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PubMed1981

Dasherkandi project studies. Demography, morbidity and mortality in a rural community of Bangladesh.

The entire population of Dasherkandi, a village near Dacca city was surveyed. Out of 1181 people 44.2% suffered from organic or psychiatric disorders. 37.7% suffered from physical disorders, 3.6% suffered from psychiatric disorders and another 2.9% suffered from both psychiatric and physical disorders. The common physical disorders were worm infestations, hypertension, peptic ulcer, dental problems and upper respiratory tract infection including flu. Females suffered from psychiatric diseases more than males. The psychiatric morbidity found in the survey differed significantly from those found in other similar surveys. Depressive states were the commonest psychiatric disorder and women suffered four times as frequently as men. Anxiety neurosis was the next common psychiatric problem. Both crude mortality and infant mortality rates (5.75 and 93.20 per thousand respectively) were lower than those of other similar studies. The commonest cause of infant mortality during first one month of life was tetanus in this series. Inspite of the fact that diagnosis was based entirely on clinical findings the morbidity rate was high. It was observed that a high percentage of the people who suffered from psychiatric disorders were due to problems which can be easily tackled under field conditions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Pension benefits among the aged: conflicting measures, unequal distributions.

Estimates of total benefits paid by employer sponsored pension plans seem to vary widely between different data sources and measures. Such discrepancies have been used to support differing conclusions about the effectiveness of the pension system. This article examines several measures of aggregate pension benefits in 1990, a year particularly rich in available data. Exploratory analysis suggests that the greatest source of discrepancy lies in differing treatments of lump-sum distributions, although the study also identifies several other types of payments that are variously, and erroneously, counted as pension income. Age of recipients is an important factor in analyzing different measures of aggregate pension benefits; discrepancies are much smaller among the aged than in the population as a whole. The analysis also provides new evidence about the unequal distribution of pension benefits among the aged, confirming from two data sources that benefits are heavily concentrated among higher income groups.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Serological and demographic survey of Epstein-Barr virus infection in Ethiopia.

A demographic and serological survey of Epstein-Barr virus infection was carried out in 5 geographically representative regions of Ethiopia. 80% of the 500 people studied were under 15 years of age. 82% of children under 5 years of age and 94% under 10 years of age were positive for IgG anti-viral capsid antigen (VCA) antibody. 51 of 100 children under 12 months of age and from 5 different provinces were positive for anti-VCA antibody. Of these, 23 were under 6 months. The distribution of anti-VCA antibody positivity was comparable in both sexes, in each age group and in the different provinces at different altitudes. Economic status, expressed in terms of estimated income, type of water supply, mode of excreta disposal and family size, did not significantly influence the distribution of anti-VCA antibody. Thus, early exposure to Epstein-Barr virus, with asymptomatic or subclinical presentation, probably accounts for the rarity of typical infectious mononucleosis in young adult Ethiopians. The lack of a relationship between Epstein-Barr virus infection and Burkitt's lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, malaria as well as liver diseases is briefly discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Growing biological networks: beyond the gene-duplication model.

In this paper we propose a generalized growth model for biological interaction networks, including a set of biological features which have been inspired by a long tradition of simulations of immune system and chemical reaction networks. In our models we include characteristics such as the heterogeneity of biological nodes, the existence of natural hubs, the nodes binding by mutual affinity and the significance of type-based networks as compared with instance-based networks. Under these assumptions, we analyse the importance of the nodes concentration with respect to the selection of incoming nodes. We show that networks with fat-tailed degree distribution and highly clustered structure naturally emerge in systems possessing certain properties: new instances need to be produced through an endogenous source and this source needs to provide a positive feedback favouring nodes with high concentration to receive new connections. Furthermore, we show that understanding the concentration dynamics of each node and the consequent correlation between connectivity and concentration is a more adequate way to capture the global properties of type-based biological networks.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Memory impairment in schizophrenia: a study using event-related potentials in implicit and explicit tasks.

Although memory impairment is recognized as a major fact of schizophrenia, only a few studies have investigated memory impairments with specifically designed event-related potential (ERP) protocols. In this study, ERPs were recorded from 15 schizophrenia patients and 15 matched control subjects during implicit and explicit memory tasks for unfamiliar faces. The results showed that patients have a reduced modulation of an N400-like component in both the implicit and explicit tasks that suggests a deficient integration of incoming information with personal knowledge. Patients also displayed an enhanced frontally distributed activity in the explicit task that may represent an impairment in the integration of intrinsic contextual information, a disturbance in the ability to inhibit proactive interference or a combination of both processes. Finally, the modulation of the late positive component did not differ from that in control subjects in both implicit and explicit tasks, suggesting that the impairment in mnemonic binding processes suggested in schizophrenia is more qualitative, i.e. incomplete or inappropriate, due to the anomalies in antecedent processes. The correlations observed between impairments of ERP modulation and symptoms further support these interpretations.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Does an infrasonic acoustic shock wave resonance of the manganese 3+ loaded/copper depleted prion protein initiate the pathogenesis of TSE?

