细菌败血症感染病原菌的临床分布及耐药性研究

目的研究细菌败血症感染病原菌的临床分布及耐药性。方法资料随机选取2012年6月~2014年6月本院诊治的细菌败血症患者60例,本组患者进行血液培养、菌株分离、鉴定及药敏试验,观察并分析本组细菌败血症患者感染病原菌的临床分布情况及耐药性。结果本组患者感染病原菌主要有革兰阴性杆菌、革兰阳性球菌及真菌,其菌株临床分布构成比不同,即革兰阴性杆菌临床分布构成比率为61.67%显著高于革兰阳性球菌的31.66%及菌的6.67%,比较差异均具统计学意义(<0.05,<0.01)。本组患者均进行药敏试验后得出院病原菌对抗生素耐药性较高,对氨苄西林的临床耐药率高达90%~100%;表皮葡萄球菌与黄色葡萄球菌对青霉素药物的耐药率已达到80%~95%,对利福平、万古霉素等药物临床耐药率为20%~35%。结论细菌败血症感染病原菌的主要是革兰阴性杆菌,致病菌对多种抗生素具有较高耐药性,细菌败血症感染患者临床治疗过程需要合理用药,以减少对病原菌的耐药性。     

痰液标本鲍曼不动杆菌分布情况及对临床常用抗菌药物耐药性分析

目的 探讨痰液标本鲍曼不动杆菌(AB)分布情况，并分析对临床常用抗菌药物的耐药性。方法 收集2021年1月至2021年12月我院痰液标本中分离的320株AB,分析AB的临床分布特征和对常用抗菌药物的耐药性。结果 痰液标本中AB在重症监护室分布最多，占比为36.25%;痰液标本中AB在男性患者中分布最多(62.81%),在≥60岁患者中分布最多(52.19%);痰液标本中AB对头孢吡肟的耐药性最高，耐药率为71.25%;痰液标本中AB在不同科室的耐药性比较，差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);不同科室痰液标本中AB对头孢哌酮/舒巴坦的耐药性较低。结论 痰液标本中AB主要来自于重症监护室，多为老年男性的痰液标本，对临床常用抗菌药物有广泛耐药性，且不同科室耐药性存在明显差异，临床需重要合理使用抗菌药物。     

外科感染细菌分布及耐药分析

目的：探讨我院外科感染的细菌分布及其耐药情况。方法对2011年1月~2013年1月外科感染病患的送检标本进行细菌鉴定及药物敏检测。结果外科最常见的前三类感染细菌分别为假丝酵母菌、大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌。外科感染细菌多对一线抗菌药物耐药,二线抗菌药物耐药率为50.88%,三线抗菌药物的耐药情况较为少见。结论普通外科感染常见菌多为肠道正常寄生菌,其中金黄色葡萄球菌的耐药性最强。     

2016~2018年鲍曼不动杆菌临床分离株的 分布特征及耐药性变迁

目的 了解鲍曼不动杆菌在我院的分布特征及耐药性变迁,为临床合理选用抗菌药物提供依据。方法 采用珠海迪尔DL-96Ⅱ微生物分析仪进行细菌鉴定与药敏试验,对我院2016年1月~2018年12月临床各类标本中分离出的鲍曼不动杆菌的分布特征及耐药情况进行分析。结果 分离出551株鲍曼不动杆菌,年分离率相对稳定,但多重耐药鲍曼不动杆菌构成比上升明显,从67.28%上升到了82.21%。鲍曼不动杆菌主要分离自痰及咽拭子标本,占67.69%;感染主要发生在ICU病房、呼吸科和神经内科,其次为内分泌科和老干科。临床常用13种抗菌药物的耐药率与2016年比较,多种抗菌药物耐药率上升显著;2018年与2017年比较,耐药情况控制较好,其中米诺环素和多粘菌素B耐药率最低,分别为14.90%和16.35%;其余耐药率均大于55%。结论 鲍曼不动杆菌在我院耐药情况比较严重,对多种抗菌药物耐药率都达到了较高水平,临床应根据药敏结果和临床实际合理选用抗菌药物。     

