Age Period Research Articles

Assessing the stability of polyphenol content in red rooibos herbal tea using traditional methods and high-resolution mass spectrometry: Implications for studying dietary interventions in preclinical rodent studies

Preclinical rodent models are used to examine the relationship between tea consumption and bone health, where tea is available for rodents and typically replaced weekly. However, the extent to which the tea polyphenols change over time remains uncertain, despite its importance in preparing tea during preclinical rodent trials. Using an untargeted molecular approach, we applied a liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOFMS) system to assess the molecular profile of red rooibos teas throughout a 6-day aging period. We found a significant, 3-fold decrease of polyphenols involved in bone metabolism, including m-coumaric acid, catechin derivatives and courmaroyl tartaric acid over 6 days, likely due to photochemical decomposition and autooxidation within tea extracts. Using a novel untargeted workflow for polyphenol characterization, our findings revealed the complexity of polyphenols in red rooibos teas that can inform the evidence-based decisions of how often to change teas during in vivo rodent trials.

PREVALENCE AND STRUCTURE OF DENTO-MAXILLOFACIAL ANOMALIES IN CHILDREN

The high level of dental morbidity in the children's population of Ukraine remains one of the urgent problems of modern dentistry. Dental health is largely characterized by the correctness of the structure of the mandibular system, its proper functioning and balance, and its condition is one of the preventive and quite clearly fixed indicators of health/ ill health of the human body in general. The pathology of the maxillofacial system affects not only the state of health, but also the quality of life of the patient, his emotional and social well-being.
 In this context, information on the prevalence of dentomandibular abnormalities and the overall need for orthodontic treatment is essential to provide objective information to health care stakeholders in order to make an adequate allocation of health care resources based on objective epidemiological data. In addition, dento-mandibular anomalies, which are not detected and not eliminated in childhood, in the process of growth and development of the facial skeleton over time acquire more severe forms, which become more pronounced and are less amenable to treatment. Therefore, the analysis of the prevalence and severity of ASD in children is an important stage in the process of planning preventive and therapeutic measures.
 Data from literary sources indicate a high prevalence of dento-maxillofacial anomalies among children in different age periods and depending on the characteristics of the area of residence. In particular, the results of the examination of children aged eight months to seventeen years, residents of different regions of Ukraine, given in scientific works of recent years, indicate a high prevalence of dento-jaw anomalies (41%77.9%).
 The high prevalence of dento-mandibular anomalies indicates the need for timely diagnosis at the early stages of the development of orthodontic pathology, which will contribute to timely treatment, which will subsequently be able to ensure the normal development of the child's dento-mandibular system and improve the quality of life.

Role of plasma process gas on permeate flux augmentation of cellulose nitrate membrane for mud water treatment

A comparative study between Nitrogen (N2) and Argon (Ar) plasma is carried out to investigate its effect on surface morphology, hydrophilicity, permeate flux and ageing of cellulose nitrate polymeric membranes in the present work. Langmuir probe and Optical Emission Spectroscopy are used to characterize the plasma. The SEM analysis reveals the noticeable macro-void creations and pore enlargement for both N2 and Ar plasma. The AFM analysis shows a higher surface roughness for Ar plasma treatment as compared to N2 plasma treatment. XPS analysis confirms the changes in the polymer matrix along with the incorporation of various functional groups on the membrane surface as a result of the plasma treatment. A better hydrophilic nature with prolonged plasma treatment is observed for Ar plasma as compared to N2 plasma treatment. The present results show a higher permeate flux with a high rejection rate for Ar plasma treatment in comparison to N2 plasma, which might be due to the pore size and pore area enlargement of the membrane. The hydrophobic recovery for both the plasma-treated membranes is found significant for the initial ageing period of 7 days and found almost stable in nature after 7 days. A diffusion-based theoretical model is developed to study the hydrophobic recovery of plasma-treated membranes. A strong alignment between experimental and theoretical results is observed in the present work. The Cake Filtration model, derived from the Hermia model, is identified as the most suitable model for describing the fouling mechanisms for the present work.

Childhood adversity and psychopathology: the dimensions of timing, type and chronicity in a population-based sample of high-risk adolescents.

