Correlates of Adolescent Marijuana Use as Related to Age,Sex, and Ethnicity

This study examines the interactive effects of background factors and personality/attitudinal and perceived environmental dimensions on adolescent drug behavior. Data were collected during home interviews using a structured interview schedule. The sample consisted of 403 British West Indian black, American black, and white adolescents, ranging in age from 13 to 17. Results suggested that two processes, nonconformity to conventional middle class values at both the personality/attitudinal and institutional level, and modeling of familial and peer drug use account in large part for adolescent drug behavior. The majority of correlates of adolescent drug behavior were similar in different sex, age, and ethnic groups.     

Influence of Exposure History on the Immunology and Development of Resistance to Human Schistosomiasis Mansoni

Background

Previous studies suggest that humans can acquire immunity to reinfection with schistosomes, most probably due to immunologic mechanisms acquired after exposure to dying schistosome worms.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We followed longitudinally two cohorts of adult males occupationally exposed to Schistosoma mansoni by washing cars (120 men) or harvesting sand (53 men) in Lake Victoria. Men were treated with praziquantel each time S. mansoni infection was detected. In car washers, a significant increase in resistance to reinfection, as measured by the number of cars washed between cure and reinfection, was observed after the car washers had experienced, on average, seven cures. In the car washers who developed resistance, the level of schistosome-specific IgE increased between baseline and the time at which development of resistance was first evidenced. In the sand harvesters, a significant increase in resistance, as measured by the number of days worked in the lake between cure and reinfection, was observed after only two cures. History of exposure to S. mansoni differed between the two cohorts, with the majority of sand harvesters being lifelong residents of a village endemic for S. mansoni and the majority of car washers having little exposure to the lake before they began washing cars. Immune responses at study entry were indicative of more recent infections in car washers and more chronic infections in sand harvesters.

Conclusions/Significance

Resistance to reinfection with S. mansoni can be acquired or augmented by adults after multiple rounds of reinfection and cure, but the rate at which resistance is acquired by this means depends on immunologic status and history of exposure to S. mansoni infection.     

Stigmatized Students: Age,Sex, and Ethnicity Effects in the Stigmatization of Obesity

Objective: To assess the stigmatization of obesity relative to the stigmatization of various disabilities among young men and women. Attitudes across ethnic groups were compared. In addition, these findings were compared with data showing severe stigmatization of obesity among children. Research Methods and Procedures: Participants included 356 university students (56% women; mean age, 20.6 years; mean BMI, 23.3 kg/m²; range, 14.4 to 45.0 kg/m²) who ranked six drawings of same‐sex peers in order of how well they liked each person. The drawings showed adults with obesity, various disabilities, or no disability. These rankings were compared with those obtained through a similar procedure with 458 fifth‐ and sixth‐grade children. Results: Obesity was highly stigmatized relative to physical disabilities. African‐American women liked obese peers more than did African‐American men, white men, or white women [F (1, 216) = 4.02, p < 0.05]. Overweight and obese participants were no less stigmatizing of obesity than normal weight participants. Adults were more accepting than children of their obese peers [t (761) = 9.16, p < 0.001]. Discussion: Although the stigmatization of obesity was high among participants overall, African‐American women seemed to have more positive attitudes toward obesity than did white women, white men, or African‐American men. Participants’ weight did not affect their stigmatization of obesity: obese and overweight adults were as highly stigmatizing of obesity as non‐overweight adults. Such internalized stigmatization could help to explain the low self‐esteem and poor body image among obese young adults. However, adults seemed to have more positive attitudes about obesity than children. An understanding of the factors that limit the stigma of obesity among African‐American women could help efforts to reduce stigma.     

