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At least 487 records · Page 27Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

[Sugar consumption and prenatal acceleration. I. Studies in the history of medicine on the coincidence and connection of these 2 secular phenomenon].

A comparative historic evaluation reveals an astonishing world-wide relationship between prenatal acceleration, i.e. secular changes of birth-weight and percentage of "large babies", of distinct population groups, and their sugar consumption. They seem to be "connected" as they are regularly "conjoined" (HUME [46]). A statistically highly significant correlation between these two phenomena was established for Switzerland and Germany. The assumption of a causal relationship was confirmed by the abrupt development of growth acceleration together with the rapid increase in the per capita sugar consumption observed in an experiment-like situation in certain Canadian Eskimo populations in recent years.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1993

Secular trend in height in Sardinian conscripts drafted from 1879-1883 to 1983-1986.

This paper deals with the secular height trend in Sardinian conscripts. Between 1883 and 1986 an increase in height of 6.77 cm (0.66 cm/decade) was found. On comparing conscripts born in 1948-1949 (immediately after the Second World War) with those born in 1964-1968 one sees an increase in average height of 2.39 cm/decade, with a peak of 3.67 cm/decade in the comparison between subjects born in 1948-1949 and those born in 1955-1958.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Past and present asthma mortality: towards a shift in the secular trend?].

In recent years disconcerting observations have been published concerning changes in mortality from asthma in France and other countries. These conclusions are difficult to assess due to uncertainty regarding the underlying asthma mortality trends. We have attempted to address this question by constituting a statistical series of asthma deaths from 1925 to 1989. The 1925 to 1989 mortality trend is clearly decreasing. This decrease follows the same rhythm as the general mortality decline, since the proportion of asthma in total deaths remained between 3 to 4/1000. Three periods are emphasized: from 1925 to 1965 where the decreasing trend is interrupted by an important crisis in mortality, from 1965 to 1980 where the decrease is regular, and the last period since 1980 with an important crisis in 1985 and 1986; crisis applying to all genders and ages. The latest trend is uncertain. Careful epidemiologic surveillance will decide between a change in the secular trend or a transitory crisis and thus determine the cause(s). An effect due to the reinclusion by ICD 9 of a fluctuating component in asthma mortality cannot be excluded.

Abstracting and Indexing↗
PubMed1993

Studies on secular changes in the concentration of lead accumulated in organs and rib of Japanese.

As environmental pollution due to waste fluids and gases from factories using lead (Pb), as well as domestic waste materials, has become a matter for public concern, studies on the accumulated levels of Pb in man have become necessary for defining the degree of contamination in the ordinary population. For this purpose, Pb levels in tissues of 76 forensic cadavers were determined in order to investigate the age distribution of accumulated Pb, and 120 samples were used to clarify secular changes in Pb accumulation during the last decade in the general population. The age group showing the highest Pb level was 50-59 years, with mean Pb contents per unit wet weight of 0.262, 0.520, 0.427 and 4.479 micrograms/g for heart, liver, kidney and rib, respectively. Each of these organs in all age groups exhibited almost the same Pb levels, but babies less than one year old had levels close to those in adults. However, ribs in babies exhibited much lower Pb levels. The levels in each organ were lower in individuals over 60 years old. A distinct age-related increase in Pb levels was found only in ribs from age 0 year to 50-59 years. The Pb levels in the heart, liver, kidney and rib showed a decrease during the last 10 years from 0.188 +/- 0.073 to 0.006 +/- 0.003 micrograms/g, from 0.307 +/- 0.169 to 0.076 +/- 0.057 micrograms/g, from 0.287 +/- 0.145 to 0.021 +/- 0.011 micrograms/g and from 3.203 +/- 1.477 to 2.366 +/- 1.469 micrograms/g, respectively.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Study on secular changes of cadmium concentration accumulated in main organs of Japanese].

With the development of the mining and manufacturing industries and the petrochemical industry, cadmium (Cd) has been used not only for metal products but also petroleum products. Recently, environmental pollution due to waste fluids and gases from factories using cadmium and also domestic waste materials has become a cause for concern. In this connection, studies on the accumulated levels of Cd in the human body, its age-distribution in the general population and its secular changes during the last decade would be useful for clarifying the degree of contamination in the human body and providing an index which could be used as a basis for preventive measures against environmental pollution. For this purpose, the levels of Cd accumulated in main organs of the human body were determined using forensic data 3 times at 5-year intervals starting in 1976. The age intervals starting in 1976. The age group having the highest Cd level was 50-59 years, old and the mean weights of Cd per wet weight of heart, liver and kidney were 0.421, 2,984 and 56.43 micrograms/g, respectively. Each of these organs in babies less than a year old exhibited lower Cd levels, but teenagers had levels close to those in adult. However, the level in each organ was lower in individuals over 60 years old. 4 distinct age-related increase in the level of Cd was found only in the kidney. The levels of accumulated Cd in the liver and kidney showed a rise during the last 10 years from 2.358 to 5.568 micrograms/g and from 43.95 to 73.47 micrograms/g, respectively, whereas the Cd level in the heart has remained about the same, i.e. from 0.207 to 0.181 micrograms/g.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Geographic variation of secular trends of breast cancer mortality in Spain.

