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Racial differences in rate of decline in bone mass in older men: the Baltimore men's osteoporosis study.

UNLABELLED: Older black men have higher adjusted BMD than older white men. Using data from a longitudinal cohort study of older men followed for a mean of 18.8 +/- 6.5 (SD) months, we found that older black men have a higher rate of decline in femoral neck and total hip BMD and femoral neck BMAD than older white men. INTRODUCTION: Older black men have higher adjusted BMD compared with older white men. The difference in BMD may be caused by having attained higher peak bone mass as young adults and/or having a slower rate of decline in bone mass as adults. There are few published longitudinal data on change in bone mass in older white men and no published data for older black men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred forty-nine white men and 119 black men 65 of age (mean age, 75 +/- 5.7 and 72 +/- 5.6 years, respectively) who participated in the longitudinal component of the Baltimore Men's Osteoporosis Study returned for a second visit after a mean of 18.8 +/- 6.5 (SD) months and were not taking medications used to treat low bone mass at either visit. BMD was measured at the femoral neck and total hip by Hologic-certified technicians using a QDR 2000 at the baseline visit (V1) and QDR 4500 at the first follow-up visit (V2). Participants also completed self-administered and interviewer-administered questionnaires and underwent standardized clinic examinations. Bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) at the femoral neck was calculated as an estimate of volumetric BMD. Annual crude and multiple variable adjusted percent changes in BMD and BMAD were calculated. RESULTS: In univariate analyses, black men had lower percent decline in femoral neck and total hip BMD and femoral neck BMAD than white men. In addition, older age at baseline, lower baseline weight, current smoking, and lower baseline BMD were associated with greater percent decline per year in femoral neck BMD; older age at baseline, current smoking, and lower baseline BMD were associated with greater percent decline per year in total hip BMD; and older age at baseline and lower baseline femoral neck BMAD were associated with greater percent decline per year in femoral neck BMAD. Racial differences in bone loss persisted in multiple variable models that controlled for other factors associated with change in BMD and BMAD. CONCLUSIONS: Older black men seem to lose bone mass at a slower rate than older white men. These differences in the rate of bone loss may account, in part, for the racial disparities in BMD and BMAD and risk of osteoporotic fractures among older men.

Black or African American↗

Racial differences in corneocytes. A comparison between black, white and oriental skin.

It is well known that spontaneous desquamation and corneocyte size can reflect respectively stratum corneum cohesiveness and epidermal cell proliferation. The influence of skin pigmentation on these parameters has been investigated on the upper-outer arm of black, white and oriental volunteers, using the detergent scrub method. We found no difference between race in corneocyte surface area, a mean size of 900 microns 2 agreeing closely with that generally encountered in Whites on the upper-outer arm. By contrast, spontaneous desquamation is increased in black vis-à-vis white and oriental skin (factor 2.5, p less than 0.001). Taking into account the importance of the intercellular cement for the cohesion between corneocytes, racial differences in epidermal lipid composition should be investigated.

Adult↗

Recent advances and racial differences in therapeutic strategy to the pineal region tumor.

The therapeutic modalities for pineal region tumors in Western countries differ from those in Japan, mainly because of the different patient populations. The majority of pineal region tumors in Japan are radio- and/or chemosensitive, and adjuvant therapy rather than extensive surgery plays the main part in the treatment of these tumors. The specific clinical features of and therapeutic modalities for pineal region tumors, together with racial differences, were analyzed at the joint symposium of the Japanese Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery and the Korean Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery. The results of a cooperative study, together with the collective experience in Korea, confirmed that this specific patient population is nearly identical to the Japanese one. The new therapeutic approaches to pineal region tumors recommended included neuroendoscopic or stereotactic biopsy as a "minimally invasive" initial procedure. The adjuvant therapeutic modalities were further analyzed and neoadjuvant chemotherapy, mainly with cisplatin or carboplatin with or without etoposide (VP-16), was recommended for the treatment of germinoma and nongerminomatous malignant germ cell tumors. "Target radiation therapy" with extensive chemotherapy is a hopeful regimen and a future subject of research.

