Blood pressure characteristics of a select group of North American males,followed for 20 years

This report describes the 20-year blood pressure behaviour of 3869 selected young North American males.Initial mean systolic and diastolic pressures were higher than those recorded five years later; after that pressures increased progressively. The effect of initial selection was evident for the first 10 years of exposure.A significant relationship was demonstrated between all initial systolic and diastolic levels and the 20-year blood pressure behaviour. Systolic pressure was not affected by age until age 50 and diastolic until age 45. After that a significant relationship was demonstrated.In 20 years multiple readings ≥ 140 and/or ≥ 90 mm. Hg were recorded in 26% of the population. Increases in pressure usually extended over many years. Commonly they were labile, fluctuating above and below 140/90 mm. Hg. In a small, clearly defined group, accelerated increases reached high levels in three to 10 years.     

The University of Manitoba Follow-up Study: A Prospective Investigation of Cardiovascular Disease: Part I. General Description—Mortality and Incidence of Coronary Heart Disease

A prospective study of cardiovascular disease was initiated in 1946 whereby 3983 healthy North American males, 91% under age 40, were subjected to periodic electrocardiograms and medical examinations between 1948 and 1963. The health of all but five of the 3773 survivors was known in 1963. There were 210 deaths: aircraft accidents accounted for 45%, cardiovascular disease 20%, cancer 11% and other causes 23%. The aggregate mortality closely resembled that of the Canadian Life Table 1955-57 (Male). Extra deaths were observed under age 40 owing to a high frequency of flying accidents. At older ages the mortality was lower than expected because congenital and chronic diseases were excluded at entry. One hundred and forty-three developed coronary heart disease. The case fatality rate was 31%. The incidence rate for coronary heart disease rose progressively from 0.277 per thousand per year for ages 25-34 to 26.5 at ages 60-69.     

盐生植物角果碱蓬种子二型性对环境的适应策略

角果碱蓬(Suaeda corniculata)是藜科一年生盐生植物, 在我国分布于北方盐碱滩涂和盐碱荒漠地区。角果碱蓬具有棕色和黑色两种异型体种子(简称棕色和黑色种子)。对采自内蒙古鄂托克前旗盐渍化生境的角果碱蓬二型种子的形态、休眠和萌发特性开展对比研究, 测定了二型种子休眠和萌发行为对温度、光照和盐分(NaCl)的响应, 以揭示盐生植物异型种子对温带盐漠生境的适应对策。结果表明: (1)二型性种子在大小、种皮特性和结实比例方面有显著差异。与黑色种子相比, 棕色种子个体较大, 种皮透水性强。黑色种子与棕色种子的结实比例约为5.6 : 1。(2)新成熟的棕色种子的萌发对各温度梯度和光照条件不敏感, 萌发率较高(84%-100%); 而新成熟的黑色种子萌发率较低(8%-78%), 萌发对光照敏感。(3)黑色种子具有浅度生理休眠, 种皮划破、赤霉素处理和低温层积均可有效地提高种子的萌发率。(4)二型种子萌发对土壤盐分的胁迫具有不同的响应。与黑色种子相比, 棕色种子对盐分胁迫不敏感, 在较高的盐分浓度下仍有较高的萌发率, 低温层积处理能够降低黑色种子对盐胁迫的敏感性, 有效地提高种子的初始萌发率、萌发恢复率和最终萌发率。角果碱蓬二型种子不同的形态、休眠和萌发特性, 提高了该物种在高度异质性生境中的适合度, 对种群成功地适应温带盐漠环境具有重要的意义。     

荷木树干CO_2释放通量与木质部液流和CO_2浓度的关系

采用红外气体分析仪,于2008年10月17-19日连续3个昼夜原位监测了荷木的树干CO_2释放通量、树干温度、木质部液流密度和CO_2浓度.结果表明:树干CO_2释放通量(EA)日变化呈S形曲线,不同径级间差异显著.EA与树干温度呈显著幂函数关系(0.24

Abstract：

By using a Li-820 infra-red CO_2 gas analyzer, an in situ measurement of Schima super-ba stem CO_2 efflux was conducted for three consecutive days from 17 to 19 October 2008. In the meantime, the stem temperature, xylem sap efflux density, and xylem CO_2 concentration were measured. The stem CO_2 efflux had a diurnal variation of "S" pattern, and differed significantly with stem diameter. There was a significant exponential relationship between stem CO_2 efflux and stem temperature (0. 24 < R~2 < 0. 78). The temperature coefficient (b) and regression coeffi-cient (R~2) were higher at nighttime than at daytime, and the Q_(10) value ranged from 2. 01 to 2. 79. The stem CO_2 efflux correlated significantly with the xylem CO_2 concentration, and the best regression curve was cubic (R~2= 0. 48). Excluding the effects of stem temperature, the stem CO_2 efflux showed a significant negative correlation with xylem sap flux density (r =-0.462). Therefore, only using simple temperature function to estimate stem CO_2 efflux would yield a significant error, and xylem sap flux should be taken into consideration in the stem CO_2 emux estimation.     

