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Biomedical subjects

W Abbott

Publications and source records attributed to W Abbott.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Familial dependence of the resting metabolic rate.

Human obesity is known to be a familial disorder. We studied 130 nondiabetic adult southwestern American Indians (74 men and 56 women) from 54 families to determine whether the resting metabolic rate, as measured by indirect calorimetry, is a familial trait that is independent of individual differences in fat-free mass (estimated mass of metabolically active tissue), age, and sex. We found that most of the variance in the resting metabolic rate (83 percent, P less than 0.0001) was accounted for by three covariates--fat-free mass, age, and sex--and that fat-free mass was the most important determinant. Family membership accounted for an additional 11 percent (P less than 0.0001) of the variance in the resting metabolic rate. Thus, resting metabolic rate is a familial trait in this population, and it is independent of differences in fat-free mass, age, and sex. We also found that persons from families with lower resting metabolic rates were no more obese than persons from families with higher metabolic rates. This finding may be partly explained by the close correlation between fat-free mass and percentage of body fat (r = 0.81, P less than 0.0001), which indicates that the resting metabolic rate, as adjusted for fat-free mass, is already partly adjusted for obesity. Only prospective studies will elucidate whether the familial dependence of the resting metabolic rate is a contributing mechanism to the familial predisposition to obesity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Evidence for reduced thermic effect of insulin and glucose infusions in Pima Indians.

Several authors have reported a reduced thermic effect of food in obese subjects. The hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique has been used to measure one component of the thermic effect of food, insulin and insulin-mediated glucose disposal. We used this technique to measure the thermic responses to insulin and glucose infusions in 120 glucose-tolerant Pima Indians, a population with a high prevalence of obesity. During high-dose insulin infusions (400 mU/m2 per min) the measured increase in energy expenditure (MEE), 150 +/- 6 cal/min, was greater than the predicted increase in energy expenditure (PEE), 72 +/- 2 cal/min, for glucose storage as glycogen. During low-dose insulin infusions (40 mU/m2 per min) the mean MEE, 6 +/- 5 cal/min, was not significantly different from zero and was not greater than the mean PEE, 9 +/- 1 cal/min. These data were in contrast to results obtained from Caucasians by others and suggested a markedly reduced thermic effect of low-dose insulin and glucose infusions in Pima Indians. We also studied 23 glucose-tolerant male Caucasians and compared their results with the results from male Indians matched for glucose storage rates and obesity. The results showed that the thermic response to insulin and glucose infusions was similar in the two racial groups during high-dose insulin infusions but was markedly reduced in the Indians compared with the Caucasians during low-dose insulin infusions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Complementary methods for evaluating carotid stenosis: a biophysical basis for ocular pulse wave delays.

Attempts to noninvasively estimate the significance of carotid arterial stenoses have resulted in a recent technological explosion. Ocular pulse wave timing [oculoplethysmography (OPG) pulse delay] has been strongly promulgated but also criticized on theoretical grounds and for lack of physiologic validation. Audiofrequency analysis of carotid bruits (carotid phonoangiography CPA) has been combined with OPG allegedly to improve accuracy. To evaluate these methods in a controlled model, we studied the effects of graded unilateral stenoses in the canine carotid artery on physiological parameters and associated OPG and CPA recordings. Arterial compliance was calculated from simultaneous diameter and pressure recordings distal to the stenosis. OPG time delay correlated directly with reductions in flow and pressure and with increasing arterial compliance (P less than 0.01). Thus, the delay is caused at least partially by a decreased pulse wave velocity, resulting from the increased compliance distal to stenoses associated with a significant pressure gradient. OPG is most discriminating for stenoses of higher grades. Because bruits arise from flow disturbances that occur even with moderate degrees of stenosis, CPA provides diagnostic information before profound flow reduction occurs. This study illustrates the value of complementary methods for analyzing complex hemodynamic phenomena and provides evidence to support use of the pulse delay concept to diagnose arterial disease.

Angiography↗
PubMed1978

Osteoradionecrosis of maxillae.

A case of osteoradionecrosis of the maxilla has been presented. It is hoped that this review and discussion of osteomyelitis and osteoradionecrosis will point out the need for proper management of the dentition of cancer patients who are subjected to radiotherapy.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1977

Tracking procedures in follow-up studies of drug abusers.

One of the problems that researchers frequently confront is the tracking and locating of research subjects. "Deviant" populations may present special difficulties in this regard. The experiences of a trained field survey unit doing drug-related research are examined. The tracking procedures which they developed are systematically presented. While the substantive focus is on doing research among drug abusers, many of the stated procedures are applicable to research on other deviant groups and, indeed, to all social groups.

Follow-Up Studies↗