Adolescent↗

Racial differences in responses to therapy with interferon in chronic hepatitis C. Consensus Interferon Study Group.

The likelihood of a sustained response to a course of interferon in patients with chronic hepatitis C correlates with several clinical and viral factors, including age, viral genotype and initial levels of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in serum. The role of race and ethnicity has not been assessed. We evaluated the association of race with response to interferon in a large randomized, controlled trial using either consensus interferon (9 microg) or interferon alfa-2b (3 million units) given three times weekly for 24 weeks. African-American patients participating in the study were similar to white patients in mean age (43 vs. 42 years) and baseline levels of HCV RNA (3.6 vs. 3.0 million copies/mL) but had lower rates of cirrhosis (5% vs. 12%) and more frequently had viral genotype 1 (88% vs. 66%: P =.004). Most strikingly, the rates of end-of-treatment and sustained virological responses were lower among the 40 African-American patients (5% and 2%) than among the 380 white patients (33% and 12%) (P =.04 and.07). Rates of response among Hispanic and Asian-American patients were not statistically different than non-Hispanic white patients. Median viral levels decreased by week 24 of therapy by 2.5 logs in white patients (from 3.0 to 0.012 million copies/mL) but by only 0.5 logs among African- American patients (from 3.6 to 1.8 million copies/mL). Thus, there are marked racial differences in virological responses to interferon in hepatitis C that must be considered in assessing trials of interferon therapy and in counseling patients regarding treatment. The differences in response rates are as yet unexplained.

Adolescent↗

Racial differences in calcium retention in response to dietary salt in adolescent girls.

BACKGROUND: Sodium is an important determinant of urinary calcium excretion, and race is an important determinant of calcium retention. The effect of dietary sodium on calcium retention and the influence of race have not been studied in adolescence, the life stage during which peak bone mass is accrued. OBJECTIVE: The study reported here was undertaken to compare racial differences in calcium retention as a function of dietary salt intake. DESIGN: A total of 35 adolescent girls (22 black and 13 white) participated in two 20-d metabolic summer camps, separated by 2 wk, that simulated a free-living environment. The effect of changes in dietary sodium on calcium retention was tested in a randomized-order, crossover design with 2 concentrations of sodium-1.30 g/d (57 mmol/d) and 3.86 g/d (168 mmol/d)-and a constant calcium intake of 815 mg/d (20 mmol/d). RESULTS: Both race and sodium intake significantly affected calcium retention (P < 0.01). Calcium retention was significantly greater in black girls than in white girls, regardless of dietary sodium intake (P < 0.001). The high-sodium diet significantly reduced calcium retention in both whites and blacks (P < 0.01), primarily through a decrease in net calcium absorption. Black girls excreted significantly less calcium in the urine than did white girls, regardless of diet (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Calcium retention is significantly greater in black girls than in white girls but is significantly reduced in girls of both races in response to salt loading.

Adolescent↗

Racial differences in clinical presentation of patients with sleep-disordered breathing.

We characterized differences in severity, presentation, and treatment compliance in sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) between African Americans (AA) and Caucasians (W). We retrospectively analyzed demographics, proxy measures of socioeconomic position, concurrent illness, presenting complaints, polysomnographic data including respiratory disturbance index (RDI) and time less than 90% O2 saturation (T90), and acceptance of and long-term compliance with CPAP therapy. Over 1 year there were 128 AA, 102 W, and 3 "other." AA were younger (44.9+/-14.1 vs. 49.2+/-14.5 years; P=0.022), had greater body mass index (BMI) (39.7+/-10.7 vs. 33.4+/-9.2 kg/m2; p<0.0001), and reported lower estimated median household income (MHI) than W ($33,365+/-15,236 vs. $52,641+/-20,209; p<0.0001). OSA was more severe among AA: (median RDI: AA 32.9, W 29.1 events/h; p=0.008; median T90: AA 17.6 vs. W 5.3 per minute; P=0.006). However, after adjustment for BMI and MHI, differences between AA and W in RDI were not significant. Equal frequencies of AA and W accepted and were compliant with CPAP. We conclude that while AA present with more severe OSA than W this was accounted for by factors known to influence OSA severity. Further, there were no racial differences in accepting and adhering to therapy with CPAP.

