; Qurashi, Kamran; Abrisqueta Carrión, Jesús; Martinez Isla, Alberto

2014-05-01

Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) is a reliable, reproducible and cost-effective treatment for common bile duct stones. Several techniques have been described for choledochotomy closure. To present our experience and the lessons learned in more than 200 cases of LCBDE. Between January 1999 and July 2012, 206 patients with common bile duct stones underwent LCBDE. At the beginning of the series, we performed the closure of the CBD over a T-tube (36 patients), subsequently we favoured closure over an antegrade stent (133 patients) but due to a high incidence of acute pancreatitis in the last 16 patients we have performed primary closure. The 3 closure groups were matched for age and sex. Jaundice was the most frequent presentation. A total of 185 (88,5%) patients underwent choledochotomy whereas in 17 (8,7%) patients the transcystic route was used. The group that underwent choledochotomy had a larger size of stones compared to the transcystic group (9,7 vs 7,6mm). In the stented group we found an 11,6% incidence of pancreatitis and 26,1% of hyperamylasemia. In the primary closure group we found a clear improvement of complications and hospital stay. The increased experience of the surgeon and age (younger than 75) had a positive impact on mortality and morbidity. Primary closure of the common bile duct after LCBDE seems to be superior to closure over a T tube and stents. The learning curve seems to have a positive impact on the outcomes making it a safe and reproducible technique especially for patients aged under 75. Copyright © 2013 AEC. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Associations of gender and age groups on the knowledge and use of drug information resources by American pharmacists

PubMed Central

Carvajal, Manuel J.; Clauson, Kevin A.; Gershman, Jennifer; Polen, Hyla H.

Objective To explore knowledge and use of drug information resources by pharmacists and identify patterns influenced by gender and age-group classification. Methods A survey questionnaire was mailed nationwide to 1,000 practitioners working in community (n = 500) and hospital (n = 500) settings who answer drug information questions as part of their expected job responsibilities. Responses pertaining to drug information resource use and knowledge of different types of drug-related queries, resource media preferences, and perceived adequacy of resources maintained in the pharmacy were analyzed by gender and age group. The t statistic was used to test for significant differences of means and percentages between genders and between age groups. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize other findings. Results Gender and age group classification influenced patterns of knowledge and use of drug information resources by pharmacists. They also affected pharmacists’ perceptions of the most common types of questions prompting them to consult a drug information reference, as well as the resources consulted. Micromedex, exclusively available in electronic format, was the most commonly consulted resource overall by pharmacists. Lexi-Comp Online was the leading choice by women, preferred over Micromedex, but was not one of the top two resources selected by men. Conclusions This study successfully identified the influence of gender and age-group classification in assessing drug information resource knowledge and use of general and specific types of drug-related queries. PMID:24155853

Age Related Changes in Preventive Health Behavior.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leventhal, Elaine A.; And Others

Health behavior may be influenced by age, beliefs, and symptomatology. To examine age-related health beliefs and behaviors with respect to six diseases (the common cold, colon-rectal cancer, lung cancer, heart attack, high blood pressure, and senility), 396 adults (196 males, 200 females) divided into three age groups completed a questionnaire…

An abattoir survey of equine dental abnormalities in Queensland, Australia.

PubMed

Chinkangsadarn, T; Wilson, G J; Greer, R M; Pollitt, C C; Bird, P S

2015-06-01

A cadaver study to estimate the prevalence of dental disorders in horses presented at an abattoir in Queensland, Australia. Cadaver heads at a Queensland abattoir were examined for the presence of dental abnormalities and categorised into age groups. The prevalence of abnormalities was analysed by binomial observation of observed proportion, Pearson's Chi-square test or Fisher's exact correlation test. Strength of association was evaluated using Cramer's V test. Heads from horses (n=400) estimated to be between 1 and 30 years of age were placed into four age groups. The most common abnormalities were sharp enamel points (55.3%) and hooks (43%). The highest frequency of dental diseases and abnormalities were in horses 11-15 years old (97.5%). Common abnormalities were found in all groups and the prevalence increased with age. This study suggests that all horses should have regular complete dental examinations to detect and treat dental disorders in order to limit more severe dental pathologies later in life. © 2015 Australian Veterinary Association.

Epidemiology and clinical analysis of critical patients with child maltreatment admitted to the intensive care units.

PubMed

Lee, En-Pei; Hsia, Shao-Hsuan; Huang, Jing-Long; Lin, Jainn-Jim; Chan, Oi-Wa; Lin, Chia-Ying; Lin, Kuang-Lin; Chang, Yu-Ching; Chou, I-Jun; Lo, Fu-Song; Lee, Jung; Hsin, Yi-Chen; Chan, Pei-Chun; Hu, Mei-Hua; Chiu, Cheng-Hsun; Wu, Han-Ping

2017-06-01

Children with abuse who are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) may have high mortality and morbidity and commonly require critical care immediately. It is important to understand the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of these critical cases of child maltreatment.We retrospectively evaluated the data for 355 children with maltreatments admitted to the ICU between 2001 and 2015. Clinical factors were analyzed and compared between the abuse and the neglect groups, including age, gender, season of admission, identifying settings, injury severity score (ISS), etiologies, length of stay (LOS) in the ICU, clinical outcomes, and mortality. In addition, neurologic assessments were conducted with the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC) scale.The most common type of child maltreatments was neglect (n = 259), followed by physical abuse (n = 96). The mean age of the abuse group was less than that of the neglect group (P < .05). Infants accounted for the majority of the abuse group, and the most common etiology of abuse was injury of the central nervous system (CNS). In the neglect group, most were of the preschool age and the most common etiologies of abuse were injury of the CNS and musculoskeletal system (P < .001). The mortality rate in the ICU was 9.86%. The ISS was significantly associated with mortality in both the 2 groups (both P < .05), whereas the LOS in the ICU and injuries of the CNS, musculoskeletal system, and respiratory system were all associated with mortality in the neglect group (all P < .05). The PCPC scale showed poor prognosis in the abuse group as compared to the neglect group (P < .01).In the ICU, children in the abuse group had younger age, higher ISS, and worse neurologic outcome than those in the neglect group. The ISS was a predictor for mortality in the abuse and neglect groups but the LOS in the ICUs, injuries of the CNS, musculoskeletal system, and respiratory system were indicators for mortality in the neglect group. Most importantly, identifying the epidemiological information may provide further strategies to reduce the harm, lower the medical costs, and improve clinical care quality and outcomes in children with abuse.

Evaluation of common mental disorders in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and its relationship with body mass index.

PubMed

Rodrigues, Cristine Eliane Gomes; Ferreira, Luana de Lima; Jansen, Karen; Lopez, Mariane Ricardo Acosta; Drews Júnior, Cláudio Raul; Souza, Luciano Dias de Mattos

2012-10-01

To evaluate the prevalence of common mental disorders in women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome as compared with paired controls without this syndrome. Cross-sectional study with a Control Group examining women between the ages of 18 and 30 who did not use antidepressants and who sought the Gynecology Service of the researched sites. For every woman diagnosed with the polycystic ovary syndrome, another with the same age, educational status and presence or absence of sexual partners was sought without this diagnosis. In total, 166 patients agreed to participate, consisting of 95 diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome and 71 in the Control Group. The diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome was made by the presence of two from three criteria: oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea, clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovaries on transvaginal ultrasound, following exclusion of patients with Cushing's syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and androgen-secreting tumors. Weight and height were measured to calculate the body mass index. The Self-Reporting Questionnaire, which evaluated 20 items, was used as an indicator of common mental disorders. A χ² analysis stratified by the category of body mass index was used to compare the prevalence of common mental disorders, between the groups of women with and without the polycystic ovary syndrome. There were no significant differences in age, education, presence of sexual partners, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, use of psychiatric medication, and search for consultation in mental health between the studied groups. The prevalence of obese women with indications of common mental disorders was significantly higher in women with polycystic ovary syndrome than in the Control Group. In the group with healthy body mass index, the incidence of common mental disorders was statistically significant different between women with polycystic ovary syndrome and normal controls (p=0.008). Women with diagnosis of this disease have an almost three-fold increased likelihood of common mental disorders as compared with those without polycystic ovary syndrome. Although obesity is often observed in polycystic ovary syndrome, even women with a healthy body mass index have an increased risk of psychiatric comorbidity.

Major dietary patterns in relation to demographic and socio-economic status and food insecurity in two Iranian ethnic groups living in Urmia, Iran.

PubMed

Rezazadeh, Arezoo; Omidvar, Nasrin; Eini-Zinab, Hassan; Ghazi-Tabatabaie, Mahmoud; Majdzadeh, Reza; Ghavamzadeh, Saeid; Nouri-Saeidlou, Sakineh

2016-12-01

To identify major dietary patterns and their association with socio-economic status (SES) and food insecurity in two major ethnic groups living in Urmia, north-west Iran. A cross-sectional study. All four geographical zones of Urmia city. Participants (n 723; 427 women and 296 men), aged 20-64 years, from two ethnic groups (445 Azeri Turks and 278 Kurds). Three major dietary patterns were extracted: 'Traditional High SES' (THS), 'Traditional Low SES' (TLS) and 'Transitional'. After adjusting for confounders, the THS pattern was positively associated with education level and negatively associated with moderate or severe food insecurity in Azeri Turks; whereas, among Kurds, it was more common in women and positively associated with age. The TLS pattern was more common among men and negatively associated with educational level and all levels of food insecurity in Azeris; while, among Kurds, it was more common among men, positively associated with being married and negatively associated with household income/capita. The 'Transitional' pattern was positively associated with being employed and negatively associated with age and all levels of food insecurity in Azeris; while, among Kurds, it was more common among men and negatively associated with age, being married and physical activity level. Findings suggest that household SES and food insecurity are associated with detrimental dietary patterns and that this effect may be stronger than cultural and ethnic background. These patterns differ by age and gender. Therefore, such characteristics should be considered in planning and formulating diet-related policies and programmes.

Factors associated with violence against children in sentinel urgent and emergency care centers in Brazilian capitals.

PubMed

Malta, Deborah Carvalho; Bernal, Regina Tomie Ivata; Teixeira, Barbara de Sá Menezes; Silva, Marta Maria Alves da; Freitas, Maria Imaculada de Fátima

2017-09-01

This study explored the association between demographic characteristics (age and sex) and other variables related to violence committed against children (form of violence perpetrator, place of occurrence, and nature of injury) using a sample of 404 children taken from the 2014 Violence and Accident Surveillance System (Sistema de Vigilância de Violências e Acidentes, VIVA) survey. Correspondence analysis was used to identify variables associated with the outcome violence against children. Victims were predominantly male. The most common form of violence was neglect/abandonment, followed by physical violence and sexual violence. The most common perpetrators were parents (ages zero to one and two to five years), followed by friends (ages six to nine years). The most common place of occurrence was the home. Notable levels of violence were observed at school, particularly among children aged between six and nine years. Neglect was most common in the age group zero to one year and two to five years, while physical violence was most common between children aged between six and nine years.

Chest radiographic characteristics of community-acquired Legionella pneumonia in the elderly.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhigang; Liu, Xinmin; Chen, Luzeng; Qiu, Jianxing

2014-01-01

Legionella is an important community-acquired pneumonia pathogen. Although the elderly are especially susceptible to Legionella, few studies have looked at comparative radiographic features of Legionella pneumonia in this population. The aim of this study was to explore the chest radiographic characteristics of community-acquired Legionella pneumonia in the elderly. Serial chest radiographs obtained in 34 patients hospitalized with serologically proven Legionella pneumonia were retrospectively reviewed. Chest X-ray features of an aged group of ≥ 65 years were assessed and compared with a non-aged group of <65 years old with regard to initial patterns and distributions of pulmonary abnormalities, accompanying signs, and progression. The most common initial presentation was a patchy alveolar infiltrate involving a single lobe, most often the lower lobe. There was no middle or lingular lobe involvement in the aged group patients, but bilateral pleural effusion was significantly more common in this group. In the aged group patients, radiographic progression following adequate therapy, despite a clinical response, was more often noted and the radiographs were less likely to have returned to the premorbid state at discharge, but the differences were not significant between the two groups. The discrepancy between imaging findings and clinical symptoms seems more prominent in community-acquired Legionella pneumonia in the elderly.

Various aspects, patterns and risk factors in breast cancer patients of Balochistan.

PubMed

Baloch, Abdul Hameed; Shuja, Jameela; Daud, Shakeela; Ahmed, Muneer; Ahmad, Adeel; Tareen, Mehrullah; Khan, Farah; Kakar, Muhammad Azam; Baloch, Dost Mohammad; Kakar, Naseebullah; Naseeb, Hafiz Khush; Ahmad, Jamil

2012-01-01

Breast cancer is the commonest malignancy of females throughout the world with one million new cases each year. In Pakistan, the burden of breast cancer disease is high with late stage presentation being a common feature, more than half being stage III or stage IV. The objective of this study was to study various aspects, patterns and risk factors in breast cancer patients of Balochistan. Present study was performed on 134 patients of breast cancer who were registered in CENAR. The patients were interviewed by providing a questionnaire. Informed consent was taken from all the patients who took part in this study after explanation of the study aims. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated andbiopsy reports were obtained from patients files. All the cases were classified with respect to age, gender, ethnic group (Baloch, Pashtoon, Punjabi, Afghani, Hazara) BMI, cancer type, cancer grade, hormonal status, side of the cancer, fertility and marital status. Out of 134 patients, the most common ethnic group was Pashtoon with a total of 42 and the common age group was 41-50 years with a total of 51. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) was the most common type, accounting for in 128 patients (95.5%) followed by invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). Pashtoon was the most common ethnic group, IDC was common type and most of the patients had an ER/PR positive hormonal status.

Most common causes of natural and injury-related deaths in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

PubMed Central

Gemechu, Tufa; Tinsae, Mihrete; Ashenafi, Senait; Rodriguez, Victor Manuel; Lori, Alfredo; Collins, Michelle; Hurford, Rosemary; Haimanot, Rahel; Sandoval, Melissa; Mehari, Enawgaw; Langford, T. Dianne

2009-01-01

SUMMARY In Ethopia, like many developing countries, autopsy is rare unless conducted in the medico-legal arena, making vital statistics that include sparse pathological diagnoses. To determine the most common factors contributing to death among individuals who died from natural or injury-related events in Ethiopia in 2006, 200 consecutive autopsies were conducted at the Forensic Medico-legal Pathology Department, Menelik II Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The results describe significant pathological observations, putative cause of death, age distribution, and gender ratios. Eighty-one percent of the cases were male, and the mean age was 38.9 (±15.5 years). Fifty-two percent of the individuals died from natural causes, including infections, and 48% died from injury-related events. In the natural deaths group, pulmonary complications were the most commonly reported cause of death by gross examination at autopsy, with suspected tuberculosis accounting for 12%. Tuberculosis (21, 8%) and liver disease (14, 5%) were the most common histopathological findings in the natural and injury-related causes groups, respectively. In the injury-related group, automobile accident was the most common cause of accidental death (80%), and homicide by beating was the most common cause of death in the intentional injury group (31%). These data provide valuable unbiased analyses of causes of death among individuals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. PMID:19321271

[The effect of different types of sports and athletes' age on the pathological changes of the musculoskeletal system].

PubMed

Achkasov, E E; Puzin, S N; Litvinenko, A S; Kurshev, V V; Bezuglov, E N

2014-01-01

Our aim was to determine the most common musculoskeletal diseases, depending on the type of sports and athletes' age. The results of examination of 976 athletes aged from 16 to 42 years (average age - 28,9±2,3) with musculoskeletal diseases were analyzed. Medical diagnostic procedures included clinical, laboratory, instrumental (radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound) investigations and functional testing (goniometry, manual muscle testing). Majority of patients were diagnosed to have diseases of the knee (17.9%) and ankle joints (11.3%), the heel bone (12.9%), Achilles tendon (10.2%), post-traumatic musculoskeletal diseases (16.2%), degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine (12.8%). In the young age group (16 to 20 years) post-traumatic disorders were most common. In the middle-age group (21 to 30 years) along with post-traumatic disorders diseases of the knee frequently occurred. For athletes over 30 years old, along with diseases of the knee spinal diseases were found to occur 2-3 times more frequently in comparison with other age groups. Injuries which are more common for different types of sports were identified: acute traumas - competitive sports, diseases of the calcaneus - sports with running and jumping (athletics, volleyball, soccer), disease of ankle joints - sport with sharp change in movement direction (hockey, figure skating), disease of the knee - sports with high load of the knee joint (figure skating, gymnastics, volleyball, diseases of bones and joints of the upper extremity - tennis, disease of spine - weightlifting. pathological changes in the musculoskeletal system depend on the type of sports and the age of athletes. The combination of age and risk factors associated with type of sport increases the possibility of development of these diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

Chronology of the halo globular cluster system formation.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salaris, M.; Weiss, A.

1997-11-01

Using up-to-date stellar models and isochrones we determine the age of 25 galactic halo clusters. The clusters are distributed into four groups according to metallicity. We measure the absolute age of a reference cluster in each group, and then find the relative ages of the other clusters relative to this one. This combination yields the most reliable results. We find that the oldest cluster group on average is 11.8+/-0.9Gyr or 12.3+/-0.3Gyr old, depending on whether we include Arp 2 and Rup 106. The average age of all clusters is about 10.5Gyr. Questions concerning a common age for all clusters and a relation between metallicity and age are addressed. The groups of lower metallicity appear to be coeval, but our results indicate that globally the sample has an age spread, and age and metallicity are correlated but not with a simple linear relation.

The descriptive epidemiology of house dust mite-specific and total immunoglobin E in England using a nationally representative sample.

PubMed

Court, C S; Cook, D G; Strachan, D P

2002-07-01

Previous studies have shown that IgE levels vary according to factors such as age, gender and smoking but most studies have been small and none have been based on a nationally representative sample. To investigate the influence of epidemiological factors on serum total IgE and house dust mite-specific IgE levels. An interviewer-led questionnaire was carried out and blood samples taken from 24 952 people aged 11 and over as part of the 1995 and 1996 Health Surveys for England. Serum total IgE and house dust mite-specific IgE were measured. Both total and house dust mite-specific IgE were more frequently raised in men and in younger age groups. After adjusting for age and sex, raised total IgE was more common in current smokers and non-white ethnic groups and was not related to social class. The higher levels in non-white ethnic groups was not explained by smoking, urban living or being born outside the UK. Whilst total IgE levels declined in older age groups in non-smokers, among smokers they increased across successive age groups from 50 years onwards. In contrast, following adjustment for age and sex, raised house dust mite IgE was more common in non-manual workers and in some non-white ethnic groups but was not related to smoking. This large nationwide study provides further confirmation of differing epidemiological patterns for total serum IgE and allergen-specific sensitization. Indicative ranges for 'usual' values for a wide range of ages among men and women in England are given.

Prevalence of vestibular and balance disorders in children and adolescents according to age: A multi-center study.

PubMed

Lee, Jong Dae; Kim, Chang-Hee; Hong, Seok Min; Kim, Sung Huhn; Suh, Myung-Whan; Kim, Min-Beom; Shim, Dae Bo; Chu, Hosuk; Lee, No Hee; Kim, Minbum; Hong, Sung Kwang; Seo, Jae-Hyun

2017-03-01

Children differ from adults in the expression of dizziness symptoms and the causes of dizziness. In several studies, benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood (BPVC) and vestibular migraine (VM) were seen exclusively in children with vertigo, but the age threshold used to define 'children' varies, and there are few reported studies about adolescents with dizziness. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of vestibular and balance disorders according to age category in a multi-center study (otolaryngology departments of 11 hospitals) of children and adolescents. Children and adolescents aged under 18 who visited the otolaryngology departments of 11 hospitals for dizziness were included. We classified the patients into three categories: preschool (up to and including 6-year-olds), school age (7- to 12-year-olds), and adolescents (13- to 18-year-olds). These patients were reviewed retrospectively based on their clinical charts. In the preschool age group, BPVC was most common, followed by VM. In the school-age group, BPVC and VMs were most common, followed by psychogenic vertigo and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). In adolescents, VM was the most common, and Ménière's disease, cardiogenic vertigo, and BPVC, which are seen primarily in adults, were also seen in some adolescents. In children and adolescents with dizziness, VM and BPVC were the most common diseases, and prevalence of disease by age showed differing distributions. These findings will help in diagnosing and managing children and adolescents with vertigo. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Age and Gender Effects on Coping in Children and Adolescents.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hampel, Petra; Petermann, Franz

2005-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate age and gender effects of children's and adolescents' coping with common stressors in 3 age groups (late childhood, early, and middle adolescence). Furthermore, age and developmental differences in situation-specific coping with 2 stress domains were examined. N = 1,123 participants (ages 8 to 13 years)…

Firearm-associated Fractures in Children and Adolescents: Trends in the United States 2003-2012.

PubMed

Blumberg, Todd J; DeFrancesco, Christopher J; Miller, Daniel J; Pandya, Nirav K; Flynn, John M; Baldwin, Keith D

2018-05-02

Firearm-associated injuries are the second leading cause of death in children in the United States. Fractures are common comorbid injuries in young patients with firearm-associated injuries. The purpose of this study was to define the burden of firearm-associated fractures (FAFs) in children and adolescents in the United States. We analyzed the 2003-2012 Kids' Inpatient Database. Patients were grouped into 4 age groups: 0 to 4, 5 to 9, 10 to 14, and 15 to 20 years old. Sample observations with both an external cause of injury code indicating gunshot injury and a diagnosis code indicating orthopaedic fracture (extremity, pelvis, or spine) were identified as cases of FAF. Sex, age, race, cause of injury, and fracture-related operating room procedures were catalogued. Population-level incidence was calculated for each year studied. From 2003 to 2012, the incidence of FAF in patients 20 years and below of age increased from 73 to 96 cases per 100,000 admissions (P=0.009). The 0 to 4 age group saw the largest increase in injury frequency (141%, P=0.08). There was a 4-fold increase in the rate of unintentional injury in this subgroup. The most common age group affected by FAFs was 15 to 20 year olds. Minorities and male individuals were disproportionately affected. Assault and unintentional causes were the most common reasons for injury. The frequency of FAF in patients 20 years and below of age increased over the study period, with almost 1 case per 1000 admissions in 2012. The finding that certain subpopulations are disproportionately affected reflects the complex sociologic factors influencing gun violence in the United States. Level III-retrospective cohort study.

A retrospective analysis of eye conditions among children attending St. John Eye Hospital, Hebron, Palestine.

PubMed

Banayot, Riyad G

2016-04-05

Eye diseases are important causes of medical consultations, with the spectrum varying in different regions. This hospital-based descriptive study aimed to determine the profile of childhood eye conditions at St. John tertiary Eye hospital serving in Hebron, Palestine. Files of all new patients less than 16 years old who presented to St. John Eye Hospital-Hebron, Palestine between January 2013 and December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Age at presentation, sex, and clinical diagnosis were extracted from medical records. Data were stored and analyzed using Wizard data analysis version 1.6.0 by Evan Miller. The Chi square test was used to compare variables and a p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. We evaluated the records of 1102 patients, with a female: male ratio of 1:1.1. Patients aged 0-5 years old were the largest group (40.2%). Refractive errors were the most common ocular disorders seen (31.6%), followed by conjunctival diseases (23.7%) and strabismus and amblyopia (13.8%). Refractive errors were recorded more frequently and statistically significant (p < 0.001) among (11-15) age group. Within the conjunctival diseases category, conjunctivitis and dry eyes was more prominent and statistically significant (p < 0.001) among the 6-10 year old age group. Within the strabismus and amblyopia category, convergent strabismus was more common and statistically significant among the youngest age group (0-5 years old). The most common causes of ocular morbidity are largely treatable or preventable. These results suggest the need for awareness campaigns and early intervention programs.

Competitive Wrestling-related Injuries in School Aged Athletes in U.S. Emergency Departments

PubMed Central

Myers, Richard J.; Linakis, Seth W.; Mello, Michael J.; Linakis, James G.

2010-01-01

Objective To describe the characteristics of wrestling injuries occurring in male athletes aged 7–17 treated in United States (U.S.) emergency departments (ED) from 2000–2006, and to compare injury patterns between younger & older youth wrestlers. Methods A stratified probability sample of U.S. hospitals providing emergency services in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System was used for 2000–2006. ED visits for injuries sustained in organized wrestling were analyzed for male patients ages 7–17 years old (subdivided into 7–11 years old [youth group] and 12–17 years old [scholastic group]). Results During the study period, there were an estimated 167,606 ED visits for wrestling injuries in 7–17 years old U.S. males, with 152,710 (91.1%) occurring in the older (12–17 years old) group. The annual injury incidence was 6.49 injuries/1,000 wrestlers in the youth group and 29.57 injuries/1,000 wrestlers in the scholastic group. The distribution of diagnoses was similar in both age groups, with sprain/strain as the most common diagnosis, followed by fracture and contusion/abrasion. Distributions of injury by location were significantly different between groups (p=0.02), although both groups exhibited approximately 75% of all injuries from the waist up. Overexertion and struck by/against were the most common precipitating and direct mechanisms in both groups, respectively. Over 97% of all injured wrestlers were treated and released. Conclusion The types of injury in youth (7–11 years old) wrestlers are similar to those of scholastic (12–17 years old) wrestlers, although the distribution of body parts injured differs between the age groups. The majority of injuries occurs above the waist and may be a target for prevention strategies. PMID:21293763

Vulvovaginitis in a pediatric population: relationship among etiologic agents, age and Tanner staging of breast development.

PubMed

Giugno, Silvina; Risso, Paula; Ocampo, Dolores; Rahman, Gisel; Rubinstein, Dra Anahí V

2014-02-01

Vulvovaginitis accounts for 25% of all pediatric gynecology consultations. To assess the etiology of vulvovaginitis based on age and Tanner staging of breast development. Descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted between January 1st and December 31st, 2011. Patients with vulvovaginitis were assessed based on two outcome measures: age group (GI: 0 to 8.9 years old, GII: 9 to 15.9 years old, and GIII: 16 to 18 years old), and the Tanner staging of breast development (I, II-III, IV-V). Results. Two hundred and twenty-nine patients were included, 78 girls in the GI group, 134 in the GII group, and 17 in the GIII group; 81 girls were classified as TI, 36 as TII-III, and 112 as TIV-V based on Tanner staging. Shigella and Oxyuris were the most commonly found etiologic agents in younger girls. Candida albicans, other Candida species, Gardnerella and Ureaplasma urealyticum were the germs most commonly observed in older patients. Oxyuris was predominant in prepubertal girls, while Candida albicans, in postpubertal girls. Hormonal influence was more relevant than the patient's age in terms of vulvovaginitis etiology.

24 CFR 7.33 - Contents of the complaint.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... Regard to Race, Color Religion, Sex, National Origin, Age, Disability or Reprisal Complaints § 7.33... discriminates against the group on the basis of their common race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age..., religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or in reprisal for participating in protected EEO activity...

24 CFR 7.33 - Contents of the complaint.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... Regard to Race, Color Religion, Sex, National Origin, Age, Disability or Reprisal Complaints § 7.33... discriminates against the group on the basis of their common race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age..., religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or in reprisal for participating in protected EEO activity...

24 CFR 7.33 - Contents of the complaint.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... Regard to Race, Color Religion, Sex, National Origin, Age, Disability or Reprisal Complaints § 7.33... discriminates against the group on the basis of their common race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age..., religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or in reprisal for participating in protected EEO activity...

24 CFR 7.33 - Contents of the complaint.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... Regard to Race, Color Religion, Sex, National Origin, Age, Disability or Reprisal Complaints § 7.33... discriminates against the group on the basis of their common race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age..., religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or in reprisal for participating in protected EEO activity...

Speech disorders did not correlate with age at onset of Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Dias, Alice Estevo; Barbosa, Maira Tonidandel; Limongi, João Carlos Papaterra; Barbosa, Egberto Reis

2016-02-01

Speech disorders are common manifestations of Parkinson´s disease. Objective To compare speech articulation in patients according to age at onset of the disease. Methods Fifty patients was divided into two groups: Group I consisted of 30 patients with age at onset between 40 and 55 years; Group II consisted of 20 patients with age at onset after 65 years. All patients were evaluated based on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale scores, Hoehn and Yahr scale and speech evaluation by perceptual and acoustical analysis. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding neurological involvement and speech characteristics. Correlation analysis indicated differences in speech articulation in relation to staging and axial scores of rigidity and bradykinesia for middle and late-onset. Conclusions Impairment of speech articulation did not correlate with age at onset of disease, but was positively related with disease duration and higher scores in both groups.

[Multimorbidity patterns in young adults in Catalonia: an analysis of clusters].

PubMed

Violán, Concepción; Foguet-Boreu, Quintí; Roso-Llorach, Albert; Rodriguez-Blanco, Teresa; Pons-Vigués, Mariona; Pujol-Ribera, Enriqueta; Valderas, Jose M

2016-01-01

The aim of this study was to identify multimorbidity patterns in patients from 19 to 44 years attended in primary care in Catalonia in 2010. Cross-sectional study. 251 primary care centres. 530,798 people with multimorbidity, aged 19 to 44 years. Multimorbidity was defined as the coexistence of ≥2 more International Classification system (ICD-10) registered in the electronic health record. Multimorbidity patterns were identified using hierarchical cluster analysis and by sex and age group (19-24 and 25-44). Of the 882,708 people from initial population, 530,798 (60.1%) accomplished multimorbidity criterion. Mean age was 33.0 years (SD: 7.0) and 53.3% were women. Multimorbidity was higher in the 25-to 44-years-old group with respect the younger group (60.5 vs. 58.1%, p<0.001), being higher in women. Most prevalent cluster in all groups included, among others, by dental caries, smoking, dorsalgia, common cold and other anxiety disorders. For both sexes in the 25-to 44-years-old group appeared the cardiovascular-endocrine-metabolic pattern (obesity, lipid disorders and arterial hypertension). Multimorbidity affects more than half of persons between 19 to 44-years-old. The most prevalent cluster is formed by grouping common diseases (dental caries, common cold, smoking, anxiety disorders and dorsalgias). Another pattern to highlight is the cardiovascular-endocrine-metabolic pattern in the 25- to 44 years-old group. Knowledge of patterns of multimorbidity in young adults could be used to design individualized preventive strategies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Inhibition of common cold-induced aggravation of childhood asthma by leukotriene receptor antagonists.

PubMed

Yoshihara, Shigemi; Fukuda, Hironobu; Abe, Toshio; Nishida, Mitsuhiro; Yamada, Yumi; Kanno, Noriko; Arisaka, Osamu

2012-09-01

Virus infection is an important risk factor for aggravation of childhood asthma. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of drugs on aggravation of asthma induced by a common cold. Asthma control was examined in a survey of 1,014 Japanese pediatric patients with bronchial asthma. The occurrence of common cold, asthma control, and drugs used for asthma control were investigated using a modified Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) for patients aged <4 years old and 4 to 11 years old, and an Asthma Control Test (ACT) for patients aged 12 to 15 years old. The status of asthma control did not differ among the age groups. The prevalence of common cold and aggravation of asthma were significantly higher in patients aged <4 years old. Control of asthma following common cold-induced aggravation was significantly less effective in patients aged <4 years old compared to those aged ≥4 years old. In patients aged <4 years old with a common cold, asthma control was significantly more effective for those treated with leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) compared to treatment without LTRAs. Asthma control did not differ between patients who did or did not take inhaled corticosteroids or long-acting β2 stimulants. These findings showed a high prevalence of common cold in younger patients with childhood asthma and indicated that common cold can induce aggravation of asthma. LTRAs are useful for long-term asthma control in very young patients who develop an asthma attack due to a common cold.

Locally Learning Biomedical Data Using Diffusion Frames

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

age - related macular degeneration (AMD) patients. All eye- related data were collected by our collaborators at the...in Table 2. 6.2. Age - related macular degeneration Age - related macular degeneration is the most common cause of blindness among the elderly population...maculopathy and age - related macular degeneration . The international ARM epidemiological study group. Surv. Ophthalmol. 39, 367–374.

Metabolic syndrome and its components in Polish women of childbearing age: a nationwide study.

PubMed

Szostak-Węgierek, Dorota; Waśkiewicz, Anna; Piotrowski, Walerian; Stepaniak, Urszula; Pająk, Andrzej; Kwaśniewska, Magdalena; Nadrowski, Paweł; Niklas, Arkadiusz; Puch-Walczak, Aleksandra; Drygas, Wojciech

2017-07-13

Abnormal body mass and related metabolic disorders may affect female reproductive health. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of underweight, overweight, obesity, lipid and glucose metabolism disorders, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome, among Polish women of childbearing age. One thousand five hundred eighty-eight non-pregnant Polish women of childbearing age (20-49 years) who participated in the Multi-Centre National Population Health Examination Survey (WOBASZ II study) in 2013-2014, were assigned to 3 age groups: 20-29 years (n = 403), 30-39 years (n = 600) and 40-49 years (n = 585). Measurements of weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood glucose were taken. For statistical analysis, the Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-Square, and Cohran-Armitage tests were used. Of the participants, 4.3% were determined to be underweight, 25.2% were overweight, 15% were obese, and 53.1% had abdominal obesity. With age, the prevalence of both excessive body mass and abdominal obesity tended to increase, and that of underweight to decrease. Frequency of hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia found in the whole group were 50% and 12.6% respectively, and also tended to rise with age. Low serum HDL-cholesterol (high density lipoprotein cholesterol) levels were found in 15.1% of the participants. Prevalence of impaired fasting glucose in the whole group was 8.2% and tended to increase with age. Diabetes was found in 1.2% of the participants and its prevalence also tended to rise with age, at the borderline of significance. Frequency of arterial hypertension and metabolic syndrome in the whole group was 15.7% and 14.1% respectively and both tended to increase with age. Overweight and obesity, especially of abdominal type, and the related metabolic abnormalities are common in Polish women of childbearing age. Their prevalence tends to increase with age. Underweight is relatively common in the youngest age group.

The benefit-to-risk ratio of common treatments in PCOS: effect of oral contraceptives versus metformin on atherogenic markers.

PubMed

Christakou, Charikleia; Kollias, Anastasios; Piperi, Christina; Katsikis, Ilias; Panidis, Dimitrios; Diamanti-Kandarakis, Evanthia

2014-01-01

To compare the effects of oral contraceptives (OCPs) and metformin on atherogenic markers, including serum levels of advanced glycated end products (AGEs) and C-reactive protein (CRP), in lean women (Body Mass Index below 25 kg/m(2)) with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), defined by NIH criteria. Prospective open-label study. One hundred and twenty women with PCOS were treated for 6 months with one of the following treatments: ethinylestradiol plus cyproterone acetate (OCP 1, n=40) or ethinylestradiol plus drospirenone (OCP2, n=40) or metformin (MET, n=40). The three groups were age and BMI-matched (mean age: 22 ± 0.56 yrs in group OCP1; 23.24 ± 0.64 yrs in group OCP2; 21.50 ± 0.53 yrs in group MET; mean BMI 21.80 ± 0.35 kg/m(2) in group OCP1; 22.37 ± 0.48 kg/m(2) in group OCP2; 23.03 ± 0.67 kg/m(2) in group MET). At 6 months serum AGEs were decreased in group OCP1 (P=0.005) and group MET (P=0.001), whereas these were marginally decreased in group OCP2 (P=0.069). Treatment with metformin was associated with a greater percent decrease of AGEs. CRP was decreased with metformin (P<0.001), but was increased with OCPs (P<0.001). This study evaluates common therapeutic options in women with PCOS by reconsidering and prioritizing the goals of treatment. OCPs and metformin appear to have differential effects on atherogenic molecules in lean PCOS patients, but metformin was superior in reducing serum AGEs and CRP. Clinicians should individualize the benefit-to-risk ratio of pharmaceutical intervention in women with PCOS in order to choose the formulation with the greatest overall efficacy as well as safety in terms of cardiovascular risk.

Histopathological pattern of abnormal uterine bleeding in endometrial biopsies.

PubMed

Vaidya, S; Lakhey, M; Vaidya, S; Sharma, P K; Hirachand, S; Lama, S; KC, S

2013-03-01

Abnormal uterine bleeding is a common presenting complaint in gyanecology out patient department. Histopathological evaluation of the endometrial samples plays a significant role in the diagnosis of abnormal uterine bleeding. This study was carried out to determine the histopathological pattern of the endometrium in women of various age groups presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding. Endometrial biopsies and curettings of patients presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding was retrospectively studied. A total of 403 endometrial biopsies and curettings were analyzed. The age of the patients ranged from 18 to 70 years. Normal cyclical endometrium was seen in 165 (40.94%) cases, followed by 54 (13.40%) cases of disordered proliferative endometrium and 44 (10.92%) cases of hyperplasia. Malignancy was seen in 10 (2.48%) cases. Hyperplasia and malignancy were more common in the perimenopausal and postmenopausal age groups. Histopathological examination of endometrial biopsies and curettings in patients presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding showed a wide spectrum of changes ranging from normal endometrium to malignancy. Endometrial evaluation is specially recommended in women of perimenopausal and postmenopausal age groups presenting with AUB, to rule out a possibility of any preneoplastic condition or malignancy.

Age, Predisposing Diseases, and Ultrasonographic Findings in Determining Clinical Outcome of Acute Acalculous Inflammatory Gallbladder Diseases in Children

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

We evaluated clinical factors such as age, gender, predisposing diseases and ultrasonographic findings that determine clinical outcome of acute acalculous inflammatory gallbladder diseases in children. The patients were divided into the four age groups. From March 2004 through February 2014, clinical data from 131 children diagnosed as acute acalculous inflammatory gallbladder disease by ultrasonography were retrospectively reviewed. Systemic infectious diseases were the most common etiology of acute inflammatory gallbladder disease in children and were identified in 50 patients (38.2%). Kawasaki disease was the most common predisposing disease (28 patients, 21.4%). The incidence was highest in infancy and lowest in adolescence. The age groups were associated with different predisposing diseases; noninfectious systemic disease was the most common etiology in infancy and early childhood, whereas systemic infectious disease was the most common in middle childhood and adolescence (P = 0.001). Gallbladder wall thickening was more commonly found in malignancy (100%) and systemic infection (94.0%) (P = 0.002), whereas gallbladder distension was more frequent in noninfectious systemic diseases (60%) (P = 0.000). Ascites seen on ultrasonography was associated with a worse clinical course compared with no ascites (77.9% vs. 37.7%, P = 0.030), and the duration of hospitalization was longer in patients with ascites (11.6 ± 10.7 vs. 8.0 ± 6.6 days, P = 0.020). In conclusion, consideration of age and predisposing disease in addition to ultrasonographic gallbladder findings in children suspected of acute acalculous inflammatory gallbladder disease might result in better outcomes. PMID:27550491

A Brief Analysis of Suicide Methods and Trends in Virginia from 2003 to 2012

PubMed Central

Keyser-Marcus, Lori; Crouse Breden, Ericka; Hobron, Kathrin; Bhattachan, Atit; Pandurangi, Ananda

2015-01-01

Background. The objective is to analyze and compare Virginia suicide data from 2003 to 2012 to US suicide data. Methods. Suicide trends by method, age, gender, and race were obtained from Virginia's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner's annual reports. Results. Similar to US suicide rates, suicide rates in Virginia increased between 2003 and 2012 from 10.9/100,000 people to 12.9/100,000 people. The most common methods were firearm, asphyxia, and intentional drug overdose, respectively. The increase in asphyxia (r = 0.77, P ≤ 0.01) and decrease in CO poisoning (r = −0.89, P ≤ 0.01) were significant. Unlike national trends, intentional drug overdoses decreased (r = −0.55, P = 0.10). Handgun suicides increased (r = 0.61, P = 0.06) and are the most common method of firearm suicide. Hanging was the most common method of asphyxia. Helium suicides also increased (r = 0.75, P = 0.05). Middle age females and males comprise the largest percentage of suicide. Unlike national data, the increase in middle age male suicides occurred only in the 55–64-year-old age group (r = 0.79, P ≤ 0.01) and decreased in the 35–44-year-old age group (r = −0.60, P = 0.07) and 10–14-year-old age group (r = −0.73, P = 0.02). Suicide in all female age ranges remained stable. Caucasians represent the highest percentage of suicide. Conclusion. There has been a rise in suicide in Virginia and suicide rates and trends have closely resembled the national average albeit some differences. Suicide prevention needs to be enhanced. PMID:25705647

Psychiatric and Medical Conditions in Transition-Aged Individuals With ASD.

PubMed

Davignon, Meghan N; Qian, Yinge; Massolo, Maria; Croen, Lisa A

2018-04-01

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a variety of medical and psychiatric conditions and an increased use of health care services. There is limited information about the prevalence of psychiatric and medical conditions in adolescents and young adults with ASD. Our objective was to describe the frequency of medical and psychiatric conditions in a large population of diverse, insured transition-aged individuals with ASD. Participants included Kaiser Permanente Northern California members who were enrolled from 2013 to 2015 and who were 14 to 25 years old. Individuals with ASD ( n = 4123) were compared with peers with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( n = 20 615), diabetes mellitus ( n = 2156), and typical controls with neither condition ( n = 20 615). Over one-third (34%) of individuals with ASD had a co-occurring psychiatric condition; the most commonly reported medical conditions included infections (42%), obesity (25%), neurologic conditions (18%), allergy and/or immunologic conditions (16%), musculoskeletal conditions (15%), and gastrointestinal (11%) conditions. After controlling for sex, age, race, and duration of Kaiser Permanente Northern California membership, most psychiatric conditions were significantly more common in the ASD group than in each comparison group, and most medical conditions were significantly more common in the ASD group than in the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and typical control groups but were similar to or significantly less common than the diabetes mellitus group. Although more research is needed to identify factors contributing to this excess burden of disease, there is a pressing need for all clinicians to approach ASD as a chronic health condition requiring regular follow-up and routine screening and treatment of medical and psychiatric issues. Copyright © 2018 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

A retrospective evaluation of traumatic dental injury in children who applied to the dental hospital, Turkey.

PubMed

Sari, M E; Ozmen, B; Koyuturk, A E; Tokay, U; Kasap, P; Guler, D

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to analyze traumatic dental injuries in children visiting the dental hospital emergency department in Samsun of Turkey, in the period from 2007 to 2011. Data of age, gender, causes of dental trauma, injured teeth, type of dental injuries, the application period, the dental treatments, and traumatic dental injuries according to the seasons were obtained from the records at dental hospital. Of all 320 patients with traumatic dental injury, 205 were boys and 115 were girls with a boys/girls ratio 1.78:1. Traumatic dental injury was observed more frequently in the 7-12 age groups: 52.5% in girls and 67.8% in boys. Falls are the major cause of traumatic dental injury in the age group 6-12 (51.4%). Sport activities are a common cause of traumatic dental injury in the 7-12 age group (34.2%). Patients visited a dentist within approximately 2 h (57.1%). The upper anterior teeth were subjected to trauma more frequently than the lower anterior teeth. The maxillary central incisors were the most commonly affected teeth, and the mandibular canins were the least affected teeth. In primary teeth, avulsion was the most common type of dental injury (23%); on the other hand, enamel fractures were the most common type of dental injury (30.6%) observed in permanent teeth. In the primary dentition, the most commonly performed treatments were dental examination and prescribing (70%). The most common treatment choices in permanent teeth were restoration and dental examination (49.7 and 15.8%, respectively). The results of the study show that the emergency intervention to traumatized teeth is important for good prognosis of teeth and oral tissues. Therefore, the parents should be informed about dental trauma in schools, and dental hospital physicians should be subjected to postgraduate training.

What do consumers want to know about antibiotics? Analysis of a medicines call centre database.

PubMed

Hawke, Kate L; McGuire, Treasure M; Ranmuthugala, Geetha; van Driel, Mieke L

2016-02-01

Australia is one of the highest users of antibiotics in the developed world. This study aimed to identify consumer antibiotic information needs to improve targeting of medicines information. We conducted a retrospective, mixed-method study of consumers' antibiotic-related calls to Australia's National Prescribing Service (NPS) Medicines Line from September 2002 to June 2010. Demographic and question data were analysed, and the most common enquiry type in each age group was explored for key narrative themes. Relative antibiotic call frequencies were determined by comparing number of calls to antibiotic utilization in Australian Statistics on Medicines (ASM) data. Between 2002 and 2010, consumers made 8696 antibiotic calls to Medicines Line. The most common reason was questions about the role of their medicine (22.4%). Patient age groups differed in enquiry pattern, with more questions about lactation in the 0- to 4-year age group (33.6%), administration (5-14 years: 32.4%), interactions (15-24 years: 33.4% and 25-54 years: 23.3%) and role of the medicine (55 years and over: 26.6%). Key themes were identified for each age group. Relative to use in the community, antibiotics most likely to attract consumer calls were ciprofloxacin (18.0 calls/100,000 ASM prescriptions) and metronidazole (12.9 calls/100,000 ASM prescriptions), with higher call rates than the most commonly prescribed antibiotic amoxicillin (3.9 calls/100,000 ASM prescriptions). Consumers' knowledge gaps and concerns about antibiotics vary with age, and certain antibiotics generate greater concern relative to their usage. Clinicians should target medicines information to proactively address consumer concerns. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Histopathological spectrum of childhood nephrotic syndrome in Indian children.

PubMed

Kumar, Jitendra; Gulati, Sanjeev; Sharma, Ajay Prakash; Sharma, Raj Kumar; Gupta, Ramesh Kumar

2003-07-01

Nephrotic syndrome in children is a clinical manifestation of different histopathological subtypes. There is a paucity of recent large studies dealing with the histopathological spectrum from developing countries. A prospective study was performed from January 1990 to December 2000 at our center, involving 600 children (with age of onset up to 16 years) with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS). The objectives were: (1) to study the histopathological distribution of different subtypes of INS and (2) to compare the clinical and biochemical parameters at the time of diagnosis of minimal change disease (MCD) with non-MCD subtypes. For the purpose of this study we analyzed only those children with INS who underwent biopsies. The study group included 290 children in which adequate biopsy reports were available. There were 213 males and 77 females. Mean age at onset of INS was 7.9+5.1 years. Facial edema was found in 286 (98.6%), microhematuria in 120 (41.3%), gross hematuria in 7 (2.5%), and hypertension in 77(26.8%) patients. All patients of the study group were seronegative for HBsAg and HIV. Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) was the most common histopathological subtype, occurring in 110 of 290 children (38%). Other subtypes included MCD in 95 children (32%), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) in 44 children (15%), mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis in 33 children (11%), membranous glomerulonephritis in 5 children (2%), and diffuse mesangial sclerosis in 3 children (1%). In children under 8 years of age, MCD was the most common entity, whereas FSGS predominated in children with age at onset greater than 8 years. The age at onset of nephrotic syndrome was significantly higher in the non-MCD group than the MCD group. The incidence of hypertension, microhematuria, and gross hematuria was significantly lower in the MCD group. MCD remains the most common histopathological subtype in Indian children with INS and onset under 8 years of age. The incidence of MPGN continues to be high. MCD can be differentiated from non-MCD subtype by younger age at onset, absence of hypertension, and absence of microscopic hematuria.

Epidemiological profile of patients utilising public oral health services in Limpopo province, South Africa.

PubMed

Thema, Lawrence K; Singh, Shenuka

2017-07-12

Despite the impact of oral diseases on the quality of life, there is limited updated evidence on oral health status in Limpopo province. To determine the epidemiological profile of patients utilising public oral health services in Limpopo province. This was a descriptive retrospective clinical chart review conducted in five purposively selected district hospitals in Limpopo province. The collected data included the patient's sociodemographic information, reasons for dental consultation, information on the dental or oral diseases and the treatment received. Five hundred clinical files were systematically selected (100 from each district hospital) for the period 01 January 1995 to 31 December 2013. Data were collected using the World Health Organization's indicator age groups, namely 6-year-olds, 12-year-olds, 18-year-olds and 35-44-year-old groups. A data capturing sheet was used to record the collected information. Data were analysed using the statistical software package for social sciences SPSS version 23.0. The majority of patients were in the age group of 6 to 20 years (n = 375, 75%). The majority were male patients (n = 309; 62%). Dental caries was the most common complaint (n = 298, 60%). The second most common main complaint in this age group was retained primary or deciduous teeth (n = 60, 12%) affecting children mainly in the age group of 6 to 12 years. The most common clinical procedure across all five districts was dental extractions (n = 324, 64%). Other clinical interventions included scaling and polishing (n = 33, 12%) and dental restorative care (n = 20, 3%). There is an urgent need to reorient oral health service delivery in Limpopo province to focus more on preventive oral health programmes.

Symptomatic treatment of the common cold with a fixed-dose combination of paracetamol, chlorphenamine and phenylephrine: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

PubMed

Picon, Paulo Dornelles; Costa, Marisa Boff; da Veiga Picon, Rafael; Fendt, Lucia Costa Cabral; Suksteris, Maurício Leichter; Saccilotto, Indara Carmanim; Dornelles, Alicia Dorneles; Schmidt, Luis Felipe Carissimi

2013-11-22

The common cold and other viral airway infections are highly prevalent in the population, and their treatment often requires the use of medications for symptomatic relief. Paracetamol is as an analgesic and antipyretic; chlorphenamine is an antihistamine; and phenylephrine, a vasoconstrictor and decongestant. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a fixed-dose combination of paracetamol, chlorphenamine and phenylephrine in the symptomatic treatment of the common cold and flu-like syndrome in adults. This study enrolled 146 individuals aged 18 to 60 years who had moderate to severe flu-like syndrome or common cold. After clinical examination and laboratory tests, individuals were randomly assigned to receive the fixed-dose combination (73) or placebo (73), five capsules per day for 48 to 72 hours. The primary efficacy endpoint was the sum of the scores of 10 symptoms on a four-point Likert-type scale. To evaluate treatment safety, the occurrence of adverse events was also measured. Mean age was 33.5 (±9.5) years in the placebo group and 33.8 (±11.5) in the treatment group. There were 55 women and 18 men in the placebo group, and 46 women and 27 men in the treatment group. Comparison of overall symptom scores in the two groups revealed a significantly greater reduction in the treatment group than in the placebo group (p = 0.015). Analysis at the first 13 dose intervals (± 66 h of treatment) showed a greater reduction of symptom scores in the treatment group than in the placebo group (p < 0.05). The number and distribution of adverse events were similar in both groups. A fixed-dose combination of paracetamol, chlorphenamine and phenylephrine was safe and more effective than placebo in the symptomatic treatment of the common cold or flu-like syndrome in adults. NCT01389518.

Symptomatic treatment of the common cold with a fixed-dose combination of paracetamol, chlorphenamine and phenylephrine: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background The common cold and other viral airway infections are highly prevalent in the population, and their treatment often requires the use of medications for symptomatic relief. Paracetamol is as an analgesic and antipyretic; chlorphenamine is an antihistamine; and phenylephrine, a vasoconstrictor and decongestant. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a fixed-dose combination of paracetamol, chlorphenamine and phenylephrine in the symptomatic treatment of the common cold and flu-like syndrome in adults. Methods This study enrolled 146 individuals aged 18 to 60 years who had moderate to severe flu-like syndrome or common cold. After clinical examination and laboratory tests, individuals were randomly assigned to receive the fixed-dose combination (73) or placebo (73), five capsules per day for 48 to 72 hours. The primary efficacy endpoint was the sum of the scores of 10 symptoms on a four-point Likert-type scale. To evaluate treatment safety, the occurrence of adverse events was also measured. Results Mean age was 33.5 (±9.5) years in the placebo group and 33.8 (±11.5) in the treatment group. There were 55 women and 18 men in the placebo group, and 46 women and 27 men in the treatment group. Comparison of overall symptom scores in the two groups revealed a significantly greater reduction in the treatment group than in the placebo group (p = 0.015). Analysis at the first 13 dose intervals (± 66 h of treatment) showed a greater reduction of symptom scores in the treatment group than in the placebo group (p < 0.05). The number and distribution of adverse events were similar in both groups. Conclusion A fixed-dose combination of paracetamol, chlorphenamine and phenylephrine was safe and more effective than placebo in the symptomatic treatment of the common cold or flu-like syndrome in adults. Trial registration NCT01389518 PMID:24261438

Acute Viral Hepatitis in Pediatric Age Groups.

PubMed

Kc, Sudhamshu; Sharma, Dilip; Poudyal, Nandu; Basnet, Bhupendra Kumar

2014-01-01

Our clinical experience showed that there has been no decrease in pediatric cases of acute viral hepatitis in Kathmandu. The objective of the study was to analyze the etiology, clinical features, laboratory parameters, sonological findings and other to determine the probable prognostic factors of Acute Viral Hepatitis in pediatric population. Consecutive patients of suspected Acute Viral Hepatitis, below the age of 15 years, attending the liver clinic between January 2006 and December 2010 were studied. After clinical examination they were subjected to blood tests and ultrasound examination of abdomen. The patients were divided in 3 age groups; 0-5, 5-10 and 5-15 years. Clinical features, laboratory parameters, ultrasound findings were compared in three age groups. Etiology of Acute Viral Hepatitis was Hepatitis A virus 266 (85%), Hepatitis E virus in 24 (8%), Hepatitis B virus in 15 (5%). In 7(2%) patients etiology was unknown. Three patients went to acute liver failure but improved with conservative treatment. There was no statistical difference in most of the parameters studied in different age groups. Ascites was more common in 5-10 years age group. Patients with secondary bacterial infection, ultrasound evidence of prominent biliary tree and ascites were associated with increased duration of illness. Patients with history of herbal medications had prolonged cholestasis. Hepatitis A is most common cause of Acute Viral Hepatitis in pediatric population. Improper use of herbal medications, secondary bacterial infection and faulty dietary intake was associated with prolonged illness. Patients with prominent biliary radicals should be treated with antibiotics even with normal blood counts for earlier recovery.

The effect of Calendula officinalis versus metronidazole on bacterial vaginosis in women: A double-blind randomized controlled trial

PubMed Central

Pazhohideh, Zahra; Mohammadi, Solmaz; Bahrami, Nosrat; Mojab, Faraz; Abedi, Parvin; Maraghi, Elham

2018-01-01

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common disorder among women of reproductive age. This study aimed to compare the effect of a Calendula officinalis extract-based cream and metronidazole on BV among women of reproductive age. In this study, 80 women of reproductive age with BV were randomly assigned to the C. officinalis (n = 40) or metronidazole (n = 40). Diagnosis of BV was confirmed when at least 3 of the 4 Amsel criteria were met (pH >4.5, whitish grey or thin homogeneous discharge, release of a fishy odor on adding 10% KOH, and detection of clue cells on microscopic examination). For each group, either a methanol extract of C. officinalis or metronidazole vaginal cream (5 g) was used for 1 week intravaginally, and all signs and symptoms were assessed 1 week after treatment completion. Before the intervention, the two groups did not differ significantly with regard to vaginal burning, odor, dysuria, and dyspareunia, but itching was significantly more common in the C. officinalis group than in the metronidazole group (22.5% vs. 2.5%, P = 0.01). One week after the intervention, all women in both groups were free of symptoms, including vaginal itching and burning sensation, odor, dysuria, and dyspareunia. None of the women in either group suffered any side effects from C. officinalis or metronidazole. C. officinalis was effective for the treatment of BV in women of reproductive age, without any side effects. This herb could be recommended for women of reproductive age who uncomfortable with the potential side effects of synthetic drugs. PMID:29441319

Effects of aging and divided attention on memory for items and their contexts.

PubMed

Craik, Fergus I M; Luo, Lin; Sakuta, Yuiko

2010-12-01

It is commonly found that memory for context declines disproportionately with aging, arguably due to a general age-related deficit in associative memory processes. One possible mechanism for such deficits is an age-related reduction in available processing resources. In two experiments we compared the effects of aging to the effects of division of attention in younger adults on memory for items and context. Using a technique proposed by Craik (1989), linear functions relating memory performance for items and their contexts were derived for a Young Full Attention group, a Young Divided Attention group, and an Older Adult group. Results suggested that the Old group showed an additional deficit in associative memory that was not mimicked by divided attention. It is speculated that both divided attention and aging are associated with a loss of available processing resources that may reflect inefficient frontal lobe functioning, whereas the additional age-related decrement in associative memory may reflect inefficient processing in medial-temporal regions. (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).

Acute type a aortic dissection associated with a sporting activity.

PubMed

Itagaki, Ryo; Kimura, Naoyuki; Itoh, Satoshi; Yamaguchi, Atsushi; Adachi, Hideo

2017-09-01

To investigate the clinical characteristics of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) occurring during a sporting activity. The subjects of this study were 615 patients who underwent surgery for ATAAD between 1990 and 2015. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether the ATAAD was associated with a sporting activity (sports group: n = 25, mean age 62.3 years; non-sports group: n = 590, mean age 63.7 years). Specific activity was assessed in the sports group, and the characteristics and outcomes were compared between the groups. The sports group accounted for 5% of the patients with daytime onset ATAAD (25/479). The most common sport was golf (n = 8), followed by swimming (n = 4), cycling (n = 4), and weight lifting (n = 3). The average diameter of the ascending aorta on preoperative computed tomography was 4.8 cm. The dissection characteristics of the sports group included DeBakey type I (n = 23, 92%) and malperfusion (n = 9, 36%), which were similar to those of the non-sports group. The 30-day mortality rates were 16% (4/25) for the sports group and 8% (49/590) for the non-sports group (P = 0.33). The most common sport associated with ATAAD was golf, followed by swimming cycling, and weight lifting. The findings of this study reinforce that sports-related aortic dissection is not a unique clinical condition of young syndromic patients, but can occur in all age groups.

Mortality Risk in Pediatric Motor Vehicle Crash Occupants: Accounting for Developmental Stage and Challenging Abbreviated Injury Scale Metrics.

PubMed

Doud, Andrea N; Weaver, Ashley A; Talton, Jennifer W; Barnard, Ryan T; Schoell, Samantha L; Petty, John K; Stitzel, Joel D

2015-01-01

Survival risk ratios (SRRs) and their probabilistic counterpart, mortality risk ratios (MRRs), have been shown to be at odds with Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) severity scores for particular injuries in adults. SRRs have been validated for pediatrics but have not been studied within the context of pediatric age stratifications. We hypothesized that children with similar motor vehicle crash (MVC) injuries may have different mortality risks (MR) based upon developmental stage and that these MRs may not correlate with AIS severity. The NASS-CDS 2000-2011 was used to define the top 95% most common AIS 2+ injuries among MVC occupants in 4 age groups: 0-4, 5-9, 10-14, and 15-18 years. Next, the National Trauma Databank 2002-2011 was used to calculate the MR (proportion of those dying with an injury to those sustaining the injury) and the co-injury-adjusted MR (MRMAIS) for each injury within 6 age groups: 0-4, 5-9, 10-14, 15-18, 0-18, and 19+ years. MR differences were evaluated between age groups aggregately, between age groups based upon anatomic injury patterns and between age groups on an individual injury level using nonparametric Wilcoxon tests and chi-square or Fisher's exact tests as appropriate. Correlation between AIS and MR within each age group was also evaluated. MR and MRMAIS distributions of the most common AIS 2+ injuries were right skewed. Aggregate MR of these most common injuries varied between the age groups, with 5- to 9-year-old and 10- to 14-year-old children having the lowest MRs and 0- to 4-year-old and 15- to 18-year-old children and adults having the highest MRs (all P <.05). Head and thoracic injuries imparted the greatest mortality risk in all age groups with median MRMAIS ranging from 0 to 6% and 0 to 4.5%, respectively. Injuries to particular body regions also varied with respect to MR based upon age. For example, thoracic injuries in adults had significantly higher MRMAIS than such injuries among 5- to 9-year-olds and 10- to 14-year-olds (P =.04; P <.01). Furthermore, though AIS was positively correlated with MR within each age group, less correlation was seen for children than for adults. Large MR variations were seen within each AIS grade, with some lower AIS severity injuries demonstrating greater MRs than higher AIS severity injuries. As an example, MRMAIS in 0- to 18-year-olds was 0.4% for an AIS 3 radius fracture versus 1.4% for an AIS 2 vault fracture. Trauma severity metrics are important for outcome prediction models and can be used in pediatric triage algorithms and other injury research. Trauma severity may vary for similar injuries based upon developmental stage, and this difference should be reflected in severity metrics. The MR-based data-driven determination of injury severity in pediatric occupants of different age cohorts provides a supplement or an alternative to AIS severity classification for pediatric occupants in MVCs.

Burden of acute sore throat and group A streptococcal pharyngitis in school-aged children and their families in Australia.

PubMed

Danchin, Margaret H; Rogers, Susan; Kelpie, Loraine; Selvaraj, Gowri; Curtis, Nigel; Carlin, John B; Nolan, Terence M; Carapetis, Jonathan R

2007-11-01

The objective of this study was to determine the incidence, transmission, carriage, and risk factors for group A streptococcal pharyngitis in school-aged children and their families. A 16-month, prospective, family-based cohort study was undertaken from August 2001 through December 2002 in Melbourne, Australia. A total of 202 families (853 people) with at least 1 child aged 3 to 12 years were randomly selected from 3 primary care practices across suburban Melbourne to collect surveillance data for acute group A streptococcal pharyngitis, including serology for index and secondary cases and intermittent carriage data. Cohort retention was 97% for 16 months. The incidence of acute sore throat, group A streptococcal swab-positive pharyngitis, and serologically confirmed group A streptococcal pharyngitis was 33, 13, and 8 per 100 child-years, respectively, for school-aged children (5-12 years) and 60, 20, and 15 per 100 family-years, respectively. Sore throat was less common in adults than children, but adults with sore throat were as likely as children to have group A streptococcal culture-positive or serologically proven pharyngitis. In families who had a primary case, 43% had at least 1 secondary case, and in family members who were at risk, 13% contracted a secondary case. The spring, summer, and winter carriage rates for children were 13%, 8%, and 16%, respectively, and for adults the rate was 2% across all seasons. Group A streptococcal pharyngitis is still common, and the peak incidence occurs in school-aged children. However, the incidence in adults is higher than expected, and the number of secondary cases in families may be an important factor when considering the potential benefits of treatment.

Rotavirus genotype shifts among Swedish children and adults-Application of a real-time PCR genotyping.

PubMed

Andersson, Maria; Lindh, Magnus

2017-11-01

It is well known that human rotavirus group A is the most important cause of severe diarrhoea in infants and young children. Less is known about rotavirus infections in other age groups, and about how rotavirus genotypes change over time in different age groups. Develop a real-time PCR to easily genotype rotavirus strains in order to monitor the pattern of circulating genotypes. In this study, rotavirus strains in clinical samples from children and adults in Western Sweden during 2010-2014 were retrospectively genotyped by using specific amplification of VP 4 and VP 7 genes with a new developed real-rime PCR. A genotype was identified in 97% of 775 rotavirus strains. G1P[8] was the most common genotype representing 34.9%, followed by G2P[4] (28.3%), G9P[8] (11.5%), G3P[8] (8.1%), and G4P[8] (7.9%) The genotype distribution changed over time, from predominance of G1P[8] in 2010-2012 to predominance of G2P[4] in 2013-2014. There were also age-related differences, with G1P[8] being the most common genotype in children under 2 years (47.6%), and G2P[4] the most common in those over 70 years of age (46.1%.). The shift to G2P[4] in 2013-2014 was associated with a change in the age distribution, with a greater number of rotavirus positive cases in elderly than in children. By using a new real-time PCR method for genotyping we found that genotype distribution was age related and changed over time with a decreasing proportion of G1P[8]. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Age-Related Trends in Hip Arthroscopy: A Large Cross-Sectional Analysis.

PubMed

Sing, David C; Feeley, Brian T; Tay, Bobby; Vail, Thomas P; Zhang, Alan L

2015-12-01

To analyze a large national private payer population in the United States for trends over time in hip arthroscopy by age groups and to determine the rate of conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) after hip arthroscopy. We performed a retrospective analysis using the PearlDiver private insurance patient record database from 2007 through 2011. Hip arthroscopy procedures including newly introduced codes such as osteochondroplasty of cam and pincer lesions and labral repair were queried. Hip arthroscopy incidence and conversion rates to THA were stratified by age. Chi-squared analysis was used for statistical comparison. Conversion to THA was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. From 2007 through 2011, 20,484,172 orthopaedic patients were analyzed. Hip arthroscopy was performed in 8,227 cases (mean annual incidence, 2.7 cases per 10,000 orthopaedic patients). The incidence of hip arthroscopies increased over 250% from 1.6 cases per 10,000 in 2007 to 4.0 cases per 10,000 in 2011 (P < .0001). Patients in the 40 to 49 age group made up 28% of cases, followed by patients ages 30 to 39 (22%) and 50 to 59 (19%). Patients under 30 years old showed the greatest increase in incidence from 2007 to 2011 (335%), but patients over 60 still had over a 200% increase. Labral debridement was the most common procedure (6,031 cases), and approximately 1.6 procedural codes were billed for every case performed. Labral repair was more common in patients under 30, while labral debridement was more common in older age groups (P = .046). Within 24 months of hip arthroscopy, 17% of patients older than 50 required conversion to THA, compared with <1% of patients under 30 (P < .0001). Hip arthroscopy procedures are increasing in popularity across all age groups, with patients ages 40 to 49 having the highest incidence in this large cross-sectional population, despite a high rate of early conversion to THA within 2 years in patients over 50. IV, cross-sectional study. Copyright © 2015 Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Uniting the Generations with Music Programs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frego, R. J. David

1995-01-01

Maintains that senior citizens and children are at opposite ends of the time line, but have common needs. Contends that intergenerational music programs provide benefits to both. Describes a successful intergenerational program involving elementary-age choral groups and senior citizen groups. (CFR)

Complementary feeding with cowpea reduces growth faltering in rural Malawian infants: a blind, randomized controlled clinical trial.

PubMed

Stephenson, Kevin B; Agapova, Sophia E; Divala, Oscar; Kaimila, Yankho; Maleta, Kenneth M; Thakwalakwa, Chrissie; Ordiz, M Isabel; Trehan, Indi; Manary, Mark J

2017-12-01

Background: Growth faltering is common in rural African children and is attributed to inadequate dietary intake and environmental enteric dysfunction (EED). Objective: We tested the hypothesis that complementary feeding with cowpea or common bean flour would reduce growth faltering and EED in 6-mo-old rural Malawians compared with the control group receiving a corn-soy blend. Design: A prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in which children received daily feeding for 6 mo (200 kcal/d when 6-9 mo old and 300 kcal/d when 10-12 mo old). The primary outcomes were change in length-for-age z score (LAZ) and improvements in EED, as measured by percentage of lactulose excretion (%L). %L <0.2% was considered normal. Anthropometric measurements and %L through urine were compared between each legume group and the control group with Student's t test. Results: Of the 355 infants enrolled, 291 infants completed the trial, and 288 were breastfed throughout the duration of the study. Cowpea and common bean added 4.6-5.2 g protein/d and 4-5 g indigestible carbohydrate/d to the diet. LAZ and weight-for-height z score were reduced in all 3 groups from 6 to 12 mo of age. The changes in LAZ [mean (95% CI)] for the cowpea, common bean, and control groups from 6 to 9 mo were -0.14 (-0.24, -0.04), -0.27 (-0.38, -0.16), and -0.27 (-0.35, -0.19), respectively. LAZ was reduced less in infants receiving cowpea than in those receiving control food from 6 to 9 mo ( P = 0.048). The absolute value of %L did not differ between the dietary groups at 9 mo of age (mean ± SD: 0.30 ± 0.43, 0.23 ± 0.21, and 0.26 ± 0.31 for cowpea, common bean, and control, respectively), nor did the change in %L from 6 to 9 mo. Conclusion: Addition of cowpea to complementary feeding in Malawian infants resulted in less linear growth faltering. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02472262. © 2017 American Society for Nutrition.

Upper GI tract findings in patients with heartburn in whom proton pump inhibitor treatment failed versus those not receiving antireflux treatment.

PubMed

Poh, Choo Hean; Gasiorowska, Anita; Navarro-Rodriguez, Tomas; Willis, Marcia R; Hargadon, Deborah; Noelck, North; Mohler, Jane; Wendel, Christopher S; Fass, Ronnie

2010-01-01

Failure of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment in patients with heartburn is very common. Because endoscopy is easily accessible, it is commonly used as the first evaluative tool in these patients. To compare GERD-related endoscopic and histologic findings in patients with heartburn in whom once-daily PPI therapy failed versus those not receiving antireflux treatment. Cross-sectional study. A Veterans Affairs hospital. Heartburn patients from the GI outpatient clinic. Recording of endoscopic results. Endoscopic findings and association between PPI treatment failure and esophageal mucosal injury by using logistic regression models. A total of 105 subjects (mean age 54.7 +/- 15.7 years; 71 men, 34 women) were enrolled in the PPI treatment failure group and 91 (mean age 53.4 +/- 15.8 years; 68 men, 23 women) were enrolled in the no-treatment group (P = not significant). Anatomic findings during upper endoscopy were significantly more common in the no-treatment group compared with the PPI treatment failure group (55.2% vs 40.7%, respectively; P = .04). GERD-related findings were significantly more common in the no-treatment group compared with the PPI treatment failure group (erosive esophagitis: 30.8% vs 6.7%, respectively; P < .05). Eosinophilic esophagitis was found in only 0.9% of PPI treatment failure patients. PPI treatment failure was associated with a significantly decreased odds ratio of erosive esophagitis compared with no treatment, adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index (adjusted odds ratio 0.11; 95% CI, 0.04-0.30). Heartburn patients in whom once-daily PPI treatment failed demonstrated a paucity of GERD-related findings compared with those receiving no treatment. Eosinophilic esophagitis was uncommon in PPI therapy failure patients. Upper endoscopy seems to have a very low diagnostic yield in this patient population. 2010 American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Teaching Common Errors in Applying a Procedure.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marcone, Stephen; Reigeluth, Charles M.

1988-01-01

Discusses study that investigated whether or not the teaching of matched examples and nonexamples in the form of common errors could improve student performance in undergraduate music theory courses. Highlights include hypotheses tested, pretests and posttests, and suggestions for further research with different age groups. (19 references)…

[Suicide trends in Colombia, 1985-2002].

PubMed

Cendales, Ricardo; Vanegas, Claudia; Fierro, Marco; Córdoba, Rodrigo; Olarte, Ana

2007-10-01

To report trends in mortality from suicide in Colombia from 1985 to 2002 by sex, age group, and method, and determine the number of Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL) to suicide during this period. Age- and sex-specific and age-adjusted crude mortality rates were calculated based on mortality and population information available from the official database of the Department of National Statistics Administration, Colombia. YPLL were estimated and adjusted for societal impact, age, and poor quality of mortality records. The results were tabulated according to codes X600-X849 and Y870 from the International Statistical Classification of Disease and Related Health Problems, 10th revision (ICD-10), and codes E950-E959 from the 9th revision (ICD-9). Suicide rates have been climbing in Colombia since 1998, particularly among young adults and males. The highest rates among males were in the age groups 20-29 years of age and over 70 years of age, and rates increased over time. Among females, the highest rates were recorded for the group 10-19 years of age. The YPLL rose in proportion with the increase in suicides, from 0.81% in 1981 to 2.20% in 2002. Among males, the most common methods used were firearms and explosives, hanging, and poison, with a relative increase in hanging; whereas among females, poison was most common. A rising trend in suicide rates in Colombia was confirmed, especially among the productive segment of the population, which has resulted in a marked increase in YPLL.

Hearing loss in Behçet syndrome.

PubMed

Bakhshaee, Mehdi; Mahdi, Bakhshaee; Ghasemi, Mohammad Mehdi; Mehdi, Ghasemi Mohammad; Hatef, Mohammad Reza; Reza, Hatef Mohammad; Talebmehr, Mahdieh; Mahdieh, Talebmehr; Shakeri, Mohammad Taghi; Taghi, Shakeri Mohammad

2007-09-01

To determine the prevalence and characteristics of hearing loss in Behçet syndrome. This study included 27 patients with Behçet syndrome and 35 sex-and age-matched controls. A complete audiological evaluation was performed. The average pure-tone audiograms from both groups showed a statistically significant hearing loss in the Behçet group. Sixteen patients (59.26%) showed some degrees of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), with the high-frequency type (4, 8, 10, and 12 kHz) being the most common pattern (93.75%). Hearing loss was the fourth most common manifestation. Although the patient's age, sex, and the duration of the disease were not related to hearing loss, there was a significant correlation between a negative pathergy test and hearing loss in patients with Behçet syndrome. We should consider audiovestibular involvement in Behçet syndrome as a common finding.

Intravertebral pneumatocysts of the cervical spine.

PubMed

Matsukubo, Yuko; Kashiwagi, Nobuo; Uemura, Masanobu; Tatsumi, Sachiyo; Takahashi, Hiroto; Hyodo, Tomoko; Tomiyama, Noriyuki; Ashikaga, Ryuichiro; Ishii, Kazunari; Murakami, Takamichi

2013-11-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of intravertebral pneumatocyst (IVP) of the cervical spine by age group, compared with that of intradiscal vacuum (IDV). We investigated 500 consecutive patients who underwent cervical computed tomography (CT) from May 2012 to May 2013 for various indications. CT datasets were assessed for the presence of IVPs and IDVs with stratification by age. IVPs of the cervical spine were detected in 8 % (7 of 86 subjects) of patients in their forties or below, 30 % (23 of 75) in their fifties, 49 % (67 of 136) in their sixties, 55 % (76 of 137) in their seventies, and 60 % (40 of 66) in their eighties or over. IDVs of the cervical spine were detected in 6, 25, 48, 54, and 57 %, respectively. Coexistence of both phenomena was identified in 4, 17, 33, 40, and 43 %, respectively. IVPs of the cervical spine are a common incidental finding, increasing in prevalence with age and more common than IDV in all age groups.

Age Differences in Self-Referencing: Evidence for Common and Distinct Encoding Strategies

PubMed Central

Gutchess, Angela H.; Sokal, Rebecca; Coleman, Jennifer A.; Gotthilf, Gina; Grewal, Lauren; Rosa, Nicole

2014-01-01

Although engagement of medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) underlies self-referencing of information for younger and older adults, the region has not consistently been implicated across age groups for the encoding of self-referenced information. We sought to determine whether making judgments about others as well as the self influenced findings in the previous study. During an fMRI session, younger and older adults encoded adjectives using only a self-reference task. For items later remembered compared to those later forgotten, both age groups robustly recruited medial prefrontal cortex, indicating common neural regions support encoding across younger and older adults when participants make only self-reference judgments. Focal age differences emerged in regions related to emotional processing and cognitive control, though these differences are more limited than in tasks in which judgments also are made about others. We conclude that making judgments about another person differently affects the ways that younger and older adults make judgments about the self, with results of a follow-up behavioral study supporting this interpretation. PMID:25223905

[Characteristics of extracranial malignant germ cell tumours in two age groups of children (0-10 and 10-18 years). Multicentre experiences].

PubMed

Drozyńska, Elzbieta; Połczyńska, Katarzyna; Popadiuk, Stefan; Niedzwiecki, Maciej; Wiśniewski, Jakub; Balcerska, Anna; Izycka-Swieszewska, Ewa; Bilska, Katarzyna; Balwierz, Walentyna; Chełmecka, Lilianna; Chybicka, Alicja; Dudeńko, Izabella; Karolczyk, Grazyna; Kowalczyk, Jerzy; Krawczuk-Rybak, Maryna; Kurylak, Andrzej; Leszczyńska, Elzbieta; Matysiak, Michał; Młynarski, Wojciech; Pobudejska, Aneta; Sobol, Grazyna; Sońta-Jakimczyk, Danuta; Szajdak, Katarzyna; Tredowska-Skoczeń, Dorota; Szmyd, Krzysztof; Trelińska, Joanna; Urasiński, Tomasz; Wachowiak, Jacek; Wieczorek, Maria; Wiśniewska-Slusarz, Hanna; Woźniak, Sebastian; Woźniak, Wojciech; Wysocki, Mariusz

2011-01-01

In order to assess if any differences exist in children germ cell tumours depending on age, we compared some features of germ cell tumours in two age groups:younger than 10 and between 11 and 18 years. Data of 146 patients with germ cell tumours treated in 15 Polish paediatric oncology departments between 1995 and 2005 were evaluated. They were divided into two groups: 76 children 0-10 years old (group I) and 70 patients 11-18 years old (group II). Tumour morphology, sex of patients, primary tumour and metastases localization, disease stage, biochemical markers, treatment response, disease relapse and long survival were analyzed. Every patient was treated according to the TGM 95 protocol. In group 1, 67 tumours were assessed histologically. 64%t tumours had homogenous structure with yolk sac tumour in predominance and 36% were mixed. Yolk sac tumour (YST) or teratoma as components of mixed tumours were the most commonly found. In older group 64 tumours were examined, 41% were homogenous, and seminoma/dysgerminoma predominated. In 59% mixed tumours the most common components were YST embryonal carcinoma and teratoma. The most common primary site in group I was the sacrococcygeal region while in group II - the gonads. Disseminated disease was recognized mostly in older children. Among two evaluated serum markers, AFP was increased mostly in younger patients (76% vs 44%), and 3HCG in older group (40% vs 9%). Treatment response was comparable in both groups. Two relapses were observed in each group. Poor outcome was noted in 17/140 analyzed patients: 9 (12%) in group I and 8 (11%) in group II. In 12 of patients with poor outcome the cause of death was progression and in 5 of them - treatment complications. 1. Germ cell tumours in younger and older children differ in histology, primary localization and serum level of biochemical markers. 2. In older patients germ cell tumours are recognized more frequently in advanced clinical stages. 3. Treatment response was comparable in both groups. 4. There is a need to analyze the intensity of chemotherapy to precise the adequate risk groups according to primary treatment response.

Less common clinical manifestations of atopic dermatitis: prevalence by age.

