Normal Adult Population Research Articles

Assesment of internal jugular vein diameters in Turkish adults

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the right-side IJV diameter was found to be statistically significantly greater than that of the left side in Turkish population. Valsalva effects, age and gender are non-effective on diameters. Distinguishing the diameters , surgical and interventional risks can be decreased. Results: No statistically significant difference was determined in respect of diameter values above and below 60 years of age(p<0.05). No statistically significant difference was determined between male and female g enders in respect of all the diameter values (p<0.05) except LIJV in transverse diameter with valsalva .The right IJV diameter in both the transverse and anteroposterior sections were determined to be statistically significantly wider both at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver (p<0.05). Patients-Methods: The study included a total of 140 patients. The maximal transverse and anterior-posterior diameters of the internal jugular veins were measured on both sides, both with the patient at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver with USG. Objective: As the internal jugular vein (IJV) is a vessel used for cannulation in central venous approaches in medical applications, knowledge of the anatomic details is significant for clinicians knowing that vascular diameter varies according to age and gender is an extremely useful data. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in the right and left side diameters of the internal jugular vein in normal adult Turkish population and to determine any relationship between these diameters and age, gender and maneuver.

The Effects of Physical Activity on Sleep among Adolescents and Adults: A Narrative Review

Objective: Examining the correlation between physical activity measures and sleep in normal adolescents and adult population. Methods: A systematic review was conducted on the effects of exercise, its intensity, its frequency and its timing and sleep outcome. Using the databases including MEDLINE, PsycINFO and SPORTDiscus, keywords used were “sleep”, “circadian rhythm”, “exercise”, and “physical activity”. Results: To improve the general quality of sleep amongst adolescents and adults, individuals should engage in physical activity at any time of day. It also appears very advantageous to engage in long-term physical activity to maintain the positive effects on sleep. Nonetheless, it seems that sedentary individuals can also benefit from occasional physical activity to improve the quality of their subsequent sleep period. Conclusion: A virtuous relationship between physical activity and sleep may exist in normal adolescents and adults. People should seek to benefit from this link to improve both the quality of their sleep and of their daily functioning. However, larger scale studies, controlling for variables might help to better delineated this relationship.

Bone Mineral Density In Older Adults With T2DM After Exercise Training

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of 9-months of exercise training on whole body and regional bone mineral density (BMD) in individuals with type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: Participants (N=191, men=71; age =57±8.y; BMI=34.4±5.8kg/m2; whole body BMD=1.19±0.13g/cm2; VO2peak =19.5±4.4ml/kg/min; mean±SD) from the HART-D study (NCT00458133) were randomized to aerobic (AER), resistance (RES), combined training (COMB) or a non-exercise control (CON). Compliant participants (>70% of sessions) with complete baseline and follow-up data for BMD (lumbar, thoracic, pelvis, and leg derived from whole body scans by DXA), peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), isokinetic leg strength (peak torque at 60 deg/s), and anthropometry were included in this ancillary analysis. Associations between baseline BMD values (lumbar, thoracic, pelvis, leg and whole body BMD) were compared with age, sex, and baseline measures for VO2peak, isometric strength, and T2DM duration. Changes over 9-months were analyzed for group effects after adjusting for baseline. Changes in BMD were compared with age, sex, and changes in VO2peak and muscle strength. RESULTS: Baseline associations showed that age was inversely related to pelvis BMD (p=0.006, r=-0.20) and females had significantly lower thoracic, lumbar, and whole body BMD (p<0.001). VO2peak was correlated to leg (p<0.001, r=0.31) and whole body (p=0.02, r=0.17) BMD, and isokinetic leg strength was correlated to thoracic (p<0.001, r=0.26), pelvic (p<0.001, r=0.28), leg (p<0.001, r=0.46), and whole body (p<0.01, r=0.34) BMD. All groups increased whole body BMD with exercise training (P<0.05); however, no group effects were found for BMD changes after 9-months (p>0.10). Changes in pelvic BMD were found to be higher in females (p=0.04) than males and changes in VO2peak were inversely correlated with changes in thoracic BMD (p=.04, r=-.15). No significant effects were observed. CONCLUSION: Sex, aerobic fitness, and muscle strength had similar relationships with BMD in individuals with T2DM as typically found in the normal adult population. However, group changes after 9-months of exercise training, while increased, were not different from the changes in CON. Funding provided by the National Institutes of Health, R01-DK068298.

