Age Factors in Second Language Acquisition:a Case in China

It has long been noticed that age at onset of acquisition(AoA) is relevant to second language acquisition(SLA) and even can be regarded as one of the determinants of success in language learning. Based on the comparison between the author's successful learning experience of Japanese as an adult and the relatively unsuccessful learning experience of English as a child, this essay will discuss some theories of age factors in SLA and give several practical implications of age effects in SLA on classroom practices.

Dietary Behaviors and Influencing Factors among Rural Left-behind Children Aged below 7 Years in China

Left-behind children comprise a special population inChinese rural areas. According to the 2007 China Census,the number ofleft-behind children aged≤14 years was estimated at 58 million which suggested that these childrencon stituted a

Older age at first birth is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer： a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND： Some studies found that age at first birth is associated with pancreatic cancer; others did not. The present meta-analysis was to evaluate the relationship between age at first birth and pancreatic cancer in women.DATA SOURCES： We searched Pub Med, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for relevant publications on age at first birth and pancreatic cancer up to April, 2014. The eligible studies（six cohorts and five case-controls） were independently selected by two authors. Pooled relative risk（RR） estimates and corresponding 95% confidence interval（95% CI） were calculated using the inverse-variance method.RESULTS： The pooled RR of pancreatic cancer risk for the highest versus lowest categories of age at first birth was 1.21（95% CI： 1.01-1.45, P=0.314, I^2=13.7%）. Consistent relationships were also observed within subgroup analyses stratified by study design, geographic region, and whether the studies included adjustment for cigarette smoking, diabetes, or all of the confounders. In this meta-analysis, no publication bias among studies was observed using Egger＇s test（P=0.383） or Begg＇s test（P=0.436）.CONCLUSION： Our findings suggest that older age at first birth is associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer in women and the exact functional mechanism needs further investigation.

Characteristic pattern of human prostatic growth with age

Aim: To study the characteristic pattern of the age-related growth of the human prostate gland. Methods: The volume (weight) of the prostate in 1,601 males, aged from newborn to 92 years, was determined by Bultrasonography. Results: Prostatic volume determination by B-ultrasonography in 1601 males (1301 normal subjects and 300 BPH patients) pointed out that the age-stratified growth of human prostate could be categorized into 4 life stages: (1) the first slow growing phase (from newborn to 9 years): the prostate grows slowly at a rate of 0.14g per year; (2) the first rapid growing phase (from 10 to 30 years): the prostate grows at a rate of 0.84 g per year; (3) the second slow growing phase (from 30 to 50 years), the prostate grows at a rate of 0.21 g per year; (4) the second rapid growing phase (from 50 to 90 years): the prostate grows at one of the following rates: in one group the growth rate is of 0.50 g per year and in the other 1.20 g per year, leading to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Conclusion: The volumes of the prostate are different in different age groups and it grows with age at different rates in four life phases. The prostate growth in phases can be expressed by the following equation: Y=19.36+1.36X'-0.58X'2+0.33X'3, where Y=prostate volume, X=age (up to 70 years), X'=(X-35.5)/10. (Asian JAndrol 2002 Dec; 4: 269-271)

Androgen receptors expressed by prostatic stromal cells obtained from younger versus older males exhibit opposite roles in prostate cancer progression

Aging is a major risk factor for prostate cancer （PCa）, and prostatic stromal cells may also promote PCa progression. Accordingly, stromal cells do not equally promote PCa in older males and younger males. Therefore, it is also possible that the expression of androgen receptors （ARs） by prostatic stromal cells in older versus younger males plays different roles in PCa progression. Using a gene knockdown technique and coculture system, we found that the knockdown of the AR in prostatic stromal cells obtained from younger males could promote the invasiveness and metastasis of cocultured PC3/LNCaP cells in vitro. By contrast, the invasiveness and metastasis of LNCaP cells was inhibited when cocultured with prostatic stromal cells from older males that when AR expression was knocked down. Moreover, after targeting AR expression with small hairpin RNA （shRNA）, matrix metalloproteinase （MMP） expression in stromal cells was observed to increase in the younger group, but decreased or remained unchanged in the older group. One exception, however, was observed with MMP9. In vivo, after knocking down AR expression in prostatic stromal cells, the incidence of metastatic lymph nodes was observed to increase in the younger age group, but decreased in the older age group. Together, these data suggest that the AR in prostatic stromal cells played opposite roles in PCa metastasis for older versus younger males. Therefore, collectively, the function of the AR in prostatic stromal cells appears to change with age, and this may account for the increased incidence of PCa in older males.

