Cardiovascular risk factors and cognitive function in middle aged and elderly Lithuanian urban population: results from the HAPIEE study

Background

The purpose of this study was to examine associations between cardiovascular risk factors and cognitive ability in middle aged and elderly Lithuanian urban population.

Methods

Data from the survey performed in the framework of the HAPIEE (Health, Alcohol, Psychosocial Factors in Eastern Europe) study were presented. A random sample of 7,087 individuals aged 45–72 years was screened in 2006–2008.

Results

The scores of immediate recall and delayed verbal recall, cognitive speed and attention were significantly lower in men than in women; yet numerical ability scores were higher in men. Significant associations between lowered cognitive functions and previous stroke (in male OR?=?2.52; 95% CI?=?1.75-3.64; in female OR?=?2.45; 95% CI?=?1.75, 3.64) as well as ischemic heart disease history (among male OR?=?1.28; 95% CI?=?1.03-1.60) have been determined. Higher level of physical activity in leisure time (among female OR?=?1.32; 95% CI?=?1.03-1.69), poor self-rated health (among male OR?=?1.57; 95% CI?=?1.15-2.14) and poor quality of life (in male OR?=?1.67; 95% CI?=?1.07-2.61; in female OR?=?2.81; 95% CI?=?1.92-4.11) were related to lowered cognitive function.

Conclusions

The findings of the study suggest that associations between cardiovascular risk factors and lowered cognitive function among healthy middle-aged and elderly adults strongly depend on gender.

     

The social network around influenza vaccination in health care workers: a cross-sectional study

Background

Influenza vaccination coverage remains low among health care workers (HCWs) in many health facilities. This study describes the social network defined by HCWs’ conversations around an influenza vaccination campaign in order to describe the role played by vaccination behavior and other HCW characteristics in the configuration of the links among subjects.

Methods

This study used cross-sectional data from 235 HCWs interviewed after the 2010/2011 influenza vaccination campaign at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (HCB), Spain. The study asked: “Who did you talk to or share some activity with respect to the seasonal vaccination campaign?” Variables studied included sociodemographic characteristics and reported conversations among HCWs during the influenza campaign. Exponential random graph models (ERGM) were used to assess the role of shared characteristics (homophily) and individual characteristics in the social network around the influenza vaccination campaign.

Results

Links were more likely between HCWs who shared the same professional category (OR 3.13, 95% CI?=?2.61–3.75), sex (OR 1.34, 95% CI?=?1.09–1.62), age (OR 0.7, 95% CI?=?0.63–0.78 per decade of difference), and department (OR 11.35, 95% CI?=?8.17–15.64), but not between HCWs who shared the same vaccination behavior (OR 1.02, 95% CI?=?0.86–1.22). Older (OR 1.26, 95% CI?=?1.14–1.39 per extra decade of HCW) and vaccinated (OR 1.32, 95% CI?=?1.09–1.62) HCWs were more likely to be named.

Conclusions

This study finds that there is no homophily by vaccination status in whom HCWs speak to or interact with about a workplace vaccination promotion campaign. This result highlights the relevance of social network analysis in the planning of health promotion interventions.

     

Predictors of thrombolysis in the telestroke and non telestroke settings for hypertensive acute ischemic stroke patients

Background

In acute ischemic stroke patients, telestroke technology provides sustainable approaches to improve the use of thrombolysis therapy. How this is achieved as it relates to inclusion or exclusion of clinical risk factors for thrombolysis is not fully understood. We investigated this in a population of hypertensive stroke patients.

Methods

Structured data from a regional stroke registry that contained telestroke and non telestroke patients with a primary diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke with history of hypertension were collected between January 2014 and June 2016. Clinical risk factors associated with inclusion or exclusion for recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) in the telestroke and non telestroke were identified using multiple regression analysis. Associations between variables and rtPA in the regression models were determined using variance inflation factors while the fitness of each model was determined using the ROC curve to predict the power of each logistic regression model.

