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One of the essential attributes of the epoch we live in is the absolute and percentage growth of the elderly in the composition of the population. The numerical growth of the elderly population is the result of effective control of diseases with high mortality, which minimized premature mortality, which meant that an increasing number of people exceed the threshold of old age. By early application of correct kinetic programs to hemiplegic patients, it contributes to their recovery from the point of view of the correct body posture, being much faster and in large proportions.

Tomato is one of the main crops affected by the damage of Bemisia tabaci (Hemipetra: Aleyrodide), causing damage and disease. This pest is responsible for large losses in this crop and also in greenhouse. Whiteflies are pests of various crops that cause reduction in fruit yield and quality. Thus, the objective of this work was to know the influence of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) on the resistance of two tomato varieties (Santa clara and carolina) in two environments. The work was conducted in a greenhouse at the State University of. Alagoas - UNEAL, Campus I in the city of Arapiraca AL. The research period was from August 2017 to July 2018. The experiment was set up in two tomato varieties, Carolina and Santa clara distributed in 5 kg pots. The experimental design was completely randomized with ten replications. More heterogeneous and more dispersed values were obtained in relation to the number of nymphs in the two varieties, in Carolina standard density (16.83 ± 11.90), in Santa variety clear standard density (97.84 ± 69.19). Thus, it can be concluded that the Carolina variety showed greater resistance to the population dynamics of whiteflies in vegetative and reproductive development represented by the data found.

The sports base is any special construction or arrangement, permanent or temporary, together with the necessary social and sanitary annexes and provided with the equipment corresponding to the physical activity. This article is based on the presentation of the essential criteria to be taken into account for the development of a sports base. Another aspect of the research is that of the population's opportunity to use these spaces by practicing various physical activities in order to maintain an optimal level of health.

Aim. To study sex and age distribution of ultrasound parameters characterizing carotid atherosclerotic (CAS) severity in the unorganized urban population.Material and methods. The data obtained in Tomsk as a fragment of the ESSE-RF study are presented (n=1600; 25-64 years age; 59% – women). All participants signed informed consent. We studied CAS plaque count, both total and maximum plaque thickness and stenosis degree in the carotid arteries.Results. The general population quantitative indicators of CAS increased with age, most actively in 40-54 years in men and 45-59 years in women. At the age of 40-44 years in men, the growth of the general population indicators was due to a noticeable increase in both plaque prevalence and of CAS severity. In 45-49 years, the prevalence increased intensively, whereas in 50-54 years growth of plaque count/size indicators were more attributive. In women 45-59 years old formation of the general population indicators concerned was mostly due to steady increase in the plaque prevalence, while out of all quantitative CAS parameters the total stenosis degree only increased significantly in 50-54 years. The general population indicators of CAS severity were higher in men than in women starting up with the age of 40 and until 55 the gender effect was merely explained by the difference in the plaque prevalence.Conclusion. Features of the gender and age distribution of the quantitative parameters of CAS among the adult urban population are determined; the age periods of their most active growth are established. The presented data on the CAS severity percentile distribution can be useful as an additional tool for risk stratification and the choice of therapy/lifestyle modification tactics in people of working age. Further studies are needed to help to explain the trends and to clarify the predictive role of the indicators studied.