2012～2016肺炎克雷伯菌分布及耐药变化趋势分析

目的 对2012～2016年医院患者肺炎克雷伯菌(KPN)感染现状及耐药性进行调查,为感染监控和临床用药提供参考.方法 回顾性分析2012 ～2016年医院患者细菌培养标本中KPN的分离情况及耐药性的变迁趋势.结果 共分离KPN 2043株,逐年总体分离率无明显变化,产ESBLs菌株的分离率2012 ～2014年逐年下降,而2014 ～2016年则逐年上升,CRKP的分离率则逐年显著上升,2016年CRKP分离率达42.53％.临床分离的KPN主要来源于痰、全血、尿液、分泌物和引流液标本,2012 ～2016年痰标本的分离率呈逐年下降趋势,而全血的分离率呈逐年递增趋势.其他标本类型的分离率亦有一定的波动,分离KPN阳性率较高的病区是重症医学科、神经外科、呼吸科、老年病科和肾内科等,除重症医学科的分离率逐年上升外,其余病区无明显变化.碳青霉烯类耐药率逐年显著上升,2016年达42.53％.其余抗菌药物2012～2015年的耐药率有一定的波动,但总体变化不明显,2016年各抗菌药物的耐药率均明显升高.结论 我院KPN的耐药趋势有一定的波动,尤其2016年耐药情况较为严重,应引起各相关科室高度重视,临床应根据药物敏感性试验结果合理使用抗菌药物.     

北京康复医院耐碳青霉烯类肺炎克雷伯菌临床分布及耐药性分析

目的 分析该院耐碳青霉烯类肺炎克雷伯菌(CR-KP)的临床分布特点及药敏检测结果,为临床合理有效治疗CR-KP感染提供理论依据。方法 分析2021年全年该院检出的非重复分离CR-KP菌株。利用VITEK 2 Compact全自动微生物分析系统进行菌株鉴定和药敏检测试验。药敏结果参照美国临床实验室标准化协会(CLSI M100)标准判读。所有数据使用WHONET 5.6软件进行统计分析。结果 2021年全年该院共分离非重复的肠杆菌科细菌942株,其中CR-KP菌株295株,检出率高达31.3%。CR-KP菌株的标本来源主要是尿液、痰液、血液标本。主要分布科室为神经康复中心、老年康复中心、呼吸康复中心。CR-KP菌株对大部分临床常用的抗菌药物呈现高度耐药性,除对替加环素较为敏感(耐药率为13.5%),对阿米卡星和复方新诺明耐药率在60%以下,对其余检测的抗菌药物耐药率均大于90.0%。结论 该院CR-KP检出占比较高,对大多数抗菌药物耐药情况非常严峻,医护人员应高度重视,合理使用抗菌药物,同时应加强院感防控和手卫生,防止CR-KP暴发流行。     

2010年我院5种常见病原菌分布及耐药性分析

目的对广东省妇幼保健院微生物实验室2010年分离的5种临床最常见病原菌的分布及耐药性进行分析,为临床感染性疾病送检标本和抗菌药物的合理选择及调整提供实验室依据。方法分析临床送检标本资料,所有标本按《全国临床检验操作规程》培养、分离,经全自动细菌鉴定分析系统（VITEK-2compact）进行鉴定及药敏试验,应用WHONET5.4软件分析药敏结果。结果细菌培养以呼吸道标本为主,常见菌的检出率在儿科系列病房均超过30%;在导管和支气管冲洗液等检出率平均达27.66%以上。常见菌对多种抗生素耐药,其中铜绿假单胞菌对亚胺培南的耐药达14.9%,但对氨基糖苷类、喹诺酮类抗生素均有较高的敏感率。结论病原菌检出率高,儿科系列病房应重视病原菌检测;革兰阴性条件致病菌常见。及时掌握病原菌及耐药性,有利于指导临床合理选择抗菌药物,预防医院感染的发生。     

2017年我院肠杆菌科细菌临床分布及耐药性分析

目的 分析宝山区中西医结合医院2017年所分离肠杆菌科细菌在临床标本中的分布和对常用抗菌药物的耐药性。方法 菌株来源于2017年1月1日~12月31日临床送检各类标本中分离出的肠杆菌科细菌1054株。剔除同一患者相同部位的重复菌株。用西门子的MicroScan WalkAway96全自动微生物鉴定/药敏测试系统进行细菌鉴定和药物敏感试验,K-B纸片扩散法作为药敏补充实验,依照CLSI制定的最新的判断标准判断药敏试验结果。结果 2017年分离出的肠杆菌科细菌1054株,主要来源于痰液标本和中段尿标本,分别占39.85%和31.03%;分离率最高的是肺炎克雷伯杆菌和大肠埃希菌,分别占39.94%和35.67%;其次是奇异变形杆菌和阴沟肠杆菌,分别占6.83%和5.79%;肺炎克雷伯菌亚胺培南和美罗培南的耐药率较高,分别为38.24%和 39.43%,敏感率均为59.86%;奇异变形杆菌亚胺培南的耐药率高于美罗培南。肺炎克雷伯菌ESBLs检出率为45.84%,大肠埃希菌45.74%,奇异变形杆菌为45.83%。结论 我院2017年分离的肠杆菌科细菌中以肺炎克雷伯菌和大肠埃希菌为主,细菌的耐药问题日趋严重,医院应引起高度重视,加强细菌耐药性的监测,指导临床合理用药。     

