scholarly journals Plasma alkaline phosphatase as a sensitive indicator of age and skeletal development in wild coscoroba swans

2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia P. Calabuig ◽  
Miguel Ferrer ◽  
Roberto Muriel ◽  
Vallo Tilgar

Context. Recent studies have suggested that plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) can be used to assess skeletal development as well as health status in wild animals. Aims. However, the information about age-related dynamics of ALP in birds, especially in precocial species, is very scarce. Therefore, before ALP measurements can be effectively interpreted, it is necessary to determine its normal variation for each species, age group and sex. Methods. Here, we report total-ALP levels of free-living coscoroba swans (Coscoroba coscoroba) from the most important breeding and moulting population in Brazil. Data were gathered during the moulting period and categorised according to sex and the following three different age classes: chick (n = 11), young (n = 14) and mature (n = 29). Key results. ALP levels were related to the longitudinal measure of the bones, gradually diminishing with age and showing significant differences among birds of different age classes. In all age groups, no effect of sex on T-ALP concentration was detected. Conclusions. We conclude that measuring ALP facilitates the discrimination among different-aged individuals with similar plumage characteristics and body size.

2001 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 556-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime Inostroza ◽  
Ana Maria Vinet ◽  
Gloria Retamal ◽  
Pedro Lorca ◽  
Gonzalo Ossa ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT All clinical S. pneumoniae specimens isolated from patients with invasive or sterile-site infections admitted to one regional general hospital in southern Chile were collected during a 5-year period (February 1994 to September 1999). A total of 247 strains belonging to 50 serotypes were isolated in this survey: 69 in patients under 5 years of age, 129 in patients 5 to 64 years old, and 49 from patients 65 years and older. Eight serotypes were identified in all age groups, while all other serotypes were found exclusively in one age group or in patients over 4 years of age. Serotype 3 was never found in patients under 5 years old, and serotype 14 was not found in patients >64 years of age. There was no difference in the serotypes causing infection in each one of the 5 years of the survey. Our results suggest that both bacterial virulence factors and host factors play an important role in the selection of S. pneumoniae serotypes causing invasive infection. Possible host factors include age-related differences in the immune response. Comparative studies with other areas of the world may help to further understanding of our observations in southern Chile.


1996 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 410-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Lanzino ◽  
Neal F. Kassell ◽  
Teresa P. Germanson ◽  
Gail L. Kongable ◽  
Laura L. Truskowski ◽  
...  

✓ Advanced age is a recognized prognostic indicator of poor outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The relationship of age to other prognostic factors and outcome was evaluated using data from the multicenter randomized trial of nicardipine in SAH conducted in 21 neurosurgical centers in North America. Among the 906 patients who were studied, five different age groups were considered: 40 years or less, 41 to 50, 51 to 60, 61 to 70, and more than 71 years. Twenty-three percent of the individuals enrolled were older than 60 years of age. Women outnumbered men in all age groups. Level of consciousness (p = 0.0002) and World Federation of Neurological Surgeons grade (p = 0.0001) at admission worsened with advancing age. Age was also related to the presence of a thick subarachnoid clot (p = 0.0001), intraventricular hemorrhage (p = 0.0003), and hydrocephalus (p = 0.0001) on an admission computerized tomography scan. The rebleeding rate increased from 4.5% in the youngest age group to 16.4% in patients more than 70 years of age (p = 0.002). As expected, preexisting medical conditions, such as diabetes (p = 0.028), hypertension (p = 0.0001), and pulmonary (p = 0.0084), myocardial (p = 0.0001), and cerebrovascular diseases (p = 0.0001), were positively associated with age. There were no age-related differences in the day of admission following SAH, timing of the surgery and/or location, and size (small vs. large) of the ruptured aneurysm. During the treatment period, the incidence of severe complications (that is, those complications considered life threatening by the reporting investigator) increased with advancing age, occurring in 28%, 33%, 36%, 40%, and 46% of the patients in each advancing age group, respectively (p = 0.0002). No differences were observed in the reported frequency of surgical complications. No age-related differences were found in the overall incidence of angiographic vasospasm; however, symptomatic vasospasm was more frequently reported in the older age groups (p = 0.01). Overall outcome, assessed using the Glasgow Outcome Scale at 3 months post-SAH, was poorer with advancing age (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis of overall outcome, adjusting for the different prognostic factors, did not remove the age effect, which suggests that the aging brain has a less optimal response to the initial bleeding. Age as a risk factor is a continuum; however, there seems to be a significant increased risk of poor outcome after the age of 60 years.


