The Occurrence and Age Distribution of Harris Lines in Turkey

Harris lines are widely accepted as indicators of physiological stress and provide valuable data for determining the extent and nature of the physiological stress factors acting on a human community. Traditionally, Harris lines are studied in skeletal populations. In the study reported here, data were collected on living children to eventually clarify if stress is basically chronic or acute in nature, if it has a greater impact on children or adults, and if it is correlated with increased rates of mortality. The existence of Harris lines was determined in a sample of 400 children, 210 males and 190 females, randomly selected from those under examination in the radiology services of hospitals. Radiological analysis was used to analyze Harris lines. The age of Harris line formation and variations in the number of lines with age were established to determine at which age the densest line population was present. For this sample, the formation of Harris lines is around 2–3 years of age, in agreement with published literature. It should be taken into consideration that Harris lines are the end result of multiple factors, rather than a single stress factor, and are influenced by an individual’s immune system and resistance to stress.     

Mortality in young offenders: retrospective cohort study

Objectives To estimate overall and cause specific standardised mortality ratios in young offenders.Design Comparison of mortality data in cohort of young offenders.Settings State of Victoria, Australia.Subjects Cohort of young offenders aged 10-20 years with a first custodial sentence from 1 January 1988 to 31 December 1999.Main outcome measures Deaths ascertained by matching with the national death index, a database containing records of all deaths in Australia since 1980. Death rates in the reference Victorian population used to calculate standardised mortality ratios.Results The offender cohort comprised 2621 men and 228 women with 11 333 person years of observation. The median age of first detention was 17.9 years for men and 18.4 years for women. Median follow up was 3.3 years for men and 1.4 years for women. Overall standardised mortality ratio adjusted for age (expressed as a ratio) was 9.4 (95% confidence interval 7.4 to 11.9) for men and 41.3 (20.2 to 84.7) for women. Cause specific standardised mortality ratios for men were 25.7 (17.9 to 36.9) for drug related causes, 9.2 (5.8 to 15) for suicide, and 5.7 (3.6 to 9.2) for non-intentional injury. A quarter of drug related deaths in men aged 15-19 years were in offenders.Conclusions Social policies for young offenders should address both the prevalent drug and mental health problems as well the high levels of social disadvantage.     

Harris lines in the prehispanic population of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands)

Harris lines were assessed in 194 right tibiae of prehispanic inhabitants of Gran Canaria, belonging to 52 adult females and 123 adult males. No Harris lines were detected in 45 (23%) of the adult individuals (13 females (25%) and 26 males (21%), these differences being not statistically significant. Female tibiae showed a slightly lower mean number of Harris lines at the distal end than male ones (1,692±1.681 in females vs 1.91±1.825 in males). Ages at which Harris lines were formed showed two peaks, a major one at the age of 1 year, and another between 15 and 16 years in males and between 11–12 and 14–15 years in females. Harris lines were more frequently observed at the distal than at the proximal end of the bone. The relative low number of lines detected in our population when compared with the high prevalence of osteoporosis among the adult population of this island is striking.     

Social life factors affecting the mortality, longevity, and birth rate of total Japanese population: effects of rapid industrialization and urbanization

To expand upon the findings that lower mortality was found in Japanese urban areas in contrast to the Western model where in the US and Britain the risk of death was higher in metropolitan areas and conurbations, 22 social life indicators are examined among 46 prefectures in Japan in terms of their effect on age specific mortality, life expectancy, and age adjusted marriage, divorce, and birth rates. The effects of these factors on age adjusted mortality for 8 major working and nonworking male populations, where also analyzed. The 22 social life factors were selected from among 227 indicators in the system of Statistical Indicators on Life. Factor analysis was used to classify the indicators into 8 groups of factors for 1970 and 7 for 1975. Factors 1-3 for both years were rural or urban residence, low income and unemployment, and prefectural age distribution. The 4th for 1970 was home help for the elderly and for 1975, social mobility. The social life indicators were classified form 1 to 8 as rural residence in 1970 and 1975, urban residence, low income, high employment, old age, young age, social mobility, and home help for the elderly which moved from 8th place in 1970 to 1st in 1975. Between 1960-75, rapid urbanization took place with the proportion of farmers, fishermen, and workers declining from 43% in 1960 to 19% in 1975. The results of stepwise regression analysis indicate a positive relationship of urban residence with mortality of men and women except school-aged and middle-aged women, and the working populations, as well as life expectancy at birth for males and females and ages 20 and 40 years for males. Rural residence was positively associated with the male marriage rate, whereas the marriage rate for females was affected by industrialization and urbanization. High employment and social mobility were positively related to the female marriage rate. Low income was positively related to the divorce rate for males and females. Rural residence and high employment were positively related to the birth rate. The birth rate is higher in rural areas. Mortality of professional, engineering, and administrative workers was slightly lower than the total working population, while sales workers, those in farming, fishing, and forestry, and in personal and domestic service had significantly higher mortality. The mortality of the nonworking population was 6-8 times higher than sales, transportation, and communication, and personal and domestic service as well as the total population.     

