Age Composition Research Articles

Metabolomic characterization of unintentional weight loss among community-dwelling older Black and White men and women.

This study aims to understand the metabolic mechanisms of unintentional weight loss in older adults. We investigated plasma metabolite associations of subsequent weight change over 2 years in 1536 previously weight stable participants (mean age 74.6 years, 50% women, 35% Black) from the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to examine associations of the 442 metabolites with weight loss with/without an intention and weight gain >3% annually relative to weight stability. The metabolite associations of unintentional weight loss differed from those of intentional weight loss and weight gain. Lower levels of aromatic amino acids, phospholipids, long-chain poly-unsaturated triglycerides, and higher levels of amino acid derivatives, poly-unsaturated fatty acids, and carbohydrates were associated with higher odds of unintentional weight loss after adjusting for age, sex, race, and BMI categories. Prevalent diseases attenuated four and lower mid-thigh muscle mass and poorer appetite each attenuated 2 of 77 identified metabolite associations by >20%, respectively. Other factors (e.g., energy expenditure, diet, and medication) attenuated all associations by <20%. While 16 metabolite associations were attenuated by 20%-48% when adjusting for all these risk factors, 47 metabolite associations remained significant. Altered amino acid metabolism, impaired mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, and inflammaging implicated by identified metabolites appear to precede unintentional weight loss in Health ABC older adults. Furthermore, these pathways seem to be associated with prevalent diseases especially diabetes, lower muscle mass, and poorer appetite.

Influenza Vaccination, Household Composition, and Race-Based Differences in Influenza Incidence: An Agent-Based Modeling Study.

Objectives. To estimate the effect of influenza vaccination disparities. Methods. We compared symptomatic influenza cases between Black and White races in 2 scenarios: (1) race- and age-specific vaccination coverage and (2) equal vaccination coverage. We also compared differences in household composition between races. We used the Framework for Reconstructing Epidemiological Dynamics, an agent-based model that assigns US Census‒based age, race, households, and geographic location to agents (individual people), in US counties of varying racial and age composition. Results. Influenza cases were highest in counties with higher proportions of children. Cases were up to 30% higher in Black agents with both race-based and race-equal vaccination coverage. Compared with corresponding categories of White households, cases in Black households without children were lower and with children were higher. Conclusions. Racial disparities in influenza cases persisted after equalizing vaccination coverage. The proportion of children in the population contributed to the number of influenza cases regardless of race. Differences in household composition may provide insight into racial differences and offer an opportunity to improve vaccination coverage to reduce influenza burden for both races. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print November 14, 2024:e1-e8. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307878).

Bleeding after tonsillectomy: search for additional risk factors

Introduction. Currently, the most common method of surgical treatment of patients suffering from chronic decompensated tonsillitis is bilateral extracapsular tonsillectomy (ТЕ). The most dangerous and common complication of this surgical method is postoperative bleeding from the area of the surgical wound, leading to repeated medical treatment and the development of hemodynamic disorders. The frequency of postoperative bleeding after TE is estimated by the authors in a different range depending on the research methodology and can reach 21.8%Aim. To search for additional factors determining the frequency and timing of bleeding after bilateral tonsillectomy performed for chronic decompensated tonsillitis.Materials and methods. The study was conducted in the format of a retrospective cohort analysis (over 3 years) with the participation of 51 patients, as well as two control groups: a group of patients who underwent bilateral tonsillectomy (404 patients), and a group of patients with nosebleeds of various etiologies (1548 patients). The article presents generalized data on the timing of bleeding, indicators of blood loss, gender and age composition of patients and other parameters.Results. The inverse dependence of bleeding time on age and body mass index (p &lt; 0.05) was revealed, a direct dependence on the number of tonsillectomies performed, the same distribution of bleeding frequencies after tonsillectomies and nosebleeds over the observed period, as well as a significant association of the frequency of nosebleeds with various atmospheric and geophysical phenomena (p &lt; 0.01).Conclusion. Summarizing the data from several centers where bleeding after TE was recorded by increasing the study sample may help identify additional risk factors for the development of this complication.

