Decreased pulmonary diffusing capacity of divers over a 6-year period

Non-smoking, male, professional firemen divers (n = 15) underwent two pulmonary function tests (PFT) separated by 6 years. Measured data were compared to European Coal Steel Community recommended reference values to permit cross-sectional and then longitudinal study. Higher vital capacity (VC; P < 0.01) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁; P < 0.05), and lower maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) coefficient with VC (MMEF/VC; P < 0.05) were observed in both PFT. Diver's pulmonary diffusing capacity (DL_CO) and the coefficient with alveolar volume (DL_CO/V _A) showed significantly (P < 0.001) different evolution profiles than those expected from predicted values. In divers, DL_CO and DL_CO/V _A decreased from 104.0% to 91.4% and from 106.4% to 91.5% of predicted values respectively. Changes in DL_CO and DL_CO/V _A correlated positively with the initial measurement of DL_CO (r = 0.67, P < 0.01) and DL_CO/V _A (r = 0.74, P < 0.01) respectively, whereas no correlation between changes in pulmonary gas transfer function and age or diving history parameters was found. Thus, it is suggested from our observations that hyperbaric atmosphere exposure increases the effects of aging on pulmonary diffusing capacity and that pulmonary gas transfer function should be regularly tested in professional and recreational divers. Accepted: 22 February 1997     

Histologic and cytologic patterns of lung cancer in 2,580 men and women over a 15-year period

This paper describes the relative frequencies and changes in the morphologic patterns of lung cancer, as documented in the histologic and cytologic specimens from 2,580 patients diagnosed and treated at Duke University Medical Center over a period of 15 consecutive years. During the first five years, the relative frequencies of the various types of lung cancers were, in descending order, squamous cell carcinoma (43.1%), large cell undifferentiated carcinoma (22.5%), adenocarcinoma of the acinar type (18.6%), small cell undifferentiated carcinoma (11.6%), bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (3.5%) and adenosquamous carcinoma (0.7%). During the second and third five-year periods, squamous cell carcinoma remained the most common neoplasm, but declined to 35.7%, while adenocarcinoma of the acinar type became the second most common lung cancer at 22.0%. The absolute and relative incidences of lung cancer in women showed a striking increase from 21.8% to 29.9%. During this same period, adenocarcinoma of the acinar type replaced squamous cell carcinoma as the most common primary lung cancer in women.     

The chemical composition of Astragalus. variations within the plants over a 6-year period

COWGILL, U. M. & LANDENBERG, B. D., 1991. The chemical composition of Astragalus : variations within the plants over a 6-year period. No systematic chemical examination has been carried out on seleniferous plants coexisting with non-seleniferous ones. This paper is confined to elemental variation within the plants (12 species of seleniferous Astragalus, 15 species of non-seleniferous Astragalus and seven species of other plants) gathered from 23 sites over a 6-year period in Colorado, Utah and New Mexico, U.S.A. Analytical procedures include X-ray fluorescence and atomic absorption spectrometry. Only 19 elements, of 49 detected, showed significant differences in their quantities in different plant parts. Mn S, Ca, Sr and Mg concentrated in leaves; Al, Si, Ti, Cu, As, F, CI and Br accumulated in stems and K, Rb, Cs, Zn, P and Se were found in quantity in the reproductive parts. A comparison of seleniferous with non-seleniferous species revealed that Mg, S, Mn (leaves), Se, P, K, Zn (flowers/seeds) Cu, F and CI (stems) were more concentrated in seleniferous species ( P < 0.0001) whereas Ca (leaves), Rb (flowers/seeds), As, Al, Si and Br (stems) were present in greater amounts in non-seleniferous ones ( P < 0.0001). An hypothesis is proposed to explain the high amounts of Mg encountered in leaves of these arid region plants; according to the hypothesis some portion of the accumulated Mg functions in arid plants as a humidity stabilizer. Another hypothesis concerns the relationship observed between Se and As. It has been shown that non-seleniferous astragali contained significantly more As than coexisting seleniferous astragali. It is proposed that As may function to time seed production in such a way that non-accumulators have passed the full bloom stage by the time coexisting accumulators were in full bloom and volatilizing quantities of seleniferous compounds.     

