Seasonal variation of suicide in Brazil

Most of what is known about the seasonal variation in suicide rate originates from studies conducted in the northern hemisphere; very few studies have been done in the southern hemisphere. The purpose of the present study was to explore the possibility that in Brazil, the seasonal variation of suicides is a function of photoperiod. This was accomplished by analyzing monthly suicide data for a 12 yr period (1979 to 1990), within latitudes ranging from 2°N to 33°S. Single cosinor analyses with periods of 12 or 6 months were applied to time series of monthly total and suicidal deaths, separated by gender and state. Significant spring or early summer peaks of suicide were found only in the south of Brazil for both men and women, except for the latter in one state. These peaks did not coincide with those found for total deaths, which occurred in the autumn or winter in all areas. No significant six-month period was found. In the present study, the chance of a suicide was typically 10-17% higher during the peak period than during the other months of the year. Although this moderate seasonal effect might not be sufficient to justify planning large scale prophylactic interventions, those dealing with patients who have suicide ideation should be aware of this high risk time.     

Intrauterine undernutrition and programming as a new risk of cardiovascular disease in later life

It is believed that atherogenesis is a multifactorial process, which could already start in utero. Development of atherosclerosis progresses over decades and leads to the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adulthood. At present, we have no exact explanation for all the risk factors acting in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. This review should provide an overview about the possible role of intrauterine undernutrition in the development of risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Intrauterine undernutrition leads to changes in fetal growth and metabolism and programs later development of some of these risk factors. A number of experimental and human studies indicates that hypertension as well as impaired cholesterol and glucose metabolism are affected by intrauterine growth. Intrauterine undernutrition plays an important role and acts synergistically with numerous genetic and environmental factors in the development of atherosclerosis. There is evidence that undernutrition of the fetus has permanent effects on the health status of human individuals.     

Stability of personality in later life

The relation of aging and the stability of personality in late life is evaluated by a literature review. The findings of six longitudinal studies reveal that rank-order consistency continues into old age. The mean-level stability reveals a concave curve for 'neuroticism' with an increase after age 80, a decrease for 'extraversion', and an increase for 'agreeableness'. The methodological and conceptual issues of personality assessment with old adults can be resolved by using a self report scale which corresponds to the capacities and the lifestyle of older adults and by involving age related variables into analyses.     

Climate impact on suicide rates in Finland from 1971 to 2003

Seasonal patterns of death from suicide are well-documented and have been attributed to climatic factors such as solar radiation and ambient temperature. However, studies on the impact of weather and climate on suicide are not consistent, and conflicting data have been reported. In this study, we performed a correlation analysis between nationwide suicide rates and weather variables in Finland during the period 1971–2003. The weather parameters studied were global solar radiation, temperature and precipitation, and a range of time spans from 1 month to 1 year were used in order to elucidate the dose-response relationship, if any, between weather variables and suicide. Single and multiple linear regression models show weak associations using 1-month and 3-month time spans, but robust associations using a 12-month time span. Cumulative global solar radiation had the best explanatory power, while average temperature and cumulative precipitation had only a minor impact on suicide rates. Our results demonstrate that winters with low global radiation may increase the risk of suicide. The best correlation found was for the 5-month period from November to March; the inter-annual variability in the cumulative global radiation for that period explained 40 % of the variation in the male suicide rate and 14 % of the variation in the female suicide rate, both at a statistically significant level. Long-term variations in global radiation may also explain, in part, the observed increasing trend in the suicide rate until 1990 and the decreasing trend since then in Finland.     

Midlife vascular risk factors and Alzheimer's disease in later life: longitudinal,population based study

Objective To examine the relation of midlife raised blood pressure and serum cholesterol concentrations to Alzheimer''s disease in later life.Design Prospective, population based study.SettingPopulations of Kuopio and Joensuu, eastern Finland.ParticipantsParticipants were derived from random, population based samples previously studied in a survey carried out in 1972, 1977, 1982, or 1987. After an average of 21 years'' follow up, a total of 1449 (73%) participants aged 65-79 took part in the re-examination in 1998.Results People with raised systolic blood pressure (⩾160 mm Hg) or high serum cholesterol concentration (⩾6.5 mmol/l) in midlife had a significantly higher risk of Alzheimer''s disease in later life, even after adjustment for age, body mass index, education, vascular events, smoking status, and alcohol consumption, than those with normal systolic blood pressure (odds ratio 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.0 to 5.5) or serum cholesterol (odds ratio 2.1, 1.0 to 4.4). Participants with both of these risk factors in midlife had a significantly higher risk of developing Alzheimer''s disease than those with either of the risk factors alone (odds ratio 3.5, 1.6 to 7.9). Diastolic blood pressure in midlife had no significant effect on the risk of Alzheimer''s disease.Conclusion Raised systolic blood pressure and high serum cholesterol concentration, and in particular the combination of these risks, in midlife increase the risk of Alzheimer''s disease in later life.