Research on childhood adversity and psychopathology has begun investigating the dimension of timing, however the results have been contradictory depending on the study population, outcome and how adverse life events (ALEs) were operationalized. Additionally, studies so far typically focus only on a narrow range of psychiatric diagnoses or symptoms. The current cross-sectional study aimed to examine the association between timing, type and chronicity of ALEs and adolescent mental health problems. Adolescents from a population-based cohort oversampled on emotional and behavioral problems (mean age 14.8; range 12-17, N = 861) were included in the current analysis. Primary caregivers were interviewed on what ALEs adolescents experienced. ALEs were defined in two ways: (1) broad operationalization, including school difficulties, parental divorce, and family sickness; and (2) physically threatening abuse only, including physical and sexual violence. After looking at lifetime ALEs, we turned to chronicity, timing and sex differences. We focused on overall psychiatric symptoms as well as specific domains of emotional and behavioral problems, assessed using the Youth Self Report (YSR) and psychotic experiences assessed using the Prodromal Questionnaire-16 (PQ-16). A series of linear models adjusted for sociodemographic and parental factors were used. Lifetime ALEs were associated with all types of psychopathology, with relatively bigger effect sizes for broad than for physical ALEs. The latter associations were found to be more robust to unmeasured confounding. The 9-12 age period of experiencing both broad and physical ALE's was most saliently associated with any psychopathology. Girls were more at risk after experiencing any ALEs, especially if the adversity was chronic or ALEs took place after the age of 12. Broad as well as physical ALEs are associated with psychopathology, especially ALEs experienced during the 9-12 age period. Physical ALEs may be more useful in investigating specific etiological factors than broad ALEs. Sex differences may not emerge in lifetime measures of ALEs, but can be important for chronic and later childhood adversity.

Predictors of attitudes towards aging in elderly living in community care

BackgroundDue to the aging of the population, the promotion of healthy aging is an important part of public health. Healthy aging of the population can be influenced by the attitudes of the elderly themselves towards old age and aging. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to find out the attitudes of older people living in a community environment toward old age and the predictors that influence these attitudes.MethodsThe evaluation of attitudes towards old age using the WHO AAQ (Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire) questionnaire involved 1,174 elderly people living in the community. Age, sex, marital status, education, subjective health assessment, social support, depression (GDS-15), anxiety (GAI), sense of coherence (SOC-13) and self-esteem (RSES) were used to evaluate related factors.ResultsAs part of the exploratory factor analysis, a three-factor model (Psychosocial Loss, Physical Change, and Psychological Growth) was confirmed. The Cronbach alpha was found to be acceptable (α = 0.835). The predictors of better AAQ in the Psychological Loss domain were: subjective health, age, quality of life, self-esteem, sense of coherence, life satisfaction, anxiety, and social support; in the Physical Change domain: subjective health, quality of life, self-esteem, life satisfaction, cohabitation, and depression; and in the Psychological Growth domain: age, self-esteem, sense of coherence, life satisfaction, and social support.ConclusionPreventive and policy measures should aim to increase the satisfaction and self-assessment of the elderly, which can help them evaluate the period of old age more positively. It is also important to create a positive perspective of ageing and elderly in society.

The Oxidative Stability of Champagne Base Wines Aged on Lees in Barrels: A 2-Year Study.

In contrast with the elaboration of still wines, the impact of barrel aging before the "prise de mousse" on the aging potential of Champagne base wines has not been studied so far. In the present study, the oxidative stability and related molecular fingerprints of Chardonnay Champagne base wines were reported after 1 year of on lees ageing in new oak barrels for two consecutive vintages. Regardless of the vintage, on lees ageing in new oak barrels improved the wines' oxidative stability estimated by DPPH assay at 1 year, while UHPLC-Q-ToF-MS molecular profiling showed clear chemical modifications according to the ageing period. Oak wood molecular ellagitannins followed a linear extraction during barrel ageing for both vintages. However, the wines' antioxidant metabolome composed by antiradical and nucleophilic compounds clearly appeared vintage- and barrel-aging dependent. These results enrich the understanding of white wines antioxidant metabolome and improve the knowledge of the ageing potential of Chardonnay Champagne base wines by integrating vintage- and barrel-ageing effects.

Application of hyperspectral imaging for characterization of VOC-induced historical glass corrosion

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) provides high-resolution recording of the spectral information at every spatial point (pixel) of an object throughout a contiguous range of wavelengths. This paper reports an attempt at exploring the application of HSI in transmittance mode for the identification and quantification of corrosion in transparent historical glass, which is difficult to identify by visual inspection. This was done using model glass samples mimicking historical composition and subjected to artificial ageing in the presence of volatile organic compounds. Hyperspectral images of unaged and aged glass samples were recorded with two cameras covering visible and near infrared (VNIR, 400–1000 nm) and short-wave infrared range (SWIR, 1000–2500 nm) using a custom-made HSI set-up in transmission mode. The HSI data were further processed to classify and visualize corrosion in different ageing environments and ageing periods. The results show that HSI can be employed as a valuable tool to assess glass corrosion at early stages, especially by analysing the SWIR spectral region—which shows the water absorption by the glass matrix due to corrosion.

