Rumoured Hype Regarding Reelin
Figures 1 and ?and22 provide a cross-city comparison on the average life expectancy at birth of six global cities: Shanghai, New York City, London, Paris, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. Shanghai has lagged behind but has been catching up quickly in the past decade. In 1999, Shanghai��s male life expectancy at birth was 76.38 years, which was actually higher than London and New York City but lower than that of Tokyo and Hong Kong. During 1999�C2013, Shanghai��s life expectancy at birth has continuously improved; and currently, the males�� life expectancy seems to converge with other global cities at the level of 80�C81 years, except New York City (Figure 1). Shanghai��s female life expectancy has been keeping pace with London over the past decade; though ahead of New York City, it is currently falling behind Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Paris. Initially, the gap in life expectancy between Shanghai and some global cities such as Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Paris, was large but it has been narrowing (Figure 2). Figure 1 Figure 2 Does the PLX-4720 mw improvement in Shanghai��s healthcare system contribute to the decline in AM as suggested by Gusmano and colleagues (1), as well as the increase in life expectancy of the registered population? It is far from conclusive. Further empirical data and better research design is needed to support their findings. Shanghai��s experience of falling AM and increasing longevity is very similar to that of other global cities. Furthermore, when analyzed within the context of the recent national or global trends, the trends witnessed by these highly-developed global cities, actually are not that exceptional. A global estimation on premature mortality (i.e. mortality under the age of 70) published in The Lancet (3) has shown that during 2000�C10, China had a reduction of 19% in the premature mortality rate, with a reduction of 36% in the 0�C4 age group, 30% in the 5�C49 age group, and 15% in the 50�C69 age group. And the global premature mortality rate decreased by 19%, with a decrease of 34% in the 0�C4 age group, 17% in the 5�C49 age group, and 15% in the 50�C69 age group. This implies that the whole world has also experienced dramatic decline in mortality over the last decade, especially in avoidable premature deaths. Meanwhile, in 2000�C12 China��s suicide rate has significantly declined by more than 60% (4). This decline also contributes to the decrease of avoidable premature deaths and increase in life expectancy. But there are other suggested reasons for the suicide reduction, for example, the improvement of education and work opportunities due to urbanization, and improvement of quality of life, especially for rural women. Certainly, the improvement of the healthcare system would be able to provide a more timely and effective treatment to those who attempt suicide. The improvement in the health system might contribute to increase of lifespan but higher degree of disability is expected to appear among people in advanced age.