Traditional selection programs for dairy cattle, based on quantitative principles, have worked well and allowed strong selection processes in the world over many decades. The objectives of this work were to estimate linkage disequilibrium (LD) levels at varying SNPs densities, to evaluate the effective population size of Holstein cattle, to characterize runs of homozygosity (ROH) distribution through Holstein cattle from Nariño and, to estimate and compare inbreeding coefficient (F) based on genomic markers information, runs of homozygosity (FROH), genomic relationship matrix (FGRM), and excess of homozygous (FSNP). After quality control, the dataset used was composed of 606 Holstein animals and 22200 SNP markers. PLINK program was used to identify LD, Ne, ROH segment and FROH and FSNP, FGRM was calculated with BLUPF90 family of programs. The average of r2 in all chromosomes was 0.011, the highest r2 was found in BTA3 (0.0323), and the lowest in BTA12 (0.0039). 533 ROH segments were identified in 319 animals; findings obtained in this study suggest that on average 0,28% of Holstein genome is autozygous. Total length of ROH was composed mostly of small segments (ROH1-4Mb and ROH4-8Mb). These segments accounted for approximately 96%, while larger ROH (ROH>8Mb) were 3.37% of all ROH detected. Inbreeding averages FROH, FSNP and FGRM methodologies were 0.28%, 3.11% and 3.36% respectively. The Pearson’s correlation among these different F values was: 0.49 (FROH-FSNP), 0.25 (FROH-FGRM), 0.22 (FSNP-FGRM). The distribution of ROH shared regions identified on 19 autosome chromosomes, cover a relevant number of genes inside these ROH. Our result evidenced lowest LD extension levels compared with other Holstein populations; inbreeding results suggest that FGRM and FSNP may be useful estimators of individual autozygosity in Holstein from Colombia. Genes related with production and reproduction were found, but the most important are the two that may be related to adaptation to Colombian high tropics. This work is a pioneer and be the starting point for programs of genetic improvement and genomic population studies in the country and mainly in high tropic areas where the dairy breeds have an important production.

The targeting of the mausoleums in Timbuktu by small Islamic groups during the socio-political crisis in 2012 has surely reignited the debate about the future of that heritage. However, it has, above all, reminded us that the religious nature of that heritage must not be lost sight of. The cultural heritage in Timbuktu is generally referred to as a collection of exceptional historical sites but its cultural dimension, which is central to its social consideration at the local level, is consciously or unconsciously overlooked. Can we talk of a breakdown in the way we understand cultural heritage, when the ancient manuscripts for which the city was once known remain quite unknown? Has Timbuktu been a victim of its own fame? It certainly has with regard to its famous sites, the worshipping of which, particularly the worshipping of saints seems to be glossed over, although they are still highly controversial, especially for the Islamic Salafist movement, of which those who destroyed the mausoleums claimed to be linked to. Does UNESCO take into account this sensitive question of the symbolic dimension of the sites? The initial hypothesis being the existence of divergences in opposing representations of the so-called patrimonial property in the current context of growing controversy over the issue of religion and of an intense international involvement, we must therefore provide additional information about the mosques and mausoleums and an understanding of the role and the legitimate place of these sites in Timbuktu.

Background: In Pakistan population explosion is an important issue. Objectives of this study were to determine frequency of contraception users, frequency of different types of contraceptives used and association between contraceptive barriers and socio demographic variables. Materials & Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Community Medicine, Gomal medical College, D.I.Khan, Pakistan from 1st February to 31st March 2019. Sample size was 100. Sampling technique was consecutive. Only married women of reproductive age having already one child at least were included in the sample. Sociodemographic variables were age, residence, education, family income, family type, awareness of contraception, willingness for contraception, use of different contraceptive methods, age of marriage, age at first pregnancy and number of live children. Research variables were personal, religious, cultural and service barriers to use of contraception. All variables were recorded on categorical scale, whereas age of marriage, age at first pregnancy and number of live children were numerical variables expressed as mean and standard deviation. Chi-square test of association was performed. Results: Out of 100 respondents, 49% were from 15 to 30 years. Family income was

