Paths and timings of the peopling of Polynesia inferred from genomic networks.

Polynesia was settled in a series of extraordinary voyages across an ocean spanning one third of the Earth1, but the sequences of islands settled remain unknown and their timings disputed. Currently, several centuries separate the dates suggested by different archaeological surveys2-4. Here, using genome-wide data from merely 430 modern individuals from 21 key Pacific island populations and novel ancestry-specific computational analyses, we unravel the detailed genetic history of this vast, dispersed island network. Our reconstruction of the branching Polynesian migration sequence reveals a serial founder expansion, characterized by directional loss of variants, that originated in Samoa and spread first through the Cook Islands (Rarotonga), then to the Society (Totaiete ma) Islands (11th century), the western Austral (Tuha'a Pae) Islands and Tuamotu Archipelago (12th century), and finally to the widely separated, but genetically connected, megalithic statue-building cultures of the Marquesas (Te Henua 'Enana) Islands in the north, Raivavae in the south, and Easter Island (Rapa Nui), the easternmost of the Polynesian islands, settled in approximately AD 1200 via Mangareva.

Copper phthalocyanines as a mode-locker in an Er-doped fiber laser.

We demonstrate a mode-locked erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) utilizing copper phthalocyanines (CuPc) as a saturable absorber (SA) for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. The investigated SA was prepared using a simple, low-cost and straightforward technique, whereby the CuPc powder was embedded into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to form a thin film. The thin film acted as a mode-locker when it was incorporated into the EDFL cavity to produce output pulses at a repetition rate of 1.8 MHz with a pulse duration of 1.98 ps. The frequency spectrum showed a signal-to-noise ratio as high as 55 dB, which indicates the stability of the mode-locking operation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work to report using CuPc as a mode-locker.

Low concentrations of soybean lecithin nanoparticles had a positive impact on Holstein bulls' cryopreserved semen.

Spermatozoa can experience negative changes when subjected to freezing and thawing, including lowered motility, viability and acrosome response. Herein, the effects of different concentrations of soybean lecithin nanoparticles on cryopreserved Holstein bull semen were examined. Semen was collected, cryopreserved and utilized for sperm kinetic parameter analysis following dilution, equilibration and thawing with 0.5% soybean lecithin (E1), the control extender, and 0.75% (E2), 0.5% (E3), 0.25% (E4) and 0.125% (E5) of lecithin nanoparticles. Results revealed that following dilution, the progressive motility (PM) at E3, E4 and E5 of lecithin nanoparticles was higher (p < .05) than it was for E2. After equilibration, compared to the E1, E2, and E3 values, the PM, vitality, normal morphology, membrane integrity and intact acrosome values at the E5 were consistently greater (p < .05). Comparing the percentages of intact acrosome and membrane integrity at E2 and E3 to E4 and E5, a substantial decrease (p < .05) was seen. Following thawing, the percentage of PM improved at E2 and E5, even though their mean PM values were similar (p > .05) compared to E1, E3 and E4. Vigour and progression parameters of sperm (DAP, DCL, DSL, VAP, VCL, VSL and STR) at E5 were higher (p < .05) than those at E1, E2, E3 and E4. In conclusion, the cryopreserved sperm from Holstein bulls revealed outstanding properties both after equilibration and after thawing with 0.125% lecithin nanoparticles, and they were sensitive to high dosages.

Cobalt-ferrite/Ag-fMWCNT hybrid nanocomposite catalyst for efficient degradation of synthetic organic dyes via peroxymonosulfate activation.

The activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) by nanocatalysts has shown promise as an effective wastewater treatment protocol. Magnetic CoFe2O4/Ag-nanoparticles (NPs) anchored on functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (fMWCNTs), a support material, were synthesized using a one-pot solvothermal method. The surface morphologies and physicochemical properties of the CoFe2O4/Ag-fMWCNT hybrid nanocomposite catalyst were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The activity of the nanocomposite combined with PMS (serving as an activator) toward the degradation of rhodamine B, methylene blue, methyl orange, and methyl red was investigated. The obtained optimal 0.02 g CoFe2O4/Ag-fMWCNTs exhibited the highest PMS activation performance, with a removal percentage of 100% for 20 ppm dye concentration at pH 6.5 within 14 min. In addition, the rhodamine B degradation product was investigated by analyzing the intermediate products by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The homogeneous distribution of CoFe2O4/Ag NPs on fMWCNTs accelerated PMS activation and enhanced the catalytic degradation of dyes. The effects of the reaction parameters on the dye degradation efficiency were investigated by using different nanocatalysts (fMWCNTs, CoFe2O4/fMWCNTs, and CoFe2O4/Ag-fMWCNTs) as well as by varying the pH (3-11), dye concentration (10-50 mg/l), catalyst dose (0.002-0.3 g), and PMS dose (0.02-0.1 g). Quenching experiments revealed that sulfate radicals are primarily responsible for rhodamine B degradation. A plausible mechanism for catalytic PMS activation was also proposed. Complete decolorization occurred within the first few minutes of the reaction. Furthermore, the catalytic activity of the CoFe2O4/Ag-fMWCNT/PMS hybrid nanocomposite remained stable after five successive cycles. This study verifies the applicability of CoFe2O4/Ag-fMWCNTs as an ultrafast catalyst for the complete removal of persistent organic pollutants via PMS activation, revealing their promising application in wastewater treatment.

Ultrafast soliton mode-locked fiber laser at 1560 nm based on Znq2 as a saturable absorber.

A mode-locked fiber laser was developed by using bis(8-hydroxyquinoline) zinc (Znq2) as a saturable absorber (SA). Znq2 is an organic metal chelate with several advantages such as good saturable absorption, relatively high damage threshold, and an easy, low-cost, and simple fabrication process. The developed SA based on Znq2 has a linear absorption (at 1560 nm), modulation depth, and saturation intensity of 1.2 dB, 16.6 %, and 95MW/cm2, respectively. The laser cavity produced a very stable soliton mode-locking operation at 1560.6 nm with pulse duration, repetition rate, and SNR of 1.46 ps, 3.5 MHz, and 60.6 dB, respectively. This work is the first, to the best of our knowledge, to report Znq2 as a mode locker.

The socioeconomic cost of chronic rhinosinusitis study.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is highly prevalent, affecting 11% of the population. Studies evaluating the socio-economic impact of CRS are mostly limited to the US population. Currently there is no study that has evaluated the socio-economic costs of CRS in the UK. METHODS: A case-control study of patients with CRS and healthy controls was conducted to investigate the wider socio-economic impact of the disease. Data on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), health resource utilisation, productivity losses and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) via the EQ-5D and SNOT-22 instruments, were collected from questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 139 CRS participants and 67 control participants completed the questionnaires. The average total OOPE per patient extrapolated to a 12-month period was £304.84. Other important findings include significantly higher reported primary care interactions (4.14 vs. 1.16) as well as secondary care interactions (2.61 vs 0.4) in CRS group as compared to controls over three-months. The average total missed workdays was estimated to be 18.7 per patient per year. The estimated incremental healthcare cost of CRS per year is £16.8 billion or £2.8 billion per million inhabitants. Factors predictive of a higher OOPE include higher household occupancy and income and these accounted for only 9.7% of the total variance in total OOPEs. Other socioeconomic, demographic and HRQoL variables were not found to be predictive factors of OOPE. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that CRS has a significant wider economic burden beyond the immediate direct healthcare costs. CRS participants had a high level of healthcare service use, OOPE and productivity loss. Results from this study will add to the existing limited data both for the UK and abroad and emphasises the need for effective treatments for these patients to reduce the disease impact.

The Impact of Tennis and Golfer's Elbow on Shoulder External Rotators and Abductors' Peak Torque.

CONTEXT: Upper limb activities require a repetitive movement of the shoulder external rotator and abductor muscles. The malfunction of the proximal part of the upper limb kinetic chain tends to change the mechanics of the distal part and increase the risk of injuries. OBJECTIVES: To compare the normalized eccentric peak torque (NEPT) of the shoulder external rotator and abductor muscles among healthy athletes and those with tennis elbow and golfer's elbow. DESIGN: An experimental cross-sectional study. SETTING: Isokinetic laboratory, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 30 male athletes participated voluntarily in this study. INTERVENTION: Participants were distributed into 3 groups: healthy group, tennis elbow group, and golfer's elbow group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: NEPT of shoulder abductors and external rotators. The Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer was used to measure the variables of interest. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the NEPT of shoulder abductors and external rotators in healthy control group compared with both tennis elbow and golfer's elbow groups at an angular velocity of 60°/s (P < .05). Moreover, there was a significant increase in the NEPT of shoulder external rotators and abductors at an angular velocity of 120°/s in healthy control group compared with tennis elbow group and in golfer's elbow group compared with tennis elbow group (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow are associated with decreased NEPT of shoulder external rotators and abductors compared with those of healthy athletes. This tends to decrease the external stability of the shoulder joint and put high stress on the distal joints of the upper kinetic chain.

