Aim: In the absence of published statewide notification data, the aim of this study was to analyse trends in notifiable blood lead levels (hereafter referred to as lead poisoning) in NSW from 1998 to 2008, to help inform lead poisoning notification policy. Methods: NSW blood lead poisoning notification data for ...

: Radiographic assessment of skeletal age in pediatric patients is a common practice among orthopaedic surgeons. Current methods of assessment remain labor intensive and require special resources. This study sought to investigate a novel, abridged method of bone age assessment that may serve as a simpler and more efficient alternative ...

BACKGROUND: Standards for anthropometrical assessment define that measurements must be carried out with the subject in the standing position, although this is not always possible. The effect of body position on girth measurement has not been evaluated, even though this issue is clinically relevant because it may bias nutritional assessment ...

AIMS: To evaluate the prevalence of associated risk factors of over active bladder (OAB) in people ≥40 years old in mainland of China. METHODS: A randomized community-based, cross-sectional study was performed on 10,160 residents (≥40 years old) in the mainland of China using a questionnaire. The overactive bladder symptom score ...

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to document the normal measurements (length, width, antero-posterior diameter) and proportions of the uterus according to age and gravidity. We hypothesized that the proportions of the uterus conformed to the classical Golden Ratio (1.618). METHODS: The ultrasonographic measurements of 5466 uteri were retrospectively reviewed for length, width ...

Abstract Objective. To determine sex differences in the tissue proportions of crowns of mandibular primary central incisors in Chinese children and to quantify the volume of crown components in three dimensions using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Materials and methods. The specimens used in this study were 41 mandibular first deciduous incisor ...

The majority of pure silver nanoparticles in consumer products are likely released into sewer systems and usually end up in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Research investigating the reduction in nanoscale silver particles (n-Ag-Ps) has focused on the biological treatment process, generally in controlled laboratory experiments. This study, analyzing the field-collected ...

PURPOSE: There are only a few studies of incidence of epilepsy in low and middle income countries (LMICs). These are often small and conducted in specific age groups or areas where the prevalence of risk factors is high; therefore, these studies are not representative of the wider populations. We determined ...

OBJECTIVE: To search for measures to describe and relate to accidental falls in community dwelling elderly. METHOD: A EuroQol EQ-5D questionnaire based on a patient's otoneurological case history provided a general health related quality of life measure, a fall history for the last 3 months and force platform measures for ...

BACKGROUND: Haematologic abnormalities are features in Plasmodium falciparum infection, and anaemia is an inevitable outcome. This study examines the influence of malaria status and altitude on haematologic parameters in school-aged pupils. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 728 school pupils aged between four and 15 years at three different ...

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of recent data on Chinese childhood overweight and underweight prevalence especially since 2004. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine trends in underweight and overweight/obesity ("overweight" hereafter) prevalence and energy balance-related behaviors of Chinese youth from 2004 to 2009. METHODS: Data from the ...

PURPOSE: To conduct in vivo measurements of the bulbar conjunctiva epithelial, stromal and total thicknesses in healthy Chinese subjects using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to compare the conjunctival thickness differences between gender and age. METHODS: From January to July 2012, healthy Chinese subjects were recruited to undergo a Cirrus ...

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and types of glaucoma in an urban Singaporean Indian population. METHODS: The Singapore Indian Eye Study (SINDI) was a population-based, cross-sectional survey that examined 3400 (75.6% response) persons aged 40-80 years. Participants underwent a standardized examination including slit-lamp biomicroscopy, Goldmann applanation tonometry, and dilated optic ...

PURPOSE:: The study aims were (1) to determine whether baseline measures-including the Body Mass Index, Airflow Obstruction, Dyspnea, and Exercise Capacity (BODE) index; Age, Dyspnea, and Airflow Obstruction (ADO) index; physical activity; comorbidities (cardiac, metabolic, or musculoskeletal disease); and the number of hospitalizations over the previous 12 months-can predict responders ...

OBJECTIVE: In cases of suspected child pornography, the age of the victim represents a crucial factor for legal prosecution. The conventional methods for age estimation provide unreliable age estimates, particularly if teenage victims are concerned. In this pilot study, the potential of age estimation for screening purposes is explored for ...

INTRODUCTION: Quantifying years of potential life lost (YPLL) highlights childhood causes of mortality and provides a simple method to identify important causes of premature death. METHODS: CDC analyzed data from the National Vital Statistics System multiple cause of death files for 2000-2009. RESULTS: An average of 890YPLL were lost each ...

