Clustering of Signs and Symptoms of Oral Diseases in a Colombian Population.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate disease pattern clusters and co-occurrences of oral signs and symptoms in a Colombian population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out through a telephone survey amongst 1155 people registered in the telephone directory from Pasto, Colombia. The calls were made from July to November 2019. A 14-item self-report questionnaire about signs and symptoms related to oral diseases that included sociodemographic characteristics was employed. Descriptive and multivariable analyses such as hierarchical clustering, multidimensional scaling, and generalized linear models were used to determine co-occurrences in different sex and age strata. RESULTS: Age- and condition-specific clusters of signs and symptoms were identified, while sex differences were limited. Calculus and denture sore mouth were related in 18- to 34-year-olds; tooth loss and calculus in 35- to 54-year-olds, and teeth holes or pits (dental caries) and dental abscess in those aged 55 years and older. We found stronger associations between periodontal disease (bleeding gums) and dental caries (odds ratio [OR], 2.484; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.812-3.405; P < .001) as well as grinding/clenching and facial tension (OR, 7.162; 95% CI, 5.227-9.814; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Age-specific clustering of signs and symptoms and diagnostic patterns wer present in ths Colombian cohort.

Multidimensional scaling analysis for investigating relations between milk yield and fertility parameters / [Análise multidimensional de escala para investigar as relações entre o rendimento do leite e os parâmetros de fertilidade]

Milk yield and fertility traits in dairy cattle and their relationship with the influencing factors were investigated using multidimensional scaling analysis (MDS) in this study. The study focused on the relationship between lactation length, 305-day milk yield, actual milk yield and peak remaining days from milk yield characteristics, and service period, dry period, insemination per conception and calving interval from fertility traits, as well as the influencing factors such as calving age, lactation number, birth season, and birth year. When the MDS results were examined, it was discovered that all the traits had close Euclidean distances from each other, save for the birth season and birth year. As a result of MDS analysis, R2 and Stress Coefficient were calculated as 88.4% and 0.099, respectively. Consequently, the selection direction was tried to be identified by determining the milk yield and fertility traits and the relationship between these traits and the influencing factors through the MDS analysis and it was concluded that the MDS method could be employed in this field.

As características de produção de leite e fertilidade do gado leiteiro e sua relação com os fatores de influência foram investigadas utilizando a análise de escala multidimensional (MDS) neste estudo. O estudo concentrou-se na relação entre o tempo de lactação, produção de leite de 305 dias, produção real de leite e pico de dias restantes das características de produção de leite, e período de serviço, período seco, inseminação por concepção e intervalo de partos dos traços de fertilidade, bem como os fatores influenciadores como idade de parição, número de lactação, época de nascimento e ano de nascimento. Quando os resultados do MDS foram examinados, descobriu-se que todos os traços tinham distâncias Euclidianas próximas umas das outras, exceto para a época de nascimento e ano de nascimento. Como resultado da análise do MDS, o R2 e o Coeficiente de Estresse foram calculados como 88,4% e 0,099, respectivamente. Consequentemente, tentou-se identificar a direção da seleção determinando os traços de produção e fertilidade do leite e a relação entre estes traços e os fatores de influência através da análise MDS e concluiu-se que o método MDS poderia ser empregado neste campo.

Allometrically adjusted handgrip strength and chair stand test cut points to identify sarcopenia in older Portuguese adults / Pontos de corte da força de preensão manual e teste de sentar e levantar da cadeira ajustados alometricamente para identificar sarcopenia em idosos portugueses

ABSTRACT Absolute muscle strength or adjusted by body mass index (BMI) are useful to identify sarcopenia. However, these values are not accurate for older adults with extreme body sizes because the nonlinear relationship between strength and body size. The purpose was to determine cut-off points for identify sarcopenia in older adults using allometric coefficients to normalise handgrip strength (HGS) and 30-sec chair stand test (30-s CST) by body size. Allometric exponents were proposed with log-linear models for body-size variables (body mass, height and BMI). The remotion of body-size effect on muscle strength with allometric normalisation was tested by partial correlation. Cut-off points for low muscle strength were established by ROC curve and Youden index considering functional limitation (six-minute walk test<400m). Allometric exponents provided for body-size variables range from -0.01 to 2.28 (HGS) and -0.27 to 0.21 (30-s CST). The effect of body size on muscle strength was removed with allometric normalisation (r<0.30). Cut-off points accuracy was always adequate (AUC≥0.78; p<0.001). In conclusion, cut-off points of HGS and 30-s CST allometrically normalised were proposed to identify sarcopenia in Portuguese older adults and allometry maintained adequate the accuracy (AUC>70%). Allometry removed influence of body size on the expression of HGS and 30-s CST and permits evaluate muscle strength regardless of body-size.

RESUMO A força muscular absoluta ou ajustada pelo índice de massa corporal (IMC) é útil para identificar a sarcopenia. No entanto, esses valores não são precisos para idosos com tamanhos corporais extremos devido à relação não linear entre força e tamanho corporal. O objetivo foi determinar os pontos de corte para identificar a sarcopenia em idosos usando coeficientes alométricos para normalizar a força de preensão manual (FPM) e teste de sentar e levantar da cadeira em 30 segundos (30-s CST) por tamanho corporal. Os expoentes alométricos foram propostos com modelos log-lineares para variáveis de tamanho corporal (massa corporal, estatura e IMC). A remoção do efeito do tamanho corporal na força muscular com normalização alométrica foi testada por correlação parcial. Os pontos de corte para baixa força muscular foram estabelecidos pela curva ROC e índice de Youden considerando a limitação funcional (teste de caminhada de seis minutos<400m). Os expoentes alométricos fornecidos para variáveis de tamanho corporal variam de -0,01 a 2,28 (FPM) e -0,27 a 0,21 (30-s CST). O efeito do tamanho corporal na força muscular foi removido com normalização alométrica (r<0,30). A precisão dos pontos de corte sempre foi adequada (AUC≥0,78; p<0,001). Em conclusão, foram propostos pontos de corte para FPM e 30-s CST normalizados alometricamente para identificar sarcopenia em idosos portugueses e a alometria manteve a precisão adequada (AUC>70%). A alometria removeu a influência do tamanho corporal na expressão da FPM e 30-s CST e permite avaliar a força muscular independentemente do tamanho corporal.

High prevalence of the GSTM3*A/B polymorphism in sub-Sarahan African populations

A 3-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism in intron 6 of GSTM3 (rs1799735, GSTM3*A/*B) affects the activity of the phase 2 xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme GSTM3 and has been associated with increased cancer risk. The GSTM3*B allele is rare or absent in Southeast Asians, occurs in 5-20 percent of Europeans but was detected in 80 percent of Bantu from South Africa. The wide genetic diversity among Africans led us to investigate whether the high frequency of GSTM3*B prevailed in other sub-Saharan African populations. In 168 healthy individuals from Angola, Mozambique and the São Tomé e Príncipe islands, the GSTM3*B allele was three times more frequent (0.74-0.78) than the GSTM3*A allele (0.22-0.26), with no significant differences in allele frequency across the three groups. We combined these data with previously published results to carry out a multidimensional scaling analysis, which provided a visualization of the worldwide population affinities based on the GSTM3 *A/*B polymorphism.