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PubMed1996

Risk for osteoporosis in black women.

Models of involutional bone loss and strategies for the prevention of osteoporosis have been developed for white women. Black women have higher bone densities than white women, but as the black population ages there will be an increasingly higher population of black women with osteoporosis. Strategies should be developed to reduce the risk of black women for fragility fractures. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements of the total body, femur, spine, and radius were performed on 503 healthy black and white women aged 20-80 years. Indices of bone turnover, the calcitrophic hormones, and radioisotope calcium absorption efficiency were also measured to compare the mechanisms of bone loss.The black women had higher BMD values at every site tested than the white women throughout the adult life cycle. Black women have a higher peak bone mass and a slightly slower rate of adult bone loss from the femur and spine, which are skeletal sites comprised predominantly of trabecular bone. Indices of bone turnover are lower in black women as are serum calcidiol levels and urinary calcium excretion. Serum calcitriol and parathyroid hormone levels are higher in black women and calcium absorption efficiency is the same in black and white women, but dietary calcium intake is lower in black women. Black and white women have a similar pattern of bone loss, with substantial bone loss from the femur and spine prior to menopause and an accelerated bone loss from the total skeleton and radius after menopause. The higher values for bone density in black women as compared with white women are caused by a higher peak bone mass and a slower rate of loss from skeletal sites comprised predominantly of trabecular bone. Low-risk strategies to enhance peak bone mass and to lower bone loss, such as calcium and vitamin D augmentation of the diet, should be examined for black women. The risk vs. benefits of hormonal replacement therapy should be determined, especially in older women.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Special role and role expectation of black administrators of neighborhood mental health programs.

This paper attempts to portray the role conflict and ambiguity of black administrators in community mental health programs. The paper is not about mental health programs themselves but rather focuses on the problems of blacks in leadership positions in such programs. The implication of this paper is that blacks cannot escape being black despite their professional position or training. They are regarded by their superiors, colleagues, staff, and the community as performing what Hughes called a "racial function." This function presents an interesting dilemma. On the one hand, the black administrators are recruited and employed out of the needs expressed by the black community. On the other hand, their white superiors determine whether they remain in those positions. To offend either group risks the loss of their position. The black community and white employer sometimes make conflicting demands on these black administrators. The result is that blacks find themselves unable to please either. Blacks have reacted by withdrawal from the black community or resignation from the organization. This paper attempts to explain these conflicts. Although the problems of black administrators are called special cases it does not mean that other ethnic groups have not experienced any or all of these problems. It is called a special case because the black community is undergoing a special and unique kind of socioeconomical transition. Black administrators in other types of public organizations will recognize some of the conflicts described in this paper.

Administrative Personnel↗
PubMed1989

Hypercholesterolemia prevalence, awareness, and treatment in blacks and whites: the Minnesota Heart Survey.

Two cross-sectional population-based surveys were conducted in 1985 and 1986 to describe cardiovascular risk factors in blacks and whites in the Twin Cities. A total of 1,254 blacks and 2,934 whites ages 35-74 years participated. The surveys consisted of a home interview followed by survey center visit during which nonfasting serum total cholesterol level was measured and medication use during the past year was reviewed. Age-adjusted mean values for serum total cholesterol were significantly higher among white than black participants for both men (207 vs 193 mg/dl, P less than 0.001) and women (206 vs 202 mg/dl, P less than 0.05). Blacks had significantly higher serum HDL cholesterol levels than whites (men, 49 vs 41 mg/dl, P less than 0.001; women, 56 vs 54 mg/dl, P less than 0.01). The age-adjusted prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (serum total cholesterol greater than or equal to 240 mg/dl on the day of survey and/or current use of cholesterol lowering medication) was significantly higher among white than black men (18.3% vs 12.2%, P less than 0.01). No significant race differences were noted for women (whites, 19.7% vs blacks, 16.6%). Among hypercholesterolemic men, 66% of whites current use of cholesterol lowering medication) was significantly higher among white than black men (18.3% vs 12.2%, P less than 0.01). No significant race differences were noted for women (whites, 19.7% vs blacks, 16.6%). Among hypercholesterolemic men, 66% of whites current use of cholesterol lowering medication) was significantly higher among white than black men (18.3% vs 12.2%, P less than 0.01). No significant race differences were noted for women (whites, 19.7% vs blacks, 16.6%). Among hypercholesterolemic men, 66% of whites and 80% of blacks were unaware of their condition; among women, 72% of whites and 79% of blacks were unaware. Among individuals told by a physician they had "high blood fats," 2.9% of whites and no blacks were using medication for elevated blood cholesterol levels, while 70% of whites and 63% of blacks reported being advised to follow a low-fat-low-cholesterol diet. These data emphasize the need for education programs for physicians and patients regarding detection and control of hypercholesterolemia.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Experience of Black participants in the Lung Health Study smoking cessation intervention program.