PubMed

Julián-Gónzalez, Rolando Elias; Orozco-Covarrubias, Luz; Durán-McKinster, Carola; Palacios-Lopez, Carolina; Ruiz-Maldonado, Ramon; Sáez-de-Ocariz, Marimar

2012-01-01

The common manifestations of atopic dermatitis (AD) appear sequentially with involvement of the cheeks in infancy, flexural extremities in childhood, and hands in adulthood. Although less common clinical manifestations are well described, they have not been the subject of epidemiologic studies to describe their prevalence in specific age groups. This observational, cross-sectional, comparative study included 131 children younger than 18 of both sexes with AD who attended the clinics of the Dermatology Department of the National Institute of Pediatrics in Mexico City. Patients were examined to determine the presence of infrequent clinical manifestations of AD during infancy, preschool and school age, and adolescence and stratified according to sex, age, and number of clinical signs. A chi-square test was used to detect differences according to age and sex. Logistic regression analysis was also performed. The main findings according to age were genital dermatitis and papular-lichenoid dermatitis variant in infants; atopic feet, prurigo-like, nummular pattern, and erythroderma in preschool and school-aged children; and eyelid eczema and nipple dermatitis in adolescents. The risk of development of nipple dermatitis and eyelid eczema increased with age, and the development of genital dermatitis decreased with age. The knowledge of the prevalence of less common clinical manifestations of AD according to age in different populations might be helpful in diagnosing incipient cases of AD. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

[Epidemiological analysis of posttraumatic cervical spine injury].

PubMed

Siemianowicz, Anna; Wawrzynek, Wojciech; Koczy, Bogdan; Trzepaczyński, Marcin; Koczy, Aleksandra

2006-01-01

The purpose of this study was epidemiological analysis of trauma causes and trauma effects including age and sex. 112 patients after cervical spine trauma, admitted in Emergency Room of Self-Financing Public District Hospital of Trauma Surgery at Piekary Slaskie were studied retrospectively. The following parameters were estimated: age, sex, cause of injury, type and localization of pathology. The mean age was 35.4 years. The largest age group consisted of patients 25-45 years old. Males predominated over females in all age groups. The most common cause of cervical spine injury was traffic accident with a patient as a car driver or as a car passenger (45.5%) The most common pathology was luxation and subluxation (36.6%). Luxations and subluxations were most often localized on C1-C2 level (50.6% of all luxations), and on C5-C6 level (19.8% of all luxations). Fractures were most often localized in C5 vertebra (24.8% of all fractures). These results suggest that causes and results of trauma and participation of both sex have changed.

Clinical study of Tinea capitis in Northern Karnataka: A three-year experience at a single institute.

PubMed

Pai, Varadraj V; Hanumanthayya, Keloji; Tophakhane, Raghavendra S; Nandihal, Namrata W; Kikkeri, Narayan Shetty Naveen

2013-01-01

Tinea capitis is a superficial fungal infection of the hair follicle of scalp. Most of the dermatophytosis do not have such age propensity as tinea capitis which almost invariably involves the paediatric age group. The exact incidence of tinea capitis is not known. This study is done in order to isolate the species variation in an area, to know the changing patterns of occurrence of different species and their association with clinical pattern All clinically diagnosed cases of tinea capitis which presented to our out patient department over a period of one year were included in the study. 70 cases of Tinea capitis were studied. Tinea capitis is a disease of prepubertal children with common in age group of 5- 15 years. The incidence varies from 0.5% to 10%. Most common presenting feature was alopecia.

Clinical study of Tinea capitis in Northern Karnataka: A three-year experience at a single institute

PubMed Central

Pai, Varadraj V.; Hanumanthayya, Keloji; Tophakhane, Raghavendra S.; Nandihal, Namrata W.; Kikkeri, Narayan Shetty Naveen

2013-01-01

Background: Tinea capitis is a superficial fungal infection of the hair follicle of scalp. Most of the dermatophytosis do not have such age propensity as tinea capitis which almost invariably involves the paediatric age group. The exact incidence of tinea capitis is not known. This study is done in order to isolate the species variation in an area, to know the changing patterns of occurrence of different species and their association with clinical pattern Materials and Methods: All clinically diagnosed cases of tinea capitis which presented to our out patient department over a period of one year were included in the study. Results: 70 cases of Tinea capitis were studied. Discussion: Tinea capitis is a disease of prepubertal children with common in age group of 5- 15 years. The incidence varies from 0.5% to 10%. Most common presenting feature was alopecia. PMID:23439970

Prevalence of spinal disorders and their relationships with age and gender

PubMed Central

Alshami, Ali M.

2015-01-01

Objectives: To establish the period prevalence of spinal disorders referred to physical therapy in a university hospital over a 3-year period, and to determine the relationships of common spinal disorders with patients’ age and gender. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in the Physical Therapy Department, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Computer data of all new electronic referrals from January 2011 to December 2013 were retrieved and reviewed. The computer data included demographic information, referring facility, and diagnosis/disorder. Results: One thousand six hundred and sixty-nine (28.1%) of all referred patients (5929) had spinal disorders. The most common disorders affected the lumbar spine (53.1%) and cervical spine (27.1%), and pain was the most common disorder. Neck pain (60.5%) was more common in patients <30 years old (p<0.001). Cervical spondylosis was common (~30%) in the >30 age groups. Spondylosis and low back pain were more prevalent in women (7.8% and 76.2%) than in men (73.9% and 3.3%). Conclusion: Spinal disorders were common compared with other disorders. Low back pain and neck pain were the most common spinal disorders. Age and gender were weakly related to some of the disorders that affected the lumbar and cervical spine. PMID:25987116

Cochlear implantation outcomes in children with common cavity deformity; a retrospective study.

PubMed

Zhang, Li; Qiu, Jianxin; Qin, Feifei; Zhong, Mei; Shah, Gyanendra

2017-09-01

A common cavity deformity (CCD) is a deformed inner ear in which the cochlea and vestibule are confluent forming a common rudimentary cystic cavity that results in profound hearing loss. There are few studies paying attention to common cavity. Our group is engrossed in observing the improvement of auditory and verbal abilities in children who have received cochlear implantation (CI), and comparing these targets between children with common cavity and normal inner ear structure. A retrospective study was conducted in 12 patients with profound hearing loss that were divided into a common cavity group and a control group, six in each group matched in sex, age and time of implantation, based on inner ear structure. Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) and speech intelligibility rating (SIR) scores and aided hearing thresholds were collected and compared between the two groups. All patients wore CI for more than 1 year at the Cochlear Center of Anhui Medical University from 2011 to 2015. Postoperative CAP and SIR scores were higher than before operation in both groups (p < 0.05), although the scores were lower in the CCD group than in the control group (p < 0.05). The aided threshold was also lower in the control group than in the CCD group (p < 0.05). Even though audiological improvement in children with CCD was not as good as in those without CCD, CI provides benefits in auditory perception and communication skills in these children.

Prevalence of rotavirus genotypes in children younger than 5 years of age before the introduction of a universal rotavirus vaccination program: report of rotavirus surveillance in Turkey.

PubMed

Durmaz, Riza; Kalaycioglu, Atila Taner; Acar, Sumeyra; Bakkaloglu, Zekiye; Karagoz, Alper; Korukluoglu, Gulay; Ertek, Mustafa; Torunoglu, Mehmet Ali

2014-01-01

Group A rotaviruses are the most common causative agent of acute gastroenteritis among children less than 5 years of age throughout the world. This sentinel surveillance study was aimed to obtain baseline data on the rotavirus G and P genotypes across Turkey before the introduction of a universal rotavirus vaccination program. Rotavirus antigen-positive samples were collected from 2102 children less than 5 years of age who attended hospitals participating in the Turkish Rotavirus Surveillance Network. Rotavirus antigen was detected in the laboratories of participating hospitals by commercial serological tests such as latex agglutination, immunochromatographic test or enzyme immunoassay. Rotavirus G and P genotypes were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using consensus primers detecting the VP7 and VP4 genes, followed by semi-nested type-specific multiplex PCR. RT-PCR found rotavirus RNA in 1644 (78.2%) of the samples tested. The highest rate of rotavirus positivity (38.7%) was observed among children in the 13 to 24 month age group, followed by children in the age group of 25 to 36 months (28.3%). A total of eight different G types, six different P types, and 42 different G-P combinations were obtained. Four common G types (G1, G2, G3, and G9) and two common P types (P[8] and P[4]) accounted for 95.1% and 98.8% of the strains, respectively. G9P[8] was the most common G/P combination found in 40.5% of the strains followed by G1P[8] (21.6%), G2P[8] (9.3%), G2P[4] (6.5%), G3P[8] (3.5%), and finally, G4P[8] (3.4%). These six common genotypes included 83.7% of the strains tested in this study. The rate of uncommon genotypes was 14%. The majority of the strains analyzed belonged to the G1-G4 and G9 genotypes, suggesting high coverage of current rotavirus vaccines. This study also demonstrates a dramatic increase in G9 genotype across the country.

Dog bites in a U.S. county: age, body part and breed in paediatric dog bites.

PubMed

Ramgopal, Sriram; Brungo, Lauren Bealafeld; Bykowski, Michael R; Pitetti, Raymond D; Hickey, Robert W

2018-05-01

To compare characteristics of gender, age, body part and breed in dog bites. We reviewed 14 956 dog bites (4195 paediatric) reported to the Allegheny County Health Department, USA, between 2007 and 2015. Using predefined age groups, we performed linear regression to assess for subject age and bite frequency and used binary logistic regression to evaluate for differences in gender and body part. We used chi-squared test with Bonferroni correction to evaluate for differences in reported breeds with age. There was a negative correlation (-0.80, r 2 = 0.64) between age and bite frequency. Children 0-3 years had a higher odds ratio (OR) of bites to the face [21.12, 95% confidence interval (CI): 17.61-25.33] and a lower OR of bites to the upper (OR: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.12-0.18) and lower (OR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.14-0.27) extremities. 'Pit bulls' accounted for 27.2% of dog bites and were more common in children 13-18 years (p < 0.01). Shih-Tzu bites were more common in children three years of age and younger (p < 0.01). Dog bites occur with higher frequency at younger ages, and head and neck injuries are more common in younger children. Pit bull bites are more common in adolescents and Shih-Tzu bites more common in younger children. ©2018 Foundation Acta Paediatrica. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

[Characteristics of bedridden elderly people living at home and in a hospital].

PubMed

Nagura, E; Igata, A; Fujita, H; Inoue, T; Kanno, K; Matsuura, T; Tokuda, H; Hosokawa, T

1997-07-01

We compared bedridden elderly people living at home to others who were hospital inpatients. Questionnaires regarding medical status and care were returned by 85 of 116 people caring for a bedridden elderly person at home in Obu city, Aichi prefecture and by 62 of 64 nurses and family members caring for bedridden inpatients at Chubu National hospital. All subjects were at least 65 years old. The median age in both groups was 81 years, neither age distribution nor female sex predominance differed between both groups. The percentage of subjects with only one underlying disease was 62.5% among those living at home and 64.4% among inpatients. In both groups the most common disease was cerebrovascular disease (42.5% among those at home and 39.0% among inpatients), followed by dementia (31.3%), infirmity of old age (17.5%) and bone fracture (13.8%) among those at home, and by bone fracture (27.1%), dementia (20.3%) and infirmity of old age (16.9%) among inpatients. The median durations of bedridden status were 2 years and 3 months among those at home and 3 months among inpatients. The proportion of subjects bedridden for less than 6 months was greater among inpatients (p < 0.0001). The percentage who needed medical treatment was 60.0% among those at home and 67.7% among inpatients. The most common conditions for which drugs were taken were hypertension, dementia, chronic cerebrovascular dysfunction, and osteoporosis. Among inpatients, 54.8% were ambulatory before admission, 24.2% were almost completely bedridden, and 17.7% were completely bedridden. The most common cause rending the patients bedridden was infection (usually pneumonia). The degree of disability did not differ between groups. Decubitus ulcers were present in 25.9% of those at home and 17.7% of inpatients.

Effect of exercise on age-related changes in collagen fibril diameter distributions in the common digital extensor tendons of young horses.

PubMed

Edwards, Lindsey J; Goodship, Allen E; Birch, Helen L; Patterson-Kane, Janet C

2005-04-01

To determine whether specific treadmill exercise regimens would accelerate age-related changes in collagen fibril diameter distributions in the common digital extensor tendon (CDET) of the forelimbs of young Thoroughbreds. 24 female Thoroughbreds. Horses were trained for 18 weeks (6 horses; short term) or 18 months (5 horses; long term) on a high-speed treadmill; 2 age-matched control groups (6 horses/group) performed walking exercise only. Horses were (mean +/- SD) 24 +/- 1 months and 39 +/- 1 months old at termination of the short-term and long-term regimens, respectively. Midmetacarpal CDET specimens were obtained and processed for transmission electron microscopy. Diameter and area of at least 1,000 collagen fibrils/specimen were measured by use of computerized image analysis. Mass-average diameter (MAD) of collagen fibrils and collagen fibril index were calculated for each horse. Collagen fibril MAD for the older horses was significantly less than that for the younger horses. Exercise did not significantly affect fibril diameter or distributions in either age group, and collagen fibril index did not differ significantly between groups. Age-related reduction in collagen fibril MAD agreed with findings for other tendons and species. Training did not accelerate age-related change in the CDET in contrast to a reported decrease in collagen fibril MAD in the superficial digital flexor tendon of horses trained long term. Our results support the concept that the functionally distinct nature of the CDET and superficial digital flexor tendon in horses results in fundamentally different responses to high-speed exercise regimens.

Presence and Image of Women in the Information Media Aimed at Adolescents Aged 10 to 16.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dansereau, Stephanie; Maranda, Jeanne

An exploratory study identified the areas of information most commonly featured in the printed and electronic media designed specifically for adolescents aged 10-16 and also identified the presence and role of women in the information targeted to this age group. A content analysis was made of both French- and English-language television programs…

The Influence of Relative Age Effect in the Assessment of High School Students in Physical Education in the United Kingdom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roberts, Simon J.; Fairclough, Stuart J.

2012-01-01

The common practice of annually age grouping children in education, likely done under the assumption of similarly aged children sharing similar abilities and learner characteristics, may actually undermine equity and fairness in student assessments. This strategy has received criticism for (dis) advantaging those older children born closer to the…

Musculoskeletal problems in Parkinson's disease: neglected issues.

PubMed

Kim, Young Eun; Lee, Woong-Woo; Yun, Ji Young; Yang, Hui June; Kim, Han-Joon; Jeon, Beom S

2013-07-01

To identify the prevalence and clinical features of musculoskeletal problems in patients with Parkinson disease (PD) compared to controls. 400 PD patients and 138 age- and sex-matched controls were interviewed by physicians about their musculoskeletal problems. The prevalence of musculoskeletal problems was significantly higher in the PD group than in the control group (66.3% vs. 45.7%, P < 0.001). Commonly involved body sites were the low back, knee, and shoulder in that order. The low back was more frequently involved in the PD group than in the control group (44.3% vs. 24.6%, P < 0.001), and the shoulder tended to be more involved in the PD group than in the control group (15.0% vs. 8.7%, P = 0.061). However, the knee was similarly involved in both group (12.3% vs. 18.0%, P = 0.121). Among the past diagnoses associated with musculoskeletal problems, frozen shoulder, low back pain, osteoporosis and fracture were more common in the PD group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Older age, female, and a higher score on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale I & II were associated with musculoskeletal problems in the PD group. Only 26.8% of the PD patients and 52.5% of the controls with musculoskeletal problems answered that their musculoskeletal problems were recovering. Furthermore, musculoskeletal problems in the PD group tended to receive less treatment than that of the control group (P = 0.052). Musculoskeletal problems were more common in the PD group than in the controls. Furthermore, despite PD patients having a higher prevalence, they did not receive adequate treatment. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Increase in Suicide Rates by Hanging in the Population of Tabasco, Mexico between 2003 and 2012.

PubMed

Hernández-Alvarado, Mervyn Manuel; González-Castro, Thelma Beatriz; Tovilla-Zárate, Carlos Alfonso; Fresán, Ana; Juárez-Rojop, Isela E; López-Narváez, María Lilia; Villar-Soto, Mario; Genis-Mendoza, Alma

2016-06-01

Worldwide, the suicide rate is decreasing. To examine changes in the rates of completed suicide in the Mexican population from 2003 to 2012, we analyzed these changes according to: (i) the method of suicide; (ii) age group and (iii) gender. The data analyzed were obtained from governmental organizations from the State of Tabasco, Mexico. The data provided 1836 cases of subjects born and residing in Tabasco, who completed suicide in this state. Suicide by hanging was a common choice of suicide method for Mexicans. The rate of suicide by hanging increased from 5.80 to 6.49 per 100,000 persons between 2003 and 2012, a rate percentage increase of 11.89%. Hanging was found to be the most common choice of suicide in the Mexican population, probably because the materials required are easily available and the method does not require complicated techniques, especially in the 55-64 age group. Strategies for prevention and intervention should be developed for the Mexican population considering suicide rates by age group and gender.

Increase in Suicide Rates by Hanging in the Population of Tabasco, Mexico between 2003 and 2012

PubMed Central

Hernández-Alvarado, Mervyn Manuel; González-Castro, Thelma Beatriz; Tovilla-Zárate, Carlos Alfonso; Fresán, Ana; Juárez-Rojop, Isela E.; López-Narváez, María Lilia; Villar-Soto, Mario; Genis-Mendoza, Alma

2016-01-01

Background: Worldwide, the suicide rate is decreasing. To examine changes in the rates of completed suicide in the Mexican population from 2003 to 2012, we analyzed these changes according to: (i) the method of suicide; (ii) age group and (iii) gender. Methods: The data analyzed were obtained from governmental organizations from the State of Tabasco, Mexico. The data provided 1836 cases of subjects born and residing in Tabasco, who completed suicide in this state. Results: Suicide by hanging was a common choice of suicide method for Mexicans. The rate of suicide by hanging increased from 5.80 to 6.49 per 100,000 persons between 2003 and 2012, a rate percentage increase of 11.89%. Conclusions: Hanging was found to be the most common choice of suicide in the Mexican population, probably because the materials required are easily available and the method does not require complicated techniques, especially in the 55–64 age group. Strategies for prevention and intervention should be developed for the Mexican population considering suicide rates by age group and gender. PMID:27258292

On the derivation of a full life table from mortality data recorded in five-year age groups.

PubMed

Pollard, J H

1989-01-01

Mortality data are often gathered using 5-year age groups rather than individual years of life. Furthermore, it is common practice to use a large open-ended interval (such as 85 and over) for mortality data at the older ages. These limitations of the data pose problems for the actuary or demographer who wishes to compile a full and accurate life table using individual years of life. The author devises formulae which handle these problems. He also devises methods for handling mortality during the 1st year of life and for dealing with other technical problems which arise in the compilation of the full life table from grouped data.

Renal Tumors in Children Younger Than 12 Months of Age: A 65-Year Single Institution Review.

PubMed

Lamb, Margaret G; Aldrink, Jennifer H; O'Brien, Sarah H; Yin, Han; Arnold, Michael A; Ranalli, Mark A

2017-03-01

Wilms tumor (WT) is the most prevalent pediatric renal tumor and most commonly occurs between ages 1 and 5 years. Data are lacking on children younger than 12 months with renal tumors. The cancer registry at the authors' institution was queried to identify patients 12 months and younger with renal masses. Demographics, clinical presentation, histopathology, stage, and survival outcomes were reviewed. The most common presenting symptoms included an asymptomatic abdominal mass (73%) and hematuria (9%). Histopathology revealed WT in 73% of patients, mesoblastic nephroma in 20%. Of those infants younger than 1 month of age, mesoblastic nephroma was the most common histopathology (68%). The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 93%, and 5-year event-free survival (EFS) was 93% for the entire group. For patients with WT, 5-year OS was 88% and 5-year EFS was 83%. Outcomes for congenital mesoblastic nephroma were excellent with 5-year OS and EFS of 100%. Reasons for good prognosis may be multifactorial and may include frequent well child checks in the first year of life and favorable histology. Patients in this age group are more likely to be classified as very low risk and may be treated with surgical resection alone.

[Distribution of Enterobius vermicularis among the schoolchildren of two primary schools with different social-economic status in the Ankara province].

PubMed

Hazir, Canan; Gündeşli, Hülya; Ozkirim, Asli; Keskin, Nevin

2009-01-01

In this study, 207 cellophane-tape specimens were taken from children at two different primary schools in Ankara province. Twenty two out of 207 samples were positive for Enterobius vermicularis (10.6%). A questionnaire including the major factors affecting the distribution of E. vermicularis such as the students' ages, genders and socio-economic status was made. No relationship was found between children's gender and E. vermicularis infection, whereas a higher infection rate was seen in the low-income families. When the 6-9 age group was taken into consideration, the incidence of E. vermicularis was higher for the 8-9 age group than for the 6-7 age group. Abdominal pain was the most common clinical symptom among the children.

Is it possible a new definition of metabolic syndrome in childhood?

PubMed

Martino, F; Pannarale, G; Puddu, P E; Colantoni, C; Zanoni, C; Martino, E; Torromeo, C; Paravati, V; Perla, F M; Barillà, F

2015-11-01

To investigate whether a group of Italian children and adolescents who were diagnosed to have metabolic syndrome (MS) according to a new ethnic age and gender specific definition had, in comparison with a control group, other signs and metabolic risk factors which are commonly associated with MS. The cross-sectional study population included 300 subjects (51% boys, age range 6-14 years), who were divided into 2 groups according to the presence of MS, diagnosed on the basis of 3/5 factors derived from the age and gender specific quantile distribution of MS components in a large regional Italian population survey (Calabrian Sierras Community Study, CSCS). In all subjects the following data were collected: anthropometric measures, blood pressure, liver function, C-reactive protein (hsCRP), uric acid blood levels, lipid and glucose profile. Triglycerides/HDL-cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio was calculated. There were 38 subjects (13%) with MS, who had higher indices of growth and fat distribution and higher blood levels of uric acid, alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyltransferase. TG/HDL ratio was higher (median 3.11 vs. 1.14, p = 0.00001) in MS subjects who had lower apolipoprotein A and higher apolipoprotein B and non-HDL-C levels. hsCRP was not different between groups. Our ethnic age and gender specific definition of MS in Italian children and adolescents was able to identify in a youth group different cardiometabolic risk factors related to insulin resistance, endothelial damage and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which are commonly associated with MS diagnosis.

Evolving trends of neonatal and childhood bacterial meningitis in northern Taiwan.

PubMed

Lin, Meng-Chin; Chiu, Nan-Chang; Chi, Hsin; Ho, Che-Sheng; Huang, Fu-Yuan

2015-06-01

The epidemiology of bacterial meningitis varies in different areas, age groups, and times. To know the trend of neonatal and childhood bacterial meningitis in northern Taiwan, we performed this 29-year-long assessment. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or younger, hospitalized in Mackay Memorial Hospital between 1984 and 2012, and proven by positive cerebrospinal fluid bacterial cultures. Analysis included the patient numbers and pathogens in different age groups, periods, complications, and outcomes. Males were predominant in all the age groups through the years. Almost half of the patients were in the neonatal period. Patient numbers went up in the early study period and declined after 1993-1997. Group B Streptococcus and Escherichia coli were the most common pathogens in neonates, whereas in childhood were Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Patient numbers of Group B Streptococcus, S. pneumoniae, and Hib meningitis declined in the late study period, but E. coli meningitis increased. The mortality rate decreased but sequela rate increased. Among the four most common pathogens, S. pneumoniae had the worst outcome and had highest mortality rate. All Hib meningitis patients survived, but their sequela rate was the highest. This study provides an epidemiological data on trends of neonatal and childhood bacterial meningitis in northern Taiwan during the past 29 years, including male and neonatal predominance, decrease of total patient number in recent years, change of major pathogens, and declined mortality but raised morbidity. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Celiac disease in 87 children with typical and atypical symptoms in Black Sea region of Turkey.

PubMed

Dinler, Gönül; Atalay, Erdal; Kalayci, Ayhan Gazi

2009-11-01

Celiac disease presents with a spectrum of clinical disorders. The variety of clinical presentations largely depends on age and extraintestinal findings. This study aimed to determine typical and atypical cases according to presenting symptoms and to evaluate their biochemical and pathological parameters. Eighty-seven patients with celiac disease in our unit between 2000 and 2007 were reviewed. Their diagnosis was made by serological and histological examination. The patients were divided into two groups according to their typical or atypical symptoms. The mean age of the patients at diagnosis was 8.2 years (range, 1-18 years), but patients presenting with typical symptoms were younger than those presenting with atypical symptoms. The patients in the two groups did not differ significantly in sex, weight and height Z scores except age. Diarrhea (96.3%), abdominal distention (65.4%) and failure to thrive (60%) were the most common clinical presentations in the typical group, and short stature (62.5%) and anemia (31.2%) were the most common in the atypical group. Total/subtotal villous atrophy was significantly higher in the typical group than in the atypical group. Many children with celiac disease show an atypical form. The understanding of presentations of celiac disease may prevent delayed diagnosis. Celiac disease should be specially investigated in patients with recurrent iron deficiency anemia, short stature and autoimmune disorders.

Clinical Features and Risk Factors of Patients with Presumed Ocular Toxoplasmosis.

PubMed

Fuh, Ukamaka Celestina; Omoti, Afekhide E; Enock, Malachi E

2016-01-01

To determine the clinical features and risk factors of presumed ocular toxoplasmosis (POT) in patients affected with the condition at Irrua, Nigeria. The study included 69 patients with POT, and 69 age and sex matched subjects who served as the control group. Data was obtained using interviewer administered questionnaires. Examination included measurement of visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), slit lamp examination, gonioscopy and dilated fundus examination. Mean age of cases and control subjects was 57.16 ± 18.69 and 56.09 ± 16.01 years respectively. The peak age group in patients with POT was 60 years and above. The most common presenting complaint was blurred vision occurring in 100% of cases. Drinking unfiltered water in 58 (84.1%) patients was the most common risk factor. Other risk factors included post cataract surgery status in 32 (46.4%) subjects, ingestion of poorly cooked meat in 30 (43.5%) cases and exposure to cats in 9 (13.0%) patients. All risk factors were more common in POT patients (P < 0.05). Out of 69 patients, 62 (89.9%) had unilateral while 7 (10.1%) had bilateral involvement. Out of 76 eyes with uveitis, 53 (69.7%) were blind. Active disease was significantly more common with increasing age (P < 0.05). Patients with POT were rather old and some risk factors were modifiable, therefore health education for preventing the transmission of toxoplasmosis and provision of sanitary water may help reduce the incidence of ocular toxoplasmosis.

[Indications for genetic amniocentesis investigated at the Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Oncologic Gynecology, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Collegium Medicum, Bydgoszcz].

PubMed

Sadłecki, Paweł; Walentowicz-Sadłecka, Małgorzata; Pasińska, Magdalena; Adamczak, Rafał; Grabiec, Marek

2014-06-01

Genetic amniocentesis (GA) is the most common prenatal diagnostic test. One of the main indications for GA is maternal age of > or = 35 years. In many countries, the age indication has been replaced by an assessment of individual risk for chromosomal abnormalities, calculated on the basis of maternal age, pregnancy duration, as well as a combination of biochemical and ultrasound markers. The aim of the study was to investigate indications for and results of GA performed between 2010-2012 at the Department of Gynecology Obstetrics, and Oncologic Gynecology Nicolaus Copernicus University Collegium Medicum, Bydgoszcz. A total of 632 GA tests were performed at the Department of Gynecology Obstetrics, and Oncologic Gynecology Nicolaus Copernicus University Collegium Medicum, Bydgoszcz. Average maternal age was 34 (between 17 and 47 years), with patients < 35 constituting 47.9% (N = 303), and patients > or = 35 constituting 52.1% (N = 329) of the investigated group. Indications for GA as well as test results were analyzed in relation to maternal age. The result of earlier non-invasive tests were also analyzed. Abnormal ultrasound findings, combined with abnormal first-trimester screening results, were the most common indication (46.53%) for GA in patients < 35 years, whereas abnormal first-trimester screening results, combined with a history of obstetric complications, were the reason for GA in patients > or = 35 years. Mean time of GA was 16 gestational weeks in both groups. Abnormal karyotype was detected in 74 (11.7%) cases. 13 or any other abnormal karyotypes occurrence were observed in both age groups. GA-related complications (miscarriage/intrauterine fetal death) occurred in 9 (1.42%) cases. If performed properly GA between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy is a harmless procedure both, for the mother and the fetus, associated with an acceptable complication rate. Prenatal screening for the most common malformations and chromosomal aberrations should be offered to all pregnant women in Poland, regardless of their age.

Distribution and habitat associations of juvenile Common Snook in the lower Rio Grande, Texas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Huber, Caleb G.; Grabowski, Timothy B.; Patino, Reynaldo; Pope, Kevin L.

2014-01-01

Common Snook Centropomus undecimalis were once abundant off the Texas coast, but these populations are now characterized by low abundance and erratic recruitment. Most research concerning Common Snook in North America has been conducted in Florida and very little is known about the specific biology and habitat needs of Common Snook in Texas. The primary objective of this study was to describe the habitat use patterns of juvenile Common Snook and their role in the fish assemblage in the lower portion of the Rio Grande, Texas. Secondarily, we documented the relationship between age and juvenile reproductive development. Fish were collected during January–March 2006 from the lower 51.5 km of the Rio Grande using a bottom trawl and boat-mounted electrofisher. Measurements of water quality and other habitat traits were recorded at each sampling site. We captured 225 Common Snook exclusively in freshwater habitats above river kilometer 12.9. The distribution of juvenile Common Snook was not random, but influenced primarily by turbidity and dissolved oxygen. Sex differentiation and gonadal development based on histological examination of gonads established that age-1 and age-2 Common Snook were juvenile, prepubertal males. There was no difference between the age groups in their overall distribution in the river. However, age-2 Common Snook were associated with deeper areas with faster currents, higher conductivity, and steeper banks. Overall, Common Snook in the lower Rio Grande show substantial differences in habitat use than their counterparts in other parts of the range of the species, but it is unclear whether this is due to differences in habitat availability, behavioral plasticity, or some combination thereof.

A nationwide study of patients hospitalised for poisoning in Korea based on Korea National Hospital Discharge In-Depth Injury Survey data from 2005 to 2009

PubMed Central

Kim, Kyunghee; Choi, Jae Wook; Park, Miso; Kim, Min Soo; Lee, Eun Sun

2015-01-01

Objectives In light of the need to develop an integrated database on poisoning incidents in Korea, this study seeks to determine the characteristics of poisoning incidents in Korea by age, gender, location of incident, causative substance and patient prognosis. Data sources The Korea National Hospital Discharge In-Depth Injury Survey results (2005–2009) from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were used. Participants 3826 participants in the survey who had been hospitalised for poisoning incidents. Results The poisoning hospitalisation rate per 100 000 population was higher in women (1.735) than in men (1.372) and increased with age: the rate was 0.458 among individuals aged ≤9 years, 0.481 among those aged 10–19 years, 1.584 among those aged 20–64 years and 4.053 among those aged ≥65 years. The intentional poisoning hospitalisation rate differed by gender and age group. Women aged ≤19 years and 20–64 years showed a higher hospitalisation rate than men, while men aged ≥65 years showed a higher hospitalisation rate than women in the same age group. The most common poisoning substance was pesticides (33.6%), while antiepileptic, sedative-hypnotic and antiparkinsonism drugs and psychotropic drugs, not elsewhere classified were also very common. Poisoning in those aged ≤9 years usually involved other drugs, while pesticides were the most common substances in those aged 20–64 years and ≥65 years. Conclusions This study analysed poisoning incidents in Korea from 2005 to 2009, by age and gender, causative substance, and characteristics. The results of this study may serve as evidence for new strategies in Korea to prevent poisoning. PMID:26553832

Age-related commonalities and differences in the relationship between executive functions and intelligence: Analysis of the NAB executive functions module and WAIS-IV scores.

PubMed

Buczylowska, Dorota; Petermann, Franz

2017-01-01

Data from five subtests of the Executive Functions Module of the German Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB) and all ten core subtests of the German Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) were used to examine the relationship between executive functions and intelligence in a comparison of two age groups: individuals aged 18-59 years and individuals aged 60-88 years. The NAB subtests Categories and Word Generation demonstrated a consistent correlation pattern for both age groups. However, the NAB Judgment subtest correlated more strongly with three WAIS-IV indices, the Full Scale IQ (FSIQ), and the General Ability Index (GAI) in the older adult group than in the younger group. Additionally, in the 60-88 age group, the Executive Functions Index (EFI) was more strongly correlated with the Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) than with the Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI). Both age groups demonstrated a strong association of the EFI with the FSIQ and the Working Memory Index (WMI). The results imply the potential diagnostic utility of the Judgment subtest and a significant relationship between executive functioning and crystallized intelligence at older ages. Furthermore, it may be concluded that there is a considerable age-independent overlap between the EFI and general intelligence, as well as between the EFI and working memory.

Identifying important life stages for monitoring and assessing risks from exposures to environmental contaminants: results of a World Health Organization review.

PubMed

Cohen Hubal, Elaine A; de Wet, Thea; Du Toit, Lilo; Firestone, Michael P; Ruchirawat, Mathuros; van Engelen, Jacqueline; Vickers, Carolyn

2014-06-01

In this paper, we summarize exposure-related issues to consider in determining the most appropriate age ranges and life stages for risk assessment. We then propose a harmonized set of age bins for monitoring and assessing risks from exposures to chemicals for global use. The focus is on preconception through adolescence, though the approach should be applicable to additional life stages. A two-tiered set of early life age groups is recommended. The first tier involves the adoption of guidance similar to the childhood age groups recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, whereas the second tier consolidates some of those age groups to reduce the burden of developing age-specific exposure factors for different regions. While there is no single "correct" means of choosing a common set of age groups to use internationally in assessing early life exposure and risk, use of a set of defined age groups is recommended to facilitate comparisons of potential exposures and risks around the globe, the collection of data and analyses of aggregate exposure and cumulative risk. Application of these age groups for robust assessment of exposure and risk for specific populations will require region-specific exposure factors as well as local environmental monitoring data. Copyright © 2013 World Health Organization. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Children's Control/Display Stereotypes.

PubMed

Hoffmann, Errol R; Chan, Alan H S; Tai, Judy P C

2018-06-01

Objective The aim of this study was to determine control/display stereotypes for children of a range of ages and development of these stereotypes with age. Background Little is known about control/display stereotypes for children of different ages and the way in which these stereotypes develop with age. This study is part of a program to determine the need to design differentially for these age groups. Method We tested four groups of children with various tasks (age groups 5 to 7, 8 to 10, 11 to 13, 14 to 16), with about 30 in each group. Examples of common tasks were opening a bottle, turning on taps, and allocating numbers to keypads. More complex tasks involved rotating a control to move a display in a requested direction. Results Tasks with which different age groups were familiar showed no effect of age group. Different control/display arrangements generally showed an increase in stereotype strength with age, with dependence on the form of the control/display arrangement. Two-dimensional arrangements, with the control on the same plane as the display, had higher stereotype strength than three-dimensional arrangements for all age groups, suggesting an effect of familiarity with controls and displays with increasing age. Conclusion Children's control/display stereotypes do not differ greatly from those of adults, and hence, design for children older than 5 years of age, for control/display stereotypes, can be the same as that for adult populations. Application When designing devices for children, the relationship between controls and displays can be as for adult populations, for which there are considerable experimental data.

Occlusal traits of deciduous dentition of preschool children of Indian children

PubMed Central

Bahadure, Rakesh N.; Thosar, Nilima; Gaikwad, Rahul

2012-01-01

Objectives: To assess the occlusal relationship, canine relationship, crowding, primate spaces, and anterior spacing in both maxillary and mandibular arches of primary dentition of Indian children of Wardha District and also to study the age-wise differences in occlusal characteristics. Materials and Methods: A total of 1053 (609 males and 444 females) children of 3-5 year age group with complete primary dentition were examined for occlusal relationship, canine relationship, crowding, primate spaces, and anterior spacing in both maxillary and mandibular arches. Results: The data after evaluation showed significant values for all parameters except mandibular anterior spacing, which was 47.6%. Mild crowding was prevalent at 5 year age group and moderate crowding was common at 3 year-age group. Conclusion: Evaluated parameters such as terminal molar relationship and canine relationship were predominantly progressing toward to normal but contacts and crowding status were contributing almost equal to physiologic anterior spacing. Five-year-age group showed higher values with respect to all the parameters. PMID:23633806

Body weight and the medial longitudinal foot arch: high-arched foot, a hidden problem?

PubMed

Woźniacka, R; Bac, A; Matusik, S; Szczygieł, E; Ciszek, E

2013-05-01

This study had two objectives. First, to determine the prevalence of hollow (high-arched) and flat foot among primary school children in Cracow (Poland). Second, to evaluate the relationship between the type of medial longitudinal arch (MLA; determined by the Clarke's angle) and degree of fatness. The prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity was determined by means of IOTF cut-offs with respect to age and gender. A sample of 1,115 children (564 boys and 551 girls) aged between 3 and 13 years was analyzed. In all age groups, regardless of gender, high-arched foot was diagnosed in the majority of children. A distinct increase in the number of children with high-arched foot was observed between 7- and 8-year olds. Regardless of the gender, high-arched foot was more common among underweight children. In the group of obese children, the biggest differences were attributed to gender. High-arched foot was the most frequently observed among boys. In all gender and obesity level groups, the flat foot was more common among boys than among girls. High-arched foot is the most common foot defect among children 3-13 years old regardless of gender. Flat foot is least frequently observed in children 3-13 years old. A statistic correlation between MLA and adiposity is observed. Stronger correlation is observed among girls.

Practice of aerobic sports is associated with better spatial memory in adults and older men.

PubMed

Sánchez-Horcajo, Rubén; Llamas-Alonso, Juan; Cimadevilla, José Manuel

2015-01-01

BACKGROUND/STUDY CONTEXT: Cognitive abilities experience diverse age-related changes. Memory complaints are common in aging. The practice of sports is known to benefit brain functioning, improving memory among other abilities. Introduction of virtual reality tasks makes it possible to easily assess cognitive functions such as spatial memory, a hippocampus-dependent cognitive ability. In this study, the authors applied a virtual reality-based task to study spatial reference memory in two groups of men, sportsmen (n=28) and sedentary (n=28), across three different age groups: 50-59, 60-69, and 70-77 years. The data showed that sportsmen outperformed sedentary participants. In addition, there was also a significant effect of the factor age. Hence, older men (70-77 years old) displayed a poorer performance in comparison with the other age groups. These results support the beneficial effect of habitual physical activity in spatial memory.

Intussusception incidence rates in 9 Zambian hospitals, 2007-2011: prerotavirus vaccine introduction.

PubMed

Mpabalwani, Evans M; Chitambala, Pearson; Chibumbya, Julia N; Matapo, Belem; Mutambo, Helen; Mwenda, Jason M; Babaniyi, Olusegun; Munkonge, Lupando

2014-01-01

Intussusception, a rare adverse event associated with rotavirus vaccines in some settings, is a common cause of intestinal obstruction in infants and toddlers globally with a peak age of 4-6 months. This age group may overlap with the extended age of administering rotavirus vaccine. A retrospective (January 2007 to June 2009) and prospective (July 2009 to June 2012) survey was conducted in 9 Zambian hospitals. Children between 0 and 24 months who were operated on for intestinal obstruction/intussusception were identified in theatre log books. In the latter part of the survey, patients were recruited prospectively. Demographic, clinical and surgical data from hospital files were collected for each patient. One-hundred and five children were identified to have undergone surgery for intussusceptions. Many were boys 57.6% (57/99). Of those with complete data, intussusception was common in infants 86.9% (86/99) and many children (68.0%) were between 3 and 8 months of age with a peak age of 5-6 months. Lusaka had the highest number of children with intussusception with an estimated annual incidence rate of 12/100,000 in children <2 years of age. The overall case fatality rate was very high 33.7% (31/92). Intussusception was common in infants with a peak age of 5-6 months, and of particular concern is the group of 2-4 months the age of rotavirus vaccination. The estimated incidence rate of 12/100,000 is an underestimate as many cases may not present for care. The high case fatality rate of 33.7% is due to both delayed presentation and diagnosis in hospital.

Variation in Antibiotic Susceptibility of Uropathogens by Age among Ambulatory Pediatric Patients

PubMed Central

Quach, Yennie; Bearden, David T.; Smith, David H.; Sharp, Susan E.; Guzman-Cottrill, Judith A.

2013-01-01

We compared uropathogen antibiotic susceptibility across age groups of ambulatory pediatric patients. For Escherichia coli (n=5,099) and other Gram-negative rods (n=626), significant differences (p<0.05) existed across age groups for ampicillin, cefazolin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole susceptibility. In E. coli, differences in trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole susceptibility varied from 79% in children under 2 to 88% in ages 16–18 (p<0.001) while ampicillin susceptibility varied from 30% in children under 2 to 53% in ages 2–5 (p=0.015). Uropathogen susceptibility to common urinary anti-infectives may be lower in the youngest children. Further investigation into these differences is needed to facilitate appropriate and prudent treatment of urinary tract infections. PMID:24091131

Usage trends for memory and vitality-enhancing medicines: A pharmacoepidemiological study involving pharmacists of the Gujarat region

PubMed Central

Shah, Jigna Samir; Goyal, R. K.

2010-01-01

Objective: The aim of the study was to explore the trends and rationale of use of memory and vitality-enhancing medicines (MVEM) in the Gujarat region. Materials and Methods: A prospective pharmacoepidemiological study involving pharmacists of Gujarat region was carried out in the year 2005. Pharmacists (n = 351) working in general and Ayurvedic medical stores were selected from 12 districts of Gujarat region. The pharmacists were explained about the objective of the study and were given a pretested, validated questionnaire. Outcome Measures: The questionnaire included the questions regarding herbal MVEM used most commonly, percentage sale of herbal MVEM – sold with or without prescriptions – age group of patients and professional groups who used these drugs most commonly. Results: The number of individuals using MVEM was highest in the age group of 11–20 years (17.54%), followed by the 21–40 years group (17.12%), supporting the results that the professional group of students (17.29%) and the persons of business or service class (15.29%) are the highest users of these medicines. Evaluation of various constituents in the marketed polyherbal MVEM revealed that Brahmi (Bacopa monniera), Shankhpushpi (Evolvulus alsinoides), Ashwangandha (Withania somnifera), Jatamansi (Nardostychos jatamansi), Vacha (Acorus calamus) and Amla (Phyllanthus emblica) were the common ingredients in the polyherbal preparations. Conclusions: This study highlights commonly used Ayurvedic medicines that can be explored for safely enhancing memory and vitality performance. Hence, detailed and scientifically designed research on these drugs would help to identify safe and effective drugs for enhancing the same. PMID:21170204

Suicides in Hong Kong and Australia.

PubMed

Yip, P S

1998-01-01

Although the suicide rate for both Hong Kong and Australia was about 12 per 100,000 in 1994, the age- and gender-specific rates, methods of suicide, and time trends vary greatly for these two places. This paper explores the possible social, economic, and cultural background to explain this discrepancy. We used the official suicide death statistics of Hong Kong and Australia for the period 1984-1994. We calculated age-standardized suicide rates in order to take into account the differences in the age composition between the two countries and years. We employed a log-linear (Poisson) model to detect the age- and gender-specific trends, and to determine whether there were specific age or gender groups whose suicide behavior had changed significantly between 1984 and 1994. Hong Kong experienced a slight increase in suicide rate for both genders in the years 1984-1994, whereas Australia experienced a cubic trend for both genders during the same period and a rise in suicide rate in recent years. The suicide rate in Hong Kong increased with age, with a sharp increase (nearly four times the average) among the group aged 75 or over. A relatively low gender ratio (male:female) was also observed in Hong Kong, whereas in Australia there was not much difference in suicide rates among all age groups, though the suicide rate of the group aged 75 or over was 1.2 times the average. The gender ratio in Australia was higher, and the male suicide rate was four times higher than that of females. The Hong Kong suicide rate in females was twice that of Australia, whereas the Hong Kong male suicide rate was about half that of Australia. Jumping and hanging were the most common methods of suicide in Hong Kong, accounting for more than 80% of all suicide deaths. Poisoning (including gas poisoning) was the most common method used in Australia, with firearms being more common among young males. Australia had a higher years of potential life lost (YPLL) than Hong Kong because of the higher suicide rate among young males (aged 15-24). The high suicide rate among the elderly in Hong Kong raises the possibility that medical and social support to the elderly could be enhanced. The high female suicide rate in Hong Kong could be related to workload, responsibility, and expectations. The high suicide rate in Australia among males aged 15-24 was disturbing. Availability of the suicide methods is certainly one explanation for the difference in suicide methods used in Hong Kong and Australia.

Barriers to participation in physical activity and exercise among middle-aged and elderly individuals.

PubMed

Justine, Maria; Azizan, Azliyana; Hassan, Vaharli; Salleh, Zoolfaiz; Manaf, Haidzir

2013-10-01

INTRODUCTION Although the benefits of physical activity and exercise are widely acknowledged, many middle-aged and elderly individuals remain sedentary. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the external and internal barriers to physical activity and exercise participation among middle-aged and elderly individuals, as well as identify any differences in these barriers between the two groups. METHODS Recruited individuals were categorised into either the middle-aged (age 45-59 years, n = 60) or elderly (age ≥ 60 years, n = 60) group. Data on demographics, anthropometry, as well as external and internal barriers to participation in physical activity and exercise were collected. RESULTS Analysis showed no significant differences in the total scores of all internal barriers between the two groups (p > 0.05). The total scores for most external barriers between the two groups also showed no significant differences (p > 0.05); only 'cost' (p = 0.045) and 'exercise interferes with social/family activities' (p = 0.011) showed significant differences. The most common external barriers among the middle-aged and elderly respondents were 'not enough time' (46.7% vs. 48.4%), 'no one to exercise with' (40.0% vs. 28.3%) and 'lack of facilities' (33.4% vs. 35.0%). The most common internal barriers for middle-aged respondents were 'too tired' (48.3%), 'already active enough' (38.3%), 'do not know how to do it' (36.7%) and 'too lazy' (36.7%), while those for elderly respondents were 'too tired' (51.7%), 'lack of motivation' (38.4%) and 'already active enough' (38.4%). CONCLUSION Middle-aged and elderly respondents presented with similar external and internal barriers to physical activity and exercise participation. These factors should be taken into account when healthcare policies are being designed and when interventions such as the provision of facilities to promote physical activity and exercise among older people are being considered.

A novel method for assessing contrast sensitivity in the beagle dog is sensitive to age and an antioxidant enriched food.

PubMed

de Rivera, Christina; Boutet, Isabelle; Zicker, Steven C; Milgram, Norton W

2005-03-01

Tasks requiring visual discrimination are commonly used in assessment of canine cognitive function. However, little is known about canine visual processing, and virtually nothing is known about the effects of age on canine visual function. This study describes a novel behavioural method developed to assess one aspect of canine visual function, namely contrast sensitivity. Four age groups (young, middle aged, old, and senior) were studied. We also included a group of middle aged to old animals that had been maintained for at least 4 years on a specially formulated food containing a broad spectrum of antioxidants and mitochondrial cofactors. Performance of this group was compared with a group in the same age range maintained on a control diet. In the first phase, all animals were trained to discriminate between two high contrast shapes. In the second phase, contrast was progressively reduced by increasing the luminance of the shapes. Performance decreased as a function of age, but the differences did not achieve statistical significance, possibly because of a small sample size in the young group. All age groups were able to acquire the initial discrimination, although the two older age groups showed slower learning. Errors increased with decreasing contrast with the maximal number of errors for the 1% contrast shape. Also, all animals on the antioxidant diet learned the task and had significantly fewer errors at the high contrast compared with the animals on the control diet. The initial results suggest that contrast sensitivity deteriorates with age in the canine while form perception is largely unaffected by age.

[Frailty and its related Factors in Vulnerable Elderly Population by Age Groups].

PubMed

Park, Eunok; Yu, Mi

2016-12-01

This study aimed to investigate factors affecting frailty by age groups among vulnerable elders in Korea. In this secondary analysis, data were collected from records for 22,868 eldesr registered in the Visiting Health Management program of Publci Health Centers in 2012. Health behaviors, clinically diagnosed disease, frailty, depression and cognitive condition were assessed. Data were analyzed using stepwise regression to determine the associated factors of frailty by age group. Alcohol consumption, physical activity, number of diseases, DM, CVA, arthritis, urinary incontinence, depression and cognitive condition were found to be factors significantly associated with frailty among the elders aged 65~74 (F=135.66, p<.001). Alcohol consumption, physical activity, CVA, arthritis, urinary incontinence, depression and cognitive condition were found to be factors associated with frailty in the elders aged 75~84 (F=245.40, p<.001). Physical activity, CVA, arthritis, depression and cognitive condition were factors associated with frailty in the elders over 85 years of age (F=96.48, p<.001). The findings show that frailty of elders and associated factors were different by age group, and common factors affecting frailty were physical activity, CVA, arthritis, depression and cognitive condition. Thus, these factors should be considered in the development of intervention program for care and prevention of frailty and program should be modified according to age group.

Clinical Recommendation: Vulvovaginitis.

PubMed

Zuckerman, Andrea; Romano, Mary

2016-12-01

Vulvovaginitis is a commonly encountered condition among prepubertal and adolescent females. The objective of this report is to provide the latest evidence regarding the diagnosis and management of vulvovaginitis in prepubertal and adolescent females. In this systematic review we used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation evidence system. Vulvovaginal complaints are common in the pediatric and adolescent age group. The patient's age in conjunction with history and associated complaints will guide evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. Treatment should include counseling on hygiene and voiding techniques as well as therapy for any specific pathogens identified. Copyright © 2016.

Prevalence of phonological disorders and phonological processes in typical and atypical phonological development.

PubMed

Ceron, Marizete Ilha; Gubiani, Marileda Barichello; Oliveira, Camila Rosa de; Gubiani, Marieli Barichello; Keske-Soares, Márcia

2017-05-08

To determine the occurrence of phonological disorders by age, gender and school type, and analyze the phonological processes observed in typical and atypical phonological development across different age groups. The sample consisted of 866 children aged between 3:0 and 8:11 years, recruited from public and private schools in the city of Santa Maria/RS. A phonological evaluation was performed to analyze the operative phonological processes. 15.26% (n = 132) of the sample presented atypical phonological acquisition (phonological disorders). Phonological impairments were more frequent in public school students across all age groups. Phonological alterations were most frequent between ages 4 -to 6, and more prevalent in males than females in all but the youngest age group. The most common phonological processes in typical phonological acquisition were: cluster reduction; nonlateral liquid deletion in coda; nonlateral liquid substitution in onset; semivocalization of lateral liquids in coda; and unstressed syllable deletion. In children with phonological disorders, the most common phonological processes were: lateral and nonlateral liquid substitution in onset position; nonlateral liquid deletion; fronting of fricatives in onset position; unstressed syllable deletion; semivocalization of nonlateral liquid in coda; and nonlateral liquid deletion in coda position. Phonological processes were highly prevalent in the present sample, and occurred more often in boys than in girls. Information regarding the type and frequency of phonological processes in both typical phonological acquisition and phonological disorders may contribute to early diagnosis and increase the efficiency of treatment planning.

Guillain–Barre syndrome: Demographics, clinical profile & seasonal variation in a tertiary care centre of central India

PubMed Central

Shrivastava, Manisha; Nehal, Shah; Seema, Navaid

2017-01-01

Background & objectives: Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disease and a recognized cause of generalized progressive paralysis worldwide. The present study was aimed to document the clinical findings, demographics and seasonal variations amongst the patients with GBS during the hospital stay. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 66 referred cases diagnosed as GBS was conducted. Medical records and the data related to age, sex, antecedent illness, duration of symptoms before admission, muscle power graded by the Medical Research Council scale, functional scores, details of Intensive Care Unit complications and need for ventilation were obtained. The patients were divided into four seasonal groups: S1 (spring, February to April), S2 (summer, May to July), S3 (rainy, August to October) and S4 (winter, November to January) and parameters were studied. Results: The mean age of the patients was 40.69 yr. Forty one (62.1%) patients had a history of preceding illness. Forty nine (74.2%) patients showed quadriparesis as most common complaint. Thirty three (50%) patients were of acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) variant. The highest number of GBS cases (60%) was found in S1 and S2. The maximum duration of hospital stay was observed in S3 group (mean 23 days). Interpretation & conclusions: GBS seems to affect all age groups with male preponderance. Most common antecedent event and presenting feature were flu-like illness and quadriparesis, respectively. AIDP was the most common variant. Most cases occurred from February to July (S1 and S2 group) (maximum in July) with preceding influenza and diarrhoea and maximum duration of hospital stay was observed in S3 group. Prospective studies with follow up of GBS patients need to be done to confirm findings. PMID:28639596

24 CFR 7.33 - Contents of the complaint.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... is a group of employees, former employees or applicants for employment who, it is alleged, have been... discriminates against the group on the basis of their common race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age... counseling process in 29 CFR 1614.105, no additional counseling is required. Class certification shall be...

Maxillofacial fracture experiences: a review of 152 cases.

PubMed

Aydin, Osman Enver; Tan, Onder; Algan, Said; Kuduban, Selma Denktas; Barin, Ensar Zafer; Cinal, Hakan; Sarici, Murat; Avsar, Umit

2012-12-01

The fractures of facial structures lead to great morbidity. Cross-sectional studies are needed to evaluate the current state of maxillofacial traumas. Thus, this study aims to evaluate these experiences and to compare these results with the current literature. The medical records of the maxillofacial fracture cases hospitalized between January 2004 and November 2011 were examined. The age, sex, etiology, fracture localization and treatment method for each case were documented. The affected facial bones were grouped as mandible, maxilla, zygoma, naso-orbitoethmoid complex (NOEC) and blow-out. Nasal fractures were excluded. The cases were assigned to 3 groups with respect to age (below 16, above 65 and between 17 and 64). The chi Square test was used to assess the significance of the difference in mandibular fracture rates in the pediatric population compared to others. The total number of cases was 152. The total number of fractures was 185. Of the 152 cases, 117 were male and 35 were female. The average age was 31.4 (±18.3), ranging between 2 and 81. Thirty-one cases were 16 years old or less. Nine cases were 65 years old or more. Mandibular and zygomatic fractures were the most prevalent fractures in the adult group. Mandibular fractures were significantly more common in the pediatric age group compared to rest of the population (X(2), p<0.05). Traffic accidents were the most common etiological factor, with a 55.3% ratio. Open reduction and internal fixation was the most frequently conducted treatment modality in all age groups. Retrospective studies are important for the projection of future prospects. In summary, our results indicate that pediatric fractures are mostly in the lower face and usually affect the condylar region, which is consistent with the literature.

Children, automobile restraints and injuries

PubMed Central

Howard, Andrew William

2000-01-01

Injuries are the most common cause of death for Canadians aged one to 18 years, and 50% of injury deaths in this age group involve an automobile. Evidence suggests that 71% reduction in deaths and a 67% reduction in injuries can be achieved when child safety seats are used properly. This article reviews the recommended restraints for children by weight group and describes the proper position for children. Detailed case examples of car crashes are described to illustrate the dangers of incorrectly used or no restraint. PMID:20107592

Western Pine Beetle

Treesearch

Clarence J. Jr. DeMars; Bruce H. Roettgering

1982-01-01

The western pine beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte, can aggressively attack and kill ponderosa and Coulter pine trees of all ages and vigor classes that are 6 inches (15 cm) or larger in diameter, including apparently healthy trees. Group killing of trees is common in dense, overstocked stands of pure, even-aged, young sawtimber (fig. 1), but also occurs among...

What Age Gap? Building Intergenerational Relationships

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davidson, Stephanie R.; Boals-Gilbert, Beverly

2010-01-01

Few people are willing to admit that senior adults and young children share many common characteristics, including: (1) changes in development; (2) need for companionship; and (3) the desire to be understood. These two groups are connected mostly through direct interaction with middle-aged adults. One very practical way to build a greater sense of…

Sexual Abuse of Vulnerable Young and Old Men

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roberto, Karen A.; Teaster, Pamela B.; Nikzad, Katherina A.

2007-01-01

During a 4-year period, aggregated data from Adult Protective Services case files in Virginia revealed 17 cases of sexually abused young, middle-age, and old men. The most common types of sexual abuse across age groups involved instances of sexualized kissing and fondling and unwelcome sexual interest in the individual men's bodies. The majority…

[Analysis of allergens characteristic in 1172 patients with allergic rhinitis in Changzhou area].

PubMed

Shi, Mei; Yao, Lina; Yang, Xiaojun; Chen, Jian; Zhang, Lirong; Sun, Jing; Xu, Xiaopeng

2016-01-01

To determine the distribution of allergens in patients with allergic rhinitis during from 2008 to 2015 in Changzhou area. Allergy Screen method was used to detect the specifical-allergen IgE levels of 1172 patients with allergic rhinitis. Among the patients, the distribution of all allergens was analyzed. The positive rate was compared with age, gender, season and so on. The most common allergens in allergic rhinitis patients in Changzhou were dust mite, fungus, house dust, milk, dander of dog, weed mixture, farina and dander of cat. The more higher positive rates of dust mite, fungus, house dust, milk, dander of dog, dander of cat, eggs were found in teenager group than adult group (P < 0.05). There were more higer positive rates of weed mixture, farina, cashew, cockroaches and crab in teenager group than adult group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference of positive rate between female group and male group. There was significant difference of variation with seasons. Dust mite, fungus and house dust were the most common allergens among patiens with allergic rhinitis in Changzhou area. The positive rates of allergens varied with ages and seasons.

Neuropathology of dementia with Lewy bodies in advanced age: a comparison with Alzheimer disease.

PubMed

Ubhi, Kiren; Peng, Kevin; Lessig, Stephanie; Estrella, Jennilyn; Adame, Anthony; Galasko, Douglas; Salmon, David P; Hansen, Lawrence A; Kawas, Claudia H; Masliah, Eliezer

2010-11-26

Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) is a common neurodegenerative disorder of the aging population characterized by α-synuclein accumulation in cortical and subcortical regions. Although neuropathology in advanced age has been investigated in dementias such as Alzheimer Disease (AD), severity of the neuropathology in the oldest old with DLB remains uncharacterized. For this purpose we compared characteristics of DLB cases divided into three age groups 70-79, 80-89 and ≥ 90 years (oldest old). Neuropathological indicators and levels of synaptophysin were assessed and correlated with clinical measurements of cognition and dementia severity. These studies showed that frequency and severity of DLB was lower in 80-89 and ≥ 90 year cases compared to 70-79 year old group but cognitive impairment did not vary with age. The extent of AD neuropathology correlated with dementia severity only in the 70-79 year group, while synaptophysin immunoreactivity more strongly associated with dementia severity in the older age group in both DLB and AD. Taken together these results suggest that the oldest old with DLB might represent a distinct group. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Age differences in self-referencing: Evidence for common and distinct encoding strategies.

PubMed

Gutchess, Angela H; Sokal, Rebecca; Coleman, Jennifer A; Gotthilf, Gina; Grewal, Lauren; Rosa, Nicole

2015-07-01

Although engagement of medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) underlies self-referencing of information for younger and older adults, the region has not consistently been implicated across age groups for the encoding of self-referenced information. We sought to determine whether making judgments about others as well as the self influenced findings in the previous study. During an fMRI session, younger and older adults encoded adjectives using only a self-reference task. For items later remembered compared to those later forgotten, both age groups robustly recruited medial prefrontal cortex, indicating common neural regions support encoding across younger and older adults when participants make only self-reference judgments. Focal age differences emerged in regions related to emotional processing and cognitive control, though these differences are more limited than in tasks in which judgments also are made about others. We conclude that making judgments about another person differently affects the ways that younger and older adults make judgments about the self, with results of a follow-up behavioral study supporting this interpretation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Memory and Aging. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Potentially inappropriate prescribing in two populations with differing socio-economic profiles: a cross-sectional database study using the PROMPT criteria.

PubMed

Cooper, Janine A; Moriarty, Frank; Ryan, Cristín; Smith, Susan M; Bennett, Kathleen; Fahey, Tom; Wallace, Emma; Cahir, Caitriona; Williams, David; Teeling, Mary; Hughes, Carmel M

2016-05-01

The purpose of this study is to establish the prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) in middle-aged adults (45-64 years) in two populations with differing socio-economic profiles, and to investigate factors associated with PIP, using the PROMPT (PRescribing Optimally in Middle-aged People's Treatments) criteria. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using 2012 data from the Enhanced Prescribing Database (EPD), covering the full population in Northern Ireland and the Health Services Executive Primary Care Reimbursement Service (HSE-PCRS) database, covering the most socio-economically deprived third of the population in this age group in the Republic of Ireland. The prevalence for each PROMPT criterion and overall prevalence of PIP were calculated. Logistic regression was used to investigate the association between PIP and gender, age group and polypharmacy. This study included 441,925 patients from the EPD and 309,748 patients from the HSE-PCRS database. Polypharmacy was common in both datasets (46.7 % in the HSE-PCRS and 20.3 % in the EPD). The prevalence of PIP was 42.9 % (95%CI 42.7, 43.1) in the HSE-PCRS and 21.1 % (95%CI 21.0, 21.2) in the EPD. Age group, female gender and polypharmacy were significantly associated with PIP in both populations (p < 0.05) and polypharmacy had the strongest association. PIP is common amongst middle-aged people with the risk of PIP increasing with polypharmacy. Differences in the prevalence of polypharmacy and PIP between the two populations may relate to heterogeneity in healthcare services and different socio-economic profiles, with higher rates of multimorbidity and associated polypharmacy in more deprived groups.

The age of menopause and the menopause transition in a multiracial population: a nation-wide Singapore study.

PubMed

Loh, Foo-Hoe; Khin, Lay-Wai; Saw, Seang-Mei; Lee, Jeannette J M; Gu, Ken

2005-01-01

To describe the prevalence of menopausal symptoms, define the mean age of menopause, and determine contributory factors, which influence the experience of symptoms among Singaporean women of different racial groups. Cross-sectional nation-wide study of a random sample of 1000 women drawn from the entire population of Singaporean female (Chinese, Malay, and Indian) citizens between 45 and 60 years of age. Face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires were conducted. The response rate was 69.9%. The mean age of natural menopause was 49.0 years. This was not significantly different between the three ethnic groups. Increasing parity delayed the age of menopause (P=0.007). Muscle and joint ache was the most commonly reported symptom (52.6%). Although the prevalence of significant hot flushes in the general study population was low (3.9%), it was the most commonly reported complaint by peri-menopausal women (14.6%). Prevalence of significant hot flushes decreased with time from menopause (P=0.007) and completely disappeared beyond the fifth year of menopause. Recent unhappy events were associated with an increased risk of symptoms (P<0.001). Women of Chinese origin experienced a lower risk of menopausal symptoms when compared with other ethnic groups (P<0.05). The mean age of menopause was 49.0 years among Singaporean women. Ethnicity and recent unhappy events were two major factors, which influenced the risk of experiencing menopausal symptoms. Among the three ethnic groups studied, Chinese women were the least likely to experience disturbing menopausal symptoms. The overall prevalence of menopausal symptoms was low when compared to studies on women in western societies.

Use of health care guidelines in patients with Down syndrome by family physicians across Canada

PubMed Central

Virji-Babul, Naznin; Eichmann, Anne; Kisly, David; Down, Jonathan; Haslam, Robert HA

2007-01-01

OBJECTIVE To describe the occurrence of common medical and psychological conditions in individuals with Down syndrome during their life span, and to measure the use of the Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group’s health care guidelines by family physicians across Canada, as reported by parents or caregivers. METHODS The Down Syndrome Research Foundation sent a questionnaire to 314 families across Canada who were part of the Canadian Voluntary Registry on Down Syndrome. This questionnaire was designed to collect information from parents about physical examinations, laboratory tests, referrals and discussions with family physicians that are listed in the health care guidelines. RESULTS Two hundred twenty-three families responded to the survey. The highest response rates were in families with children in the five- to 12-year-old age range (41.7%) and the 13- to 18-year-old age range (19.7%). The most common medical conditions reported were visual, hearing and cardiac related. A high percentage of sleep-, gastrointestinal- and thyroid-related conditions were also reported. In the adult group (ie, 30 years of age and older), there was a high proportion of depression and/or anxiety disorders reported. The percentage of those reporting physical examinations and medical referrals by family physicians were highest in the five- to 12-year-old age range and dropped below 50% in those aged 19 years and older. In the one- to four-year-old and five- to 12-year-old age groups, the percentages of those with Down syndrome referred for hearing tests and celiac screens were reported to be below 30%. The percentages of those reporting discussions on behavioural issues were below 50% in all age groups. CONCLUSIONS Physical examinations, as per the recommended guidelines, were followed only in the five- to 12-year-old age group. Many of the recommendations regarding discussion of behavioural problems, transition planning, diet, exercise and issues around puberty or sexual health were followed infrequently in all age groups. Further physician education about the guidelines is necessary. PMID:19030356

Effects of aging and rifampicin pretreatment on the pharmacokinetics of human cytochrome P450 probes caffeine, warfarin, omeprazole, metoprolol and midazolam in common marmosets genotyped for cytochrome P450 2C19.

PubMed

Toda, Akiko; Uehara, Shotaro; Inoue, Takashi; Utoh, Masahiro; Kusama, Takashi; Shimizu, Makiko; Uno, Yasuhiro; Mogi, Masayuki; Sasaki, Erika; Yamazaki, Hiroshi

2018-07-01

1. The pharmacokinetics were investigated for human cytochrome P450 probes after single intravenous and oral administrations of 0.20 and 1.0 mg/kg, respectively, of caffeine, warfarin, omeprazole, metoprolol and midazolam to aged (10-14 years old, n = 4) or rifampicin-treated/young (3 years old, n = 3) male common marmosets all genotyped as heterozygous for a cytochrome P450 2C19 variant. 2. Slopes of the plasma concentration-time curves after intravenous administration of warfarin and midazolam were slightly, but significantly (two-way analysis of variance), decreased in aged marmosets compared with young marmosets. The mean hepatic clearances determined by in silico fitting for individual pharmacokinetic models of warfarin and midazolam in the aged group were, respectively, 23% and 56% smaller than those for the young group. 3. Significantly enhanced plasma clearances of caffeine, warfarin, omeprazole and midazolam were evident in young marmosets pretreated with rifampicin (25 mg/kg daily for 4 days). Two- to three-fold increases in hepatic intrinsic clearance values were observed in the individual pharmacokinetic models. 4. The in vivo dispositions of multiple simultaneously administered drugs in old, young and P450-enzyme-induced marmosets were elucidated. The results suggest that common marmosets could be experimental models for aged, induced or polymorphic P450 enzymes in P450-dependent drug metabolism studies.

Interpersonal conflict strategies and their impact on positive symptom remission in persons aged 55 and older with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

PubMed

Cohen, Carl I; Solanki, Dishal; Sodhi, Dimple

2013-01-01

Although interpersonal interactions are thought to affect psychopathology in schizophrenia, there is a paucity of data about how older adults with schizophrenia manage interpersonal conflicts. This paper examines interpersonal conflict strategies and their impact on positive symptom remission in older adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The schizophrenia group consisted of 198 persons aged 55 years and over living in the community who developed schizophrenia before age 45. A community comparison group (n = 113) was recruited using randomly selected block-groups. Straus' Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) was used to assess the ways that respondents handled interpersonal conflicts. Seven conflict management subscales were created based on a principal component analysis with equamax rotation of items from the CTS. The order of the frequency of the tactics that was used was similar for both the schizophrenia and community groups. Calm and Pray tactics were the most commonly used, and the Violent and Aggressive tactics were rarely utilized. In two separate logistic regression analysis, after controlling for confounding variables, positive symptom remission was found to be associated significantly with both the Calm and Pray subscales. The findings suggest that older persons with schizophrenia approximate normal distribution patterns of conflict management strategies and the most commonly used strategies are associated with positive symptom remission.

Notebook input devices put to the age test: the usability of trackpoint and touchpad for middle-aged adults.

PubMed

Armbrüster, C; Sutter, C; Ziefle, M

2007-03-01

In two experiments, the usability of input devices integrated into computer notebooks was under study. The most common input devices, touchpad (experiment 1) and trackpoint (experiment 2) were examined. So far, the evaluation of mobile input devices has been restricted to younger users. However, due to ongoing demographic change, the main target group of mobile devices will be older users. Therefore, the present study focused on ageing effects. A total of 14 middle-aged (40-65 years) and 20 younger (20-32 years) users were compared regarding speed and accuracy of cursor control in a point-click and a point-drag-drop task. Moreover, the effects of training were addressed by examining the performance increase over time. In total, 640 trials per task and input device were executed. The results show that ageing is a central factor to be considered in input device design. Middle-aged users were significantly slower than younger users when executing the different tasks. Over time, a significant training effect was observed for both devices and both age groups, although the benefit of training was greater for the middle-aged group. Generally, the touchpad performance was higher than the trackpoint performance in both age groups, but the age-related performance decrements were less distinct when using the touchpad.

Reduction of common cold symptoms by encapsulated juice powder concentrate of fruits and vegetables: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

PubMed

Roll, Stephanie; Nocon, Marc; Willich, Stefan N

2011-01-01

Dietary supplements have been suggested in the prevention of the common cold, but previous investigations have been inconsistent. The present study was designed to determine the preventive effect of a dietary supplement from fruits and vegetables on common cold symptoms. In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, healthcare professionals (mainly nursing staff aged 18-65 years) from a university hospital in Berlin, Germany, were randomised to four capsules of dietary supplement (Juice Plus+®) or matching placebo daily for 8 months, including a 2-month run-in period. The number of days with moderate or severe common cold symptoms within 6 months (primary outcome) was assessed by diary self-reports. We determined means and 95 % CI, and differences between the two groups were analysed by ANOVA. A total of 529 subjects were included into the primary analysis (Juice Plus+®: 263, placebo: 266). The mean age of the participants was 39·9 (sd 10·3) years, and 80 % of the participants were female. The mean number of days with moderate or severe common cold symptoms was 7·6 (95 % CI 6·5, 8·8) in the Juice Plus+® group and 9·5 (8·4, 10·6) in the placebo group (P = 0·023). The mean number of total days with any common cold symptoms was similar in the Juice Plus+® and in the placebo groups (29·4 (25·8, 33·0) v. 30·7 (27·1, 34·3), P = 0·616). Intake of a dietary supplement from fruits and vegetables was associated with a 20 % reduction of moderate or severe common cold symptom days in healthcare professionals particularly exposed to patient contact.

Elevated tumour necrosis factor-alpha was associated with intima thickening in obese children.

PubMed

Bo, Luo; Yi-Can, Yang; Qing, Zhou; Xiao-Hui, Wu; Ke, Huang; Chao-Chun, Zou

2017-04-01

This study investigated the relationship between intima-media thickness (IMT) and immune parameters in obese children from five to 16 years of age. We enrolled 185 obese children with a mean age of 10.65 ± 2.10 years and 211 controls with a mean age of 10.32 ± 1.81 years. Glycometabolism, lipid metabolism, sex hormones, immune indices and carotid IMT were measured. Serum interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, white blood cells and common and internal carotid artery IMTs in the obese group were higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05, respectively). Bivariate correlation analysis showed that the common carotid arterial IMT was positively correlated with alanine aminotransferase, triglyceride, uric acid, apolipoprotein B, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha, follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone. Internal carotid artery IMT was positively correlated with alanine aminotransferase and follicle-stimulating hormone. Both common and internal carotid artery IMTs were inversely correlated with apolipoprotein A1 (p < 0.05, respectively). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that testosterone, alanine aminotransferase and TNF-alpha were the independent determinants of common carotid arterial IMT. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha, alanine aminotransferase and testosterone were associated with intima thickening in the early life in obese children and may increase later risks of premature atherogenicity and adult cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. ©2016 Foundation Acta Paediatrica. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Incidence, circumstances, treatment and outcome of high-level cervical spinal fracture without associated spinal cord injury in New South Wales, Australia over a 12 year period.

PubMed

Mitchell, Rebecca J; Stanford, Ralph; McVeigh, Catherine; Bell, David; Close, Jacqueline C T

2014-01-01

No Australian population-based studies have examined temporal trends in the incidence of fracture of the first or second cervical vertebra (C1 or C2 fractures), their aetiology, treatment and outcome for younger (15-64 years) compared to older (65+ years) individuals. The aim of this research is to examine the circumstances, treatment and outcomes including mortality for C1 or C2 fractures without associated spinal cord injury by age group in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. A retrospective review of C1 or C2 vertebra fractures in individuals aged 15 years and over in the NSW Admitted Patient Data Collection from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 2010. Direct age standardised admission rates were calculated by cervical fracture type and by age group. Negative binomial regression was used to examine the statistical significance of changes in trend over time of hospitalised cervical fractures by age group. The annual rate of hospitalised C1 and C2 fractures without associated spinal cord injury for individuals aged 15 years and over in NSW was 2.3 per 100,000 population, with the rate estimated to increase by 5.3% each year. Those aged 85+ years had the highest rates of hospitalisation. For those aged 15-64 years, road trauma was the most common mechanism of injury, while for those aged 65+ years, a fall was the dominant mechanism of injury. The in-hospital mortality for individuals aged 65+ years was 11.8% compared to 0.7% for those aged 15-64 years. This study identified an estimated increasing trend in C1 and C2 fractures over time, particularly for older individuals. While younger individuals are commonly injured in road traffic accidents, older individuals are predominantly injured following a fall. Injury prevention strategies should be targeted to the different age groups and injury mechanisms. Implementation of effective falls prevention strategies is likely to reduce these injuries in older people whilst road and vehicle safety including vehicle rollover protection standards may improve rates in younger people. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Advanced Age: Is It an Indication or Contraindication for Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair?

PubMed Central

Elgamal, Mohamed H.; Mancl, Tara B.; Norman, Earl; Boros, Michael J.

2008-01-01

Introduction: Ventral hernias are common surgical problems in the geriatric population. Although ventral hernias are electively repaired in younger patients, the safety and efficacy of elective laparoscopic hernia repair in the geriatric age group is not well documented in the literature. Methods: A review of 155 patients undergoing laparoscopic ventral hernia repair was undertaken. The patients were classified according to their age into 2 groups, Group A (n=126) for those who are ≤65 years old and Group B (n=29) for those who are >65 years old. The patient demographics, comorbidities, hernia characteristics, and operative and postoperative data were compared. Results: Younger patients were found to have a significantly increased BMI, while the older group had an increased number of comorbidities. No difference was found in the complication or recurrence rates between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Elective laparoscopic ventral hernia repair in senior citizens is safe and feasible in our experience. We believe that the decision to perform an elective hernia repair in this patient population should be based on the general condition of the patient rather than the patient's chronological age. PMID:18402738

Pediatric Benign Soft Tissue Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.

PubMed

Glickman, Alexandra; Karlis, Vasiliki

2016-02-01

Despite the many types of oral pathologic lesions found in infants and children, the most commonly encountered are benign soft tissue lesions. The clinical features, diagnostic criteria, and treatment algorithms of pathologies in the age group from birth to 18 years of age are summarized based on their prevalence in each given age distribution. Treatment modalities include both medical and surgical management. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Vulvovaginitis - overview

MedlinePlus

... all age groups, but is most common in young girls before puberty, especially girls with poor genital hygiene. ... longer recovery. Sexual abuse should be considered in young girls with unusual infections and repeated episodes of unexplained ...

It just doesn't speak to me: mid-aged men's reactions to '10,000 Steps a Day'.

PubMed

Burton, Nicola W; Walsh, Anthony; Brown, Wendy J

2008-04-01

The evaluation of an earlier 10,000 Steps community-based intervention program indicated that men were less likely than women to have used a pedometer or increased their physical activity (PA). This study aimed to explore men's reactions to the 10,000 Steps a Day message, the use of pedometers, and other strategies for increasing PA. Five focus groups were conducted with 39 men aged 45-65 years. Although many were familiar with the 10,000 Steps message, the majority of men did not like it. Pedometers were seen as useful for assessing PA in the short term, but not for ongoing use. Participants were generally aware of PA recommendations. Walking was considered a good option for this age group, but there was varying interest in this type of activity. Weight and stress management were commonly identified benefits of PA. Common barriers to PA were lack of time and motivation, health and weight restrictions, cost, and disinterest. Suggestions of how to promote PA to mid-aged men included workplace initiatives, making PA "fun", and creating opportunities for men to do PA with their family or same-aged peers. PA promotion using the 10,000 Steps message, walking, and pedometers may not appeal to mid-aged men.

Common mental disorders and subsequent work disability: a population-based Health 2000 Study.

PubMed

Ahola, Kirsi; Virtanen, Marianna; Honkonen, Teija; Isometsä, Erkki; Aromaa, Arpo; Lönnqvist, Jouko

2011-11-01

Work disability due to common mental disorders has increased in Western countries during the past decade. The contribution of depressive, anxiety, and alcohol use disorders to all disability pensions at the population level is not known. Epidemiological health data from the Finnish Health 2000 Study, gathered in 2000-2001, was linked to the national register on disability pensions granted due to the ICD-10 diagnoses up to December 2007. Mental health at baseline was assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Sociodemographic, clinical, and work-related factors, health behaviors, and treatment setting were used as covariates in the logistic regression analyses among the 3164 participants aged 30-58 years. Anxiety, depressive, and comorbid common mental disorders predicted disability pension when adjusted for sex and age. In the fully adjusted multivariate model, comorbid common mental disorders, as well as physical illnesses, age over 45 years, short education, high job strain, and previous long-term sickness absence predicted disability pension. The study population included persons aged 30 or over. Sub groups according to mental disorders were quite small which may have diminished statistical power in some sub groups. Baseline predictors were measured only once and the length of exposure could not be determined. The systems regarding financial compensation to employees differ between countries. Comorbid mental disorders pose a high risk for disability pension. Other independent predictors of work disability include socio-demographic, clinical, work-related, and treatment factors, but not health behavior. More attention should be paid to work-related factors in order to prevent chronic work disability. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Reasons for hospital admissions among youth and young adults with cerebral palsy.