Acaricidal activity, biochemical effects and molecular docking of some monoterpenes against two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch).

Six natural monoterpenes (1,8-cineole, (-)-citronellal, limonene, α-pinene, pulegone and 4-terpineol) showed high acaricidal activity by fumigant and contact actions against adult females of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. The monoterpenes exhibited varying degrees of acaricidal potency using contact toxicity test after 24 and 48 h of treatment, where the LC50 values were <160 and 45 mg/L, respectively. In fumigation test, of these six monoterpenes, pulegone exhibited the highest toxicity (LC50 = 3.81 mg/L air), while (-)-citronellal had the lowest fumigant toxicity (LC50 = 15.20 mg/L air). All compounds had high inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and gama amino butyric acid transaminase (GABA-T) activities. Pulegone was the most AChE inhibitor (IC50 = 8.79 mg/L), while 4-terpineol revealed the lowest inhibitory effect (IC50 = 32.82 mg/L). However, limonene caused the highest inhibition of GABA-T (IC50 = 11.37 mg/L). The molecular docking studies revealed that the compounds displayed different binding interactions with the amino acid residues at the catalytic sites of AChE and GABA-T enzymes. Noncovalent interactions especially van der Waals, hydrogen bonding as well as hydrophobic was found between the compounds and the enzymes. A significant relationship was found between the docking score and the biological activity of monoterpenes compared to the standard acaricide pyridaben. In silico ADMET properties were also performed and displayed potential for the development of good acaricidal candidates.

Study of the prevalence of 5 HT-2C receptor gene polymorphisms in Egyptian patients with lifelong premature ejaculation.

We investigated the prevalence of 5HT2C receptor gene polymorphisms in Egyptian patients with lifelong premature ejaculation. A total of 350 participants were enrolled in a prospective study. Two hundred and forty-five cases with lifelong premature ejaculation joined this study, in addition to 105 controls. We instructed the partners of the cases to measure the IELT of the first intercourse only using a stopwatch for 1 month. Genotyping was carried out at the end of the study. The results showed that the majority of the patients and controls were Cys/Cys. A highly significant statistical association was found between the studied gene polymorphisms and IELT among cases (p-values = .009). The study emphasised the potential role of 5HT2C receptor gene polymorphisms in patients with lifelong premature ejaculation.

Current use of baseline medical treatment in chronic rhinosinusitis: Data from the National Chronic Rhinosinusitis Epidemiology Study (CRES).

OBJECTIVES: According to clinical and comissioning guidelines for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), patients being referred to secondary care should have failed primary medical treatment with nasal douching (ND) and intranasal corticosteroids (INCS). The study objectives were to identify the rate of specific medical therapy in CRS patients and establish any differences in medication use, for both CRS and associated medical conditions, between CRS phenotypes. DESIGN AND SETTING: Case-control study in a secondary care setting. METHODS: Participant-reported study-specific questionnaire capturing free text data on current medication use at the time of study entry. Qualitative interviews with 21 participants also explored their experience of CRS and its management. PARTICPANTS: Patients both without (CRSsNPs) and with polyps (CRSwNPs). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Reported use of CRS-related and non-related medications. RESULTS: Within a total of 1243 CRS participants, current INCS usage was low (18% in CRSwNPs, 12% in CRSsNPs); ND was being performed by only 1% of all participants. Bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids use was significantly higher in CRSwNPs participants (P < .0001). Antidepressant use was significantly higher in CRSsNPs (14% vs 7%, P < .0002). There were no significant regional variations in rates of INCS use, nor any significant influence of social deprivation. CONCLUSIONS: The current use of baseline medical therapy in CRS appears to be very low, representing a combination of poor patient compliance, possible ineffectiveness of treatment and a lack of familiarity with current guidelines amongst general practitioners and some ENT specialists. Work is needed to disseminate guidelines to all practitioners involved and reduce unnecessary burden on existing healthcare resources for this common condition by ensuring timely referral and definitive management.