Staphylococcus aureus colonization is influenced by cutaneous interferon production.

Abstract Cutaneous inflammation is a recurrent manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a severe autoimmune disease, and is triggered upon exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) light. The exaggerated inflammatory response of SLE epidermis to UVB exposure is thought to be, in part, secondary to chronic exposure to type I interferons (IFN). S. aureus colonization has been found to stimulate cutaneous IFN. Indeed, our analysis of 54 SLE patients swabbed on their chest, nares and any active lesions demonstrated colonization of SLE patients at twice the rate (61%) of normal adult population (~30%). The rate increased further (67%) when active cutaneous lesions were sampled. We have also identified differences in expression of cutaneous IFN production in SLE patients, in particular IFNκ, and thus sought to investigate the role of IFNs in S. aureus adhesion to better define their impact on colonization. Immortalized keratinocytes (NTERTs), were grown to confluence, exposed to 20 mJ/cm2 UVB (310 nm) and 24hrs later exposed to ~107 cells of S. aureus. Following washing, the number of adherent cells were then determined by serial dilution and plating. Our results show that treatment with UVB increased S. aureus adhesion to WT-NTERTs. An increase in adhesion was observed in treatment of WT-NTERTs with 5ng/ml IFNα for 24 hours as well. NTERTs lacking IFNκ (IFNκ KO) unlike WT NTERTs exhibited lower S. aureus adhesion after UVB exposure which was reversed when functional IFNκ was added to growth media. These results suggest that increased IFN production in SLE skin may contribute to enhanced S. aureus colonization in these patients. The impact of S. aureus colonization on SLE skin remains to be determined.

Variation in tibial tuberosity lateralization and distance from the tibiofemoral joint line: An anatomic study

BackgroundTo describe variation in tibial tuberosity position in a normal adult population and inter-rater reliability of measurements of tibial tuberosity position. MethodsSurface models of 161 proximal tibia specimens (83 female, 78 male; 80 black, 81 white; age 28.7years, SD 7.5) were created with a three-dimensional laser scanner. Percent lateralization, tuberosity–eminence angle, and distance from joint surface were measured for each specimen. Variation in tuberosity position by sex, race, age, height, and BMI was calculated. Multivariate regression was used to assess for demographic factors independently associated with tuberosity positioning. ResultsMean percent lateralization was 57.9% (SD 2.4, range 52.4–64.9%). Tuberosity–eminence angle mean was 11.03° (SD 2.8, range 0–18.7°). Percent lateralization and tuberosity–eminence angle were not influenced by sex, race, age, height or, BMI (p>0.05). Mean tuberosity distance from joint surface was 29.2mm (SD 3.5, range 16.6–38.6mm) and larger in males than females (30.7mm (SD 2.9), 27.6mm (SD 3.3); p<0.001). Tuberosity distance from joint surface increased 0.18mm on average per 1.0cm increase in height (p<0.001). Inter-rater reliability was high for distance from joint surface (Cronbach alpha=0.99) and percent lateralization. ConclusionsTibial tuberosity percent lateralization falls in a narrow range for individuals, whereas tuberosity–eminence angle and distance from joint line are more variable. Inter-rater reliability is high for percent lateralization and distance for the joint surface. Distance of tibial tuberosity from joint surface is associated with sex and height.

