不同演替阶段鼢鼠土丘群落植物多样性变化研究

用空间序列代替时间序列的方法对高寒草甸不同演替阶段高原鼢鼠土丘植物群落的物种组成和多样性变化进行了研究．结果表明,不同演替阶段鼠丘植物群落的物种组成及外貌特征与原生植被(对照)之间存在较大差异．在演替的早期阶段,r对策者如萼果香薷、灰绿藜、鹅绒委陵菜、细叶亚菊等演替先锋种在群落中占相对重要地位．随着演替的进展,k对策者如长毛风毛菊、垂穗披碱草、甘肃嵩草、线叶嵩草等在群落中的比例增加．α多样性分析表明,随着演替的进展,群落物种丰富度指数(O)显著增加,其排列顺序为：阶段1<阶段2<阶段3<阶段4<原生植被;均匀度指数(Pielou均匀度指数)的变化趋势与丰富度指数相同;多样性指数(Simpson指数D和Shannon-．Wiener指数H’)按群落的演替梯度呈增加趋势．卢多样性分析表明,阶段1与原生植被及阶段1与阶段4植物群落物种组成的相似系数最小,为0．18;阶段1与阶段2植物群落物种组成的相似系数最大,为0．62．同时,群落生活型功能群组成也随鼠丘的演替进展而发生变化,反映出不同演替阶段的鼠丘植物群落和微生境都发生了改变．     

深圳南山区天然森林群落多样性及演替现状

对南山区5个主要天然森林群落(铁榄群落、鼠刺 降真香群落、鸭脚木群落、假苹婆群落、水翁 假苹婆群落)的组成结构及物种多样性进行分析,并与相邻的香港地区地带性森林群落(黄桐群落)作比较。结果表明,依照亚热带及南亚热带森林群落演替规律,南山区天然林处于不同的演替发育阶段：铁榄群落处于演替第3阶段;鼠刺 降真香群落处于第4阶段;其它3个群落处于第5阶段,均未达到稳定的顶极群落阶段。随着铁榄群落、鼠刺 降真香群落、鸭脚木群落、假苹婆群落、水翁 假苹婆群落这个演替序列,物种丰富度的变化规律是：先逐渐上升,到达一个峰值,再缓慢下降。Shannon-Wiener指数和Pielous均匀度指数的变化规律与物种丰富度相同,Simpson指数变化曲线与这些指数相反。但这些指数反映的结果是一致的。综合多个指数分析,鸭脚木群落物种多样性最大,即当群落中阳生性树种与中生性树种优势度相差不大时。群落具有最大的物种多样性。多样性比较结果显示,南山森林群落物种多样性大大低于香港黄桐群落。5个群落的Shannon—Wiener指数在2．04～2．953之间,明显低于黄桐群落,其Shannon—Wiener指数为4．74;Simpson指数0．1～0．268,黄桐群落为0．05;Pielous均匀度指数64．2％～74％,黄桐群落为79％。南山森林群落物种多样性水平低下的状况与长期的人类干扰有关,必须尽快采取“封山育林”等相应措施来促进群落的保护和恢复。     

午潮山常绿次生阔叶林主要木本植物功能群及其演替特征

为了理解午潮山次生林群落结构和演替特征,分析了不同演替阶段功能群物种的生态位和种间关系。对研究区70个20×20 m森林样地内胸径≥1 cm的木本植物进行分析调查,并按照11个功能性状（叶片氮含量、叶片磷含量、叶片钾含量、比叶面积、木材密度、叶片干物质含量、叶片叶绿素含量、生长型、寿命、喜光性和最大潜在树高）将主要的45个物种划分为4个功能群：早期先锋树种（PFG1）、中期中性树种（PFG2）、中后期树种（PFG3）和后期耐阴树种（PFG4）。结果表明种间正负联结比接近1,但显著正联结多于显著负联结,群落整体稳定,而演替中后期功能群（PFG2、PGF3和PFG4）的种间生态位重叠和种间联结强度较高,种间竞争激烈。午潮山森林群落正向演替后期发展,可伐除部分与演替中后期树种相互竞争的早期树种加速演替,并且补植有价值的喜阳先锋种减少开放地,为修复森林生态系统和加速群落演替提供策略。     

