Drug related deaths in the Split-Dalmatia County 1997-2007

Drug overdoses are a major cause of mortality for drug users and, in many countries, are the leading cause of death in this group. The aim of the present study is to explore the frequency of all drug related deaths in the Split-Dalmatia County in the period between 1997 and 2007 and to analyze some of the characteristics of these deaths to help target preventive policies. The data on drug related deaths were collected using records from the Department of Forensic Medicine, Clinical Hospital Centre Split, University of Split, School of Medicine. There were 190 drug related deaths in the observed period of 11 years. Statistically significant difference (p = 0.004, chi2-test for trend) was found in the number of deaths in 1997 in comparison with the number of deaths in 2007. The majority of 105 (55%) the decedents were 25-34 years old, and 92.1% (175) of them were male. There was a 94% higher probability of mortality in the 25-34 years group (chi2 = 5.55, p = 0.064). Average age of all dead people was 31.01 +/- 7.59 years (median 31.0 years; range 18-49). Almost three quarters of the decedents were single and more than three fifths hadn't been employed. The most common location of death was at home. Approximately, 80% were autopsied followed by full histological and toxicological analyses. Out of all examined cases, the majority of drug related deaths (93 or 60.8%) were attributed to heroin. Heroin was the sole cause of death in 35 (22.9%) cases. Methadone was cause of death in 24 (15.7%) cases. 3.4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) deaths were rare (3.3%). Cocaine deaths were also rare (1.3%). Three fifths (55.6%) of the cases involved includes multi-substance use. During the investigation there was an evident trend towards multi-substance abuse patterns. These data suggest that interventions to prevent drug related mortality should address the use of drugs such as heroin and alcohol in combination.     

Trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among young Australians, 1985, 1997, and 2004

Objective: To determine secular trends in overweight/obesity among 7‐ to 15‐year‐olds for the periods 1985, 1997, and 2004. Research Method and Procedures: Data from representative surveys conducted in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985, 1997, and 2004 were analyzed. Height and weight were measured, and BMI categories were created using International Obesity Task Force definitions. Students were grouped as Grades 2 + 4 + 6 and 8 + 10. Results: The prevalences of overweight/obesity for 1985, 1997, and 2004 were 10.9%, 20.6%, and 25.7% among the younger boys and 10.6%, 19.5%, and 26.1% among the older boys. The average annual rate of increase for 1985 to 1997 was 0.81% and for 1997 to 2004 was 0.73% among the younger boys and was 0.74% and 0.94% for the two periods among the older boys. The prevalences of overweight/obesity in 1985, 1997, and 2004 were 14.0%, 22.0%, and 24.8% among the younger girls and 8.3%, 17.9%, and 19.8% among the older girls, respectively. The average annual rates of increase for the two periods were 0.8% and 0.4% among the younger girls and 0.80% and 0.27% among the older girls. Change in the prevalence of overweight/obesity and socioeconomic status were not associated. Discussion: Over the period 1985 to 1997, the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased significantly among the younger and older boys and the younger girls. The prevalence of overweight, but not obesity, increased among the older girls over this period. Over the period 1997 to 2004, the prevalence of overweight/obesity combined increased significantly among boys of both age groups but not among girls.     

Molecular epidemiology of Bordetella pertussis in Taiwan, 1993-2004: suggests one possible explanation for the outbreak of pertussis in 1997

Pertussis reemerges periodically despite high pertussis vaccination coverage in many countries. We used prn and fim3 gene sequences and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to analyze the molecular epidemiology of 168 clinical isolates of Bordetella pertussis during 1993-2004, and deduced possible reasons for an outbreak in 1997 in Taiwan. In Taiwan, during 1996-1997, a shift of prn1 to prn2 was reflected in a transition of PFGE group I to group IIIa; during 2000-2001, the change from fim3A to fim3B was displayed in transition of PFGE group IIIa to group IIIb. These changes were also consistent with the two peaks of pertussis incidence in 1997 and 2000. In 1997, a larger than expected increase in the incidence of pertussis occurred and isolates were characterized by complicated pulsotypes, appearance of many new profiles and an unusual presence of prn3. Based on a high resemblance of PFGE profiles and the same virulence genes, a similar shift of circulating strains was observed in European countries as well as Taiwan; thus, the high incidence of pertussis in 1997 may be due to an international expansion of B. pertussis strains from a similar source. This study provides further elucidation of the global molecular epidemiology of B. pertussis.     

