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N E Johnson

Publications and source records attributed to N E Johnson.

63 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Organic-solvent water pollution and low birth weight in Michigan.

This pilot study explored the association between a measure of water pollution caused by benzene or chlorinated solvents and the incidence of low birth weights for white residents of Michigan counties. A positive relationship between water pollution by these contaminants and the per cent of low-weight births (less than 2,500 grams, or about 5.5 pounds) resulted despite controls for the incidence of teenaged childbearing, infrequent prenatal care, and mean household income from wages or salaries. Water pollution showed an association with the incidence of low birth weight that was as strong as that between low birth weight and low prenatal care. While correlation cannot prove causation, the finding suggests that impure water may impair fetal growth in Michigan.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hindu and Christian fertility in India: a test of three hypotheses.

Three hypotheses interpret differences in human fertility among religious groups. The Particularistic Theology Hypothesis stresses the pronatalist influence of doctrines forbidding artificial contraception and emphasizing the importance of sons, while the Characteristics Hypothesis focuses on the antinatalist effect of urban residence, higher education, and late age at marriage. But the Minority Status Hypothesis argues that such antinatalist effects may be stronger for a minority than a majority, since better-educated, late-marrying urbanites have greater chances for upward mobility. Minority groups with these advantages may have much lower fertility than similar people in the majority group if antinatalism is seen as a way to counter prejudice and move up. I tested these three hypotheses with data from the 1981 Census of India, from which I calculated mean numbers of children ever born per wife aged 35-44. I standardized the mean for differences between Hindu and Christian women by urban residence, education, age, and length of marriage. The standardized fertility rates of Hindus and Christians were similar in 25 states/union territories. Only in Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland did the Hindu religious minority have a lower standardized birth rate than the Christian majority; but the Muslim minority had one like the Christians'. This pattern was most consistent with the Characteristics Hypothesis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparative evaluation of the safety and efficacy of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor monotherapy in the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the comparative efficacy and safety of the 4 currently available hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin, in the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia. DATA SOURCES: English-language clinical studies, abstracts, and review articles identified from MEDLINE searches and bibliographies of identified articles. Unpublished data were obtained from the Food and Drug Administration in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act. STUDY SELECTION: Placebo-controlled and comparative studies of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor monotherapy in the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia. DATA EXTRACTION: Pertinent studies were selected and the data were synthesized into a review format. DATA SYNTHESIS: The chemistry, pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics of the 4 HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are reviewed. Clinical trials evaluating the hypocholesterolemic efficacy of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are examined, and results on the comparative efficacy and safety of these agents are summarized. On a milligram-per-milligram basis, simvastatin is twice as potent as lovastatin and pravastatin. The hypocholesterolemic effects of fluvastatin appear to be approximately 30% less than that of lovastatin. In posttransplant patients receiving cyclosporine, safety has been documented for low doses of lovastatin and simvastatin, but when a higher dosage of an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is warranted, pravastatin should be considered the drug of choice because of a lower incidence of myopathy. Relevant data on the incidence of adverse effects are presented. Pertinent outcomes data from clinical trials evaluating the effect of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors on atherosclerosis regression and coronary mortality, as well as published economic analyses of cholesterol-lowering agents, are summarized. Recommendations on the selection of an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor in various clinical situations are provided. CONCLUSIONS: The literature supports the comparable safety and tolerability of all 4 currently available HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Therefore, the choice of an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor should depend on the extent of cholesterol lowering needed to meet the recommended treatment goal established by the National Cholesterol Education Program. Direct comparative studies are needed to confirm the relative, long-term cost-effectiveness of the various HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia.

Anticholesteremic Agents↗