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Biomedical subjects

E Shelley

Publications and source records attributed to E Shelley.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Obesity: a public health problem in Ireland?

We examined the prevalence of different categories of body weight in a random sample of men and women aged 35 to 64 years studied in 1985 in County Kilkenny, Ireland. The largest group was those classified as overweight-51.1% of men and 44.7% of women. There were 13.7% of men and 19.2% of women in the obese category. The obese were older but the distribution by social class did not differ significantly from the non-obese. Obese women had significantly more children born alive and a higher prevalence of positive angina questionnaire than those who were not obese. Serum total cholesterol was higher in obese men and HDL cholesterol was lower in obese men and obese women. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly higher in obese men and women but smoking status was similar. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, systolic blood pressure in men and diastolic in women remained significantly associated with obesity; there was an inverse association between obesity and HDL cholesterol in women and between obesity and HDL-cholesterol as a proportion of total cholesterol in men. A cardiovascular disease prevention programme should seek to prevent the increase in the prevalence of obesity with age which occurs in this population. It would also be important to assess other risk factors for coronary heart disease among those who are obese, with a view to reducing their overall level of risk.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Physical activity and risk of coronary heart disease in a survey of adults in Kilkenny, Ireland.

A questionnaire survey was carried out to estimate activity levels in a sample of 784 men and women aged 35 to 64 years in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Men were more likely to have sedentary, heavy or very heavy work activity while the majority of women had moderate activity during an average day. Only a small minority of respondents walked or cycled to work. 44% of those surveyed had leisure pursuits which were sedentary. At leisure, a higher proportion of men were involved in active sports or other vigorous activities for at least three hours per week. Men also spent longer each day walking, cycling or jogging. 16.5% of those surveyed engaged in vigorous activities for at least 20 minutes on one to three occasions weekly while 5.1% did so on four or more occasions. Younger people were more likely to take such exercise while older people were more likely to take less vigorous exercise. Path analysis using multiple regression techniques found that an increase in activity levels in this population could lead to substantial reductions in blood pressure, some of which would be mediated through changes in body weight.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The Kilkenny Post-Primary Schools Survey--a survey of knowledge, attitudes and behaviour relevant to non-communicable diseases.

This survey was carried out in the Spring of 1987 on a stratified random sample of 445 post-primary schoolpupils in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour relevant to non-communicable diseases were examined using a questionnaire developed from a World Health Organization core questionnaire. The results showed that levels of adolescent alcohol and tobacco use were similar to those found in neighbouring European countries. Smoking and drinking increased during adolescence and were more prevalent in males. Physical activity decreased throughout adolescence and a high intake of "snack foods" was found. Health-related knowledge levels were high but were not related to behaviour.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

A heart health assessment programme in general practice in County Kilkenny, Ireland.

The Kilkenny Faculty of the Irish College of General Practitioners and the Kilkenny Health Project have established a Health Assessment Programme (HAP) to standardise the examination and recording of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors in general practice. Criteria were agreed for classification and coding of demographic data, relevant medical history and risk behaviours. Height, weight and blood pressure are measured and venous blood sample is taken for total cholesterol estimation. The assessment is followed by appropriate counselling. The HAP was first targetted at men and women aged 40 to 49 years. During the first 16 months of the programme, 2102 assessments were carried out by 41 general practitioners, which represents 29% of the target group. Those taking part had a lower social class distribution when compared with participants in the KHP baseline survey in 1985. There were no significant differences between the two groups in smoking prevalence or in the distribution of body mass index. Median cholesterol was 5% lower in the HAP group than at the baseline survey. 16% of the HAP clients had diastolic blood pressures of 90 mm Hg or more. The HAP has demonstrated that it is feasible to measure CHD risk factors in a variety of general practice settings. The format facilitates a preventive orientation and has proved acceptable to patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Blood pressure levels among primary school children.

Blood pressure, height, weight and body mass index were measured in 1,280 Irish children aged 5-12 years (640 boys and 640 girls). Mean systolic and diastolic pressures accurate to within +/- 3 mmHg for each one year age-sex-group are presented. Blood pressure levels were found to correlate positively and significantly with height, weight and body mass index in both sexes. Forty nine (8%) boys and 58 (9%) girls were found to have a mean systolic blood pressure level above the 95th percentile value recommended by the 1987 Task Force of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of America. Sixty eight (11%) boys and 71 (11%) girls had elevated diastolic levels above 95th percentile values, while 19 (3%) boys and 20 (3%) girls had an elevation of both systolic and diastolic pressure. The implications of these findings for Irish children are discussed.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1989

The Kilkenny Health Project: food and nutrient intakes in randomly selected healthy adults.

1. Sixty healthy subjects aged 35-44 years (thirty men and thirty women) were randomly selected from electoral registers to participate in a dietary survey using the 7 d weighed-intake method during June-August 1985. 2. Energy intake (MJ/d) was 12.5 for men and 8.4 for women. Fat contributed 36.0 and 39.1% of the total energy intake of men and women respectively. When this was adjusted to exclude energy derived from alcoholic beverages, the corresponding values were 38.8 and 39.7% respectively. The major sources of dietary fat (%) were spreadable fats (28), meat (23), milk (12) and biscuits and cakes (11). 3. The subjects were divided into low- and high-fat groups both on the relative intake of fat (less than 35% or greater than 40% dietary energy from fat) and on the absolute intake of fat (greater than or less than 120 g fat/d). By either criterion, high-fat consumers had lower than average intakes of low-fat, high-carbohydrate foods such as potatoes, bread, fruit and table sugar, and higher intakes of milk, butter and confectionery products. Meat intake was higher among high-fat eaters only when a high-fat diet was defined as a percentage of energy.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Evidence for methane and ammonia in the coma of comet P/Halley.