山西霍山植被分类及不同演替阶段群落物种多样性的比较分析

采用双向指示种分析法(TWINSPAN)对山西霍山植被群落(12个样地56个样方)进行分类,并利用物种丰富度指数、多样性指数和均匀度指数对不同演替阶段的群落物种多样性进行了比较分析.结果显示,用TWIN-SPAN法可将56个样方划分为10组,命名为10个群丛:山核桃+毛白杨-虎榛子-唐松草群丛(Ⅰ)、山核桃-虎榛子-白莲蒿群丛(Ⅱ)、车前+艾+乌头群丛(Ⅲ)、山核桃+油松-土庄绣线菊-细秆羊胡子草群丛(Ⅳ)、油松-绣线菊-细秆羊胡子草群丛(Ⅴ)、油松-沙棘-白茅群丛(Ⅵ)、辽东栎+山核桃-黄刺玫-细秆羊胡子草群丛(Ⅶ)、华北落叶松-鹅耳枥-蛇莓群丛(Ⅷ)、山梅花-石防风群丛(Ⅸ)和绣线菊-白茅群丛(Ⅹ).10个群丛可划分为6个演替阶段:弃耕地先锋群落阶段(群丛Ⅲ)、草本群落阶段(群丛Ⅹ)、灌木群落阶段(群丛Ⅸ)、先锋乔木群落阶段(群丛Ⅰ和Ⅱ)、混交林过渡群落阶段(群丛Ⅳ、Ⅴ、Ⅵ和Ⅷ)和顶级群落阶段(群丛Ⅶ).随着演替的进行,霍山植被的物种多样性指数、丰富度指数和均匀度指数都呈增加的趋势,并在演替的中后期(混交林过渡群落阶段)达到最大值;而在不同的演替阶段,乔木层、灌木层和草本层的物种多样性指数的变化趋势也不同.各物种多样性指数中,Margalef丰富度指数与Shannon-Wiener多样性指数间有极显著的相关性(P<0.01),其余的物种丰富度指数、多样性指数和均匀度指数间也有显著的相关性(P<0.05).说明山西霍山植被演替序列完整,在植被演替过程中,物种的种类和个体数量以及群落结构的复杂程度明显增加.     

鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林原锥栗-厚壳桂-荷木群落演替

在对 2 0 0 0 m2 永久样地进行 5次调查的基础上 ,研究了鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林锥栗 -厚壳桂 -荷木群落在 2 0 a演替过程中的物种组成结构和物种多样性的动态变化 ,对影响该群落演替的因素进行了分析 ,并对未来演替趋势作了探讨。结果表明 :(1)群落个体数呈现类似“W”型动态变化。(2 )在 2 0 a的演替中 ,黄果厚壳桂在群落乔木层消失 ,厚壳桂种群数量下降了 98.2 1% ,都丧失了原来的优势地位 ,樟科植物的个体数减少了 95 .35 % ;锥栗和荷木个体数都随着演替的进展在减少 ,正逐步走向衰亡 ;因此 2 0 0 2年的群落应更名为锥栗 -云南银柴 -荷木群落。 (3)群落中的阳生性树种的重要值在 18.87～ 2 7.73之间波动 ,在 2 0 0 2年达到最大。 (4 )群落物种组成结构差异随演替时间的增加在逐渐增大 ,但总体变幅较小。 (5 )群落的物种丰富度有小的起伏 ;SW指数在 3.390 4～ 3.5 72 4范围内呈现类似于群落个体数的变化格局 ,在 2 0 0 2年到达最大 ;均匀度在 0 .6 175～ 0 .6 5 4 0范围内表现与 SW指数相似的动态变化 ;生态优势度介于 0 .1837～ 0 .2 4 77之间 ,但变化趋势与 SW指数、均匀度相反。总体上看 ,群落物种组成结构、物种多样性都波动不大 ,群落仍维持相对稳定。(6 )影响群落演替并使之产生波动的主要因素是     