Prevalence of dyslipidemia and mean blood lipid values in Taiwan: results from the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT, 1993-1996)

This paper reports the blood lipid status of people aged 4 years and older in Taiwan. The data is based on the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT: 1993-1996), which adopted a multi-stage, stratified clustering sampling scheme. Altogether, 5097 subjects (2451 males and 2646 females) had data on triglyceride and 5643 subjects (2736 males and 2907 females) had data on cholesterol. We found that (a) cholesterol levels of males were lower than females in mid-to old age group (> or = 45 years old); (b) triglyceride values of females were lower than males in young adulthood (19-44 years), but higher than males after the age of 45 years, and (c) adult females had higher HDL-C value and lower ratio of total cholesterol to HDL-C than males. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 10.2% in adult males and 12.6% in mid-to-old aged men, and that in females was 11.2% and 24.4%, respectively. The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia was 13.4% and 6.1% in adult males and females (> or = 19 years as a whole), respectively. It was 12.3% in mid-to-old aged men (> or = 45 years), and 11.9% in women. The mean cholesterol values were similar to values of several previous surveys in different areas of Taiwan. But it was higher than those in some areas of Mainland China, and lower than those of western countries. People in metropolitan cities had a higher level of blood cholesterol than other areas. The average triglyceride values of males and females were higher than those of previous studies in Taiwan and of people in Mainland China. Mountainous stratum with predominantly aboriginal residents had higher level of triglycerides and body mass index (BMI) than other strata. The associations between dietary intakes of men and women and blood lipids were examined controlling for age and BMI. Result showed that Keys score, which was derived from saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat and dietary cholesterol of a 24-hour recall, was positively related to blood cholesterol and LDL-C in men, but not in women. Average alcohol intakes per day were related to HDL-C positively, but LDL-C negatively in men and women. The regional differences in blood lipid profiles in Taiwan are consistent with the dietary and life-style variations island-wide.     

Disability as identified from general practice records.

Thirty eight doctors who attended a postgraduate educational course provided information about disabled patients identified in a search of 7000 records. Disablement was defined as a major disruption to the normal lifestyle of patients in appropriate age and sex groups. Altogether 242 people were identified as disabled, equivalent to 32 per 1000 population, which is closely similar to that published by Harris, who identified patients by postal questionnaire. Among adults aged 15 to 64 more men were identified than women, and we suggest that a higher rate of disablement might be expected in men. Disablement among women may be underestimated because of underrecognition by doctors of disability in housewives. Fifty two per cent of all disabled people were able to attend the doctor''s surgery, and 72% were receiving regular medication; 79% were dependent on relatives, but only 30% were dependent on statutory services. In the opinion of the recording doctors medical and nursing needs were well met, though not the social needs, where the importance of living alone is noteworthy.     