Younger patients have poorer biochemical outcome after radical prostatectomy in high-risk prostate cancer

The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of patient age with respect to tumour aggressiveness in men who underwent radical prostatectomy （RP） for prostate cancer. In this study, we reviewed the records of 743 patients who received RP without neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy at our institution and were followed up for 〉2 years postoperatively. For our analyses, the patients were divided into two groups according to age： younger （〈60 years） and older （≥ 60 years）. Through uni- and multivariate analyses, associations of various clinicopathological parameters, including biochemical recurrence-free survival, with patient age, were evaluated among all patients, and the patients were stratified according to their D＇Amico risk classification. Among all subjects, younger （n= 126） and older （n=617） patients showed no significant differences regarding pathological parameters and biochemical recurrence-free survival （P=0.288）. For the high-risk group （n= 206）, younger patients had a lower rate of biochemical recurrence-free survival following surgery than older patients （P=0.017）, despite the fact that no significant differences were observed regarding various known prognostic parameters between the two age groups. In addition, multivariate analysis revealed that age was an independent predictor of biochemical recurrence-free survival among the high-risk group （P=O.O03）. Our results showed that relatively younger patients have a comparable biochemical outcome compared with their older counterparts following RP performed for prostate cancer. However, among patients with high-risk disease, younger patients have a worse biochemical outcome following RP compared with older patients.

Enlightenment of the Critical Period Hypothesis for the Early English Education

Whether children should learn English as early as possible has been a controversial topic, and one of the focal point is the credibility of the critical period hypothesis.Does critical period hypothesis really exist?How does child's age factor influence English acquisition?Analyzing the problems existing in the early English education based on the critical period hypothesis theory, secondly, investigating child's characteristics and psychological characteristics based on a case study.The research results show that learning English is not the sooner the better; the emphasis is how to ensure the quality.We should Specify children's English education market, and providence environment of language acquisition, attach great importance to the interest, and give full play to children in different stages of learning advantage.Parents and society should correctly treat the early English education, reduce misunderstanding and promote the healthy development of children's English education.

SVEAT score outperforms HEART score in patients admitted to a chest pain observation unit

BACKGROUND Timely and accurate identification of subgroup at risk for major adverse cardiovascular events among patients presenting with acute chest pain remains a challenge.Currently available risk stratification scores are suboptimal.Recently,a new scoring system called the Symptoms,history of Vascular disease,Electrocardiography,Age,and Troponin(SVEAT)score has been shown to outperform the History,Electrocardiography,Age,Risk factors and Troponin(HEART)score,one of the most used risk scores in the United States.AIM To assess the potential usefulness of the SVEAT score as a risk stratification tool by comparing its performance to HEART score in chest pain patients with low suspicion for acute coronary syndrome and admitted for overnight observation.METHODS We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 330 consecutive patients admitted to our clinical decision unit for acute chest pain between January 1st to April 17th,2019.To avoid potential biases,investigators assigned to calculate the SVEAT,and HEART scores were blinded to the results of 30-d combined endpoint of death,acute myocardial infarction or confirmed coronary artery disease requiring revascularization or medical therapy[30-d major adverse cardiovascular event(MACE)].An area under receiving-operator characteristic curve(AUC)for each score was then calculated.C-statistic and logistic model were used to compare RESULTS A 30-d MACE was observed in 11 patients(3.33%of the subjects).The AUC of SVEAT score(0.8876,95%CI:0.82-0.96)was significantly higher than the AUC of HEART score(0.7962,95%CI:0.71-0.88),P=0.03.Using logistic model,SVEAT score with cut-off of 4 or less significantly predicts 30-d MACE(odd ratio 1.52,95%CI:1.19-1.95,P=0.001)but not the HEART score(odd ratio 1.29,95%CI:0.78-2.14,P=0.32).CONCLUSION The SVEAT score is superior to the HEART score as a risk stratification tool for acute chest pain in low to intermediate risk patients.