Variation in the nitrotoxin concentration of 13 species ofAstragalus (fabaceae) over a 6-year period

The purpose of this study was to examine the variation in nitrite production in the leaves of various species ofAstragalus over a 6-y period. It was discovered that in drought years the nitrate concentration in leaves was consistently higher than in wet years or those of edequate moisture. Among the plant examined,A. Hallii contained the greatest quantity in drought years (30–35 mg NO₂/g leaf, dry wt basis) andA. aesclepiadoides had no detectable amounts in wet years. A two-way analysis of variance showed NO₂ concentrations to be significantly different (p<0.0001) in the two climatic years.     

Changes in strength over a 2-year period in professional rugby union players

The purpose of this study was to assess the magnitude of upper and lower body strength changes in highly trained professional rugby union players after 2 years of training. An additional purpose was to examine if the changes in strength were influenced by the starting strength level, lean mass index (LMI), or chronological age. This longitudinal investigation tracked maximal strength and body composition over 3 consecutive years in 20 professional rugby union athletes. Maximal strength in the bench press and back squat and body composition was assessed during preseason resistance training sessions each year. The athletes completed a very rigorous training program throughout the duration of this study consisting of numerous resistance, conditioning and skills training sessions every week. The primary findings of this study were as follows: (a) Maximal upper and lower body strength was increased by 6.5-11.5% after 2 years of training (p = 0.000-0.002 for bench press; p = 0.277-0.165 for squat); (b) magnitude of the improvement was negatively associated with initial strength level (r = -0.569 to -0.712, p ≤ 0.05); (c) magnitude of improvement in lower body maximal strength was positively related to the change in LMI (an indicator of hypertrophy; r = 0.692-0.880, p ≤ 0.05); and (d) magnitude of improvement was not associated with the age of professional rugby union athletes (r = -0.068 to -0.345). It appears particularly important for training programs to be designed for continued muscle hypertrophy in highly trained athletes. Even in professional rugby union athletes, this must be achieved in the face of high volumes of aerobic and skills training if strength is to be increased.     

Spina bifida and hydrocephalus: a population study over a 35-year period.

The records of the B.C. Health Surveillance Registry were used to analyze all live births with spina bifida and hydrocephalus (SBHC) in British Columbia between 1952 and 1986 inclusive. A total of 479 cases (218 males and 261 females) occurred during this period in 1,298,267 consecutive live births, for an incidence of 3.7/10,000. There were more females, with the sex ratio being significantly different from that of the general population born over this period. No significant seasonal differences were observed over the time period. A comparison of life expectancy for individuals born 1962-1970 and 1970-1986 showed significant improvement in the probability of surviving to the age of 1 year for the latter group. There was also a small but statistically significant increased chance of surviving to age 7 years in the latter group but no difference in the probability of surviving from 7 years to 16 years. Life expectancy figures are shown in a format practical for counseling with regard to prognosis for affected individuals. Additional malformations not attributable to SBHC were observed in 6% (27 cases). These included renal anomalies, cleft lip and/or palate, tracheoesophageal fistula, and diaphragmatic hernia. The incidence of each defect was significantly greater than in the general population of births.     

Increase in the incidence of peritoneal collagen balls over a 10-year period

OBJECTIVE: To describe the detection of collagen balls in peritoneal washings over a 10-year period, revealing an unexpected and unexplained higher incidence than in the past. STUDY DESIGN: Reports of routinely processed, Papanicolaou-stained smears and cytospins and hematoxylineosin-stained cell blocks from peritoneal washes and ascitic fluids seen over an 8-year period (1995-2002) were reviewed, and the percentage of specimens in which collagen balls were noted was determined. To rule out a learning curve phenomenon, the first 100 consecutive peritoneal washings and ascitic specimens from years 1993-2001 plus 2002 were rescreened, and the percentage of specimens containing collagen balls was determined. RESULTS: The percentages of cases with collagen balls increased steadily beginning with 8 of 467 cases (3.2%) in 1995 to 185 of 650 (28.5%) in 2002, as reported in the case records. Rescreened cases also showed a similar increase, 4.0% in 1993 to 29% in 2002. No procedural modifications were made in specimen processing during this interval, nor are we aware of any procedural change in obtaining cytologic samples. CONCLUSION: An unexplained 7-fold increase in the percentage of peritoneal samples with collagen balls occurred over a 10-year period. This increase cannot be attributed to changes in specimen handling or to a learning curve phenomenon. This finding is of unknown significance and may warrant further investigation.     