Radiographic joint space of the knee in healthy young adults

The primary objective of this study was to characterize normal variation in radiographic joint space of the knee in a large sample of healthy young adults and to identify factors that contribute to this variation. We measured radiographic knee joint space in 279 skeletally mature subjects, age between 16 and 22 years, who participated in the Fels Longitudinal Study. Minimum joint space was measured in the medial and lateral knee compartments. Independent sample t tests and correlation analyses were performed to examine sex differences and associations between joint space, joint size, and body size [weight, stature, body mass index (BMI)]. Results show that young men have thicker articular cartilage than young women in both the medial and lateral compartments of the knee. Significant positive correlations were found between joint space and body size measures in the total sample. When the sexes were considered independently, however, correlations between joint space and body size were significant in men only. Regression analyses of the combined-sex sample identified sex, BMI, and joint width as significant explanatory factors of medial joint space, together accounting for 26% of the observed variance. In contrast, sex was the sole significant explanatory factor of lateral joint space, explaining 19% of the observed variance. Results of this study show that during early adulthood, when articular cartilage is healthy and at its peak thickness, men have thicker knee cartilage than women. At this young age body size accounts for a modest proportion of the variation observed in knee cartilage thickness.     

Electromyographic analysis of joint-dependent global synkinesis in the upper limb of healthy adults: laterality of intensity and symmetry of spatial representation.

The intensity and spatial representation of electromyographical (EMG) activity were examined to characterize the effects of limb dominance and movement direction upon global synkinesis (GS). Twenty-two healthy young subjects (11 men, 11 women) with a mean age of 24.7 years participated in this study. Three trials of EMG activities from eight primary muscles in the unexercised limb were recorded when a maximal isometric contraction in various directions was performed by the shoulder, elbow, and wrist of the dominant and non-dominant upper limbs. The features of GS, including intensity and spatial representation, were quantified with standardized net excitation levels (SNE) and relative excitation (RE), respectively. Our data indicated that (1) GS intensity was strongly limb-dependent with a larger SNE level arising when target joints of the non-dominant upper limb were active, (2) the GS intensity was more influenced by movement direction of the non-dominant limb than by that of the dominant limb, (3) the gradient change in GS intensity was observed bilaterally with a larger SNE level associated with contralateral movements of a proximal joint than a distal joint, and (4) GS spatial representations of the upper limbs were patterned and symmetrical, but seemly insensitive to movement direction. Laterality in GS intensity and structured GS spatial representation with symmetry could be a consequence of use-dependent hemispheric organization.     

Paleoepidemiology of vertebral degenerative disease in a Pre-Columbian Muisca series from Colombia

Major manifestations of vertebral degenerative joint disease were observed on a Pre-Columbian Muisca series from the Soacha Cemetery (11th to 13th centuries) Colombia, South America. In total, 1,646 vertebrae of 83 individuals were examined. Osteophytes, vertebral body joint surface contour change ("lipping"), and vertebral body pitting were evaluated for each vertebral body. For apophyseal joints, joint surface contour change, pitting, and eburnation were recorded. Two methods of frequency calculation and five for vertebral degenerative disease diagnosis were applied and compared, allowing discussion of methodological considerations. Our study showed that 83% of individuals and 32% of vertebrae were classified as positive when diagnosed by the presence of at least one of the following manifestations: osteophytes, vertebral body joint surface contour change ("lipping"), apophyseal joint surface contour change, or eburnation (method called "Pitting excluded"). No significant differences were found between the sexes. In the youngest cohort (15-30 years), 65% of individuals and 10% of vertebrae exhibit at least one of the previously mentioned manifestations. High prevalences suggest a high level of physical activity beginning in childhood which may have accelerated the aging process in this Pre-Columbian population. Historical data are compatible with this hypothesis.     

Mortality and Life Expectancy in Homeless Men and Women in Rotterdam: 2001–2010

Background

Data on mortality among homeless people are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to describe mortality patterns within a cohort of homeless adults in Rotterdam (the Netherlands) and to assess excess mortality as compared to the general population in that city.

Methods

Based on 10-year follow-up of homeless adults aged ≥ 20 years who visited services for homeless people in Rotterdam in 2001, and on vital statistics, we assessed the association of mortality with age, sex and type of service used (e.g. only day care, convalescence care, other) within the homeless cohort, and also compared mortality between the homeless and general population using Poisson regression. Life tables and decomposition methods were used to examine differences in life expectancy.