Methane and ammonia abundances in the coma of Halley are derived from Giotto IMS data using an Eulerian model of chemical and physical processes inside the contact surface to simulate Giotto HIS ion mass spectral data for mass-to-charge ratios (m/q) from 15 to 19. The ratio m/q = 19/18 as a function of distance from the nucleus is not reproduced by a model for a pure water coma. It is necessary to include the presence of NH3, and uniquely NH3, in coma gases in order to explain the data. A ratio of production rates Q(NH3)/Q(H2O) = 0.01-0.02 results in model values approximating the Giotto data. Methane is identified as the most probable source of the distinct peak at m/q = 15. The observations are fit best with Q(CH4)/Q(H2O) = 0.02. The chemical composition of the comet nucleus implied by these production rate ratios is unlike that of the outer planets. On the other hand, there are also significant differences from observations of gas phase interstellar material.

Ammonia↗
PubMed1986

Evaluation of ceftazidime in experimental Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia: comparison with other antibiotics and measurement of its penetration into respiratory tissues and secretions.

The activity of ceftazidime was examined in a murine model of Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia in which the antibiotic was administered subcutaneously 6 h after intranasal infection and then twice daily for the next three days (i.e. seven doses). In a series of experiments using this test, the dose of ceftazidime giving 50% survival relative to controls (SD50) ranged from 1.0-9.0 mg/kg/dose while the dose required to reduce the log10 cfu/lung by 50% (CD50) ranged from 24-64 mg/kg/dose. Ceftazidime was considerably more effective than cefotiam, amoxycillin-clavulanic acid or kanamycin in the test. Pharmacokinetic studies with ceftazidime showed that no differences in respiratory tract penetration existed between uninfected mice and mice infected for 48 h with K. pneumoniae. The percentage penetration of ceftazidime from serum was 73% for pleural fluid, 44% for tracheal fluid, 27% for tracheal wall tissue and 17% for whole lung tissue after a subcutaneous injection of 100 mg/kg. At this dose, ceftazidime remained at supra-MIC concentrations for 2-3 h in all compartments examined.

Amoxicillin↗
PubMed1981

First admissions to psychiatric hospitals in south-east England in 1976 among immigrants from Ireland.

Irish male immigrants had twice and female immigrants 1.7 times the expected number of first admissions to psychiatric hospitals in south-east England in 1976 when the expected number was based on the age- and sex-standardised rates of first admission of the population born in the United Kingdom living in the region. Admissions for alcoholism and alcoholic psychosis were five times higher in men and four times higher in women, and for schizophrenia 2.4 times as high in both sexes, as expected from these rates. When the expected number of first admissions was based on the age- and sex-standardised rates among Irish people living in Ireland the immigrants had fewer admissions than expected. Among migrants from Northern Ireland the number of first admissions was significantly greater than expected. Admissions for alcoholism and alcoholic psychosis in men and women combined were seven times the expected number based on the UK rates. There was no significant difference in the proportion of single people between the Irish immigrants and people born in the UK. Marital state, socioeconomic group, and occupation may partly account for the high number of admissions for alcoholism and schizophrenia among Irish people living in south-east England.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

First admissions of native-born and immigrants to psychiatric hospitals in South-East England 1976.

In the past, birthplace has frequently been omitted in completing the Sheet, but in 1976, over 91 per cent of all first admissions to psychiatric hospitals in South-East England were analysed by birthplace, sex, age-groups and marital status. First admissions for schizophrenia were five times the expected number for immigrants from new Commonwealth America (the West Indies), four times the expected number for immigrants from New Commonwealth Africa (mostly ethnic Asians) and three times the expected number from India. Immigrants from Pakistan and the remaining New Commonwealth Asian countries did not show a significantly higher than expected number of admissions for schizophrenia, and their first admissions for alcoholic psychosis and alcoholism, psychoneuroses and personality and behaviour disorders were significantly fewer than expected. First admissions for schizophrenia were also significantly more than expected among immigrants from Ireland, Germany and Poland, but not from italy.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Causes of death of blue-collar workers at a Dublin brewery, 1954--73.

The suggested association between high consumption of beer and an increased risk of death from cancer of the colon and rectum was investigated among blue-collar workers at a Dublin brewery, who consume more than average amounts of beer, usually in the form of stout. A study of their mortality between 1954 and 1973 showed that they had as good an expectation of life as all Dublin males, with no increased risk of death from cancer of the oesophagus, pharynx, liver or of cirrhosis of the liver, accidents or suicide, conditions normally associated with the high consumption of alcohol. They had significantly increased risk of death from cancer of the rectum and also from diabetes mellitus. Twenty per cent of the workers, differentiated by their place of work within the brewery, had a much higher risk of death from cancer of the rectum.

Adolescent↗