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Biomedical subjects

L Abraham

Publications and source records attributed to L Abraham.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Selecting a healthy diet score: lessons from a study of diet and health in early old age (the Boyd Orr cohort).

OBJECTIVES: To describe the selection and modification of an appropriate diet score to assess diet quality in early old age. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional analyses of the Boyd Orr cohort - a long-term follow-up of men and women whose families took part in a survey of diet and health in pre-war Britain. Dietary data were obtained from a 113-item food-frequency questionnaire. A nine-item Healthy Diet Indicator (HDI) developed by Huijbregts and colleagues was identified from the literature and modified because some dietary variables were unavailable and to accord more closely with recommendations of the UK Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy. SUBJECTS: In total, 1475 traced, surviving cohort members aged 60 years and over. RESULTS: Modification resulted in a 12-item Healthy Diet Score (HDS). We found that about half the variation in the HDS was explained by variation in the HDI (r=0.71). There was, however, little misclassification of subjects (<10%) into extreme thirds of the distribution by the HDS compared with the HDI. Items of the score most strongly correlated with overall score were saturated fat (r=-0.57), red meat (r=-0.46), dietary fibre (r=0.58), fruit and vegetables (r=0.54) and percentage energy from carbohydrates (r=0.51). Modifying existing items had greater impact on agreement between HDI and HDS than the addition of new items. CONCLUSIONS: The selection and modification of diet scores is more complicated than often assumed. Furthermore, modest changes to an existing score can produce a score that is different from the original, and although it was not possible to test this issue, it may no longer predict subsequent health experience.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Background influences on dietary choice in early old age.

The contemporary increase in life expectancy is opening up a new stage in the Life course--early old age. Diet during early old age makes an important contribution to disease prevention, the management of established disease and postponing the onset of physical dependency. Despite its importance, few specifically medical, dietary interventions have been designed for this age group. The presently reported study aims to supply background information for such an endeavour. Qualitative interviews have been conducted with people in early old age, sampled purposively from members of a longitudinal study cohort. A number of background influences on the dietary choices of the interviewees have been identified. Some of these influences are specific to the present generation of people in early old age, such as eating in NAAFI canteens during National Service. However, the more general categories of which they are a part will have enduring usefulness. The findings are discussed in relation to: future dietary advice; the potential for interventions in primary care; enhancing the policy of free school fruit and research on the next age cohort to enter early old age.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

The relation of markers of inflammation to the development of glucose disorders in the elderly: the Cardiovascular Health Study.

Several studies suggest that inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of some glucose disorders in adults. We tested this hypothesis in a longitudinal cohort study of older individuals who had normal fasting glucose (FG) values at baseline. We compared the baseline levels of six inflammatory markers in participants who had developed glucose disorders at follow-up with those of participants whose FG remained normal at follow-up. Participants were members of the Cardiovascular Health Study, a prospective study of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in adults > or =65 years. All 5,888 participants had baseline testing, including FG and markers of inflammation: white blood cell and platelet counts and albumin, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), and factor VIIIc levels. At 3-4 years of follow-up, 4,481 (84.5%) of those who were alive had FG levels retested. Participants who developed diabetes (n = 45) had higher median levels of CRP at baseline than those who remained normoglycemic. On multivariate analysis, those with elevated CRP levels (75th percentile [2.86 mg/l] vs. 25th percentile [0.82 mg/l]) were 2.03 times (95% confidence intervals, 1.44-2.86) more likely to have diabetes on follow-up. Adjustment for confounders and other inflammatory markers did not appreciably change this finding. There was no relationship between the development of diabetes and other markers of inflammation. Inflammation, as measured by CRP levels, is associated with the development of diabetes in the elderly. Understanding the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of glucose disorders in this age-group may lead to better classification and treatment of glucose disorders among them.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Neuromuscular control mechanisms and strategy in arm movements of attempted supranormal speed.

Rapid, goal-directed elbow flexion movements were examined under interacting conditions of inertial loading and resistance to movement initiation. The resistance ceased when movement began, resulting in quick release movements. Inertial load slowed the movement and lengthened the agonist and antagonist electromyographic (EMG) burst durations. The quick release resulted in larger accelerations but only minimal changes in peak velocity. Most aspects of the triphasic EMG pattern were little affected by the quick release, but the build up of agonist EMG and the corresponding rate of static force development differed markedly between load and quick release conditions. These and other data suggest that the specific pattern of agonist muscle activation is set according to neuromuscular constraints of the antagonist muscle and the expectation of movement dynamics.

Acceleration↗
PubMed1999

Bacterial and viral etiology of serious infections in very young Filipino infants.

