Changing health status and health expectancies among older adults in China: Gender differences from 1992 to 2002

Numerous studies document improvements in health status and health expectancies among older adults over time. However, most evidence is from developed nations and gender differences in health trends are often inconsistent. It remains unknown whether changes in health in developing countries resemble Western trends or whether patterns of health improvement are unique to the country's epidemiologic transition and gender norms. Using two nationally representative samples of non-institutionalized adults in China aged 65 years and older, this study investigates gender differences in the improvements in disability, chronic disease prevalence, and self-rated health from 1992 to 2002. Results from multivariate logistic regression models show that all three indicators of health improved over the 10-year period, with the largest improvement in self-rated health. With the exception of disability, the health of women improved more than men. Using Sullivan's decomposition methods, we also show that active life expectancy, disease-free life expectancy, and healthy life expectancy increased over this decade and were patterned differently according to gender. Overall, the findings demonstrate that China experienced broad health improvements during its early stages of the epidemiologic transition and that these changes were not uniform by gender. We discuss the public health implications of the findings in the context of China's rapidly aging population.     

Bardet-Biedl syndrome: a molecular and phenotypic study of 18 families.

The autosomal recessive disorder Bardet-Biedl syndrome is characterised by retinal degeneration, polydactyly, obesity, mental retardation, hypogenitalism, renal dysplasia, and short stature. It is heterogeneous with at least four gene loci (BBS1-4) having been mapped to date. We have studied 18 multiply affected families noting the presence of both major and minor manifestations. Using a fluorescently based PCR technique, we genotyped each family member and assigned linkage to one of the four loci. Given this degree of heterogeneity we hoped to find phenotypic differences between linkage categories. We found 44% of families linked to 11q13 (BBS1) and 17% linked to 16q21 (BBS2). Only one family was linked to 15q22 (BBS4) and none to 3p12. We conclude that BBS1 is the major locus among white Bardet-Biedl patients and that BBS3 is extremely rare. Only subtle phenotypic differences were observed, the most striking of which was a finding of taller affected offspring compared with their parents in the BBS1 category. Affected subjects in the BBS2 and 4 groups were significantly shorter than their parents. Twenty eight percent of pedigrees did not show linkage to any known locus, evidence for at least a fifth gene. We conclude that the different genes responsible for Bardet-Biedl syndrome may influence growth characteristics such as height.     

Picotamide inhibition of excess in vitro thromboxane B2 release by colorectal mucosa in inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with increased mucosal release of eicosanoids. Among these, thromboxane A2 has been proposed as a possible inflammatory mediator; its suppression may be a useful therapeutic option. METHODS: Using a tissue incubation technique, we compared release of immunoreactive thromboxane B2 by colonic biopsies from patients with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and controls, and assessed the inhibitory effect of picotamide, a thromboxane synthesis inhibitor-receptor antagonist, which has been widely used in Italy for management of ischaemic heart and cerebrovascular disease. RESULTS: Increased amounts of thromboxane B2 were released from biopsies from patients with active ulcerative colitis (median 238 pg/20 min/mg wet weight (interquartile range 147- 325), n = 12) and active Crohn's disease (252 (174-450), 6) compared with those from patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis (95 (61- 140), 12) or Crohn's disease (105 (57-201), 13), or controls (136 (64- 206), 8). Incubation with picotamide at concentrations between 100 microM and 1 mM reduced thromboxane B2 release (IC50 890 microM). CONCLUSION: Since increased thromboxane A2 production may have pathogenetic importance, thromboxane synthesis inhibitor-receptor antagonists such as picotamide merit therapeutic trial in the management of inflammatory bowel disease.     

Follistatin and activin A production by the male reproductive tract

Follistatin is a binding protein for the activin and inhibin family of hormones, regulating their biological activity. In the male reproductive tract, the interaction of these factors is likely to be involved in the regulation of the proliferation of several cell types. We have investigated the presence of follistatin and activin A in seminal plasma using specific immunoassays and have localized follistatin and activin/inhibin subunits in the adult human testis, prostate and seminal vesicle to establish their likely sources. High concentrations of immunoreactive follistatin were present in seminal plasma in normal men (mean 97.9 ng/ml; 1.43 ng/ml in peripheral plasma) and were similar in men with oligo/azoospermia and following vasectomy. Follistatin immunoreactivity was localized to both Leydig and Sertoli cells of the testis, and to epithelial cells of the prostate gland and seminal vesicle, which are likely to be the predominant sources of the hormone in seminal plasma. Activin A was also present in seminal plasma in normal men but was undetectable following vasectomy, thus deriving from the testis. Consistent with this finding, the betaA-subunit was immunolocalized in Sertoli and Leydig cells but was not present in seminal vesicle or prostate gland. The functional significance of the high concentrations of follistatin secreted into seminal plasma by the prostate gland and/or seminal vesicle is uncertain, but they may regulate the biological activity of testis-derived activin A and inhibin B.      

Washing machine related injuries in children: a continuing threat

OBJECTIVE: To describe washing machine related injuries in children in the United States. METHODS: Injury data for 496 washing machine related injuries documented by the Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System and death certificate data files were analyzed. Gender, age, diagnosis, body part injured, disposition, location and mechanism of injury were considered in the analysis of data. RESULTS: The upper extremities were most frequently injured in washing machine related injuries, especially with wringer machines. Fewer than 10% of patients required admission, but automatic washers accounted for most of these and for both of the deaths. Automatic washer injuries involved a wider range of injury mechanism, including 23 children who fell from the machines while in baby seats. CONCLUSIONS: Though most injuries associated with washing machines are minor, some are severe and devastating. Many of the injuries could be avoided with improvements in machine design while others suggest a need for increased education of potential dangers and better supervision of children if they are allowed access to areas where washing machines are operating. Furthermore, washing machines should only be used for their intended purpose. Given the limitations of educational efforts to prevent injuries, health professionals should have a major role in public education regarding these seemingly benign household appliances.     

Scapulothoracic motion in normal shoulders and shoulders with glenohumeral instability and impingement syndrome. A study using Moiré topographic analysis.

Qualitative visual inspection and manual muscle testing are traditional methods of evaluation that may overlook subtle weakness of the axioscapular musculature. A modification of the standard technique of Moiré topographic analysis of spinal deformity was applied to assess axioscapular muscle function in 51 subjects: 22 asymptomatic individuals, 22 with shoulder instability, and seven with impingement syndrome. Static Moiré evaluation demonstrated scapulothoracic asymmetry or increased topography in 14% of asymptomatic subjects, compared with 32% and 57% in the instability and impingement groups, respectively. The dynamic Moiré test demonstrated an abnormal Moiré pattern in 18% of asymptomatic individuals, compared with 64% and 100% in the instability and impingement groups, respectively. Axioscapular muscle dysfunction is common with both instability and impingement syndrome of the shoulder, although it remains to be determined whether this represents a primary or secondary phenomenon.     

Dual origin of the left circumflex coronary artery: a case report.

We describe a patient with two separate vessels having different origins supplying the circumflex coronary artery distribution. This represents a previously undescribed coronary artery anomaly.