Age Period Research Articles

Effective diameter of the abdominal aorta in children.

Measure out of the standard interval in the aorta diameter is a clue for aortic aneurysm or hypoplasia. Pediatric studies focusing specifically on the normal diameter of the abdominal aorta (AA) were limited in the literature. Therefore, the main goal of this work was to determine changes in the effective diameter of AA in healthy children aged 1-18years for diagnosis of vascular diseases. This retrospective work focused on abdominopelvic computed tomography views of 180 children (sex: 90 males / 90 females, average age: 9.50 ± 5.20years) without any abdominopelvic disease to measure diameters of AA, common iliac artery (CIA), external iliac artery (EIA), and first lumbar vertebra (L1). Vessel and vertebra diameters increased in pediatric subjects between 1 and 18years (p < 0.001). Considering pediatric age periods, vessel diameters increased steadily, but L1 diameter showed an irregular growth pattern between age periods. All parameters were greater in males than females (p < 0.05), except from effective diameters of AA over the coeliac trunk (p = 0.084) and over the renal artery (p = 0.051). The ratios of diameters of vessels to L1 increased depending on ages between 1 and 18years. Considering pediatric age periods, the ratios increased from infancy period to postpubescent period in irregular pattern; however, the ratios for right and left CIA, and AA over the aortic bifurcation did not alter after late childhood period. All ratios for males were similar to females (p > 0.05). Our age-specific ratios may be beneficial for surgeons and radiologists for the diagnosis of vascular disorders such as aortic aneurysm.

Early-stage intracontinental rifting in the Neoproterozoic Centralian Superbasin: Systematic U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopes in detrital and inherited zircons from the Yeneena Basin, northwest Australia

Detrital zircons from different lithostratigraphic units of Supersequence 1 across the Neoproterozoic northwest Officer and Yeneena basins were investigated using LA-ICPMS U−Pb and Lu − Hf isotope analyses to understand the source of detritus and potential links to regional tectono-magmatic events, as well as the crustal evolution of the sedimentary sources terranes. All data show that Proterozoic detritus dominate the age spectra of samples from the Yeneena Basin and northwest Officer Basin, with signatures varying in the heights of peaks rather than the presence or absence of age groups in different formations. The Archean and Proterozoic ages overlap with known magmatic events in the Pilbara Craton, Fortescue Basin, Rudall Province, Capricorn Orogen, Musgrave Province, Madura Province, and the Coompana Province suggesting these terranes are possible sources of the detritus. The detrital zircon population of the samples have main age peaks in the range 1300 to 1000 Ma, suggesting magmatic rocks of the Rudall and Musgrave provinces are the main sources of detrital zircons, which can be differentiated by Hf signature. The distal Musgrave Province persistently dominates the provenance of detritus in the northwestern Officer and Yeneena basins, while detritus from the proximal Rudall Province contributes to a lesser extent. This suggests that the distal Musgrave Province remained emergent during the evolution of the northwestern Officer Basin and the Yeneena Basin, whereas the proximal Rudall Province potentially became buried by the accumulating sedimentary rocks and contributed less detrital zircons. The 833.6 ± 1.4 Ma maximum depositional age obtained in this study for the sedimentary rocks of the northwestern Officer and Yeneena basins point to the approximate time of the start of basins development. The extensional event in this age period is related to emplacement and extrusion of the ca. 830 Ma Willouran Large Igneous Province (LIP). The Duke gabbro sills observed in the Yeneena Basin are part of this LIP, which extends from the Adelaide Rift Complex, through the Musgrave Province, central–northwest Officer Basin and into the Yeneena Basin. The sediment source terranes suggest a southeast–northwest oriented depositional system between central and Western Australia, possibly because of intracontinental rifting related to widespread mafic–ultramafic magmatic events that could include the earlier Ngaanyatjarra Rift formed by the 1090–1040 Ma Warakurna LIP as well as the ca. 830 Ma Willouran LIP, synchronous with the breakup of Rodinia in the mid-Neoproterozoic.