Preparation, properties, and uses of enzymatic milk protein hydrolysates.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of milk proteins has been a subject of numerous research studies and patents. The driving force for these studies has been the increased utilization of milk proteins. The industrial uses of milk proteins are based on their unique composition, functionality, and nutritive values. The diversity of milk protein fraction, the large number of proteinases, and controlled hydrolysis conditions used resulted in the preparation of hydrolysates suitable for several purposes. Enzymatic hydrolysis of milk proteins modifies the techno-functional and biofunctional properties of hydrolysates depending on the enzyme(s) and hydrolysis conditions used. Milk protein hydrolysates (MPH) are used commonly in normal and clinical nutrition and as a functional food ingredient. In the present review, emphasis has been made to highlight methods applied for the preparation of MPH, and the functional properties and utilization of the obtained hydrolysates.

POMICS: A Simulation Disease Model for Timing Fungicide Applications in Management of Powdery Mildew of Cucurbits.

A weather-based simulation model, called Powdery Mildew of Cucurbits Simulation (POMICS), was constructed to predict fungicide application scheduling to manage powdery mildew of cucurbits. The model was developed on the principle that conditions favorable for Podosphaera xanthii, a causal pathogen of this crop disease, generate a number of infection cycles in a single growing season. The model consists of two components that (i) simulate the disease progression of P. xanthii in secondary infection cycles under natural conditions and (ii) predict the disease severity with application of fungicides at any recurrent disease cycles. The underlying environmental factors associated with P. xanthii infection were quantified from laboratory and field studies, and also gathered from literature. The performance of the POMICS model when validated with two datasets of uncontrolled natural infection was good (the mean difference between simulated and observed disease severity on a scale of 0 to 5 was 0.02 and 0.05). In simulations, POMICS was able to predict high- and low-risk disease alerts. Furthermore, the predicted disease severity was responsive to the number of fungicide applications. Such responsiveness indicates that the model has the potential to be used as a tool to guide the scheduling of judicious fungicide applications.

A randomised controlled trial of sodium citrate spray for non-conductive olfactory disorders.

OBJECTIVES: Previous research has suggested that sodium citrate improves hyposmia by decreasing mucus calcium levels in the nose. This study aimed to confirm or refute this effect in a single application and assess potential side-effects. DESIGN: Study design was a randomised double-blind controlled trial of sodium citrate nasal spray (intervention) vs sterile water (control). Fifty-five patients with non-conductive olfactory loss were randomised to receive the intervention or placebo. SETTING: Tertiary care clinic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was improvement in measured olfactory thresholds for phenyl ethyl alcohol (PEA) over 2 hours. Other outcome measures assessed were improvement in olfactory thresholds in 1-butanol, eucalyptol and acetic acid; number of responders with a clinically relevant response in each arm; and adverse effects. RESULTS: A significant effect was seen in the intervention arm for PEA and for 1-butanol and eucalyptol when compared to the control arm (P<.05); 32% of the intervention arm responded in terms of improved sensitivity towards some of the odours. Minor adverse effects noted included sore throat, nasal paraesthesia, slight rhinorrhoea and itching. The duration of effect of the citrate is transient, peaking at 30-60 minutes after application. CONCLUSIONS: Sodium citrate yields some potential as a treatment for non-conductive olfactory loss; however, these findings require corroboration in further clinical trials looking at longer term regular use of the spray as a viable therapeutic option for patients where it would be applied at frequent intervals such as before mealtimes.

Spatial Variation of Arsenic in Soil, Irrigation Water, and Plant Parts: A Microlevel Study.

Arsenic pollution became a great problem in the recent past in different countries including Bangladesh. The microlevel studies were conducted to see the spatial variation of arsenic in soils and plant parts contaminated through ground water irrigation. The study was performed in shallow tube well command areas in Sadar Upazila (subdistrict), Faridpur, Bangladesh, where both soil and irrigation water arsenic are high. Semivariogram models were computed to determine the spatial dependency of soil, water, grain, straw, and husk arsenic (As). An arsenic concentration surface was created spatially to describe the distribution of arsenic in soil, water, grain, straw, and husk. Command area map was digitized using Arcview GIS from the "mouza" map. Both arsenic contaminated irrigation water and the soils were responsible for accumulation of arsenic in rice straw, husk, and grain. The accumulation of arsenic was higher in water followed by soil, straw, husk, and grain. Arsenic concentration varied widely within command areas. The extent and propensity of arsenic concentration were higher in areas where high concentration of arsenic existed in groundwater and soils. Spherical model was a relatively better and appropriate model. Kriging method appeared to be more suitable in creating interpolated surface. The average arsenic content in grain was 0.08-0.45 mg/kg while in groundwater arsenic level it ranged from 138.0 to 191.3 ppb.