What is already known on this topic

Vascular risk factors may play an important part as risk factors for Alzheimer''s diseaseNo population based studies have evaluated prospectively the impact of both midlife blood pressure and cholesterol concentration in both men and women on the subsequent development of Alzheimer''s disease

What this study adds

Raised systolic blood pressure and high serum cholesterol concentration, and in particular the combination of these risks, in midlife increased the risk of Alzheimer''s disease in later lifeRaised systolic blood pressure and hypercholesterolaemia may have a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer''s disease; more emphasis should be placed on identification and appropriate treatment of these conditions     

Behaviour of bacteriophage Mu-based IncP suicide vector plasmids in Rhizobium spp.

Abstract The ability of P-type plasmids, containing bacteriophage Mu, to survive in Rhizobia was examined under conditions in which the plasmids were not directly selected. The plasmid pRP4::Mu::Tn7 survived in all tested strains of Rhizobia and Agrobacteria . The surviving plasmids were analysed for expression of plasmid coded properties and for presence of both bacteriophage Mu and Tn7 DNA. A large variation in plasmid size and coding capacity was observed. In the parent plasmid Tn7 is inserted into the Mu DNA. The majority of surviving plasmids had lost Mu DNA but the Tn7 DNA was retained. Analysis of surviving plasmids which contained Mu DNA indicated that a small deletion of Mu is sufficient to allow plasmid survival. Deleted derivatives of pJB4J1 were also isolated in Rhizobium under similar conditions. The potential of these suicide vectors as potential vectors for transposon mutagenesis in Rhizobium is discussed.     

副溶血性弧菌基因敲除方法的建立及应用

目的摸索出一套副溶血性弧菌基因敲除的可靠方案,副溶血性弧菌致病相关基因的敲除对深入研究其致病机制有重要意义。方法通过融合PCR技术将目的基因上下游同源臂融合并克隆到自杀载体pDS132上,将重组质粒转化大肠杆菌S17λpir中,再接合转移到副溶血性弧菌菌株内,经pDS132质粒上sacB基因的反向筛选得到突变株。结果成功构建了副溶血性弧菌RIMD2210633菌株ΔopaR,ΔtoxR和ΔaphA三个基因突变株。结论通过自杀载体同源重组成功获得精确敲除的无痕突变株更有利于基因功能的研究,使后续副溶血性弧菌突变株与野生株的对比研究成为可能。     

Marriage,gender and obesity in later life

A large body of literature argues that marriage promotes health and increases longevity. But do these benefits extend to maintaining a healthy body weight, as the economic theory of health investment suggests they should? They do not. Using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), I find that entry into marriage among both men and women aged 51–70 is associated with weight gain and exit from marriage with weight loss. I evaluate three additional theories with respect to the cross-sectional and longitudinal variation in the data. First, it may be that a broader set of shared risk factors (such as social obligations regarding meals) raises body mass for married couples. However, the shared risk factor model predicts that the intra-couple correlation should increase with respect to marital duration. Instead, it declines. Second, scholars have recently promoted a “crisis” model of marriage in which marital transitions, not marital status, determine differences in body mass. The crisis model is consistent with short-term effects seen for divorce, but not for the persistent weight gains associated with marriage or the persistent weight loss following widowhood. And transition models, in general, cannot explain significant cross-sectional differences across marital states in a population that is no longer experiencing many transitions, nor can it account for the prominent gender differences (in late middle-age, the heaviest group is unmarried women and the lightest are unmarried men). Third, I argue that pressures of the marriage market, in combination with gendered preferences regarding partner BMI, can account for all the longitudinal and cross-sectional patterns found in the data.     

Hypertensive diseases of pregnancy and risk of hypertension and stroke in later life: results from cohort study

ObjectiveTo examine the association between hypertensive diseases of pregnancy (gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia) and the development of circulatory diseases in later life.DesignCohort study of women who had pre-eclampsia during their first singleton pregnancy. Two comparison groups were matched for age and year of delivery, one with gestational hypertension and one with no history of raised blood pressure.SettingMaternity services in the Grampian region of Scotland.ParticipantsWomen selected from the Aberdeen maternity and neonatal databank who were resident in Aberdeen and who delivered a first, live singleton from 1951 to 1970.ResultsThere were significant positive associations between pre-eclampsia/eclampsia or gestational hypertension and later hypertension in all measures. The adjusted relative risks varied from 1.13-3.72 for gestational hypertension and 1.40-3.98 for pre-eclampsia or eclampsia. The adjusted incident rate ratio for death from stroke for the pre-eclampsia/eclampsia group was 3.59 (95% confidence interval 1.04 to 12.4).ConclusionsHypertensive diseases of pregnancy seem to be associated in later life with diseases related to hypertension. If greater awareness of this association leads to earlier diagnosis and improved management, there may be scope for reducing a proportion of the morbidity and mortality from such diseases.