PubMed

Young, Nancy L; McCormick, Anna M; Gilbert, Tom; Ayling-Campos, Anne; Burke, Tricia; Fehlings, Darcy; Wedge, John

2011-01-01

To identify the most common reasons for acute care hospital admissions among youth (age range, 13-17.9y) and young adults (age range, 23-32.9y) with cerebral palsy (CP). We completed a secondary analysis of data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) to determine the most frequently observed reasons for admissions and the associated lengths of stay (LOS). Participants were identified from 6 children's treatment centers in Ontario, Canada. Health records data from youth with CP (n=587) and young adults with CP (n=477) contributed to this study. Not applicable. The most common reasons for hospital admission, relative frequencies of admissions for each reason, and mean LOS were reported. The analysis of CIHI records identified epilepsy and pneumonia as the top 2 reasons for admissions in both age groups. Both age groups were commonly admitted because of infections other than pneumonia and urinary tract infections (UTIs), gastrointestinal (GI) problems such as malabsorption, and mental illness. The reasons that were unique to youth included orthopedic and joint-related issues, other respiratory problems, and scoliosis. In young adults, mental illness was the third most common reason for admission, followed by lower GI or constipation problems, malnutrition or dehydration, upper GI problems, fractures, and UTIs. This article provides important clinical information that can be used in the training of physicians and health care providers, and to guide future planning of ambulatory care services to support the clinical management of persons with CP over their lifespan. Copyright © 2011 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sources of medicine information and their reliability evaluated by medicine users.

PubMed

Närhi, Ulla

2007-12-01

To study the medicine users' sources of medicine information and the perceived reliability of these sources in different age groups. A computer-aided telephone interview (CATI) to Finnish consumers (n = 1,004). Those respondents (n = 714) who reported using any prescription or self-medication medicines more than once a month were included in the study. The respondents were interviewed about their use of sources of medicine information during the previous 6 months. The reliability of sources in different age groups was estimated using a 4-point scale: very reliable, somewhat reliable, somewhat unreliable and very unreliable. The respondents also had the option of being unable to make an appraisal. A proportion of respondents reporting using the source, number of mentioned sources and their reliability evaluated by respondents. About half of the respondents in each age group mentioned two to four sources. The most common sources of information were Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) (74%), doctors (68%) and pharmacists (60%). Next came television (40%), newspapers and magazines (40%), drug advertisements (32%), nurses (28%), drug information leaflets (27%), relatives and friends (24%), medicine guides and books (22%) and the Internet (20%). There was a significant difference between age groups in reporting the Internet as a source of medicine information (15-34-year-old respondents reported the greatest Internet use). The three most reliable sources in every age group were reported to be PILs, doctors and pharmacists. Nurses, drug regulatory authorities, drug information leaflets and medicine guides and books were considered next most reliable. Relatives and friends, television, newspapers and magazines were considered the least reliable. The respondents were most uncertain about the reliability of the Internet, patient organisations and telephone services. There was a significant difference between age groups in evaluating the reliability of telephone services (15-34-year-olds found them more reliable). Medicine users reported receiving medicine information from many sources. The most commonly used sources were perceived as the most reliable, but their reliability did not seem to depend on age. The counsellors should take into account that patients have many sources of medicine information, with varying validity.

Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery in elderly patients with pituitary adenomas.

PubMed

Gondim, Jackson A; Almeida, João Paulo; de Albuquerque, Lucas Alverne F; Gomes, Erika; Schops, Michele; Mota, Jose Italo

2015-07-01

With the increase in the average life expectancy, medical care of elderly patients with symptomatic pituitary adenoma (PA) will continue to grow. Little information exists in the literature about the surgical treatment of these patients. The aim of this study was to present the results of a single pituitary center in the surgical treatment of PAs in patients > 70 years of age. In this retrospective study, 55 consecutive elderly patients (age ≥ 70 years) with nonfunctioning PAs underwent endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery at the General Hospital of Fortaleza, Brazil, between May 2000 and December 2012. The clinical and radiological results in this group were compared with 2 groups of younger patients: < 60 years (n = 289) and 60-69 years old (n = 30). Fifty-five patients ≥ 70 years of age (average age 72.5 years, range 70-84 years) underwent endoscopic surgery for treatment of PAs. The mean follow-up period was 50 months (range 12-144 months). The most common symptoms were visual impairment in 38 (69%) patients, headache in 16 (29%) patients, and complete ophthalmoplegia in 6 (10.9%). Elderly patients presented a higher incidence of ophthalmoplegia (p = 0.032) and a lower frequency of pituitary apoplexy before surgery (p < 0.05). Tumors with cavernous sinus invasion were treated surgically less frequently than in younger patients. Although patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists score of 3 were more common in the elderly group (p < 0.05), no significant difference regarding surgical time, extent of resection, and hospitalization were observed. Elderly patients presented with more complications than patients < 60 years (32.7% vs 10%, p < 0.05). Complications observed in the elderly group included 5 CSF leaks (9%), 2 permanent diabetes insipidus cases (3.6%), 4 postoperative refractory hypertension cases (7.2%), 1 myocardial ischemia (1.8%), and 1 death (1.8%). Postoperative new anterior pituitary deficit was more common in the younger group (< 60 years old: 17.7%) than in the elderly (≥ 70 years old: 12.7%); however, there was no statistical difference. Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for elderly patients with PAs may be associated with higher complication rates, especially secondary to early transitory complications, when compared with surgery performed in younger patients. Although the worst preoperative clinical status might be observed in this group, age alone is not associated with a worst final prognosis after endoscopic removal of nonfunctioning PAs.

Epidemiology and recent trends of geriatric fractures presenting to the emergency department for United States population from year 2004-2014.

PubMed

Baidwan, N K; Naranje, S M

2017-01-01

Fractures in geriatric age group (over 65 years of age) are an important public health issue and frequent causes of emergency room visits. The purpose of this descriptive epidemiological study was to present the epidemiology of geriatric fractures and their trends in the USA using National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database from year 2004-2014. National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) Database was queried for all fracture injuries from 2004 to 2014 for ages 65 years and above. The proportions of fractures based on NEISS national estimates were calculated and their trends using linear regression over last 11 years were studied. Lower trunk (pelvis, hip and lower spine) fractures were the most common (34% for year 2014) type of fractures in this age group. Upper trunk (upper spine, clavicle and ribs) fractures were the second most common type of fractures (13% for year 2014). Other body parts commonly fractured involved the upper arm and wrist with an average of 7% fractures in both during the study period. About 5% of geriatric fractures pertained to shoulder and upper leg. Although less common, there was also about 2% increase in fractures to face and neck in 2014 as compared to about 3.2% and 1% respectively in 2004. Fractures to other body parts were less common with no major variations during the study period. Overall, lower trunk (hip, pelvic and lower spine) fractures were the most common geriatric fractures followed by upper trunk (upper spine, clavicle and rib) fractures. We suggest that there were decreasing trends for incidence of lower trunk, wrist and upper body fractures over the last 11 years (2004-2014). Approximately half of the geriatric fractures presenting to Emergency Department needed hospitalizations. Copyright © 2016 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A scoping review of biopsychosocial risk factors and co-morbidities for common spinal disorders.

PubMed

Green, Bart N; Johnson, Claire D; Haldeman, Scott; Griffith, Erin; Clay, Michael B; Kane, Edward J; Castellote, Juan M; Rajasekaran, Shanmuganathan; Smuck, Matthew; Hurwitz, Eric L; Randhawa, Kristi; Yu, Hainan; Nordin, Margareta

2018-01-01

The purpose of this review was to identify risk factors, prognostic factors, and comorbidities associated with common spinal disorders. A scoping review of the literature of common spinal disorders was performed through September 2016. To identify search terms, we developed 3 terminology groups for case definitions: 1) spinal pain of unknown origin, 2) spinal syndromes, and 3) spinal pathology. We used a comprehensive strategy to search PubMed for meta-analyses and systematic reviews of case-control studies, cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials for risk and prognostic factors and cross-sectional studies describing associations and comorbidities. Of 3,453 candidate papers, 145 met study criteria and were included in this review. Risk factors were reported for group 1: non-specific low back pain (smoking, overweight/obesity, negative recovery expectations), non-specific neck pain (high job demands, monotonous work); group 2: degenerative spinal disease (workers' compensation claim, degenerative scoliosis), and group 3: spinal tuberculosis (age, imprisonment, previous history of tuberculosis), spinal cord injury (age, accidental injury), vertebral fracture from osteoporosis (type 1 diabetes, certain medications, smoking), and neural tube defects (folic acid deficit, anti-convulsant medications, chlorine, influenza, maternal obesity). A range of comorbidities was identified for spinal disorders. Many associated factors for common spinal disorders identified in this study are modifiable. The most common spinal disorders are co-morbid with general health conditions, but there is a lack of clarity in the literature differentiating which conditions are merely comorbid versus ones that are risk factors. Modifiable risk factors present opportunities for policy, research, and public health prevention efforts on both the individual patient and community levels. Further research into prevention interventions for spinal disorders is needed to address this gap in the literature.

A scoping review of biopsychosocial risk factors and co-morbidities for common spinal disorders

PubMed Central

Smuck, Matthew; Hurwitz, Eric L.; Randhawa, Kristi; Yu, Hainan; Nordin, Margareta

2018-01-01

Objective The purpose of this review was to identify risk factors, prognostic factors, and comorbidities associated with common spinal disorders. Methods A scoping review of the literature of common spinal disorders was performed through September 2016. To identify search terms, we developed 3 terminology groups for case definitions: 1) spinal pain of unknown origin, 2) spinal syndromes, and 3) spinal pathology. We used a comprehensive strategy to search PubMed for meta-analyses and systematic reviews of case-control studies, cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials for risk and prognostic factors and cross-sectional studies describing associations and comorbidities. Results Of 3,453 candidate papers, 145 met study criteria and were included in this review. Risk factors were reported for group 1: non-specific low back pain (smoking, overweight/obesity, negative recovery expectations), non-specific neck pain (high job demands, monotonous work); group 2: degenerative spinal disease (workers’ compensation claim, degenerative scoliosis), and group 3: spinal tuberculosis (age, imprisonment, previous history of tuberculosis), spinal cord injury (age, accidental injury), vertebral fracture from osteoporosis (type 1 diabetes, certain medications, smoking), and neural tube defects (folic acid deficit, anti-convulsant medications, chlorine, influenza, maternal obesity). A range of comorbidities was identified for spinal disorders. Conclusion Many associated factors for common spinal disorders identified in this study are modifiable. The most common spinal disorders are co-morbid with general health conditions, but there is a lack of clarity in the literature differentiating which conditions are merely comorbid versus ones that are risk factors. Modifiable risk factors present opportunities for policy, research, and public health prevention efforts on both the individual patient and community levels. Further research into prevention interventions for spinal disorders is needed to address this gap in the literature. PMID:29856783

Tics and psychiatric comorbidity in children and adolescents.

PubMed

Gadow, Kenneth D; Nolan, Edith E; Sprafkin, Joyce; Schwartz, Joseph

2002-05-01

This study examined comorbid psychiatric symptoms in a large, community-based sample of children and adolescents. The study sample comprised a total of 3006 school children: 413 preschool (3 to 5 years; 237 males, 176 females; mean age 4 years 2 months, SD 8 months), 1520 elementary school (5 to 12 years; 787 males, 733 females; mean age 8 years 2 months, SD 1 year 11 months), and 1073 secondary school children (12 to 18 years; 573 males, 500 females; mean age 14 years 4 months, SD 1 year 10 months), all of whom were attending regular education programs. Children were evaluated with a teacher-completed DSM-IV-referenced rating scale. The sample was divided into four groups: attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder with tics (ADHD+tics), ADHD without tics (ADHD), tics without ADHD (T), and a comparison group i.e. neither ADHD nor tics (Non). The percentage of children with tic behaviors varied with age: preschool children (22.3%), elementary school children (7.8%), and adolescents (3.4%). Tic behaviors were more common in males than females, regardless of comorbid ADHD symptoms. For many psychiatric symptoms, screening prevalence rates were highest for the ADHD groups (ADHD+tics>ADHD>T>Non). However, obsessive-compulsive and simple and social phobia symptoms were more common in the groups with tic behavior. Findings for a community-based sample show many similarities with studies of clinically referred samples suggesting that teacher-completed ratings of DSM-IV symptoms may be a useful methodology for investigating the phenomenology of tic disorders.

A randomized controlled trial of chelated zinc for prevention of the common cold in Thai school children.

PubMed

Rerksuppaphol, Sanguansak; Rerksuppaphol, Lakkana

2013-08-01

The common cold is responsible for the largest proportion of school and work absenteeism and is a huge economic burden. None of the currently available interventions is clearly effective for prevention or treatment. To assess the efficacy of 15-mg chelated zinc (zinc bis-glycinate) given once a day for 3 months during the winter season to healthy school children aged 8-13 years to prevent symptoms of the common cold. In a double-blind randomized controlled trial, zinc bis-glycinate 15 mg or matching placebo once a day for 3 months was administered to healthy school children aged 8-13 years. Primary outcomes were any symptom of cold (fever, cough, rhinorrhoea) during the study period, and secondary outcomes were vomiting, diarrhoea, use of antibiotics, school absence for any reason, school absence because of a cold and duration of all symptoms. Of 50 children in each group, 42 (84%) in the zinc group and 41 (82%) in the placebo group (P = 1.00) developed at least one symptom of a cold. There was no difference in the incidence of fever, cough, rhinorrhoea, school absence and school absence related to the common cold compared with children in the placebo group. However, duration of cough [median (IQR) 1.0 (0.0-6.0) vs 6.0 (0.0-13.3) days], rhinorrhoea [median (IQR) 2.0 (0.0-7.0) vs 5.5 (1.0-15.3) days] and the frequency of having two or more symptoms of the common cold [median (IQR) 0.0 (0.0-1.0) vs 1.0 (0.0-5.3) days] were reduced significantly in the intervention group (P<0.01). Zinc bis-glycinate given in a dose of 15 mg once a day for 3 months failed to reduce the incidence of the common cold in 8 to 13-year-old school children, but decreased the number of days on which children suffered from cough, rhinorrhoea and the likelihood of having two or more symptoms of the common cold.

Fulfilling the Dream of Home Ownership

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Braswell, Gail; Sufficool, Mary Jane

2009-01-01

Imagine a neighborhood where residents share ownership of all the common areas but privately own their residence. Imagine these residents are a diverse group of individuals of various income levels, abilities, ages, and ethnic backgrounds. Imagine that this unique group of people has planned activities and look out for each other like an extended…

Cycling Back to Nature with Biodegradable Polymers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Horton, Robert L.; And Others

This sourcebook, for use with groups of up to 25 young people ages 10 and up, is designed to stimulate a sense of environmental stewardship for the planet through group discussion, role playing, experimentation, demonstration, and simulation. Lessons that stand alone or can be used in sequence require common materials and little preparation,…

Changing patterns of hepatitis A and E sero-prevalences in children after the 1999 earthquakes in Duzce, Turkey.

PubMed

Kaya, Ayse Demet; Ozturk, C Elif; Yavuz, Taner; Ozaydin, Cigdem; Bahcebasi, Talat

2008-04-01

Hepatitis A and E are enteric viral diseases that are characteristically found in developing countries. Sero-epidemiological data about both infections showed higher prevalence rates soon after the 1999 earthquakes in Duzce, Turkey. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the data 4 years after the earthquakes. The study group included 589 children (72.3% boys) who were between the ages of 6 months and 17 years (mean age 11.5 years). The children were separated into three groups: Group 1 (ages 6 months to 5.9 years), Group 2 (ages 6.0-12.9 years) and Group 3 (ages 13.0-17.0 years). Serum anti-hepatitis A virus IgG and anti-hepatitis E virus IgG were determined using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The data were tested for statistical significance with the chi(2)-test. The sero-prevalence rates of hepatitis A and E were 63.8% and 0.3%, respectively. The sero-prevalence rates of both hepatitis A and E increased with age, and there was no significant difference between the genders. Hepatitis A infection was associated with socio-economic condition, crowded living environment, and education level of the family (P < 0.01). Hepatitis A infection is still common, whereas hepatitis E infection appears to be relatively rare in paediatric age groups in Duzce, Turkey.

Prevalence of Rotavirus Genotypes in Children Younger than 5 Years of Age before the Introduction of a Universal Rotavirus Vaccination Program: Report of Rotavirus Surveillance in Turkey

PubMed Central

Durmaz, Riza; Kalaycioglu, Atila Taner; Acar, Sumeyra; Bakkaloglu, Zekiye; Karagoz, Alper; Korukluoglu, Gulay; Ertek, Mustafa; Torunoglu, Mehmet Ali

2014-01-01

Background Group A rotaviruses are the most common causative agent of acute gastroenteritis among children less than 5 years of age throughout the world. This sentinel surveillance study was aimed to obtain baseline data on the rotavirus G and P genotypes across Turkey before the introduction of a universal rotavirus vaccination program. Methods Rotavirus antigen-positive samples were collected from 2102 children less than 5 years of age who attended hospitals participating in the Turkish Rotavirus Surveillance Network. Rotavirus antigen was detected in the laboratories of participating hospitals by commercial serological tests such as latex agglutination, immunochromatographic test or enzyme immunoassay. Rotavirus G and P genotypes were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using consensus primers detecting the VP7 and VP4 genes, followed by semi-nested type-specific multiplex PCR. Results RT-PCR found rotavirus RNA in 1644 (78.2%) of the samples tested. The highest rate of rotavirus positivity (38.7%) was observed among children in the 13 to 24 month age group, followed by children in the age group of 25 to 36 months (28.3%). A total of eight different G types, six different P types, and 42 different G–P combinations were obtained. Four common G types (G1, G2, G3, and G9) and two common P types (P[8] and P[4]) accounted for 95.1% and 98.8% of the strains, respectively. G9P[8] was the most common G/P combination found in 40.5% of the strains followed by G1P[8] (21.6%), G2P[8] (9.3%), G2P[4] (6.5%), G3P[8] (3.5%), and finally, G4P[8] (3.4%). These six common genotypes included 83.7% of the strains tested in this study. The rate of uncommon genotypes was 14%. Conclusion The majority of the strains analyzed belonged to the G1–G4 and G9 genotypes, suggesting high coverage of current rotavirus vaccines. This study also demonstrates a dramatic increase in G9 genotype across the country. PMID:25437502

Risk of urinary tract infection in infants and children with acute bronchiolitis

PubMed Central

Hendaus, Mohamed A; Alhammadi, Ahmed H; Khalifa, Mohamed S; Muneer, Eshan; Chandra, Prem

2015-01-01

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of urinary tract infection in infants and children with bronchiolitis. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study involving patients zero to 24 months of age who were hospitalized with acute bronchiolitis was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 835 paediatric patients with acute bronchiolitis were admitted to the paediatric ward between January 2010 and December 2012. The mean (± SD) age at diagnosis was 3.47±2.99 months. There were 325 (39%) girls and 510 (61%) boys. For the purpose of data analysis, the patient population was divided into three groups: group 1 included children hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis; group 2 included children hospitalized with clinical bronchiolitis with no virus detected; and group 3 included children hospitalized with clinical bronchiolitis due to a respiratory virus other than RSV. Results revealed that urinary tract infection was present in 10% of patients, and was most common in group 3 (13.4%) followed by group 2 (9.7%), and was least common in group 1 (6%) (P=0.030). CONCLUSIONS: The possibility of a urinary tract infection should be considered in a febrile child with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis, particularly if the trigger is a respiratory virus other than RSV. PMID:26175566

Social mobbing calls in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus): effects of experience and associated cortisol levels.

PubMed

Clara, Elena; Tommasi, Luca; Rogers, Lesley J

2008-04-01

We compared the mobbing response to model snakes of two groups of captive-born common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) differing in genetic relatedness, age and past experience. Mobbing vocalisations (tsik calls), other mobbing behaviour and attention to the stimulus were recorded for 2 min. intervals pre-exposure, during exposure to various stimuli and post-exposure. Marmosets in one group were vocally reactive to all stimuli, although more so to one particular stimulus resembling rearing snakes and modified images of it, whereas the marmosets in a younger and genetically unrelated group attended to the stimuli but made very few mobbing calls. The parent stock of the first group had suffered stress in early life and had developed a phobic response to a specific stimulus, which they had transmitted to their offspring. A third group, matching the older group in age range but genetically unrelated, was also found to be unresponsive to the stimulus that elicited the strongest response in the first group. Cortisol levels in samples of hair were assayed and a significant negative correlation was found between the number of tsik calls made during presentation of the stimuli and the cortisol level, showing that mobbing behaviour/behavioural reactivity is associated with low levels of physiological stress.

Clinical presentation of hypertensive crises in emergency medical services.

PubMed

Salkic, Sabina; Batic-Mujanovic, Olivera; Ljuca, Farid; Brkic, Selmira

2014-02-01

The objective of this study is to evaluate the incidence and clinical presentation of hypertensive crises in the Emergency medical services of the Community Health Centre "Dr. Mustafa Šehović" Tuzla in relation to age, sex, duration and severity of hypertension, as well as the prevalence of accompanying symptoms and clinical manifestations. The study was conducted between November 2009 and April 2010 and included 180 subjects of both sexes, aged 30-80 with a diagnosis of arterial hypertension. All subjects were divided into two groups: a control group, which consisted of subjects without hypertensive crisis (95 subjects) and an experimental group that consisted of subjects with hypertensive crisis (85 subjects). The study results indicate that female subjects were significantly over- represented compared to men (60% vs. 40 %, p=0.007). The average age of the male subjects was 55.83±11.06 years, while the female subjects' average age was 59.41±11.97 years. The incidence of hypertensive crisis was 47.22%, with hypertensive urgency significantly more represented than emergency (16.47% vs. 83.53%, p<0.0001). The majority of subjects in the experimental group (28.23%) belonged to the age group of 60-69 years of age: 26.76% urgency and 35.71% emergency. The most common accompanying symptoms in hypertensive subjects were headache (75%), chest pain (48.33%), vertigo (44.44%), shortness of breath (38.88%) and nausea (33.89%). The most common symptoms in subjects with hypertensive crisis were headache (74.11%), chest pain and shortness of breath (62.35%), vertigo (49.41%), and nausea and vomiting (41.17%). Chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting were significantly over-represented in subjects with hypertensive crisis (p<0.005). Clinical manifestations of hypertensive emergencies in almost all subjects included acute coronary syndrome, and only one subject had acute pulmonary edema.

Clinical Presentation of Hypertensive Crises in Emergency Medical Services

PubMed Central

Salkic, Sabina; Batic-Mujanovic, Olivera; Ljuca, Farid; Brkic, Selmira

2014-01-01

Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the incidence and clinical presentation of hypertensive crises in the Emergency medical services of the Community Health Centre “Dr. Mustafa Šehović” Tuzla in relation to age, sex, duration and severity of hypertension, as well as the prevalence of accompanying symptoms and clinical manifestations. Methods: The study was conducted between November 2009 and April 2010 and included 180 subjects of both sexes, aged 30-80 with a diagnosis of arterial hypertension. All subjects were divided into two groups: a control group, which consisted of subjects without hypertensive crisis (95 subjects) and an experimental group that consisted of subjects with hypertensive crisis (85 subjects). Results: The study results indicate that female subjects were significantly over- represented compared to men (60% vs. 40 %, p=0.007). The average age of the male subjects was 55.83±11.06 years, while the female subjects’ average age was 59.41±11.97 years. The incidence of hypertensive crisis was 47.22%, with hypertensive urgency significantly more represented than emergency (16.47% vs. 83.53%, p<0.0001). The majority of subjects in the experimental group (28.23%) belonged to the age group of 60-69 years of age: 26.76% urgency and 35.71% emergency. The most common accompanying symptoms in hypertensive subjects were headache (75%), chest pain (48.33%), vertigo (44.44%), shortness of breath (38.88%) and nausea (33.89%). The most common symptoms in subjects with hypertensive crisis were headache (74.11%), chest pain and shortness of breath (62.35%), vertigo (49.41%), and nausea and vomiting (41.17%). Conclusions: Chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting were significantly over-represented in subjects with hypertensive crisis (p<0.005). Clinical manifestations of hypertensive emergencies in almost all subjects included acute coronary syndrome, and only one subject had acute pulmonary edema. PMID:24757394

Variability of Offending Allergens of Allergic Rhinitis According to Age: Optimization of Skin Prick Test Allergens

PubMed Central

Lee, Ji-Eun; Ahn, Jae-Chul; Han, Doo Hee; Kim, Dong-Young; Kim, Jung-Whun; Cho, Sang-Heon; Park, Heung-Woo

2014-01-01

Purpose This study evaluates offending allergens in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) according to age that establish a minimal panel for skin prick test (SPT) allergens required to identify if a patient is sensitized. Methods We retrospectively analyzed SPT results according to age to determine the minimum test battery panel necessary to screen at least 93%-95% of AR patients. Allergic skin tests (common airborne indoor and outdoor allergens) were performed on 7,182 patients from January 2007 to June 2011. All patients were classified into 9 groups according to age; subsequently, we investigated offending allergens by age group. Results A total of 5,032 (70.1%) patients were found sensitized to at least one of the 55 aeroallergen extracts tested. The annual ranking of offending allergens was not significantly different from each other over the past 5 years. House dust mites (HDM) were the most prevalent allergens ranked from first to third for all 5 years. The allergens in the minimum test panel differed slightly among all age groups; in addition, the types of sensitized allergen sources were more diverse in the older versus younger age group. HDM covered a larger proportion of the sensitized allergens in the younger age group versus the older age group. Testing with 5 allergens (Dermatophagoides farinae, Tetranychus urticae, oak, mugwort and cockroach) adequately identified over 90% of the sensitized patients. Conclusions A SPT with around 5-7 allergens adequately detected most of the sensitization in the majority of the age groups in Korea. However, this study suggests that physicians perform the SPT with appropriately selected allergens in each age category for the screening of AR. PMID:24404393

Variability of offending allergens of allergic rhinitis according to age: optimization of skin prick test allergens.

PubMed

Lee, Ji-Eun; Ahn, Jae-Chul; Han, Doo Hee; Kim, Dong-Young; Kim, Jung-Whun; Cho, Sang-Heon; Park, Heung-Woo; Rhee, Chae-Seo

2014-01-01

This study evaluates offending allergens in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) according to age that establish a minimal panel for skin prick test (SPT) allergens required to identify if a patient is sensitized. We retrospectively analyzed SPT results according to age to determine the minimum test battery panel necessary to screen at least 93%-95% of AR patients. Allergic skin tests (common airborne indoor and outdoor allergens) were performed on 7,182 patients from January 2007 to June 2011. All patients were classified into 9 groups according to age; subsequently, we investigated offending allergens by age group. A total of 5,032 (70.1%) patients were found sensitized to at least one of the 55 aeroallergen extracts tested. The annual ranking of offending allergens was not significantly different from each other over the past 5 years. House dust mites (HDM) were the most prevalent allergens ranked from first to third for all 5 years. The allergens in the minimum test panel differed slightly among all age groups; in addition, the types of sensitized allergen sources were more diverse in the older versus younger age group. HDM covered a larger proportion of the sensitized allergens in the younger age group versus the older age group. Testing with 5 allergens (Dermatophagoides farinae, Tetranychus urticae, oak, mugwort and cockroach) adequately identified over 90% of the sensitized patients. A SPT with around 5-7 allergens adequately detected most of the sensitization in the majority of the age groups in Korea. However, this study suggests that physicians perform the SPT with appropriately selected allergens in each age category for the screening of AR.

Brief Report: Emergency Department Utilization by Individuals with Autism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Iannuzzi, Dorothea A.; Cheng, Erika R.; Broder-Fingert, Sarabeth; Bauman, Margaret L.

2015-01-01

To identify medical problems most commonly presenting to emergency departments among individuals with autism as compared to non-autistic persons across age groups. Data was obtained from the 2010 National Emergency Department database and was analyzed by age categories: 3-5, 6-11, 12-15, 16-18 and 19 years and older. Epilepsy emerged as the…

Immunochemical detection of advanced glycosylation end products in vivo.

PubMed

Makita, Z; Vlassara, H; Cerami, A; Bucala, R

1992-03-15

Reducing sugars react with protein amino groups to form a diverse group of protein-bound moieties with fluorescent and cross-linking properties. These compounds, called advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs), have been implicated in the structural and functional alterations of proteins that occur during aging and long-term diabetes. Although several AGEs have been identified on the basis of de novo synthesis and tissue isolation procedures, the measurement of AGE compounds in vivo has remained difficult. As an approach to the study of AGE formation in vivo, we prepared polyclonal antiserum to an AGE epitope(s) which forms in vitro after incubation of glucose with ribonuclease (RNase). This antiserum proved suitable for the detection of AGEs which form in vivo. Both diabetic tissue and serum known to contain elevated levels of AGEs readily competed for antibody binding. Cross-reactivity studies revealed the presence of a common AGE epitope(s) which forms after the incubation of diverse proteins with glucose. Cross-reactive epitopes also formed with glucose 6-phosphate or fructose. These data suggest that tissue AGEs which form in vivo appear to contain a common immunological epitope which cross-reacts with AGEs prepared in vitro, supporting the concept that immunologically similar AGE structures form from the incubation of sugars with different proteins (Horiuchi, S., Araki, N., and Morino, Y. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 7329-7332). None of the known AGEs, such as 4-furanyl-2-furoyl-1H-imidazole, 1-alkyl-2-formyl-3,4-diglycosylpyrrole, pyrraline, carboxymethyllysine, or pentosidine, were found to compete for binding to anti-AGE antibody. These data further suggest that the dominant AGE epitope which forms from the reaction of glucose with proteins under native conditions is immunologically distinct from the structurally defined AGEs described to date.

Restless Legs Syndrome and Poor Sleep Quality in Obese Children and Adolescents

PubMed

Baran, Rıza Taner; Atar, Müge; Pirgon, Özgür; Filiz, Serkan; Filiz, Meral

2018-06-01

Adult epidemiological studies suggest that the rate of Restless Legs syndrome (RLS) in the general population may range from 5% to 15%. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of RLS in a community sample of obese adolescents aged 10-16 years and to assess the association with sleep quality and health-related glucose metabolism markers. The study group comprised 144 obese and overweight children aged 10-16 yearsand the control group consisted of 66 age-matched healthy children. The RLS Questionnaire devised by the International RLS Study and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), where a score >5 indicates poor sleep quality, was used to assess sleep quality. Mean body mass index (BMI) of the overweight/obese and control groups were 30.5±0.5 and 18.7±0.2, respectively. The frequency of RLS was higher in the obese group (21.7%) than the overweight (3.4%) and control (1.5%) (p<0.001) groups. The frequency of a poor PSQI score was significantly higher (p<0.001) in the obese group (37.3%) than the control group (24.2%). The obese with RLS group also had poorer sleep quality scores than the non-RLS obese group. Many symptoms of sleep disruption were more common in obese patients with RLS and RLS was independently correlated with a high PSQI score [odds ratio (OR): 2.25, confidence interval (Cl): 0.96-5.28, p<0.001)] and an increased BMI z-score (OR: 8.87, Cl: 2.04-38.61, p<0.001). RLS is common in obese children and may be associated with altered sleep quality. Obese children with RLS need to be assessed since they may need support to improve their sleep quality.

Restless Legs Syndrome and Poor Sleep Quality in Obese Children and Adolescents

PubMed Central

Baran, Rıza Taner; Atar, Müge; Pirgon, Özgür; Filiz, Serkan; Filiz, Meral

2018-01-01

Objective: Adult epidemiological studies suggest that the rate of Restless Legs syndrome (RLS) in the general population may range from 5% to 15%. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of RLS in a community sample of obese adolescents aged 10-16 years and to assess the association with sleep quality and health-related glucose metabolism markers. Methods: The study group comprised 144 obese and overweight children aged 10-16 yearsand the control group consisted of 66 age-matched healthy children. The RLS Questionnaire devised by the International RLS Study and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), where a score >5 indicates poor sleep quality, was used to assess sleep quality. Results: Mean body mass index (BMI) of the overweight/obese and control groups were 30.5±0.5 and 18.7±0.2, respectively. The frequency of RLS was higher in the obese group (21.7%) than the overweight (3.4%) and control (1.5%) (p<0.001) groups. The frequency of a poor PSQI score was significantly higher (p<0.001) in the obese group (37.3%) than the control group (24.2%). The obese with RLS group also had poorer sleep quality scores than the non-RLS obese group. Many symptoms of sleep disruption were more common in obese patients with RLS and RLS was independently correlated with a high PSQI score [odds ratio (OR): 2.25, confidence interval (Cl): 0.96-5.28, p<0.001)] and an increased BMI z-score (OR: 8.87, Cl: 2.04-38.61, p<0.001). Conclusion: RLS is common in obese children and may be associated with altered sleep quality. Obese children with RLS need to be assessed since they may need support to improve their sleep quality. PMID:29175807

Medical Care and Your 6- to 12-Year-Old

MedlinePlus

... Common problems found in this age group include sleep disorders, bedwetting, strep throat , and colds . Some preteens also may be injured playing sports or other activities, and some kids develop stress- ...

Urinary tract infection in febrile under five children in Enugu, South Eastern Nigeria.

PubMed

Ibeneme, C A; Oguonu, T; Okafor, H U; Ikefuna, A N; Ozumba, U C

2014-01-01

Fever is a common symptom of urinary tract infection (UTI) in children less than 5 years of age. Little attention is however paid to UTI as a cause of fever in this age group. The objective of the following study is to determine the prevalence of UTI in febrile children less than 5 years of age and relate it to demographic and clinical characteristics. Urine specimen of febrile children aged 1-59 months obtained by suprapubic or midstream methods were analyzed using standard laboratory methods of microscopy, culture and sensitivity. A total of 200 children were enrolled; nearly 56% (112/200) were males. The mean age of the subjects was 31.14 ± 17.96 months. The prevalence of UTI was 11% and was significantly higher in females than in males ( P = 0.049). Children below 12 months of age had a higher rate of UTI than those 12 months and above ( P = 0.028). The common clinical features were vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, urinary frequency and urgency but none had a significant association with UTI. UTI is common in febrile under-fives especially among females and infants. No association was apparent between the occurrence of UTI and clinical parameters.

Fears, worries, and scary dreams in 4- to 12-year-old children: their content, developmental pattern, and origins.

PubMed

Muris, P; Merckelbach, H; Gadet, B; Moulaert, V

2000-03-01

Investigated anxiety symptoms in normal school children 4 to 12 years of age (N = 190). The percentages of children reporting fears, worries, and scary dreams were 75.8, 67.4, and 80.5%, respectively, indicating that these anxiety symptoms are quite common among children. Inspection of the developmental pattern of these phenomena revealed that fears and scary dreams were common among 4- to 6-year-olds, became even more prominent in 7- to 9-year-olds, and then decreased in frequency in 10- to 12-year-olds. The developmental course of worry deviated from this pattern. This phenomenon was clearly more prevalent in older children (i.e., 7- to 12-year-olds) than in younger children. Furthermore, although the frequency of certain types of fears, worries, and dreams were found to change across age groups (e.g., the prevalence of fears and scary dreams pertaining to imaginary creatures decreased with age, whereas worry about test performance increased with age), the top intense fears, worries, and scary dreams remained relatively unchanged across age levels. An examination of the origins of these common anxiety phenomena showed that for fears and scary dreams, information was the most commonly reported pathway, whereas for worry, conditioning experiences were more prominent.

Spectrum of gallstone disease in the veterans population.

PubMed

Stewart, Lygia; Griffiss, J McLeod; Way, Lawrence W

2005-11-01

Elderly male patients are thought to have a higher incidence of biliary infections. This demographic is common among veterans, so we analyzed the spectrum of gallstone disease in a large veteran population. A total of 285 patients with gallstone disease were studied. There were 27 women and 258 men, with an average age of 62 years. Gallstones, bile, and blood (as indicated) were cultured. Illness severity was staged as none (no clinical infection), moderate (fever, leukocytosis), or severe (cholangitis, bacteremia, abscess, hypotension, organ failure). Gallstones were grouped by appearance. Three bacterial groups were defined: EK (Escherichia coli or Klebsiella species), N (Enterococcus), or Oth (all other species). Biliary bacteria were present in 145 (51%) patients. Bacterial presence by patient age was 33% for those less than 50 years, 48% for those 50 to 70 years, and 65% for those more than 70 years (P <.02 vs. others). Bacterial presence by stone type was as follows: cholesterol, 11%; mixed, 51%; pigment, 71% (P <.01 vs. others). Illness severity by stone type was as follows for cholesterol: none, 73%; moderate, 27%; severe, 0%; for mixed: none, 62%; moderate, 25%; severe, 13%; for pigment: none, 41%; moderate, 17%; severe, 41% (P <.0001 vs. others). Illness severity by bacterial group was as follows for sterile: none, 77%; moderate, 23%; severe, 0%; for the Oth group: none, 57%; moderate, 22%; severe, 20%; for the N group: none, 32%; moderate, 16%; severe, 52%; for the EK group: none, 18%; moderate, 22%; severe, 60% (P <.0001 vs. sterile/Oth, P = .126 vs. N). Bacterial biliary tree colonization is prevalent in the veterans' population, it increases with age, and is more common with pigment stones. But not all bacterial species cause infectious manifestations. Patients with E coli and/or Klebsiella species commonly showed infectious manifestations, patients with Enterococcus were in an intermediate range, and those with other species had few infectious manifestations.

Pigmented Basal cell carcinoma of nipple and areola in a male breast - a case report with review of literature.

PubMed

Kalyani, R; Vani, B R; Srinivas, Murthy V; Veda, P

2014-03-01

Basal cell carcinoma is a common skin cancer worldwide. However basal cell carcinoma of nipple and areola complex is rare, commonly seen in males in elderly age group. The tumor has aggressive behavior with increased tendency for metastasis. We present a case in a 78 year male in the left breast.

Phenytoin-induced encephalopathy in a child.

PubMed

Mehndiratta, Sumit

2016-01-01

Phenytoin is a commonly used antiepileptic medication in the pediatric age group, but it has a narrow therapeutic range. Various adverse effects have been reported commonly. We report a relatively rare case of encephalopathy in a child from overdose of injectable phenytoin due to ignorance of the previous treatment. Scrutiny of medical records and history is of utmost importance while administering such medications.

Geriatric Anorexia Nervosa.

PubMed

Zayed, Moaweya; Garry, Joseph P

2017-01-01

Eating disorders are not commonly diagnosed in individuals aged >50 years, yet they are associated with significant psychiatric comorbidities and overall morbidity. Anorexia nervosa is the most common eating disorder among this age group, and women are affected most often. We present the fatal case of a 66-year old woman with severe malnutrition and newly diagnosed anorexia nervosa. Inpatient refeeding was unsuccessful, and she succumbed to multisystem organ failure. The timely recognition of eating disorders among older people is important for family physicians who care for patients across the life spectrum. © Copyright 2017 by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Binocular vision and eye movement disorders in older adults.

PubMed

Leat, Susan J; Chan, Lisa Li-Li; Maharaj, Priya-Devi; Hrynchak, Patricia K; Mittelstaedt, Andrea; Machan, Carolyn M; Irving, Elizabeth L

2013-05-31

To determine the prevalence of binocular vision (BV) and eye movement disorders in a clinic population of older adults. Retrospective clinic data were abstracted from files of 500 older patients seen at the University of Waterloo Optometry Clinic over a 1-year period. Stratified sampling gave equal numbers of patients in the 60 to 69, 70 to 79, and 80+ age groups. Data included age, general and ocular history and symptoms, use of antidepressants, a habit of smoking, refraction, visual acuity, BV and eye movement status for the most recent full oculo-visual assessment, and an assessment 10 years prior. The prevalence of any BV or eye movement abnormal test (AT) result, defined as a test result outside the normal range, was determined. This included strabismus (any) or phoria; incomitancy; poor pursuits; and remote near point of convergence (NPC). The prevalence of significant BV disorders (diagnostic entities, i.e., a clinical condition that may need treatment and may have functional implications) was also determined. The prevalence of any BV or eye movement at was 41%, 44%, and 51% in the 60 to 69, 70 to 79, and 80+ age groups, respectively. These figures were lower for 10 years earlier: 31%, 36%, and 40% for ages 50 to 59, 60 to 69, and 70+, respectively. The prevalence of any BV or eye movement disorder was 27%, 30%, and 38% for the three age groups and 17%, 19%, and 24% for 10 years prior. Age and use of antidepressants most commonly predicted BV or eye movement AT or disorder. BV disorders are common among older adults.

Physical activity in older, rural, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white adults.

PubMed

Swenson, Carolyn J; Marshall, Julie A; Mikulich-Gilbertson, Susan K; Baxter, Judith; Morgenstern, Nora

2005-06-01

Understanding variations in physical activity patterns is important for planning health interventions. This study describes age-related change in physical activity in 903 rural Hispanic and non-Hispanic white (NHW) adults age 55-80. The Physical Activity History assessed 13 categories of productive and recreational activity during the past year with up to four assessments per participant from 1987 to 1998. The most common activities were walking and home maintenance/gardening. Productive and recreational physical activity levels were lower in women than men (P < 0.0001), and within each gender group Hispanics had lower levels of both activity types than NHW (P values less than 0.05). In men, productive activity steadily declined with age in NHW and Hispanics. Recreational activity increased slightly until age 63, then decreased after age 70. In women, productive activity initially stayed stable then decreased in NHW after age 63, and in Hispanics it decreased at younger ages before stabilizing after age 70. Recreational activity levels decreased steadily with age in all women, with a steeper rate of decline in NHW than Hispanics. In both ethnic groups, activity levels were lower in diabetics than nondiabetics, except for recreational activity in women where levels did not differ by diabetes status. The most common activities were similar to other studies of older adults, both recreational and productive activities contributed to total activity, and physical activity decreased in all gender-ethnic subgroups with age. Hispanic women reported the lowest activity levels. Interventions to maintain or increase recreational activity may need to target women at an earlier age than men.

Differences in nativity, age and gender may impact health behavior and perspectives among Asian Indians.

PubMed

Dhar, Sohini; Gor, Beverly; Banerjee, Deborah; Krishnan, Sunil; Dorai, V K; Jones, Lovell; Kabad, Kanchan; Naik, Lakshmi Rai; Legha, Sewa S; Pande, Mala

2017-07-03

Identify health perspectives among Asian Indians in greater Houston area, to guide a tailored community wide survey. Four focus groups of different ages, gender, and nativity were conducted at which participants were asked for their opinions about specific health topics. Key informant interviews were conducted with ten community leaders to validate focus group responses. Recordings from focus groups and key informant interviews were transcribed and analyzed. Diabetes, cancer, and hypertension were primary health concerns. Common themes were sedentary lifestyle and poor health literacy. Older participants were more accepting of having familial hypertension and high cholesterol. Women were more concerned about health of family members and dietary habits. Perspectives differed on eating habits, physical activity, use of Western medicine, and smoking based on nativity. Responses from key informant interviews validated focus group findings. Perspectives on health may differ among Asian Indians depending on gender, age, and nativity.

An analysis of maintenance following functional communication training.

PubMed Central

Durand, V M; Carr, E G

1992-01-01

The multiple and long-term effects of functional communication training relative to a common reductive procedure (time-out from positive reinforcement) were evaluated. Twelve children participated in a functional analysis of their challenging behaviors (Study 1), which implicated adult attention as a maintaining variable. The children were then matched for chronological age, mental age, and language age and assigned to two groups. One group received functional communication training as an intervention for their challenging behavior, and the second group received time-out as a contrast. Both interventions were initially successful (Study 2), but durable results were achieved only with the group that received functional communication training across different stimulus conditions (Study 3). Students whose challenging behaviors were previously reduced with time-out resumed these behaviors in the presence of naive teachers unaware of the children's intervention history. The value of teaching communicative responses to promote maintenance is discussed as it relates to the concept of functional equivalence. PMID:1478902

Comparison of common carotid artery intima-media thickness between Brazilian Euro-descendants and Afro-descendants with atherosclerosis risk factors.

PubMed

Casella, Ivan Benaduce; Sotelo, Fabio José Bonafé; Yamazaki, Yumiko; Presti, Calógero; Vassoler, Alecxander; Melo, Henry Augusto Hoffmann

2009-01-01

To compare common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) between the two major Brazilian ethnic groups (those of African descent and those of European descent) among individuals with one or more risk factors for atherosclerotic disease. Two hundred and six patients with one or more risk factors for atherosclerotic disease were evaluated in a cross-sectional study in which their clinical, ethnic and Demographic characteristics were collected. All patients underwent duplex ultrasound examination of their carotid vessels to obtain IMT measurements. One hundred and fifty-three patients (74.3%) had a carotid IMT greater than 1.0 mm at one or more point of measurement in at least one common carotid artery. There was a significant correlation between older age and mean carotid wall thickness (R=0.479 / P<0.01). Multivariate analysis identified male sex, arterial hypertension and older age as variables associated with increased IMT (P<0.05 for all variables). When IMT was compared between the two ethnic groups in this study, no significant differences were noted. Euro-descendants and Afro-descendants had similar IMT values, even when the groups were stratified by degree of IMT (normal vs. increased) and presence of stroke and/or transient ischemic attack (yes vs. no). The risk factors associated with increased common carotid artery IMT in Brazilian individuals are similar to those in previously described populations. No differences were observed between the two main Brazilian ethnic groups. Longitudinal studies are required for a better evaluation of the incidence, etiologic factors and evolution of carotid intimomedial thickening in this population.

Acid-base and electrolyte disorders in patients with diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Sotirakopoulos, Nikolaos; Kalogiannidou, Irini; Tersi, Maria; Armentzioiou, Karmen; Sivridis, Dimitrios; Mavromatidis, Konstantinos

2012-01-01

Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disorder in the community. The diabetics may suffer from acid-base and electrolyte disorders due to complications of diabetes mellitus and the medication they receive. In this study, acid-base and electrolyte disorders were evaluated among outpatient diabetics in our hospital. The study consisted of patients with diabetes mellitus who visited the hospital as outpatients between the period January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2006. The patients' medical history, age and type of diabetes were noted, including whether they were taking diuretics and calcium channel blockers or not. Serum creatinine, proteins, sodium, potassium and chloride and blood gases were measured in all patients. Proteinuria was measured by 24-h urine collection. Two hundred and ten patients were divided in three groups based on the serum creatinine. Group A consisted of 114 patients that had serum creatinine < 1.2 mg/dL, group B consisted of 69 patients that had serum creatinine ranging from 1.3 to 3 mg/dL and group C consisted of 27 patients with serum creatinine > 3.1 mg/dL. Of the 210 patients, 176 had an acid-base disorder. The most common disorder noted in group A was metabolic alkalosis. In groups B and C, the common disorders were metabolic acidosis and alkalosis, and metabolic acidosis, respectively. The most common electrolyte disorders were hypernatremia (especially in groups A and B), hyponatremia (group C) and hyperkalemia (especially in groups B and C). It is concluded that: (a) in diabetic outpatients, acid-base and electrolyte disorders occurred often even if the renal function is normal, (b) the most common disorders are metabolic alkalosis and metabolic acidosis (the frequency increases with the deterioration of the renal function) and (c) the common electrolyte disorders are hypernatremia and hypokalemia.

Quality of life, use of topical medications and socio-economic data in hand eczema: a Swedish nationwide survey.

PubMed

Bingefors, Kerstin; Lindberg, Magnus; Isacson, Dag

2011-06-01

Hand eczema is common and has an adverse impact on the lives of patients. There is a need for population-based surveys on the pharmacoepidemiological aspects, quality of life and impact of socioeconomic factors in hand eczema. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate these factors. A questionnaire-based nationwide survey of health was performed, including questions on hand eczema, use of pharmaceuticals and socioeconomic factors. Quality of life was estimated with the generic instrument Short Form 36 (SF-36). The questionnaire was sent to 7,985 persons (age range 18-84 years), response rate 61.1% (n = 4,875). The 1-year prevalence of hand eczema in the study population was 7.5%. In this group, quality of life was lower. All dimensions of SF-36 were affected, most markedly general health and those dimensions reporting on mental health. In the group with self-reported hand eczema, 51% reported using topical pharmaceuticals. Hand eczema was more common among women (9.1%, n = 2,630) than among men (5.6%, n = 2,245) and in the age group below 65 years (8.5%, n = 3,274) compared with those aged 65 years and over (4.3%, n = 1,151). This survey clearly demonstrates the impact of hand eczema on several dimensions of life and also highlights age, gender and socioeconomic differences.

Age Related Differences in the Surface EMG Signals on Adolescent's Muscle during Contraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uddin Ahamed, Nizam; Taha, Zahari; Alqahtani, Mahdi; Altwijri, Omar; Rahman, Matiur; Deboucha, Abdelhakim

2016-02-01

The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are differences in the amplitude of the EMG signal among five different age groups of adolescent's muscle. Fifteen healthy adolescents participated in this study and they were divided into five age groups (13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 years). Subjects were performed dynamic contraction during lifting a standard weight (3-kg dumbbell) and EMG signals were recorded from their Biceps Brachii (BB) muscle. Two common EMG analysis techniques namely root mean square (RMS) and mean absolute values (MAV) were used to find the differences. The statistical analysis was included: linear regression to examine the relationships between EMG amplitude and age, repeated measures ANOVA to assess differences among the variables, and finally Coefficient of Variation (CoV) for signal steadiness among the groups of subjects during contraction. The result from RMS and MAV analysis shows that the 17-years age groups exhibited higher activity (0.28 and 0.19 mV respectively) compare to other groups (13-Years: 0.26 and 0.17 mV, 14-years: 0.25 and 0.23 mV, 15-Years: 0.23 and 0.16 mV, 16-years: 0.23 and 0.16 mV respectively). Also, this study shows modest correlation between age and signal activities among all age group's muscle. The experiential results can play a pivotal role for developing EMG prosthetic hand controller, neuromuscular system, EMG based rehabilitation aid and movement biomechanics, which may help to separate age groups among the adolescents.

Identifying socio-demographic and socioeconomic determinants of health inequalities in a diverse London community: the South East London Community Health (SELCoH) study.

PubMed

Hatch, Stephani L; Frissa, Souci; Verdecchia, Maria; Stewart, Robert; Fear, Nicola T; Reichenberg, Abraham; Morgan, Craig; Kankulu, Bwalya; Clark, Jennifer; Gazard, Billy; Medcalf, Robert; Hotopf, Matthew

2011-11-11

Responses to public health need require information on the distribution of mental and physical ill health by demographic and socioeconomic factors at the local community level. The South East London Community Health (SELCoH) study is a community psychiatric and physical morbidity survey. Trained interviewers conducted face-to-face computer assisted interviews with 1698 adults aged 16 years and over, from 1076 randomly selected private households in two south London boroughs. We compared the prevalence of common mental disorders, hazardous alcohol use, long standing illness and general physical health by demographic and socioeconomic indicators. Unadjusted and models adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic indicators are presented for all logistic regression models. Of those in the sample, 24.2% reported common mental disorder and 44.9% reported having a long standing illness, with 15.7% reporting hazardous alcohol consumption and 19.2% rating their health as fair or poor. The pattern of indicators identifying health inequalities for common mental disorder, poor general health and having a long term illness is similar; individuals who are socioeconomically disadvantaged have poorer health and physical health worsens as age increases for all groups. The prevalence of poor health outcomes by ethnic group suggests that there are important differences between groups, particularly for common mental disorder and poor general health. Higher socioeconomic status was protective for common mental disorder, fair or poor health and long standing illness, but those with higher socioeconomic status reported higher levels of hazardous alcohol use. The proportion of participants who met the criteria for common mental disorder with co-occurring functional limitations was similar or greater to those with poor physical health. Health service providers and policy makers should prioritise high risk, socially defined groups in combating inequalities in individual and co-occurring poor mental and physical problems. In population terms, poor mental health has a similar or greater burden on functional impairment than long term conditions and perceived health.

De Quervain's Tenosynovitis

MedlinePlus

... Quervain's tenosynovitis than do other age groups, including children. Sex. The condition is more common in women. Being pregnant. The condition may be associated with pregnancy. Baby care. Lifting your child repeatedly involves using your thumbs as leverage and ...

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings among children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), partial fetal alcohol syndrome (pFAS) and alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorders (ARND).

PubMed

Anna Dyląg, Katarzyna; Sikora-Sporek, Aleksanda; Bańdo, Bożena; Boroń-Zyss, Joanna; Drożdż, Dorota; Dumnicka, Paulina; Przybyszewska, Katarzyna; Sporek, Mateusz; Walocha, Jerzy W; Wojciechowski, Wadim; Urbanik, Andrzej

The aim of the study was to analyze the findings in MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the brain amongst children diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), partial fetal alcohol syndrome (pFAS) or alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorders (ARND). The issue has been studied in several researches previously but the experts agree that there is still few data on the MRI results in the group of younger children. MRI results of 121 patients with either FAS or pFAS or ARND diagnosed with Canadian criteria were analyzed regarding the presence of abnormalities. The group consisted of 71 patients diagnosed with FAS, 33 diagnosed with pFAS and 17 diagnosed with ARND. The mean age of the patients was 8.03 years (standard deviation 4.07). In the total group of FASD patients 61.98% of the patients’ MRI results were abnormal. The most common abnormality in MRI of the patients were demyelination plaques (incidence 23.1%) and corpus callosum narrowing (20.7%) as well as ventricular asymmetry (18.8%).The demyelination plaques and corpus callosum narrowing were more frequent among children ≤4 years old (41.7% vs 18.6%; p=0.016 and 50.0% vs.13.4%; p<0.001, respectively). Age ≤4 years predicted the presence of demyelination plaques and corpus callosum narrowing independently of FAS diagnosis. Among younger children, multiple central nervous system abnormalities were observed more often than in the older age group (54.2% vs. 14.4%; p<0.001). Odds ratio for multiple changes was 0.84 per one-year increase in age (95% CI 0.73-0.97), p=0.016. Furthermore, in the analysis according to the specific diagnosis, among the patients diagnosed with FAS, multiple anomalies were more common than in pFAS and ARND. Both age ≤4 years and FAS diagnosis were independent predictors for multiple anomalies in multiple logistic regression. In structural brain MRI of younger children, multiple anomalies were found more frequently than among older children. Demyelination plaques and corpus callosum narrowing were more common in younger FASD patients than in older ones.

Proximal risk factors and suicide methods among suicide completers from national suicide mortality data 2004-2006 in Korea.

PubMed

Im, Jeong-Soo; Choi, Soon Ho; Hong, Duho; Seo, Hwa Jeong; Park, Subin; Hong, Jin Pyo

2011-01-01

This study was conducted to examine differences in proximal risk factors and suicide methods by sex and age in the national suicide mortality data in Korea. Data were collected from the National Police Agency and the National Statistical Office of Korea on suicide completers from 2004 to 2006. The 31,711 suicide case records were used to analyze suicide rates, methods, and proximal risk factors by sex and age. Suicide rate increased with age, especially in men. The most common proximal risk factor for suicide was medical illness in both sexes. The most common proximal risk factor for subjects younger than 30 years was found to be a conflict in relationships with family members, partner, or friends. Medical illness was found to increase in prevalence as a risk factor with age. Hanging/Suffocation was the most common suicide method used by both sexes. The use of drug/pesticide poisoning to suicide increased with age. A fall from height or hanging/suffocation was more popular in the younger age groups. Because proximal risk factors and suicide methods varied with sex and age, different suicide prevention measures are required after consideration of both of these parameters. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Comparison of clinicopathological findings among patients whose mammography results were classified as category 4 subgroups of the BI-RADS.

PubMed

Leblebici, Ihsan Metin; Bozkurt, Suleyman; Eren, Turgut Tunc; Ozemir, Ibrahim Ali; Sagiroglu, Julide; Alimoglu, Orhan

2014-01-01

Our aim is to compare mammographic, demographic and clinicopathological characteristics of patients whose mammographies were classified as subgroups of BI-RADS 4 category (Breast Imaging - Reporting and Data System). In total, 103 patients with mammography (Senographe 600t Senix HF; General Electric, Moulineaux, France) results classified as BI-RADS 4 were included in the study. Demographic data (age, menopause, and family history) were recorded. All data were compared among BI-RADS 4 subgroups. In all, 68.9% (71/103), 7.8% (8/103) and 23.3% (24/103) the patients were in groups BI-RADS 4A, 4B and 4C, respectively. The incidence of malignancy was higher in Groups 4B and 4C than in Group 4A (p<0.05), but similar in Groups 4B and 4C (p>0.05). Mean age was lower in Group 4B than in Groups 4A and 4C (p<0.05). A positive family history was more common in Group 4A than in Group 4B (p=0.025). The frequency of menopausal patients was greater in Groups 4A and 4C than in Group 4B (p=0.021, and 0.003, respectively). The rate of malignancy was higher in Groups 4B, and 4C than in Group 4A. A positive family history was more common in Group 4A than in Group 4C. Groups 4A, and 4C patients tended to be older and were more likely to be menopausal than Group 4B patients.

Thyroid Ultrasonography in Differentiation between Graves' Disease and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

PubMed

Pishdad, P; Pishdad, G R; Tavanaa, S; Pishdad, R; Jalli, R

2017-03-01

Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis are the most common causes of hyper and hypothyroidism, respectively. Differentiation of these 2 diseases, if the patient is euthyroid, may sometimes be extremely difficult on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings. The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of gray scale sonography in differentiation of Graves' disease from Hashimoto's thyroiditis. This study included 149 patients divided into three groups, patients with Graves' disease (34 patients, mean age = 36.8 ± 10.17 years), Patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (62 patients, mean age = 33.4 ± 12.16 years) and control group (53 healthy people, mean age = 34.74 ± 16.87 years). Members of all groups were referred to a single radiologist for thyroid sonography for evaluation of thyroid echogenicity pattern. A total of 117 women and 32 men were examined by sonography. The most common sonographic pattern in Hashimoto and Graves' was homogenous hypo-echogenicity which was observed in 45.2% and 47.1% of cases, respectively. Peripheral hypo-echogenicity pattern was seen in 40.3% of Hashimoto's group with 100% specificity and 40.3% sensitivity. Central-hypoechogenic pattern was observed in 17.6% of Graves' group with 100% and 17.6% specificity and sensitivity, respectively. Our findings indicate that sonography has high specificity but low sensitivity in the diagnosis of either Graves' disease or Hashimoto's thyroiditis. It is therefore not possible to differentiate between these two diseases using sonography alone. Confirmation by laboratory data is also needed.

Experiences with physical conditioning programs in middle-aged men

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schuster, B.; Stanley, E.

1969-01-01

Long term effects of physical exercise and conditioning in the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease are studied. Some aspects of the problem are outlined and difficulties encountered in a group of middle aged business executives using a carefully prescribed, but non-regimented and loosely supervised conditioning program employing commonly used forms of exercise (bicycling and jogging), are described.

Design and Validation of a Photographic Expressive Persian Grammar Test for Children Aged 4-6 Years

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haresabadi, Fatemeh; Ebadi, Abbas; Shirazi, Tahereh Sima; Dastjerdi Kazemi, Mehdi

2016-01-01

Syntax has a high importance among linguistic parameters, and syntax-related problems are the most common in language disorders. Therefore, the present study aimed to design a Photographic Expressive Persian Grammar Test for Iranian children in the age group of 4-6 years and to determine its validity and reliability. First, the target…

What Makes a Student Non-Traditional? A Comparison of Students over and under Age 25 in Online, Accelerated Psychology Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tilley, Brian P.

2014-01-01

The growing proportion of non-traditional students, very commonly defined as students over the age of 25 (though other features vary from study to study) necessitates more studies with this increasingly relevant group participating. Recently, the growth of non-traditional universities such as those offering predominantly online, accelerated…

Clinicodemographic Profile of Children with Seizures in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

PubMed

Chaudhary, Nagendra; Gupta, Murli Manohar; Shrestha, Sandeep; Pathak, Santosh; Kurmi, Om Prakash; Bhatia, B D; Agarwal, K N

2017-01-01

Seizures are one of the common causes for hospital admissions in children with significant mortality and morbidity. This study was conducted to study the prevalence and clinicodemographic profile of children with seizures in a tertiary care hospital of western Nepal. This prospective cross-sectional study conducted over a period of 2 years included all admitted children (2 months-16 years) with seizures. Among 4962 admitted children, seizures were present in 3.4% ( n = 168) of children, with male preponderance. 138 (82.1%) children had generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) and 30 (17.9%) children had partial seizures. GTCS were more common than partial seizures in both sexes (male = 82.7%; female = 81.2%) and age groups. There was no statistical significance in the distribution of seizures (GTCS and partial seizures) with sexes ( P = 0.813) and age groups ( P = 0.955). Mean ages of children having GTCS and partial seizures were 8.2 ± 4.6 years and 8.2 ± 4.2 years, respectively. Loss of consciousness (55.4%), fever (39.9%), vomiting (35.1%), and headache (16.1%) were common complaints in seizure patients. Significant number of GTCS cases had fever ( P = 0.041) and neurocysticercosis ( n = 72; 43%) was the most common etiology in seizure patients. Idiopathic epilepsy (38 (22.6%)), meningoencephalitis (26 (15.5%)), and febrile convulsions (14 (8.33%)) were other leading disorders in children with seizures.

Histopathological features of coeliac disease in a sample of Sudanese patients.

PubMed

Mokhtar, M A N; Mekki, S O; Mudawi, H M Y; Sulaiman, S H; Tahir, M A; Tigani, M A; Omer, I A; Yousif, B M; Fragalla, I A; Mohammed, Z; Dafaalla, M

2016-12-01

Coeliac disease can occur at any age but is more common in children. Its diagnosis requires correlation between clinical presentations, serological results, endoscopic findings and histopathological classification using the modified Marsh grading system. This study of coeliac disease with biopsies received in the department of histopathology at Soba University Hospital, and Fedail Hospital aimed to gain insight into the demographic profile, clinical presentations and histopathological classification of patients with coeliac disease. This was a descriptive study carried out at Soba University Hospital and Fedail Hospital during the period from January 2010-December 2013. Haematoxylin & Eosin and CD3-stained slides of small intestinal biopsies of coeliac disease patients were reviewed for various histological features (1) intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) count per 100 enterocytes, (2) crypt hyperplasia and (3) degree of villous atrophy. Based on the histopathological findings, the cases were categorized according to the modified Marsh classification. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from the patient request forms. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Software (SPSS). The study included 60 patients. Their age ranged from 2 to 70 years with a mean of 19.5 years (±15.7 SD). The most common age group was below 10 years old (41.6%). Male and female are equally affected. The most common clinical presentation was chronic diarrhoea (55.0%), followed by iron deficiency anemia (41.7%). The degree of villous atrophy ranged from complete atrophy (45.0%), marked atrophy (38.3%) to mild atrophy (16.6%). Marsh grade IIIC was the most common grade. The younger age-groups had a higher prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia and higher Marsh grade.

Surgical Outcome and Hepatic Regeneration after Hepatic Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Elderly Patients.

PubMed

Inoue, Yoshihiro; Tanaka, Ryo; Fujii, Kensuke; Kawaguchi, Nao; Ishii, Masatsugu; Masubuchi, Shinsuke; Yamamoto, Masashi; Hirokawa, Fumitoshi; Hayashi, Michihiro; Uchiyama, Kazuhisa

2018-05-14

The rising proportion of elderly patients (aged 80 yearsor above) in our population means that more elderly patients are undergoing hepatectomy. Five-hundred and thirty patients who underwent hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were retrospectively analyzed with respect to their preoperative status and perioperative results, including remnant liver regeneration. The remnant liver volume was postoperatively measured with multidetector CT on postoperative day 7 and 1, 2, 5, and 12 months after surgery. An elderly group (aged 80 or older) was compared with a non-elderly group (aged less than 80 years). Underlying diseases of the cardiovascular system were significantly more common in the elderly group (57.8%, p = 0.0008). The postoperative incidence of Clavien-Dindo Grade IIIa or higher complications was 20.0% in the elderly group and 24.3% in the non-elderly group, and this difference was not significant. As for regeneration of the remnant liver after resection, this was not morphologically delayed compared to the non-elderly group. In this study, we have demonstrated that safe, radical hepatectomy, similar to procedures performed on non-elderly patients, can be performed on patients with HCC aged 80 and older with sufficient perioperative care. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Work characteristics predict the development of multi-site musculoskeletal pain.

PubMed

Oakman, Jodi; de Wind, Astrid; van den Heuvel, Swenne G; van der Beek, Allard J

2017-10-01

Musculoskeletal pain in more than one body region is common and a barrier to sustaining employment. We aimed to examine whether work characteristics predict the development of multi-site pain (MSP), and to determine differences in work-related predictors between age groups. This study is based on 5136 employees from the Study on Transitions in Employment, Ability and Motivation (STREAM) who reported no MSP at baseline. Measures included physical, emotional, mental, and psychological job demands, social support and autonomy. Predictors of MSP were studied by logistic regression analyses. Univariate and multivariate analyses with age stratification (45-49, 50-54, 55-59, and 60-64 years) were done to explore differences between age groups. All work characteristics with the exception of autonomy were predictive of the development of MSP, with odds ratios varying from 1.21 (95% CI 1.04-1.40) for mental job demands to 1.63 (95% CI 1.43-1.86) for physical job demands. No clear pattern of age-related differences in the predictors of MSP emerged, with the exception of social support, which was predictive of MSP developing in all age groups except for the age group 60-64 years. Adverse physical and psychosocial work characteristics are associated with MSP. Organisations need to comprehensively assess work environments to ensure that all relevant workplace hazards, physical and psychosocial, are identified and then controlled for across all age groups.

CT measurement of indomethacin-induced cerebral hemodynamic changes in the newborn piglet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, Derek W.; Hadway, Jennifer; Lee, Ting-Yim

2003-05-01

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a common condition among preterm infants, increases the risk of intraventricular hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and death in afflicted individuals. Current clinical treatment of PDA relies on use of the drug indomethacin to close the ductus arteriosus. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of indomethacin on cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and cerebral mean transit time (MTT) in newborn piglets using computed tomography (CT) perfusion. Twenty newborn piglets divided by age into two groups, less than 12 hours of age (n = 10) and greater than 12 hours of age (n = 10) were studied. Five piglets in each group received indomethacin treatment (0.2 mg/kg infused over 30 min) while remaining piglets served as controls. No significant changes in CBF were observed in control groups. In both indomethacin treated groups, average CBF decreased 32.3% and 34.3% (P > 0.05) below baseline immediately post infusion in piglets less than and greater than 12 hours of age respectively. Piglets less than 12hours of age treated with indomethacin also exhibited a delayed increase in CBF, maximum average increase of 41.7% (P > 0.05) above baseline at 210 min post infusion, a response not observed in the corresponding group of piglets greater than 12 hours of age. The observed age dependent response may be due to functional/anatomical closure of the PDA.

Pigmented Basal Cell Carcinoma of Nipple and Areola in a Male Breast - A Case Report with Review of Literature

PubMed Central

Kalyani, R.; Vani, B. R.; Srinivas, Murthy V.; Veda, P.

2014-01-01

Basal cell carcinoma is a common skin cancer worldwide. However basal cell carcinoma of nipple and areola complex is rare, commonly seen in males in elderly age group. The tumor has aggressive behavior with increased tendency for metastasis. We present a case in a 78 year male in the left breast. PMID:24711752

Nonmidline yolk sac tumour of the head and neck region in an infant with Dandy Walker syndrome--case report and review of literature.

PubMed

Upadhyaya, M; Oak, S N; Kulkarni, B K; Kalgutkar, A

1997-12-01

Germ cell neoplasms are among the most commonly observed tumors in the pediatric age group. However, yolk sac tumors, which form a common subtype occur rarely in the head and neck region. In this paper we share our experience of one such rare case and review the literature about this condition.

Review of ear, nose and throat foreign bodies in Sarawak General Hospital. A five year experience.

PubMed

Chiun, Kian Chai; Tang, Ing Ping; Tan, Tee Yong; Jong, Doris Evelyn Yah Hui

2012-02-01

Ear, nose and throat foreign bodies are common in ENT clinical practice. This study was designed to establish the local data of otorhinolaryngeal foreign bodies in term of prevalence among paediatric and adult groups, the clinical features, types of foreign body at different sites, and laterality of foreign bodies. This study was carried out at ENT department, Sarawak General Hospital, Malaysia, from 1st January 2005 to 31st December 2009. A total of 1084 cases were included and statistically analyzed. Ear foreign bodies showed the highest incidence which was consisted of 480 (44.3%) cases, followed by nose in 270 (24.9%) cases, pharynx in 251 (23.2%) cases, esophagus in 57 (5.3%) cases and laryngo-tracheobronchial tree in 26 (2.4%) cases. Otorhinolaryngeal foreign bodies occurred more frequently in 0-10 year old age group which constituted 651 (60.1%) cases. The descending order of frequency for foreign body sites in adult was pharynx (17.2%), ear (12.8%), esophagus (3.1%), nose (1.7%) and laryngo-tracheobronchial tree (1.1%). The type of foreign bodies varies with age group and site of foreign body lodgement. In general, common foreign bodies in both adult and children were food related, with the additional of small objects such as plastic toy in paediatric group. Otorhinolaryngeal foreign bodies were found more frequently in children. The types of foreign body were different from age group and sites of foreign body lodgement. The local food constituted the highest incidence of ear, nose, and throat foreign bodies with additional of plastic toys in paediatric group.

Impact of Pediatric Vision Impairment on Daily Life: Results of Focus Groups

PubMed Central

DeCarlo, Dawn K.; McGwin, Gerald; Bixler, Martha L.; Wallander, Jan; Owsley, Cynthia

2012-01-01

Purpose To identify through focus groups of visually impaired children and their parents, relevant content for a vision-targeted health-related quality of life questionnaire designed for children ages 6-12. Methods Six focus groups of children with vision impairment ages 6 -12 and six focus groups of their parents were conducted by trained facilitators using a guided script. Sessions were recorded, transcribed and coded per a standardized protocol for content analysis. Comments were placed in thematic categories and each coded as positive, negative or neutral. Results Twenty-four children (mean age 9.4 years) with vision impairment from a variety of causes and 23 parents participated. The child focus groups generated 1,163 comments, of which 52% (n=599) were negative, 12% (n=138) were neutral and 37% (n=426) were positive. The three most common topical areas among children were: glasses and adaptive equipment (18%), psychosocial (14%) and school (14%). The parent focus groups generated 1,952 comments of which 46% (n=895) were negative, 16% (n=323) were neutral and 38% (n=734) were positive. The three most common topical areas among parents were: school (21%), expectations or frustrations (14%) and psychosocial (13%). Conclusions Pediatric vision impairment has significant effects on health related quality of life, as reported by children with vision impairment and their parents in their own words. These findings will provide the content to guide construction of a survey instrument to assess vision-specific, health-related quality of life in children with vision impairment. PMID:22863790

Age effects on explicit and implicit memory

PubMed Central

Ward, Emma V.; Berry, Christopher J.; Shanks, David R.

2013-01-01

It is well-documented that explicit memory (e.g., recognition) declines with age. In contrast, many argue that implicit memory (e.g., priming) is preserved in healthy aging. For example, priming on tasks such as perceptual identification is often not statistically different in groups of young and older adults. Such observations are commonly taken as evidence for distinct explicit and implicit learning/memory systems. In this article we discuss several lines of evidence that challenge this view. We describe how patterns of differential age-related decline may arise from differences in the ways in which the two forms of memory are commonly measured, and review recent research suggesting that under improved measurement methods, implicit memory is not age-invariant. Formal computational models are of considerable utility in revealing the nature of underlying systems. We report the results of applying single and multiple-systems models to data on age effects in implicit and explicit memory. Model comparison clearly favors the single-system view. Implications for the memory systems debate are discussed. PMID:24065942

Incidence patterns of pediatric and adolescent orthopaedic fractures according to age groups and seasons in South Korea: a population-based study.

PubMed

Park, Moon Seok; Chung, Chin Youb; Choi, In Ho; Kim, Tae Won; Sung, Ki Hyuk; Lee, Seung Yeol; Lee, Sang Hyeong; Kwon, Dae Gyu; Park, Jung Woo; Kim, Tae Gyun; Choi, Young; Cho, Tae-Joon; Yoo, Won Joon; Lee, Kyoung Min

2013-09-01

Fractures which need urgent or emergency treatment are common in children and adolescents. This study investigated the incidence patterns of pediatric and adolescent orthopaedic fractures according to age groups and seasons in South Korea based on population data. Data on the number of pediatric and adolescent patients under the age of 18 years who utilized medical services due to fractures were retrieved from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment service in South Korea. The data included four upper extremity and two lower extremity fractures according to four age groups (0-4 years, 5-9 years, 10-14 years, and 15-18 years). Incidences of the fractures were calculated as the incidence per 10,000 per year, and patterns according to age groups and seasons were demonstrated. The annual incidence of clavicle, distal humerus, both forearm bone, distal radius, femoral shaft and tibial shaft fractures were 27.5, 34.6, 7.7, 80.1, 2.5, and 9.6 per 10,000 per year in children and adolescents, respectively. Clavicle and distal radius fractures showed significant seasonal variation for all age groups but femoral shaft fracture showed no significant seasonal variation for any of the age groups. The four upper extremity fractures tended to show greater variations than the two lower extremity fractures in the nationwide database in South Korea. The study results are believed to be helpful in the planning and assignment of medical resources for fracture management in children and adolescents.

Microbiological aspects of vulvovaginitis in prepubertal girls.

PubMed

Ranđelović, Gordana; Mladenović, Vesna; Ristić, Ljiljana; Otašević, Suzana; Branković, Sofija; Mladenović-Antić, Snežana; Bogdanović, Milena; Bogdanović, Dragan

2012-08-01

This study aimed to establish the vaginal introitus microbial flora in girls with and without symptoms of vulvovaginitis, and to present the distribution of isolated microorganisms by age groups in girls with vulvovaginitis. We enrolled 500 girls with vulvovaginitis symptoms, aged 2-12 years, referred by their pediatricians for microbiological examination of the vaginal introitus swabs, and 30 age-matched asymptomatic girls. Similar microbial flora was isolated in both groups, but the symptomatic girls had significantly more common positive microbiological findings compared to controls (p < 0.001). In symptomatic girls, the following pathogenic bacteria were isolated: Streptococcus pyogenes (4.2%), Haemophilus influenzae (0.4%), and Staphylococcus aureus (5.8%). Bacteria of fecal origin were found in vaginal introitus swabs in 33.8% of cases, most commonly Proteus mirabilis (14.4%), Enterococcus faecalis (12.2%), and Escherichia coli (7.0%). The finding of fecal flora was more common compared to controls, reaching a statistical significance (p < 0.05), as well as in girls aged up to 6 years (p < 0.001). Candida species were found in 2.4% of girls with vulvovaginitis symptoms. The microbial ecosystem in girls with clinical signs of vulvovaginitis is complex and variable, and the presence of a microorganism does not necessarily imply that it is the cause of infection. The diagnosis of vulvovaginitis in prepubertal girls requires a complex and comprehensive approach, and microbiological findings should be interpreted in the context of clinical findings.

On gray dancing: Constructions of age-normality through choreography and temporal codes.

PubMed

Krekula, Clary; Arvidson, Markus; Heikkinen, Satu; Henriksson, Andreas; Olsson, Eva

2017-08-01

Against the background of population aging, older peoples dance has attracted attention in research and its health promoting effects and social meanings have been brought to the fore. In this article we focus on the context and power dimensions of dance with an emphasis on the organizing of dance among older adults in terms of social discourses and age relationships. On the basis of qualitative interviews with 33 older dancers and 11 dance providers in Sweden, the study illustrates how dance is organized through social discourses on healthism and on the increasing group of older people as a powerful consumer group. The study highlights that older people and their social dance contexts are marked and subordinated in relation to younger age groups through non-verbal practices such as choreography and temporal codes. In short, dancing among older adults is not only a common health promoting and social activity, but also an arena in which age and age normality are negotiated and constructed. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Predictors of oedema among children hospitalized with severe acute malnutrition in Jimma University Hospital, Ethiopia: a cross sectional study.

PubMed

Girma, Tsinuel; Kæstel, Pernille; Mølgaard, Christian; Michaelsen, Kim F; Hother, Anne-Louise; Friis, Henrik

2013-12-06

Severe acute malnutrition has two main clinical manifestations, i.e., oedematous and non-oedematous. However, factors associated with oedema are not well established. Children 0.5-14 years of age with SAM (MUAC < 11.0 cm or weight-for-height < 70 % of median and/or nutritional oedema) admitted to the nutrition unit were included. Information on infections before and during admission was collected together with anthropometry. Predictors of oedema was analysed separately for younger (< 60 months) and older children (≥ 60 months). 351 children were recruited (median age: 36 months (interquartile range 24 to 60); 43.3% females). Oedema was detected in 61.1%. The prevalence of oedema increased with age, peaked at 37-59 months (75%) and declined thereafter. Infection was more common in the younger group (33% vs. 8.9%, p < 0.001) and in this group children with oedema had less infections (25.2% vs. 45.1%, p = 0.001). In the older group the prevalence of infections was not different between oedematous and non-oedematous children (5.5% v. 14.3%, p = 0.17). In the younger group oedema was less common in children with TB (OR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.70) or diarrhea (OR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.73). The proportion of oedema in SAM peaked at three to five years of age and a considerable proportion was above 5 years. Furthermore, the prevalence of infection seemed to be lower among children with oedema. Further studies are needed to better understand the role of infection-immunity interaction.

Prevalence and clinical correlates of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older people: application of the EWGSOP definition and diagnostic algorithm.

