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To investigate statin use in the elderly by age (≥ 80 vs. 65–79 years) in relation to established indications. A population-based cohort, including data from four registers, encompassing inhabitants in Region Vastra Gotaland, Sweden, was used. Statin users were defined as those filling statin prescriptions ≥ 75% of the year 2010. Primary care and hospital diagnoses in 2005–2010 regarding ischemic heart disease, stroke, transient ischemic attacks, and diabetes were considered established indications. A total of 278,205 individuals were analyzed. In individuals aged ≥ 80 and 65–79 years (n = 81,885 and n = 196,320, respectively), 17% (95% confidence interval 17%; 18%) and 23% (23%; 23%) respectively, were statin users. Among the statin users, 74% (73%; 74%) of those aged ≥ 80 and 60% (59%; 60%) of those aged 65–79 years had ≥ 1 established indication. Conversely, of those with ≥ 1 established indication, 30% (30%; 31%) and 53% (52%; 53%) were on statins in the respective age groups. Logistic regression revealed that age, nursing home residence, and multi-dose drug dispensing were the most prominent negative predictors for statin use; adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval): 0.45 (0.44; 0.46), 0.39 (0.36; 0.42), and 0.47 (0.44; 0.49), respectively. In the oldest old (≥ 80 years), statin users were fewer and had more often an established indication, suggesting that physicians extrapolate scientific evidence for beneficial effects in younger age groups to the oldest, but require a more solid ground for treatment. As the oldest old, nursing home residents, and those with multi-dose drug-dispensing were statin users to a lesser extent, physicians may often refrain from treatment in those with lower life expectancy, either due to age or to severely reduced health status. In both age groups, our results however also indicate some over- as well as undertreatment.

The study aimed to evaluate water quality at Bung Binh Thien Lake, An Giang Province, Vietnam using Shannon-Wiener species diversity index (H’) and associated average score per taxon (ASPT) calculated from composition of phytoplankton and zoobenthos. The water quality index (WQI) was used as the reference for the quality of surface water. The samples of surface water quality, phytoplankton, and zoobenthos were simultaneously collected at 11 sites in the dry season. The results showed that WQI (57-88) classified water quality from good to medium, H’ calculated using phytoplankton species (1.12-2.71) presented water quality from medium to bad whereas, (H'z) calculated (0 to 2.07) and ASPT (2-4.21) calculated from zoobenthos species divided water quality from bad to very bad. The findings revealed that assessing water quality should not totally only relied on diversity indices (H’, ASPT) but also carefully consider compositions of phytoplankton and zooplankton. In addition, interpretation of the biodiversity indices for water quality examination should involve the experts in the relevant fields. Nghiên cứu nhằm đánh giá chất lượng nước tại hồ Bung Binh Thiên, tỉnh An Giang, Việt Nam sử dụng chỉ số đa dạng loài Shannon-Wiener (H’) và chỉ số tính điểm trung bình bình theo họ (ASPT) được tính từ thành phần của phiêu sinh thực vật và động vật đáy. Chỉ số chất lượng nước (WQI) được sử dụng tham chiếu cho chất lượng nước mặt. Các mẫu chất lượng nước mặt, phiêu sinh thực vật thực vật và động vật đáy được thu đồng thời tại 11 địa điểm trong mùa khô. Kết quả cho thấy WQI (57-88) phân loại chất lượng nước từ tốt đến trung bình, H’p được tính dựa vào các loài phiêu sinh thực vật (1.12-2.71) thể hiện chất lượng nước từ trung bình đến xấu trong khi, H’z (0- 2.07 ) và ASPT (2-4,21) được tính toán từ các loài động vật đáy phân loại chất lượng nước từ xấu đến rất xấu Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy đánh giá chất lượng nước không chỉ hoàn toàn dựa vào các chỉ số đa dạng (H’, ASPT) mà còn xem xét cẩn thận thành phần loài của phiêu sinh thực vật và động vật đáy. Ngoài ra, việc giải thích các chỉ số đa dạng sinh học nhằm tra chất lượng nước cần có sự tham gia của các chuyên gia trong các lĩnh vực liên quan. Journal of Vietnamese Environment, Vol 12 No 1 (2020)

The influence of boron carbide and tungsten carbide on the apparent porosity, density, coercive force, hardness and microstructure of metal matrix composite of the Ferro-TiC type, is presented in this paper. The samples of investigated steel/titanium carbide composite were produced by powder metallurgy process, i.e. by powders mixing and compacting followed by sintering in the vacuum furnace. According to the results, steel/titanium carbide composite materials with addition up to 11.9 vol.% of boron carbide are interesting to detailed investigation as well as materials having more than 17.2 vol.% of tungsten carbide because these compositions show significant changes in hardness and coercive force values.