What is already known on this topic

Much is known about the effect of cardiovascular risks factors that are shared by men and women, but less on those specific to womenRetrospective studies, based on patient recall, suggest that hypertension in pregnancy may be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in later life

What this study adds

Prospective recording of blood pressure and proteinuria shows that women who experienced raised blood pressure in pregnancy have a long term risk of hypertensionWomen who experience raise blood pressure in pregnancy have an increased risk of stroke and, to a lesser extent, an increased risk of ischaemic heart diseaseLong term cardiovascular risks are greater for women who had pre-eclampsia than those who experienced gestational hypertension (hypertension without proteinuria)     

Fish consumption measured during pregnancy and risk of cardiovascular diseases later in life: an observational prospective study

Previous studies have indicated a protective effect of long chain n-3 PUFAs against cardiovascular disease; however, the overall evidence remains uncertain, and there is a general lack of knowledge in the field of cardiovascular epidemiology in women. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore the association between fish intake and cardiovascular disease among 7429 women from a prospective pregnancy cohort in Aarhus, Denmark, who were followed for 12-17 years. Exposure information derived from a questionnaire sent to the women in gestation week 16, and daily fish consumption was quantified based on assumptions of standard portion sizes and food tables. Information on admissions to hospital was obtained from the Danish National Patient Registry and diagnoses of hypertensive, cerebrovascular and ischaemic heart disease were used to define the outcome: cardiovascular disease. During the follow-up period 263 events of cardiovascular disease were identified. Overall, there was no association between cardiovascular disease and fish intake, confidence intervals for effect estimates in the different fish intake groups were wide, overlapped and for all but one they encompassed unity. Restricting the analysis to women who had reported the same fish intake in a questionnaire in gestation week 30 did not alter these findings. In conclusion, our data from a prospective cohort of relatively young and initially healthy women from Aarhus linked with information from registries could not substantiate a protective effect of fish intake against cardiovascular disease.     

Implication of functional activity for determining therapeutic efficacy of suicide genes in vitro

Gene-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy (GDEPT), commonly known as suicide gene therapy, provides a selective approach to eradicate tumor cells that is currently considered as an alternate approach to conventional therapy for cancers due to its high efficacy. Herein, we have demonstrated functional activity of the cytosine deaminase (CD) and the hybrid cytosine deaminase-uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (CD-UPRT) suicide genes in transfected cell lines. We have monitored retention profiles of various metabolites that were formed during enzymatic conversion of the prodrug 5-flurocytosine (5-FC) using reverse phase HPLC method. Therapeutic effect of suicide genes was established by cell viability and toxicity assay, whereas apoptotic induction was confirmed by DNA fragmentation ELISA. Our results demonstrated that 5-FC/CD-UPRT-mediated apoptotic cell death was more than 5-FC/CD, which could be further potentiated with anticancer compound curcumin. Such results corroborated 5-FC/CD-UPRT in combination with curcumin as a better chemosensitization method.     

Relationship between suicide and myocardial infarction with regard to changing physical environmental conditions

In recent years, the possible association of changes in mortality from cardiovascular disease and myocardial infarction (MI) and deaths related to violence and the suicide rate has been repeatedly discussed. This study examined the relationship between cosmic physical changes (solar, geomagnetic and other space activity parameters) and changes in the total number of in-hospital and MI-related deaths and deaths from suicide to determine if a relationship exists between the distribution of total and MI-related deaths with suicide over time; some differences in the serotonergic mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of MI and suicide were also taken into account. All suicides (n=2359) registered in the State of Israel from 1981 to 1989 (108 months) were analysed and compared with the total number of deaths (n=15601) and deaths from MI (n=1573) in a large university hospital over 180 months (1974–1989). The following were the main features of the Results. (1) Monthly suicide rate was correlated with space proton flux (r=0.42,P=0.0001) and with geomagnetic activity (r=–0.22,P=0.03). (2) Total hospital and MI-related deaths were correlated with solar activity parameters (r=0.35,P<0.001) and radiowave propagation (r=0.52-0.44,P<0.001), an with proton flux (r=–0.3 to –0.26,P<0.01). (3) Monthly suicide distribution over 108 months was correlated with MI (r=–0.33,P=0.0005) and total hospital mortality (r=–0.22,P=0.024). (4) Gender differences were prominent. We conclude that the monthly distributions of suicides and deaths from MI are adversely related to many environmental physical parameters and negatively correlated with each other.