Accounting for Salmon Body Size Declines in Fishery Management Can Reduce Conservation Risks

ABSTRACTChanges in population demographic structure can have tangible but unknown effects on management effectiveness. Fishery management of Pacific salmon is often informed by estimates of the number of spawners expected to produce maximum sustainable yield (SMSY), implicitly assuming that reproductive output per spawner does not change over time. However, many salmon populations have experienced long‐term trends in age, sex and length compositions that have resulted in smaller body sizes of mature fish. We present an empirically based simulation approach for evaluating management implications of declining reproductive output resulting from shifting demographics. We simulated populations with or without demographic trends, selective or unselective harvests, and harvest policies based on assessment methods that did or did not account explicitly for demographic trends when estimating SMSY. A management strategy evaluation showed reduced expected harvests and run sizes when populations exhibited negative demographic trends. Reduced abundances and increased conservation risks (higher probability of falling below an abundance threshold) could be partially mitigated by using stock‐recruitment analyses based on total egg mass instead of spawner abundance, or via precautionary management where target escapements were higher than SMSY, especially in fisheries that selectively removed large fish. Explicit accounting of demographic trends in stock‐recruit analyses resulted in up to 25% higher run sizes and up to 20% lower conservation risks compared to traditional methods when trends toward smaller, younger and male‐biased runs were present in the population. Conservation of population demographic structure may be critical for sustaining productive fish populations and their benefits to ecosystems and people.

An overview of pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

Steatotic liver disease (SLD) has been known for a long time, but our understanding of this disease has remained poor until the past decade. Despite extensive research, our ability to comprehend the etiopathogenesis and natural course of SLD is far from the desired level of comprehension. This is required to develop a universally effective novel therapeutic agent. This review aims to concisely elaborate the conceptual approach and advancement in the understanding of global disease burden and etiopathogenic process, identifying the gaps and the pathophysiologic mechanism behind developing novel therapeutic agents. We searched two major databases, PubMed and Google Scholar, to identify publications related to the abovementioned topics. All publications, including original papers, reviews, and commentaries, were reviewed. Findings: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is not limited to obese individuals, rather, it may develop in any individual independent of weight. Visceral adiposity is strongly associated with MASLD and subsequent risks of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and cardiovascular disease. MASLD is associated with diabetes mellitus independent of underlying pathogenic mechanisms, and there is a bidirectional connection between MASLD and diabetes mellitus, making the situation quite challenging. Not all patients with MASLD exhibit atherogenic dyslipidemia and thus do not have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. The overlap of these metabolic risk factors is not straightforward. There is a differential contribution of these risk factors based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, alcohol consumption, and microbiota composition. Poor dietary habits and lifestyle directly affect the microbiota, modulators, and mediators, thereby affecting the final biochemical processes leading to steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis, and oncogenesis. In conclusion, MASLD is a complex and pathogenically heterogeneous disease with significant interpatient variation in the natural course and outcome. Understanding the precise mechanism of variability is the key gap and a limiting factor in the development of a novel therapeutic agent.

F2-Isoprostanes Are Associated With Increased Fracture Risk in Type 2 Diabetes.

Fracture risk is higher in type 2 diabetes (T2D) for a given bone mineral density (BMD) level. Increased oxidative stress in T2D induces diabetic complications and may affect T2D bone fragility. To investigate whether the levels of plasma F2-isoprostanes, a reliable oxidative stress marker, are associated with incident clinical fracture risk in older adults with diabetes. An observational cohort study was conducted in a well-characterized cohort from Health, Aging, and Body Composition study. Older black and white ambulatory adults with baseline plasma F2-isoprostanes measurements (baseline age 70-79 years, T2D: N=132; non-diabetes: N=571) were selected from the study cohort of 3075 individuals. Incident clinical fractures. In the Cox proportional hazard model with multivariate adjustments (including BMD, medications, and other risk factors), a 93% increase in incident clinical fracture risk was significantly associated with each SD increase in log plasma F2-isoprostanes in the T2D group (HR: 1.93, 95% CI 1.26-2.95, p=0.002), but there was no evidence of an association in the non-diabetes group (HR: 0.98, 95% CI 0.81-1.18, p=0.79, p for interaction < 0.001). Log plasma F2-isoprostanes were moderately correlated with a decline in baseline total hip BMD (r=-0.25, p=0.003), and with a 4-year decrease in total hip BMD (r=-0.28, p=0.008) in T2D. There was no evidence of correlation between log plasma F2-isoprostanes and circulating glycoxidation markers or bone turnover markers in either group. Plasma F2-isoprostanes levels in individuals with diabetes are associated with increased incident clinical fracture risk independently of baseline BMD.

