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Biomedical subjects

B Grab

Publications and source records attributed to B Grab.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

HDL cholesterol levels in patients with myocardial infarction and their families.

The present study using a quartile distribution of myocardial infarction patients demonstrated that the first-degree relatives of the myocardial infarction patients with the lowest HDL cholesterol have similarly the lowest HDL cholesterol. Low HDL cholesterol among these relatives was not secondary to increased VLDL triglycerides, as it persisted when subjects with hyper VLDL triglycerides were excluded. Familial low HDL cholesterol could not be attributed to known environmental factors as their levels did not differ significantly between the groups compaired. There was a significant correlation between HDL cholesterol levels of the parents and that of their younger offspring. The correlation was not significant with the offspring aged 20 and over. It appeared that there was a familial trend in low HDL cholesterol levels, more apparent among the young offspring than among the adult offspring, who may possibly not share any more the parental environment for factors liable to influence HDL cholesterol. This finding is compatible with a hereditary trait.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Apoprotein D in a healthy, male population and in male myocardial infarction patients and their male, first-degree relatives.

This report examines the correlation of serum apoprotein D with other lipoprotein lipids and apoproteins in a healthy, male population and compares the levels of high density lipoprotein apoprotein D of this control population with 2 samples composed of male, acute myocardial infarction patients and their healthy, male, first-degree relatives. Highly significant correlations were observed with very low density lipoprotein lipids (negative), high density lipoprotein lipids (positive) and serum triglycerides (negative). Serum and low density lipoprotein apoprotein B was not correlated with serum apoprotein D, whereas apoprotein A-I from serum and high density lipoproteins was strongly correlated with apoprotein D. A significant reduction in high density lipoprotein apoprotein D was observed in male, myocardial infarction patients. Their male, first-degree relatives also had lower apoprotein D levels, but the difference was not significant.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Relation between HDL cholesterol and fasting glycemia in a normal population and a diabetic group].

An inverse relationship exists between the levels of HDL-cholesterol and fasting blood sugar in a control population (active men, n = 522) and a group of diabetics. The diabetics also have reduced apoprotein A-I levels (98.7 +/- 21.0 U/l) in comparison with normoglycemic controls (115.0 +/- 8.3 U/l). Given the role that the HDL fraction has been suggested to exercise in the development of atherosclerosis, the inverse relationship described above could be involved in determining the extent of cardiovascular disease in diabetics.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Interrelationships of microangiopathy, plasma glucose and other risk factors in 3583 diabetic patients: a multinational study.

In a multinational study, fasting plasma glucose values in 3583 diabetic patients, aged 34-56 years, were related to the characteristics of these subjects and to the presence and severity of microangiopathy as ascertained by standardised methods. The patients were from nine different populations and ranged in number from 193 to 686 per population (London, Warsaw, Berlin (FRG), New Delhi, Tokyo, Havana, Oklahoma Indians, Arizona Pima Indians, and a national sample in Switzerland). In the total group, mean fasting plasma glucose was 8.1 mmol/l for those on diet alone, 9.7 mmol/l for those on oral agents, and 12.7 mmol/l for insulin-treated patients, of whom 25% had values exceeding 16.5 mmol/l. Since many variables were measured in each patient, it was possible to take into account many confounding factors in evaluating the relationship of plasma glucose levels to retinopathy and nephropathy.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Incipient resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine among a semi-immune population of the United Republic of Tanzania. 2. The impact of chloroquine used as a chemosuppressant on the immune status of the population.

Decreased sensitivity and incipient resistance of Plasmodium falciparum strains to chloroquine have been reported from Mto-wa-Mbu, in the north-east of the United Republic of Tanzania. In this locality the population had been exposed to chloroquine pressure for about two decades, in the form of medicated salt and through easy availability of the drug itself. In an attempt to find out whether such chemosuppression had influenced the immune response of the population, two seroepidemiological surveys were carried out in March 1981 and March 1982; the second survey was performed to confirm the results obtained in the first one. The humoral immunological response was measured by the immunofluorescent antibody technique. In the absence of information on the immunological profile that existed in the area prior to the introduction of chloroquine in 1960, the results of the present surveys were compared with those obtained in another locality in the north-east of the United Republic of Tanzania in 1967, and in the West Kiang district of Gambia in 1965. The two areas used for comparison exhibited a malaria endemicity similar to that prevailing in Mto-wa-Mbu prior to the introduction of the medicated salt. The results from Mto-wa-Mbu showed a significantly lower proportion of subjects with positive titres and a lower geometric mean titre in all age groups.A reduction in the humoral immunological response might be explained by the drug pressure that has been exerted in the area for many years. The depressed immune response found at Mto-wa-Mbu, however, was so marked that other factors may have contributed to its establishment.In view of the importance of these findings, it is recommended that further, longitudinal serological studies be conducted in the field to assess the effects of chemosuppression on the immune response of the protected populations.

Anopheles↗
PubMed1982

Epidemiological models of poliomyelitis and measles and their application in the planning of immunization programmes.