2016 ◽  
Vol 175 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Strich ◽  
Gilad Karavani ◽  
Shalom Edri ◽  
David Gillis

ObjectiveWe previously reported increasing free T3 (FT3) to free T4 (FT4) ratios as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) increases within the normal range in children. It is not known if this phenomenon is age-related among humans, as previously reported in rats. This study examines the relationships between TSH and FT3/FT4 ratios in different ages.DesignRetrospective examination of thyroid tests from patients without thyroid disease from community clinics.MethodsFree T3, free T4, and TSH levels from 527 564 sera collected from patients aged 1 year or greater were studied. Exclusion criteria were the following: missing data, TSH greater than 7.5mIU/L, and medications that may interfere with thyroid hormone activity. A total of 27 940 samples remaining after exclusion were stratified by age. Samples with available anthropometric data were additionally stratified for body mass index (BMI). Correlations of TSH to FT4, FT3, and FT3/FT4 ratios by age group were examined.ResultsUp to age 40, for each increasing TSH quartile, FT3 and the FT3/FT4 ratio increased and FT4 decreased significantly (for both FT3, FT4 and FT3/FT4 ratio,P<0.05 for every TSH quartile when compared with the 1st quartile, except FT3 in the 30–40 age group). In older age groups, increasing TSH was not associated with increased FT3/FT4 ratio.ConclusionAs TSH levels increase, FT3/FT4 ratios increase until age 40, but this differential increase does not occur in older age groups. This may reflect a decrease in thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3) conversion with age, which may be part of the aging process.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Smith-Simpson ◽  
Lisa Fries ◽  
Carolyn Ross

Abstract Objectives The objective was to identify the age at which parents expose their children to different food textures and how challenging the textures were for their child to eat. It was hypothesized that older children would be exposed to a wider variety of food textures and that parents would consider a larger proportion of these textures to be easy to eat. Methods Parents (n = 365) in Grand Rapids, MI, USA with a child aged 6–36 months completed an online survey. The survey had 37 questions, including 15 unique food texture categories with food examples (Table 1). Parents were asked how difficult each texture category was for their child to eat using a 5-point scale ranging from “Very Easy” to “Very Difficult”, plus an option for “My child hasn't tried this yet”. Children were divided into 5 age groups (6-8 months, 9–12 months, 13–18 months, 19–24 months, 25–36 months) for analysis. Across texture category and age group, data were analyzed using analysis of variance, with mean separation accomplished using Fisher's LSD (P < 0.05). Results A majority of children in the youngest age group (6-8 months) had only eaten foods described as creamy, dissolvable, or pureed. All of the texture categories had been served to a majority of 9–12 month-old children, except for “hard” and “tough meat”. By 18 months of age, a majority of children had tried all food texture categories except “hard”. Across all age groups, creamy, dissolvable, and puree were rated as easy and “tough meat” was rated as difficult. The other textures showed age-related differences, with parents of older children reporting the textures as easier to eat than those of younger children. Food textures were compared within the 9–12 and 13–18 month age groups, when most new food textures are introduced, and similar trends were observed. The easiest textures were creamy, dissolvable, puree and soft, followed by lumpy and juicy, then slippery, chewy, rubbery, and sticky. The most difficult textures were leafy, with skin, hard, tough meat and combination of textures. Conclusions When considering textures of the foods that comprise a well-balanced, healthy diet, many foods are difficult for children to eat. Preparing foods such as green vegetables specifically to have age-appropriate textures could improve consumption. Funding Sources Washington State Univ College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Emerging Research Issues Grant.


Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (15) ◽  
pp. 3377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Arvidsson ◽  
Jonatan Fridolfsson ◽  
Christoph Buck ◽  
Örjan Ekblom ◽  
Elin Ekblom-Bak ◽  
...  

