Relationship of gender and age on thyroid hormone parameters in a large Chinese population

ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed to present the impact of age and gender on thyroid hormone levels in a large Chinese population with sufficient iodine intake. Subjects and methods A total of 83643 individuals were included and were stratified by age and gender. The median, 2.5th and 97.5th of thyrotropin (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and FT3/FT4 ratio were calculated for both genders for every decade from 18 to over 80 years. TSH, FT3, FT4, FT3/FT4 distribution in each age group was evaluated for females and males using smoothing splines in the generalized additive models (GAM). TSH concentrations were compared in the different age groups in gender. Results In the over 80s age group, the TSH level (median: 2.57 mIU/L, 2.5th-97.5th: 0.86-7.56 mIU/L) was significantly higher than other age groups, irrespective to gender (P<0.001). Females had a higher TSH value than males in all age groups (P<0.001). Results of the smoothing curves showed that TSH increased with age, FT3 concentration was higher in males than in females and the tendency of the FT3/FT4 ratio was basically similar to that of FT3. TSH concentration in the 50s age group (median 2.48 mIU/L for females versus 2.00 mIU/L for males) was significantly higher than that in the 30s age group (median 2.18 mIU/L for females versus median 1.85 mIU/L for males). Conclusions In accord with increasing TSH values during aging, females and older adults have lower FT3 values and lower FT3/FT4 ratios, while the FT4 values remain stable.

Substance use across adolescence: do gender and age matter? / Consumo de substâncias na adolescência: o género e a idade são importantes?

Many of the choices which impact in lifetime health, such as substance use, are made in adolescence. It becomes, therefore, important to know the factors associated to these behaviours in adolescence in different contexts of life. To analyze these factors, an explanatory model was developed using structural equation modeling. Data from 12.881 state school students from Portugal who participated in two waves of the Health Behaviours in School-aged Children (HBSC) / World Health Organization (WHO) survey were analyzed. The model fits well the data [CFI: .985; NNFI: .980; RMSEA: .018 (.017-.020); SRMR: .018]. For each of the dependent factors, the levels of variance ranged from 12% (tobacco use) to 47% (alcohol and illicit drugs use). Alcohol and tobacco present the strongest associations to illicit drugs use. Relationships with family, friends, classmates, and teachers were also associated with substance use, being this association mediated by certain factors, including psychological symptoms, well-being, and school satisfaction. Several non-invariant paths were obtained in gender and age comparisons. The results showed that substance use is associated with several factors and that social factors are mediated by personal factors. Results have also shown that gender and age are important factors on substance use.

Muitas das escolhas com impacto na saúde a longo prazo, como o consumo de substâncias, são feitas na adolescência. Torna-se pois importante conhecer os fatores associados a estes comportamentos em diferentes contextos de vida. Para analisar estes fatores, foi desenvolvido um modelo explicativo através da modelação de equações estruturais. Para este estudo foram analisados dados de 12881 alunos de escolas públicas participantes em duas recolhas do estudo HBSC/OMS. O modelo apresenta uma boa adequação [CFI:.985; NNFI:.980; RMSEA:.018 (.017-.020); SRMR:.018]. Para cada um dos fatores dependentes, os níveis de variância explicada variaram entre 12% (tabaco) e 47% (álcool e drogas ilícitas). Os consumos de álcool e tabaco apresentaram as associações mais fortes com o consumo de drogas ilícitas. As relações com a família, amigos, colegas e professores estão associadas ao consumo de substâncias, sendo esta associação mediada por vários fatores, nomeadamente sintomas psicológicos, bem-estar, e satisfação com a escola. Ligações não-invariantes foram obtidas nas comparações de género e idade. Os resultados mostraram que o consumo de substâncias está associado a vários fatores, e que o impacto dos fatores sociais é mediado por fatores pessoais. Os resultados mostraram ainda que o género e a idade são fatores importantes no consumo de substâncias.

