Respiratory pressures in boys from 11-17 years old: a semilongitudinal study

We hypothesized that in children, maximal respiratory pressures increase with age and more during the pubertal growth spurt. The aim of this work was to follow maximal respiratory pressures, with a semilongitudinal study, in three groups of prepubertal, peripubertal, and postpubertal children in order to specify pressure changes with age and determine the contributions of growth and puberty. A semilongitudinal study was conducted in 44 boys assigned to three overlapping age groups: from 11-13 (prepubertal stage), from 13-15 (pubertal stage), and from 15-17 years (postpubertal stage). The children underwent annual testing for maximal respiratory pressures and spirometric values. Body mass, height, lean body mass assessed from four skinfold thicknesses, and stage of development were also evaluated. Maximal respiratory pressure increased significantly with growth from 11-17 years for maximal inspiratory pressure, and from 11-15 years for maximal expiratory pressure. We observed an increase in the slope of the regression lines between age and lean body mass during the pubertal growth spurt, without an increase in the slopes of the regression lines between age and respiratory pressures. In conclusion, the relationships between age and respiratory pressures are not modified by the growth spurt, indicating that anthropometric characteristics have little role in determining respiratory pressures.     

Relationship between thyroid volume and urinary iodine level in children aged 8-10 years in Tianjin

<正>Objective To explore the thyroid volume of children aged 8-10 years in non-iodine high area and iodine high area of Tianjin and to analyze the relationship between thyroid volume and urinary iodine level. Methods From2016-2017,a cross-sectional study was conducted in non-iodine high area and iodine high area in Tianjin. Totally 356 and 199 children aged 8-10 years were     

Tobacco smoking in relation to body fat mass and distribution in a general population sample

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of variable amounts of tobacco smoking on body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio among current smokers. DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. SUBJECTS: A total of 22 059 apparently healthy men and women, who enrolled in the Greek EPIC cohort, aged 25-84 years, who had never smoked (14 751) or were current cigarette smokers (7308). MEASUREMENTS: Body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio (by anthropomentry), amount of tobacco smoking and energy expenditure (by an interviewer-administered, lifestyle questionnaire), energy intake and ethanol intake (by an interviewer-administered, validated, semiquantitative, food frequency questionnaire), at enrollment. RESULTS: In comparison to nonsmokers, smokers of the average number of cigarettes have lower body mass index. Among smokers, however, increased amount of smoking tends to be positively associated with body mass index, particularly among men. Waist-to-hip ratio is positively associated with amount of cigarettes smoked per day, among both men and women. CONCLUSION: Among smokers, tobacco smoking is positively associated with body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio. Our data suggest that the lower body mass index of smokers compared to nonsmokers reflects personality characteristics of those who choose to smoke and that the tendency to gain weight after smoking cessation may have behavioral rather than tobacco-related pharmacological roots.     

Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in a rural population between 25 and 44 years old.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of the following cardiovascular risk factors, in the 25 to the 44 year age group, in persons attending the Goes Health Center: hypertension, high blood cholesterol, obesity, smoking and family history of coronary disease. METHODS: 340 individuals were selected, for random sample stratification by sex and age groups. They were summoned by mail to come to the Health Center for an evaluation of the factors studied. Hypertension was defined if systolic blood pressure was > or = 140 mmHg and/or diastolic arterial pressure was > or = 90 mmHg and/or if the participant was currently under therapy. High blood cholesterol was defined if the determination made at the time with a strip-test "Accutrend Cholesterol" was > or = 200 mg/dl and/or under specific therapy. Obesity was defined as a body mass index > or = 30 kg/m2. Tobacco consumption was defined as an affirmative reply to the question "Do you currently smoke?". Previous family history of coronary heart disease was defined as an affirmative reply to the question "Do you know of anybody in your family who has died or suffers from coronary disease?". RESULTS: The global prevalence of hypertension, high blood cholesterol, obesity, smoking and previous family history of coronary heart disease was of 20.3%, 32.1%, 11.8%, 21.5% and 26.8%, respectively. There was an association of risk factors in 22.3%.     