浙江九龙山南方铁杉(Tsuga tchekiangensis)群落结构及优势种群更新类型

以浙江九龙山国家级自然保护区南方铁杉(Tsuga tchekiangensis)群落为对象,应用永久样方法和每木调查法调查了群落种类组成和结构特征,采用Shannon-Weiner 指数、Simpson 指数和Pielou 均匀度指数研究群落乔木层和灌木层的物种多样性.依据径级频率分布的形状,将各树种的种群结构归纳为5种类型,并结合生物学、生态学特征,分别讨论其更新类型,随后对调查群落所处的演替阶段进行了诊断.结果表明:(1) 南方铁杉群落植被具有过渡性,即温带向热带过渡,且更偏向于热带分布类型;群落优势树种为猴头杜鹃(Rhododendron simiarum)、南方铁杉和木荷(Schima superba).(2) Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpson指数和Pielou均匀度指数变化趋势一致,强度均为灌木层大于乔木层;乔木中层物种多样性大于乔木上层和下层.(3) 单峰型的野漆树(Toxicodendron succedaneum)、枫香(Liquidamber formosana)和鹅掌楸(Liriodendron chinense)等阳性高大乔木,为先锋群落优势种或林窗更新种,在演替后期比较稳定的群落中,将最终衰退消失;间歇型的猴头杜鹃、木荷、多脉冬青(Cyclobalanopsis multiervis)等常绿阔叶树种和南方铁杉等针叶树种,种群结构为不连续生长型,更新具有波动性和机会性,介于顶级群落先锋种和优势种之间;双峰型的麂角杜鹃(Rhododendron latoucheae)为耐荫性极强的常绿阔叶乔木,为顶级群落的优势种;金字塔型的厚皮香(Temstroemia gymnanthe)、隔药柃(Eurya muricata)、马醉木(Pieris japonica)等和单柱型的浙江樟(Cinnamomum chekiangense)、尖连蕊茶(Camellia cuspidata)、朱砂根等(Ardisia crenata var. crenata)为顶级群落亚乔木层和灌木层的主要组成种.(4) 九龙山南方铁杉群落处于顶级阶段的前期,并未达到最终阶段,将向双峰型为优势种的群落发展.南方铁杉如不加以保护,势必为其它树种所取代,应对此群落乔木层的猴头杜鹃、木荷、麂角杜鹃等植物进行适当地人为砍伐.     

广东内伶仃岛台湾相思群落在15 年间的演替研究

针对1997-1998 年在广东内伶仃岛设置并调查的5 个台湾相思林固定样地, 15 年后于2013 年再次进行调查并研究群落的演替。结果表明: (1) 经过15 年的演替, 5 个台湾相思群落的优势种群发生明显变化, 少数种群消退, 另又增添了部分优势种群, 并且整体上以中生性树种为主; (2) 在演替过程中, 台湾相思群落的物种多样性指数有上升,亦有下降, 但5 个群落其乔木层的物种组成更加丰富, 年龄结构更加复杂; (3) 在5 个群落中, 台湾相思多以第Ⅳ、Ⅴ龄级立木存在, 缺少I、II、III 级立木, 说明其均为衰退种群。总体上, 内伶仃岛的台湾相思群落在后期将演替成为以中生性树种为主的常绿阔叶林群落。     

森林演替过程中优势树种凋落叶对土壤微生物组成的影响

为了进一步认识森林群落演替机理,研究了黄土高原马栏林区处于不同演替阶段的森林土壤微生物组成,以及优势树种凋落叶对土壤微生物组成的影响.采用凋落叶浸提液处理不同类型的土壤,利用土壤浸提液固体培养基测定微生物数量,以系统聚类和主成分分析等方法进行数据分析.结果表明:微生物总数量及土壤细菌数量按白桦(Betulaplatyphylla)林→油松(Pinus tabulaeformis)林→辽东栎(Quercus liaotungensis)林递增;在先锋森林群落向顶极群落演替过程中,微生物组成的综合性指标Shannon-Wiener指数呈下降趋势;土壤微生物3大类群中,数量较少者对Shannon-Wiener指数的大小变化起着较大作用;依据可培养微生物组成,8种土样可划分为3个类群,辽东栎及油松凋落叶对土壤微生物组成的影响不同,辽东栎凋落叶对土壤微生物学性质的作用更强;马栏林区森林土壤微生物组成与植被类型及演替阶段关系密切;演替高级阶段森林优势树种凋落叶可能通过其对土壤微生物组成的改造优势,逐渐改变土壤的微生物学性质,进而促进植被演替.     