Birth cohort effects on diagnosed atrial fibrillation incidence: nationwide cohort study from 1980 to 2018

BackgroundThe incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) shows substantial temporal trends, but the contribution of birth cohort effects is unknown. These effects refer to the relationship between birth year and the...

Evaluation of Fresh and Frozen Beef Strip Loins of Equal Aging Periods for Palatability Traits

Although studies evaluating freezing are prevalent, most have used varied postmortem aging times to facilitate study design. The lack of a comprehensive study evaluating equally aged fresh and frozen steaks prevents a true under-standing of the impact of freezing. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the eating quality and consumer perception differences between fresh and frozen beef steaks of 3 equal aging periods. Beef carcasses were selected from a processing plant on 2 kill dates 1 wk apart to allow for a 1-wk freezing period, fabricated, and aged for 21, 28, or 35 d. On the same day, all samples of equal aging periods were fed to consumer and trained sensory panelists, sheared for shear force, and powdered for lab assays. For consumer panels, the first 4 steaks were given with no additional information, whereas the last 4 steaks were served with the labels “previously frozen” or “fresh, never frozen.” The consumer panelists rated the frozen samples as more tender (P<0.05) than the fresh samples but found no other differences (P>0.05). Even when given additional information, the perception of quality was not impacted (P>0.05). Similarly, the trained panelists rated the frozen samples higher (P<0.05) than the fresh counterparts for overall tenderness, but the fresh samples scored higher (P<0.05) for initial and sustained juiciness. Supporting the sensory data, the frozen steaks had lower (P<0.05) shear force values regardless of the aging period. However, the fresh samples resulted in lower (P<0.05) purge and cook loss. Although some meat quality factors were impacted by freezing, the overall eating quality and perception of quality were not negatively impacted. Therefore, frozen meat should not be discounted due to the eating quality or perception of the quality of beef steaks.

Study of the surface, rheological and morphological characteristics of isotactic polypropylene microplastics aged in a photothermal oxidation chamber

The aim of this study was to investigate, in addition to degradation processes, the rheological, crystalline, and molecular dynamics changes in isotactic polypropylene microplastics with average sizes of 0.5 and 2 mm, aged in a photothermal oxidation chamber for 166 days. In addition to commonly used techniques in microplastics research, time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR) in fast field cycling and fixed field modes, was employed for the first time in the study of these materials, providing non-destructive information that supports other results. Concurrently with X-ray diffractometry (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), surface wettability, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques, two antagonistic phenomena were observed over the aging period. One associated with the surface degradation of microplastics and increased molecular mobility, and the other related to morphological changes in the internal layers, leading to increased rigidity. These phenomena occur slightly differently depending on the average particle size. Through multivariate data analysis with principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), it was possible to determine that the degradation process intensifies after 62 days of simultaneous exposure to ultraviolet radiation, temperature, and oxidizing atmosphere. The obtained data highlight that even synthetic polymers with long degradation periods can undergo, in the form of microplastics, initial morphological changes in just 15 days and degradation processes within a few months of exposure to weathering conditions.

Effect of Electrostatic Field Assisted Thawing on the Quality of Previously Frozen Beef Striploins

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of applying electrostatic field (EF)–assisted thawing on the quality attributes of previously frozen beef striploin. Beef striploins from both sides of 12 USDA Choice carcasses were halved, frozen at −40°C, and thawed under 4 EF voltage treatments: 0 kV (control), 2.5 kV, 5 kV, and 10 kV. After reaching the internal temperature of −1°C, striploins were weighed for yield calculation, swabbed for microbial analysis, fabricated into steaks, and assigned to either 0- or 14-d aging period and retail displayed for 0 or 7 d. Subjective and objective color measurements were taken during the retail display. Upon completion of retail display, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), cook loss, sarcomere length, troponin-T degradation, muscle fiber spacing, lipid oxidation, antioxidant capacity, pH, and proximate analysis were performed. All EF treatments increased purge loss compared to the control (P<0.05) and did not improve thawing speed, with samples from 10 kV actually taking the longest to thaw (P<0.05). The 2.5 kV and 5 kV samples aged 14 d showed less discoloration than those from 0 kV and 10 kV, and 5 kV samples aged 14 d had higher a* than those from the other treatments (P<0.05). Samples thawed under 10 kV showed a reduction in WBSF compared to the control (P<0.05), but there was no impact of EF on aerobic plate count, sarcomere length, troponin-T degradation,relative fat %, crude protein %, moisture %, purge protein concentration, pH, lipid oxidation, or antioxidant capacity for either the hydrophilic (water soluble) and lipophilic (lipid soluble) portion of the samples (P>0.05). Overall, our study determined that there was no economic benefit to apply EF during thawing regarding yield and purge loss. However, the application of EF may improve tenderness and extend shelf life of beef during retail display.

