Disparate effects of socioeconomic status on physical function and emotional well-being in older adults

We tested the hypothesis that among community living older adults with relatively low and high socioeconomic status (SES), low SES is associated with both poorer emotional well-being and physical function. Ambulatory, community living older men and women (70-89 years of age) were recruited from outpatient geriatric assessment clinics in relatively high socioeconomic areas of greater Boston (High SES, N=47), and from an urban senior center in the inner city (Low SES, N=66). We assessed health status, mental health, upper and lower extremity strength and physical function. We found that health status was not significantly different in the two groups. Quadriceps strength (Low SES: 199+/-57 N; High SES: 190+/-56 N; p=0.531) and Up and Go times (Low SES: 14.3+/-3.1 sec; High SES: 16.7+/-9.5 sec; p=0.068) were not significantly different in the two groups, while grip strength was slightly higher in the Low SES group (Low SES: 22.8+/-6.45 kg; High SES: 20.07+/-7.55 kg; p=0.049). In contrast, subjects with Low SES tended to have an increased tendency towards depression. Scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale were 3.8+/-3.0 in Low SES, and 1.8+/-2.8 in High SES (p<0.001). We conclude that while health status and physical function were not worse in subjects with low SES, emotional well-being was markedly less compared to seniors with high SES. SES may have disparate effects on physical function and mental health, perhaps due to different compensatory mechanisms.     

Factors affecting affect cardiovascular health in Indonesian HIV patients beginning ART

Background

We present a small longitudinal study of how demographic factors and persistent burdens of HIV and cytomegalovirus (CMV) influence cardiovascular health in young adults beginning ART in an inner-city clinic in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Methods

ART-naïve HIV patients [n = 67; aged 31 (19 to 48) years] were enrolled in the JakCCANDO Project. Echocardiography and carotid Doppler ultrasonography were performed before ART (V0) and after 3, 6, and 12 months (V3–12). Antibodies reactive with CMV lysate or IE-1 protein were assessed at each timepoint and CMV DNA was identified at V0.

Results

Markers of adverse cardiovascular prognosis [left ventricular mass index, ejection fraction and carotid intimal media thickness (cIMT)] were similar to healthy controls, but increased at V12. Internal diameters of the carotid arteries and systolic blood pressure correlated with HIV disease severity at V0, but cardiac parameters and cIMT did not. E/A ratios (left ventricular diastolic function) were lower in patients with CMV DNA at V0, but this effect waned by V6. Levels of antibody reactive with CMV IE-1 correlated inversely with CD4 T cell counts at V0, and levels at V6–V12 correlated directly with the right cIMT.

Conclusions

Overall the severity of HIV disease and the response to ART have only subtle effects on cardiovascular health in this young Asian population. CMV replication before ART may have a transient effect on cardiac health, whilst antibody reactive with CMV IE-1 may mark a high persistent CMV burden with cumulative effects on the carotid artery.

     

Low contribution of rice and vegetables to the daily intake of selenium in Japan

The growing interest in the prevention role of selenium in certain degenerative diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease has fostered research on natural sources of selenium. In this research, total selenium concentrations in over 120 items of selected Japanese foods were determined. The selenium concentration was measured fluorometrically by measurement of the fluorescence of piazselenol resulting from the reaction of selenite with 2, 3-diaminonaphtalene. The selenium level in rice, which is the staple food consumed in Japan, is lower than the other countries. But the mean levels of selenium in meat and fish products are among the highest values reported in other countries. Although the numbers of samples of selected foods analyzed are small, the results describe the picture of the selenium level of Japanese foods.     

Retrospective analysis of arteriovenous fistula patency and failure in patients on dialysis for end-stage kidney disease in the Gaza strip

Background

The preservation of patent, well-functioning arteriovenous fistulas is one of the most difficult clinical problems in the long-term management of patients undergoing renal dialysis. This study aimed to define the patency and failure rates of fistulas in patients with end-stage kidney disease on dialysis and to examine how fistula failure is managed.

The Fabrication of Portland Composite Cement Based on Pozzolan Napa Soil

The objective of this study is to investigate Napa soil’s potential as an alternative additive in producing Portland composite cement. The Napa soil of Tanah Datar district, West Sumatra, Indonesia is a natural material which contains SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ as its major components. The parameters used were the fineness of the cement particles, the amount left on a 45 μm sieve, the setting time, normal consistency, loss on ignition, insoluble parts, compressive strength and chemical composition. The composition of Napa soils (% w/w) used as variables include 4, 8, 12 and 16%. Furthermore, 8% pozzolan was used as a control in this research. The results showed that the compressive strength of Napa soil cement which contained 4% Napa soil was much better compared to that of the control on the 7th and 20th day. Furthermore, all the analyzed Napa soil cements met the standard of cement as stipulated in Indonesian National Standard, SNI 7064, 2016.