Discovery of a freshwater pearl mussel population from the Kushereka River, White Sea drainage, Northern European Russia

In this paper we present the results of our field survey in the Kushereka River and preliminary data concerning the size structure, age composition, and population density of the freshwater pearl mussel M. margaritifera in the studied sites.

Development of an older adult Nutrition Equity Index (NEI) and association with the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) in older Black and White U.S. adults

ObjectivesWe developed a novel measure for older U.S. adults called the Nutrition Equity Index (NEI), which includes functional ability. We compared both the NEI and food insufficiency with Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores. DesignThe Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study is a prospective, longitudinal cohort of Medicare-eligible, community-dwelling Black and White men and women. SettingPittsburgh, PA and Memphis, TN. ParticipantsParticipants (N = 2468, aged 74.7 ± 2.9 years) had baseline (1997−98) and 1-year follow-up NEI data; and 1 year follow-up for food insufficiency, key covariates, and the HEI (diet quality measure) from a 108-item interviewer-administered food frequency questionnaire. MeasurementsFood insufficiency was defined from a modified validated question on ample food amount/variety from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NEI was constructed from 8 questions in three subdomains: food insecurity (food insufficiency, hunger, anxiety about limited food, limited money for food), food access (groceries), and food acquisition (difficulty shopping, preparing meals, carrying groceries). Final NEI categories were low nutrition equity (0), moderate nutrition equity (1), and high nutrition equity (2). Multivariable linear regression compared both NEI and food insufficiency with HEI, adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle and comorbidity factors. ResultsOf participants, 13.5% had food insufficiency, 12.1% had low NEI, and 32.5% had moderate NEI. Participants with food insufficiency (vs. food sufficiency) or low NEI (vs. high NEI) were more likely to be Black and have < high school education (both p < 0.0001). In minimally adjusted models, food insufficiency was associated with 2.2 point lower HEI score (p = 0.001), low NEI with 2.6 point lower HEI score (p = 0.001), and moderate NEI with 1.0 point lower HEI score (p < 0.05). Adjusting for race attenuated NEI associations with HEI to non-significance. After multivariable adjustment, food insufficiency was associated with 1.5 point lower HEI score (p = 0.03). ConclusionFood insufficiency was associated with lower dietary quality in this sample of older Black and White U.S. adults. NEI performed similarly to food insufficiency for HEI associations prior to multivariable adjustment and identified more older adults with nutrition inequity, who may be at risk for poor health outcomes.

Partial or complete replacement of soybean meal with black soldier fly larvae meal improves feed efficiency in laying hens between 22 to 30 weeks of age

Abstract The European Commission recently authorised the inclusion of insect meal in poultry feed. Black soldier fly larvae meal (BSF) has comparable nutritional value to soybean meal (SBM) and higher calcium content, making it an attractive alternative protein source for laying hens While a few studies have explored this objective, inconsistent results have been reported, likely due to variations in hen age, breed, husbandry systems, and sunflower meal composition across studies, making it difficult to draw clear conclusions. We hypothesised that partial or complete replacement of SBM with BSF has no adverse effects on egg production and quality in laying hens at the initiation of laying (22-30 weeks of age). This study consisted of three dietary treatments and nine replicates per treatment. Diets were a control diet, and two diets containing 5% (BSF5%) and 10% (BSF10%). The experimental unit was a pen (100 × 200 × 200 cm) of 14 Brown Nick laying hens resembling an aviary setting. We found that complete replacement of SBM with BSF10% in the diet of laying hens improved feed efficiency attributed to a lower feed intake in comparison to laying hens fed the BSF5% or the control diets, while production performance, body weight, and egg quality were maintained and the colour of the egg yolk increased. Therefore, replacing SBM with up to 10% BSF in brown laying hens in aviary pens at the initiation of laying had no adverse effects on production performance, chemical and physical characteristics, and sensory attributes of eggs. Maintaining production and egg quality with a lower intake of nutrients requires further investigation.

