Use of anthropometric indicators in screening for undiagnosed vertebral fractures: A cross-sectional analysis of the Fukui Osteoporosis Cohort (FOC) study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Vertebral fractures are the most common type of osteoporotic fracture. Although often asymptomatic, each vertebral fracture increases the risk of additional fractures. Development of a safe and simple screening method is necessary to identify individuals with asymptomatic vertebral fractures.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Lateral imaging of the spine by single energy X-ray absorptiometry and vertebral morphometry were conducted in 116 Japanese women (mean age: 69.9 ± 9.3 yr). Vertebral deformities were diagnosed by the McCloskey-Kanis criteria and were used as a proxy for vertebral fractures. We evaluated whether anthropometric parameters including arm span-height difference (AHD), wall-occiput distance (WOD), and rib-pelvis distance (RPD) were related to vertebral deformities. Positive findings were defined for AHD as ≥ 4.0 cm, for WOD as ≥ 5 mm, and for RPD as ≤ two fingerbreadths. Receiver operating characteristics curves analysis was performed, and cut-off values were determined to give maximum difference between sensitivity and false-positive rate. Expected probabilities for vertebral deformities were calculated using logistic regression analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean AHD for those participants with and without vertebral deformities were 7.0 ± 4.1 cm and 4.2 ± 4.2 cm (p < 0.01), respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for use of AHD-positive, WOD-positive and RPD-positive values in predicting vertebral deformities were 0.85 (95% CI: 0.69, 1.01) and 0.52 (95% CI: 0.42, 0.62); 0.70 (95% CI: 0.50, 0.90) and 0.67 (95% CI: 0.57, 0.76); and 0.67 (95% CI: 0.47, 0.87) and 0.59 (95% CI: 0.50, 0.69), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratio for a positive result (LR) for use of combined AHD-positive and WOD-positive values were 0.65 (95% CI: 0.44, 0.86), 0.81 (95% CI: 0.73, 0.89), and 3.47 (95% CI: 3.01, 3.99), respectively. The expected probability of vertebral deformities (P) was obtained by the equation; P = 1-(exp [-1.327-0.040 × body weight +1.332 × WOD-positive + 1.623 × AHD-positive])^-1. The sensitivity, specificity and LR for use of a 0.306 cut-off value for probability of vertebral fractures were 0.65 (95% CI: 0.44, 0.86), 0.87 (95% CI: 0.80, 0.93), and 4.82 (95% CI: 4.00, 5.77), respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Both WOD and AHD effectively predicted vertebral deformities. This screening method could be used in a strategy to prevent additional vertebral fractures, even when X-ray technology is not available.</p

Compressive properties of min-mod-type limiters in modelling shockwave-containing flows

The long-ignored compressive properties of Min-mod-type limiter is investigated in this manuscript by demonstrating its potential in numerically modelling shockwave-containing flows, especially in shock wave/boundary layer interaction (SWBLI) problems. Theoretical studies were firstly performed based on Sweby’s total variation diminishing (TVD) limiter region and Spekreijse’s monotonicity-preserving limiter region to indicate Min-mod-type limiters’ compressive properties. The influence of limiters on the solution accuracy was evaluated using a hybrid-order analysis method based on the grid-independent study in three typical shockwave-containing flows. The conclusions are that, Min-mod-type limiter can be utilized as a dissipative and/or compressive limiter, but depending on the reasonable value of the compression parameter. The compressive Min-mod limiter tends to be more attractive in modelling shockwave-containing flows as compared to other commonly preferred limiters because of its stable computational process and its high-resolution predictions. However, the compressive Min-mod limiter may suffer from its slightly poor convergence, as that observed in other commonly accepted smooth limiters in modelling SWBLI problems. © 2020, The Author(s)

Smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and family history and the risks of acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina pectoris: a prospective cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Few studies investigated the association between smoking, alcohol consumption, or physical activity and the risk of unstable angina pectoris (UAP), while the strength of these associations may differ compared to other coronary diseases such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Therefore, we investigated whether the associations of these lifestyle factors with UAP differed from those with AMI. Additionally, we investigated whether these effects differed between subjects with and without a family history of myocardial infarction (MI).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The CAREMA study consists of 21,148 persons, aged 20-59 years at baseline and randomly sampled from the Maastricht region in 1987-1997. At baseline, all participants completed a self-administered questionnaire. After follow-up of maximally 16.9 years, 420 AMI and 274 UAP incident cases were registered. Incidence rate ratios (RRs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>For both diseases, smoking increased the risk while alcohol consumption was associated with a protective effect. Associations with both risk factors were stronger for AMI than UAP, although this difference was only statistically significant for smoking. In men, an inverse association was found with physical activity during leisure time which seemed to be stronger for the risk of UAP than of AMI. On the contrary, physical activity during leisure time was associated with an increased risk of both AMI and UAP in women which seemed to be weaker for UAP than for AMI. Except for occupational physical activity in women, no significant interactions on a multiplicative scale were found between the lifestyle factors and family history of MI. Nevertheless, the highest risks were found in subjects with both a positive family history and the most unfavorable level of the lifestyle factors.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The strength of the associations with the lifestyle factors did not differ between AMI and UAP, except for smoking. Furthermore, the effects of the lifestyle factors on the risk of both coronary diseases were similar for subjects with and without a positive family history.</p

