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Biomedical subjects

M L Burr

Publications and source records attributed to M L Burr.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Explaining the French paradox.

The 'French paradox' refers to the very low incidence of and mortality rates from ischaemic heart disease in France despite the fact that saturated fat intakes, serum cholesterol, blood pressure and prevalence of smoking are no lower there than elsewhere. To some extent it is due to under-reporting, but this is not the whole explanation. The relative immunity of the French to ischaemic heart disease has been attributed to their high alcohol consumption and to their intake of antioxidant vitamins, both being supplied by wine. The custom of drinking wine with the meal may confer protection against some of the adverse effects of the food.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1994

Childhood asthma in four countries: a comparative survey.

BACKGROUND: Asthma mortality among young people varies widely between different countries. Geographical differences in asthma prevalence are also believed to exist, but evidence is sparse owing to the lack of multicentre surveys using common protocols. A survey was conducted of 12-year-old children living in defined areas of New Zealand, Wales, South Africa and Sweden, in order to see whether asthma prevalence and mortality rates in children show parallel differences. METHODS: Questionnaires enquiring about a history of asthma and respiratory symptoms were issued to the parent. The children performed a simple exercise challenge test. RESULTS: Information was obtained for 4353 children. A history of asthma at any time was reported for 16.8% of children in New Zealand, 12.0% in Wales, 11.5% in South Africa and 4.0% of Sweden, and a similar pattern was shown by several other indices of asthma (various relevant symptoms, inhaler use, response to exercise challenge, and asthma mortality at ages 5-19 years). In Sweden wheezing was negatively associated with pet ownership; elsewhere there was a positive (though non-significant) association. Cat ownership was highest in New Zealand and lowest in Sweden. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of asthma in children shows geographical variation which is parallel to that of asthma mortality, being high in New Zealand and low in Sweden. Differential exposure to animal allergens is a possible factor in this variation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Clinical trials of altering dietary fat intake.

Alterations of dietary fat that reduce serum cholesterol are beneficial to people who have the highest risk of death from coronary heart disease (CHD). For other people the benefits are less clear; there is a suggestion (hotly disputed) that cholesterol-lowering by drugs, and possibly by diet, increases the risk of non-CHD death, for reasons that are not understood. Furthermore, fat intake interacts with other dietary and non-dietary factors. The consequences of altering dietary fat seem to be more complex and uncertain than have hitherto been supposed.

Cholesterol↗
PubMed1993

Infant feeding, wheezing, and allergy: a prospective study.

The determinants of wheezing and allergy were investigated in 453 children with a family history of allergic disease. A randomised controlled trial examined the effects of withholding cows' milk protein during the first three months of life and replacing cows' milk with soya milk. The children were followed up to the age of 7 years. Withholding cows' milk did not reduce the incidence of allergy or wheezing. Children who had ever been breast fed had a lower incidence of wheeze than those who had not (59% and 74% respectively). The effect persisted to age 7 years in the non-atopics only, the risk of wheeze being halved in the breast fed children after allowing for employment status, sex passive smoking, and overcrowding. Allergic disease was not associated with exposure to tobacco smoke, house dust mite antigen, or cats. Breast feeding may confer long term protection against respiratory infection.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1992

Haematological prognostic indices after myocardial infarction: evidence from the diet and reinfarction trial (DART).

Data from the Diet and Reinfarction Trial were examined to check the prognostic effects of plasma fibrinogen, plasma viscosity, white blood cell count, haemoglobin and mean platelet volume in 92 deaths among 1755 men who had recently recovered from acute myocardial infarction. All these variables were significantly associated with all-cause mortality over the following 18 months (haemoglobin negatively, the others positively). Those who gave up smoking following their infarct had a lower mortality than those who continued to smoke (4.1% and 7.9% respectively), and this effect appeared to be mediated by fibrinogen levels. Smoking habit accounted for only part of the prognostic effect of fibrinogen and white blood cell count. Haematological variables have an important prognostic significance after myocardial infarction. Cessation of smoking after myocardial infarction is worthwhile and has a favourable effect on plasma fibrinogen.

Blood Viscosity↗
PubMed1992

Fish food, fish oil and cardiovascular disease.

During recent years there has been growing interest in the possibility that dietary fish confers some protection against ischaemic heart disease. In four prospective studies, people who ate moderate amounts of fish tend to have a lower mortality from heart disease than persons who ate little or no fish. A randomized controlled trial showed that mortality after myocardial infarction was less among men who were advised to increase their intake of fatty fish than in a control group. Studies of fish oil administered to volunteers suggest that it is the omega-3 fatty acids which are responsible. The effects of fish oil include a reduction in serum triglyceride concentration, a reduction in platelet activity, a reduction in blood pressure, and (in animals) prevention of arrhythmias. Some of these effects require doses much larger than those that would normally be supplied by dietary fish.

Animals↗