Dietary Intake Is Similar Among Adult Men with Different Levels of Cold-Induced Brown Adipose Tissue Activation.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation has important metabolic health implications, yet the relationship between habitual dietary intake and BAT activity in humans remains to be fully understood. We compared dietary intake among adult men with (BATpositive, age: 34.8 ± 5.4 years, BMI: 28.2 ± 5.3 kg/m2, n = 12) and without (BATnegative, age: 39.1 ± 4.1 years, BMI: 31.1 ± 6.7 kg/m2, n = 11) cold-induced BAT activation. Activation of BAT was measured immediately following 2 h of cold exposure using 18F fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography reported as maximum standardized uptake (SUVmax). Participants categorized as BATpositive had an SUVmax > 1.5 g/mL that was normalized to lean body mass (SUVlean) for analysis. Shivering intensity was recorded every 15 min during cold exposure and dietary intake was estimated from 7 consecutive 24 h dietary recalls. The BATnegative group was significantly older than the BATpositive group (p = 0.046). Although BATnegative participants consumed an average of 281.2 kcal/day more than BATpositive, there were no significant differences in dietary intake between groups (p ≥ 0.202). Further, no statistically significant associations between SUVlean and dietary intake among BATpositive participants were observed (p ≥ 0.175). Participants who shivered (n = 9) during cold exposure tended to be shorter (p = 0.056) and have a lower waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.097) but did not differ in dietary intake (p ≥ 0.204) or BAT activity (p = 0.964) when compared to the non-shivering (n = 11) group. Our results indicate that BAT activity and shivering during cold exposure are more strongly related to variables such as age and body size or composition rather than habitual dietary intake. We conclude that habitual dietary intake likely has a negligible influence on BAT activity among adult men.

Growth patterns and age determination of Piked Dogfish from Romanian Black Sea waters: Insights from spines analysis

Understanding the growth patterns and the age composition of Squalus acanthias (piked dogfish) populations, from Romanian marine area, helps to elaborate sustainable fisheries management practices because changes in population parameters could indicate shifts in prey availability, habitat quality issues, or fishing pressure. In recent years, the official catches on the Romanian coast, of this economically valuable species in the entire Black Sea basin, have remained below one ton. Regarding the growth patterns, a slight increase in the average length value was observed, from 107,85 cm in 2022 to 116,88 cm in 2023. For age determination the method of analyzing the dorsal spines was used, considered the most appropriate. Thus, in 2022 mature specimens (19 years old) predominated, and in 2023, younger specimens (14 years old), but completely mature from a reproductive point of view, predominated. Analyzing age structure over time is important for predicting future population trends and implementing conservation measures as needed.

Contract Farming in Low and Lower-Middle-Income Countries: Using Meta-Analysis and Factor Analysis