Axillary Ultrasound and Laser Combined With Postisometric Facilitation in Treatment of Shoulder Adhesive Capsulitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare axillary ultrasound, laser, and postisometric facilitation technique with standard care in the management of shoulder adhesive capsulitis. METHODS: This is a randomized clinical trial study. Fifty-nine participants with shoulder adhesive capsulitis were selected and randomly assigned for eligibility. Forty-five participants were assigned into 3 equal groups of 15, and 14 participants were excluded from the study. The participants were blinded to their group allocation. Standard care group (A) received traditional physical therapy treatment in the form of pulsed ultrasound, scanning laser, supervised exercise program, and home exercise program; group B received the same physical therapy program as group A, except that the ultrasound and scanning laser were applied to the axillary region of the painful shoulder; and group C received the same modified physical therapy program as group B plus postisometric facilitation technique to the painful shoulder. All dependent variables were measured by the second author, who was blinded to the participant's intervention group. The first author administered treatment to all 3 groups. All participants received 12 sessions (3 times/wk for 4 weeks). Pain level and shoulder range of motion (ROM; flexion, abduction, and external rotation) were recorded 3 times (pretreatment, immediately posttreatment, and 4 weeks of treatment). RESULTS: Mixed-design multivariate analysis of variance indicated significant pain reduction with significant ROM increase in all groups posttreatment and after 4 weeks. Post hoc analysis for within groups revealed that shoulder ROM and pain levels improved significantly posttreatment compared with pretreatment ROM in all groups, with the greatest improvement in group C. Between-group analysis revealed that pain-free shoulder flexion, abduction, external rotation, and pain level improved significantly in group C compared with groups A and B immediately after treatment and after 4 weeks of follow-up (P < .05). Improvements reported in group B is more than in group A, and C is more than in groups A and B. CONCLUSIONS: Combining axillary ultrasound and laser with postisometric facilitation had a greater effect in reducing pain and improving shoulder ROM in patients with shoulder adhesive capsulitis compared with axillary ultrasound and laser with traditional exercise.

A Giant Intra Abdominal Mass Mimicking Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Rare Presentation of Renal Angiomyolipoma.

Angiomyolipoma (AML) is a benign tumor commonly found in kidney than extra renal sites. Most of the small renal angiomyolipomas are diagnosed incidentally on ultrasound and other imaging studies. Some renal AMLs present clinically when become very big, giant renal angiomyolipoma. Although almost all cases are benign, a relatively rare variant of epitheloid angiomyolipoma has got malignant potential and can even metastasize. Ultrasonography, CT and MRI scan are usually used for diagnosis of angiomyolipoma with high level of accuracy; even though some lesions may be confused as renal cell carcinoma on imaging studies. Here, a 48 year old man presented with a large intra-abdominal mass preoperatively diagnosed as a case of right renal cell carcinoma and radical nephrectomy was performed. Histopathology revealed epitheloid angiomyolipoma (EAML).

Efficacy of virtual reality-based balance training versus the Biodex balance system training on the body balance of adults.

[Purpose] This study investigated efficacy of virtual reality (VR)-based balance training on enhancing balance and postural reactions of adults as a low-cost new modality compared to the established Biodex Balance System (BBS). [Subjects] Thirty normal adults of both genders were divided randomly into two equal-sized experimental groups of 15: BBS balance training and VR balance training. [Methods] The training programmes were conducted in 12 sessions, three 15-min sessions per week. The Nintendo(®) Wii Fit Plus (NWFP) and its balance board were used to train of the VR group. Each participant answered a questionnaire concerning usability, enjoyment, balance improvement, and fatigue at the end of the training programs. [Results] The study found a significant increase the measure of mean overall balance (OLB) in both groups. No significant difference was found between the groups, but a significant decrease in the mean balance-test time was found for both groups, with no significant difference between the two training methods. The VR programme was rated highly enjoyable by 81.8% of the group. [Conclusion] The Wii Fit Plus system with the balance board as a new VR balance-training technique, can be considered an effective and enjoyable tool for the training of adults' body balance.