This paper evaluates the hypothesis that Black smokers will respond differently than Whites to a smoking cessation intervention program where no adjustments are made in recognition of cultural differences. The responses of Black smokers who were recruited into the Lung Health Study (LHS) to the smoking cessation intervention are described. Black quit rates are compared with those of Whites. The LHS enrolled 5887 men and women smokers, aged 35-60 years, of whom 3923 were randomized to a group cessation intervention and 1964 to usual care. Blacks and Whites from six clinics who had complete covariate data (200 Blacks and 2868 Whites) were compared on baseline smoking characteristics and subsequent smoking cessation outcomes. Logistic models were constructed to adjust for baseline smoking variables and demographic characteristics to evaluate the effect of treatment group on smoking cessation among Blacks and Whites. At baseline, Blacks reported smoking fewer cigarettes than Whites, but had higher mean levels of salivary cotinine. The adjusted odds ratio of quitting at 1 year for the smoking intervention group vs. the usual care group was 1.48 for Blacks and 5.99 for Whites. This difference between Blacks and Whites was highly significant (p = 0.002). Across 5 years, the adjusted odds ratios of quitting were 1.87 for Blacks and 3.34 for Whites (p = 0.06). Although the treatment effect was stronger for Whites than for Blacks, over the 5 years of the study there was a significant treatment effect for Blacks. Indicators of physical dependence on nicotine at baseline were inconsistent in indicating whether Blacks were more dependent. We conclude that Blacks and Whites differed significantly in their response to the LHS group smoking intervention program.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Characteristics relating to ovarian cancer risk: collaborative analysis of seven U.S. case-control studies. Epithelial ovarian cancer in black women. Collaborative Ovarian Cancer Group.

BACKGROUND: Previous epidemiologic studies of ovarian cancer have focused chiefly on White women, who have a higher incidence of ovarian cancer than Black women. No study has previously examined risk factors for ovarian cancer among Black women. PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in Black women in relation to reproductive characteristics such as pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, and breast-feeding, and to determine whether differences in reproductive factors between Black and White women account for differences in ovarian cancer incidence. METHODS: Combining interview data from seven case-control studies, we compared reproductive characteristics of 110 Black case subjects with a diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer between 1971 and 1986 with characteristics of 251 Black population control subjects and 114 Black hospital control subjects. We also compared the prevalence of reproductive factors in 246 Black population control subjects and 4378 White population control subjects and estimated the fraction of Black-White differences in ovarian cancer incidence attributable to racial differences in prevalence of these characteristics. RESULTS: Decreased risks of epithelial ovarian cancer in Black women were associated with parity of four or higher (odds ratio [OR] = 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.25-1.1), breast-feeding for 6 months or longer (OR = 0.85; 95% CI = 0.36-2.0), and use of oral contraceptives for 6 years or longer (OR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.24-1.6). A greater proportion of Black women (48%) than White women (27%) reported four or more term pregnancies, and Black women (62%) were more likely than White women (53%) to have breast-fed their children. Oral contraceptive use was more common among White women (59%) than Black women (51%). CONCLUSION: Differences in the prevalence of other factors related to ovarian cancer risk or differences in genetic susceptibility must explain most of the Black-White differences in incidence of ovarian cancer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Exposure of black youths to cigarette advertising in magazines.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the potential exposure of black adolescents to brand specific advertising in magazines. DESIGN: A probit regression analysis was conducted of pooled 1990 and 1994 data on brand specific advertising in 36 popular US magazines to examine the relationship between the presence or absence of advertising in each magazine for each of 12 cigarette brands, and the proportion of each magazine's youth (ages 12-17 years) readers who were black. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The presence or absence of advertising in each magazine in 1990 and 1994, for each of 12 cigarette brands. RESULTS: After controlling for total magazine readership and the percentage of young adult, Hispanic, and female readers, black youth cigarette brands (those whose market share among black youths exceeded their overall market share) were more likely than other brands to advertise in magazines with a higher percentage of black youth readers. Holding all other variables constant at their sample means, the probability of a non-black youth brand advertising in a magazine decreased over the observed range of percentage black youth readership from 0.65 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.55 to 0.75) for magazines with 5% black youth readers to 0.33 (95% CI 0.00 to 0.69) for magazines with 91% black youth readers. In contrast, the probability of a black youth brand advertising in a magazine increased from 0.40 (95% CI 0.17 to 0.62) at 5% black youth readership to 1.00 (95% CI 0.97 to 1.00) at 91% black youth readership. CONCLUSIONS: Black youths are more likely than white youths to be exposed to magazine advertising by cigarette brands popular among black adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Histology and physiology of black skin].