Aim: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) has been introduced as a reliable, non-invasive marker of atherosclerosis. In this retrospective study, we investigated the progression of CAC using electron beam computed tomography. Methods: The study enrolled 598 individuals (521 males; mean age: 59.3±8.3 years) with initial CAC score (CACS) ≥10. The mean ...

Aim: The aim of the present study was to compare the semi-automatic measurement of carotid intima thickness (RFQIMT - Esaote, Italy), with the conventional method. Methods: We enrolle 81 patients, mean age 46 years ±15, with no history of cardio-cerebrovascular events and we assessed the traditional cardiovascular risk factors. We ...

Aim: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare the age-related declines in swimming, cycling, and running and overall race times between males and females in an Olympic distance triathlon, the 'Zürich Triathlon' in Switzerland. Methods: Swimming (1.5 km), cycling (40 km), running (10 km) and overall race times ...

Aim: The present study aimed at comparing demographic variables, physical activity level, and health-related anthropometric indicators according to somatotype among physically active individuals. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, in which the sample consisted of 304 individuals, who are users of the jogging track at the Federal University of ...

Sequential stages in the development of the hand, wrist, and cervical vertebrae commonly are used to assess maturation and predict the timing of the adolescent growth spurt. This approach is predicated on the idea that forecasts based on skeletal age must, of necessity, be superior to those based on chronologic ...

A number of recent studies investigated the use of morphological characteristics of the distal humerus to estimate the sex of unknown individuals. Using visual assessment, accuracies ranging from 74% to more than 90% were reported. The aim of this study was to assess these traits with geometric morphometrics, in order ...

The Agger nasi cell (ANC) and the frontal sinus ostium (FO) are important structures that can influence the anatomy and physiology of the frontal recess. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence and size of ANC and the FO and correlate them according to gender, race and ...

BACKGROUND: The assessment of wrinkle severity is an important evaluation criterion to determine the efficacy of aesthetic treatments. Aim of the present study was to compare Validated Assessment Scales (VAS) and 3D fringe projection (PRIMOS(®) ) for the evaluation of facial wrinkles in men and to determine standard values for ...

STUDY DESIGN:: A cross- sectional study. OBJECTIVE:: To examine the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability and validity of tools for measuring thoracic kyphosis, namely the digital inclinometer and the flexicurve. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA:: Various methods are used to measure kyphosis, each with advantages and disadvantages. Radiography is common, highly reliable ...

Since squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) testing became commercially available on the Architect platform, the previously established method on the Abbott IMx platform has been progressively replaced. Aim of this work was to compare SCC-Ag values obtained with the 2 methods. Clinical and laboratory data of 188 patients for whom ...

OBJECTIVE: Multiple Sclerosis in southern Italy was not epidemiologically studied until 2006 in Salerno (Campania region), with data based on the registry of district MS centers established since 1996 by Italian Ministry of Health. This paper reports data about Molise region by the same metodology as Campanian study. PATIENTS AND ...

BACKGROUND: In order to minimize recall bias in burden estimation, questions about headache yesterday were included in a population-based survey initiated by LIFTING THE BURDEN : The Global Campaign against Headache. METHODS: Throughout China, nonrelated respondents aged 18-65 years were randomly sampled from the general population by a door-to-door survey. ...

OBJECTIVES:: The aim of this study was to examine the association of lead exposure with cardiac conduction disturbance among lead-exposed and nonexposed workers in Taiwan. METHODS:: The participants comprised 312 lead workers and 329 referents who had no known occupational lead exposure. During their annual health examination, they were invited ...

Male chicks are an unwanted by-product when producing laying hens. The common practice to kill them directly after they have hatched gives rise to ethical concerns worldwide. The aim of this study was to develop an endocrine method to determine the sex of domestic chicken before hatch. On Days 7 ...

BACKGROUND: There are few reliable reference values of enzymatically assayed serum creatinine (Scr) levels categorized within a small age interval in the healthy geriatric population. The aim of this study was to establish the reference intervals (RIs) for Scr in the elderly population. METHODS: Healthy, elderly Chinese Han ethnic individuals ...

Background The Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire 2007 (DCDQ'07) is widely used internationally and is a useful measure to assist in the diagnosis of developmental coordination disorder. The aim of this study was to translate the DCDQ'07 into German, test the psychometric properties, and establish cutoff scores for the 5.0 to ...

BACKGROUND: Obesity and fat distribution patterns [subcutaneous vs. visceral adipose tissue (VAT)] are important predictors of future cardiometabolic risk. As accurate VAT measurement entails imaging, surrogate anthropometric measurements that would be cheaper and quicker to obtain would be highly desirable. Sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD) may be better than other VAT ...