Adjustment of fat-free mass and fat mass for height in children aged 8 y

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationships between height and (a) fat-free mass (FFM) and (b) fat mass (FM) in children in order to determine the optimum means of adjusting body composition for height. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: Sixty-nine children aged 8 y. MEASUREMENTS AND METHODS: Weight and height (HT) were measured, and total body water by deuterium dilution for estimation of fat-free mass and fat mass. The indices FFM/HT(2) and FM/HT(2) were calculated, as were the indices FFM/HT(p) and FM/HT(p) where P was selected in order to eliminate the correlation of these indices with height. RESULTS: FFM was optimally adjusted for height by calculating FFM/HT(2). FM was optimally adjusted by calculating FM/HT(6). However, height accounted for <8% of the variation in FM/HT(2), indicating that the bias of this simpler index is small. CONCLUSIONS: Different adjustments of FFM and FM for height are possible, depending on the study design. The indices FFM/HT(2) and FM/HT(2) are appropriate for many purposes, and have the advantage of expressing both aspects of body composition in common units. However, in some scenarios a more sophisticated approach is required for evaluating body fatness.     

Reactogenicity and immunogenicity of a Lyme disease vaccine in children 2-5 years old.

Two doses of a recombinant Lyme disease vaccine (15 and 30 microg) were administered to children 2-5 years old (0-1-month schedule) and were well tolerated. Both doses were highly immunogenic with geometric mean titers 1 month after vaccination of 4366 and 9877 ELISA units (EU)/mL, respectively. Nearly all subjects had antibody levels of > or = 1400 EU/mL, suggesting protective tick titre for one tick season.     

Disability transitions in the oldest old in the general population. The Leiden 85-plus study

Transitions between disability states in older people occur frequently. This study investigated predictors of disability transitions in the oldest old and was performed in the Leiden 85-plus study, a population-based prospective cohort study among 597 participants aged 85 years. At baseline (age 85 years), data on sociodemographic characteristics and chronic diseases were obtained. Disabilities in basic activities of daily living (BADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) were measured annually for 5 years with the Groningen Activities Restriction Scale (GARS). Mortality data were obtained. A statistical multi-state model was used to assess the risks of transitions between no disabilities, IADL disability, BADL disability, and death. At baseline, 299 participants (50.0 %) were disabled in IADL only, and 155 participants (26.0 %) were disabled in both BADL and IADL. During 5-year follow-up, 374 participants (62.6 %) made >1 transition between disability states, mostly deterioration in disability. Males had a lower risk of deterioration [hazard ratio (HR), 0.75 (95 % CI, 0.58–0.96)] compared to females. No gender differences were observed for improvement [HR, 0.64 (95 % CI, 0.37–1.11)]. Participants with depressive symptoms were less likely to improve [HR, 0.50 (95 % CI, 0.28–0.87)]. Participants with depressive symptoms [HR, 1.46 (95 % CI, 1.12–1.91)], >1 chronic disease [HR, 1.60 (95 % CI, 1.27–2.01)], and with cognitive impairment [HR, 1.60 (95 % CI, 1.20–2.13)] had the highest risk of deteriorating. Disability is a dynamic process in the oldest old. Deterioration is more common than improvement. Older men are less likely to deteriorate than women. The presence of depressive symptoms, chronic disease, and cognitive impairment predicts deterioration.     

Blood pressure in pediatric years (8-13 years old) in the Oporto region.

The early detection and treatment of primary and secondary hypertension in children may contribute to the improvement of health later in life. During childhood, the occurrence of arterial hypertension should be understood as a risk situation, even if the clinical signs of the disease are not obvious. Comparatively to other populations, only few epidemiological studies exist in Portugal to be used as clinical references. Thus, the aim of this work was to study the distribution curves of 30, 60 and 90 percentiles of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), related to age, height, and weight. To define the "cut off points" of hypertension in our population, we estimated the 95 percentile of SBP and DBP. This is a cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 474 children (242 boys and 232 girls), aged 8 to 13 years old, randomly selected in 30 different schools of the Oporto region. Weight, height and body mass index were evaluated as anthropometric reference values and blood pressures, SBP and DBP, were measured at rest. The results revealed a gradual increase in blood pressure values with age, height and weight. We found significant correlations (p < or = 0.05; p < or = 0.01) between SBP and DBP to the variables height, weight and blood mass index in both sexes. Multiple regression analysis showed that weight and age explain significantly (p < or = 0.01) the variation of SBP in both sexes. Related to DBP, in males and females, only age accounted significantly for the amount of variance. In conclusion, the present study pointed out the need to associate the SBP and DBP values to the age, weight and height of the subjects, mainly in boys. This work stresses the need for SBP and DBP percentile tables related to age, to weight and to height, for the Portuguese population, particularly for pediatric ages.     