Delineating stocks and quantifying population structure are critical for the management of exploited populations, but the stock structure of many species remains unclear. In New South Wales (NSW), Australia, a marine stock enhancement program for dusky flathead (Platycephalus fuscus) is developing, and knowledge of stock structure is required to inform enhancement strategies, as well as to support broader fisheries management. A combination of mitochondrial and microsatellite markers was used in this study to evaluate structuring among fish from eight estuaries, spanning the majority of the NSW coast. Pairwise comparisons of mitochondrial haplotypes revealed that seven of the eight estuaries were genetically homogeneous (St Georges Basin was distinct). Moreover, analysis of molecular variance showed that 97% of sequence diversity occurred within estuaries. The results from microsatellite markers were almost identical to those for mitochondrial DNA, with St George's Basin having the only distinct genotype, and within estuary variation accounting for 99% of the genotype variation. Isolation by distance analysis showed that <5% of genetic variation was due to distance. These results indicate that dusky flathead forms a single stock across NSW, where mixing most likely occurs during early life phases and through limited adult migration. The outlying estuary, St Georges Basin, likely suffers from limited connectivity due to a constricted entrance, and it is possible that stocking may improve local genetic diversity. Analysis of dusky flathead stock structure using multiple genetic marker types revealed the species has a panmictic stock, but this is affected by coastal geomorphology through effects on recruitment, as well as concomitant effects on genetic diversity. Our findings are discussed in the context of marine stocking for the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: During the last half century, all indices of mortality imply the prompt and continuous decrease of nationwide mortality. Alongside reduction of mortality, there happened a comprehensive form of transition of mortality causes, from epidemical and other communicable diseases such as mothers' (birth giving) mortalities and birth related ones, to other causes like chronic diseases related to lifestyle and aging. Methods: in this study, stages of epidemiological transition in Iran with emphasis on the third transition, is surveyed and finally deals with prediction of this trend in future decades. Results: the results show that Iran has been through the third stage of epidemiological transition for two recent decades since a large proportion of deaths are related to chronic disease such as cardiovascular disease and life expectancy at birth has decreased to 70 years. There also observed signs of the fourth transition in Iran in recent years, because as deaths caused by chronic diseases have increased, the mean age of death has also increased remarkably. Conclusion: epidemiological transition dynamic and changes of death causes, must be considered according to other demographic components. Reduction of death rate, fertility related changes, and as a result changes of age structure are some causes that influence on epidemiological transition in Iran and will be influencing for some years later. Key words: epidemiological transition, life expectancy at birth, death causes, population dynamics.

This study aimed to analyze the knowledge about some zoonosis in a private school in the city of Bom Jesus-PI, Brazil, through the application of questionnaires intended for primary school students, teachers and students´ parents. Zoonosis are transmissible illnesses in natural conditions between the animals and the human beings, and knowledge about them does not always reach the population exposed to constant risks, and it is necessary to plan health education actions in these areas. On the analysis of surveys noted significant numbers in relation to lack of knowledge on the part of interviewed in all groups. In relation to cutaneous larva migrans 37 (46,83%) of the students answered don´t know which factors were associated to the contamination, about to the prevention, 35 (44,30%) didn´t know the measures to be taken. Relating to Leishmaniasis, observed that 43 (54,43%) of the students have already heard about the disease, 37 (46,83%) answered that the dog is the responsible for transmitting and 34 (43,03%) the mosquito. In relation to the prevention, 36 (45,56%) answered combat to the mosquitoes, 35 (44,30%) using repellents, protection screens in windows and use of mosquito nets, as long as 07 (8,86%) didn´t know any prevention measure. In the amount of 79 students that answered the survey, 93,67% affirmed don´t have knowledge about giardiasis and 74,68% answered don´t know about how occurs the transmission about this zoonosis. Therefore, there is a need to carry out works that aim to provide this information to the population, especially the children because they are considered more susceptible as well as agents disseminating this information.