Results

The non telestroke admitted more patients (62% vs 38%), when compared with the telestroke. Although the telestroke admitted fewer patients, it excluded 11% and administered thrombolysis therapy to 89% of stroke patients with hypertension. In the non telestroke group, adjusted odd ratios showed significant associations of NIH stroke scale score (OR?=?1.059, 95% CI, 1.025–1.093, P <?0.001) and coronary artery disease (OR?=?2.003, 95% CI, 1.16–3.457, P?=?0.013) with inclusion, while increasing age (OR?=?0.979, 95% CI, 0.961–0.996, P?=?0.017), higher INR (OR?=?0.146, 95% CI, 0.032–0.665, P?=?0.013), history of previous stroke (OR?=?0.39, 95% CI, 0.223–0.68, P?=?0.001), and renal insufficiency (OR?=?0.153, 95% CI, 0.046–0.508, P?=?0.002) were associated with rtPA exclusion. In the telestroke, only direct admission to the telestroke was associated with rtPA administration, (OR?=?4.083, 95% CI, 1.322–12.611, P?=?0.014).

Conclusion

The direct admission of hypertensive stroke patients to the telestroke network was the only factor associated with inclusion for thrombolysis therapy even after adjustment for baseline variables. The telestroke technology provides less restrictive criteria for clinical risk factors associated with the inclusion of hypertensive stroke patients for thrombolysis.

     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">ABI3</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">PLCG2</Emphasis> missense variants as risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases in Caucasians and African Americans

Background

Rare coding variants ABI3_rs616338-T and PLCG2_rs72824905-G were identified as risk or protective factors, respectively, for Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Methods

We tested the association of these variants with five neurodegenerative diseases in Caucasian case-control cohorts: 2742 AD, 231 progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), 838 Parkinson’s disease (PD), 306 dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and 150 multiple system atrophy (MSA) vs. 3351 controls; and in an African-American AD case-control cohort (181 AD, 331 controls). 1479 AD and 1491 controls were non-overlapping with a prior report.

Results

Using Fisher’s exact test, there was significant association of both ABI3_rs616338-T (OR?=?1.41, p?=?0.044) and PLCG2_rs72824905-G (OR?=?0.56, p?=?0.008) with AD. These OR estimates were maintained in the non-overlapping replication AD-control analysis, albeit at reduced significance (ABI3_rs616338-T OR?=?1.44, p?=?0.12; PLCG2_rs72824905-G OR?=?0.66, p?=?0.19). None of the other cohorts showed significant associations that were concordant with those for AD, although the DLB cohort had suggestive findings (Fisher’s test: ABI3_rs616338-T OR?=?1.79, p?=?0.097; PLCG2_rs72824905-G OR?=?0.32, p?=?0.124). PLCG2_rs72824905-G showed suggestive association with pathologically-confirmed MSA (OR?=?2.39, p?=?0.050) and PSP (OR?=?1.97, p?=?0.061), although in the opposite direction of that for AD. We assessed RNA sequencing data from 238 temporal cortex (TCX) and 224 cerebellum (CER) samples from AD, PSP and control patients and identified co-expression networks, enriched in microglial genes and immune response GO terms, and which harbor PLCG2 and/or ABI3. These networks had higher expression in AD, but not in PSP TCX, compared to controls. This expression association did not survive adjustment for brain cell type population changes.

Conclusions

We validated the associations previously reported with ABI3_rs616338-T and PLCG2_rs72824905-G in a Caucasian AD case-control cohort, and observed a similar direction of effect in DLB. Conversely, PLCG2_rs72824905-G showed suggestive associations with PSP and MSA in the opposite direction. We identified microglial gene-enriched co-expression networks with significantly higher levels in AD TCX, but not in PSP, a primary tauopathy. This co-expression network association appears to be driven by microglial cell population changes in a brain region affected by AD pathology. Although these findings require replication in larger cohorts, they suggest distinct effects of the microglial genes, ABI3 and PLCG2 in neurodegenerative diseases that harbor significant vs. low/no amyloid ß pathology.