鲍曼不动杆菌的临床分布及耐药性变迁

目的了解鲍曼不动杆菌在临床标本的分离率和病区分布及耐药性变化趋势。方法菌株鉴定采用法国梅里埃VITEK32细菌鉴定系统进行鉴定,药敏试验采用K-B法,药敏试验结果判定以CLSI/NCCLS标准进行。结果 2004-2010年共收到26670份标本,分离出阳性细菌7065株,其中鲍曼不动杆菌471株（6.67%）,分离率为1.77%（471/7065）。在471株鲍曼不动杆菌中,从痰液标本分离出最多有409株（86.83%）,分离率最高的是ICU,占49.3%。鲍曼不动杆菌对抗菌药物的耐药性普遍较高,且呈逐年升高趋势,部分表现出多重耐药特征。结论鲍曼不动杆菌的耐药状况日益严重,应重视临床鲍曼不动杆菌的感染与分离,谨防多重耐药鲍曼不动杆菌的院内感染及暴发流行。     

天津地区某基层医院铜绿假单胞菌的5年耐药变迁

目的 观察天津地区某基层医院铜绿假单胞菌的临床分布及其耐药情况和近5年的耐药变化趋势,为临床抗感染治疗的经验用药和合理使用抗生素提供理论依据。方法 收集2013年1月~2017年12月我院住院患者细菌培养标本分离的铜绿假单胞菌,分析其科室分布及菌株对临床常用抗菌药物的耐药率和耐药变迁。结果 5年内共分离到铜绿假单胞菌542株,其分布主要以呼吸内科、ICU以及普通外科为主。铜绿假单胞菌对氨曲南、左氧氟沙星、头孢他啶、亚胺培南、美罗培南、哌拉西林他唑巴坦、阿米卡星的耐药率分别为28.80%、17.30%、15.40%、13.30%、15.30%、8.30%、3.60%。结论 铜绿假单胞菌是基层三级综合医院临床科室最常见的革兰阴性非发酵菌,分离人群主要以呼吸内科、ICU和普通外科为主。我院分离的铜绿假单胞菌对大多数临床常用抗菌药物均有较好的体外敏感性。因此,临床使用这些药物治疗铜绿假单胞菌感染通常可获得良好的疗效。但由于该细菌易产生获得性耐药,且近年来少数抗菌药物的耐药率波动范围较大。因此建议临床医生关注实验室药敏结果报告和细菌耐药监测报告。     

Opportunities and challenges in the prevention and control of cancer and other chronic diseases: children's diet and nutrition and weight and physical activity

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to review the role of behavioral research in disease prevention and control, with a particular emphasis on lifestyle- and behavior-related cancer and chronic disease risk factors--specifically, relationships among diet and nutrition and weight and physical activity with adult cancer, and tracking developmental origins of these health-promoting and health-compromising behaviors from childhood into adulthood. METHOD: After reviewing the background of the field of cancer prevention and control and establishing plausibility for the role of child health behavior in adult cancer risk, studies selected from the pediatric published literature are reviewed. Articles were retrieved, selected, and summarized to illustrate that results from separate but related fields of study are combinable to yield insights into the prevention and control of cancer and other chronic diseases in adulthood through the conduct of nonintervention and intervention research with children in clinical, public health, and other contexts. RESULTS: As illustrated by the evidence presented in this review, there are numerous reasons (biological, psychological, and social), opportunities (school and community, health care, and family settings), and approaches (nonintervention and intervention) to understand and impact behavior change in children's diet and nutrition and weight and physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Further development and evaluation of behavioral science intervention protocols conducted with children are necessary to understand the efficacy of these approaches and their public health impact on proximal and distal cancer, cancer-related, and chronic disease outcomes before diffusion. It is clear that more attention should be paid to early life and early developmental phases in cancer prevention.     

Pain and Effusion and Quadriceps Activation and Strength

Context:

Quadriceps dysfunction is a common consequence of knee joint injury and disease, yet its causes remain elusive.

