Isonymy in emigrants from Ferrara in 1981–1988

The distribution of surnames in the emigrants from the population of the town of Ferrara in the period 1981–88 was studied by sex and by place of birth, namely Ferrara versus other places. Emigrants born in Ferrara were defined as first time emigrants and those who had previously immigrated to Ferrara were defined second time emigrants. It was found that random isonymy is smaller in second time emigrants. Sex ratio is not different in the two types of emigrants. As indicators of the abundance of surnames in a distribution, the common ecological indexes derived from entropy were used and compared between types of emigrants. It was found that redundancy, as isonymy, is larger in first time emigrants than in second time emigrants. It was observed that second time emigrants were consistently and significantly older than first time emigrants, and that a considerable fraction of them, (22·4%) returned to their place of birth. A sexual dimorphism in age at emigration was observed in second time emigrants, females emigrating at an older age than males.     

Associations of metabolically healthy obesity with prevalence and progression of coronary artery calcification: Results from the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Cohort Study

Background and aims

There is controversy on the potentially benign nature of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), i.e., obese persons with few or no metabolic abnormalities. So far, associations between MHO and coronary artery calcification (CAC), a measure of subclinical atherosclerosis, have mainly been studied cross-sectionally in Asian populations. We assessed cross-sectional and longitudinal MHO CAC associations in a Caucasian population.

Maximal calf circumference reflects calf muscle mass measured using magnetic resonance imaging

BackgroundCalf circumference (CC) has been used as a surrogate for calf muscle mass, which facilitates venous blood return to the heart through active skeletal muscle. However, the correlation between CC and calf muscle mass has not been extensively examined. This study aimed to examine the relationship between CC and calf muscle mass considering differences in sex and physique in elderly individuals.MethodsA total of 124 community-dwelling elderly individuals ≥60 years of age (61 men, mean [±SD] age 74.3 ± 5.7 years) were enrolled. Maximal CC was measured using a tape measure with the subject supine. The cross-sectional area of skeletal muscle tissues was measured using magnetic resonance imaging from the point of greatest calf circumference to 5 cm proximal and distal. Calf muscle mass was calculated by multiplying the area of each slice by slice thickness (5 mm).ResultsCC was strongly correlated with calf muscle mass in male and female subjects (male: r = 0.908, P < 0.001; female: r = 0.892, P < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that CC and body mass index (BMI) were independent associate factors of calf muscle mass. The following estimation formulae were derived: (male) calf muscle mass (cm³) = 47.82 × CC (cm)−12.50 × BMI (kg/m²) −732.80; (female) calf muscle mass (cm³) = 32.23 × CC (cm) −4.85 × BMI (kg/m²) −429.94.ConclusionsA strong correlation was found between CC and calf muscle mass according to magnetic resonance imaging. Sex differences and BMI should be considered for accurate estimation of calf muscle mass using CC.     

Evidence of inappropriate cardiovascular risk assessment in middle-age women based on recommended cut-points for waist circumference

Background and aimsDiverse waist circumference thresholds for assessment of metabolic and cardiovascular risk in Caucasians are recommended by different health professional organizations. We aimed to determine optimal sex-specific thresholds for anthropometric measures showing the strongest association with cardiovascular risk factors in a cohort of middle-aged Germans.Methods and resultsStatistical analyses are based on data from 426 mothers and 267 fathers of participants of the Ulm Birth Cohort Study undergoing a clinical follow-up examination in 2008 (median age 41 years) using logistic regression analyses. The prevalence of many cardiometabolic risk factors was significantly higher in men than in women; hypertension: 45%/17% (p < 0.0001), apolipoprotein ratio B/A1 > 0.72: 35%/9% (<0.0001), hyperglycemia: 11%/14% (p = 0.3), which is in contrast to the predicted cardiovascular risk of 52%/70% and 24%/36% based on thresholds for waist circumference proposed by International Diabetes Federation and American Heart Association, respectively. We determined optimal thresholds for waist circumference between 90 and 95 cm for men and women. Using a threshold of 92 cm the prevalence of abdominal obesity was 59% in men and 24% in women, which was in agreement with the higher prevalence of overweight and obesity in men than in women (Body Mass Index (BMI) > 25: 64%/35%). The prediction of cardiometabolic risk factors by waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio did not outperform the prediction by BMI. In contrast to BMI, waist circumference was correlated with body height independent of sex.ConclusionCurrently proposed thresholds for waist circumference spuriously overestimate the cardiovascular risk in women, but not in men in a German population.     