Modification on Fiber from Alkali Treatment and AESO Coating to Enhance UV-Light and Water Absorption Resistance in Kapok Fiber Reinforced Polyester Composites

ABSTRACT Environmental contamination poses a significant threat to the integrity of materials, including metals and composites. Addressing the degradation of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites necessitates effective management strategies, particularly in mitigating UV and water-induced deterioration. This study explores the efficacy of Acrylated Epoxidized Soybean Oil (AESO) coating treatment following alkali treatment as a potential solution. Alkali treatment of Kapok fiber (KF) combined with polymer coating yielded composites exhibiting superior mechanical properties, particularly in tensile and flexural strength, following a 30-day aging period. Remarkably, the application of alkali and coating treatments led to a substantial enhancement in the mechanical strength of polyester composites, with the highest tensile strength recorded at 96.04 MPa. This represented a notable increase of 31.97% compared to untreated KF specimens. The observed enhancement in composite performance underscores the critical role of interfacial adhesion between fibers and the matrix, particularly under conditions of UV exposure and water immersion. Importantly, the study demonstrates that alkali treatment and polymer coating effectively mitigate degradation in Natural Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites, thereby offering promising avenues for enhancing their durability and longevity.

Addiction Consultation Services for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Initiation and Engagement

Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are highly effective, but only 22% of individuals in the US with opioid use disorder receive them. Hospitalization potentially provides an opportunity to initiate MOUD and link patients to ongoing treatment. To study the effectiveness of interprofessional hospital addiction consultation services in increasing MOUD treatment initiation and engagement. This pragmatic stepped-wedge cluster randomized implementation and effectiveness (hybrid type 1) trial was conducted in 6 public hospitals in New York, New York, and included 2315 adults with hospitalizations identified in Medicaid claims data between October 2017 and January 2021. Data analysis was conducted in December 2023. Hospitals were randomized to an intervention start date, and outcomes were compared during treatment as usual (TAU) and intervention conditions. Bayesian analysis accounted for the clustering of patients within hospitals and open cohort nature of the study. The addiction consultation service intervention was compared with TAU using posterior probabilities of model parameters from hierarchical logistic regression models that were adjusted for age, sex, and study period. Eligible participants had an admission or discharge diagnosis of opioid use disorder or opioid poisoning/adverse effects, were hospitalized at least 1 night in a medical/surgical inpatient unit, and were not receiving MOUD before hospitalization. Hospitals implemented an addiction consultation service that provided inpatient specialty care for substance use disorders. Consultation teams comprised a medical clinician, social worker or addiction counselor, and peer counselor. The dual primary outcomes were (1) MOUD treatment initiation during the first 14 days after hospital discharge and (2) MOUD engagement for the 30 days following initiation. Of 2315 adults, 628 (27.1%) were female, and the mean (SD) age was 47.0 (12.4) years. Initiation of MOUD was 11.0% in the Consult for Addiction Treatment and Care in Hospitals (CATCH) program vs 6.7% in TAU, engagement was 7.4% vs 5.3%, respectively, and continuation for 6 months was 3.2% vs 2.4%. Patients hospitalized during CATCH had 7.96 times higher odds of initiating MOUD (log-odds ratio, 2.07; 95% credible interval, 0.51-4.00) and 6.90 times higher odds of MOUD engagement (log-odds ratio, 1.93; 95% credible interval, 0.09-4.18). This randomized clinical trial found that interprofessional addiction consultation services significantly increased postdischarge MOUD initiation and engagement among patients with opioid use disorder. However, the observed rates of MOUD initiation and engagement were still low; further efforts are still needed to improve hospital-based and community-based services for MOUD treatment. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03611335.