The aim of this article is to review the experimental knowledge concerning black skin. We point out its histological and physiological features without discussing here the specific pathology of black patients. Under the microscope skin structure is roughly the same in all races, but morphological differences exist, particularly within the epidermis, with potential practical consequences. In comparison with white skin, the black skin stratum corneum is equal in thickness but more compact: about twenty cell layers are observed in blacks versus sixteen layers in whites. The lipid content of black epidermis is also somewhat higher, and this perhaps explains the greater cellular cohesion, hence the difficulty in stripping off the black horny layer. These findings could also explain a slightly inferior permeability of black skin to certain chemicals. The hair of blacks in naturally more brittle and more susceptible to breakage and spontaneous knotting than that of whites. The kinky or wooly form of black hair, the weak intercellular cohesion between cortical cells and the specific hair grooming practices among black people account for these effects. The higher electrical resistance of black skin suggests that the black epidermis would be less hydrated than white epidermis. Anatomically, the amount of sweat glands in black and white skins is identical and varies with climatic changes but not with racial factors. Likewise, sweating is thought to be similar in both races, taking into account the contradictory results from studies, but black subjects withstand humid heat better while whites cope better with dry heat.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Black People↗
PubMed1987

Black demographic trends in the 1980s.

Most of the black demographic trends witnessed in the 1970s have continued during the first half of the 1980s, but the pace of demographic change has slowed in some areas and quickened in others. A short summarization of the major trends is provided below; 1. The black population is growing faster than the white population and blacks are becoming a larger share of the total population. 2. Blacks continue to move out of the North and into the South and West. 3. Blacks continue to move out of central cities into suburbs, but blacks are not moving out of central cities as fast as whites and central city populations are becoming increasingly black. 4. The growth rates of preschool-age blacks increased in the 1980s, but the growth rates of the school age and young adult populations declined. 5. The fertility rates of blacks continued to fall and to approach convergence with those of whites, although there still is a significant gap between black and white fertility rates. 6. Teen birthrates for unmarried blacks continued to fall during the first half of the 1980s. 7. Life expectancy for blacks continued to increase during the 1980s, but at a somewhat slower pace than seen during the 1970s. 8. The share of black children living in single parent families continued to grow during the 1980s at a faster rate than seen during the 1970s. 9. The share of black children living with a never-married parent grew much more rapidly in the 1980s than in the 1970s.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1998

The columnar-lined (Barrett's) oesophagus in black patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of a columnar-lined Barrett's oesophagus in black patients. DESIGN: In the present study we retrospectively reviewed the records of all black patients with Barrett's oesophagus. SETTING: Johannesburg Hospital's referral-based oesophageal clinic. SUBJECTS: Eleven black patients with Barrett's oesophagus from a series of 216 consecutive patients with Barrett's oesophagus who were referred to the oesophageal clinic from 1970 to 1993. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence, demographics and characteristics of black patients with a columnar-lined Barrett's oesophagus. RESULTS: Only 5% of the total series of Barrett's patients were black. Because the ratio of black to white in Johannesburg is about 5:1, the comparative prevalence of Barrett's oesophagus in blacks is extremely low when compared with that of whites. Although the number of patients is small, this series demonstrates that a columnar-lined oesophagus does occur in blacks. When compared with Caucasians, blacks had far fewer associated hiatus hernias (33%). The presentation of blacks is also different in that a greater proportion presented with adenocarcinoma (36%). CONCLUSIONS: Gastro-oesophageal reflux and related conditions such as a columnar-lined oesophagus are uncommon conditions in African blacks. This series demonstrates however that a columnar-lined oesophagus does occur in black patients. It is possible that in black patients an inherent defect of the lower oesophageal sphincter rather than a hiatus hernias is the cause of the reflux. A greater proportion of this small group of patients presented with adenocarcinoma than would have been expected. The reasons for the low prevalence of Barrett's oesophagus in black South Africans are unknown.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Black and brown pigment gallstones differ in microstructure and microcomposition.

