Factors affecting birthweight of rural Australian Aborigines

AIM: To examine factors affecting birthweight of Aboriginal infants in the Kimberley region of north-west Australia. Research design: A retrospective study of maternal and infant health records obtained through routine data collection. Subjects and methods: Birthweight and length of 2959 infants born to 1822 women from 1986 to 1994 were analysed. Mothers and infants were matched using unique identification codes. Index births and subsequent births to the same mother were collated in order to examine relative birth order effects and to calculate birth intervals. RESULTS: Regression analysis showed significant associations between weight of the index birth and maternal age (p < 0.001), remoteness of locality (p < 0.01), sex of the infant (p < 0.001) and maternal height (p < 0.001). Length at birth was significantly associated with ethnicity of infant (Aboriginal vs Aboriginal/non-Aboriginal admixture, p < 0.05), sex (p < 0.001), remoteness (p < 0.01) and maternal height (p < 0.001). Similar associations were observed for second and subsequent births. Birth interval was not associated with birthweight or length. Low birthweight was also more common to Aboriginal mothers compared with mothers of Aboriginal/non-Aboriginal admixture (13.1% vs 9.2%; chi(2) = 5.1, p < 0.025) even though there were no differences in height between these two groups. Teenage mothers (< or =19 years) were no more likely to have low birthweight babies than older mothers. Of the variables examined, the only significant predictor of low birthweight was a previous low birthweight baby (relative risk = 4.45, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Short birth intervals and teenage births were not significant contributors to low birthweight in the present study. The high prevalence and duration of breastfeeding in the Kimberley may contribute to long average birth intervals. Pre-term birth, rather than intrauterine growth retardation, is likely to be the most common cause of low birthweight in this population.     

Factors affecting electromorph mutation rates in man: An analysis of data from Australian Aborigines

The constraints of molecular size and structure on the relative magnitudes of electromorph mutation rates as calculated indirectly have been studied using data for Australian Aborigines. The role of sample size in detecting rare electromorphs is important, In addition, subunit size shows a positive and subunit number a negative correlation with mutation rate. The differences in mutation rates were 2–9-fold when calculated for different categories of the data. The importance of physicochemical constraints are discussed.     

Fish consumption by traditional subsistence villagers of the Rio Madeira (Amazon): Impact on hair mercury

Abstract

Background: Subsistence ribeirinhos of the Amazon Basin depend on fish for their principal source of protein, but fish availability changes with seasonal high and low waters.

Aim: To assess taxa and quantity of fish consumed and estimate attendant exposure to methyl-Hg in a traditional subsistence high fish-eating community of the Amazon Basin.

Subjects and methods: 120 villagers in 18 households were followed for 6 months (August to February) for weighed portions of fish consumed.

Results: Mean daily per capita fish consumption was high (406 g/day) with fish meals ranging from 4 to 14 times/week and an integrated yearly consumption of 148.2 kg/person. Median total-Hg concentrations in fish ranged from 0.011 to 0.409 ppm; six of the more consumed fish species comprised more than 50% of the fish consumed. The villagers mean hair-Hg concentration was high (17.4 ± 11.5 μg/g), with both inter- and intra-household variation despite similar high fish consumption; only 7% showed hair-Hg concentrations < 5 μg/g, but 75% had hair-Hg levels above 10 μg/g. Maternal hair-Hg was significantly correlated with respective children's hair-Hg (Spearman r = 0.5390; p < 0.0001). The high daily fish intake of these villagers is predominantly of species with much lower Hg concentrations.

Conclusion: In Amazonian lifestyle of ribeirinho communities traditional fish consumption is high and depends on available species; fish is also the principal via of meHg exposure and attendant hair-Hg concentrations.     

