Age-related blood biochemical changes (lipid metabolism) in healthy young and mature men living under the North conditions

Metabolic disorders (dyslipidemias) are currently crucial since they develop cardiovascular diseases. The work was aimed at studying age dynamics and its correlation with severity of dyslipidemia in basic lipid metabolism variables (in different age groups). Materials and methods: Examinees were Caucasians born and permanently residing in Magadan region: 55 mature men and 147 young men (mean ages were 36.8±0.8 and 18.7±0.8 yr, respectively). Blood serum lipid metabolism was examined by colorimetric and photometric method using AU 680 (Beckman Coulter, USA). Results: The data of obtained lipidogram showed dependence of rise in all indicators on subjective older age with higher percentage of dyslipidemia and increase in calculated indices reflecting degree of the lipid profile atherogenicity. Conclusion: Overall, the North study revealed a safer lipid profile in group of younger men, while biochemical picture of older residents demonstrated increased values. Lipid atherogenicity is a very alarming factor in developing cardiovascular diseases, and a predictor of risks for metabolic syndrome.

Sleep Characteristics According to Gender and Age Measured by Wrist Actigraphy

The sleep/wake rhythm is one of the most important biological rhythms. Quality and duration of sleep change during lifetime. The aim of our study was to determine differences in sleep efficiency, movement, and fragmentation during sleep period between genders and according to age. Sleep period was monitored by wrist actigraphy under home-based conditions. Seventy-four healthy participants—47 women and 27 men participated in the study. The participants were divided by age into groups younger than 40 years and 40 years and older. Women showed lower sleep fragmentation and mobility during sleep compared to men. Younger women showed a higher actual sleep and sleep efficiency compared to older women and younger men. Younger men compared to older men had a significantly lower actual sleep, lower sleep efficiency and significantly more sleep and wake bouts. Our results confirmed differences in sleep parameters between genders and according to age. The best sleep quality was detected in young women, but gender differences were not apparent in elderly participants, suggesting the impact of sex hormones on sleep.

Mechanisms of Grammaticalization in the Variation of Negative Question Tags

This paper presents an investigation of the extent to which Heine’s (2003) mechanisms of grammaticalization—erosion (phonetic reduction), decategorialization (loss of morpho-syntactic properties), desemanticization (semantic bleaching) and extension (context expansion)—are evident in the variation of negative question tags in three varieties of British English spoken in Glasgow, Tyneside, and Salford. The study considers the variation in terms of three types of variant—full (e.g., isn’t it), reduced (e.g., int it), and coalesced (e.g., innit)—which each represent a stage in the erosion process. Quantitative variationist analysis of informal conversational data shows that erosion of negative tags occurs to different degrees in each of the three communities. The locality with the least tag erosion—Tyneside—displays particularly strong social stratification in the variation that suggests a change in progress led by younger men. However, there is little to no evidence of decategorialization in the negative tags, nor does variation in tag meaning correlate with phonetic form in a consistent manner. The results therefore suggest that erosion and desemanticization/extension do not occur in lockstep as these constructions grammaticalize, while decategorialization occurs at a later stage in the change.

Mental well-being, health, and locus of control in Danish adults before and during COVID-19

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate possible impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on general health, mental well-being, and experiences of control compared to pre-pandemic populations. Our hypotheses were that we would observe a significant lower level of psychological wellbeing and general health in the 2020 sample compared to the prepandemic samples, and that we would observe younger age groups to be the most effected. Method: Two representative Danish populations (2016, n=1656) and (2017, n=3366) were compared to a representative Danish population (n=1538) sampled during the first lockdown in May 2020. Two-tailed tests of proportions were used to investigate possible differences between samples in proportions reporting poorer mental well-being measured by WHO-5, general health, and internal locus of control. Results: Younger men (aged 18 24) and younger women (aged 18 – 44) as well as elderly women (aged 65-74) reported lower mental well-being during the early phase of the pandemic compared to the population from 2016. Both women and men in 2020 to report significantly lower levels of internal locus of control compared to the 2017 sample. This was especially true for younger men and women. There were no statistically significant differences in general health between populations. Discussion: This study partly supports the hypothesis that the the Covid-19 pandemic affected mental well-being negatively among younger persons. However, longitudinal studies are needed to investigate possible longterm effects of the pandemic on mental health and well-being. Further, qualitative studies are needed to investigate in-depth the consequenses of Covid-19.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among the Younger Generation in Japan

Japan has vaccinated its older population; a mass vaccination program for younger citizens is underway. Accordingly, this study investigated vaccine hesitancy among younger Japanese citizens. We used online panel survey data from the Hiroshima Institute of Health Economics Research of Hiroshima University and applied probit regression models. Our study found that vaccine hesitancy among younger people was significantly higher than among older people. Moreover, vaccine hesitancy was significantly higher among younger women than younger men and inter-age-group differences in vaccine hesitancy were higher for younger men than for younger women. Regression demonstrated that subjective health status and anxiety about the future were significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy among younger women and younger men of all ages, respectively. Furthermore, marital status, university degree, anxiety about the future, and myopic view of the future had specific associations with vaccine hesitancy among younger women of different ages, while subjective health status, university degree, having children, financial literacy, household income and assets, and myopic view about the future had specific associations with vaccine hesitancy among younger men of varying ages. Therefore, these results suggest that policymakers should consider the diversity among the younger generation while developing effective, tailored communication strategies to reduce their vaccine hesitancy.