The two subtypes of pigment gallstones, black and brown stones, differ in chemical composition and pathogenesis. We examined a black bilirubinate stone and a black phosphate stone (which represented opposite ends of the compositional spectrum of black noncarbonate stones), a black carbonate stone, and a brown pigment stone using scanning electron microscopy and microchemical techniques to determine if stone microstructure and microcomposition reflected different patterns of formation. The cross-sectional surfaces of the black bilirubinate and black phosphate stones were smooth and homogenous. Electron probe microanalysis demonstrated high concentrations of sulfur and copper in the center of the black bilirubinate stone; sulfur was in a low valence state consistent with disulfide linkages in proteins. The brown stone was rough-surfaced with lamellated bands on cross-section. The lighter-colored bands in this stone contained virtually all of the detected calcium palmitate, while the darker sections contained much more calcium bilirubinate. Plasma oxygen etching demonstrated a network of protein interdigitating with calcium bilirubinate salts in the black bilirubinate and black phosphate stones but not in the black carbonate or brown stones. Argon ion etching demonstrated that calcium bilirubinate was in a closely packed rod-shaped arrangement in all three black stones but not in the brown stone. We conclude that the marked differences in structure and composition between the black noncarbonate and brown pigment gallstones support the hypothesis that the two major pigment gallstone types form by different mechanisms. In addition, the layered structures of the black carbonate and brown stones suggest that stone growth is affected by cyclic changes in biliary composition.

Argon↗
PubMed2005

Bone mineral density and the risk of incident nonspinal fractures in black and white women.

CONTEXT: Black women have a lower rate of fracture than white women, but whether bone mineral density (BMD) predicts fracture risk as well in black women as it does in white women is not established. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between BMD and incident nonspinal fractures in older black and white women. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Prospective cohort study of baseline data collected from 1986 through 1990 (7334 white women aged 67-99 years) and from 1996 through 1998 (636 black women aged 65-94 years) at 4 US clinical centers in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures; mean (SD) follow-up of 6.1 (1.5) years until October 1, 2004. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incident nonspinal fractures were confirmed by radiograpic report. Total hip and femoral neck BMD and bone mineral content were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: A total of 58 black women had a combined total of 61 fractures and 1606 white women had a combined total of 1712 fractures. In age-adjusted proportional hazard models, a 1-SD decrease in femoral neck BMD was associated with a 37% increased risk of fracture in black women (relative risk [RR], 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.74) and a 49% increase in fracture in white women (RR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.40-1.58). Adjustment for body weight and other risk factors for fracture weakened the association between BMD and fracture, especially among black women (multivariable adjusted RR per 1-SD decrease in femoral neck BMD for black vs white women: RR, 1.20 [95% CI, 0.93-1.55] vs RR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.32-1.52]). The absolute incidence of fracture across the pooled BMD distribution was 30% to 40% lower among black women at every BMD tertile. The lower risk of fracture among black compared with white women was independent of BMD and other risk factors (RR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.36-0.64). CONCLUSIONS: Decreased total hip and femoral neck BMD is associated with an increased risk of fracture in both older black and white women, but this relationship was largely explained by other risk factors in black women. Black women have a lower fracture risk than white women at every level of BMD. Race-specific normative databases may be appropriate for the densitometric definition of osteoporosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in black and white Americans.

