Genetic Demographic Structure of the Belgorod Population: Age,Ethnicity, Education,and Occupation

Data from marriage records of the city of Belgorod for 1960, 1985, and 1995 have been used to determine some parameters of population structure in this city. The coefficients of correlation with respect to age of marriage between spouses in the couples contracting marriages in these years were 0.74, 0.62, and 0.80, respectively. Women of reproductively unfavorable age (under 20 or over 30 years) accounted for 5.5, 0.83, and 19% of all women contracting marriages in these years, respectively. The proportions of interethnic marriages in these years were 16.9, 14.9, and 15.6%, respectively. The percentage of Slavs decreased from 99 to 97% during the 35 years studied, whereas the proportion of Russians insignificantly increased (from 90.4 to 91.4%). The proportion of Caucasian ethnic groups increased by six time (from 0.3 to 1.8%), and that of other non-Slavic ethnic groups increased by almost two times (from 0.7 to 1.2%). The marriage convergence (K) with respect to ethnicity (0.095, 0.106, and 0.090 in 1960, 1985, and 1995, respectively) was lower than that with respect to education (0.296 and 0.350 in 1985 and 1995, respectively) or occupation (0.212 and 0.231 in 1985 and 1995, respectively). The maximum coefficients of ethnically, educationally, and occupationally assortative marriage have been found, respectively, in ethnic minority groups (A′ = 20%); in persons with higher and primary education (A′ = 37.5 and 49.9%, respectively); and in the military officers/soldiers, engineers, healthcare professionals, and researchers (the respective A′ values are 65.6, 32.2, 31.5, and 39.8%).__________Translated from Genetika, Vol. 41, No. 6, 2005, pp. 823–829.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Atramentova, Filiptsova.     

ESBL-Producing Enterobacteriaceae: Occurrence,Risk Factors for Fecal Carriage and Strain Traits in the Swiss Slaughter Cattle Population Younger than 2 Years Sampled at Abattoir Level

During the past decade extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae have become a matter of great concern in human and veterinary medicine. In this cross-sectional study fecal swabs of a geographically representative number of Swiss cattle at slaughterhouse level were sampled i) to determine the occurrence of ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae in the Swiss slaughter cattle population younger than 2 years, and ii) to assess risk factors for shedding ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae. In total, 48 (8.4%; 95% C.I. 6.3–11.1%) independent ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae were detected among the 571 tested animals. Species identification revealed 46 E. coli strains, one Enterobacter cloacae and one Citrobacter youngae. In view of beta-lactam antibiotics, all 48 isolates were resistant to ampicillin, cephalothin and cefpodoxime. Forty-five (93.8%) isolates were resistant cefuroxime; one (2.1%) isolate to cefoxitin, 28 (58.3%) isolates to cefotaxime, 2 (4.2%) isolates to ceftazidime, and 2 (4.2%) isolates to cefepime. Risk factors for shedding ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae were (i) age (OR 0.19 and 0.12 in age category 181 d to 1y and 1y to 2 y compared to ≤180 d), (ii) primary production type, meaning dairy compared to beef on farm of origin (OR 5.95), and (iii) more than 1 compared to less than 1 animal movement per d per 100 animals on farm of origin (OR 2.37).     

Cardiometabolic Risk Indicators That Distinguish Adults with Psychosis from the General Population,by Age and Gender

Individuals with psychosis are more likely than the general community to develop obesity and to die prematurely from heart disease. Interventions to improve cardiovascular outcomes are best targeted at the earliest indicators of risk, at the age they first emerge. We investigated which cardiometabolic risk indicators distinguished those with psychosis from the general population, by age by gender, and whether obesity explained the pattern of observed differences. Data was analyzed from an epidemiologically representative sample of 1,642 Australians with psychosis aged 18–64 years and a national comparator sample of 8,866 controls aged 25–64 years from the general population. Cubic b-splines were used to compare cross sectional age trends by gender for mean waist circumference, body mass index [BMI], blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol in our psychosis and control samples. At age 25 individuals with psychosis had a significantly higher mean BMI, waist circumference, triglycerides, glucose [women only], and diastolic blood pressure and significantly lower HDL-cholesterol than controls. With the exception of triglycerides at age 60+ in men, and glucose in women at various ages, these differences were present at every age. Differences in BMI and waist circumference between samples, although dramatic, could not explain all differences in diastolic blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol or triglycerides but did explain differences in glucose. Psychosis has the hallmarks of insulin resistance by at least age 25. The entire syndrome, not just weight, should be a focus of intervention to reduce mortality from cardiovascular disease.     

