Estimation of salt intake by 24 h urinary sodium excretion in a representative sample of Spanish adults

The present study reports the Na intake of a representative sample of Spanish young and middle-aged adults aged 18-60 years (n 418, 53·1 % women, selected from the capitals of fifteen provinces and the surrounding semi-urban/rural area), measured with a 24 h urinary Na excretion method. To validate the paper collection of 24 h urine, the correlation between fat-free mass determined by electrical bioimpedance (50·8 (sd 11·3) kg) and that determined via urinary creatinine excretion (51·5 (sd 18·8) kg) was calculated (r 0·633, P < 0·001). Urinary Na excretion correlated with systolic and dyastolic blood pressure data (r 0·243 and 0·153, respectively). Assuming that all urinary Na (168·0 (sd 78·6) mmol/d) comes from the diet, Na excretion would correspond with a dietary salt intake of 9·8 (sd 4·6) g/d, and it would mean that 88·2 % of the subjects had salt intakes above the recommended 5 g/d. Logistic regression analysis, adjusted for sex, age and BMI, showed male sex (OR 3·678, 95 % CI 2·336, 5·791) and increasing BMI (OR 1·069, 95 % CI 1·009, 1·132) (P < 0·001) to be associated with excreting >200 mmol/d urinary Na--a consequence of the higher salt intake in men and in participants with higher BMI. The present results help us to know the baseline salt intake in the Spanish young and middle-aged adult population, and can be used as the baseline to design policies to reduce salt consumption.     

Incidence of pertussis in subjects aged 50 years and older in France in 2013–2014

Objective

To assess the incidence of pertussis (whooping cough) in subjects aged 50 years and older in France.

Evaluation of anthropometric indices for metabolic syndrome in Chinese adults aged 40 years and over

Background  

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is increasing worldwide with a marked impact in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes risk.     

Safety of quadrivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine in subjects aged 2–49 years

BackgroundQuadrivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine (Q/LAIV) was licensed in 2012 and replaced trivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine in the United States during the 2013–2014 influenza season. This study assessed the safety of Q/LAIV in children and adults aged 2–49 years.MethodsThis was a prospective observational cohort study using data collected from Kaiser Permanente Northern California. Post-vaccination events of interest were any hospitalization, hospitalization for lower respiratory tract infection, and the following medically attended events: hypersensitivity, seizures/convulsions, lower respiratory tract infection, wheezing, Guillain-Barré syndrome, Bell’s palsy, encephalitis, neuritis, vasculitis, and narcolepsy/cataplexy. The rates of these events during the risk interval post-vaccination were compared with rates observed during reference periods later in the follow-up (within-cohort analysis) and with rates observed in frequency-matched unvaccinated controls and inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) recipients.ResultsA total of 62,040 eligible Q/LAIV recipients were identified during the 2013–2014 influenza season. Within-cohort comparisons of all Q/LAIV recipients as well as comparisons between Q/LAIV recipients and unvaccinated controls or IIV recipients did not show any significantly higher risk of hospitalizations or medically attended events following administration of Q/LAIV. Additional analyses by setting (clinic visits, emergency department visits, and hospital admissions) and age group (2–4, 5–8, 9–17, and 18–49 years) also did not reveal clinically consistent findings that suggested any increased risk after administration of Q/LAIV.ConclusionIn this large population study of individuals aged 2–49 years, no safety signals associated with the administration of Q/LAIV were observed. A much larger study population would be needed to confidently reject any association between Q/LAIV and very rare events, specifically those with an incidence of <1 event/10,000 person-years.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01985997     

Relationship of equol production between children aged 5–7 years and their mothers

Purpose

The factors responsible for the production of isoflavone metabolites have not yet been identified. We aimed to examine the relationships of equol production between mother and child in a birth cohort in Japan.

Methods

Subjects were a part of the participants in a longitudinal study on pregnant women and their offspring. When children were 5–7 years old, mothers and children were asked to reply to a questionnaire on lifestyles and a 3-day child’s dietary record. Mothers and children were given a bar-shaped soy snack (Soyjoy^®) daily on two consecutive days (soy challenge). The snack contained 14 mg of overall soy isoflavones as the sum of aglycones and the glucosides for mothers and 7.5 mg for children. On the morning of day 0 and 3, they were asked to mail their first-void urines. Urinary isoflavone metabolites of 159 mother–child pairs were measured by a high-performance liquid chromatography method.

Results

Equol producers were 35.5 % among mothers and 13.8 % among children. Equol producer status of a child was neither associated with dietary intake nor with urinary levels of daidzein and genistein. After multiple adjustments for potential confounders, the estimated relative risk of equol producer was 2.75 (95 % confidence interval 1.00, 7.52) among children whose mother was an equol producer, compared with children whose mother was a non-producer.

Conclusion

Child’s equol production was associated with the mother’s equol producer status. The effects of maternal factors on child’s equol production should be studied further.

