Our meta-analysis indicates that reduction in LDL-C associated with statin drug treatment decreases the risk of coronary heart disease and all-cause mortality. The risk reduction was similar for men and women and for elderly and middle-aged persons.

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Pre-hypertension and hypertension in childhood are defined by sex-, age- and height-specific 90th (or ≥120/80 mmHg) and 95th percentiles of blood pressure (BP), respectively, by the 2004 Fourth Report. However, these cut-offs are complex and cumbersome for use. This study assessed the performance of a simplified BP definition to predict adult hypertension and subclinical cardiovascular disease. The cohort consisted of 1,225 adults (530 males, aged 26.3–47.7 years) from the Bogalusa Heart Study with 27.1 years follow-up since childhood. We used 110/70 and 120/80 mmHg for children (age 6–11 years), and 120/80 and 130/85 mmHg for adolescents (age 12–17 years) as the simplified definition of childhood pre-hypertension and hypertension, respectively, to compare with the 2004 Fourth Report (the complex definition). Adult carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and left ventricular mass were measured using digital ultrasound instruments. Compared to normal BP, childhood hypertensives diagnosed by the simplified definition and the complex definition were both at higher risk of adult hypertension with hazard ratio=3.1 (95% confidence interval=1.8–5.3) by the simplified definition and 3.2 (2.0–5.0) by the complex definition, high PWV with 3.5 (1.7–7.1) and 2.2 (1.2–4.1), high CIMT with 3.1 (1.7–5.6) and 2.0 (1.2–3.6), and left ventricular hypertrophy with 3.4 (1.7–6.8) and 3.0 (1.6–5.6). The results were confirmed by reclassification or receiver operating curve analyses. The simplified childhood BP definition predicts the risk of adult hypertension and subclinical cardiovascular disease equally as the complex definition does, which could be useful for screening hypertensive children to reduce risk of adult cardiovascular disease.

This study investigated the effect of hypoxia at high altitude on the semen quality and the serum reproductive hormone levels in male adults. A total of 52 male soldiers were enrolled in this cohort study. They were exposed to hypoxia at high altitude (5380 m) for 12 months when undergoing a service. After exposure, they were followed up for 6 months. The samples of semen and peripheral blood were collected at 1 month before exposure (M0), 6 months of exposure (M6), 12 months of exposure (M12), and 6 months after exposure (M18). The semen quality was assessed with computer-assisted analysis system, and the serum levels of reproductive hormones, including prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone were analyzed by ELISA. Compared with those at M0, total sperm count, sperm density, motility, survival rate, and serum levels of LH, PRL and testosterone were significantly decreased, whereas the liquefaction time was significantly prolonged and serum FSH level was significantly increased at M6 (p<0.05). At M12, total sperm count and sperm density increased, whereas sperm motility, survival rate, and the liquefaction time further decreased. Sperm velocities, progression ratios, and lateral head displacements were also decreased. Serum FSH level decreased while serum LH, PRL, and testosterone levels increased. Compared with those at M6, the changes in these detected parameters of semen and hormone at M12 were significant (p<0.05). At M18, all these detected parameters except testosterone level returned to levels comparable to those before exposure. In conclusion, hypoxia at high altitude causes adverse effects on semen quality and reproductive hormones, and these effects are reversible.

Most, but not all, studies in Western countries have indicated that women have a higher mortality than men after an acute myocardial infarction, but this has not been well documented in the developing world. The authors studied 601 male and 294 female myocardial infarction patients, aged 26-94 years, admitted to a city hospital in Beijing, China, between 1974 and 1986. A total of 745 (98.8%) of the cohort of 754 who survived past their initial hospitalization were followed up in 1988. Compared with their male counterparts, female myocardial infarction patients were older (63.4 vs. 58.1 years) and had a higher prevalence of tachycardia (heart rate, > or = 110 beats/minute), rales, New York Heart Association class III or IV, and heart block, but a lower prevalence of smoking and white collar occupation (all p < 0.01). The mortality within 28 days of their myocardial infarction was higher in women than in men, mainly in the group whose age was less than 60 years (20.4% vs. 7.1%, p < 0.001). The greater risk of short-term mortality in women persisted even after adjustment for age, history of stroke and hypertension, tachycardia on admission, anterior infarction, Killip class III or IV, and arrhythmia (relative odds = 1.74, 95% confidence interval 1.17-2.60). The 10-year total cumulative mortality in persons who survived the first 28 days following their myocardial infarction was 51.1% for women and 35.9% for men (log rank p = 0.002). After adjustment for age, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.3). Our results suggest that, in Beijing, women have a higher short-term mortality after myocardial infarction compared with men.

on behalf of the CRIC Study Investigators Rationale & Objectives: Adiposity and physical fitness levels are major drivers of cardiometabolic risk, but these relationships have not been wellcharacterized in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We examined the associations of visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), intrahepatic fat, and physical function with inflammation, insulin resistance, and adipokine levels in patients with CKD. Complete author and article information provided before references.

This article examines the relative production efficiency of school districts in Georgia using the modified quadriform method. Overall, we find that the modified quadriform allows state-level policymakers to access a basic tool for analysis that makes relative comparison of school district productivity for use in policy analysis and policy development. While the results of this study are in line with studies in other states using the modified quadriform, we also note that performance in Georgia is tied to a host of community characteristics as well as the percentage of expenditures dedicated to instruction.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), one of the most common forms of dementia, is primarily ascribed to the cholinergic deficits and neuronal dysfunction. Magnolol (Mag), a bioactivator extracted from Magnolia officinalis, has protective effects on cholinergic neurons, but the specific mechanism remains unknown. To further evaluate the therapeutic effects of Mag on the learning and memory impairment in a scopolamine (Scop)-induced mouse model, the passive avoidance and the Morris water maze tests, the measurement of the ratio of brain/hippocampus to body weight, activities of acetyl cholinesterase (AChE), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total nitric oxide synthase (total NOS) and the content of methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) in hippocampus homogenate as well as the immunefluorescence staining of the AChE positive nerve fibers were performed. Therapeutically treated with Mag, the impaired abilities of learning and memory of the Scop-induced mice were almost restored to the native levels. The restored AChE, total NOS and SOD activities and the MDA level were observed, with a relatively normal density of AChE positive nerve fibers in hippocampus CA3 molecular layer. The improving efficacy of Mag on learning and memory impairment induced by Scop is dose-dependent, indicating that Mag has potential neuroprotective effects against neuronal impairment and memory dysfunction induced by Scop in mice. The underlying mechanisms may be associated with the anti-oxidative effects of Mag and its protective effects on hippocampus cholinergic neurons.