The epidemiological impact of antimeningococcal B vaccination in Cuba.

The incidence of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) before (1984-1988) and after (1989-1994), a nationwide intervention with VA-MENGOC-BC vaccination started in 1989, was compared. The prevaccination period incidence density (ID> 8.8/10(5) year-person) was higher than the postvaccination ID (ID< 6.5/10(5) year-person). The percentage proportional differences from the start to the end of each period of ID in the vaccinal period was higher (87%) than the prevaccinal (37%) with significant differences among vaccinated groups (< 25 years old). A break-point (Chow test) was confirmed by the decrease in the ID between 1989 and 1990 in children under 1 year old, 5-9, 10-14, 15-19 and 50-54 years. Comparison of ID using maps showed a decrease in IMD in all municipalities during the postvaccination period. These findings support the epidemiological impact of VA-MENGOC-BC vaccination in the reduction of IMD morbidity.     

Sex- and age-specific survival of the highly dimorphic Alpine ibex: evidence for a conservative life-history tactic

1. Age-specific survival of 215 males and 117 females of the highly sexually dimorphic Alpine ibex Capra ibex (L.) was assessed from a 21-year capture-mark-recapture (CMR) programme (1983-2004). The study covered two contrasted periods of population performance (high performance from 1983 to 1997 vs. low performance from 1998 onwards). 2. Based on current life-history theories for sexually dimorphic species, we expected that survival should decrease with age in both sexes, female survival should be buffered against environmental variations, male survival should decrease during the low performance period, and adult survival should be lower in males than females during the low performance period. 3. Survival of both sexes was strongly affected by age, with the four age classes (yearling, prime-aged adults of 2-8 years of age, old adults of 8-13 years of age, and senescent adults from 13 years of age onwards) generally reported for large herbivores. 4. Survival of females at all ages, and of yearling and prime-aged males, was buffered against environmental variations and was the same during periods of high and low population performance. The survival of old males decreased in years of low population performance. 5. All marked yearlings (32 females, 56 males) survived to age 2. Survival of prime-aged females (0.996 +/- 0.011) was higher than for other large herbivores, but similarly to other large herbivore species, it declined slowly and regularly with increasing age afterwards. Male survival was 5-15% higher each year than that of males of other large herbivores. Males enjoyed very high survival when prime-aged (0.981 +/- 0.009) and as old adults (high-performance period: 0.965 +/- 0.028, low-performance period: 0.847 +/- 0.032). 6. The very high survival of males, coupled with their prolonged mass gain, suggests a highly conservative reproductive tactic. Male ibex differ from similar-sized herbivores by showing a nearly indeterminate growth in horn size and body mass. By surviving to an advanced age, males may enjoy high reproductive success because of their large size.     

乌苏里江哲罗鲑的年龄结构、性比和生长

We report the current status of Taimen (Hucho taimen ) population in Wusuli River of China. The amount of catch per year was only 1 800 - 5 400 individuals ranging from 2 - 15 years old during 1998 - 2002. Of all the captured, individuals with sexual maturity were up to 30% - 70% (female maturity at 5 years old and male 6 years old). Sex ratio varied greatly among different localities. Its breeding population mainly consisted of males aged 5 - 10 years and females aged 8 - 13 years‘‘old, which spawned in May each year. Females breed once with about 4 000 - 23 000 eggs produced every 2 - 3 years, Taimen grows fast and average growth rate is about 10 cm per year prior to 10 years‘‘s old, which corresponded with von Bertelanffy‘‘s equation calculated as Lt = 246.41 [ 1 -e 0.0407(t 0.4625)] and Wt = 174 075.72 [ 1 -e ^0.0407(t-0.4622)12.9537, and the relationship between body length and weight was W 0.015018L^u2020.     