The Transformation of Traditional Peasants: An Age–Period–Cohort Analysis of the Modernity of Peasants in China

Using the data of Chinese General Social Survey from 2010 to 2018, this study measured the modernity of Chinese peasants from four dimensions: equality and autonomy, positive attitude, general confidence, and open-mindedness. Hierarchical age–period–cohort models were introduced to assess the effect of age, period, and cohort on modernity and to further explore the heterogeneities in the effect of education and off-farm work experience on modernity among various birth cohorts. Age effects consistently show significance, with the level of individual modernity decreasing as age increases. However, the rate of decline gradually slows down. Period effects are generally significant and contribute to the advancement of modernity. Cohort effects are significant in most cohorts. The modernity of peasants born between 1941 and 1960 show a consistent decline, reaching its lowest point in the cohort 1961–1970 and then increasing steadily among those born after 1970. Possible explanations were proposed from the perspective of changes in the land property system and household registration system in China. We also found that the positive effect of education is stronger for younger cohorts, whereas the positive effect of off-farm experience is stronger for older cohorts. This study enriches Inkeles’s research on individual modernization and reveals the transformation process of traditional peasants in developing countries.

Electrical stimulation and wet ageing effects on the carcass and meat quality of Australian rangeland goats

Medium voltage electrical stimulation and wet ageing periods effects on the carcasses and meat quality of Australian rangeland goats were investigated. 64 rangeland goats were slaughtered as 2 equal consignments, wherein half were exposed to post-dressing electrical stimulation (300 V, 500 ms pulse width, 45 s) and half were not (control). Carcass and pH decline parameters and glycogen concentration were recorded. At 24 h post-mortem, fresh colour was measured and longissimus lumborum muscles (LL) removed. Within carcass, paired LL were halved and allocated to each of 4 ageing periods (1, 2, 4, or 21 d). There were no significant effects from electric stimulation on LL pH at 18 °C, LL temperature at pH 6, LL pH at 24 h post-mortem, semitendinosus pH at 24 h post-mortem, and LL glycogen concentration. There were no significant interactions between stimulation and ageing period on cooking loss, particle size, purge loss, sarcomere length, shear force, and ultimate pH. Independent to stimulation, shear force, particle size, and cooking values declined as ageing period increased. Purge loss was highest after 21 d of ageing. Colour stability was unaffected by ageing, although all CIE colour coordinates varied across the 74 h total retail display period. There were negative linear relationships found between LL glycogen concentrations and LL temperature at pH 6, ultimate pH, and sarcomere length. These findings suggest there to be little benefit to post-dressing electrical stimulation of rangeland goat carcasses, when applied independent to or in combination with ageing.

Flavours of Pictish life: using starch grains and phytoliths to trace late Roman and early medieval culinary traditions

Understanding the seasonal and daily aspects of late Roman and early medieval life in northern Britain has been hugely challenging due to a dearth of excavated sites and poor preservation of settlement features where identified. This problem has been compounded by a very limited historical record for this era and region. But a new generation of archaeological data has begun to illuminate the Picts, a group first mentioned in late Roman sources and one that went on to become the dominant kingdom of early medieval northern Britain. These new datasets include innovative microbotanical analyses that can shed light on Pictish foodways, including culinary traditions, and specific plant foods consumed. This study employs non-destructive microbotanical analysis of pot sherds from Pictish settlement contexts and human teeth from Pictish burials, examining the presence of starch grains and phytoliths from six prominent sites spanning the Pictish period (AD∼300 – 900). Our research confirms that cereals such as oats and barley were the primary plants cultivated, cooked, and consumed in northeast Scotland during the late Roman Iron Age and early medieval period. These microbotanical residues add detailed evidence to previous studies of isotopic, pollen, and trace macrobotanical proxies, but also offer fresh insights into the potential composition of specific Pictish meal types. The approaches outlined here have greatly expanded and enriched our understanding of the dietary habits and lifestyle of the Picts, an important, but under-researched group.

