Common Combination (common + combination)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Glucose intolerance and associated factors in Mongolia: results of a national survey

DIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 6 2002
J. Suvd
Abstract Aims Prevalence of glucose intolerance,diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT),and of related conditions such as obesity and hypertension, was studied in six population samples in Mongolia in 1999. Methods Diagnosis of glucose intolerance was made on the basis of 2-h blood glucose concentration, according to criteria recommended by the latest report of a WHO Expert Group. Results Crude prevalence of diabetes was 2.9% (2.6% in men and 3.2% in women). Prevalence of IGT was 10.2% (9.3% in men and 10.8% in women). Age standardization to the standard world population of Segi resulted in a total sample prevalence of 3.1% for diabetes and 9.2% for IGT. Prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance differed according to district of residence. Approximately one-third of the subjects with diabetes were diagnosed prior to the survey. Of those who were diagnosed previously, approximately one-half were not under any form of treatment. Subjects with abnormal glucose tolerance were older, more obese and had higher blood pressure and prevalence of hypertension than those with normoglycaemia. One-half of men and almost one-half of women were hypertensive. Three-quarters of the diabetic subjects were hypertensive. One-third of all subjects were centrally obese. Considering the conditions of principal interest,glucose intolerance, hypertension and obesity,one-half of all subjects demonstrated one or more of these conditions. Central obesity was the most common condition, followed by hypertension and then glucose intolerance. Central obesity and hypertension was the most common combination (17% of all subjects) and 4% exhibited all three conditions. Conclusions Non-communicable diseases are already a threat to public health in Mongolia. Although the prevalence of diabetes is not high by international standards, the relatively high prevalence of IGT suggests that the situation may deteriorate in the future in the absence of concerted action to prevent and control diabetes and related conditions. [source]


Lifetime multiple substance use pattern among heroin users before entering methadone maintenance treatment clinic in Yunnan, China

DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 4 2010
LEI LI
Abstract Introduction and Aims. Multiple substance use leads to greater levels of psycho-behavioural problems, unsafe sex, and therefore a high risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, and is also more difficult to treat. This study aims to determine pattern of lifetime multiple substance use among Chinese heroin users before entering methadone maintenance treatment clinic. Design and Methods. A survey to obtain retrospective longitudinal data on lifetime multiple substance use was conducted among 203 heroin users in two of the biggest methadone maintenance clinics in Kunming City, Yunnan province. Results. All participants used more than one substance in their lifetime. Most of them used four or more substance groups (range two to seven groups). The most common substance patterns in lifetime use were alcohol, tobacco, opiates and depressants. Approximately 80% of them had a history of simultaneous substance use (co-use). The most common combination of co-use pattern was heroin with depressant. Common reasons for co-use were to get high, to experiment, to sleep and to increase the potency of other drugs. Determinants of co-use were education, marital status and family relationship. Discussion and Conclusions. Multiple substance use is highly prevalent among Chinese heroin users. Depressants are the most common substances used in combination with heroin.[Li L, Sangthong R, Chongsuvivatwong V, McNeil E, Li J. Lifetime multiple substance use pattern among heroin users before entering methadone maintenance treatment clinic in Yunnan, China. Drug Alcohol Rev 2010] [source]


Sex-biased gene flow and colonization in the Formosan lesser horseshoe bat: inference from nuclear and mitochondrial markers

JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, Issue 3 2008
S.- F. Chen
Abstract Sex-biased behaviours are expected to play an important role in partitioning genetic variance in animal populations. Comparing genetic structure at markers with different modes of inheritance provides a means of detecting these behaviours and their consequences for population genetic structure. In colonially breeding mammals, the common combination of female philopatry and male vagility can promote contrasting patterns of genetic differentiation between the sexes, both via their effects on recurrent gene flow and on colonization. We examined sex differences in gene flow and structure by comparing maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and biparentally inherited autosomal loci in the Formosan lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus monoceros. We found that genetic partitioning was higher at mtDNA than autosomal markers in both sexes, indicative of female-biased philopatry and male-biased dispersal. Across Taiwan, isolation-by-distance was detected for all sex/marker combinations but was steeper for mtDNA than for nuclear markers. We suggest that isolation-by-distance shown from mtDNA at large scales is likely to reflect the stepwise founding of new breeding colonies by females during colonization. In contrast, no isolation-by-distance was found at smaller distances of up to 100 km, indicating that gene flow and/or recent shared ancestry homogenises genetic structure among nearby sites. Our results highlight the value of an indirect genetic approach to understanding sex-biased behaviours and their consequences in a little-studied species. [source]


Distribution of aquatic vascular plants in lowland rivers: separating the effects of local environmental conditions, longitudinal connectivity and river basin isolation

FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2005
BENOÎT O. L. DEMARS
Summary 1. Changes in species distributions along rivers have rarely been observed independently of changes in environmental conditions and meaningful comparison between different catchments is made difficult by the limited geographical distribution of species. This study presents a new approach to quantify the effect of the spatial structure of lowland river networks on aquatic plant distribution and to explore the potential underlying processes using species life-history characteristics. 2. Twenty-five species of aquatic vascular plants recorded in 62 sites across five calcareous river basins were used to investigate (i) the temporal turnover of plant species, (ii) the habitat utilisation of species, (iii) the trade-offs between different plant life-history characteristics and (iv) the relationship between species life-history characteristics and habitat utilisation. 3. The annual plant turnover within a 3-year period was, although significant, extremely low. It suggests that results from spatial surveys conducted over 3 years should not be undermined by temporal changes. 4. Spatial connectivity along and between rivers was more important than in-channel physical characteristics in shaping species assemblages. Neither chemical factors (ammonium, phosphate) nor extrinsic biotic competitors (filamentous green algae) significantly influenced plant distribution. 5. The most common combinations of life-history characteristics were neither related to environmental conditions nor to spatial isolation. Instead, they could reflect natural selection processes associated with larger scales than those considered in this study. 6. Plant distribution was most strongly related to the dispersal and regeneration abilities of the plants, supporting the hypotheses relating to longitudinal connectivity. The hypothesis that different growth forms would be associated with different in-channel physical features was not verified. As expected, there were no substantial differences in plant life-history characteristics between river basins. [source]