Biomedical subjects

H O King

Publications and source records attributed to H O King.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1988

Mortality from diabetes in Nauru. Results of 4-yr follow-up.

A population survey in 1982 confirmed that Nauruan adults suffer from an extremely high prevalence (24%) of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. A follow-up study of the survey subjects was conducted in 1986. The aim was to assess the burden of diabetes to Nauruans in terms of premature mortality. Age-adjusted mortality rates for diabetic subjects were significantly increased when compared with normal subjects (relative risks for 4-yr mortality were 4.53 in men, P less than .01, and 3.96 in women, P less than .05). Although there was an excess number of deaths among diabetic subjects compared with normal subjects and subjects with impaired glucose tolerance, there was no significant association between cause of death and diabetes.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Plasma insulin response among Nauruans. Prediction of deterioration in glucose tolerance over 6 yr.

A longitudinal study of 266 randomly selected nondiabetic Nauruans [215 with normal tolerance and 51 with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)] over 6 yr showed that deterioration in glucose tolerance status had occurred in 61 subjects. Of the subjects with initially normal tolerance, 34 (16%) progressed to IGT and 14 (6.5%) progressed to diabetes. Thirteen of the subjects with IGT (25%) progressed to diabetes. Subjects were examined in 1975 through 1976, and follow-up examinations were performed in 1982. After age, a high 2-h plasma insulin response to a glucose load was the factor most predictive of progression from normal tolerance to both diabetes (P less than .001) and IGT (P less than .01). Both a high 2-h glucose level and greater obesity independently predicted progression from IGT, and a diminished 2-h insulin response just failed to significantly improve the model (P less than .06). The negative parameter of the insulin response associated with deterioration from IGT differed significantly (P less than .01) from the positive-parameter estimate of the response associated with progression to diabetes from normal tolerance (P less than .01), implying a qualitative difference between these nondiabetic subgroups. The use of a glucose-insulin interaction term to predict progression to diabetes for all nondiabetic subjects confirmed this difference; this term's addition improved the model (P less than .01), and progression to diabetes was associated with a high insulin response for 2-h glucose less than 7.8 mM but a low response for 2-h glucose greater than 7.8 mM.

Adult↗

PubMed1978

Variations in the lung size of children in Papua New Guinea: genetic and environmental factors.

In Papua New Guinea, rural village children of both sexes living in the highlands (1500--2000 m) were found to have mean values of forced vital capacity 27 per cent greater than children at sea level. Urban children with an apparently lower level of habitual activity had a lung size similar to that of rural children living at the same altitude. In a number of healthy children of coastal parents reared in the highlands and of highland parents reared on the coast, the size of the lung was, in general, appropriate for the altitude rather than for the parentage. These findings suggest that the highland--coastal difference is probably environmental rather than genetic in origin.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1975

Kuru. Epidemiological developments.

Important changes have occurred in the epidemiology of kuru since the last review in 1970. There has been a continued decline in the annual incidence, particularly in females. There is a change in the average age of onset in both sexes, and cases are no longer seen in children and adolescents. Alteration in the geographical distribution has resulted in kuru now being confined almost wholly to the South Fore region.

Adult↗

PubMed1975

Kuru.

Theis report discusses problems involved in the diagnosis of kuru. The gentic and epidemiological pattern is also reviewed. This reveals a continuing overall reduction in kuru incidence with the disappearance of juvenile cases and increasing age of male kuru patients a reduction in the age of female cases. The significance of these trends in relation to the transmission of kuru is discussed.

Adolescent↗