Relationship between hypertriglyceridemic-waist phenotype and clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in middle and aged population

Objective To explore the relationship between hypertriglyceridemic-waist(HTWC)phenotype and clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in middle and aged population.Methods A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in 5 communities of Chengdu city from 2013-10 to 2014-05 and 1004 subjects from(40-79)years of age were investigated.HTWC was de-

Can the lower urinary tract storage symptoms be completely resolved after plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate？

The aim of this study was to determine whether the lower urinary tract storage symptoms of benign prostatic obstruction （BPO） could be completely resolved after plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate （PKEP） and the possible predictors of persistent symptoms. Two hundred and sixty-seven cases of BPO performed PKEP from July 2008 to June 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. Five-year postoperative data were collected and compared with the preoperative data. According to the urodynamic results, the patients were divided into involuntary detrusor contraction （IDC） group （n = 95） and no IDC group （n = 172） preoperatively; the patients with IDC were divided into IDC-persistent group （n = 33） and IDC-resolved group （n = 62） after PKER The predictors of persistent IDC were analyzed. Compared with the preoperative data, the 5-year postoperative data showed that the IDC rate was lower （P --- 0.000）, Overactive Bladder Symptom Score （OABSS） was lower （P = 0.000）, maximum cystometric capacity （MCC） was larger （P= 0.000）, Prostate volume （PV） was smaller （P= 0.000）, and prostate-specific antigen （PSA） was lower （P= 0.000）. Compared with the no IDC group, the IDC group showed that the age was older （P = 0.016）, MCC was smaller （P = 0.004）, PSA was higher （P = 0.016）, and Chronic Inflammation rate was higher （P = 0.004）. Compared with IDC-resolved group after PKER IDC-persistent group showed that the age was older （P = 0.019）, MCC was smaller （P = 0.000）, PSA was higher （P = 0.013）, and Chronic Ihflammation rate was higher （P = 0.032）. The present study shows that the storage symptoms are still needed to be focused on after PKER The advanced patient age, MCC, PSA, and chronic inflammation may be the important clinical predictors of persistent IDC.

Influence of age on seven putative prostate tumor markers： a cohort study in Chinese men

The accuracy and sensitivity of prostate-specific antigen （PSA） for prostate cancer diagnosis is often poor; however, the reasons for its inaccuracy have rarely been investigated, especially with respect to age. In this study, 476 healthy males, aged 10-89 years, were stratified into eight age groups, and levels of seven markers were determined： total PSA （tPSA）, free PSA （fPSA）, %fPSA, isoform [-2]proPSA （p2PSA）, p2PSA/tPSA, %p2PSA, and the prostate health index （PHI）. Both tPSA and fPSA levels increased with age. The tPSA level was highest （1.39 ng m1-1） at 70-79 years; %fPSA was highest （0.57 ng ml-1） at 10-19 years; and %p2PSA was lowest （18.33 ng ml-1） at 40-49 years. Both p2PSA and p2PSA/tPSA had relatively flat curves and showed no correlation with age （P = 0.222）. PHI was a sensitive age-associated marker （P 〈 0.05）, with two peaks and one trough. The coverage rates and radiance graphs of PHI and %p2PSA were more distinctive than those of tPSA and the other markers. In subjects older than 69 years, PHI and %p2PSA both began to decrease, approximately 10 years earlier than the decrease in tPSA. Our results suggest that the clinical diagnosis of prostate cancer using PSA should be investigated more comprehensively based on patient age. Moreover, %p2PSA and PHI could be considered as earlier markers that may be more suitable than PSA alone.

Incidence and survival of neuroendocrine neoplasms in China with comparison to the United States

Background:Neuroendocrine neoplasms(NENs)are rare tumors characterized by variable biology and delayed diagnosis.However,the nationwide epidemiology of NENs has never been reported in China.We aimed to estimate the incidence and survival statistics of NENs in China,in comparison to those in the United States during the same period.Methods:Based on the data from 246 population-based cancer registries covering 272.5 million people of China,we calculated age-specific incidence on NENs in 2017 and multiplied by corresponding national population to estimate the nationwide incidence in China.The data of 22 population-based cancer registries were used to estimate the trends of NENs incidence from 2000 to 2017 through the Joinpoint regression model.We used the cohort approach to analyze the 5-year age-standardized relative survival by sex,age group,and urban-rural area between 2008 and 2013,based on data from 176 high-quality cancer registries.We used data from the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results(SEER)18 program to estimate the comparable incidence and survival of NENs in the United States.Results:The overall age-standardized rate(ASR)of NENs incidence was lower in China(1.14 per 100,000)than in the United States(6.26 per 100,000).The most common primary sites were lungs,pancreas,stomach,and rectum in China.The ASRs of NENs incidence increased by 9.8%and 3.6%per year in China and the United States,respectively.The overall 5-year relative survival in China(36.2%)was lower than in the United States(63.9%).The 5-year relative survival was higher for female patients than male patients,and was higher in urban areas than in rural areas.Conclusions:The disparities in burden of NENs persist across sex,area,age group,and site in China and the United States.These findings may provide a scientific basis on prevention and control of NENs in the two countries.

