The association between sleep duration,napping, and stroke stratified by self-health status among Chinese people over 65 years old from the China health and retirement longitudinal study

Purpose

Stroke is a major cause of death in China. This study aimed to investigate the association between sleep duration (nighttime sleep and daytime napping) and stroke in elderly Chinese individuals with self-reported health status.

Methods

A total of 4785 Chinese adults over 65 years from the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were included. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of the association between sleep duration and stroke stratified by self-reported health status.

Results

A significant association between short sleep duration (< 7 h per day) and the risk of stroke (aOR?=?2.05; 95% CI 1.31–3.19), after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, health status, and comorbidities. There was no significant association between short and long sleep duration and stroke in the individuals who reported good general health status. However, in individuals who reported poor health status, short sleep duration (aOR?=?2.11; 95% CI 1.30–3.44) and long sleep duration (aOR?=?1.86; 95% CI 1.08–3.21) were significantly associated with increased risk of stroke, compared with normal sleep duration (7–8 h per day). Disability was significantly associated with stroke in both self-reported good and poor health groups. Rural residence was significantly associated with a lower risk of stroke among individuals who reported poor health status.

Conclusions

Both short and long sleep duration were significantly associated with stroke among individuals who reported poor health. Stroke prevention should be focused on elderly individuals who believe that they have health problems.

     

Detection of mink astrovirus in Poland and further phylogenetic comparison with other European and Canadian astroviruses

Virus Genes - Mink astrovirus infection remains a poorly understood disease entity, and the aetiological agent itself causes disease with a heterogeneous course, including gastrointestinal and...     

Content analysis: review of methods and their applications in nutrition education

Content analysis is a set of qualitative and quantitative methods for collecting and analyzing data from verbal, print, or electronic communication with numerous applications in nutrition education research. Textual information from interviews, focus groups, and open-ended survey questions can be evaluated using content analysis. Selection of method(s) depends on the type(s) and length of material to be analyzed, results desired, and researchers' preferences and technological capabilities. This article reviews options available to content analysts--from manual to fully computerized. Overcoming the challenges inherent in using these methodologies is recommended because of their usefulness in the information-based messaging discipline of nutrition education.     

Changes in the activity of the clotting system and fibrinolysis components in the layers of double velour DALLON grafts at different periods after implantation into the aorta]

During one year experiment, the thromboplastic, antiheparin, plasminogen activator, antithrombin and antiplasmin activities were evaluated in the homogenates of the intimal, medial and adventitial layers of polyester double velour DALLON prostheses implanted into the dog abdominal aorta. It was found, that 7 days after implantation the thromboplastic, antiheparin and plasminogen activator activities in DALLON graft neointima were high, whereas those of the antiplasmin and antithrombin were low. These changes facilitate the sealing of the prosthesis pores and at the same time prevents thrombosis. Four months after implanting, the activity of hemostatically active components in the various graft layers became similar to the activity of aorta components. Rapid decrease of the thrombogenic potential and increase of the fibrinolytic activity in layers of double velour DALLON grafts facilitate the maintenance of graft patency.     

Comparison of attitudes and cognitive achievement of nursing students in three instructional strategies.

This study is a comparison of the attitudes and the cognitive achievement of nursing students in three instructional strategies (the traditional lecture, black and white televised instruction, and independent color televised instruction via the Dial Access Information Retrieval System). Though only thirty-one percent (31%) of students indicated prior exposure to independent study methology, sixty percent (60%) identified a desire for active involvement in courses of study. The only significant finding regarding attitudes toward the three strategies was a preference for an greater interest in color videotapes than for black and white televised material. No significant differences in cognitive achievement were noted between any of the three strategies. Implications from the study for curriculum revision are discussed, stressing the probable value of maintaining traditional techniques concurrent with innovative methodological experimentation.     

Spinal fusion for lumbar instability: does it have a scientific basis?

The validity of spinal fusion for lumbar instability is considered. Some difficulty lies in the interpretation of the term instability. The differing interpretations in the clinical, radiologic, and biomechanical contexts are discussed. These interpretations may only be reconciled if the confusion between hypermobility and instability is removed and some recourse is made to soft tissue integrity. Fusion is considered in the context of the functioning spine as a whole. Although the aim of the surgery is usually to produce a solid arthrodesis, some studies show that this can compromise the functioning of the rest of the spine. Furthermore, there is some evidence that pseudarthrosis itself may not be detrimental. Dynamic imaging offers the potential for improved diagnosis and assessment, but further work is needed to pave the way for better selection criteria and treatment strategies.     

An autoradiographic microtechnique to study lymphocyte stimulation in solid cultures.

A microtechnique to study lymphocyte stimulation in solid cultures by autoradiography is described. Using this technique at a concentration of 2 x 10(6) lymphocytes/chamber, it was found that the percentage of proliferating cells was 8.4% with anti-lymphocyte serum, 3.9% with calcium ionophore A23187, 2.5% with phytohemagglutinin P, 5.8% with phytohemagglutinin HA17 and 4.2% with tetradecanoyl-phorbolacetate. Lymphocyte responses were dependent on cell concentration. Lymphocyte responses to phytohemagglutinins P and HA17 were potentiated by incorporation into the cultures of 5% autologous erythrocytes.     

Effect of different vascular prosthesis materials on blood platelets, blood clotting and fibrinolysis]

Studies were performed on Dacron vascular prostheses (USA), Gore-Tex (Germany), polyester prostheses (Czechoslovakia), Lawsan (Russia), as well as on DALLON-standard and DALLON-double velour prostheses (Poland), non-impregnated or impregnated with collagen, with heparin and albumin, with antithrombotic and antibacterial preparation, and with antibacterial preparation. In vitro, all the materials of vascular prostheses cause an adhesion of platelets in different degree, increase the availability of platelet factor 3, release platelet factor 4, reduce the blood clot retraction, shorten clotting time of the whole blood as well as recalcination time of intact plasma and increase the prothrombin consumption. None of the materials induced platelet aggregation nor influenced the activity of fibrinolytic system. Prostheses impregnated with collagen or with heparin and albumin were the most thrombogenic. Those impregnated with antibacterial preparation or with antibacterial and antithrombotic preparations, and Gore-Tex prostheses showed the lowest thrombogenicity. Thrombogenicity of vascular prostheses not only depends on chemical structure of the material, but on the method of fibre manufacturing by individual producers as well.     

Outbreak and sporadic egg-associated cases of Salmonella enteritidis: New York's experience.

Since 1985, egg-associated Salmonella enteritidis has emerged as a major cause of foodborne disease. New York State has been especially affected, with 47 documented egg-associated S enteritidis outbreaks involving 2279 cases and 10 deaths. Individual case reports of salmonella have also increased 56%, and sporadic cases of S enteritidis have been shown to be associated with egg consumption. Further educational and regulatory activities are needed to control this continuing public health problem.