Acessando o medo do crime: um survey por meio da internet / Accessing the fear of crime: an internet survey

É reconhecida a importância dos meios de comunicação de massa nos processos de socialização e influência. Todos os dias somos informados pelos meios de comunicação de massa, principalmente pela TV, de uma grande quantidade de crimes. A transmissão de tais comportamentos pode suscitar medo na audiência, mas também ajudá-los a se proteger. Com o objetivo de conhecer variáveis correlacionadas com esse medo, realizou-se um survey pela internet na cidade de Brasília, por meio da tradução da Escala do Medo do Crime que foi utilizada nos EUA, com o objetivo de verificar possíveis relações desse medo com a exposição à TV, gênero e idade com base na teoria do cultivo e hipótese da vulnerabilidade. Os principais resultados apoiam a teoria do cultivo, mas não se verificou relação do medo do crime com o gênero e a idade dos participantes. Todavia talvez as relações não sejam simplesmente lineares. Os principais resultados são discutidos fundamentadas na literatura especializada e sugestões de estudos futuros foram realizadas.

The importance of mass media in the socialization and influence processes has been much recognized. Everyday we are informed by these media, especially by the television, about plenty of crimes. Broadcasting such behaviors may generate fear in the audience, but may also help them protect themselves. With the aim of searching variables correlated with this fear, a Web Survey using a translated Fear of Crime Scale – which is in use in the U.S.A. – was carried out to ascertain the relation of TV exposure, gender and age based on the cultivation theory and on the vulnerability hypothesis. The main results support the cultivation theory, but there was no relation identifiable among fear of crime, age and gender of participants. However, maybe those relations are not simply linear. The main results are discussed based on specialized literature and suggestions for future studies were made.

Situación laboral, económica y académica de los médicos de la región metropolitana / Employment, economic and academic situation, as a quality of life dimension of physicians at the metropolitan region

Objetivos: Describir las condiciones laborales, económicas y académicas de un grupo representativo de médicos chilenos de la Región Metropolitana. Investigamos las diferencias de estas características según sexo y edad. Metodología: Estudio cuantitativo, de corte transversal: las variables en estudio se registran a través de instrumento “EVALMED” (1), que es una encuesta anónima, auto-aplicada, realizada previa firma de un consentimiento informado. Los médicos que formaron la muestra fueron seleccionados en forma aleatoria desde la base de datos del Consejo Regional Santiago del Colegio Médico de Chile. Se consideró un 95 por ciento de confi anza, un 5 por ciento de error y una tasa de respuesta del 80 por ciento. Resultados: Se evaluaron 163 médicos (58,9 por ciento varones y 41,1 por ciento mujeres) de todos los rangos de edad. En ellos se encuentran diferencias signifi cativas en los distintos aspectos laborales evaluados entre médicos de ambos sexos; en particular llaman la atención las diferencias por sexo en el tipo de contrato laboral, el ingreso, el tipo de trabajo, horario de trabajo, percepciones sobre el trabajo así como el clima laboral. Todos estos aspectos se presentan en situación de relativa desventaja para las mujeres médicos y para los médicos de edades extremas.

Objectives: To describe the working conditions, economic and academic situation of a representative group of Chilean physicians in the Metropolitan Region. To examine the relationships between these characteristics on one hand, and sex and age, on the other. Methodology: Quantitative, cross sectional design. The variables were recorded by “EVALMED” instrument, which is an anonymous, self-applied instrument. An informed consent document was previously signed by the participants. The physicians who made up the sample were randomly selected from the database of the Regional Medical Council of Santiago. We arranged for 95 percent confi dence and 5 percent error limits and for a response rate of 80 percent. Results: We studied 163 physicians (58.9 percent men and 41.1 percent women) of all age groups. There were significant sex and age differences in the various aspects of labor assessed, in particular in the type of employment contract, income, type of work, working hours, work perceptions and work environment. Women and physicians of both young and senior age groups were found to be at a disadvantage.