Purpose: Smallholder farmers&amp;apos; agriculture in developing countries particularly in low and lower-middle-income countries is known for poor production and productivity levels which has been related to the inadequate use of improved agricultural inputs and marketing systems, and in this case, contract farming. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the various factors which affect contract farming among smallholder farmers in developing countries. However, trying to investigate those contract farming determinants by a single analytical method leads it to have limited findings, narrowed generalizability and difficulty in investigating major determinants that determine contract farming success. Therefore, a joint approach using factor analysis and meta-analysis can give a more comprehensive understanding of contract farming factors. Methodology: The data was gathered through a Systematic Literature Review, finding a total of 3007 studies from SCOPUS, PubMed, PubAg, and EMBASE. The PRISMA method was applied to, and finally, 35 peer-reviewed articles in English between January 1990 to September 2023 were selected. Findings: The meta-analysis showed interesting insights into factors influencing contract farming participation. Education and household size exhibited a negative association, suggesting that farmers with higher education levels and larger families may be less likely to participate in contract farming arrangements. This could be due to a preference for independent decision-making or the need for family labor in alternative income-generating activities. On the other hand, farmers with larger landholdings are more inclined to participate. To encourage broader participation, policymakers, and program designers could consider targeted outreach and support services for these specific demographics. Originality and value: Our new approach, joining meta-analysis and factor analysis, sheds innovative light on contract farming determinants. While the expected determinants like farm and household size, along with education, remained significant, our analysis showed unexpected nuances. Age of the household head emerged as potentially favoring younger, less experienced farmers. Moreover, access to extension services played an important role, while large household size might have a more complex influence depending on age composition. This comprehensive approach offers valuable insights for targeted outreach programs and collaboration with extension services to optimize contract farming adoption and success in developing countries.

SAFETY OF DIRECT ORAL ANTICOAGULANTS IN PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION 80 YEARS AND OLDER: CLINICAL RISK FACTORS

BACKGROUND: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) use is complicated by bleeding, especially in the geriatric population. Most studies focus on predicting major bleeding, while clinically relevant non-major bleeding (CRNMB) is no less important for practice. АIM: of the study was to evaluate the ability of clinical factors to predict the risk of CRNMB while taking DOACs in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) aged 80 years and older. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 367 patients were examined with non-valvular AF aged 80 years and older (median age 84 [82; 88] years) taking DOACs. The main population parameters (gender and age composition of groups, body mass index), risk of ischemic stroke according to the CHA2DS2-VASc scale, risk of bleeding according to the HAS-BLED scale, comorbidity, Charlson comorbidity index, risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases, number of medications taken, objective examination data, vascular wall stiffness, and laboratory test results were assessed. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, significant risk factors for developing CRNMB with all DOACs were: higher frequency of walking (p=0.022), lower heart rate (p=0.08), and history of gastric and duodenal ulcer (GDU) (odds ratio (OR) 5.34 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.31; 12], p0.001). As a result of multivariate analysis, a model for predicting CRNMB was developed, with age, type of DOAC, liver disease, acute cerebrovascular accident, history of GDU selected as predictors. The resulting model was characterized by 62.6% [95% CI: 57.4; 67.6] predictive accuracy, 66.5% [95% CI: 59.4; 73.1] sensitivity and 58.2% [95% CI: 50.4; 65.7] specificity. CONCLUSION: The study identified specific modifiable, potentially modifiable, and non-modifiable risk factors for the development of CRNMB in patients with AF over 80 years of age taking DOACs. The results of the study can be used to create an electronic system to support medical decision-making, manage risk factors, and improve the quality of life of the population.

DNA methylation in the TXNIP gene is associated with type 2 diabetes in Pacific Peoples living in NZ