     

Association between <Emphasis Type="Italic">ATM</Emphasis> gene polymorphisms,lung cancer susceptibility and radiation-induced pneumonitis: a meta-analysis

Background

Previous studies have suggested that DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair is an important protective pathway after damage. The ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene plays an important role in the DNA DSB repair pathway. DNA damage is a major cytotoxic effect that can be caused by radiation, and the ability to repair DNA after damage varies among different tissues. Impaired DNA repair pathways are associated with high sensitivity to radiation exposure. Hence, ATM gene polymorphisms are thought to influence the risk of cancer and radiation-induced pneumonitis (RP) risk in cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. However, the results of previous studies are inconsistent. We therefore conducted this comprehensive meta-analysis.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed in the PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI) and Wanfang databases to identify studies that investigated the association between the ATM gene polymorphisms and both lung cancer and RP radiotherapy-treated lung cancer (the last search was conducted on Dec.10, 2015). The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to investigate the strength of these relationships. Funnel plots and Begg’s and Egger’s tests were conducted to assess the publication bias. All analyses were performed in STATA 13.0 software.

Results

Ten eligible case-control studies (4731 cases and 5142 controls) on lung cancer susceptibility and four (192 cases and 772 controls) on RP risk were included. The results of the overall and subgroup analyses indicated that in the ATM gene, the rs189037 (?111G?>?A, ?4519G?>?A), rs664677 (44831C?>?T, 49238C?>?T) and rs664143 (131,717 T?>?G) polymorphisms were significantly associated with lung cancer susceptibility (OR?=?1.21, 95% CI?=?1.04–1.39, P?=?0.01; OR?=?1.26, 95% CI?=?1.06–1.49, P?=?0.01; OR?=?1.43, 95% CI?=?1.15–1.78, P?<?0.01). Additionally, the rs189037 variant was significantly associated with RP risk (OR?=?1.74, 95% CI?=?1.02–2.97, P?=?0.04). No publication bias was found in the funnel plots, Begg’s tests or Egger’s tests.

Conclusions

The results indicate that the ATM rs189037, rs664677 and rs664143 gene polymorphisms are risk factors for lung cancer, while the ATM rs189037 variant was significantly associated with RP risk.

     

Association of <Emphasis Type="Italic">TSHR</Emphasis> Gene Copy Number Variation with TSH Abnormalities

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is secreted by the pituitary gland and promotes thyroid growth and function, with increased TSH levels typically associated with hypothyroidism. By consulting the literature, we found that the TSHR, PAX8, and PDE4B genes are associated with thyroid function. Recently, copy number variations (CNVs) have been used as genetic markers to investigate inter-individual variation. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between the TSHR, PAX8, and PDE4B gene CNVs and TSH abnormalities, by calculating variations in gene copy number. Four hundred and eighty-one participants, 232 healthy controls and 249 patients with TSH abnormalities, were selected from three distinct areas in China with different iodine statuses. RT-PCR was used to detect CNVs. Urinary iodine concentrations (UIC) were measured by As³⁺–Ce⁴⁺ catalytic spectrophotometry. There was an association between a CNV at the TSHR gene and TSH abnormalities (p?=?0.002). The distribution of PAX8 and PDE4B gene CNVs between patients with TSH abnormalities and healthy controls was not significantly different. UIC >?200 μg/l (OR?=?1.49, 95% CI?=?1.01–2.22) and the TSHR gene (OR?=?6.01, 95% CI?=?1.96–18.41) were found to be risk factors for TSH abnormalities. PAX8 and PDE4B gene CNVs were not significantly associated with TSH abnormalities. There was no significant interaction between UIC and any of the examined CNVs. In conclusion, the TSHR gene CNV was associated with the development of TSH abnormalities. No significant associations were revealed between urinary iodine levels and candidate gene CNVs.     