Breast cancer mortality information contained in the available statistics derived from the Spanish death certificates has been reviewed. Mortality from breast neoplasms was grouped into three five-year periods: 1903-1907, 1931-1935 and 1975-1979. Age-adjusted rates were estimated for every province (n = 49) in each period, and confidence intervals for the standardized mortality ratios and adjusted rates were calculated. Results are presented with maps of Spain that illustrate provincial contrasts in each period. Secular breast cancer mortality trends in the provinces are discussed in comparison with those of other countries. Furthermore, values are compared with the geographical distribution of risk factors, the aim being to formulate hypothesis explaining the observed contrasts and suggesting some future research lines.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1993

Impact of improved survival of very low birth weight infants on recent secular trends in the prevalence of cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVE: To review recent secular trends in the prevalence of cerebral palsy in industrialized countries that have population-based cerebral palsy registries and to estimate such time-trends for the United States, where until recently such registries were absent. DATA SOURCES: Recent epidemiologic studies of cerebral palsy published in peer-reviewed journals in English, and US vital data bearing on the principal demographic determinants of cerebral palsy--birth rates, the birth weight distributions, birth weight-specific mortality risk, and cerebral palsy risk among survivors. RESULTS: Most epidemiologic studies from industrialized countries show a rise in the childhood prevalence of cerebral palsy in recent decades, largely because of the increasing contribution of children of low and very low birth weight to its prevalence. The only demographic determinant of cerebral palsy prevalence that is changing rapidly in the United States is survival of low birth weight and very low birth weight infants. Based on the magnitude of change in the survival of low and very low birth weight infants, it is estimated that childhood prevalence of cerebral palsy rose about 20% between 1960 and 1986 in the United States. CONCLUSION: An apparently unavoidable side effect of the increasing success of newborn intensive care is a moderate rise in the childhood prevalence of cerebral palsy.

Australia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Why a peer intervention program for Mexican-American women failed to modify the secular trend in cancer screening.

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated an intervention program for Mexican-American women to increase Pap smear and mammography screening. METHODS: The three-year intervention included the presentation of role models in the media and reinforcement by peer volunteers. We used a two-community (intervention and comparison) pre-post test design. Activities were targeted to a mainly Spanish-speaking, poverty-level, immigrant population. Pre- and postintervention screening rates were based on independent random samples of Mexican-American women 40 years and older. RESULTS: Women reported a 6% absolute increase in Pap smear use similar to the 7% increase in the comparison community. Both communities experienced large but similar increases in recent mammography use (17% and 19%). Adjusting for differences in demographic factors, intervention and comparison changes remained identical. CONCLUSIONS: Our peer intervention failed to accelerate the secular trend in cancer screening low-income Mexican-American women. Likely, promotional activities were too diffuse and the comparison community was contaminated with similar interventions. Strong social and market forces make it difficult to measure the effect of a specialized intervention on cancer screening rates.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

A halt in the secular trend towards earlier menarche in Denmark.

BACKGROUND: A halt in the decrease of menarcheal age has been reported in some countries but has not been documented in Denmark. METHODS: The entire population of schoolgirls, attending grades 5 through 10 (n=979), in a particular region of Denmark was investigated by the status quo method in 1996. Similar investigations had been made in the same region and by the same method in 1966 and 1983. Mean age and standard deviation were estimated by probit analysis. RESULT: Mean age was 13.00 years (s.e.=0.080; s.d. = 1.15) and almost identical with the mean age in 1983 (13.03 years), but significantly different from the mean age in 1966 (13.40 years). CONCLUSION: The results indicate a halt in the secular trend towards earlier menarche in the region at some time between 1966 and 1983.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Secular trend in body height since the Neolithic period].

The body height of children and adults is estimated on the basis of skeleton material from the middle Elbe-Saale region since the Neolithic period. The men's body height was calculated according to Breitinger (1938), the women's body height according to Bach (1965), and the children's body height according to Telkkä et al. (1962). These estimates are compared with the mean body height of living persons from the adult population and of Jena schoolchildren, respectively. These are the following essential results: 1. Since 7000 years ago changes of body height can be observed. There was an increase of the mean body height from the Neolithic period until the Bronce age. In the A.D. era no clear changes of the average values can be found until about the 12th century, after which there occurred decreases seen until the 19th century. 2. The greatest secular trends in children and adults arise in our century. 3. The influence of different environmental factors on the body height in past and present is discussed and the sex-specific reactions to changes of these environmental factors are described. 4. It is pointed out that social, and/or geographic influences can cause changes of the body height calculated from skeleton material.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Secular trends in the etiology of nosocomial infection at a teaching hospital in Taiwan, 1981-1994].