Effect of temperature on the stability and performance of III-nitride HEMT magnetic field sensors

The study aimed to investigate the underlying physics limiting the temperature stability and performance of non-surface passivated Al0.34Ga0.66N/GaN Hall effect sensors, including contacts, under atmospheric conditions. The results obtained from analyzing the microstructural evolution in the Al0.34Ga0.66N/GaN Hall sensor heterostructure were found to correlate with the electrical performance of the Hall effect sensor. High-resolution x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies revealed the signature of surface oxidation in the GaN cap layer, as well as a slight out-diffusion of “Al” from the AlGaN barrier layer. To prevent the formation of a bumpy surface morphology at the Ohmic contact, we investigated the impact of “Pt” top Ohmic contacts. The application of a top “Pt” contact stack resulted in a smooth Ohmic contact surface and provided evidence that the bumpy surface morphology in Au-based Ohmic contacts is due to the formation of an Al-Au viscous alloy during rapid thermal annealing. In the early stages of thermal aging, the small drop in contact resistivity stabilized with subsequent thermal aging past the initial 550 h at 200 °C. The outcome is that the Al0.34Ga0.66N/GaN Hall effect sensors, even without surface passivation, exhibited a stable response to applied magnetic fields with no sign of significant degradation after 2800 h of thermal aging at 200 °C under atmospheric conditions. This observed stability in the Hall sensor without surface passivation can be attributed to a self-imposed surface oxidation of the cap layer during the early stages of aging, which serves as a protective layer for the device during subsequent extended periods of thermal aging at 200 °C.

Expanding our understanding of long-term trends in alcohol abstention and consumption in England (2001-19) using two age-period-cohort approaches.

Alcohol consumption has decreased in England in recent decades, while alcohol-specific death rates have remained relatively stable. Age-period-cohort (APC) models offer the potential for understanding these paradoxical trends. This study aimed to use an APC model approach to measure long-term trends in alcohol abstention and consumption in England from 2001 to 2019. The study used grouped and proxy-variable APC models of repeat cross-sectional survey data, set in England (2001-19). Participants were residents in England aged 13 years or over who took part in the Health Survey for England. Outcome variables were alcohol abstention and consumption in units. We created nine age groups (13-15, 16-17, 18-24, 25-34, until 65-74 and 75+, reference 45-54 years), four periods (2001-04, 2005-09, 2010-14 to 2015-19, reference 2005-09) and 18 5-year birth cohorts (1915-19 to 2000-04, reference 1960-64). We proxied age effects (systolic and diastolic blood pressure), period effects (alcohol affordability, internet usage and household alcohol expenditure) and birth cohort effects (prevalence of smoking and prevalence of overweight). The odds of abstaining were considerably larger at young ages, 13-15 years [odds ratio (OR) = 5.38; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 4.50-6.43], were lowest during the first period, 2001-04 (OR = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.79-0.86) and had a U-shaped pattern by birth cohort. For units of alcohol, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) increased until age 18-24 years (IRR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.34-1.48) and decreased afterwards, were highest during the first period, 2001-04 (IRR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.05-1.08) and showed an inverted J-shape by birth cohort. Our proxy variable approach revealed that using blood pressure measures, alcohol affordability and prevalence of overweight as proxies resulted in APC effects that differed from our base-case model. However, internet usage, household expenditure on alcohol and smoking prevalence resulted in APC effects similar to our base-case model. The discrepancy between decreasing alcohol consumption and increasing alcohol-related deaths observed in England from 2001 to 2019 may, in part, be explained by the halt in abstention trends since 2010 and a slight consumption decline since 2001.