Daily milk intake and body water turnover in suckling mink (Mustela vison) kits

Daily (24 h) milk intake and body water turnover were measured in eight litters of suckling mink (Mustela vison) kits (6–9 kits litter⁻¹) during weeks 1–4 post partum using the tritiated water (³HHO) dilution technique. The biological half-life of body water turnover in the mink kits increased linearly from 0.9 days in week 1 (3–5 days post partum) to 1.9 days in week 4 (22–24 days post partum). The daily milk intake varied markedly among the mink kits within a litter and increased significantly with increasing body mass from (mean±SEM) 10.9±0.4 g per kit during week 1 to 27.7±1.0 g per kit during week 4. Throughout the study, male kits were ∼10% heavier and had a significantly higher milk intake than female kits. The results were corrected for water recycling between the dam and her kits, ranging from ∼4 to 15% of the daily milk water intake, and the calculated daily milk yield of the 2 year old lactating mink dams increased from 87±7 g day⁻¹ in week 1 to 190±15 g day⁻¹ in week 4 post partum. The average body growth rate of the mink kits ranged from 2.9 g kit⁻¹ per day in week 1 to 5.4 g kit⁻¹ per day in week 4, and the calculated mean intake of mink milk per unit of body weight gain was remarkably stable at 4.0 (g g⁻¹) during weeks 1–3 post partum, but increased to 5.6 (g g⁻¹) in week 4 post partum. The amount of metabolizable energy supplied to the kits by the daily milk yield of the dam increased from ≈450 to ≈990 kJ day⁻¹, which corresponded well with the calculated daily energy requirements of the kits. The tritiated water dilution technique was found feasible and reliable for repeated measurements of milk intake in suckling mink kits up to 4 weeks of age.     

Associations of rs3740677 within <Emphasis Type="Italic">GAB2</Emphasis> Gene with LOAD in Chinese Han Population

GRB2-associated binding protein 2 (GAB2) has been identified as a crucial factor in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and ten common variants within GAB2 have been detected to be associated with AD onset risk in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Here, we first screened a common locus (rs3740677) in 3′ UTR of GAB2 sequence which is targeted by the miRNA-185 and initiatively explored the probable associations of rs3740677 with risk for late-onset AD (LOAD) in a large scale case–control study from Chinese Han populations (992 LOAD patients and 1358 healthy subjects). Eventually, the genotype (P?=?0.024) and allele (P?=?0.008) distribution of rs3740677 showed significant difference between LOAD and control group, and we observed a significant association of T allele in rs3740677 with LOAD risk in multivariate analysis and it decreased the risk for LOAD (dominant: OR?=?0.831, 95 % CI?=?0.702–0.983, P?=?0.031; additive: OR?=?0.855, 95 % CI?=?0.745–0.983, P?=?0.027) adjusted for age, gender, and APOE ε4 status. Our study further confirmed the association of GAB2 and AD. However, the absolute and correct association of rs3740677 with AD still required more investigations in diverse regions and ethnics.     

Hypertension in a young boy: an energy drink effect

Background

The increased heterogeneity in the distribution of social and biological risk factors makes the epidemiology of anaemia a real challenge. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Kassala, Eastern Sudan during the period of January ?? March 2011 to investigate the prevalence and predictors of anaemia among adults (> 15 years old).

Findings

Out of 646, 234 (36.2%) adults had anaemia; 68 (10.5%); 129 (20.0%) and 37 (5.7%) had mild, moderate and severe anaemia, respectively. In logistic regression analyses, age (OR?=?1.0, CI?=?0.9?C1, P?=?0.7), rural vs. urban residency (OR?=?0.9, CI?=?0.7?C1.3, P?=?0.9), female vs. male gender (OR?=?0.8, CI?=?0.6?C1.1, P?=?0.3), educational level????secondary level vs. < secondary level (OR?=?1.0, CI?=?0.6?C1.6, P?=?0.8) and Hudandawa vs. non-Hudandawa ethnicity (OR?=?0.8, CI?=?0.6?C1, P?=?0.1) were not associated with anaemia.

Conclusion

There was a high prevalence of anaemia in this setting, anaemia affected adults regardless to their age, sex and educational level. Therefore, anaemia is needed to be screened for routinely and supplements have to be employed in this setting.     