Influence of Age,Sex and Calendar Year on Lifetime Accumulated Red Bone Marrow Dose from Diagnostic Radiation Exposure

Our aim is to evaluate the relevance of different factors influencing lifetime accumulated red bone marrow dose, such as calendar year, age and sex. The lifetime dose was estimated for controls interviewed in person (N = 2811, 37.5% women) of the population-based representative Northern Germany Leukemia and Lymphoma Study. Data were assessed in standardized computer-assisted personal interviews. The calculation of doses is based on a comprehensive quantification model including calendar year, sex, kind of examination, and technical development. In multivariate regression models the annual red bone marrow dose was analyzed depending on age, sex and calendar year to consider simultaneously temporal changes in radiologic practice and individual risk factors. While the number of examinations continuously rises over time, the dose shows two peaks around 1950 and after 1980. Men are exposed to higher doses than woman. Until 1970 traditional examinations like conventional and mass screening examinations caused the main dose. They were then replaced by technically advanced examinations mainly computed tomography and cardiac catheter. The distribution of the red bone marrow dose over lifetime depends highly on the technical standards and radiation protection survey. To a lesser extent it is influenced by age and sex of the subjects. Thus epidemiological studies concerning the assessment of radiation exposure should consider the calendar year in which the examination was conducted.     

Schistosomiasis mansoni, haematobia, and japonica in hamsters: liver granuloma measurements

Differences in the granulomatous response of hamsters infected with Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma haematobium, or Schistosoma japonicum were studied by measuring granulomas formed around eggs in the livers at 1, 3, 5, 11, and 19 week intervals after patency of the infections. For each species, the mean diameters of both granulomas containing only 1 egg and granulomas selected at random were determined. The mean volume of single egg granulomas in S. mansoni-infected hamsters was greater than in those with other species at all time intervals studied. The decrease in single egg granuloma size with time occurred more gradually in S. mansoni infections. The mean volume of granulomas measured at random was greatest in S. japoracum-infected animals at 1, 3, and 11 weeks after patency; was greatest in S. haematobium-iufected. hamsters at 5 and 19 weeks; and was least in S. mansoni-infected hamsters at all time periods. During the 19 week period following patency, the mean volume of randomly measured granulomas increased with time in S. haematobium infections, decreased gradually in S. mansoni infections, and decreased markedly in S. japonicum infections. Multi-egg granulomas represented 2–6% of all granulomas measured in S. mansoni infections, 38–68% in S. haematobium infections, and 20–53% in S. japonicum infections. An estimated proportion of the liver occupied by granulomas, i.e., a lesion-to-tissue ratio, was computed. There was no consistent difference in this ratio among the 3 species when the data were grouped in comparable intervals of mean number of eggs per g of liver. The lesion-to-tissue ratio increased with increasing numbers of eggs per g of liver. The host response of hamsters to these 3 species of schistosomes differed markedly even at comparable levels of eggs per g of liver. This study provides further evidence of an intrinsic qualitative difference in the eggs of the 3 species. The species of eggs present in tissues apparently has greater influence on the host response than does the quantity of eggs present.     

Effect of Age and Sex on the Acquisition of Immunity to Toxoplasmosis in Cats*

SYNOPSIS. The effects of age and sex of the cat on oocyst shedding, multiplication of Toxoplasma gondii in tissues of cats, and acquisition of immunity were investigated after oral inoculation of cats with Toxoplasma cysts. Twenty-five cats varying in age from 1 week to 39 months were killed 7-97 days after inoculation with T. gondii. Homogenates of brain, heart, mesenteric lymph nodes, retina, and blood from these cats were inoculated into mice to test for Toxoplasma infectivity. Toxoplasma was isolated more frequently and in higher titers in mice receiving inocula from cats of the youngest age group (1 week old). Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from tissues of only 2 of 21 cats older than 2 months (at the time of inoculation), although all of the animals shed oocysts within 1 week after ingesting the parasites. The number of oocysts shed varied among littermates of the same sex and between sexes. Generally, cats younger than 12 months shed more oocysts than older cats. The number of oocysts shed by older cats varied considerably; males generally shed more oocysts than the females. However, the numbers of cats examined were too small for statistical comparison. Nevertheless, the observations suggest that cats older than 12 months should not be used in experiments where numbers of oocysts shed is critical.     