Impact of a COVID-19 code blue protocol on resuscitation care and CPR quality during in-hospital cardiac arrest

ObjectiveWe sought to evaluate the impact of a COVID-19 Code Blue policy on in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) processes of care, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality metrics, and survival to hospital discharge. MethodsWe completed a health record review of consecutive IHCA for which resuscitation was attempted. We report Utstein outcomes and CPR quality metrics 33 months before (July,2017-March,2020) and after (April,2020-December,2022) the implementation of a COVID-19 Code Blue policy requiring all team members to don personal protective equipment including gown, gloves, mask, and eye protection for all IHCA. ResultsThere were 800 IHCA with the following characteristics (Before n = 396; After n = 404): mean age 66, 62.9% male, 81.3% witnessed, 31.3% in the emergency department, 25.6% cardiac cause, and initial shockable rhythm in 16.7%. Among all 404 patients screened for COVID-19, 25 of 288 available test results before IHCA occurred were positive. Comparing the before and after periods: there were relevant time delays (min:sec) in start of chest compressions (0:17vs.0:37;p = 0.005), team arrival (0:43vs.1:21;p = 0.002), 1st rhythm analysis (1:15vs.3:16;p < 0.0001), 1st epinephrine (3:44vs.4:34;p = 0.02), and airway insertion (8:38vs. 10:18;p = 0.02). Resuscitation duration was similar (18:28vs.19:35;p = 0.34). Exception of peri-shock pause which appeared longer (0:06vs.0:14;p = 0.07), chest compression fraction, rate and depth were identical and good. Factors independently associated with survival were age (adjOR 0.98;p < 0.001), male sex (adjOR 1.51;p = 0.048), witnessed (adjOR 2.35;p = 0.02), shockable rhythm (adjOR 3.31;p < 0.0001), hospital location (p = 0.0002), and COVID-19 period (adjOR 0.68;p = 0.052). ConclusionsThe COVID-19 Code Blue policy was associated with delayed processes of care but similarly good CPR quality. The COVID-19 period appeared associated with decreased survival.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with multidrug-resistant bacteria in COVID-19 patients.

Bacterial coinfection among patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a critical medical concern that increases the disease severity and mortality rate. The current study is aimed at evaluating the effects of bacterial coinfections among COVID-19 patients, especially in relation to degree of severity and mortality. A retrospective study was conducted for patients with positive COVID-19 test, admitted to a regional COVID-19 hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between May and August 2020. A specimen (e.g., blood, urine, or sputum) was collected from patients with confirmed COVID-19, and was cultured to determine bacterial coinfection caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria. COVID-19 patients were categorized into 2 groups based on the result of bacterial coinfection culture, as COVID-19 patients with coinfection and COVID-19 patients without coinfection. Independent sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare age and hospitalization period between these groups. In addition, binominal logistic regression was applied to identify risk factors associated with mortality and bacterial coinfection. The study included 342 patients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19. Eighty (23.3%) patients were diagnosed with bacterial coinfection, while the remaining 262 (76.6%) patients did not test positive for bacterial coinfection. Length of hospital stay was prolonged among COVID-19 patients diagnosed with bacterial coinfection (16.01 ± 11.36 days) when compared with patients without bacterial coinfection (6.5 ± 6.12 days). Likewise, the mortality rate was significantly higher among COVID-19 patients with bacterial coinfection (90%) compared to those without bacterial coinfection (49.2%). Gram-negative bacteria were predominant compared to gram-positive, as Klebsiella pneumoniae (35 [43.8%]) and Acinetobacter baumanni (32 [40%]). On the other hand, Staphylococcus aureus (4 [5%]), Enterococcus faecalis (1 [1.3%]), and Enterococcus faecium (1 [1.3%]) were identified as gram-positive bacterial species from recruited patients. The findings of the current study showed that prolong hospitalization is the main risk factor associated with bacterial coinfection and death. Thus, health care providers should minimize hospitalization as well as following a continuous monitoring for bacterial coinfection among COVID-19 patients, to control the spread of infection and reducing the severity and mortality rate among COVID-19 patients.

