Concurrent validity of five prediction equations to evaluate fat percentage in a sports group expected to yield high performance from Medellín,Colombia

IntroductionNo equations to predict the body composition of athletes from Medellín expected to have high performance have been constructed and, thus, decisions regarding their training and nutrition plans lack support.ObjectiveTo calculate the concurrent validity of five prediction equations for fat percentage in a group of athletes from Medellín, Colombia, expected to yield high performance.Materials and methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis to validate diagnostic tests using secondary-source data of athletes under the age of 18 who were part of the “Medellín Team”. The gold standard was dual-energy X-ray densitometry (DEXA). We analyzed the Slaughter, Durnin and Rahaman, Lohman, and Johnston prediction equations, as well as the five-component model. We used the intraclass correlation coefficient to assess the consistency of the methods and the Bland-Altman plot to calculate the average bias and agreement limits of each of the equations.ResultsWe included 101 athletes (50,5% of them women). The median age was 14,8 years (IR: 13,0 - 16,0). The concurrent validity was “good/excellent” for the Johnston and the Durnin and Rahaman equations and the five-components model. The Lohman equation overestimated the fat percentage in 12,7 points. All of the equations showed broad agreement limits.ConclusionsThe Durnin and Rahaman and the Johnston equations, as well as the five- component model, can be used to predict the FP in the study population as they showed a “good/excellent” concurrent validity and a low average bias. The equations analyzed have low accuracy, which hinders their use to diagnose the individual fat percentage within this population.     

Habitat use of the endangered golden‐rumped sengi Rhynchocyon chrysopygus

The endangered golden‐rumped sengi are found only in Arabuko‐Sokoke Forest with 395.4 km² of forest habitat, and perhaps in a few isolated forest and thicket fragments of total area less than 30 km² all within central coastal Kenya. Understanding its habitat use is an important requirement to develop better conservation measures for the species and its remaining forest habitat. A more reliable method for monitoring its status is also needed. We used the Bayesian occupancy modelling with camera trap data and habitat mapping to characterise the species habitat use in the Arabuko‐Sokoke Forest. The species uses 328 km² (95% CI: 289–364 km²) of Arabuko‐Sokoke Forest habitat, and its site use increases with distance from forest edge, with the highest site use in the Cynometra thicket (0.93; 95% CI: 0.82–1). Its use of the mixed forest habitat has been significantly reduced following years of logging of Afzelia quanzensis. We recommend the use of modelled occupancy, interpreted as the proportion of area used by the species, to monitor the species status. Occupancy models account for detection probability, and heterogeneity in site use and detection can be incorporated. Estimated territory sizes can be combined to obtain abundance estimates.     

浙江葡萄属(Vitis L.)植物新资料

该文报道了在浙江葡萄属(Vitis L.)分类研究中的新发现:(1)描述了开化葡萄(V. kaihuaica Z.H. Chen,F. Chen et W. Y. Xie)、秀丽葡萄(V. amoena Z. H. Chen,F. Chen et W. Y. Xie) 2新种和腺枝龙泉葡萄(V. longquanensis var. glandulosa Z. H. Chen,F. Chen et W. Y. Xie) 1新变种;(2)将V. adenoclada Hand.-Mazz.作为毛葡萄(V. heyneana Roem. et Schult.)的变种处理,即腺枝毛葡萄[V. heyneana Roem. et Schult. var. adenoclada (Hand.-Mazz.) Z. H. Chen,F. Chen et W. Y. Xie];(3)报道了蓝果刺葡萄[V. davidii(Roman. Du Caill.) F9ex var. cyanocarpa (Gagnep.) Sarg.]在浙江的分布新记录。     

中国竹类植物馆藏标本现状与地理分布

馆藏标本是分类学研究的主要凭证, 对特定类群标本的采集信息进行细致整理和分析, 有助于理解该类群研究的历史、现状和不足。此外, 结合最新的系统学研究成果和相应的环境数据构建生态位模型, 可以加深人们对特定类群分类与分布状况的认识。被子植物的分类鉴定常基于繁殖性状进行, 然而, 竹类植物一般进行克隆繁殖, 只有在经过长期的营养生长之后, 才会进行有性生殖并同时死亡。因此, 国内的竹类标本大多仅记录了营养性状, 具有繁殖性状的标本数量稀少。由于这一特殊的生物学习性, 竹类植物是当今分类学研究中最为困难的类群之一。本研究基于全国竹类植物馆藏标本的采集数据, 分析了我国竹类标本的采集和保藏现状; 利用比值法和斜率法从采集地理偏差和采集类群偏差两方面评估了竹类植物标本的采集完整度; 结合气候数据, 利用模型模拟的方法分析了影响不同竹类分支分布的主要因素。采集信息分析结果表明, 国内标本馆对竹类标本的收集和保藏存在很大的不均衡性, 且对研究团队具有较高的依赖性; 其次竹类标本的采集量的变化较好地反映了国内植物分类学研究的历史; 而对类群和地理采集完整度的评估结果表明, 中国竹类标本的采集和整理工作仍任重道远。模型模拟结果表明, 温度限定了竹类植物两大分支各自的分布北界, 水分对温带木本竹类分支(temperate woody bamboos, TWB)的限制作用比旧世界热带木本竹类分支(paleotropical woody bamboos, PWB)强, 而温度对PWB的限制性更强。生态位模拟的结果进一步显示, 中国温带和旧世界热带木本竹类两大分支的适生区出现了明显的分化, 但在亚热带区域仍有部分重叠。植物标本记录了特定类群在时间和空间上的分布格局, 相关的信息一方面可以促进物种灭绝风险评估、可持续利用和综合保护, 另一方面也可助力大尺度生物多样性分布格局及全球变化对多样性的影响研究。     

