Risk Factors for Geo-Helminthiasis in Children Aged 6 - 36 Months in a Rural Health District in Cameroon

Introduction and Objectives: Soil-Transmitted-Helminthiasis (STH) is a public health problem in Cameroon. The control strategies currently in place, particularly chemoprevention, has shortcomings linked to the target population, which are school-age children. The objective was to determine the prevalence and the risk factors associated with geo-helminthiasis in children aged 0 to 3 years in a rural health district. Method: From December 2020 to May 2021, a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study of 376 children between 6 and 36 months was carried out in the Akonolinga health district. This was a cluster sampling in 4 health areas. Stool samples were collected and analysed using the mini-FLOTAC method. The results expressed as the number of eggs per gram of stool. A questionnaire on socio-demographic and lifestyle data was administered to the parents. The Chi-squared test was used to measure the association between geo-helminth infection and the data collected. A multivariate analysis using logistic regression was performed (p 0.05). Results: The prevalence of STH was 19.4% (Ascaris lumbricoides: 16% and Trichuris trichiura: 8%). Risk factors were: consumption of contaminated water (AOR = 1.93 [1.03 - 3.6];p = 0.040), early contact of the child with the ground (before age of 4 months) (AOR = 4.9 [2.1 - 11.37];p .001), habit of walking barefoot (AOR = 2.91 [1.1 - 7.97];p = 0.038), and living in a habitat with unpaved ground (AOR = 7.4 [1.55 - 35.7];p = 0.012). Conclusion: The prevalence of STHs in infants was high. Preventive chemotherapy should be extended to this age-group, and other measures intensified.

Factors Associated with Acute Respiratory Infections in Children Aged 0 - 5 Years in the Yénawa District of Cotonou (Benin) in 2023

Introduction: Acute respiratory infections remain one of the main causes of mortality in children aged 0 to 5. This work aimed to study the associated factors with the occurrence of acute respiratory infections in children 0 to 5 years old in Yénawa, Cotonou in 2023. Subjects and Method: It was an analytical cross-sectional study of children aged 0 - 5 years and their mothers in Yénawa, selected by four-degree random sampling. The sampling size, calculated using the Schwartz formula, was 126 children and 126 mothers. The dependent variable was the occurrence of acute respiratory infections. The independent variables were classified into four groups: socio-demographic and economic characteristics, behavioral factors, child-related factors, and environmental factors. Data collected by observation and questionnaire survey were analyzed using STATA version 15 software. Associated factors were investigated by bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression, at the 5% significance level. Results: A total of 126 children aged 0 - 5 years and 126 mothers were surveyed, aged 23.5 (11 - 36) months and 30 (18 - 48) years respectively. The prevalence of acute respiratory infections was 74.60% (CI95% = 66.89 to 82.30). The associated factors were the mother’s age between 18 and 28 (OR = 10.77;CI95% = 1.89 to 61.27;p = 0.007), the use of charcoal/wood for cooking (OR = 7.36;IC = 1.99 to 27.10;p = 0.003)), children's poor personal hygiene (OR = 8.87;IC = 2.92 to 26.97;p 0.001)), and cohabitation with domestic animals (OR = 7.27;IC = 1.67 to 31.71;p = 0.015). Conclusion: Communicating with mothers about the factors identified will help reduce the prevalence of acute respiratory infections in children aged 0 to 5.

The complexities underlying age-related macular degeneration： could amyloid beta play an important role？

e-related macular degeneration （AMD） causes irreversible loss of central vision for which there is no effective treatment. Incipient pathology is thought to occur in the retina for many years before AMD manifests from midlife onwards to affect a large proportion of the elderly. Although genetic as well as non-genetic/environmental risks are recognized, its complex aetiology makes it difficult to identify susceptibility, or indeed what type of AMD develops or how quickly it progresses in different individuals. Here we summarize the literature describing how the Alzheimer＇s-linked amyloid beta （Aβ） group of misfolding proteins accumulate in the retina. The discovery of this key driver of Alzheimer＇s disease in the senescent retina was unexpected and surprising, enabling an altogether different perspective of AMD. We argue that Aβ fundamentally differs from other substances which accumulate in the ageing retina, and discuss our latest findings from a mouse model in which physiological amounts of Aβ were subretinally-injected to recapitulate salient features of early AMD within a short period. Our discoveries as well as those of others suggest the pattern of Aβ accumulation and pathology in donor aged/AMD tissues are closely reproduced in mice, including late-stage AMD phenotypes, which makes them highly attractive to study dynamic aspects of Aβ-mediated retinopathy. Furthermore, we discuss our findings revealing how Aβ behaves at single-cell resolution, and consider the long-term implications for neuroretinal function. We propose Aβ as a key element in switching to a diseased retinal phenotype, which is now being used as a biomarker for latestage AMD.