PubMed

Volpato, Stefano; Bianchi, Lara; Cherubini, Antonio; Landi, Francesco; Maggio, Marcello; Savino, Elisabetta; Bandinelli, Stefania; Ceda, Gian Paolo; Guralnik, Jack M; Zuliani, Giovanni; Ferrucci, Luigi

2014-04-01

Muscle impairment is a common condition in older people and a powerful risk factor for disability and mortality. The aim of this study was to apply the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria to estimate the prevalence and investigate the clinical correlates of sarcopenia, in a sample of Italian community-dwelling older people. Cross-sectional analysis of 730 participants (74% aged 65 years and older) enrolled in the InCHIANTI study. Sarcopenia was defined according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria using bioimpedance analysis for muscle mass assessment. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors independently associated with sarcopenia. Sarcopenia defined by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria increased steeply with age (p < .001), with 31.6% of women and 17.4% of men aged 80 years or older being affected by this condition. Higher education (odds ratio: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74-0.98), lower insulin-like growth factor I (lowest vs highest tertile, odds ratio: 3.89; 95% CI: 1.03-14.1), and low bioavailable testosterone (odds ratio: 2.67; 95% CI: 1.31-5.44) were independently associated with the likelihood of being sarcopenic. Nutritional intake, physical activity, and level of comorbidity were not associated with sarcopenia. Sarcopenia identified by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria is a relatively common condition in Italian octogenarians, and its prevalence increases with aging. Correlates of sarcopenia identified in this study might suggest new approaches for prevention and treatment of sarcopenia.

[Effect of betaine hydrochloride on broiler chickens when used alone or in combination with vitamin B12].

PubMed

Bogdanov, M; Filipova, R; Tsvetkov, S

1976-01-01

The studies were carried out with 2287 broilers aged from 3 to 56 days, divided when one-day-old into four equal groups. The first group were fed the common ration and served as controls. The remaining three groups were experimental, the broilers of the second group being offered the basic common ration enriched with 0.2 per cent betaine. The third group were also given the ordinary ration, however, they received in the drinking water some 10 mug vitamin BUI per one kilogram feed each. The fourth group received both betaine and vitamin B12 at the rates indicated. Results showed that betaine hydrochloride offered either alone or in combination with vitamin B12 contributes to increasing the liveweight gain of broilers in the course of the starter period, but its use in doses of 0.2 per cent in the finishing period is not effective.

Breast Cancer Risk Assessment SAS Macro (Gail Model)

Cancer.gov

A SAS macro (commonly referred to as the Gail Model) that projects absolute risk of invasive breast cancer according to NCI’s Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRAT) algorithm for specified race/ethnic groups and age intervals.

Racial/Ethnic and gender prevalences in reported common pains in a national sample.

PubMed

Plesh, Octavia; Adams, Sally H; Gansky, Stuart A

2011-01-01

To compare prevalences of self-reported temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders (TMJMD)-type pain, headaches, and neck and back pains in the 2000 to 2005 US National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) by gender and age for non-Hispanic Whites (Whites), Hispanics, and non-Hispanic Blacks (Blacks). Data from the 2000 to 2005 NHIS included information on gender, age, race, ethnicity, and different common types of pain specifically: TMJMD-type pain, severe headaches/migraine, neck, and low back pains. A total of 189,992 people were included: 52% female and 48% male, 73% White, 12% Hispanic, 11% Black, and 4% "Other." The overall prevalence of TMJMD-type pain was 4.6%; severe headaches/migraine was 15.4%; neck, 14.9%; and low back, 28.0%. Survey logistic regression models estimating race-specific, age-adjusted curves revealed race by age pain differences. For TMJMD-type pain, White females presented the highest prevalence at younger ages, decreasing after age 40. Prevalences for Hispanic and Black females, although lower at younger ages, increased up to age 60 and remained higher than Whites. Males showed less racial/ethnic and age variation. Severe headaches/migraines presented an age pattern similar to TMJMD-type pain for White females and little overall variation for males, but without racial differences. Neck pain showed some similarities to TMJMD-type pain: higher in Whites at younger ages, lower at older ages, with Hispanics having the highest rates after their 60's. For low back pain, the rates peaked around the sixth decade for all racial/ethnic groups. The patterns of TMJMD-type pain varied greatly within and across racial/ethnic groups by gender and across the adult lifespan. Similarities and differences for the other pains were noted.

The macular photostress test in diabetes, glaucoma, and cataract

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baptista, António M. G.; Sousa, Raul A. R. C.; Rocha, Filomena A. S. Q.; Fernandes, Paula Sepúlveda; Macedo, António F.

2013-11-01

Purpose. The photostress recovery time test (PSRT) has been widely reported as a helpful screening clinical tool. However, the poor standardization of its measurement technique remains to be a limitation among clinicians. The purpose of this study is to apply a recommended clinical technique to measure the PSRT in some of the most commons eye diseases to ascertain whether these diseases affect the PSRT values. Methods. One hundred and one controls and 105 patients, with diagnosed diabetes (without visible signs of diabetic retinopathy), primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) or cataracts underwent photostress testing. The test was performed with a direct ophthalmoscope for illuminating the macula for 30 seconds. Participants belonged to three age classes: A, B and C; and were divided into four groups: control, diabetic, POAG and cataract. The age range for A, B and C classes were respectively 43-54, 55-64 and 65-74 years. The groups were also further compared within each age class. In addition, the influence of age on PSRT was evaluated using the control group. Results. Results demonstrate that PSRT changes with age (p<0.02). In class A, diabetic group had a faster PSRT than control group, (mean +/- standard deviation) 20.22+/-7.51 and 26.14+/-8.34 seconds. The difference between these groups was statistical significant (t-test, p=0.012). Cataract and POAG groups did not affect the PSRT significantly. Conclusions. The technique used for the Photostress showed that diabetics, younger than 54 years, may have faster PSRT and that, aging delays PSRT.

Prevalence of the geriatric syndromes and frailty in older men living in the community: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project.

PubMed

Noguchi, Naomi; Blyth, Fiona M; Waite, Louise M; Naganathan, Vasi; Cumming, Robert G; Handelsman, David J; Seibel, Markus J; Le Couteur, David G

2016-12-01

To describe the age at which the geriatric syndromes and frailty become common in community-dwelling men. The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project involves a population-based sample of 1705 community-dwelling men aged 70 and over from a defined geographic region in Sydney. Data were obtained by physical performance tests, clinical examinations, and questionnaire to determine the prevalence of the following conditions by five-year age group. Poor mobility, recurrent falls, urinary incontinence, dementia and frailty phenotype were all uncommon (less than 10%) in men in their 70s, but the prevalence of each of these conditions exceeded 10% in men aged 85-89. The prevalence of Frailty Index-defined frailty, multimorbidity, polypharmacy and instrumental activities of daily living dependence was constantly high in all age groups. The different health-care needs of the 'old old' aged 85 years and older should be accounted for in health service planning. © 2016 AJA Inc.

Daily co-trimoxazole prophylaxis to prevent mortality in children with complicated severe acute malnutrition: a multicentre, double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial.

PubMed

Berkley, James A; Ngari, Moses; Thitiri, Johnstone; Mwalekwa, Laura; Timbwa, Molline; Hamid, Fauzat; Ali, Rehema; Shangala, Jimmy; Mturi, Neema; Jones, Kelsey D J; Alphan, Hassan; Mutai, Beatrice; Bandika, Victor; Hemed, Twahir; Awuondo, Ken; Morpeth, Susan; Kariuki, Samuel; Fegan, Gregory

2016-07-01

Children with complicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM) have a greatly increased risk of mortality from infections while in hospital and after discharge. In HIV-infected children, mortality and admission to hospital are prevented by daily co-trimoxazole prophylaxis, despite locally reported bacterial resistance to co-trimoxazole. We aimed to assess the efficacy of daily co-trimoxazole prophylaxis on survival in children without HIV being treated for complicated SAM. We did a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study in four hospitals in Kenya (two rural hospitals in Kilifi and Malindi, and two urban hospitals in Mombasa and Nairobi) with children aged 60 days to 59 months without HIV admitted to hospital and diagnosed with SAM. We randomly assigned eligible participants (1:1) to 6 months of either daily oral co-trimoxazole prophylaxis (given as water-dispersible tablets; 120 mg per day for age <6 months, 240 mg per day for age 6 months to 5 years) or matching placebo. Assignment was done with computer-generated randomisation in permuted blocks of 20, stratified by centre and age younger or older than 6 months. Treatment allocation was concealed in opaque, sealed envelopes and patients, their families, and all trial staff were masked to treatment assignment. Children were given recommended medical care and feeding, and followed up for 12 months. The primary endpoint was mortality, assessed each month for the first 6 months, then every 2 months for the second 6 months. Secondary endpoints were nutritional recovery, readmission to hospital, and illness episodes treated as an outpatient. Analysis was by intention to treat. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00934492. Between Nov 20, 2009, and March 14, 2013, we recruited and assigned 1778 eligible children to treatment (887 to co-trimoxazole prophylaxis and 891 to placebo). Median age was 11 months (IQR 7-16 months), 306 (17%) were younger than 6 months, 300 (17%) had oedematous malnutrition (kwashiorkor), and 1221 (69%) were stunted (length-for-age Z score <-2). During 1527 child-years of observation, 122 (14%) of 887 children in the co-trimoxazole group died, compared with 135 (15%) of 891 in the placebo group (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0·90, 95% CI 0·71-1·16, p=0·429; 16·0 vs 17·7 events per 100 child-years observed (CYO); difference -1·7 events per 100 CYO, 95% CI -5·8 to 2·4]). In the first 6 months of the study (while participants received study medication), 63 suspected grade 3 or 4 associated adverse events were recorded among 57 (3%) children; 31 (2%) in the co-trimoxazole group and 32 (2%) in the placebo group (incidence rate ratio 0·98, 95% CI 0·58-1·65). The most common adverse events of these grades were urticarial rash (grade 3, equally common in both groups), neutropenia (grade 4, more common in the co-trimoxazole group), and anaemia (both grades equally common in both groups). One child in the placebo group had fatal toxic epidermal necrolysis with concurrent Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia. Daily co-trimoxazole prophylaxis did not reduce mortality in children with complicated SAM without HIV. Other strategies need to be tested in clinical trials to reduce deaths in this population. Wellcome Trust, UK. Copyright © 2016 Berkley et al. Open Access article distributed under the terms of CC BY. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Prevalence and Pattern of Mandibular Third Molar Impaction in Eritrean Population: A Retrospective Study.

PubMed

Kumar, V Raj; Yadav, Priya; Kahsu, Efrem; Girkar, Farhana; Chakraborty, Rajnish

2017-02-01

The most commonly impacted tooth in the oral cavity is the mandibular third molar. Various etiologic factors have been suggested for impacted mandibular third molars. The pattern and prevalence of impacted mandibular third molars vary with different population and region. This study throws light on the prevalence and pattern of impacted mandibular third molars in Eritrea, East Africa. This is the first reported study regarding the same from Eritrea. To assess the prevalence and pattern of impacted mandibu-lar third molars in the population of Eritrea, East Africa by conducting a retrospective study from January 2009 to January 2014. This study was conducted in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orotta School of Medicine and Dental Medicine and the Orotta Referral Medical and Surgical Hospital, Asmara, Eritrea. A total of 1,813 clinical and radiographic records [orthopantomograms] were assessed and 276 cases were selected for the study as per the inclusion criteria. They were evaluated for the frequency among the various age groups, gender and region along with the sides affected, angulation and level of impaction. The presence of systemic conditions and associated pathologies was also assessed according to the type of impaction. The average age of these patients in the study was found to be 30 years, with the 20 to 30 years age group being the most affected (67.4%). Females (53.3%) were affected more than the males (46.7%). People from the Asmara region showed significantly more prevalence (79.7%) than the adjoining areas (20.3%). Mesioangular impaction was the most common angulation with a definite relationship to the age groups (p = 0.032). The level of impaction had no significant relationship to the age groups, gender, or region, although class I position A was found to be the most common type. Mesioangular class I position A impac-tion showed an apparent relationship with underlying systemic conditions, but it was statistically insignificant. Mesioangular impaction was found to be associated with the most number of pathologies (p = 0.001). The prevalence of mandibular impaction was less in Eritrea (15.2%) compared with other populations. This study provides useful baseline data for the prevalence and pattern of mandibular impaction in the Eritrean population. This study throws light on the pattern, type, and frequency of mandibular impacted teeth as per age, sex, and region among the population of Eritrea.

Multimorbidity prevalence and patterns across socioeconomic determinants: a cross-sectional survey.

PubMed

Agborsangaya, Calypse B; Lau, Darren; Lahtinen, Markus; Cooke, Tim; Johnson, Jeffrey A

2012-03-19

Studies on the prevalence of multimorbidity, defined as having two or more chronic conditions, have predominantly focused on the elderly. We estimated the prevalence and specific patterns of multimorbidity across different adult age groups. Furthermore, we examined the associations of multimorbidity with socio-demographic factors. Using data from the Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA) 2010 Patient Experience Survey, the prevalence of self reported multimorbidity was assessed by telephone interview among a sample of 5010 adults (18 years and over) from the general population. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between a range of socio-demographic factors and multimorbidity. The overall age- and sex-standardized prevalence of multimorbidity was 19.0% in the surveyed general population. Of those with multimorbidity, 70.2% were aged less than 65 years. The most common pairing of chronic conditions was chronic pain and arthritis. Age, sex, income and family structure were independently associated with multimorbidity. Multimorbidity is a common occurrence in the general adult population, and is not limited to the elderly. Future prevention programs and practice guidelines should take into account the common patterns of multimorbidity.

A common copy number variation polymorphism in the CNTNAP2 gene: sexual dimorphism in association with healthy aging and disease.

PubMed

Iakoubov, Leonid; Mossakowska, Malgorzata; Szwed, Malgorzata; Puzianowska-Kuznicka, Monika

2015-01-01

New therapeutic targets are needed to fight aging-related diseases and increase life span. A new female-specific association with diseases and limited survival past 80 years was recently reported for a copy number variation (CNV) in the CNTNAP4 gene from the neurexin superfamily. We asked whether there are CNVs that are associated with aging phenotypes within other genes from the neurexin superfamily and whether this association is sex specific. Select CNV polymorphisms were genotyped with proprietary TaqMan qPCR assays. A case/control study, in which a group of 81- to 90-year-old community-dwelling Caucasians with no chronic diseases (case) was compared to a similar control group of 65- to 75-year-olds, revealed a negative association with healthy aging for the ins allele of common esv11910 CNV in the CNTNAP2 gene (n = 388; OR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.14-0.59, p = 0.0004 for males, and OR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.42-1.57, p = 0.625 for females). This male-specific association was validated in a study of an independent group of 76- to 80-year-olds. To look for a corresponding positive association of the allele with aging-related diseases, two case subgroups of 81- to 90-year-olds, one composed of individuals with cognitive impairment and the other with various diseases not directly related to the nervous system, such as cardiovascular diseases, etc., were compared to a healthy control subgroup of the same age. A positive male-specific association was found for both cases (OR = 2.75, p = 0.008 for association with cognitive impairment, and OR = 3.18, p = 0.002 for other diseases combined). A new male-specific association with aging is reported for a CNV in the CNTNAP2 gene. The polymorphism might be useful for diagnosing individual genetic predispositions to healthy aging versus aging complicated by chronic diseases. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Incidence of Community-Acquired Lower Respiratory Tract Infections and Pneumonia among Older Adults in the United Kingdom: A Population-Based Study

PubMed Central

Millett, Elizabeth R. C.; Quint, Jennifer K.; Smeeth, Liam; Daniel, Rhian M.; Thomas, Sara L.

2013-01-01

Community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) and pneumonia (CAP) are common causes of morbidity and mortality among those aged ≥65 years; a growing population in many countries. Detailed incidence estimates for these infections among older adults in the United Kingdom (UK) are lacking. We used electronic general practice records from the Clinical Practice Research Data link, linked to Hospital Episode Statistics inpatient data, to estimate incidence of community-acquired LRTI and CAP among UK older adults between April 1997-March 2011, by age, sex, region and deprivation quintile. Levels of antibiotic prescribing were also assessed. LRTI incidence increased with fluctuations over time, was higher in men than women aged ≥70 and increased with age from 92.21 episodes/1000 person-years (65-69 years) to 187.91/1000 (85-89 years). CAP incidence increased more markedly with age, from 2.81 to 21.81 episodes/1000 person-years respectively, and was higher among men. For both infection groups, increases over time were attenuated after age-standardisation, indicating that these rises were largely due to population aging. Rates among those in the most deprived quintile were around 70% higher than the least deprived and were generally higher in the North of England. GP antibiotic prescribing rates were high for LRTI but lower for CAP (mostly due to immediate hospitalisation). This is the first study to provide long-term detailed incidence estimates of community-acquired LRTI and CAP in UK older individuals, taking person-time at risk into account. The summary incidence commonly presented for the ≥65 age group considerably underestimates LRTI/CAP rates, particularly among older individuals within this group. Our methodology and findings are likely to be highly relevant to health planners and researchers in other countries with aging populations. PMID:24040394

An epidemiological perspective of the pathology and etiology of sarcoidosis.

PubMed

Sawahata, Michiru; Sugiyama, Yukihiko

2016-08-01

To update current knowledge on the pathology and etiology of sarcoidosis, here we review previous epidemiological research and discuss age-related differences and historical changes in the clinical characteristics of sarcoidosis we identified over the last four decades in Japan. Extrathoracic lymph node involvement was more common in young patients, while extrathoracic involvement of non-lymphatic organs and hypercalcemia were more common in older patients. Most patients in their 20s presented with bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, but this was consistently less common among older patients. Over time, the distribution of age at diagnosis has shifted toward the older age group in the United States, Denmark, and Japan. In Japan, the incidence rate has been decreasing among young people, but there has consistently been a second peak among postmenopausal women. Age-related differences in the clinical presentation of sarcoidosis may reflect the pathways of causative antigens and the strengthening of immunoregulatory mechanisms with age. Internal and external environmental factors, such as exposure to diverse microorganisms, ovarian insufficiency, and active vitamin D deficiency, that may contribute to the onset of sarcoidosis must be identified in order to develop strategies for prevention and treatment.

Ocular findings among young men: a 12-year prevalence study of military service in Poland.

PubMed

Nowak, Michal S; Jurowski, Piotr; Gos, Roman; Smigielski, Janusz

2010-08-01

To determine the prevalence of ocular diseases among young men and to assess the main ocular causes reflecting discharge from military service in Poland. A retrospective review of the medical records of 105 017 men undergoing a preliminary examination for military service during the period 1993-2004. Sample size for the study was calculated with 99% confidence within an error margin of 5%. All of the study participants were White men of European origin, most of whom live or lived in Poland. Data regarding the vision status were assessed in 1938 eyes of 969 participants. Two groups were distinguished based on the age of the participants: group I aged 18-24 years, and group II aged 25-34 years. Presented visual impairment [visual acuity (VA)<20/40)] followed by colour vision defects were the most common ocular disorders, accounting for 13.2%. There were statistically significant differences in uncorrected VA as well as in the rates of particular refractive errors in between the age groups (p<0.05). The prevalence of glaucoma and ocular hypertension was significantly higher in older participants. Six hundred and sixty-seven (68.8%) participants examined medically in the study period were accepted for military service. However, 302 (31.2%) failed their examination and were temporarily or permanently discharged from duty. Fifty-two of them (17.2%) were discharged because of various ocular disorders. The most common causes were high refractive errors, which accounted for 38.5% of all the ocular discharges, followed by chronic and recurrent diseases of the posterior segment of the eye, which accounted for 19.2%. The prevalence of ocular disorders among young men in an unselected military population was closer to the results obtained in other population-based studies comprising both men and women in the same age group. High refractive errors followed by chronic and recurrent diseases of the posterior segment of the eye are important causes of medical discharges from military service in Poland.

Effects of advanced aging on the neural correlates of successful recognition memory

PubMed Central

Wang, Tracy H.; Kruggel, Frithjof; Rugg, Michael D.

2009-01-01

Functional neuroimaging studies have reported that the neural correlates of retrieval success (old>new effects) are larger and more widespread in older than in young adults. In the present study we investigated whether this pattern of age-related ‘over-recruitment’ continues into advanced age. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), retrieval-related activity from two groups (N = 18 per group) of older adults aged 84–96 yrs (‘old-old’) and 64–77 yrs (‘young-old’) was contrasted. Subjects studied a series of pictures, half of which were presented once, and half twice. At test, subjects indicated whether each presented picture was old or new. Recognition performance of the old-old subjects for twice-studied items was equivalent to that of the young-old subjects for once-studied items. Old>new effects common to the two groups were identified in several cortical regions, including medial and lateral parietal and prefrontal cortex. There were no regions where these effects were of greater magnitude in the old-old group, and thus no evidence of over-recruitment in this group relative to the young-old individuals. In one region of medial parietal cortex, effects were greater (and only significant) in the young-old group. The failure to find evidence of over-recruitment in the old-old subjects relative to the young-old group, despite their markedly poorer cognitive performance, suggests that age-related over-recruitment effects plateau in advanced age. The findings for the medial parietal cortex underscore the sensitivity of this cortical region to increasing age. PMID:19428399

Root morphology and development of labial inversely impacted maxillary central incisors in the mixed dentition: a retrospective cone-beam computed tomography study.

PubMed

Sun, Hao; Wang, Yi; Sun, Chaofan; Ye, Qingsong; Dai, Weiwei; Wang, Xiuying; Xu, Qingchao; Pan, Sisi; Hu, Rongdang

2014-12-01

The aim of this study was to analyze 3-dimensional data of root morphology and development in labial inversely impacted maxillary central incisors. Cone-beam computed tomography images from 41 patients with impacted incisors were divided into early and late dental age groups according to their dental age. Sagittal slices in which the labiolingual width of the tooth was the widest in the axial view were evaluated. The inverse angle, the dilaceration angle, and the length of both impacted and homonym teeth were evaluated with SimPlant Pro software (version 13.0; Materialise Dental NV, Leuven, Belgium). The Student t test indicated that the lengths of the impacted teeth were significantly shorter than those of the homonym teeth (P <0.05), and the root lengths of the early dental age group were significantly shorter than those of the late dental age group. The results from chi-square tests indicated that the incidence of dilacerations was significantly higher in the late dental age group when compared with the early dental age group. Multiple regression analyses indicated that the independent variables for root length of the impacted teeth were dental age (β = 0.958; P <0.001) and length of the nondilacerated part of the root (β = 0.435; P <0.001). Dilaceration was more common in the late dental age group. The roots of labial inversely impacted maxillary central incisors continue developing, but their potential is limited. Copyright © 2014 American Association of Orthodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Age at onset and Parkinson disease phenotype

PubMed Central

Pagano, Gennaro; Ferrara, Nicola; Brooks, David J.

2016-01-01

Objective: To explore clinical phenotype and characteristics of Parkinson disease (PD) at different ages at onset in recently diagnosed patients with untreated PD. Methods: We have analyzed baseline data from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative database. Four hundred twenty-two patients with a diagnosis of PD confirmed by DaTSCAN imaging were divided into 4 groups according to age at onset (onset younger than 50 years, 50–59 years, 60–69 years, and 70 years or older) and investigated for differences in side, type and localization of symptoms, occurrence/severity of motor and nonmotor features, nigrostriatal function, and CSF biomarkers. Results: Older age at onset was associated with a more severe motor and nonmotor phenotype, a greater dopaminergic dysfunction on DaTSCAN, and reduction of CSF α-synuclein and total tau. The most common presentation was the combination of 2 or 3 motor symptoms (bradykinesia, resting tremor, and rigidity) with rigidity being more common in the young-onset group. In about 80% of the patients with localized onset, the arm was the most affected part of the body, with no difference across subgroups. Conclusions: Although the presentation of PD symptoms is similar across age subgroups, the severity of motor and nonmotor features, the impairment of striatal binding, and the levels of CSF biomarkers increase with age at onset. The variability of imaging and nonimaging biomarkers in patients with PD at different ages could hamper the results of future clinical trials. PMID:26865518

Age and gender distribution of Hepatitis C virus prevalence and genotypes of individuals of physical examination in WuHan, Central China.

PubMed

Niu, ZhiLi; Zhang, PingAn; Tong, YongQing

2016-01-01

Approximately 170 million people in the world are infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV). There are no published population based studies about the prevalence of HCV genotypes and the associations of genotype and Infection frequency with gender and age in WuHan. We aimed to investigate the distribution of HCV prevalence and genotypes among different gender and age patients with chronic HCV infection in WuHan from 2011 to 2015. A total of 2685 anti-HCV positive serum samples from individuals of physical examinationwere recruited from the Renmin Hospital of WuHan University, Hubei Province in China from January 2011 to December 2015. From these 2685 anti-HCV positive serum samples, 496 samples were with a positive PCR for HCV RNA. The number of HCV infection showed an increase with year, but the annual infection rate has remained similar (χ(2) = 2.94, P = 0.568). 2685 cases were infected with HCV from 2011 to 2015 in WuHan city of China. Blood transfusion (18.14 %) was the main routs of transmission, followed by Surgery (8.94 %). The highest prevalence of HCV infection was at the age group 50-59 (25.85 % of 2685) and the lowest prevalence was 0-9 (0.93 % of 2685). HCV genotype 1 was the most prevalent (73.39 %), followed by genotypes 2 (17.14 %), 3 (5.25 %) and 6 (3.22 %). Genotype 4 and 5 was not detected in these patients. The most prevalent subtype was subtype 1b (71.98 %), followed by genotypes 2a (17.14 %). Five patients had mixed infection across the HCV subtypes. Among all genotypes, genotype 1 was highest in both male (73.27 %) and female (73.47 %) patients, followed by genotype 2. Genotype 1 (male: 29.84 % of 496, vs female: 43.55 % of 496, χ(2) = 20.07, P < 0.0001), genotype 2 (male: 6.25 % of 496, vs female: 10.89 % of 496, χ(2) = 6.81, P = 0.009), and 6 (male: 1.41 % of 496, vs female: 1.81 % of 496, χ(2) = 0.626, P = 0.401) were more common in female patients than males, while no significant gender differences were observed for genotype 6. Among age group 50-59 years Genotype 1 was most common in male patients (29.05 % of 148) followed in 20-29 years (23.65 % of 148), genotype 2 in the age group 60-69 (12 cases of 31) and genotype 3 in the age group 50-59 (4 cases of 13) and genotype 6 was most frequent in the age group 30-39 (4 cases of 7). The frequency of HCV prevalence was significantly higher in female patients compared to males before ages 60, while the opposite result was observed after 60 years. The most common HCV genotype in WuHan was subtype 1b followed by 2a and more common among women than males patients. Further studies are needed to collect a large number of samples to estimate the different epidemiology of the HCV genotypes, because the sample size of non-genotype 1b and 2a is not large enough and other factors like disease history/monthly income/etc. are not included in our study.

Determining the prevalence of intestinal parasites in three Orang Asli (Aborigines) communities in Perak, Malaysia.

PubMed

Sinniah, B; Sabaridah, I; Soe, M M; Sabitha, P; Awang, I P R; Ong, G P; Hassan, A K R

2012-06-01

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among children and adult Orang Aslis (Aborigines) from different locations in Perak. Faecal samples were collected and analyzed using the direct smear and formal ether sedimentation technique. Some of the faecal samples were stained using the Modified Acid fast stain for Cryptosporidium. Nail clippings of the respondents and the soil around their habitat were also analyzed. Of the 77 stool samples examined, 39 (50.6%) were positive for at least one intestinal parasite. The most common parasite detected was Trichuris trichiura (39.0%) followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (26.9%), Entamoeba coli (5.2%), Giardia lamblia (5.2%), Blastocystis hominis (3.9%), hookworm (3.9%), Entamoeba histolytica (1.3%), Iodamoeba butschlii (1.3%) and Cryptosporidium sp. (1.3%) respectively. Some respondents had single parasites (24.7%), some with two parasites (18.2%). Some with three parasites (6.5%) and one had four parasites species (1.3%). The parasites were slightly more common in females (54.7%) than males ((41.7%). The parasites were more common in the 13-20 year age group (90.9%) followed by 1-12 years (69.6%), 21-40 year age group (34.8%) and least in the 41-60 year age group (27.8%). Nail examinations of the respondents did not show any evidence of parasites. One had a mite, three had pollen grains and one had yeast cells isolated from the finger nails. Soil samples taken around their houses showed only one sample with a nematode ova and one with oocyst which was of a non human origin.

Age differences in loneliness from late adolescence to oldest old age.

PubMed

Luhmann, Maike; Hawkley, Louise C

2016-06-01

Contrary to common stereotypes, loneliness is not restricted to old age but can occur at any life stage. In this study, we used data from a large, nationally representative German study (N = 16,132) to describe and explain age differences in loneliness from late adolescence to oldest old age. The age distribution of loneliness followed a complex nonlinear trajectory, with elevated loneliness levels among young adults and among the oldest old. The late-life increase in loneliness could be explained by lower income levels, higher prevalence of functional limitations, and higher proportion of singles in this age group. Consistent with an age-normative perspective, the association of income, relationship status, household size, and work status with loneliness differed between different age groups. In contrast, indicators of the quantity of social relationships (social engagement, number of friends, contact frequency) were universally associated with loneliness regardless of age. Overall, these findings show that sources of loneliness in older adults are well understood. Future research should focus on understanding the specific sources of loneliness in middle-aged adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Outcome in Chronic Subdural Hematoma After Subdural vs. Subgaleal Drain.

PubMed

Ishfaq, Asim

2017-07-01

To compare the outcome after surgery for chronic subdural hematoma when the drain is placed in subdural space or subgaleal space. Quasi experimental study. Combined Military Hospital, Lahore, from July 2015 to June 2016. Patients with chronic subdural hematoma of both genders and age, ranging between 55 to 85 years, were included. Patients on antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy and acute on chronic subdural hematoma were excluded. Patients were divided in two equal groups each depending on whether drain was placed in subgaleal space (Group 1), and subdual space (Group 2), (n=31 patients each). Patients were positioned flat in bed after surgery. Clinical and radiological parameters and clinical outcome were compared between the two groups. Statistical test with significance of p <0.05 was utilized using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS version 17). Median age of the 62 patients was 72 ±12.5 years. Headache was the most common symptom reported in both groups, (n=47,75.8%) patients. Median thickness of hematoma was 15 ±6.5 mm. Patients with subdural drain placement had more complications such as pneumocephalus 11 (35.4%) vs. 6 (19.3%), and intracerebral hemorrhage 4 (12.9%) vs. 2 (6.4%). Clinical outcome was good in both groups 27 (87%) in Group 1 and 28 (90%) in Group 2. Patients of both groups had good outcome after surgery. Complications like pneumocephalus and intracerebral hemorrhage were more common in subdural location of drain, though not reaching statistically significance level to favor one technique over another.

Still Making Music: How Students with Traumatic Brain Injury Can Continue with Musical Activities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bennington, Patrick M.

2017-01-01

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common in the United States. All age groups are at risk for TBI, but there is a larger occurrence among school-age children and young adults. No matter the severity of a student's injury, he or she can benefit from music education, whether listening to music, singing, or performing on an instrument. Students can…

Perfectionism among Chinese Gifted and Nongifted Students in Hong Kong: The Use of the Revised Almost Perfect Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chan, David W.

2011-01-01

This study investigated the structure of perfectionism based on the almost Perfect Scale-Revised with a sample of 320 gifted students aged 7 to 12 and a sample of 882 nongifted students of similar ages in Hong Kong. Multigroup confirmatory factor analyses across the two student groups supported a common three-dimensional model that included…

[Telangiectatic osteosarcoma in an infant].

PubMed

Cepeda, María de Los Ángeles; Sosa, Ana Julia; Mora, Glenda

Osteosarcoma is one of the most common types of cancer in childhood and adolescence and it is the most common malignant bone tumor in this group of age. Osteosarcoma is frequently found in long bones of the extremities. There are very few cases described in children under 5 years of age, and according to this review, none in infants. The telangiectatic variant is uncommon, and there are no reported cases before preschool age. A 10-month-old female infant with a lithic tumor of the ninth right rib, which was classified after resection as a telangiectatic osteosarcoma, is presented. Telangiectatic osteosarcoma in the pediatric age is very uncommon. To date, the patient has presented good response to treatment, although the prognosis and survival of this condition is unknown. Copyright © 2017 Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez. Publicado por Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.

[Cancer incidence in a Cancer Care Unit of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) in Toluca, Mexico].

PubMed

Gómez-Villanueva, Angel; Chacón Sánchez, Jesús; Santillán Arreygue, Leopoldo; Sánchez González, Yolanda; Romero-Figueroa, María del Socorro

2014-01-01

In 2000, malignant tumors were responsible for 12% of nearly 56 million deaths that occurred in the world from all causes. To determine the incidence of cancer in a Cancer Care Unit of IMSS in Toluca, Mexico. Prospective cross-sectional study; we identified the primary tumor, age, family history of cancer, comorbidities, risk factors, and ECOG in patients with newly diagnosed cancer. We identified 446 cases, 66.1% were women. The age group of age 50 to 59 had the highest number of cases (98). The most common cancers in women are breast, cervical, and ovarian cancer, and in men, testicular, prostate, and colorectal cancer. The most common cancers in both sexes were breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, and testicular cancer.

Circumstances of fall-related injuries by age and gender among community-dwelling adults in the United States

PubMed Central

Timsina, Lava R.; Willetts, Joanna L.; Brennan, Melanye J.; Marucci-Wellman, Helen; Lombardi, David A.; Courtney, Theodore K.; Verma, Santosh K.

2017-01-01

Introduction Falls are the leading cause of injury in almost all age-strata in the U.S. However, fall-related injuries (FI) and their circumstances are under-studied at the population level, particularly among young and middle-aged adults. This study examined the circumstances of FI among community-dwelling U.S. adults, by age and gender. Methods Narrative texts of FI from the National Health Interview Survey (1997–2010) were coded using a customized taxonomy to assess place, activity, initiating event, hazards, contributing factors, fall height, and work-relatedness of FI. Weighted proportions and incidence rates of FI were calculated across six age-gender groups (18–44, 45–64, 65+ years; women, men). Results The proportion of FI occurring indoors increased with age in both genders (22%, 30%, and 48% among men, and 40%, 49% and 62% among women for 18–44, 45–64, 65+ age-groups, respectively). In each age group the proportion of indoor FI was higher among women as compared to men. Among women, using the stairs was the second leading activity (after walking) at the time of FI (19%, 14% and 10% for women in 18–44, 45–64, 65+ age groups, respectively). FI associated with tripping increased with age among both genders, and women were more likely to trip than men in every age group. Of all age-gender groups, the rate of FI while using ladders was the highest among middle-aged men (3.3 per 1000 person-year, 95% CI 2.0, 4.5). Large objects, stairs and steps, and surface contamination were the three most common hazards noted for 15%, 14% and 13% of fall-related injuries, respectively. Conclusions The rate and the circumstances of FI differ by age and gender. Understanding these differences and obtaining information about circumstances could be vital for developing effective interventions to prevent falls and FI. PMID:28472065

Age-Friendliness and Life Satisfaction of Young-Old and Old-Old in Hong Kong

PubMed Central

Au, Alma M. L.; Yip, H. M.; Kwok, Jackie Y. C.; Lai, K. Y.; Leung, K. M.; Lee, Anita L. F.; Lai, Daniel W. L.; Tsien, Teresa; Lai, Simon M. K.

2017-01-01

Age-friendliness, promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to enable and support individuals in different aspects of life for fostering life satisfaction and personal well-being as they age. We identified specific aspect(s) of age-friendliness associated with life satisfaction and examined similarities and differences in age-friendliness and life satisfaction in young-old and old-old adults. Six hundred and eighty-two ageing adults were asked to complete a survey questionnaire consisting of the Age-friendly City Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and sociodemographic variables. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the effects of various domains of age-friendliness on life satisfaction among the young-old adults (aged 65 to 74, n = 351) and the old-old adults (aged 75 to 97, n = 331). Common domains associated with life satisfaction in both young-old and old-old groups were transportation and social participation. Community and health services were associated with life satisfaction for the young-old group only. On the other hand, civic participation and employment was significantly associated with the old-old group only. Social participation is important for the young-old and the old-old. Ageing older adults can be a resource to the society. Implications for promoting and implementing age-friendliness were discussed in the context of successful and productive ageing and the need for a more refined taxonomy of social activities. PMID:28348584

Use of focus groups to understand African-Americans' dietary practices: Implications for modifying a food frequency questionnaire.

PubMed

Bovell-Benjamin, Adelia C; Dawkin, Norma; Pace, Ralphenia D; Shikany, James M

2009-06-01

To generate information about dietary practices, food preferences and food preparation methods from African-Americans in Macon County, Alabama, as a precursor to an intervention designed to modify an existing dietary health questionnaire (DHQ). African-American males (30) and females (31) ages 20 to 75 years participated in eight focus groups in Macon County Alabama between June and July, 2007. The core topics identified were dietary practices; food preferences; food preparation methods; fast food practices; and seasonal/specialty foods. The younger focus group participants reported consuming mostly fast foods such as hamburgers for lunch. Fruits, vegetables, salads, fish, chicken and sandwiches were the most common lunch foods for the older males and females. Across the groups, rice, cornbread and potatoes were reportedly the most commonly consumed starchy foods at dinner. Frying and baking were the most common cooking methods. Fewer participants reported removing the skin when cooking chicken versus those who did not remove. Traditional foods including fried green tomatoes and cracklings were selected for addition to the modified DHQ, while those not commonly consumed, were deleted. Participants described high-fat traditional food preferences, common frying and addition of salted meats to vegetables, which informed the modification of a DHQ.

CMR reference values for left ventricular volumes, mass, and ejection fraction using computer-aided analysis: the Framingham Heart Study.

PubMed

Chuang, Michael L; Gona, Philimon; Hautvast, Gilion L T F; Salton, Carol J; Breeuwer, Marcel; O'Donnell, Christopher J; Manning, Warren J

2014-04-01

To determine sex-specific reference values for left ventricular (LV) volumes, mass, and ejection fraction (EF) in healthy adults using computer-aided analysis and to examine the effect of age on LV parameters. We examined data from 1494 members of the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort, obtained using short-axis stack cine SSFP CMR, identified a healthy reference group (without cardiovascular disease, hypertension, or LV wall motion abnormality) and determined sex-specific upper 95th percentile thresholds for LV volumes and mass, and lower 5th percentile thresholds for EF using computer-assisted border detection. In secondary analyses, we stratified participants by age-decade and tested for linear trend across age groups. The reference group comprised 685 adults (423F; 61 ± 9 years). Men had greater LV volumes and mass, before and after indexation to common measures of body size (all P = 0.001). Women had greater EF (73 ± 6 versus 71 ± 6%; P = 0.0002). LV volumes decreased with greater age in both sexes, even after indexation. Indexed LV mass did not vary with age. LV EF and concentricity increased with greater age in both sexes. We present CMR-derived LV reference values. There are significant age and sex differences in LV volumes, EF, and geometry, whereas mass differs between sexes but not age groups. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

CMR Reference Values for Left Ventricular Volumes, Mass and Ejection Fraction Using Computer-Aided Analysis: The Framingham Heart Study

PubMed Central

Chuang, Michael L.; Gona, Philimon; Hautvast, Gilion L.T.F.; Salton, Carol J.; Breeuwer, Marcel; O’Donnell, Christopher J.; Manning, Warren J.

2013-01-01

Purpose To determine sex-specific reference values for left ventricular (LV) volumes, mass and ejection fraction (EF) in healthy adults using computer-aided analysis and to examine the effect of age on LV parameters. Methods and Methods We examined data from 1494 members of the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort, obtained using short-axis stack cine SSFP CMR, identified a healthy reference group (without cardiovascular disease, hypertension, or LV wall motion abnormality) and determined sex-specific upper 95th percentile thresholds for LV volumes and mass, and lower 5th percentile thresholds for EF using computer-assisted border detection. In secondary analyses we stratified participants by age-decade and tested for linear trend across age groups. Results The reference group comprised 685 adults (423F; 61±9 years). Men had greater LV volumes and mass, before and after indexation to common measures of body size (all p<0.001). Women had greater EF (73±6 vs. 71±6%, p=0.0002). LV volumes decreased with greater age in both sexes, even after indexation. Indexed LV mass did not vary with age. LV EF and concentricity increased with greater age in both sexes. Conclusion We present CMR-derived LV reference values. There are significant age and sex differences in LV volumes, EF and geometry, while mass differs between sexes but not age groups. PMID:24123369

A cross "ethnical" comparison of the Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ) in an economically fast developing country.

PubMed

Bener, Abdulbari; Verjee, Mohamud; Dafeeah, Elnour E; Yousafzai, Mohammad T; Mari, Sundus; Hassib, Ahmed; Al-Khatib, Hamza; Choi, Min Kyung; Nema, Noor; Ozkan, Türker; Lajunen, Timo

2013-05-12

The aim of this study was to compare the driving behaviours of four ethnic groups and to investigate the relationship between violations, errors and lapses of DBQ and accident involvement in Qatar. The Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ) was used to measure the aberrant driving behaviours leading to accidents. Of 2400 drivers approached, 1824 drivers agreed to participate (76%) and completed the driver behaviour questionnaire and background information. The study revealed that the majority of the Qatari (35.9%) and Jordanian drivers (37.5%) were below 30 years of age, whereas Filipino (42.3%) and Indian subcontinent (34.1%) drivers were in the age group of 30-39 years. Qatari drivers (52%) were involved in most accidents, followed by Jordanians (48.3%). The most common type of collision was a head on collision, which was similar in all four ethnic groups. The Qatari drivers scored higher on almost all items of violations, errors and lapses compared to other ethnic groups, while Filipino drivers were lower on all the items. The most common violation was the same in all four ethnic groups "Disregard the speed limits on a motorway". The most common error item observed was "Queing to turn right/left on to a main road". "Forget where you left your car" and "Hit something when reversing" were the two lapses identified in factor analysis. The present study identified that Qatari drivers scored higher on most of the items of violations, errors and lapses of DBQ compared to other countries, whereas Filipino drivers scored lower in DBQ items.

Childhood meningitis in the conjugate vaccine era: a prospective cohort study.

PubMed

Sadarangani, Manish; Willis, Louise; Kadambari, Seilesh; Gormley, Stuart; Young, Zoe; Beckley, Rebecca; Gantlett, Katherine; Orf, Katharine; Blakey, Sarah; Martin, Natalie G; Kelly, Dominic F; Heath, Paul T; Nadel, Simon; Pollard, Andrew J

2015-03-01

Bacterial conjugate vaccines have dramatically changed the epidemiology of childhood meningitis; viral causes are increasingly predominant, but the current UK epidemiology is unknown. This prospective study recruited children under 16 years of age admitted to 3 UK hospitals with suspected meningitis. 70/388 children had meningitis-13 bacterial, 26 viral and 29 with no pathogen identified. Group B Streptococcus was the most common bacterial pathogen. Infants under 3 months of age with bacterial meningitis were more likely to have a reduced Glasgow Coma Score and respiratory distress than those with viral meningitis or other infections. There were no discriminatory clinical features in older children. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) white blood cell count and plasma C-reactive protein at all ages, and CSF protein in infants <3 months of age, distinguished between bacterial meningitis and viral meningitis or other infections. Improved diagnosis of non-bacterial meningitis is urgently needed to reduce antibiotic use and hospital stay. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Injuries in Portuguese Youth Soccer Players During Training and Match Play

PubMed Central

Brito, João; Malina, Robert M.; Seabra, André; Massada, José L.; Soares, José M.; Krustrup, Peter; Rebelo, António

2012-01-01

Context: Epidemiologic information on the incidence of youth soccer injuries in southern Europe is limited. Objective: To compare the incidence, type, location, and severity of injuries sustained by male subelite youth soccer players over the 2008–2009 season. Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Setting: Twenty-eight Portuguese male youth soccer teams. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 674 youth male subelite soccer players in 4 age groups: 179 U-13 (age range, 11–12 years), 169 U-15 (age range, 13–14 years), 165 U-17 (age range, 15–16 years), and 161 U-19 (age range, 17–18 years). Main Outcome Measure(s): Injuries that led to participation time missed from training and match play prospectively reported by medical or coaching staff of the clubs. Results: In total, 199 injuries reported in 191 players accounted for 14.6 ± 13.0 days of absence from practice. The incidence was 1.2 injuries per 1000 hours of exposure to soccer (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.8, 1.6), with a 4.2-fold higher incidence during match play (4.7 injuries per 1000 hours of exposure; 95% CI = 3.0, 6.5) than during training (0.9 injuries per 1000 hours of exposure; 95% CI = 0.6, 1.3) (F1,673 = 17.592, P < .001). The overall incidence of injury did not increase with age (F1,673 = 1.299, P = .30), and the incidence of injury during matches (F1,673 = 2.037, P = .14) and training (F1,673 = 0.927, P = .44) did not differ among age groups. Collisions accounted for 57% (n = 113) of all injuries, but participation time missed due to traumatic injury did not differ among age groups (F3,110 = 1.044, P = .38). Most injuries (86%, n = 172) involved the lower extremity. The thigh was the most affected region (30%, n = 60) in all age groups. Muscle strains were the most common injuries among the U-19 (34%, n = 26), U-17 (30%, n = 17), and U-15 (34%, n = 14) age groups, whereas contusions and tendon injuries were the most common injuries in U-13 players (both 32%, n = 8). The relative risk of injury slightly increased with the age of the competitors. Conclusions: The higher incidence of injury during matches than training highlights the need for education and prevention programs in youth soccer. These programs should focus on coach education aimed at improving skills, techniques, and fair play during competitions with the goal of reducing injuries. PMID:22488285

Pediatric spine fractures: a review of 137 hospital admissions.

PubMed

Carreon, Leah Y; Glassman, Steven D; Campbell, Mitchell J

2004-12-01

The anatomy and biomechanics of the growing spine produce failure patterns different from those in adults. Spinal injury in the pediatric patient is a concern as prevention of further neurologic damage and deformity and the good potential for recovery make timely identification and appropriate treatment of such injury critical. A retrospective clinical case series was conducted to present data from a large series of pediatric patients with spine injuries from a single regional trauma center. One hundred thirty-seven children with spine injuries were seen over 10 years and were divided into three age groups: 0-9, 10-14, and 15-17 years. Analysis of variance and chi2 were used to analyze differences between groups. There were 36 patients aged 0-9, 49 aged 10-14, and 52 aged 15-17. Spine injury incidence increased with age. Motor vehicular accidents were the most common cause in this series. There were 36% cervical, 34% thoracic, 29% lumbar, 34% multilevel contiguous, and 7% multilevel noncontiguous involvement. Nineteen percent had spinal cord injury. Thirteen of 21 complete neurologic injuries and all 3 incomplete injuries improved. Cord injury was more common in the 0-9 age group. Four of five patients with spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) were in the 0-9 age group and had complete neurologic injuries. Young children with cervical injuries were more likely to die than older children. Fifty-three percent had associated injuries. Eighteen percent underwent decompression, fusion, and instrumentation. Two patients developed scoliosis. The complication rate in surgical patients was higher than in patients treated nonsurgically and in polytrauma patients. This may be related to the severity of the initial injury. Our results suggest age-related patterns of injury that differ from previous work. The incidence of cord injury is 20% with higher frequencies in the young child. Potential for neurologic recovery is good. Young children have a higher risk for death than older children. There was no predominance of cervical injuries in the young child. The incidence of SCIWORA was low. Higher complication rates were seen in polytrauma and surgical patients.

Epidemiologic Study of Malassezia Yeasts in Patients with Malassezia Folliculitis by 26S rDNA PCR-RFLP Analysis

PubMed Central

Ko, Jong Hyun; Choe, Yong Beom; Ahn, Kyu Joong

2011-01-01

Background So far, studies on the inter-relationship between Malassezia and Malassezia folliculitis have been rather scarce. Objective We sought to analyze the differences in body sites, gender and age groups, and to determine whether there is a relationship between certain types of Malassezia species and Malassezia folliculitis. Methods Specimens were taken from the forehead, cheek and chest of 60 patients with Malassezia folliculitis and from the normal skin of 60 age- and gender-matched healthy controls by 26S rDNA PCR-RFLP. Results M. restricta was dominant in the patients with Malassezia folliculitis (20.6%), while M. globosa was the most common species (26.7%) in the controls. The rate of identification was the highest in the teens for the patient group, whereas it was the highest in the thirties for the control group. M. globosa was the most predominant species on the chest with 13 cases (21.7%), and M. restricta was the most commonly identified species, with 17 (28.3%) and 12 (20%) cases on the forehead and cheek, respectively, for the patient group. Conclusion Statistically significant differences were observed between the patient and control groups for the people in their teens and twenties, and in terms of the body site, on the forehead only. PMID:21747616

Age-Related Changes in the External Noses of the Anatolian Men.

PubMed

Özkoçak, Vahdet; Özdemir, Fikri

2018-06-11

Knowledge of age-related nasal region measurements in Anatolian men; growth changes between adult and old age. The nose plays a critical role in determining the external appearance of an individual. Craniofacial anthropometry has been commonly used in forensic anthropology and medicine. A total of 300 men (100 between 20-40 years; 100 between 40-60 years and 100 60-up years) were measured using a photographic technic from the Image J program. From the landmarks, 13 linear distances and 3 angles were calculated and averaged for age groups. The means of nasal bridge lengths of three age groups were 60.30, 63.43 and 64.63 mm, respectively. The average nasal tip protrusions of three groups were 24.31, 26.69 and 27.53 mm, respectively. Nasolabial angle, nasal bridge length and tip protrusion, anatomic and morphologic nose width and root width were statistically different between the three age groups (p < 0.05). Results collected in this study could serve as a data bank for nasal anthropometry during aging and development. The assessment of teratogenic-induced traumas, craniofacial alteration, facial reconstruction, aging of dead person and personal identification may be assisted by age data from Anatolian men from age data banks. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Ageing differentially affects neural processing of different conflict types-an fMRI study.

PubMed

Korsch, Margarethe; Frühholz, Sascha; Herrmann, Manfred

2014-01-01

Interference control and conflict resolution is affected by ageing. There is increasing evidence that ageing does not compromise interference control in general but rather shows distinctive effects on different components of interference control. Different conflict types, [e.g., stimulus-stimulus (S-S) or stimulus-response (S-R) conflicts] trigger different cognitive processes and thus activate different neural networks. In the present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we used a combined Flanker and Stimulus Response Conflict (SRC) task to investigate the effect of ageing on S-S and S-R conflicts. Behavioral data analysis revealed larger SRC effects in elderly. fMRI Results show that both age groups recruited similar regions [caudate nucleus, cingulate gyrus and middle occipital gyrus (MOG)] during Flanker conflict processing. Furthermore, elderly show an additional activation pattern in parietal and frontal areas. In contrast, no common activation of both age groups was found in response to the SRC. These data suggest that ageing has distinctive effects on S-S and S-R conflicts.

Diffusion Tensor Tractography Reveals Disrupted Structural Connectivity during Brain Aging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Lan; Tian, Miao; Wang, Qi; Wu, Shuicai

2017-10-01

Brain aging is one of the most crucial biological processes that entail many physical, biological, chemical, and psychological changes, and also a major risk factor for most common neurodegenerative diseases. To improve the quality of life for the elderly, it is important to understand how the brain is changed during the normal aging process. We compared diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based brain networks in a cohort of 75 healthy old subjects by using graph theory metrics to describe the anatomical networks and connectivity patterns, and network-based statistic (NBS) analysis was used to identify pairs of regions with altered structural connectivity. The NBS analysis revealed a significant network comprising nine distinct fiber bundles linking 10 different brain regions showed altered white matter structures in young-old group compare with middle-aged group (p < .05, family-wise error-corrected). Our results might guide future studies and help to gain a better understanding of brain aging.

Genetic Diversity among Group A Streptococcus Isolated from Throats of Healthy and Symptomatic Children

PubMed Central

Kashyap, Nitin; Kanga, Anil; Thakur, Kamlesh; Sood, Anuradha; Chandel, Lata

2016-01-01

Background: Group A streptococcus (GAS) is the commonest bacterial cause of pharyngitis. Children in the age group of 5–15 years are most commonly affected. It can also colonize throats of healthy children in this age group. Both cases and carriers can transmit it in the community. Methods: Throat swab samples were collected from 1849 asymptomatic and 371 symptomatic children. Results: The rate of isolation of GAS was 1.41% among the asymptomatic group and 7.55% among the symptomatic group. Nine different emm types were encountered in the asymptomatic children and 14 among the symptomatic children. Conclusion: Throat swab cultures must be used in all cases of pharyngitis. Early and appropriate antibiotic therapy will prevent complications. Asymptomatic throat carriage of GAS in children was low in our study. However, they can still act as reservoirs. Emm typing helps in understanding epidemiology and finding new types. PMID:26743337

Immunogenicity and safety of purified vero cell rabies vaccine (PVRV) produced by Liaoning Cheng Da Co. under Zagreb 2-1-1 or 5-dose Essen regimen in Chinese adults aged 50 and above.

PubMed

Wang, Jing; Luo, FengJi; Feng, ZiJian; Li, Li; Bai, YunHua; Ai, Xing; Ma, JianXin; Zhang, Zheng; Shi, NianMin

2017-01-02

Two kinds of regimens (2-1-1 and 1-1-1-1-1) can be selected after Zagreb regimen(2-1-1)of PVRV was officially approved in Beijing in January 2015. Up to now, the subjects for most studies about the comparison between Zagreb and Essen regimen are under 50 y old, rarely at and above. Aging of the immune system may result in decreasing efficacy of vaccination, especially for adults aged above 65-70 y. This study compared the safety and immunogenicity of the Zagreb and Essen regimen in Chinese adults aged 50 and above with the goal to provide a supplemental data for this age group. A total of 114 cases were divided into 2 groups randomly, received PVRV under the Zagreb and Essen regimens respectively. Serum samples were collected at D0, D7, D14, D42, D180 and D365 to determine the rabies serum neutralizing antibody by rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT). Safety analyses were made by comparing the AEs in day-3, day-7, and day-(7 + 21) in Zagreb or day-(7 + 28) in Essen by gender and age cohorts. 617 blood samples were obtained. Two groups showed similar immunogenicity, the neutralizing antibody titer of all subjects at D14 and D42 showed >0.5 IU/ml. Under the same regimen, Subjects ≥65 y had lower GMC than those who <65 years from D7 to D365 within 2 groups. This difference was significantly shown on D7, D14, D180 in Zagreb group, and on D180 in Essen group (t = 2.38, p = 0.02; t = 3.78, p < 0.001; t = 2.30, p = 0.03; t = 4.42, p < 0.001). Subjects<65 years had higher seroconversion rate compared to ≥65 y on D7, D180 and D365 in both 2 groups, this difference was also significantly shown on D180, D365 in Zagreb group and on D180 in Essen group (χ 2 = 20.66, p < 0.001; χ 2 = 6.56, p = 0.02; χ 2 = 10.96, p = 0.002). Two regimens all showed favorable performances with mildly or common adverse events (AEs). The incidence of local AEs after 3 d in Essen group was higher than Zagreb group (χ 2 = 9.69, p = 0.002). The most common local AE was pain, the incidences (8.8%) in Zagreb group was higher than Essen group (8.4%, χ 2 = 5.12, p = 0.02). All AEs for Zagreb group and 52.3% of AEs for Essen group occurred during the first 72 hours. During the first 72 hours, subjects aged <65 in Zagreb group (16.26%) had higher incidences of AEs than Essen group (8.57%, χ 2 = 4.54, p = 0.03), males in Zagreb group (16.05%) had higher incidence of AEs than Essen group (5.71%, χ 2 = 5.34, p = 0.02). The incidences of AEs close in during the first 7 d. The Zagreb and Essen regimens demonstrated the similar safety and efficacy of PVRV in Chinese adults aged 50 and above. People ≥65 y showed reduced immune response to both regimens. More AEs for the Zagreb regimen were observed within the first 72 hours, especially for male and people < 65 y.

[Prevention of iron deficiency anemia--influence on the course of pregnancy, delivery and the infant's status].

PubMed

Kaźmierczak, Wojciech; Fiegler, Patrycja; Adamowicz, Ryszarda; Muszer, Marcin; Kamiński, Kazimierz

2004-01-01

Iron deficiency is probably the most common nutritional disturbance in the world. At the highest risk, irrespective of economical status, are women at the reproductive age--especially those who are pregnant. Retrospective analysis of a course of gestation, delivery and the infant's status depending on mothers' iron supplementation during pregnancy. Medical notes of healthy 860 pregnant women hospitalized at term in the Clinic of Perinatology and Gynaecology, Zabrze, Poland were analyzed. Patients were divided into two categories: Group I (n = 610) were those having iron subjunction and Group II (n = 250) those who did not. Mean gestational age at the delivery was significantly lower in those without the prophylaxis. These patients had significantly higher rate of preterm deliveries and caesarean sections. Macroscopic abnormalities of the afterbirth were commoner in this group as were bleeding during III labour stage and indications for postpartum curettage. insignificantly lower mean birth weight and 1st/5th minute Apgar scores had children born to women without supplementation. Routine iron supplementation in women with initially normal haemoglobin levels seems to be a safe strategy for preventing perinatal complications.

Respiratory sequelae of whooping cough. Swansea Research Unit of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

PubMed Central

1985-01-01

Eight hundred and thirteen children who had had whooping cough when under 5 years of age in the 1977-9 epidemic were compared with a control group roughly four and a half years later, each child being matched by age and sex and from the same class in school. The index group showed long term respiratory sequelae of whooping cough--namely, deterioration in lung function, increase in respiratory symptoms, and increased admission to hospital for both upper and lower respiratory conditions. Asthma was significantly more common in the index group, suggesting that asthma was being regarded as a contraindication to pertussis vaccination. Only 3.5% of the asthmatic children in the index group had been vaccinated as against 29.1% of the controls. PMID:3924316

Childhood injuries in a tertiary institution in north east Nigeria.

PubMed

Esin, Issa Abdul Razaq; Alabi, Sikiru; Lawal, Oluwagbemiga Abdul Razzaq

2013-01-01

Injury has been recognised as a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in children. The aim of this study was to determine the aetiology, pattern and location of childhood injuries in north east Nigeria. This is a 3-year retrospective hospital-based descriptive study. The study included 114 children (77 boys, 37 girls; mean age 6.4 ± 3.2 years; range 2 months to 15 years) who were admitted for various injuries in the female/paediatric surgical ward from January 2007 to December 2009. Information obtained from their case notes included demographic data, mechanism of injury, location of injury, anatomical site of injury and outcome of treatment. Records for 114 children (77 boys, 37 girls; mean age 6.2 years; range 2 months to 15 years) were available for analysis. The highest number of injuries occurred in the age group 6-10 years. Home was the most common location of injury among the age group 0-5 years while older children sustained most of their injuries outside the home on the street/highways. Burns from hot water was the most common injury among children aged 0-5 years while pedestrian accident accounted for the highest cause of injury among older children. Fall accounted for 20.2% of the injuries. The most common specific anatomic injury was head injury followed by limb fractures. Two mortalities were recorded (1.8%). This study provided useful information on the characteristics of childhood injuries in our environment. There is the need for parents and children education about the risks of injury and preventive measures in addition to legislation and policy on environmental modifications and enforcements to significantly reduce childhood injury.

Bacterial skin infections: management of common streptococcal and stapylococcal lesions.

PubMed

Witkowski, J A; Parish, L C

1982-10-01

Skin infection occurs in any age-group, sex, and race but is particularly common in children. It is usually minor, but may indicate underlying systemic disease or may lead to systemic infection. Streptococci and staphylococci are common causes. Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci account for the majority of streptococcal infections in man. Infection most often involves the lower extremities and produces spreading erythema and necrosis but little purulence. Staphylococcal infections most commonly involve the face, the hair follicles and eccrine sweat ducts being the initial sites. Lesions appear as bullae and pustules with a narrow rim of erythema. Intense cellulitis surrounding the lesions usually points to a virulent, penicillin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus. Treatment of both types of infection consists of cleansing with antibacterial agents, removal of crusts, application of warm compresses, and use of topical or systemic antibiotics, depending on the severity of the infection and the type of pyoderma involved.

Infectious mononucleosis in Turkish children.

PubMed

Cengiz, Ali Bülent; Cultu-Kantaroğlu, Oge; Seçmeer, Gülten; Ceyhan, Mehmet; Kara, Ateş; Gürgey, Aytemiz

2010-01-01

The aim of this study was to analyze the demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics and prognoses of children diagnosed with infectious mononucleosis (IM). The demographic features, referral complaints, clinical and laboratory findings, follow-up, and prognoses of 44 patients diagnosed with IM between January 2000 and June 2006 at the Infectious Diseases Department of Hacettepe University Ihsan Doğramaci Children's Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. The children suspected of IM based on clinical findings and whose diagnoses were proven by serological tests were enrolled in the study. In addition, the patients were divided into four groups -namely, age 0-4, age 5-8, age 9-12 and age 13-16, and the differences among groups were investigated in terms of their clinical and laboratory findings. The patients were aged between 3 months and 16 years. The median age was 4, and 56.8% of patients were below age 5. The male/female ratio was 1.6. No statistically significant variation was observed in the seasonal distribution of patients (p = 0.131). The most common referral complaints were swollen cervical lymph nodes or swollen neck (68.1%), followed by fever (43.1%) and sore throat (25%). Lymphadenopathy (79.5%), tonsillopharyngitis (72.7%), splenomegaly (34%), and hepatomegaly (25%) were the most common physical examination findings. Leukocyte count was normal in 68.3% of the cases. Leukocytosis was detected in 29.5% of the patients, and leukopenia in 2.2%. Lymphocytosis was detected in 44.7% of patients. Downey cell was detected in the peripheral blood smear of 23.6% of patients, and thrombocytopenia in 11.3%. Elevated alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were detected in 61.9% and 90.4% of patients who were investigated for these parameters, respectively. The clinical, hematological and biochemical findings of patients did not vary significantly among age groups (p > 0.05). Only one complication (hemophagocytic syndrome) was observed in one patient.

Electrolyte changes in stroke.

PubMed

Alam, M N; Uddin, M J; Rahman, K M; Ahmed, S; Akhter, M; Nahar, N; Swapan, M K; Alam, M M; Sultana, N; Hallaz, M M; Alam, M M; Uddin, M M; Bari, M S; Israil, M A

2012-10-01

The present study was carried out in the department of Neurology and Medicine, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh during the period of January 2009 to December 2010 to see the electrolyte changes in stroke. The serum concentration of Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl⁻ were measured in 110 cases during acute period of stroke (55 ischemic and 55 haemorrhagic strokes). Data were analyzed by computer with SPSS programme using 't' test and chi square test. In haemorrhagic stroke, out of 55 patients 29(52.72%) had abnormal sodium level, of them 23(41.8%) had hyponatremia, 6(10.9%) had hypernatremia. In contrast in ischemic stroke 23(41.80%) out of 55 had abnormal sodium level, of them 21(38%) had hyponatremia. The result showed that hyponatremia is almost equally common in both haemorrhagic and ischaemic group without significant difference (p>0.05). The study also revealed that hyponatremia is more common than hypernatremia in both groups. Mean ± SD of age of the haemorrhagic group was 60.80 ± 15.97 while the age of ischaemic group was 59.89 ± 15.84 years. Male, female ratio in haemorrhagic and ischaemic group 1:0.62 and 1:0.89 respectively. Mean ± SD of serum Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻ in haemorrhagic group were 136.18 ± 10.5, 3.83 ± 0.65, 97.96 ± 16.74 mmol/L, in ischaemic group 135.08 ± 9.08, 4.00 ± 0.75, 100.27 ± 8.39 mmol/L. The result showed no significant difference in haemorrhagic and ischemic stroke. Hyponatremia, hypokalamia and hyperchloredemia were more common than hypernatremia, hyperkalamia and hyperchloredemia. In haemorrhagic stroke, out of 55 patients, 21(38.18%) had abnormal potassium level, of them 19(34.55%) had hypokalemia, 2(3.63%) had hyperkalemia. In contrasts, in ischemic stroke, 15 out of 55(27.22%) had abnormal potassium level. Of them 12(21.81%) had hypokalemia and 3(5.45%) had hyperkalemia. The finding showed that hypokalemia is almost equally common in both haemorrhagic and ischaemic group without significant difference. The study also revealed that hypokalemia is more common than hyperkalemia in both groups. In haemorrhagic stroke, out of 55 patients 33(60%) had abnormal chloride level. Of them 20(36.4%) had hypochrloridemia, 13(23%) had hyperchrloridemia, in contrast, in ischemic stroke, 40 out of 55(60%) had abnormal chloride level, of them 22(40%) had hypochrloridemia and 18(32.7%) had hyperchrloridemia. The result showed that changes in chloride level after haemorrhagic and ischemic stroke are similar. The result showed hypochrloridemia is more common than hyperchrloridemia in both groups.

Ethnic differences in the prevalence of knee pain among adults of a community in a cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Chia, Yook Chin; Beh, Hooi Chin; Ng, Chirk Jenn; Teng, Cheong Lieng; Hanafi, Nik Sherina; Choo, Wan Yuen; Ching, Siew Mooi

2016-12-01

To determine the prevalence of knee pain among 3 major ethnic groups in Malaysia. By identifying high-risk groups, preventive measures can be targeted at these populations. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in rural and urban areas in a state in Malaysia. Secondary schools were randomly selected and used as sampling units. Adults aged ≥18 years old were invited to answer a self-administered questionnaire on pain experienced over the previous 6 months. Out of 9300 questionnaires distributed, 5206 were returned and 150 participants who did not fall into the 3 ethnic groups were excluded, yielding a total of 5056 questionnaires for analysis. 58.2% (n=2926) were women. 50% (n=2512) were Malays, 41.4% (n=2079) were Chinese and 8.6% (n=434) were Indians. 21.1% (n=1069) had knee pain during the previous 6 months. More Indians (31.8%) experienced knee pain compared with Malays (24.3%) and Chinese (15%) (p<0.001). The odds of Indian women reporting knee pain was twofold higher compared with Malay women. There was a rising trend in the prevalence of knee pain with increasing age (p<0.001). The association between age and knee pain appeared to be stronger in women than men. 68.1% of Indians used analgesia for knee pain while 75.4% of Malays and 52.1% of Chinese did so (p<0.001). The most common analgesic used for knee pain across all groups was topical medicated oil (43.7%). The prevalence of knee pain in adults was more common in Indian women and older women age groups and Chinese men had the lowest prevalence of knee pain. Further studies should investigate the reasons for these differences. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Discourse comprehension in autism spectrum disorder: Effects of working memory load and common ground.

PubMed

Schuh, Jillian M; Eigsti, Inge-Marie; Mirman, Daniel

2016-12-01

Pragmatic language impairments are nearly universal in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Discourse requires that we monitor information that is shared or mutually known, called "common ground." While many studies have examined the role of Theory of Mind (ToM) in such impairments, few have examined working memory (WM). Common ground impairments in ASD could reflect limitations in both WM and ToM. This study explored common ground use in youth ages 8-17 years with high-functioning ASD (n = 13) and typical development (n = 22); groups did not differ on age, gender, IQ, or standardized language. We tracked participants' eye movements while they performed a discourse task in which some information was known only to the participant (e.g., was privileged; a manipulation of ToM). In addition, the amount of privileged information varied (a manipulation of WM). All participants were slower to fixate the target when considering privileged information, and this effect was greatest during high WM load trials. Further, the ASD group was more likely to fixate competing (non-target) shapes. Predictors of fixation patterns included ASD symptomatology, language ability, ToM, and WM. Groups did not differ in ToM. Individuals with better WM fixated the target more rapidly, suggesting an association between WM capacity and efficient discourse. In addition to ToM knowledge, WM capacity constrains common ground representation and impacts pragmatic skills in ASD. Social impairments in ASD are thus associated with WM capacity, such that deficits in domain-general, nonsocial processes such as WM exert an influence during complex social interactions. Autism Res 2016, 9: 1340-1352. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Aging Trajectories in Different Body Systems Share Common Environmental Etiology: The Healthy Aging Twin Study (HATS).

PubMed

Moayyeri, Alireza; Hart, Deborah J; Snieder, Harold; Hammond, Christopher J; Spector, Timothy D; Steves, Claire J

2016-02-01

Little is known about the extent to which aging trajectories of different body systems share common sources of variance. We here present a large twin study investigating the trajectories of change in five systems: cardiovascular, respiratory, skeletal, morphometric, and metabolic. Longitudinal clinical data were collected on 3,508 female twins in the TwinsUK registry (complete pairs:740 monozygotic (MZ), 986 dizygotic (DZ), mean age at entry 48.9 ± 10.4, range 18-75 years; mean follow-up 10.2 ± 2.8 years, range 4-17.8 years). Panel data on multiple age-related variables were used to estimate biological ages for each individual at each time point, in linear mixed effects models. A weighted average approach was used to combine variables within predefined body system groups. Aging trajectories for each system in each individual were then constructed using linear modeling. Multivariate structural equation modeling of these aging trajectories showed low genetic effects (heritability), ranging from 2% in metabolic aging to 22% in cardiovascular aging. However, we found a significant effect of shared environmental factors on the variations in aging trajectories in cardiovascular (54%), skeletal (34%), morphometric (53%), and metabolic systems (53%). The remainder was due to environmental factors unique to each individual plus error. Multivariate Cholesky decomposition showed that among aging trajectories for various body systems there were significant and substantial correlations between the unique environmental latent factors as well as shared environmental factors. However, there was no evidence for a single common factor for aging. This study, the first of its kind in aging, suggests that diverse organ systems share non-genetic sources of variance for aging trajectories. Confirmatory studies are needed using population-based twin cohorts and alternative methods of handling missing data.

Alopecia: Kids are not just little people.

PubMed

Goldberg, Lynne J; Castelo-Soccio, Leslie A

2015-01-01

Alopecia is a disorder that affects all patients, young and old. Many diagnoses, particularly the scarring alopecias, are more common in adults; however, others, such as tinea capitis, are more common in children, and some, such as alopecia areata, often affect both age groups. The approach to, and evaluation of, an alopecia patient is thus highly dependent on his or her age. In adults with diffuse, non-scarring hair loss, a part-width examination can help detect pattern hair loss, the most common cause of diffuse loss in this age group. In children this is much less likely, and a careful evaluation for tinea capitis is in order. The same holds true for patchy alopecia in children, as well as scarring alopecia-tinea needs to always be considered. In adults, patchy alopecia is often due to alopecia areata and sometimes to one of the primary scarring alopecias. A laboratory evaluation, and especially a biopsy, would be a more appropriate undertaking for an adult than a child, and an adult would be more likely to tolerate certain therapeutic regimens such as intralesional injections. In a conversational manner, the authors discuss their individual approaches to the alopecia patient, highlighting the differences in diagnosis, workup, and management that depend on whether the affected individual is an adult or a child. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Thyroid Ultrasonography in Differentiation between Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

PubMed Central

Pishdad, P.; Pishdad, G.R.; Tavanaa, S.; Pishdad, R.; Jalli, R.

2017-01-01

Objective: Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are the most common causes of hyper and hypothyroidism, respectively. Differentiation of these 2 diseases, if the patient is euthyroid, may sometimes be extremely difficult on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings. The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of gray scale sonography in differentiation of Graves’ disease from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Methods: This study included 149 patients divided into three groups, patients with Graves’ disease (34 patients, mean age = 36.8 ± 10.17 years), Patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (62 patients, mean age = 33.4 ± 12.16 years) and control group (53 healthy people, mean age = 34.74 ± 16.87 years). Members of all groups were referred to a single radiologist for thyroid sonography for evaluation of thyroid echogenicity pattern. Results: A total of 117 women and 32 men were examined by sonography. The most common sonographic pattern in Hashimoto and Graves’ was homogenous hypo-echogenicity which was observed in 45.2% and 47.1% of cases, respectively. Peripheral hypo-echogenicity pattern was seen in 40.3% of Hashimoto’s group with 100% specificity and 40.3% sensitivity. Central-hypoechogenic pattern was observed in 17.6% of Graves’ group with 100% and 17.6% specificity and sensitivity, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that sonography has high specificity but low sensitivity in the diagnosis of either Graves’ disease or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. It is therefore not possible to differentiate between these two diseases using sonography alone. Confirmation by laboratory data is also needed. PMID:28451576

Middle-aged and mobility-limited: prevalence of disability and symptom attributions in a national survey.

PubMed

Gardener, Elizabeth A; Huppert, Felicia A; Guralnik, Jack M; Melzer, David

2006-10-01

Lower limb mobility disabilities are well understood in older people, but the causes in middle age have attracted little attention. To estimate the prevalence of mobility disabilities among noninstitutionalized adults in England and to compare the disabling symptoms reported by middle-aged and older people. Cross-sectional data from the 2002 English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Mobility disability was identified by level of reported difficulty walking a quarter mile. Eleven thousand two hundred sixteen respondents aged 50 years and older living in private households in 2002. The prevalence of difficulty walking a quarter mile increases sharply with age, but even in the middle-aged (50 to 64 years age-group) 18% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16% to 19%) of men and 19% (95% CI: 17% to 20%) of women reported some degree of difficulty. Of the 16 main symptoms reported as causing mobility disability in middle age, 2 dominated: pain in the leg or the foot (43%; 95% CI: 40% to 46%) and shortness of breath/dyspnea (21%; 95% CI: 18% to 23%). Fatigue or tiredness, and stability problems were cited by only 5% and 6%, respectively. These proportions were slightly different from those in the 65 to 79-year age group: 40%, 23%, 6%, and 8%, respectively. Mobility (walking) disabilities in the middle-aged are relatively common. The symptoms reported as causes in this age group differ little from those reported by older groups, and are dominated by lower limb pain and shortness of breath. More clinical attention paid to disabling symptoms may lead to disability reductions in later life.

ADSORPTION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN AGED HARBOR SEDIMENTS

EPA Science Inventory

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of hydrophobic organic contaminants which have low aqueous solubilities and are common pollutants in harbor sediments. Adsorption and desorption isotherms for PAHs are conducted to study the abiotic sorption of PAHs in uncontami...

Understanding risks and complications in the management of ankle fractures

PubMed Central

Mehta, Saurabh Sagar; Rees, Kishan; Cutler, Lucy; Mangwani, Jitendra

2014-01-01

Ankle fracture (AF) is a common injury with potentially significant morbidity associated with it. The most common age groups affected are young active patients, sustaining high energy trauma and elderly patients with comorbidities. Both these groups pose unique challenges for appropriate management of these injuries. Young patients are at risk of developing posttraumatic osteoarthritis, with a significant impact on quality of life due to pain and impaired function. Elderly patients, especially with poorly controlled diabetes and osteoporosis are at increased risk of wound complications, infection and failure of fixation. In the most severe cases, this can lead to amputation and mortality. Therefore, individualized approach to the management of AF is vital. This article highlights commonly encountered complications and discusses the measures needed to minimize them when dealing with these injuries. PMID:25298549

Common Orbital Infections ~ State of the Art ~ Part I

PubMed Central

Hamed-Azzam, Shirin; AlHashash, Islam; Briscoe, Daniel; Rose, Geoffrey E; Verity, David H.

2018-01-01

Infections of the orbit and periorbita are relatively frequent, and can cause significant local and systemic morbidity. Loss of vision occurs in more than 10% of patients, and systemic sequelae can include meningitis, intracranial abscess, and death. Numerous organisms infect the orbit, but the most common are bacteria. There are many methods through which orbital infections occur, with infection from the neighboring ethmoid sinuses the most likely cause for all age groups. Prompt management is essential in suspected orbital cellulitis, and involves urgent intravenous antibiotics, rehydration, and treatment of any co-existent underlying systemic disease, e.g., diabetes, renal failure. This review summarizes the common infectious processes of the orbit in both pediatric and adult groups. We review pathophysiology, symptoms, signs, and treatment for infectious orbital processes. PMID:29719647

Paroxysmal nonepileptic events in pediatric patients.

PubMed

Park, Eu Gene; Lee, Jiwon; Lee, Bo Lyun; Lee, Munhyang; Lee, Jeehun

2015-07-01

Paroxysmal nonepileptic events (PNEs) are frequently encountered phenomena in children. Although frequencies and types of PNEs have been extensively studied in adult populations, the data available for children and adolescents are limited, especially in patients without underlying neurologic disorders. In this study, we evaluated and compared the characteristics of PNEs between age groups and according to the presence of neurologic deficits to improve early detection and diagnosis of PNEs. We retrospectively reviewed 887 pediatric patients who were admitted to the epilepsy monitoring unit at the Samsung Medical Center between December 2001 and July 2014. One hundred and forty-one patients (15.9%) were diagnosed as having PNEs on the basis of their clinical history and long-term video-electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring (VEM). Children with PNEs were divided into three groups by age: 1) the infant, toddler, and preschool group (<6 years, N=50, 35.5%); 2) the school-age group (6-<12 years, N=30, 21.3%); and 3) the adolescent group (12-<18 years, N=61, 43.3%). Physiologic disorders, such as normal infant behavior, sleep movement, and staring, were more common in patients younger than 6 years of age, whereas psychogenic nonepileptic seizures were predominant in patients older than 6 years. Vasogenic syncope was also frequently observed in the adolescent group and was confirmed by the head-up tilt test. There was no significant difference in specific PNE types between the groups of patients with or without neurologic deficits. Physiologic symptoms were predominant in the younger age group, whereas psychogenic nonepileptic seizures were observed in older age groups more often. Clinical pattern recognition by age plays an important role in clinical practice, because pediatric patients present various types of PNEs with age-specific patterns. Considering various and inconsistent presentations and the importance of correct diagnosis, long-term VEM can be helpful in diagnosing normal infant behavior and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Analysis of Human Papillomavirus Infection in 16,320 Patients From a Gynecology Clinic in Central South China.