Weight and linear growth of steers of Aubrac breed when using the feed additive Hendrix C for cattle

One of the main factors, which influence on the intensity of growth and fattening of steers are adequate feeding. In this regard, the study of the effect of the feed additive Hendrix C for cattle on the steers of Aubrac breed has scientific and practical interest. In order to carry out a scientific and economic experiment on steers of Aubrac breed aged from 7 to 18 months, two groups were formed. The control group received a commercial feeding ration, the experimental group received the ration with a reduced content of digestible protein due to a decrease in the rapeseed presscake in the ration. The steers received the missing amount of digestible protein due to the feed additive Hendrix C for cattle. This made it possible to obtain steers with a higher live weight for rearing and fattening. Thus, the significunt difference in live weight by the end of the experiment between the experimental and control groups was 51.5 kg or 9.6 % (P &gt; 0.999). The average daily live weight gain for the age period from 9 to 18 months in the experimental group of steers was 1033 g, which exceeded the same indicator for the control group steers by 150 g or 17.0 % (P &gt; 0.999). In terms of height measurements, the experimental group of steers showed an advantage in all age periods. It should be noted that the steers that received the feed additive were characterized by better development of the rear part of the body, which was shown by the hip width and half-girth measurements. Thus, the feed additive Hendrix C for cattle can be recommended for fattening of steers of Aubrac breed.

Executive functions & metabolic control in phenylketonuria (PKU) and mild hyperphenylalaninemia (mHPA)

BackgroundDue to newborn screening and early treatment, patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) and mild hyperphenylalaninemia (mHPA) develop largely normal, in terms of IQ testing and academic attainment. However, the impact of metabolic control in various stages of development on more complex cognitive abilities, i.e. executive functions (EF), is still unclear. MethodsEFs were tested in 28 patients with PKU/mHPA, aged 8–17 years, identified by newborn screening and continuously treated. The relation to current (testing day & past 10 phenylalanine (Phe) values) and long-term metabolic control (age periods: childhood <6, 6–10, adolescence >10 years, lifetime Phe) was analyzed. ResultsEFs were in the lower normative range (IQR of T-values: 47.35–51.00). Patients reaction time was significantly slower than the population mean (divided attention/TAP: median 40, p < 0.01). Both, long-term and current metabolic control correlated with performance in EF tests: Higher current Phe impaired reaction times (Go/No-Go, r = −0.387; working memory, r = −0.425; p < 0.05) and performance in planning ability (ToL r = −0.465, p < 0.01). Higher long-term Phe values both in childhood and adolescence mainly affected attention (omissions/TAP r = −0.357 and − 0.490, respectively, both p < 0.05) as well as planning ability (ToL r = −0.422 and − 0.387, adolescence and lifetime, p < 0.05). ConclusionCurrent and long-term metabolic control in PKU/mHPA, including the adolescent period, influence EFs, especially affecting reaction time and planning abilities. This should be taken into account in patient counselling.

Фотосинтез, минеральное питание и продуктивность лиственных и хвойных видов дендрофлоры центральной части Русской равнины

An ecological and physiological retrospective transformation of the data from the dry mass tables obtained by V.A. Usoltsev has been carried out for 7 coniferous and deciduous species (Larix sukaczewii, Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris, Betula alba, Quercus robur, Tilia cordata and Fraxinus excelsior) in the central part of the Russian Plain. In the age range from 5–20 to 80–200 years, the indicators of net photosynthetic productivity, net mineral productivity, net primary production, carbon sequestration, free oxygen emission and biological productivity have been determined at the organism level. When establishing these parameters, plants have been considered from the standpoint of ecology and the structure of a modular organism. The calculation of net mineral productivity has been carried out according to I.A. Muromtsev and V.M. Lebedev, and the net productivity of photosynthesis has been calculated according to A.A. Nichiporovich. A decrease in all physiological parameters with age has been recorded at a simultaneous increase in the ratio of root to photosynthetic potential (as an adaptive response to a decrease in the availability of nutrients). In all species, upon reaching the age of 20–30 years, a sharp decrease in the absorption activity of the roots has been revealed, which has stabilized at an extremely low level by the age of 50–60 years. The relationship between the listed plant indicators and their age for the studied species has been negative, and the relationship between mineral and biological productivity has been characterized as highly positive. In comparable age periods (30, 60 and 90 years), the studied species differed in nitrogen absorption by the root system by 21.7–28.0 times, in net photosynthetic productivity – by 4.4–7.0 times, in the value of net primary production – by 1.8–6.2 times, in nitrogen absorption – by 3.2– 6.1 times, in carbon sequestration and free oxygen emission – by 1.8–6.2 times, and in the mass of the whole plant – by 2.4–3.9 times. According to the accumulated dry mass, tree species at 90 years of age have been arranged in the following descending order: oak, spruce, larch, pine, linden, ash and birch.