Relationship between FEV1 reduction and respiratory symptoms in the general population.

Obstructive airways diseases typically present with dyspnoea, cough and wheeze, and are defined by a reduced forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio. Traditionally, however, the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is graded by the FEV1 % predicted rather than the FEV1/FVC ratio, whilst other potentially valid measures of FEV1 impairment, such as the absolute difference of FEV1 from predicted or the absolute level of FEV1, tend not to be used. The authors have therefore explored the relationship between these different measures of FEV1 impairment and chronic respiratory symptoms in a general population sample. FEV1 and FVC were measured and questionnaire data were obtained on cough, wheeze, shortness of breath and general self-reported breathing trouble in a cross-sectional survey of 2,633 adults aged 18-70 yrs from a district of Nottingham, UK. Odds ratios for each symptom were calculated for declining levels of absolute FEV1, FEV1 % pred, absolute difference of FEV1 from predicted, and FEV1/FVC ratio. They were plotted to display the shape and strength of these relationships before and after adjustment for each other measure. The odds of symptoms increased with declining levels of all FEV1 measures, particularly for wheeze and general breathing trouble. Although this study was not sufficiently powerful to detect significant differences between measures, these relationships were consistently strongest, before and after adjustment, for FEV1 % pred, particularly below a threshold of approximately 75%. The authors conclude that forced expiratory volume in one second % predicted appears to be the measure of airflow impairment most closely associated with chronic respiratory symptoms in the general population.     

The QT interval during exercise in healthy children 6-14 years old

Some children and adolescents with stress-induced syncope and a normal QT interval at rest are said to have a prolonged QT interval during exercise. Normal values for the QT interval of children during exercise, however, are lacking. Therefore, the authors determined, in 60 healthy boys aged 6-14 years, the QT interval during stepwise increase in exercise on a bicycle ergometer and constructed a graph containing, with a probability of 95%, at least 90% of normal QT intervals during exercise within its confidence limits. The QT interval as a function of heart rate during exercise can be expressed by the equation QT (s) = 0.4 - 9.18.10(-4) x heart rate (min-1) +/- 0.02.     

Evaluation of systolic time intervals in a group of healthy children 10-12 years old.

The normal values of the systolic time intervals (STI) in children and their possible relationship with heart rate have not been studied thoroughly. From a group of 9760 healthy school-children 10-12 years old, 488 subjects of both sexes were randomly selected in order to measure the STI and calculate the respective indices. The final population study was composed of 479 children, 249 males and 230 females, aged from 10/1 to 12/2 years/months (mean age 11/1 +/- 0/4 years/months). In each child, the following STI were measured: total electromechanical systole (Q-S2), left ventricular ejection time (LVET), mechanical systole (S1-S2), preejection period (PEP), PEP/LVET ratio and isovolumic contraction time (ICT). For each parameter, the regression equation with heart rate was calculated using a linear model and was verified if a real difference existed between linear regressions of males and females. Moreover, for each parameter, the index from the respective regression equation was calculated as well as its normal value and the standard deviation. Finally, the diastolic time (% diastole) and its correlation with heart rate were calculated. Our results demonstrate that in children, a close correlation exists between the STI and heart rate, although less striking than in adults; only the PEP/LVET ratio appears independent from heart rate, as in adults. The % diastole versus heart rate non-linear relationship shows the same behaviour as in adults. Finally, in agreement with other authors, our results show that in childhood the relationship between the STI and heart rate behaves alike in males and females.     