Ultrasonographic Study on Size and Echotexture of Spleen in Normal and Diseased Adult Population in Kosi Region of Bihar

Background: The spleen is the largest organ in the reticuloendothelial system. A number of disorders are accompanied by altered spleen size, including infective, infestation, infiltrative, immunologic, and malignant conditions. Ultrasonography affords a useful noninvasive role in evaluating the spleen and used for best advantage, it can demonstrate the existence and composition of splenic masses, disruption of splenic texture or outline, progressive changes in masses and the size of the spleen. Materials & Methods: 166 subjects were selected from the Departments of Medicine, Surgery and Radiology, from a tertiary care teaching hospital and from the other clinics of Kosi region like Purnea, Araria and Madhepura districts during the period of June 2016 to May 2017. Results: The splenic length decreased at a slow rate up to the age of 50 years after which it decreased rapidly in both sexes. The splenic length was greater in males than in female in each age group. Mean splenic width in the first age group i.e. 21 30 years was 60.9 ± 8.4 mm, in the second age group i.e. 31 - 40 years was 56.4 ± 7.9 mm, in the third age group i.e. 41 – 50 years was 46.6 ± 4.3 mm, and in the fourth age group i.e. 51 – 60 years was observed to be 44.6 ± 8.0 mm. Conclusion: The ultrasonography affords a useful noninvasive role in evaluating the spleen, it can demonstrate existence and composition of splenic masses, disruption of splenic texture or outline; and also progressive changes in masses and size of spleen.

Associations of oral fluid MMP-8 with periodontitis in Swiss adult subjects.

MMP-8 is a prominent collagenase in periodontal disease. This cross-sectional study examined whether MMP-8 levels in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) are associated with periodontitis in a Swiss population. A total of 258 subjects (107m, 151 f, mean age: 43.5yr; range: 21-58yr) acquired from the Swiss bone marrow donor registry participated in the study. Saliva and GCF samples were collected from subjects followed by a thorough dental and periodontal examination. MMP-8 levels were determined with immunofluorometric assay. Associations of MMP-8 levels with periodontal diagnosis, probing pocket depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing were statistically analysed with Pearson chi-square test, Spearman's rho and logistic regression analysis. MMP-8 in GCF correlated with MMP-8 in saliva (p<.001). Periodontitis was more common (p<.001) among subjects with high levels of MMP-8 in saliva and/or GCF compared with subjects with low levels of MMP-8. Higher MMP-8 levels in GCF and saliva were associated with any periodontal diagnosis (mild, moderate or severe), greater PPD, and bleeding on probing (p<.05). When age, gender, smoking, body mass index, number of medications and decayed, missing and filled teeth were adjusted for, all observed associations remained statistically significant. The area under curve of receiver-operating characteristic was 0.67 for saliva and 0.71 for GCF. Elevated MMP-8 levels both in saliva and GCF are associated with periodontitis in a normal adult population.

Drinking water consumption patterns among adults\u2014SMS as a novel tool for collection of repeated self-reported water consumption

Studies have shown that the average drinking water consumption ranges between 0.075 and 3 L/day for adults with both national and regional differences. For exposure assessment of drinking water hazards, country-specific drinking water consumption data including sources of the consumed water may therefore be warranted. To estimate the amount and source of drinking water consumed among adults in Sweden, we collected self-reported estimates using both traditional methods (telephone interviews, web questionnaire) and a novel method (Short Message Service, SMS questionnaires) in a population from an average sized Swedish municipality. Monthly SMS questionnaires were sent out during one year to obtain longitudinal information as well. SMS showed to be a promising tool for collecting self-reported consumption, as most citizens could participate and the method showed high response rate. Data collected via the SMS questionnaire shows an average consumption of cold tap water of 4.9 glasses/24 h (one glass=200 ml), while the average estimates of cold tap water collected by the traditional methods range from 4.5 to 7.0 glasses/24 h. For statistical distributions, the mean daily consumption of cold tap water for the population was best fitted to a gamma distribution. About 70% of the cold tap water is consumed at home. Based on the results from the SMS study, we suggest using 1 l/day for the average adult population and 2.5 l/day for high consumers for risk assessment of cold tap water consumption. As 46% of the tap water consumed is heated, we suggest using 1.85 l/day for total tap water consumption.