极低体重儿早期营养干预疗效分析

目的早期积极规范的营养干预对极低体重儿的益处。方法观察组20例，出生后48h静脉营养和采用早期建立肠内营养（早期微量喂养、非营养性吸吮、温盐水灌肠）；对照组15例，积极补液和消化道自然复活苏方法。结果观察组体重增长、住院天数较对照组差异有极显著意义（P＜0．01）。胎粪排尽时间、住院费用差异显著（P＜0．05）。结论早期营养干预是极低体重儿管理中行之有效综合措施。     

HLA class I variation in Australian Aborigines: characterization of allele B*1521

Abstract: Traditional methods of serological typing have largely used antisera of Caucasoid origin, which can overlook HLA heterogeneity in non-Caucasoid populations. Therefore, we have used molecular techniques to evaluate potential polymorphism in HLA class I molecules of Aborigines from the central desert and northern coast of Australia. The DNA sequence of common Aboriginal HLA-A and B antigens were compared with serological reaction patterns which suggested new polymorphisms. Although serological data indicated that long and short variants of A34 may exist, regardless of the serological pattern, all individuals carried the A*3401 allele. Therefore, the variation in A34 reaction pattern observed serologically was not attributable to primary sequence variation in the HLA A*3401 allele. Similarly, there was no detectable polymorphism in the sequences of selected HLA-B alleles, even though some of these alleles showed unusual serological reaction patterns. However, a new allele of B15 (B*1521) was detected in two individuals carrying this serotype. The cells from both of these individuals showed ambiguous reaction patterns with monospecific B62 and B75 sera. cDNA sequencing of the HLA B15 gene from these cells revealed a B15 allele that differed from B*1502 by a single nucleotide change. This change occurred at position 272, resulting in a C to G substitution at residue 67 in the consensus B15 cDNA sequence. Hence, the Australian Aborigines as an ethnic group show very little primary sequence polymorphism within the class I loci, consistent with the results obtained from previous serological studies.     

影响牙髓干细胞分泌血管内皮生长因子的因素

文题释义： 牙髓干细胞：是牙髓组织中最主要的未分化间充质干细胞,同时也是牙髓再生中重要的种子细胞,具有高度增殖、自我更新及多向分化的生物学特性以及一定的分泌活性,可作为外源性血管内皮生长因子的替代来源。 血管内皮生长因子：是血管生成及血管新生过程中最重要的一类细胞因子,可促进干细胞的增殖、分化,且具有保护神经与促进神经再生的作用。由于血管内皮生长因子的半衰期短,外源性血管内皮生长因子需通过复杂的控释系统进行缓慢释放。 背景：如何调控牙髓干细胞分泌血管内皮生长因子,对于牙髓干细胞促进牙髓再生,尤其是促进牙本质再生、牙髓内血管形成及神经再生等方面具有重要意义。 目的：综述影响牙髓干细胞分泌血管内皮生长因子的因素,以期为牙髓再生及临床其他领域的应用提供思路。 方法：检索PubMed数据库、万方数据库、CNKI中国期刊全文数据库收录的相关文献。英文检索词为“vascular endothelial growth factor;dental pulp stem cell;dental pulp regeneration;hypoxia;inflammatory mediator;bacterial virulence factor;growth factor;material”,中文检索词为“血管内皮生长因子;牙髓干细胞;牙髓再生;缺氧;炎症因子;细菌毒力因子;生长因子;材料”,最终纳入56篇文献进行归纳总结。 结果与结论：血管内皮生长因子是血管生成及血管新生过程中最重要的一类细胞因子,可促进干细胞的增殖、分化,且具有保护神经与促进神经再生的作用。牙髓干细胞是牙髓组织中最主要的干细胞,同时也是牙髓再生中重要的种子细胞,具有高度增殖、自我更新及多向分化等生物学特性以及一定的分泌活性,可作为外源性血管内皮生长因子的替代来源。牙髓干细胞的细胞因子分泌活性受多种因素的影响,如缺氧、细菌毒力因子、炎症因子、生长因子及材料等均可影响牙髓干细胞表达及分泌血管内皮生长因子,因此,调控牙髓干细胞表达及分泌血管内皮生长因子使其更好地应用于牙髓再生成为目前研究的重点。 ORCID: 0000-0001-9949-2604(何泓志) 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程     

Factors affecting the perception of low-level vibration

Summary The level at which vibration becomes a nuisance is low, well below the vibration intensity discussed with regard to the health of industrial workers in the International Standard ISO-2631 draft. The relationships between the various factors and the human response to low-level vibration generated by vehicular traffic, are discussed from the results obtained from questionnaires.A female may respond to a lower level than a male. There is no difference in response to low-level vibration between standing and sitting postures. Accompanying noise distracts the perception of low-level vibration, however at high levels, the effect of distraction is reduced.     