Changes of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity during ontogenesis in healthy subjects and in an experimental model (rats)

In children and adolescents (250 healthy subjects) serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity (23.9+/-5.2 to 57.1+/-17.5 micromol/min/ml) increases with the age between 3-10 years, later it decreases approximately by the age of 10-14 years. At the age of 21 to 60 years DBH level is stable. Our study described decreasing DBH activity in adolescents at the age of 10-14 years in the studied sample of healthy persons. Experimental animals (200 Wistar rats, 5-120 days old) show the same trend of enzymatic activity, similarly as in humans. DBH activity in rats is between 0.85+/-0.1 to 2.8+/-0.05 micromol/min/ml. This activity is highest in 5-day-old rats; it decreases till the age of 14 days and increases mainly in 14- to 35-day-old animals. Decrease of DBH activity in rats between 35 to 40 days is significant and corresponds to the reduction of DBH activity in adolescent humans (10-14 years). Adult rats (aged 90-120 days) show a stable DBH activity. DBH activity intermediately decreases in 10- to 14-year-old children. This decrease corresponds to the intermediate developmental changes of electrophysiological parameters (decreasing EEG activity in healthy adolescents occurs in 10-14 years old children). Puberty is coupled with intermediate decreasing of DBH activity in man and also in experimental animals in the period of prominent psychological and physiological changes.     

DNA-protein cross-links in nuclei and mitochondria of tissue cells from rats of various age exposed to gamma-radiation

The formation and repair of DNA-protein cross-links (DPC) in the mitochondria and nuclei from the brain and spleen of 2- and 29-month rats after their exposure to ionizing radiation were studied. The background level of DPC in brain and spleen mitochondria of old rats was shown to be about two times as high as in young rats. In the nuclei from the brain of old rats the background amount of DPC was also increased, unlike the nuclei of spleen of the same rats. At the doses 5 and 10 Gy (137Cs), the amount of DPC produced in the mitochondria and nuclei of brain and spleen of 29-month rats was 1.8-2.5 times greater than in the nuclei of the same tissues of young animals. At the same time, in the mitochondria of brain and spleen from irradiated rats the amount of DPC was by 30-80% higher than in the nuclei of the same tissues. Analysis of changes in DPC content during the post-radiation period showed that 5 h after irradiation of rats with a dose of 10 Gy, the level of these lesions in the nuclei of brain and spleen of young rats decreased by 40 and 65%, respectively, whereas the amount of these lesions in the mitochondria did not decrease. In this post-radiation period in nuclei of brain and spleen of old rats the amount of DPC decreased by 20-40%, respectively. However, the data on DPC obtained for the mitochondria of brain and spleen from both young and old rats showed that the amount of these lesions did not decrease during the 5 h post-radiation period. These results enable the suggestion that mitochondria do not possess a system of DPC repair. To summarize, ionizing radiation initiates in the nuclei of brain and spleen of old rats more DPC and their repair proceeds slower than in the nuclei of the same tissues of young animals. In the mitochondria of gamma-radiation exposed old rats more DPC are also produced than in young rats but no repair of DPC is observed in both old and young animals within the 5 h post-radiation period.     

黄土丘陵区沙棘群落特性及林地水分、养分分析

为提高沙棘林生产力和合理经营沙棘林,以黄土丘陵区吴旗、安塞试验区多年的观测数据为依据,以沙棘群落特性及林地水分、养分进行了分析,结果表明,沙棘生长迅速,适应性强,4～5年可形成林茂草丰的灌木-草本群落,1～8龄生物量增长迅速。8～11龄生物量增长相对较缓,11龄后通过自然稀疏沙棘能维持较合理的群落结构和较高初级生产量,沙棘对林地土壤水分的利用可分为根系微弱利用层（0～20cm）、根系利用层（20～300cm）、土壤水分补充调节层（300～400cm）和微调节层（400～500cm）,由于沙棘的改土作用及林地估枝、落叶的蓄水作用,沙棘林地1～1.5m,土层土壤水分恢复较好,可超过或接近荒山天然草地、沙棘可通过根瘤固氮及枯枝、落叶等凋落物的分解维持林地养分平衡,6～9龄沙棘,土壤全N量可由农地,草地的0.05%～0.1%提高到0.2%。     