PubMed

Xiao, Song S; Fan, Jie L; He, Si L; Li, Yue R; Wang, Lu Y; Yu, Ke N; Deng, Xin L; Xue, Min

2016-10-01

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical lesion. Clinical data of 16,320 patients who visited our clinic between January 2009 and December 2013 were collected. Retrospective analysis was performed to analyze the overall HPV infection and compare the infection rates of different subtypes among different age groups, to reveal the relationship between persistent HPV infection and cervical cytology. The overall prevalence of HPV was 26.54%. The most common genotypes were HPV 52, HPV 16, HPV 58, CP8304, and HPV 53. The highest overall high-risk HPV prevalence was found in women older than 60 years, and the lowest prevalence was found in women between the ages of 30 and 39 years. There was no significant difference in low-risk HPV prevalence among different age groups (p = .693). The HPV clearance rate after 1 year among those with initial positive test was 87.65%. The constituent ratios of high- or low-risk HPV subtypes were not significantly different (p = .545) between nonpersistent-positive and persistent-positive (PP) groups. Conversely, the constituent ratios of singe- or multi-type HPV infection were significantly different (p < .05) between these 2 groups. The most common subtypes in PP group were HPV 16, 52, 58, CP8304, and 33. The occurrence rates of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, and squamous cell carcinoma in the PP group significantly increased (p < .05). Persistent HPV infections are mainly caused by multiple types of HPV and high-risk HPV. Our region should particularly pay attention to the prevention and treatment of HPV 16, 52, and 58.

Relative solidarity: Conceptualising communal participation in genomic research among potential research participants in a developing Sub-Saharan African setting.

PubMed

Ogunrin, Olubunmi; Woolfall, Kerry; Gabbay, Mark; Frith, Lucy

2018-01-01

As genomic research gathers momentum in sub-Saharan Africa, it has become increasingly important to understand the reasons why individuals wish to participate in this kind of medical research. Against the background of communitarianism conceived as typical of African communities, it is often suggested that individuals consent to participate on the grounds of solidarity and to further the common good. In this paper, we seek to explore this contention by presenting data from focus groups with potential research participants about what would influence their decisions to participate in genomic research. These focus groups were conducted as part of a larger qualitative study with a purposively selected group of participants from a community situated in south west Nigeria. We conducted fifteen focus group sessions comprising 50 participants organized by age and sex, namely: 1) adult (>30 years) males, 2) adult females, 3) youth (18-30 years) males, and 4) youth females. A mixed age-group was conducted to probe different views between the age groups. There was discordance and clear division between the adults and youths regarding the decision to participate in genomic research based on commitment to communal values. Adults based their decision to participate on altruism and furthering the common good while youths based their decisions on personal benefits and preferences and also took into account the views and welfare of family members and neighbours. This discordance suggests a 'generational shift' and we advance a model of 'relative solidarity' among the youths, which is different from the communal solidarity model typical of African communitarianism. Our findings suggest the need for a closer look at strategies for implementation of community engagement and informed consent in genomic research in this region, and we recommend further studies to explore this emerging trend.

Treatment of specific phobia in older adults

PubMed Central

Pachana, Nancy A; Woodward, Rana M; Byrne, Gerard JA

2007-01-01

Phobias are common in later life, yet treatment research in this population remains scant. The efficacy of exposure therapy, in combination with other Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) components, in the treatment of specific phobia with a middle and older aged sample was examined. Sixteen adults aged 45–68 with DSM-IV diagnosis of a specific phobia received a manualized intervention over ten weeks, and were compared with a control group. Results indicated significant time effects in the treatment group for the primary outcome variables of phobic severity and avoidance as well as secondary outcome variables including depression and anxiety. Symptom presence and severity also significantly declined in the treatment group. No significant changes in state anxiety were noted across the treatment period. Such results provide support for the efficacy of exposure combined with CBT treatment for specific phobia in middle to older aged adults. PMID:18044196

Idiom understanding in adulthood: examining age-related differences.

PubMed

Hung, Pei-Fang; Nippold, Marilyn A

2014-03-01

Idioms are figurative expressions such as hold your horses, kick the bucket, and lend me a hand, which commonly occur in everyday spoken and written language. Hence, the understanding of these expressions is essential for daily communication. In this study, we examined idiom understanding in healthy adults in their 20s, 40s, 60s and 80s (n=30 per group) to determine if performance would show an age-related decline. Participants judged their own familiarity with a set of 20 idioms, explained the meaning of each, described a situation in which the idiom could be used, and selected the appropriate interpretation from a set of choices. There was no evidence of an age-related decline on any tasks. Rather, the 60s group reported greater familiarity and offered better explanations than did the 20s group. Moreover, greater familiarity with idioms was associated with better understanding in adults.

Maternal knowledge and attitudes toward influenza vaccination: a focus group study in metropolitan Atlanta.

PubMed

Gazmararian, Julie A; Orenstein, Walter; Prill, Mila; Hitzhusen, Hannah B; Coleman, Margaret S; Pazol, Karen; Oster, Natalia V

2010-11-01

To explore the knowledge and attitudes of mothers of school-aged children toward influenza vaccination and assess what methods of communication about vaccination and its delivery work best among this audience. The authors conducted focus groups with mothers of school-aged children. Prior to the focus groups, investigators agreed on key themes and discussion points. They independently reviewed transcripts using systematic content analysis and came to an agreement on outcome themes. Many study participants had misunderstandings about influenza vaccines and the definition of influenza. A common perception was that flu is a catch-all term for a variety of undefined illnesses, ranging from a severe cold to stomach upset. Few participants saw a societal benefit in vaccinating children to protect other populations (eg, the elderly). This study represents a first step in understanding how mothers perceive influenza vaccination and for crafting effective communication to increase vaccination among school-aged children.

Distinct features of trampoline-related orthopedic injuries in children aged under 6 years.

PubMed

Choi, Eun Seok; Hong, Jin Heon; Sim, Jae Ang

2018-02-01

Concern has been growing about trampoline-related injuries among young children. Several published policy statements have repeatedly recommended that children younger than 6 years should not use trampolines. However, few studies have investigated the injuries caused by trampoline-related accidents among young children. This study aimed to identify the distinct features of trampoline-related orthopedic injuries in children younger than 6 years. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of pediatric patients aged between 0 and 16 years who visited our regional emergency center due to trampoline-related orthopedic injuries between 2012 and 2015. Patients were divided into two groups: a preschool group (younger than 6 years) and a school group (older than 6 years). We compared the features of the injuries in the two groups. Among 208 patients, 108 (52%) were male and 100 (48%) were female. The mean age was 5.4 years. The preschool group accounted for 66%. There were no seasonal variations. Fractures were sustained in 96 patients (46%). The anatomical locations of injuries differed significantly between the two age groups. Proximal tibia fractures were more frequent in the preschool group than the school group (34% and 6%, respectively). Distal tibia fractures were more prevalent in the school group than the preschool group (44% vs. 13%, respectively). Surgical treatment was needed more frequently in the school group (p = 0.035, hazard ratio 2.52, 95% confidence interval: 1.03-6.17). Most of the injuries (82%) occurred at trampoline parks. The anatomical locations of trampoline-related orthopedic injuries differed significantly between age groups. Fractures were more common around the knee in younger children and the ankle in older children. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of Deviated Nasal Septum on Mean Platelet Volume: A Prospective Study.

PubMed

Poorey, Vijay Kumar; Thakur, Pooja

2014-12-01

In E.N.T clinical practice, patients with nasal obstruction due to deviated nasal septum is a common presentation. Nasal airway obstruction is a common cause of upper airway obstruction further leading to obstructive and hypoxic manifestations. Mean platelet volume (MPV) levels increase in hypoxic conditions. MPV is one of the platelet activation index which reflects the platelet production rate. Present prospective study conducted in the department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck surgery, Gandhi Medical College and Hamidia Hospital, Bhopal, on 63 patients with the clinical evidence of DNS and 63 healthy age matched subjects as control group, aimed to evaluate the relationship between MPV levels and nasal obstruction due to deviated nasal septum (DNS). The diagnosis of patients with DNS was based on anterior rhinoscopy and endoscopic nasal examination. Blood samples were collected before surgical correction. In present study, the authors found that there is preponderance of DNS in the age group of 25-45 years being the most active age group, males having the higher incidence. Majority of cases of DNS being left sided and of obstructed type. MPV were significantly higher in patients with DNS than the control group. Among the cases MPV being higher in females and in the impacted type of DNS. Present study reemphasized the concept that MPV is increased in chronic nasal obstruction due to DNS and this increase is in accordance with the severity of DNS.

Age differences in the associations between sick leave and aspects of health, psychosocial workload and family life: a cross-sectional study

PubMed Central

Bos, Judith T; van der Velden, Koos; van der Gulden, Joost W J

2012-01-01

Objectives To investigate differences in associations between sick leave and aspects of health, psychosocial workload, family life and work–family interference between four age groups (<36, 36–45, 46–55 and 55+ years). Design A cross-sectional study; a questionnaire was sent to the home addresses of all employees of a university. Setting A Dutch university. Participants 1843 employees returned the questionnaire (net response: 49.1%). The age distribution was as follows: <36: 32%; 36–45: 26%; 46–55: 27% and 55+: 12%. Primary outcomes Frequent sick leave (FSL, ≥3 times in the past 12 months) and prolonged sick leave (PSL, >2 weeks in total in the past 12 months). Differences between the age groups in independent variables and outcomes were investigated. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate associations between various variables and the sick leave outcomes. Interaction terms were included to detect differences between the age groups. Results Age differences were found for many work- and family-related characteristics but not in the mean scores for health-related aspects. Presence of chronic disease was reported more frequently with increasing age. The 55+ age group had almost two times less chance of FSL, but 1.6 times more chance of PSL than the <36 age group. Age moderates the associations between career opportunities, partner's contribution in domestic tasks and sex, and FSL. Job security and pay, support from supervisor, challenging work and being breadwinner have different associations with PSL. However, life events in private lives and perceived health complaints are important in all age groups. FSL and PSL have some determinants in common, but there are differences between the outcomes as well. Conclusions Age should be treated as a variable of interest instead of a control variable. Employers and occupational physicians need to be aware that each phase in life has specific difficulties that can lead to FSL and PSL. PMID:22855622

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Harris, Eleanor E.R.; Hwang, W.-T.; Urtishak, Sandra L.

Purpose: Breast cancer incidence increases with age and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly women, but is not well studied in this population. Comorbidities often impact on the management of breast cancer in elderly women. Methods and Materials: From 1979 to 2002, a total of 238 women aged 70 years and older with Stage I or II invasive carcinoma of the breast underwent breast-conservation therapy. Outcomes were compared by age groups and comorbidities. Median age at presentation was 74 years (range, 70-89 years). Age distribution was 122 women (51%) aged 70-74 years, 71 women (30%) agedmore » 75-79 years, and 45 women (19%) aged 80 years or older. Median follow-up was 6.2 years. Results: On outcomes analysis by age groups, 10-year cause-specific survival rates for women aged 70-74, 75-79, and 80 years or older were 74%, 81%, and 82%, respectively (p = 0.87). Intercurrent deaths at 10 years were significantly higher in older patients: 20% in those aged 70-74 years, 36% in those aged 75-79 years, and 53% in those 80 years and older (p = 0.0005). Comorbidities were not significantly more common in the older age groups and did not correlate with cause-specific survival adjusted for age. Higher comorbidity scores were associated with intercurrent death. Conclusions: Older age itself is not a contraindication to standard breast-conservation therapy, including irradiation. Women of any age with low to moderate comorbidity indices should be offered standard breast-conservation treatment if otherwise clinically eligible.« less

What we learn from TGAS about the moving groups of the Solar neighbourhood

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goldman, B.; Schilbach, E.; Röser, S.; Schöfer, P.; Derekas, A.; Moor, A.; Brandner, W.; Henning, T.

2018-04-01

We use the TGAS proper motions and parallaxes as well as published and new radial velocities to study the dynamics of nearby moving groups. In particular we try to determine their age using backtracing of the individual members to a common origin. We find that the current data, probably the radial velocities, do not allow to reach a successful conclusion.

[Influence of early kinesitherapy on rehabilitation postoperative recovery in case of low extremity operations].

PubMed

Tanović, Edina

2009-01-01

Arteriosclerosis is a disease effecting large elastic, elastic muscular and large muscular arteries. The primary pathological changes are found inside the arteries. Salient feature is atherosclerotic plaque. The main purpose of this paper is to determine whether early kinesitherapy with verticalization and mobilization can give better rehabilitation results with patients after lower extremities operation, in comparison to patients which were not mobilized early in this stage. In this paper we have analyzed two groups of 40 patients that were operatively treated for circulation obstruction to lower extremities. The first, tested group was treated with early kinesiotherapy with early verticalization and mobilization. The second, controlled group was treated with kinesitherapy in bed. All the patients were analyzed according to their gender, age, primary diagnosis, postoperative complications, as well as capabilities for everyday activities. For the evaluation of the everyday life activities we used the Barthel index at hospital admission and discharge. Both groups of patients were equable in gender and age. The most common age group within the tested groups was between 61-70 for males and 51-60 for woman.The most common type of obstruction in both groups was occlusion of femoral artery. The complications which occurred among the tested patients were thrombosis, ileus and contracture in 7.5% of cases, while 85% of patients did not have any complications. Within the controlled group, decubitus occurred in 7.5% of cases, as well as gangrene and ileus. Ulcus occurred in 5% of patients, thrombosis in 10%, and contracture in 4% of cases. 40% of patients in this group were without complications. Based on the results stated above we can conclude that early kinesitherapy with verticalization and mobilization of patients in postoperative phase after the treatment of lower extremities obstruction, have shown much better results in comparison to the patients which were only treated with kinesitherapy in bed. This method of treatment should be included as protocol treatment for all patients after surgical treatment of lower extremities obstruction.

Adolescents with Intellectual Disability Have Reduced Postural Balance and Muscle Performance in Trunk and Lower Limbs Compared to Peers without Intellectual Disability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blomqvist, Sven; Olsson, Josefine; Wallin, Louise; Wester, Anita; Rehn, Borje

2013-01-01

For adolescent people with ID, falls are more common compared to peers without ID. However, postural balance among this group is not thoroughly investigated. The aim of this study was to compare balance and muscle performance among adolescents aged between 16 and 20 years with a mild to moderate intellectual disability (ID) to age-matched…

Gender is a risk factor in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

PubMed

Fakhre Yaseri, Hashem

2017-01-01

Background: Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has increased in the last decades, and it is now one of the most common chronic and recurrent diseases. The present study aimed at determining the frequency of gender (sex) and age in Iranian patients with GERD symptoms. Methods: In this study, 803 patients aged 11 to 84 years, with erosive and nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux diseases, based on the questionnaire and esophagogastroduodenoscopy findings, participated. The female group was compared with the male group with respect to age, symptoms, esophageal injury, and hiatus hernia. Results: Of the 803 participants, 60.5% (n= 486) were female, and 69.2% (n= 555) were younger than 50 years. Of those patients older than 50 years, 32.8% (n= 81) were female. Moreover, 31.0% (n= 249) of the patients had erosive esophagitis (ERD), and 69.0% (n= 254) had normal esophageal mucosa (NERD).The female to male ratio was 1/1.06 and 1.94/1 in ERD and NERD patients, respectively. Hiatal hernia was more prevalent in females than in males. Conclusion: Nonerosive reflux disease, as a gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), was more common in females than in males. GERD became more prevalent with increase in age. Gender and hiatal hernias were 2 potential risk factors of GERD.

Short- and Long-Term Outcomes in Very Low Birth Weight Infants with Admission Hypothermia.

PubMed

Chang, Hung-Yang; Sung, Yi-Hsiang; Wang, Shwu-Meei; Lung, Hou-Ling; Chang, Jui-Hsing; Hsu, Chyong-Hsin; Jim, Wai-Tim; Lee, Ching-Hsiao; Hung, Hsiao-Fang

2015-01-01

Neonatal hypothermia remains a common problem and is related to elevated morbidities and mortality. However, the long-term neurodevelopmental effects of admission hypothermia are still unknown. This study attempted to determine the short-term and long-term consequences of admission hypothermia in VLBW preterm infants. This retrospective study measured the incidence and compared the outcomes of admission hypothermia in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants in a tertiary-level neonatal intensive care unit. Infants were divided into the following groups: normothermia (36.5-37.5°C), mild hypothermia (36.0-36.4°C), moderate hypothermia (32.0-35.9°C), and severe hypothermia (< 32°C). We compared the distribution, demographic variables, short-term outcomes, and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 24 months of corrected age among groups. We studied 341 infants: 79 with normothermia, 100 with mild hypothermia, 162 with moderate hypothermia, and 0 with severe hypothermia. Patients in the moderate hypothermia group had significantly lower gestational ages (28.1 wk vs. 29.7 wk, P < .02) and smaller birth weight (1004 g vs. 1187 g, P < .001) compared to patients in the normothermia group. Compared to normothermic infants, moderately hypothermic infants had significantly higher incidences of 1-min Apgar score < 7 (63.6% vs. 31.6%, P < .001), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (58.0% vs. 39.2%, P = .006), and mortality (18.5% vs. 5.1%, P = .005). Moderate hypothermia did not affect neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years' corrected age. Mild hypothermia had no effect on short-term or long-term outcomes. Admission hypothermia was common in VLBW infants and correlated inversely with birth weight and gestational age. Although moderate hypothermia was associated with higher RDS and mortality rates, it may play a limited role among multifactorial causes of neurodevelopmental impairment.

Dietary modulation of parathion-induced neurotoxicity in adult and juvenile rats.

PubMed

Liu, Jing; Karanth, Subramanya; Pope, Carey

2005-06-01

Previous studies indicated that dietary glucose (15% in drinking water) could markedly exacerbate the toxicity of parathion in adult rats. The present study evaluated the effect of consumption of the commonly used sweetener, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), on parathion toxicity in adult and juvenile rats. Animals were given free access to either water or 15% HFCS in drinking water for a total of 10 days and challenged with parathion (6 or 18 mg/kg, s.c., for juveniles or adults, respectively) on the 4th day. Signs of cholinergic toxicity, body weight and chow/fluid intake were recorded daily. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and immunoreactivity (AChE-IR) in frontal cortex and diaphragm were measured at 2, 4, and 7 days after parathion. As HFCS was associated with significant reduction in chow intake, adult rats were also pair-fed to evaluate the effect of similar reduced chow intake alone on parathion toxicity. The results indicated that the cholinergic toxicity of parathion was significantly increased by HFCS feeding in both age groups. The excess sugar consumption, however, did not significantly affect parathion-induced AChE inhibition in either tissue or either age group. Enzyme immunoreactivity in frontal cortex was generally not affected in either age group while diaphragm AChE-IR was significantly reduced by parathion and HFCS alone in adult animals at 2 and 4 days timepoints, and more so by the combination of sugar feeding and parathion exposure in both age groups. Food restriction alone did not exacerbate parathion toxicity. While the mechanism(s) remains unclear, we conclude that voluntary consumption of the common sweetener HFCS can markedly amplify parathion acute toxicity in both juvenile and adult rats.

Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older People: Application of the EWGSOP Definition and Diagnostic Algorithm

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background. Muscle impairment is a common condition in older people and a powerful risk factor for disability and mortality. The aim of this study was to apply the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria to estimate the prevalence and investigate the clinical correlates of sarcopenia, in a sample of Italian community-dwelling older people. Methods. Cross-sectional analysis of 730 participants (74% aged 65 years and older) enrolled in the InCHIANTI study. Sarcopenia was defined according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria using bioimpedance analysis for muscle mass assessment. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors independently associated with sarcopenia. Results. Sarcopenia defined by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria increased steeply with age (p < .001), with 31.6% of women and 17.4% of men aged 80 years or older being affected by this condition. Higher education (odds ratio: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74–0.98), lower insulin-like growth factor I (lowest vs highest tertile, odds ratio: 3.89; 95% CI: 1.03–14.1), and low bioavailable testosterone (odds ratio: 2.67; 95% CI: 1.31–5.44) were independently associated with the likelihood of being sarcopenic. Nutritional intake, physical activity, and level of comorbidity were not associated with sarcopenia. Conclusions. Sarcopenia identified by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria is a relatively common condition in Italian octogenarians, and its prevalence increases with aging. Correlates of sarcopenia identified in this study might suggest new approaches for prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. PMID:24085400

Prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in obese children or adolescents and association between thyroid hormone and the components of metabolic syndrome.

PubMed

Jin, Hye Young

2018-05-16

Subclinical hypothyroidism is defined as elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels with the normal concentrations of thyroxine (T4) or free thyroxine (fT4), and its clinical significance is unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in children and adolescents and determine the relationship between lipid profiles, insulin resistance and thyroid hormones. A retrospective, cross-sectional study was performed using data from a subset of the KNHANES VI. The subjects whose ages were in the range of 10-19 years were enrolled when their thyroid function tests were available (n = 1104), and their laboratory and anthropometric data were analysed. Subclinical hypothyroidism was more commonly identified in the obese group (27 of 111) compared to the other groups (127 of 993) (24.3 vs. 12.8%, P = 0.002). Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were higher in a group with subclinical hypothyroidism. Body mass index (BMI) was positively correlated with serum concentrations of the TSH and negatively correlated with serum concentrations of fT4 after adjusting for age. The concentrations of total cholesterol and triglyceride were positively correlated with the TSH concentrations following adjustment for age and BMI standard deviation scores. The fT4 concentrations were negatively linked with total cholesterol after adjusting for age and BMI standard deviation scores. No significant correlation was found between insulin resistance index and TSH and fT4. Subclinical hypothyroidism was common in the obese group, and the concentrations of TSH were linked with the lipid profile. Subclinical hypothyroidism in obese children or adolescents should be closely monitored while also evaluating metabolic risk factors. © 2018 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (The Royal Australasian College of Physicians).

HYPERTHYROIDISM AND HYPERPROLACTINEMIA: IS THERE ANY ASSOCIATION?

PubMed

Sanjari, Mojgan; Safi, Zohreh; Tahroodi, Khatereh Mohammadi

2016-12-01

To compare the serum prolactin level in hyperthyroid and normal control females. Hyperthyroidism is a common disease. Although a direct association has been demonstrated between hypothyroidism and increased prolactin levels, this association has not been established for hyperthyroidism. Cross-sectional study in cases and control groups. Control subjects were chosen from those participating in the Kerman Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors study. To select the cases, all women referred to the laboratories of Kerman with a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level ≤0.5 mIU/L who met the inclusion criteria were entered in the study. A total of 231 women aged 15 to 50 years were enrolled. The case group included 71 hyperthyroid women, and the control group included 160 women with normal thyroid function matched by age. The mean (SD) serum level of prolactin was 16.56 (0.97) ng/mL (95% confidence interval [CI], 15.41 ng/mL to 15.71 ng/mL) in the controls and 23.07 (1.49) ng/mL (95% CI, 22.7 ng/mL to 23.4 ng/mL) in the case subjects. Hyperprolactinemia was more common in the hyperthyroid group (16.5 [0.97] ng/mL versus 23.07 [1.49] ng/mL; P<.001). The prolactin level decreased with age. Hyperthyroidism and estradiol increased the prolactin level. After adjusting for age and estradiol, hyperthyroidism increased the serum prolactin level (P<.001). The results of this study revealed that hyperprolactinemia is more frequent in hyperthyroid females. Serum prolactin level can be increased in hyperthyroidism. PRL = prolactin T4 = thyroxine TRH = thyrotropin-releasing hormone TSH = thyroid-stimulating hormone.

Comparison of hyponatremia and SIADH frequency in patients with tick borne encephalitis and meningitis of other origin.

PubMed

Czupryna, Piotr; Moniuszko, Anna; Garkowski, Adam; Pancewicz, Sławomir; Zajkowska, Joanna

2016-01-01

The aim of the study was the evaluation of frequency and origin of hyponatremia in tick borne encephalitis (TBE) in comparison to non-TBE viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis. A total of 124 patients aged 18-80 years, with TBE were included to the study. The mild form of TBE was diagnosed in 59 patients, while the severe form was diagnosed in 65 patients. The first control group (VMG) consisted of 72 patients with viral meningitis, but excluded TBE. The second control group (BMG) consisted of 16 patients diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. Hyponatremia was diagnosed in 55 (44.4%) patients with TBE. In 12 (9.7%) patients (mean age 56.6 ± 19.9 years; 9 men, 3 women) syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) was diagnosed. In VMG hyponatremia was diagnosed in 7 (9.7%) patients. In the age group <35 years and in the age group of 50-64 years the frequency of hyponatremia and SIADH was higher in TBE than in VMG (p < 0.05). In BMG hyponatremia was diagnosed in 6 (37.5%) patients. No statistically significant differences in frequency of hyponatremia between BMG and TBE groups were observed. (1) Hyponatremia is a common disorder in TBE and is more frequent than in other viral types of meningitis, especially in young patients (< 35 years). (2) The most common cause of hyponatremia in TBE patients is dehydration and fluid supplementation should be a treatment of choice. (3) Overall, 16.9% of the patients with the severe form of TBE develop SIADH syndrome and they required treatment based on fluid restriction and hypertonic saline infusion.

Who needs surgery for pediatric myelomeningocele? A retrospective study and literature review

PubMed Central

Loff, Clara; Calado, Eulália

2015-01-01

Introduction Children with myelomeningocele (MMC) are usually subjected to multiple surgeries. However, the number and type of surgeries are not the same in every patient with MMC over time. This report summarizes the surgical interventions in a cohort of several ages. Materials and methods Data on all of the patients with MMC, aged from 1 year and 10 months to 21 years and 11 months, were retrospectively reviewed at the Dona Estefânia Hospital in Lisbon, Portugal. Data were collected by chart review and individual interviews. The factors analyzed were demographics, ambulatory status, neurological level of involvement, shunt status, Arnold–Chiari malformation type II, surgical history, and occurrence of fracture. The surgical interventions were categorized as neurosurgical, orthopedic, urinary, ulcer repair and others. Results A total of 84 alive were eligible and enrolled. The average age was 14 years and six months. A total of 59 patients received shunts (all but one ventriculoperitoneal). In the study group, the 84 patients required 663 surgeries. Neurosurgical interventions were the most frequent surgical procedure and predominated during the first 2 years of life. Surgical interventions related to shunts were the most common neurosurgical interventions. Orthopedic surgeries were more frequent in the age group 6–12 years. Urological surgeries were done mainly after 6 years of age. Surgical repair of pressure ulcers was more common after 12 years of age. Conclusions Our study brings to light the complexity of this condition, with multiple surgeries among patients with MMC. PMID:25029586

Sex and age differences in hibernation patterns of common hamsters: adult females hibernate for shorter periods than males.

PubMed

Siutz, Carina; Franceschini, Claudia; Millesi, Eva

2016-08-01

In this study, we investigated the timing and duration of hibernation as well as body temperature patterns in free-ranging common hamsters (Cricetus cricetus) with regard to sex and age differences. Body temperature was recorded using subcutaneously implanted data loggers. The results demonstrate that although immergence and vernal emergence sequences of sex and age groups resembled those of most hibernators, particularly adult females delayed hibernation onset until up to early January. Thus, in contrast to other hibernators, female common hamsters hibernated for shorter periods than males and correspondingly spent less time in torpor. These sex differences were absent in juvenile hamsters. The period between the termination of hibernation and vernal emergence varied among individuals but did not differ between the sex and age groups. This period of preemergence euthermy was related to emergence body mass: individuals that terminated hibernation earlier in spring and had longer euthermic phases prior to emergence started the active season in a better condition. In addition, males with longer periods of preemergence euthermy had larger testes at emergence. In conclusion, females have to rely on sufficient food stores but may adjust the use of torpor in relation to the available external energy reserves, whereas males show a more pronounced energy-saving strategy by hibernating for longer periods. Nonetheless, food caches seem to be important for both males and females as indicated by the euthermic preemergence phase and the fact that some individuals, mainly yearlings, emerged with a higher body mass than shortly before immergence in autumn.

Prevalence of common phobias and their socio-demographic correlates in children and adolescents in a traditional developing society.

PubMed

Bener, A; Ghuloum, S; Dafeeah, E E

2011-05-01

The aim of this study was to identify the most common phobias in children and adolescents and to determine the prevalence, age distribution, and socio-demographic correlates of phobias. This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted at public and private schools from July 2009 to February 2009. The questionnaire included socio-demographic information, extra-curricular activities and hobbies, behaviour at home and various phobic fears and it was distributed among children aged 6 to 18 years. Psychiatrists determined the definitive diagnosis for various phobias by checking and screening their symptoms. Of the studied subjects, 44% were males and 56% were females. The overall prevalence of phobia in children and adolescents was 19.7%. Among children with phobia, females had higher rates of phobias (62.4% vs 37.6%) than males. Nearly half of total sufferers were in the 12-15 year age group (46.3%). Social phobia (12.7%) was the commonest phobia found followed by agoraphobia (8.6%). Secondary school children were highly afflicted with social phobia (14.9%), agoraphobia (11.7%) and specific phobia (9.6%), while preparatory students (8.3%) were more likely to have 'medical' phobia (fear of physical illness, medical tests and procedures). A significant difference was observed between the age groups in children with agoraphobia (p=0.002). The overall prevalence of phobia in children and adolescents in Qatar was higher than rates found in other epidemiologic studies, with the most common phobias observed being social phobia, agoraphobia and specific phobia.

The search for common ground: Part I. Lexical performance by linguistically diverse learners.

PubMed

Windsor, Jennifer; Kohnert, Kathryn

2004-08-01

This study examines lexical performance by 3 groups of linguistically diverse school-age learners: English-only speakers with primary language impairment (LI), typical English-only speakers (EO), and typical bilingual Spanish-English speakers (BI). The accuracy and response time (RT) of 100 8- to 13-year-old children in word recognition and picture-naming tasks were analyzed. Within each task, stimulus difficulty was manipulated to include very easy stimuli (words that were high frequency/had an early age of acquisition in English) and more difficult stimuli (words of low frequency/late age of acquisition [AOA]). There was no difference among groups in real-word recognition accuracy or RT; all 3 groups showed lower accuracy with low-frequency words. In picture naming, all 3 groups showed a longer RT for words with a late AOA, although AOA had a disproportionate negative impact on BI performance. The EO group was faster and more accurate than both LI and BI groups in conditions with later acquired stimuli. Results are discussed in terms of quantitative differences separating EO children from the other 2 groups and qualitative similarities linking monolingual children with and without LI.

Mortality of colorectal cancer in Taiwan, 1971-2010: temporal changes and age-period-cohort analysis.

PubMed

Su, Shih-Yung; Huang, Jing-Yang; Jian, Zhi-Hong; Ho, Chien-Chang; Lung, Chia-Chi; Liaw, Yung-Po

2012-12-01

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer death in developed countries among men (after lung cancer) and the third most common among women. This study thus examines the long-term trends of CRC mortality in Taiwan. CRC cases were collective between patients aged 30 years or older and younger than 85 years from the Taiwan death registries during 1971-2010. Standard descriptive techniques such as age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR), aural percent change, and age-period-cohort analyses were used. The increase of percentage change by each age group in men was higher than in women. The ASMR of CRC increased 2-fold for men and almost 1.5-fold for women during the periods 1971-1975 and 2006-2010. For age-period-cohort analysis, the estimated mortality rate increased steadily with age in both sexes, and plateaued at 175.29 per 100,000 people for men and 128.14 per 100,000 for women in the 80- to 84-year-old group. Period effects were weak in both sexes. Cohort effects were strong. Between 30 and 59 years of age, the sex ratio showed that the female CRC mortality rate was higher than that of their male counterparts. Conversely, the mortality risk of CRC in men was higher than that in women when they were between 60 and 84 years old. The current findings showed a consistent increase in mortality from CRC over the years. Changes in the patient sex ratio indicated an important etiological role of sex hormones, especially in women aged 60 years or younger.

Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention on Reducing Misconceptions Among Ethnic Minorities With Complicated Mild to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

PubMed Central

Pappadis, Monique R.; Sander, Angelle M.; Łukaszewska, Beata; Struchen, Margaret A.; Leung, Patrick; Smith, Dennis W.

2018-01-01

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention designed to reduce traumatic brain injury (TBI)–related misconceptions among blacks and Latinos with complicated mild to severe TBI. Design Randomized controlled trial with masked 1-month follow-up. Setting Community. Participants Persons (N = 52) with complicated mild to severe TBI (mean best day 1 Glasgow Coma Scale score, 11.27±3.89) were randomly recruited from 141 eligible participants (mean age, 37.71±13.88y; age range, 19–66y; mean months postinjury, 24.69±11.50); 25 participants (48.1%) of participants were black and 27 (51.9%) were Hispanic/Latino. Of the Hispanic/Latino participants, 18 (66.7%) were non-U.S. born and 12 (44.4%) spoke Spanish as their primary language. Twenty-seven individuals were randomized to the educational intervention group and 25 were randomized to the wait-list control group. Interventions Single-session educational intervention with written materials provided in English or Spanish. Main Outcome Measures Forty-item Common Misconceptions about Traumatic Brain Injury Questionnaire administered at baseline and 1-month follow-up. Results After controlling for ethnic and language differences, a significant between-group main effect (P = .010) and a significant time-group interaction for the Common Misconceptions about Traumatic Brain Injury Questionnaire were noted (Wilks Λ = .89; F1,46 = 6.00; P = .02). The intervention group showed a decrease in TBI misconception percentages, whereas the wait-list control group maintained similar percentages. At 1-month follow-up, the wait-list control group reported more misconceptions than did the intervention group (P = .019). Conclusions An educational intervention developed to address the recovery process, common symptoms, and ways to handle the symptoms provides promise as a tool to decrease TBI misconceptions among persons from ethnically and educationally diverse backgrounds. The effects of therapist characteristics and the client-therapist relation on outcomes should be further explored. PMID:28007444

Dietary intake of Senegalese adults

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

The aim of this work is to identify major food sources and dietary constituents of Senegalese adults. We conducted a cross-sectional study, using a single 24-hour dietary recall interview. Foods were classified into food groups based on similarities in nutrient content or use. Food groups included foods consumed individually, or as part of food mixtures such as stews, soups, or sandwiches. Median consumption (amount/day) of each food was determined and examined by relevant subgroups. Participants were 50 healthy Senegalese men, aged 20-62 years recruited at the Hôpital Général de Grand Yoff in Dakar, Senegal and from Sendou village, a rural area outside Dakar. A total of 90 foods and beverages were identified and classified into 11 groups. Sixty-five percent of foods identified could be classified as meats, grains, or fruits/vegetables. Fruits and vegetables comprised 42% (38/90) of all foods; meats 12% (11/90); and grains 11% (10/90). Sauces (6%, 5/90), sweets (4%, 4/90), and desserts (4%, 4/90) were also reported. The most common fruits/vegetables reported were potato, carrot, mango, and lettuce; commonly reported grains were bread and rice; and commonly reported meats were fish, beef, and ox. There were no differences in reported daily intake of each food by age, ethnicity, education, or residence. Most foods reported were traditional to the Senegalese diet, despite the increasing availability of Western foods in Senegal. PMID:20167099

Differences between older and young patients with autoimmune gastritis.

PubMed

Kalkan, Çağdaş; Soykan, Irfan

2017-07-01

Elderly patients with autoimmune gastritis might have different symptoms than those of young patients. The aim of the present study was to compare presented symptoms and laboratory parameters associated with autoimmune gastritis in both old and young age groups. A total of 355 patients with autoimmune gastritis were stratified into two groups: 65 years or older (n = 119, mean age 69.47 ± 5.027 years), and under 65 years (n = 236, mean age 45.79 ± 10.51 years). These two groups were then evaluated and compared by means of clinical symptoms, concurrent autoimmune diseases, serum gastrin, vitamin B 12 and chromogranin A levels, and the presence of enterochromograffin-like cell hyperplasia. Among 119 older patients, 35 had dyspeptic symptoms, and 84 patients were referred for vitamin B 12 and/or iron deficiency. In the younger group (n = 236), there were more patients who had dyspeptic symptoms (36 vs 200, P < 0.001). Serum gastrin (726.68 ± 266.183 vs 214.36 ± 104.62 pg/mL, P < 0.001) and chromogranin A (301.26 ± 172.95 vs 106.59 ± 67.66 ng/mL, P < 0.001) levels were significantly higher, and the presence of enterochromograffin-like cell hyperplasia was more frequent (113 vs 31, P < 0.001) in older patients than younger patients. Polyautoimmunity (66.3% vs 24.5%) and multiple autoimmune syndrome (17.6% vs 5.5%) were more common in older patients (P < 0.001). There are differences in the clinical characteristics and the laboratory parameters between patients with autoimmune gastritis that are older and younger than 65 years-of-age. Elderly patients with autoimmune gastritis were investigated more commonly for vitamin B 12 and/or iron deficiency. Polyautoimmunity and multiple autoimmune syndrome were more common, and serum gastrin and chromogranin A levels were significantly higher in older patients. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1090-1095. © 2016 Japan Geriatrics Society.

Defining functional groups based on running kinematics using Self-Organizing Maps and Support Vector Machines.

PubMed

Hoerzer, Stefan; von Tscharner, Vinzenz; Jacob, Christian; Nigg, Benno M

2015-07-16

A functional group is a collection of individuals who react in a similar way to a specific intervention/product such as a sport shoe. Matching footwear features to a functional group can possibly enhance footwear-related comfort, improve running performance, and decrease the risk of movement-related injuries. To match footwear features to a functional group, one has to first define the different groups using their distinctive movement patterns. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to propose and apply a methodological approach to define functional groups with different movement patterns using Self-Organizing Maps and Support Vector Machines. Further study objectives were to identify differences in age, gender and footwear-related comfort preferences between the functional groups. Kinematic data and subjective comfort preferences of 88 subjects (16-76 years; 45 m/43 f) were analysed. Eight functional groups with distinctive movement patterns were defined. The findings revealed that most of the groups differed in age or gender. Certain functional groups differed in their comfort preferences and, therefore, had group-specific footwear requirements to enhance footwear-related comfort. Some of the groups, which had group-specific footwear requirements, did not show any differences in age or gender. This is important because when defining functional groups simply using common grouping criteria like age or gender, certain functional groups with group-specific movement patterns and footwear requirements might not be detected. This emphasises the power of the proposed pattern recognition approach to automatically define groups by their distinctive movement patterns in order to be able to address their group-specific product requirements. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Contribution of Common PCSK1 Genetic Variants to Obesity in 8,359 Subjects from Multi-Ethnic American Population

PubMed Central

Choquet, Hélène; Kasberger, Jay; Hamidovic, Ajna; Jorgenson, Eric

2013-01-01

Common PCSK1 variants (notably rs6232 and rs6235) have been shown to be associated with obesity in European, Asian and Mexican populations. To determine whether common PCSK1 variants contribute to obesity in American population, we conducted association analyses in 8,359 subjects using two multi-ethnic American studies: the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). By evaluating the contribution of rs6232 and rs6235 in each ethnic group, we found that in European-American subjects from CARDIA, only rs6232 was associated with BMI (P = 0.006) and obesity (P = 0.018) but also increased the obesity incidence during the 20 years of follow-up (HR = 1.53 [1.07–2.19], P = 0.019). Alternatively, in African-American subjects from CARDIA, rs6235 was associated with BMI (P = 0.028) and obesity (P = 0.018). Further, by combining the two case-control ethnic groups from the CARDIA study in a meta-analysis, association between rs6235 and obesity risk remained significant (OR = 1.23 [1.05–1.45], P = 9.5×10−3). However, neither rs6232 nor rs6235 was associated with BMI or obesity in the MESA study. Interestingly, rs6232 was associated with BMI (P = 4.2×10−3) and obesity (P = 3.4×10−3) in the younger European-American group combining samples from the both studies [less than median age (53 years)], but not among the older age group (P = 0.756 and P = 0.935 for BMI and obesity, respectively). By combining all the case-control ethnic groups from CARDIA and MESA in a meta-analysis, we found no significant association for the both variants and obesity risk. Finally, by exploring the full PCSK1 locus, we observed that no variant remained significant after correction for multiple testing. These results indicate that common PCSK1 variants (notably rs6232 and rs6235) contribute modestly to obesity in multi-ethnic American population. Further, these results suggest that the association of rs6232 with obesity may be age-dependent in European-Americans. However, multiple replication studies in multi-ethnic American population are needed to confirm our findings. PMID:23451278

Contribution of common PCSK1 genetic variants to obesity in 8,359 subjects from multi-ethnic American population.

PubMed

Choquet, Hélène; Kasberger, Jay; Hamidovic, Ajna; Jorgenson, Eric

2013-01-01

Common PCSK1 variants (notably rs6232 and rs6235) have been shown to be associated with obesity in European, Asian and Mexican populations. To determine whether common PCSK1 variants contribute to obesity in American population, we conducted association analyses in 8,359 subjects using two multi-ethnic American studies: the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). By evaluating the contribution of rs6232 and rs6235 in each ethnic group, we found that in European-American subjects from CARDIA, only rs6232 was associated with BMI (P = 0.006) and obesity (P = 0.018) but also increased the obesity incidence during the 20 years of follow-up (HR = 1.53 [1.07-2.19], P = 0.019). Alternatively, in African-American subjects from CARDIA, rs6235 was associated with BMI (P = 0.028) and obesity (P = 0.018). Further, by combining the two case-control ethnic groups from the CARDIA study in a meta-analysis, association between rs6235 and obesity risk remained significant (OR = 1.23 [1.05-1.45], P = 9.5×10(-3)). However, neither rs6232 nor rs6235 was associated with BMI or obesity in the MESA study. Interestingly, rs6232 was associated with BMI (P = 4.2×10(-3)) and obesity (P = 3.4×10(-3)) in the younger European-American group combining samples from the both studies [less than median age (53 years)], but not among the older age group (P = 0.756 and P = 0.935 for BMI and obesity, respectively). By combining all the case-control ethnic groups from CARDIA and MESA in a meta-analysis, we found no significant association for the both variants and obesity risk. Finally, by exploring the full PCSK1 locus, we observed that no variant remained significant after correction for multiple testing. These results indicate that common PCSK1 variants (notably rs6232 and rs6235) contribute modestly to obesity in multi-ethnic American population. Further, these results suggest that the association of rs6232 with obesity may be age-dependent in European-Americans. However, multiple replication studies in multi-ethnic American population are needed to confirm our findings.

Methodological Challenges in Physical Activity Research with Older Adults

PubMed Central

Chase, Jo-Ana D.

2015-01-01

The aging adult population is growing, as well as the incidence of chronic illness among older adults. Physical activity has been demonstrated in the literature to be a beneficial component of self-management for chronic illnesses commonly found in the older adult population. Health sciences research seeks to develop new knowledge, practices, and policies that may benefit older adults’ management of chronic illness and quality of life. However, research with the older adult population, though beneficial, includes potential methodological challenges specific to this age group. This article discusses common methodological issues in research among older adults, with a focus on physical activity intervention studies. Awareness and understanding of these issues may facilitate future development of research studies devoted to the aging adult population, through appropriate modification and tailoring of sampling techniques, intervention development, and data measures and collection. PMID:21821726

Lack of age-related increase in carotid artery wall viscosity in cardiorespiratory fit men

PubMed Central

Kawano, Hiroshi; Yamamoto, Kenta; Gando, Yuko; Tanimoto, Michiya; Murakami, Haruka; Ohmori, Yumi; Sanada, Kiyoshi; Tabata, Izumi; Higuchi, Mitsuru; Miyachi, Motohiko

2013-01-01

Objectives: Age-related arterial stiffening and reduction of arterial elasticity are attenuated in individuals with high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness. Viscosity is another mechanical characteristic of the arterial wall; however, the effects of age and cardiorespiratory fitness have not been determined. We examined the associations among age, cardiorespiratory fitness and carotid arterial wall viscosity. Methods: A total of 111 healthy men, aged 25–39 years (young) and 40–64 years (middle-aged), were divided into either cardiorespiratory fit or unfit groups on the basis of peak oxygen uptake. The common carotid artery was measured noninvasively by tonometry and automatic tracking of B-mode images to obtain instantaneous pressure and diameter hysteresis loops, and we calculated the effective compliance, isobaric compliance and viscosity index. Results: In the middle-aged men, the viscosity index was larger in the unfit group than in the fit group (2533 vs. 2018 mmHg·s/mm, respectively: P < 0.05), but this was not the case in the young men. In addition, effective and isobaric compliance were increased, and viscosity index was increased with advancing age, but these parameters were unaffected by cardiorespiratory fitness level. Conclusion: These results suggest that the wall viscosity in the central artery is increased with advancing age and that the age-associated increase in wall viscosity may be attenuated in cardiorespiratory fit men. PMID:24029868

Lack of age-related increase in carotid artery wall viscosity in cardiorespiratory fit men.

PubMed

Kawano, Hiroshi; Yamamoto, Kenta; Gando, Yuko; Tanimoto, Michiya; Murakami, Haruka; Ohmori, Yumi; Sanada, Kiyoshi; Tabata, Izumi; Higuchi, Mitsuru; Miyachi, Motohiko

2013-12-01

Age-related arterial stiffening and reduction of arterial elasticity are attenuated in individuals with high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness. Viscosity is another mechanical characteristic of the arterial wall; however, the effects of age and cardiorespiratory fitness have not been determined. We examined the associations among age, cardiorespiratory fitness and carotid arterial wall viscosity. A total of 111 healthy men, aged 25-39 years (young) and 40-64 years (middle-aged), were divided into either cardiorespiratory fit or unfit groups on the basis of peak oxygen uptake. The common carotid artery was measured noninvasively by tonometry and automatic tracking of B-mode images to obtain instantaneous pressure and diameter hysteresis loops, and we calculated the effective compliance, isobaric compliance and viscosity index. In the middle-aged men, the viscosity index was larger in the unfit group than in the fit group (2533 vs. 2018 mmHg·s/mm, respectively: P<0.05), but this was not the case in the young men. In addition, effective and isobaric compliance were increased, and viscosity index was increased with advancing age, but these parameters were unaffected by cardiorespiratory fitness level. These results suggest that the wall viscosity in the central artery is increased with advancing age and that the age-associated increase in wall viscosity may be attenuated in cardiorespiratory fit men.

Genetic profile for five common variants associated with age-related macular degeneration in densely affected families: a novel analytic approach

PubMed Central

Sobrin, Lucia; Maller, Julian B; Neale, Benjamin M; Reynolds, Robyn C; Fagerness, Jesen A; Daly, Mark J; Seddon, Johanna M

2010-01-01

About 40% of the genetic variance of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can be explained by a common variation at five common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We evaluated the degree to which these known variants explain the clustering of AMD in a group of densely affected families. We sought to determine whether the actual number of risk alleles at the five variants in densely affected families matched the expected number. Using data from 322 families with AMD, we used a simulation strategy to generate comparison groups of families and determined whether their genetic profile at the known AMD risk loci differed from the observed genetic profile, given the density of disease observed. Overall, the genotypic loads for the five SNPs in the families did not deviate significantly from the genotypic loads predicted by the simulation. However, for a subset of densely affected families, the mean genotypic load in the families was significantly lower than the expected load determined from the simulation. Given that these densely affected families may harbor rare, more penetrant variants for AMD, linkage analyses and resequencing targeting these families may be an effective approach to finding additional implicated genes. PMID:19844262

Three quantitative approaches to the diagnosis of abdominal pain in children: practical applications of decision theory.

PubMed

Klein, M D; Rabbani, A B; Rood, K D; Durham, T; Rosenberg, N M; Bahr, M J; Thomas, R L; Langenburg, S E; Kuhns, L R

2001-09-01

The authors compared 3 quantitative methods for assisting clinicians in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain in children, where the most common important endpoint is whether the patient has appendicitis. Pretest probability in different age and sex groups were determined to perform Bayesian analysis, binary logistic regression was used to determine which variables were statistically significantly likely to contribute to a diagnosis, and recursive partitioning was used to build decision trees with quantitative endpoints. The records of all children (1,208) seen at a large urban emergency department (ED) with a chief complaint of abdominal pain were immediately reviewed retrospectively (24 to 72 hours after the encounter). Attempts were made to contact all the patients' families to determine an accurate final diagnosis. A total of 1,008 (83%) families were contacted. Data were analyzed by calculation of the posttest probability, recursive partitioning, and binary logistic regression. In all groups the most common diagnosis was abdominal pain (ICD-9 Code 789). After this, however, the order of the most common final diagnoses for abdominal pain varied significantly. The entire group had a pretest probability of appendicitis of 0.06. This varied with age and sex from 0.02 in boys 2 to 5 years old to 0.16 in boys older than 12 years. In boys age 5 to 12, recursive partitioning and binary logistic regression agreed on guarding and anorexia as important variables. Guarding and tenderness were important in girls age 5 to 12. In boys age greater than 12, both agreed on guarding and anorexia. Using sensitivities and specificities from the literature, computed tomography improved the posttest probability for the group from.06 to.33; ultrasound improved it from.06 to.48; and barium enema improved it from.06 to.58. Knowing the pretest probabilities in a specific population allows the physician to evaluate the likely diagnoses first. Other quantitative methods can help judge how much importance a certain criterion should have in the decision making and how much a particular test is likely to influence the probability of a correct diagnosis. It now should be possible to make these sophisticated quantitative methods readily available to clinicians via the computer. Copyright 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.

Epidemiological investigation of school-related injuries in Koprivnica County, Croatia.

PubMed

Vorko-Jović, A; Rimac, M; Jović, F; Strnad, M; Solaja, D

2001-02-01

To assess the prevalence of injuries in elementary schools and determine specific risk groups of school-age children. According to the 1991 census, there were 6,398 children between 7 and 14 years of age in the study area of the former Koprivnica district. During the 1992-1997 period, 354 children were injured in school. The registration of injured children was performed via structured questionnaires filled out at the emergency clinic and outpatient surgical clinic of the General Hospital in Koprivnica. The mechanism of accident and activities preceding it were categorized according to the Nordic Medico-Statistical Committee classification. Chi-square test was used to determine groups of school children at specific risk and a classification tree was made on the basis of minimum entropy values for age, sex, activity, and mechanism of injury. The highest injury rate of was recorded in 12-year-olds (21.7%). Upper extremities were most common site of injury (52.8%), whereas the most common type of injury was contusion (45.2%). The rate of head injuries was 3.2 times higher in younger (aged 7-10) children, whereas the rate of sports injuries was 3.5-fold higher in older (aged 11-14) children (p=0.001). Entropy classification revealed younger school-age children to be at the highest risk of contusion due to a blow from a ball, an object, or contact during sports activities. In Koprivnica County, most school-related injuries occurred during sport activities (42%) and play during recess (55%), with specific differences in age and sex.

Is there an association between invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast and a family history of gastric cancer?

PubMed

Chikman, Bar; Davidson, Tima; Kais, Hasan; Jeroukhimov, Igor; Leshno, Ari; Sandbank, Judith; Halevy, Ariel; Lavy, Ron

2016-01-01

CDH1 gene mutations have been found to be associated with diffuse type gastric cancer and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) of the breast. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only study relating a family history of gastric cancer to ILC of the breast. We conducted a retrospective study comparing the family history of malignancies in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast and ILC treated in our Medical Center. The comparison was evaluated in both types of breast cancer groups, dividing the patients into two age groups, <50 and ≥50 years. One thousand one hundred and sixty-seven patients with IDC and ILC entered the study. A family history of malignancies was reported in 21.6 % of patients with IDC as opposed to 37.8 % of patients with ILC (P < 0.001). A history of gastric cancer was reported in 7.2 % in the ILC group as compared to 2.3 % in the IDC group, P < 0.008. A family history of breast cancer was more common in the ILC group as opposed to the IDC group, 18 versus 8.1 % respectively, P = 0.002 and persisted in both age groups. We conclude that a family history of malignancies in first degree relatives is more common in patients with ILC than IDC and that there is a significant association between a family history of gastric cancer and ILC.

A clinicopathologic study of glomerular disease: A single-center, five-year retrospective study from Northwest India.

PubMed

Beniwal, Pankaj; Pursnani, Lalit; Sharma, Sanjeev; Garsa, R K; Mathur, Mohit; Dharmendra, Prasad; Malhotra, Vinay; Agarwal, Dhanajai

2016-01-01

Studies published from centers across India have reported different and contradicting patterns of glomerular disease. In this retrospective study, we report our experience from a Tertiary Care Center in Northwest India. A total of 702 renal biopsies performed between 2008 and 2013 were reviewed of which 80 were excluded from the study because of having insufficient records or if the biopsies were taken from an allograft. The study included 411 males (66.1 %) and 211 females (33.9%) with an age range of 12-70 years (mean 30.34 ± 7.04 years). Majority of the biopsies (93.9%) showed some form of glomerulonephritis (GN), either primary (79.4%) or secondary glomerular disease (SGD) (14.5%). Minimal change disease (MCD) was the most common type of primary GN (26.5% of primary GN), followed by membranous nephropathy (MN; 18.8%) and focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS; 13.2%). Lupus nephritis (LN) was the most frequent SGD (52.2% of secondary GN). Amyloidosis was found in 41.1% and diabetic glomerulosclerosis in 4.4%. LN was also the second most common diagnosis in females after MCD, seen in 19.4% of females. MCD followed by membranoproliferative GN and diffuse proliferative GN were the most common entities in individuals <20 years of age. In the 20-39 years age group, MN was the most common pathology seen. MN was again the most common pathology seen in patients aged above 40 years followed by amyloidosis and FSGS. In this study, MCD was the most common primary GN observed overall from this part of India. MN was the most common GN in individuals above 20 years of age presenting with the nephrotic syndrome. The geographical and regional differences in the pattern of GNs point to the necessity of having a central biopsy registry.

A clinicopathologic review of 138 cases of mucoceles in a pediatric population.

PubMed

Martins-Filho, Paulo Ricardo Saquete; Santos, Thiago de Santana; da Silva, Heitor Fontes; Piva, Marta Rabello; Andrade, Emanuel Sávio de Souza; da Silva, Luiz Carlos Ferreira

2011-09-01

To evaluate the clinicopathologic features of pediatric mucoceles diagnosed in two public institutions in Brazil during an 18-year period. Clinical data (age, sex, history of trauma, location, and size) of 138 cases of mucoceles in children 0 to 16 years of age were obtained from medical records. The lesions were classified as mucus extravasation phenomenon and mucus retention phenomenon, depending on the presence of epithelial lining in the microscopic analysis. Mucoceles made up 24.5% of the oral pediatric lesions diagnosed in the period of study. Age at diagnosis ranged from 0.4 to 16.0 years, with a mean age of 10.8 years. Of the total of mucoceles, 87 were observed in females and 51 in males. The lower lip was the most commonly affected site, and a history of trauma was related by 87% of the patients. Histologically, 96.4% of mucoceles were diagnosed as mucus extravasation phenomenon. Cases of mucus retention phenomenon were relatively more common in the floor of the mouth, since one in three lesions in this location belonged to this histologic type. Regarding lesions in the lower lip, only 2.65% were diagnosed as mucus retention phenomenon. Trauma is the main etiologic factor involved in the development of mucoceles in children. The mucus extravasation phenomenon is the most common histologic type in this age group. Although rare, the retention type seems to be more common in lesions on the floor of the mouth.

Refractive errors and strabismus in Asian patients with Down syndrome.

PubMed

Kim, U; Hwang, J-M

2009-07-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and patterns of refractive errors and strabismus in Asian patients with Down syndrome, as they relate to age.MethodsA total of 261 Korean patients with Down syndrome were examined between March 1999 and May 2007. Eighty-nine patients were excluded from the study. The remaining 172 patients were divided into four age groups (<3 years, 3-<6 years, 6-<9 years, and >or=9 years). Full ophthalmologic examinations and strabismus assessments were performed. Refractive errors were defined as follows: myopia >or=-1.00 D, hyperopia >or=+1.00 D, astigmatism >or=+/-1.00 D, and anisometropia as a refractive difference between the two eyes >or=1.00 D. Hyperopia (46.5%) was slightly more common than myopia (40.1%). The prevalence of myopia increased with age, whereas that of hyperopia decreased. Astigmatism was found in 66.8% of patients, and astigmatism >or=2 D was found in 16.8% of patients. Anisometropia was identified in 29.7% of patients, and the incidence of anisometropia correlated significantly with age as well as with astigmatism. Esotropia (22.1%) was twice as common as exotropia (10.5%). The prevalence of esotropia increased with age, but that of exotropia decreased. Fifty patients were found to have nystagmus (29.1%). In Asian patients with Down syndrome, esotropia was more common than exotropia and hyperopia was more common than myopia. The prevalence of exotropia and astigmatism was much higher in this study than has been previously reported.

Encephalitis in Australian children: contemporary trends in hospitalisation.

PubMed

Britton, Philip N; Khoury, Lynette; Booy, Robert; Wood, Nicholas; Jones, Cheryl A

2016-01-01

The clinical epidemiology of childhood encephalitis in Australia is inadequately understood. We aimed to describe recent trends in childhood encephalitis-related hospitalisation. We identified encephalitis-related hospital admissions (2000-2012) in national datasets among children ≤14 years using ICD encephalitis codes. We calculated hospitalisation rates and analysed trends by year, age, gender, location, indigenous status and aetiology. Rates of childhood encephalitis hospitalisations significantly declined over an 11-year period (2000-2012; average hospitalisation rate 3.2/100 000). Varicella encephalitis hospitalisations decreased significantly, associated with high levels of varicella vaccine coverage since 2006. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) was the most common 'specified' cause of encephalitis hospitalisation (15%-17%), and its rate has significantly increased. The highest hospitalisation rates occurred in the <1 year age group (5.8/100 000) and varied by location (highest in Northern Territory). The majority (58.9%) of hospitalised encephalitis had no cause identified; this proportion was highest in the <1 year age group (77%). The most common specified infectious causes included: herpes simplex virus, enterovirus, bacterial meningoencephalitis and varicella. When aggregated, the proportion of childhood encephalitis coded as viral was 21.2%. Hospitalisation of childhood encephalitis has slightly decreased in Australia. High rates of childhood immunisation have been associated with a reduction of varicella-associated encephalitis in Australian children. ADEM, an immune-mediated encephalitis, is the most common recognised cause of encephalitis in children. Young children (<1 year) have the highest admission rates. The high proportion of 'unspecified' encephalitis deaths and hospitalisations is an ongoing challenge. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

Human Cutaneous Anthrax, the East Anatolian Region of Turkey 2008-2014.

PubMed

Parlak, Emine; Parlak, Mehmet

2016-01-01

Anthrax is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis. While anthrax is rare in developed countries, it is endemic in Turkey. The names of the different forms of the disease refer to the manner of entry of the spores into the body-cutaneous, gastrointestinal, inhalation, and injection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics, epidemiological history, treatment, and outcomes of patients with anthrax. Eighty-two cases of anthrax hospitalized at Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology in 2008-2014 were examined retrospectively. Gender, age, occupation, year, history, clinical characteristics, character of lesions, length of hospitalization, and outcomes were recorded. Thirty (36.6%) patients were female and 52 (63.4%) patients were male; ages were 18-69 and mean age was 43.77 ± 13.05. The mean incubation period was 4.79 ± 3.76 days. Cases were largely identified in August (41.5%) and September (25.6%). Sixty-nine (84.1%) of the 82 patients had been given antibiotics before presentation. Lesions were most common on the fingers and arms. The most common occupational groups were housewives (36.6%) and people working in animal husbandry (31.7%). All patients had histories of contact with diseased animals and animal products. Penicillin-group antibiotics (78%) were most commonly used in treatment. One patient (1.2%) died from anthrax meningitis. The mean length of hospitalization was 8.30 ± 5.36 days. Anthrax is an endemic disease of economic and social significance for the region. Effective public health control measures, risk group education, vaccination of animals, and decontamination procedures will reduce the number of cases.

Is age a risk factor for depression among the oldest old with cancer?

PubMed

Goldzweig, Gil; Baider, Lea; Rottenberg, Yakir; Andritsch, Elisabeth; Jacobs, Jeremy M

2018-04-09

Age is negatively related to depression among young and middle age patients with cancer. Nevertheless the relationship between age and depression among older patients with cancer is unclear. The goal of the current study is to assess the association of depression with increasing age among older patients with cancer. Participants were 243 oncology out-patients, aged ≥65, either receiving treatment for active disease or within 6 months of completing treatment for active disease, with a Karnofsky score ≥70. Participants were grouped by age: "Younger-Old" - age 65-74 (N = 125); "Old" - age 75-84 (N = 49); and "Oldest-Old" -age ≥ 85 years (N = 69). Background data included: socio-demography; cancer type/staging/treatment; Charlson comorbidity index (CCI); Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance. Psychological data included: the 5-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS); "Distress Thermometer" (single item); and Cancer Perceived Agents of Social Support (12-item). Depression levels were significantly higher among oldest-old participants in comparison to the old and younger-old groups: mean GDS scores were 0.93 ± 1.13, 1.27 ± 1.41 and 3.91 ± 1.35 respectively. After controlling for all potential confounders in a hierarchical logistic regression model, age-group significantly predicted both depression and distress. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis determined age 86 as the optimal cutoff for both clinical depression and distress. Depression among older patients with cancer rises with increasing age, being extremely common among the oldest old. Age independently predicted depression, irrespective of medical variables, social support, or functional status. Findings highlight the importance of addressing the potentially unmet psychological needs of this rapidly growing patient population. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Peripheral Retinal Vascular Patterns in Patients with Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment in Taiwan

PubMed Central

Chen, San-Ni; Hwang, Jiunn-Feng; Wu, Wen-Chuan

2016-01-01

This is an observational study of fluorescein angiography (FA) in consecutive patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in Changhua Christian Hospital to investigate the peripheral retinal vascular patterns in those patients. All patients had their age, sex, axial length (AXL), and refraction status (RF) recorded. According to the findings in FA of the peripheral retina, the eyes were divided into 4 groups: in group 1, there was a ramified pattern of peripheral retinal vasculature with gradual tapering; in group 2, there was an abrupt ending of peripheral vasculature with peripheral non-perfusion; in group 3, there was a curving route of peripheral vasculature forming vascular arcades or anastomosis; and in group 4, the same as in group 3, but with one or more wedge-shaped avascular notches. Comparisons of age, sex, AXL, and RF, association of breaks with lattice degeneration and retinal non-perfusion, surgical procedures utilized, and mean numbers of operations were made among the four groups. Of the 73 eyes studied, there were 13 eyes (17.8%) in group 1, 3 eyes (4.1%) in group 2, 40 eyes (54.8%) in group 3 and 17 eyes (23.3%) in group 4. Significant differences in age, AXL and RF, and association of retinal breaks to non-perfusion were noted among the four groups. Patients in group 1 had older ages, while younger ages were noted in groups 3 and 4. Eyes in group 1 had the shortest average AXL and were least myopic in contrast to the eyes in groups 3 and 4. Association of retinal breaks and retinal non-perfusion was significantly higher in groups 2, 3 and 4 than in group 1. In conclusion, peripheral vascular anomalies are common in cases with RRD. Patients with peripheral non-perfusion tend to be younger, with longer axial length and have the breaks associated with retinal non-perfusion. PMID:26909812

Randomized controlled trial of probiotics to reduce common cold in schoolchildren.

PubMed

Rerksuppaphol, Sanguansak; Rerksuppaphol, Lakkana

2012-10-01

The common cold is responsible for the largest proportion of school and work absenteeism and causes a huge economic burden. None of the current interventions is greatly effective for prevention. Our aim was to assess the efficacy of a two-strain combination probiotic for prevention of common cold symptoms in healthy schoolchildren. A double-blind randomized controlled trial was performed during the winter season in a public school of central Thailand. Children, aged 8-13 years, were randomized to receive either a two-strain combination probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum) or placebo given twice a day for 3 months. The primary outcome was any symptom of cold during the 3-month study period while vomiting, diarrhea, use of antibiotics, school absence due to any cause, school absence due to cold and duration of all symptoms were secondary outcomes. Of the 40 children in each group, 31 (77%) in the probiotic group, compared to 38 (95%) in the placebo group (P= 0.048), developed at least one symptom of cold. Children in the probiotics group had significantly lower risk of fever, cough, rhinorrhea, school absence and school absence related to common cold compared to children in the placebo group. There was no impact on diarrhea and vomiting. A two-strain probiotic combination given twice a day for 3 months was able to reduce the symptoms of the common cold and school absenteeism in schoolchildren. © 2012 The Authors. Pediatrics International © 2012 Japan Pediatric Society.

[History of patients with pelvic floor dysfunction].

PubMed

Lopez Gaston, A R; Andrüsch, Adriana; Catuogno, Patricia; Lopez De Luise, G; Vazquez, P

2003-01-01

1) To determine differences between sexes; 2) To determine differences by sex and age groups in symptom onset, time of evolution, clinical forms and probable associated causes. 83 consecutive patients with diagnosed PCP (X age = 50.9 SE 2.21). 25 males (30.1% x 51.2 years-old, SE 4.1) and 58 females (69.9%, X 50.8 years-old, SE 2.2). Patients with organic colon-rectum pathology (with the exception of hemorrhoidal pathology, proctologic surgery and active anus fissure) had been excluded. Colonic Double-contrasted Rx, rectum-sigma endoscopy, and eventually a Colonofibroscopy Historic facts and syndromic protocol. Diagnosis criteria: 1) Perineal inspection: perineal contraction with pujo; 2) Rectal tact; 3) Ano-Rectum manometry with perfused system; 4) 150 ml Rectal balloon expulsion dynamic; 5) Utoreported signs and symptoms from a cuestionnaire ad hoc. Division into evolutive groups (continuous and intermittent). Division by age (< = 5, 5.1-25, > 25 years old). descriptive, comparative, correlation, prospective, simple blind. Levene, descriptive, chi square, ANOVA, Kruskall-Wallis, Kendal tau b. 1) Difference in sex proportion was significative (p = 0.0001); 2) There were not differences between sexes in age media at the moment of the study (p = 0.92; 3) The continue evolutive form represented 77.1%, (p = 0.0001) but there weren't differences between sexes (p = 0.19) There weren't evolutive differences between age groups. (p = 0-78) 4) Age of onsec: x = 24.04 years-old, SE 2.02 (4-80 years-old), without differences between sexes (p = 0.16). 14.5% started before age of 5, 85% after that age, without differences between sexes (p = 0.07); 5) The time of evolution x = 26.7 years, SE 2.21, without differences between sexes (p = 0.25); 6) Potential causes were divides into tree categories: I "the patient doesn't remember associated facts" (30.1%, II: psychological or physical stress (39.8%), III: facts related to sexual trauma (30.1%). The differences (p = 0.0001); 7) Analyzed in general by sec, the most common cause was psychological-physical stress rather than sexual trauma in men, while among women sexual trauma was most common than psychological-physical stress (p = 0.03); 8) Analyzed by age groups: in the under 5 years-old group: main cause was "I don't remember". In 5.1-25-years-old group: sexual trauma; and psychological-physical stress was the main cause in > 25 years-old group (p 0.0001). 1) Women suffer from or consult much more frequently than man; 2) Once the disease is present, there would not be differences in age, age of onset, or time or evolution into proportions by sex; 3) The continue forms were the predominant ones; 4) The probable associated causes vary for each age group; 5) The sub-group "I don't remember" could represent in many cases a mismatch learning, but not constantly (there are cases of stress in familiar context); 6) In the subgroup "late childhood-adolescence" the predominant causes were traumatic experiences in erotic zones (rapping intent, sexual abuse, fantasies, elimination of parasites by the anus); 7) in the subgroup "older than 25 years-old" the predominant causes were physical stress, (violence, accidents, surgery) or emotional stress (familiar environment, social environment, affective losses). Some paradigmatic cases are presented. Anismus would be a complex situation involving an striated, voluntary, automatizated muscle (puborectalis) controlling independently genital-sexual, urinary and ano-rectal functions.

Is There an Age Limit to Lung Transplantation?

PubMed

Biswas Roy, Sreeja; Alarcon, Diana; Walia, Rajat; Chapple, Kristina M; Bremner, Ross M; Smith, Michael A

2015-08-01

Lung transplantation in patients older than 65 years is increasingly common, but questions remain regarding risk vs benefit and procedure choice. We identified short-term and long-term outcomes in older single-lung transplant (SLT) and bilateral-lung transplant (BLT) recipients. We performed a retrospective review of United Network for Organ Sharing data for patients who underwent lung transplantation between May 2005 and December 2012. Patients were grouped by age, and we calculated short-term and long-term survival rates and compared survival distributions. Of the 11,776 patients who received lung transplants, 9,317 (79%) were aged 12 to 64 years, 1,902 (16%) were 65 to 69, 486 (4%) were 70 to 74, and 71 (1%) were 75 to 79. Short-term survival was similar across all age groups and procedure types except those aged 75 to 79, who had lower short-term survival for BLT. Those aged 12 to 64 had higher 5-year survival for SLT and BLT than all other groups (p < 0.001), and BLT offered a long-term survival advantage over SLT in this group (p < 0.0001). Older age groups trended toward better long-term survival for BLT compared with SLT (65 to 69, p = 0.059; 70 to 74, p = 0.079). Although data were lacking for 5-year survival for those aged 75 to 79, the 3-year survival for BLT in this group was inferior. Lung transplant can be offered to select older patients up to age 74 with acceptable outcomes. SLT may be preferred for elderly patients, but BLT offers acceptable long-term outcomes without significant short-term risk. Patients older than 75 have acceptable short-term outcomes for SLT, but long-term outcomes for SLT and BLT in this group are poor. Copyright © 2015 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Kuwaiti Arabic: acquisition of singleton consonants.

PubMed

Ayyad, Hadeel Salama; Bernhardt, B May; Stemberger, Joseph P

2016-09-01

Arabic, a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic variety, has a rich consonant inventory. Previous studies on Arabic phonological acquisition have focused primarily on dialects in Jordan and Egypt. Because Arabic varies considerably across regions, information is also needed for other dialects. To determine acquisition benchmarks for singleton consonants for Kuwaiti Arabic-speaking 4-year-olds. Participants were 80 monolingual Kuwaiti Arabic-speaking children divided into two age groups: 46-54 and 55-62 months. Post-hoc, eight children were identified as possibly at risk for protracted phonological development. A native Kuwaiti Arabic speaker audio-recorded and transcribed single-word speech samples (88 words) that tested consonants across word positions within a variety of word lengths and structures. Transcription reliability (point-to-point) was 95% amongst the authors, and 87% with an external consultant. Three acquisition levels were designated that indicated the proportion of children with no mismatches ('errors') for a given consonant: 90%+ of children, 75-89%, fewer than 75%. Mismatch patterns were described in terms of a phonological feature framework previously described in the literature. The Kuwaiti 4-year-olds produced many singleton consonants accurately, including pharyngeals and uvulars. Although the older age group had fewer manner and laryngeal mismatches than the younger age group, consonants still developing at age 5 included coronal fricatives and affricates, trilled /r/ and some uvularized consonants ('emphatics'). The possible at-risk group showed mastery of fewer consonants than the other children. By feature category, place mismatches were the most common, primarily de-emphasis and lack of contrast for [coronal, grooved] (distinguishing alveolar from interdental fricatives). Manner mismatches were next most common: the most frequent substitutions were [+lateral] [l] or other rhotics for /r/, and stops for fricatives. Laryngeal mismatches were few, and involved partial or full devoicing. Group differences generally reflected proportions of mismatches rather than types. Compared with studies for Jordanian and Egyptian Arabic, Kuwaiti 4-year-olds showed a somewhat more advanced consonant inventory than same age peers, especially with respect to uvulars, pharyngeals and uvularized (emphatic) consonants. Similar to the other studies, consonant categories yet to master were: [+trilled] /r/, coronal fricative feature [grooved], [+voiced] fricatives /ʕ, z/ and the affricate /d͡͡ʒ/ and some emphatics. Common mismatch patterns generally accorded with previous studies. This study provides criterion reference benchmarks for Kuwaiti Arabic consonant singleton acquisition in 4-year-olds. © 2016 Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Mining of hospital laboratory information systems: a model study defining age- and gender-specific reference intervals and trajectories for plasma creatinine in a pediatric population.

PubMed

Søeby, Karen; Jensen, Peter Bjødstrup; Werge, Thomas; Sørensen, Steen

2015-09-01

The knowledge of physiological fluctuation and variation of even commonly used biochemical quantities in extreme age groups and during development is sparse. This challenges the clinical interpretation and utility of laboratory tests in these age groups. To explore the utility of hospital laboratory data as a source of information, we analyzed enzymatic plasma creatinine as a model analyte in two large pediatric hospital samples. Plasma creatinine measurements from 9700 children aged 0-18 years were obtained from hospital laboratory databases and partitioned into high-resolution gender- and age-groups. Normal probability plots were used to deduce parameters of the normal distributions from healthy creatinine values in the mixed hospital datasets. Furthermore, temporal trajectories were generated from repeated measurements to examine developmental patterns in periods of changing creatinine levels. Creatinine shows great age dependence from birth throughout childhood. We computed and replicated 95% reference intervals in narrow gender and age bins and showed them to be comparable to those determined in healthy population studies. We identified pronounced transitions in creatinine levels at different time points after birth and around the early teens, which challenges the establishment and usefulness of reference intervals in those age groups. The study documents that hospital laboratory data may inform on the developmental aspects of creatinine, on periods with pronounced heterogeneity and valid reference intervals. Furthermore, part of the heterogeneity in creatinine distribution is likely due to differences in biological and chronological age of children and should be considered when using age-specific reference intervals.

TRIMETHOPRIM-SULFAMETHOXAZOLE RESISTANCE AND FOSFOMYCIN SUSCEPTIBILITY RATES IN UNCOMPLICATED URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS: TIME TO CHANGE THE ANTIMICROBIAL PREFERENCES.

PubMed

Guneysel, Ozlem; Suman, Enes; Ozturk, Tuba Cimilli

2016-03-01

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in adult population. They are prevalent in all age groups both in women and men. Also, UTIs are the most frequent indication for empirical antibiotic treatment in emergency department. The aim of this study was to determine the antibiotic resistance rates in the treatment of uncomplicated UTIs. Adult patients admitted to emergency department with uncomplicated UTIs were included in this cross-sectional study. Mid-stream urine samples were obtained under sterile conditions and cultured quantitatively. After 24 hours, the samples showing 10(5) colony forming unit per milliliter (CFU/mL) were tested for antibiotic susceptibility. Resistance to fosfomycin-trometamol (FT), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (AC), ciprofloxacin (CIP), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) and cefpodoxime (CEF) was tested by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion system. Escherichia (E.) coli accounted for the vast majority (93.4%) of the organisms isolated in the study. Among the E. coli positive patients, resistance to TMP-SMX was the most common antibiotic resistance. The E. coli species detected in our study group were least resistant to FT (2.4%). The resistance rates, especially to CEF, AC and CIP, were significantly higher in patients over 50 years of age. In conclusion, in the treatment of uncomplicated UTIs, TMP-SMX should be excluded from empirical treatment, while fosfomycin could be a viable option in all age groups.

A 3-year retrospective review of mortality in women of reproductive age in a tertiary health facility in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

PubMed

Orazulike, Ngozi C; Alegbeleye, Justina O; Obiorah, Christopher C; Nyengidiki, Tamunomie K; Uzoigwe, Samuel A

2017-01-01

To determine the causes of death and associated risk factors among women of reproductive age (WRA) in a tertiary institution in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. This was a retrospective survey of all deaths in women aged 15-49 years at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital that occurred from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015. Data retrieved from ward registers, death registers, and death certificates were analyzed with Epi Info version 7. Comparison of socioeconomic and demographic risk factors for maternal and nonmaternal deaths was done using a multivariate logistic regression model. There were 340 deaths in the WRA group over the 3-year period. The majority (155 [45.6%]) of the women were aged 30-39 years. There were 265 (77.9%) nonmaternal deaths and 75 (22.1%) maternal deaths. Among the nonmaternal deaths, 124 (46.8%) had infectious diseases, with human immunodeficiency virus being the most common cause of infection in this group. Breast cancer (13 [4.9%]), cervical cancer (12 [4.5%]), and ovarian cancer (11 [4.2%]) were the most common malignant neoplasms observed. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (31 [41.3%]) and puerperal sepsis (20 [26.7%]) were the most common causes of maternal deaths. Age and occupation were significantly associated with deaths in WRA ( p <0.05). Older women aged >30 years (odd ratio =1.86, 95% CI =1.07-3.23) and employed women (odds ratio =2.55, 95% CI =1.46-4.45) were more likely to die from nonmaternal than maternal causes. Most of the deaths were nonmaternal. Infectious diseases, diseases of the circulatory system, and malignant neoplasms were the major causes of death among WRA, with maternal deaths accounting for approximately a quarter. Public health programs educating women on safer sex practices, early screening for cancers, benefits of antenatal care, and skilled attendants at delivery will go a long way to reducing preventable causes of deaths among these women.

Sleep quality, use of hypnotics and sleeping habits in different age-groups among older people.

PubMed

Hägg, Miriam; Houston, Britta; Elmståhl, Sölve; Ekström, Henrik; Wann-Hansson, Christine

2014-12-01

Sleep disturbances are common among older people (>65 years). Further, long-term use of sedative hypnoticsin older people is associated with morbidity and mortality. However, older people represent a large span of life years, and few studies have included the oldest-old above 85 years. To investigate and compare sleep quality, use of hypnotics and sleeping habits in different age groups of the older population in the Scania region, Sweden and in relation to sociodemographic- and functional status. A cross-sectional population-based study including 2931 people aged 60-93 years from five different municipalities in Scania was performed during 2001-2004. The sample was divided into age groups, young old (60-72 years), old-old (78-84 years) and oldest-old (87-93) years. Data constitutes of sleep related questions, sociodemographic- and functional status from the study 'Good Ageing in Skane'. Descriptive statistics were used to describe sleep quality, hypnotics use and sleeping habitsin relation to sociodemographic- and functional status. The aim was to investigate associations, not the magnitude of associations between variables. In all age groups, those who used hypnotics and were living alone had significantly poorer sleep quality and shortest sleeping time than nonhypnotic users and those who lived together. A significant increase of hypnotics and frequency of use was seen with increasing age. Frequency of napping increased significantly with degree of dependence in all age groups and with increasing age. Insomnia is still a problem and hypnotic use has not improved sleep for a large number of older people. Hypnotics are effective as short-term treatment, however, nonpharmacological interventions and psychological and behavioural therapies should be considered for treating older people with chronic insomnia.