Results

During follow-up, of the 2096 adult homeless 265 died. Among the homeless, at age 30 years no significant sex differences were found in overall mortality rates and life expectancy. Compared with the general Rotterdam population, mortality rates were 3.5 times higher in the homeless cohort. Excess mortality was larger in women (rate ratio [RR] RR 5.56, 95% CI 3.95–7.82) as compared to men (RR 3.31, 95% CI 2.91–3.77), and decreased with age (RR 7.67, 95% CI 6.87–8.56 for the age group 20–44 and RR 1.63, 95% CI 1.41–1.88 for the age group 60+ years). Life expectancy at age 30 years was 11.0 (95% CI 9.1–12.9) and 15.9 (95% CI 10.3–21.5) years lower for homeless men and women compared to men and women in the general population respectively.

Conclusion

Homeless adults face excessive losses in life expectancy, with greatest disadvantages among homeless women and the younger age groups.     

Does the occurrence of Harris lines affect the morphology of human long bones?

The purpose of the study is to check the relationship between the occurrence of Harris lines and the morphological differentiation of the long bones of the human skeleton as an indicator of living conditions. The bone material (233 adult individuals, including 120 males and 113 females) was collected at a mediaeval burial ground in Cedynia, Poland. Recommended methods were applied to estimate the sex and age of the individuals (Ferembach et al 1979; Buikstra & Ubelaker 1994). The results obtained indicate that there is no clear relationship between metric characteristics of the studied long bones and the occurrence of Harris lines. Adverse environmental factors, which triggered the occurrence of Harris lines did not strongly affect the growth of long bones and did not change their morphology. Regardless of the phase of ontogenetic development in which the arrested growth lines (HL) formed, no effect of this fact on the final length of bones was observed. Similarly, no statistically significant differences were found in the proportions of bones between individuals reacting to adverse living conditions with the formation of Harris lines and those, whose bones were free of Harris lines. One may assume that Harris lines are of significance in epidemiological research and when assessing the general health profile of a population, but they are less useful in research on morphological reactions of individuals to living conditions.     

Adverse Trends in Ischemic Heart Disease Mortality among Young New Yorkers,Particularly Young Black Women

Background

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality has been on the decline in the United States for decades. However, declines in IHD mortality have been slower in certain groups, including young women and black individuals.

Hypothesis

Trends in IHD vary by age, sex, and race in New York City (NYC). Young female minorities are a vulnerable group that may warrant renewed efforts to reduce IHD.

Methods

IHD mortality trends were assessed in NYC 1980–2008. NYC Vital Statistics data were obtained for analysis. Age-specific IHD mortality rates and confidence bounds were estimated. Trends in IHD mortality were compared by age and race/ethnicity using linear regression of log-transformed mortality rates. Rates and trends in IHD mortality rates were compared between subgroups defined by age, sex and race/ethnicity.

Results

The decline in IHD mortality rates slowed in 1999 among individuals aged 35–54 years but not ≥55. IHD mortality rates were higher among young men than women age 35–54, but annual declines in IHD mortality were slower for women. Black women age 35–54 had higher IHD mortality rates and slower declines in IHD mortality than women of other race/ethnicity groups. IHD mortality trends were similar in black and white men age 35–54.

Conclusions

The decline in IHD mortality rates has slowed in recent years among younger, but not older, individuals in NYC. There was an association between sex and race/ethnicity on IHD mortality rates and trends. Young black women may benefit from targeted medical and public health interventions to reduce IHD mortality.     

Body weight and mortality in middle aged British men: impact of smoking.