Risk Factors for Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Elderly Chinese Population in Shenyang of China

Objective The paper aims to evaluate the risk factors for age‐related macular degeneration （AMD） in elderly Chinese population in Shenyang,a northeast city of China.Methods A case‐control study was conducted to investigate the risk factors for the prevalence of AMD.Ninety three AMD patients diagnosed by a complete ophthalmic examination were recruited as cases from the outpatient departments of two eye hospitals in Shenyang,while 108 normal subjects of similar age and sex were recruited as controls.A questionnaire was administered among both cases and controls.Results AMD patients aged 60 years and older accounted for 75.3%.There were significantly higher educational levels,shorter smoking history,less sunlight exposure and cataract,and higher proportion of antioxidants intake in controls than in AMD patients.The frequency of intake of fruits,legumes,fish and shrimps was significantly higher in controls than in AMD patients.In a binary logistic regression analysis,smoking and cataract were the risk factors for AMD （OR：4.44,95% CI：2.27‐8.69;OR：4.47,95% CI：2.26‐8.85 respectively）.The high educational background was a protective factor for AMD （OR：0.761,95% CI：0.51‐0.98）.Conclusion A low educational background,smoking and cataract are associated with a higher prevalence of AMD.

Research progress of age-related macular degeneration related gene polymorphism at high altitude

Age-related macular degeneration(AMD)is a kind of progressive eye disease that seriously damages vision,and it is one of the important causes of blindness.In recent years,a large number of studies have found that there is a significant correlation between genetic factors and the occurrence and development of AMD.The study of gene polymorphism provides new ideas and directions for clinical diagnosis and treatment.In this paper,we will make a brief review of the research progress related to complement factor H(CFH),serine protease(HtrA1),age-related macular degeneration susceptibility factor 2(ARMS2)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)gene single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP).

Potential Toxicological and Cardiopulmonary Effects of PM2,5 Exposure and Related Mortality:Findings of Recent Studies Published during 2003-2013

Air pollution has environmental issue owing become a serious to its diverse harmful effects on the physical and biological environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency （EPA） and the World Health Organization （WHO）, air pollution affects millions of people worldwide. Hundreds of thousands of deaths each year and a range of diseases, particularly among vulnerable groups （i.e., children, the elderly, and people with special medical conditions）, are attributed to air pollution. These effects are not always caused by single pollutant in the air; rather, they are considered consequences of the multi-pollutants to which people are simultaneously exposed.

Amyloid beta deposition related retinal pigment epithelium cell impairment and subretinal microglia activation in aged APPswePS1 transgenic mice

AIM：To identify the pathological role of amyloid beta（Aβ） deposition in retinal degeneration,and explore Aβ deposition on the retinal pigment epithelium cells（RPE） layer and the associated structural and functional changes in Alzheimer＇s disease transgenic mice.METHODS：RPE changes in the eyes of APPswe/PS1 transgenic and none transgenic（NTG） mice over 20 months old were examined.Histological changes were investigated via hematoxylin and eosin（H＆E） staining and transmission electron microscopy（TEM） examination,whereas the expression of amyloid precursor protein（APP）,Aβ,Zonula occludens-1（ZO-1） and Ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule-1（IBA-1） were investigated using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence techniques.All of the obtained results were quantitatively and statistically analyzed.RESULTS：In aged transgenic mice,an APP-positive immunoreaction and Aβ deposition were detected on the RPE layer but were undetectable in NTG mice.The RPE demonstrated some vacuole changes,shortened basal infoldings and basal deposition in histopathological examination and TEM tests,wherein irregular shapes were indicated by ZO-1 disorganization through fluorescence.Furthermore,IBA-1 positive cells were observed to have accumulated and infiltrated into the RPE layer and localized beneath the RPE/Bruch＇s membrane（Br M） complex,which was accompanied by an increase in BrM thickness in aged transgenic mice in comparison to NTG mice.The IBA-1 positive cells were found to be co-stained with Aβ deposition on the RPE flat mounts.CONCLUSION：The observed Aβ deposition in the RPE layer may cause RPE dysfunction,which is associated with microglia cells infiltration into the retina of aged transgenic mice,suggesting that Aβ deposition probably plays a significant role in RPE-related degenerative disease.