Introduction: According to the guidelines, the mammograms obtained in a screening program must be evaluated to ensure that the quality of the images obtained is above 75% of score 1 (perfect and good) and less than 3% of score 3 (inadequate). This is performed by a person (usually a radiographer), so subjectivity may influence the final evaluation of the images. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of subjectivity on breast positioning assessments on resultant screening mammograms. Materials and methods: Five radiographers evaluated a total of 1000 mammograms. One radiographer was an expert in assessing mammography images, while the other four evaluators had varying levels of experience. All images were anonymized, and the ViewDEX software was used for visual grading analysis. The evaluators were divided into two groups, each with two evaluators. Each group evaluated 600 images, with 200 images identical between the two groups. All images had already been evaluated by the expert radiographer. All scores were compared using the Fleiss' and Cohen's kappa coefficient and accuracy score. Results: The results from Fleiss' kappa showed fair agreement in the mediolateral oblique (MLO) projection in the first group of evaluators whereas the other results showed poor agreement. When comparing the results from Cohen's kappa a maximum value of agreement between the evaluators was moderate 0.433 [95% CI 0.264–0.587] for the craniocaudal (CC) projection and 0.374 [95% CI 0.212–0.538] for the MLO projection. Conclusions: Based on our results, we can conclude that the agreement between all five raters was poor for both CC (κ = 0.165) and MLO (κ = 0.135) projections, based on the results of Fleiss' kappa statistic. The results show that the influence of subjectivity has a great impact on the evaluation of the quality of mammography images. Implications for practice: Thus, the images are evaluated by a person, which has a high impact on subjectivity in the assessment of positioning in mammography. To achieve a more objective assessment of the images and the resulting agreement between the evaluators, we would propose to change the method of assessment. The images could be evaluated by two persons, and in the event of a discrepancy, the images would be evaluated by a third person. A computer programme could also be developed that would allow a more objective evaluation based on the geometric characteristics of the image (angle and length of the pectoral muscle, symmetry, etc.).

Importance: Birth before 32 weeks’ gestation (very preterm [VPT]) and birth weight below 1500 g (very low birth weight [VLBW]) have been associated with lower cognitive performance in childhood. However, there are few investigations of the association of neonatal morbidities and maternal educational levels with the adult cognitive performance of individuals born VPT or VLBW (VPT/VLBW). Objective: To assess differences in adult IQ between VPT/VLBW and term-born individuals and to examine the association of adult IQ with cohort factors, neonatal morbidities, and maternal educational level among VPT/VLBW participants. Data Sources: Systematic review of published data from PubMed and meta-analysis of individual participant data (IPD) of cohorts from 2 consortia (Research on European Children and Adults Born Preterm [RECAP] and Adults Born Preterm International Collaboration [APIC]). Study Selection: The meta-analysis included prospective longitudinal cohort studies that assessed the full-scale IQ of adults born VPT or VLBW and respective control groups comprising term-born adults. Data Extraction And Synthesis: The study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline for analyses of individual participant data and identified 8 studies that provided data from 2135 adults (1068 VPT/VLBW and 1067 term-born participants) born between 1978 and 1995. Meta-analyses of IPD were performed using a 1-stage approach, treating VPT birth or VLBW and cohort as random effects. Main Outcomes And Measures: Full-scale IQ scores were converted to z scores within each cohort using the combined SD of VPT/VLBW participants and a control group of term-born participants, with scores centered on the mean of the control group. Results: A total of 426 records were identified and screened. After exclusions, 13 studies were included in the aggregate meta-analysis. The IPD meta-analysis included 8 of the 9 RECAP and APIC cohorts with adult IQ data. The mean (SD) age among the 8 IPD cohorts was 24.6 (4.3) years, and 1163 participants (54.5%) were women. In unadjusted analyses, VPT/VLBW participants had mean adult IQ scores that were 0.78 SD (95% CI, −0.90 to −0.66 SD) lower than term-born participants, equivalent to a difference of 12 IQ points. Among VPT/VLBW participants, lower gestational age (score difference per week of gestation, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.07-0.14), lower birth weight z scores (score difference per 1.0 SD, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.14-0.28), the presence of neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia (score difference, −0.16; 95% CI, −0.30 to −0.02) or any grade of intraventricular hemorrhage (score difference, −0.19; 95% CI, −0.33 to −0.05), and lower maternal educational level (score difference, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.17-0.35) were all significantly associated with lower IQ scores in adulthood. Conclusions And Relevance: In this IPD meta-analysis, lower gestational age, lower weight for gestational age, neonatal morbidities, and lower maternal educational levels were all important risk factors associated with lower IQ among young adults born VPT or VLBW.

Additional file 3: Fig. S1. MSP on human PBL and EpiTect Control methylated bisulfite-treated DNA with proposed primer pairs designed based on methylation domain modelling; electrophoretic separation of MSP reactions on a LONZA FlashGel system using 2.2% gels (Flash GelTM DNA cassettes, #57032, Biozym Scientific GmbH, Germany); Marker = Flash GelTM DNA marker (50bp���1.5kb #57033), PBL = peripheral blood leukocytes, bisulfite-converted DNA, EpiTect = EpiTect Control DNA (human), methylated and bisulfite-converted (Qiagen #59655); NTC = no template control.

0.99, p = 0.02). The outcome of pregnancy was unfavorable in 42/304 (13.8%) patients: preterm birth in 22/42 (52.4%), fetal/perinatal death in 10/42 (23.8%), and/or anomalies in 15/42 (35.7%). Several patients had potential explanation(s) for the unfavorable outcome. In conclusion, the course of early LB during pregnancy is milder than in age-matched non-pregnant women. The outcome of pregnancy with the treatment approach used in the present study (i.v. ceftriaxone 2 g once daily for 14 days) is favorable. 2015, was assessed and compared with that in age-matched non-pregnant women. The frequency of unfavorable outcome of pregnancies was also evaluated. The pregnant women reported constitutional symptoms less frequently than the non-pregnant women (22.4% vs. 37.2%, p < 0.001). Pregnant women diagnosed with EM later during pregnancy had a lower probability of reporting constitutional symptoms (odds ratio = 0.97 for 1-week difference in gestation week at diagnosis of EM, 95% CI: 0.94&ndash Information on Lyme borreliosis (LB) during pregnancy is limited. In the present study, the course and outcome of erythema migrans (EM) in 304 pregnant women, diagnosed in the period 1990&ndash