Clinical significance and risk factors for new onset and recurring atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery - a retrospective data analysis

Background

Although mortality after cardiac surgery has significantly decreased in the last decade, patients still experience clinically relevant postoperative complications. Among others, atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common consequence of cardiac surgery, which is associated with prolonged hospitalization and increased mortality.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data from patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, valve surgery or a combination of both at the University Hospital Muenster between April 2014 and July 2015. We evaluated the incidence of new onset and intermittent/permanent AF (patients with pre- and postoperative AF). Furthermore, we investigated the impact of postoperative AF on clinical outcomes and evaluated potential risk factors.

Results

In total, 999 patients were included in the analysis. New onset AF occurred in 24.9% of the patients and the incidence of intermittent/permanent AF was 59.5%. Both types of postoperative AF were associated with prolonged ICU length of stay (median increase approx. 2 days) and duration of mechanical ventilation (median increase 1 h). Additionally, new onset AF patients had a higher rate of dialysis and hospital mortality and more positive fluid balance on the day of surgery and postoperative days 1 and 2. In a multiple logistic regression model, advanced age (odds ratio (OR)?=?1.448 per decade increase, p?<?0.0001), a combination of CABG and valve surgery (OR?=?1.711, p?=?0.047), higher C-reactive protein (OR?=?1.06 per unit increase, p?<?0.0001) and creatinine plasma concentration (OR?=?1.287 per unit increase, p?=?0.032) significantly predicted new onset AF. Higher Horowitz index values were associated with a reduced risk (OR?=?0.996 per unit increase, p?=?0.012). In a separate model, higher plasma creatinine concentration (OR?=?2.125 per unit increase, p?=?0.022) was a significant risk factor for intermittent/permanent AF whereas higher plasma phosphate concentration (OR?=?0.522 per unit increase, p?=?0.003) indicated reduced occurrence of this arrhythmia.

Conclusions

New onset and intermittent/permanent AF are associated with adverse clinical outcomes of elective cardiac surgery patients. Different risk factors implicated in postoperative AF suggest different mechanisms might be involved in its pathogenesis. Customized clinical management protocols seem to be warranted for a higher success rate of prevention and treatment of postoperative AF.

     

The relationship between human leukocyte antigen-DP/DQ gene polymorphisms and the outcomes of HCV infection in a Chinese population

Background

Recently, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class-II gene polymorphisms have been reported to be related to Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and chronicity. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship of HLA-DP rs9277535 and HLA-DQ rs7453920 with the outcomes of HCV infection.

Methods

The rs9277535 and rs7453920 were genotyped in 370 subjects with chronic HCV infection, 194 subjects with spontaneous HCV clearance, and 973 subjects with non-HCV infection from the Chinese population using the ABI TaqMan allelic discrimination assay.

Results

Logistic regression analyses showed that the minor allele A of rs7453920 significantly increased the susceptibility of HCV infection in dominant model (adjusted OR?=?1.33, 95% CI: 1.04–1.71, P?=?0.026) and additive models (adjusted OR?=?1.30, 95% CI: 1.06–1.60, P?=?0.012). Rs9277535 A allele significantly increased the risk of chronic HCV infection in dominant model (adjusted OR?=?1.52, 95% CI: 1.01–2.28, P?=?0.046). Haplotype AA showed a higher risk of HCV infection than the most frequent haplotype GG (adjusted OR?=?1.37, 95% CI: 1.05–1.78, P?=?0.018).

Conclusion

The HLA-DQ rs7453920 and -DP rs9277535 mutations were significantly associated with HCV infection susceptibility and chronicity, respectively.

     

Associations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">CTLA4</Emphasis> +49 A/G Dimorphism and HLA-DRB1*/DQB1* Alleles With Type 1 Diabetes from South India