A Cross “Ethnical” Comparison of the Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ) in an Economically Fast Developing Country

PubMed Central

Bener, Abdulbari; Verjee, Mohamud; Dafeeah, Elnour E.; Yousafzai, Mohammad T.; Mari, Sundus; Hassib, Ahmed; Al-Khatib, Hamza; Choi, Min Kyung; Nema, Noor; Özkan, Türker; Lajunen, Timo

2013-01-01

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the driving behaviours of four ethnic groups and to investigate the relationship between violations, errors and lapses of DBQ and accident involvement in Qatar. Subjects and Methods: The Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ) was used to measure the aberrant driving behaviours leading to accidents. Of 2400 drivers approached, 1824 drivers agreed to participate (76%) and completed the driver behaviour questionnaire and background information. Results: The study revealed that the majority of the Qatari (35.9%) and Jordanian drivers (37.5%) were below 30 years of age, whereas Filipino (42.3%) and Indian subcontinent (34.1%) drivers were in the age group of 30-39 years. Qatari drivers (52%) were involved in most accidents, followed by Jordanians (48.3%). The most common type of collision was a head on collision, which was similar in all four ethnic groups. The Qatari drivers scored higher on almost all items of violations, errors and lapses compared to other ethnic groups, while Filipino drivers were lower on all the items. The most common violation was the same in all four ethnic groups “Disregard the speed limits on a motorway”. The most common error item observed was “Queing to turn right/left on to a main road”. “Forget where you left your car” and “Hit something when reversing” were the two lapses identified in factor analysis. Conclusion: The present study identified that Qatari drivers scored higher on most of the items of violations, errors and lapses of DBQ compared to other countries, whereas Filipino drivers scored lower in DBQ items. PMID:23777732

An analysis of hiker preparedness: a survey of hiker habits in New Hampshire.

PubMed

Mason, Ryan C; Suner, Selim; Williams, Kenneth A

2013-09-01

Describe hiking habits in a heavily used wilderness area to better target injury prevention and reduce search-and-rescue events. A cross-sectional, convenience survey was conducted at 3 trailheads in the White Mountain National Forest of New Hampshire during summer 2011. The study group consisted of hikers who consented to a questionnaire before their trip that assessed demographics, experience, hiking gear, pretrip planning, and communication devices. A total of 199 hikers were surveyed. The most common age group was 20 to 29 years at 29.2% (n = 195). The most common hike was less than 12 hours at 78.5% (n = 191). All 10 items deemed essential were carried by 17.8% (n = 197) of hikers. The most common omission reason was "short trip" at 32.2% (n = 162). Defined as greater than 7 items, the 50- to 59-year-old age group was the most prepared at 56.9% (n = 51). Hiker preparedness increased with experience and fitness levels. Hikers planning trips of less than 12 hours were less prepared compared with hikers planning longer trips, at 39.3% (n = 150) and 48.8% (n = 41), respectively. GPS devices were carried by 122 of 193 hikers. Phone GPS users were less prepared than GPS-only device users at 35.8% (34 of 95) and 55.6% (15 of 27), respectively. One factor that may help reduce rescues is better-prepared individuals able to avoid emergency medical services activation. Most neglect of preparation results from hikers perceiving short trips as less risky. The groups most often underprepared tend to be younger, less fit, and inexperienced. Therefore, education should target younger groups and stress that all hikes, regardless of duration, carry an inherent risk. Copyright © 2013 Wilderness Medical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Apolipoprotein E: Risk factor for Alzheimer disease

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tsai, M.S.; Thibodeau, S.N.; Tangalos, E.G.

1994-04-01

The apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) has three common alleles (E2, E3, and E4) that determine six genotypes in the general population. In this study, the authors examined 77 patients with late-onset Alzheimer disease (AD), along with an equal number of age- and sex-matched controls, for an association with the APOE-E4 allele. They show that the frequency of this allele among AD patients was significantly higher than that among the control population (.351 vs. .130, P = .000006). The genotype frequencies also differed between the two groups (P = .0002), with the APOE-E4/E3 genotype being the most common in the ADmore » group and the APOE-E3/E3 being the most common in the control group. In the AD group, homozygosity for E4 was found in nine individuals, whereas none was found in the control group. The odds ratio for AD, when associated with one or two E4 alleles, was 4.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9-12.3), while the odds ratio for AD, when associated with heterozygosity for APOE-E4, was 3.6 (05% CI 1.5-9.8). Finally, the median age at onset among the AD patients decreased from 83 to 78 to 74 years as the number of APOE-E4 alleles increased from 0 to 1 to 2, respectively (test for trend, P = .001). The data, which are in agreement with recent reports, suggest that the APOE-E4 allele is associated with AD and that this allelic variant may be an important risk factor for susceptibility to AD in the general population. 30 refs., 5 tabs.« less

Successful aging in centenarians: myths and reality.

PubMed

Motta, M; Bennati, E; Ferlito, L; Malaguarnera, M; Motta, L

2005-01-01

The term "successful aging" appeared in the first issue of "The Gerontologist" in 1961. During the successive years, this expression has changed its meaning. Nowadays, successful aging means "absence of diseases and disabilities, maintenance of high levels of physical and cognitive abilities, preservation of the social and productive activities". It has become a common opinion that the centenarians may represent the prototypes of the successful aging. This motivated our work to study the clinical, psychical, and functional aspects in a centenarian group, verifying the real autonomy, instrumental capacities, and working abilities. Our study pool consisted of 602 centenarians, who were also subjects of then epidemiological studies of the Italian Multicenter Studies on Centenarians (IMUSCE). All subjects underwent a clinical-anamnestic evaluation, cognitive-functional tests by means of the mini mental state examination (MMSE), the independence index in activities of daily living (ADL), the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scale. The centenarians were classified in three groups, according to the criteria elaborated previously by us, based on their psychophysical status and autonomy, as follows. Group A: centenarians in good health status; Group B: centenarians in an intermediate health status. Group C: centenarians in bad health status. Group A represented 20.0% of the total pool, Group B amounted to 33.4%, and the Group C was 46.6%. The centenarians of Group A presented normal ADL values, and 47.9% of them were autosufficient in all functions; 5.7% of them were independent in all IADL items. These data confirm that the centenarians of Group A are free of invalidating chronic diseases, are autonomous, maintain good physical and cognitive capacities, however, have not maintained any social or productive activities. Therefore, they cannot be considered as prototypes of successful aging.

Prevalence and determinants of carotid plaque in the cross-sectional REFINE-Reykjavik study

PubMed Central

Sturlaugsdottir, Ran; Aspelund, Thor; Bjornsdottir, Gudlaug; Sigurdsson, Sigurdur; Thorsson, Bolli; Eiriksdottir, Gudny; Gudnason, Vilmundur

2016-01-01

Objective Carotid plaque and intima-media thickness are non-invasive arterial markers that are used as surrogate end points for cardiovascular disease. The aim was to assess the prevalence and severity of carotid plaque, and examine its determinant risk factors and their association to the common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) in a general population. Methods We examined 6524 participants aged 25–69 years in the population-based REFINE (Risk Evaluation For INfarct Estimates)-Reykjavik study. Plaques at the bifurcation and internal carotid arteries were evaluated. Mean CCA-IMT was measured in the near and far walls of the common carotid arteries. Results The prevalence of minimal, moderate and severe plaque was 35.0%, 8.9% and 1.1%, respectively, and the mean CCA-IMT was 0.73 (SD 0.14) mm. Age, sex, smoking and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were the strongest risk factors associated with plaque, followed by systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, body mass index and family history of myocardial infarct. Low educational level was also strongly and independently associated with plaque. CCA-IMT shared the same risk factors except for a non-significant association with T2DM and family history of myocardial infarction (MI). Participants with T2DM had greater plaque prevalence, 2-fold higher in those <50 years and 17–30% greater in age groups 50–54 to 60–64, and more significant plaques (moderate or severe) were the difference in prevalence was 24% in age group 50–54 and ≥60% in older age groups, compared with non-T2DM. Conclusions Carotid plaque and CCA-IMT have mostly common determinants. However, T2DM and family history of MI were associated with plaque but not with CCA-IMT. Greater prevalence and more severe plaques in individuals with T2DM raise the concern that with increasing prevalence of T2DM we may expect an increase in atherosclerosis and its consequences. PMID:27884845

Suicide mortality rates in Louisiana, 1999-2010.

PubMed

Straif-Bourgeois, Susanne; Ratard, Raoult

2012-01-01

This report is a descriptive study on suicide deaths in Louisiana occurring in the years 1999 to 2010. Mortality data was collected from death certificates from this 12-year period to describe suicide mortality by year, race, sex, age group, and methods of suicide. Data were also compared to national data. Rates and methods used to commit suicide vary greatly according to sex, race, and age. The highest rates were observed in white males, followed by black males, white females, and black females. Older white males had the highest suicide rates. The influence of age was modulated by the sex and race categories. Firearm was the most common method used in all four categories. Other less common methods were hanging/strangulation/suffocation (HSS) and drugs/alcohol. Although no parish-level data were systematically analyzed, a comparison of suicide rates post-Katrina versus pre-Katrina was done for Orleans Parish, the rest of the Greater New Orleans area, and a comparison group. It appears that rates observed among whites, particularly males, were higher after Katrina. Data based on mortality do not give a comprehensive picture of the burden of suicide, and their interpretation should be done with caution.

Occupational accidents in the Finnish local government sector: utilisation of national statistics.

PubMed

Nenonen, Noora

2011-12-01

Occupational accidents in the Finnish local government sector in 2004 are analysed by gender, age and occupation class in order to identify particular risk groups. The accident data are compared with data concerning the number of employees, using frequency distributions and accident incidence rates. The possibilities of providing occupation class-specific accident incidence rates are also discussed. According to the results, commuting accidents are more common and severe in the local government sector than in general in Finland. In the local public sector occupational accidents more often involved women than men. Compared to other age groups and occupational classes, occupational accidents are more common in the age band of 45-54 and in the occupational class of medical and nursing work. However, compared to the employees' data, men and younger employees had an increased workplace accident risk, while women and older employees had an increased risk of commuting accidents. The highest accident incidence rate was in farming and animal husbandry work. Currently, the calculation of occupation class-specific accident incidence rates is difficult. Improving the consistency of the occupation classifications used in the various data sources would facilitate more reliable calculation of rates.

Dry mouth and older people.

PubMed

Thomson, W M

2015-03-01

Dry mouth is more common among older people than in any other age group. Appropriate definition and accurate measurement of dry mouth is critical for better understanding, monitoring and treatment of the condition. Xerostomia is the symptom(s) of dry mouth; it can be measured using methods ranging from single questions to multi-item summated rating scales. Low salivary flow (known as salivary gland hypofunction, or SGH) must be determined by measuring that flow. The relationship between SGH and xerostomia is not straightforward, but both conditions are common among older people, and they affect sufferers' day-to-day lives in important ways. The major risk factor for dry mouth is the taking of particular medications, and older people take more of those than any other age group, not only for symptomatic relief of various age-associated chronic diseases, but also in order to reduce the likelihood of complications which may arise from those conditions. The greater the number taken, the greater the associated anticholinergic burden, and the more likely it is that the individual will suffer from dry mouth. Since treating dry mouth is such a challenge for clinicians, there is a need for dentists, doctors and pharmacists to work together to prevent it occurring. © 2015 Australian Dental Association.

A Rare Disease in Adult: Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis

PubMed Central

Berber, Ilhami; Erkurt, Mehmet Ali; Kuku, Irfan; Koroglu, Mustafa; Kaya, Emin; Unlu, Serkan

2013-01-01

Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare histiocytic disorder and has been diagnosed in all age groups, but is most common in children. This disease is very rare in adults. We presented a patient who was 62 years old man diagnosed langerhans cell histiocytosis. PMID:29147350

Out come of induction of remission in undernourished children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

PubMed

Begum, M; Jahan, S; Tawfique, M; Mannan, M A

2012-10-01

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is the most common childhood leukaemia. On the other hand under-nutrition is a common problem in our country. This prospective study was conducted to see the outcome of induction of remission in undernourished children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. This study was carried out in the department of Paediatric hematology and oncology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) during the period from November 2002 to October 2004. A total of sixty (60) children who were diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 1 to 15 years of age were included in this study. But the children with previous history of congenital disease and that of chemotherapy or steroid were excluded from this study. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of Z score of weight for age. Thirty (30) children those with Z score- 2 or less were classified as undernourished and was labeled as Group A and another thirty (30) patient those Z score above-2 were classified as well nourished and was placed in Group B, After inclusion into the study, completion of induction of remission was monitored by physical examination and laboratory investigations. The result showed that mean age in Group A was 77.16 ± 7.07 months and that in Group B was 74.13 ± 5.09 months with male preponderance in both the groups. Mean body weight in Group A was 14.55 ± 0.76 Kg and that in Group B was 21.40 ± 1.05 kg (p<0.001). Children in Group A required 39.06 ± 0.72 days to complete induction but in Group B it required 31.63 ± 0.17 days (p<0.04). Hospital stay in Group A children was 52.10 ± 1.08 days and in Group B 42.37 ± 0.50 (p<0.002). The result suggested that under nutrition has an influence on the out come of induction of remission in undernourished children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. So appropriate measures are essential to improve nutritional status of children for successful management of ALL in children.

Disturbed eating behavior and eating disorders in preteen and early teenage girls with type 1 diabetes: a case-controlled study.

PubMed

Colton, Patricia; Olmsted, Marion; Daneman, Denis; Rydall, Anne; Rodin, Gary

2004-07-01

To compare the prevalence of eating disturbances in preteen and early teenage girls with type 1 diabetes to their nondiabetic peers. A cross-sectional, case-controlled study of 101 girls with type 1 diabetes, ages 9-14 years, and 303 age-matched, female nondiabetic control subjects was conducted. Participants completed a Children's Eating Disorder Examination interview. Socioeconomic status, BMI, and diabetes-related variables were assessed. Groups were compared using chi(2) analyses. Binge eating; the use of intense, excessive exercise for weight control; the combination of two disturbed eating-related behaviors; and subthreshold eating disorders were all more common in girls with type 1 diabetes. Metabolic control was not related to eating behavior in this study population. Eating disturbances, though mostly mild, were significantly more common in preteen and early teenage girls with type 1 diabetes. Screening and prevention programs for this high-risk group should begin in the preteen years.

Senile macular changes in the black African.

PubMed Central

Gregor, Z.; Joffe, L.

1978-01-01

One thousand black African and 380 white Caucasian patients over the age of 50 were examined for evidence of age-related macular changes, namely, drusen, pigment epithelial atrophy, and disciform macular degeneration. Drusen and pigment epithelial changes were found to occur twice as commonly in Caucasians as in Africans; there was a much greater difference in the prevalence of disciform macular degeneration between the 2 groups. The cause of the differences remains unexplained. PMID:687553

DAMPs, ageing, and cancer: The 'DAMP Hypothesis'.

PubMed

Huang, Jin; Xie, Yangchun; Sun, Xiaofang; Zeh, Herbert J; Kang, Rui; Lotze, Michael T; Tang, Daolin

2015-11-01

Ageing is a complex and multifactorial process characterized by the accumulation of many forms of damage at the molecular, cellular, and tissue level with advancing age. Ageing increases the risk of the onset of chronic inflammation-associated diseases such as cancer, diabetes, stroke, and neurodegenerative disease. In particular, ageing and cancer share some common origins and hallmarks such as genomic instability, epigenetic alteration, aberrant telomeres, inflammation and immune injury, reprogrammed metabolism, and degradation system impairment (including within the ubiquitin-proteasome system and the autophagic machinery). Recent advances indicate that damage-associated molecular pattern molecules (DAMPs) such as high mobility group box 1, histones, S100, and heat shock proteins play location-dependent roles inside and outside the cell. These provide interaction platforms at molecular levels linked to common hallmarks of ageing and cancer. They can act as inducers, sensors, and mediators of stress through individual plasma membrane receptors, intracellular recognition receptors (e.g., advanced glycosylation end product-specific receptors, AIM2-like receptors, RIG-I-like receptors, and NOD1-like receptors, and toll-like receptors), or following endocytic uptake. Thus, the DAMP Hypothesis is novel and complements other theories that explain the features of ageing. DAMPs represent ideal biomarkers of ageing and provide an attractive target for interventions in ageing and age-associated diseases. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A study of the dynamics of sex differences in adulthood.

PubMed

Trofimova, Irina

2013-01-01

Studies of gender differences using primarily young individuals show that males, on average, perform better than females in physical activities but worse than females on tests of verbal abilities. There is however a controversy about the existence of these sex differences in adulthood. Our study used 1271 participants from four cultural backgrounds (Chinese, multi-generation Canadians, Indu-Canadians, and European-Canadians) divided in five age groups. We measured sex differences in the time required for participants to complete a lexical task experiment, and also assessed their verbal tempo and physical endurance using a validated temperament test (Structure of Temperament Questionnaire). We found a significant female advantage in time on the lexical task and on the temperament scale of social-verbal tempo, and a male advantage on the temperament scale of physical endurance. These sex differences, however, were more pronounced in young age groups (17-24), fading in older groups. This "middle age-middle sex" phenomenon suggests that sex differences in these two types of abilities observed in younger groups might be "a matter of age," and should not be attributed to gender in general. A one-dimensional approach to sex differences (common in meta-analytic studies) therefore overlooks a possible interaction of sex differences with age.

Middle-Aged and Mobility-Limited: Prevalence of Disability and Symptom Attributions in a National Survey

PubMed Central

Gardener, Elizabeth A; Huppert, Felicia A; Guralnik, Jack M; Melzer, David

2006-01-01

BACKGROUND Lower limb mobility disabilities are well understood in older people, but the causes in middle age have attracted little attention. OBJECTIVES To estimate the prevalence of mobility disabilities among noninstitutionalized adults in England and to compare the disabling symptoms reported by middle-aged and older people. DESIGN Cross-sectional data from the 2002 English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Mobility disability was identified by level of reported difficulty walking a quarter mile. PARTICIPANTS Eleven thousand two hundred sixteen respondents aged 50 years and older living in private households in 2002. RESULTS The prevalence of difficulty walking a quarter mile increases sharply with age, but even in the middle-aged (50 to 64 years age-group) 18% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16% to 19%) of men and 19% (95% CI: 17% to 20%) of women reported some degree of difficulty. Of the 16 main symptoms reported as causing mobility disability in middle age, 2 dominated: pain in the leg or the foot (43%; 95% CI: 40% to 46%) and shortness of breath/dyspnea (21%; 95% CI: 18% to 23%). Fatigue or tiredness, and stability problems were cited by only 5% and 6%, respectively. These proportions were slightly different from those in the 65 to 79-year age group: 40%, 23%, 6%, and 8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Mobility (walking) disabilities in the middle-aged are relatively common. The symptoms reported as causes in this age group differ little from those reported by older groups, and are dominated by lower limb pain and shortness of breath. More clinical attention paid to disabling symptoms may lead to disability reductions in later life. PMID:16970558

Mai Population

PubMed

Sripan, Patumrat; Sriplung, Hutcha; Pongnikorn, Donsuk; Virani, Shama; Bilheem, Surichai; Chaisaengkhaum, Udomlak; Maneesai, Puttachart; Waisri, Narate; Hanpragopsuk, Chirapong; Tansiri, Panrada; Khamsan, Varunee; Poungsombat, Malisa; Mawoot, Aumnart; Chitapanarux, Imjai

2017-05-01

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine incidence trends of female breast cancer according to age groups and to predict future change in Chiang Mai women through 2028. Method: Data were collected from all hospitals in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, from 1989 through 2013, and used to investigate effects of age, year of diagnosis (period) and year of birth (cohort) on female breast cancer incidences using an age-period-cohort model. This model features geometric cut trends to predict change by young (<40 years), middle-aged (40-59) and elderly (≥60) age groups. Result: Of 5, 417 female breast cancer patients with a median age of 50 years (interquartile range: 43 to 59 years), 15%, 61% and 24% were young, middle-aged and elderly, respectively. Seventy nine percent of cancer cases in this study were detected at advanced stage. The trend in stage classification showed an increase in percentage of early stage and a decrease in metastatic cancers. Linear trends for cohort and period were not found in young females but were observed in middle-aged and elderly groups. Age-standardized rates (ASR) can be expected to remain stable around 6.8 per 100,000 women-years in young females. In the other age groups, the ASR trends were calculated to increase and reach peaks in 2024 of 120.2 and 138.2 per 100,000 women-years, respectively. Conclusion: Cohort effects or generation-specific effects, such as life style factors and the year of diagnosis (period) might have impacted on increased incidence in women aged over 40 years but not those under 40 years. A budget should be provided for treatment facilities and strategies to detect early stage cancers. The cost effectiveness of screening measures i.e. mammographic screening may need to be reconsidered for women age over 40 years. Creative Commons Attribution License

The epidemiology of sports-related injuries in older adults: a central European epidemiologic study.

PubMed

Kammerlander, Christian; Braito, Matthias; Kates, Stephen; Jeske, Christian; Roth, Tobias; Blauth, Michael; Dallapozza, Christian

2012-10-01

The population is rapidly aging and remaining more active over the age of 65. An increasing number of sports related injuries in individuals 65 and older are thus anticipated. The aim of this study is to analyze the epidemiology of sports injuries in the age group aged 65 and older. Data from the medical records of adults aged 65 years and older who were treated for sports-related injuries at a level one trauma center between December 1994 and February 2008 was collected and statistically analyzed. A total of 2635 patients met our inclusion criteria. There were 1647 men (62.5%) and 988 women (37.5%) with a mean age of 70.9 years. The yearly number of injuries doubled during the study period (1996-2007). The most common mechanism of injury was a simple fall from standing height (69%). Nearly 75% of all injuries occurred during alpine skiing, cycling or mountain climbing. The median Injury Severity Score was 4. Minor injuries and wounds (40%) were recorded most commonly followed by fractures (27%), sprains, ligament injuries (19%) and injuries of muscles and tendons (6%). The most frequent diagnoses were minor injuries to the head and ligament injuries around the knee joint. Injuries to the upper extremities occurred in 33.7%, injuries to the lower extremities in 29.4% and injuries to the head occurred in 20% of the patients. Women sustained substantially more fractures than men. Adults aged 65 and older are remaining active in sports, which results in higher numbers of sports related injuries in this age group. Identification of type, mechanism and distribution of the injuries can help with the recognition of risk factors for injury. This may enable us to develop appropriate preventative measures to reduce the incidence, and morbidity of such injuries.

Ethnic differences in the prevalence of knee pain among adults of a community in a cross-sectional study

PubMed Central

Beh, Hooi Chin; Ng, Chirk Jenn; Teng, Cheong Lieng; Hanafi, Nik Sherina; Choo, Wan Yuen

2016-01-01

Objective To determine the prevalence of knee pain among 3 major ethnic groups in Malaysia. By identifying high-risk groups, preventive measures can be targeted at these populations. Design and setting A cross-sectional survey was carried out in rural and urban areas in a state in Malaysia. Secondary schools were randomly selected and used as sampling units. Participants Adults aged ≥18 years old were invited to answer a self-administered questionnaire on pain experienced over the previous 6 months. Out of 9300 questionnaires distributed, 5206 were returned and 150 participants who did not fall into the 3 ethnic groups were excluded, yielding a total of 5056 questionnaires for analysis. 58.2% (n=2926) were women. 50% (n=2512) were Malays, 41.4% (n=2079) were Chinese and 8.6% (n=434) were Indians. Results 21.1% (n=1069) had knee pain during the previous 6 months. More Indians (31.8%) experienced knee pain compared with Malays (24.3%) and Chinese (15%) (p<0.001). The odds of Indian women reporting knee pain was twofold higher compared with Malay women. There was a rising trend in the prevalence of knee pain with increasing age (p<0.001). The association between age and knee pain appeared to be stronger in women than men. 68.1% of Indians used analgesia for knee pain while 75.4% of Malays and 52.1% of Chinese did so (p<0.001). The most common analgesic used for knee pain across all groups was topical medicated oil (43.7%). Conclusions The prevalence of knee pain in adults was more common in Indian women and older women age groups and Chinese men had the lowest prevalence of knee pain. Further studies should investigate the reasons for these differences. PMID:27909033

Age-related gender differences in reporting ictal fear: analysis of case histories and review of the literature.

PubMed

Chiesa, Valentina; Gardella, Elena; Tassi, Laura; Canger, Raffaele; Lo Russo, Giorgio; Piazzini, Ada; Turner, Katherine; Canevini, Maria Paola

2007-12-01

To determine if there are age or gender-related differences in reporting fear as a symptom of epileptic seizure, all clinical charts of patients evaluated at the "C. Munari - Epilepsy Surgery Center" of Milan from 1990 to June 2005 were analyzed, looking for patients with ictal fear. Among the 2,530 clinical charts examined (1,330 male and 1,200 female), 265 patients were found with ictal fear (100 men, 165 women). The gender difference in reporting ictal fear was not so marked in the pediatric age group (98 girls, 74 boys), whereas in adult patients the difference was significant (158 women, 83 men). Interestingly, more men than women (14:3) had ictal fear during childhood that disappeared during adulthood. The literature review confirmed that ictal fear is significantly more common in women, though there is no gender difference in the pediatric age group.

ABO blood groups and risk for obesity in Arar, Northern Saudi Arabia.

PubMed

Aboel-Fetoh, Nagah M; Alanazi, Arwa R; Alanazi, Abdullah S; Alruwili, Asma N

2016-12-01

ABO blood groups are associated with some important chronic diseases. Previous studies have observed an association between ABO blood group and risk for obesity. This study aimed to determine whether there is an association between ABO blood groups and obesity in apparently healthy attendees of primary healthcare (PHC) centers in Arar city, Northern Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study included 401 participants aged 15 years and older attending three randomly selected PHC centers in Arar city. Data were collected by means of personal interview using a predesigned questionnaire. Anthropometric examination included height and weight measurements with calculation of BMI. ABO and Rh blood groups were determined. The majority of the participants were female (70.8%). The mean±SD age was 28.6±9.1 years. Only 5.7% were underweight. Both normal and overweight participants were equal in number and constituted 28.4%, whereas obese individuals constituted 37.4% with a mean BMI of 28.56±8.0. Blood group O was the most common (44.1%), followed by A (30.9%), B (18.7%), and AB (6.2%). Rh-positive cases constituted 87.0%. Blood group O was the most common type among the obese individuals (44.7%), followed by A, B, and AB groups (30, 20, and 5.3%, respectively). BMI was highest (28.8±9.2) in blood group O. There were no statistically significant differences between different ABO blood groups as regards BMI, Rh, and sex. Moreover, there was no statistically significant difference between Rh type and BMI. The prevalence of obesity and overweight is high in the population attending PHC centers of Arar city, Northern Saudi Arabia. There is no association between overweight, obesity, and ABO blood groups or Rh.

Children with autism spectrum disorders and selective mutism.

PubMed

Steffenburg, Hanna; Steffenburg, Suzanne; Gillberg, Christopher; Billstedt, Eva

2018-01-01

It has been suggested that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) might be a "comorbid" condition in selective mutism (SM). In this retrospective study, we examined medical records of children with SM diagnosis (n=97) at a medical center specializing in assessment of ASD. Mean age for onset of SM symptoms was 4.5 years and mean age at SM diagnosis was 8.8 years. SM was more common among girls (boy:girl ratio=2.7:1). We found that 63% of the study group had an ASD (no gender difference). The SM group with combined ASD had later onset of symptoms, higher age at diagnosis, more often a history of speech delay, and a higher proportion of borderline IQ or intellectual disability. The results highlight the risk of overlap between ASD and SM.

Human group formation in online guilds and offline gangs driven by a common team dynamic.

PubMed

Johnson, Neil F; Xu, Chen; Zhao, Zhenyuan; Ducheneaut, Nicolas; Yee, Nicholas; Tita, George; Hui, Pak Ming

2009-06-01

Quantifying human group dynamics represents a unique challenge. Unlike animals and other biological systems, humans form groups in both real (offline) and virtual (online) spaces-from potentially dangerous street gangs populated mostly by disaffected male youths to the massive global guilds in online role-playing games for which membership currently exceeds tens of millions of people from all possible backgrounds, age groups, and genders. We have compiled and analyzed data for these two seemingly unrelated offline and online human activities and have uncovered an unexpected quantitative link between them. Although their overall dynamics differ visibly, we find that a common team-based model can accurately reproduce the quantitative features of each simply by adjusting the average tolerance level and attribute range for each population. By contrast, we find no evidence to support a version of the model based on like-seeking-like (i.e., kinship or "homophily").

Human group formation in online guilds and offline gangs driven by a common team dynamic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, Neil F.; Xu, Chen; Zhao, Zhenyuan; Ducheneaut, Nicolas; Yee, Nicholas; Tita, George; Hui, Pak Ming

2009-06-01

Quantifying human group dynamics represents a unique challenge. Unlike animals and other biological systems, humans form groups in both real (offline) and virtual (online) spaces—from potentially dangerous street gangs populated mostly by disaffected male youths to the massive global guilds in online role-playing games for which membership currently exceeds tens of millions of people from all possible backgrounds, age groups, and genders. We have compiled and analyzed data for these two seemingly unrelated offline and online human activities and have uncovered an unexpected quantitative link between them. Although their overall dynamics differ visibly, we find that a common team-based model can accurately reproduce the quantitative features of each simply by adjusting the average tolerance level and attribute range for each population. By contrast, we find no evidence to support a version of the model based on like-seeking-like (i.e., kinship or “homophily”).

The impact of moderate distance recreational running and ageing on cardiac physiology.

PubMed

Kim, Jonathan H; Ko, Yi-An; Hedley, Jeff; MacNamara, James; Awad, Mosaab; Taylor, William; Healy, Sean; Aida, Hiroshi; Le, Ngoc-Anh; Wilson, Peter W; White, Melissa; Sperling, Laurence S; Wilson, Joseph S; Baggish, Aaron L

2017-02-01

Exercise-induced cardiac dysfunction and corollary biomarker release have been documented following long-distance running events. To what degree these processes occur during shorter distance running events is unknown. 72 healthy recreational runners (54% male/46% female) recruited by age (group 1 (18-20 years old, N=19); group 2 (45-50 years old, N=27); group 3 (70-75 years old, N=26)) were studied with echocardiography and biochemical profiling during participation in a 10 km running race. Despite age-dependent baseline differences in ventricular size and diastolic tissue velocities, there were no significant within group or across group decrements in ventricular systolic or diastolic function following race completion. Postrace increases in cardiac troponin-I (cTnI), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were common and demonstrated distinct age dependent profiles. Specifically, BNP increases were most pronounced among older runners (group 3Δ: 16±22 pg/mL, p=0.001), hs-CRP increased only among younger runners (group 1Δ: 1.5±2.7 mg/L, p=0.03) and cTnI increased in both younger (group 1Δ: 0.01±0.02 ng/mL, p=0.028) and older (group 3Δ: 0.01±0.01 ng/mL, p=0.007) runners, but not middle aged runners (group 2Δ: 0.00±0.00 ng/mL, p=0.57). Moderate distance recreational running leads to distinct age-dependent biomarker release but is not associated with cardiac fatigue, a proposed stimulus for pathologic cardiac remodelling that has been observed following longer distance running events. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Is the effect of non-invasive ventilation on survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis age-dependent?

PubMed

Siirala, Waltteri; Aantaa, Riku; Olkkola, Klaus T; Saaresranta, Tarja; Vuori, Arno

2013-01-01

Hypoventilation due to respiratory muscle atrophy is the most common cause of death as a result of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Patients aged over 65 years and presenting bulbar symptoms are likely to have a poorer prognosis. The aim of the study was to assess the possible impact of age and treatment with non-invasive ventilation (NIV) on survival in ALS. Based on evidence from earlier studies, it was hypothesized that NIV increases rates of survival regardless of age. Eighty-four patients diagnosed with ALS were followed up on from January 2001 to June 2012. These patients were retrospectively divided into two groups according to their age at the time of diagnosis: Group 1 comprised patients aged ≤ 65 years while Group 2 comprised those aged > 65 years. Each group included 42 patients. NIV was tolerated by 23 patients in Group 1 and 18 patients in Group 2. Survival was measured in months from the date of diagnosis. The median age in Group 1 was 59 years (range 49 - 65) and 76 years in Group 2 (range 66 - 85). Among patients in Group 1 there was no difference in probability of survival between the NIV users and non-users (Hazard Ratio = 0.88, 95% CI 0.44 - 1.77, p = 0.7). NIV users in Group 2 survived longer than those following conventional treatment (Hazard Ratio = 0.25, CI 95% 0.11 - 0.55, p <0.001). ALS patients in Group 2 who did not use NIV had a 4-fold higher risk for death compared with NIV users. This retrospective study found that NIV use was associated with improved survival outcomes in ALS patients older than 65 years. Further studies in larger patient populations are warranted to determine which factors modify survival outcomes in ALS.

Criminal characteristics of a group of primary criminals diagnosed with aspd: approach to criminal recidivis.

PubMed

Larrotta-Castillo, R; Garivia, A M; Mora-Jaimes, C; Gómez-Abril, D A

2017-12-01

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is commonly associated with the risk of criminal recidivism. Knowing more about the factors associated with this pattern of behaviour can help with the design of effective prevention strategies. The purpose of this article is to establish if there are differences in socio-criminogenic variables of a group of criminals sentenced for the first time and with APSD compared to another group of first-time offenders who do not present this disorder. Analytical observation study of 70 men classified into 2 groups according to the presence of ASPD TPA (n=47; age: 29.98±7.8 years) or absence of ASPD (n=23; age: 32.35±8.7 years). The inmates with ASPD showed higher frequencies of current consumption of psychoactive substances (31.9%), criminal associations and simultaneous use of psychoactive substances (70.2%), having committed the crime under the effects of a psychoactive substance (55.3%), not having the possibility of distancing themselves from criminal associations (83%) and a lack of legal resources for proceedings for defence and release (76.6%). This sample contains a group of variables called dynamic that are more commonly present amongst first time offenders with ASPD; said variables have been associated as major predictors of recidivism. Given that they are regarded as dynamic, they may well be modifiable.

Low-income children's reported motivators of and barriers to healthy eating behaviors: a focus group study.

PubMed

Kaye, Lillian B; Tucker, Carolyn M; Bragg, Marie A; Estampador, Angela C

2011-01-01

Despite national attention to the childhood obesity epidemic, there are few US-based studies that directly ask children--especially children from low-income families and from multiple racial/ethnic groups--why they do or do not engage in healthy eating behaviors. The purpose of this study was to identify motivators of and barriers to healthy eating behaviors, as reported by black, Hispanic, and white children from low-income families. Six gender- and race/ethnicity-concordant focus groups were conducted with 37 children who were aged 9 to 12 years and from families with an annual household income of $40000 or less. Multiple strategies were used to employ a culturally sensitive approach to both data collection and data analysis (eg, a team of culturally diverse researchers utilized inductive qualitative analysis to analyze focus group transcripts). The motivators of and barriers to healthy eating behaviors most commonly reported across the 6 focus groups included social influence, taste, issues of availability, weight concerns, and the desire to be healthy. A variety of less commonly reported motivators and barriers were also discussed. Findings were generally similar across gender and race/ethnicity. Children in this age range can indeed identify a variety of motivators and barriers that influence their engagement in healthy eating behaviors. Interventions targeting obesity and eating behaviors should include an assessment of children's own perceived motivators of and barriers to healthy eating.

Match injuries in English youth academy and schools rugby union: an epidemiological study.

PubMed

Palmer-Green, Deborah S; Stokes, Keith A; Fuller, Colin W; England, Michael; Kemp, Simon P T; Trewartha, Grant

2013-04-01

Numerous injury epidemiology studies have reported injury patterns in senior rugby union, but investigations in youth rugby are limited. To describe the nature of injuries resulting from match play within the English youth rugby union, including a comparison between 2 levels of play within the same age group: professional academy versus school rugby. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. A 2-season (2006-2007 and 2007-2008) study obtained information on injuries sustained in male youth rugby union players (age, 16-18 years) from 12 English Premiership academies (n = 250) and 7 schools (n = 222). Match exposure (player-hours) and injury details were recorded. Match injury incidence was 47 per 1000 player-hours for the academy and 35 per 1000 player-hours for the school groups; these rates were statistically different (P = .026). The most common injury site was the lower limb and the most common injury type was a ligament sprain, with injuries to the knee and shoulder region resulting in the greatest burden of injury for both groups. The tackle event was the most common cause of match injury for both academy (51% of injuries) and school (57% of injuries) groups. Overall, the incidence of injury for youth rugby was lower than for previous studies in senior rugby, but injury patterns (location, type) and causes were similar. The study confirmed that match injury incidence was significantly greater in elite academy youth rugby union than schools rugby. The results suggest that the specific focus for injury risk management in youth rugby should be on players' tackle technique and prevention strategies for knee and shoulder injuries.

Ascaris lumbricoides causing infarction of the mesenteric lymph nodes and intestinal gangrene in a child: a case report

PubMed Central

Bhutia, Kincho Lhasong; Dey, Subhajeet; Singh, Varun; Gupta, Amlan

2011-01-01

Ascaris lumbricoides or round worm infestation is quite common in the developing world. It affects all age groups but is more common in children. Most of the cases remain asymptomatic. The usual presentation is an intestinal obstruction. The physicians should be aware of this condition and consider it in the differential diagnosis when faced with such a case. The rare fatal complications include bleeding, perforation and gangrene. PMID:21698086

The Effects of Attentional Engagement on Route Learning Performance in a Virtual Environment: An Aging Study

PubMed Central

Hartmeyer, Steffen; Grzeschik, Ramona; Wolbers, Thomas; Wiener, Jan M.

2017-01-01

Route learning is a common navigation task affected by cognitive aging. Here we present a novel experimental paradigm to investigate whether age-related declines in executive control of attention contributes to route learning deficits. A young and an older participant group was repeatedly presented with a route through a virtual maze comprised of 12 decision points (DP) and non-decision points (non-DP). To investigate attentional engagement with the route learning task, participants had to respond to auditory probes at both DP and non-DP. Route knowledge was assessed by showing participants screenshots or landmarks from DPs and non-DPs and asking them to indicate the movement direction required to continue the route. Results demonstrate better performance for DPs than for non-DPs and slower responses to auditory probes at DPs compared to non-DPs. As expected we found slower route learning and slower responses to the auditory probes in the older participant group. Interestingly, differences in response times to the auditory probes between DPs and non-DPs can predict the success of route learning in both age groups and may explain slower knowledge acquisition in the older participant group. PMID:28775689

A Pilot Study of Tissue Factor-Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor Axis and Other Selected Coagulation Parameters in Broiler Chickens Administered in Ovo with Selected Prebiotics*.

PubMed

Buzala, Mateusz; Ponczek, Michal Blazej; Slomka, Artur; Roslewska, Aleksandra; Janicki, Bogdan; Zekanowska, Ewa; Bednarczyk, Marek

The tissue factor (TF) - tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) axis plays a major role in hemostasis. Disorders of the coagulation system are commonly diagnosed with the help of screening tests such as prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and plasma fibrinogen concentration (PFC). However, the effect of prebiotics on the hemostasis system has not been characterized in poultry yet. This study was designed to determine the effect of in ovo administration ofprebiotics on blood coagulation parameters of broiler chickens depending on their age. The study was conducted with 180 broiler chick embryos, the air cells of which were injected on day 12 of incubation with prebiotics (experimental groups: Bi2tos, DiNovoo and RFO) or physiological saline solution (control group). At 1, 21 and 42 days of rearing, blood was sampled from 15 broiler chickens from each group. An enzyme immunoassay was performed to determine plasma TF and TFPI levels, and PT, aPTT and PFC were determined in the chicken blood. We demonstrated that: 1) total TF levels increased with age in the experimental groups, 2) prebiotics had no significant effect on TF levels between the groups at a particular age, 3) total TFPI levels differed between both the type of in ovo injected substance and the broiler chicken age, 4) in the control group, PT and aPTT were found to increase with age whilst fibrinogen concentration decreased. The main conclusion from this pilot study is that total TF and TFPI levels change with age, however no clear patterns regarding TFPI were detected yet. The levels of PT, aPTT and PFC varied with the prebiotics administered in ovo as well as with the age of broiler chickens.

Aggressive operative treatment of isolated blunt traumatic brain injury in the elderly is associated with favourable outcome.

PubMed

Wutzler, Sebastian; Lefering, Rolf; Wafaisade, Arasch; Maegele, Marc; Lustenberger, Thomas; Walcher, Felix; Marzi, Ingo; Laurer, Helmut

2015-09-01

Outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the elderly has not been fully elucidated. The present retrospective observational study investigates the age-dependent outcome of patients suffering from severe isolated TBI with regard to operative and non-operative treatment. Data were prospectively collected in the TraumaRegister DGU. Anonymous datasets of 8629 patients with isolated severe blunt TBI (AISHead≥3, AISBody≤1) documented from 2002 to 2011 were analysed. Patients were grouped according to age: 1-17, 18-59, 60-69, 70-79 and ≥80 years. Cranial fractures (44.8%) and subdural haematomas (42.6%) were the most common TBIs. Independent from the type of TBI the group of patients with operative treatment declined with rising age. Subgroup analysis of patients with critical TBI (AISHead=5) revealed standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) of 0.81 (95% CI 0.75-0.87) in case of operative treatment (n=1201) and 1.13 (95% CI 1.09-1.18) in case of non-operative treatment (n=1096). All age groups ≥60 years showed significantly reduced SMRs in case of operative treatment. Across all age groups the group of patients with low/moderate disability according to the GOS (4 or 5 points) was higher in case of operative treatment. Results of this retrospective observational study have to be interpreted cautiously. However, good outcome after TBI with severe space-occupying haemorrhage is more frequent in patients with operative treatment across all age groups. Age alone should not be the reason for limited care or denial of operative intervention. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Serum antinuclear antibody in adult Thais.

PubMed

Prapinjumrune, Chanwit; Prucktrakul, Chalakorn; Sooktonglarng, Trakarn; Thongprasom, Kobkan

2017-03-01

This study investigated the presence of antinuclear antibody (ANA) in older Thais compared with middle-age and younger participants. Antinuclear antibody represents the first step in the diagnostic testing for lupus erythematosus (LE) and other autoimmune diseases. Due to the lack of reference ANA levels in older, middle-age and younger Thais healthy participants, this study will be useful for determining the proper diagnostic and treatment criteria. There were 28 older (60-76 years), 17 middle-age (41-59 years) and 13 younger (24-40 years) participants in this study. Immunofluorescence was performed to analyse the ANA staining pattern and titre levels in the participants' blood samples. The presence of serum ANA was found in 18 of 28 cases (64.3%), four of 17 (23.5%) and one of 13 cases (7.7%) of the older, middle-age and younger participants, respectively. The difference in the number of serum ANA-positive participants between the older, middle-age and younger groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Interestingly, the ANA positive in older participants presented more than one staining pattern. The speckled pattern was the most commonly detected ANA staining pattern in the older group, being found in 12 cases followed by cytoplasmic pattern (10 cases), homogeneous pattern (nine cases) and nucleolar pattern (five cases). In the middle-age group, the speckled pattern was found in four cases, whereas one younger participant presented a nucleolar pattern. Serum ANA positive was significantly higher in the older group compared with the middle-age and younger groups. There were variations of the serum ANA staining patterns in the older group. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S and The Gerodontology Association. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The prevalence of neurocranium injury in children in Brod-Posavina County.

PubMed

Mihić, Josip; Rotim, Kresimir; Marcikić, Marcel; Smiljanić, Danko; Dikanović, Marinko; Jurjević, Matija; Matić, Ivo

2012-12-01

Head injuries are very common in children and are the most frequent cause of disability and death among children. This retrospective study included 350 children hospitalized for injury of neurocranium over a 5-year period at Dr Josip Bencević General Hospital in Slavonski Brod. Boys were more commonly injured (63.4%) than girls. The most common injuries were recorded in children aged 7-14 (47.1%), followed by those aged 1-6 (33.8%) years. The injuries occurred slightly more often in urban (50.9%) than in rural (46.6%) setting. Children were more commonly injured in the street or on the road (38.6%), followed by injuries sustained at home (35.2%), at school (9.3%) and on playgrounds (5.7%). They were most commonly injured by fall (50%), followed by traffic injuries (33.5%). Statistically significant differences were found in the following age groups: all children younger than one year were injured by fall; children aged 1-14 were mostly injured by fall (less in traffic, and due to hitting), and those aged 15-18 mostly in traffic (less by fall and due to hitting). Children were mostly injured in the street or on the road (in traffic accidents), followed by injuries at home (mostly by fall), at school and around the house or in the yard (mostly by fall); on the playground (due to hitting) and on the road (in traffic accidents) (statistically significant difference). Most of them had head contusion and cerebral commotion combined (46.8%), followed by head contusion alone (12.5%) and skull fractures (10.5%). Hemorrhages and hematomas were rare (epidural, subdural, subarachnoid hemorrhage), found in 3.2% of cases. We hope that our results will prove helpful in planning preventive measures and treatment of injured children.

Rollerblading injuries in young people.

PubMed

Heller, D R; Routley, V; Chambers, S

1996-02-01

To study injuries in young people associated with the use of rollerblades, draw comparisons with skateboarding and rollerskating injuries, and suggest strategies for injury prevention. Injuries associated with the use of rollerblades, skateboards and rollerskates in young people aged < or = 14 years recorded on the Victorian Injury Surveillance System database since its inception in 1989 were examined to identify secular trends. All injuries associated with these pastimes recorded on the database by three sentinel hospitals during a 1 year period were examined in detail. Medical notes were perused to verify features of the event and obtain further information. A semi-structured telephone interview of a sample of 10-14 year old rollerbladers, the most commonly injured age-group, was carried out to obtain more specific information. There has been a marked increase in the absolute numbers of injuries associated with the use of rollerblades since 1989. In 1992, they were most common in the 10-14 year age group, which sustained 59% of all injuries; 47% of injuries were fractures of the forearm and wrist. Of a sample of 33 of those injured in the 10-14 year age group, 10 (30%) had been using rollerblades for the first time. There is some evidence to suggest a concomitant fall in skateboarding injuries. Injury surveillance data collected in Melbourne suggest an increasingly important contribution by rollerblading to the pattern of injury seen in young people. Preventive strategies require further evaluation but could include learning basic techniques in a controlled setting, separation from road traffic and the wearing of helmets and wrist, elbow and knee guards.

Psychiatric disorders as main discharge diagnosis by the Portuguese oldest old from 2000 to 2014: exploring national acute inpatient admissions.

PubMed

Brandão, Daniela; Freitas, Alberto; Paúl, Constança; Ribeiro, Oscar

2018-05-01

ABSTRACTBackground:Mental health problems have been reported as one of the principal causes of incapacity and morbidity. According to the World Health Organization approximately 15% of adults aged 60+ and over suffer from a mental disorder. In the oldest old population, a higher deterioration in the mental state is expected, which is ought to increase the risk of incidence of mental problems and use of healthcare services. The aim of this study is to examine inpatient episodes with a mental disorder coded as primary discharge diagnosis between 2000 and 2014 by patients aged 80+ in Portugal mainland. Exploratory descriptive analyses of data regarding the number of episodes and coded diagnosis on admission were performed. From a total of 1,837,613 inpatient episodes, 16,430 (0.9%) correspond to episodes having a psychiatric disorder as a primary discharge diagnosis. Delirium, dementia and amnestic and other cognitive disorders (60.1%), alcohol-related disorders (17.7%) and mood disorders (8.6%) were the most common diagnosis. An analysis by age group revealed that among octogenarians and nonagenarians delirium, dementia, and amnestic and other cognitive disorders were the most common diagnosis; in the centenarian group; however, these were outweighed by alcohol-related disorders. Findings from this study document the importance of neurocognitive disorders as a primary reason for hospitalization in the oldest old, but also highlights the need of paying attention to other mental disorders among this age group. Further studies should examine the prevalence of medical comorbidities in patients with mental disorders.

[Immunity against hepatitis A virus in patients with chronic hepatitis C].

PubMed

Díez-Redondo, María Pilar; Almaraz, Ana; Jiménez Rodríguez-Vila, Manuel; Santamaría, Ana; de Castro, Julián; Torrego, Juan Carlos; Caro-Patón, Agustín

2008-10-25

Because of high fatality rate associated with acute infection by hepatitis A virus (HAV) in chronic hepatitis C patients, it is of interest to know the prevalence of immunization against HAV in these patients. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) IgG HAV antibodies (IgG anti-HAV) were determined in 313 hepatitis C virus antibodies (anti-HCV) positive patients and in 313 anti-HCV negative subjects (control group). Several epidemiological factors were recorded (age, sex, rural vs urban precedence, tattoos, parenteral drugs use, alcohol consumption and surgery). The prevalence of IgG anti-HAV was identical in both groups: 81.2%. However, in those younger than 41 years, this prevalence was greater in those anti-HCV positive than in the control group. Parenteral drugs use and tattoos were more frequent in the first group. The presence of IgG anti-HAV was associated with age and the rural origin in both groups. The prevalence of IgG anti-HAV increases with age, and is more frequent in individuals with rural origin. It was also greater in young anti-HCV positive patients, when compared with controls of the same age. This finding can be due to the poor standards of hygiene probably associated with some practices more common in this population, such as parenteral drugs use, tattoos and others.

Tinea capitis in Botswana.

PubMed

Thakur, Rameshwari

2013-01-01

Tinea capitis (TC) is a common dermatophyte infection of the scalp that can also involve the eyebrows and eyelashes. This study aimed to find the causative fungus responsible for TC in Botswana and determine its association with the clinical types of TC. Samples for potassium hydroxide 10% mounts and fungal cultures were collected in a microbiology laboratory at the National Health Laboratory, Gaborone, Botswana. Dermasel agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar were inoculated with the samples. Lactophenol cotton blue mounts were prepared from the culture-positive samples to study the morphological characteristics. Trichophyton violaceum was found to be the predominant causative organism of TC. Trichophyton tonsurans was isolated from one patient. Both are anthropophilic species. TC was found to be most common in those aged 1-15 years (81%). Of 17 patients in this age group, 16 were younger than 10 years old and one was 14 years old. T. violaceum was the most common dermatophyte species isolated.

[Analysis of 24-hour blood pressure profile, heart rate variability and carotid atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients among native and nonnative population living in Yamalo-Nenets autonomous district].

PubMed

Gapon, L I; Sereda, T V; Leont'eva, A V

2014-01-01

To study special characteristics of the course of arterial hypertension (AH) among native and nonnative population of Yamalo-Nenets autonomous district. We examined 100 residents of Far North with AH (men and women aged 21-55, mean age 44.08 ± 1.15 years). All patients were divided into 2 equal groups by 50 subjects: group I consisted of representatives of native and group II--nonnative population. Examination was carried out in outpatient clinic in Salekhard and included 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), registration of heart rate variability, duplex scanning of brachiocephalic arteries, and assessment of blood lipid profile. The groups were matched by age, gender and disease duration. Analysis of heart rate variability detected significant degree of strain of regulatory systems in most patients of both groups. According to results of ABPM "non-dipper" patients prevailed in group I compared to group II (p = 0.01). Common carotid artery intima-media complex was significantly greater compared to normal value in all patients; it was thicker in group I (p < 0.03), but number of carotid artery stenoses was similar in both groups. No dyslipoproteinemia was detected. Compared with group of representatives of nonnative (adopted) population group of native subjects with AH was characterized by greater carotid intima media thickness and prevalence of "non-dipper" patients.

Clinicoepidemiological Study of Different Types of Warts

PubMed Central

Gupta, Sanjeev; Sharma, Yugal K.

2016-01-01

Background. Warts are cutaneous and, sometimes, mucosal lesions caused by one of the several human papilloma viruses. Aim. Assessment of the clinicoepidemiological aspects of warts. Materials and Methods. One hundred consecutive patients of warts presenting to the department of our institution were assigned two broad locational groups: genital and nongenital warts, the latter subdivided into common, plane, palmoplantar, mosaic, and digitate/filiform. Results. Ninety had nongenital and 10 had genital warts in our study; common (42%), palmoplantar (20%), and plane (18%) were the common types of the nongenital warts. All the genital warts were acuminate. In the second decade, the commonest age group, encompassed all patients of mosaic, 40% of palmoplantar, and 20% of genital warts. Overall male (66%) preponderance xisted. All cases of filiform warts were males. Mosaic warts affected females more commonly. Students (32%), laborers (28%), and housewives (16%) were the usual occupations. Cosmetic concern (92%), pain (16%), and itching (15%) were the common complaints. All patients of genital warts sought treatment within 6 months. Conclusions. Common, palmoplantar, and plane warts were the common types of nongenital warts. Overall prevalence peaked during the second decade but one-third of the cases of plane warts occurred during the first. Extremities were the most common sites (66.7%); face was the next commonly (23%) involved. PMID:27047542

Clinical predictors and gender-wise variations in dyssynergic defecation disorders.

PubMed

Jain, Mayank; Baijal, Rajiv; Srinivas, Melpakkam; Venkataraman, Jayanthi

2018-06-12

There is insufficient data from India regarding clinical predictors of dyssynergic defecation. To identify demography, symptom, and colonoscopic parameters that can predict dyssynergic defecation (DD) among patients with chronic constipation (CC) and to compare the profile among male and female patients with DD. Data collected from three centers during June 2014 to May 2017 included age, gender, symptom duration, form and consistency of stools, digital examination, colonoscopy, and anorectal manometry (ARM). Patients were grouped based on ARM diagnosis: group I (normal study) and group II (DD). The two groups were compared for demography, symptom profile, and colonoscopy findings. Gender-wise subset analysis was done for those with the normal and abnormal ARM using chi-square and unpaired t tests. Of 236 patients with CC evaluated, 130 (55%) had normal ARM and 106 (45%) had DD. Male sex, straining during defecation, bleeding per rectum, and abnormal colonoscopic diagnosis were significantly more common in group II. While bleeding per rectum and absence of urge to defecate were more common in males (p < 0.02), straining, digital evacuation, and hard stools were commoner in females with DD. Straining during defecation, bleeding per rectum, and abnormal colonoscopy findings were more common in patients with DD. Symptoms of bleeding per rectum and absence of urge to defecate in men and straining during defecation in female patients were significantly associated with DD. Symptoms differ in males and females with DD.

Traumatic fractures resulting from collisions in children and adolescents: A retrospective observational study.

PubMed

Wang, Hongwei; Liu, Huan; Zhang, Song; Li, Changqing; Zhou, Yue; Liu, Jun; Ou, Lan; Xiang, Liangbi

2018-05-01

To investigate the incidence and pattern of child and adolescent (≤18 years old) traumatic fractures (TFs) as a result of collisions.We retrospectively reviewed 270 child and adolescent patients (228 males and 42 females aged 12.8 ± 5.1 years old) with TFs as a result of collisions admitted to our university-affiliated hospitals from 2001 to 2010. The incidence and patterns were summarized with respect to different age groups, sex, etiology, and whether the patient presented with nerve injury.The most common etiologies were struck by object (105, 38.9%) and wounded by person (74, 27.4%). The most common fracture sites were upper limb fractures (126, 46.7%) and craniofacial fractures (82, 30.4%). A total of 65 (24.1%) patients suffered a nerve injury. The frequency of early and late complications/associated injuries was 35.6% (n = 96) and 8.5% (n = 23), respectively. The mean age (P = .001) and frequency of wounded by person (P = .038) was significantly larger in male than in female patients. The frequency of earthquake injury (P < .001) and lower limb fractures (P = .002) was significantly larger in females than in male patients. The frequency of upper limb fracture was significantly higher in the wounded by machine group (83.3%) than in the other groups (all P < .05). The frequency of lower limb fractures was significantly higher in the earthquake injury group (64.7%) than in the other groups (all P < .05). The frequency of craniofacial fracture was significantly higher in the wounded by person group (54.1%) than in the other groups (all P < .05). The emergency admission rate (P = .047), frequency of wounded by person (P < .001), craniofacial fracture (P < .001), and early complications/associated injuries (P < .001) were significantly larger in patients with nerve injury than in other patients.Struck by object and upper limb fractures were the most common etiology and site, respectively. Wounded by person and craniofacial fractures were risk factors for nerve injury. Therefore, we should pay more attention to patients wounded by person, presenting with craniofacial fracture, to find whether there is nerve injury.

Metastatic Colorectal Cancer in Young Adults: A Study From the South Australian Population-Based Registry.

PubMed

Vatandoust, Sina; Price, Timothy J; Ullah, Shahid; Roy, Amitesh C; Beeke, Carole; Young, Joanne P; Townsend, Amanda; Padbury, Robert; Roder, David; Karapetis, Christos S

2016-03-01

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy. There is growing evidence that CRC incidence is increasing in the younger population. There is controversy surrounding the prognosis of young patients with CRC. In this study we reviewed Australian patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC) who were younger than 40 years of age at the time of diagnosis of metastatic disease. To our knowledge this is the first study to focus on this age group with mCRC. This was a retrospective study using data from the South Australian Metastatic Colorectal Cancer database. We compared patient and disease characteristics, management approaches, and outcomes for age groups < 40 and ≥ 40. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was fitted to compare the survival outcomes (death from all causes) between the 2 groups. From 3318 patients, 46 (1.4%) were younger than 40 years of age. In a comparison of patients in the younger than 40-year-old group with the older group, a greater proportion had synchronous metastatic disease (80.4% vs. 64.4%, respectively; P = .04) and disease originating from the left colon (71.7% vs. 61.7%, respectively; P = .035); also a larger proportion in the younger than 40-year-old group received chemotherapy compared with the older group (82.6% vs. 58.7%, respectively; P < .01). In the adjusted multivariate model, survival was not significantly different between the 2 groups (hazard ratio, 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.56-1.16; log rank P = .25). Young-onset mCRC patients, when defined as aged younger than 40 years, have equivalent survival compared with their older counterparts. This is despite differences in disease characteristics and management approach between the 2 groups. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Age-related changes in the diagnostic assessment of women with severe cervical lesions.

PubMed

Giannella, L; Fodero, C; Boselli, F; Mfuta, K; Rubino, T; Prandi, S

2015-01-01

To evaluate the effect of age on the diagnostic assessment of women with severe cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). This retrospective observational study included 338 consecutive women with a diagnosis of CIN3 on cone specimen. Patients were divided into three groups according to age: < 35 years (Group A), 35-49 years (Group B), and ≥ 50 years (Group C). Clinical and colposcopic variables were compared, and human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype distribution was measured. The most common HPV genotype was HPV-16 (63.65%), followed by HPV-33 (7%), HPV-18 (6.2%), and HPV-31 (5.4%). The rate of the following high-grade lesion predictors was lower in Group C than in Groups A and B: HPV-16 infections (55.9% vs. 75% vs. 70.9%, respectively, p = 0.022); high-grade colposcopic impression (29.4% vs. 51.8% vs. 51.7%, respectively, p < 0.0001); and high-grade cytological changes (30.9% vs. 56.2% vs. 45.4%, respectively, p = 0.025). An endocervical lesion location was more frequent in Group C than in Groups A and B (55.6% vs. 6.8% vs. 11.8%, respectively, p < 0.0001). Women aged 50 years and older with CIN3 showed a significant reduction of high-grade lesion predictors along with physiological confounding cervical changes (transformation zone type 3 and endocervical lesion location). The diagnostic work-up of cervical lesions in older women should provide their potential consideration as a special population.

[Acute injuries of lateral ankle joint ligaments].

PubMed

Lacko, M; Sidor, Z; Stolfa, S; Cellár, R; Vasko, G

2010-08-01

Acute injuries of the lateral ankle ligaments are one of the most common form of injury involving the musculoskeletal apparatus. Treatment usually range from cast immobilisation or acute surgical repair to functional rehabilitation. The aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence of different grades of acute injuries of lateral ligaments of the ankle joint in our patients group and to compare the results of non surgical versus surgical treatment of third grade injuries. 3148 patients were treated for acute lateral ankle sprain in a period of 5 years at our department. Each patient had stress X-ray of the ankle for evaluation of instability at the first visit. From the 234 patients with third grade injury, 39 were enrolled in our study with non surgical treatment and 18 with surgical treatment. Each group was divided regarding to the age in two subgroups. Functional outcome was evaluated 12 and 24 months after injury with AOFAS clinical rating scale and Sports Ankle Rating System--Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation. Statistical analysis was done with Pearson's Chi quadrate test with P < 0.05. First grade injury was present in 62%, second grade in 31% and only 7% of the patients had third grade injury of the lateral ankle ligaments. Further only third grade injuries were studied. Statistically significant better results were seen in patients under the age of 25, in the patient group with surgical treatment compared to patients over 25 years of age. Also statistically significant better results were seen in patient with surgical treatment to non surgical treatment in each age group. No significant difference was observed in the non surgical treatment group regarding to age. Although the injuries of the ankle ligaments belong to the most common injuries of the musculoskeletal system, there is no consensus in the treatment of such disorders. Our experiences and the results of our study show, that surgical treatment in indicated cases provides better results in residual pain and instability of the ankle joint after acute injury of the lateral ankle ligaments.;

Adenoid hypertrophy in children with allergic disease and influential factors.

PubMed

Evcimik, Muhammed Fatih; Dogru, Mahmut; Cirik, Ahmet Adnan; Nepesov, Merve Iseri

2015-05-01

Adenoid hypertrophy (AH) may cause several comorbid conditions including sleep apnea, chronic serous otitis and sinusitis. Such conditions are more common among children with allergic diseases. In our study, we aimed to determine the patient profile associated with higher incidence of adenoid hypertrophy and the related influential factors. The study included 1322 children being treated and followed up for allergic conditions. 100 children with no allergic diseases presenting during the same period to the clinic were included as the control group. Skin prick test for the same allergens was performed for all patients. Adenoid tissue was analyzed by an ENT specialist and the diagnosis was confirmed based on the patient history, endoscopic physical examination and radiology. Of the patients, 765 (57.9%) were males and 557 (42.1%) were females and their mean age was 5.9±3.3 years. In the control group, 56 (56%) children were males and 44 (44%) were females and their mean age was 6.3±4.1 years. Children with allergic disease and control subjects did not differ significantly by age and gender. Adenoid hypertrophy was identified in 164 (12.4%) of the patients with allergic disease and in 3 (3%) of the controls. Allergic children were divided into two groups, as children with and without AH, respectively. The groups did not differ statistically significantly by gender, age or familial history of atopic disease. However, cigarette smoke exposure at home and presence of allergic rhinitis was significantly more frequent in the group of patients with AH. In the logistic model investigating the effect of variables on AH presence (according to age, gender, cigarette smoke exposure, asthma, AR, AD presence, atopy presence, sensitivity to house dust, pollen, epithelium, Alternaria alternata and cockroach), AR presence and cigarette smoke exposure were statistically significant. AH frequency is higher in children with allergic disease compared to controls. The most common sensitivity to allergens among patients with AH was to house dust. Presence of allergic rhinitis and cigarette smoke exposure are risk factors for developing AH. Children with these risk factors should be questioned for AH during their routine examinations. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Epidemiology of miscarriage and its relation to other reproductive events in Finland.

PubMed

Hemminki, E; Forssas, E

1999-08-01

This study investigates the occurrence of miscarriages over the reproductive life span of women in a population-based study. A questionnaire was sent in 1994 to a random sample of 3000 Finnish women aged 18 to 44 years (73% response rate). Age-adjusted percentages of women having had miscarriages, and age- and other pregnancy event-adjusted odds ratios were calculated. Fifteen percent had at least 1 miscarriage. Miscarriages were more common in the moderately educated group and among women in health and social occupations, but there was no difference according to urbanism or health. By the age of 40 to 44 years, 90% of the women had been pregnant, and for only half had all pregnancies ended in a birth. The sequence of a miscarriage or miscarriages coming first and a birth or births coming later was more common than vice versa. In this population-based study miscarriages appeared incidental. Further studies on social class distribution might reveal new clues regarding etiology.

Impact of physical activity on ovarian reserve markers in normal, overweight and obese reproductive age women.

PubMed

Surekha, T; Himabindu, Y; Sriharibabu, M; Pandey, Anil Kumar

2014-01-01

Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for overweight and obesity in the society. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the reproductive age group women not only affects maternal health but also the health of the off spring. Infertility is a common problem in India affecting 13-19 million people at any given time. Even though it is not life threatening, infertility causes intense mental agony and trauma that can only be best described by infertile couples themselves. Infertility is more common in overweight and obese individuals compared to normal weight individuals. Decreasing ovarian reserve is an important factor for infertility in women. This study examined the impact of physical activity on ovarian reserve markers in normal, overweight and obese reproductive age women. The observations made in this study reveal that physical activity improves ovarian reserve markers in all reproductive age women but this improvement is more distinct and statistically significant in overweight and obese women compared to normal weight women.

Trends and demographic characteristics of Saudi cosmetic surgery patients.

PubMed

Alharethy, Sami E

2017-07-01

To  present the demographic characteristics of Saudi patients undergoing cosmetic procedures.  Methods: This prospective study survey was conducted in 3 private cosmetic surgery centers in different regions of Saudi Arabia (Riyadh and Jeddah) between January and August 2016. Validated questionnaire with modification was used and the following patient's information were provided: age group, height and weight, marital status, number of children, age of the patient's spouse, educational level, monthly income, name of the cosmetic procedure, names of any previous cosmetic procedures and their reason for cosmetic procedure. Results: The present study revealed that a typical Saudi cosmetic surgery patients are university graduates, married (46.8%), employed (68.3%), and middle aged 20-40 years of age (70%), with a fairly high typical monthly income.  Conclusion: There is a possible positive correlation between gender and undergoing cosmetic procedure. Laser hair removal, botox, liposuction, filler, and scar revision are common among females, while rhinoplasty is a common procedure among males.

A comparative clinical survey of the prevalence of refractive errors and eye diseases in urban and rural school children.

PubMed

Uzma, Nazia; Kumar, B Santhosh; Khaja Mohinuddin Salar, B M; Zafar, Mohammed Atheshm; Reddy, V Devender

2009-06-01

To assess the prevalence of refractive error and common ocular diseases in school-aged children in urban and rural populations in and around Hyderabad, India. Population-based, cross-sectional study. A total of 3314 school children, 1789 from urban areas and 1525 from rural areas. The examination included visual acuity measurements, retinoscopy and autorefraction under cycloplegia, examination of the anterior segment and external eye, and ocular motility evaluation. In the urban group the prevalence of uncorrected presenting and best-corrected visual impairment (< or = 20/40 in the better eye) was 9.8%, which dropped to 7.1% with presenting vision and was further reduced to 1.1% with best-corrected visual acuity. Uncorrected visual acuity in the rural group was 6.6%, which dropped to 3.3% with presenting vision and was further reduced to 2.5% with best-corrected visual acuity. The prevalence of refractive error was greater (25.2%) in the urban than the rural group (8%). Myopia measured with autorefraction was observed in 51.4% of urban children and 16.7% in rural children. Increased literacy rate, duration of study hours, and older age of the child were found to have contributed more to the prevalence of myopia in the urban group. Hyperopia with autorefraction was found to be 3.3% in the urban and 3.1% in the rural group. Hyperopia was associated with younger age in the study group. Trachoma was the leading cause of ocular morbidity in the rural group (3.5%) compared with the urban group (0.16%). Night blindness was reported in 3.2% of children in the rural group and 0.33% in the urban group. Vitamin A deficiency, low socio-economic status, and poor personal and environmental hygienic practice were found to have a positive correlation with ocular morbidity among rural group children. Provision of health education, periodic visual screening programs, and primary eye care by trained health care personnel in the elementary schools will prevent the prevalence of refractive errors and common ocular diseases in school children.

Histological pattern of paediatric renal diseases in northern Pakistan.

PubMed

Ali, Akhtar; Ali, Mohammad Usman; Akhtar, Sultan Zafar

2011-07-01

To determine histological spectrum of renal diseases among the paediatric population in the province Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, and to note any change in histological pattern with age and serum creatinine. This is a retrospective analysis of 415 paediatric renal biopsies performed at the department of nephrology, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from 1998-2005. Children from 3 to 15 years of age, having renal disease and indications for biopsy, underwent ultrasound guided percutaneous renal biopsy. Indications included nephrotic syndrome, nephritic/nephrotic syndrome with renal insufficiency and nephrotic syndrome with steroid resistance. Patients with acute or chronic renal failure were not included. The specimens were examined without immunoflorescence, under light microscopy using different staining techniques, Results were analyzed for different age groups, serum creatinine levels and for both male and females with renal disease. The overall male to female ratio in the study was 1.6: 1. Nephrotic syndrome was most common indication for renal biopsy in 50% of the cases, followed by renal insufficiency (26%) and steroid resistance (24%). In children with primary glomerulonephritis, minimal change disease (MCD) was found to be the most common histological pattern (24.09%), followed by focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), 18.30%; mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis (GN) (MsePGN), 17.83%; mesangiocapillary GN (MPGN), 11.08%; post streptococcal proliferative GN (Post. strep GN), 10.60%; membranous GN (MGN), 4.82%; crescentic GN (Cres.GN), 4.34%. Among children with secondary GN, chronic sclerosing GN was found to be most common (1.93%), followed by chronic tubulo interstitial nephritis (Chr.TIN), 1.69% and hypertensive nephropathy (H.Neph), 1.69%; Renal Amyloidosis, 0.96% and Lupus Nephritis III, 0.96%; acute tubular necrosis (ATN), 0.72%; Alport's Syndrome (0.48%). Overall, MCD was the most common histological pattern in all age groups and among children with serum creatinine < 1.2 mg/dll. However, that with serum creatinine between 1.3 to 3 mg/dl, MsePGN was found to be more common. Age turned out to be significant factor, in contrast to serum creatinine, in determining various histological patterns. This study highlighted the histological patterns of renal disease among pediatric population from northern part of Pakistan. MCD was on the top followed by FSGS, but frequency of MCD was less than cited in earlier studies.

Developmental Trajectories in Toddlers’ Self-restraint Predict Individual Differences in Executive Functions 14 Years Later: A Behavioral Genetic Analysis

PubMed Central

Friedman, Naomi P.; Miyake, Akira; Robinson, JoAnn L.; Hewitt, John K.

2011-01-01

We examined whether self-restraint in early childhood predicted individual differences in three executive functions (EFs; inhibiting prepotent responses, updating working memory, and shifting task sets) in late adolescence in a sample of ~950 twins. At ages 14, 20, 24, and 36 months, the children were shown an attractive toy and told not to touch it for 30 seconds. Latency to touch the toy increased with age, and latent class growth modeling distinguished two groups of children that differed in their latencies to touch the toy at all 4 time points. Using confirmatory factor analysis, the three EFs (measured with latent variables at age 17 years) were decomposed into a Common EF factor (isomorphic to response inhibition ability) and two factors specific to updating and shifting, respectively. Less restrained children had significantly lower scores on the Common EF factor, equivalent scores on the Updating-specific factor, and higher scores on the Shifting-specific factor than the more restrained children. The less restrained group also had lower IQ scores, but this effect was entirely mediated by the EF components. Twin models indicated that the associations were primarily genetic in origin for the Common EF variable but split between genetics and nonshared environment for the Shifting-specific variable. These results suggest a biological relation between individual differences in self-restraint and EFs, one that begins early in life and persists into late adolescence. PMID:21668099

Technology Addiction Survey: An Emerging Concern for Raising Awareness and Promotion of Healthy Use of Technology

PubMed Central

Sharma, Manoj Kumar; Rao, Girish N.; Benegal, Vivek; Thennarasu, K.; Thomas, Divya

2017-01-01

Background: Technology use has shown an impact of users’ lifestyle. The use has been attributed to psychosocial reasons. This usage manifests as excessive to addictive use of technology. There is a need to explore its addictive potential on large sample study as well as its association with psychosocial variables. It is one of its kind study on wider age group. The present work assessed the magnitude, burden, and sociodemographic correlates of technology addiction in an urban community. Materials and Methods: A total of 2755 individuals (1392 males and 1363 females) in the age group of 18–65 years were approached for screening internet addiction and mobile overuse, using house-to-house survey methodology. Results: The survey indicated the presence of addiction for 1.3% for internet (2% males and 0.6% females) and mobile phone overuse (4.1%–2.5% males and 1.5% females). It was more common among males. Significant differences were observed in relation to family status for internet and mobile phone use more commonly among single/nuclear families. Technology addictions were found to be more common among single families and lesser in nuclear and joint families. Mobile phone users had psychiatric distress in comparison to users with internet addiction. The study showed negative correlation of age, years of marriage, and numbers of family members with internet addiction and mobile overuse. Conclusions: It has implication for raising awareness about addictive potential of technology and its impact on one's lifestyle. PMID:28852246

Technology Addiction Survey: An Emerging Concern for Raising Awareness and Promotion of Healthy Use of Technology.

PubMed

Sharma, Manoj Kumar; Rao, Girish N; Benegal, Vivek; Thennarasu, K; Thomas, Divya

2017-01-01

Technology use has shown an impact of users' lifestyle. The use has been attributed to psychosocial reasons. This usage manifests as excessive to addictive use of technology. There is a need to explore its addictive potential on large sample study as well as its association with psychosocial variables. It is one of its kind study on wider age group. The present work assessed the magnitude, burden, and sociodemographic correlates of technology addiction in an urban community. A total of 2755 individuals (1392 males and 1363 females) in the age group of 18-65 years were approached for screening internet addiction and mobile overuse, using house-to-house survey methodology. The survey indicated the presence of addiction for 1.3% for internet (2% males and 0.6% females) and mobile phone overuse (4.1%-2.5% males and 1.5% females). It was more common among males. Significant differences were observed in relation to family status for internet and mobile phone use more commonly among single/nuclear families. Technology addictions were found to be more common among single families and lesser in nuclear and joint families. Mobile phone users had psychiatric distress in comparison to users with internet addiction. The study showed negative correlation of age, years of marriage, and numbers of family members with internet addiction and mobile overuse. It has implication for raising awareness about addictive potential of technology and its impact on one's lifestyle.

Influence of Age on Decision-Making Process to Limit or Withdraw Life-Sustaining Treatment in the Intensive Care Unit - A Single Center Prospective Observational Study.

PubMed

Ducos, G; Mathe, O; Balardy, L; Lozano, S; Kurrek, M; Ruiz, J; Riu-Poulenc, B; Fourcade, O; Silva, S; Minville, V

2017-01-01

The increasing age in the industrialized countries places significant demands on intensive care unit (ICU) resources and this triggers debates about end-of-life care for the elderly. We sought to determine the impact of age on the decision-making process to limit or withdraw life-sustaining treatment (DWLST) in an ICU in France. We hypothesized that there are differences in the decision-making process for young and old patients. We prospectively studied end-of-life decision-making for all consecutive admissions (n=390) to a tertiary care university ICU in Toulouse, France over a period of 11 months between January and October 2011. Among the 390 patients included in the study (age ≥70yo, n=95; age <70yo, n=295) DWLST were more common for patients 70 years or older (43% for age ≥70yo vs. 16% for age <70yo, p <0.0001). Reasons for DWLST were different in the 2 groups, with the 'no alternative treatment options' and 'severity of illness' as the most frequent reasons cited for the younger group whereas it was 'severity of illness' for the older group. 'Advanced age' led to DWLSTs in 43% of the decisions in the group ≥70yo (vs. 0% in the group <70yo, p <0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression showed a high SAPS II score and age ≥70yo as independent risk factors for DWLSTs in the ICU. We did not find age ≥70yo as an independent risk factor for mortality in ICU. We found that age ≥70yo was an independent risk factor for DWLSTs for patients in the ICU, but not for their mortality. Reasons leading to DWLSTs are different according to the age of patients.

Pesticide-related poison center exposures in children and adolescents aged ≤19 years in Texas, 2000-2013.

PubMed

Trueblood, Amber B; Forrester, Mathias B; Han, Daikwon; Shipp, Eva M; Cizmas, Leslie H

2016-11-01

Although national poison center data show that pesticides were the 8th most commonly reported substance category (3.27%) for children aged ≤5 years in 2014, there is limited information on childhood and adolescent pesticide exposures. This study assessed pesticide-related poison center exposures in children and adolescents aged ≤19 years from 2000-2013 in Texas to characterize the potential burden of pesticides. Pesticide-related poison center exposures among children and adolescents aged ≤19 years reported to Texas poison centers were identified. The distribution of exposures was estimated by gender, age category, medical outcome, management site, exposure route, and pesticide category. From 2000 to 2013, there were 61,147 pesticide-related poison center exposures in children and adolescents aged ≤19 years. The prevalence was highest among males at 864.24 per 100,000 population. The prevalence of unintentional exposures was highest among children aged ≤5 years at 2310.69 per 100,000 population, whereas the prevalence of intentional exposures was highest among adolescents aged 13-19 years at 13.82 per 100,000 population. A majority of medical outcomes reported were classified as having no effect (30.24%) and not followed, but minimal clinical effects possible (42.74%). Of all the exposures, 81.24% were managed on site. However, 57% of intentional exposures were referred to or treated at a health-care facility. The most common routes of exposure were ingestion (80.83%) and dermal (17.21%). The most common pesticide categories included rodenticides (30.02%), pyrethrins/pyrethroids (20.69%), and other and unspecified insecticides (18.14%). The study found differences in the frequency of exposures by intent for sex and age categories, and identified the most common medical outcomes, management site, exposure route, and pesticide category. Through characterizing pesticide-related poison center exposures, future interventions can be designed to address groups with higher prevalence of exposure.

