Self-control is associated with health-relevant disparities in buccal DNA-methylation measures of biological aging in older adults.

Self-control is a personality dimension that is associated with better physical health and a longer lifespan. Here, we examined (1) whether self-control is associated with buccal and saliva DNA-methylation (DNAm) measures of biological aging quantified in children, adolescents, and adults, and (2) whether biological aging measured in buccal DNAm is associated with self-reported health. Following preregistered analyses, we computed two DNAm measures of advanced biological age (principal-component PhenoAge and GrimAge Acceleration) and a DNAm measure of pace of aging (DunedinPACE) in buccal samples from the German Socioeconomic Panel Study (SOEP-G[ene], n = 1058, age range 0-72, Mage = 42.65) and saliva samples from the Texas Twin Project (TTP, n = 1327, age range 8-20, Mage = 13.50). We found that lower self-control was associated with advanced biological age in older adults (PhenoAge Acceleration ß = - .34, [- .51, - .17], p < .001; GrimAge Acceleration ß = - .34, [- .49, - .19], p < .001), but not young adults, adolescents or children. These associations remained statistically robust even after correcting for possible confounders such as socioeconomic contexts, BMI, or genetic correlates of low self-control. Moreover, a faster pace of aging and advanced biological age measured in buccal DNAm were associated with self-reported disease (PhenoAge Acceleration: ß = .13 [.06, .19], p < .001; GrimAge Acceleration: ß = .19 [.12, .26], p < .001; DunedinPACE: ß = .09 [.02, .17], p = .01). However, effect sizes were weaker than observations in blood, suggesting that customization of DNAm aging measures to buccal and saliva tissues may be necessary. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that self-control is associated with health via pathways that accelerate biological aging in older adults.

Self-control is associated with health-relevant disparities in buccal DNA-methylation measures of biological aging in older adults.

Self-control is a personality dimension that is associated with better physical health and a longer lifespan. Here we examined (1) whether self-control is associated with buccal and saliva DNA-methylation (DNAm) measures of biological aging quantified in children, adolescents, and adults, and (2) whether biological aging measured in buccal DNAm is associated with self-reported health. Following preregistered analyses, we computed two DNAm measures of advanced biological age (PhenoAge and GrimAge Acceleration) and a DNAm measure of pace of aging (DunedinPACE) in buccal samples from the German Socioeconomic Panel Study (SOEP-G[ene], n = 1058, age range 0-72, Mage = 42.65) and saliva samples from the Texas Twin Project (TTP, n = 1327, age range 8-20, Mage = 13.50). We found that lower self-control was associated with advanced biological age in older adults (ß =-.34), but not young adults, adolescents or children. This association was not accounted for by statistical correction for socioeconomic contexts, BMI, or genetic correlates of low self-control. Moreover, a faster pace of aging and advanced biological age measured in buccal DNAm were associated with worse self-reported health (ß =.13 to ß = .19). But, effect sizes were weaker than observations in blood, thus customization of DNAm aging measures to buccal and saliva tissues may be necessary. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that self-control is associated with health via pathways that accelerate biological aging in older adults.

[Influence of environmental factors on the epidemiology of tuberculosis in the Astrakhan region]. / Vliianie ékologicheskikh faktorov na épidemiologiiu tuberkuleza v Astrakhanskoi oblasti.

The epidemiology of tuberculosis in the Astrakhan Region depends on many causes among which environmental factors do not take last places; a significant positive correlation with which was observed in 41.5 and 52% cases in the rural areas of the Astrakhan Region and in Astrakhan, respectively. The proportion of environmental factors among the causes in noticeably higher in destructive pulmonary tuberculosis, in chronic destructive forms in particular, and in first detected bacillary patients.

[The problems in and the means for improving ambulatory surgical care in the Armed Forces]. / Problemy i puti sovershenstvovaniia ambulatornoi khirurgicheskoi pomoshchi v Vooruzhennykh Silakh.

The article presents some conclusions on ambulatory surgery in the Military Medical Academy and Surgery Centers in St. Petersburg resulting in higher efficiency of surgical aid and its availability for military beneficiaries. Organization frames and staffing principles for day-time ambulatory surgery stations.

[The impact of ecological pressing on tuberculosis and nonspecific lung diseases in the Astrakhan' region]. / Vliianie ekologicheskogo pressinga na tuberkulez i nespetsificheskie zabolevaniia legkikh v Astrakhanskoi oblasti.

The correlation analysis was used to examine the epidemiological indices of the morbidity of tuberculosis, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, and lung cancer in the Astrakhan region in 1987-1994. The indices were compared with each other and with varying air, water, and soil levels of toxicants. The magnitude of the effects of pollutants on the incidence of respiratory diseases ranged from 61% (for tuberculosis) to 93.3% (for pneumonia). The effects of the water and soil concentrations of toxicants proved to be less insignificant, by varying from 28.7% in tuberculosis to 4.8% in lung cancer. The effects of toxicant levels on tuberculosis morbidity are 5 times less than those during fibrous-cavernous processes and twice less than in first detected tuberculosis at the stage of decay with bacterial isolation. The pollutants containing sulfur were found to adversely affect mainly patients with tuberculosis or lung cancer. The study makes it necessary to consider patients with the aforesaid diseases as the objects of ecological pressing that directly has impact on the course of diseases and their outcomes.

