Filaggrin related antibodies among the aged

BACKGROUND: The mean age at onset of new cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has increased markedly. Because the prevalence of false positive rheumatoid factor reactions increases with advancing age, the diagnostic value of this test has limitations among the aged. OBJECTIVE: To study the occurrence of two filaggrin related antibodies in an aged population. METHODS: The study covered 300 subjects aged 78-88 years, one of whom had RA. The sera were tested with enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), using filaggrin purified from human skin and citrullinated cyclic peptide (CCP) as antigens. RESULTS: One patient with RA was positive for both antibodies. When the cut off level for positive reactions was set at the 98th centile of healthy blood donors, 24 (8%) of the other subjects were positive for antibodies against filaggrin, but only one against CCP. CONCLUSION: The test for anti-CCP antibody has better specificity than the test for antibodies against filaggrin among the aged.     

Factors related to work ability among Thai workers

This study aimed to examine the factors related to work ability among small and medium enterprise (SME) workers in Thailand. The subjects consisted of 845 males and 1,163 females. They were interviewed regarding personal information, working conditions, health status, job stress and work ability. Their blood pressure, body weight and height were also measured. More than half the subjects reported high job stress. Women had higher job stress than men. The work ability index (WAI) results for managers, supervisors and operators were 42.3, 41.4 and 39.8, respectively. Job control of managers and supervisors was higher than operators. The WAI of females decreased with increasing age for those over age 45 years. Factors related to WAI were mental health, social support at work, depression and age. The results suggest job stress reduction programs should be considered to improve work ability among SME workers.     

Musculoskeletal impairments and physical disablement among the aged

This article summarizes the results of a longitudinal investigation of the progression of sight, hearing, and musculoskeletal impairments and their association with change in physical disability, in 10 ADLs among members of the Massachusetts Health Care Panel Study. The findings confirm widely held clinical beliefs that specific types of musculoskeletal decrement are an important cause of physical disability among older persons. Decrement in hand function is a significant musculoskeletal impairment influencing limitations in Basic ADL, and progression of Instrumental ADL dysfunction is influenced by progression of lower extremity impairments. Progression of sight and hearing impairments was not associated with change in physical disability. Musculoskeletal impairments, one of the most prevalent and symptomatic chronic complaints of middle and old age, deserve increased attention from epidemiologists, disability researchers, and clinicians seeking ways to prevent disablement among the aged.     

Self-reported physical health among the aged in Wuhan,China

It has long been recognized that cross-cultural differences in health and illness reflect not only genuine variation in the incidence and prevalence of morbidity, disability, and mortality, but also the social processes by which these data were generated. These processes may be far removed from the biological reality. The conceptualization and measurement of physical health, therefore, can benefit, from adopting a comparative perspective. This paper aims to extend the generalizability of a three-dimensional model of self-reported physical health among the aged to China. Data came from a probability sample of approximately 2,700 urban and rural Chinese, aged 60 or older, living in the Wuhan area. The model, which consists of chronic illness, functional status, and self-rated health as three interrelated dimensions, was previously evaluated empirically using national data on the aged gathered in the U.S. and Japan. The model, which was found to apply equally well to the American and Japanese aged, also fit the Chinese data well. However, results also indicated cross-national differences (1) in the effects of age and sex on the prevalence of chronic disease and disability and (2) in the effects of education on disability and self-rated health.     

Social and psychologic factors related to falls among the elderly

Studies on falls are reviewed. Little information exists on which social or psychologic factors predispose an older person to fall or to sustain a fall-related injury. Risk of falling appears to be greater among females, the cognitively impaired, and those who use hypnotics, tranquilizers, and diuretics. The potential significance of depression and senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type on the risk of falling is explored. It is suggested that because of the associated impaired judgment, distraction, and psychomotor retardation, the presence of either clinical condition may increase an individual's risk of falling. In the final section of the article, directions for future research are discussed. Development of a systematic research program is suggested including epidemiologic studies of all falls and of medically treated falls. Such studies should be multidisciplinary and include assessment of social and psychologic factors as well as physical and functional health status, ambulatory function, perceptual acuity, and the circumstances surrounding the fall. The psychologic consequences of falling, particularly in the absence of a serious fall-related injury, is identified as an important research area.     