Seaweed intake and blood pressure levels in healthy pre-school Japanese children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Few studies have examined whether dietary factors might affect blood pressure in children. We purposed to investigate whether seaweed intake is associated with blood pressure level among Japanese preschool children.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The design of the study was cross-sectional and it was conducted in autumn 2006. Subjects were healthy preschoolers aged 3-6 years in Aichi, Japan. Blood pressure and pulse were measured once by an automated sphygmomanometer, which uses oscillometric methods. Dietary data, including seaweed intake, were assessed using 3-day dietary records covering 2 consecutive weekdays and 1 weekend day. Of a total of 533 children, 459 (86.1 percent) agreed to be enrolled in our study. Finally, blood pressure measurement, complete dietary records and parent-reported height and weight were obtained for 223 boys and 194 girls.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>When we examined Spearman's correlation coefficients, seaweed intake was significantly negatively related to systolic blood pressure in girls (<it>P </it>= 0.008). In the one-way analysis of covariance for blood pressure and pulse after adjustments for age and BMI, the boys with the lowest, middle and highest tertiles of seaweed intake had diastolic blood pressure readings of 62.8, 59.3 and 59.6 mmHg, respectively (<it>P </it>= 0.11, trend <it>P </it>= 0.038). Girls with higher seaweed intake had significantly lower systolic blood pressure readings (102.4, 99.2 and 96.9 mmHg for girls with the lowest, middle and highest tertiles of seaweed intake, respectively; <it>P </it>= 0.037, trend <it>P </it>= 0.030).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study showed that seaweed intake was negatively related to diastolic blood pressure in boys and to systolic blood pressure in girls. This suggests that seaweed might have beneficial effects on blood pressure among children.</p

Rotating Stars in Relativity

Rotating relativistic stars have been studied extensively in recent years, both theoretically and observationally, because of the information one could obtain about the equation of state of matter at extremely high densities and because they are considered to be promising sources of gravitational waves. The latest theoretical understanding of rotating stars in relativity is reviewed in this updated article. The sections on the equilibrium properties and on the nonaxisymmetric instabilities in f-modes and r-modes have been updated and several new sections have been added on analytic solutions for the exterior spacetime, rotating stars in LMXBs, rotating strange stars, and on rotating stars in numerical relativity.Comment: 101 pages, 18 figures. The full online-readable version of this article, including several animations, will be published in Living Reviews in Relativity at http://www.livingreviews.org

Height and timing of growth spurt during puberty in young people living with vertically acquired HIV in Europe and Thailand

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe growth during puberty in young people with vertically acquired HIV. Design: Pooled data from 12 paediatric HIV cohorts in Europe and Thailand. Methods: One thousand and ninety-four children initiating a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor or boosted protease inhibitor based regimen aged 1-10 years were included. Super Imposition by Translation And Rotation (SITAR) models described growth from age 8 years using three parameters (average height, timing and shape of the growth spurt), dependent on age and height-for-age z-score (HAZ) (WHO references) at antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. Multivariate regression explored characteristics associated with these three parameters. Results: At ART initiation, median age and HAZ was 6.4 [interquartile range (IQR): 2.8, 9.0] years and -1.2 (IQR: -2.3 to -0.2), respectively. Median follow-up was 9.1 (IQR: 6.9, 11.4) years. In girls, older age and lower HAZ at ART initiation were independently associated with a growth spurt which occurred 0.41 (95% confidence interval 0.20-0.62) years later in children starting ART age 6 to 10 years compared with 1 to 2 years and 1.50 (1.21-1.78) years later in those starting with HAZ less than -3 compared with HAZ at least -1. Later growth spurts in girls resulted in continued height growth into later adolescence. In boys starting ART with HAZ less than -1, growth spurts were later in children starting ART in the oldest age group, but for HAZ at least -1, there was no association with age. Girls and boys who initiated ART with HAZ at least -1 maintained a similar height to the WHO reference mean. Conclusion: Stunting at ART initiation was associated with later growth spurts in girls. Children with HAZ at least -1 at ART initiation grew in height at the level expected in HIV negative children of a comparable age

Prevalence of and changes in risk factors for cardiovascular diseases over the period 1987-1991. Final report of the Monitoring Project on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors 1987-1991