Unintended consequences of cigarette price changes for alcohol drinking behaviors across age groups: evidence from pooled cross sections

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Raising prices through taxation on tobacco and alcohol products is a common strategy to raise revenues and reduce consumption. However, taxation policies are product specific, focusing either on alcohol or tobacco products. Several studies document interactions between the price of cigarettes and general alcohol use and it is important to know whether increased cigarette prices are associated with varying alcohol drinking patterns among different population groups. To inform policymaking, this study investigates the association of state cigarette prices with smoking, and current, binge, and heavy drinking by age group. Methods The 2001-2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys (n = 1,323,758) were pooled and analyzed using multiple regression equations to estimate changes in smoking and drinking pattern response to an increase in cigarette price, among adults aged 18 and older. For each outcome, a multiple linear probability model was estimated which incorporated terms interacting state cigarette price with age group. State and year fixed effects were included to control for potential unobserved state-level characteristics that might influence smoking and drinking. Results Increases in state cigarette prices were associated with increases in current drinking among persons aged 65 and older, and binge and heavy drinking among persons aged 21-29. Reductions in smoking were found among persons aged 30-64, drinking among those aged 18-20, and binge drinking among those aged 65 and older. Conclusions Increases in state cigarette prices may increase or decrease smoking and harmful drinking behaviors differentially by age. Adults aged 21-29 and 65 and older are more prone to increased drinking as a result of increased cigarette prices. Researchers, practitioners, advocates, and policymakers should work together to understand and prepare for these unintended consequences of tobacco taxation policy. PMID:22784412

Unintended consequences of cigarette price changes for alcohol drinking behaviors across age groups: evidence from pooled cross sections.

PubMed

McLellan, Deborah L; Hodgkin, Dominic; Fagan, Pebbles; Reif, Sharon; Horgan, Constance M

2012-07-11

Raising prices through taxation on tobacco and alcohol products is a common strategy to raise revenues and reduce consumption. However, taxation policies are product specific, focusing either on alcohol or tobacco products. Several studies document interactions between the price of cigarettes and general alcohol use and it is important to know whether increased cigarette prices are associated with varying alcohol drinking patterns among different population groups. To inform policymaking, this study investigates the association of state cigarette prices with smoking, and current, binge, and heavy drinking by age group. The 2001-2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys (n = 1,323,758) were pooled and analyzed using multiple regression equations to estimate changes in smoking and drinking pattern response to an increase in cigarette price, among adults aged 18 and older. For each outcome, a multiple linear probability model was estimated which incorporated terms interacting state cigarette price with age group. State and year fixed effects were included to control for potential unobserved state-level characteristics that might influence smoking and drinking. Increases in state cigarette prices were associated with increases in current drinking among persons aged 65 and older, and binge and heavy drinking among persons aged 21-29. Reductions in smoking were found among persons aged 30-64, drinking among those aged 18-20, and binge drinking among those aged 65 and older. Increases in state cigarette prices may increase or decrease smoking and harmful drinking behaviors differentially by age. Adults aged 21-29 and 65 and older are more prone to increased drinking as a result of increased cigarette prices. Researchers, practitioners, advocates, and policymakers should work together to understand and prepare for these unintended consequences of tobacco taxation policy.

Does intravenous induction dosing among patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgical procedures follow current recommendations: a study of contemporary practice.

PubMed

Akhtar, Shamsuddin; Liu, Jia; Heng, Joseph; Dai, Feng; Schonberger, Robert B; Burg, Matthew M

2016-09-01

It is recommended to correct intravenous induction doses by up to 50% for patients older than 65 years. The objectives were to determine (a) the degree to which anesthesia providers correct induction doses for age and (b) additionally adjust for American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (ASA-PS) class (severity of illness) and (c) whether postinduction hypotension is more common among patients aged >65. Retrospective chart review. Academic medical center. A total of 1869 adult patients receiving general anesthesia for GI surgical procedures from February 2013 to January 2014. Patients were divided into 3 age groups (age <65, 65-79, ≥80 years) and then further stratified into ASA-PS class (I/II vs III/IV). Multiple pairwise comparisons were conducted using Welch t tests for continuous variables to determine whether dosing was different for the older groups vs the younger group; separate analyses were performed within and across ASA-PS class. This approach was also used to determine differences in mean arterial pressure change in the older groups vs the younger group, whereas the rates of hypotension among different age groups were compared by Cochran-Armitage trend test. No significant decrease in dosing between age groups was observed for fentanyl and midazolam. For propofol, there was a significantly lower dosing for older patients: 17% for patients aged 65-79 and 29% for those aged >80, which was still in less than the recommendations. An inverse relationship was observed between propofol dosing and ASA-PS class, but no consistent relationship was noted for fentanyl and midazolam. There were a significantly larger drop in mean arterial pressure and a greater likelihood of hypotension following induction in patients aged 65-79 years and >80 years as compared with those aged <65 years. This study shows that the administered dose of anesthetic induction agents is significantly higher than that recommended for patients older than 65 years. This failure to age-adjust dose may contribute to hypotensive episodes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sinonasal papilloma in Chiang Mai University Hospital.

PubMed

Fooanant, Supranee; Pattarasakulchai, Thienchai; Tananuvat, Rak; Sittitrai, Pichit; Chaiyasate, Saisawat; Roongrotwattanasiri, Kannika; Srivanitchapoom, Chonticha

2013-03-01

To study sinonasal papilloma patients in terms of clinical characteristics, treatment, outcome, and complications. A retrospective descriptive study was done. Sinonasalpapilloma data were gathered between 1999 and 2009. There were 63 available patients from the 82 cases. There were nine cases of nasal papilloma (14.3%) and 54 of inverted papilloma (85.7%). The mean age of the inverted papilloma group was higher than the nasal papilloma group (54 +/- 12.97 years vs. 42.4 +/- 24.8 years). The most common symptom was unilateral nasal obstruction. There were three cases of synchronous malignancy in the inverted papilloma and two metachronous (9.3%). Thirty-nine patients (72%) could be followed-up for more than three months. Recurrence was more common in the inverted papilloma group than nasal papilloma (37% vs. 11.1%). The 50% recurrent time of the endoscopic group was 51 weeks and the external group was 14 weeks. The recurrence of the external approach group was 1.59 times the endoscopic group. Ten surgical complications were found in eight inverted papilloma patients (16%) and included three in the endoscopic and five in the external group. Most of them were minor They were hypoesthesia and epiphora. Sinonasal inverted papilloma was common, able to recur and associated with malignancy. Though this was a limited retrospective study, it showed lower recurrence on the endoscopic approach. The life-long follow-up is needed in all cases.

“Group sex” parties and other risk patterns: A qualitative study about the perceptions of sexual behaviors and attitudes of adolescents in Soweto, South Africa

PubMed Central

Dietrich, Janan; Khunwane, Mamakiri; Laher, Fatima; de Bruyn, Guy; Sikkema, Kathleen J.; Gray, Glenda

2011-01-01

This study explored perceptions about sexual behaviors and attitudes of adolescents living in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, from the perspective of parents, counselors and adolescents. A qualitative methodology was applied. Nine focus group discussions (FGDs) were held; three with parents of adolescents, two with counselors who work with adolescents, two with female adolescents aged 16-18 years and two with male adolescents aged 16-18 years. In total, 80 participants were recruited from in and around Soweto. FGDs were guided by a semi-structured interview guide, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and translated into English. Data were analyzed using Maxqda, a qualitative software analysis program. There were eight key themes related to adolescent sexuality and perceived attitudes towards relationships. Five themes were common to all participant groupings (parents, counselors and adolescents): (1) dating during adolescence, (2) adolescent females dating older males, (3) condom use amongst adolescents, (4) pregnancy and (5) homosexuality. (6) Sex as a regular and important activity among adolescents and (7) group sex practices among adolescents emerged as themes from adolescent and counselor FGDs. Lastly, (8) the role of the media as an influence on adolescent sexuality was common to adolescent and parent groups. Risky sexual behaviors continue among adolescents, with group sex parties a concerning emergent phenomenon that necessitates further study. HIV, other STIs and pregnancy prevention interventions should address multiple levels of influence to address context-specific influences. PMID:22844344

Neurodegenerative disease concomitant proteinopathies are prevalent, age-related and APOE4-associated.

PubMed

Robinson, John L; Lee, Edward B; Xie, Sharon X; Rennert, Lior; Suh, EunRan; Bredenberg, Colin; Caswell, Carrie; Van Deerlin, Vivianna M; Yan, Ning; Yousef, Ahmed; Hurtig, Howard I; Siderowf, Andrew; Grossman, Murray; McMillan, Corey T; Miller, Bruce; Duda, John E; Irwin, David J; Wolk, David; Elman, Lauren; McCluskey, Leo; Chen-Plotkin, Alice; Weintraub, Daniel; Arnold, Steven E; Brettschneider, Johannes; Lee, Virginia M-Y; Trojanowski, John Q

2018-06-05

Lewy bodies commonly occur in Alzheimer's disease, and Alzheimer's disease pathology is frequent in Lewy body diseases, but the burden of co-pathologies across neurodegenerative diseases is unknown. We assessed the extent of tau, amyloid-β, α-synuclein and TDP-43 proteinopathies in 766 autopsied individuals representing a broad spectrum of clinical neurodegenerative disease. We interrogated pathological Alzheimer's disease (n = 247); other tauopathies (n = 95) including Pick's disease, corticobasal disease and progressive supranuclear palsy; the synucleinopathies (n = 164) including multiple system atrophy and Lewy body disease; the TDP-43 proteinopathies (n = 188) including frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 inclusions and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; and a minimal pathology group (n = 72). Each group was divided into subgroups without or with co-pathologies. Age and sex matched logistic regression models compared co-pathology prevalence between groups. Co-pathology prevalence was similar between the minimal pathology group and most neurodegenerative diseases for each proteinopathy: tau was nearly universal (92-100%), amyloid-β common (20-57%); α-synuclein less common (4-16%); and TDP-43 the rarest (0-16%). In several neurodegenerative diseases, co-pathology increased: in Alzheimer's disease, α-synuclein (41-55%) and TDP-43 (33-40%) increased; in progressive supranuclear palsy, α-synuclein increased (22%); in corticobasal disease, TDP-43 increased (24%); and in neocortical Lewy body disease, amyloid-β (80%) and TDP-43 (22%) increased. Total co-pathology prevalence varied across groups (27-68%), and was increased in high Alzheimer's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and neocortical Lewy body disease (70-81%). Increased age at death was observed in the minimal pathology group, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple system atrophy cases with co-pathologies. In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and neocortical Lewy body disease, co-pathologies associated with APOE ɛ4. Lewy body disease cases with Alzheimer's disease co-pathology had substantially lower Mini-Mental State Examination scores than pure Lewy body disease. Our data imply that increased age and APOE ɛ4 status are risk factors for co-pathologies independent of neurodegenerative disease; that neurodegenerative disease severity influences co-pathology as evidenced by the prevalence of co-pathology in high Alzheimer's disease and neocortical Lewy body disease, but not intermediate Alzheimer's disease or limbic Lewy body disease; and that tau and α-synuclein strains may also modify co-pathologies since tauopathies and synucleinopathies had differing co-pathologies and burdens. These findings have implications for clinical trials that focus on monotherapies targeting tau, amyloid-β, α-synuclein and TDP-43.

Folklore and Fantasy--Mix or Match?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weber, Rosemary

While folklore, fairytales, and fantasy vary in definition, they possess the common elements of supernatural beings, strange locales, and imaginative content. Folk tales, originally intended for all ages, were meant to convey lessons about moral behavior and group values; good was rewarded and evil punished. In contemporary literature, high…

Preparing Students for a Diverse Workplace: Strategies to Improve Dispositions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Melton, Deana; Dail, Teresa

2010-01-01

The curriculum for kinesiology students typically includes foundation courses focused on the scientific principles underlying human movement. Modifications for gender, age, and physical ability are also commonly included in these courses. Rarely addressed, however, are students' dispositions toward diverse groups. This article examines several…

Cerebral changes in SLE with or without antiphospholipid syndrome. a case-control MRI study.

PubMed

Valdés-Ferrer, Sergio I; Vega, Felipe; Cantú-Brito, Carlos; Ceballos-Ceballos, Joel; Estañol, Bruno; García-Ramos, Gullermo; Cabral, Antonio R

2008-01-01

To determine and characterize the prevalence of cerebral changes on MRI in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS) within systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Seventy-one patients with SLE were prospectively studied with brain MRI: 32 with definite APLS and 39 without. Atrophy, ventricular enlargement, leukoaraiosis, interuncal distance, Evans' index, infarcts, and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) were analyzed. Demographic data, treatment, and SLE activity were analyzed. Groups were similar in age (32.4 vs. 32.8 years old; P= non-significant [NS]), and gender. Duration of disease was longer in patients with APLS (87.3 vs. 55.4 months; P= .064). Cortical atrophy was common in both groups (68.7% vs. 89.7%; P= NS). Leukoaraiosis was present in only 3 patients (9.4%; P= .08), all in the APLS group. WMH were found in more than 40% of the patients from both groups. Infarcts (21.9% vs. 2.6%; P= .019) and infarcts plus WHM (12.5% vs. 0; P= .037) were more common in patients with APLS. Although a higher prevalence of neurological involvement in SLE has been reported in APLS patients, we found gross brain changes to be similar between groups. Strokes and leukoaraiosis were more common in the APLS group, consistent with the idea of an APLS-induced prothrombotic state.

Idiopathic Juxtafoveolar Retinal Telangiectasis: A Current Review

PubMed Central

Nowilaty, Sawsan R.; Al-Shamsi, Hanan N.; Al-Khars, Wajeeha

2010-01-01

Idiopathic juxtafoveolar retinal telangiectasis (IJFT), also known as parafoveal telangiectasis or idiopathic macular telangiectasia, refers to a heterogeneous group of well-recognized clinical entities characterized by telangiectatic alterations of the juxtafoveolar capillary network of one or both eyes, but which differ in appearance, presumed pathogenesis, and management strategies. Classically, three groups of IJFT are identified. Group I is unilateral easily visible telangiectasis occurring predominantly in males, and causing visual loss as a result of macular edema. Group II, the most common, is bilateral occurring in both middle-aged men and women, and presenting with telangiectasis that is more difficult to detect on biomicroscopy, but with characteristic and diagnostic angiographic and optical coherence tomography features. Vision loss is due to retinal atrophy, not exudation, and subretinal neovascularization is common. Group III is very rare characterized predominantly by progressive obliteration of the perifoveal capillary network, occurring usually in association with a medical or neurologic disease. This paper presents a current review of juxtafoveolar retinal telangiectasis, reviewing the classification of these entities and focusing primarily on the two most common types encountered in clinical practice, i.e., groups I and II, describing their clinical features, histopathology, natural history, complications, latest results from imaging modalities and functional studies, differential diagnosis, and treatment modalities. PMID:20844678

Evaluation of pedestrian road traffic maxillofacial injuries in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

PubMed

Aladelusi, T O; Akinmoladun, I V; Olusanya, O O; Akadiri, O A; Fasola, A O

2014-12-01

Background: Walking is the most basic form of mobility and forms an important part of daily activities; however, walking could often be associated with risks. This is more so when pedestrians share a common space with motorized vehicles especially in developing countries. Despite the frequency of road traffic crashes (RTC) related pedestrian injuries in many developing countries, there is a dearth of documentation of maxillofacial injuries in victims of pedestrian road traffic crashes. The aim of this study was to determine the causes, frequency, pattern, severity, concomitant injuries and outcome of pedestrian maxillofacial injuries observed at a tertiary trauma centre in Nigeria. Pedestrian victims of RTC were prospectively recruited from among all maxillofacial trauma patients seen at the Accident and Emergency department and the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the University College Hospital, Ibadan between April 2011 and November 2011. Ethical approval was obtained from the UI/UCH Joint Ethics Review Board before the commencement of the study and informed consent was obtained from participants. Patients' demography, the crash events, types of maxillofacial injuries, and concomitant injuries were recorded. Severity of maxillofacial injury was estimated based on the Maxillofacial Injury Severity Scale (MFISS). Forty-six participants (22.9% of all victims of road traffic crashes seen within the study period) were victims of pedestrian RTC. Pedestrian RTC occurred in all age groups with almost 40% of the victims in their 1st and 2nd decades of life. The most severe MFISS was observed in the 21 - 30 year age group while the least severe injury observed was in the 71 - 80 years age group. Thirty participants (65.2%) were hit by a car or minibus while fourteen (30.4%) were knocked down by a motorcycle. Two (4.4%) were hit by a truck. Soft tissue injury was the most common maxillofacial injury and head injury was the commonest concomitant injury observed. The median MFISS score of victims of motorcycle was 4.0 while the median scores for victims of car/minibus pedestrian RTC was 9.0. The most severe maxillofacial injury was seen in victim of car/minibus pedestrian crashes. Seventeen percent (8) of the victims had a fatal outcome. Conclusion: Pedestrian RTC resulting in maxillofacial injuries are common in the studied environment. It is particularly common among the 11 -20 year age group and victims are usually hit by cars/minibuses. These injuries are often severe and fatal outcome is not infrequent. Therefore, definitive preventive measures are imperative.

Genetic Diversity among Group A Streptococcus Isolated from Throats of Healthy and Symptomatic Children.

PubMed

Chauhan, Smriti; Kashyap, Nitin; Kanga, Anil; Thakur, Kamlesh; Sood, Anuradha; Chandel, Lata

2016-04-01

Group A streptococcus (GAS) is the commonest bacterial cause of pharyngitis. Children in the age group of 5-15 years are most commonly affected. It can also colonize throats of healthy children in this age group. Both cases and carriers can transmit it in the community. Throat swab samples were collected from 1849 asymptomatic and 371 symptomatic children. The rate of isolation of GAS was 1.41% among the asymptomatic group and 7.55% among the symptomatic group. Nine different emm types were encountered in the asymptomatic children and 14 among the symptomatic children. Throat swab cultures must be used in all cases of pharyngitis. Early and appropriate antibiotic therapy will prevent complications. Asymptomatic throat carriage of GAS in children was low in our study. However, they can still act as reservoirs. Emm typing helps in understanding epidemiology and finding new types. © The Author [2016]. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Magnetic resonance evaluation of the knee in children and adolescents with achondroplasia.

PubMed

Akyol, Yakup; Averill, Lauren W; Atanda, Alfred; Kecskemethy, Heidi H; Bober, Michael B; Mackenzie, William G

2015-06-01

Achondroplasia is the most common form of skeletal dysplasia. Although the radiographic features are well described, MRI features of the knee in achondroplasia have not been reported. To describe common MRI characteristics of the knee joint in symptomatic children and adolescents with achondroplasia. We retrospectively evaluated 10 knee MRI examinations in 8 children and young adults (age range 11-20 years, mean 16.3 years) with achondroplasia. We measured modified Insall-Salvati index, knee flexion angle, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-Blumensaat line angle, ACL-tibial angle, posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) angle, intercondylar notch width index, and intercondylar notch depth index. We compared our findings with an age- and gender-matched control group of 20 children (age range 15-18 years; mean 16 years) with normal knee MRIs. All 10 knees in the achondroplasia group had discoid lateral meniscus; 8 meniscal tears were identified. Patella baja was present in half of the study cases. Greater knee flexion and increased ACL-Blumensaat line and PCL angles were seen in all achondroplasia knees. ACL-tibial angle was similar in the study and in the control group. Children with achondroplasia had deeper A-shape femoral notches that extended more anteriorly than those seen in the control group. MRI findings were confirmed in all seven knees with arthroscopic correlation. Discoid lateral meniscus, often with tear, is a consistent feature in knee MRIs of symptomatic children and adolescents with achondroplasia. Other findings include patella baja, knee flexion, deep A-shape intercondylar notch, increased ACL-Blumensaat line angle and taut PCL.

Incidence and pattern of traumatic spinal fractures and associated spinal cord injury resulting from motor vehicle collisions in China over 11 years: An observational study.

PubMed

Wang, Hongwei; Liu, Xinwei; Zhao, Yiwen; Ou, Lan; Zhou, Yue; Li, Changqing; Liu, Jun; Chen, Yu; Yu, Hailong; Wang, Qi; Han, Jianda; Xiang, Liangbi

2016-10-01

To investigate the incidence and pattern of traumatic spinal fractures (TSFs) and associated spinal cord injury (SCI) resulting from motor vehicle collisions (MVCs).This was a cross-sectional study. We retrospectively reviewed 698 patients with TSFs resulting from MVCs admitted to our university-affiliated hospitals from 2001 to 2011. The incidence and pattern were summarized with respect to different age groups, fracture levels, and the role of patients.There were 464 males (66.5%) and 234 females (33.5%) aged 40.5 ± 13.8 years old. The most common roles of patients in MVCs were car drivers (189, 27.1%), pedestrians hurt by a car (155, 22.2%), and car passengers (145, 20.8%). The most common fracture levels were L1 (n = 198, 19.2%) and T12 (n = 116, 11.3%), followed by C2 (n = 86, 8.3%). A total of 298 (42.7%) patients suffered a spinal cord injury. The frequencies of SCIs decreased from 53.1% to 24.6% with increasing age. The patients in the 20 to 39 age group (45.3% of all patients) had the largest sex ratio (2.4) and highest frequency of complete SCIs (19.3%) and complications (3.2%). Motorcycle drivers had the youngest mean age (35.7 ± 10.2), largest sex ratio (10.4), and highest frequency of SCIs (56.0%) and complications (4.4%). Motorcycle passengers had the highest frequency of complete SCI (22.7%) and ASOIs (45.5%) and the largest mean injury severity scoring (ISS) (18.9 ± 9.6). The most common fracture levels of motorcycle drivers were C3-C7, while that of others were T11-L2.The most common role of patients who sustained TSFs were car drivers who were 20 to 39 years old. Motorcycle drivers had the highest frequency of SCIs and complications. Motorcycle passengers had the highest frequency of complete SCIs and ASOIs and the largest ISS. Therefore, we should pay more attention to MVC patients, especially car drivers and motorcycle drivers and passengers.

Comparison of pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance patterns in paediatric, adult and elderly patients in Canadian hospitals.

PubMed

Adam, Heather J; Baxter, Melanie R; Davidson, Ross J; Rubinstein, Ethan; Fanella, Sergio; Karlowsky, James A; Lagacé-Wiens, Philippe R S; Hoban, Daryl J; Zhanel, George G

2013-05-01

The purpose of this study was to describe the association between age groups and antimicrobial resistance in the most commonly identified pathogens in Canadian hospitals. Between 2007 and 2011, 27,123 clinically significant isolates, comprising 3580 isolates from children ≤ 18 years old, 12,119 isolates from adults 19-64 years old and 11,424 isolates from elderly patients aged ≥ 65 years old, were collected as part of the CANWARD surveillance study from tertiary-care centres across Canada. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed according to CLSI guidelines. A multifactorial logistic regression model was used to determine the impact of demographic factors, including age groups, on antimicrobial resistance. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were in the top five organisms for all of the age groups. The proportions of S. aureus that were methicillin resistant, enterococci that were vancomycin resistant and E. coli that produced extended-spectrum β-lactamases were 11.2%, 0.7% and 1.0% for children, 22.8%, 4.6% and 4.3% for adults, and 28.0%, 3.8% and 4.9% for the elderly, respectively. Notable age-related differences in antimicrobial resistance patterns included the following: significantly less methicillin, clindamycin, clarithromycin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole resistance in S. aureus from children; for E. coli, higher cefazolin and ciprofloxacin resistance in the elderly and less ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin resistance in isolates from children; more S. pneumoniae isolates with penicillin MICs >1 mg/L in children; and for P. aeruginosa, higher resistance rates for meropenem, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin in adults. The assessment of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns by age group revealed that resistance rates are often higher in the older age groups; however, considerable variability in age-specific resistance trends for different pathogen-antimicrobial combinations was noted.

Increased risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension and operative delivery after conception induced by in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection in women aged 40 years and older.

PubMed

Toshimitsu, Masatake; Nagamatsu, Takeshi; Nagasaka, Takaaki; Iwasawa-Kawai, Yuki; Komatsu, Atsushi; Yamashita, Takahiro; Osuga, Yutaka; Fujii, Tomoyuki

2014-10-01

To clarify the association between preconception fertility status and obstetric outcomes in women aged 40 years and older. Retrospective study by reviewing medical records. Tertiary perinatal center in a university hospital. 330 women aged 40 years and older who delivered a singleton from 2006 to 2010, and 450 women aged 30 to 34 years who delivered at the same facility as controls. None. Incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm birth, low birth weight, and mode of delivery assessed based on the mode of conception; spontaneous conception (SC) and in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection conception (IVF-ICSI). The incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension was statistically significantly higher in IVF-ICSI group than the SC group. This gap was commonly observed in both the women aged 40 years and older and those in the 30 to 34 age group. No statistically significant difference was observed in the frequency of gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm birth, or low birth weight. As a characteristic of nulliparous women of advanced age, the rate of operative delivery, which includes emergency cesarean section and instrumental delivery, was statistically significantly higher in IVF-ICSI group than in the SC group. Detailed investigation into the medical indications for operative delivery revealed that the difference was attributable to the elevated incidence of labor protraction and arrest. Preconception fertility status can be a predicting factor of the incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension and labor outcome, especially for women aged 40 years and older. Copyright © 2014 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sleepiness and Cognitive Performance among Younger and Older Adolescents across a 28-Hour Forced Desynchrony Protocol.

PubMed

Wu, Lora J; Acebo, Christine; Seifer, Ronald; Carskadon, Mary A

2015-12-01

Quantify the homeostatic and circadian effects on sleepiness and performance of adolescents. Examine age-related changes in homeostatic and circadian regulation of sleepiness and performance by comparing younger and older adolescent groups. Three-week laboratory study including 12 cycles of a 28-h forced desynchrony protocol. Controlled laboratory environment with individual sleep and performance testing rooms and shared common areas. Twenty-seven healthy adolescents including 16 females. Ages ranged from 9.6-15.2 years and participants were split into younger (n = 14 ages 9-12) and older (n = 13 ages 13-15) groups based on median age split of 13.0 years. N/A. Testing occurred every 2 h during scheduled wake periods. Measures included sleep latency during repeated nap opportunities and scores from a computerized neurobehavioral assessment battery including a 10-min psychomotor vigilance task, a digit symbol substitution task, and the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale. Significant main effects of circadian and homeostatic factors were observed, as well as several circadian and homeostatic interaction effects. Age group did not have a significant main effect on sleep and performance data. A significant interaction of circadian phase and age group was found for sleep latency, with younger adolescents showing greater circadian modulation than older teens during the circadian night. Adolescents demonstrated a similar pattern of response to forced desynchrony as reported for adults. Sleepiness and performance were affected by homeostatic and circadian factors, and age group did not interact with homoeostatic and circadian factors for subjective sleepiness and most performance metrics. Younger adolescents had a shorter latency to sleep onset than older during the circadian bin spanning 4 to 8 h after the onset of melatonin secretion. © 2015 Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC.

The Use of Lexical Neighborhood Test (LNT) in the Assessment of Speech Recognition Performance of Cochlear Implantees with Normal and Malformed Cochlea.

PubMed

Kant, Anjali R; Banik, Arun A

2017-09-01

The present study aims to use the model-based test Lexical Neighborhood Test (LNT), to assess speech recognition performance in early and late implanted hearing impaired children with normal and malformed cochlea. The LNT was administered to 46 children with congenital (prelingual) bilateral severe-profound sensorineural hearing loss, using Nucleus 24 cochlear implant. The children were grouped into Group 1-(early implantees with normal cochlea-EI); n = 15, 31/2-61/2 years of age; mean age at implantation-3½ years. Group 2-(late implantees with normal cochlea-LI); n = 15, 6-12 years of age; mean age at implantation-5 years. Group 3-(early implantees with malformed cochlea-EIMC); n = 9; 4.9-10.6 years of age; mean age at implantation-3.10 years. Group 4-(late implantees with malformed cochlea-LIMC); n = 7; 7-12.6 years of age; mean age at implantation-6.3 years. The following were the malformations: dysplastic cochlea, common cavity, Mondini's, incomplete partition-1 and 2 (IP-1 and 2), enlarged IAC. The children were instructed to repeat the words on hearing them. Means of the word and phoneme scores were computed. The LNT can also be used to assess speech recognition performance of hearing impaired children with malformed cochlea. When both easy and hard lists of LNT are considered, although, late implantees (with or without normal cochlea), have achieved higher word scores than early implantees, the differences are not statistically significant. Using LNT for assessing speech recognition enables a quantitative as well as descriptive report of phonological processes used by the children.

Reasons and risk factors for beef calf and youngstock on-farm mortality in extensive cow-calf herds.

PubMed

Mõtus, K; Viltrop, A; Emanuelson, U

2017-12-26

Raising calves and youngstock is an essential part of beef production. High on-farm mortality (unassisted death and euthanasia) is a consequence of poor animal health and welfare, and is economically unfavourable. The present study aimed to identify the reasons and risk factors for beef calf and youngstock on-farm mortality, using registry data for the years 2013 to 2015. Cox regression models were applied for the data of four age groups: calves up to 30 days (n=21 075), calves 1 to 5 months (n=21 116), youngstock 6 to 19 months (n=22 637) and youngstock ⩾20 months of age (n=9582). We found that dystocia, small birth weight and older parity of the mother increased the mortality hazard in calves up to 30 days of age. A summer birth was a common protective factor against mortality for calves up to 30 days and calves 1 to 5 months of age, compared with birth in other seasons. Among calves 1 to 5 months old, being the offspring of a first-parity cow was associated with significantly higher risk of death compared with calves who were the offspring of third- or higher-parity cows. A high herd-level stillbirth rate was associated with higher mortality hazard. The most commonly reported reasons for calf mortality were digestive disorders and respiratory disease. According to the models of youngstock from 6 months of age, male sex was a risk factor for mortality. Cattle having more than 10% dairy breed experienced a higher mortality risk in the ⩾20 months age group. No significant differences were found across regions, herd size or different breeds in any of the calf or youngstock groups. Metabolic and digestive disorders, as well as traumas and accidents, were the most common causes of mortality in beef youngstock older than 6 months. We can conclude that in young calves, animal-level factors associated with calving had a high impact on mortality. Further, timing calving for the warmer spring months would benefit calf survivability. Further studies including complementary information about farm factors adapted across the whole youngstock period is highly needed to provide sound recommendations in reducing on-farm mortality.

Measuring pharmacogenetics in special groups: geriatrics.

PubMed

Seripa, Davide; Panza, Francesco; Daragjati, Julia; Paroni, Giulia; Pilotto, Alberto

2015-07-01

The cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes oxidize about 80% of the most commonly used drugs. Older patients form a very interesting clinical group in which an increased prevalence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and therapeutic failures (TFs) is observed. Might CYP drug metabolism change with age, and justify the differences in drug response observed in a geriatric setting? A complete overview of the CYP pharmacogenetics with a focus on the epigenetic CYP gene regulation by DNA methylation in the context of advancing age, in which DNA methylation might change. Responder phenotypes consist of a continuum spanning from ADRs to TFs, with the best responders at the midpoint. CYP genetics is the basis of this continuum on which environmental and physiological factors act, modeling the phenotype observed in clinical practice. Physiological age-related changes in DNA methylation, the main epigenetic mechanisms regulating gene expression in humans, results in a physiological decrease in CYP gene expression with advancing age. This may be one of the physiological changes that, together with increased drug use, contributed to the higher prevalence of ADRs and TFs observed in the geriatric setting, thus, making geriatrics a special group for pharmacogenetics.

Vaginismus in peri- and postmenopausal women: a pragmatic approach for general practitioners and gynaecologists.

PubMed

Hope, Mairi E; Farmer, Laura; McAllister, Kay F; Cumming, Grant P

2010-06-01

Vaginismus is generally described as an involuntary contraction of the vaginal musculature, which usually results in the failure of penetration. Despite a lack of consensus as to the exact definition, prevalence rates vary between 4.2% and 42%. It is commonly diagnosed at both gynaecological and psychosexual clinics. The majority of studies and treatment options concentrate on the premenopausal age group. It is accepted that even within this age group, the diagnosis is often incorrect as symptoms can be confused with dyspareunia and other sexual pain disorders. There is no literature discussing vaginismus in the postmenopausal patient, despite evidence that an active sex life is important to the majority of women, irrespective of age. It is known that the majority of women do not report difficulties in their sex life and it may be that the older patient is more embarrassed at disclosing any such difficulties. This review aims to highlight the possible causes of vaginismus in this older age group and to aid the clinician in asking the appropriate questions, performing the appropriate examination and suggesting possible treatment options.

Comparison between imipramine and imipramine combined with pseudoephedrine in 5-12-year-old children with uncomplicated enuresis: a double-blind clinical trial.

PubMed

Abedin Zadeh, Mehdi; Moslemi, Mohammad Kazem; Kholaseh Zadeh, Golrasteh

2011-02-01

Monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis is a common entity, with a prevalence of 10% at the age of 7 years. For its primary treatment, we compared the effect of combination medical therapy (imipramine with pseudoephedrine) with imipramine alone. In this one-center prospective double-blind clinical trial, 100 school-age children (age range 5-12 years) were enrolled. They were divided into two groups, comparable in terms of age and other demographic factors: (A) adjusted doses of a combination of imipramine with pseudoephedrine, and (B) imipramine with placebo were administered. Improvement was defined as less than 2 wet nights per week. Four weeks after drug withdrawal, the response rate was 74% in group A in comparison to 52% in group B, this difference being statistically significant. There was a recurrence of enuresis in both groups during the 4 weeks after treatment was discontinued (10% increase in group A and 8% increase in group B). The additive pharmacologic effects of imipramine with pseudoephedrine for the treatment of monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis in children were well tolerated, and gave significantly faster results than single drug therapy using imipramine. The moderate-to-high recurrence rate following discontinuation of medical treatment indicates the need for a longer term study involving more cases. Crown Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Key characteristics of low back pain and disability in college-aged adults: a pilot study.

PubMed

Handrakis, John P; Friel, Karen; Hoeffner, Frank; Akinkunle, Ola; Genova, Vito; Isakov, Edward; Mathew, Jerrill; Vitulli, Frank

2012-07-01

To identify which factors commonly associated with low back pain (LBP) and disability differ between college-aged persons with LBP and with no or minimal LBP. Clinical measurement, observational study. Subjects were assessed for LBP with the visual analog scale (VAS) and for disability from LBP using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Subjects were measured for variables commonly associated with LBP and were grouped by both VAS (minimum [min]/no pain, pain) and ODI (no disability, disability) scores. College campus at a university. A convenience sample (N=84) of English-speaking students (34 men, 50 women) between 18 and 30 years of age. Not applicable. Sports activity (sports activity score of the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire), depression, hamstring and hip flexor range of motion, low back extensor endurance, abdominal strength and endurance. A significant main effect of group was found for both pain (P=.019) and disability groups (P=.006). The min/no pain and pain groups differed in back endurance (114.2±38.8s vs 94.5±44.5s, respectively; P=.04). The no disability and disability groups differed in back endurance (116.3±35.9s vs 97.1±45.7s, respectively; P=.03) and the sports activity score of the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire (2.98±.95 vs 2.48±.85, respectively; P=.01). Subjects with hyperkyphotic postures compared with the normative thoracic group had higher depression scores (49 vs 38.5, respectively; P=.03) and less hamstring flexibility (30.5 vs 49.9, respectively; P<.001). Back extensor endurance was consistently different between both the pain and disability groups. Addressing limited low back extensor endurance and low levels of physical activity in young adults may have clinical relevance for the prevention and treatment of LBP and disability. Copyright © 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Maternal stress and perinatal features in autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

PubMed

Say, Gökçe Nur; Karabekiroğlu, Koray; Babadağı, Zehra; Yüce, Murat

2016-04-01

We investigated the shared and non-shared perinatal risk factors for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a clinical sample. Additionally, we compared these groups regarding pre/postpartum maternal stress and the duration of breastfeeding. Children aged 3-18 years old with ASD (n = 100) were compared with age- and gender-matched children with ADHD (n = 100) and with age- and gender-matched healthy controls (n = 80). Prematurity of the neonate and maternal stress/depressive mood in pregnancy were common risk factors shared by ASD and ADHD. Postpartum maternal depressive mood may be more specific to ASD, while shorter duration of breastfeeding may be related to ADHD. ASD and ADHD may have some perinatal features in common. Identification of perinatal factors for ASD and ADHD carries clinical implications in terms of primary prevention. © 2015 Japan Pediatric Society.

Public speaking fears and their correlates among 17,615 Japanese adolescents.

PubMed

Furukawa, Toshi A; Watanabe, Norio; Kinoshita, Yoshihiro; Kinoshita, Kuni; Sasaki, Tsukasa; Nishida, Atsushi; Okazaki, Yuji; Shimodera, Shinji

2014-03-01

Public speaking fears (PSF) are highly prevalent in the general population. They are also among the most common symptoms of social anxiety disorder, which typically has an adolescent onset and has recently been increasingly recognized as a persistent and impairing disorder across various cultures in the world. This study examined PSF and their associated factors among 17,615 adolescents, aged 12-18, in a large-scale school-based community survey in Japan. PSF was noted in 7.3% of the students. The prevalence was higher among girls than among boys, and it had a tendency to decrease with age. Across the gender and age groups, PSF was associated with psychopathology, including depression and anxiety, suicidal thoughts, deliberate self-harm, violence towards objects and people, and increased difficulties at school. We should no longer make light of public speaking fears among adolescents as transient, common-sense phenomena. Copyright © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Clinical Presentation of Soft-tissue Infections and its Management: A Study of 100 Cases.

PubMed

Singh, Baldev; Singh, Sukha; Khichy, Sudhir; Ghatge, Avinash

2017-01-01

Soft-tissue infections vary widely in their nature and severity. A clear approach to the management must allow their rapid identification and treatment as they can be life-threatening. Clinical presentation of soft-tissue infections and its management. A prospective study based on 100 patients presenting with soft-tissue infections was done. All the cases of soft-tissue infections were considered irrespective of age, sex, etiological factors, or systemic disorders. The findings were evaluated regarding the pattern of soft-tissue infections in relation to age and sex, clinical presentation, complications, duration of hospital stay, management, and mortality. The most commonly involved age group was in the range of 41-60 years with male predominance. Abscess formation (45%) was the most common clinical presentation. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was the most common associated comorbid condition. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common culture isolate obtained. The most common complication seen was renal failure. Patients with surgical site infections had maximum duration of stay in the hospital. About 94% of the cases of soft-tissue infections were managed surgically. Mortality was mostly encountered in the cases of complications of cellulitis. Skin and soft-tissue infections are among the most common infections encountered by the emergency physicians. Ignorance, reluctance to treatment, economic constraints, and illiteracy delay the early detection and the initiation of proper treatment. Adequate and timely surgical intervention in most of the cases is of utmost importance to prevent the complications and reduce the mortality.

A comparison of assisted, resisted, and common plyometric training modes to enhance sprint and agility performance.

PubMed

Khodaei, Kazem; Mohammadi, Abbas; Badri, Neda

2017-10-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of assisted, resisted and common plyometric training modes to enhance sprint and agility performance. Thirty active young males (age 20.67±1.12, height 174.83±4.69, weight 63.45±7.51) volunteered to participate in this study that 24 completed testing. The participants were randomly assigned into different groups: assisted, resisted and common plyometric exercises groups. Plyometric training involved three sessions per week for 4 weeks. The volume load of plyometric training modes was equated between the groups. The posttest was performed after 48 hours of the last training session. Between-group differences were analyzed with the ANCOVA and LSD post-hoc tests, and within-group differences were analyzed by a paired t-test. The findings of the present study indicated that 0-10-m, 20-30-m sprint time and the Illinois Agility Test time significantly decreased in the assisted and resisted plyometrics modes compared to the common plyometric training mode (P≤0.05). Also, the 0-10-m, 0-30-m sprint time and agility T-test time was significantly reduced with resisted plyometrics modes compared to the assisted and common plyometric modes (P≤0.05). There was no significant difference in the 10-20-m sprint time among the three plyometric training modes. The results of this study demonstrated that assisted and resisted plyometrics modes with elastic bands were effective methods to improve sprint and agility performance than common plyometric training in active males. Also, the resisted plyometrics mode was superior than the assisted plyometrics mode to improving sprint and agility tasks.

Lessons learned in the trenches: facilitating exercise adherence among breast cancer survivors in a group setting.

PubMed

Rogers, Laura Q; Vicari, Sandy; Courneya, Kerry S

2010-01-01

Improving effectiveness of group exercise counseling for breast cancer survivors is needed. The objective of this study was to describe clinical observations, with research and translation implications, derived during group exercise counseling for breast cancer survivors. While implementing group session components of an effective social cognitive theory-based exercise intervention, observations were made through verbal discussion with study staff, review of participant feedback, and prospective journaling by the group facilitator. The intervention has been implemented 11 times (ie, 63 survivors; 66 group sessions). Thematic consistency, application to intervention goals and design, and implications were reconciled between 2 investigators. Breast cancer diagnosis was a strong source of commonality among group participants. Participant age, time since diagnosis, and expectation for group sessions (eg, group support vs health education) hindered group commonality. Barriers unique to the breast cancer experience were infrequent, but people-pleasing behavior was often identified as a barrier to adherence. Feeling at risk for cancer recurrence was a major concern. Some participants required referral for mental health evaluation for preexisting conditions (eg, depression). Although participants easily understood time management, application of other behavioral modification techniques was more difficult. A breast cancer diagnosis alone is not sufficient for commonality among group members. Teaching time management and positive reframing is essential. Protocols for appropriate mental health referrals are needed. Our observations will assist group facilitators in enhancing group dynamics and addressing obstacles hindering counseling effectiveness. Moreover, our results suggest hypotheses related to enhancing behavior change in a group setting worthy of future study.

Report - Most common body parts infected with scabies in children and its control.

PubMed

Khatoon, Nasira; Khan, Aly; Azmi, M Arshad; Khan, Adnan; Shaukat, S Shahid

2016-09-01

Scabies a skin disease caused by mite Sarcoptes scabiei is common in Pakistan and spreads mostly where there is frequent skin to skin contact. In the present study children belonging to four age groups 0-3 years, 4-6 years, 7-9 years and 10-12 years attending Baqai Institute and Hospital Gadap from June-September 2013 were examined. The association between scabies of different human parts and age for boys was significant (p<0.01), while for girls it was highly significant (p<0.001). The most frequent body parts infected with scabies lesions were hands, head and feet. Oral ivermectin was effective antiscabietic for children as it was easy to administer and had good patient acceptability.

High prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in Asian Indians: A community survey - Chandigarh Urban Diabetes Study (CUDS)

PubMed Central

Walia, Rama; Bhansali, Anil; Ravikiran, Muthuswamy; Ravikumar, Padala; Bhadada, Sanjay K.; Shanmugasundar, G.; Dutta, Pinaki; Sachdeva, Naresh

2014-01-01

Background & objectives: Studies conducted to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors among different regions of the country show variation in risk factors in different age groups and urban and rural population. We undertook this study to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among urban adults in a north Indian city. Methods: In a cross-sectional survey, 2227 subjects aged ≥ 20 yr were studied from April 2008 to June 2009 in Urban Chandigarh, a north Indian city. Demographic history, anthropometry and blood pressure were assessed. Fasting, and 2 h capillary plasma glucose after 75 g glucose load, HDL-C and triglycerides were estimated. Results: The most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors in the age group of 20-29 yr was sedentary lifestyle (63%), while from fourth decade and onwards, it was overweight/obesity (59-85%). The second most common prevalent cardiovascular risk factor in the age group of 20-29 yr was overweight/obesity, in 30-49 yr sedentary lifestyle, in 50-69 yr hypertension and in subjects ≥70 yr, it was hypertriglyceridaemia. The prevalence of overweight/obesity, hypertension, dysglycaemia and smoking was almost double in subjects in the fourth decade of life, as compared to those in the third decade of life. The prevalence of CV risk factors significantly increased with age irrespective of gender and prevalence of low HDL-C was significantly more common in women as compared to men. Interpretation & conclusions: Sedentary lifestyle, obesity and low HDL-C are the most prevalent CV risk factors in subjects in the third and fourth decade of life in this north Indian population and clustering of these cardiovascular risk factors increases with advancing age. Strategies need to be formulated to target this population to prevent the epidemic of cardiovascular disease. PMID:24718400

The Prevalence of Amblyopia and Its Determinants in a Population-based Study.

PubMed

Faghihi, Mohammad; Hashemi, Hassan; Nabovati, Payam; Saatchi, Mohammad; Yekta, Abbasali; Rafati, Shokoofeh; Ostadimoghaddam, Hadi; Khabazkhoob, Mehdi

2017-12-01

To determine the prevalence of amblyopia and its determinants in a population-based study in Mashhad County, Iran. This cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted on the population of Mashhad County aged >1 year using randomized stratified cluster sampling. Examinations were performed after selection of the participants and their free transportation to the sampling site. The examinations included the measurement of uncorrected and corrected visual acuity, cycloplegic and non-cycloplegic refraction, cover testing, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, and ophthalmoscopy. In this study, amblyopia was defined as best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/30 or less or 2-line interocular optotype acuity differences with no pathology. After considering the exclusion criteria, the data of 2739 individuals, 65.6% of whom were women, were analyzed. The mean age of the participants was 29.5±17.5 years. The prevalence of amblyopia was 4.6% (95% CI: 3.77%-5.43%) in the total population. The lowest prevalence was 2.24% in the age group 5-15 years (95% CI: 0.99%-3.48%) and the highest prevalence was 7.14% in the age group 55-65 years (95% CI: 2.64%-11.56%). Anisometropic amblyopia was observed in 45.24% of the amblyopic participants. Isometropic, mixed (strabismic/anisometropic), and strabismic amblyopia were other common causes of amblyopia, with a prevalence of 24.6%, 16.67%, and 13.49% in amblyopic patients, respectively. The odds ratio (OR) of having amblyopia for each 1-year increase in age was 1.02 (95% CI: 1.01-1.03). Amblyopia was less common in people with better socioeconomic status. This study showed the prevalence of amblyopia in all age groups in a population-based study for the first time. The findings of this study regarding the relatively high prevalence of amblyopia in the older population and its lower prevalence in young people indicate attention to amblyopia in recent years.

Neonatal seizures in a rural Iranian district hospital: etiologies, incidence and predicting factors.

PubMed

Sadeghian, Afsaneh; Damghanian, Maryam; Shariati, Mohammad

2012-01-01

Current study determined the overall incidence, common causes as well as main predictors of this final diagnosis among neonates admitted to a rural district hospital in Iran. This study was conducted on 699 neonates who were candidate for admission to the NICU. Study population was categorized in the case group, including patients exposed to final diagnosis of neonatal seizures and the control group without this diagnosis. Neonatal seizure was reported as final diagnosis in 25 (3.6%) of neonates. The most frequent discharge diagnosis in the seizure group was neonatal sepsis and in the non-seizure group was respiratory problems. No significant difference was found in early fatality rate between neonates with and without seizures (8.0% vs. 10.1%). Only gestational age <38 week had a relationship with the appearance of neonatal seizure. Low gestational age has a crucial role for predicting appearance of seizure in Iranian neonates.

Pyoderma gangrenosum in infants and children.

PubMed

Graham, J A; Hansen, K K; Rabinowitz, L G; Esterly, N B

1994-03-01

Pyoderma gangrenosum is an uncommon ulcerative skin disorder that occurs in all age groups. Approximately 4% of patients are infants and children. There are several notable differences between the childhood and adult manifestations of the disease, including the distribution of lesions and associated disorders. We reviewed the childhood cases (< or = 18 yrs of age) of unequivocal pyoderma gangrenosum in the English literature and tabulated the trends in clinical features, associated disorders, and therapy. We report our 3-week-old patient, the youngest documented case. Of the 46 patients, only 4 were less than 1 year of age. A systemic illness was present in 74% of the older children, most commonly, ulcerative colitis. Only one infant had an associated problem (HIV+) at the time of onset. Infants appear to have an unusual distribution of perianal and genital lesions not often described in other age groups. Our review suggests that pyoderma gangrenosum in children has a similar clinical appearance to that in adults. It is associated with some of the same underlying disorders, but with different frequencies. The distribution of lesions in children is similar, often involving the lower extremities, but pyoderma gangrenosum of the head and face appears to be more common in children. Infants may have ulcers in genital and perianal areas. The most frequently prescribed treatment for children is systemic corticosteroids, which generally are very effective.

A decade of road traffic fatalities among the elderly in north-West Iran.

PubMed

Sadeghi-Bazargani, Homayoun; Samadirad, Bahram; Moslemi, Farnaz

2018-01-08

Iran has a uniquely catastrophic status for road traffic injury incidence and fatality. The elderly account for a substantial number of the hospitalizations and fatalities due to traffic injuries. The aim of this study was to investigate the crash mechanisms and medical outcomes of traffic fatalities among the elderly in East Azerbaijan province of Iran during the period 2006-2016. A total of 9435 fatalities registered in East Azerbaijan forensic medicine database, Iran, during 2006-2016, were investigated. Of these, 1357 were elderly persons (age > 65). Both victim- and crash-related variables were compared for the elderly and other age groups. Bivariate and multivariate analysis methods were applied using Stata statistical software package version 13. Of the 9435 fatalities, 1357 victims (14.4%) were elderly persons. The mean age of the elderly traffic fatalities was 75.3(SD = 6.2) years. About 78% of the elderly versus 80% of those in other age groups were males. A decreasing trend of fatal traffic accidents was observed over the study period both for the elderly and other age groups. The elderly were nearly seven times more likely to die as a pedestrian compared to other age groups. By exclusively analyzing pedestrians, it was found that motorcycles were responsible for pedestrian deaths in 9.1% of the fatalities while this figure was 5.5% for pedestrians in other age groups killed in a traffic accident (P < 0.05). About 56% (N = 761) of the elderly died in hospital which was higher than the proportion for other age groups (39%). Ambulance was the main vehicle for transferring the injured victims in four-fifths of the cases both for the elderly and other age groups. Although, in the present study, head injuries were the most common type of injury regardless of the age group, the elderly had a lower percentage of head injuries and a higher percentage of injuries to the torso, pelvis and limbs compared to younger victims. Pedestrian inner-city crashes in East Azerbaijan province of Iran are a major cause of road injury fatalities among the elderly and should be considered as a priority in road safety interventions.

Rejection is less common in children undergoing liver transplantation for hepatoblastoma.

PubMed

Ruth, N D; Kelly, D; Sharif, K; Morland, B; Lloyd, C; McKiernan, P J

2014-02-01

To compare the incidence of acute histologically proven rejection in children who have had a liver transplant for hepatoblastoma with a control group of children transplanted for biliary atresia (EHBA). A retrospective case notes based study was performed. Twenty patients were identified with hepatoblastoma who were transplanted at a single unit between 1991 and 2008. These were matched as closely as possible for age, gender, year of transplant and type of immunosuppression used to the control group transplanted for biliary atresia (n = 60). There was a significant decrease in rate of acute rejection as assessed by the rejection activity index (RAI) in the hepatoblastoma group (75% vs. 50%, respectively, p < 0.04). Chronic rejection was rare in both groups, but twice as common in the biliary atresia group. Equal levels of immunosuppression were achieved in both groups. Renal function was noted to be reduced one yr post-transplant in both groups, as previously reported. A modified immunosuppression regimen could be considered in children with hepatoblastoma undergoing liver transplantation. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Endoscopic findings in patients presenting with dysphagia: analysis of a national endoscopy database.

PubMed

Krishnamurthy, Chaya; Hilden, Kristen; Peterson, Kathryn A; Mattek, Nora; Adler, Douglas G; Fang, John C

2012-03-01

Dysphagia is a common problem and an indication for upper endoscopy. There is no data on the frequency of the different endoscopic findings and whether they change according to demographics or by single versus repeat endoscopy. To determine the prevalence of endoscopic findings in patients with dysphagia and whether findings differ in regard to age, gender, ethnicity, and repeat procedure. This was a retrospective study using a national endoscopic database (CORI). A total of 30,377 patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for dysphagia of which 4,202 patients were repeat endoscopies. Overall frequency of endoscopic findings was determined by gender, age, ethnicity, and single vs. repeat procedures. Esophageal stricture was the most common finding followed by normal, esophagitis/ulcer (EU), Schatzki ring (SR), esophageal food impaction (EFI), and suspected malignancy. Males were more likely to undergo repeat endoscopies and more likely to have stricture, EU, EFI, and suspected malignancy (P = 0.001). Patients 60 years or older had a higher prevalence of stricture, EU, SR, and suspected malignancy (P < 0.0001). Esophageal stricture was most common in white non-Hispanic patients compared to other ethnic groups. In patients undergoing repeat EGD, stricture, SR, EFI, and suspected malignancy were more common (P < 0.0001). The prevalence of endoscopic findings differs significantly by gender, age, and repeat procedure. The most common findings in descending order were stricture, normal, EU, SR, EFI, and suspected malignancy. For patients undergoing a repeat procedure, normal and EU were less common and all other abnormal findings were significantly more common.

Central Sagittal Angle of the Sacrum as a New Risk Factor for Patients with Persistent Low Back Pain after Caesarean Section

PubMed Central

Kazdal, Hizir; Batcik, Osman Ersagun; Ozdemir, Bulent; Senturk, Senol; Yildirim, Murat; Kazancioglu, Leyla; Sen, Ahmet; Batcik, Sule; Balik, Mehmet Sabri

2017-01-01

Study Design Retrospective. Purpose This study investigated the possible association of persistent low back pain (LBP) with caesarean section (CS) under spinal anesthesia. Overview of Literature Many women suffer from LBP after CS, which is commonly performed under spinal anesthesia. However, this type of LBP is poorly understood, and there is poor consensus regarding increased risk after spinal anesthesia. Methods We examined two groups of patients who underwent cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia. Group I included patients who presented to a neurosurgical clinic complaining of LBP for at least 6 months. Group II was a control group with patients without LBP. We analyzed clinical and sagittal angle parameters, including age, body mass index, parity, central sagittal angle of the sacrum (CSAS), and sacral slope (SS). Results Fifty-three patients participated in this study: 23 (43.1%) in Group I and 30 (56.9%) in Group II. Non-parametric Mann–Whitney U-tests showed that age, parity, and CSAS significantly differed between the two groups at 6 months. Conclusions Age, parity, and CSAS appear to be associated with increased risk for LBP after CS under spinal anesthesia. Future prospective studies on this subject may help validate our results. PMID:29093782

Emerging Issues in Adult Female Acne

PubMed Central

Baldwin, Hillary E.; Cook-Bolden, Fran E.; Eichenfield, Lawrence F.; Friedlander, Sheila F.; Rodriguez, David A.

2017-01-01

Acne vulgaris (acne) is a common affliction in adolescence and is a growing problem in adult women. Despite an increasing awareness of acne in the adult female population, there is a lack of good prospective studies assessing the severity, distribution, and differential response to treatment in this group. The long-held dogma that acne in adult women develops on the lower one-third of the face has been recently challenged, and here the authors critically review data from available literature. Moreover, while adult female acne has traditionally been defined as disease in women over age 25, it is the authors’ experience that this group is subdivided into women ages 25 to 44 years, separate from perimenopausal patients, ages 45 years and up. While there is no data specifically comparing these two groups, the authors will review the existing data and provide practical recommendations based on our experience in treating these groups of patients. Finally, while there is a lack of data on this subject, it is the group’s opinion that adherence to medication regimens is likely higher in women than men, which influences therapeutic outcomes. PMID:28210380

Contact allergy: an update.

PubMed

Ljubojević Hadžavdić, Suzana; Pustišek, Nives; Žužul, Kristina; Švigir, Alen

2018-06-01

Contact allergies are common cause of eczema in all age groups and are one of the most common causes of occupational disability. Contact dermatitis (CD) can be divided into irritant and allergic contact dermatitis. Distinguishing between irritant and allergic triggers of CD by clinical and histologic examinations can be challenging. The approach to patients with CD should consist of a detailed (work and leisure) history, skin examination, patch tests with allergens based on history, physical examination, education on materials that contain the allergen and adequate therapy and prevention.

[Epidemiology of refractive errors].

PubMed

Wolfram, C

2017-07-01

Refractive errors are very common and can lead to severe pathological changes in the eye. This article analyzes the epidemiology of refractive errors in the general population in Germany and worldwide and describes common definitions for refractive errors and clinical characteristics for pathologicaal changes. Refractive errors differ between age groups due to refractive changes during the life time and also due to generation-specific factors. Current research about the etiology of refractive errors has strengthened the influence of environmental factors, which led to new strategies for the prevention of refractive pathologies.

Restoration of Functional Integrity After Evacuation of Chronic Subdural Hematoma-An Age-Adjusted Analysis of 697 Patients.

PubMed

Schoedel, Petra; Bruendl, Elisabeth; Hochreiter, Andreas; Scheitzach, Judith; Bele, Sylvia; Brawanski, Alexander; Schebesch, Karl-Michael

2016-10-01

Although chronic subdural hematoma (CSH) can be treated by surgery, little is known about age-dependent symptoms and age-adjusted rates of restoring functional integrity. To evaluate the clinical symptoms and the course of CSH in patients of different age groups (AGs), we reviewed patients with CSH treated at our department over the past 22 years. This retrospective analysis included 697 patients with CSH (461 men, 236 women; mean age 70.1 years). Subgroup analysis was done according to AG 1) <65 years, 2) 66-75 years, 3) 76-85 years, 4) 86-95 years, and 5) >95 years. Most patients had been treated with burr-hole trephination and implantation of a subdural drain (96.5%; n = 673). No significant difference concerning surgical morbidity and mortality was found between the AGs, but patients >75 years more frequently required reoperation (P = 0.001). Preoperatively, the most common symptoms were headache in AGs 1 and 2 (56.3% and 48.5%) and mnestic deficits in AGs 3-5 (54.9%, 51.9%, and 50.0%). After surgery, the clinical symptoms of CSH had significantly abated in all age groups. The most common clinical residuals were motor deficits in AG 1 (10.4%), mnestic deficits in AG 2 (10.7%), AG 4 (24.1%), and AG 5 (50.0%), and organic brain syndrome in AG 3 (15.0%). CSH predominantly caused unspecific symptoms such as headache and cognitive decline. CSH surgery immediately relieved symptoms in patients of all AGs. However, improvement rates significantly depended on patient age. This should be taken into consideration when advising on surgical treatment of CSH. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Perception of Racial Discrimination and Psychopathology Across Three U.S. Ethnic Minority Groups

PubMed Central

Chou, Tina; Asnaani, Anu; Hofmann, Stefan G.

2012-01-01

To examine the association between the perception of racial discrimination and the lifetime prevalence rates of psychological disorders in the three most common ethnic minorities in the U.S., we analyzed data from a sample consisting of 793 Asian Americans, 951 Hispanic Americans, and 2,795 African Americans who received the Composite International Diagnostic Interview through the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Studies. The perception of racial discrimination was associated with the endorsement of major depressive disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia, agoraphobia without history of panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorders in varying degrees amongst the three minority groups, independent of the socioeconomic status, level of education, age, and gender of participants. The results suggest that the perception of racial discrimination is associated with psychopathology in the three most common U.S. minority groups. PMID:21967527

Perception of racial discrimination and psychopathology across three U.S. ethnic minority groups.

PubMed

Chou, Tina; Asnaani, Anu; Hofmann, Stefan G

2012-01-01

To examine the association between the perception of racial discrimination and the lifetime prevalence rates of psychological disorders in the three most common ethnic minorities in the United States, we analyzed data from a sample consisting of 793 Asian Americans, 951 Hispanic Americans, and 2,795 African Americans who received the Composite International Diagnostic Interview through the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Studies. The perception of racial discrimination was associated with the endorsement of major depressive disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia, agoraphobia without history of panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorders in varying degrees among the three minority groups, independent of the socioeconomic status, level of education, age, and gender of participants. The results suggest that the perception of racial discrimination is associated with psychopathology in the three most common U.S. minority groups.

Cancer Specific Mortality in Men Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer before Age 50 Years: A Nationwide Population Based Study.

PubMed

Thorstenson, Andreas; Garmo, Hans; Adolfsson, Jan; Bratt, Ola

2017-01-01

We compared clinical characteristics and cancer specific mortality in men diagnosed with prostate cancer before vs after age 50 years. A total of 919 men 35 to 49 years old and 45,098 men 50 to 66 years old who were diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1998 and 2012 were identified in PCBaSe (Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden). Cancer specific mortality was compared among age groups (35 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 to 63 and 64 to 66 years) with and without adjusting for cancer characteristics, comorbidity and education in a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. Clinical cancer characteristics indicated that most nonmetastatic cancer in men younger than 50 years was detected after prostate specific antigen testing. The proportion of nonmetastatic vs metastatic disease at diagnosis was similar in all age groups. A strong association between younger age and poor prognosis was apparent in men in whom metastatic disease was diagnosed before age 50 to 55 years. The crude and adjusted HRs of cancer specific mortality were 1.41 (95% CI 1.12-1.79) and 1.28 (95% CI 1.01-1.62) in men diagnosed before age 50 and at age 50 to 59 years, respectively. In men with nonmetastatic disease crude cancer specific mortality increased with older age but adjusted cancer specific mortality was similar in all age groups. Our findings suggest that an aggressive form of metastatic prostate cancer is particularly common in men younger than 50 to 55 years. Genetic studies and trials of intensified systemic treatment are warranted in this patient group. Copyright © 2017 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Facial Contrast Is a Cross-Cultural Cue for Perceiving Age

PubMed Central

Porcheron, Aurélie; Mauger, Emmanuelle; Soppelsa, Frédérique; Liu, Yuli; Ge, Liezhong; Pascalis, Olivier; Russell, Richard; Morizot, Frédérique

2017-01-01

Age is a fundamental social dimension and a youthful appearance is of importance for many individuals, perhaps because it is a relevant predictor of aspects of health, facial attractiveness and general well-being. We recently showed that facial contrast—the color and luminance difference between facial features and the surrounding skin—is age-related and a cue to age perception of Caucasian women. Specifically, aspects of facial contrast decrease with age in Caucasian women, and Caucasian female faces with higher contrast look younger (Porcheron et al., 2013). Here we investigated faces of other ethnic groups and raters of other cultures to see whether facial contrast is a cross-cultural youth-related attribute. Using large sets of full face color photographs of Chinese, Latin American and black South African women aged 20–80, we measured the luminance and color contrast between the facial features (the eyes, the lips, and the brows) and the surrounding skin. Most aspects of facial contrast that were previously found to decrease with age in Caucasian women were also found to decrease with age in the other ethnic groups. Though the overall pattern of changes with age was common to all women, there were also some differences between the groups. In a separate study, individual faces of the 4 ethnic groups were perceived younger by French and Chinese participants when the aspects of facial contrast that vary with age in the majority of faces were artificially increased, but older when they were artificially decreased. Altogether these findings indicate that facial contrast is a cross-cultural cue to youthfulness. Because cosmetics were shown to enhance facial contrast, this work provides some support for the notion that a universal function of cosmetics is to make female faces look younger. PMID:28790941

Reference values of one-point carotid stiffness parameters determined by carotid echo-tracking and brachial pulse pressure in a large population of healthy subjects.

PubMed

Vriz, Olga; Aboyans, Victor; Minisini, Rosalba; Magne, Julien; Bertin, Nicole; Pirisi, Mario; Bossone, Eduardo

2017-07-01

Arterial stiffness can predict cardiovascular events, and the aim of this study was to produce age- and sex-specific reference values for echo-tracking carotid stiffness in healthy subjects. A total of 900 subjects (500 males, mean age 45.8±19 years) were enrolled. Common carotid artery stiffness and compliance, using a high-definition echo-tracking ultrasound system, were evaluated. To compare stiffness parameters across the different age groups, individual scores were transformed into T-scores, indicating how many standard deviation (s.d.) units an individual's score was above or below the mean that was observed in the group including same-sex individuals aged 36 to 44 years. Carotid stiffness was similar among genders, except compliance, which was lower in women (P<0.0001). These characteristics were also maintained when the studied population was divided into seven age groups. Stiffness parameters increased significantly with age, but the opposite occurred for compliance. The T-score was found to increase significantly across all age groups, with a steeper increase in stiffness around the age of 60 years in women. For each T-score s.d., the corresponding carotid absolute values for arterial stiffness and compliance were obtained. In a multivariate model, carotid stiffness parameters were constantly and independently associated with age, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, heart rate and body mass index. Our study provides a normogram of carotid arterial stiffness and compliance indices obtained with the echo-tracking method in a large population of healthy subjects stratified by gender and age that can be used in clinical practice.

Facial Contrast Is a Cross-Cultural Cue for Perceiving Age.

PubMed

Porcheron, Aurélie; Mauger, Emmanuelle; Soppelsa, Frédérique; Liu, Yuli; Ge, Liezhong; Pascalis, Olivier; Russell, Richard; Morizot, Frédérique

2017-01-01

Age is a fundamental social dimension and a youthful appearance is of importance for many individuals, perhaps because it is a relevant predictor of aspects of health, facial attractiveness and general well-being. We recently showed that facial contrast-the color and luminance difference between facial features and the surrounding skin-is age-related and a cue to age perception of Caucasian women. Specifically, aspects of facial contrast decrease with age in Caucasian women, and Caucasian female faces with higher contrast look younger (Porcheron et al., 2013). Here we investigated faces of other ethnic groups and raters of other cultures to see whether facial contrast is a cross-cultural youth-related attribute. Using large sets of full face color photographs of Chinese, Latin American and black South African women aged 20-80, we measured the luminance and color contrast between the facial features (the eyes, the lips, and the brows) and the surrounding skin. Most aspects of facial contrast that were previously found to decrease with age in Caucasian women were also found to decrease with age in the other ethnic groups. Though the overall pattern of changes with age was common to all women, there were also some differences between the groups. In a separate study, individual faces of the 4 ethnic groups were perceived younger by French and Chinese participants when the aspects of facial contrast that vary with age in the majority of faces were artificially increased, but older when they were artificially decreased. Altogether these findings indicate that facial contrast is a cross-cultural cue to youthfulness. Because cosmetics were shown to enhance facial contrast, this work provides some support for the notion that a universal function of cosmetics is to make female faces look younger.

Clinical features and outcomes of blunt splenic injury in children

PubMed Central

Yang, Kaiying; Li, Yanan; Wang, Chuan; Xiang, Bo; Chen, Siyuan; Ji, Yi

2017-01-01

Abstract Although the spleen is the most commonly injured intra-abdominal organ after blunt trauma, there are limited data available in China. The objectives of this study were to investigate the clinical features and determine the risk factors for operative management (OM) in children with blunt splenic injury (BSI). A review of the medical records of children diagnosed with BSI between January 2010 and September 2016 at West China Hospital of Sichuan University was performed. A total of 101 patients diagnosed with BSI were recruited, including 76 patients transferred from other hospitals. The male-to-female ratio was 2.06:1, with a mean age of 7.8 years old. The most common injury season was summer and the most common injury mechanism was road traffic accidents. Sixty-eight patients suffered multiple injuries. Thirty-four patients received blood transfusions. Two patients died from multiple organ failure or hemorrhagic shock. Significant differences were observed in the injury season, injury mechanism, injury date, and hemoglobin levels between the isolated injury group and the multiple injuries group. The overall operative rate was 29.7%. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that age, blood transfusion, and grade of injury were independent risk factors for OM. Our study provided evidence that the management of pediatric BSI was variable. The operative rate in pediatric BSI may be higher in certain patient groups. Although nonoperative management is one of the standard treatment options, our data suggest that OM is an appropriate way to treat patients who are hemodynamically unstable. PMID:29390566

Breastfeeding may protect from developing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

PubMed

Mimouni-Bloch, Aviva; Kachevanskaya, Anna; Mimouni, Francis Benjamin; Shuper, Avinoam; Raveh, Eyal; Linder, Nehama

2013-08-01

Breastfeeding has a positive influence on physical and mental development. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurobehavioral disorder with major social, familial, and academic influences. The present study aimed to evaluate whether ADHD is associated with a shorter duration of breastfeeding. In this retrospective matched study, children 6-12 years old diagnosed at Schneider's Children Medical Center (Petach Tikva, Israel) with ADHD between 2008 and 2009 were compared with two control groups. The first one consisted of healthy (no ADHD) siblings of ADHD children; the second control group consisted of children without ADHD who consulted at the otolaryngology clinic. A constructed questionnaire about demographic, medical, and perinatal findings, feeding history during the first year of life, and a validated adult ADHD screening questionnaire were given to both parents of every child in each group. In children later diagnosed as having ADHD, 43% were breastfed at 3 months of age compared with 69% in the siblings group and 73% in the control non-related group (p=0.002). By 6 months of age 29% of ADHD children were breastfed compared with 50% in the siblings group and 57% in the control non-related group (p=0.011). A stepwise logistic regression that included the variables found to be significant in univariate analysis demonstrated a significant association between ADHD and lack of breastfeeding at 3 months of age, maternal age at birth, male gender, and parental divorce. Children with ADHD were less likely to breastfeed at 3 months and 6 months of age than children in the two control groups. We speculate that breastfeeding may have a protective effect from developing ADHD later in childhood.

ARTICULATION OF SPEECH SOUNDS OF SERBIAN LANGUAGE IN CHILDREN AGED SIX TO EIGHT.

PubMed

Mihajlović, Biljana; Cvjetićanin, Bojana; Veselinović, Mila; Škrbić, Renata; Mitrović, Slobodan M

2015-01-01

Phonetic and phonological system of the healthy members of one linguistic community is fully formed around 8 yedrs of age. The auditory and articulatory habits are established with age and tend to be more difficult to be upgraded and completed later. The research was done as a cross-sectional study, conducted at the preschool institution "Radosno detinjstvo" and primary school "Branko Radičević" in Novi Sad. It included 66 children of both genders, aged 6 to 8. The quality of articulation was determined according to the Global Articulation Test by working with each child individually. In each individual vowel, plosive, nasal, lateral and fricative, the quality of articulation was statistically significantly better in the first graders compared to the preschool children (p<0.01). In each affricate, except for the sound /ć/, the quality of articulation was statistically significantly better in the first graders than in the preschool children (p<0.01). The quality of articulation of all speech sounds was statistically significantly better in the first graders than in the preschool children (p<0.01). The most common disorder of articulation is distortion, while only substitution and substitution associated with distortion are less common. Omission does not occur in children from 6 to 8 years of age. Girls have slightly better quality of articulation. The articulatory disorders are more common in preschool children than in children who are in the first grade of primary school. The most commonly mispronounced sounds belong to the group of affricates and fricatives.

Analysis of 809 Facial Bone Fractures in a Pediatric and Adolescent Population

PubMed Central

Kim, Sang Hun; Lee, Soo Hyang

2012-01-01

Background Facial fractures are infrequent in children and adolescents and have different clinical features from those in adults. The low incidence in children and adolescents reflects the flexibility and underdevelopment of their facial skeletons, as well as their more protected environments. Only a few reports have reviewed such patients in Korea. The authors performed a retrospective study to analyze the characteristics of facial fractures in the Korean pediatric population. Methods We conducted a retrospective review on a series of 741 patients, aged <18 years, with facial fractures who had been treated at our hospital between 2006 and 2010. The following parameters were evaluated: age, sex, cause, location and type of fractures, associated injuries, treatment and complications. Results A total of 741 consecutive patients met the inclusion criteria. The ratio of boys to girls was 5.7:1. Facial fractures most commonly occurred in patients between 13 and 15 years of age (36.3%). The most common causes of injury was violence. The nasal fracture was the most common type of fracture (69%) and the blowout fracture was the second most common (20%). Associated injuries occurred in 156 patients (21%). Conclusions The incidence of pediatric facial fractures caused by violence is high in Korea. Our results show that as age increases, etiological factors and fracture patterns gradually shift towards those found in adults. This study provides an overview of facial fractures in these age groups that helps illustrate the trends and characteristics of the fractures and may be helpful in further evaluation and management. PMID:23233885

Polymerase Gamma Disease through the Ages

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saneto, Russell P.; Naviaux, Robert K.

2010-01-01

The most common group of mitochondrial disease is due to mutations within the mitochondrial DNA polymerase, polymerase gamma 1 ("POLG"). This gene product is responsible for replication and repair of the small mitochondrial DNA genome. The structure-function relationship of this gene product produces a wide variety of diseases that at times, seems…

Differences That Make a Difference: A Study in Collaborative Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Touchman, Stephanie

2012-01-01

Collaborative learning is a common teaching strategy in classrooms across age groups and content areas. It is important to measure and understand the cognitive process involved during collaboration to improve teaching methods involving interactive activities. This research attempted to answer the question: why do students learn more in…

Parenting Styles of Lower Class Minority Mothers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ross, Wendy Middlemiss; And Others

Efforts were undertaken to develop a parental interview for determining parenting style of parents of children of all ages and children within several subcultural groups. The interview provided mothers with descriptions of common situations in the home and asked the mothers to choose specific responses representing the following parenting styles:…

High School Students and "Read Across America"?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fisher, Julieta Dias; Hill, Ann

2004-01-01

Although more commonly associated with elementary school rather than high school students, "Read Across America" celebrations can cater to any age group and generate enthusiasm for reading long after the festivities have ended. In this article, the authors, library media specialists at Washington Township High School in Sewell, New Jersey, share …

Optimizing Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Childhood Psychiatric Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Piacentini, John

2008-01-01

Reports that expand the understanding of the treatment of childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder by using exposure-based cognitive-behavioral therapy in the age group of 5 to 8-year-olds are presented. A model for collecting the common core elements of evidence-based psychosocial treatments for childhood disorders is also presented.

Characterization of American Football Injuries in Children and Adolescents.

PubMed

Smith, Patrick J; Hollins, Anthony M; Sawyer, Jeffrey R; Spence, David D; Outlaw, Shane; Kelly, Derek M

2018-02-01

As a collision sport, football carries a significant risk of injury, as indicated by the large number of pediatric football-related injuries seen in emergency departments. There is little information in the medical literature focusing on the age-related injury patterns of this sport. Our purpose was to evaluate the types of football-related injuries that occur in children and adolescents and assess which patient characteristics, if any, affect injury pattern. Retrospective chart review was performed of football-related injuries treated at a level 1 pediatric referral hospital emergency department and surrounding urgent care clinics between January 2010 and January 2014. Patients with e-codes for tackle football selected from the electronic medical record were divided into 4 age groups: younger than 8 years old, 8 to 11, 12 to 14, and 15 to 18 years. Data collected included diagnosis codes, procedure codes, and hospital admission status. Review identified 1494 patients with 1664 football-related injuries, including 596 appendicular skeleton fractures, 310 sprains, 335 contusions, 170 closed head injuries, 62 dislocations, 9 spinal cord injuries, and 14 solid organ injuries. There were 646 (43.2%) athletes with upper extremity injuries and 487 (32.6%) with injuries to the lower extremity. Hospital admissions were required in 109 (7.3%) patients. Fracture was the most common injury in all four patient age groups, but occurred at a lower rate in the 15 to 18 years old age group. The rate of soft tissue injury was higher in the 15 to 18 years old age group. The rate of closed head injury, which included concussions, was highest in the younger than 8 years old age group. Age does influence the rates of certain football-related injuries in children and adolescents. Fractures decrease with increasing age, while the rate of soft tissue trauma increases with increasing age. Younger patients (younger than 8 y old) trended toward higher rates of closed head injury compared with other age groups. Awareness of these variations in injury patterns based on age could result in age-specific changes in equipment, training, and safety rules. Level IV-case series.

Expressive Language Intratest Scatter of Preschool-Age Children Who Stutter.

PubMed

Millager, Ryan A; Conture, Edward G; Walden, Tedra A; Kelly, Ellen M

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to assess intratest scatter (variability) on standardized tests of expressive language by preschool-age children who do (CWS) and do not stutter (CWNS). Participants were 40 preschool-age CWS and 46 CWNS. Between-group comparisons of intratest scatter were made based on participant responses to the Expressive subtest of the Test of Early Language Development - 3 (TELD-Exp; Hresko, Reid, & Hamill, 1999) and the Expressive Vocabulary Test 2 (EVT-2; Williams, 2007). Within-group correlational analyses between intratest scatter and stuttering frequency and severity were also conducted for CWS. Findings indicated that, for CWS, categorical scatter on the EVT-2 was positively correlated with their stuttering frequency. No significant between-group differences in intratest scatter were found on the TELD-Exp or the EVT-2. Consistent with earlier findings, variability in speech-language performance appears to be related to CWS' stuttering, a finding taken to suggest an underlying cognitive-linguistic variable (e.g., cognitive load) may be common to both variables.

Dry Eye Syndrome in Menopause and Perimenopausal Age Group.

PubMed

Peck, Travis; Olsakovsky, Leslie; Aggarwal, Shruti

2017-01-01

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial ocular surface disease that causes symptoms of ocular pain, discomfort, and decreased visual acuity. It significantly affects quality of life of patients. It is more prevalent in the females and is being specifically in the menopausal and postmenopausal age group. This is believed to be due to the changes in balance of sex hormones. Sex hormones - estrogens and androgens - influence production of all components of the tear film including aqueous layer, lipid, and mucin. Various mechanisms such as decrease in hormonal levels, shift in feedback mechanisms, and changes in receptor receptivity interplay to alter the ocular surface homeostasis and subsequently result in DED. Several studies have suggested potential role of hormone replacement therapy in menopause-associated dry eye symptoms. The purpose of this review is to help the non ophthalmic physicians about DED encountered commonly in menopausal age group. It is important for primary care physicians to understand DED due to its high prevalence, often debilitating symptoms and the potentially preventable and treatable nature of the condition.

Child homicide victims in forensic autopsy in Taiwan: A 10-year retrospective study.