老年患者阿司匹林反应性及其影响因素分析

目的 观察老年患者对阿司匹林的反应性及其影响因素,以及阿司匹林与消化道出血的关系.方法 入选136例缺血性心血管疾病及高危老年患者,用药前和阿司匹林100 mg/d服用7d后检测花生四烯酸诱导的血小板聚集率(AA-Ag).将用药前AA-Ag按四分位数平均分为4组,观察用药后AA-Ag水平变化及临床和实验室指标,并观察6...     

Prospective study of mortality among women and its relation to the main risk factors]

The data obtained in the prospective study of females aged 20-69 years in one of the Leningrad districts made in possible to assess the role of basic risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CCV) as predictors of death. For females, arterial hypertension was not found to be a significant risk factor for CCV mortality. Among lipid fractions, elevated levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was demonstrated to hold the lead (the risk ratio, 3.6), high levels of triglycerides occupied the second place (the risk ratio, 1.88, and the content of total cholesterol occupied the third place (the risk ratio, 1.7). Low body weight was the major protective factor in females. Following 5 years of the primary survey, the cumulative cancer mortality continued to increase in individuals having low cholesterol levels, which opposes the supposition that low cholesterol concentrations are a marker of an existing tumor process. The CCV mortality-total cholesterol level relationship was demonstrated to be prone to u-dependence, i.e. a deviation from average cholesterol levels towards the both directions is an unfavorable factor and requires that a clinicist be more careful.     

亚临床期糖尿病性心脏病及相关因素的初探

目的探讨亚临床期糖尿病性心脏病相关因素，以采取有效的防治对策。方法（１）对２８８例无高血压、心脏病临床表现，并经有关检查基本除外冠心病及其它心脏病的糖尿病患者进行无创性心功能检查。（２）对亚临床期糖尿病性心脏病的相关因素进行单因素和多因素分析。结果（１）３３．６８％的糖尿病病人存在亚临床期糖尿病性心脏病变所导致的心功能异常。（２）年龄、病程、ＢＭＩ、代谢控制状况、微血管并发症与亚临床期糖尿病性心脏病的发生密切相关。结论年龄大、病程长、ＢＭＩ高、代谢控制不良及糖尿病其它微血管并发症是亚临床期糖尿病性心脏病的危险因素，对以上某些因素进行有效的控制，将可能预防和延缓糖尿病性心脏病的发生。     

Epidemiologic and socioeconomic factors impacting hepatitis B virus and related hepatocellular carcinoma

Chronic Hepatitis B is a highly prevalent disease worldwide and is estimated to cause more than 800000 annual deaths from complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although universal hepatitis B vaccination programs may have reduced the incidence and prevalence of chronic hepatitis B and related HCC, the disease still imposes a significant healthcare burden in many endemic regions such as Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. This is especially concerning given the global underdiagnosis of hepatitis B and the limited availability of vaccination, screening, and treatment in low-resource regions. Demographics including male gender, older age, ethnicity, and geographic location as well as low socioeconomic status are more heavily impacted by chronic hepatitis B and related HCC. Methods to mitigate this impact include increasing screening in high-risk groups according to national guidelines, increasing awareness and health literacy in vulnerable populations, and developing more robust vaccination programs in under-served regions.     

老年人人格特质的发展特点及相关因素研究

目的 研究当前我国老年人人格特质的发展特点及相关因素，为指导老年期的社会适应提供心理学的理论依据。方法 采用卡特尔16种人格因素问卷调查。结果 （1）不同年龄组老年人的16种人格因素大多数差异不显著，只有N项和O项差异比较显著。其中N项随老年人年龄增加而均分逐渐降低；O项为60－69岁年龄组老年人均分最高。（2）老年人16种人格因素中A、H、N、Q1、Q2等项性别差异显著：A、B、F、H、I、Q1、Q2、Q3等项职业差异显著；A、C、F、I、L、O等项居住模式差异显著。结论 当前我国老年人的人格因素较为稳定，对其变化发展影响较明显的因素主要为性别、职业及居住模式等。     

Disease and psychosocial factors related to physical functioning in rheumatoid arthritis.