This report presents an overview of the prevalence, characteristics, morbidity, mortality, and risk factors for noninsulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) in Blacks and Whites in the United States. Data are drawn primarily from national surveys, but the report also includes the few clinical studies that have differentiated the two races. NIDDM constitutes 90-95% of all diabetes in the United States and is more prevalent in Black Americans than in Whites. Diabetes prevalence increases with age for both races and reaches 26% among Blacks aged 65-74 years compared with 18% among Whites. Rates of diabetes among persons aged 20-74 years are 30% higher in White women, 70% higher in Black men, and 100% higher in Black women, compared with White men. Approximately half of diabetes is undiagnosed in both races. White and Black diabetics are similar with regard to age, duration of diabetes, and diabetes therapies, although Blacks of both sexes are more obese than their White counterparts. Rates of vision loss, amputations, and renal disease are 1.5-4 times higher in Blacks than in Whites, although prevalence of hypertension is about equal in the two races. Blacks and Whites see the same physician specialists for their diabetes, but Whites have approximately 40% more visits to office-based physicians each year. Diabetes-specific mortality has declined significantly in the past decade and may now be lower in Black than in White diabetics. Risk factors for diabetes, including age, sex, obesity, and family history of diabetes, all operate within both race groups and probably interact with each other. The effect of gender and family history on rates of diabetes is similar in Blacks and Whites. Blacks have higher rates of diabetes at each obesity level, indicating that obesity alone cannot explain the differential in prevalence between the races. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), a strong risk factor for development of diabetes, increases with age in all race/sex groups except for Black women older than 54 years in whom rates of IGT, decline, possibly because of conversion of IGT to diabetes.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Crohn's disease: presentation and severity compared between black patients and white patients.

PURPOSE: Common belief based on clinical experience suggests that Crohn's disease is more severe among black patients, although little data exists on the effect of race on Crohn's disease. We compared multiple variables among black patients with Crohn's disease requiring surgery to those of white patients presenting to a university colorectal surgery unit during a five-year period. METHODS: A total of 345 patients required surgery for Crohn's disease between June 1998 and September 2003. The following data were abstracted from patient charts and a prospectively maintained database: age at diagnosis; age at first Crohn's disease surgery; presenting symptoms; incidence, number and location of fistulas at presentation; number of Crohn's disease operations; and family history of inflammatory bowel disease. Data regarding medical insurance coverage also were obtained. Complete data were evaluable on 178 patients. Patient variables were analyzed using the chi-squared, Fisher exact, and Student t-tests. RESULTS: Mean age at diagnosis was 28 years for white males, 20 years for black males, 30 years for white females, and 28 years for black females (all p > 0.05). Thirty-seven percent of white females presented with obstructive symptoms vs. 12 percent of black females. (P = 0.011). Sixty-five percent of black females presented with inflammatory symptoms compared with 28 percent of white females (P = 0.001). Of females presenting with fistulas, 15 percent of black patients had a rectovaginal fistula compared with 5 percent of white patients. Seventeen percent of black males and 21 percent of white males had intra-abdominal fistulas. None of these differences were statistically significant. The incidence of fistulas at presentation, mean number of fistulas, total number of operations, and family history of inflammatory bowel disease did not differ. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to expectations, Crohn's disease does not seem to be more severe among black patients, who had an earlier age of diagnosis, although this was not statistically significant. Overall, there was no difference in disease presentation. White females were more likely to present with obstructive symptoms compared with black females, who more often presented with inflammatory symptoms. Among patients with fistulas, the incidence of rectovaginal fistulas was higher in black females compared with white females, and white males were somewhat more likely to have intra-abdominal fistulas than black males. Although there was no demonstrated difference in incidence and mean number of fistulas at presentation, the number of operations for Crohn's disease, or family history of inflammatory bowel disease among blacks and whites, there are differences in presenting symptoms among these populations.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Mortality rates and risk factors for coronary disease in black as compared with white men and women.