The Influence of the Environment and Clothing on Human Exposure to Ultraviolet Light

Objection

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of clothing and the environment on human exposure to ultraviolet light.

Methods

The ultraviolet (ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B) light intensity was measured, and air quality parameters were recorded in 2014 in Beijing, China. Three types of clothing (white polyester cloth, pure cotton white T-shirt, and pure cotton black T-shirt) were individually placed on a mannequin. The ultraviolet (ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B) light intensities were measured above and beneath each article of clothing, and the percentage of ultraviolet light transmission through the clothing was calculated.

Results

(1) The ultraviolet light transmission was significantly higher through white cloth than through black cloth; the transmission was significantly higher through polyester cloth than through cotton. (2) The weather significantly influenced ultraviolet light transmission through white polyester cloth; transmission was highest on clear days and lowest on overcast days (ultraviolet A: P=0.000; ultraviolet B: P=0.008). (3) Air quality parameters (air quality index and particulate matter 2.5 and 10) were inversely related to the ultraviolet light intensity that reached the earth’s surface. Ultraviolet B transmission through white polyester cloth was greater under conditions of low air pollution compared with high air pollution.

Conclusion

Clothing color and material and different types of weather affected ultraviolet light transmission; for one particular cloth, the transmission decreased with increasing air pollution.     

Effect of Age and Sex on Human Drug Metabolism

The capacity of inpatients in a geriatric hospital to metabolize drugs was measured. The mean plasma half-life values with antipyrine and with phenylbutazone were found to be 45% and 29% greater respectively in patients than in young controls. When women alone were considered the half-life of antipyrine was 78% longer in the elderly group. In a number of elderly individuals the rate of metabolism of these two drugs was found to be extremely slow. This decreased ability to metabolize drugs may contribute to the known high incidence of adverse drug reactions in the elderly.Within the control group a significant sex difference in the rate of antipyrine metabolism was found, the mean half-life being 30% longer in the males. It is clear from these results that the age and sex of subjects must be taken into account in studies of human drug metabolism.     

The Influence of Anatomical Boundaries,Age, and Sex on the Assessment of Abdominal Visceral Fat

CLASEY, JODY L, CLAUDE BOUCHARD, LAURIE WIDEMAN, JILL KANALEY, C DAVID TEATES, MICHAEL O THORNER, MARK L HARTMAN, ARTHUR WELTMAN. The influence of anatomical boundaries, age, and sex on the assessment of abdominal visceral fat. Single-slice abdominal computed tomography (CT) scanning has been used extensively for the measurement of abdominal visceral fat (AYF). Optimal anatomical scan location and pixel density ranges have been proposed and are specifically reported to allow for the replication and standardization of AVF measurements. Standardization of the anatomical boundaries for CT measurement of AVF and the influence of age and gender on results obtained with different boundary locations have received much less attention. To determine the influence of three boundary analysis methods (AVF-1, AVF-2, and AVF-3) on the measurement of AVF by CT, 54 older (60 years to 79 years) and 37 younger (20 years to 29 years) healthy men and women were examined. The measurement boundary for AVF-1 was the internal most aspect of the abdominal and oblique muscle walls, and the posterior aspect of the vertebral body. AVF-2 used fat measurements enclosed in a boundary formed by the midpoint of the abdominal and oblique muscle walls, and the most posterior aspect of the spinous process. AVF-3 used fat measurements enclosed in a boundary formed by the external border of the abdominal and oblique muscle walls, and the external border of the erector spinae. Greater AVF measures were obtained with AVF-2 and AVF-3 compared with AVF-1 (p<0.0001). These differences were greater in older compared with younger subjects (p<0.0001) and greater in women compared with men (p<0.02). The significantly greater AVF measurements obtained with AVF-2 and AVF-3 resulted from the inclusion of larger amounts of fat that are not drained by the portal circulation. This included retroperitoneal, intermuscular, and intramuscular lipid droplets, which increase with aging. On the basis of these results, we recommend the AVF-1 anatomical boundaries for the measurement of AVF in clinical investigations, particularly with older subjects. These data demonstrate the importance of precise and reproducible anatomical boundaries for the measurement of AVF, particularly in longitudinal studies.     

