Association of prion protein with cognitive functioning in humans

Objectives

Recent animal studies have suggested a key role for cellular prion protein (PrPc) in the pathological consequences of amyloid plaque formation, the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. This epidemiological study investigated whether serum concentrations of PrPc are associated with cognitive functioning in humans.

Design, Setting, Participants

Cross-sectional study of 1,322 participants from the elderly general population in Germany, aged 65 + years at baseline (2000–2002).

Measurements

Cognitive functioning was assessed by the COGTEL phone interview 5 years after baseline. Serum PrPc was determined by a commercial immunoassay.

Results

In multiple linear regression adjusted for important confounders, subjects in higher PrPc quintiles appeared to have lower cognitive functioning scores than those in the lowest PrPc quintile. Spline regression suggested pronounced non-linearity with an inverse association between PrPc and cognitive functioning levelling off beyond median PrPc. Cognitive subdomain-specific models produced somewhat heterogeneous results.

Conclusion

The findings are suggestive of an independent association of PrPc with cognitive functioning in humans. Confirmatory and longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate the potential of PrPc for applications in early risk stratification for cognitive impairment.     

Restless legs syndrome in hemodialysis patients: an epidemiologic survey in Greece

BackgroundRestless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensorimotor disorder characterized by an uncontrolled need to move extremities accompanied by unpleasant sensations, which frequently leads to sleep disturbances. In hemodialysis (HD) patients, the previously reported RLS prevalence varied enormously, between 6% and 60%. In our study, we investigated the RLS prevalence in HD patients for the first time in Greece.MethodsA continuous sample of HD patients was studied between January and September of 2010 in six dialysis units in Greece. RLS diagnosis was based on the essential clinical criteria of the International RLS Study Group (IRLSSG). The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for RLS in HD patients was calculated in comparison to data from a recent survey of the general population in Greece.ResultsIn our study of 579 HD patients in Greece (236 women; mean age, 65 ± 13 years), the prevalence of RLS was elevated in comparison to the general population (26.6% vs 3.9%), with an SIR of 5.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.6–6.3). In the fully adjusted model, the risk for RLS in HD patients was reduced in older age (odds ratio [OR], 0.98 [95% CI, 0.96–0.99]) and increased in women (OR, 1.60 [95% CI, 1.05–2.43]) in cases with elevated levels of β₂ microglobulin (OR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.01–1.32]) and intact parathormone (iPTH) (OR, 1.30 [95% CI, 1.08–1.56]).ConclusionA high RLS prevalence was recorded in a large HD population in Greece, clearly suggesting the need for enhanced awareness of RLS in nephrology. The RLS risk was increased in women and in younger HD patients as well as in those with elevated β₂ microglobulin and iPTH levels.     

长沙市2～4岁儿童婴幼儿龋相关因素的研究

目的：调查长沙市2～4岁婴幼儿龋的关因素,为预防婴幼儿龋的发生提供依据。方法：调查长沙市2435名2～4岁儿童口腔健康情况,并抽取350名儿童进行问卷调查,对结果进行Logistc回归分析。结果：含奶瓶睡觉、怀孕时间、母乳喂养方式、每日刷牙次数、母亲文化程度及口腔知识等是婴幼儿龋的相关因素。结论：改正含奶瓶入睡习惯,保证孕期母体良好、足月生产、定时适量的母乳喂养、养成良好刷牙习惯、提高母亲文化程度、多吃粗粮可以有效减少ECC的发生。     

无锡地区鸡弓形虫感染的血清流行病学调查

目的了解无锡地区散养鸡的弓形虫感染状况。方法应用ELISA方法调查无锡地区309例散养鸡的弓形虫抗原、抗体阳性率,并与150例集约化养殖鸡的弓形虫感染率进行比较,其中一项阳性即视为弓形虫感染阳性。结果 309例散养鸡中,抗原阳性29例,阳性率为9.39%;抗体阳性53例,阳性率为17.15%;双阳性13例,双阳性率为4.21%;散养鸡总体阳性率为22.33%。集约化养殖鸡总体弓形虫感染率为2.67%。散养鸡感染率显著高于集约化养殖鸡感染率(χ2=29.19,P<0.01)。结论无锡地区散养鸡群弓形虫感染率较高,应引起重视。     

湛江市遂溪县曲水村人体寄生虫分布与危害调查

目的了解广东省湛江市遂溪县洋青镇曲水村人体寄生虫病流行与危害情况。方法采用生理盐水直接涂片法、饱和盐水浮聚法、改良加藤厚涂片法和试管滤纸钩蚴培养法检查人体寄生虫感染情况。采用询问登记、填写调查表方式,了解寄生虫病的危害情况。解剖检查褐家鼠、福寿螺广州管圆线虫感染情况。结果检出钩虫、蛔虫、鞭虫、蛲虫和粗脚粉螨5种寄生虫,总感染率为10.75%。钩虫感染率为6.07%,蛔虫和鞭虫均为1.87%,蛲虫和粗脚粉螨均为0.47%。感染率男性高于女性,与职业和年龄分布无关。感染度多以轻度为主。钩虫感染者钩蚴性皮炎发生率为69.23%,虫种为美洲钩虫。鼠类、褐云玛瑙螺和福寿螺广州管圆线虫感染率分别为16.66%,13.04%和10.00%。结论遂溪县曲水村分布虫种主要为线虫,以钩虫为主;为广州管圆线虫病的自然疫源地。     