BACKGROUND: Currently recognized risk factors for coronary artery disease have been identified primarily from investigations of white populations. In this investigation, we estimated mortality rates for coronary disease and for any cause and identified risk factors for death from coronary disease among whites and blacks. METHODS: Data collected over a 30-year period in the Charleston Heart Study were used to estimate mortality rates and quantify associations with risk factors assessed at the base-line examination in 1960 and 1961 of 653 white men, 333 black men, 741 white women, and 454 black women. RESULTS: There were no significant racial differences in the rate ratios for death from coronary disease; however, women had significantly lower death rates than men. Over the 30-year period, the mortality rates for coronary disease per 1000 person-years were 5.2 for white men (95 percent confidence interval, 4.1 to 6.3), 4.6 for black men (3.0 to 6.2), 2.1 for white women (1.6 to 2.6), and 3.2 for black women (2.3 to 4.0). Significant, or nearly significant, predictors of mortality due to coronary disease were systolic blood pressure in all four groups; serum cholesterol level among white men, white women, and black women; and smoking among white men, white women, and black men. Although the difference was not statistically significant, the risk of death from coronary disease was consistently increased among diabetics in all four groups. A higher level of education was predictive of lower rates of death due to coronary disease among white men and black women. For all causes of death taken together, the rates for blacks were higher than the rates for whites. The presence of hypertension, a history of smoking, and a history of diabetes were significant or nearly significant predictors of mortality from any cause in all four groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although the rates of death from coronary disease were somewhat lower among black men than white men and higher among black women than white women, the black:white mortality rate ratios were not statistically significant, and the major risk factors for mortality from coronary disease were similar in blacks and whites in the 30-year follow-up of the Charleston Heart Study.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Differences in basal and poststimulation glucose homeostasis in nondiabetic first degree relatives of black and white patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Black Americans (blacks) have a higher prevalence and earlier onset of type 2 diabetes than white Americans (whites). To examine metabolic differences in both races, we measured the basal glucose turnover rates (D-]3-3H]glucose technique) and plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide levels before and after an oral glucose load in 24 glucose-tolerant black and 14 white female relatives of patients with type 2 diabetes. Eight black and 8 white female subjects with no family history of diabetes served as controls. Mean fasting and postglucose plasma glucose levels were not significantly different between the black and white relatives and the control subgroups. Mean fasting plasma insulin and C-peptide levels were slightly greater but not significantly different between the relatives. After oral glucose ingestion, mean incremental integrated plasma insulin areas were significantly (P less than 0.02) greater in the black than the white relatives (70 +/- 14 vs. 29 +/- 6 nM.min). In addition, incremental integrated C-peptide areas were greater in the black than the white relatives (303 +/- 55 vs. 115 +/- 33; P less than 0.005). Similarly, we found significantly greater integrated incremental insulin (61 +/- 11 vs. 22 +/- 3 nM.min; P less than 0.02) and C-peptide (248 +/- 58 vs. 47 +/- 16; P less than 0.005) areas in the black than the white controls, respectively. The estimated basal and postglucose hepatic insulin extraction values, expressed as molar ratios of C-peptide and insulin, were not significantly different between the relatives. While basal hepatic insulin extraction was significantly (P less than 0.05) lower in the black controls, the postprandial insulin clearance was not different between the black and white controls. Mean basal hepatic glucose production was greater (P less than 0.02) in the black than the white relatives (2.49 +/- 0.13 vs. 2.02 +/- 0.12 mg/kg.min). Similarly, the black controls had greater hepatic glucose production than the white controls (2.36 +/- 0.15 vs. 1.81 +/- 0.08 mg/kg.min; P less than 0.001). We conclude that basal and poststimulation glucose homeostatic regulation appear to be different in black and white females, regardless of family history of type 2 diabetes.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and black Americans: special psychosocial issues.

Approximately 25 percent of persons diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have been black. This paper examines three areas of concern when focusing on AIDS in the black population: differences from whites in patterns of transmission of the infection, cultural factors that may affect health education efforts, and ethnically relevant issues in the provision of medical care to black persons with AIDS. Recognition of these differences is important in developing appropriate AIDS-related services for the black population. First, the epidemiologic pattern of infection in the black population differs from whites. Although they represent only 12 percent of the American population, blacks make up nearly one-quarter of reported AIDS cases. Currently, it is estimated that between 1 and 1.4 percent of the black population may be infected with the human T-lymphotropic virus/lymphadenopathy-associated virus (HTLV-III/LAV), a rate estimated to be three times that of whites. In addition, epidemiologic patterns of viral transmission in the black community suggest a greater incursion into the heterosexual population. Second, educational interventions designed to slow the rate of infection need to be sensitive to cultural and behavioral differences between blacks and whites who are at increased risk for acquiring or transmitting an HTLV-III/LAV infection. These include possible differences in perceptions of being at risk and actual risk behaviors. Third, in caring for black AIDS patients there are psychological, sociocultural, and medical care issues that are relevant. Research findings specific to health care for blacks are reviewed with particular reference to concerns that might arise in the treatment of black persons with AIDS. Recommendations for research and health education efforts in the black community are presented.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

History of black mortality and health before 1940.

