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Biomedical subjects

L R French

Publications and source records attributed to L R French.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Cardiovascular disease risk factors and glucose tolerance. The Wadena City Health Study.

Cardiovascular risk factors were examined in 453 subjects participating in the Wadena City Health Study, a population-based study to assess the relationship between diabetes and glucose intolerance with age. Each subject was classified as either having non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), or normoglycemia, using WHO criteria. Age- and body-mass-adjusted levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were lowest for those with normoglycemia, intermediate for those with IGT, and highest for those with NIDDM. Age- and body-mass-adjusted levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were lowest for those with NIDDM, intermediate for those with IGT, and highest for those with normoglycemia, while triglyceride levels were highest for those with NIDDM, intermediate for those with IGT, and lowest for those with normoglycemia in women but not in men. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were lowest for those with NIDDM, intermediate for those with IGT, and highest for those with normoglycemia. With the exception of men with IGT, no differences by glycemic strata were observed for plasma total cholesterol. The prevalence of smoking showed no consistent pattern by glycemic status. These findings suggest that individuals with IGT have an atherogenic risk factor pattern that may put them at greater risk for coronary heart disease than those with normoglycemia. Intervention strategies such as diet, exercise, and/or drug therapy should be tested to evaluate whether these are effective in preventing conversion to overt diabetes and normalizing cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Adult

Association between stimulated plasma C-peptide and age: the Wadena City Health Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess age-related changes in stimulated plasma C-peptide in a population-based sample of adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Wadena, Minnesota, a city of 4,699 residents (1980 census) in west central Minnesota, approximately 150 miles from Minneapolis/St. Paul. STUDY SUBJECTS: 344 non-diabetic subjects (NDDG standards) from a stratified random sample of the total adult population of Wadena, MN. The six-study strata were men and women from three age groups: young, 20-39 years of age; middle-aged, 40-59; and older, greater than 60 years of age. MEASUREMENTS: During a liquid meal of Ensure-Plus (Ensure-Plus challenge test; EPCT; Ross Laboratories), blood samples were taken for glucose, free fatty acids, creatinine, and C-peptide. Plasma C-peptide taken 90 minutes after the EPCT was used as a surrogate measure for insulin. Clinical tests included one-time samples for hemoglobin, glycosylated hemoglobin, plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoproteins. Physical measurements included height, weight, and blood pressure. Urine was assayed for C-peptide and creatinine. Assays of urine and plasma C-peptide used antibody M1221 (from Novo; Copenhagen, Denmark). MAIN RESULTS: No differences were observed for the relationship between age and C-peptide within each of the three age groups for men and the three age groups for women. However, the levels of plasma C-peptide for older men or women were statistically significantly higher than levels for the young age groups of the same sex; fasting plasma glucose also was higher for older groups of both sexes, and postmeal glucose was significantly higher for older women. There were decreases with age in urine C-peptide clearance for women and men; the decline for women was statistically significant. In multiple regression models for men alone and women alone, that controlled for age, post-meal plasma glucose best explained plasma C-peptide levels. For young men, plasma glucose alone provided the best prediction of plasma C-peptide levels; body mass index (BMI) and plasma glucose provided the best prediction for young women. For older men and both middle-aged and older women, a combination of urine C-peptide clearance and plasma glucose best predicted plasma C-peptide levels; for middle-aged men, BMI also contributed to the prediction. CONCLUSIONS: Secretion of insulin in response to an orally administered mixed meal is undiminished with age in non-diabetic adults.

Adult

C-peptide response to meal challenge in nondiabetic and diabetic adults living in Wadena, Minnesota.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of the study was to provide cross-sectional descriptive data on the response of C-peptide to a vigorous meal stimulus in a population-based sample of nondiabetic adults compared with a population-based sample of adults with NIDDM. Available information is scanty, especially in subjects greater than 50 yr old. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The group under study included 377 adults without previously known diabetes randomly chosen from the population of the city of Wadena, Minnesota, almost all of northern European background, and 88 adults with known diabetes. PCP was measured 90 min after ingestion of 480 ml liquid meal Ensure-Plus, which includes 95 g dextrose, 26 g protein, and 25 g fat. C-peptide also was measured in a 260-min urine collection after the meal challenge. Novo antibody M1221 was used for C-peptide assay throughout the study. Participants whose medical record indicated insulin-dependent diabetes with a history of acetone production were excluded from analyses. RESULTS: The distribution of UCP and PCP in this group of subjects appears very broad. Both the highest and lowest values for C-peptide were observed in individuals with diabetic glucose tolerance. The mean and median values in the nondiabetic group are higher than in previously published reports. After statistical adjustment for age, sex, BMI, and concomitant plasma glucose, participants with IGT produced significantly more C-peptide than the group with NGT (3.48 vs. 2.96 nM PCP, P less than 0.05). Participants with diabetic glucose tolerance and who were not taking insulin produced as much or more C-peptide than either the NGT or IGT groups, depending on the statistical model used for adjusting for plasma glucose. Diabetic participants who were taking insulin produced significantly lower amounts of C-peptide than any of the non-insulin-taking groups (approximately 30% of the C-peptide produced by the non-insulin-taking diabetic participants). A decline in PCP production with increasing years since diagnosis (5.7%/yr) was observed exclusively in the insulin-taking NIDDM participants. Effect modification by glucose tolerance classification was observed on the relationship between plasma glucose and PCP: PCP increased with increasing plasma glucose in NGT and IGT groups, but a nonsignificant negative relationship was exhibited in diabetic participants. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that two forms of NIDDM may exist, crudely distinguished by the clinical decision to use insulin to control blood glucose levels. The insulin-taking diabetic individuals may experience a greater likelihood of pancreatic failure, whereas non-insulin-taking diabetic individuals probably experience stable pancreatic function over the course of their disease. Longitudinal observation of the Wadena cohort will provide more insight into this possibility.