Climate change effects on upland stream macroinvertebrates over a 25-year period

Climate change effects on some ecosystems are still poorly known, particularly where they interact with other climatic phenomena or stressors. We used data spanning 25 years (1981–2005) from temperate headwaters at Llyn Brianne (UK) to test three hypotheses: (1) stream macroinvertebrates vary with winter climate; (2) ecological effects attributable to directional climate change and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) are distinguishable and (3) climatic effects on macroinvertebrates depend on whether streams are impacted by acidification. Positive (i.e. warmer, wetter) NAO phases were accompanied by reduced interannual stability (=similarity) in macroinvertebrate assemblage in all streams, but associated variations in composition occurred only in acid moorland. The NAO and directional climate change together explained 70% of interannual variation in temperature, but forest and moorland streams warmed respectively by 1.4 and 1.7°C (P<0.001) between 1981 and 2005 after accounting for NAO effects. Significant responses among macroinvertebrates were confined to circumneutral streams, where future thermal projections (+1, +2, +3°C) suggested considerable change. Spring macroinvertebrate abundance might decline by 21% for every 1°C rise. Although many core species could persist if temperature gain reached 3°C, 4–10 mostly scarce taxa (5–12% of the species pool) would risk local extinction. Temperature increase in Wales approaches this magnitude by the 2050s under the Hadley HadCM3 scenarios. These results support all three hypotheses and illustrate how headwater stream ecosystems are sensitive to climate change. Altered composition and abundance could affect conservation and ecological function, with the NAO compounding climate change effects during positive phases. We suggest that acidification, in impacted streams, overrides climatic effects on macroinvertebrates by simplifying assemblages and reducing richness. Climatic processes might, nevertheless, exacerbate acidification or offset biological recovery.     

Temporal and geospatial trends of pediatric cancer incidence in Nebraska over a 24-year period

BackgroundData from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) revealed that the incidence of pediatric cancer in Nebraska exceeded the national average during 2009–2013. Further investigation could help understand these patterns.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study investigated pediatric cancer (0–19 years old) age adjusted incidence rates (AAR) in Nebraska using the Nebraska Cancer Registry. SEER AARs were also calculated as a proxy for pediatric cancer incidence in the United States (1990–2013) and compared to the Nebraska data. Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping was also used to display the spatial distribution of cancer in Nebraska at the county level. Finally, location–allocation analysis (LAA) was performed to identify a site for the placement of a medical center to best accommodate rural pediatric cancer cases.ResultsThe AAR of pediatric cancers was 173.3 per 1,000,000 in Nebraska compared to 167.1 per 1,000,000 in SEER. The AAR for lymphoma was significantly higher in Nebraska (28.1 vs. 24.6 per 1,000,000; p = 0.009). For the 15–19 age group, the AAR for the 3 most common pediatric cancers were higher in Nebraska (p < 0.05). Twenty-three counties located >2 h driving distance to care facilities showed at least a 10% higher incidence than the overall state AAR. GIS mapping identified a second potential treatment site that would alleviate this geographic burden.ConclusionsRegional differences within Nebraska present a challenge for rural populations. Novel use of GIS mapping to highlight regional differences and identify solutions for access to care issues could be used by similar states.     