In this study we investigated 745 specimens of purpleback flying squid Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis across a large distribution range to investigate geographic, intraspecific and sexual variations in beak morphology. Beak morphometric variables showed significant spatial and intraspecific differences (P < 0.05), with samples from the north-western Indian Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea having the largest and smallest beaks respectively. Multivariate statistical analysis indicated that the morphological characteristics of squid beaks would be useful for the identification of population structures and sex determination. Environmental conditions may be the major reason for variations in beak morphology between geographic populations throughout large distribution areas. In contrast, genetic differences may contribute to most of the intraspecific variation in beak morphology in the South China Sea. To address this clearly, further research needs to be done on morphology combined with genetic evaluation to compare methods of geographic and intraspecific population identification. Overall, this study showed that morphological characteristics would be useful to distinguish Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis population structure. However, because squid beak morphology might correlate with their high life-history plasticity, potential results could be considered misleading when using this trait to determine populations in future. Future research needs to be done on morphology combined with genetic evaluation to compare methods of geographic and intraspecific population identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We highlight hitherto unreported populations of two globally threatened phalangerid species on south-east Sulawesi's offshore islands – bear cuscus (Ailurops ursinus) and small Sulawesi cuscus (Strigocuscus celebensis) – and observations of a third range-restricted species – Peleng cuscus (Strigocuscus pelengensis). Our data are based on records made during 11 years of seasonal surveys on Buton, and short-term expeditions to Kabaena and Manui. Our observations of S. celebensis on Buton, where it occurs in three protected areas, represent an important range extension for this species, as do our observations of A. ursinus on Kabaena, where it is also widespread. We also report the unexpected presence of S. pelengensis on Manui. Buton, in particular, appears to be an important stronghold for both A. ursinus and S. celebensis , given that forest ecosystems here remain extensive and relatively intact. Both these species may also display a previously unreported adaptability to disturbed forest and even some non-forest habitats within our study area. Hunting pressures, a proven threat to these species in northern Sulawesi, may also be lesser here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex disorder characterized by widespread chronic pain and tenderness in the muscles, ligaments, and soft tissues. It is a chronic pain condition often accompanied by other symptoms and comorbidities. To effectively manage FM, it is crucial to obtain fundamental epidemiological data pertaining to the target population. Therefore, this study was conducted to elucidate the epidemiological characteristics of FM in the Korean population., Methods: Population-based medical data of 51,276,314 subscribers to the National Health Insurance Service of Korea from 2014 to 2018 were used in this study., Results: The overall incidence of FM ranged from 441 (2014) to 541 (2018) cases per 100,000 person-years, with a higher prevalence observed among female patients compared to male patients. The incidence gradually increased until middle age, followed by a decrease. The highest incidence rates were observed in the fifth decade of life for females and the sixth decade of life for males. When categorizing the affected parts of the body, the shoulder region was observed to be the most frequently affected. A comparison of the drug prescriptions based on medical specialty showed that antidepressants were the most commonly prescribed medications. The management of FM leads to consistent increases in medical expenses, regional disparities, and variations in prescription patterns across different medical specialties., Conclusions: The findings of this study will not only contribute to the understanding of FM characteristics but also provide a vital foundation for efficient management of FM in Korea.

Background: Background: Nowadays, surgical procedures are assessed based on the state of an individual. This study aimed to investigate the effect of lumbar spinal stenosis surgery on the patient's quality of life and motor functions in Kashani and Alzahra Hospital in Esfahan., Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, 40 patients aged between 50-70 were respectively evaluated who underwent lumbar spine stenosis surgery in Al Zahra and Kashani Hospitals in Esfahan University of Medical Sciences, Esfahan, Iran, during 2020-2021. The SF-36 questionnaire was used as a research tool. The visual analog scale (VAS), and spine functional index (SFI), were measured initially before surgery and 6 months and 9 months after surgery., Results: The mean scores of the SF-36, SFI, and VAS scores questionnaire were 87.95±4.94, 21.38±1.24, 6.07±0.69 (p<0.001) before surgery, 89.77±5.25, 19.73±1.40, 5.37±1.56 (p<0.001) six months after surgery, and 94.70±5.34, 18.63±1.56, 4.57±0.81 (p<0.001) nine months after surgery, and all were significant. Improvement in the domains of general health, role-physical, role disorder due to impaired physical health, social function, emotional role, and bodily pain was evident. Also, the overall quality of life was enhanced but energy levels and role disorder due to impaired mental health showed no improvement., Conclusion: Not only does lumbar spinal stenosis surgery significantly improve the general health, role-physical, and the social function of the patients but also enhances their quality of life., Competing Interests: The authors declared no conflict of interest.