2012年广州市越秀区疑似麻疹风疹病例血清学检测结果分析

目的:对2012年广州市越秀区疑似麻疹风疹的血清学结果进行整理分析,以了解麻疹风疹病例的流行特点。方法:选取2012年1月-2012年12月的166例疑似麻疹风疹患者的血清作为研究对象,统计血清中IgM阳性抗体的检出情况,以及各年龄段、月份IgM抗体阳性的例数及构成比。结果:麻疹风疹疑似病例中有36.1%的患者检测出IgM抗体阳性,其中麻疹IgM阳性以0-1岁婴幼儿的检出率较高,可达44.4%。从月份来看,12月、8月和5月是麻疹的好发时期。风疹IgM阳性以20岁以上中老年患者检出率最高,为75.0%,7月、4月和5月是风疹的易感季节。结论:疑似麻疹风疹病例有较高的IgM抗体阳性检出率,0-1岁婴幼儿和20岁以上中老年人是麻疹风疹的易感人群,4-5、7-8和12月是发病的高峰时期,临床应注意加强防范。     

Cell cultures of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. are richer sources of quinone-methide triterpenoids than plant roots in natura

The quinone-methide triterpenoids (QMTs) are chemotaxonomic markers of the family Celastraceae and many compounds of this class possess important anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the levels of QMTs in the roots of Celastraceous species are typically very low (ca. 0.0003 %) and commercial production by extraction from such tissues would not be commercially viable. With the aim of determining if cells cultured in vitro might provide alternative sources of these bioactive triterpenoids, we have quantified and compared the concentrations of QMTs accumulated by the roots of plants of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek (Celastraceae) aged 0.5–10 years, and in callus and suspension cultures derived from a cell line that had been subcultured over a period of 10 years. Comparing plants cultivated in natura, the highest levels of QMTs were detected in the root bark of 5-year old specimens. However, cell suspensions derived from the long-term cell line retained their capacity to synthesize and accumulate QMTs, and presented levels of maytenin, 22β-hydroxymaytenin, celastrol and pristimerin that were, respectively, 1.96-, 2.48-, 8.85- and 3.29-times higher than those in the roots of 5-year old plants. The results presented herein open up new possibilities for the large-scale production of QMTs and for the development of novel pharmaceuticals.     

Incidence of pyometra in colony-raised beagle dogs.

Incidence of pyometra observed in our colony-raised beagle dogs over a 12-year period is described. Pyometra was observed in 25 female dogs of more than 4 years old, frequently at 8-11 years, with the average age of onset 9.36 +/- 0.38 years. The incidence of the disease was 15.2% of the female dogs (n = 165) more than 4 years old. Clinical findings useful in the diagnosis of this disease included an excretion of pus from the cervix, rapid increase in leukocyte count, and enlarged uterus as revealed by radiography. The relationships of delivery, estrus cycles to this disease are discussed. Ovariohysterectomy or uterectomy was the only effective method of treatment. In conclusion, the results indicated that pyometra might be an age-related disease because it occurred particularly in aged dogs.     

西安市2010-2015年0-5岁儿童HBV感染状况的流行病学研究

摘要 目的：总结西安市2010-2015年 0-5岁儿童乙肝病毒感染的发病趋势和流行病学特征,寻找高危人群。通过随访研究获取HBV感染儿童疾病转归及乙肝监测系统存在的问题,为乙肝监测系统完善及制定防治策略提供科学依据。方法：采用描述性流行病学方法对西安市2010-2015年的0-5岁儿童乙肝患者进行三间分布描述分析;采用前瞻性队列研究方法,检测母亲及儿童的外周血HBV病毒学情况,获得母亲感染状况和患儿转归。结果：6年间,西安市0-5岁儿童共上报乙肝病例175例,年均HBV感染率为6.05/10万,2013年最高,为9.73/10万,以散发为主;0-1岁为高发年龄段,男童发病多于女童;未央区、雁塔区为高发地区。截止2016年8月,随访HBV感染学龄前儿童139例,仅17例完成流行病学调查和体检检测,失访率高达87.7%,17例HBV感染儿童中HBsAg慢性化高达88.2%,其中14例(82.3%)母亲为HBsAg阳性者。结论：西安市0-5岁儿童HBV感染的高危人群为HBsAg阳性母亲的儿童,与宫内感染/母婴传播有关。0-5岁HBV感染儿童转归结局不良,建议加强HBV宫内阻断,并对高危新生儿进行乙肝抗体监测。     