Use of Exposure History to Identify Patterns of Immunity to Pneumonia in Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis)

Individual host immune responses to infectious agents drive epidemic behavior and are therefore central to understanding and controlling infectious diseases. However, important features of individual immune responses, such as the strength and longevity of immunity, can be challenging to characterize, particularly if they cannot be replicated or controlled in captive environments. Our research on bighorn sheep pneumonia elucidates how individual bighorn sheep respond to infection with pneumonia pathogens by examining the relationship between exposure history and survival in situ. Pneumonia is a poorly understood disease that has impeded the recovery of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) following their widespread extirpation in the 1900s. We analyzed the effects of pneumonia-exposure history on survival of 388 radio-collared adults and 753 ewe-lamb pairs. Results from Cox proportional hazards models suggested that surviving ewes develop protective immunity after exposure, but previous exposure in ewes does not protect their lambs during pneumonia outbreaks. Paradoxically, multiple exposures of ewes to pneumonia were associated with diminished survival of their offspring during pneumonia outbreaks. Although there was support for waning and boosting immunity in ewes, models with consistent immunizing exposure were similarly supported. Translocated animals that had not previously been exposed were more likely to die of pneumonia than residents. These results suggest that pneumonia in bighorn sheep can lead to aging populations of immune adults with limited recruitment. Recovery is unlikely to be enhanced by translocating naïve healthy animals into or near populations infected with pneumonia pathogens.     

Immunity,Age and Loss of Immunohomeostasis1

An interpretative discussion on the cellular basis of the association between immunosenescence and loss of immunologic homeostasis was developed from results of studies performed to resolve the issues (a) of whether cells in certain stages of differentiation are more vulnerable to aging than those in other stages and (b) whether the regulatory cells participating in modulating immune responses are prime targets of aging. Young and old mice were exposed to (1) 6-thioguanine (6-TG) to study the activity of their mitotically active and inactive cells and (2) 500R of irradiation to study regeneration of their immune cells. Many alterations were detected in old mice including the existence of a relatively large pool of mitotically inactive pluripotent stem cells in the bone marrow, heightened stem cell regenerative activity, and altered patterns of immunologic regeneration. These kinetic abnormalities reflect age-related changes in stem cells and their progenies, and in the lymphohematopoietic stromal cells.     

Spatial Analysis of Schistosomiasis in Hubei Province,China: A GIS-Based Analysis of Schistosomiasis from 2009 to 2013

Background

Schistosomiasis remains a major public health problem in China. The major endemic areas are located in the lake and marshland regions of southern China, particularly in areas along the middle and low reach of the Yangtze River. Spatial analytical techniques are often used in epidemiology to identify spatial clusters in disease regions. This study assesses the spatial distribution of schistosomiasis and explores high-risk regions in Hubei Province, China to provide guidance on schistosomiasis control in marshland regions.

Methods

In this study, spatial autocorrelation methodologies, including global Moran’s I and local Getis–Ord statistics, were utilized to describe and map spatial clusters and areas where human Schistosoma japonicum infection is prevalent at the county level in Hubei province. In addition, linear logistic regression model was used to determine the characteristics of spatial autocorrelation with time.

Results

The infection rates of S. japonicum decreased from 2009 to 2013. The global autocorrelation analysis results on the infection rate of S. japonicum for five years showed statistical significance (Moran’s I > 0, P < 0.01), which suggested that spatial clusters were present in the distribution of S. japonicum infection from 2009 to 2013. Local autocorrelation analysis results showed that the number of highly aggregated areas ranged from eight to eleven within the five-year analysis period. The highly aggregated areas were mainly distributed in eight counties.