2004-2010年珠海市梅毒流行病学分析

目的了解珠海市2004-2010年梅毒的流行特点和发病趋势,为制订梅毒预防控制措施提供科学依据。方法通过国家疾病预防控制信息系统,收集并分析珠海市19个性病哨点医院2004-2010年上报的梅毒病例信息。结果 2004-2010年珠海市共上报梅毒病例3 591例,发病率从2004年的22.80/10万上升到2010年的61.85/10万,年均递增18.10%;梅毒发病以隐性梅毒为主,占总发病数45.28%,且构成比有逐年增长趋势;女性患者多于男性,男女之比为0.94∶1;年龄分布以20～44岁性活跃人群为主;高发地区为香洲区,高发职业为工人、家务待业者和商业服务者。结论近年珠海市梅毒疫情呈不断上升趋势,应根据珠海市流行特征开展更具针对性的防治工作,控制梅毒的流行。     

Statement of severe trauma management in France; teachings of the FIRST study

IntroductionThe blunt trauma victim management is still a matter of debate and comparing studies involving different emergency medical services and health care organization remains fictitious. Hence, the French Intensive care Recorded in Severe Trauma (FIRST) was conducted in order to describe the severe blunt trauma management in France. The present paper aimed at recalling the main results of FIRST study.MethodsThe FIRST study was based on a multicenter prospective cohort of patients aged 18 or over with severe exclusive blunt trauma requiring admission to university hospital care unit within the first 72 h and/or managed by medical-Staffed Emergency Mobile Unit (SMUR). Multiple data were collected about patient characteristics, clinical initial status, typology of trauma and the main endpoints were 30-day mortality.ResultsSixty-one percent of trauma patients were road traffic victims and 30% were domestic, sport or leisure trauma. Patients who benefited from medical pre-hospital management were globally more severely injured than those who received basic life support care by fire brigades. Therefore, they were delivered more aggressive treatment in the pre-hospital setting and the median time for their hospital admission was lengthened. However, their 30-day mortality was significantly reduced. The probability of death was also decreased when casualties were transported by SMUR helicopter directly to the university hospital. In the in-hospital setting, the performance of a whole-body computed tomography (CT) was associated with a significant reduction in the mortality risk compared with a selective CT.ConclusionThe FIRST study suggests the benefit of a medical management in the pre-hospital setting on the survival of trauma patients. The emergency physician (EP) expertise in the pre-hospital and initial hospital phases would lead to the concept of the appropriate care for the appropriate trauma patient. It also highlights the necessity to set up organized regional sectors of care and registries.     

中国10个地区成年人外周血嵌合染色体变异的流行病学分布特征

目的描述外周血嵌合染色体变异(mCA)在我国10个地区30～79岁自然人群的流行病学分布特征。方法纳入中国慢性病前瞻性研究(CKB)10个项目地区中已有基线数据(人口学特征、生活方式、体格检查等)和外周血基因分型数据的100 297名研究对象, 通过嵌合染色体变异工作流计算mCA表型检出率, 采用logistic回归比较mCA检出率在不同地区、不同特征人群间的分布差异。结果共检出5 810名mCA携带者, 检出率为5.8%, 标化后检出率为5.1%。mCA检出率随基线年龄增长逐渐升高, 30～、51～、>60岁人群检出率分别为3.4%、5.0%和9.4%(趋势检验P<0.001);男性检出率(8.0%)高于女性(4.0%), 城市检出率(6.4%)高于农村(5.3%), 差异均有统计学意义(P<0.001)。调整年龄、性别和10个地区后, 当前吸烟或因病戒烟者、低体力活动水平者mCA检出率较高, 肥胖者mCA检出率(5.3%)低于正常体重者(5.9%), 差异有统计学意义(P=0.006)。结论我国10个地区30～79岁自然人群的mCA检出率存在地区和人群分布差异。相...     

安徽省1例H9N2流感病例及回顾性分析

目的 分析H9N2流感病毒感染患者的感染来源及流行病学特征。方法 对2015年4月发现的H9N2流感患者流行病学个案调查资料及相关标本的检测结果进行描述性流行病学分析。结果 该例患者临床主要表现为轻症流感样症状。患者发病前有活禽市场暴露史;活禽市场环境监测标本中H9型禽流感病毒核酸阳性率为24.1%;29名密切接触者在观察期内未出现流感样聚集性疫情。结论 该病例感染来源可能与农贸市场环境暴露有关,病毒来源于禽源H9N2流感病毒。     

河北省2011-2015年流行性乙型脑炎流行病学特征分析

目的 分析河北省2011-2015年流行性乙型脑炎(JE)的流行病学特征,为有效控制乙脑提供科学依据。 方法 采用描述性流行病学分析方法,对乙脑监测管理系统信息、个案调查资料进行综合分析。 结果 河北省2011-2015年共报告乙脑病例272例,死亡3例,年均发病率0.075/10万,年均死亡率为0.001/10万,病死率为1.10%。其中2013年乙脑发病234例,发病率达到0.32/10万。病例散发且相对集中在河北省中南部地区的石家庄(44.49%)、衡水(19.85%)、邢台(11.76%);乙脑发病季节性明显,10月达到高峰(占68.01%);病例主要集中在15岁以上人群,占病例总数的73.90%;有免疫史的占11.74%,无免疫史和免疫史不详的分别占31.74%、56.52%。 结论 河北省2011-2015年乙脑发病率维持在较低水平。2013年出现乙脑发病高峰,乙脑发病年龄明显后移,需加强防控措施。