This paper aims to analyze and periodize the characterization of the population held in the context of counterinsurgency, doctrine that guided the actions of the armed forces, security forces and paramilitary organizations in El Salvador between 1961 and 1972.

La zone d’El Mergueb est une zone naturelle steppique qui se trouve à la limite ouest de la cuvette du Hodna. Elle couvre une superficie de 16.481 hectares 42 ares et 67 centiares, qui touche trois communes steppiques du versant Nord de l’Atlas saharien et appartenant à la Wilaya de M’sila. De part son importance et sa richesse faunistique et floristique, elle a été l’objet de plusieurs études dans le cadre de recherches académiques à ce jour et dont l’une des plus anciennes et celles de Charles Killian (1961). Elle abrite la gazelle de cuvier qui est classée sur la liste rouge de l’Union Internationale de la Conservation de la Nature (UICN), ainsi qu’un arbre typique de l’Atlas saharien en voie de disparition (Pistacia atlantica), appelé localement le Betoum. C’est la raison pour laquelle le Programme des Nations Unies pour le Développement et l’Union Internationale de la Conservation de la Nature (PNUD et UICN) ont accepté de financer la réhabilitation et la mise en valeur de la réserve, afin de permettre son classement dans le cadre de la convention internationale sur la biodiversité. Pour l’Algérie cette initiative a coïncidé avec le lancement du programme national du développement agricole (PNDA). Donc, le projet aura un double objectif : la préservation et la protection du site naturel, et la mise en place d’infrastructure pour les populations locales qui y vivent au sein de la réserve et leur intégration dans la gestion de la réserve ce qui permet d’assurer le développement socio-économique dans le cadre du développement durable. Il s’agit de voir les actions lancées et les contraintes auxquelles est confronté le projet.

The article substantiates the concept of management of stable social development of a city on the basis of life quality imperative. Results of activity of city subjects are considered as a totality of levels of social services and their elements, which includes identity of purpose – maximal satisfaction of a set of needs, interests and values of the population. Improvement of quality of life of the population is a criterion of goal achievement. City is considered as a form of territorial social complex, which possesses multi-useful value in use and expressed by a totality of services, products and goods, which are produced by commercial and non-commercial organisation and bodies of municipal management for satisfaction of a complex of social needs and improvement of quality of life of the population. Definition of a city with an accent on subjects and objects of management of social development is given for the first time.В статье обосновывается концепция управления устойчивым социальным развитием города на основе императива качества жизни. Результаты деятельности субъектов города рассматриваются как совокупность уровней социальных услуг и их элементов, в которой присутствует единство цели – максимальное удовлетворение комплекса потребностей, интересов и ценностей населения. Критерием достижения цели является улучшение качества жизни населения города. Город рассматривается как форма территориального социального комплекса, обладающего мультиполезной потребительной стоимостью и выраженного совокупностью услуг, продуктов и товаров, производимых коммерческими и некоммерческими организациями, органами муниципального управления для удовлетворения комплекса социальных потребностей и улучшения качества жизни населения. Впервые даётся определение города с акцентом на субъекты и объекты управления социальным развитием.

This paper raises the issue of the statute of philosophy in what has been called posthistory, from an approach that intends to articulate Foucault’s diagnosis of the present with Rancière’s political philosophy. We sustain that the so called postphilosophy is understood as spirituality in the age of the ending metanarratives,and coincides with the age of the expanding biopolitical governmental logic. Therefore, philosophy’s task, according to Foucault, would become a practical one, that is to say, spiritual. We study this spirituality in its political aspect.