黔西北地区不同演替阶段植物群落结构与物种多样性特征

该文采用"空间代替时间"的方法,研究了贵州省威宁县喀斯特地区植被演替过程中的群落结构、物种组成、生活型谱和物种多样性的变化规律。结果表明:(1)该调查共记录到种子植物174种,隶属于52科117属,物种分布较多的有菊科、蔷薇科、禾本科、杜鹃花科、小檗科、唇形科、蓼科。(2)随着植被的正向演替,物种丰富度逐渐增加,群落结构趋于复杂,高位芽植物所占比例逐渐增大。(3)随着植被的恢复,群落层次分化逐渐明显,大径级植株所占比例呈现增加趋势。(4)随着植被的恢复,群落各层次的ShannonWiener多样性指数(H)、Simpson多样性指数(DS)、均匀度指数(J)和Margalef丰富度指数(DM)逐渐增加;不同演替阶段植物群落之间的Srensen相似系数呈现先上升后下降的趋势,Cody指数则表现为逐渐增加的趋势。黔西北地区不同演替阶段植物群落结构和物种多样性不同,建群种和关键种发生了明显变化,不同演替阶段植物群落结构和物种多样性的研究对喀斯特地区植被演替规律的认识和生态恢复具有重要意义。     

黔东南州白云岩喀斯特区植物群落演化特征

该研究采用时空互代法、连续带指数法等,对贵州省黔东南州的白云岩喀斯特区60个具有代表性的典型样地的植物种组组成、以及各演替阶段植物群落高度、密度、生物量、生物多样性指数、均匀度指数、生态优势度指数等进行调查分析,以探讨白云岩喀斯特区植物群落的演化特征,为深入研究白云岩喀斯特区植物群落自然恢复规律奠定基础。结果表明:(1)各种组的优势种组成不同,种组替代规律依次为先锋种、次先锋种、过渡种,最终被顶极种替代的过程。(2)群落的高度、密度、生物量等结构特征随植物群落演替发展呈逐渐增大趋势,变化范围分别为0.58～9.54m、585～3 145株·hm-2、8.45～128.56t·hm-2。(3)植物群落的物种丰富度随演替阶段的发展呈下降趋势,从草本群落阶段到顶极群落阶段物种数由48种降低到10种。(4)随着植物群落演替阶段的发展,生物多样性指数呈先升高后降低的趋势,即由草本群落的3.48升高到草灌群落的4.73,后降到顶极群落的3.46;均匀度指数呈降低趋势,最高为草本群落阶段的0.95,最低为常绿阔叶林阶段的0.78;生态优势度指数逐渐升高,顶极群落达到最大,为0.10。     

Seasonal growth of Atlantic cod: effects of temperature, feeding and reproduction

Growth of 2659 Atlantic cod Gadus morhua aged 4 to 9 years examined in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, peaked in most cases in June and was at a minimum in October or November. Water temperature, partial fullness index ( I _P) and gonado‐somatic index ( I _G) explained between 31 and 52% of the monthly variability in growth. Temperature and I _P of capelin Mallotus villosus had significant effects on growth of all age groups and explained most of the variance for ages 6–8 and 4–5 years, respectively. The I _P of large invertebrates (ages 4 to 7 years), sandlance ( Ammodytes sp. age 6 years) and demersal fishes (age 9 years) had age‐specific effects in the model. Overall, amphipods, decapods and echinoderms dominated the Atlantic cod diet in most seasons, but fish consumption by Atlantic cod was high in June and July, particularly on capelin. The rapid increase in somatic mass during June and July occurred despite cold water temperatures ( < 3° C at 50 m) and moderate to high gonado‐somatic index. The findings of this study suggest that when food was not a limiting factor, growth tended to increase even when Atlantic cod occupied colder waters, but when food was limiting, the opposite may have occured.     