甘肃省1～59岁人群乙型肝炎病毒感染的血清流行病学调查

为了解甘肃省现阶段乙型肝炎病毒感染的现状,分析乙肝病毒感染血清学指标的变化,采用多阶段整群抽样的方法,抽取5个县区1~59岁人群共2200人进行调查。以ELISA方法对血清标本统一检测乙肝病毒表面抗原(HBsAg)、乙肝病毒表面抗体(抗-HBs)、乙肝病毒核心抗体(抗-HBc)。结果显示,甘肃省1~59岁调查人群HBsAg阳性率为3.59%,抗-HBs和抗-HBc阳性率分别为49.45%、16.33%;HBV总感染率为27.50%。比1992年HBV总感染率下降了36.48%,HBsAg阳性率下降了45.94%;1~4岁儿童HBsAg阳性率仅为1.13%,比1992年(5.34%)下降78.84%。甘肃省1~59岁人群乙肝病毒感染率下降,抗-HBs阳性率升高,尤其在1~4岁儿童变化更为明显;甘肃省乙肝感染逐步呈现由中高流行转向低流行区的趋势;乙肝疫苗免疫取得显著效果。     

人工饲养东北虎幼虎的行为时间分配

1 999年 4月～ 2 0 0 0年 4月 ,采用随机取样法和瞬时扫描取样法对黑龙江东北虎林园的 30只幼虎的行为时间分配及活动规律进行了研究。结果表明 ,幼虎用于运动和卧息的时间较多 ,为 ( 32 .0 8± 1 2 .39) %和 ( 2 8.0 2± 1 0 .76) % ;用于睡眠、站立和嬉戏的时间次之 ,分别为 ( 1 1 .9± 2 5 .2 1 ) %、( 9.0 6± 4.71 ) %和( 1 4.49± 8.72 ) % ;其它行为最少 ,为 ( 4 .66± 3.2 8) %。步行区幼虎园和幼虎园的幼虎活动规律较为相似 ,与育成虎园的幼虎相差较大。单因素方差分析表明幼虎不同个体间不存在显著差异 ,不同年龄组间的运动、卧息和嬉戏差异极显著 ,睡眠差异显著 ,站立和其它行为差异不显著。     

Time-Dependent Variations in the Coagulation Factors II, VII, IX, and X in Young and Elderly Volunteers

The existence of circadian (24-h) rhythms in the coagulation activity of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors (Factors II, VII, IX, and X) were studied in six healthy young (18-30 years old) and six healthy elderly (69-75 years old) men. Aliquots of 5 ml of blood were obtained from each of the 12 subjects at six different time points over a 24-h period. Factors II, VII, and X were quantified by the prothrombin time test, whereas Factor IX was analyzed by the activated partial thromboplastin time test. Significant circadian variations were found for Factors II and VII in both age groups. The peak and trough values for Factor II were observed at 16: 00 and 00: 00 in young men and at 12: 00 and 16: 00 in elderly men. The amplitude of the rhythmic variation of Factor II was 3.3 ± 1.0 and 4.2 ± 0.9% in young and elderly volunteers, respectively. For Factor VII, the highest values were found during the activity period (08: 00-16: 00), while the lowest values occurred at night (00: 00) for both groups of subjects. The amplitude of the rhythms was twice as large in the young (6.2 ± 2.3%) as in the elderly (3.7 ± 0.8%). The data suggest that age does not alter significantly the chronobiology of Factors II and VII.     