Age related changes in corneal morphological characteristics of healthy Pakistani eyes

PurposeTo determine the age related changes in corneal morphological characteristics in normal healthy adult Pakistani population. MethodsFour hundred and sixty-four eyes of 232 healthy volunteers with ages between 10 and 80years of either gender were included. Corneal endothelial cell density (CED), morphology and central corneal thickness (CCT) were evaluated in each subject with non-contact specular microscope (SP-3000 P, Topcon Corporation, Japan) and average of three readings per eye was used for final analysis. All the findings including demographic data, and corneal parameters were endorsed on a pre-devised proforma. ResultsMean age of study population was 39.52±18.09years with 123 (53%) males and 109 (47%) females. Mean CED of study population was 2722.67±349.67cells/mm2, while mean CCT was 505.72±32.82µm. Corneal morphological parameters among various age groups showed statistically significant difference in all parameters (p<0.01). Correlation statistics revealed that CED (r=−0.497, p<0.01), CCT (r=−0.216, p<0.01) and hexagonality (r=−0.397, p<0.01) decreased significantly with increasing age, while average cell size (r=0.492, p<0.01) and CV of size (r=0.454, p<0.01) increased with age. ConclusionThis study showed that CED in Pakistani eyes was less than that reported in Chinese eyes, higher than Portuguese, Iranian and Indian eyes and comparable to the values in Turkish, Nigerian and Thai eyes.

Roentgenographic and computerized tomography based morphometric analysis of cervical spinal canal diameters to establish normative measurements in an Indian population.

Compressive cervical myelopathy secondary to degenerative changes in the cervical spine is a common cause of neurologic morbidity in the elderly. Identification of canal stenosis and addressing it surgically in addition to the obvious compressive lesions is essential to obtain satisfactory results. We attempt to define the saggital and transverse diameters in a normal adult population presenting at our centre with head injuries. We found that the values were lower than those reported in comparable studies for a western population, and also that the dimensions in women are significantly lower than in men.

Ultrasonic 3D Reconstruction and Measurement of Lacrimal Sac in Normal Adult Chinese Population

Ultrasonic 3D Reconstruction and Measurement of Lacrimal Sac in Normal Adult Chinese Population

A MC study on the eye lens dose distribution for medical staff in interventional radiology

Introduction Recent studies showed equivalent dose at a depth of 0.07 mm, Hp (0.07) to be adequate in some cases to monitor the eye lens in interventional radiology, instead of equivalent dose at a depth of 3 mm, Hp (3). Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate by Monte Carlo calculations the dose deposition within the eye lens and contribute to the choice of the appropriate dose quantity. Materials and methods The XRayImagingSimulator was used to model the patient, the operator and the interventional diagnostic unit as well as to calculate the dose within the operators eyes by use of Monte Carlo techniques. Eye lens were placed in three different depths within the eye: 2.3 mm, 3.3 mm, 4.3 mm, representing mean depth and the limits found in a normal adult population. The primary spectra were calculated for 70 kV tube voltage, 12° tungsten target, 3 mm aluminum inherent filtration with an additional copper filtration (0.1 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.9 mm) according to IPEM 78 Publication. Results The calculated total absorbed dose in the eye lens depends on the initial incident spectra. This quantity normalized to the eye dose, is between 1.8% and 2.3% in the studied cases and increases with increasing the depth of the eye lens’ location. Comparison to experimental data is also provided. Conclusions The equivalent dose at a depth of 3 mm Hp (3) is likely to be the appropriate quantity for the best estimate of the eye lens dose. Recent studies showed equivalent dose at a depth of 0.07 mm, Hp (0.07) to be adequate in some cases to monitor the eye lens in interventional radiology, instead of equivalent dose at a depth of 3 mm, Hp (3). The aim of this study was to investigate by Monte Carlo calculations the dose deposition within the eye lens and contribute to the choice of the appropriate dose quantity. The XRayImagingSimulator was used to model the patient, the operator and the interventional diagnostic unit as well as to calculate the dose within the operators eyes by use of Monte Carlo techniques. Eye lens were placed in three different depths within the eye: 2.3 mm, 3.3 mm, 4.3 mm, representing mean depth and the limits found in a normal adult population. The primary spectra were calculated for 70 kV tube voltage, 12° tungsten target, 3 mm aluminum inherent filtration with an additional copper filtration (0.1 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.9 mm) according to IPEM 78 Publication. The calculated total absorbed dose in the eye lens depends on the initial incident spectra. This quantity normalized to the eye dose, is between 1.8% and 2.3% in the studied cases and increases with increasing the depth of the eye lens’ location. Comparison to experimental data is also provided. The equivalent dose at a depth of 3 mm Hp (3) is likely to be the appropriate quantity for the best estimate of the eye lens dose.