Prognostic role of nutritional and inflammatory indicators for patient survival and death with functional graft in living kidney transplant recipients.

The clinical importance of nutrition and inflammation in patients with end-stage renal disease is well established. In this study, we investigated the role of nutritional and inflammatory indicators in the patient outcomes of living donor kidney transplant recipients. We included 204 consecutive patients who underwent kidney transplantation at our institute between 2003 and 2022. We retrospectively reviewed medical charts to obtain clinical information. Six nutritional indicators and two inflammatory indicators were assessed. Patient outcomes were investigated, and predictive factors were explored. The median patient age and follow-up period were 48years and 99months, respectively. The cohort included patients with preoperative malnutrition and microinflammation. No significant differences in graft survival were identified according to nutritional and inflammatory indicators, whereas the survival index, controlled nutritional status, and C-reactive protein levels were associated with patient survival. The survival index was an independent indicator of survival and death in patients with functioning grafts (P = 0.047 and P = 0.013, respectively). Furthermore, the C-reactive protein level could distinguish between low and high mortality risks in patients with good nutrition (P = 0.019). Our findings suggest that nutrition and inflammation indicators play important roles in predicting outcomes in living donor kidney transplantation recipients. Further research is warranted to establish optimal management strategies.

Trend analysis and prediction of injury incidence in China from 1990 to 2019 based on Bayesian age–period–cohort model

BackgroundInjury is a major challenge to global public health. Analysing the trend of injury incidence in China from 1990 to 2019 and predicting future trends in incidence can provide a...

Temporal changes in cause of death among adolescents and adults in six countries in eastern and southern Africa in 1995–2019: a multi-country surveillance study of verbal autopsy data

The absence of high-quality comprehensive civil registration and vital statistics systems across many settings in Africa has led to little empirical data on causes of death in the region. We aimed to use verbal autopsy data to provide comparative, population-based estimates of cause-specific mortality among adolescents and adults in eastern and southern Africa. In this surveillance study, we harmonised verbal autopsy and residency data from nine health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) sites in Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, each with variable coverage from Jan 1, 1995, to Dec 31, 2019. We included all deaths to adolescents and adults aged 12 or over that were residents of the study sites and had a verbal autopsy conducted. InSilicoVA, a probabilistic model, was used to assign cause of death on the basis of the signs and symptoms reported in the verbal autopsy. Levels and trends in all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates and cause-specific mortality fractions were calculated, stratified by HDSS site, sex, age, and calendar periods. 52 484 deaths and 5 157 802 person-years were reported among 1 071 913 individuals across the nine sites during the study period. 47 961 (91·4%) deaths had a verbal autopsy, of which 46 570 (97·1%) were assigned a cause of death. All-cause mortality generally decreased across the HDSS sites during this period, particularly for adults aged 20-59 years. In many of the HDSS sites, these decreases were driven by reductions in HIV and tuberculosis-related deaths. In 2010-14, the top causes of death were: road traffic accidents, HIV or tuberculosis, and meningitis or sepsis in adolescents (12-19 years); HIV or tuberculosis in adults aged 20-59 years; and neoplasms and cardiovascular disease in adults aged 60 years and older. There was greater between-HDSS and between-sex variation in causes of death for adolescents compared with adults. This study shows progress in reducing mortality across eastern and southern Africa but also highlights age, sex, within-HDSS, and between-HDSS differences in causes of adolescent and adult deaths. These findings highlight the importance of detailed local data to inform health needs to ensure continued improvements in survival. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the US National Institutes of Health.