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Land cover is a physical appearance of land and represents its ecological status. It is dynamically changed due to human intervention, natural disturbance and succession. This research aims to monitor the land cover change in Kuningan Regency during the period of 1994 to 2015. Geographical Information System (GIS) and remote sensing were used to determine the changes based on date series of Landsat satellite imagery. The result showed that there was a high increase of 5 (five) land cover types, namely: dryland farming (10,12%), settlement (384.04%), rice field (118,95%), shrubland (27.30%), and bare land (4,277.68%). Meanwhile, there was a decrease of 4 (four) land cover types, namely: natural forest (43.53%), plantation forest (34.77%), mixed garden (63.27%), and water bodies (4.35%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to investigate if scale morphology could be used to discriminate fish populations at a local scale. To this aim, 168 rostrum dace (Leuciscus leuciscus burdigalensis) were collected at 3 sites in the River Viaur (SW France), distributed along 82 Km of stream. Seventy-one measurements were taken from scales: 2 shape factors and 69 Fourier coefficients. A stepwise discriminant analysis revealed that fish from the 3 sites showed morphological differences (p<0.001), with an average of 75.6% correct discrimination of the scales (65.5% after the cross-validation procedure). These results reveal that scale morphology can detect spatial structure in fish populations at a fine scale, which has implications for riverine fish conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leosdottir M, Nilsson P, Nilsson J-Å, Månsson H, Berglund G (Lund University, University Hospital (UMAS), Malmö, Sweden). The association between total energy intake and early mortality: data from the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study.J Intern Med2004;256:499–509.In animal studies, low energy intake (EI) has been associated with a longer lifespan. We examine whether EI is an independent risk factor for prospective all-cause mortality, cardiovascular and cancer mortality in humans.Population-based, prospective cohort study.The Malmö Diet and Cancer Study is a population-based prospective cohort study. A total of 28 098 individuals, mean age 58.2 years, completed questionnaires on diet and life-style and attended a physical examination during 1991–96.Information on mortality was acquired from national registries during a mean follow-up time of 6.6 years. Subjects were categorized by quartiles of total EI. The first quartile was used as a reference point in estimating multivariate relative risks (RR; 95% CI, Cox's regression model). Adjustments were made for confounding by age and various life-style factors.The lowest total mortality was observed for women in the third quartile (RR: 0.74; CI: 0.57–0.96) and for men in the second and third quartiles (RR: 0.85; CI: 0.69–1.04 and RR: 0.85; CI: 0.69–1.04 respectively). Similar U-shaped patterns were observed for cardiovascular mortality amongst women and cancer mortality amongst men. A statistically significant trend (P = 0.029) towards lower cardiovascular mortality from the first to the fourth quartile was observed for men.Low caloric consumers did, on average, not have lower mortality than average or high caloric consumers. Generally, individuals approximately meeting national recommendations for total EI had the lowest mortality. For men, high caloric intake was associated with lower cardiovascular mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological and genetic variation of manau rattan (Calamus manan, Miq.) studies have been conducted in three provinces in Sumatra, Indonesia, i.e. in Bengkulu, in Jambi, and in West Sumatra Province. Distinctive variations such as the presence of vestigial flagellum and red colour of rachis, as opposed to no vestigial flagellum and the normal green colour of petiole and rachis, were noted in certain individuals in wild manau rattan populations, although the percentage was only 5-60%, depending on the sites. These variations, which were confirmed with isozyme analysis results, are based on 6 enzyme systems, i.e. PGD, PGI, MDH, IDH, PER and EST out of 10 systems analysed. The range of percentage of polymorphic loci was 66.67-76.67%. The highest genetic diversity (He = 0.34) was West Sumatra Province which was mainly contributed by the Siberut Island, followed by Jambi Province (He = 0.28). Based on a dendogram constructed, the relatedness and genetic distance between studied populations in Sumatra could also be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple mathematical models have illustrated the relationship between human carrying capacity and population growth. In this study, food supply is proposed as the