Adolescent↗

[Racial differences between patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis from the State of Bahia].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between race and type of glomerulonephritis, taking into account age, gender and the presence of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni. METHODS: Patients from the Renal Service of the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil, 80 with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSG) and 50 with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) were compared regarding the distribution of the racial types (black, mulatto, white). Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or any kind of autoimmune disease were not included in the present analysis. Adjusted comparisons were performed using the Mantel-Haenszel method and a multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: Race was significantly associated with histologic type; the odds of being classified as black or mulatto were approximately 2.4 times higher (odds ratio = 2.43; IC 95% = 1.09-5.45) in patients with FSG than in those with MPGN. The association between race and histologic type was not influenced by the potential effects of age, gender and hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. In the multivariate logistic regression model, race was significantly associated (p = 0.037) with type of glomerulonephritis (odds ratio = 2.54; IC 95% = 1.06-6.06). CONCLUSION: A higher frequency of negroes and mulattoes in the FSG group (compared with MPGN) in this sample from the State of Bahia is consistent with findings of previous studies from the United States. The data support the possibility of a greater susceptibility to FSG among negroes and mulattoes, independently of age, gender and schistosomiasis. The identification of the mechanisms that determine this racial difference represents an important question for future investigations.

Adolescent↗

Surgery for gastric cancer in Singapore, 1951-1980, with particular reference to racial differences in incidence.

The incidence of surgery for gastric cancer in Singapore increased during the period 1951 to 1980 (males from 3.5 to 8.7 per 100,000 per year: females from 0.5 to 4.2 per 100,000 per year). This increase occurred mainly during the first decade of the study and was confined to persons aged 55 and above. Chinese had the highest incidence, followed by Indians and then Malays. These racial differences remained unchanged over the period of study.

Adult↗

Racial differences in the overexpression of epidermal growth factor type II receptor (HER2/neu): a major prognostic indicator in uterine serous papillary cancer.

OBJECTIVE: A difference in survival rates between black and white patients with cancer of the corpus uteri is well established. This study was conducted to determine whether the overexpression of HER2/neu oncogene is associated with poor outcome in uterine serous papillary endometrial cancer, which is a highly aggressive variant of endometrial cancer, and whether a racial difference in the frequency of HER2/neu overexpression may contribute to the disparity in endometrial cancer survival. STUDY DESIGN: Immunohistochemical evaluation was used to examine HER2/neu expression in paraffin blocks from 27 women with stage IA to IV uterine serous papillary endometrial cancer. Univariable analysis was performed and followed by multivariable analysis with Cox's proportional hazard model to evaluate whether HER2/neu expression was associated with poor outcome in uterine serous papillary endometrial cancer. RESULTS: Black patients tended to be younger (P = .02) and have higher HER2/neu expression than white patients (trend P = .02). Seven of 10 black patients (70%) showed heavy (3+) expression, compared with 4 of 17 white patients (24%; P = .04). The association of heavy HER2/neu expression with race persisted after age was controlled through stratification (P = .05). Earlier deaths from uterine serous papillary endometrial cancer were seen among heavy HER2/neu expressers (P = .002), black patients (P = .04), and patients < or = 65 years old (P = .04). However, multivariate Cox regression showed that short survival was associated significantly with heavy HER2/neu expression (P = .02) but not with age (P = .07) or race (P = .35), which indicates that HER2/neu expression accounted for much of the race disparity in survival in this patient population. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of HER2/neu in uterine serous papillary endometrial cancer is an independent variable that is associated with poor outcome, occurs more frequently in black women, and may contribute to racial disparity in survival. HER2/neu expression may guide clinical treatment of patients with uterine serous papillary endometrial cancer and may have implications for the implementation of novel treatment strategies.