Evaluation of the efficacy and quality of life in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders treated with Kovacs digital occlusal splint: a pilot study

BackgroundFew studies have been conducted on treating temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) with new digital occlusal splints, which has increasingly attracted wide attention.MethodsTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and quality of life (QoL) of Kovacs digital occlusal splint (KDOS) treatment in patients with TMD.Materials and methodsEighty-nine patients with TMD who were treated using KDOS were analyzed. The patients were divided into three groups according to the Wilkes stage. The clinical symptoms and QoL scores of the patients in each group were recorded before and at least three months after treatment, and the data were statistically analyzed and compared. The relationships between the disease severity, sex, age, and level of QoL before treatment and improvement in the clinical symptoms were analyzed using binary logistic regression.ResultsThe mean age and follow-up period of the patients were 28.0 ± 10.4 years and 4.9 ± 2.1 months, respectively. After KDOS treatment, the improvement rates of joint noise and pain were 80.4% and 69.8%, respectively. Additionally, the patients’ maximum mouth opening and global QoL mean scores significantly improved compared to those before treatment (p < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the factors affecting the improvement in the clinical symptoms were disease severity and level of QoL before treatment.ConclusionsKDOS can improve the clinical symptoms and QoL of patients with TMD. Moreover, patients without osteoarthritis and with low pretreatment QoL levels are more likely to demonstrate clinical improvement.Trial registrationThe trial was registered with Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) (ID: ChiCTR2300076518) on 11/10/2023.

Trends of falls mortality among older adults in urban and rural China, 1987–2021

BackgroundFalls in older age pose a major public health concern, with unclear urban–rural patterns of falls mortality in China. This study examines the trends of late-life falls mortality in urban...

Validity of Ultra-Short-Term Heart Rate Variability Derived from Femoral Arterial Pulse Waveform in a British Military Cohort.

Various non-electrocardiogram (ECG) based methods are considered reliable sources of heart rate variability (HRV) measurement. However, the ultra-short recording of a femoral arterial waveform has never been validated against the gold-standard ECG-based 300s HRV and was the aim of this study.A validity study was conducted using a sample from the first follow-up of the longitudinal ADVANCE study UK. The participants were adult servicemen (n = 100); similar in age, rank, and deployment period (Afghanistan 2003-2014). The femoral arterial waveforms (14s) from the pulse wave velocity (PWV) assessment, and ECG (300s) were recorded at rest in the supine position using the Vicorder™ and Bittium Faros™ devices, respectively, in the same session. HRV analysis was performed using Kubios Premium. Resting heart rate (HR) and root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) were reported. The Bland-Altman %plots were constructed to explore the PWV-ECG agreement in HRV measurement. A further exploratory analysis was conducted across methods and durations.The participants' mean age was 38.0 ± 5.3 years. Both PWV-derived HR (r = 0.85) and RMSSD (rs=0.84) showed strong correlations with their 300s-ECG counterparts (p < 0.001). Mean HR was significantly higher with ECG than PWV (mean bias: -12.71 ± 7.73%, 95%CI: -14.25%, -11.18%). In contrast, the difference in RMSSD between the two methods was non-significant [mean bias: -2.90 ± 37.82% (95%CI: -10.40%, 4.60%)] indicating good agreement. An exploratory analysis of 14s ECG-vs-300s ECG measurement revealed strong agreement in both RMSSD and HR.The 14s PWV-derived RMSSD strongly agrees with the gold-standard (300s-ECG-based) RMSSD at rest. Conversely, HR appears method sensitive.