One hundred and fifty-five patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were randomly selected from a tertiary care outpatient rheumatology clinic. Disease, treatment, psychosocial and demographic data were collected to test a biopsychosocial model of Physical Functioning as determined by the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales (AIMS). Cross-sectional and longitudinal hierarchical and stepwise regression analysis were performed to identify variables associated with Physical Functioning. The results of the hierarchical regression revealed that only the disease and psychosocial sets of variables were significant. Stepwise regression revealed that Disease Severity (disease set) and Arthritis Helplessness (psychosocial set) accounted for 37% (longitudinal) to 60% (cross-sectional 12 months---greater than 12 months) of Physical Functioning variance. Our results suggest a role for the inclusion of psychosocial factors in studies of the development of physical disability in patients with RA.     

Epidemiologic approaches to dietary factors in cancer etiology

The role of epidemiologic studies in the identification and evaluation of dietary factors associated with altered cancer risk is assessed. Possible mechanisms by which dietary factors may influence cancer development are described. Research strategies for investigating diet and cancer are presented with emphasis on epidemiologic approaches. Methods of nutritional assessment of diet are reviewed and related to selected epidemiologic approaches.     

老年妇女应力性尿失禁患病率及有关因素

目的了解北京地区老年妇女应力性尿失禁患病情况。方法被调查人群是从北京城区、郊区平原和郊区山区抽样得到的２７８３名老年人。其中老年妇女１４１５人。调查采取问卷访问及体格检查相结合的方法。有８６９名老年妇女参加了体检。结果老年妇女应力性尿失禁患病率为２９０％，明显高于老年男性患病率（１１９％，Ｐ＜００１）。男女性老年人患病率均为农村高于城市，且随增龄而增高。从事重体力劳动者患病率明显高于轻体力及脑力劳动者。多次分娩、特别是超过６胎以上者患病率明显高于分娩次数少者，且随末次分娩年龄的增高尿失禁患病率逐渐增高（Ｐ＜００１）。在并存冠心病、慢性支气管炎、糖尿病、泌尿系感染、老年性阴道炎的老年妇女中，应力性尿失禁患病率明显高于无上述并存症者。妇科检查发现应力性尿失禁患者存在膀胱膨出、子宫脱垂的比率明显高于无膀胱膨出、子宫脱垂者。应力性尿失禁与吸烟及体重指数无关。结论避免长期腹压增高和减少分娩次数，是预防老年妇女应力性尿失禁的关键     

老年人亚临床心功能不全及其相关因素研究

目的　了解老年人亚临床心功能不全与部分因素的相关性及其治疗时机的选择。方法　以超声心动图检查 2 0 6例老年住院病人(其中男 1 72例 ,女 34例 ) ,年龄 70～ 94岁 (平均 80 .2 6± 5.52岁 ) ,观察 RVDd、 LVIDd、 L VIDs、 IVSd、 IVSs、 MVE- F、 AOroot、 SV、 FS、L VEF、 LVmass、HR等 1 2个指标 ,运用 SPSS统计软件 ,分析上述参数与病人的年龄、性别、身高、体重的相关性。结果　性别与 AOroot、SV呈负相关 (即男性编码 0 ,女性编码 1 ;男性 AOroot、 SV大于女性 ) ;年龄与 RVDd、 L VIDd、 IVSs呈负相关 ;身高与 IVSs、 SV呈正相关 ;体重与 RVDd、IVSs、SV呈正相关。结论　老年人心脏功能随增龄而减退 ,主要表现在舒张功能指标的下降 ,部分收缩功能指标与性别、身高、体重相关 ;在 LVEF<50 %的病例中 73.1 5%基本无临床症状 (心功能评定为 NYHA ～ 级 ) ,因此认为老年人存在亚临床心功能不全     

老年人睡眠质量及其相关因素研究

目的　探讨老年人睡眠质量的特点及相关因素。方法　采用分层整群随机抽样的方法 ,对 2 0 0 3例城市老年人进行了调查。调查工具包括匹兹堡睡眠质量指数、症状自评量表、老年抑郁量表、贝克焦虑量表、生活满意度指数 A、社会支持评定量表、日常生活能力量表、一般项目调查表等。全部资料用 SAS软件包进行统计分析。结果　资料完整者 1 80 5例 (调查应答率为 90 .1 % ) ,其中男性 858例 ,女性 947例。 PSQI平均得分3.8± 3.0分 ,睡眠质量差者占 1 1 .1 %。女性睡眠质量低于男性。睡眠质量与老年人的心理健康水平、身体状况等密切相关。结论　要提高老年人的睡眠质量以及生活质量 ,需要老年人自身的努力以及家庭与社会的支持与配合。