Accelerometer calibration for physical activity (PA) intensity is commonly performed using Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) as criterion. However, MET is not an age-equivalent measure of PA intensity, which limits the use of MET-calibrated accelerometers for age-related PA investigations. We investigated calibration using VO2net (VO2gross − VO2stand; mL⋅min−1⋅kg−1) as criterion compared to MET (VO2gross/VO2rest) and the effect on assessment of free-living PA in children, adolescents and adults. Oxygen consumption and hip/thigh accelerometer data were collected during rest, stand and treadmill walk and run. Equivalent speed (Speedeq) was used as indicator of the absolute speed (Speedabs) performed with the same effort in individuals of different body size/age. The results showed that VO2net was higher in younger age-groups for Speedabs, but was similar in the three age-groups for Speedeq. MET was lower in younger age-groups for both Speedabs and Speedeq. The same VO2net-values respective MET-values were applied to all age-groups to develop accelerometer PA intensity cut-points. Free-living moderate-and-vigorous PA was 216, 115, 74 and 71 min/d in children, adolescents, younger and older adults with VO2net-calibration, but 140, 83, 74 and 41 min/d with MET-calibration, respectively. In conclusion, VO2net calibration of accelerometers may provide age-equivalent measures of PA intensity/effort for more accurate age-related investigations of PA in epidemiological research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saraswati Sridhar ◽  
Vidya Manian

Cognitive deterioration caused by illness or aging often occurs before symptoms arise, and its timely diagnosis is crucial to reducing its medical, personal, and societal impacts. Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) stimulate and analyze key cerebral rhythms, enabling reliable cognitive assessment that can accelerate diagnosis. The BCI system presented analyzes steady-state visually evoked potentials (SSVEPs) elicited in subjects of varying age to detect cognitive aging, predict its magnitude, and identify its relationship with SSVEP features (band power and frequency detection accuracy), which were hypothesized to indicate cognitive decline due to aging. The BCI system was tested with subjects of varying age to assess its ability to detect aging-induced cognitive deterioration. Rectangular stimuli flickering at theta, alpha, and beta frequencies were presented to subjects, and frontal and occipital Electroencephalographic (EEG) responses were recorded. These were processed to calculate detection accuracy for each subject and calculate SSVEP band power. A neural network was trained using the features to predict cognitive age. The results showed potential cognitive deterioration through age-related variations in SSVEP features. Frequency detection accuracy declined after age group 20–40, and band power declined throughout all age groups. SSVEPs generated at theta and alpha frequencies, especially 7.5 Hz, were the best indicators of cognitive deterioration. Here, frequency detection accuracy consistently declined after age group 20–40 from an average of 96.64% to 69.23%. The presented system can be used as an effective diagnosis tool for age-related cognitive decline.


1984 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 1380-1382 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Rosenthal ◽  
M Pincus ◽  
D Fink

Abstract The relation between age and sex and the concentration of bilirubin in serum was evaluated in 6740 men and 11 215 women, ages 13 to 96 years. Mean serum bilirubin concentrations in the men significantly exceeded values in the women over all age groups examined. Further, mean serum bilirubin concentrations were greatest both in males and females in the 19-24 years age group and then declined to former values, which persisted throughout life. Pearson correlation coefficients for bilirubin with liver function indices (albumin and total protein) and with hemoglobin were low in all ages and in both sexes, suggesting that bilirubin concentrations do not correlate with those liver functions not directly concerned with bile pigment processing.


2003 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 185-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reinhold Vieth ◽  
Yasmin Ladak ◽  
Paul G. Walfish

Vitamin D requirements are thought to vary with age, but there is little comparative evidence for this. One goal in establishing a vitamin D requirement is to avoid secondary hyperparathyroidism. We studied 1741 euthyroid, thyroid clinic outpatients without evidence of calcium abnormalities, ranging in age from 19 to 97 yr, whose serum and urine had been analyzed for calcium, vitamin D, and parathyroid status. We found no effect of age on the 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration associated with specific vitamin D intakes, and there was no relationship between 25(OH)D and 1,25hydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D]. In every age group, serum 1,25(OH)2D declined with increasing creatinine (P &lt; 0.001). What changed with age included creatinine, which correlated with 25(OH)D (r = 0.146, P &lt; 0.001) only in the youngest age group (19–50 yr) but not in the older age groups (P &gt; 0.1). Creatinine did not correlate with PTH in the youngest age group, but the relationship became significant as age increased (e.g. for the elderly, r = 0.365, P &lt; 0.001). Linear regression of log PTH vs. log 25(OH)D agreed with the natural shape of the relationship observed with scatterplot smoothing, and this showed no plateau in PTH as 25(OH)D increased. We compared PTH concentrations among age groups, based on 20 nmol/liter increments in 25(OH)D. Mean PTH in adults older than 70 yr was consistently higher than in adults younger than 50 yr (P &lt; 0.05 by ANOVA and Dunnett’s t test). PTH levels of the elderly who had 25(OH)D concentrations greater than 100 nmol/liter matched PTH of younger adults having 25(OH)D concentrations near 70 nmol/liter. This study shows that all age groups exhibit a high prevalence of 25(OH)D insufficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Older adults are just as efficient in maintaining 25(OH)D, but they need more vitamin D to produce the higher 25(OH)D concentrations required to overcome the hyperparathyroidism associated with their diminishing renal function.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 24-29
Author(s):  
E.S. Klimova ◽  
◽  
M.E. Mkrtchyan ◽  
E.V. Maksimova ◽  
A.D. Reshetnikova ◽  
...  