Conclusions

The spatial distribution of human S. japonicum infections did not exhibit a temporal change at the county level in Hubei Province. The risk factors that influence human S. japonicum transmission may not have changed after achieving the national criterion of infection control. The findings indicated that spatial–temporal surveillance of S. japonicum transmission plays a significant role on schistosomiasis control. Timely and integrated prevention should be continued, especially in the Yangtze River Basin of Jianghan Plain area.     

Influence of specific treatment on the morbidity of Schistosomiasis mansoni in an endemic area of Minas Gerais,Brazil

The authors describe the evolution of schistosomiasis mansoni in inhabitants of Capit?o Andrade, Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 1973 to 1994. The prevalence of infection was 60.8% in 1973, 36.2% in 1984, and 27.3% in 1994. The evolution of the clinical forms of the disease in this group was as follows: unchanged in 76.7%, clinical progression in 8.4% and clinical regression in 14.9%. The reduction of the prevalence and severity of Schistosoma mansoni infection over the 21 years period, can be attributed to treatment of infected subjects performed in the area and to the installation of piped water in their dwellings.     

The Influence of Body Mass Index,Age and Sex on Inflammatory Disease Risk in Semi-Captive Chimpanzees

Obesity and ageing are emerging issues in the management of captive primates, including Chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes. Studies on humans show that obesity and old age can independently increase the risk of inflammatory-associated diseases indicated by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cells and proteins in the blood of older or obese compared to levels in younger or non-obese individuals. In humans, sex can influence the outcomes of these risks. Health management of these problems in chimpanzee populations requires an understanding of similarities and differences of factors influencing inflammatory disease risks in humans and in chimpanzees. We examined the relationship between age, sex and Body Mass Index (BMI) with hematological biomarkers of inflammatory disease risk established for humans which include the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and neutrophil, white blood cell (WBC), platelet microparticle and platelet counts. We found that higher values of NLR, neutrophil count and platelet microparticle count were associated with higher BMI values and older age indicating increased inflammation risk in these groups; a similar pattern to humans. There was a strong sex by age interaction on inflammation risk, with older males more at risk than older females. In contrast to human studies, total WBC count was not influenced by BMI, but like humans, WBC and platelet counts were lower in older individuals compared to younger individuals. Our findings are similar to those of humans and suggest that further insight on managing chimpanzees can be gained from extensive studies of ageing and obesity in humans. We suggest that managing BMI should be an integral part of health management in captive chimpanzee populations in order to partially reduce the risk of diseases associated with inflammation. These results also highlight parallels in inflammation risk between humans and chimpanzees and have implications for understanding the evolution of inflammation related diseases in apes.     

Genetic Demographic Structure of the Belgorod Population: Age,Ethnicity, Education,and Occupation

Data from marriage records of the city of Belgorod for 1960, 1985, and 1995 have been used to determine some parameters of population structure in this city. The coefficients of correlation with respect to age of marriage between spouses in the couples contracting marriages in these years were 0.74, 0.62, and 0.80, respectively. Women of reproductively unfavorable age (under 20 or over 30 years) accounted for 5.5, 0.83, and 19% of all women contracting marriages in these years, respectively. The proportions of interethnic marriages in these years were 16.9, 14.9, and 15.6%, respectively. The percentage of Slavs decreased from 99 to 97% during the 35 years studied, whereas the proportion of Russians insignificantly increased (from 90.4 to 91.4%). The proportion of Caucasian ethnic groups increased by six time (from 0.3 to 1.8%), and that of other non-Slavic ethnic groups increased by almost two times (from 0.7 to 1.2%). The marriage convergence (K) with respect to ethnicity (0.095, 0.106, and 0.090 in 1960, 1985, and 1995, respectively) was lower than that with respect to education (0.296 and 0.350 in 1985 and 1995, respectively) or occupation (0.212 and 0.231 in 1985 and 1995, respectively). The maximum coefficients of ethnically, educationally, and occupationally assortative marriage have been found, respectively, in ethnic minority groups (A′ = 20%); in persons with higher and primary education (A′ = 37.5 and 49.9%, respectively); and in the military officers/soldiers, engineers, healthcare professionals, and researchers (the respective A′ values are 65.6, 32.2, 31.5, and 39.8%).__________Translated from Genetika, Vol. 41, No. 6, 2005, pp. 823–829.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Atramentova, Filiptsova.     