variable which best accounts for the human carrying capacity. The logistic equation, using food supply data as a variable carrying capacity, yields population estimates which are in accord with actual population numbers. That food supply data adequately fits the logistic model of human population dynamics provides evidence that, consistent with ecological notions typically applied only to nonhuman species, human population increases are a function of increased food availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a member of the pancreatic polypeptide family. It plays a critical role in the regulation of satiety, reproduction, the central endocrine and cardiovascular systems. The T1128C polymorphism of human NPY gene has been shown to be associated with many cardiovascular diseases. The allele frequency of the 1128C was investigated in 6626 subjects from Europe, North-America, South-America, Asia and the Middle-East. The 1128C allele was observed in all populations of European descent and the Israeli population, with a mean frequency of about 4%. The allele frequency showed a geographical north to south gradient of decreasing frequency. The highest allele frequencies were found in Nordic countries. The NPY 1128C allele might originate in the north of Europe, and then spread to neighboring regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis. The insulin resistance syndrome is related to arterial stiffness in diabetic subjects. Whether the insulin resistance syndrome is also related to arterial stiffness in non-diabetic subjects is less clear. We studied the association between variables of the insulin resistance syndrome in relation to arterial distensibility in healthy middle-aged non-diabetic women. Methods. This study was done in 180 non-diabetic women, aged 43–55, selected from the general population. Arterial distensibility was assessed in the carotid artery. The associations were evaluated using linear regression analyses. Results. Strong associations were found between arterial distensibility and the variables of the insulin resistance syndrome: body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, apolipoprotein A1, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1-antigen and tissue-type plasminogen activator-antigen. After additional adjustment for mean arterial pressure, common carotid arterial distensibility remained associated with body mass index: β-coefficient (95 % confidence interval) per kg/m2: –0.24 (–0.42; –0.06); waist-to-hip ratio: –26.62 (–40.59; –12.65) per m/m; triglycerides: –1.42(–2.77; –0.08) per mmol/l; plasminogen activator inhibitor–1-antigen: –0.01 (–0.02; –0.00) per ng/ml and borderline significant associated with high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol: 1.93 (–0.01; 3.87; p = 0.07) per mmol/l. Clustering of variables of the insulin resistance syndrome was strongly related to decreased arterial distensibility which remained after adjustment for mean arterial pressure. No association was found between arterial distensibility and variables that are not part of the insulin resistance syndrome: total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B. Conclusion/interpretation. The results of this study show that variables of the insulin resistance syndrome are associated with decreased arterial distensibility of the common carotid artery in healthy non-diabetic subjects. [Diabetologia (2000) 43: 665–672] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied the degree of genetic variation at a variable Mhc class II β gene in four populations of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar by using RFLPs. The class II β gene encodes the part of the Mhc class II molecule that contains the antigen binding region and is therefore essential for disease resistance. There was extensive genetic variation in all four populations; the expected heterozygosity (HSi) varied between 0.50 and 0.81. Heterozygosity tended to be higher in broods surviving a syndrome causing high mortalities (60–95%) in Swedish salmon hatcheries. Populations that had experienced more incidences of genetic bottlenecks (years when fewer than 60 adults had been used for breeding) and had a lower average effective population size (Ne), had a lower degree of heterozygosity. The four populations differed significantly in allele frequencies as measured by FST=0.13 and Nei's genetic distance (D=0.09-∞). Pairwise FST values varied between 0.01 and 0.23, all but one being highly significant, indicating a differentiation between the populations in Mhc class II β. This study shows that the four populations of Atlantic salmon have a high degree of polymorphism in the Mhc class II β gene. However, there was great variation between different hatcheries, both in heterozygosity levels and allele frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]