Genetic Demographic Structure of the Lugansk (Ukraine) Population: Age,Ethnicity, Education,and Occupation

Data from marriage records from registry office archives of 1960, 1985, 1990, and 2000 have been used to calculate the genetic demographic parameters of the Lugansk city population. The population is mostly Ukrainian and Russian. In the years studied, Ukrainians accounted for 49.4, 44.0, 44.6, and 48.7% of the population and Russians, for 46.3, 52.1, 50.7, and 45.6%, respectively. The total proportion of the two ethnic groups decreased from 97.3 to 94.6% for 40 years. The marriage contingency coefficient (K) with respect to ethnicity decreased from 0.16 to 0.07 in the period between 1960 and 1985 and increased from 0.10 to 0.24 between 1990 and 2000. The frequency of interethnic marriages (48.4, 50.9, 52.0, and 60.0%, respectively, in the years studied) indicate that the outbreeding component has been constantly increasing in the Lugansk population. The marriage assortativeness indices (A′) for Ukrainians were 0.2, 4.8, 2.1, and 6.0% in 1960, 1985, 1990, and 2000, respectively. For pooled minor ethnic groups, A′ values in these years were 25.6, 12.4, 18.9, and 6.6%, respectively. The marriage contingency coefficient (K) with respect to occupation increased in the period between 1960 and 1990 (0.14, 0.16, and 0.19 in 1960, 1985, and 1990, respectively), and K with respect to education decreased (0.35, 0.30, and 0.26, respectively).     

Prevalence and Determinants of the Gender Differentials Risk Factors of Child Deaths in Bangladesh: Evidence from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2011

BackgroundThe number of child deaths is a potential indicator to assess the health condition of a country, and represents a major health challenge in Bangladesh. Although the country has performed exceptionally well in decreasing the mortality rate among children under five over the last few decades, mortality still remains relatively high. The main objective of this study is to identify the prevalence and determinants of the risk factors of child mortality in Bangladesh.MethodsThe data were based on a cross-sectional study collected from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), 2011. The women participants numbered 16,025 from seven divisions of Bangladesh – Rajshahi, Dhaka, Chittagong, Barisal, Khulna, Rangpur and Sylhet. The 𝟀² test and logistic regression model were applied to determine the prevalence and factors associated with child deaths in Bangladesh.ResultsIn 2011, the prevalence of child deaths in Bangladesh for boys and girls was 13.0% and 11.6%, respectively. The results showed that birth interval and birth order were the most important factors associated with child death risks; mothers’ education and socioeconomic status were also significant (males and females). The results also indicated that a higher birth order (7 & more) of child (OR=21.421 & 95%CI=16.879-27.186) with a short birth interval ≤ 2 years was more risky for child mortality, and lower birth order with longer birth interval >2 were significantly associated with child deaths. Other risk factors that affected child deaths in Bangladesh included young mothers of less than 25 years (mothers’ median age (26-36 years): OR=0.670, 95%CI=0.551-0.815), women without education compared to those with secondary and higher education (OR =0 .711 & .628, 95%CI=0.606-0.833 & 0.437-0.903), mothers who perceived their child body size to be larger than average and small size (OR= 1.525 & 1.068, 95%CI=1.221-1.905 & 0.913-1.249), and mothers who delivered their child by non-caesarean (OR= 1.687, 95%CI=1.253-2.272).ConclusionCommunity-based educational programs or awareness programs are required to reduce the child death in Bangladesh, especially for younger women should be increase the birth interval and decrease the birth order. The government should apply the strategies to enhance the socioeconomic conditions, especially in rural areas, increase the awareness program through media and expand schooling, particularly for girls.     

2009～2011年上海市手足口病流行病学和病原学特征

为分析2009～2011年上海地区手足口病流行病学特征和病原构成,从国家疾病监测信息报告管理系统获取上海市2009～2011年手足口病流行病学资料;采用实时荧光反转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）对来自上海18个区（县）的6676例手足口病病例标本进行肠道病毒核酸检测,对其中257份标本进行病毒分离;对27份人肠道病毒71型（HEV71）毒株进行VPl基因序列全长测定和分析。结果显示,2009～2011年上海市18个区（县）均有手足口病病例报道,地区分布元显著差异;≤5岁的婴幼儿为疾病高发年龄段;4～11月为发病高峰期。HEV71和柯萨奇病毒A组16型（CAl6）为主要病原,不同地区病原构成有所不同。实时荧光RT—PCR对6676例病例标本进行核酸检测,其中肠道病毒通用核酸检测阳性率为69．61％,HEV71和CAl6阳性率分别为38．83％和21．26％。对257份HEV71核酸阳性标本进行病毒分离,获得毒株57株,分离阳性率为22．18％。对其中27株进行VPl基因全长测序,均属C4a基因亚型。     