OBJECTIVE--To assess the relation between body mass index and mortality in middle aged British men. DESIGN--Men who were recruited for the British Regional Heart Study were followed up for a mean of nine years. SETTING--General practices in 24 British towns. SUBJECTS--7735 Men aged 40-59 years selected from the age-sex registers of one group practice in each of the 24 towns. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Mortality from cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular causes. RESULTS--660 Of the men died. There was a U-shaped relation between body mass index and total mortality. Very lean men (less than 20 kg/m2) had by far the highest mortality followed by lean men (20-22 kg/m2) and obese men (greater than or equal to 28 kg/m2). The high mortality in lean and very lean men was due largely to non-cardiovascular causes, particularly lung cancer and respiratory disease, which are associated with cigarette smoking. In obese men deaths were more likely to be due to cardiovascular causes. There was a strong inverse association between body weight and cigarette smoking. When the pattern of mortality was examined by age, smoking habits, and pre-existing smoking related disease both very lean men and obese men consistently had an increased mortality. The U-shaped relation was most prominent in men in the oldest age group (55-59). Current smokers had a higher mortality than former smokers at virtually all values of body mass index. An increased mortality in lean men was seen only in current smokers and in men with smoking related disease. Among men who had never smoked, lean men had the lowest total mortality, thereafter mortality increased with increasing body mass index (p less than 0.01). CONCLUSIONS--This study provides strong evidence of the impact of cigarette smoking on body weight and mortality and strongly suggests that the benefits of giving up smoking are far greater than the problems associated with the increase in weight that may occur.     

Mortality and age differences in marriage.

Data from the 1971 census population were used to evaluate the effects of age differences of married partners on mortality rates. Different age groups were isolated to highlight the association between mortality and age of spouse for specific ages of married men and women. Men married to much younger or to older women exhibited a higher mortality rate than men married to women who were only a few years younger than themselves. A similar trend was observed among women married to much younger or much older men compared with those whose spouses were a few years older or of similar ages as themselves. Trends for other age groups (women aged 60-69 years, men below 40, and women below 30) did not exhibit a clear pattern. Although statistical biases within age groups may in part account for the differences in the findings, the trend which emerged from the analysis suggests that lower morbidity is associated with the most common age combinations (husbands same age or slightly older than wives). Other factors could also account for the differences (e.g., selection of healthy partners in 1st marriages, differences in lifestyles between married and single).     

Age-related differences in muscle power during single-step balance recovery

The purpose of this study was to investigate age-related differences in muscle power during a surrogate task of trip recovery. Participants included 10 healthy young men (19-23 years old) and 10 healthy older men (65-83). The task involved releasing participants from a forward-leaning posture. After release, participants attempted to recover their balance using a single step of the right foot. Muscle power at the hip, knee, and ankle of the stepping limb were determined from the product of joint angular velocity and joint torque. Muscle powers during balance recovery followed a relatively consistent pattern in both young and older men, and showed effects of both lean and age. Interestingly, the effects of age did not always involve smaller peak power values in the older men as expected from the well-documented loss of muscle power with aging. Older men exhibited smaller peak muscle power at the knee and larger peak muscle power at the ankle and hip compared to young men. The increases in muscle power at the ankle and hip may result from a neuromuscular adaptation aimed at improving balance recovery ability by compensating for the age-related loss of muscle function.     

The energy budget of the brown trout population of øvre Heimdalsvatn

Energy pathways of a natural brown trout Salmo trutta population were constructed. The main subjects taken into account were: the biomass, calorific values and production of the population, natural mortality and annual yield, energy intake, calorific values and composition of the food, efficiency of food absorption, spawning and migration of young trout. The specific energy value of trout increased with increasing weight of the fish. An energy decrease of almost 50% was demonstrated for the spawning trout of both sexes, and the calorific values prior to spawning were not reached before the next summer. Energy intake was estimated to 6.87, 10.31, 8.42 and 9.15 kcal m⁻² lake surface for the years 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972 respectively. Although a great number of food items were found in the trout stomachs, the four groups Gammarus lacustris, Lepidurus arcticus , Trichoptera and Chironomidae accounted for 2/3 of the total consumption. The efficiency of food absorption varied between 42 and 53%. The mean age of trout entering the lake from the nursery streams was ca. 3 yr. The annual amount of this immigration was estimated to be 0.28 and 0.24 kcal m⁻² lake surface for 1969 and 1970 respectively. Annual production of trout in the take was estimated to be 1.46 and 2.66 kcal m⁻² respectively for the same years. For both these years balance was found between biomass at the beginning of the year plus immigration of young and total production, minus catch by man, natural mortality and spawning on the one hand and biomass at the end of the year on the other hand.     