医院医技人员对流行区华支睾吸虫病认知状况的调查

目的调查医院医技人员对流行区华支睾吸虫病的认知状况,为该病防治策略的制定提供依据。方法从华支睾吸虫流行病学、临床表现与并发症、诊断和治疗及相关知识的获得途径这几方面设置调查问卷,总分19分。对佳木斯市5家综合性医院和1家传染病专科医院医技人员进行匿名问卷调查。结果共发放问卷340份,回收有效问卷334份,有效应答率98.24%。334名医技人员最低得分2分,最高得分17分,平均得分(11.38±3.50)分(正确率59.89%)。其中5家综合医院医技人员平均得分(10.84±3.27)分,1家传染病专科医院医技人员平均得分(15.78±1.73)分,二者差异有统计学意义(t=14.353,P<0.001)。高级职称医技人员在流行病学、临床表现与并发症、诊断与治疗方面的得分均高于其他职称医技人员(均P<0.05)。结论佳木斯地区医技人员华支睾吸虫病总体认知率不高,应对不同医疗机构和职称的医技人员制定相应的培训内容,鼓励医技人员多途径获取华支睾吸虫病相关知识。     

肺功能康复训练联合肠外氨基酸营养支持对非小细胞肺癌化疗患者营养状态、癌因性疲乏及生活质量的影响

摘要 目的：探讨肺功能康复训练联合肠外氨基酸营养支持对非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）化疗患者营养状态、癌因性疲乏及生活质量的影响。方法：选取2016年6月~2019年10月期间本院收治的NSCLC化疗患者137例。根据随机数字表法将患者分为对照组（68例,给予常规干预）、观察组（69例,在对照组基础上给予肠外氨基酸营养支持联合肺功能康复训练）,对比两组干预前后的营养状态、肺功能、癌因性疲乏及生活质量。结果：与对照组相比,观察组干预后白蛋白、总蛋白、血红蛋白更高（P<0.05）。干预后观察组用力肺活量（FVC）、第1s用力呼气容积占预计值百分比（FEV₁%）、呼气峰流速值（PEF）高于对照组（P<0.05）。观察组干预后Piper 疲乏量表（PFS）的行为疲乏、情感疲乏、躯体疲乏、认知疲乏评分低于对照组（P<0.05）。观察组干预后生活质量评估量表（EORTC QLQ-C30）各维度评分较对照组更高（P<0.05）。结论：肺功能康复训练联合肠外氨基酸营养支持干预NSCLC化疗患者,可改善患者的营养状态及肺功能,缓解患者癌因性疲乏程度,改善其生活质量。     

Milk fatty acids as indicators of negative energy balance of dairy cows in early lactation

Most dairy cows experience negative energy balance (NEB) in early lactation because energy demand for milk synthesis is not met by energy intake. Excessive NEB may lead to metabolic disorders and impaired fertility. To optimize herd management, it is useful to detect cows in NEB in early lactation, but direct calculation of NEB is not feasible in commercial herds. Alternative methods rely on fat-to-protein ratio in milk or on concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in blood. Here, we considered methods to assess energy balance (EB) of dairy cows based on the fatty acid (FA) composition in milk. Short- and medium-chain FAs (primarily, C14:0) are typically synthesized de novo in the mammary gland and their proportions in milk fat decrease during NEB. Long-chain FAs C18:0 and C18:1 cis-9 are typically released from body fat depots during NEB, and their proportions increase. In this study, these FAs were routinely determined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of individual milk samples. We performed an experiment on 85 dairy cows in early lactation, fed the same concentrate ration of up to 5 kg per day and forage ad libitum. Daily milk yield and feed intake were automatically recorded. During lactation weeks 2, 4, and 6 after calving, two milk samples were collected for FTIR spectroscopy, Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, blood plasma samples were collected Thursday morning. Net energy content in feed and net energy required for maintenance and lactation were estimated to derive EB, which was used to compare alternative indicators of severe NEB. Linear univariate models for EB based on NEFA concentration (deviance explained = 0.13) and other metabolites in blood plasma were outperformed by models based on concentrations of metabolites in milk: fat (0.27), fat-to-protein ratio (0.18), BHB (0.20), and especially C18:0 (0.28) and C18:1 cis-9 (0.39). Analysis of generalized additive models (GAM) revealed that models based on milk variables performed better than those based on blood plasma (deviance explained 0.46 vs. 0.21). C18:0 and C18:1 cis-9 also performed better in severe NEB prediction for EB cut-off values ranging from −50 to 0 MJ NEL/d. Overall, concentrations of C18:0 and C18:1 cis-9 in milk, milk fat, and milk BHB were the best variables for early detection of cows in severe NEB. Thus, milk FA concentrations in whole milk can be useful to identify NEB in early-lactation cows.     