Genetic Demographic Description of the Ust-Aldan Rural Population of Sakha Republic (Yakutia): Ethnic, Sex, and Age Compositions, Vital Statistics, and Surname Structure

Information on the sex, age, and ethnic compositions; reproductive parameters; intensity of natural selection (Crow's indices); and surname diversity of three rural populations (the Byadi, Dyupsya, and Cheriktey villages) of the Ust-Aldan ulus (district) of Sakha Republic (Yakutia) has been analyzed. The rural Yakut population of the Ust-Aldan ulus is demographically young (the mean age 25–31 years) and characterized by low outbreeding, unfavorable sex ratio in both prereproductive and reproductive ages, and high fertility (3.58–5.45 children surviving until the reproductive age per woman that has completed the reproductive period), although the actual reproductively active period is shorter than half its physiological duration. In the structure of index of total selection, the differential-fertility component is considerably greater than the differential-mortality component (I _tot = 0.625, I _m = 0.093, and I _f = 0.487). In the villages studied, some surnames are accumulated (45–65% of the population have five most frequent surnames), which determines the low surname diversity ( = 11.62–25.19) and high random isonymy (I _r= 0.0391–0.0823).     

2009-2011年通州区食源性金黄色葡萄球菌的生物学及流行病学特征

目的 对北京市通州区2009-2011年食品中分离到的32株金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphlococcus aureus)进行研究,建立相关资料的数据库.方法 对32株食源性金葡菌进行耐热核酸酶检测、肠毒素检测、药敏检测和PFGE分型,并进行同源性比较.结果 32株食源性金葡菌中26株耐热核酸酶试验为阳性,有29株菌可以产生不同型别的肠毒素,以SEE型为主,占产肠毒素金葡菌的83％;有27株菌对检测的抗生素有耐药性,占金葡菌总数的84％;PFGE图谱分为17个带型.结论 在通州区食品中检出的金葡菌既具有致病性也具有耐药性.在不同的年份,既存在着拥有同源关系金葡菌的重复流行,也会有新的金葡菌株出现.本研究建立了通州区食源性金葡菌的生化性状和分子图谱数据,为今后预防和控制由金葡菌引起的是食源性疾患的发生奠定了基础.     

Gingival and Periodontal Parameters in a Population of Healthy Adults, 22–90 Years of Age1

There are little data concerning the periodontal status of aging individuals free of systemic disease and medication utilization. In the present study 55 healthy male and female, non-medicated adults between the ages of 22 and 90 were evaluated by comparing gingival and periodontal parameters. The results indicate greater proportions of sites with dental plaque, calculus, gingival bleeding and recession, and attachment loss in the oldest age group. The progression of these changes from young to middle to old age was not uniform. Attachment loss showed the most significant age-related changes. Results from this small, cross-sectional study of healthy individuals are generally comparable to findings reported from the NIDR 1985 National Survey of Oral Health in U.S. Adults.     

Chinese Bone Turnover Marker Study: Reference Ranges for C-Terminal Telopeptide of Type I Collagen and Procollagen I N-Terminal Peptide by Age and Gender

Background

Bone formation marker procollagen I N-terminal peptide (PINP) and resorption marker C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (β-CTX) are useful biomarkers for differential diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation of osteoporosis, but reference values are required.

Methods

The multi-center, cross-sectional Chinese Bone Turnover Marker Study included 3800 healthy volunteers in 5 Chinese cities. Serum PINP, β-CTX, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 25OHD levels were measured by chemiluminescence assay. Lumbar spine and proximal femur BMD were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum PINP and β-CTX levels were assessed by age, gender, weight, recruitment latitude, levels of PTH and 25OHD.

Results

Subjects (n = 1436, M∶F, 500∶936; mean age 50.6±19.6 years) exhibited non-normally distributed PINP and β-CTX peaking between 15–19 years, gradually declining throughout adulthood, elevating within 10 years of postmenopause, and then declining by age 70. In women between the age of 30 and menopause, median PINP and β-CTX levels were 40.42 (95% CI: 17.10–102.15) and 0.26 (95% CI: 0.08–0.72) ng/mL, respectively. β-CTX and PINP were positively linearly correlated (r = 0.599, P<0.001). β-CTX correlated positively (r = 0.054 and 0.093) and PINP correlated negatively (r = −0.012 and −0.053) with 25OHD and PTH (P<0.05).