Serum hormones and physical performance capacity in young boy athletes during a 1-year training period

Serum hormones and physical performance capacity in boy athletes (AG; n = 19) were investigated during a 1-year training period (between the ages of 11.6 and 12.6 years). Six young untrained boys served as the control group (CG). The mean serum testosterone concentration increased significantly in AG (P less than 0.05) following the training period from 2.92 nmol.l-1, SD 1.04 to 5.81 nmol.l-1, SD 1.33. Significant differences were not observed in the cortisol, sex hormone binding globulin and growth hormone levels during the follow-up period. The AG clearly increased speed (P less than 0.001), speed-strength (P less than 0.01-P less than 0.001) and anaerobic capacity (P less than 0.001) whereas CG had only slight increases (NS) in physical performance capacity during a 1-year period. During the last 6-month training period significant positive correlations (r = 0.49-0.58; P less than 0.05-P less than 0.01) were observed in AG between the relative changes in testosterone, testosterone:cortisol ratio and growth hormone and the relative performance change in speed, maximal isometric force and endurance, respectively. At the end of the period significant positive correlations were observed in all subjects between the level of testosterone and speed-strength (r = 0.52-0.64; P less than 0.01-P less than 0.001) and anaerobic capacity (r = 0.49; P less than 0.05). It was concluded that an increase in anabolic activity with the synchronous training already has positive effects on trainability and physical performance capacity at an early stage in puberty.     

Effect of 1-year dairy product intervention on fat mass in young women: 6-month follow-up

Objective: Previous results from this laboratory suggest that a 1‐year dairy intake intervention in young women does not alter fat mass. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of the 1‐year dairy intervention 6 months after completion of the intervention. Research Methods and Procedures: Previously, normal‐weight young women (n = 154) were randomized to one of three calcium intake groups: control (<800 mg/d), medium dairy (1000 to 1100 mg/d), or high dairy (1300 to 1400 mg/d) for a 1‐year trial (n = 135 completed). In the current study, 51 women were assessed 6 months after completion of the intervention trial. Body compositions (body fat, lean mass) were measured using DXA. Self‐report questionnaires were utilized to measure activity and dietary intake (kilocalories, calcium). Results: The high‐dairy group (n = 19) maintained an elevated calcium intake (1027 ± 380 mg/d) at 18 months compared with the control group (n = 18, 818 ± 292; p = 0.02). Mean calcium intake over the 18 months predicted a negative change in fat mass (p = 0.04) when baseline BMI was controlled in regression analysis (model R² = 0.11). 25‐Hydroxyvitamin D levels were correlated with fat mass at each time‐point (baseline, r = ?0.41, p = 0.003; 12 months, r = ?0.42, p = 0.002; 18 months, r = ?0.32, p = 0.02) but did not predict changes in fat mass. Discussion: Dietary calcium intake over 18 months predicted a negative change in body fat mass. Thus, increased dietary calcium intakes through dairy products may prevent fat mass accumulation in young, healthy, normal‐weight women.     

Overweight and obesity prevalence in urban Sardinian children

The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children (6-10 years) of the city of Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy) with different socioeconomic status. The sample is composed by 1000 children, 500 males and 500 females, 6 to 10 years old, attending primary schools in Cagliari during 2003. For uniformity with similar Italian studies, in this study overweight and obesity were defined as calculated from the charts published by Tanner et al. (1966). In the Cagliari children, the prevalence of obesity is 22.70%. The percentages of overweight and obese children increase with age: respectively from 11.5% and 14.0% at 6 years to 15.4% and 22.7% at 10 years. There are higher numbers of overweight and obese boys than girls in all the age classes. Both males and females show an increasing percentage of overweight and obesity as the socioeconomic level decreases. Males present higher percentages of overweight and obesity than females of the same social level, i.e. in the lowest social category overweight is 18.68% in males and 13.60% in females and obesity 26.46% in males and 23.62% in females. The standard multivariate regression analysis with the indicator of overweight and obesity as dependent variable showed that the sex (male), socio-economic status, maternal schooling and sums of the limb and trunk skinfolds have the greatest influence on overweight and obesity. The results suggest that overweight and obesity are becoming serious social and health problems in Sardinia.     