Epidemiological aspects of chronic diarrhea in children in the Samara region

The aim of the research: to study the structure and epidemiological features of chronic diarrhea in children in different age periods. Materials and methods: data on outpatient cases of children and inpatient care with diseases that are clinically manifested by chronic diarrhea syndrome were analyzed. A survey of 1509 children of different ages was also conducted at an outpatient appointment with a pediatrician on the day of a healthy child, in preschool and educational institutions in the city of Samara. Results of the study: as a result of the study, it was revealed that in the structure of gastroenterological pathology in children, diseases manifested by chronic diarrhea account for 1.8%, while at the outpatient stage, unspecified diseases are more common. Among the children surveyed, it was found that clinical manifestations of chronic diarrhea were observed in 53.4% of cases at the time of the survey, while among these children, only 8% had a gastroenterological diagnosis that explained chronic diarrhea. Slightly less than half of the children surveyed had the so-called causal nature of chronic diarrhea. Conclusion: The relevance of the problem of chronic diarrhea in childhood is confirmed by the data of its high prevalence. It has been shown that insufficient attention is paid to the problem of chronic diarrhea - the registered prevalence is at least 5 times lower than the real one. Particular attention should be paid to children with cause-related diarrhea, and restriction of the use of cause-significant products stops clinical manifestations and leads to a decrease in seeking medical help.

Pharmacy Students’ Over-the-counter Recommendations for Primary Dysmenorrhea and Childhood Fever Cases in an Indonesian University

Background: The quality of pharmacy education is stated in the literature to be one of the factors influencing the quality of self-medication services in pharmacies. However, research describing the ability of pharmacy students to handle self-medication cases is limited.Objectives: This study aims to describe pharmacy students’ recommendations for two vignette cases involving analgesic-antipyretics (i.e., primary dysmenorrhea and childhood fever cases) in an Indonesian university and to identify factors related to the appropriateness of their recommendations.Methods: Apothecary students were asked to provide recommendations and their reasoning for primary dysmenorrhea and childhood fever cases using a structured telephone interview.Results: Of the 86 participants, appropriate recommendations were provided by 86% and 78% for a case of primary dysmenorrhea and for childhood fever respectively. One-quarter of students did not identify referral criteria in the case of childhood fever and thus made inappropriate recommendations. Age and study period were factors significantly related to providing appropriate recommendations, in which students who were younger and completed their study program within 5 to 6 years were significantly able to provide appropriate recommendations compared to students who were older and whose study period exceeded 6 years.Conclusion: A considerable number of apothecary students in an Indonesian university were able to properly manage cases related to analgesic-antipyretic recommendations. Further qualitative research is needed to identify factors underlying the knowledge of Indonesian pharmacy students in identifying major and minor patient presentations.

Initial Life Test of Silicone Encapsulated FR 4 Printed Circuit Boards for Pre-Clinical Active Implants

Silicone encapsulated FR 4 printed circuit boards may provide a rapid solution for protecting pre-clinical prototype implant electronics. Interdigitated electrodes (IDE s) with and without solder coating were manufactured on Cu-FR 4 laminates and silicone encapsulated (N = 14). IDEs were aged in saline and change in impedance was measured. Solder coated IDEs had stable 1 kHz impedances throughout the aging period with promising lifetimes for pre-clinical prototypes. A single uncoated IDE failed with a fall in impedance and verdigris. Other uncoated IDEs showed increasing impedance and dark copper(II) oxide. Failures attributable to contaminants and moisture ingress are under investigation.

Family History in the Iberian Peninsula during Chalcolithic and Bronze Age: An Interpretation through the Genetic Analysis of Plural Burials

Throughout history, it has been observed that human populations have buried the deceased members of their communities following different patterns. During the Copper Age and the Bronze Age—periods on which this study focuses—in the northern sub-plateau of the Iberian Peninsula, we identified different patterns of multiple or collective burial. This work analyzes a total of 58 individuals buried in different multiple or collective graves, to investigate whether the practice of these burials implies a family or biological link between individuals buried together. With this aim, STR markers of nuclear DNA were analyzed, as well as the hypervariable regions I and II of mitochondrial DNA, establishing both close kinship relationships and relationships through maternal lineage. We observed different burial patterns, detecting certain maternal lines preserved in some common burials maintained over time. Close family relationships were observed to a lesser extent, with some occasional exceptions. The results of the analysis formed the basis for a discussion on the concepts of family and community.