Conclusions

We established Chinese reference ranges for PINP and CTX. Chinese individuals exhibited high serum PINP and β-CTX levels between 15 and 19 years of age and at menopause, which gradually declined after 70 years of age.     

Colonization Dynamics of Altered Schaedler Flora Is Influenced by Gender, Aging, and Helicobacter hepaticus Infection in the Intestines of Swiss Webster Mice

The distribution and colonization levels of the altered Schaedler flora (ASF) in their natural hosts are poorly understood. Intestinal colonization levels of the eight ASF strains in outbred Swiss Webster mice with or without Helicobacter hepaticus infection were characterized by real-time quantitative PCR. All ASF strains were detected in the cecum and colon, but some strains displayed significant variation in colonization levels with host age, gender, and H. hepaticus infection status.     

Trends in the Incidence of In Situ and Invasive Cervical Cancer by Age Group and Histological Type in Korea from 1993 to 2009

Objective

Our study aims to describe changes in carcinoma in situ (CIS) and invasive cervical carcinoma (ICC) in Korean women diagnosed between 1993 and 2009.

Methods

All cases of CIS and invasive cervical carcinoma diagnosed from 1993 to 2009 in the Korean National Cancer Incidence database were analyzed. Age-standardized rates (ASRs) and annual percent changes (APCs) in incidence rates were compared according to age and histological type. Additionally, we used Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) to know the association between screening rate for cervical cancer and incidence rate of cervical cancer.

Results

Between 1993 and 2009, 72,240 cases of ICC were reported in Korea. Total incidence rate of ICC was 14.7 per 100,000 females. ASRs of ICC declined 3.8% per year, from 19.3 per 100,000 in 1993 to 10.5 per 100,000 in 2009. Although the overall incidence rate of adenocarcinoma remained stable, invasive squamous cell carcinoma showed a decreasing trend (APC −4.2%). For women aged 60–79 years, ASRs for squamous cell carcinoma increased from 1993 to 2001, and decreased from 2001 to 2009 (APC: −4.6%). Total 62,300 cases of CIS were diagnosed from 1993 to 2009. Total incidence rate of CIS was 12.2 per 100,000 females. ASRs of CIS increased 5.7% per year, from 7.5 per 100,000 in 1993 to 19.0 per 100,000 in 2009. Adenocarcinoma in situ increased 13.2% per year. There was a strong positive correlation between screening rate for cervical cancer and incidence rate for CIS (p-value = 0.03) whereas screening rate showed a strong negative correlation with incidence rate for squamous ICC (p-value = 0.04).

Conclusions

The increasing trend in CIS, coupled with a decreasing trend in ICC, suggests the important role of cervix cancer screening. The incidence of adenocarcinoma showed a plateau, but the incidence of adenocarcinoma in situ showed an increasing trend.     

Fine Mapping for Weaver Syndrome in Brown Swiss Cattle and the Identification of 41 Concordant Mutations across NRCAM,PNPLA8 and CTTNBP2

Bovine Progressive Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy (Weaver Syndrome) is a recessive neurological disease that has been observed in the Brown Swiss cattle breed since the 1970’s in North America and Europe. Bilateral hind leg weakness and ataxia appear in afflicted animals at 6 to 18 months of age, and slowly progresses to total loss of hind limb control by 3 to 4 years of age. While Weaver has previously been mapped to Bos taurus autosome (BTA) 4∶46–56 Mb and a diagnostic test based on the 6 microsatellite (MS) markers is commercially available, neither the causative gene nor mutation has been identified; therefore misdiagnosis can occur due to recombination between the diagnostic MS markers and the causative mutation. Analysis of 34,980 BTA 4 SNPs genotypes derived from the Illumina BovineHD assay for 20 Brown Swiss Weaver carriers and 49 homozygous normal bulls refined the Weaver locus to 48–53 Mb. Genotyping of 153 SNPs, identified from whole genome sequencing of 10 normal and 10 carrier animals, across a validation set of 841 animals resulted in the identification of 41 diagnostic SNPs that were concordant with the disease. Except for one intergenic SNP all are associated with genes expressed in nervous tissues: 37 distal to NRCAM, one non-synonymous (serine to asparagine) in PNPLA8, one synonymous and one non-synonymous (lysine to glutamic acid) in CTTNBP2. Haplotype and imputation analyses of 7,458 Brown Swiss animals with Illumina BovineSNP50 data and the 41 diagnostic SNPs resulted in the identification of only one haplotype concordant with the Weaver phenotype. Use of this haplotype and the diagnostic SNPs more accurately identifies Weaver carriers in both Brown Swiss purebred and influenced herds.     