Body Mass Index an Important Anthropometric Parameter to Predict Health-Risk in Adult Population of Bastar Region of Chhattisgarh: A cross sectional study at GMC Jagdalpur

Obesity can be defined as a condition where there is an excess of body fat. Body Mass Index(BMI) an important anthropometric parameter to assess the obesity of an individual. Body mass index is a number indicates person's body fat calculated from person body weight and height. Anthropometric measurement i.e. Calculation of BMI is very less expensive, convenient method for calculating the body fat. In the current scenario cardiovascular disease and the metabolic disorders are the most serious and immediate health problem in many countries nowadays. For cardiovascular and metabolic diseases the major risk factor is obesity. Diseases that affect overweight and obese people include angina, coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes mallitus, hyprtension, hypercholesterolemia, metabolic syndrome, gall stones, stroke, cancer, reproductive diseases and sleep apnea. People who are underweight may suffer from eating disorder such as anorexia (not eating enough), bulimia (overeating and purging), stress and mental disorder. The underweight people are at risk of several BMI related diseases. People with a low BMI are likely to develop a weakened immunity system, leaving them at a higher risk for other infections. Being underweight also increases chances of developing osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease. In a recent survey done in Chennai, about 15% of children and adolescents are overweight. As per WHO estimation, there are more than 300 million obese and 200 million diabetic people in world. In addition there are 800 million overweight but not obese (BMI between 25–30). The present study was performed on 500(Normal and diseased) adult population of Bastar region (Chhattisgarh) to calculate BMI by which we can assess and predict the health risk in this population. In our BMI study at Bastar region of chattisgarh percentage of BMI was found to be more in diseased subject rather than normal subject. By our study it can be concluded that in contrast to control the diseased population is having more percentage of Overweigh, Obesity gr. I, Obesity gr. II & Obesity gr. III than normal subjects.

Inflammageing assessed by MMP9 in normal Japanese individuals and the patients with Werner syndrome.

Age-associated minor inflammation: inflammageing may explain human ageing mechanism(s). Our previous study reported a significant increase in the serum level of highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) with normal ageing and the patients with Werner syndrome (WS). To further study the minor inflammatory condition associated with ageing, another possible ageing biomarker: matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) was examined in the sera from 217 normal Japanese individuals aged between 1 and 100 years and 41 mutation-proven Japanese WS aged between 32 and 70 years. MMP9 was assayed by ELISA. The serum level of MMP9 was elevated significantly (p < 0.001) with normal ageing from both sexes as hsCRP. In contrast to normal ageing, the serum MMP9 level in WS decreased significantly with calendar age (p < 0.05). The MMP9 level (ng/mL) in WS (147.2 ± 28.5) was not significantly different in comparison with those from age-matched normal adult population aged between 25 and 70 years (109.1 ± 9.4), nor normal elderly population aged between 71 and 100 years (179.9 ± 16.1). Although both normal ageing and WS were associated with minor inflammation, the inflammatory parameters such as serum MMP9 and hsCRP changed differently between normal ageing and WS. The WS-specific chronic inflammation including skin ulcer and diabetes mellitus may contribute the different behavior of both ageing biomarkers from normal ageing.