Landslide and ravine distributions related to ground conditions in elevated marine deposit in Mid-Norway

The Trondheim and Gauldal areas in Mid-Norway are characterized by thick marine deposits from the ice age and deglaciation period. The following glacio-isostatic rebound has led to river incisions in the valleys and extensive landsliding and ravine erosion. This study is based on data from an upgraded Quaternary geological map of this region for the areas below the highest sea level after the last ice age, with a focus on landslide scars and ravines. The study has a multidisciplinary approach, which is important in order to get a good regional geological understanding of the ground conditions and the landscape development. This means that geological, geomorphological, geotechnical, geophysical and hydrogeological data are used. The study area is divided into six parts, based on natural topographical divisions and the distribution of landslide scars and ravines. Factors influencing the development of sensitive clay and the triggering of landslides are described for each area; these include sediment distribution, thicknesses and stratigraphy, bedrock topography, the degree of leaching of clay, groundwater conditions, the number, size and shape of landslides, and the distribution of rivers, streams and ravines. The study shows that the size, behaviour and erosional potential of the main river or stream influence the landscape development to a high degree. The erosional basis, stratigraphy and presence of bedrock are essential for leaching and the development of quick clay.

Rurality modifies the association between symptoms and the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Objective We utilized national claims-based data to identify the change in odds of diagnosis of ALS following possible-ALS-symptoms-and whether the change varies in urban/rural areas. Methods Insurance claims were obtained from the Merative MarketScan databases, 2001–2021 in the United States. Individuals with incident ALS were identified and matched on age, sex, and enrollment period to individuals without ALS. For all individuals, claims for 8 possible-ALS-symptoms in the time before any ALS diagnosis were identified. We then used conditional logistic regression to estimate the odds of being diagnosed with ALS following these symptoms and whether the association varied by urban/rural location. Results 19,226 individuals with ALS were matched to 96,126 controls. Patients with ALS were more likely to live in an urban area (87.0% vs 84.5%). Of those with ALS 84% had 1+ of our 8 possible-ALS-symptom compared to 51% of controls. After adjustment for confounders, having possible-ALS-symptoms increased the odds of a future ALS diagnosis by nearly 5-fold. A dose-response pattern was present with increasing odds as the number of symptoms increased. In all models, urban areas were associated with increased odds of diagnosis with ALS while the effect of having a symptom was smaller in urban places. Urban cases of ALS are diagnosed at younger ages. Conclusions These results suggest symptoms may appear and be noted years before the diagnosis of ALS. Additionally, rural patients are diagnosed at later ages with a greater dependence on symptoms than urban patients. These results highlight potential improvements for screening for ALS.

Сучасний стан та просторово-часові тенденції аліментарно-залежної захворюваності дитячого населення України

The purpose of the study is a spatio-temporal analysis of the peculiarities of the national and regional dynamics of nutritional morbidity among the children of Ukraine. Research materials and methods: The study design included a retrospective analysis of official statistical data on the prevalence and incidence of food addiction in children and a review of the results of original studies. The research materials included statistical data of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine on certain food-dependent pathologies of the children’s population of Ukraine. The retrospective evaluation of statistical data was 18 years (2000-2017), national and regional data were evaluated. Research methods included statistical evaluation of factual and analytical material. The results: The analysis of trends in the prevalence and incidence of foodborne diseases in children in different age periods during 2000-2017 determines important features of the dynamics of these indicators in different age groups. The total share of alimentary diseases in the total structure of diseases is 9.88-10.00% at the age of 0-14 years old and 17.98% at the age of 15-17 years old. The general analysis shows a trend towards a decrease in the prevalence and incidence of food borne diseases among children of certain age groups over the course of 18 years. This especially applies to diseases of blood organs and the endocrine system. In the group of children aged 0-6 years old, there is an intense decrease in the registration of primary forms of diseases. At the age of 7-14 years old, during 2000-2017, there is an intensive decrease in the incidence and prevalence of diseases of the endocrine system and digestive organs, and at the age of 15-17 years old, there is a significant increase in growth and growth rates according to most indicators. Conclusions: the age-specific features of food-dependent pathology of the children's population, spatial-temporal trends in national and regional sections are determined. The need for further research and monitoring in order to form a policy for the management of food-dependent pathology is shown.