     

Vaccination coverage among school children aged 14–15 years in the French department of Sarthe

Objectives

Vaccinations are the main pillar of primary prevention for infectious diseases. To guide and prioritize public health interventions, the Regional Health Agency has asked the Prevention, Vaccination, and Screening Center of the Sarthe department to assess vaccination coverage (VC) at the sub-departmental level. The main objective was to measure the VC among school children aged 14–15 years in Sarthe at the sub-departmental level.

Clustering of health and risk behaviour in immigrant and indigenous Dutch residents aged 19–40 years

Objectives  

Studies on the co-occurrence, ‘clustering’ of health and other risk behaviours among immigrants from non-industrialised countries lack until now. The aim of this study was to compare this clustering in immigrant and indigenous adults.     

Age-related changes in body composition in a sample of Czech women aged 18–89 years: a cross-sectional study

Background

The Czech Republic lacks body composition data for women. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to analyze body composition [body fat mass (BFM), fat-free mass (FFM), body fat percentage (%BFM) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT)] and to evaluate the changes that occur with aging in women aged 18–89 years. We also analyzed anthropometric characteristics of study participants and developed age-specific percentile curves for body composition parameters.

Methods

A cross-sectional, non‐randomized study was conducted with a sample of 1,970 apparently healthy Czech women. Body composition was measured using a direct segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BSM-BIA).

Results

The mean BFM was 19.7 ± 8.9 kg, and BFM reached its peak in women over 70, at 27.6 ± 8.8 kg. There was a strong correlation between BFM and age (r = 0.61; r ² = 0.37). Fifty percent of the women in the study had a BFM between 13.0 and 25.0 kg. The %BFM (r = 0.69; r ² = 0.47) and VAT (r = 0.88; r ² = 0.77) were also significantly associated with age. The reference range for %BFM was 22.0–35.6 % (25th–75th percentile). The mean FFM was 45.8 ± 5.5 kg, and FFM decreased with age (r = ?0.27; r ² = 0.07).

Conclusions

The results presented in this study showed a statistically significant increase in BFM,  %BFM and VFA as age increased, and the values reached their peak in women over 70. Even when FFM decreased slightly with age, body weight increased because of the increase in BFM.     

Trends in influenza vaccination uptake among people aged over 74 years, 1997–2000: Survey of 73 general practices in Britain

Background  

Influenza vaccination policy for elderly people in Britain has changed twice since 1997 to increase protection against influenza but there is no information available on how this has affected vaccine uptake, and socioeconomic variation therein, among people aged over 74 years.     

Normal distribution of urinary polyphenol excretion among Egyptian males 7–14 years old and changes following nutritional intervention with tomato juice (Lycopersiconesculentum)

Background The urinary flavonoids are considered a reliable biomarker for the intake of polyphenol-rich foods.

Objectives To assess the normal distribution of urinary polyphenol [PP] excretion among healthy male children and adolescents on a typical Egyptian diet. To follow up the impact of nutritional intervention with tomato juice on the urinary excretion of [PP].

Subjects Forty-nine male subjects 7–14 years old collected a 24-h urine sample and filled a dietary record during a 7-day period. A daily serving of 230 g fresh tomato juice was followed for 18 days in a subgroup. Total urinary [PP] excretions were measured before and after termination of the intervention program. The total urinary [PP] was analyzed after a clean-up solid-phase extraction step by the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent in the 96 micro plates. The results were expressed as gallic acid equivalents (GAE).

Results The urinary [PP] excretion averaged 48.6±5.5 mg GAE/24 h, equivalent to 89.5±8.4 mg GAE/g creatinine. The mean urinary [PP] excretion increased significantly (P<0.05) following the intervention with tomato juice (287.4±64.3 mg GAE/g creatinine) compared with the respective mean baseline level (94.5±8.92 mg GAE/g creatinine).

Conclusion Clinical laboratory reference limits for urinary polyphenols are presented for Egyptian male children and adolescents. Measuring the urinary polyphenol excretion proved a good biomarker for the dietary polyphenol intake and the results demonstrated that tomato [PP] was highly bioavailable in the human body.     

Preventive behaviors,beliefs, and anxieties in relation to the swine flu outbreak among college students aged 18–24 years

Aim  

The objective of this study was to assess beliefs, misconception, and anxiety in relation to swine flu outbreak and whether perception of the outbreak predicted changes in behavior.     

Dietary intake is associated with human chronotype as assessed by both morningness–eveningness score and preferred midpoint of sleep in young Japanese women

We analyzed the association between dietary intake and chronotype as assessed by both Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) score and preferred midpoint of sleep in 112 young Japanese women. Dietary intake was assessed by a brief, self-administered diet history questionnaire. A lower MEQ score (evening-type tendency) showed a significant association with a lower energy-adjusted intake of protein, calcium, magnesium, zinc, vitamins (D, riboflavin, and B₆), and vegetables, and with a higher intake of noodles. Furthermore, a later midpoint of sleep showed a significant association with a lower energy-adjusted intake of protein, cholesterol, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, vitamins (D, riboflavin, B₆, and B₁₂), soy, fish and shellfish, and eggs, and with a higher intake of noodles, bread, and confections. These data suggest that evening chronotype is associated with inadequate dietary habits such as low vitamin and mineral intakes.     