BACKGROUND: Low mobility and low level of physical activity is common after stroke. The objective of this study was to relate these outcomes to physical, psychological, and demographic determinants. METHODS: In this cross-sectional cohort study, a consecutive sample of 195 community-living individuals, 65-85 years of age (74 ± 5 years, 71% men) with a ...

OBJECTIVES: Running with rocker shoes is believed to prevent lower limb injuries. However, it is not clear how running in these shoes affects the energy expenditure. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to assess the effects of rocker shoes on running economy in comparison with standard and minimalist running ...

PURPOSE:: To investigate presence of remnants of the tunica vasculosa lentis, a possible indication of anterior segment dysgenesis, in subjects with the long anterior zonule (LAZ) trait. METHODS:: Retroillumination photographs of the pupil region had been collected in earlier study of the LAZ trait in African Americans. Secondary image analysis ...

OBJECTIVE: To estimate age-specific probabilities of live birth with oocyte cryopreservation in nondonor (ND) egg cycles. DESIGN: Individual patient data meta-analysis. SETTING: Assisted reproduction centers. PATIENT(S): Infertile patients undergoing ND mature oocyte cryopreservation. INTERVENTION(S): PubMed was searched for clinical studies on oocyte cryopreservation from January 1996 through July 2011. Randomized ...

Few studies have shown comparison data between calcaneus stiffness index (SI) calculated by quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in the Chinese population. This study was aimed to examine the correlations between calcaneus SI calculated by QUS and total body BMD and ...

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between sedentary behavior and hearing sensitivity among a nationally representative sample of older U.S. adults. METHODS: Data from the 2003-2006 NHANES study was used, with 682 older adults (≥ 55yrs) included in the study. Participants wore an ActiGraph 7164 accelerometer to measure sedentary behavior and ...

BACKGROUND: The Multimedia Activity Recall for Children and Adults (MARCA) is a computerised recall instrument recording use of time during 24-hours the previous day that has been developed to address limitations of current self-report physical activity measures for those in advanced age. METHODS: Test-retest reliability and convergent validity of the ...

We aimed to compare self-reported adherence to the physical activity recommendation with accelerometry in older persons and to identify determinants of misperception. The sample included 138 adults aged 65-75 y participating in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. Participants completed a lifestyle questionnaire and wore an accelerometer for one week. More ...

BACKGROUND: Sex and individual differences in biological maturity status can influence height, weight, and body fat. Thus, the rigorous control of these variables seems necessary for estimating overweight and obesity in adolescents. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity and over-fatness in Azorean ...

Using large-scale data from the national conventional statistics and nationally representative sample surveys, the current study aims to assess the level, mode, and determinants of modern contraceptive use from 1970 to 2004 among married couples aged 20 to 49 years in China. A relatively stable Chinese mode of contraception has ...

BACKGROUND: In this multicenter study, we investigated a possible association between the APOE ε4 allele and white matter (WM) integrity in Alzheimer's disease (AD) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). METHODS: We analyzed fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) as indices of WM integrity in 70 AD patients (35 APOE ...

BACKGROUND: The optimal age to begin CPR training is a matter of debate. This study aims to determine if elementary schoolchildren have the capacity to administer CPR efficiently. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study took place in a Quebec City school. Eighty-two children 10 to 12 years old received a 6-hour CPR ...

OBJECTIVE: The newly proposed National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association (NIA-AA) criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) suggest a combination of clinical features and biomarker measures, but their performance in the community is not known. METHODS: The Mayo Clinic Study of Aging (MCSA) is a population-based ...

BACKGROUND: There has been no large study of ECG measures derived by automated methods in an apparently healthy indigenous West African population. METHODS: ECGs were recorded from apparently healthy Nigerians and analysed using automated methods. Age and sex based normal ranges were then established. RESULTS: A total of 782 males ...

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal neuralgia or tic douloureux is sometimes described as the most excruciating pain known to humanity. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of trigeminal neuralgia among the population of Al-Quseir city. METHODS: This study forms a part of door to door survey of major neurological disorders in Al-Quseir city, Red ...

BACKGROUND: Since little is known of airways inflammation in the elderly, we have carried out a study to explore the presence of some inflammatory markers in the airways of healthy subjects of different ages using a non-invasive method which is particularly suitable for aged people. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this ...

Age-related changes in lumbar vertebral microarchitecture are evaluated, as assessed by trabecular bone score (TBS), in a cohort of 5,942 French women. The magnitude of TBS decline between 45 and 85 years of age is piecewise linear in the spine and averaged 14.5 %. TBS decline rate increases after 65 years by 50 %. ...