Relationship between change in BMI with age and delayed menarche in female athletes

Body mass index (BMI) is widely used as an index of obesity in people from the school age children to adults. However, the relationship between the change in BMI with age and the coming of menarche has not been discussed as there are few reports on the changes in BMI with age. In this study, the change in BMI with age was examined by applying the wavelet interpolation method (WIM), and a critical period for body fat in terms of the coming of menarche was estimated from the growth velocity. We investigated delayed menarche according to the influence of stress in athletes by comparing delayed menarche between athletes and non-athletes in relation to the critical period. Data were obtained from 144 female athletes in their first year at university in the Tokai area, all of whom had competed in a national sports competition in high school (athlete group). Health examination records showing these subjects' heights and weights from the first grade of elementary school to the final year of high school (1984-1995) were collected and BMI was calculated for each grade. Ages at menarche were ascertained from questionnaires. A control group of 73 non-athletes was similarly examined. The age at maximum peak velocity (MPV) derived from the growth (aging) distance curve of BMI was determined in the control group to be 11.96+/-0.97 years old. This age at MPV of BMI was almost the same as the age at menarche (12.11+/-0.93 years old). Therefore, this age at MPV of BMI is estimated to be the critical period of body fat for the coming of menarche. The interval between the age at MPV of BMI and age at menarche was 0.74+/-1.30 years in the athlete group and 0.15+/-0.81 years in the control group, so there was a significant difference (P<0.01) between the two groups. It is suggested that the delayed menarche in athletes is influenced by the stress of regular sports training.     

Rapid evaluation of ant diversity in land use systems in southern Bahia, Brazil

We aimed to compare the soil ant diversity in different land use systems from Atlantic Forest area, in Southern Bahia state, Brazil. The ants were sampled in 16 sites: two primary forest sites (un-logged forest); three young secondary forests (<8 years old); three intermediate secondary forests (8-20 years old); three old secondary forests (>20 years old); three Eucalyptus grandis plantations (3-7 years old), and two introduced pastures. Each site was sampled in three sampling points 15 m apart, and distant over 50 m from the site edge. In each sampling point we gathered the litter from a 1 m2 and extracted the ants with Winkler extractors during 48h. We found 103 ant species from 29 genera and eight subfamilies. The five richest genera were Pheidole (19 species), Solenopsis (8), Apterostigma (10), Hypoponera (7) e Paratrechina (5). The highest ant richness density was found in the primary forest (7.4 species/sample; S = 37; n = 5); followed by the old secondary forest (5.33 species/sample; S = 48; n = 9); young secondary forest (5.25 species/sample; S = 42, n = 8); eucalyptus plantation (4.22 species/sample; S = 38, n = 9), intermediate secondary forest (3.5 species/sample; S = 35, n = 10, and introduced pasture (2.67 species/sample; S = 16, n = 6). The ecosystems with higher structural complexity showed the highest ant richness density by sample. Therefore, in the Atlantic Forest region, the eucalyptus plantation is a better alternative of land use to conserve the ant biodiversity than pastures, and quite similar to native secondary forests in ant community characteristics.     

Age- and tissue-dependent metallothionein and cytosolic metal distribution in a native Mediterranean fish, Mullus barbatus, from the Eastern Adriatic Sea

The levels of metallothionein (MT), a biomarker of metal exposure, and of cytosolic metals (Zn, Cu, Cd), known as MT inducers, were investigated as variables of age (1 to 8 years) and tissue mass (liver, kidney, brain) of red mullet (Mullus barbatus). Within the age from 1 to 8 years the most significant increase is evident for cytosolic Cd in liver (43-fold) and in kidney (5-fold). MT and essential metals are constant with age or slightly increased. Over the growth period, statistically significant MT and metal increase is evident only between 1 and 6-8 years old specimens, while for Cd in liver and kidney cytosol significant increase already exists at 4 years old specimens. Metal distribution in all tissues follows the order: Zn>Cu>Cd, with even 500-800 times lower Cd levels than essential metal levels. Consequently, MTs follow the levels of essential metals, Zn and Cu, indicating MT involvement in homeostasis of essential metals. In contrast to kidney and brain, hepatic MT levels are not age-dependent. Inclusion of hepatic MT measurements and the associated cytosolic metals will be useful in the assessment of long-term metal effects in demersal fish M. barbatus.     

