Prevalence and correlates of mild cognitive impairment among diverse Hispanics/Latinos: Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging results

IntroductionWe estimated the prevalence and correlates of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among middle-aged and older diverse Hispanics/Latinos.MethodsMiddle-aged and older diverse Hispanics/Latinos enrolled (n = 6377; 50–86 years) in this multisite prospective cohort study were evaluated for MCI using the National Institute on Aging–Alzheimer's Association diagnostic criteria.ResultsThe overall MCI prevalence was 9.8%, which varied between Hispanic/Latino groups. Older age, high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and elevated depressive symptoms were significant correlates of MCI prevalence. Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE) and APOE2 were not significantly associated with MCI.DiscussionMCI prevalence varied among Hispanic/Latino backgrounds, but not as widely as reported in the previous studies. CVD risk and depressive symptoms were associated with increased MCI, whereas APOE4 was not, suggesting alternative etiologies for MCI among diverse Hispanics/Latinos. Our findings suggest that mitigating CVD risk factors may offer important pathways to understanding and reducing MCI and possibly dementia among diverse Hispanics/Latinos.     

Spleen sizing by ultrasound in polycythaemia and thrombocythaemia: comparison with SPECT

Detection of non-palpable early splenic enlargement may aid diagnosis of primary polycythaemia (PP) and primary thrombocythaemia (PT). In this study linear spleen sizing by ultrasound has been compared with spleen volume estimation by single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) in 26 patients. Spleen length by ultrasound correlated well with SPECT volume estimation.
Ultrasound spleen length was also measured in 60 normal control subjects where the upper limit of the 95% reference range was 11.6 cm. Changes in spleen length with both age and body weight were substantial and overshadowed the imperfect reproducibility of this method. Therefore, interpretation of an individual's measured spleen length should be in relation to that predicted for adults of the same age and weight, particularly at the extremes of the younger, heavier patients and also the older, lighter patients.
Ultrasound spleen lengths of different patient groups (21 PP, 26 PT, 17 idiopathic erythrocytosis, 12 secondary polycythaemia, nine apparent polycythaemia) were compared both using the measured overall reference range and the differences from the values predicted for their age and weight. The comparison showed that almost all patients with PP whose spleens were not palpable had spleen lengths greater than the upper limit for the normal control group, but separation from the other patient groups was incomplete.
Detection of non-palpable splenomegaly by ultrasound length should remain a 'minor' criterion amongst the 'proposed modified diagnostic criteria' of PP.     

泰安市流行性出血热(EHF)发病季节和人群分布

在这篇文章中,应用圆形分布法计算了泰安市1984—1985两年流行出血热的发病平均日期,分别为1984年11月5号和1985年11月11号,两年合计的平均发病日期为11月9号。另外,还分析了发病的年龄和职业。这将为预防工作提供准确的科学数据。     

Soma size and oxidative enzyme activity in normal and chronically stimulated motoneurones of the Cat''s spinal cord

In normal adult cats we measured the density of staining for the activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH staining) in ventral horn cells of different sizes. The measurements were restricted to that part of the lumbar ventral horn (L6-L7) which is known to contain motoneurones of the peroneal nerve. A statistically significant tendency was found for the SDH staining to be denser in smaller than in larger neurones within the size range of a motoneurones (soma diameter greater than 40 microns). These results are consistent with recently published evidence for ventral horn cells of rats and qualitatively similar relationships between size and SDH staining have also been observed among skeletal muscle fibres (confirmed for mixed muscle of cat in present study). In hindlimb muscles, size as well as SDH staining are known to be markedly activity-dependent. We tested whether this is the case for peroneal motoneurones as well by analyzing the effects of chronic nerve stimulation on the properties of neurones within the appropriate region of the ventral horn. Prior to the final acute experiment, these cats had been subjected to a left-side dorsal rhizotomy and hemispinalization. By aid of a portable mini-stimulator, the left-side common peroneal nerve was activated by repetitive pulses during 50% of total time per day (intra-activity rate: 10, 20 or 40 Hz). After 8 weeks of such treatment, cell sizes as well as the densities of SDH staining showed hardly any differences between peroneal ventral horn cells of the experimental and control sides of the spinal cord.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of impact exercise on bone mineral density in elderly women with low BMD: a population-based randomized controlled 30-month intervention