Objective:

To determine the effects of pain on quadriceps strength and activation and to learn if simultaneous pain and knee joint effusion affect the magnitude of quadriceps dysfunction.

Design:

Crossover study.

Setting:

University research laboratory.

Patients or Other Participants:

Fourteen (8 men, 6 women; age = 23.6 ± 4.8 years, height = 170.3 ± 9.16 cm, mass = 72.9 ± 11.84 kg) healthy volunteers.

Intervention(s):

All participants were tested under 4 randomized conditions: normal knee, effused knee, painful knee, and effused and painful knee.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

Quadriceps strength (Nm/kg) and activation (central activation ratio) were assessed after each condition was induced.

Results:

Quadriceps strength and activation were highest under the normal knee condition and differed from the 3 experimental knee conditions (P < .05). No differences were noted among the 3 experimental knee conditions for either variable (P > .05).

Conclusions:

Both pain and effusion led to quadriceps dysfunction, but the interaction of the 2 stimuli did not increase the magnitude of the strength or activation deficits. Therefore, pain and effusion can be considered equally potent in eliciting quadriceps inhibition. Given that pain and effusion accompany numerous knee conditions, the prevalence of quadriceps dysfunction is likely high.Key Words: arthrogenic muscle inhibition, central activation failure, voluntary activation, muscles

Key Points

• Knee pain and effusion resulted in arthrogenic muscle inhibition and weakness of the quadriceps.
• The simultaneous presence of pain and effusion did not increase the magnitude of quadriceps dysfunction.
• To reduce arthrogenic muscle inhibition and improve muscle strength, clinicians should employ interventions that target removing both pain and effusion.

Quadriceps weakness is a common consequence of traumatic knee joint injury^1,2 and chronic degenerative knee joint conditions.^3,4 Arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI), a neurologic decline in muscle activation, results in quadriceps weakness and hinders rehabilitation by preventing gains in strength.⁵ The inability to reverse AMI and restore muscle function can lead to decreased physical abilities,⁶ biomechanical deficits,⁷ and possibly reinjury.⁵ Furthermore, researchers^8,9 have suggested that quadriceps weakness resulting from AMI may place patients at risk for developing osteoarthritis in the knee. In light of the substantial influence of quadriceps AMI on these clinically relevant outcomes, we need to improve our understanding of the factors that contribute to this neurologic decline in muscle activity so efforts to target and reverse it can be implemented and gains in strength can be achieved more easily.Joint injury and disease are accompanied by numerous sequelae (ie, pain, swelling, tissue damage, inflammation), so ascertaining which one ultimately leads to neurologic muscle dysfunction is difficult. Whereas a joint effusion can result in AMI,^10–12 the effects of pain are less understood despite many clinicians attributing AMI to pain. Using techniques that introduce knee pain without accompanying injury may provide insights into the role of pain in eliciting AMI.The degree of knee joint damage may play a role in the quantity of AMI that manifests. Hurley et al^13,14 demonstrated that quadriceps AMI, measured using an interpolated-twitch technique, was greater in patients with extensive traumatic knee injury (eg, fractured tibial plateau, ruptured medial collateral ligament, and medial meniscectomy) than patients with isolated joint trauma (ie, isolated anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] rupture). Similarly, patients with more knee joint symptoms (ie, greater number of symptoms and increased severity of symptoms) may present with greater magnitudes of quadriceps inhibition. Recently, investigators¹⁵ have suggested that patients with more pain display less quadriceps strength, supporting this tenet. Given that effusion and pain often present simultaneously with joint injuries and diseases, such as ACL injury and osteoarthritis, examining both the isolated and cumulative effects of these sequelae appears warranted to determine if they influence the magnitude of muscle inhibition.Experimental joint-effusion and pain models are safe and effective experimental methods that allow for the isolated examination of their effects on muscle function. The effusion model, whereby sterile saline is injected directly into the knee joint capsule,⁷ produces a clinically relevant magnitude of the joint effusion that may be present with traumatic injury. Effusion is thought to activate group II afferents responding to stretch or pressure,^16–18 which in turn may facilitate group Ib interneurons and result in quadriceps AMI.⁵ The pain model involves injecting hypertonic saline into the infrapatellar fat pad to produce anteromedial knee pain similar to that described in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.¹⁹ Pain is considered to initiate AMI through activation of group III and IV afferents that act as nocioceptors to signal damage or potential damage to joint structures.^16–18 The firing of these afferents then may lead to facilitation of group Ib interneurons, the flexion reflex, or the gamma loop, ultimately resulting in quadriceps inhibition.²⁰ Thus, these models allow us to create symptoms that are associated with knee injury and have the added benefit of providing a way to examine their effects in isolation.Therefore, the purpose of our study was to determine the effects of pain on quadriceps strength and activation and to learn if simultaneous pain and knee joint effusion would affect the magnitude of quadriceps dysfunction. We hypothesized that pain alone would result in quadriceps inhibition and that the magnitude of inhibition would be greater when effusion and pain were present simultaneously.     