Abstract Background Pacific Peoples living in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) have higher rates of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and have benefited less from improvements in cardiovascular health outcomes when compared with other populations in NZ. DNA methylation markers of T2D have been identified in non-Pacific populations and could be used to monitor the cumulative effects of T2D on cardiovascular disease risk. However, no study has yet investigated the relationships between T2D and DNA methylation in Pacific Peoples living in NZ. Purpose This study aimed to quantify the relationship between DNA methylation and T2D in two cohorts of Pacific Peoples living in NZ. Methods Whole-blood DNA methylation at over 850,000 loci was measured on Illumina MethylationEPIC arrays in 288 Pacific participants from the Pasifika Heart Study (PHS, n=191), a community cohort, and the Multi-Ethnic NZ Study of Acute Coronary Syndromes (MENZACS, n=97), a cohort of patients with acute coronary syndromes. In the PHS, the median age was 41 years, and 98 (51%) participants were female. In MENZACS, the median age was 53 years, and 18 (19%) participants were female. In both cohorts, T2D cases were defined by either previous diagnosis (n=58) or had an HbA1c measurement &amp;gt;58 mmol/mol (n=7). We compared 65 participants with T2D and 223 participants without T2D of Samoan (n=116), Tongan (n=66), Fijian (n=61), Cook Island Māori (n=22), Niuean (n=9), or of Other/Multiple Pacific (n=14) ethnicity in a meta epigenome-wide association study (EWAS). EWAS comparisons were adjusted for age, sex, and imputed blood cell composition. We compared the difference in means at differentially methylated loci between the European and Pacific MENZACS participants using a two-sample z statistic. For the 525 European participants, 85 had T2D, the median age was 57 years, and 149 (28%) were female. Results One locus cg19693031, in the thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP) gene, exhibited differential methylation between those with T2D and those without in the meta EWAS (false discovery rate =6.9x10-9). In the PHS we observed a mean reduction in cg19693031 methylation of 7.0% (95% CI, 5.0, 8.9) between those with T2D and those without. Similarly in the MENZACS Pacific participants we observed a mean reduction in cg19693031 methylation of 10.9% (95% CI, 7.6, 12.4) between those with T2D and those without. The MENZACS European participants with T2D had a mean reduction in cg19693031 methylation of 6.5% (95% CI, 5.3, 7.7, p&amp;lt;0.001) compared to those without T2D. The difference in means in T2D cases and controls between MENZACS Pacific and European participants was non-significant (p =0.08). Conclusion DNA methylation at cg19693031 is associated with T2D in Pacific Peoples living in NZ and may be a sensitive marker of T2D in Pacific Peoples with acute coronary syndromes. DNA methylation at this locus may provide valuable information on the relationship between T2D and cardiovascular disease.Miami plot of Pacific T2D EWAST2D methylation by population in MENZACS

Disparities by region, age, and sex in cardiovascular disease burden attributable to high fasting plasma glucose in China, 2010-2018: a nationwide, population-based study

Abstract Background Elaborating and understanding disparities in the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) attributable to high fasting plasma glucose (FPG) is important to improve diabetes prevention and promote cardiovascular health. In this study, we aimed to estimate the burden of CVD and its subtypes attributable to high FPG between 2010 and 2018 in China, by age, sex, region and socio-demographic index (SDI). Methods We pooled data on 791 373 people aged 25 years and older from three population-based surveys, and the temporal-spatial Bayesian hierarchical model was used to estimate age- specific, sex- specific, province- specific, and year-specific average FPG levels from 2010 to 2018. We estimated population attributable fraction for CVD by age and sex for 31 provinces. Data on CVD deaths at the provincial level were obtained from surveillance systems, which were used to compute death numbers and years of life lost (YLLs) due to CVD that could be attributed to high FPG using the counterfactual scenario of theoretical minimum risk level. We also decomposed changes in attributable burdens into four explanatory components, including population growth, population aging, risk exposure to FPG, and in risk-deleted mortality rates for CVD. Results In 2018, an estimated total of 512·29 thousand (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 488·60 to 538·65) adults aged 25 or older were attributable to high FPG in China, with 281·54 thousand (95%UI 267·89 to 295·05) of these deaths occurring in men and 229·75 thousand (95%UI 210·98 to 251·89) in women. The age composition of CVD mortality caused by high FPG suggested a trend toward older ages from 2010 to 2018 (Figure 1). High FPG accounted for 1 093·45 crude YLLs per 100 000 people (95%UI 1 059·13 to 1 131·73) due to FPG-related CVD in 2018, with substantial variation across provinces. The age-standardised CVD mortality rate attributable to high FPG increased by 3·99%, from 41·93 per 100 000 people (95%UI 40·07 to 43·88) in 2010 to 43·60 per 100 000 (95%UI 41·77 to 45·62) in 2018. In 2018, the higher age-standardised CVD mortality rate attributable to high FPG was observed in the high-middle SDI region and the middle SDI region. By province, the age-standardised mortality rate due to FPG-related CVD in both sexes combined varied from 21·31 per 100 000 people in Tibet to 77·66 per 100 000 people in Heilongjiang in 2018. Nationally, compared to 2010, exposure to high FPG and population aging in 2018 were the primary drivers of increased FPG-related deaths due to CVD (Figure 2). Conclusions The CVD burden attributable to high FPG was still large in China, and varied markedly across regions and provinces. Exposure to high FPG and population ageing were associated with substantial changes in the number of FPG-related CVD deaths between 2010 and 2018. Findings of this study emphasize the importance of developing population-specific tailored measures in China and other regions with similar condition.Figure 1Figure 2