Time series analysis of the epidemiological transition in Minorca, 1634-1997

Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models provide a powerful tool for detecting seasonal patterns in mortality statistics. The strength of ARIMA models lies in their ability to reveal complex structures of temporal interdependence in time series. Moreover, changes in model parameters provide an empirical basis for detecting secular trends and death seasonality patterns. This approach is illustrated by our analysis of changes in the mortality patterns of the population of the town of Es Mercadal on the island of Minorca between 1634 and 1997. These data reveal a transition from an early mortality pattern requiring a complex ARIMA model that accounts for a strong seasonal death pattern and periodic epidemic-related mortality crises to a much simpler 20th-century pattern that can be described by a simple single-parameter ARIMA model. These same data were also analyzed using standard seasonality tests. The results show that the reduction in the number of parameters required to fit the Es Mercadal mortality data coincides with the epidemiological transition in which the predominant causes of morbidly and mortality shift from infectious to degenerative causes.     

YD4-6和NV11-4菌株抑菌活性及诱导水稻防御性相关酶活性变化

从麦田和蔬菜地土样中筛选到2株具有较高抗菌活性的生防菌株YD4-6和NV11-4,测定了其抑菌活性和诱导水稻防御性相关酶活性的变化。抑菌活性测定结果表明YD4-6和NV11-4对水稻纹枯病菌、水稻稻瘟病菌、油菜菌核病菌和白菜黑斑病菌均具有较强的抑菌活性。两菌株均不产生几丁质酶活性,但NV11-4能产生纤维素酶活性。针对其对水稻病原菌的抑菌活性和纤维素酶活性的差异及其特性,研究了2个菌株诱导水稻防御性酶活性的变化。结果表明,YD4-6和NV11-4菌株均可有效诱导水稻PPO、POD、PAL、SOD活性增强,MDA含量升高。接种水稻纹枯病菌和使用YD4-6和NV11-4菌株,在使用48 h后,水稻防御酶的活性增加并达到最高,其中NV11-4菌株诱导活性比较持久;YD4-6使用后,诱导水稻的MDA含量增幅较大。结果显示,2个菌株均可有效的诱导水稻防御性酶活性增强和MDA含量增加。经16S rRNA鉴定后,菌株Y4-6确定为蜡质芽孢杆菌,NV11-4确定为枯草芽孢杆菌。     

Coxiella burnetii infection of marine mammals in the Pacific Northwest, 1997-2010

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Humans are commonly exposed via inhalation of aerosolized bacteria derived from the waste products of domesticated sheep and goats, and particularly from products generated during parturition. However, many other species can be infected with C. burnetii, and the host range and full zoonotic potential of C. burnetii is unknown. Two cases of C. burnetii infection in marine mammal placenta have been reported, but it is not known if this infection is common in marine mammals. To address this issue, placenta samples were collected from Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi), harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), and Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). Coxiella burnetii was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the placentas of Pacific harbor seals (17/27), harbor porpoises (2/6), and Steller sea lions (1/2) collected in the Pacific Northwest. A serosurvey of 215 Pacific harbor seals sampled in inland and outer coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest showed that 34.0% (73/215) had antibodies against either Phase 1 or Phase 2 C. burnetii. These results suggest that C. burnetii infection is common among marine mammals in this region.     

吉林和龙柳洞2004年发现的旧石器

吉林和龙柳洞旧石器地点于2002年5月发现,2004年5月对其进行了复查。该地点位于图们江流域第2级阶地上,在地表和灰黄色土层中发现石制品142件,包括石核、石片、石叶和工具(石砧、使用石片、刮削器、砍砸器、雕刻器、尖状器和琢背小刀);原料以黑曜岩为主,占93.66%。遗址应属于晚更新世晚期,即旧石器时代晚期。     

Review of the Permian family Permulidae nomen novum pro Aliculidae Storozhenko, 1997 (Grylloblattida)

A new replacement name Permulidaenom. n. is proposed for the Permian family Aliculidae Storozhenko, 1997 (Insecta: Grylloblattida). A review of Permulidae is given. All genera and species are redescribed and illustrated. A key to genera of Permulidae is given. New taxa of Permulidae are described: Permula edemskiisp. n., Sojanopermula rasnitsynisp. n., Kazanalicula reductagen. et sp. n., Mezenalicula connatagen. et sp. n., all from the Soyana locality (Middle Permian, Kazanian Stage; Arkhangelsk Region, Russia), and Mezenalicula conjunctasp. n. from the Isady locality (Upper Permian, Severodvinian Stage; Vologda Region, Russia). New combinations are proposed: Permula minor (Aristov, 2004), comb. n. for Sojanopermula minor Aristov, 2004; Permula tshekardensis (Aristov, 2004), comb. n. for Sojanopermula tshekardensis Aristov, 2004. A new genus Acropermulagen. n. (type species: Permula acra Kukalová, 1964, from the Lower Permian of Czech Republic) is established in the family Ideliidae. Neraphidia Novokshonov & Novokshonova, 1997 is transferred from Aliculidae to the order Eoblattida as a genus of uncertain taxonomic position inside this order.