County-level characteristics associated with incidence,late-stage incidence,and mortality from screenable cancers

BackgroundCancer screening differs by rurality and racial residential segregation, but the relationship between these county-level characteristics is understudied. Understanding this relationship and its implications for cancer outcomes could inform interventions to decrease cancer disparities.MethodsWe linked county-level information from national data sources: 2008–2012 cancer incidence, late-stage incidence, and mortality rates (for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer) from U.S. Cancer Statistics and the National Death Index; metropolitan status from U.S. Department of Agriculture; residential segregation derived from American Community Survey; and prevalence of cancer screening from National Cancer Institute’s Small Area Estimates. We used multivariable, sparse Poisson generalized linear mixed models to assess cancer incidence, late-stage incidence, and mortality rates by county-level characteristics, controlling for density of physicians and median household income.ResultsCancer incidence, late-stage incidence, and mortality rates were 6–18% lower in metropolitan counties for breast and colorectal cancer, and 2–4% lower in more segregated counties for breast and colorectal cancer. Generally, reductions in cancer associated with residential segregation were limited to non-metropolitan counties. Cancer incidence, late-stage incidence, and mortality rates were associated with screening, with rates for corresponding cancers that were 2–9% higher in areas with more breast and colorectal screening, but 2–15% lower in areas with more cervical screening.DiscussionLower cancer burden was observed in counties that were metropolitan and more segregated. Effect modification was observed by metropolitan status and county-level residential segregation, indicating that residential segregation may impact healthcare access differently in different county types. Additional studies are needed to inform interventions to reduce county-level disparities in cancer incidence, late-stage incidence, and mortality.     

Ethnic,racial and socioeconomic disparities in breast cancer survival in two Brazilian capitals between 1996 and 2012

ObjectiveTo study the impact of socio-economic status and ethno-racial strata on excess mortality hazard and net survival of women with breast cancer in two Brazilian state capitals.MethodWe conducted a survival analysis with individual data from population-based cancer registries including women with breast cancer diagnosed between 1996 and 2012 in Aracaju and Curitiba. The main outcomes were the excess mortality hazard (EMH) and net survival. The associations of age, year of diagnosis, disease stage, race/skin colour and socioeconomic status (SES) with the excess mortality hazard and net survival were analysed using multi-level spline regression models, modelled as cubic splines with knots at 1 and 5 years of follow-up.ResultsA total of 2045 women in Aracaju and 7872 in Curitiba were included in the analyses. The EMH was higher for women with lower SES and for black and brown women in both municipalities. The greatest difference in excess mortality was seen between the most deprived women and the most affluent women in Curitiba, hazard ratio (HR) 1.93 (95%CI 1.63–2.28). For race/skin colour, the greatest ratio was found in Curitiba (HR 1.35, 95%CI 1.09–1.66) for black women compared with white women. The most important socio-economic difference in net survival was seen in Aracaju. Age-standardised net survival at five years was 55.7% for the most deprived women and 67.2% for the most affluent. Net survival at eight years was 48.3% and 61.0%, respectively. Net survival in Curitiba was higher than in Aracaju in all SES groups.”ConclusionOur findings suggest the presence of contrasting breast cancer survival expectancy in Aracaju and Curitiba, highlighting regional inequalities in access to health care. Lower survival among brown and black women, and those in lower SES groups indicates that early detection, early diagnosis and timely access to treatment must be prioritized to reduce inequalities in outcome among Brazilian women.     

Ethanol-induced redox imbalance in rat kidneys

This study reports the effects of long-term ethanol consumption on kidney redox status, in terms of enzymatic mechanisms involved in regulating the cytosolic [NADH]/[NAD(+) ] balance. Wistar rats were treated with ethanol (2 g/kg body weight/24 h) via intragastric intubation for 10 and 30 weeks, respectively. Ethanol administration induced an enhancement of alcohol dehydrogenase activities and affected the capacity of the kidney to prevent NADH accumulation in the cytosol. After 10 weeks, the excess of NADH was balanced by increased activities of malate dehydrogenase and aspartate transaminase. In the event of a longer period of ethanol intake, the kidney was not able to balance the NADH excess, even though an increase in malate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate transaminase, and alanine transaminase activities was noted. The electrophoretic analysis of alcohol dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, and malate dehydrogenase isoforms revealed differences between control and ethanol-treated animals. The results suggest that rat kidneys have a multicomponent metabolic response to the same daily dose of ethanol that functions to maintain the redox status and which varies with the length of the administration period.