The in vitro life-span of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts

The in vitro life-span of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLF) was studied on clones from periodontium of teeth extracted due to periodontitis and dental caries (69 clones/192 individuals, aged 20-80 years) and from periodontium of teeth extracted for orthodontic reasons (23 clones/26 individuals, aged 15-19 years). In the primary cultures the ratio of the number of cells expressing senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-Gal) to the total number of cells is significantly larger in PDLF (92 clones; 11.1+/-4.9%) than in human gingival fibroblasts (GF) (10 clones; 0.5+/-0.1 %). The finite population doubling numbers (PD) of PDLF are not age-matched and the mean PD of PDLF (7.1+/-2.9) is significantly smaller than GF (28.5+/-3.2), IMR-90 (human lung fibroblasts, 5 clones; 44.3 +/- 2.2), and human osteoblasts (5 clones; 19.7+/-1.4). Comparing the ratio of the number of SA-beta-Gal positive cells to the total number of cells in primary culture, and the finite PD in PDLF cultures: 1) the ratio of 15-19 years old donor group is significantly smaller than in the other donor groups (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60-80 years old), and 2) there were no statistically significant differences among the 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 and 50-59 year old donor groups, and the 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60-80 year old donor groups. These findings suggest that the in vitro life-span of PDLF is shorter than other fibroblasts in the connective tissues and that PDLF may undergo senescence in adult clones without relation to donor's age. There may be more aged fibroblasts in periodontium than in other tissues, such as gingiva and lung.     

Distribution, movements, and mortality of anadromous arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus L., in the Cumberland Sound area of Baffin Island

During 1972 the downstream movement of anadromous artic char, Salvelinus alpinus L., from two rivers flowing into Cumberland Sound, Baffin Island, began during the middle of May and was completed within 2 weeks. This movement took place during both the day and night. Upon reaching saltwater, many char older than 9 years (longer than 20 cm) began to migrate along the shore of the Sound at a rate of 0–6–0-9 km/day with the result that the average maximum distance travelled from the natal river was 40–50 km. Char 6–9 years old, 10–20 cm in length, remained much closer to the rivers while those younger than 5 years never entered saltwater. During the period of saltwater residence, the fish frequently moved into the intertidal zone and freshwater. Maturing fish of both sexes were occasionally found in saltwater. The upstream migration to the lakes began during the second week of August and was completed within 5–6 weeks. Females tended to ascend the rivers before males, although fish of all different size and age migrated upstream simultaneously. Migration occurred during both the day and night. The maximum distance anadromous char moved from saltwater was 40 km. The char were found only in freshwater between May and September and were normally located near the bottom of lakes at a depth of 15–40 m. During this period, large scale movements were probably very limited. Average annual mortality was estimated at 16.0% per year with the highest rates (25–30%) occurring at ages 10 and 15–17 years. Many fish probably died of old age but physical deterioration during and after spawning was also an important cause of death.     

黄土高原半干旱区苜蓿草地土壤干燥化特征与粮草轮作土壤水分恢复效应

实地测定了黄土高原半干旱区固原不同生长年限苜蓿草地和连作8a苜蓿草地翻耕轮作不同年限粮食作物后深层土壤水分特征,分析了苜蓿草地土壤干燥化特征和粮草轮作对土壤水分的恢复效应.结果表明:(1)苜蓿连作1a、5a、8a和12a等4类苜蓿草地0～1000cm土层平均土壤湿度值为6.6%,平均土壤水分过耗量702.8mm,平均土壤干燥化速率147.1mm/a,达到强烈干燥化程度,苜蓿连作5a土壤干层深度超过1000cm,苜蓿连作8a土壤干层深度超过1360cm,苜蓿草地合理利用年限为7a.(2)连作8a苜蓿草地翻耕并轮作4～7a和25a粮食作物等5类粮田0～1000cm土层土壤湿度介于6.74%～11.95%,土壤贮水量恢复值介于210.6～887.3mm,平均土壤水分恢复速率为80.8mm/a.轮作6a后粮田土壤干层轻度恢复程度以上深度达到1000cm.通过粮草轮作使苜蓿草地土壤湿度恢复到当地土壤稳定湿度需要13a以上.黄土高原半干旱区适宜的粮草轮作模式为:7a苜蓿→13a粮食作物.     

桂林甑皮岩新石器时代遗址2例儿童的年龄问题

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