Comparisons of multiple characteristics between young and old lung cancer patients

Background Risk factors that contribute to younger patients with lung cancer are still relatively unknown.The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics,histological types,stages at diagnosis,treatment modalities and survival rates between young and old patients with lung cancer.Methods The study was designed as a retrospective review of all lung cancer patients admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from 1998 to 2008.Survival analyses using univariate and multivariate approaches were performed to compare the survival rates between different age groups and to discover potential prognostic factors.Results This research included 3320 patients with primary lung cancer,of whom 626 （18.8%） were 45 years old or younger at the time of diagnosis.The percentage of smokers and the male to female ratios between the young and old patient groups were 51.27% vs.70.6% （P 〈0.001） and 1.99 vs.2.13 （P=0.4801）,respectively.The young patient group had a higher incidence of adenocarcinoma and fewer surgeries.The 1-year,3-year and 5-year survival rates in the young patient group were generally lower than those of the old patient group,with significant differences （P=0.0232）.The clinical stage of the tumor was a prognostic factor for both non-small cell lung cancer patients （P 〈0.0001 ） and small cell lung cancer patients （P=0.0002）.Symptoms,diagnostic method,histology,smoking,treatment modality and body mass index were shown to have significant relationships with the survival of lung cancer patients （P 〈0.05）.Conclusions Patients with lung cancer who are younger than 45 years old might have a significantly poorer prognosis than that of older patients.Symptoms,diagnosis method,histology,smoking,treatment modality and body mass index can be independent prognostic factors for lung cancer.

Histopathological classification and location of consecutively operated meningiomas at a single institution in China from 2001 to 2010

Background Meningioma is one of the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system, but there are not many detailed studies on the sex, age, subtypes and locations of large series. This study was a retrospective analysis of the characteristics of meningioma cases consecutively operated on at a single institution in China from 2001 to 2010. Methods This study investigated the demographic background of 7084 meningioma cases, and the subtypes and locations of the tumors. Sex and age distributions were analyzed, and the pathological subtypes were classified according to the World Health Organization （WHO） classification. The location of the meningiomas was also categorized. Results The female：male ratio of the 7084 cases was 2.34：1. The mean age was 51.4 years （range, 11 months-86 years）. The mean age of cases of WHO grade I meningioma was significantly older than that of grade II or III meningiomas （P 〈0.001, Fisher＇s Least Significant Digit test）. There was a significantly higher female：male ratio in WHO grade I meningiomas than in grade II or grade III meningiomas （2.57, 1.03 and 0.76, respectively; P 〈0.001, X^2 test）. Meningothelial （n=2061） and fibrous meningiomas （n=3556） were the most common subtypes, comprising 79.3% of all meningiomas. All meningioma cases were classified into 23 locations in this study, with the cerebral convexity the most common site （38.33%, n=2722）. Cases with uncommon locations such as extra-cranial and sylvian fissure meningiomas were also present in this series. Conclusions Female predominance was found for benign meningiomas, while malignant subtypes showed male predominance. The mean age of patients with WHO grade Ⅰ meningiomas was older than that of patients with higher-grade tumors. Meningothelial and fibrous meningiomas were the most common subtypes. The cerebral convexity was the most common menin.qioma location.

A Multi-Level Selective Maintenance Strategy Combined to Data Mining Approach for Multi-Component System Subject to Propagated Failures

In several industrial fields like air transport,energy industry and military domain,maintenance actions are carried out during downtimes in order to maintain the reliability and availability of production system.In such a circumstance,selective maintenance strategy is considered the reliable solution for selecting the faulty components to achieve the next mission without stopping.In this paper,a novel multi-level decision making approach based on data mining techniques is investigated to determine an optimal selective maintenance scheduling.At the first-level,the age acceleration factor and its impact on the component nominal age are used to establish the local failures.This first decision making employed K-means clustering algorithm that exploited the historical maintenance actions.Based on the first-level intervention plan,the remaining-levels identify the stochastic dependence among components by relying upon Apriori association rules algorithm,which allows to discover of the failure occurrence order.In addition,at each decision making level,an optimization model combined to a set of exclusion rules are called to supply the optimal selective maintenance plan within a reasonable time,minimizing the total maintenance cost under a required reliability threshold.To illustrate the robustness of the proposed strategy,numerical examples and a FMS real study case have been solved.