Antibody persistence in children aged 6–7 years one year following booster immunization with two MMR vaccines applied by aerosol or by injection

ImportanceIn a previous study on booster vaccination, we reported that two aerosolized MMR vaccines were as safe and immunogenic as injectable vaccines containing the same antigens. We now present results of antibody persistence one year after immunization.ObjectiveTo assess the antibody persistence for measles, mumps, and rubella one year following booster immunization.MethodsWe performed clinical and serological follow-up of participants in a previous study of Mexican children aged 6–7 years, in which participants were randomized to four groups receiving, by aerosolized or by injection, the MMR SII vaccine (Serum Institute of India), or the MMR II (Merck Sharp & Dhome). We evaluated the antibody persistence by PRN test for measles and by ELISA for rubella and mumps. The occurrence of clinical events was evaluated via periodic visits of a nurse team to children’s schools and homes.ResultsOf the 260 initial participants, 241 completed one-year follow-up. There were only statistically significant differences in baseline seropositivity for mumps. One year after immunization, seropositivity in all groups was 100% for measles and rubella. The seropositivity rank for mumps was from 90.3% for the injected vaccine MMR II to 96.6% for vaccine MMR SII applied by aerosol; these differences were not statistically significant. With exception of the aerosolized vaccine MMR SII for the geometric mean titer (GMT) for measles, all study groups presented declination of GMT for the three viruses. The difference between the aerosolized vaccines MMR SII and MMR RII was statistically significant for mumps antibodies. Only mild clinical events were identified.ConclusionUnder conditions of no endemic transmission for measles and rubella, and of low circulation of mumps virus, school-aged children remained seropositive to the three viruses one year following booster immunization.The study was registered under CMN 2010-005 number at COFEPRIS (National Regulatory Authority).     

Validation of pediatric Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy: patient version 2 of “brain tumor survivor” for grade school patients aged 7–12 years

Background  

We evaluated the reliability and validity of the Pediatric Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Childhood Brain Tumor Survivor version 2.0 (pedsFACT-BrS; patient version for grade school children aged 7–12 years).     

Measuring preference-based quality of life in children aged 6–7 years: a comparison of the performance of the CHU-9D and EQ-5D-Y—the WAVES Pilot Study

Purpose

To examine the performance of the child health utility 9D (CHU-9D) and EuroQol 5D-youth (EQ-5D-Y) in children aged 6–7 years.

Method

The CHU-9D and EQ-5D-Y were interviewer-administered to 160 children aged 6–7 years at six schools across the West Midlands. Missing values, time taken to complete instruments and interviewer ratings were recorded to assess feasibility/acceptability. Construct validity was assessed by testing convergent validity hypotheses. Reliability was examined via a test–retest of a sub-sample. Psychometric properties were further examined by exploring distributions of utility scores, qualitative notes and design of the questionnaires.

Results

No missing responses were recorded with over 80% of children’s understanding being rated as good/excellent for both questionnaires. The average completion time for both instruments was less than 3 minutes, demonstrating excellent feasibility/acceptability. Evidence of construct validity was recorded with 12 of the 13 convergent hypotheses being supported. Test–retest reliability was relatively poor for both instruments with weighted kappa coefficients ranging from fair to moderate.

Conclusion

Children aged 6–7 years can feasibly complete utility instruments when interviewer-administered. The reliability of the instruments is of concern and requires further study. With respect to content validity and other psychometric properties, the CHU-9D is favoured to the EQ-5D-Y. Until the EuroQol group produces tariff values for the EQ-5D-Y, we recommend that the EQ-5D-Y is not used for utility elicitation in this age group.     

Widening social disparities in alcohol-attributable deaths among Korean men aged 40–59 years during the transitional period of the economic crisis (1995–2005)

Objectives

This study examined socioeconomic disparities in alcohol-related mortality among Korean men aged 40–59 years during the period before and after the economic crisis in the late 1990s.

Methods

We used Korean Census data (1995, 2005) and data from the National Death Files (1994–1996, 2004–2006) on education and employment status as indicators of socioeconomic position. Based on the age-standardized rates of alcohol-attributable deaths, relative discrepancies across socioeconomic positions were estimated.

Results

Socially disadvantaged men were substantially disadvantaged in terms of alcohol-attributable mortality in both years. The disadvantage of men with the lowest level of education relative to the highest was worse in 2005 than in 1995. The relative disadvantage in alcohol-attributable deaths seemed to narrow over time based on the rate ratios. However, the relative index of inequality was higher in 2005 compared to 1995 for both education and occupation.

Conclusions

The results showed that alcohol-attributable mortality in Korea became socioeconomically polarized during the economic crisis. The serious impact of economic polarization following the economic crisis might have been transmitted to alcohol-attributable mortality.