Hyperthyroidism is associated with higher plasma endothelin-1 concentrations

The objective of this study was to determine the change of plasma endothelin (ET)-1 concentrations and insulin resistance index after therapy for hyperthyroidism. We studied 20 patients with hyperthyroidism (15 women and 5 men; age, 34.0 +/- 2.8 years), and 31 patients with euthyroid goiters as controls (27 women, 4 men; age, 37.0 +/- 2.4 years). All hyperthyroid patients were treated with antithyroid drugs. The patients received evaluations before and after normalization of thyroid function. The evaluations included body mass index (BMI), body fat, and measurement of circulating concentrations of thyroid hormones, glucose, insulin, and ET-1. Hyperthyroid subjects had higher plasma ET-1 concentrations than the control group (P < 0.001). No significant differences in serum glucose and insulin concentrations or insulin resistance index estimated by the R value of the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-R) were noted between the groups. Plasma ET-1 concentrations decreased after correction of hyperthyroidism compared with pretreatment (P = 0.006). Serum glucose concentrations decreased after correction of hyperthyroidism (P = 0.005). Moreover, both body weight-adjusted insulin concentrations and the HOMA-R index were also decreased after correction of hyperthyroidism compared with pretreatment (P = 0.026 and P = 0.019, respectively). Pearson's correlation revealed that plasma ET-1 levels positively correlated with serum triiodothyronine (T3) and free thyroxine (FT4) levels. Serum insulin levels and the HOMA-R index positively correlated with BMI and body fat. The HOMA-R index also positively correlated with serum T3 and FT4 levels. Neither insulin levels nor the HOMA-R index correlated with ET-1 levels. Hyperthyroidism is associated with higher plasma ET-1 concentrations. In addition, correction of hyperthyroidism is also associated with a decrease of plasma ET-1 levels as well as the insulin resistance index calculated by HOMA-R.     

Fiabilidad interobservador de los 4 índices de comorbilidad más utilizados en pacientes ancianos

Objective

To report on the interrater reliability of four common comorbidity indexes used in the hospitalised elderly: Charlson Index (CI), Geriatric Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS-G), Index of Co-existent Disease (CoD) and Kaplan-Feinstein Index (KFI).

Method

Four trained observers, independently reviewed the same 40 medical charts of hospitalised geriatric patients. Scores for the four indexes were calculated, along with the intraclass correlations coefficient (ICC) (quantitative index: CI and CIRS-G) and Kappa coefficient (qualitative index: CoD and KFI). The agreement <0.4 was considered deficient, 0-4-0.75 acceptable and >0.75 excellent.

Results

A total of 40 patients (29 women) of 85.93 (±5.35) years were analysed. Intraclass correlations coefficient: CI: 0.78 (95% CI: 0.67-0.86); CIRS-G (score): 0.66 (95% CI: 0.53-0.78). Kappa coefficient: KFI: 0.51 to 0.76; CoD: 0.44-0.66. The application time was lower for the Charlson index (median of 39 seconds [30-45]) and the KFI (42 seconds [35-52]) and higher for CIRS-G (score) (128 seconds [110-160]) and CoD (102 seconds [80-124]).

Conclusions

Of the four comorbidity indexes used in a hospitalised elderly population, the CI, and CIRS-G (score), are those that have better interrater reliability. The Charlson index and KFI show a lower application time than the CIRS-G (score).     

Role of chronic infection and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract in the etiology and pathogenesis of idiopathic parkinsonism. Part 3: predicted probability and gradients of severity of idiopathic parkinsonism based on H. pylori antibody profile

BACKGROUND: Eradicating Helicobacter may convert rapidly progressive idiopathic parkinsonism to quieter disease, however only a minority of probands have evidence of current infection. AIM: To explore the cross-sectional fit of parkinsonism as an extra-alimentary consequence of Helicobacter pylori, using the serum antibody profile. METHODS: A discriminant index for parkinsonism was based on the Western Blot pattern of IgG antibodies against electrophoretically separated H. pylori antigens in 124 subjects with idiopathic parkinsonism, 196 without. In parkinsonism, association was assessed between index and 1, anthropometric measures; 2, current and 3, increase over 4 years in hypokinetic and psychomotor/psychometric disability; and 4, a global score of current severity. RESULTS: Predicted probability of being labeled parkinsonian was greatest with cytotoxin-associated-gene-product (CagA) positivity and vacuolating-toxin negativity (p = .03 and .004, respectively, for antibody-age interactions), and urease-B negativity (p = .03, irrespective of age). In this circumstance, the odds for parkinsonism increased fivefold by age 80 years (p = .001). Helicobacter status, according to anti-urease enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), did not complement the model. Gradients, of clinically relevant size, were found between index and disease burden, despite the potentially confounding effect of antiparkinsonian medication. The higher the index 1, the worse was posture, as gauged by forward displacement of occiput (p = .04), 2, the shorter mean stride-length (p = .003), longer reaction time (= .002) and lesser cognitive efficiency (= .03), 3, the greater their deterioration (p = .006, .002, and .03 respectively), and 4, the greater the overall severity of parkinsonism (< .001). CONCLUSION: The apparent importance of H. pylori in the etiology/pathogenesis of idiopathic parkinsonism is not confined to those with evidence of current infection.     