Aged↗

Are there racial differences in breast cancer treatments and clinical outcomes for women treated at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center?

PURPOSE: To determine the influence of race on breast cancer treatment and on recurrence and breast cancer specific death. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 6,054 African-American or white women who were diagnosed with breast cancer and received at least one of the treatments including mastectomy or breast conservative surgery, radiation, adjuvant chemotherapy, neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, and adjuvant endocrine therapy at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center between June 1997 and February 2005. The clinical outcomes were disease-free survival and breast-cancer-specific survival. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate if race was associated with the selection of each primary treatment while adjusting for tumor characteristics at diagnosis. Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the effect of race on recurrence-free survival and breast-cancer-specific survival controlling for tumor characteristics, presence of co-morbidity conditions and use of these treatments. RESULTS: The use of any primary treatment for breast cancer was not significantly different by race after adjusting for tumor characteristics and co-morbidity conditions. Although tumor characteristics at diagnosis explained the major differences in clinical outcomes, race remained an independent prognostic factor for breast-cancer-specific survival (P=0.002), and a marginally significant factor for disease-free survival (P=0.063) in multivariate analyses. CONCLUSION: Equal treatment may not lead to equal clinical outcomes given similar tumor characteristics at diagnosis. To reduce racial differences in breast cancer recurrence and survival, it is important to have a better understanding of differences in tumor biology by race and to promote the use of early detection programs among African-American women.

Black or African American↗

Racial differences in parathyroid hormone dynamics.

Elevations in PTH levels have been reported in black subjects. Such observations have not been consistent, however, and seem paradoxical in view of the known bone-resorptive action of this hormone and the fact that black subjects have a higher bone mineral density and fewer fractures than their white counterparts. In this study, we used dynamic stimulation of the calcium-PTH axis to fully characterize potential racial differences in PTH dynamics. We, therefore, defined the inverse sigmoidal curve that describes the relationship between serum ionized calcium concentration and intact PTH levels in six normal white and six normal black volunteers and determined the four parameters that characterize this relationship. An elevation in any one of these parameters can result in hyperparathyroidism. Black subjects had higher maximal and minimal PTH responses to hypo- and hypercalcemia (mean intact PTH levels of 9.2 +/- 13 and 0.7 +/- 0.1 pmol/L respectively) than white subjects (6.9 +/- 0.6 and 0.3 +/- 0.1 pmol/L, respectively). There were no differences in the set-points or slopes of the curves. Despite the higher baseline and stimulated endogenous PTH levels in black subjects, their baseline and stimulated osteocalcin levels were lower. Our dynamic studies, therefore, document mild hyperparathyroidism in black subjects and suggest mild skeletal resistance to PTH.

Adult↗

Racial differences in impact of coverage on diabetes self-monitoring in a health maintenance organization.

BACKGROUND: Insurance coverage of patient self-management devices like self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) equipment may help to reduce race-related barriers to effective care. OBJECTIVES: We examined whether providing free home glucose monitors had greater impacts on self-monitoring among black versus white patients with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN: Using electronic medical record data (1992-1996), we used longitudinal survival analysis to examine racial differences in rates of initiation of SMBG after coverage and rates of discontinuation of SMBG 18 months after initiation. We used piecewise Cox models to compare relative rates of SMBG initiation between black and white patients before and after the policy. SUBJECTS: The study cohort included 2275 continuously enrolled adult patients with diabetes in a large, staff model HMO. Multivariate models were restricted to patients using oral therapy. RESULTS: Controlling for time-dependent and fixed effects, black patients were as likely to initiate SMBG as white patients before the policy (hazard ratio 1.14; 95% confidence interval 0.86-1.50) but more likely after the policy (hazard ratio 1.33; 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.76). Among postpolicy SMBG initiators, black patients were consistently at higher risk of SMBG discontinuation than white patients over time (P < 0.05). By the end of follow-up, discontinuation rates were 78% among black patients and 64% among white patients. CONCLUSIONS: The policy is effective in triggering additional diabetes patients to self-manage, particularly black patients. However, persistence after initiation of monitoring is short-lived. Although our results show the potential of such policies to narrow racial gaps in self-management among racial minority groups, further interventions may be needed to promote long-term adherence.