Energy Balance-related Behaviors Are Related to Cardiometabolic Parameters and Predict Adiposity in 8-14-year-old Overweight Chinese Children One Year Later

To identify target energy balance-related behaviors（ERBs）,baseline data from 141overweight or obese schoolchildren（aged 8-14years old）was used to predict adiposity[body mass index（BMI）and fat percentage]one year later.The ERBs included a modified Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension diet score（DASH score）,leisure-time physical activity（PA,days/week）,and leisure screen time（minutes/day）.Several cardiometabolic variables were measured in the fasting state, including systolic blood pressure （SBP）, diastolic blood pressure （DBP）, blood glucose （GLU）, total cholesterol （TC）, triglycerides （TG）, low-density lipoprotein （LDL-C）, and high-density lipoprotein （HDL-C）.

Vitreomacular Traction Post Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Age Related Macular Degeneration

Purpose: To report the significant worsening of Vitreomacular Traction (VMT), following the intravitreal injection of Bevacizumab (Avastin) in an Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) eye;thereby raising the awareness of this possibility. Method: Retrospective observational case report. Results: After 3 monthly doses of intravitreal injection of 1.25 mg/0.05 cc bevacizumab for treatment of AMD, a post injection OCT revealed the presence of VMT and an increased central macular thickness (CMT) by additional 268 microns compared to pre injection levels. Conclusion: Worsening of VMT and increase in CMT following injection of intravitreal drugs can occur. This VMT worsening effect of intravitreal injections is under recognized. It demands greater attention since it is seen with a new common route of ocular drug delivery and may be responsible for cases of pharmacological failure.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EGYPT AND PALESTINE IN THE EARLY BRONZE AGE(ca.3400-2000 BCE)

The relationship between Egypt and Palestine can be traced back to theChalcolithic Age thanks to the evidence of current excavations in the Nile Deltaand Sinal.Palestinian pottery and cast metal objects from the Delta sites of Maadi,Minshat Abu Omar,and elsewhere have proved contacts with Palestine inProtodynastic(Nagada Ⅱ-Ⅲ)times.The Egyptian Protodynastic Period andDynasty 1 were contemporary with the Palestinian EB Ⅰ and EB Ⅲ,and

对流-扩散方程若干AGE格式及其稳定性

以求解对流－扩散方程的中心差分格式、显式逆风格式、Ｓａｍａｒｓｋｉ格式和修正Ｄｅｎｎｉｓ格式为基础，构造了若干新的交替分组显式格式，并证明它们是无条件稳定的．数值结果表明，除了基于中心差分格式的ＡＧＥ格式与ＡＤＥ格式外，其他的各种ＡＧＥ格式与相应的ＡＤＥ格式的精度相当．

基于视网膜Müller细胞的地黄调节AGEs干预下HIF-1α表达的谱效关系研究

目的建立不同来源地黄的高效液相色谱(HPLC)指纹图谱并研究其与糖基化终末产物(AGEs)干预下视网膜Müller细胞中低氧诱导因子-1α(HIF-1α)表达之间的谱效关系,初步阐明地黄防治糖尿病性视网膜病变(DR)的药效物质。方法采用HPLC法建立10批不同来源地黄指纹图谱;采用ELISA法测定地黄对AGEs干预下视网膜Müller细胞中HIF-1α表达的影响;采用偏最小二乘法分析特征峰峰面积与药效值之间的谱效关系。结果 10批样品HPLC指纹图谱共标定了17个特征共有峰,其中4、14、15号峰分别为梓醇、肉苁蓉苷A、毛蕊花糖苷。ELISA结果显示10批样品对AGEs干预下视网膜Müller细胞中HIF-1α的表达均有不同程度的抑制作用。偏最小二乘法分析结果显示,肉苁蓉苷A、毛蕊花糖苷及4个尚未确定结构的成分(峰13、5、16、17)可能是地黄防治DR的药效物质。结论谱效关系为初步阐明地黄防治DR药效物质提供了一个有效途径。

