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Biomedical subjects

A G Shaper

Publications and source records attributed to A G Shaper.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglycerides after a standardized high-fat meal.

Total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and triglycerides were measured fasting and at 20, 40, 60, 120 and 180 min after a high-fat meal in 22 healthy subjects. Both HDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol fell during the first 20 min after the meal whereas the mean triglyceride level increased during the observation period. In 8 of the subjects the maximum triglyceride level was reached before the end of the observation period and their fasting HDL-cholesterol level was significantly higher than in the rest of the subjects. The higher the fasting HDL-cholesterol concentration, the more rapidly the triglyceride levels returned towards initial values. The study supports the concept that the degradation rate of triglyceride-rich particles is dependent on the HDL-cholesterol level. It also suggests the use of non-fasting triglyceride values in addition to HDL-cholesterol as independent predictors in longitudinal studies for CHD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Smoking and drinking by middle-aged British men: effects of social class and town of residence.

In 7735 men aged 40-59, selected at random from general practices in 24 towns throughout Britain, pronounced differences were noted in the prevalences of smoking and drinking between the social classes. Social class differences also existed for frequency and quantity of drinking, type of beverage, and several aspects of smoking behaviour. Increasing amounts of smoking were associated with higher prevalences of moderate to heavy drinking, particularly in daily rather than weekend drinkers. Between drinking groups, however, the relation with smoking was more U-shaped, with light and heavy drinkers smoking more than moderate drinkers. The lowest rates of moderate to heavy smoking were observed in frequent light drinkers, particularly in the nonmanual workers. The proportion of moderate to heavy drinkers was no higher among ex-cigarette smokers than among current smokers. When the data were examined by town of residence social class differences persisted. Controlling for social class still showed pronounced differences between towns in both smoking and drinking behaviour. These data confirm that town of residence and social class have independent effects on smoking and drinking. The established regional and social class differences in cardiovascular disease may be due in part to the independent influences of town and social class on smoking and drinking behaviour.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

British Regional Heart Study: cardiovascular risk factors in middle-aged men in 24 towns.

The British Regional Heart Study seeks to define risk factors for cardiovascular disease, to examine their interrelationships, and to explain the geographic variations in cardiovascular disease in Britain. A clinical survey of men aged 40-59 in 24 British towns was carried out and preliminary data from the survey analysed. On a town basis cardiovascular mortality was associated with mean systolic blood pressure and the prevalence of heavy cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol consumption. No such association was seen for body mass index or mean serum total cholesterol or high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol concentration. Cigarette smoking and alcohol intake and, to a less degree, systolic blood pressure were related to the social class (percentage of manual workers) of a town, and these factors may determine to some extent the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in manual workers. Blood pressure in individual subjects was affected predominantly by age, body mass index, and alcohol intake. Body mass index appeared to affect blood pressure to a greater extent than alcohol intake and did so with a consistent and positive linear trend. Nevertheless, the differences between towns in mean blood pressure readings appeared to be more closely associated with variations in the prevalence of heavy drinking than with variations in body mass index. Alcohol intake and body mass index explained only a part of the striking differences between towns in mean blood pressure readings, and some important "town"factors remained unexplained.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Studies of water quality and cardiovascular disease in the United Kingdom.

The British Regional Heart Study aims at determining factors responsible for the marked regional variations in cardiovascular disease in Great Britain. PHASE I is a retrospective study of cardiovascular mortality with water quality (hardness and more than 20 other water parameters have been studied), climate, air pollution, socio-economic and genetic factors. An association between water hardness and cardiovascular mortality is reaffirmed, towns with soft water tending to have higher death rates than towns with hard water. This relationship is somewhat weakened after allowing for climatic and socio-economic factors but remains statistically significant for both coronary heart disease and stroke. After adjustment for other factors, soft water areas (around 0.25 mmol/l) have a 10-15% higher cardiovascular mortality that areas of medium hardness (around 1.70 mmol/l) whereas any further increase beyond 1.70 mmol/l has little extra lowering effect on cardiovascular mortality.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

British Regional Heart Study: geographic variations in cardiovascular mortality, and the role of water quality.