ASSESSMENT OF THE THICKNESS OF THE SKIN-FAT LAYER IN SCHOOLCHILDREN OF DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS

The rise in overweight and obesity among school-age children is currently one of the most serious public health problems. With the progress of science and medicine, obesity and the development of various problems caused by it are widespread among schoolchildren and adults in general. In this sense, as a serious problem of medical science, it is alarming and relevant (Calonje Eduardo et. al, 2020). Obesity, as one of the diseases of civilization, is the result of hypodynamia, a disturbance of fat metabolism in the body, which leads to excess weight gain. ("Obesity and overweight Fact sheet N°311".WHO. January 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2016). In this sense, it is important to take into account the age period, and the deviations observed during normal development because each age period has its characteristics of fat metabolism. It has been shown that female schoolchildren of middle school age have a higher rate of obesity, which is not only determined by gender but also by age and body composition or somatotype. Middle and high-school-aged female schoolchildren have a peripheral type of obesity, that is, fat is predominantly stored in the subcutaneous tissue of the thighs, abdomen, and buttocks. It has been shown that there is a clear correlation between fat metabolism and somatotype in middle and high school children. The results of the study suggest that physical activity should be part of a comprehensive weight loss therapy program and weight control strategy since it promotes excess weight loss and its sustainable maintenance, for which it is important to regularly monitor indicators of subcutaneous fat thickness and the relative content of adipose tissue throughout the body․

Age, Growth, Sex Composition, and Diet of the Burbot, Lota lota, the Only Freshwater Species of the Family Lotidae in the Amur (Heilongjiang) River, Northeast China

Information about the population structure, including the age and sex composition, growth characteristics, and diet of fish, is essential for the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fish stock. The burbot, Lota lota, is the only freshwater species of the family Lotidae in the Amur (Heilongjiang) River catchment located in northeastern China. Information on the biological characteristics and data on the population structure of this fish from the Amur River are scarce. To study these factors in burbot, Lota lota, in the Amur River of China, 749 specimens from four sampling areas were taken and analyzed in October 2022, January 2023, and May 2023. The ages of the sampled fish ranged from 1+ to 7+ years. The female/male ratio was 1.04:1, and body length and mass varied from 175 to 595 mm and 73.5 to 1958.7 g, respectively. The length–weight regression parameter b value was estimated as 2.80. The parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth model were L∞ = 596, K = 0.221, and t0 = −0.771 for all sampled fish; L∞ = 625, K = 0.208, and t0 = −0.756 for females; and L∞ = 584, K = 0.219, and t0 = −0.980 for males. The analysis of the stomach contents showed fish to be the major source of nutrition across all areas and sampling periods. In January, the secondary prey of burbots in the Huma reach of the upper Amur River was aquatic insect larvae, while, in the Tongjiang and Fuyuan reaches of the middle Amur River, the secondary prey was shrimp. The mean stomach fullness index and rate of empty stomachs differed with the sampling area, with the greatest proportion of empty stomachs observed in the Luobei reach of the middle Amur River, and the lowest in the Tongjiang and Fuyuan reaches. The mean stomach fullness index showed the opposite trend. In the Huma reach, the contributions of fish to the diet and the mean stomach fullness index were significantly higher in May than in October and January. The study provides the first detailed information on the population age and sex structure, growth patterns, and feeding ecology of burbots from the Amur River, China. The results will aid in formulating management strategies and regulations for local populations of burbots in the Amur River, China.