PubMed

Hwa, Hsiao-Lin; Pan, Chih-Hsin; Shu, Guang-Ming; Chang, Chin-Hao; Lee, Tsui-Ting; Lee, James Chun-I

2015-12-01

Child homicides are critical medico-legal issues worldwide. Data on the characteristics of these cases in Asia are limited. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of child homicides in Taiwan. A retrospective analysis of forensic autopsy records of child homicide victims (aged 0-17 years) in Taiwan, during a 10-year period between 2001 and 2010, was carried out. The age, sex, relationship with the perpetrator(s), injury patterns of the victims, and causes of death were analyzed. In all, 193 child homicide autopsies were identified. There were 38 (19.7%), 82 (42.5%), 25 (13.0%), and 48 (24.9%) homicide victims aged under 1, 1-5, 6-12, and 13-17 years, respectively. One-hundred boys (mean age: 8.4±7.0) and 93 girls (mean age: 3.7±4.3) were included. A female predominance was noted among the victims aged 0-5. Blunt force (53.4%) was the most frequent method of injury, followed by suffocation/strangulation (20.2%) and sharp force (13.0%). Bruise (64.8%) and brain injury (45.1%) were the most common types of injuries. The cranium (62.2%) and face (60.6%) were the most frequently injured body regions. The distribution of fatal injuries varied among victims in different age groups. Neurogenic shock, asphyxia, and hemorrhagic shocks were most common in victims aged 0-5, 6-12, and 13-17, respectively. The most frequent causes of death included blunt force head injury (40.4%), suffocation/strangulation (20.2%), and sharp force lung trauma (7.3%). The type of offenders, injury methods, types of injuries, distribution of injuries, mechanism of death, and causes of death were significantly different among victims of different age groups. Eighteen (9.33%) victims displayed no external evidence of trauma. The patterns of injuries, mechanism of death, and causes of death were different among victims of different age groups. A female predominance was noted among the victims aged 0-5. Complete forensic autopsy is necessary to identify child homicide. This report will help forensic examiners and forensic pathologists recognize the signs of child homicide and serve as a working basis for these professionals. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Immunogenicity and safety of purified vero cell rabies vaccine (PVRV) produced by Liaoning Cheng Da Co. under Zagreb 2-1-1 or 5-dose Essen regimen in Chinese adults aged 50 and above

PubMed Central

Wang, Jing; Luo, FengJi; Feng, ZiJian; Li, Li; Bai, YunHua; Ai, Xing; Ma, JianXin; Zhang, Zheng; Shi, NianMin

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Background: Two kinds of regimens (2-1-1 and 1-1-1-1-1) can be selected after Zagreb regimen(2-1-1)of PVRV was officially approved in Beijing in January 2015. Up to now, the subjects for most studies about the comparison between Zagreb and Essen regimen are under 50 y old, rarely at and above. Aging of the immune system may result in decreasing efficacy of vaccination, especially for adults aged above 65–70 y. This study compared the safety and immunogenicity of the Zagreb and Essen regimen in Chinese adults aged 50 and above with the goal to provide a supplemental data for this age group. Methods: A total of 114 cases were divided into 2 groups randomly, received PVRV under the Zagreb and Essen regimens respectively. Serum samples were collected at D0, D7, D14, D42, D180 and D365 to determine the rabies serum neutralizing antibody by rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT). Safety analyses were made by comparing the AEs in day-3, day-7, and day-(7 + 21) in Zagreb or day-(7 + 28) in Essen by gender and age cohorts. Results: 617 blood samples were obtained. Two groups showed similar immunogenicity, the neutralizing antibody titer of all subjects at D14 and D42 showed >0.5 IU/ml. Under the same regimen, Subjects ≥65 y had lower GMC than those who <65 years from D7 to D365 within 2 groups. This difference was significantly shown on D7, D14, D180 in Zagreb group, and on D180 in Essen group (t = 2.38, p = 0.02; t = 3.78, p < 0.001; t = 2.30, p = 0.03; t = 4.42, p < 0.001). Subjects<65 years had higher seroconversion rate compared to ≥65 y on D7, D180 and D365 in both 2 groups, this difference was also significantly shown on D180, D365 in Zagreb group and on D180 in Essen group (χ2 = 20.66, p < 0.001; χ2 = 6.56, p = 0.02; χ2 = 10.96, p = 0.002). Two regimens all showed favorable performances with mildly or common adverse events (AEs). The incidence of local AEs after 3 d in Essen group was higher than Zagreb group (χ2 = 9.69, p = 0.002). The most common local AE was pain, the incidences (8.8%) in Zagreb group was higher than Essen group (8.4%, χ2 = 5.12, p = 0.02). All AEs for Zagreb group and 52.3% of AEs for Essen group occurred during the first 72 hours. During the first 72 hours, subjects aged <65 in Zagreb group (16.26%) had higher incidences of AEs than Essen group (8.57%, χ2 = 4.54, p = 0.03), males in Zagreb group (16.05%) had higher incidence of AEs than Essen group (5.71%, χ2 = 5.34, p = 0.02). The incidences of AEs close in during the first 7 d. Conclusion: The Zagreb and Essen regimens demonstrated the similar safety and efficacy of PVRV in Chinese adults aged 50 and above. People ≥65 y showed reduced immune response to both regimens. More AEs for the Zagreb regimen were observed within the first 72 hours, especially for male and people < 65 y. PMID:28045585

A general factor of death distress in seven clinical and non-clinical groups.

PubMed

Abdel-Khalek, Ahmed M

2004-11-01

The Arabic Scale of Death anxiety (ASDA), the Death Depression Scale (DDS), and the Death Obsession Scale (DOS) were administered, individually, to 7 groups (n = 765) of Egyptian normal participants (non-clinical), anxiety disorder patients, patients suffering from schizophrenia (males and females), and addicts (males only). They were generally matched as groups according to age, occupation, and education. The intercorrelations between the 3 scales in all 7 groups were significant and positive. A general high-loaded factor of death distress was extracted in all 7 groups. It was the only salient factor, accounting for 50-70% of the common variance.

A retrospective study of oral cysts in Nigerian children.

PubMed

Salako, N O; Taiwo, E O

1995-01-01

A retrospective analysis of oral cysts that were seen over an 11-year period in children at a dental institution in Nigeria was carried out. In general, oral cysts accounted for only 2.6% of the total biopsied lesions during the period under review. The most common oral cysts were the mucous retention cysts, the gingival cysts of infants and the dentigerous cyst. The commonest sites were the maxilla, the mandible and the floor of the mouth respectively and there was no significant difference in sex preference. Most of the cases were seen in the age group 11-16 years while the least was in the group aged 6-10 years.

Children with autism spectrum disorders and selective mutism

PubMed Central

Steffenburg, Hanna; Steffenburg, Suzanne; Gillberg, Christopher; Billstedt, Eva

2018-01-01

Background It has been suggested that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) might be a “comorbid” condition in selective mutism (SM). Methods In this retrospective study, we examined medical records of children with SM diagnosis (n=97) at a medical center specializing in assessment of ASD. Results Mean age for onset of SM symptoms was 4.5 years and mean age at SM diagnosis was 8.8 years. SM was more common among girls (boy:girl ratio=2.7:1). We found that 63% of the study group had an ASD (no gender difference). The SM group with combined ASD had later onset of symptoms, higher age at diagnosis, more often a history of speech delay, and a higher proportion of borderline IQ or intellectual disability. Conclusion The results highlight the risk of overlap between ASD and SM. PMID:29765220

The Health Consequences of Obesity in Young Adulthood.

PubMed

Cheng, Hoi Lun; Medlow, Sharon; Steinbeck, Katharine

2016-03-01

Young adults are gaining weight faster than any age group. This weight gain and the appearance of obesity-related comorbidities often commence in adolescence. Psychosocial distress and mental health issues are common and debilitating, and treatment approaches are likely to be similar to those for adolescents. At the same time, young adults may have physical morbidities which will continue and worsen throughout adulthood, such as hypertension, diabetes and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Health consequences of obesity are challenging to manage in young adults as their symptoms may be minimal, they are less likely to engage with healthcare due to other life priorities and their neurocognitive developmental stage makes therapy adherence difficult. Clinicians who manage young adults with obesity need to be aware of these age-specific challenges, as well as the sexual and reproductive health concerns that are present in this age group.

Early vs late age at onset frontotemporal dementia and frontotemporal lobar degeneration.

PubMed

Seo, Sang Won; Thibodeau, Marie-Pierre; Perry, David C; Hua, Alice; Sidhu, Manu; Sible, Isabel; Vargas, Jose Norberto S; Gaus, Stephanie E; Rabinovici, Gil D; Rankin, Katherine D; Boxer, Adam L; Kramer, Joel H; Rosen, Howard J; Gorno-Tempini, Maria Luisa; Grinberg, Lea T; Huang, Eric J; DeArmond, Stephen J; Trojanowski, John Q; Miller, Bruce L; Seeley, William W

2018-03-20

To examine clinicopathologic correlations in early vs late age at onset frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). All patients were clinically evaluated and prospectively diagnosed at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center. Two consecutive series were included: (1) patients with a clinically diagnosed FTD syndrome who underwent autopsy (cohort 1) and (2) patients with a primary pathologic diagnosis of FTLD, regardless of the clinical syndrome (cohort 2). These series were divided by age at symptom onset (cutoff 65 years). In cohort 1, 48 (25.3%) were 65 years or older at symptom onset. Pathologic causes of behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD) were similar in the early age at onset (EO) and late age at onset (LO) bvFTD groups. In corticobasal syndrome (CBS), however, the most common pathologic substrate differed according to age at onset: progressive supranuclear palsy (42.9%) in LO-CBS and Alzheimer disease (AD; 40.7%) in EO-CBS. In cohort 2, 57 (28.4%) were classified as LO-FTLD. Regarding FTLD major molecular classes, FTLD with transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa was most common in EO-FTLD (44.4%), whereas FTLD-tau (58.3%) was most common in LO-FTLD. Antemortem diagnosis of a non-FTD syndrome, usually AD-type dementia, was more frequent in LO-FTLD than EO-FTLD (19.3% vs 7.7%, p = 0.017). LO-FTLD was also associated with more prevalent comorbid pathologic changes. Of these, moderate to severe AD neuropathologic change and argyrophilic grain disease were overrepresented among patients who received an antemortem diagnosis of AD-type dementia. Patients with FTD and FTLD often develop symptoms after age 65, and age at onset represents an important consideration when making antemortem neuropathologic predictions. © 2018 American Academy of Neurology.

Off-premise alcohol purchasing in Australia: Variations by age group, income level and annual amount purchased.

PubMed

Jiang, Heng; Callinan, Sarah; Livingston, Michael; Room, Robin

2017-03-01

To delineate what type and how much alcohol is purchased from different types of off-licence premises and how this varies across demographic sub-groups, as a basis for public debate and decisions on pricing and planning policies to reduce alcohol-related harm in Australia. The data on alcohol purchasing from off-licence premises are taken from the Australian Alcohol Consumption and Purchasing survey-a nationally representative landline and mobile telephone survey in 2013 on the experiences with alcohol consumption and purchasing of 2020 Australians aged 16+. The present analysis uses data from 1730 respondents who purchased alcohol from off-licence premises in the previous 6 months. The majority (54%) of alcohol purchased from off-licence premises was sold from liquor barns (large warehouse-style alcohol stores), with bottle shops (31%) the second most common outlet. Cask wine was the cheapest alcohol available at off-licence premises in Australia. Respondents in higher alcohol purchasing quintiles and with those with lower income purchased a higher percentage of cheaper alcohol in their total volume of purchasing than lower purchasing quintiles and those with middle and higher income, and younger respondents purchased more expensive alcohol than older age groups. A minimum unit price or increasing alcohol taxes may effectively reduce alcohol purchasing for lower income heavy alcohol purchasers and older age groups from off-licence premise sources, and may be less effective on younger age groups. [Jiang H, Callinan S, Livingston M, Room R. Off-premise alcohol purchasing in Australia: Variations by age group, income level and annual amount purchased. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;36:210-219]. © 2016 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.

Characterizing the type and location of intracranial abnormalities in mild traumatic brain injury.

PubMed

Isokuortti, Harri; Iverson, Grant L; Silverberg, Noah D; Kataja, Anneli; Brander, Antti; Öhman, Juha; Luoto, Teemu M

2018-01-12

OBJECTIVE The incidence of intracranial abnormalities after mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) varies widely across studies. This study describes the characteristics of intracranial abnormalities (acute/preexisting) in a large representative sample of head-injured patients who underwent CT imaging in an emergency department. METHODS CT scans were systematically analyzed/coded in the TBI Common Data Elements framework. Logistic regression modeling was used to quantify risk factors for traumatic intracranial abnormalities in patients with mild TBIs. This cohort included all patients who were treated at the emergency department of the Tampere University Hospital (between 2010 and 2012) and who had undergone head CT imaging after suffering a suspected TBI (n = 3023), including 2766 with mild TBI and a reference group with moderate to severe TBI. RESULTS The most common traumatic lesions seen on CT scans obtained in patients with mild TBIs and those with moderate to severe TBIs were subdural hematomas, subarachnoid hemorrhages, and contusions. Every sixth patient (16.1%) with mild TBI had an intracranial lesion compared with 5 of 6 patients (85.6%) in the group with moderate to severe TBI. The distribution of different types of acute traumatic lesions was similar among mild and moderate/severe TBI groups. Preexisting brain lesions were a more common CT finding among patients with mild TBIs than those with moderate to severe TBIs. Having a past traumatic lesion was associated with increased risk for an acute traumatic lesion but neurodegenerative and ischemic lesions were not. A lower Glasgow Coma Scale score, male sex, older age, falls, and chronic alcohol abuse were associated with higher risk of acute intracranial lesion in patients with mild TBI. CONCLUSIONS These findings underscore the heterogeneity of neuropathology associated with the mild TBI classification. Preexisting brain lesions are common in patients with mild TBI, and the incidence of preexisting lesions increases with age. Acute traumatic lesions are fairly common in patients with mild TBI; every sixth patient had a positive CT scan. Older adults (especially men) who fall represent a susceptible group for acute CT-positive TBI.

Profile of renal AA amyloidosis in older and younger individuals: a single-centre experience.

PubMed

Erdogmus, Siyar; Kendi Celebi, Zeynep; Akturk, Serkan; Kumru, Gizem; Duman, Neval; Ates, Kenan; Erturk, Sehsuvar; Nergizoglu, Gokhan; Kutlay, Sim; Sengul, Sule; Keven, Kenan

2018-05-18

In epidemiological studies of amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis from Turkey, the most frequently cause was familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and it occurs generally in young age population. However, there are no sufficient data regarding aetiology, clinical presentation and prognosis of renal AA amyloidosis in advanced age patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate demographic, clinical presentation, aetiology and outcomes of adults aged 60 years or older patients with biopsy-proven renal AA amyloidosis. This is a retrospective study involving 53 patients who were diagnosed with AA amyloidosis by kidney biopsy from 2006 to 2016. In all patients, kidney biopsies were performed due to asymptomatic proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome and/or renal insufficiency. The patients were separated into two groups on the basis of age (group I: ≥60 years and group II: <60 years). Outcomes of patients in terms of the requirement of renal replacement therapy and mortality were recorded. In patients with group I, the causes of AA amyloidosis were as follows: FMF 16 (50%), bronchiectasis 7 (23%), chronic osteomyelitis 2 (6%), inflammatory bowel disease 2 (6%), rheumatoid arthritis 2 (6%), ankylosing spondylitis 1 (3%) and unknown aetiology 2 (6%). The underlying disorders of AA amyloidosis in group II patients were as follows: FMF 17 (81%), Behcet's disease 1 (5%) and unknown aetiology 3 (14%). No statistically significant differences were detected between two groups with regard to systolic and diastolic blood pressures, albumin, proteinuria and lipids. The combination of chronic kidney disease and nephrotic syndrome was the most common clinical presentation in group I (73%) and group II (43%) (p = .05). Compared to the group II, estimated glomerular filtration rate was significantly lower in group I at the time of kidney biopsy (p = .003). At 12-month follow-up, 61% of the group I and 33% of the group II developed end-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis, while 11% of the group I died. Our results indicated that renal AA amyloidosis is a rare disease in advanced age patients. At baseline and follow-up period, advanced age patients had worse kidney disease and outcomes.

Immunophenotypic Alterations in Resident Immune Cells and Myocardial Fibrosis in the Aging Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta) Heart

PubMed Central

Macri, Sheila C.; Bailey, Charles C.; de Oca, Nicole Monts; Silva, Nilsa A.; Rosene, Douglas L.; Mansfield, Keith G.; Miller, Andrew D.

2012-01-01

The rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) is used extensively in translational biomedical research and drug development studies and is an important model of aging. Macaques often develop myocardial fibrosis with age which can result in the loss of normal cardiac architecture with the expansion of the extracellular matrix and deposition of collagen. The etiology and pathogenesis of this pernicious process is poorly understood. Cardiac fibrosis was assessed using histologic and immunohistochemical techniques in cardiac tissue sections from 34 rhesus macaques. Overall left ventricular and left ventricular mid-myocardial interstitial/perivascular fibrosis were positively correlated with age (r=0.6522, p<0.0001 and r=0.4704, p=0.005, respectively). When divided into young (mean=2.8 years), middle-aged (mean=17.5 years), and advanced age (mean=29.2 years) groups, immunophenotypic characterization of antigen presenting cells revealed differential expression of CD163 and DC-SIGN between the young and middle-aged groups compared to the advanced age group (p<0.0001). HAM-56 expression decreased significantly in the advanced age cohort (p=0.0021). The expression of CD8, CD163, and DCSIGN correlated positively with age (r=0.3999, p= 0.0191; r=0.5676, p=0.0005; r=0.5245, p=0.0014 respectively). These results show the importance of myocardial fibrosis as a common age-related pathology and additionally, alterations in T cell, macrophage, and dendritic cell phenotype in rhesus macaque myocardium are associated with age but unassociated with the fibrosis. PMID:22328408

High Sensitivity of Aged Mice to Deoxynivalenol (Vomitoxin)-Induced Anorexia Corresponds to Elevated Proinflammatory Cytokine and Satiety Hormone Responses

PubMed Central

Clark, Erica S.; Flannery, Brenna M.; Gardner, Elizabeth M.; Pestka, James J.

2015-01-01

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a trichothecene mycotoxin that commonly contaminates cereal grains, is a public health concern because of its adverse effects on the gastrointestinal and immune systems. The objective of this study was to compare effects of DON on anorectic responses in aged (22 mos) and adult (3 mos) mice. Aged mice showed increased feed refusal with both acute i.p. (1 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg) and dietary (1, 2.5, 10 ppm) DON exposure in comparison to adult mice. In addition to greater suppression of food intake from dietary DON exposure, aged mice also exhibited greater but transient body weight suppression. When aged mice were acutely exposed to 1 mg/kg bw DON i.p., aged mice displayed elevated DON and DON3GlcA tissue levels and delayed clearance in comparison with adult mice. Acute DON exposure also elicited higher proinflammatory cytokine and satiety hormone responses in the plasma of the aged group compared with the adult group. Increased susceptibility to DON-induced anorexia in aged mice relative to adult mice suggests that advanced life stage could be a critical component in accurate human risk assessments for DON and other trichothecenes. PMID:26492270

High Sensitivity of Aged Mice to Deoxynivalenol (Vomitoxin)-Induced Anorexia Corresponds to Elevated Proinflammatory Cytokine and Satiety Hormone Responses.

PubMed

Clark, Erica S; Flannery, Brenna M; Gardner, Elizabeth M; Pestka, James J

2015-10-19

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a trichothecene mycotoxin that commonly contaminates cereal grains, is a public health concern because of its adverse effects on the gastrointestinal and immune systems. The objective of this study was to compare effects of DON on anorectic responses in aged (22 mos) and adult (3 mos) mice. Aged mice showed increased feed refusal with both acute i.p. (1 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg) and dietary (1, 2.5, 10 ppm) DON exposure in comparison to adult mice. In addition to greater suppression of food intake from dietary DON exposure, aged mice also exhibited greater but transient body weight suppression. When aged mice were acutely exposed to 1 mg/kg bw DON i.p., aged mice displayed elevated DON and DON3GlcA tissue levels and delayed clearance in comparison with adult mice. Acute DON exposure also elicited higher proinflammatory cytokine and satiety hormone responses in the plasma of the aged group compared with the adult group. Increased susceptibility to DON-induced anorexia in aged mice relative to adult mice suggests that advanced life stage could be a critical component in accurate human risk assessments for DON and other trichothecenes.

Quantifying the adverse effect of excessive heat on children: An elevated risk of hand, foot and mouth disease in hot days.

PubMed

Zhang, Wangjian; Du, Zhicheng; Zhang, Dingmei; Yu, Shicheng; Hao, Yuantao

2016-01-15

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common childhood infection and has become a major public health issue in China. Considerable research has focused on the role of meteorological factors such as temperature and relative humidity in HFMD development. However, no studies have specifically quantified the impact of another major environmental agent, excessive heat, on HFMD. The current study was designed to help address this research gap. Case-based HFMD surveillance data and daily meteorological data collected between 2010 and 2012 was obtained from China CDC and the National Meteorological Information Center, respectively. Distributed lag nonlinear models were applied to assess the impact of excessive heat on HFMD and its variability across social-economic status and age groups. After controlling the effects of several potential confounders, the commonly hot days were found to positively affect the HFMD burdens with the relative risk (RR) peaking at around 6 days of lag. The RR of HFMD in the Pearl-River Delta Region was generally higher and persisted longer than that in the remaining developing areas. Regarding the inter-age group discrepancy, children aged 3-6 years old had the highest risk of HFMD under conditions of excessive heat whereas those greater than 6 years old had the lowest. The lag structure of the impact of the extremely hot days was quite similar to that of the commonly hot days, although the relative effect of these two kinds of conditions of excessive heat might vary across regions. This study indicated significantly facilitating effects of excessive heat on HFMD especially among those aged 3-6 and from developed areas. Results from the current study were particularly practical and important for developing area-and-age-targeted control programs in the context of climate change and urbanization. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Gender and age differences in medications dispensed from a national chain drugstore.

PubMed

Anthony, Marietta; Lee, Kwan Y; Bertram, Carl T; Abarca, Jacob; Rehfeld, Rick A; Malone, Daniel C; Freeman, Marlene; Woosley, Raymond L

2008-06-01

Our objective was to compare sex and age differences in the medications dispensed in pharmacies from a large national drugstore chain. Using a list for the 200 most commonly prescribed medicines, we assessed prescriptions dispensed by a large national chain drug store over 1 year (2002-2003). The analysis used U.S. census data adjusted for the population by sex and age and weighted by the number of pharmacies per state. Results are reported as an odds ratio (OR) of prescriptions dispensed to females and males. Under age 18, 24 drug classes were dispensed more commonly to females (OR > 1) and 18 drug classes more commonly to males (OR < 1). In the 18-24 age group, 48 of 53 drug classes were dispensed more frequently to females. Across other adult groups, females were dispensed more medications than males for 156 of 180 medications. There was greater dispensing to females of antibiotics (OR = 1.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.74-1.74), analgesics (OR = 1.70, 95% CI 1.70-1.70), antihistamines and sympathomimetics (OR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.45-1.46), benzodiazapines (OR = 2.08, 95% CI 2.07-2.08), antidepressants (OR = 2.40, 95% CI 2.39-2.40), diuretics (OR = 1.9328, 95% CI 1.93-1.94), and thyroid drugs (OR = 4.80, 95% CI 4.78-4.82). However, males had higher dispensing of antianginal drugs (OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.83-0.85), anticoagulants (OR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.88-0.90), glycosides (OR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.79-0.81), and antihypertensives (OR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.91-0.91). More females were dispensed propoxyphene with acetaminophen (OR = 2.23, 95% CI 2.23-2.24), which has been associated with adverse outcomes (hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and deaths). Females, especially during the reproductive years, are dispensed more medications than males.

The relationship between smoking and exercise among physical education teachers in Turkey.

PubMed

Gundogdu, Cemal; Oguzoncul, A Ferdane

2013-07-04

We studied the relationship between smoking and exercise among physical education teachers in Turkey. An online questionnaire was used to collect data. The responses of 1,995 teachers who completed the questionnaire were evaluated. The mean age of the participants was 31.0 +/- 4.7 years; 67.4% of the participants were male. The smoking rate was 65.2%. The mean age of onset of smoking was 16.6 +/- 2.6 years. The age of starting smoking increased with higher parental education level. There were no differences between smokers and nonsmokers with respect to gender. Of smokers, 51.2% were married; 52.4% were in the 30-39 year old age group. The most common reasons for starting smoking were the influence of friends and emulation. The most common reason for trying to quit smoking among men was future health concerns and among women was current health concerns. We found smoking was less common among participants who exercised regularly. The level of nicotine dependence was significantly lower among participants who exercised regularly compared to those who did not. This study suggests physical education teachers, who are role models for their students, have a high smoking rate. We believe urgent action is needed to reduce the smoking rate and increase the quit rate among physical education teachers.

Evaluation of effect of letrozole prior to misoprostol in comparison with misoprostol alone in success rate of induced abortion.

PubMed

Behroozi-Lak, T; Derakhshan-Aydenloo, S; Broomand, F

2018-03-01

Abortion, spontaneous or induced, is a common complication of pregnancy and exploration of available and safe regimens for medical abortion in developing countries seems crucial. The present study was aimed to assess the effect of letrozole in combination with misoprostol in women eligible for legal therapeutic abortion with gestational age ≤14weeks. This clinical randomized trial was conducted on 78 women who were candidate of medical abortion and eligible for legal abortion with gestational age ≤14 weeks that were randomly divided into two groups of case and controls. Case group received daily oral dose of 10mg letrozole for three days followed by vaginal misoprostol. In control group the patients received only vaginal misoprostol. The rate of complete abortion, induction-of-abortion time, and side-effects were assessed. Complete abortion was observed in 30 patients (76.9%) in case group and 9 (23.1%) cases were failed. In control group there was 16 (41.03%) complete abortions and 23 (58.97%) cases were failed to abort. Patients with gestational age of between 6 and 10 weeks did not show significant difference in both groups (P=0.134). Regarding pregnancy remnants there were significant differences between two groups (P=0.034). The time form admission to discharge in case groups were significantly shorter than those in control group (P=0.001). The indication for curettage in case group was significantly less than control group (P=0.001). A 3-day course of letrozole (10mg/daily) followed by misoprostol was associated with a higher complete abortion and lower curettage rates and reduction in time from admission to discharge in women with gestational age ≤14 weeks compared to misoprostol alone. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Predictors of Persistent Milk Allergy in Children: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

PubMed

Koike, Yumi; Sato, Sakura; Yanagida, Noriyuki; Asaumi, Tomoyuki; Ogura, Kiyotake; Ohtani, Kiyotaka; Imai, Takanori; Ebisawa, Motohiro

2018-01-01

Cow's milk (CM) allergy is the second most common food allergy developed during infancy in Japan. To identify predictors of persistent CM allergy, we investigated the tolerance acquisition rate based on an oral food challenge in children under 6 years of age, diagnosed with immediate-type CM allergy. This retrospective cohort study included 131 children born in 2005 with a history of immediate allergic reaction to CM, of whom 39 were excluded because of ongoing oral immunotherapy (n = 18) or a lack of follow-up data (n = 21). The 92 remaining participants were followed for 6 years. Tolerance was defined as no adverse reaction to 200 mL of CM and regular intake of milk at home. Subjects were divided into 3 groups based on age at tolerance acquisition: group I (<3 years; n = 31), group II (3-6 years; n = 42), and group III (persistent allergic group; n = 19). Tolerance acquisition rates by 3, 5, and 6 years of age were 32.6% (30/92), 64.1% (59/92), and 84.8% (70/92), respectively. Age at first hospital visit was significantly higher in groups II and III than in group I (p < 0.001). The incidence of anaphylaxis to other foods was also higher in group III than in group I (p = 0.04), as was CM-induced anaphylaxis (p = 0.03). Furthermore, milk and casein-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were significantly higher in group III than in group II after birth and remained high thereafter (p < 0.05). The history of anaphylaxis and high milk-specific IgE levels were associated with persistent CM allergy. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

The negative effects on mental health of being in a non-desired occupation in an increasingly precarious labour market.

PubMed

Canivet, Catarina; Aronsson, Gunnar; Bernhard-Oettel, Claudia; Leineweber, Constanze; Moghaddassi, Mahnaz; Stengård, Johanna; Westerlund, Hugo; Östergren, Per-Olof

2017-12-01

Precarious employment has been associated with poor mental health. Moreover, increasing labour market precariousness may cause individuals to feel 'locked-in', in non-desired workplaces or occupations, out of fear of not finding a new employment. This could be experienced as a 'loss of control', with similar negative health consequences. It is plausible that the extent to which being in a non-desired occupation (NDO) or being in precarious employment (PE) has a negative impact on mental health differs according to age group. We tested this hypothesis using data from 2331 persons, 18-34, 35-44, and 45-54 years old, who answered questionnaires in 1999/2000, 2005, and 2010. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) were calculated for poor mental health (GHQ-12) in 2010, after exposure to NDO and PE in 1999/2000 or 2005. NDO and PE were more common in the youngest age group, and they were both associated with poor mental health. In the middle age group the impact of NDO was null, while in contrast the IRR for PE was 1.7 (95% CI: 1.3-2.3) after full adjustment. The pattern was completely the opposite in the oldest age group (adjusted IRR for NDO 1.6 (1.1-2.4) and for PE 0.9 (0.6-1.4)). The population attributable fraction of poor mental health was 14.2% and 11.6%, respectively, for NDO in the youngest and oldest age group, and 17.2% for PE in the middle age group. While the consequences of PE have been widely discussed, those of NDO have not received attention. Interventions aimed at adapting work situations for older individuals and facilitating conditions of job change in such a way as to avoid risking unemployment or precarious employment situations may lead to improved mental health in this age group.

Dermatoses among Children from Celebration of "Holi," the Spring Festival, in India: A Cross-sectional Observational Study.

PubMed

Ghosh, Sudip Kumar; Bandyopadhyay, Debabrata; Agarwal, Megha; Rudra, Olympia

2016-01-01

"Holi" is a spring festival celebrated primarily in the Indian subcontinent and also abroad by expatriate Indians. It is a festival of colors, traditionally celebrated by mutual application of colors in different forms on a particular day of the year. These colors frequently comprise a range of synthetic dyes which have harmful effects on the skin and mucosae. Children take part in this colorful festival with much enthusiasm and vigor, making them prone to develop different "Holi"-related dermatoses. Our objective was to find out the different patterns of "Holi"-related dermatoses in a group of pediatric patients. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out over a period of 6 years (2010-2015). Consecutive patients of pediatric age group who attended dermatology outpatient department (OPD) with different dermatoses following application of "Holi" color were included in this study. A total of 63 patients (mean age 11 years; range 1-16 years) were evaluated with a female to male ratio of 1.3:1. Itching is the predominant presenting symptom followed by burning sensation, dryness, scaling, oozing, and loss of hair. Examination revealed that eczematous lesion was the most common (69.8%) reaction pattern followed by xerosis, desquamation, excoriation, erythema, morbilliform eruption, erosion, alopecia, ulceration, acute paronychia, and hyperpigmentation. The face was the most common (76.4%) site of affection. A sizable number of patients of pediatric age group may be affected by "Holi"-related dermatoses necessitating precautionary measures.

Children and adolescents deaths from trauma-related causes in a Brazilian City.

PubMed

Fraga, Andrea Melo Alexandre; Bustorff-Silva, Joaquim Murray; Fernandez, Thais Marconi; Fraga, Gustavo Pereira; Reis, Marcelo Conrado; Baracat, Emilio Carlos Elias; Coimbra, Raul

2013-12-05

Injury is the first cause of death worldwide in the population aged 1 to 44. In developed countries, the most common trauma-related injuries resulting in death during childhood are traffic accidents, followed by drowning. This retrospective study based on autopsy examinations describes the epidemiology profile of deaths by trauma-related causes in individuals younger than 18 years from 2001 to 2008 in the city of Campinas. The aim is to identify epidemiology changes throughout the years in order to develop strategies of prevention. There were 2,170 deaths from all causes in children < 18 years old, 530 of which were due to trauma-related causes, with a male predominance of 3.4:1. The age distribution revealed that 76% of deaths occurred in the 10-17 age group. The most predominant trauma cause was firearm injury (47%). Other frequent causes were transport-related injuries (138 cases-26%; pedestrians were struck in 57.2% of these cases) and drowning (55 cases-10.4%). Asphyxia/suffocation was the cause of death in 72% of cases in children < 1 year old; drowning (30.8%) was predominant in the 1-4 age group; transport-related deaths were frequent in the 5-9 age group (56%) and the 10-14 age group (40.4%). Gun-related deaths were predominant (68%) in the 14-17 age group. 51% of deaths occurred at the scene. There was a predominance of deaths in children and adolescents males, between 15-17 years old, mainly from gun-related homicides, and the frequency has decreased since 2004 after the disarmament statute and the combating of violence.

First-attack pediatric hypertensive crisis presenting to the pediatric emergency department.

PubMed

Yang, Wen-Chieh; Zhao, Lu-Lu; Chen, Chun-Yu; Wu, Yung-Kang; Chang, Yu-Jun; Wu, Han-Ping

2012-12-31

Hypertensive crisis in children is a relatively rare condition presenting with elevated blood pressure (BP) and related symptoms, and it is potentially life-threatening. The aim of this study was to survey children with first attacks of hypertensive crisis arriving at the emergency department (ED), and to determine the related parameters that predicted the severity of hypertensive crisis in children by age group. This was a retrospective study conducted from 2000 to 2007 in pediatric patients aged 18 years and younger with a diagnosis of hypertensive crisis at the ED. All patients were divided into four age groups (infants, preschool age, elementary school age, and adolescents), and two severity groups (hypertensive urgency and hypertensive emergency). BP levels, etiology, severity, and clinical manifestations were analyzed by age group and compared between the hypertensive emergency and hypertensive urgency groups. The mean systolic/diastolic BP in the hypertensive crisis patients was 161/102 mmHg. The major causes of hypertensive crisis were essential hypertension, renal disorders and endocrine/metabolic disorders. Half of all patients had a single underlying cause, and 8 had a combination of underlying causes. Headache was the most common symptom (54.5%), followed by dizziness (45.5%), nausea/vomiting (36.4%) and chest pain (29.1%). A family history of hypertension was a significant predictive factor for the older patients with hypertensive crisis. Clinical manifestations and severity showed a positive correlation with age. In contrast to diastolic BP, systolic BP showed a significant trend in the older children. Primary clinicians should pay attention to the pediatric patients who present with elevated blood pressure and related clinical hypertensive symptoms, especially headache, nausea/vomiting, and altered consciousness which may indicate that appropriate and immediate antihypertensive medications are necessary to prevent further damage.

First-attack pediatric hypertensive crisis presenting to the pediatric emergency department

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Hypertensive crisis in children is a relatively rare condition presenting with elevated blood pressure (BP) and related symptoms, and it is potentially life-threatening. The aim of this study was to survey children with first attacks of hypertensive crisis arriving at the emergency department (ED), and to determine the related parameters that predicted the severity of hypertensive crisis in children by age group. Methods This was a retrospective study conducted from 2000 to 2007 in pediatric patients aged 18 years and younger with a diagnosis of hypertensive crisis at the ED. All patients were divided into four age groups (infants, preschool age, elementary school age, and adolescents), and two severity groups (hypertensive urgency and hypertensive emergency). BP levels, etiology, severity, and clinical manifestations were analyzed by age group and compared between the hypertensive emergency and hypertensive urgency groups. Results The mean systolic/diastolic BP in the hypertensive crisis patients was 161/102 mmHg. The major causes of hypertensive crisis were essential hypertension, renal disorders and endocrine/metabolic disorders. Half of all patients had a single underlying cause, and 8 had a combination of underlying causes. Headache was the most common symptom (54.5%), followed by dizziness (45.5%), nausea/vomiting (36.4%) and chest pain (29.1%). A family history of hypertension was a significant predictive factor for the older patients with hypertensive crisis. Clinical manifestations and severity showed a positive correlation with age. In contrast to diastolic BP, systolic BP showed a significant trend in the older children. Conclusions Primary clinicians should pay attention to the pediatric patients who present with elevated blood pressure and related clinical hypertensive symptoms, especially headache, nausea/vomiting, and altered consciousness which may indicate that appropriate and immediate antihypertensive medications are necessary to prevent further damage. PMID:23272766

Children and adolescents deaths from trauma-related causes in a Brazilian City

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Introduction Injury is the first cause of death worldwide in the population aged 1 to 44. In developed countries, the most common trauma-related injuries resulting in death during childhood are traffic accidents, followed by drowning. Methods This retrospective study based on autopsy examinations describes the epidemiology profile of deaths by trauma-related causes in individuals younger than 18 years from 2001 to 2008 in the city of Campinas. The aim is to identify epidemiology changes throughout the years in order to develop strategies of prevention. Results There were 2,170 deaths from all causes in children < 18 years old, 530 of which were due to trauma-related causes, with a male predominance of 3.4:1. The age distribution revealed that 76% of deaths occurred in the 10-17 age group. The most predominant trauma cause was firearm injury (47%). Other frequent causes were transport-related injuries (138 cases-26%; pedestrians were struck in 57.2% of these cases) and drowning (55 cases-10.4%). Asphyxia/suffocation was the cause of death in 72% of cases in children < 1 year old; drowning (30.8%) was predominant in the 1-4 age group; transport-related deaths were frequent in the 5-9 age group (56%) and the 10-14 age group (40.4%). Gun-related deaths were predominant (68%) in the 14-17 age group. 51% of deaths occurred at the scene. Conclusions There was a predominance of deaths in children and adolescents males, between 15-17 years old, mainly from gun-related homicides, and the frequency has decreased since 2004 after the disarmament statute and the combating of violence. PMID:24305495

Annual age-grouping and athlete development: a meta-analytical review of relative age effects in sport.

PubMed

Cobley, Stephen; Baker, Joseph; Wattie, Nick; McKenna, Jim

2009-01-01

Annual age-grouping is a common organizational strategy in sport. However, such a strategy appears to promote relative age effects (RAEs). RAEs refer both to the immediate participation and long-term attainment constraints in sport, occurring as a result of chronological age and associated physical (e.g. height) differences as well as selection practices in annual age-grouped cohorts. This article represents the first meta-analytical review of RAEs, aimed to collectively determine (i) the overall prevalence and strength of RAEs across and within sports, and (ii) identify moderator variables. A total of 38 studies, spanning 1984-2007, containing 253 independent samples across 14 sports and 16 countries were re-examined and included in a single analysis using odds ratios and random effects procedures for combining study estimates. Overall results identified consistent prevalence of RAEs, but with small effect sizes. Effect size increased linearly with relative age differences. Follow-up analyses identified age category, skill level and sport context as moderators of RAE magnitude. Sports context involving adolescent (aged 15-18 years) males, at the representative (i.e. regional and national) level in highly popular sports appear most at risk to RAE inequalities. Researchers need to understand the mechanisms by which RAEs magnify and subside, as well as confirm whether RAEs exist in female and more culturally diverse contexts. To reduce and eliminate this social inequality from influencing athletes' experiences, especially within developmental periods, direct policy, organizational and practitioner intervention is required.

Aging in Prader-Willi syndrome: twelve persons over the age of 50 years.

PubMed

Sinnema, Margje; Schrander-Stumpel, Constance T R M; Maaskant, Marian A; Boer, Harm; Curfs, Leopold M G

2012-06-01

The life expectancy of persons with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) has increased in recent years. Because of the paucity of reports on older persons with PWS, the natural history, the onset, and type of age-related problems are poorly understood. Twelve persons with a genetically confirmed diagnosis of PWS aged over 50 years are described (4 deletion; 8 mUPD). Data on physical, behavioral, psychiatric, and aging characteristics were collected through semi-structured interviews with the individuals with PWS and their main carers. Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, dermatological, and orthopedic problems were common physical complaints in older people with PWS. Functioning in activities of daily living, psychological functioning, physical functions, and care dependence were substantially worse in the older age group (50+) compared to the control group (18-49 years). Seven out of eight persons with mUPD had a history of psychiatric illness. Behavioral problems were observed in the older age group. Given the combination of age-related physical morbidity, physical appearance, behavioral and psychiatric problems, and functional decline in our cohort, we hypothesize that premature aging occurs in PWS. The care for older people with PWS requires a lifespan approach that recognizes the presence, progression, and consequences of specific morbidity. Special medical surveillance of people with PWS from 40 years onwards would ensure that intervention and support is offered with respect to specific areas of decline at the earliest possible time. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Modified live infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) vaccine delays infection of neonatal broiler chickens with variant IBDV compared to turkey herpesvirus (HVT)-IBDV vectored vaccine.

PubMed

Kurukulasuriya, Shanika; Ahmed, Khawaja Ashfaque; Ojkic, Davor; Gunawardana, Thushari; Goonewardene, Kalhari; Gupta, Ashish; Chow-Lockerbie, Betty; Popowich, Shelly; Willson, Philip; Tikoo, Suresh K; Gomis, Susantha

2017-02-07

Chickens are commonly processed around 35-45days of age in broiler chicken industry hence; diseases that occur at a young age are of paramount economic importance. Early age infection with infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) results in long-lasting immunosuppression and profound economic losses. To our knowledge, this is the first study comparing the protection efficacy of modified live (MdLV) IBDV and herpesvirus turkey (HVT)-IBDV vaccines against early age variant IBDV (varIBDV) infection in chicks. Experiments were carried out in IBDV maternal antibody (MtAb) positive chicks (n=330), divided into 6 groups (n=50-60/group), namely Group 1 (saline), Group 2 (saline+varIBDV), Group 3 (HVT-IBDV), Group 4 (HVT-IBDV+varIBDV), Group 5 (MdLV) and Group 6 (MdLV+varIBDV). HVT-IBDV vaccination was given via the in ovo route to 18-day-old embryonated eggs. MdLV was administered via the subcutaneous route in day-old broilers. Group 2, Group 4 and Group 6 were orally challenged with varIBDV (SK-09, 3×10 3 EID 50 ) at day 6 post-hatch. IBDV seroconversion, bursal weight to body weight ratio (BBW) and bursal histopathology were assessed at 19 and 35days of age. Histopathological examination at day 19 revealed that varIBDV-SK09 challenge caused severe bursal atrophy and lower BBW in HVT-IBDV but not in MdLV vaccinated chicks. However by day 35, all challenged groups showed bursal atrophy and seroconversion. Interestingly, RT-qPCR analysis after varIBDV-SK09 challenge demonstrated an early (9days of age) and significantly high viral load (∼5744 folds) in HVT-IBDV vaccinated group vs unvaccinated challenged group (∼2.25 folds). Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis revealed inhibition of cytotoxic CD8 + T-cell response (CD44-downregulation) and decreased splenic lymphocytes counts in chicks after HVT-IBDV vaccination. Overall, our data suggest that MdLV delays varIBDV pathogenesis, whereas, HVT-IBDV vaccine is potentially immunosuppressive, which may increase the risk of early age varIBDV infection in broilers. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Frequency of primary glomerular disease in northeastern China.

PubMed

Wu, Yi-Qi; Wang, Zheng; Xu, Hua-Feng; Jin, Xiao-Ming; Zhou, Hai-Zhou

2011-08-01

Most frequently reported Chinese renal biopsy data have originated from southeastern China. The present study analyzed the renal biopsy data from northeastern China. The records of 1550 consecutive native patients who were diagnosed with primary glomerular diseases (PGD) after renal biopsy at our hospital during 2005-2009 were used. These patients were divided into four age groups for stratified analysis: <15, 15-44, 45-59, and ≥60 years old. Among PGD, minimal change disease (MCD) was the most common histologically diagnosed disease (30.7%), followed by IgA nephropathy (IgAN), mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN), membranous nephropathy (MN), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), and endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis (EnPGN). MCD was the disease most frequently observed (43.7%) in the <15-year-old group. MsPGN was the most common disease in the elderly group (38.1%). MsPGN was more prevalent in females (27.8%), whereas MCD was more prevalent in males (35.3%). Primary glomerular diseases constituted the most commonly encountered group of diseases with a high prevalence of MCD, which predominantly affected males and young adults. The prevalence of MCD was high in northeastern China. Further study is necessary to expand the epidemiologic data available for renal disease in China.

Probing depth, attachment loss and gingival recession. Findings from a clinical examination in Ushiku, Japan.

PubMed

Yoneyama, T; Okamoto, H; Lindhe, J; Socransky, S S; Haffajee, A D

1988-10-01

The present investigation describes probing pocket depth, probing attachment level and recession data from 319 randomly selected subjects, aged 20-79 years, from Ushiku, Japan. The findings are reported as mean values, frequency distributions and percentile plots of the 3 parameters at buccal, interproximal and lingual surfaces of single rooted (incisors, canines, premolars) and molar teeth. Inter-as well as intra-examiner errors for probing pocket depth and probing attachment levels were assessed and found to be small. The data reported revealed that practically all subjects studied had one or more sites in the dentition affected by destructive periodontal disease and that the severity of disease increased with age. It was further observed that in each age group, molars had suffered more attachment loss than single rooted teeth and that the interproximal surfaces as a rule had lost more periodontal tissue support than corresponding buccal and lingual surfaces. The attachment loss difference observed between different surfaces of a given tooth or a group of teeth, however, was comparatively small. In the age groups between 20-59 years, advanced destructive periodontal disease was found in a small subgroup of the subject sample, while after the age of 60 years, widespread destructive periodontitis was common. An attempt was made to examine the progression of destructive disease with age by comparing the frequency distributions of sites with attachment loss of greater than or equal to 3 mm in subjects of different age groups. The data suggested that in younger subject groups, progression was confined to a subset of individuals, while in older age groups, more subjects and sites became involved. A major feature of destructive periodontal disease in older individuals was the accompaniment of attachment loss with recession at the gingival margin. Deep pockets were relatively infrequently detected, while advanced loss of attachment (with recession) occurred at many sites.

Varying family planning strategies across age categories: differences in factors associated with current modern contraceptive use among youth and adult women in Luanda, Angola.

PubMed

Prata, Ndola; Bell, Suzanne; Weidert, Karen; Nieto-Andrade, Benjamin; Carvalho, Adelaide; Neves, Isilda

2016-01-01

The objective of this study is to identify factors associated with current modern contraceptive use among Angolan women. By differentiating according to age groups (15-24 and 25-49 years), this study aimed to help family planning program planners better tailor interventions to improve utilization of modern contraception. A household survey was used to collect data from 1,545 women of reproductive age living in Luanda Province, Angola. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, reproductive behavior and intentions, contraceptive knowledge and use, and attitudes and beliefs regarding contraception and abortion were collected. The analyses were stratified based on age: 15-24 years (youth) and 25-49 years (adult). Multivariate logistic regression models were built for each age group, adding different subsets of variables in groups to see how relationships changed across the models. Common factors associated with modern contraceptive use among all ages include education level, perceived contraceptive accessibility, contraceptive knowledge, communication with partner about family planning in last year, and self-efficacy. Exposure to family planning information in the media in the last few months, perceived partner approval of family planning, and marital status were all positively associated with current modern contraceptive use among women aged 15-24 years. Meanwhile, receiving information about family planning from a pharmacy in the last year was uniquely associated with current modern contraceptive use among women aged 25-49 years. Young women in Luanda, Angola seem to have a unique set of factors affecting their contraceptive use. These findings highlight the need for family planning programs to cater services and messages toward specific age groups.

The Effect of Adjuvant Zinc Therapy on Recovery from Pneumonia in Hospitalized Children: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

PubMed Central

Qasemzadeh, Mohammad Javad; Fathi, Mahdi; Tashvighi, Maryam; Gharehbeglou, Mohammad; Yadollah-Damavandi, Soheila; Parsa, Yekta; Rahimi, Ebrahim

2014-01-01

Objectives. Pneumonia is one of the common mortality causes in young children. Some studies have shown beneficial effect of zinc supplements on treatment of pneumonia. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of short courses of zinc administration on recovery from this disease in hospitalized children. Methods. In a parallel Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial at Ayatollah Golpaygani Hospital in Qom, 120 children aged 3–60 months with pneumonia were randomly assigned 1 : 1 to receive zinc or placebo (5 mL every 12 hours) along with the common antibiotic treatments until discharge. Primary outcome was recovery from pneumonia which included the incidence and resolving clinical symptoms and duration of hospitalization. Results. The difference between two groups in all clinical symptoms at admittance and the variables affecting the disease such as age and sex were not statistically significant (P < 0.05) at baseline. Compared to the placebo group, the treatment group showed a statistically significant decrease in duration of clinical symptoms (P = 0.044) and hospitalization (P = 0.004). Conclusions. Supplemental administration of zinc can expedite the healing process and results in faster resolution of clinical symptoms in children with pneumonia. In general, zinc administration, along with common antibiotic treatments, is recommended in this group of children. It can also reduce the drug resistance caused by multiple antibiotic therapies. This trial is approved by Medical Ethic Committee of Islamic Azad University in Iran (ID Number: 8579622-Q). This study is also registered in AEARCTR (The American Economic Association's Registry for Randomized Controlled Trials). This trial is registered with RCT ID: AEARCTR-0000187. PMID:24955282

Autopsy findings in a human immunodeficiency virus-infected population over 2 decades: influences of gender, ethnicity, risk factors, and time.

PubMed

Morgello, Susan; Mahboob, Rashid; Yakoushina, Tatiana; Khan, Shafat; Hague, Karin

2002-02-01

To examine autopsy pathology in an urban population infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and to determine if age at death and disease frequencies are associated with gender, HIV risk factors, ethnicity, and therapeutic era. Retrospective analysis of autopsy data from 394 HIV-infected adults. The population was divided into 3 therapeutic eras for analysis: group A, 1979-1986; group B, 1987-1995; and group C, 1996-2000. Women died at significantly younger ages than men (mean +/- SEM age, 38.9 +/- 1.0 years vs 42.5 +/- 0.64 years), even after adjustment for risk factors, ethnicity, and therapeutic era. This age discrepancy occurred despite a lower prevalence of arteriosclerosis, cachexia, and hepatitis B in women and no significant differences in the frequencies of other infectious diseases. Whites had a longer survival than patients of other ethnicities (mean age at death, 44.7 +/- 1.2 years for whites, 39.9 +/- 0.80 years for blacks, and 41.3 +/- 0.87 years for Hispanic individuals). Renal, cardiac, and splenic pathologies, Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI) infection, and cachexia were more common in blacks than in whites and/or Hispanic individuals, and cytomegalovirus and systemic lymphoma were more common in whites and Hispanic individuals than in blacks. Diseases associated with intravenous drug use were hepatitis C, cirrhosis, and tuberculosis; those with all sexual risk factors, cytomegalovirus infection, herpes simplex virus infection, and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia; and those with homosexual risk, Kaposi sarcoma and MAI infection. The prevalence of many disease entities changed over time: compared with the other groups, group C had lower prevalences of many viral and fungal illnesses, MAI infection, systemic lymphoma, cachexia, and Kaposi sarcoma and higher prevalences of hepatitis, cirrhosis, arteriosclerosis, staphylococcal and streptococcal infections, and traumatic lesions. When the data were adjusted for changing demographic and risk composition, the only significant changes in disease frequency for period C were decreased prevalences of PCP and Kaposi sarcoma and increased prevalences of cirrhosis and arteriosclerosis. Significant gender- and ethnicity-related differences in age of death occurred in this HIV-infected population, and these differences were not explained by the frequencies of diseases. The lower prevalences of PCP and Kaposi sarcoma in group C are likely a reflection of the impact of potent therapies on causes of mortality. The higher prevalences of cirrhosis and arteriosclerosis suggest that entities not targeted by antiretroviral reconstitution of immunity will play an increasingly important role in HIV-related mortality in the future.

Peer influence on speeding behaviour among male drivers aged 18 and 28.

PubMed

Møller, Mette; Haustein, Sonja

2014-03-01

Despite extensive research, preventive efforts and general improvements in road safety levels, the accident risk of young male drivers remains increased. Based on a standardized survey of a random sample of 2018 male drivers at the age of 18 and 28, this study looked into attitudes and behaviours related to traffic violations of male drivers. More specifically, the role of peer influence on speeding was examined in both age groups. In regression analyses it could be shown that the descriptive subjective norm, i.e., the perception of friends' speeding, was the most important predictor of speeding in both age groups. Other significant factors were: negative attitude towards speed limits, injunctive subjective norm, and the perceived risk of having an accident when speeding. In the older age group it was more common to drive faster than allowed and their speeding was largely in line with the perceived level of their friends' speeding. In the younger age group a higher discrepancy between own and friends' speeding was found indicating that young male drivers are socialized into increased speeding behaviour based on peer pressure. By contrast for the 28-year-olds peer pressure mainly seems to maintain or justify individual speeding behaviour. It is suggested that preventive measures should take these different influences of peer pressure into account by using a peer-based approach for the 18-year-olds and a more individual approach for the 28-year-olds. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chronic exercise preserves lean muscle mass in masters athletes.

PubMed

Wroblewski, Andrew P; Amati, Francesca; Smiley, Mark A; Goodpaster, Bret; Wright, Vonda

2011-09-01

Aging is commonly associated with a loss of muscle mass and strength, resulting in falls, functional decline, and the subjective feeling of weakness. Exercise modulates the morbidities of muscle aging. Most studies, however, have examined muscle-loss changes in sedentary aging adults. This leaves the question of whether the changes that are commonly associated with muscle aging reflect the true physiology of muscle aging or whether they reflect disuse atrophy. This study evaluated whether high levels of chronic exercise prevents the loss of lean muscle mass and strength experienced in sedentary aging adults. A cross-section of 40 high-level recreational athletes ("masters athletes") who were aged 40 to 81 years and trained 4 to 5 times per week underwent tests of health/activity, body composition, quadriceps peak torque (PT), and magnetic resonance imaging of bilateral quadriceps. Mid-thigh muscle area, quadriceps area (QA), subcutaneous adipose tissue, and intramuscular adipose tissue were quantified in magnetic resonance imaging using medical image processing, analysis, and visualization software. One-way analysis of variance was used to examine age group differences. Relationships were evaluated using Spearman correlations. Mid-thigh muscle area (P = 0.31) and lean mass (P = 0.15) did not increase with age and were significantly related to retention of mid-thigh muscle area (P < 0.0001). This occurred despite an increase in total body fat percentage (P = 0.003) with age. Mid-thigh muscle area (P = 0.12), QA (P = 0.17), and quadriceps PT did not decline with age. Specific strength (strength per QA) did not decline significantly with age (P = 0.06). As muscle area increased, PT increased significantly (P = 0.008). There was not a significant relationship between intramuscular adipose tissue (P = 0.71) or lean mass (P = 0.4) and PT. This study contradicts the common observation that muscle mass and strength decline as a function of aging alone. Instead, these declines may signal the effect of chronic disuse rather than muscle aging. Evaluation of masters athletes removes disuse as a confounding variable in the study of lower-extremity function and loss of lean muscle mass. This maintenance of muscle mass and strength may decrease or eliminate the falls, functional decline, and loss of independence that are commonly seen in aging adults.

Lamellar macular hole in X linked retinoschisis.

PubMed

Kumar, Vinod; Goel, Neha

2016-05-11

X linked retinoschisis (XLRS) is the most common juvenile onset retinal degeneration. The disorder leads to poor vision in old age. Complications, however, can lead to earlier loss of vision in this condition. This report describes two patients of XLRS, who had presented with poor vision because of having had a lamellar macular hole at a young age. Lamellar macular holes are rare and have never been reported to cause early onset poor vision in XLRS. 2016 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

Rubella in Sub-Saharan Africa and sensorineural hearing loss: a case control study.

PubMed

Caroça, Cristina; Vicente, Vera; Campelo, Paula; Chasqueira, Maria; Caria, Helena; Silva, Susana; Paixão, Paulo; Paço, João

2017-02-01

Rubella infection can affect several organs and cause birth defects that are responsible for congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Congenital hearing loss is the most common symptom of this syndrome, occurring in approximately 60% of CRS cases. Worldwide, over 100 000 babies are born with CRS every year. There is no specific treatment for rubella, but the disease is preventable by vaccination. Since 1969, the rubella vaccine has been implemented in many countries, but in Africa, only a few countries routinely immunize against rubella. The aim of this study was to estimate the rate of infection from the wild-type rubella virus in São Tomé and Príncipe by determining rubella seroprevalence with a DBS method. The goal of this study was to reinforce the need for implementation of the rubella vaccine in this country. As secondary objectives, the validation of a DBS method was first attempted and an association between seroprevalence and hearing loss was assessed. We collected samples from individuals observed during humanitarian missions in São Tomé and Príncipe. All individuals underwent an audiometric evaluation, and a drop of blood was collected for the dried blood spot (DBS). We define two groups: the case group (individuals with unilateral or bilateral hearing loss (HL)) and the control group (individuals with two normal ears). Patients were excluded if they suffered from conductive HL, if they showed evidence of possible causes of HL, if they had developmental delay or if they refused to participate in the study. Among the 315 subjects, we found 64.1% individuals with IgG for the rubella virus, 32.1% without immunity for the rubella virus and 3.8% who were borderline. In the control group, 62.6% were positive for the rubella IgG, whereas in the case group, 72% were positive. Analyzing both groups, with ages ranging from 2 to 14 years of age and from 15 to 35 years of age, we found a seroprevalence of 50.3% to rubella in the younger group and 82.1% in the older group, with a significant difference between cases and control group noted within the younger patients (p = 0.025). Rubella is a disease that can be prevented. Rubella infections are still very common in São Tomé and Príncipe, and women of child-bearing age are still at risk for rubella infection during pregnancy, justifying the urgency of vaccination against rubella. A statistically significant association between the group of children under 14 years of age with HL and immunity for rubella was observed in this country, although this study did not allow us to establish a cause-effect relationship between rubella infection and SNHL.

Short-term Outcomes After Open and Laparoscopic Colostomy Creation.

PubMed

Ivatury, Srinivas Joga; Bostock Rosenzweig, Ian C; Holubar, Stefan D

2016-06-01

Colostomy creation is a common procedure performed in colon and rectal surgery. Outcomes by technique have not been well studied. This study evaluated outcomes related to open versus laparoscopic colostomy creation. This was a retrospective review of patients undergoing colostomy creation using univariate and multivariate propensity score analyses. Hospitals participating in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database were included. Data on patients were obtained from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program 2005-2011 Participant Use Data Files. We measured 30-day mortality, 30-day complications, and predictors of 30-day mortality. A total of 2179 subjects were in the open group and 1132 in the laparoscopic group. The open group had increased age (open, 64 years vs laparoscopic, 60 years), admission from facility (17.0% vs 14.9%), and disseminated cancer (26.1% vs 21.4%). All were statistically significant. The open group had a significantly higher percentage of emergency operations (24.9% vs 7.9%). Operative time was statistically different (81 vs 86 minutes). Thirty-day mortality was significantly higher in the open group (8.7% vs 3.5%), as was any 30-day complication (25.4% vs 17.0%). Propensity-matching analysis on elective patients only revealed that postoperative length of stay and rate of any wound complication were statistically higher in the open group. Multivariate analysis for mortality was performed on the full, elective, and propensity-matched cohorts; age >65 years and dependent functional status were associated with an increased risk of mortality in all of the models. This study has the potential for selection bias and limited generalizability. Colostomy creation at American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program hospitals is more commonly performed open rather than laparoscopically. Patient age >65 years and dependent functional status are associated with an increased risk of 30-day mortality.

Relative solidarity: Conceptualising communal participation in genomic research among potential research participants in a developing Sub-Saharan African setting

PubMed Central

Woolfall, Kerry; Gabbay, Mark

2018-01-01

Objective As genomic research gathers momentum in sub-Saharan Africa, it has become increasingly important to understand the reasons why individuals wish to participate in this kind of medical research. Against the background of communitarianism conceived as typical of African communities, it is often suggested that individuals consent to participate on the grounds of solidarity and to further the common good. In this paper, we seek to explore this contention by presenting data from focus groups with potential research participants about what would influence their decisions to participate in genomic research. Methods and results These focus groups were conducted as part of a larger qualitative study with a purposively selected group of participants from a community situated in south west Nigeria. We conducted fifteen focus group sessions comprising 50 participants organized by age and sex, namely: 1) adult (>30 years) males, 2) adult females, 3) youth (18–30 years) males, and 4) youth females. A mixed age-group was conducted to probe different views between the age groups. There was discordance and clear division between the adults and youths regarding the decision to participate in genomic research based on commitment to communal values. Adults based their decision to participate on altruism and furthering the common good while youths based their decisions on personal benefits and preferences and also took into account the views and welfare of family members and neighbours. Conclusions This discordance suggests a ‘generational shift’ and we advance a model of ‘relative solidarity’ among the youths, which is different from the communal solidarity model typical of African communitarianism. Our findings suggest the need for a closer look at strategies for implementation of community engagement and informed consent in genomic research in this region, and we recommend further studies to explore this emerging trend. PMID:29621313

New white matter brain injury after infant heart surgery is associated with diagnostic group and the use of circulatory arrest.

PubMed

Beca, John; Gunn, Julia K; Coleman, Lee; Hope, Ayton; Reed, Peter W; Hunt, Rodney W; Finucane, Kirsten; Brizard, Christian; Dance, Brieana; Shekerdemian, Lara S

2013-03-05

Abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging scans are common both before and after surgery for congenital heart disease in early infancy. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate the nature, timing, and consequences of brain injury on magnetic resonance imaging in a cohort of young infants undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease both with and without cardiopulmonary bypass. A total of 153 infants undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease at <8 weeks of age underwent serial magnetic resonance imaging scans before and after surgery and at 3 months of age, as well as neurodevelopmental assessment at 2 years of age. White matter injury (WMI) was the commonest type of injury both before and after surgery. It occurred in 20% of infants before surgery and was associated with a less mature brain. New WMI after surgery was present in 44% of infants and at similar rates after surgery with or without cardiopulmonary bypass. The most important association was diagnostic group (P<0.001). In infants having arch reconstruction, the use and duration of circulatory arrest were significantly associated with new WMI. New WMI was also associated with the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, postoperative lactate level, brain maturity, and WMI before surgery. Brain immaturity but not brain injury was associated with impaired neurodevelopment at 2 years of age. New WMI is common after surgery for congenital heart disease and occurs at the same rate in infants undergoing surgery with and without cardiopulmonary bypass. New WMI is associated with diagnostic group and, in infants undergoing arch surgery, the use of circulatory arrest.

Consistent inter-individual differences in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) in Boldness-Shyness, Stress-Activity, and Exploration-Avoidance.

PubMed

Šlipogor, Vedrana; Gunhold-de Oliveira, Tina; Tadić, Zoran; Massen, Jorg J M; Bugnyar, Thomas

2016-09-01

The study of animal personality, defined as consistent inter-individual differences in correlated behavioral traits stable throughout time and/or contexts, has recently become one of the fastest growing areas in animal biology, with study species ranging from insects to non-human primates. The latter have, however, only occasionally been tested with standardized experiments. Instead their personality has usually been assessed using questionnaires. Therefore, this study aimed to test 21 common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) living in three family groups, in five different experiments, and their corresponding controls. We found that behavioral differences between our animals were not only consistent over time, but also across different contexts. Moreover, the consistent behaviors formed a construct of four major non-social personality components: Boldness-Shyness in Foraging, Boldness-Shyness in Predation, Stress-Activity, and Exploration-Avoidance. We found no sex or age differences in these components, but our results did reveal differences in Exploration-Avoidance between the three family groups. As social environment can have a large influence on behavior of individuals, our results may suggest group-level similarity in personality (i.e., "group personality") in common marmosets, a species living in highly cohesive social groups. Am. J. Primatol. 78:961-973, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Aetiology of dysentery in infants in infection ward of Amir Kabir Hospital, Arak, in 2010-2011.

PubMed

Kahbazi, M; Dorreh, F; Najmi, A R; Arjomandzadegan, M

2011-01-01

Dysentery is one of the children's common disease for which various infectious and non-infectious reasons have been explained for it. Since determination of the cause especially with age segregation helps the experimental treatment, this study has been executed to establish relative Of frequency of dysentery causes and its comparison below and above the age of six months. This descriptive, sectional study has been executed on 50 below-six-month-old patients and 50 above-six-month-old patients both diagnosed with dysentery, held in the infection ward of Amir Kabir Hospital in 2010-2011. Faeces samples were taken for culture of Shigella, Yersinia, Salmonella, and E. coli, and serum samples were also taken for antibody against the Campylobacter, Yersinia, and allergy to cow milk protein; then results were analysed with SPSS. In 60% of patients the cause could not be determined. In 12% of patients, faeces culture was positive, yet the positive faeces culture in two groups had no significant difference (p=0.053) 7% of antibody against Yersinia, and 14% against the Campylobacter was positive which was more significantly differed in above-six-month group than below-six-month group. Ten percent were allergic to the cow milk protein which was more significantly differed in above-six-month group than below-six-month group. In more than half of the cases the cause to dysentery could not be identified, but the infectious reasons for above-six-month were double the below-six-month group. Campylobacter, and cow milk allergy was more common in the six-month group, and the frequency of Shigella and other infections in both groups did not have a significant difference.

Reducing menopausal symptoms for women during the menopause transition using group education in a primary health care setting-a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Rindner, Lena; Strömme, Gunilla; Nordeman, Lena; Hange, Dominique; Gunnarsson, Ronny; Rembeck, Gun

2017-04-01

Women's physical and mental ill-health shows a marked increase during menopause, which usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age. Mental illness and somatic symptoms are common causes of long-term sick leave. Women suffer from a lack of knowledge about the menopause transition and its associated symptoms. The aim of the study was to investigate whether group education for women in primary health care (PHC) about the menopause transition can improve their physical and mental ill-health. This randomized controlled study was conducted in PHC and aimed to evaluate a group education programme for women aged 45-55 years, around the menopause transition. A total of 131 women were randomized to group education or no intervention. The group intervention included two education sessions with topics related to menopause. They answered two questionnaires at baseline and at four-month follow-up: the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Change in MRS and MADRS scores over the four months. The intervention group experienced a slight reduction in symptoms while the control group mostly experienced the opposite. This study showed that it was feasible to implement group education on menopause for women aged 45-55 years. NTC02852811. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Adult femicide victims in forensic autopsy in Taiwan: A 10-year retrospective study.

PubMed

Fong, Wen-Li; Pan, Chih-Hsin; Lee, James Chun-I; Lee, Tsui-Ting; Hwa, Hsiao-Lin

2016-09-01

Violence against women and adult femicides are critical medico-legal issues worldwide. Intimate partner violence is one of the leading contributory risk factors. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of femicides in Taiwan. A retrospective analysis of forensic autopsy records of adult femicide victims in Taiwan during a 10-year period was carried out. The age, victim-offender relationship, injury patterns and causes of death were analyzed. Among the 220 adult femicide victims recruited, 114 were killed by intimate partners and 106 were killed by non-intimate partner offenders. The average age of victims killed by intimate partners (40.0 y/o) were younger than those killed by non-intimate partner perpetrators (48.6 y/o). The most common site of injuries in the intimate partner group and the non-intimate partner group was the neck and the upper limbs, respectively. The rates of bruise and intracranial injury of non-intimate partner group were significantly higher than that of the intimate partner group. The most common causes of death in both groups were strangulation and sharp force injury. The heart injury was significantly more frequent in victims offended by intimate partners than by other assailants. The characteristics of adult femicides, and the patterns of injury in victims killed by intimate partners and non-intimate partner offenders were different. This data is helpful for corpus inspection in forensic casework and for strategic planning of femicides prevention. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Microvascular diabetes complications in Wolfram syndrome (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness [DIDMOAD]): an age- and duration-matched comparison with common type 1 diabetes.

PubMed

Cano, Aline; Molines, Laurent; Valéro, René; Simonin, Gilbert; Paquis-Flucklinger, Véronique; Vialettes, Bernard

2007-09-01

Some previous studies suggested that patients suffering from Wolfram syndrome or DIDMOAD (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness) might be relatively preserved from diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy. However, these data were not conclusive because either observations were only anecdotic or did not match with control type 1 diabetic populations. A group of 26 French diabetic patients with DIDMOAD was compared with a population of 52 patients with common type 1 diabetes matched for age at diabetes diagnosis (8.62 +/- 1.84 vs. 8.27 +/- 1.30 years; P = NS) and diabetes duration (12.88 +/- 1.58 vs. 12.87 +/- 1.13 years; P = NS) to study the quality of glycemic control and the incidence of microvascular complications. Glycemic control was significantly better in the DIDMOAD group than in the type 1 diabetic group (A1C: 7.72 +/- 0.21 vs. 8.99 +/- 0.25%, respectively; P = 0.002), with significant lower daily insulin requirements (0.71 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.88 +/- 0.04 UI x kg(-1) x day(-1), respectively; P = 0.0325). The prevalence of microvascular complications in the DIDMOAD group was half that observed in the type 1 diabetic group, but the difference was not significant. Diabetes in DIDMOAD patients is more easily controlled despite the presence of other handicaps. This better glycemic control could explain the trend to decreased microvascular diabetes complications observed in previous studies.

Noonan syndrome in diverse populations.

PubMed

Kruszka, Paul; Porras, Antonio R; Addissie, Yonit A; Moresco, Angélica; Medrano, Sofia; Mok, Gary T K; Leung, Gordon K C; Tekendo-Ngongang, Cedrik; Uwineza, Annette; Thong, Meow-Keong; Muthukumarasamy, Premala; Honey, Engela; Ekure, Ekanem N; Sokunbi, Ogochukwu J; Kalu, Nnenna; Jones, Kelly L; Kaplan, Julie D; Abdul-Rahman, Omar A; Vincent, Lisa M; Love, Amber; Belhassan, Khadija; Ouldim, Karim; El Bouchikhi, Ihssane; Shukla, Anju; Girisha, Katta M; Patil, Siddaramappa J; Sirisena, Nirmala D; Dissanayake, Vajira H W; Paththinige, C Sampath; Mishra, Rupesh; Klein-Zighelboim, Eva; Gallardo Jugo, Bertha E; Chávez Pastor, Miguel; Abarca-Barriga, Hugo H; Skinner, Steven A; Prijoles, Eloise J; Badoe, Eben; Gill, Ashleigh D; Shotelersuk, Vorasuk; Smpokou, Patroula; Kisling, Monisha S; Ferreira, Carlos R; Mutesa, Leon; Megarbane, Andre; Kline, Antonie D; Kimball, Amy; Okello, Emmy; Lwabi, Peter; Aliku, Twalib; Tenywa, Emmanuel; Boonchooduang, Nonglak; Tanpaiboon, Pranoot; Richieri-Costa, Antonio; Wonkam, Ambroise; Chung, Brian H Y; Stevenson, Roger E; Summar, Marshall; Mandal, Kausik; Phadke, Shubha R; Obregon, María G; Linguraru, Marius G; Muenke, Maximilian

2017-09-01

Noonan syndrome (NS) is a common genetic syndrome associated with gain of function variants in genes in the Ras/MAPK pathway. The phenotype of NS has been well characterized in populations of European descent with less attention given to other groups. In this study, individuals from diverse populations with NS were evaluated clinically and by facial analysis technology. Clinical data and images from 125 individuals with NS were obtained from 20 countries with an average age of 8 years and female composition of 46%. Individuals were grouped into categories of African descent (African), Asian, Latin American, and additional/other. Across these different population groups, NS was phenotypically similar with only 2 of 21 clinical elements showing a statistically significant difference. The most common clinical characteristics found in all population groups included widely spaced eyes and low-set ears in 80% or greater of participants, short stature in more than 70%, and pulmonary stenosis in roughly half of study individuals. Using facial analysis technology, we compared 161 Caucasian, African, Asian, and Latin American individuals with NS with 161 gender and age matched controls and found that sensitivity was equal to or greater than 94% for all groups, and specificity was equal to or greater than 90%. In summary, we present consistent clinical findings from global populations with NS and additionally demonstrate how facial analysis technology can support clinicians in making accurate NS diagnoses. This work will assist in earlier detection and in increasing recognition of NS throughout the world. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

[Clinical manifestations of neurocysticercosis].

PubMed

San-juan Orta, D

2009-06-01

Cysticercosis is a common parasitic infection caused by the larval phase of the Taenia solium, it infects humans as well as pigs. Considered an endemic parasitosis in developing countries including Latin America, Asia and Africa. Clinical manifestations of the disease can be influenced by ambient factors, host individualities and the infectious agent itself. Neurocysticercosis can be asymptomatic or present with various signs and symptoms that can vary in severity. This review is focused on analyzing the various presentations of Neurocysticercosis throughout different age groups, and special populations. We found asymptomatic presentations to be the most common form, followed by various grades of severity including in its most severe form death. The most common alterations include: epilepsy (60-90%), intracraneal hypertension (14-27%), as well as neuropsychiatric symptoms (5-52%), and focal neurological deficits (4-19%). The heterogeneity of the clinical scenario relies upon parasite factors (number, localization and stage of central nervous system [CNS] disease), host particularities (gender, age and immunologic response), and finally environmental factors. The most common form of infection is asymptomatic although there are various forms of clinical manifestations that rely upon different factors including environment, host response and the parasite itself.

A pilot study to explore how low-income mothers of different ethnic/racial backgrounds perceive and implement recommended childhood obesity prevention messages.

PubMed

Vollmer, Rachel L; Mobley, Amy R

2013-06-01

Mothers often serve as the "gatekeepers" of food and the eating experience for young children in the home. Children of different ethnic/racial groups have different obesity prevalence rates, but little is known about how mothers of these groups interpret or implement common childhood obesity prevention messages. The purpose of this mixed methods pilot study was to explore comprehension and implementation of common childhood obesity prevention messages and to identify feeding styles among low-income mothers of young children. White, black, and Hispanic low-income mothers (n=30) of children ages 3-10 were recruited from Indiana. Mothers were interviewed individually regarding the perception and implementation of eight commonly used nutrition and/or physical activity messages. Other outcomes included the results of the Caregiver Feeding Styles Questionnaire and self-reported weight of mothers and child(ren). Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis to find common themes among the different ethnic/racial groups. Childhood obesity prevention messages were often interpreted or implemented differently among the different ethnic/racial groups. For example, white mothers cited control as a means to manage a child's weight more often compared to the other racial/ethnic groups, whereas black and Hispanic mothers reported catering to a child's preference more frequently compared to white mothers. The pilot study provides evidence that it may be prudent to tailor nutrition messages to mothers of different ethnic/racial backgrounds during nutrition education.

A Pilot Study To Explore How Low-Income Mothers of Different Ethnic/Racial Backgrounds Perceive and Implement Recommended Childhood Obesity Prevention Messages

PubMed Central

Vollmer, Rachel L.

2013-01-01

Abstract Background Mothers often serve as the “gatekeepers” of food and the eating experience for young children in the home. Children of different ethnic/racial groups have different obesity prevalence rates, but little is known about how mothers of these groups interpret or implement common childhood obesity prevention messages. The purpose of this mixed methods pilot study was to explore comprehension and implementation of common childhood obesity prevention messages and to identify feeding styles among low-income mothers of young children. Methods White, black, and Hispanic low-income mothers (n=30) of children ages 3–10 were recruited from Indiana. Mothers were interviewed individually regarding the perception and implementation of eight commonly used nutrition and/or physical activity messages. Other outcomes included the results of the Caregiver Feeding Styles Questionnaire and self-reported weight of mothers and child(ren). Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis to find common themes among the different ethnic/racial groups. Results Childhood obesity prevention messages were often interpreted or implemented differently among the different ethnic/racial groups. For example, white mothers cited control as a means to manage a child's weight more often compared to the other racial/ethnic groups, whereas black and Hispanic mothers reported catering to a child's preference more frequently compared to white mothers. Conclusion The pilot study provides evidence that it may be prudent to tailor nutrition messages to mothers of different ethnic/racial backgrounds during nutrition education. PMID:23679199

The occurrence of ultrafine particles in the specific environment of children.

PubMed

Burtscher, Heinz; Schüepp, Karen

2012-06-01

Interest in ultrafine particles (UFP) has been increasing due to their specific physico-chemical characteristics. Ultrafine particles are those with an aerodynamic diameter of <0.1 μm and are also commonly know as nanoparticles (0.1 μm = 100 nm). Due to their small size UFP contribute mostly to particle number concentrations and are therefore underestimated in actual pollution measurements, which commonly measure mass concentration. Children represent the most vulnerable group in regard to particulate exposure due to their developing status and different exposures compared to adults. This review discusses the sources of ultrafine particles as well as the specific exposures of children highlighting the importance and uniqueness of this age group. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dietary habits of Serbian preschool and schoolchildren with regard to food of animal origin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Đorđević, V.; Šarčević, D.; Glišić, M.

2017-09-01

The goal of this study was to explore attitudes and habits of Serbian preschool and school children in consumption of meat products, milk and milk products, eggs and egg products and honey and bee products. The survey was conducted on a sample of 227 children, divided into three different age groups: preschool (ages 4-6), primary school I-IV grade (ages 7-11) and primary school V-VIII grade (ages 12-15). The results showed that all examined groups of children consumed meat products, milk and milk products, eggs and egg products, and honey and bee products. In all groups of children, the most frequently consumed food (among our food category choices) was dried ham (consumed by 19.64% of preschool children; 23.75% of schoolchildren from I-IV grade; 19.74% of schoolchildren from V-VIII grade). Fewer preschool children consumed sterilized milk compared to children of school age. The results showed that in all three groups of children, the most commonly consumed milk products were yoghurt (from 12.20 to 15.29% of children consumed these) and sour cream (from 11.57 to 12.74% of children consumed this), while kefir was the least-consumed product. In addition, there was no difference in consumption of boiled or fried eggs in the examined groups of children, while the consumption of egg products (mayonnaise) was higher in the group of preschool children than in the group of schoolchildren from V-VIII grade. Preschool children consumed honey 14.99% more often than schoolchildren from I-IV grade, and 14.49% more often than did schoolchildren from grade V-VIII.