Body fat in the adult Danish population aged 35-65 years: an epidemiological study

The purpose of the study was: (1) to estimate body fat and body fat distribution in the general population of Danes aged 35-65 years and thus provide tables of normal values for adult Danes in these age groups; and (2) to assess the effects of age and gender on relations between measures of obesity and of fat distribution. Hitherto, the only available results from the Danish population have been on BMI. Of the 3608 invited subjects 2987 (83 per cent) attended the examination. Body fat and fat distribution were estimated from measurements of electrical impedance and from circumference measurements. The study showed large differences in body fat and fat distribution between men and women. There was a difference in total body fat of 4.5 and 6.9 kg in men and women respectively between the groups aged 35 and 65 years. Fat percentage increased 36 per cent in women and 30 per cent in men between the groups aged 35 and 65 years. There was a difference in waist/hip ratio (WH ratio) between men and women at all age groups. Of the women 46 per cent had WH ratios above 0.8 and 14 per cent of the men had WH ratios above 1.0, suggesting that cut-off points for WH ratio as an indicator of cardiovascular risk are population specific. This may be caused by a different distribution of other cardiovascular risk factors in the Danish population than in other populations. Men had larger WH ratios per body fat mass with age, whereas in women there was no effect of age on this relation. Furthermore the WH ratio increments in this population took place before the age of 55 years in men, but after 55 years in women. The results may contribute to explain gender differences in morbidity and mortality with increasing age.     

Relationship between plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen, leptin, and fat mass in obese children and adolescents

Hyperleptinemia may be associated with cardiovascular risk and is linked with parameters of fibrinolytic processes in adults. We studied whether body fatness, leptin, and insulin interact with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen (PAI-1-Ag) and tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen (tPA-Ag) in obese children and adolescents. Twenty-three boys (mean +/- SD: age, 10.7 +/- 3.3 years; body mass index [BMI], 28.7 +/- 5.4 Kg/m2) and 19 girls (age, 11.9 +/- 2.7 years; BMI, 29.4 +/- 4.8 Kg/m2) were investigated. Body fat mass (FM) in the children was calculated by bioelectrical impedance analysis, and blood samples were obtained for leptin, insulin, C-peptide, PAI-1-Ag, and tPA-Ag. The children were divided into 3 subgroups according to maturation. Maturity was associated with greater adiposity and higher levels of leptin and C-peptide, but insulin and PAI-1-Ag were not different between prepubertal, pubertal, and late/postpubertal children. PAI-1-Ag was associated with leptin and insulin, but not after adjustment for fatness. PAI-1-Ag was independently associated with tPA-Ag (r = .36, P < .02). Multiple regression analysis showed that tPA-Ag failed to reach the level of significance (P = .07), but FM contributed to the variation in PAI-1-Ag (adjusted R2 = .29). The BMI was the main determinant for the variation in leptin (adjusted R2 = .386) and in insulin (adjusted R2 = .60, all P < .001). Neither gender, maturation, chronological age, or leptin contributed significantly to the variation in either PAI-1-Ag or tPA-Ag. Our data suggest that adiposity and other variables contribute to higher levels of PAI-1-Ag. Leptin seems not to be independently linked with fibrinolytic parameters, but an unfavorable metabolic and fibrinolytic risk profile might emanate from the obese pubertal stage.     

70岁及以上老年人群中尿酸水平增高与糖尿病前期、高血压前期的关系

目的探讨70岁及以上老年人群中尿酸(UA)水平增高与高血压前期(PreHBP)、糖尿病前期(IGR)的关系。方法对2 552例70岁及以上的老年人群采取横断面研究,进行现场体格检查和一般资料的问卷调查,以IGR、PreHBP为应变量,以血UA、血脂等危险因素为自变量,分析其对糖尿病、高血压发病的影响。结果总人群中IGR合并PreHBP人群的UA值高于正常组,但是差异没有统计学差异(P0.05)。回归分析显示,UA水平增高是IGR的危险因素,即使在调整了BMI、TG等因子后,UA的影响依然显著(P0.05);但是UA水平增高就PreHBP的OR值却不显著(P0.05)。结论早期对UA水平进行控制,可以有效预防糖尿病的发生。     

Relationship between alcohol habits and hemorheology by a micro channel method in a general population