Higher order aberrations in a normal adult population

PurposeTo determine the distribution of Zernike coefficients and higher order aberrations in a normal population and its relationship with age, gender, biometric components, and spherical equivalent. MethodsDuring the first phase of the Shahroud cohort study, 6311 people of the 40-64-year-old population of Shahroud city were selected through random cluster sampling. A subsample of participants was examined with Zywave aberrometer (The Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY) to measure aberrations. Measurements of aberrations were done before cycloplegic refraction, and values generated from a minimum pupil diameter of 5 mm were reported in this analysis. ResultsAfter applying exclusion criteria, 904 eyes of 577 people were analyzed in this study and mean age in this study was 49.5 ± 5.7 years and 62.9% were female. Mean root-mean-square (RMS) of the third−, fourth−, and fifth-order aberrations was 0.194 μm (95%CI: 0.183 to 0.204), 0.115 μm (95%CI: 0.109 to 0.121), and 0.041 μm (95%CI: 0.039 to 0.043), respectively. Total RMS coma (Z3−1, Z31, Z5−1, Z51), Total RMS trefoil (Z3−3, Z33, Z5−3, Z53), and spherical aberration (Z40) in the studied population was 0.137 μm (95% CI:0.129–0.145), 0.132 μm (95% CI: 0.123–0.140), and −0.161 μm (95%CI:−0.174 to −0.147), respectively. Mean higher-order Zernike RMS in this study was 0.306 (95% CI: 0.295–0.318) micrometer, and in the multiple model, it significantly correlated with older age and short axial length. The highest amounts of higher-order RMS were observed in hyperopes, and the smallest in emmetropes. Increased nuclear opacity was associated with a significant increase in HO RMS (p < 0.001). Analysis of Zernike coefficients demonstrated that spherical aberration (Z40) significantly correlated with nuclear cataract only (age-adjusted Coef = 0.37 and p = 0.012). ConclusionThis report is the first to describe the distribution of higher-order aberrations in an Iranian population. Higher-order aberrations in this study were on average higher that those reported in previous studies.

MAXIMAL RESPIRATORY PRESSURES AND THEIR CORRELATES IN NORMAL INDIAN ADULT POPULATION: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: The measurement of maximum static inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum static expiratory pressure (MEP) is important in the diagnosis of respiratory muscle dysfunction. There is a paucity of data done on MIP and MEP across the decades in Indian population to predict normal values for maximal respiratory pressures. Materials and Methods: Five hundred subjects were selected through purposive sampling. Each age group had 100 subjects (50 males and 50 females). Pulmonary function tests and baseline data of demographic and anthropometric data of the normal subjects like age, height, weight and body mass index was recorded. The maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and Maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) was measured with a portable respiratory pressure meter (Micro RPM) using a standard protocol. Results: MIP and MEP were studied across all decades and the mean values obtained were comparable with that of the Caucasian population in previous studies. Also MIP and MEP mean values were significantly higher in males as compared to females across the decades. Age showed a statistically significant negative correlation with both MIP and MEP with pearsons correlation coefficient. In males, MIP and MEP correlated negatively with height and weight. In females MIP correlated negatively with height and MEP correlated positively with height and weight. Conclusion: The decade wise mean values obtained for MIP and MEP can be used as a reference to determine respiratory muscle strength in normal Indian adult population.

Development and validation of a short form aggressive beliefs and attitudes scale

This research outlines six studies (total N=3867) that develop and validate an Aggressive Beliefs and Attitudes — Short Form scale for use within the normal nonclinical adult population (e.g., organizational psychology). In the first two samples, exploratory factor analysis reduced the original 30 item scale to a shorter, more parsimonious, eight item measure. In the third sample, confirmatory factor analysis found that the proposed model and items fit the data extremely well. Examination of the nomological network underlying the new measure in Samples 3–4 displayed relationships with positive affect, negative affect, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism ranging from r=.23 to −.23, while relationships with anger, hostility, physical aggression, and verbal aggression ranged from r=.49 to .30. Finally, in two criterion-related validity studies the relationships between the aggressive beliefs and attitudes scales, both original and short forms, and workplace deviance were examined with independent samples of employed adults. The short form scale was significantly related to workplace deviance in both samples (r=.37 and .43). Furthermore, these relationships were of identical magnitude to the full 30 item measure, suggesting that the short form scale comparably captures aggression-related behaviors with a greatly reduced number of items.