The presence of serum anti-Ascaris lumbricoides IgE antibodies and of Trichuris trichiura infection are risk factors for wheezing and/or atopy in preschool-aged Brazilian children

Background

The elucidation of factors that trigger the development of transient wheezing in early childhood may be an important step toward understanding the pathogenesis of asthma and other allergic diseases later in life. Transient wheezing has been mainly attributed to viral infections, although sensitisation to aeroallergens and food allergens may occur at an early age. In developing countries, intestinal helminthic infections have also been associated with allergy or atopy-related disorders.

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the association of Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides infections with wheezing and atopy in early childhood.

Study design

A cross-sectional study using a Portuguese-language ISAAC phase I questionnaire, adapted for preschool-aged children, nested in a cohort study of childhood diarrhoea, was conducted on 682 children. Two faecal samples per child were examined for the presence of intestinal helminthic infection. IgE antibodies against three allergenic preparations (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Blomia tropicalis and common child food), as well as against A. lumbricoides antigens, were measured in a sub-sample of these children, whose parents allowed the procedure. Atopy was defined by the presence of levels of serum IgE antibodies ≥0.35 kU/L against at least one of the three tested allergenic preparations.

Results

Active T. trichiura infection but not A. lumbricoides infection was positively associated with wheezing in the total studied children population [adjusted OR = 2.60; CI = 1.54;4.38] and in the atopic children sub-population [adjusted OR = 3.07; CI = 1.00;9.43]. The association with atopy was also positive and statistically significant only in the brute analysis [OR = 2.13; CI = 1.03;4.40]. Anti-A. lumbricoides IgE antibodies, but not current A. lumbricoides infection, were positively associated with wheezing in atopic children [adjusted OR = 2.01; CI = 1.00;4.50] and in non-atopic children [adjusted OR = 3.07; CI = 1.13;8.35] and it was also associated with atopy [adjusted OR = 7.29; CI = 3.90; 13.4]. On the other hands, reports of wheezing were not significantly associated with atopy.

Conclusions

These data corroborate previous studies showing that wheezing is predominantly associated with infection in early childhood and shows that anti-A. lumbricoides IgE antibodies, but not active Ascaris infections, are associated with wheezing and atopy. Additionally, the data demonstrate that T. trichiura infection may play a role in the pathogenesis of atopic wheezing in early childhood.     

Spatial prediction of malaria prevalence in an endemic area of Bangladesh

Background

Malaria is a major public health burden in Southeastern Bangladesh, particularly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region. Malaria is endemic in 13 districts of Bangladesh and the highest prevalence occurs in Khagrachari (15.47%).

Methods

A risk map was developed and geographic risk factors identified using a Bayesian approach. The Bayesian geostatistical model was developed from previously identified individual and environmental covariates (p < 0.2; age, different forest types, elevation and economic status) for malaria prevalence using WinBUGS 1.4. Spatial correlation was estimated within a Bayesian framework based on a geostatistical model. The infection status (positives and negatives) was modeled using a Bernoulli distribution. Maps of the posterior distributions of predicted prevalence were developed in geographic information system (GIS).

Results

Predicted high prevalence areas were located along the north-eastern areas, and central part of the study area. Low to moderate prevalence areas were predicted in the southwestern, southeastern and central regions. Individual age and nearness to fragmented forest were associated with malaria prevalence after adjusting the spatial auto-correlation.

Conclusion

A Bayesian analytical approach using multiple enabling technologies (geographic information systems, global positioning systems, and remote sensing) provide a strategy to characterize spatial heterogeneity in malaria risk at a fine scale. Even in the most hyper endemic region of Bangladesh there is substantial spatial heterogeneity in risk. Areas that are predicted to be at high risk, based on the environment but that have not been reached by surveys are identified.

     

Association between microscopic brain damage as indicated by magnetization transfer imaging and anticardiolipin antibodies in neuropsychiatric lupus

The pathogenetic role of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCLs) in patients with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) without cerebral infarcts remains elusive. Magnetization transfer imaging (MTI) has proved to be a sensitive tool for detecting diffuse microscopic brain damage in NPSLE patients. In this study we examined the correlation between grey and white matter magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) parameters and the presence of IgM and IgG aCLs and lupus anticoagulant in 18 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and a history of NPSLE but without cerebral infarcts on conventional magnetic resonance imaging. Lower grey matter mean MTR (P < 0.05), white matter mean MTR (P < 0.05), white matter peak location (P < 0.05) and grey matter peak location (trend toward statistical significance) were observed in IgM aCL-positive patients than in IgM aCL-negative patients. No significant differences were found in MTR histogram parameters with respect to IgG aCL and lupus anticoagulant status, nor with respect to anti-dsDNA or anti-ENA (extractable nuclear antigen) status. This is the first report of an association between the presence of aCLs and cerebral damage in grey and white matter in NPSLE. Our findings suggest that aCLs are associated with diffuse brain involvement in NPSLE patients.     

The cytochromes of Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum

Three c-type cytochromes (c-551, c-553, c-555) have been isolated and characterized from a strain of the green photosynthetic bacterium Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum. These cytochromes are atypical when compared to horse heart cytochrome c in many properties, among them: oxidation-reduction potential at pH 7.0 (c-551, 135 mV; c-553, 98 mV; c-555, 145 mV), molecular weight (c-551, 45000–60000; c-553, 50000; c-555, 10000) and isolelectric point (c-551, 6.0; c-553, 6.7). No protoheme was detected in whole cells or cell-free extracts.