Cardiorespiratory and subjective responses to prolonged arm and leg exercise in healthy young and older men

Ten young (aged 23–30 years) and nine older (aged 54–59 years) healthy men with a similar size of limb muscle mass performed arm crank and leg cycle exercise for 30 min at relative exercise intensities of 50% and 75% of maximal oxygen uptake for the corresponding muscle group. In the tests, heart rate, blood pressure, gas exchange variables, rating of perceived exertion and blood lactate concentration were measured. The limb muscle mass was determined by anthropometric measurements. At the 75% target exercise level, four of the older men and two of the young men could not complete the arm-cranking test, and one of the older men and two of the young men could not complete the leg-cycle test. During arm-cranking the absolute exercise intensity was similar for the young and older men because of similar maximal values during arm-cranking. But during leg-cycling the absolute excercise intensity was higher for the young men than for the older men due to the difference in corresponding maximal values. During arm-cranking there were no significant differences in the physiological responses between the age groups except that a higher ventilatory response was noted among the older compared to the young men. During leg-cycling the heart rate values were higher among the young compared to the older men. But, when the heart rate values were expressed as a percentage of maximal heart rate in the corresponding maximal tests, no significant differences between the age groups were found. The results indicated that 30-min of arm or leg exercise at the same relative submaximal excercise intensity produces a similar degree of physiological strain in healthy older compared to young men. During arm-cranking, the young and the older men exercised at the same external intensity, indicating a similar ability to perform prolonged excercise using smaller muscle groups expressed both in absolute and relative terms. Accepted: 7 October 1996     

Role of macrophages in experimental group B streptococcal arthritis

Septic arthritis is a clinical manifestation of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection in both neonates and adults. Because macrophages are known to participate in tissue injury, the role of this cell population in GBS-induced arthritis was investigated. Mice were rendered monocytopenic by administration of etoposide, a drug that selectively depletes the monocyte/macrophage population and then injected with GBS (1 x 10(7) colony-forming units per mouse). Appearance of arthritis, mortality, GBS growth in the organs, and local and systemic cytokine production were examined. Etoposide-treated mice had a significantly less severe arthritis than control animals. Histopathological analysis of the joints confirmed clinical observations. Decreased joint levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 1 (IL-1) beta and IL-6 accompanied the less severe development of arthritis in monocytopenic mice. In contrast, mortality was increased in the etoposide-treated mice compared with controls. Monocytopenic mice exhibited elevated bacterial load in the blood and kidneys at all time points examined. These results indicate that lack of macrophages leads to less severe joint lesions, but also results in impaired clearance of bacteria, and consequent enhancement of mortality rates.     

Taste perception with age: generic or specific losses in threshold sensitivity to the five basic tastes?

Detection thresholds for NaCl, KCl, sucrose, aspartame, acetic acid, citric acid, caffeine, quinine HCl, monosodium glutamate (MSG) and inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) were assessed in 21 young (19-33 years) and 21 elderly (60-75 years) persons by taking the average of six ascending two-alternative forced choice tests. A significant overall effect was found for age, but not for gender. However, an interaction effect of age and gender was found. The older men were less sensitive than the young men and women for acetic acid, sucrose, citric acid, sodium and potassium chloride and IMP. To detect the compound dissolved in water they needed a 1.32 (aspartame) to 5.70 times (IMP) higher concentration than the younger subjects. A significant decline in thresholds with replication was shown. The age effect found could be attributed predominantly to a generic taste loss.     

Demographic trends in a captive population of red pandas (Ailurus fulgens)

Birth and survivorship data based upon 39 litters born over a ten-year period are examined and discussed. Reproduction in red pandas is characterized by seasonal breeding, small mean litter size, and relatively high survivorship of young, and in general follows a typical “K-selected” life-history strategy. The mean litter size was two, and the sex ratio at birth was approximately 1 male to 1.11 females. Higher male mortality in the early age classes resulted in a sex ratio in favor of females. Mortality was not correlated with age or experience of the mother but was found to be highly positively correlated with an increase in the inbreeding coefficient of the young. There was no significant difference in mortality among the different litter-size classes, and in general mortality decreased with age. Recommendations concerning future management for the study population are given.