Factors affecting the measurement of bone impedance

Factors which affect the measurement of the electrical properties of bone were examined. Environmental conditions such as the pH of the preserving solution and time of exposure of the sample to air, which controls the moisture content of the specimen, significantly affected the bone impedance. A change in pH of ×2 from the neutral solution (pH=7) caused a change in the resistance R. conductance β and capacitance C values of 70 per cent, 125 per cent and 190 per cent respectively. A 5 min exposure to air increased the resistance by 92 per cent and reduced the capacitance by 35 per cent of their original values. A loss of 8 per cent moisture content by weight resulted in 400 per cent increase in R and 65 per cent decrease in C. Significant errors were introduced in the measurement of bone impedance owing to stray and wiring capacitances; these were avoided by using a differential impedance measurement technique. Further, it is shown that it is essential to measure the phase angle while measuring the bone impedance. Finally, it is illustrated that when normalising for different sized bone specimens, both the resistive component and capacitive component have to be considered while computing the impedance per unit volume.     

Development,psychometric assessment,and predictive validity of a breastfeeding subjective norms scale among an Australian prospective cohort of first-time parents

Objectives

Breastfeeding has a number of benefits for both mothers and their infants. Research has examined the psychosocial influences on breastfeeding, yielding important findings in relation to particular constructs that play a significant role in this vital health behaviour. One such construct is subjective norms. However, there are mixed findings in relation to the role of subjective norms in breastfeeding behaviours. This may be due to the lack of consistent measure of subjective norms across studies. Further, the influence of fathers' subjective norms on breastfeeding continuation remains unclear due to a lack of measurement. Thus, the aim of the current study was to develop and assess a reliable and valid subjective norms scale specific to breastfeeding for use among both mothers and fathers.

Design/Methods

Subjective norms items were developed by researchers in the domain and were tested among 949 couples.

Results

Findings indicated that both subjective norms scales had excellent reliability, construct validity, and predictive validity. It was also found that both the mothers' and fathers' subjective norms scales tapped into two key structures: breastfeeding in general, and breastfeeding in public. Further, maternal subjective norms were predictive of breastfeeding behaviours but not paternal subjective norms.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that the developed subjective norms scales are reliable and valid and capture key elements of breastfeeding subjective norms among both mothers and fathers. Use of this measure in future research can help better understand the role of both mothers' and fathers' subjective norms in influencing breastfeeding behaviours.     

Factors in the regulation of fertility in deprived populations

Background: Real differences in the duration of post-partum amenorrhoea for similar breastfeeding practices are observed in different populations.

Aim: The present study investigated the role of energetics in the regulation of fertility among lactating women with high levels of physical activity and poor nutritional status.

Subjects and methods: From 1996 to 1998, we carried out a longitudinal survey on the factors regulating fertility in lactating women. All women in our sample (n=150) had poor nutritional status and high levels of physical activity, and most of them were illiterate. Half of them were tea workers, and the other half were housewives of male tea workers. They lived in the same villages inside the tea plantation, and were highly comparable.

Results: Survival analysis revealed a very significant longer median duration of post-partum amenorrhoea for tea workers (636 days) compared with non-workers (375 days) although the tea workers cannot breastfeed during the working day. These durations are much longer than those of the WHO multinational study, carried out with a similar protocol, where the medians ranged between 122 and 282 days.

Conclusion: We suggest that our findings highlight the effect of energetics on the regulation of fertility in lactating women.     