Black or African American↗

Renal vasculature in essential hypertension: racial differences.

In an attempt to explain the greater morbidity from essential hypertension in the black as compared with the white race, we evaluated the intrarenal vasculature of 27 patients with hypertension (19 white and 8 black). All patients had mild-to-moderate hypertension (mean arterial pressure, 110 to 125 mm Hg), normal renal function, and minimal target-organ damage. All patients had selective renal angiograms, which were evaluated for arterial nephrosclerosis. Additionally, renal blood flow was estimated by the clearance of para-aminohippurate. Patient age, blood pressure, and plasma renin activity did not differ between the two races. Black hypertensives had significantly (P less 0.01) more severe nephrosclerosis than the white patients. Renal blood flow was lower (P less than 0.05) in black patients (390 +/- 35 ml/min - m2 body surface area) than white patients (473 +/- 19 ml/min - m2 body surface area). These findings may help to explain racial differences in morbidity and mortality from essential hypertension.

Adult↗

A racial difference in apolipoprotein E allele frequencies between the Japanese and Caucasian populations.

We have examined the apo E phenotype frequencies in the Japanese population (n = 576, 16-78 years of age). Apo E phenotypes were determined by the rapid flat gel isoelectric focusing method that we previously reported. The apo E phenotype frequencies in the Japanese were 0.3% for E2/2, 6.1% for E3/2, 71.9% for E3/3, 0.7% for E4/2, 19.3% for E4/3 and 1.7% for E4/4. The apo E allele frequencies were 0.037, 0.846 and 0.117 for the epsilon 2, epsilon 3 and epsilon 4 alleles, respectively. These frequencies were compared with those in the Caucasian populations (n = 3033) reported by Sing & Davignon (1985). There was a significant difference in the apo E phenotype frequencies between the Japanese and Caucasian populations. In addition, a significantly lower frequency of the epsilon 2 and epsilon 4 alleles and a significantly higher frequency of the epsilon 3 allele were found in the Japanese than those reported for the Caucasian populations. It is concluded that there is a racial difference in the apo E allele frequencies between the Japanese and Caucasian populations.

Adolescent↗

Explaining racial differences in receipt of coronary angiography: the role of physician referral and physician specialty.

The authors examine three hypotheses regarding race differences in utilization of coronary angiography (CA): (1) patients with a cardiology consultation are more likely to obtain a referral for CA, (2) African American patients are less likely to have a cardiology consultation, and (3) among patients referred for CA, there is no difference by race in receipt of the procedure. To determine if they obtained a referral for or received CA, 2.623 candidates for CA were followed. Multivariate models were estimated using logistic regression. Cardiology consultation was associated with referral for CA (OR = 5.1, p < .001). White patients had higher odds of cardiology consultation (OR = 2.2, p < .001). The racial disparity was reduced among patients who received a referral (OR = 1.4, p < .05). Researchers must eliminate racial differences in access to specialty care and variation in referral patterns by physician specialty, and efforts must be targeted to those specialties where greater disparities exist.