Intensive exposures to natural and artificial sources of infrasonic acoustic shock (tectonic disturbances, supersonic aeroplanes, etc.) have been observed in ecosystems supporting mammalian populations that are blighted by clusters of traditional and new variant strains of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). But TSEs will only emerge in those 'infrasound-rich' environments which are simultaneously influenced by eco-factors that induce a high manganese (Mn)/low copper (Cu)-zinc (Zn) ratio in brains of local mammalian populations. Since cellular prion protein (PrPc) is a cupro-protein expressed throughout the circadian mediated pathways of the body, it is proposed that PrP's Cu component performs a role in the conduction and distribution of endogenous electromagnetic energy; energy that has been transduced from incoming ultraviolet, acoustic, geomagnetic radiations. TSE pathogenesis is initiated once Mn substitutes at the vacant Cu domain on PrPc and forms a nonpathogenic, protease resistant, 'sleeping' prion. A second stage of pathogenesis comes into play once a low frequency wave of infrasonic shock metamorphoses the piezoelectric atomic structure of the Mn 3+ component of the prion, thereby 'priming' the sleeping prion into its fully fledged, pathogenic TSE isoform - where the paramagnetic status of the Mn 3+ atom is transformed into a stable ferrimagnetic lattice work, due to the strong electron-phonon coupling resulting from the dynamic 'Jahn-Teller' type distortions of the oxygen octahedra specific to the trivalent Mn species. The so called 'infectivity' of the prion is a misnomer and should be correctly defined as the contagious field inducing capacity of the ferrimagnetic Mn 3+ component of the prion; which remains pathogenic at all temperatures below the 'curie point'. A progressive domino-like 'metal to ligand to metal' ferrimagnetic corruption of the conduits of electromagnetic superexchange is initiated. The TSE diseased brain can be likened to a solar charged battery on continuous charge; where the Mn contaminated/Cu depleted circadian-auditory pathways absorb and pile up, rather than conduct the vital life force energies of incoming ultra violet, acoustic and geomagnetic radiation. Instead of harnessing these energies for the body's own bio-rhythmic requirements, an infrasonic shock induced metamorphosis of the Mn atom intervenes; initiating an explosive pathogenesis that perverts the healthy pathways of darkness and light; Cu prions are replaced by hyperpolarized Mn 3+ prions that seed self perpetuating 'cluster bombs' of free radical mediated neurodegeneration. TSE ensues.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Polydisperse composition of mixed monolayer-protected, spin-labeled Au nanoparticles.

Using EPR spectroscopy and spin-labeled ligands, we have studied product distribution in the ligand exchange reactions of Au nanoparticles. When the incoming ligand was used in excess, the exchanged nanoparticles had uniform composition of the organic shell. Preparative GPC was employed to fractionate these materials according to the diameter of the Au core, as confirmed by TEM, UV, and EPR measurements. When the exchange reaction was carried out with less than a stoichiometric amount of the incoming ligand, nanoparticles with polydisperse composition of the organic shell were formed. This was established by the EPR analysis of the exchange reaction mixtures following their GPC fractionation. The GPC separation of these mixtures is controlled by both Au core size and shell composition.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Misreporting of total energy intake in older African Americans.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To examine misreporting of total energy intake in older African-American men and women using the double-labeled water procedure; and (2) to identify significant physiological and demographic determinants of total energy intake misreporting in older African Americans. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study examining gender differences and determinants of misreporting of total energy intake in older African-American men and women. SUBJECTS: Sixty-four, older African-American men (n=28) and women (n=36); 52-84 y old; body mass index of 20.5-45.1 kg/m2. MEASUREMENTS: Misreporting of total energy intake (difference between reported intakes and measured energy expenditure by doubly labeled water procedure), peak VO2, resting metabolic rate (by indirect calorimetry), indices of body fat and fat distribution (by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and anthropometry), income, living arrangement and education (by interview). RESULTS: Older African-American men and women under-reported total energy intake to a modest degree and there were no gender differences in the magnitude of the misreporting. Peak VO2 (a determinant of daily energy requirements) and percentage intakes of fat and protein were significant correlates of misreporting of total energy intake in older African Americans. When these correlates were entered in a multiple regression model, only percentage dietary fat and protein intakes independently predicted misreporting of total energy intake. CONCLUSIONS: Cultural differences in attitudes regarding food and weight have significant effects on misreporting of total energy intake in older African Americans. In addition, individuals who misreported their total energy intake to a greater extent reported consuming less fat and more protein. Misreporting of total energy intake may occur less frequently in older African Americans as compared to other racial groups, since they may be less preoccupied with body size and image. International Journal of Obesity (2000)24, 20-26