Rapidly Boosted Plasma IL-5 Induced by Treatment of Human Schistosomiasis haematobium Is Dependent on Antigen Dose,IgE and Eosinophils

Background

IgE specific to worm antigen (SWA) and pre-treatment eosinophil number, are associated with human immunity to re-infection with schistosomes after chemotherapeutic treatment. Treatment significantly elevates circulating IL-5 24-hr post-treatment of Schistosoma mansoni. Here we investigate if praziquantel treatment of human schistosomiasis haematobium also boosts circulating IL-5, the immunological and parasitological factors that predispose to this, and the relationship between these and subsequent immunity to post-treatment re-infection.

Methodology/Principle Findings

The relationship between pre-treatment SWA-IgE, eosinophil number and infection intensity and the 24-hr post-treatment IL-5 boost was investigated in a Malian cohort (aged 5–40 yrs), exposed to S. haematobium. Eotaxin levels were measured at 24-hr post-treatment as a proxy of eosinophil migration. The relationship between the 24-hr post-treatment IL-5 boost and later eosinophil numbers and SWA-IgE levels (9-wk post-treatment) was examined, then investigated in the context of subsequent levels of re-infection (2-yr post-treatment). Circulating IL-5 levels increased 24-hr post-treatment and were associated with pre-treatment infection intensity, SWA-IgE levels, eosinophil number, as well as 24-hr post-treatment eotaxin levels. 24-hr IL-5 levels were, in turn, significantly associated with eosinophil number and elevated SWA-IgE 9-wk later. These SWA-IgE levels were significantly associated with immunity to re-infection.

Conclusions/Significance

Early IL-5 production after treatment-induced exposure to S. haematobium worm antigen is positively associated with antigen dose (infection intensity), IgE availability for arming of effector cells at time of treatment and subsequent eosinophil migration response (as indicated by eotaxin levels). The IL-5 produced is positively associated with increased downstream eosinophil number and increases in specific IgE levels, implicating this cytokine boost and its down-stream consequences in the production and maintenance of IgE, and subsequent re-infection immunity.     

Beyond Contagion: Reality Mining Reveals Complex Patterns of Social Influence

Contagion, a concept from epidemiology, has long been used to characterize social influence on people’s behavior and affective (emotional) states. While it has revealed many useful insights, it is not clear whether the contagion metaphor is sufficient to fully characterize the complex dynamics of psychological states in a social context. Using wearable sensors that capture daily face-to-face interaction, combined with three daily experience sampling surveys, we collected the most comprehensive data set of personality and emotion dynamics of an entire community of work. From this high-resolution data about actual (rather than self-reported) face-to-face interaction, a complex picture emerges where contagion (that can be seen as adaptation of behavioral responses to the behavior of other people) cannot fully capture the dynamics of transitory states. We found that social influence has two opposing effects on states: adaptation effects that go beyond mere contagion, and complementarity effects whereby individuals’ behaviors tend to complement the behaviors of others. Surprisingly, these effects can exhibit completely different directions depending on the stable personality or emotional dispositions (stable traits) of target individuals. Our findings provide a foundation for richer models of social dynamics, and have implications on organizational engineering and workplace well-being.     

Freshwater snails and Schistosomiasis mansoni in the state of Rio de Janeiro,Brazil: III--Baixadas Mesoregion

In this paper, the third of a series dealing with the survey of freshwater gastropods of the state of Rio de Janeiro, the results of collections carried out in the Mesoregion Baixadas from 2000 to 2002 are presented. Twenty-two species, belonging to seven families, were found. As to the snail intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni, the most frequent species was Biomphalaria tenagophila besides some new findings of Biomphalaria straminea. No specimens were found harboring larval forms of S. mansoni although different kinds of cercariae had been observed.