卧床院内感染患者的营养指标探讨

目的：对卧床的院内感染患者的营养指标进行探讨,寻找出上臂围和小腿围对其营养不良的诊断截值。方法：收集我院2013年11月至2014年10月能自主活动的院内感染患者的基本资料、身体测量指标和实验室数据,使用 SPSS18.0进行数据分析和统计学处理。结果：院内感染患者中体质指数与实验室指标相关性较弱。不同性别、年龄的上臂围差异没有统计学意义,不同性别的小腿围差异没有统计学意义,不同年龄的小腿围差异有统计学意义。上臂围对营养不良的诊断界值为23.4 cm,小腿围对营养不良的诊断界值为30.65 cm（18～60岁）和28.75cm（>60岁）。结论：身体测量指标中上臂围和小腿围可以很好的反映院内感染患者的营养状况,对于不能获得身高体重的院内感染患者,可以测量其上臂围和小腿围来进行营养评估,为进一步的营养支持提供依据。     

2型糖尿病患者体脂指标与血压血脂的关系

目的：探讨2型糖尿病患者体质指数（BMI）、腰围（WC）、腰臀比（WHR）、腰围／身高比（WHtR）与血压、血脂的关系。方法调查191例2型糖尿病患者,测量身高、体重、腰围、臀围及血压,计算BMI、WHR、WHtR,测定总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）、高密度脂蛋白（HDL-C）、低密度脂蛋白（LDL-C）,分析上述四种体脂指标与2型糖尿病患者血压、血脂的关系。结果偏相关分析显示：BMI、WC、WHR、WHtR均与收缩压（SBP）独立正相关,其中WHtR相关性最强。BMI、WHtR均与舒张压（DBP）呈正相关。BMI、WC、WHR、WHtR异常组的SBP、DBP、TC、TG、LDL-C水平均较正常组偏高,HDL-C水平较正常组偏低。多元逐步线性回归表示WHtR为TG水平的影响因素。结论各体脂指标（BMI、WC、WHR、WHtR）与2型糖尿病患者的血压及血脂水平的改变有一定的相关性,对于减少2型糖尿病患者发生代谢综合征的风险而言,预防肥胖是至关重要的。     

A cross-sectional study of newborns over a 20-year period in Szeged,Hungary

Objective: Records of metric data of birth, serve not only the medical needs of the newborn baby, but are also indicators to assess the status of public health.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of 4946 newborns (singleton: 2508 boys and 2365 girls) born in 1989 and in 2009 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Szeged. We aimed as to compare and map the metrical changes over 20 years, and to describe the averages of four body parameters of the normal birth weight (2500–4000?g) subgroup (3993 singleton babies) in both years. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 17.0.

Results: In 1989, the mean birth weight was 3223.770?±?559.595?g, birth length 49.551?±?2.729?cm, chest circumference 32.181?±?2.231?cm, and head circumference 34.122?±?1.688?cm. In 2009, the birth weight was 3309.673?±?582.630?g, birth length 49.515?±?2.658?cm, chest circumference 32.736?±?2.392?cm and head circumference 33.854?±?1.768?cm. The mean birth weight, chest circumference and the maximum value of birth weight have thus increased. The mean maternal age shifted to 30.21?±?4.863 years, which is an increase of 3.57 years in 20 years.

Conclusion: The body parameters of newborns changed significantly between 1989 and 2009. As underlying causes changes in eating habits and lifestyle of the mother are to be mentioned.     

Association between body mass index and clinical outcomes of patients after cardiac arrest and resuscitation: A meta-analysis

Background

Obesity as one of the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases increases mortality in general population. Several clinical studies investigated clinical outcomes in patients with different body mass index (BMI) after cardiac arrest (CA). Controversial data regarding BMI on clinical outcomes in those patients exist in those studies. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of BMI on survival condition and neurological prognosis in those patients.