Black or African American↗
PubMed2001

Socioeconomic inequalities in all-cause and specific-cause mortality in Australia: 1985-1987 and 1995-1997.

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic inequalities in mortality have been repeatedly observed in Britain, the US, and Europe, and in some countries there is evidence that the differentials are widening. This study describes trends in socioeconomic mortality inequality in Australia for males and females aged 0-14, 15-24 and 25-64 years over the period 1985-1987 to 1995-1997. METHODS: Socioeconomic status (SES) was operationalized using the Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage, an area-based measure developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Mortality differentials were examined using age-standardized rates, and mortality inequality was assessed using rate ratios, gini coefficients, and a measure of excess mortality. RESULTS: For both periods, and for each sex/age subgroup, death rates were highest in the most disadvantaged areas. The extent and nature of socioeconomic mortality inequality differed for males and females and for each age group: both increases and decreases in mortality inequality were observed, and for some causes, the degree of inequality remained unchanged. If it were possible to reduce death rates among the SES areas to a level equivalent to that of the least disadvantaged area, premature all-cause mortality for males in each age group would be lower by 22%, 28% and 26% respectively, and for females, 35%, 70% and 56%. CONCLUSIONS: The mortality burden in the Australian population attributable to socioeconomic inequality is large, and has profound and far-reaching implications in terms of the unnecessary loss of life, the loss of potentially economically productive members of society, and increased costs for the health care system.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1973

The organization of primary afferent depolarization in the isolated spinal cord of the frog.

1. The organization of primary afferent depolarization (PAD) produced by excitation of peripheral sensory and motor nerves was studied in the frog cord isolated with hind limb nerves.2. Dorsal root potentials from sensory fibres (DR-DRPs) were evoked on stimulation of most sensory nerves, but were largest from cutaneous, joint and flexor muscle afferents. With single shock stimulation the largest cutaneous and joint afferent fibres gave DR-DRPs, but potentials from muscle nerves resulted from activation of sensory fibres with thresholds to electrical stimulation higher than 1.2-1.5 times the threshold of the most excitable fibres in the nerve. This suggests that PAD from muscle afferents is probably due to excitation of extrafusal receptors.3. Dorsal root potentials produced by antidromic activation of motor fibres (VR-DRPs) were larger from extensor muscles and smaller or absent from flexor muscles. The VR-DRPs were produced by activation of the lowest threshold motor fibres.4. Three types of interactions were found between test and conditioning DRPs from the same or different nerves. With maximal responses occlusion was usually pronounced. At submaximal levels linear summation occurred. Near threshold the conditioning stimulus frequently resulted in a large facilitation of the test DRP. All three types of interactions were found with two DR-DRPs, two VR-DRPs or one DR-DRP and one VR-DRP.5. The excitability of sensory nerve terminals from most peripheral nerves was increased during the DR-DRP. The magnitude of the excitability increase varied roughly with the magnitude of the DR-DRP evoked by the conditioning stimulus.6. There was a marked excitability increase of cutaneous and extensor muscle afferent terminals during the VR-DRP. Flexor muscle afferent terminals often showed no excitability changes to ventral root stimulation. In those experiments where afferent terminals from flexor muscles did show an excitability increase, the effects were smaller than those of cutaneous and extensor terminals.7. The VR-DRPs appear to reflect activity of a negative feed-back loop from extensor motoneurones on to sensory fibres from cutaneous and extensor muscles. This system may have a role in modulating the ballistic movement of the frog. DR-DRPs, on the contrary, are widespread in origin and distribution. PAD from sensory fibres may function to sharpen contrast between incoming afferent information.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Educational and economic determinants of food intake in Portuguese adults: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the influences of educational and economic variables on food consumption may be useful to explain food behaviour and nutrition policymaking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of educational and economic factors in determining food pattern in Portuguese adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study in a representative sample of Portuguese adults (20977 women and 18663 men). Participants were distributed in four categories according to years of education ( 12) and income ( 815 euros). Logistic regression models were fitted to estimate the magnitude of the association between food groups and education/income, adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: In both genders, the odds favouring milk, vegetable soup, vegetables, fruit, and fish consumption, increased significantly with education, for those having >12 years of education compared to those with 12 years of education compared to those with 815 euros compared to those with <or=314 euros). CONCLUSIONS: The low and high income groups are or tend to be similar in regard to several food groups consumption, and access to education/information appears to be the key element to a better food pattern as indicated by higher frequency of milk, vegetable soup, vegetables, fruit, and fish consumption.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Cardiovascular comorbidities among public health clinic patients with diabetes: the Urban Diabetics Study.