Prevalence and Years Lived with Disability for Dental Caries among Children Aged 0-14 Years in China, 1990-2016

The estimate of dental caries among Chinese children at the microscale level using standard methodology remains unclear. In this study, we assessed and analyzed the disease burden of childhood dental caries in China by extracting data from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016 （GBD 2016）. In 2016, the number of cases, prevalence, years lived with disability （YLD）, and age-standardized YLD rate of dental caries was 93.0 million, 43.0%, 32,200 person years, and 14.8 per 100,000, respectively. Across 33 provincial units, the disease burden was highest in Hubei （YLD rate 28.6 per 100,000）, lowest in Macao （9.1 per 100,000）, while geographical clustering was not observed. Compared with 1990, the prevalence in 2016 decreased from 46.8% to 43.0%, and the YLD rate decreased from 16.5 per 100,000 to 14.8 per 100,000. Given the slight decrease in dental caries burden, the prevalence and disease burden remained high among Chinese children. Strategies for addressing the spatial inequity of childhood dental caries require geographical targeting.

Factors Influencing Preventive Behaviors of Mothers for Diarrhea in Children Aged 1-5 Years in Buol District, Indonesia

This study aims to determine the factors related with mothers＇ behaviors in preventing diarrhea in children aged 1-5 years inBuol District. This was a cross-sectional survey design with health belief model as the conceptual framework. A total of 300mothers were selected by using purposive sampling method based on criteria. Mothers were interviewed by using astructured questionnaire during October to November 2015. A chi-square （X^2） test was used to determine a significantassociation between independent variables and dependent variable. The finding showed that 68.3% of mothers hadgood behaviors in preventing diarrhea. The factors significantly related to mothers＇ behaviors included perceivedsusceptibility to diarrhea, perceived severity of diarrhea, perceived benefits of diarrhea prevention behaviors, and perceivedbarriers of diarrhea prevention behaviors CP 〈 .01, p 〈 .01, p 〈 .01, and p 〈 .01 respectively）. Further, mothers had highperception to comply with diarrhea prevention behaviors. Those who perceived that diarrhea prevention behaviors werehighly beneficial to their children had good behaviors in preventing diarrhea. However, taking certain actions must considernegative aspects.

Exploring the Gap:the Influence of Chair-CEO Age Dissimilarity on CEO Monitoring and Incentives

This paper investigates how the chair-CEO age dissimilarity and CEO power affect the dispersion and change of chair-CEO pay gap from both static and dynamic perspectives.The substantial age dissimilarity between the chairman and the CEO gives rise to cognitive conflict,thereby increasing board monitoring for firms with greater monitoring needs.Using data of China s listed firms from 2009 to 2017,we find a significant negative effect of CEO power on pay gap between the chairman and the CEO.In addition,when CEO is a member of the board or compensation committee,the power of CEO has different influences on the compensation,but the cognitive conflicts caused by chair-CEO age dissimilarity always inhibit the CEO s power.Thus,age dissimilarity has become an important complement to the board s regulatory mechanisms.

Analysis of the Variations of Body Build of Middle-and Old-aged and Research on the Prototype

The characteristics of body build of middle - and old -aged women and its rule of variations as well as the basic sizes of various parts are discussed. All these are based on the body measurements of this age group, and also on the statistical studies of the measurement data. By setting the regression equation, the calculating formulae of various control parts are obtained, thus establishing the prototype of this age group for women.

Relationship among Health Related Quality of Life, Quality of Sleep, and Oral Health Condition

Japan’s aging rate (ratio of elderly aged 65 and older to total population) has exceeded 20%. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationships between Health Related Quality of Life, Body Mass Index (BMI), and sleep quality. Subjects were 51 adults over 55 years old with chronic disease who living in the community. Instruments and structured interviews were used giving due consideration to privacy. Interviews were conducted within 10 - 20 minutes at the out-patient department. The evaluation instruments included bodymass index, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL), and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). A significant positive correlation (ρ = 0.321, p < 0.05) between PSQI and QOL (OHIP-14) scores was confirmed with sleep quality being lower with lower QOL scores. A negative correlation (ρ = ?0.339, p < 0.05) between physical health component summary scores (PCS) and mental health component summary scores (MCS) of HRQOL was confirmed, demonstrating that PCS was low, and the level of MCS was high. Sleep quality was found lower among those with lower oral health-related QOL scores. Moreover, in subjects with lower MCS scores, the PCS scores were found to be higher. Accordingly, it was considered appropriate that dental treatment and care, support the maintenance of activities and sleep, and mental health promotion which are likely requisites critical for elderly persons’ maintenance of independent lifestyles in their familiar community.