Currently, the topic of determination of the seasonal and age-related dynamics of eimeria and cryptosporidia, especially with their associative course in cattle on farms of the Udmurt Republic, remains relevant. The research material were represented by fecal samples (1629 samples) from animals of various age groups of the central zone of Udmurtia, spontaneously infected with eime-ria and cryptosporidia. Coprological studies were performed monthly by generally accepted flotation methods, and fingerprint smears were made, followed by Ziehl-Nielsen staining. Our studies on the seasonal dynamics of protozoa showed that peaks of infection in animals in the central zone of the Udmurt Republic were noted in the autumn-winter periode. The age dynamics in the regions differed significantly depending on the type of pathogen and the age of the animals. Thus, Zavyalovsky is a stationary dysfunctional area for eimeriosis and cryptosporidiosis, where the per-centage of eimeriosis infection is 96.3%. At the same time, the maximum number of ocists were observed in young animals in age of 8-12 months. Cryptosporidiosis infestation was recorded from 3 days of age to 2 months, and the percentage of infection in this age group reached 89,66%.The results of our studies revealed a fairly widespread association of these protozooses. So, it was found that in Zavyalovsky district, the maximum intensi-ty of mixtinvasion is recorded in animals aged 1-2 months and reaches up to 69,17%. In the Uvinsky district, the greatest degree of infection with the association of eimeria and cryptosporidia is record-ed almost 2 times less often (in 37,31% of cas-es).The results of seasonal dynamics must be taken into account for drawing up treatment and preventive measures for various age groups of animals in the central zone of the Udmurt Republic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e20071-e20071
Author(s):  
Raul Cordoba ◽  
Natacha Bolanos ◽  
Lorna Warwick ◽  
Natalie Dren

e20071 Background: Over the past two decades, the incidence of lymphoma has increased by 8-10% per year in older adults. Despite the growing population of older cancer patients, there are a limited number of studies that focus on the experience of these patients. Lymphoma Coalition (LC) saw the need in the 2019 Report Card on Lymphomas to examine the age-related lymphoma patient experience. The objectives of this study were to identify: 1) informational needs and understanding levels, 2) physical conditions and medical issues, 3) psychosocial issues, and 4) barriers in patient-doctor communication. Methods: Using a subset of data from the LC 2018 Global Patient Survey on Lymphomas and CLL (LC 2018 GPS), this study will specifically examine the experiences of newly diagnosed lymphoma patients within the following age categories: 1) Young (18-59) (n = 1473); Mid (60-69) (n = 371); Old (70+) (n = 162). Results: From January to March 2018, 2,006 participants were included in this analysis from 47 countries. The majority of all three patient groups wanted additional medical information beyond what was provided at their diagnosis meeting with the doctor, with the greatest need for information in the young patient group (73%). The highest proportion of poor understanding was reported by the mid-age group (14%) and the highest proportion of very good understanding was reported by the old age group (53%). Across all three age groups, fatigue was the top reported physical condition affecting well-being. Regarding older patients, hair loss was reported in 36% vs 54% in younger patients (p = 0.01), and muscle weakness was reported in 40%. A greater proportion of those in the old group reported that their lifestyle (86%) and general activity level (87%) had been affected. The reported prevalence of medical issues was highest in the young group and lowest in the old group, both during and after treatment. Fear of relapse was the top reported psychosocial issue following treatment for patients in all three age groups. Of those who discussed their fear of relapse with their doctor (young 42% vs old 21%, p = 0.0022), less than one third of patients felt their discussion helped alleviate the fear. Conclusions: This study emphasizes that lymphoma patients in all age groups need more information and support beyond what is currently being provided. While certain age-specific trends were identified, the majority of patient-reported issues span across all three of the age groups examined.


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