A trial of the use of aekol in preventing psychoautonomic disorders

Autonomic dysfunction in chronic emotional stress is well documented. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of natural antioxidant vitamin E (aekol). Twenty persons (16 women and 4 men, mean age 38 +/- 4 years) who reported recent occurrence of emotional stress were examined before and after a 4-week treatment with aekol (5 ml twice a day). Heart rate variability (taking into account very low-frequency (VLF, 0.003-0.04 Hz), low-frequency (LF, 0.04-0.15 Hz), and high-frequency (HF, 0.15-0.40 Hz) components) was computed from the power spectra (5-min epochs) of the EKG recorded in the patients in supine position. After the treatment, the HF power of the heart rate variability (an index of cardiac parasympathetic activity) increased (p < 0.05), whereas the VLF power (an index of the cerebral sympathetic activity) decreased (p < 0.01). The decrease in the VLF was accompanied by a reduction of anxiety level (p < 0.01). According to our hypothesis, the absolute and relative power of the VLF can be used as an index of anxiety or cerebral sympathetic activity, which significantly decreases after the aekol treatment.     

Postfire,natural regeneration of Pinus brutia forests in Thasos island,Greece

The natural, postfire regeneration of Pinus brutia forests has been studied in two 40–60-year-old forests of Thasos island, North Aegean sea, Greece, burned in the summers of 1985 and 1989. Within the latter burned area (5 700 ha), forty experimental sites of various aspects and site index values were established and successively monitored for 5 years, at 6-month intervals. Pine seedling emergence took place late in spring (due to a long drought in that particular year) but exclusively during the first postfire year. By the end of the recruitment period (May 1990), mean pine seedling density was considerably high (2–6 seedlings.m^–2) while a significant drop in the first summer was observed. Thereafter, a relatively smooth decline was obtained and the density was almost stabilized to about 0.6–2 seedlings.m^–2 after 5 years: the kinetics of survival was found to follow a rectangular hyperbola. Significant differences in seedling density values were detected among site groups of varying aspect or site index: north-facing and index I sites showed the highest density values while south-facing and index V ones the lowest. Similarly, height kinetics showed a significant divergence among site groups; again, the north-facing and the index I sites were the fastest growing. Annual height growth showed a linear regression kinetics throughout the 5- (and conceivably 9-) year-long postfire period of study, with a yearly increment of 17 cm. Starting at an age of 4–6 years, an increasing fraction of the sapling population became reproductive so that after 9 years a considerable portion (5–15 %) had already produced cones with fully germinable seeds.     

Association between Lifestyle Factors and Quality-Adjusted Life Years in the EPIC-NL Cohort

The aim of our study was to relate four modifiable lifestyle factors (smoking status, body mass index, physical activity and diet) to health expectancy, using quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) in a prospective cohort study. Data of the prospective EPIC-NL study were used, including 33,066 healthy men and women aged 20–70 years at baseline (1993–7), followed until 31-12-2007 for occurrence of disease and death. Smoking status, body mass index, physical activity and adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet (excluding alcohol) were investigated separately and combined into a healthy lifestyle score, ranging from 0 to 4. QALYs were used as summary measure of healthy life expectancy, combining a person''s life expectancy with a weight for quality of life when having a chronic disease. For lifestyle factors analyzed separately the number of years living longer in good health varied from 0.12 year to 0.84 year, after adjusting for covariates. A combination of the four lifestyle factors was positively associated with higher QALYs (P-trend <0.0001). A healthy lifestyle score of 4 compared to a score of 0 was associated with almost a 2 years longer life in good health (1.75 QALYs [95% CI 1.37, 2.14]).     

Implicaciones de los síntomas depresivos en los ancianos hospitalizados por afección médica

Introduction

Depressive symptoms in hospitalized patients are very common, and they have been related to higher mortality. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in hospitalized elderly patients and its relationship to various diseases, as well as their functional and mental status and mortality.