This article documents the history of black mortality between 1850 and 1940 and begins the process of placing that history into the context of the more general history of mortality decline in the United States. One aspect of this process has been to discuss the trends in mortality among blacks and whites living in the same general geographic areas--for example, comparing southern rural blacks with southern rural whites. A second part has been to relate black mortality to many of the factors that have been discussed as determinants of general mortality trends--such as water and sanitation, the urban disadvantage in mortality, and child care and feeding practices. During the second half of the nineteenth century, black mortality declined only slightly or not at all. Between 1850 and 1880 there may have been some decline in child mortality, but the trends in adult mortality are indeterminate. Between 1880 and 1900 both child and adult mortality rates were constant. Sometime between 1900 and 1910 mortality rates among blacks began to decline at all ages, especially in urban areas. During the first four decades of this century mortality rates among American blacks declined substantially. Expectation of life at birth increased from about 35 years to about 54 years, which represents a significant improvement in health and living standards. The life expectancy among blacks in 1940, however, was still two years below the value for whites in the death registration area in 1920. (This may exaggerate the difference slightly since the mortality rates for 1919 and 1920 were artificially low following the pandemic of influenza in 1918. In addition, the mortality rates in the DRA may not have been representative of the whole white population.) Throughout the period studied, blacks had substantially higher mortality rates than whites living in the same area. Although the amount of excessive mortality among blacks differed from place to place and period to period, we did not find a single area or time when black mortality rates were close to those of whites. The examination of causes of death among whites and blacks in 1920 showed that racial differences in the amount of tuberculosis explained a substantial part of the mortality differences in New York and North Carolina, but blacks probably had excessive mortality due to all causes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Black or African American↗
PubMed2002

Survival of blacks and whites after a cancer diagnosis.

CONTEXT: In recent years a theory that cancer biology is different in blacks and whites has gained prominence in reaction to epidemiologic observations that blacks have poorer survival than whites, even when diagnosed with cancer of similar severity. Yet, few studies have evaluated whether lower-quality treatment and shorter overall life expectancy due to a greater burden of other illnesses may explain the survival discrepancy. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the magnitude of overall and cancer-specific survival differences between blacks and whites who receive comparable treatment for similar-stage cancer. DATA SOURCES: We searched MEDLINE for English-language articles published from 1966 to January 2002 that reported on overall survival for black and white patients treated similarly for cancer. STUDY SELECTION: The abstracts or titles for 891 citations were independently examined by 2 authors. The full text was retrieved if the abstract mentioned both black and white patients, made some comment regarding either similarity of treatment received or presented an analysis based on the treatment received, and commented on survival. Studies were included if they included data for at least 10 black and 10 white patients; specified the cohort ascertainment method and what measures were undertaken to minimize loss to follow-up; summarized survival of both blacks and whites using actuarial measures; presented outcomes within stage, adjusted for stage, or based on cohorts with balanced stage distributions; and specified that blacks and whites in the study received similar treatment. We identified 89 unique cohorts in 54 articles that met our inclusion criteria. DATA EXTRACTION: Overall survival rates and hazard ratios (HRs) for death for blacks relative to whites were calculated. These were subsequently adjusted for rates of death due to causes other than the cancer under study to determine cancer-specific survival and cancer-specific HRs. DATA SYNTHESIS: Results represent 189 877 white and 32 004 black patients with 14 different cancers. Compared with whites, blacks had an overall excess risk of death (HR, 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-1.20). After correction for deaths due to other causes, the cancer-specific HR was 1.07 (95% CI, 1.02-1.13). Of the 14 cancers, blacks were at a significantly higher risk of cancer-specific death only for cancer of the breast, uterus, or bladder. CONCLUSIONS: Only modest cancer-specific survival differences are evident for blacks and whites treated comparably for similar-stage cancer. Therefore, differences in cancer biology between racial groups are unlikely to be responsible for a substantial portion of the survival discrepancy. Differences in treatment, stage at presentation, and mortality from other diseases should represent the primary targets of research and interventions designed to reduce disparities in cancer outcomes.

Black or African American↗