[Ambulatory surgery in St. Petersburg]. / Ambulatornaia khirurgiia v Sankt-Peterburg.

The authors describe preconditions of structural reorganization of the work of medical institutions of the ambulatory-polyclinical link of St. Petersburg in order to improve surgical treatment of the population. Main organizational principles underlying the work of ambulatory surgery centers are shown, results of their activities during the recent years are discussed. The advantages resulting from activities of day-time surgical hospitals are also described.

[The diagnostic importance of determining tuberculosis antibodies by immunoenzyme analysis in exudative pleurisy]. / Diagnosticheskoe znachenie opredeleniia protivotuberkuleznykh antitel metodom immunofermentnogo analiza pri ékssudativnom plevrite.

High diagnostic value of EIA detection of antituberculous antibodies in recognition of tuberculous pleurisy was established after examination of 58 patients with pleural exudate of different origin (tuberculous, tumor, nonspecific). Tuberculous pleurisy was diagnosed using sonicate M. tuberculosis as the antigen. It is important to determine antituberculous antibodies simultaneously in blood serum and exudate because in such a way it becomes possible to raise the test specificity to 100% in high sensitivity (94.7%).

[Prospects of etiological diagnosis of bronchitis]. / Vozmozhnosti etiologicheskoi diagnostiki bronchita.

Serum antibodies to soft tissue elements, levels of elastase, trypsin, trypsin inhibitor, alpha(2)-macroglobulin were measured to make a differential diagnosis of dust with nonoccupational bronchitis. For dust and nondust bronchitis titers of antibodies to collagen and elastin were different, serum enzymatic activity changed as a result of reduced concentration of trypsin and high elastase in dust bronchitis patients. Using the above results facilitates etiological diagnosis of bronchitis in workers exposed to dust by immunological methods as well as expertise of occupational bronchopulmonary pathology.

[The skin tuberculin sensitivity of students at the Astrakhan Medical Institute and its dynamics over the course of 36 years (1957-1993)]. / Kozhnaia tuberkulinovaia chuvstvitel'nost' studentov Astrakhanskogo meditsinskogo instituta i ee dinamika na protiazhenii 36 let (1957--1993 gg.).

More than 10,000 first-to-sixth year students have undergone the Mantoux test (MT) for 36 years. Before 1980, the tuberculin sensitivity of the students declined rapidly (as high as 3% per year), then more slowly (1%), persons with tuberculin hypersensitivity reduced in number, and the previously observed rise in the proportion of tuberculin-positive persons among the first-to-second year students becoming fourth-to-sixth year ones. Recently, the number of MT-positive students has stopped increasing, but there has been a growth in the share of persons with an indurate of MT with 2 TE in 10-20 min (from 36.1e4.0 to 51.3e4.0%) with the still permanent proportion of tuberculin-hypersensitive students and without any increase in the incidence of tuberculosis among pupils. The authors hold that this phenomenon is the first sign of poor epidemiology. In this connection, they consider that mass MT with 2 TE performed in individuals with an indurate of above 10 mm is noteworthy as this is a growth index of the specific sensitization of the population and they are to be systematically tested.

[Correlation between functional activity of lymphocytes and level of endogenous thyroid hormones in pulmonary tuberculosis]. / Zavisimost funktsionalnoi aktivnosti limfotsitov ot urovnia éndogennykh tireoidnykh gormonov pri tuberculëze lëgkikh.

Lymphocytic proliferation responses to PHA and purified protein derivative, T-suppressor activity and levels of triiodothyronine and thyroxin were studied in peripheral blood of 51 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. It was stated that the immunomodulating role of thyroid hormones depends on the disease form and phase, the degree of tuberculin sensitization of lymphocytes. An individual approach to usage of thyroid hormones in pathogenetic treatment of tuberculosis patients is considered.

[Improving the ambulatory surgical services on the basis of the work experience of the Center of Ambulatory Surgery]. / Sovershenstvovanie ambulatornoi khirurgicheskoi pomoshchi po opytu raboty Tsentra ambulatornoi khirurgii.

Centers of ambulatory surgery made on the basis of large city polyclinics and regional medical formations are considered to be a perspective and economically effective form of perestroika of the ambulatory surgical aid to people. Specificity of the operative procedures performed at the Center and specific features of postoperative management of the patients should be taken into consideration, and the staff of such units must consist of highly trained surgeons of wide type. The ambulatory surgery Center must occupy its place in the system of dispensary examinations of the population.

[Angiotensin converting enzyme in the blood serum of patients with tuberculosis and leprosy]. / Angiotenzinprevrashchaiushchii ferment v syvorotke krovi bol'nykh tuberkulezom i leproi.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) levels in the serum of 15 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 9 with leprosy were measured by means of a spectrophotometric method. The serum produced from 10 blood donors was used as a control. Leprosy is accompanied by a sharp drop of ACE levels, which is attributed by the authors to a cellular immunodeficiency. In case of tuberculosis, a higher ACE level in blood often follows fibrosis formed in the lung along with a tuberculin hyperergia. The opinion that the ACE level reflects the tuberculosis or leprosy activity as well as the granulomatous tissue extension in tuberculosis patients has not been confirmed.