Adult

A population-based study of craniosynostosis.

A population-based study of the incidence of craniosynostosis was conducted among residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, born between 1 January 1976 and 31 December 1985. This study included only those with primary craniosynostosis who were less than 5 years of age at the time of diagnosis. Cases of craniosynostosis were classified as definite or probable. Definite cases had craniectomies or radiographic evidence confirming craniosynostosis, while patients for whom there was enough concern about craniosynostosis to order a skull radiograph were classified as probable cases. With these definitions, the incidence of craniosynostosis in Olmsted County was 3.1/10,000 births for definite cases (95% CI, 0.4-5.8) and 13.6/10,000 for all cases combined (95% CI, 7.9-19.3). These rates were compared to non-population-based minimal and maximal estimates of craniosynostosis frequency, 4/10,000 births and respectively. The rate observed in this study for definite cases, 3.1/10,000 births, is statistically consistent with the previous low estimate (observed/expected ratio 0.8, 95% CI, 0.2-1.8), and the rate observed for all cases in this study, 13.6, is consistent with the high estimate (observed/expected ratio 1.4, 95% CI, 0.8-2.1). Differences between definite and probable cases in this study are presented, along with comparisons with recent population-based data.

Child, Preschool

Population-based study of impaired glucose tolerance and type II diabetes in Wadena, Minnesota.

The Wadena City Health Study was undertaken to assess the nature of type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes and its relationship to aging. This article reports the study methodology and prevalence estimates for type II diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) for the adult population of Wadena, Minnesota. The sampling frame for the study included all known diabetic individuals and all other residents based on a complete citywide census of residents greater than or equal to 20yr of age. A stratified random sample that included three stratifying factors (age [20-39, 40-59, greater than or equal to 60 yr], sex, and self-reported weekly use of any prescribed medication was drawn from the other residents). The study protocol required diet preparation and two full mornings of testing. Data collected included height, weight, and blood pressure measurements and both a personal interview and a medications questionnaire. A 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and a test with a standard liquid meal (Ensure-Plus challenge test [EPCT], Ross) were done on two mornings, with the order of testing randomly assigned. Clinical tests included one-time samples for hemoglobin, glycosylated hemoglobin, plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoproteins. Blood samples for glucose and creatinine assays were taken during the OGTT; blood samples for glucose, free fatty acid, creatinine, and C-peptide were taken during the EPCT. Urine collections were performed for both challenge tests and assayed for C-peptide and creatinine. Seventy-one percent of the known diabetic subjects, and 65% of the stratified random sample participated in the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

A case-control study of dementia of the Alzheimer type.

A case-control study to assess factors of possible etiologic significance to dementia of the Alzheimer type was conducted with 78 male cases diagnosed in 1979-1982 at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota and age-race-sex-matched hospital and neighborhood controls (14 of 16 autopsied cases were histopathologically confirmed). Information was obtained on variables relevant to vital, genetic, and immunologic hypotheses, and on possible occupational and environmental exposures, drug use, psychologic stress, smoking, and alcohol consumption. The only major difference between patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type and controls was a significantly greater occurrence of antecedent head trauma in the patients (odds ratio = 4.50). This finding is consistent with the literature on posttraumatic dementia but its importance is presently unclear.

Adult

Head injury as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.

A case-control study was performed in which the frequency of prior head injury was assessed in 78 patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) and 124 control subjects matched for age, sex, and race. A history of head injury with loss of consciousness was reported in 25.6% of patients and 5.3% and 14.6% of hospital and neighborhood controls, respectively. Matched-pair analysis of patients and hospital controls yielded an odds ratio of 4.50, which was significant (p less than 0.01). The ranges of times of occurrence of head injuries were similar in patients and controls, spanning several decades. The findings suggest a possible etiologic role for head injury in DAT.

Aged

Lead toxicity.

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Adult

Effect of age and parity on litter size in pigs.

Litter size increased (P less than 0.01) as the age of the dam at farrowing increased. However, previous reproductive experience (parity) had no direct effect on litter size of dams of the same age.

Animals