A marked shift in the serotypes of pneumococci isolated from healthy children in Szeged, Hungary, over a 6-year period

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important pathogen with significant morbidity and mortality rates worldwide, especially among children <5 years. Healthy carriers are the most important sources of pneumococcal infections, and the nasopharyngeal colonisation is the most prevalent among children attending communities such as day-care centres (DCCs). The conjugate pneumococcal vaccines (PCVs) were shown to have an impact on the colonisation, and so play an important role in inhibiting infections. In this study we compared the nasal carriage of healthy children attending DCCs in Szeged, Hungary in 2003/2004, when nobody was vaccinated, and in 2010, when already 1/5 of the children received PCV-7. Significant differences were observed in the serotype distribution, representing a marked shift from the previously widespread vaccine-types (mostly 6A or 14) to others (11A and 23F). The new serotypes showed higher antibiotic susceptibility. The bacterium exchange between children was clear from the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns, and the circulation of certain international clones plays also a role in these dynamic changes.     

The temporal dynamics of temporary pond macroinvertebrate communities over a 10-year period

Ponds support a rich biodiversity. This arises in part because of the number and heterogeneity of ponds spatially throughout the landscape. Studies of ponds suggest that distinct communities develop within individual ponds but most examples are based on short-term 1- or 2-year surveys which cannot identify the effects of historic events upon contemporary communities. This study reports the development and turnover of the early summer macroinvertebrate communities in thirty small temporary ponds from their creation in 1994 over 10 years to 2004. Distinct pioneer communities established in the first year of the ponds’ creation, the first 3 years dominated by a fauna associated with long summer dry phases. Then a sustained period of inundation lasting 27 months from summer 1997–1999 resulted in establishment of many taxa associated with permanent ponds and loss of some temporary pond species. The re-establishment of summer dry phases in 1999 was associated with the loss of some but not all of the permanent water taxa and re-colonisation by some temporary water species creating new communities combining these different elements. The communities were not a linear successional sequence; the communities that re-assembled following resumption of dry phases reflected the contingent history of each pond and the effects of historic events. The longer term nature of the study showed that the characteristic heterogeneity of pond invertebrate communities occurs through time as well as spatially and that the richness and variety of contemporary communities, which is often hard to explain from snap-shot studies, is partly the result of historic events.     

中国藏缅语族成人的超重与肥胖

运用人体测量学的方法,研究组从2015年到2019年在贵州、云南、四川、西藏、湖北、湖南6省区调查藏缅语族17个少数民族成人的体质指标。测量指标包括体质量、身高与皮褶厚度。计算指标包括身体质量指数、体密度和体脂率。藏缅语族民族的身体质量指数与人均GDP呈正相关。藏缅语族民族的肥胖与超重率受社会经济因素和历史文化因素影响。藏缅语族男女的肥胖与超重率都较高,迫切需要采取积极的措施来应对和预防。     

Oral health status and change in handgrip strength over a 5-year period in 80-year-old people

Objective: The number of remaining teeth may indicate the extent of life‐long exposure to inflammation, a known risk factor for muscle loss and consequent disability. The aim was to study dental health status as a risk factor for muscle strength loss in very old people. Design: Cross‐sectional and prospective cohort study over a 5‐year follow‐up. Setting: Research laboratory. Participants: One hundred and ninety‐three 80‐year‐old people participated in the baseline examinations. Five years later, 79 survivors were retested. Main outcome measures: Number of remaining teeth, presence of periodontitis and handgrip strength. Results: At baseline, grip strength of men correlated positively with number of teeth but not with the presence of periodontitis. In women, the cross‐sectional associations were not statistically significant. In the prospective analyses, the presence of periodontitis at baseline showed a clear association with a steeper decline in handgrip over the 5‐year follow‐up in both sexes. The values adjusted for gender, height, weight, number of chronic conditions and physical activity were ?28.3% (SE 5.7) among those with periodontitis vs. ?11.9% (SE 3.1, p = 0.015) among those with healthy gingiva. No association between the number of teeth at baseline and change in grip strength over 5 years was observed. Conclusions: The presence of oral inflammation may lead to loss in muscle strength increasing the risk of disability. Therefore, good dental care throughout the life span may decrease risk of disability in old age.