LATE MESOZOIC RARE-METAL GRANITES, PEGMATITES, AND GREISENS OF MONGOLIA: AGE, MINERALOGY, GEOCHEMISTRY, ORE POTENTIAL, AND PETROGENESIS

Comparative analysis of the earlier obtained and new geological data, age, mineral, petrological, and geochemical compositions of plutons of calc-alkalic granitoids and rare-metal Li–F granites shows their evolution in a wide time interval during the formation of Mesozoic areas of granitoid magmatism. Mineralogical and geochemical analysis of the evolution of plutons of palingenetic calc-alkalic granitoids (Baga Hentiyn (MZ1) and Ikh Narotiin = Hiid (MZ2)) and intrusions of rare-metal Li–F granites of Central and Eastern Mongolia revealed their petrological and geochemical differences. The closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Basin with the formation of large plutons of calc-alkaliс granitoids, obviously related to collisional processes, did not cause significant enrichment of the late granite phases with lithophile and ore elements. Within the peripheral zones of еру MZ1 and MZ2 magmatic areas, mineralization is often associated with Mongolian multiphase plutons and small intrusions of rare-metal Li–F granites. The rare-metal granites are characterized by a decrease in indicative K/Rb, Nb/Ta, and Zr/Hf values and a regular increase in F, Li, Rb, Cs, Sn, W, Be, Ta, and Nb contents during the evolution of Li–F magmas. Igneous and, particularly, metasomatic rocks in most intrusions of ore-bearing rare-metal Li–F granites are characterized by significant variations in Sn and W contents. At the magmatic stage, the pegmatoid varieties of amazonite–albite granites and pegmatites of the zonal Baga Gazriin (MZ1) and Barun Tsogto (MZ2) plutons are significantly enriched in both Sn and W. Maximum Sn and W enrichment has been established in greisenized granites and zoned greisen bodies (zwitters), which is due to the percolation of ore-bearing solutions into the upper horizons and the mineralization of ore elements in the late phases of intrusions and in metasomatites. The wide variations in the age (321–126 Ma) and trace element and isotope compositions of Mongolian rare-metal Li–F granites within various zones of large magmatic areas suggest the influence of mantle plume sources on the composition of rare-metal granitic magmas and on their ore potential in intermediate chambers in the continental crust.

Predictors of bleeding from esophagus veins in patients with liver cirrhosis

Aim: to identify clinical and laboratory predictors of bleeding from the esophageal veins in patients with liver cirrhosis and evaluate their practical significance. Materials and methods. The study materials were the results of an examination of 50 patients treated in the gastroenterology department for liver cirrhosis and 160 patients in surgical departments hospitalized for bleeding from esophageal varices due to liver cirrhosis. All patients were subjected to a standard set of general clinical examinations, ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs, and videoesophagogastroduodenoscopy. Results. When comparing patients with cirrhosis of the liver with and without bleeding from the veins of the esophagus, a statistically significant difference was revealed between the groups in the gender and age composition, blood bilirubin level, and de Ritis coefficient. At the same time, no differences were found in the etiology and severity of liver cirrhosis, blood protein levels, the diameter of the portal and splenic veins, and the proportion of patients with ascites. Conclusions. The detection of a de Ritis coefficient equal to or exceeding 1.8 in a patient with liver cirrhosis can be considered a predictor of a high risk of bleeding from the esophageal veins (sensitivity of the parameter 60.87%, specificity 93.94%) and can be recommended for identifying those in need of priority measures primary prevention.

ВОЗРАСТНАЯ СТРУКТУРА Г. ДИВНОГОРСКА В 1959–1989 ГГ.

This article is devoted to the analysis of the evolution of the age composition of the young small town of Divnogorsk in the period from 1959 to 1989. The study is based on data from the All-Union population censuses, which makes it possible to compare the age structures of this city with the average values of other cities in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the RSFSR as a whole. Special attention is paid to the impact of these changes on the demographic landscape of the region, which contributes to a deeper understanding of population dynamics and the development of demographic process management to ensure sustainable socio-demographic development. The analysis of the materials showed and confirmed that Divnogorsk was indeed a young city in the first decades of its existence, the average age and the proportion of the elderly population were lower than in the RSFSR and the cities of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. At the same time, the proportion of children and the working-age population is higher.