Factors affecting mortality of critical care trauma patients

Background

Critically-ill trauma patients have a high mortality.

Objective

To study the factors affecting the mortality of ICU trauma patients treated at Al-Ain Hospital, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Methods

All trauma patients who were admitted to the ICU were prospectively collected over three years (2003–2006). Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to compare patients who died and who did not. Gender, age, nationality, mechanism of injury, systolic blood pressure and GCS on arrival, the need for ventilation, presence of head or chest injuries, AIS for the chest and head injuries and the ISS were studied.

Results

There were 202 patients (181 males). The most common mechanism of injury was road traffic collisions (72.3 %). The overall mortality was 13.9%. A direct logistic regression model has shown that factors that affected mortality were decreased GCS (p < 0.0001), mechanism of injury (p = 0.004) with burns having the highest mortality, increased age (p = 0.004), and increased ISS (p = 0.02). The best GCS that predicted mortality was 5.5 while the best ISS that predicted mortality was 13.5.

Conclusion

Road traffic collision is the most common cause of serious trauma in UAE followed by falls. Decreased GCS was the most significant factor that predicted mortality in the ICU trauma patients.     

农村贫困地区母亲负性情绪与0~6月婴儿纯母乳喂养的关系

目的:探究农村贫困地区母亲负性情绪与0~6月婴儿纯母乳喂养状况的关系。方法:选取秦巴山区母亲为第一养育人的6月内婴儿母亲441名,采用抑郁-焦虑-压力量表中文精简版(DASS-21)评估婴儿母亲的抑郁、焦虑和压力负性情绪的严重程度。结果:纯母乳喂养率为16.10%。母亲焦虑风险高会降低其纯母乳喂养的可能性(OR=0.28);区分母乳喂养的家庭支持程度以后发现,母乳喂养家庭支持程度低时,母亲焦虑风险与采取纯母乳喂养的可能性负向关联(OR=0.16)。结论:在农村贫困地区,0~6月婴儿纯母乳喂养率低,而且母亲焦虑风险越高,采取纯母乳喂养的可能性越低;母乳喂养家庭支持程度高可能会抵消部分因母亲焦虑对纯母乳喂养带来的负面作用。     

Expression of Insulin-like Growth Factors (IGF)-1 and -2, IGF-binding Proteins-2 and -3, and Receptors for Growth Hormone,IGF Type-1 and -2 and Insulin in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Neonatal Calves

Growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and insulin influence post-natal gastrointestinal development and function. We have measured by real-time PCR the mRNA levels of IGF-1 and -2, IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs)-2 and -3, and receptors for GH, IGF type-1 and -2, and insulin in esophagus, rumen, fundus, pylorus, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon of calves on days 1 and 5 of life. Levels of mRNA of measured traits were different (P<0.05) at different gastrointestinal sites. Furthermore, mRNA levels of IGFs, IGFBPs and of receptors for GH and IGF type-1 and -2 and insulin differed (P<0.05) on days 1 and 5. Differences in mRNA abundance of IGFs, IGFBPs and of receptors for GH, IGFs, and insulin among gastrointestinal sites on days 1 and 5 of life suggest site-specific functional importance and demonstrate that changes are the consequence of ontogenetic development and/or due to feeding.     

Predictors of mitochondrial DNA copy number and damage in a mercury-exposed rural Peruvian population near artisanal and small-scale gold mining: An exploratory study