The aim of present study was to elucidate the association of CTLA4 +49 A/G and HLA-DRB1*/DQB1* gene polymorphism in south Indian T1DM patients. The patients and controls (n?=?196 each) were enrolled for CTLA4 and HLA-DRB1*/DQB1* genotyping by RFLP/PCR-SSP methods. The increased frequencies of CTLA4 ‘AG’ (OR?=?1.99; p?=?0.001), ‘GG’ (OR?=?3.94; p?=?0.001) genotypes, and ‘G’ allele (OR?=?2.42; p?=?9.26?×?10^?8) were observed in patients. Reduced frequencies of ‘AA’ (OR?=?0.35; p?=?7.19?×?10^?7) and ‘A’ (OR?=?0.41; p?=?9.26?×?10^?8) in patients revealed protective association. Among HLA-DRB1*/DQB1* alleles, DRB1*04 (OR?=?3.29; p?=?1.0?×?10^?5), DRB1*03 (OR?=?2.81; p?=?1.9?×?10^?6), DQB1*02:01 (OR?=?2.93; p?=?1.65?×?10^?5), DQB1*02:02 (OR?=?3.38; p?=?0.0003), and DQB1*03:02 (OR?=?7.72; p?=?0.0003) were in susceptible association. Decreased frequencies of alleles, DRB1*15 (OR?=?0.32; p?=?2.55?×?10^?7), DRB1*10 (OR?=?0.45; p?=?0.002), DQB1*06:01 (OR?=?0.43; p?=?0.0001), and DQB1*05:02 (OR?=?0.28; p?=?2.1?×?10^?4) in patients were suggested protective association. The combination of DRB1*03+AG (OR?=?5.21; p?=?1.4?×?10^?6), DRB1*04+AG (OR?=?2.14; p?=?0.053), DRB1*04+GG (OR?=?5.21; p?=?0.036), DQB1*02:01+AG (OR?=?4.44; p?=?3.6?×?10^?5), DQB1*02:02+AG (OR?=?20.9; p?=?9.5?×?10^?4), and DQB1*02:02+GG (OR?=?4.06; p?=?0.036) revealed susceptible association. However, the combination of DRB1*10+AA (OR?=?0.35; p?=?0.003), DRB1*15+AA (OR?=?0.22; p?=?5.3?×?10^?7), DQB1*05:01+AA (OR?=?0.45; p?=?0.007), DQB1*05:02+AA (OR?=?0.17; p?=?1.7?×?10^?4), DQB1*06:01+AA (OR?=?0.40; p?=?0.002), and DQB1*06:02+AG (OR?=?0.34; p?=?0.001) showed decreased frequency in patients, suggesting protective association. In conclusion, CTLA4/HLA-DR/DQ genotypic combinations revealed strong susceptible/protective association toward T1DM in south India. A female preponderance in disease associations was also documented.     

Increased glycated albumin and decreased esRAGE levels in serum are related to negative coronary artery remodeling in patients with type 2 diabetes: an Intravascular ultrasound study

Background

Negative coronary artery remodeling is frequent in patients with diabetes, but its mechanism remains unclear. We here evaluated the association of serum levels of glycated albumin (GA) and endogenous secretory receptor for advanced glycation end products (esRAGE) with coronary artery remodeling in type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods

Serum levels of GA and esRAGE were measured and intravascular ultrasound was performed in 136 consecutive diabetic patients with 143 coronary intermediate lesions. The remodeling index (RI) was calculated as the ratio between external elastic membrane (EEM) area at the lesion site and EEM area at the reference segment. Negative remodeling (NR) was defined as an RI?<?0.95 and intermediate or positive remodeling as an RI?≥?0.95.

Results

Mean plaque burden at the lesion site was 70.96?±?9.98%, and RI was 0.96?±?0.18. Negative coronary arterial remodeling existed in 81 (56.6%) lesions. RI correlated closely with serum esRAGE level (r?=?0.236, P?=?0.005) and was inversely related to serum GA level (r?=???0.240, P?=?0.004) and plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (r?=???0.206, P?=?0.014) and total cholesterol levels (r?=???0.183, P?=?0.028). Generalized estimating equations logistic regression analysis identified esRAGE (OR 0.037; 95% CI 0.012–0.564, P?=?0.021), GA (OR 1.093; 95% CI 1.013–1.179, P?=?0.018) and LDL-C (OR 1.479; 95% CI 1.072–2.835, P?=?0.023) as independent predictors for negative remodeling.

Conclusions

In diabetic patients, negative coronary artery remodeling is associated with increased GA and decreased esRAGE levels in serum.