OBJECTIVE: Pneumonia, meningitis and other serious infections are leading causes of death in developing countries. As part of a multicenter study we aimed to determine the etiology of pneumonia, meningitis and other serious infections in a cohort of Filipino infants ages 90 days or younger. METHOD: During a 2-year period, 2053 infants age 90 days or younger presenting to 1 of 3 Manila community hospitals were screened; 873 had signs or symptoms suggestive of an infectious illness, and 608 were judged to have clinical features suggestive of severe infection and had laboratory workup including blood for culture and white blood cell count, nasopharyngeal aspirate for virology, cerebrospinal fluid culture when indicated and chest radiograph. Chest radiographs were read independently by 3 radiologists without knowledge of clinical findings. RESULTS: Of the 873 enrolled infants, 81 died (91%). After exclusion of presumed contaminants, positive bacterial culture from blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid was obtained in 35 infants (5.8%; 95% confidence interval 4%, 8%), 9 of whom died. The organisms responsible for meningitis were Acinetobacter spp. (4), Streptococcus pneumoniae (2), Escherichia coli (2), Enterobacter spp. (1), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1), Haemophilus influenzae (1) and Staphylococcus aureus (1); those responsible for the other clinical diagnoses were Salmonella spp. (6), Enterobacter spp. (3), Streptococcus pyogenes (3), other Gram-negative organisms (8), S. pneumoniae (1) and Staphylococcus aureus (2). In 685 infants examined for viral causes of their illness, 223 viruses were isolated from 219 infants (32%; 95% confidence interval 28%, 36%). Enteroviruses were the most common potential pathogens identified (22% of infants studied), followed by respiratory syncytial virus (17%), rhinovirus (10%) and adenovirus (4%). Concomitant virus identification occurred in 10 of those with positive bacterial culture (29%; 95% confidence interval, 15%, 46%), with enterovirus being found in 7 of these cases. CONCLUSION: Many young Filipino infants with life-threatening illness were evaluated in this study. Thirty-five had infections attributable to bacteria, with Salmonella spp. being the most common, followed by Gram-negative organisms. Pneumococcus was an unusual cause.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1999

[Diagnosis and treatment of spinal epidural abscess].

Spinal epidural I abscess is an uncommon disease. The medical literature emphasizes the importance of its timely recognition and treatment. Three patients admitted in our hospital are presented. None of them was diagnosed on ambulatory bases. All of them were admitted because of spinal ache and two of them also had fever. Magnetic resonance imaging yielded the correct diagnosis in all cases and was very effective in delineating the extent of the lesion. We used antimicrobial therapy directed against the bacteria identified by cultures as well as surgical drainage in all cases. The three patients had a good outcome and no neurologic sequela. Early recognition, proper microbiologic diagnosis and surgical drainage are the main criteria for the current management of spinal epidural abscess.

Abscess↗
PubMed1996

Tough times ahead.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed1990

Changes in food selection by workers of the pharaoh's ant, Monomorium pharaonis.

The results from simple choice test experiments with laboratory and field colonies of pharaoh's ants have revealed two behavioural traits that influence the way in which foraging worker ants respond to foods. Initially, worker ants from laboratory colonies showed a distinct preference for certain foods (e.g. honey and peanut butter). However, when given only these 'preferred' foods continuously for several weeks, workers showed a marked preference for other foods when offered a choice. This 'satiation' response occurred even though the initial diet was originally highly attractive to foraging workers. In addition, workers show a marked tendency to alternate between carbohydrate foods and protein foods. Thus, workers from colonies fed predominantly on proteins, subsequently showed a marked preference for carbohydrates, and vice versa. The 'satiation' and 'alternation' responses to foods ensure that colonies receive a diet that is both varied and balanced. In addition, these aspects of feeding behaviour have important consequences for the use of food-based baits in control measures against Monomorium pharaonis (L.).

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1988

Determinants of morbidity and mortality due to acute respiratory infections: implications for intervention.

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) were monitored every two weeks in an urban community in Metro Manila, Philippines, to determine the incidence and risk factors for ARI morbidity. Hospitalized children with acute lower-respiratory-tract infection (ALRI) were studied to determine case-fatality rates (CFR) and predictors for mortality. Incidence rates were highest in infants, 3.2-4.0 per person, followed by children one to four years of age, with corresponding rates of 3.0-3.4 per person. The risk factors for ARI morbidity were low socioeconomic status and age less than one year. A CFR of 5% in children with ALRI was observed. Malnutrition and a positive culture of blood were significant risk factors for mortality. These identified risk factors underscore the value of primary health care interventions, such as the standard ARI case management, immunization, health education, promotion of breast-feeding, and vitamin A supplementation, as strategies for reducing ARI mortality in developing countries.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

Prolonged apnoea with severe arterial hypoxaemia resulting from complex partial seizures.

Multi-channel tape-recordings of the EEG, breathing movements, arterial pulsed oxygen saturation and ECG were performed on a four-year-old child with a history of cyanotic episodes. These had started at nine months of age, resulted in cardiopulmonary resuscitation on unnumerable occasions, and were refractory to anti-epileptic medication. During each episode seizure activity appeared first, followed within a few seconds by sinus tachycardia, prolonged absence of inspiratory efforts and severe arterial hypoxaemia. As the seizure activity ended, breathing movements restarted and there was a gradual improvement in oxygenation.

Apnea↗