This report describes the construction and application of epidemiological models of measles and poliomyelitis. In these models, epidemiological classes and their age structure have been based on the natural history of these diseases in the population aged 0 - 19 years. The flow of the population through the classes has been expressed as an equation system suitable for computer interpretation. The models have been used to simulate both the natural course of the diseases and the effect of various immunization schemes. The models were also used to explore prospects for control and eradication of these diseases with specific immunization programmes, and their relative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Incipient resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine among a semi-immune population of the United Republic of Tanzania. 1. Results of in vivo and in vitro studies and of an ophthalmological survey.

The sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum strains to chloroquine was tested in one locality in the north-east of the United Republic of Tanzania, where a chloroquine-medicated salt project has been implemented for chemosuppression for many years, and where large amounts of the drug have been available during the last decade for the treatment of malaria infections.Single doses of chloroquine (5 or 10 mg of base/kg of body weight) failed to clear P. falciparum trophozoites in asymptomatic parasite carriers selected from the school population. In comparison, clearance had been obtained easily ten years previously with 5 mg of base/kg of body weight in several localities in the area.A total dose of 25 mg of base/kg of body weight given over a 3-day period succeeded in clearing asexual parasites from the peripheral blood by day 3 in all instances. Asexual parasites were not found again during the nine days following administration of the drug.All the schoolchildren who had received 5 or 10 mg of base/kg of body weight at the beginning of the trial were treated with a further 20 mg of base/kg of body weight at the end of the 7-day observation period. Asexual parasites reappeared in the blood of some of these children 7-10 days after the second administration of the drug.Using the in vitro microtechnique, incomplete schizont inhibition was observed in 3 out of 21 cases at a chloroquine concentration of 1.14 mumol/litre of blood, which is the discriminating dosage for resistance at RI level.No cases of retinopathy related to the prolonged use of chloroquine were detected among the 221 residents who had spent more than 16 consecutive years in the locality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Indicators for the forecasting of malaria epidemics.

The entomological inoculation rate is presented as a comprehensive indicator of malaria transmission level, its relative changes reflecting the risk of potential epidemic development. This rate is a known function of several epidemiological direct factors and is particularly sensitive to the survival rate and the sporogonic cycle of the vector. Although not yet fully quantifiable, relationships exist between direct factors responsible for the transmission of infection and certain meteorological and environmental indirect factors like air temperature, relative humidity, or importation of malaria parasites.The establishment of a two-stage monitoring system is suggested: the first stage would involve setting up a warning system based on the surveillance of the relevant indirect factors; at the appropriate time, this would trigger the second stage monitoring of the epidemiological direct factors having a definite bearing on the development of malaria outbreaks. It is recognized that the gain in reliability of the proposed approach depends largely on the progress still to be achieved in the quantification of the complex system of relations connecting the main direct factors with single or combined indirect factors. It is also noted that the proposed monitoring system should, in due course, provide the decision-makers with the epidemiological information required for the selection and implementation of intervention measures designed to prevent epidemic resurgences.

Climate↗
PubMed1980

Quantitative estimates of the evolution of a malaria epidemic in Turkey if remedial measures had not been applied.

In 1978, public health authorities, by means of large-scale control operations, succeeded in containing a severe malaria epidemic that had reached alarming proportions in the Cukurova and Amikova plains of southern Turkey. The benefits derived from this intervention are indirectly quantified in this article by estimating the number of cases that would have ocurred in the area if remedial measures had not been applied.For this purpose a simple mathematical model was fitted to both the number of cases in January (seasonal minimum) and the number of cases in July/August (seasonal maximum) that were recorded during the years 1976, 1977, and the beginning of 1978; the incidence trend from 1978 onwards was then determined by projection. By this method, it was possible to estimate that in the absence of intervention the projected annual parasite incidence would have been 75.4 per 1000 in 1978 instead of the observed incidence of 24.5 per 1000. According to the forecast, this incidence would have reached 100.9 per 1000 in 1979, 115.1 per 1000 in 1980, to arrive at a final stable level of 129.4 per 1000, if intervention measures had not been applied.Comparison of the number of malaria cases actually detected in 1978 (70 468) with the number projected in the absence of intervention (226 252) seems to indicate that about 2/3 of the expected cases were prevented in 1978 by the remedial measures applied.

Disease Outbreaks↗
PubMed1978

[Role of epidemiological models in surveillance of communicable diseases (author's transl)].

The interpretation of basic information obtained through surveillance of communicable diseases requires knowledge of the expected trend of the epidemiological phenomena under observation. The more precise the epidemiological forecasts are, the more efficient the methods of surveillance will be. With a few examples the author describes briefly the role of epidemiological models to produce reliable previsions, the principles ruling their construction, their use on computer to simulate known epidemiological situations as well as the impact of interventions on the disease dynamics. Mention is also made of the model contribution to the cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses of control programmes subjected to epidemiological surveillance.

Communicable Disease Control↗
PubMed1976

Rough determination of the cost-benefit balance point of sanitation programmes.

Resources for sanitation programmes in developing countries are limited and therefore must be used judiciously to obtain the best possible effect. Cost-benefit analysis is a tool that permits the better utilization of available resources. A simple method for rough determination of the cost-benefit balance point has been devised which requires little computation. To reduce the computations to a minimum, nomograms have been constructed which require little or no mathematical skill for their use. While the method falls short of perfection, its simplicity makes it useful for a rough evaluation of the benefits from sanitation programmes aimed at disease control in countries whose resources are not available for more sophisticated analysis.

Communicable Disease Control↗