Surveillance system of nosocomial infection was established in 1980 at the National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH). To identify pathogens and the secular trends in the etiology of nosocomial infection from 1981 to 1994, the prospective, hospital-wide nosocomial surveillance data were analysed. During this period, 22,146 pathogens causing nosocomial infections were isolated. Gram-negative aerobic bacteria remained the major pathogens, but gram-positive cocci and fungi increased rapidly in the past 14 years. When the overall pathogen distribution is examined, Pseudomonas areuginosa was the most frequently isolated pathogen, but Candida albicans and other yeasts have taken the leading position since 1993. Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci also increase significantly in recent years. When the pathogens causing infection at the 4 major sites were examined. P. aeruginosa was the pathogen most often associated with respiratory tract and surgical wound infections. In blood stream and urinary tract infections, we observed Escherichia coli was replaced by C. albicans and other yeasts as a most common isolate in these years. In addition, C. albicans and other yeasts and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) are emerging as major nosocomial pathogens at NTUH. C. albicans and other yeast increased from 1.8% in 1981 to 14.9% in 1994 in the overall nosocomial infection. The increase was found in the blood stream (2.1% to 16.2%) and urinary tract infections (5.4% to 24.7%). Of 1,742 nosocomial S. aureus isolates, the percentage of MRSA rose from 12.5% in 1981 to 55.2% in 1994. The high percentage of MRSA was observed at 4 major anatomic sites of infection. In summary, significant shifts in the pathogens of nosocomial infection have occurred in the past 14 years at NTUH, and the distribution of nosocomial pathogens was similar to those reported in the United States in recent years.

Bacteremia↗
PubMed1998

Excess mortality due to coronary artery disease after valve surgery. Secular trends in valvular regurgitation and effect of internal mammary artery bypass.

BACKGROUND: During the 1980s, mortality from coronary artery disease (CAD) decreased markedly in the United States. This raises the question of whether a parallel decrease occurred in excess mortality due to CAD in patients undergoing surgical correction of valvular regurgitation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Survival of 752 patients (age, 64 +/- 13 years) with isolated left-sided valvular regurgitation operated on from 1980 to 1991 was analyzed. Of 242 patients with CAD (stenosis > or = 70%), 208 had coronary artery bypass grafting. Multivariate analysis identified CAD as an independent predictor of operative mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 2.35, P = 0.012), overall (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.65, P < 0.0001) and late mortality (HR = 1.57, P = 0.0006), and postoperative congestive heart failure (HR = 2.35, P = 0.0001). Comparison of patients operated on in 1980 to 1985 with those operated on in 1986 to 1991, excess of operative, overall, and late mortality and postoperative congestive heart failure (adjusted for age and gender) related to associated CAD did not decrease significantly (P = 0.23, P = 0.64, P = 0.90, and P = 0.61, respectively). Overall survival was better for patients receiving an internal mammary artery graft than those receiving vein grafts only (HR = 0.57, P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the secular trend for decreased mortality from CAD, excess mortality related to associated CAD after surgery for valvular regurgitation has not decreased. Internal mammary artery grafts were associated with improved outcome. In patients with valvular regurgitations, these results support continued active search of associated CAD, wide use of internal mammary artery graft, and vigorous efforts for secondary prevention of complications of CAD.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Of faculties, fallacies, and freedom: dilemma and irony in the secularization of American psychology.

In The Principles of Psychology, William James (1890) articulated an influential, boundary-setting argument against faculty psychology, subsequently dubbed the Fallacy of the Faculty Psychology. This argument was reiterated in American psychology textbooks for the next several decades, arguably solidifying and simplifying American perceptions of the "old" faculty psychology and establishing belief in the superiority of the "New Psychology." When placed in the context of American theological and philosophical history, however, the New Psychology argument appears unoriginal, somewhat unfair, and deeply (and even tragically) ironic. Despite their best intentions, a fallacy did emerge in the old psychology as they sought psychological foundations for libertarian free will. For those members of the New Psychology still committed to free will, then, the Fallacy argument cut both ways - refuting the fallacy also meant tearing down a long-standing foundation for free will in American psychology. Offering no viable alternative to fill the moral void, the New Psychology appeared at times conflicted with its new deterministic identity.

Education↗
PubMed1999

Health care as an essential building block for a free society: the convergence of the Catholic and secular American imperative.

As the twentieth century closes, marked by triumphal strides in medical advances, the American society has yet to ensure that each person has access to affordable health care. To correct this injustice, this article calls on the nation's political and corporate leaders, providers, and faith-based groups to join all Americans in a new national conversation on systemic health care reform. The Catholic faith tradition is one that compels both a proclamation to ministry values and a commitment to speak out against the challenges or threats to what are essential to the well-being of individuals and society. The Catholic health ministry must therefore be both a voice for the voiceless and an agent of transformation. The nation's goal should be to "reposition" health care from its status as an important, but ultimately optional building block to one that is essential.

Catholicism↗