Postinfectious immunodeficiency and autoimmunity: pathogenic and clinical values and implications

Autoimmunity is still a mystery of clinical immunology and medicine as a whole. The etiology and pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders remain unclear and, thus, are assessed as a balance between hereditary predisposition, triggering factors and the appearance of autoantibodies and/or self-reactive T cells. Among the immunological armamentarium, molecular mimicry, based on self-reactive T- and B-cell activation by cross-reactive epitopes of infectious agents, is of special value. Hypotheses regarding the possible involvement of molecular mimicry in the development of postinfectious autoimmunity are currently very intriguing. They provide new approaches for identifying etiological agents that are associated with postinfectious autoimmunity, paired microbial- and tissue-linked epitopes targeted for autoimmune reaction determination, postinfectious autoimmunity pathogenesis recognition and specific prevention, and therapy for autoimmune disorder development.     

Beta-endorphin and drug-induced reward and reinforcement

Although drugs of abuse have different acute mechanisms of action, their brain pathways of reward exhibit common functional effects upon both acute and chronic administration. Long known for its analgesic effect, the opioid beta-endorphin is now shown to induce euphoria, and to have rewarding and reinforcing properties. In this review, we will summarize the present neurobiological and behavioral evidences that support involvement of beta-endorphin in drug-induced reward and reinforcement. Currently, evidence supports a prominent role for beta-endorphin in the reward pathways of cocaine and alcohol. The existing information indicating the importance of beta-endorphin neurotransmission in mediating the reward pathways of nicotine and THC, is thus far circumstantial. The studies described herein employed diverse techniques, such as biochemical measurements of beta-endorphin in various brain sites and plasma, and behavioral measurements, conducted following elimination (via administration of anti-beta-endorphin antibodies or using mutant mice) or augmentation (by intracerebral administration) of beta-endorphin. We suggest that the reward pathways for different addictive drugs converge to a common pathway in which beta-endorphin is a modulating element. beta-Endorphin is involved also with distress. However, reviewing the data collected so far implies a discrete role, beyond that of a stress response, for beta-endorphin in mediating the substance of abuse reward pathway. This may occur via interacting with the mesolimbic dopaminergic system and also by its interesting effects on learning and memory. The functional meaning of beta-endorphin in the process of drug-seeking behavior is discussed.     

PTEN与信号转导及肿瘤

ＴＥＮ[1] (ｐｈｏｓｐｈａｔａｓｅａｎｄｔｅｎｓｉｎｈｏｍｏｌｏｇｙｄｅｌｅｔｅｄｏｎｃｈｒｏｍｏｓｏｍｅｔｅｎ)又名ＭＭＡＣ1 [2 ] (ｍｕｔａｔｅｄｉｎｍｕｔｉｐｌｙａｄａｎｃｅｄｃａｎｃｅｒ 1 )和ＴＥＰ1 [3 ] (ＴＧＦ -βｒｅｇｕｌａｔｅｄａｎｄｅｐｉｔｈｅｌｉａｌｃｅｌｌ -ｒｉｃｈｅｄｐｈｏｓｐｈａｔａｓｅ 1 ) (以下均称为ＰＴＥＮ) ,是 1 997年由 3个研究小组先后发现的一个具有双特异磷酸酶活性的抑癌基因。ＰＴＥＮ基因异常广泛存在于人类多种恶性肿瘤 ,如恶性神经胶质瘤、前列腺癌、子宫内膜癌、黑色素瘤等…     