Material and methods

A total of 115 patients over 64 years of age were prospectively studied. The validated Spanish version of the Geriatric Depression Scale of Yesavage (15-item version) was used. Patients were considered to have depressive symptoms if ≥6 points were obtained. The demographic characteristics, the Charlson comorbidity index, the diagnosis at admission, the functional status assessed by the Barthel and Lawton-Brodie index, the mental capacity assessed by the Pfeiffer questionnaire, the length of the hospital stay, and hospital mortality were recorded.

Results

Out of the 115 patients studied, with a mean age of 70.5 years, 71 (61.7%) were female. Depressive symptoms were observed in 46 patients (40%, 95% CI: 34.8-43.9). Patients who died showed a significantly higher score on the Yesavage scale (P=.04). The multivariate analysis showed a significantly independent association between depressive symptoms and functional capacity (P=.026), mental status (P=.021), renal failure (P=.001), liver disease (P=.018), and osteoarthritis (P=.017), but losing the previously seen significant association with diabetes (P=.43).

Conclusions

The prevalence of depressive symptoms in hospitalized elderly patients is high, and is associated with the diagnoses of renal failure, liver disease and osteoarthritis, with a higher comorbidity and especially with a poorer functional capacity.     

Pedigree analysis in Leber hereditary optic neuropathy families with a pathogenic mtDNA mutation.

Eighty-nine index patients from 85 families were defined as having Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) by the presence of one of the mtDNA mutations at positions 11778 (66 families), 3460 (8 families), or 14484 (11 families). There were 62 secondary cases. Overall, 64% of index cases had a history of similarly affected relatives. The ratios of affected males to affected females were 3.7:1 (11778), 4.3:1 (3460), and 7.7:1 (14484). The 95th centile for age at onset of symptoms was close to 50 years in index, secondary, male, and female patients. There were no differences in the distributions of age at onset between different mutation groups, between index and secondary cases, or between males and females, apart from this being slightly later in all female patients than in male 11778 patients. There was no significant correlation between age at onset in index cases and that in their affected siblings or cousins. Heteroplasmy (< 96% mutant mtDNA) was detected in 4% of affected subjects (67%-90% mutant mtDNA) and in 13.6% of 140 unaffected relatives (< 5%-90% mutant mtDNA). Analysis of all pedigrees, excluding sibships < 50 years of age and index cases, indicated recurrence risks of 30%, 8%, 46%, 10%, 31%, and 6%, respectively, to the brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, and male and female matrilineal first cousins of index cases. Affected females were more likely to have affected children, particularly daughters, than were unaffected female carriers. The pedigree data were entirely compatible with the previously proposed X-linked susceptibility locus, with a gene frequency of .08, penetrance of .11 in heterozygous females, and 40% of affected females being homozygous, the remainder being explained by heterozygosity and disadvantageous X inactivation.     

健身气功八段锦对肥胖中年女性糖尿病患者相关指标的影响

目的：了解健身气功八段锦对肥胖中年女性糖尿病患者相关指标的影响,为糖尿病的干预治疗方案提供新的思路。方法：以40名中年女性肥胖糖尿病患者作为研究对象,年龄57.2±5.4岁,随机分为对照组和练功组（n=20）;练功组进行新编健身八段锦功法24周干预,每周锻炼6 d,每天90 min的练功;对照组不进行任何运动。观察2组患者试验前后体重、腰围、臀围、体重指数（BMI）、腰臀比（WHR）、空腹血糖（FPG）、糖化血红蛋白（HbAlc）、甘油三脂（TG）、总胆固醇（TC）、低密度脂蛋白（LDL）、高密度脂蛋白（HDL）和人血清视黄醛结合蛋白4（RBP4）等指标的水平变化。结果：练功组试验后其腰围、WHR、FPG、TG、HbAlc和血清RBP4水平与试验前及对照组试验后相比均明显下降（P<0.05）;练功组试验后HDL-C水平与试验前及对照组试验后相比与明显升高（P<0.05）。结论：长期的健身气功八段锦练习可降低肥胖女性糖尿病患者的血糖,对身体的部分肥胖和血脂指标有一定的改善效果。