Anemia among Men in Malaysia: A Population-Based Survey in 2019

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anemia and factors associated with anemia among men in Malaysia. The researchers used data from the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS). The hemoglobin levels of men aged 15 years and above who gave their consent was measured using the HemoCue® Hb 201+ System©. The majority of them (87.2%) were men aged 15–59 years, referred to as the younger age group in this study. The prevalence of anemia among men was 12.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 10.9, 14.5). The prevalence was higher among older men (30.7%; 95% CI: 26.6, 35.1) than younger men (10.0%; 95% CI: 8.2, 12.2). Anemia among men was associated with older age (adjusted odds ratios (aOR) = 3.1; 95% CI: 2.1, 4.4) and those with diabetes (aOR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.2, 2.1) via a logistic regression analysis. In conclusion, older men were more affected by anemia than younger men in this study. Anemia among older men in Malaysia is at the level of moderate to severe public health significance. The likelihood of developing anemia is increased among older men with diabetes compared to older men without diabetes. These often-overlooked issues among men need to be detected and treated early in order to prevent complications and improve their quality of life.

Paravasal Connective Tissue Parameters Vs. Morpho-Functional Indicators In The Intraorgan Blood Vessels Of The Younger Men Lungs

Objective — The objective of this research was to identify correlations between the paravasal components connective tissue of the blood vessels of lungs and their morpho-functional parameters. Material and Methods — In order to determine the structure of the paravasal connective tissue, the histotopographic and histological examination of lung preparations of 20 men corpses of the first mature age period was held, to determine the capacity and capacitive characteristics of the vascular bed, the determination of the Kernogan index (IK) and the veno-arterial index (VAI) were carried out. Results — It was ascertained that in the structure of the paravasal connective tissue two layers could be conditionally distinguished – the "central" and "peripheral", differing in the architectonics of the fibrous component, the nature of interaction with nearby anatomical structures. It was also revealed that infrared venous vessels IK was expressed in a greater degree in comparison with arterial. When determining VAI vascular, the channel revealed that the area of venous vessels prevailed over the arterial area. Besides, the clear correlation relationships of the structural elements of the paravasal connective tissues were investigated with arterial and venous vessel capacity values and their capacitive characteristics. Conclusion — The presence of correlation relationships confirmed a clear interaction between structural organization of the paravasal connective tissue and the functional activity of the blood vessels, providing optimal hemodynamic conditions in the organ.

Why so few EVs are in Kuwait and how to amend it

The automotive industry is at a crossroad. Electric Vehicles (EV) now pose an existential threat to the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). In some Northern European nations over 50% of new cars sold are EVs, owing in large part to substantial financial incentives to buy and own an EV, such as tax discounts when purchasing an EV, fuel savings, and preferential use of transportation infrastructure. These countries have pledged to cease all imports of non-EVs by 2035. On the other end of the spectrum are Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, where EVs account for less than 1 percent of vehicles on the road, due in large part to financial and non-financial impediments to buying and owning an EV. In addition, the price per kilometer driven in the GCC is considerably lower with gasoline than with electricity, which contradicts the European experience where cost savings from electricity versus gasoline can be around 8 to 1. Furthermore, as there is an absence of purchase and ownership/utilization taxation of vehicles in the GCC, no tax discount can be levied, in contrast to the EV tax incentives common in Europe. This paper explores which qualities of driving and owning an EV in the GCC are necessary to persuade certain kinds of new automobile consumers to pay a higher purchasing price for owning an EV as opposed to an ICE, in spite of higher costs for electricity compared to gasoline per kilometer driven. This pilot study attempts to provide an insight to new car purchasing behavior among consumers in Kuwait via a qualitative innovative approach known as ‘Q Methodology’. Interestingly, the factors that emerged from the research represent three subjective perspectives of new car purchase in Kuwait which were labeled as Factor 1, ‘Value Seeker’; Factor 2, ‘Safety Seeker’; and Factor 3, ‘Performance Seeker’. The study concludes that given financial constraints, the ‘Value Seeker’ group is not likely to become an early adopter of EVs in the GCC region. Conversely, the ‘Performance Seeker’, which includes mainly younger men who are more likely to view the fast acceleration of EVs as a deciding factor, and the ‘Safety Seekers’, who are mainly younger women who would value the environmental aspects of EVs as well as the quiet driving experience and low maintenance requirements are determining factors for EV adoption in the GCC region in the future.