Auxological Status of Modern Primary School Students of Nizhny Novgorod Region

The article describes the characteristics of the resulting effector auxological morpho-functional status of primary school students, differentiated by gender and administrative-territorial characteristics. The objectives of the study included studying the auxological status of children adolescents, and primary school students in the Nizhny Novgorod region in the context of the peculiarities of the exoenvironment of residence in urban and rural areas. Materials and methods: Own data served as a source of anthropometry and physiometry indicators of the objective population of the region. The analysis of anthropological indicators was carried out by discretizing data sets that state an objective picture of auxological indicators at the regional level, taking into account the peculiarities of anthropogenic loads characteristic of the place of residence of the observed population groups. To quantify the values ​​and statistical differences in indicators by age, gender, and administrative characteristics, the median, standard deviation, and criteria were used: Fisher, Wilks, and Mahalanobis, with an error of differences at p &lt; 0.05. Results: The stability of the age-sex evolution of auxological indicators is shown; the age-sex and territorial dimorphism of total body sizes is shown at 7-10 years of age, with residents of rural areas lagging in the observed indicators. Hemodynamic indicators in both boys and girls significantly prevail among students living in the metropolis relative to their rural counterparts, except diastolic blood pressure. Variance analytics shows differences in the distributions of anthropometry and hemodynamics, both by age and by the urbanization factor at p &lt; 0.001. In the observed age period, at the initial stage, hemodynamic indicators act primarily as modifiers of the metropolis and rural groups. From the age of ten, according to the standardized coefficients of discriminant functions, according to the first canonical variable, the division of series also occurs according to anthropometric characteristics, among which the greatest contribution to the division of groups is made by body weight and body length, and the hemodynamic characteristic - diastolic blood pressure - has also proven to be decisive. Conclusion: Primary school students living in rural areas and in the metropolis of the Nizhny Novgorod region determine the observed indicators ambiguously; if residents of the metropolis state greater results for all observed auxological indicators, then rural peers demonstrate, while lagging in all observed indicators, greater indicators of diastolic blood pressure, which suggests a strain on adaptation mechanisms central character.

The burden of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among working-age people in the Western Pacific Region, 1990–2019: an age–period–cohort analysis of the Global Burden of Disease study

BackgroundThe growing prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in younger populations, particularly those of working age (15–64 years), has become a public health concern. Being diagnosed at a younger age implies a greater likelihood of accruing disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) later in life due to potential progression to conditions such as cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aims to analyze NAFLD prevalence trends over three decades globally, regionally, and nationally, with a focus on age, period, and birth cohort associations.MethodsGlobal, regional, and country time trends in the prevalence of NAFLD among working-age people from 1990 to 2019: Age-period-cohort analysis based on Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 estimates and 95% uncertainty interval (UI) of NAFLD prevalence in the working age population was extracted from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study 2019. Age-period-cohort models were used to estimate the prevalence within each age group from 1990 to 2019 (local drift, % per year), fitted longitudinal age-specific rates adjusted for period bias (age effect), and period/cohort relative risk (period/cohort effect).ResultsThe global age-standardized prevalence (ASPR) of NAFLD increased significantly from 1990 (14,477.6 per 100 000) to 2019 (19,837.6 per 100 000). In the Western Pacific, there were 42,903.8 NAFLD cases in 2019, 54.15% higher than in 1990. The ASPR also increased significantly in the region over the past three decades. At the national level, Palau had the highest ASPR while Brunei Darussalam had the lowest. Age-period-cohort analysis showed that in the Western Pacific, unlike globally, the risk of NAFLD declined after age 60–64 years. Relative to 1980–1989, incidence and DALY risks decreased but prevalence increased in subsequent birth cohorts. Future predictions indicate an upward trend in NAFLD burden, especially among women and medium (SDI) regions like China.ConclusionNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease imparts an immense health burden that continues to grow globally and in the Asia Pacific region. Our work highlights working age adults as an at-risk group and calls attention to socioeconomic gradients within Western Pacific countries. Upward future projections demonstrate that NAFLD prevention is an urgent priority.