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number (CN) and damage in circulating white blood cells have been proposed as effect biomarkers for pollutant exposures. Studies have shown that mercury accumulates in mitochondria and affects mitochondrial function and integrity; however, these data are derived largely from experiments in model systems, rather than human population studies that evaluate the potential utility of mitochondrial exposure biomarkers. We measured mtDNA CN and damage in white blood cells (WBCs) from 83 residents of nine communities in the Madre de Dios region of the Peruvian Amazon that vary in proximity to artisanal and small-scale gold mining. Prior research from this region reported high levels of mercury in fish and a significant association between food consumption and human total hair mercury level of residents. We observed that mtDNA CN and damage were both associated with consumption of fruit and vegetables, higher diversity of fruit consumed, residential location, and health characteristics, suggesting common environmental drivers. Surprisingly, we observed negative associations of mtDNA damage with both obesity and age. We did not observe any association between total hair mercury or, in contrast to previous results, age, with either mtDNA damage or CN. The results of this exploratory study highlight the importance of combining epidemiological and laboratory research in studying the effects of stressors on mitochondria, suggesting that future work should incorporate nutritional and social characteristics, and caution should be taken when applying conclusions from epidemiological studies conducted in the developed world to other regions, as results may not be easily translated. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 60: 197–210, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Factors affecting survival of reconstructed mouse embryos after nuclear transfer

Reconstruction of mouse embryos was performed by injection of donor genetic material from differentiated cells of various types (cumulus cells, cardiomyocytes, and epithelial cells) into recipient cells (mature oocytes and zygotes). A medium for microsurgery was selected, which enhanced survival of both embryonic and somatic cells during the reconstructive manipulations. Special preparation of somatic cells to transplantation was carried out, which employed factors synchronizing the cells in a certain phase of the cell cycle in order to enhance their capacity to maintain the development of reconstructed embryos. The processes of nucleus reprogramming in specialized cells under the action of cytoplasmic factors of oocytes and zygotes were examined. During in vitro culturing of reconstructed embryos, the most successful development was observed in embryos implanted with donor material from cumulus cells. Mouse embryos reconstructed with a certain genome and subsequent production and use of stem cells are considered as the model system for developing the basic principles of replacement therapy.__________This revised version was published online in July 2005 with the addition of the issue title and article categoryTranslated from Kletochnye Tekhnologii v Biologii i Meditsine, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 47–51, January, 2005     

Factors affecting quality of life in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Background

Cancer can produce many different symptoms, some subtle and some not at all subtle. An increasingly important issue in oncology is to evaluate quality of life (QoL) in cancer patients. The cancer-specific QoL is related to all stages of this disease.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the QoL in cancer patients with solid tumors and at the different chemotherapy cycles (CT).

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 200 cancer patients were included. With some modification, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) was used to measure QoL in the patients. The QoL in most subjects (66%) was fairly favorable.

Results

A significant relationship between the cancer type, pain intensity, and fatigue was found. However, none of the demographic variables (age, education, marital status, income) were significantly related to QoL. Nevertheless, significant difference was found between the level of QoL in patients with ≤ 2 CT cycles and/or with 3–5 cycles (p< 0.001).

Conclusion

Cancer is an important health issue influencing QoL. An appropriate treatment which may provide care to the cancer patients is CT. A CT cycle may improve QoL in patients with solid tumors.     

Factors associated with mucoid transition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis patients

Although the mucoid form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) is largely responsible for the progression of lung disease in cystic fibrosis (CF), the relationship between factors relating daily-care regimes to mucoidy acquisition are as yet poorly investigated. Fifty-two CF patients registered at the CF centre of Dijon, France, were retrospectively evaluated from the date of Pa colonization either to the first -positive sputum culture for mucoid Pa (n = 26) or to the last culture in which the Pa remained non-mucoid (n = 26). All clinical, pathological and therapeutic events were recorded. The association between the parameters collected and mucoid transition of Pa was assessed in a Cox model with time-dependant covariables. The mean follow-up was 4.7 ± 4.3 years. Three independent parameters were associated with the higher risk of mucoid transition of Pa: persistence of Pa in sputum (OR 7.89; p <0.01), use of inhaled bronchodilators (OR 3.40; p = 0.04), and the use of inhaled colimycin (OR 4.04; p = 0.02). Isolation of Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae or Streptococcus pneumoniae in sputum was associated with a lower risk (OR 0.24; p < 0.01). Mucoid transition of Pa was associated with variables that reflected the severity of both lung disease and Pa colonization. Although they do not lead to prophylactic measures, these results corroborate the need to avoid Pa persistence.