BACKGROUND: Hemorheology plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular disease. The Micro Channel array Flow Analyzer (MC-FAN) (Hitachi Haramachi Electronics Co., Ltd., Bentencho, Japan) is currently considered a useful new device to analyze hemorheology. However, the relationships between various lifestyle habits and hemorheology, especially using MC-FAN, have still not been thoroughly investigated. HYPOTHESIS: The study was undertaken to determine whether there could be some correlations of lifestyle factors to hemorheology by MC-FAN. METHODS: A total of 250 asymptomatic Japanese subjects (male:female = 100:150; mean age = 49.7 y) without any medication were enrolled in the present study. Hemorheology was assessed by the whole blood passage time (WBPT) and was corrected by the saline passage time using MC-FAN. Subjects' lifestyle factors, such as smoking habits, alcohol habits, and physical activity, were self-reported. RESULTS: Partial correlation analysis for WBPT, after controlling for age, gender, hematocrit, white blood cell count, body mass index, blood pressure, blood biochemical measures, and all lifestyle habits, revealed a significant and inverse correlation between alcohol habits of 1-3 go (amount of alcohol intake) and WBPT (r = - 0.191, p = 0.003), in addition to a significant positive correlation between serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and WBPT. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that alcohol habits may beneficially affect hemorheology by MC-FAN, expanding the protective effect of light-to-moderate alcohol consumption against cardiovascular disease.     

高血压患者体重指数与脂肪肝相关性探讨

目的　探讨高血压患者体重指数与脂肪肝、血脂及血压之间的关系。方法　对 13 5例高血压患者按体重指数(BMI)分为 3组 :正常体重组 (BMI=2 0～ 2 3 ) ,超重组 (BMI=2 4～ 2 7) ,肥胖组 (BMI≥ 2 8) ,所有患者均测血脂、血压 ,并行腹部 B超检查。结果　肥胖组较正常组总胆固醇 (TC)、三酰甘油 (TG)、低密度脂蛋白 (L DL )有明显差异(P<0 .0 5 ) ;肥胖组与超重组比较 ,仅 TC有差异 (P<0 .0 5 )。 BMI与脂肪肝的发生率呈正相关 (rs=0 .911,P<0 .0 1) ,且肥胖组中中、重度脂肪肝的发生率较正常组明显增多 (P<0 .0 1)。收缩压 (SBP)及舒张压 (DBP)均随着BMI的增加而明显增高 :肥胖组高于超重组 ,超重组高于正常组 ,差异有显著性 (P<0 .0 0 1及 P<0 .0 5 )。结论　合并超重的高血压患者应积极减重 ,并控制在正常范围 ,对降低血压、预防冠心病及脂肪肝均有重要意义     

Relationship between urinary cGMP excretion and serum total cholesterol levels in a general population

Hypercholesterolemia impairs endothelial function. However, the critical level of serum total cholesterol at which endothelial dysfunction occurs is unknown at present. We investigated cross-sectionally the correlation between urinary excretion of cyclic guanosine 3',5' monophosphate (cGMP), a second messenger of nitric oxide (NO) and serum total cholesterol concentrations in a general population sample of Japanese men and women. The samples comprised 1541 subjects (788 men and 753 women) aged 40-79 years, who participated in cardiovascular risk surveys between 1997 and 2002 and underwent a 24h urine collection. Urinary excretion of cGMP was measured using a (125)I-labeled cGMP radioimmunoassay and was adjusted for urinary creatinine excretion (nmol/mmol creatinine). The mean urinary cGMP excretion correlated linearly and inversely with serum total cholesterol level: mean cGMP excretion adjusted for age, sex and cardiovascular risk factors was 61.7, 53.6, 50.8, 49.2, 47.3 and 46.4 nmol/mmol for total cholesterol levels <4.14, 4.14-4.64, 4.65-5.16, 5.17-5.68, 5.69-6.20 and > or =6.21 mmol/L, respectively (p=0.007). This relation was more evident among individuals with end-organ damage, among subjects with higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and among postmenopausal women. Our data suggest a reduction of NO bioactivity with higher serum total cholesterol levels, even within clinically normal cholesterol levels.