     

Factors related to health-related quality of life in ankylosing spondylitis,overall and stratified by sex

Background

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) begins early in life and often leads to reduced physical function, but less is known about the impacts it has on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aims of this study were to assess HRQoL using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) in a cohort of patients with AS compared with controls and to examine associations between SF-36 scores and spinal radiographic changes, physical function, disease activity and demographic data overall and stratified by sex.

Methods

A cohort of patients with AS from Western Sweden were assessed using the Modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (mSASSS) with spinal radiographs, clinical examination and questionnaires, including the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score-C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Patient Global (BASG) and SF-36. Each patient’s SF-36 results were compared with those of five age-matched and sex-matched persons (n?=?1055) from the SF-36 Swedish normative population database. Associations between SF-36 physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores and disease-related and demographic factors were investigated using univariate and multivariable ogistic regression analyses with PCS and MCS below/above their respective median values as dependent variables.

Results

A total of 210 patients, age (median, IQR) 49.0 (21.2) years, symptom duration 24.0 (21.0) years, men 57.6% and HLAB27 87.1% were included. Patients with AS scored significantly lower (p?<?0.001) compared to controls in all SF-36 domains and component summaries; PCS 42.4 (14.5) in AS versus 52.4 (11.8) in controls and MCS 47.9 (20.0) in AS versus 54.1 (10.1) in controls. Both men and women scored significantly lower in PCS compared with MCS. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that living without a partner (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.00–5.67), long symptom duration (year in decade OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.16–2.37), higher BASFI (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.46–2.70) and ASDAS ≥?2.1 (OR 3.32, 95% CI 1.45–7.62) were associated with worse PCS, while living without a partner (OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.34–6.91), fatigue (visual analogue scale for global fatigue greater than the median (OR 6.36, 95% CI 3.06–13.19) and ASDAS ≥?2.1 (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.41–6.25) with worse MCS. Some differences between sexes were observed in the results.

Conclusions

The patients with AS had significantly lower HRQoL compared with controls. PCS was more affected compared to MCS in both sexes. Both disease-related and demographic factors were associated with HRQoL, partly overlapping for PCS and MCS. Factors associated with HRQoL showed some differences between sexes. By modifying factors, such as ASDAS-CRP and fatigue, HRQoL may potentially be improved.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00858819. Registered on 9 March 2009. Last updated on 28 May 2015.

     

Pre-treatment prognostic nutritional index may serve as a potential biomarker in urinary cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

To investigate the potential prognostic role of pre-treatment prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in urinary cancers.

Methods

Relevant articles were searched comprehensively from PubMed, Embase and Web of Science, up to November 2018. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted to evaluate their associations.

Result

A total of 12 related articles including 6561 patients were ultimately enrolled. Our results indicated that a relatively lower level of pre-treatment PNI was associated with decreased OS, CSS/DSS and DFS/RFS/PFS (pooled HR?=?1.68, 95% CI 1.45–1.95; pooled HR?=?1.57, 95% CI 1.33–1.86; pooled HR?=?1.75, 95% CI 1.53–1.99, respectively). Subsequent stratified analysis by cancer type for OS showed that PNI could also be a predictor no matter in renal cell cancer (RCC) or bladder cancer (BC) (pooled HR?=?1.65, 95% CI 1.37–1.97 and pooled HR?=?1.67, 95% CI 1.20–2.33). Similar results could be found in DFS/RFS/PFS (RCC: HR?=?1.81, 95% CI 1.54–2.13 and BC: HR?=?1.68, 95% CI 1.32–2.12) and in CSS/DSS (RCC: HR?=?1.50, 95% CI 1.23–1.82 and upper tract urothelial carcinoma: HR?=?1.61, 95% CI 1.13–2.28). As for the treatment subgroup, a relatively lower level of PNI could also be a positive predictor for OS (surgery: HR?=?1.64, 95% CI 1.40–1.93; target therapy: HR?=?1.88, 95% CI 1.34–2.63) and DFS/RFS/PFS (surgery: HR?=?1.69, 95% CI 1.47–1.95; target therapy: HR?=?2.14, 95% CI 1.50–3.05).