In a study of regional variations in cardiovascular mortality in Great Britain during 1969-73 based on 253 towns the possible contributions of drinking water quality, climate, air pollution, blood groups, and socioeconomic factors were evaluated. A twofold range in mortality from stroke and ischaemic heart disease was apparent, the highest mortality being in the west of Scotland and the lowest in south-east England. A multifactorial approach identified five principal factors that substantially explained this geographic variation in cardiovascular mortality-namely, water hardness, rainfall, temperature, and two social factors (percentage of manual workers and car ownership). After adjustment for other factors cardiovascular mortality in areas with very soft water, around 0.25 mmol/l (calcium carbonate equivalent 25 mg/l), was estimated to be 10-15% higher than that in areas with medium-hard water, around 1.7 mmol/l (170 mg/l), while any further increase in hardness beyond 1.7 mmol/l did not additionally lower cardiovascular mortality.Thus a negative relation existed between water hardness and cardiovascular mortality, although climate and socioeconomic conditions also appeared to be important influences. Cross-sectional and prospective surveys of 7500 middle-aged men from 24 towns are in progress and will permit further exploration of these geographic differences, especially with regard to personal risk factors such as blood pressure, blood lipid concentrations, and cigarette smoking.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Dietary prevention at home and abroad.

The main dietary recommendations towards the prevention/postponement of coronary heart disease (CHD) made in the U.K. in the last decade are reviewed. There is substantial agreement regarding the need for a reduction in the intake of saturated fats. It is suggested that only moderate changes in dietary polyunsaturated: saturated ratio may be sufficient to achieve changes in the incidence of CHD.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

The British Regional Heart Study: cardiovascular mortality and water quality.

The Regional Heart Study aims at determining the factors responsible for the marked regional variations in coronary heart disease and stroke in Great Britain. This report is concerned with mortality (1969-1973) from cardiovascular disease in 253 towns in England, Wales and Scotland with particular reference to water quality (hardness), climate, air pollution, socio-economic and genetic (blood group) factors. The preliminary results reaffirm an association between water hardness and cardiovascular (CV) mortality, with towns with soft water tending to have hgiher CV death rates than towns with hard water. Multiple regression analysis shows that this relationship is somewhat weakened after allowing for rainfall, temperature and socio-economic factors but that it remains statistically significant for both coronary heart disease and stroke. A study of 13 towns with artificially softened water supplies indicates that their CV mortality is no higher than in neighbouring towns without softened water. A study of the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease is being carried out in 25 British towns selected to represent all the variations in CV mortality and water hardness and representing all major geographic regions of Britain. The incidence of CV disease in the 7,500 men aged 40-59 years in this study will be related to personal and environmental risk factors. Preliminary data show an association between mean blood pressure levels and CVD mortality rates.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Epidemiology for geochemists.

Epidemiologists study the distribution and the determinants of disease in human populations. Geochemists may be more concerned to find diseases to fit the observed patterns of geochemistry. This paper is concerned with the application of epidemiological techniques to the interrelations between health, disease and geochemistry, with particular reference to the hazards of man-made chemicals in the environment. Descriptive studies of disease in terms of person, place and time allow for crude comparison with the results of geochemical mapping and for the development of hypotheses. Analytical studies allow for the exploration of these hypotheses but demand careful sampling techniques and vigorous quality control. The epidemiological approach should be directed towards the identification of national/regional problems and of high-risk groups, the definition of priorities and the opportunities for preventative measures. The problems and possibilities for epidemiological research are illustrated from recent and current studies.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed1979

Cardiovascular disease and trace metals.

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.K. and other developed countries. In the U.K., mortality from coronary heart disease has increased progressively over the past 25 years, particularly in males. This paper examines the possible role of trace metals in the development of cardiovascular disease, with particular reference to the effects of cobalt, cadmium and lead in myocardial disease, atherosclerosis and hypertension. It is concluded that cobalt is an unimportant factor in community levels of cardiovascular disease, that cadmium has striking effects on blood pressure in animals and that there is some evidence for an association between environmental lead and high blood pressure.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1977

Dietary recommendations for the community towards the postponement of coronary heart disease.

The public has recently been confronted with many, often conflicting, recommendations about diet and reducing the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Dietary recommendations to the community designed to lower the risk of CHD should be specific, clear, and brief. People should be advised to reduce their intake of foods that are high in saturated fats and replace these partially with foods that are relatively high in polyunsaturated fats. This will lower both total fat and dietary cholesterol intakes and will also change the ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fats.

Cholesterol↗