Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L Solomon

Publications and source records attributed to L Solomon.

191 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Bone density in ageing Caucasian and African populations.

Fracture surveys in the Johannesburg metropolitan area showed that the rate of femoral-neck fractures rose sharply after the climacteric in Caucasians, whereas the incidence of such fractures in African Negroes of the same age was almost negligible. However, a parallel epidemiological survey of metacarpal bone density in random samples of the same populations showed that absolute values for skeletal mass and bone density were greater in the Caucasians through most of the age-range from 5 to 75 years. Also, although bone density increased more rapidly and reached higher maximum values in young Caucasians than in Africans, it fell more rapidly in the former from the fourth decade onwards. The differences in the pattern of bone density alone are unlikely to account for the large difference in the fracture rates in the two populations. Perhaps quantitative changes in bone mass associated with ageing are accompanied by qualitative changes which may be critical in determining the liability to fracture.

Adolescent↗

Dietary intake of community-based HIV-1 seropositive and seronegative injecting drug users.

Dietary intake was assessed in a subsample of a cohort of inner-city injecting drug users (IDUs). In this population of predominantly African-American IDUs, including both HIV -1-infected and noninfected men and women, a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and a 24-h recall were administered. One hundred seven volunteers participated. Although total caloric intake was consistently higher with the food frequency method, percent of total calories from fat, protein, and carbohydrates were similar between the FFQ and 24-h recall. Spearman's correlations for agreement between the 24-h recall and the FFQ ranged from 0.22 for vitamin E to 0.52 for carbohydrates. HIV-1 seropositives reported higher protein (p = 0.05) and fat (p = 0.02) consumption than seronegatives according to the 24-h recall. The difference in total fat consumption was due to higher intakes of saturated and monounsaturated fats (p = 0.01). Median intakes of vitamins B2 and B12, pantothenic acid (p < or = 0.05), phosphorous (p < or = 0.01), and selenium (p < or = 0.005) were also greater in HIV-1 seropositives. Reported intake of vitamins A and E, calcium, and zinc were below the recommended daily allowances for both HIV-1 seropositives and seronegatives. Although intakes of most nutrients appeared adequate for the group as a whole, extreme ranges were observed and may be the result of imbalanced food selections and day to day variation. Food group analysis indicated low intakes of fruits, vegetables, milk, and milk products. More research is needed to fully understand the implication of dietary habits and nutritional status in the free-living HIV-1-infected and noninfected IDUs.

Adult↗

Human immunodeficiency virus infection in diabetic intravenous drug users.

OBJECTIVE: --To evaluate the association between diabetes and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroprevalence in a population of intravenous (IV) drug users. DESIGN: --Cross-sectional survey in a cohort of IV drug users. SETTING: --Community-based study clinic. SUBJECTS: --The study included 2921 individuals with a history of IV drug use in the past 10 years; over 90% had injected drugs in the past year and 77% in the past month; only 15% were receiving drug treatment. OUTCOME MEASURES: --The HIV seroprevalence among IV drug users with and without a history of diabetes. RESULTS: --Those IV drug users with a history of diabetes had significantly lower HIV seroprevalence (9.8%) than nondiabetic IV drug users (24.3%; P = .03). Despite similar duration and intensity of drug use and sexual practices, diabetic IV drug users tended not to share injection paraphernalia and were less likely to attend shooting galleries than nondiabetic IV drug users. CONCLUSION: --Our data suggest that the apparent protective effect of diabetes against HIV infection in IV drug users is most likely due to their safer injection practices afforded by their ready access to sterile injection equipment.

Adult↗

Chikungunya viral arthropathy: a clinical description.

Previous reports have indicated that infection with chikungunya virus produces an acute arthritis in human hosts. This paper reports for the first time a clinical description of the acute and chronic phases of the arthritis occurring in 20 patients who contracted chikungunya fever. In all cases the acute arthritis was severe and incapacitating and, in most of these patients, joint pains, stiffness and swelling persisted for at least 4 months (in 2 cases for 16 months). Acute phase reactants and serum complement levels were compatible with an infective response during the acute phase of the disease, but some abnormalities in these laboratory parameters were still evident several months later.

Acute Disease↗