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Biomedical subjects

B R Visscher

Publications and source records attributed to B R Visscher.

59 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

Evidence for lower susceptibility to multiple sclerosis in Japanese-Americans.

A search for cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) was carried out among the 120,066 Japanese-American residents and the 3,060,366 Caucasian residents native to state of residence in King and Pierce Counties, Washington, and Los Angeles County, California. Although 48 cases would have been expected among Japanese-Americans in both areas (on the basis of the prevalence among Caucasians in these two areas), only eight cases were found who were residents on prevalence day -- all were American-born residents of Los Angeles County. The age-, sex-adjusted prevalence of MS among Japanese-Americans in both areas was 5.9 per 100,000. The lower prevalence of multiple sclerosis among Japanese-Americans than among Caucasians has been interpreted as evidence of a lower susceptibility to factors causing multiple sclerosis.

Humans↗
PubMed1977

Latitude, migration, and the prevalence of multiple sclerosis.

Prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) was determined in three groups of Caucasians in King and Pierce Counties (Washington) and in Los Angeles County (California): natives (born in study state), migrants from high-risk states (North), and migrants from low risk states (South). A diagnosis of definite or probable MS (excluding migrants with onset before migration) was established in 1816 of the persons found. The prevalence in Los Angeles County natives and in migrants from the South to either Los Angeles County or King-Pierce Counties were relatively low, while prevalence in King-Pierce Counties among natives and migrants from the North were high. The prevalence in migrants from the North to Los Angeles was intermediate. The results suggest that some degree of protection is provided to migrants by residence in low-prevalence areas, either early or later in life.

California↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Accelerated course of human immunodeficiency virus infection in gay men who conceal their homosexual identity.

Research linking psychological inhibition to physical illness led us to examine whether human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection might progress more rapidly among gay men who conceal their homosexual identity than among those who do not. We also sought to determine whether any accelerated course of HIV infection among "closeted" gay men might be attributable to differences in health-relevant behavior (e.g., health practices, sexual behavior) or psychosocial characteristics (e.g., depression, anxiety, social support, repressive coping style). Data came from a longitudinal psychosocial study associated with the Los Angeles site of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. Eighty gay men, HIV-seropositive but otherwise healthy at study entry (CD4 T lymphocytes = 30-60% of total lymphocytes), were examined at 6-month intervals for 9 years. Indicators of HIV progression included time to a critically low CD4 T lymphocyte level (15% of total peripheral blood lymphocytes), time to AIDS diagnosis, and time to AIDS mortality. On all measures, HIV infection advanced more rapidly in a dose-response relationship to the degree participants concealed their homosexual identity. Sample characteristics and statistical controls ruled out explanations based on demographic characteristics, health practices, sexual behavior, and antiretroviral therapy. Mediational analyses indicated that observed effects were not attributable to differences in depression, anxiety, social support, or repressive coping style. HIV infection appears to progress more rapidly in gay men who conceal their homosexual identity. These results are consistent with hypotheses about the health effects of psychological inhibition, but further research is required to definitively identify the psychosocial, behavioral, and physiological mechanisms underlying these findings.

Adaptation, Psychological↗