Seasonal Variations In Severity Research Articles

Seasonal Variation and Severity of Acute Abdomen in Japan: A Nine-Year Retrospective Analysis.

The seasonal incidence of acute abdomens, such as appendicitis, is reportedly more common in summer but is reported less frequently in Asia. Additionally, seasonal variations in the severity of acute abdomens have been evaluated insufficiently. This study evaluated the seasonal variations in the incidence and severity of acute abdomens in Japan. This retrospective observational study used a multicenter database containing data from 42 acute hospitals in Japan. We included all patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis, diverticulitis, cholecystitis, and cholangitis between January 2011 and December 2019. Baseline patient data included admission date, sequential organ failure assessment score, presence of sepsis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. We enrolled 24,708 patients with acute abdomen. Seasonal admissions for all four acute abdominal diseases were the highest in summer [acute appendicitis, (OR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.28–1.43); diverticulitis, (OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.16–1.31; cholecystitis (OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.11–1.36); and cholangitis (OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.12–1.36)]. The proportion of patients with sepsis and disseminated intravascular coagulation as well as the total SOFA score for each disease, did not differ significantly across seasons. Seasonal variations in disease severity were not observed.

Seasonal changes in occurrence and severity of lower urinary tract symptoms-Tampere Aging Male Urologic Study (TAMUS).

To determine if lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) involve seasonal variation and how this affects the severity of LUTS. A total of 3163 men aged 50 to 70 years were mailed a questionnaire on urinary symptoms. The overall response rate was 65.3% (2064 out of 3163 men). The men were asked whether their urinary symptoms showed variation in degree of difficulty according to time of year and if yes, when LUTS were the worst and the mildest. Ten different LUTS were evaluated with four response options for the severity of symptoms. Mean symptom scores and the proportions of symptomatic men were evaluated according to the presence of seasonal changes in different symptoms. Overall, 17.1% of men reported seasonal variation in severity of LUTS, older men more frequently than younger men. Worse LUTS during winter were reported by 81% of the men reporting seasonal variation, and 93% reported that LUTS were relieved in summer. More seasonal variation was reported by men with comorbidities (stroke, neurological disease) and those with medical treatment for LUTS or operative treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Men with more severe LUTS were more likely to report seasonal changes. One out of six men reported seasonal changes in LUTS, with winter worsening and summer relieving the symptoms. Men with seasonal variation in LUTS had more severe LUTS in all 10 symptom groups that were investigated.

Seasonal effects on gene expression.

Many health conditions, ranging from psychiatric disorders to cardiovascular disease, display notable seasonal variation in severity and onset. In order to understand the molecular processes underlying this phenomenon, we have examined seasonal variation in the transcriptome of 606 healthy individuals. We show that 74 transcripts associated with a 12-month seasonal cycle were enriched for processes involved in DNA repair and binding. An additional 94 transcripts demonstrated significant seasonal variability that was largely influenced by blood cell count levels. These transcripts were enriched for immune function, protein production, and specific cellular markers for lymphocytes. Accordingly, cell counts for erythrocytes, platelets, neutrophils, monocytes, and CD19 cells demonstrated significant association with a 12-month seasonal cycle. These results demonstrate that seasonal variation is an important environmental regulator of gene expression and blood cell composition. Notable changes in leukocyte counts and genes involved in immune function indicate that immune cell physiology varies throughout the year in healthy individuals.

Seasonal variations in severity of experimental atherosclerosis in rabbits.

For fifteen years, we have been conducting numerous experiments on the induction of atherosclerosis in male Dutch belted rabbits, testing a variety of dietary fats and several hypolipidemic drugs. In all of these experiments, the standard atherogenic regimen that provided the basis for comparison of treatments was 2% cholesterol and 6% corn oil added to laboratory ration. Although each experiment contained its own control, we noted that the atheromata in the control rabbits varied from experiment to experiment. In an effort to ascertain a possible seasonal variation in atherosclerosis we have collated by month of autopsy data from 74 experimental identical 2-month feeding periods.KeywordsSeasonal VariationSerum Cholesterol LevelControl RabbitAutopsy DataStock DietThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.