Multi-elemental determination of metals,metalloids and rare earth element concentrations in whole blood from the Canadian Health Measures Survey, 2009-2011

BackgroundAs part of Government of Canada’s Chemical Management Plan, substances containing aluminum (Al), bismuth (Bi), cerium (Ce), chromium (Cr), germanium (Ge), lanthanum (La), lithium (Li), neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), tellurium (Te), titanium (Ti) and yttrium (Y) were identified as priorities for risk assessment. Generating exposure estimates from all routes of exposure from multiple sources using a traditional approach for these elements can be challenging. The use of human biomonitoring (HBM) data would allow for direct and more precise assessment of the internal concentrations from all routes and all sources of exposure. There are no Canadian or North American population-level whole blood HBM data for the elements listed above. Therefore, this is the first biomonitoring project carried out to determine the concentrations of these elements from a nationally representative sample of Canadians.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to generate whole blood concentrations for Al, Bi, Ce, Cr, Ge, La, Li. Nd, Pr, Te, Ti and Y in the Canadian population using biobank samples from the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) cycle 2 (2009–2011) for use in characterizing exposure in screening assessments and for establishing baseline concentrations to determine how exposures are changing over time.MethodsThe sample analysis was conducted by ICP-MS. A rigorous quality control and quality assurance process was implemented in order to generate data with high accuracy and precision while measuring low concentrations and minimizing possible inadvertent contamination.ResultsOf the elements analysed, the whole blood concentrations (μg/L) of Al, Ce, Cr, Ge, La, Nd, Pr, Te, Ti and Y in the Canadian population aged 3–79 years were below their respective method reporting limit (MRL). Two elements, Bi and Li were detected in 5 % and 66 % of the Canadian population. The median Li concentration was 0.47 μg/L.ConclusionThe results of this study provide information on concentrations of these elements in the Canadian population which can be utilized to characterize exposure in screening assessments and there by the potential for harm to human health. In addition, this study provides baseline HBM data which can be used as a comparative HBM dataset for other populations with similar exposure patterns.     

2009-2011年我国西南地区旱灾程度及其对植被净初级生产力的影响

2009—2011年,我国西南地区遭受了极端干旱气候影响。利用1980—2011年气象站点观测数据和基于光能利用率的植被净初级生产力估算模型Glo PEM,研究了2009—2011年西南地区干旱灾害过程和程度及其对植被净初级生产力的影响,结果显示:2009—2011年西南地区年均降水量和湿润指数明显低于1980—2008年均值。受干旱气候影响,研究区植被净初级生产力比2001—2011年均值低12.55 g C m-2a-1,总计低0.017 Pg C/a,造成的碳损失约占我国总碳汇的7.91%。2001—2011年西南地区植被净初级生产力与蒸散量变化显著相关(R2=0.44,P0.05),而降水量和湿润指数变化过程与植被净初级生产力和蒸散量不同步,可能是由于该地区森林覆盖率较高,具有较强的涵养水源功能,导致土壤湿度变化滞后于降水量和湿润指数变化,从而使降水量变化过程与植被净初级生产力变化不同步。     

Soluble Methane Monooxygenase Production and Trichloroethylene Degradation by a Type I Methanotroph, Methylomonas methanica 68-1

A methanotroph (strain 68-1), originally isolated from a trichloroethylene (TCE)-contaminated aquifer, was identified as the type I methanotroph Methylomonas methanica on the basis of intracytoplasmic membrane ultrastructure, phospholipid fatty acid profile, and 16S rRNA signature probe hybridization. Strain 68-1 was found to oxidize naphthalene and TCE via a soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) and thus becomes the first type I methanotroph known to be able to produce this enzyme. The specific whole-cell sMMO activity of 68-1, as measured by the naphthalene oxidation assay and by TCE biodegradation, was comparatively higher than sMMO activity levels in Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b grown in the same copper-free conditions. The maximal naphthalene oxidation rates of Methylomonas methanica 68-1 and Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b were 551 ± 27 and 321 ± 16 nmol h^-1 mg of protein ^-1, respectively. The maximal TCE degradation rates of Methylomonas methanica 68-1 and Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b were 2,325 ± 260 and 995 ± 160 nmol h^-1 mg of protein^-1, respectively. The substrate affinity of 68-1 sMMO to naphthalene (K_m, 70 ± 4 μM) and TCE (K_m, 225 ± 13 μM), however, was comparatively lower than that of the sMMO of OB3b, which had affinities of 40 ± 3 and 126 ± 8 μM, respectively. Genomic DNA slot and Southern blot analyses with an sMMO gene probe from Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b showed that the sMMO genes of 68-1 have little genetic homology to those of OB3b. This result may indicate the evolutionary diversification of the sMMOs.