Evidence of the effect of exercise on bone loss comes mainly from studies in voluntary postmenopausal women, and no population-based, long-term interventions have been performed. The purpose of this population-based, randomized, controlled trial was to determine the effect of long-term impact exercise on bone mass at various skeletal sites in elderly women with low bone mineral density (BMD) at the radius and hip. Participants ( n =160) were randomly assigned to 30 months either of supervised and home-based impact exercise training or of no intervention. The primary outcome measures were femoral neck, trochanter and total hip BMD, and the secondary outcomes were bone density measures at the radius and calcaneum. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 12 months and 30 months using blinded operators. The analyses were performed on an intention-to-treat analysis. Mean femoral neck and trochanter BMD decreased in the control group [–1.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI) –0.1% to –2.1% and –1.6%, 95% CI –0.4% to –2.7%], while no change occurred in the exercise group. Mean trochanter BMC decreased more in the control group (–7.7%, 95% CI –9.7% to –5.6% vs. –2.9%, 95% CI –5.3 to –0.9). There were six falls that resulted in fractures in the exercise group and 16 in the control group during the 30-month intervention ( P =0.019). A significant bone loss occurred in both groups at the radius and calcaneum. In multivariate analysis, weight gain was associated with increased BMD and BMC at all femur sites both in the exercise group and in the pooled groups. In conclusion, impact exercise had no effect on BMD, while there was a positive effect on BMC at the trochanter. Exercise may prevent fall-related fractures in elderly women with low bone mass.There was no conflict of interest.     

Is the spectacle lens jack‐in‐the‐box phenomenon really due to the lenses?

The calculation of the extent of the ring scotoma around positive lenses, as conventionally taught to students of clinical optics, indicates that the scotoma is of a significant size. Using knife-edge lenses this study shows that the calculations are invalid due to the finite size of the eye's entrance pupil and in many instances the scotoma is shown not to exist. The effect noticed in clinical practice is probably largely due to the frame and the edging techniques used which add to the refractive scotoma which is present with high powered lenses, large apertures and/or small pupil sizes.     

苯作业工人白细胞降低者的总估校正现患率

选择乡镇工业苯作业工人４次外周血白细胞计数中的间隔半年的两次数据，应用俘获再俘获法，计算其白细胞降低者的总估校正现患率（ＡＣＰＲ）。结果苯接触组为３６．８ｌ％（２９．１４％～４４．４８％），对照组为１２．７１％（７．２０％～１８．２２％）具有显著差异，其相对危险度为２，９。用常规法求得的４次检出率分别是：苯接触组为２６．３７％，１８．７３％，２７．９３％，３６．７６％；对照组为６。８５％，７．３８％，７．９４％，１５．００％。均在其ＡＣＰＲ之９５％可信限内，可见ＡＣＰＲ计算方法简便、结果准确，值得推广。对于稳定的人群，可用其每年一次的健康监护资料计算ＡＣＰＲ。     

Hypertrophy without increased isometric strength after weight training

Summary Eight men (20–23 years) weight trained 3 days week^–1 for 19 weeks. Training sessions consisted of six sets of a leg press exercise (simultaneous hip and knee extension and ankle plantar flexion) on a weight machine, the last three sets with the heaviest weight that could be used for 7–20 repetitions. In comparison to a control group (n = 6) only the trained group increased (P<0.01) weight lifting performance (heaviest weight lifted for one repetition, 29%), and left and right knee extensor cross-sectional area (CAT scanning and computerized planimetry, 11%, P<0.05). In contrast, training caused no increase in maximal voluntary isometric knee extension strength, electrically evoked knee extensor peak twitch torque, and knee extensor motor unit activation (interpolated twitch method). These data indicate that a moderate but significant amount of hypertrophy induced by weight training does not necessarily increase performance in an isometric strength task different from the training task but involving the same muscle group. The failure of evoked twitch torque to increase despite hypertrophy may further indicate that moderate hypertrophy in the early stage of strength training may not necessarily cause an increase in intrinsic muscle force generating capacity.     

Dietary behaviour of an adolescent French male population

The dietary history method was used to determine the total energy and macronutrient intake, the distribution of daily energy from the different meals and the energy contribution of various food groups, in a population of 299 boys, aged between 10 and 15 years. The effects of age, the social status of the father (SPS), the ponderal index, the importance of breakfast or lunch, and the level of energy intake on dietary indicators, were studied. In our population, energy intake increased with increasing age but the energy contribution of macronutrients did not vary. The diet of boys whose fathers were in the upper SPS classes differed from the diet of those boys whose fathers were manual workers: for example they consumed less energy and pastries, but more animal protein (in percentage of energy intake), more dairy products, and more fruit. The ponderal index was negatively related to energy intake but positively related to protein intake, especially from meat and meat products. The energy intake from protein, animal protein and the energy contribution of dairy products, meat and meat products, fish and vegetables was lower among large eaters than among small eaters. The energy contribution of pastries, sugar and sweets was higher among large eaters.
Similarily, the energy intake from morning and evening snacks was also higher among large eaters. It should be noted that boys who had a substantial breakfast took in less energy from all other meals (including snacks and main meals). Such informaton is necessary in order to develop an effective health programme.