3-D Animation as Applied to the Solving of Coupling Relations in the 6-DOF Parallel Robot

How to solve the coupling relations in a 6 - DOF parallel robot quickly and accurately within the limits of realtime control is a critical problem. In traditional analytic method, the complicated mathemtical model must first be constructed and then solved by programming.Obviously, this method is not very practical. This paper,therefore, proposes a new way of approach with a new method using 3- D animation for the solving of coupling relations in the 6 - DOF parallel robot. This method is much simpler and its solving accuracy approaches that of the more complicated analytic method.

Verifying the Effects of an Education Program Leveraging Information Technology to Promote Cervical Cancer Screening in Women Aged 20 - 29—A One-Year Longitudinal Study

The purpose of this research is to implement an IT-based education program in order to promote cervical cancer screenings for women aged 20 - 29 years, as well as to examine the results of said program. This is a longitudinal/comparative study of two groups, one for which the program was implemented (the intervention group), and the other for which it was not (the control group). The program consisted of attending a health lecture and encouragement to be screened one month, six months, and one year later sent through IT-based methods. The target was unmarried women aged 20 - 29 who had neither previously given birth nor had been screened for cervical cancer in a period one year prior. They were divided into two groups, the intervention group (n = 142) and control group (n = 145). The effectiveness of the program was assessed via an initial survey and further surveys six months and one year later. Results were based on the Japanese version of the Health Belief Model Scale for Cervical Cancer and the Pap Smear Test (HBMSCCPST), knowledge scores in the categories of Healthy Lifestyles, Cervical Cancer, Cervical Cancer Screening, and screening behavior. A two-way ANOVA of the HBMSCCPST subscales and knowledge scores in the initial, six-month, and one-year surveys was performed, showing interaction in Cervical Cancer (p = 0.00). Main effects were observed in Cervical Cancer Screening (p = 0.00) and Healthy Lifestyles (p = 0.00). Regarding the amount of change from the initial survey, knowledge scores in the Cervical Cancer (p = 0.027) and Cervical Cancer Screening (p = 0.016) categories were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group. There was no significant difference in cervical cancer screening rates (p = 0.26) between the two groups. However, a small-degree effect size was observed for Benefits, Seriousness, and Susceptibility subscales in both examinees and non-examinees. Although the educational program of this study was effective in improving the knowledge of women in their twenties, there was little improvement in HBMSCCPST and it did not lead to the promotion of cervical cancer screening. In order to raise interest in cervical cancer screening, it is necessary to consider useful content to guide women to consult with healthcare professionals, a long-term population approach, and organizational structure of consultation.

The Characteristics of 30-60 Day Oscillation and Its Relations to the Interannual Oscillations

The characteristics of 30-60 day oscillation (hereafter called LFO ) of the outgoing longwave radiation data (OLR) and its relations to the interannual oscillations of the sea surface temperature (SST) are investigated by using the daily OLR data for the period from January, 1979 to December, 1987 and the corresponding monthly SST data. It is found that the LFO the band the interannual oscillations of the SST monthly anomaly (SSTA) interact each other and they all relate to the occurrence and development of El Nino events closely. Before El Nino event happens, it contributes to the SST's wanning up and to the SST's quasi-biennial oscillation (called QBO for brevity) and three and half years oscillation (called SO for short) being in warm water phase in the equatorial central and eastern Pacific (ECP and EEP) that the LFO in the equatorial western Pacific (EWP) enhances and propagates eastward; When El Nino event takes place, the LFO, SSTA and SSTA's QBO and SO in the EEP interact and strengthen each other; But the warmer SST and the SSTA's QBO and SO in the warm water phase in the EEP contribute to the LFO's weakening in the equatorial Pacific. Moreover, these contribute to the SST in the EEP becoming cold and the SSTA's QBO and SO in the EWP being in cold water phase and then impel the El Nino event to end.