Black or African American↗

Racial differences in opioid use for chronic nonmalignant pain.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is a frequent cause of suffering and disability that negatively affects patients' quality of life. There is growing evidence that disparities in the treatment of pain occur because of differences in race. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether race plays a role in treatment decisions involving patients with chronic nonmalignant pain in a primary care population. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A cross-sectional survey was administered to patients with chronic nonmalignant pain and their treating physicians at 12 academic medical centers. We enrolled 463 patients with nonmalignant pain persisting for more than 3 consecutive months and the primary care physicians participating in their care. RESULTS: Analysis of the 397 black and white patients showed that blacks had significantly higher pain scores (6.7 on a scale of 0 to 10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.4 to 7.0) compared with whites (5.6, 95% CI 5.3 to 5.9); however, white patients were more likely to be taking opioid analgesics compared with blacks (45.7% vs 32.2%, P<.006). Even after controlling for potentially confounding variables, white patients were significantly more likely (odds ratio (OR) 2.67, 95% CI 1.71 to 4.15) to be taking opioid analgesics than black patients. There were no differences by race in the use of other treatment modalities such as physical therapy and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories or in the use of specialty referral. CONCLUSION: Equal treatment by race occurs in nonopioid-related therapies, but white patients are more likely than black patients to be treated with opioids. Further studies are needed to better explain this racial difference and define its effect on patient outcomes.

Black or African American↗

Racial differences in susceptibility to infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The prevalence of tuberculosis among blacks is known to be about twice that among whites. When we looked at infection rates among the initially tuberculin-negative residents of 165 racially integrated nursing homes in Arkansas, we were stimulated to investigate whether this difference could be due in part to racial differences in susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. A new infection was defined by an increase of greater than or equal to 12 mm of induration after a tuberculin skin test (5 tuberculin units) administered at least 60 days after a negative two-step test. On repeat skin testing of the 25,398 initially tuberculin-negative nursing home residents, we found that 13.8 percent of the blacks and only 7.2 percent of the whites had evidence of a new infection (relative risk, 1.9; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.7 to 2.1). Blacks were infected more frequently, regardless of the race of the source patient. In homes with a single source patient who was white, 17.4 percent of the black and 11.7 percent of the white residents became infected (relative risk, 1.5; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.2 to 1.9); in homes with a single source patient who was black, 12.4 percent of the black and 7.7 percent of the white residents became infected (relative risk, 1.6; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.2 to 2.1). However, there was no racial difference in the percentage of residents who had recently converted to positive status who, in the absence of preventive therapy, were later found to have clinical tuberculosis (blacks, 11.5 percent; whites, 10.6 percent). Data from three outbreaks of tuberculosis in two prisons also showed that blacks have about twice the relative risk of whites of becoming infected with M. tuberculosis. We conclude that blacks are more readily infected by M. tuberculosis than are whites. The data also suggest that susceptibility to M. tuberculosis infection varies independently of the factors governing the progression to clinical disease.

Adult↗

Racial differences in the patterns of singleton preterm delivery in the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if the association between race and preterm delivery would persist when preterm delivery was partitioned into two etiologic pathways. METHODS: We evaluated perinatal and obstetrical data from the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey and classified preterm delivery as spontaneous or medically indicated. Discrete proportional hazard models were fit to assess the risk of preterm delivery for Black women compared with White women adjusting for potential demographic and behavioral confounding variables. RESULTS: Preterm delivery occurred among 17.4% of Black births and 6.7% of White births with a Black versus White unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 2.8 (95% CI = 2.4-3.3). The adjusted HR for a medically indicated preterm delivery showed no racial difference in risk (HR = 1.0, 95% CI = 0.4-2.6). However, for spontaneous preterm delivery between 20 and 28 weeks gestation, the Black versus White adjusted hazard ratio (HR) was 4.9 (95% CI = 3.4-7.1). CONCLUSIONS: Although we found an increased unadjusted HR for preterm delivery among Black women compared with White women, the nearly fivefold increase in adjusted HR for the extremely preterm births and the absence of a difference for medically indicated preterm delivery was unexpected. Given the differences in the risks of preterm birth between Black and White women, we recommend to continue examining risk factors for preterm delivery after separating spontaneous from medically indicated preterm birth and subdividing preterm delivery by gestational age to shed light on the reasons for the racial disparity.

Adolescent↗