The Monitoring Project on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors has been carried out between 1987-1991. In this period over 36,000 men and women aged 20-59 years have been examined for cardiovascular risk factors. Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 16% in men and 13% in women, a low HDL-cholesterol was present in 21% of all men and 6% of all women. Prevalence of hypertension was 8% in men and 6% in women, and prevalence of obesity was 7% in men and 9% in women. Forty percent of all men and women smoked cigarettes, and 10% of the men and 3% of the women were heavy drinkers. One-third of all men and women were physically inactive. Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia decreased by 3% in men and 2% in women, prevalence of low HDL increased by 9% in men and 1% in women. Prevalence of hypertension did not change, but treatment of hypertension decreased. Prevalence of obesity and physical activity showed an increase only when the data were corrected for changes in educational status over the study period. Prevalence of cigarette smoking decreased by 3% in men and 4% in women, while the percentage of heavy drinkers decreased by 3% in men and women.Het Peilstationsproject Hart- en Vaatziekten is uitgevoerd van 1987-1991. In deze periode zijn ruim 36.000 mannen en vrouwen in de leeftijd van 20-59 jaar onderzocht op risicofactoren voor hart- en vaatziekten. Prevalentie van hypercholesterolemie was 16% voor mannen en 13% voor vrouwen, 21% van de mannen en 6% van de vrouwen had een verlaagd HDL-cholesterolgehalte. Acht procent van de mannen en 6% van de vrouwen had hypertensie en 7% van de mannen en 9% van de vrouwen had overgewicht. Veertig procent van de mannen en vrouwen rookte sigaretten, 10% van de mannen en 3% van de vrouwen waren zware drinkers. Ongeveer 1/3 deel van alle mannen en vrouwen was lichamelijk inactief. De prevalentie van hypercholesterolemie daalde over de studieperiode met 3% bij mannen en 2% bij vrouwen, de prevalentie van een verlaagd HDL-cholesterolgehalte nam toe met 9% bij mannen en 1% bij vrouwen. De prevalentie van hypertensie veranderde niet, maar de medicamenteuze behandeling van hypertensie daalde. De prevalentie van overgewicht en lichamelijke inactiviteit steeg wanneer werd gecorrigeerd voor veranderingen in opleidingsniveau over de studieperiode. Het percentage sigaretten rokers daalde met 3% bij mannen en 4% bij vrouwen, het percentage zware drinkers nam af met 3% bij mannen en vrouwen

Prevalence of and changes in risk factors for cardiovascular diseases over the period 1987-1991. Final report of the Monitoring Project on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors 1987-1991

Het Peilstationsproject Hart- en Vaatziekten is uitgevoerd van 1987-1991. In deze periode zijn ruim 36.000 mannen en vrouwen in de leeftijd van 20-59 jaar onderzocht op risicofactoren voor hart- en vaatziekten. Prevalentie van hypercholesterolemie was 16% voor mannen en 13% voor vrouwen, 21% van de mannen en 6% van de vrouwen had een verlaagd HDL-cholesterolgehalte. Acht procent van de mannen en 6% van de vrouwen had hypertensie en 7% van de mannen en 9% van de vrouwen had overgewicht. Veertig procent van de mannen en vrouwen rookte sigaretten, 10% van de mannen en 3% van de vrouwen waren zware drinkers. Ongeveer 1/3 deel van alle mannen en vrouwen was lichamelijk inactief. De prevalentie van hypercholesterolemie daalde over de studieperiode met 3% bij mannen en 2% bij vrouwen, de prevalentie van een verlaagd HDL-cholesterolgehalte nam toe met 9% bij mannen en 1% bij vrouwen. De prevalentie van hypertensie veranderde niet, maar de medicamenteuze behandeling van hypertensie daalde. De prevalentie van overgewicht en lichamelijke inactiviteit steeg wanneer werd gecorrigeerd voor veranderingen in opleidingsniveau over de studieperiode. Het percentage sigaretten rokers daalde met 3% bij mannen en 4% bij vrouwen, het percentage zware drinkers nam af met 3% bij mannen en vrouwen.The Monitoring Project on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors has been carried out between 1987-1991. In this period over 36,000 men and women aged 20-59 years have been examined for cardiovascular risk factors. Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 16% in men and 13% in women, a low HDL-cholesterol was present in 21% of all men and 6% of all women. Prevalence of hypertension was 8% in men and 6% in women, and prevalence of obesity was 7% in men and 9% in women. Forty percent of all men and women smoked cigarettes, and 10% of the men and 3% of the women were heavy drinkers. One-third of all men and women were physically inactive. Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia decreased by 3% in men and 2% in women, prevalence of low HDL increased by 9% in men and 1% in women. Prevalence of hypertension did not change, but treatment of hypertension decreased. Prevalence of obesity and physical activity showed an increase only when the data were corrected for changes in educational status over the study period. Prevalence of cigarette smoking decreased by 3% in men and 4% in women, while the percentage of heavy drinkers decreased by 3% in men and women.DGVGZ/PA