Consequences of Actively Managing a Small Bull Trout Population in a Fragmented Landscape

AbstractHabitat fragmentation, which affects many native salmonid species, is one of the major factors contributing to the declines in distribution and abundance of Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus. Increasingly, managers are considering options to maintain and enhance the persistence of isolated local populations through active management strategies. Understanding the ecological consequences of such actions is a necessary step in conservation planning. We used an individual‐based model to evaluate the consequences of an ongoing management program aimed at mitigating the anthropogenic fragmentation of the lower Clark Fork River in Montana. Under this program juvenile Bull Trout are trapped and transported from small, headwater source populations to Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho, for rearing, and adults are subsequently recaptured in their upstream migration and returned to the natal population for spawning. We examined one of these populations and integrated empirical estimates of demographic parameters to simulate different management scenarios where moderate (n = 4) and high (n = 8) numbers of age‐2, age‐3, or age‐4 Bull Trout were removed for transport with variable return rates under both demographic stochasticity and environmental perturbations. Our results indicated the risks from removal with no returns increased substantially when removal totals and age of Bull Trout removed from the simulated population increased. Specifically, removing eight age‐3 or age‐4 individuals resulted in 26% and 62% reductions in average adult population size, respectively, across simulations. We found the risks of transport were not likely alleviated with low (3%) or moderate (6%) return rates, and there were considerable risks of declines for the source population even when return rates were extremely high (&gt;12%). Our simulations indicated little risk of declines for the source population with removals of age‐2 Bull Trout, and any risks were alleviated with low return rates. However, we found higher return rates were particularly beneficial in the presence of large, density‐independent perturbations.

The higher frequency of IgA deficiency among Swedish twins is not explained by HLA haplotypes.

Serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations were determined in 12 600 adult Swedish twins, applying a high-throughput reverse-phase protein microarray technique. The prevalence of IgA deficiency (IgAD) was found to be 1:241 in monozygotic (MZ) twins and 1:198 in dizygotic (DZ) twins. Hence, the prevalence in twins is markedly elevated as compared with the normal Swedish adult population (1:600). The twins did not show a difference in the frequency of HLA haplotypes in comparison with almost 40 000 healthy Swedish controls. As expected, the risk-conveying HLA alleles A*01, B*08 and DRB1*01 were overrepresented among the IgAD twins and were also associated with significantly lower mean serum IgA concentrations in the twin cohort. In contrast, significantly higher mean IgA concentrations were found among individuals carrying the protective HLA alleles B*07 and DRB1*15. Exome sequencing data from two MZ twin pairs discordant for the deficiency showed no differences between the siblings. Model fitting analyses derived a heritability of 35% and indicate that genetic influences are modestly important for IgAD. The probandwise concordance rates for IgAD were found to be 31% for MZ and 13% for DZ twins.

Drinking speed using a Pat Saunders valved straw, wide-bore straw and a narrow-bore straw in a normal adult population.

Straw drinking is often recommended as a strategy for managing swallowing difficulties in adult clinical populations. This study presents a range of normal adult straw drinking speeds and discusses clinical applications. Straw drinking speed in a normal healthy population of 70 adults from 18 to 95 years of age was measured. Three types of straws were used: a Pat Saunders valved straw (PSVS), a wide-bore straw and a narrow-bore straw (NBS). Participants drank 40 ml of water for each straw tested. All participants were asked to comment on the straws used. A mixed-method design was used wherein both quantitative and simple structured qualitative data were collected. Drinking speed was quickest for the wide-bore straw, followed by the NBS and slowest for the PSVS. This was supported by qualitative comments from the adults who reported that the PSVS was the most difficult straw to use. There were no significant differences between straw flow or straw type and sex of the participants. There were significant changes with aging and a decrease in flow speed with the NBS. Weight and height had some effect on straw drinking speeds. There was a slight correlation between age and sex and age and height, but not between age and weight. This article presents data for a normal range of straw drinking speeds in a healthy adult population. It can be used in the assessment and monitoring of straw drinking in acquired disorders of swallowing.