Conclusion

The outcomes of us shed light on that elevated pre-treatment PNI was positively associated with OS, CSS/DSS and DFS/RFS/PFS, indicating that it could be an independent prognostic factor in urinary cancers.

     

Lifestyle-Related Factors and Atopy in Seven Danish Population-Based Studies from Different Time Periods

Background

The prevalence of allergic respiratory disease tends to increase in populations that adopt the so-called Westernized lifestyle. We investigated the association between atopy and several possible lifestyle-related factors in seven Danish population-based studies.

Methods

A total of 20048 persons participated in the seven studies. We used logistic regression to analyse the associations between possible determinants and atopy defined as serum specific IgE or skin prick test positivity against inhalant allergens. Associations were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). In addition, individual participant data meta-analyses were performed.

Results

Atopy was significantly associated with younger age (OR per 1 year increase in age: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.97, 0.98); male sex (OR for males versus females: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.24, 1.45), heavy drinking (OR for heavy drinkers versus light drinkers: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.27), never smoking (OR for current versus never smokers: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.80), and higher educational level (OR for educated versus uneducated: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.41). Atopy was not associated with blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, physical activity or body mass except in women only, where we found a positive association (OR for obese vs. normal weight: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.39) with p_trend = 0.032.

Conclusions

Of interest for preventive purposes, we found that atopy was associated with some of the reversible lifestyle-related factors that characterize a Westernized lifestyle.     

SNP markers associated with body size and pelt length in American mink (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Neovison vison</Emphasis>)

Background

Identification of genes underlying production traits is a key aim of the mink research community. Recent availability of genomic tools have opened the possibility for faster genetic progress in mink breeding. Availability of mink genome assembly allows genome-wide association studies in mink.

Results

In this study, we used genotyping-by-sequencing to obtain single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes of 2496 mink. After multiple rounds of filtering, we retained 28,336 high quality SNPs and 2352 individuals for a genome-wide association study (GWAS). We performed the first GWAS for body weight, behavior, along with 10 traits related to fur quality in mink.

Conclusions

Combining association results with existing functional information of genes and mammalian phenotype databases, we proposed WWC3, MAP2K4, SLC7A1 and USP22 as candidate genes for body weight and pelt length in mink.

     

Activated mammary number and litter size in the mink.

The dependence of activated mammary number on litter size was studied in standard type farmed mink in an attempt to clarify its effects on early kit mortality. The results showed highly positive correlations between litter size and the number of activated teats at 2 days, 4 weeks and 8 weeks of age. Total kit mortality was rather low and independent of litter size. The body weights of the mothers were independent of either litter size or age during the lactation period. The body weights of male kits were of the same order of magnitude in spite of litter size or age until weaning. In female kits, the body weights in the largest litters were lowest at weaning.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Camelus dromedarius</Emphasis> brucellosis and its public health associated risks in the Afar National Regional State in northeastern Ethiopia

Background

A cross-sectional study was carried out in four districts of the Afar region in Ethiopia to determine the prevalence of brucellosis in camels, and to identify risky practices that would facilitate the transmission of zoonoses to humans. This study involved testing 461 camels and interviewing 120 livestock owners. The modified Rose Bengal plate test (mRBPT) and complement fixation test (CFT) were used as screening and confirmatory tests, respectively. SPSS 16 was used to analyze the overall prevalence and potential risk factors for seropositivity, using a multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results

In the camel herds tested, 5.4% had antibodies against Brucella species, and the district level seroprevalence ranged from 11.7% to 15.5% in camels. The logistic regression model for camels in a herd size?>?20 animals (OR?=?2.8; 95% CI: 1.16-6.62) and greater than four years of age (OR?=?4.9; 95% CI: 1.45-16.82) showed a higher risk of infection when compared to small herds and those?≤?4 years old. The questionnaire survey revealed that most respondents did not know about the transmission of zoonotic diseases, and that their practices could potentially facilitate the transmission of zoonotic pathogens.

Conclusions

The results of this study revealed that camel brucellosis is prevalent in the study areas. Therefore, there is a need for implementing control measures and increasing public awareness in the prevention methods of brucellosis.