Residential Greenness Alters Serum 25(OH)D Concentrations: A Longitudinal Cohort of Chinese Older Adults

ObjectivesVitamin D deficiency is prevalent among older adults. We aimed to study whether residential greenness could alter serum 25(OH)D concentrations as a possible mechanism of residential greenness's positive health effects.DesignA longitudinal cohort study.Setting and ParticipantsWe included older adults aged ≥65 years from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) with follow-up between 2012 and 2014.MethodsWe measured residential greenness by calculating annual average Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in a 500 m radius by using satellite images around each participant's residential address. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration was dichotomized into 2 categories: nondeficiency (≥50 nmol/L) and deficiency (<50 nmol/L). We used the generalized estimating equation to examine the relationship between annual average NDVI and serum 25(OH)D.ResultsWe included 1336 participants in our analysis. The annual average NDVI was 0.49, and mean serum 25(OH)D was 43 nmol/L at baseline. Each 0.1-unit increase in annual average NDVI was associated with a 13% higher odds of vitamin D nondeficiency [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.26]. The association was stronger among men [odds ratio (OR): 1.17, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.35] than women (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.91, 1.29) and also stronger among those who were free of activities of daily living (ADL) disability at baseline (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.25). During the follow-up period, the participants who lived in greener areas were more likely to have an improved, rather than stable or deteriorated, vitamin D status (OR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.51, 2.51).Conclusions and ImplicationsOur study suggests that higher levels of residential greenness are associated with higher serum 25(OH)D concentrations, which has implications for prevention of vitamin D deficiency among older adults.     

STEM DISTRIBUTION IN IRREGULAR FORESTS

The author outlines the fifty years history of national professional forestry education in Canberra by the Australian Forestry School and its successor the Australian National University Department of Forestry.     

The importance of secondary mitral valve involvement in primary aortic valve endocarditis; the mitral kissing vegetation.

AIMS: Secondary involvement of the mitral valve is well documented in primary aortic valve endocarditis. A poorly considered, but probably important causative mechanism, involving both left-sided valves, is 'mitral kissing vegetation'. This results from large aortic vegetations prolapsing into the left ventricular outflow tract and making contact with the ventricular aspect of the anterior mitral leaflet thus causing secondary infection. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 192 consecutive patients with aortic valve endocarditis, two to 18 (7.6+/-2.6) serial transoesophageal echocardiographic examinations were analysed per patient to demonstrate the development of mitral kissing vegetation on initially competent, morphologically normal mitral leaflets. In 19 patients (9.9%) with aortic valve endocarditis, mitral kissing vegetation was diagnosed within 11.6+/-9.0 (range 1-31) days following primary transoesophageal echocardiography. In all patients with mitral kissing vegetation, vegetations attached to aortic cusps were >6 mm. On hospital admission, patients with aortic valve endocarditis plus mitral kissing vegetation presented more often with a positive sepsis score, embolic events, renal failure and had larger aortic valve vegetations (9.9+/-3.3 vs 5.7+/-2.3 mm). Prognosis of aortic valve endocarditis plus mitral kissing vegetation was unfavourable (P<0.005) when compared to patients with aortic valve endocarditis alone. CONCLUSION: In aortic valve endocarditis early echocardiographic detection of mitral kissing vegetation and timely surgery may preserve the mitral valve apparatus, and favourably influence the long-term prognosis.     

经食管三维超声心动图在主动脉瓣位感染性心内膜炎中的应用

目的 探讨经食管三维超声心动图（three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography,3D-TEE）在诊断感染性心内膜炎（infective endocarditis,IE）主动脉瓣病变中的价值.方法 对49例通过经胸超声心动图（transthoracic echocardiography,TTE）与3D-TEE诊断IE主动脉瓣病变患者的超声诊断特点进行分析,以心脏外科术中所见为“金标准”,将超声特点（赘生物、瓣叶穿孔、瓣周脓肿）与手术结果进行对照.结果 3D-TEE对赘生物、瓣叶穿孔、瓣周脓肿诊出的敏感性及特异性均高于TTE,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）.对于检测长度＜（4.5±0.7）mm的赘生物,3D-TEE较TTE更加敏感,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）.对于检测瓣周脓肿,3D-TEE较TTE更加敏感,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,且容易发现瓣周脓肿早期组织水肿的情况.结论 与TTE相比较,3D-TEE能更准确检测IE主动脉瓣病变,有效评价此类患者瓣周脓肿情况,具有重要的临床应用价值.     

