Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Tonga”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Anthropometry of 5-19-year-old Tongan children with special interest in the high prevalence of obesity among adolescent girls.

BACKGROUND: Despite much concern about adult obesity among Pacific Islanders, childhood obesity has seldom been investigated. AIM: Based on the anthropometry of Tongan children aged 5-19 years, this study aims to elucidate age and sex differences in obesity prevalence calculated from BMI and its relation to body fat estimated by skinfold thicknesses. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 895 students, aged 5-19 years, in the most modernized island and a remote island, were measured for stature, body weight, circumferences at waist, hip and mid-upper arm, and skinfold thicknesses at biceps, triceps and subscapular. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was calculated using the reference data of the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity of Tongan adolescent girls defined by the IOTF and CDC references was 19.4% and 22.8%, respectively, being considerably higher than that of not only juvenile girls but also adolescent boys. Among adolescents, the girls' BMI was positively correlated with fat mass whereas in boys it was not. The sex difference in adolescents was parallel to that in adults, being attributable to gender differences in daily behavioural patterns. CONCLUSIONS: Among Tongan adolescents, obesity prevalence in girls was much higher than in boys, in association with fat accumulation in the former.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A review of human salmonellosis: I. Infective dose.

The notion that large inocula of salmonellae are necessary to induce illness in humans is based on the results of studies involving volunteers. However, investigations of outbreaks of salmonellosis suggest that the infective dose was often low. This incongruity was investigated by an examination of factors that could affect the infective dose of Salmonella, a review of nine studies in which salmonellae were administered to volunteers, and a review of 11 outbreaks of salmonellosis for which the infective doses could be calculated. Determination of the minimal infective doses from studies involving volunteers is limited by the strains used for testing, repeated testing of the same subjects, and the use of too few volunteers at the lower dose levels. In six of the 11 outbreaks, the actual doses ingested were calculated to be less than 10(3) organisms; the outbreaks with higher doses involved very high rates of attack and short periods of incubation. Data presented on median incubation periods during 12 typhoid outbreaks suggest that low doses were involved.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Low-cost, simultaneous, single-sequence genotyping of the HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C loci.

New automated DNA sequencing technology has enabled the development of an assay for genotyping the three major HLA class 1 loci from a single sequence of each gene containing exon 3, intron 2 and exon 2. The assay allows 31 subjects (with 3 negative controls) to be genotyped at all three loci simultaneously, using a 96-well plate format. Genotypes were assigned by comparing each sequence to a database of 307 HLA-A, 563 HLA-B and 166 HLA-C alleles. Unequivocal, 4-digit allele assignments were made for 40 of 130 HLA-A genes, 82 of 130 HLA-B genes and 97 of 130 HLA-C genes from 21 European, 20 Tongan and 24 Niuean subjects. Ambiguity in interpretation of the sequence contributed to 66 of the 170 equivocal allele assignments, and 105 equivocal assignments were due to polymorphisms outside exons 2 and 3. All known alternative interpretations of ambiguous genotypes were identified, and seven HLA-B and two HLA-C ambiguities were resolved by reading the out-of-phase exon 2 sequence that followed an indel in intron 2. The genotypes of a subgroup of 27 heterozygous subjects, whose genotypes contained all of the alleles identified in this study, were confirmed with commercial, generic PCR-SSP typing. In European subjects, the repertoire of HLA-B/HLA-C haplotypes was almost identical to previously published data. We identified five new HLA-B/HLA-C haplotypes in the Polynesian subjects, and the remaining haplotypes were of Asian origin. In summary, we are describing a low-cost, sequencing assay for the three major HLA class I loci that provides a level of resolution that is comparable with a commercial PCR-SSP assay.

Alleles↗
PubMed1995

Children of South Sea Island immigrants to Australia: factors associated with adjustment problems.

Social-delinquent problem youth of South Sea Island immigrant to Australia parents, were compared to non-problem youth from the same circumstances, on family, sociocultural, personality, and substance abuse variables. Interviews and testing were done by members of their own community. A consistent pattern of differences most pronounced for males was found between the two groups although not all reached statistical significance. The problem youth compared to the non-problem youth tended to come from families somewhat lower in socioeconomic level, somewhat less traditional in culture, and notably more prone to discipline by physical punishment than by verbal reasoning. The problem youth had significantly lower self-esteem, significantly higher maladjustment test scores, and significantly greater use and problems with alcohol and drugs. They were more alienated and had less clearly established direction for their future. Recommendations for remediation are considered.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1986

Hypertension among urban and rural Tongans.

A cross-sectional study of urban and rural Tongans showed the prevalence of hypertension to be 8.4%. Hypertension occurred more often in urban men than in women. Systolic blood pressure (BP) showed a significant increase with age in all groups, except among rural men. Multivariant discriminant analysis identified the characteristics that were associated with a raised BP. The independent variables were selected for entry into the analysis on the basis of their power to separate BP categories, using Rao's V as the generalized measure of distance between groups. Age and body build (BMI or Fatsum) accounted for most differences between normotensive and hypertensive persons, especially in women. The fasting plasma glucose level was a significant discriminating characteristic for both men and women. The packed red cell volume was the most powerful single discriminating characteristic in men and the serum triglyceride level in women. The use of each characteristic to classify individuals by BP category may help clinicians to use cross-sectional data when deciding on the treatment of raised BP.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Traditional Tongan medicine and the role of traditional Tongan healers in New Zealand.

The aim of the study was to investigate the role of traditional Tongan healers in New Zealand. Qualitative interviews were carried out with twenty nine healers who were contacted through community networks. Every healer was unique in the kinds of ailments they treated which included fakamahaki (spirit related illnesses), lavea (physical injuries), hangatamaki (a wide group of traditional illnesses) and mahaki (non specific symptoms). Healing was seen as an act of love and service for the community for which it was inappropriate to charge. Healing skills and powers were passed on within families through the use of special rituals. The nature and attitude of the healer was regarded as being very important; the efficacy of the healing was seen to be more a function of the healer than the treatment used. Referrals to other healers and general practitioners were common. The healers expressed concern about the lack of understanding of their role by the western health system. There is a need for an increased understanding of the cultural basis of all systems of health care.

Community Networks↗
PubMed2002

Tongan-American women's breast cancer knowledge, attitudes, and screening behaviors.

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer is the most common cancer for many Pacific Islander American populations, but virtually nothing is known about the cancer risks and screening behaviors of many specific ethnic subgroups. This paper examines the breast cancer risk, knowledge, attitudes, and screening behaviors of Tongan-American women. DESIGN: Research activities were conducted in 3 phases: determination of cancer proportional ratios using data from the California Cancer Registry, exploratory focus groups conducted with 22 women, and self-administered surveys from 303 women (for a response rate of 92%). SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Survey respondents were Tongan-American women aged 40 years and older, residing in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. RESULTS: The breast is the most common cancer site for Tongan women, followed by the cervix and uterus, lung and bronchus, and stomach. The proportion of all cancers accounted for by breast cancer is lower among Tongan women (0.8) compared to White women. We found low rates for all types of breast cancer screening: only 40% of respondents had ever performed a breast self-examination (BSE); 26% ever received a clinical breast exam (CBE); and 25% ever received a mammogram. Many misperceptions existed about breast cancer causes, signs, and symptoms as well as the role of screening in detecting pre-symptomatic cancers. CONCLUSIONS: Much emphasis needs to be placed on improving early breast cancer screenings among Tongan-American women, including comprehensive community education, culturally tailored and linguistically appropriate materials, and improved access to low-cost screening sites.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

The Tongan story.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Developing Countries↗