Effect of Wiihabilitation on strength ratio of ankle muscles in adults.

[Purpose] This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Wiihabilitation on the ankle dorsiflexion/plantar flexion strength ratio in adults. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty-two healthy male volunteers were randomly assigned to two equal groups (experimental and control). Participants in the experimental group received a Wiihabilitation training program for six weeks. Data were collected using a Biodex system 3 Isokinetic dynamometer. Peak torques of the dorsiflexors and plantar flexors were measured at an angular velocity of 60°/sec which in turn were used to derive the ankle dorsiflexion/plantar flexion strength ratio. [Results] The mean values of the ankle dorsiflexion/plantar flexion strength ratio decreased significantly between before and after the training in the experimental group, meanwhile there was no significant difference between before and after the training period in the control group . [Conclusion] Wiihabilitation has an impact on the ankle dorsiflexion/plantar flexion strength ratio, so it can be considered an effective training tool in terms of the ankle strength ratio. Thus, it could be recommended for both prevention and rehabilitation of ankle instability patients.

Living near a freeway is associated with lower bone mineral density among Mexican Americans.

UNLABELLED: We hypothesized that chronic exposures to traffic combustion products may lower bone mineral density (BMD). We found that proximity to freeways was associated with reduced BMD. Our findings suggest that traffic-related pollution may contribute to the occurrence of osteopenia and osteoporosis. INTRODUCTION: Adults residing in rural areas have been linked with higher BMD. We aimed to determine if this difference is due in part to air pollution by examining the relationships between traffic metrics and ambient air pollution with total body and pelvic BMD. METHODS: Mexican American adults (n = 1,175; mean 34 years; 72 % female) who had participated in the BetaGene study of air pollution, obesity, and insulin resistance were included in this analysis. Total body and pelvic BMD were estimated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Traffic and ambient air pollutant exposures were estimated at residences using location and ambient monitoring data. Variance component models were used to analyze the associations between residential distance to the nearest freeway and ambient air pollutants with BMD. RESULTS: Residential proximity to a freeway was associated with lower total body BMD (p-trend = 0.01) and pelvic BMD (p-trend = 0.03) after adjustment for age, sex, weight, and height. The adjusted mean total body and pelvic BMD in participants living within 500 m of a freeway were 0.02 and 0.03 g/cm(2) lower than participants living greater than 1,500 m from a freeway. These associations did not differ significantly by age, sex, or obesity status. Results were similar after further adjustment for body fat and weekly physical activity minutes. Ambient air pollutants (NO2, O3, and PM2.5) were not significantly associated with BMD. CONCLUSIONS: Traffic-related exposures in overweight and obese Mexican Americans may adversely affect BMD. Our findings indicate that long-term exposures to traffic may contribute to the occurrence of osteoporosis and its consequences.

Aetiologies of diarrhoea in adults from urban and rural treatment facilities in Bangladesh.

The objective of our analysis was to describe the aetiology, clinical features, and socio-demographic background of adults with diarrhoea attending different urban and rural diarrhoeal disease hospitals in Bangladesh. Between January 2010 and December 2011, a total of 5054 adult diarrhoeal patients aged ⩾20 years were enrolled into the Diarrhoeal Disease Surveillance Systems at four different hospitals (two rural and two urban) of Bangladesh. Middle-aged [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0·28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·23-0·35, P < 0·001] and elderly (aOR 0·15, 95% CI 0·11-0·20, P < 0·001) patients were more likely to present to rural diarrhoeal disease facilities than urban ones. Vibrio cholerae was the most commonly isolated pathogen (16%) of the four pathogens tested followed by rotavirus (5%), enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) (4%), and Shigella (4%). Of these pathogens, V. cholerae (19% vs. 11%, P < 0·001), ETEC (9% vs. 4%, P < 0·001), and rotavirus (5% vs. 3%, P = 0·013) were more commonly detected from patients presenting to urban hospitals than rural hospitals, but Shigella was more frequently isolated from patients presenting to rural hospitals than urban hospitals (7% vs. 2%, P < 0·001). The isolation rate of Shigella was higher in the elderly than in younger adults (8% vs. 3%, P < 0·001). Some or severe dehydration was higher in urban adults than rural adults (P < 0·001). Our findings indicate that despite economic and other progress made, conditions facilitating transmission of V. cholerae and Shigella prevail in adults with diarrhoea in Bangladesh and further efforts are needed to control these infections.