Spatial and statistical analyses of the relations between vegetation cover and incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in an endemic province,northeast of Iran

Objective

To investigate the relations between the vegetation cover and occurrence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Golestan province during 2010-2012.

Methods

Data of monthly CL incidence and remote sensing normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer sensor were used in the study. Pearson''s correlation analysis was conducted to examine the type and strength of relationships between the spatially averaged NDVI variables (i.e. minimum, maximum and mean NDVI values) and CL incidence in township level. Spearman rank correlation was carried out to explain associations between the monthly CL incidence and NDVI variables at 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 months lagged periods. Locations of CL cases at village level were geocoded and compared with frequency of CL cases in each NDVI-derived vegetation categories.

Results

Pearson''s analysis revealed significant associations between the NDVI variables and CL incidence at the township level (P<0.05). Results of Spearman analysis indicated that the highest correlations between NDVI variables and monthly CL incidence were established when the NDVI time-series lagged the CL incidence series NDVI variables. Purely spatial analysis demonstrated that despite majority of cases occurred at partially-vegetated areas, the possibility of CL occurrence was higher in bare soil areas by taking into account area of each vegetation zones.

Conclusions

lack or low vegetation cover is a major determinant of CL frequencies in Golestan province. The decrease of the mean vegetation density in townships is accompanied by increase of CL occurrence and vice versa.     

Mural vegetation in left ventricular apex caused by Staphylococcus aureus

A 77-year-old male on chronic haemodialysis was admitted for repeated episodes of stroke and a high fever. The patient’s blood culture was positive for Staphylococcus aureus and echocardiogram results revealed moderate mitral valve regurgitation, small masses in the left atrial appendage and a 20-mm mobile, spherical structure attached to the apical cavity of the left ventricle. Surgery was conducted to successfully excise these masses and pathological investigation confirmed the diagnosis of infective endocarditis. The attachment of mobile, spherical vegetation to the apex of the left ventricle is a rare manifestation of infective endocarditis.     

鼻内镜下腺样体切除术治疗儿童分泌性中耳炎

目的探讨鼻内窥镜下腺样体切除术治疗儿童分泌性中耳炎的疗效。方法对53例因腺样体肥大引起分泌性中耳炎的儿童，在鼻内窥镜下用电动切割器行腺样体切除术并结合其他辅助治疗，观察其疗效。结果53例患儿48例治愈，好转3例，总有效率96．23％。结论鼻内窥镜下用电动切割器切除腺样体治疗儿童分泌性中耳炎，安全可靠，疗效显著，并发症少.     

基于GIS的广东食管癌高、低发区土壤与植被比较分析

[目的]比较广东省食管癌高、低发区土壤类型、植被类型及土壤有机碳密度（SOCD）的差异。[方法]在Excel中建立广东省分县的食管癌死亡率数据库,在ArcGIS9.0中制作广东省县界多边形电子地图并与疾病数据库链接。通过县界电子地图与中国土壤、中国植被图的叠加分析,获取广东省分县（94个县）的土壤与植被类型数据。运用空间查询的方法提取食管癌死亡率最高与最低的10个地区进行土壤与植被类型比较。根据土壤与植被类型的分布计算分县的平均SOCD,并与食管癌死亡率进行Spearman等级相关分析。[结果]广东省食管癌高、低发区的土壤与植被类型均存在着差异。男、女性别死亡率与100cm及20cm厚度SOCD均呈负相关,等级相关系数男性为：-0.516与-0.605（P值分别为0.004与0.001）;女性为：-0.535与-0.598（P值分别为0.003与0.001）。[结论]食管癌死亡率与所处地区的土壤有机碳密度具有一定相关性,需要更进一步的研究。     

电子鼻咽镜检查在评价儿童腺样体肥大中的价值

目的探讨电子鼻咽镜检查在评价腺样体肥大中的价值。方法随机选取经门诊多睡眠图检查证实为腺体样肥大患儿44例,采用电子鼻咽镜检查鼻腔及鼻咽部,并记录检查结果。结果电子鼻咽镜下腺样体1,2度阻塞者非腺样体切除术治疗前后呼吸紊乱指数(AHI)及最低Sa(O2)具有显著性差异(P均<0.001);3,4度阻塞者腺样体切除术前后AHI及最低Sa(O2)有显著性差异(P均<0.01)。结论应用电子鼻咽镜检查患儿鼻腔和鼻咽部,在诊断腺样体肥大及选择腺样体切除术病例有重要的临床价值。