Tobacco and alcohol and the risk of head and neck cancer

Summary We carried out two case-control studies on the relative risk of head and neck cancer in association with tobacco and alcohol consumption. The first study carried out at the ENT Department of the University hospitals of Heidelberg and Giessen (FRG) comprised 200 male patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck and 800 control subjects matched for sex, age, and residential area (1:4 matching design). Of the tumour patients, 4.5% had never smoked, in contrast to 29.5% of the control group. The average tobacco and alcohol consumption of the patients was approximately twice as high as in the control subjects. The highest alcohol and tobacco consumption was observed in patients suffering from oropharyngeal cancer. Tobacco and alcohol increased the risk of head and neck cancer in a dose-dependent fashion and acted as independent risk factors. In heavy smokers (> 60 pack-years) a relative risk of 23.4 (alcohol adjusted) was calculated. Combined alcohol and tobacco consumption showed a synergistic effect. The risk ratio increased more in a multiplicative than in an additive manner. Oral and laryngeal cancer were associated with the highest tobacco-associated risk values. The highest ethanol-associated risk values were associated with oropharyngeal and laryngeal cancer. The second study was carried out at the ENT Department of the University of Heidelberg on 164 males with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and 656 control subjects matched for sex, age and residential area (1:4 matching design). Of the cases, 4.2% had never smoked, compared with 28.5% of the control subjects. The risk of laryngeal cancer by tobacco consumption was dose dependent, reaching a maximum value of 9.1 (adjusted for alcohol) for a consumption of more than 50 tobacco-years (TY). The relative risk of laryngeal cancer associated with alcohol intake was also dose dependent, reaching a value of 9.0 (adjusted for tobacco) for a mean daily consumption of more than 75 g alcohol. An analysis of subsite specific risks showed that heavy smokers (> 50 TY) carried a nearly ten times higher risk of supraglottic cancer than of glottic cancer. The risk of supraglottic cancer from alcohol consumption was also higher than that of glottic cancer.     

类赖氨酰氧化酶2与肿瘤转移和发生

类赖氨酰氧化酶2(lysyl oxidase-like 2,LOXL2)是赖氨酰氧化酶(lysyl oxidase,LOX)基因家族的成员之一,其表达产物能促进胶原沉积.LOXL2的过表达能促进纤维化,并与肿瘤侵袭、转移及不良预后有关.目前大部分学者认为LOXL2是一种转移促进基因,也有实验支持其是一种肿瘤抑制基因.研究发现LOXL2可以通过激活Snail/Ecadherin通路或Src/FAK通路促进转移.LOXL2有望作为肿瘤生物标志物,用于预后判断,成为一个新的治疗靶点.     

Muscle strength and serum testosterone,cortisol and SHBG concentrations in middle-aged and elderly men and women

Forty healthy males (M) and females (F) divided into two different age groups i.e. M50 years (range 44–57; n= 9), F50 years (range 43–54; n= 9), M70 years (range 64–73; n= 11) and F70 years (range 63–73; n= 11) volunteered as subjects for examination of muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and maximal voluntary isometric force production characteristics of the leg extensor muscles and serum androgen and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations. The CSA in the male groups was greatly larger (P < 0.01) than in the female groups and both elderly groups demonstrated slightly (n.s.) smaller values in the CSA than the two middle-aged groups. Maximal force of 2854 ± 452 N in M50 was greater (P < 0.05) than that of 2627 ± 752 N recorded for F50 as well as the force of 2787 ± 843 in M70 was greater (P < 0.001) than that of 1849 ± 295 recorded for F70. The force between F50 and F70 differed significantly (P < 0.05) from each other. The maximal rate of force production in M50 was greater (P < 0.01) than in F50 as well as in M70 greater (P < 0.001) than in F70. Both middle-aged groups demonstrated greater (P < 0.05) values than the respective elderly groups of the same sex. The individual values in the CSA correlated with the values in maximal force both in the middle-aged subjects (r= 0.66; P < 0.01) and in the elderly subjects (r= 0.69; P < 0.01). The mean concentration of serum testosterone in M50 was slightly (n.s.) greater than in M70 and in F50 significantly (P < 0.05) greater than in F70. Serum SHBG levels were lower in the males (P < 0.01) than in the females and serum testosterone/SHBG ratio in M70 and in F70 were lower (P < 0.05) than in M50 and in F50, respectively. In the females significant positive correlations were observed between the individual values in serum testosterone concentration and the values both in the CSA (r= 0.46; P < 0.05) and in maximal force (r= 0.62; P < 0.01) as well as between serum testosterone/SHBG ratio and both the CSA (r= 0.55; P < 0.05) and maximal force (r= 0.68; P < 0.01). The present results imply that the decreasing basal level of blood testosterone over the years in aging people, especially in females, may lead to decreasing anabolic effects on muscles thus having an association with age-related declines in the maximal voluntary neuromuscular performance capacity in aging people.