BACKGROUND: We sought to determine the frequency and distribution of cardiovascular comorbidities in a large cohort of low-income patients with diabetes who had received primary care for diabetes at municipal health clinics. METHODS: Outpatient data from the Philadelphia Health Care Centers was linked with hospital discharge data from all Pennsylvania hospitals and death certificates. RESULTS: Among 10,095 primary care patients with diabetes, with a mean observation period of 4.6 years (2.8 after diabetes diagnosis), 2,693 (14.3%) were diagnosed with heart disease, including 270 (1.4%) with myocardial infarction and 912 (4.8%) with congestive heart failure. Cerebrovascular disease was diagnosed in 588 patients (3.1%). Over 77% of diabetic patients were diagnosed with hypertension. Incidence rates of new complications ranged from 0.6 per 100 person years for myocardial infarction to 26.5 per 100 person years for hypertension. Non-Hispanic whites had higher rates of myocardial infarction, and Hispanics and Asians had fewer comorbid conditions than African Americans and non-Hispanic whites. CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular comorbidities were common both before and after diabetes diagnosis in this low-income cohort, but not substantially different from mixed-income managed care populations, perhaps as a consequence of access to primary care and pharmacy services.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

["Avoidable" infant mortality in two cities of northeastern Brazil: quality indicator of the local health system].

This paper seeks to discover the magnitude and causality structure of infant mortality--considered a "sentinel even" for quality-of-care indexes in health--in two municipalities of Northeastern Brazil. This is a population based study of the "invoked experimentation" type comparing observed infant mortality with that expected, given a properly functioning maternal and infant care program, allowing for the calculation of a "preventable index" (PDI) for these two municipalities. The preliminary step consisted of an active search and epidemiological investigation of deaths in order to eliminate their underreporting as events. Infant mortality rates in the two areas were relatively low--39 and 44 per thousand live births, respectively--but PDI in both was classified of the order of 40%, thus indicating a causality structure compatible with mortality rates of 100 per thousand. These findings suggest an uneven distribution of deaths, proved by an analytical comparison of the low income population with that of other income brackets (with risk ratios of 8 and 17.6 for total infant mortality and infant mortality from infectious diseases, respectively). PDI proved to be a useful index of preventability of infant deaths, and has the advantage of being simple and easy for health system managers concerned with the quality of health programs devoted to mothers and children to use.

Brazil↗
PubMed2002

Geographic socioeconomic status, race, and advanced-stage breast cancer in New York City.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the association between a residential area' socioeconomic status (SES), race, and advanced-stage breast cancer in New York City. METHODS: The cross-sectional study design used breast cancer information for 37 921 cases diagnosed in New York City from 1986 to 1995. Residential education and income levels were based on the 1990 census and ascribed to each case by zip code. Associations between race, area SES, and advanced-stage breast cancer stage, and the interaction between race and SES, were evaluated in bivariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: After adjusting for age and year at diagnosis, living in areas with lower levels of education and income increased the odds of presenting with advanced-stage breast cancer by 50% for Black women and by 75% for White women. No significant qualitative interaction was present between area SES and race. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed independent racial and socioeconomic differences in the risk of advanced-stage breast cancer in a large and diverse population. The results emphasize the need to improve screening practices and clinical treatment in both high-risk populations and high-risk geographic areas.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A summary measure of health disparity.

OBJECTIVES: Eliminating health disparities is a goal of Healthy People 2010. In order to track progress toward this goal, we need improved methods for measuring disparity. The authors present the Index of Disparity (ID) as a summary measure of disparity. METHODS: The ID, a modified coefficient of variation, was used to measure disparity across populations defined on the basis of race/ethnicity, income, education, and gender. Disparity was also assessed for a diverse range of health indicators and over time to monitor trends. RESULTS: Disparity in cardiovascular disease deaths decreased based on gender from 1989 to 1998 but was largely unchanged based on race/ethnicity. The magnitude of disparities in cervical cancer and cholesterol screening, smoking, exercise, and health insurance ranged from 1.9% to 78.6%. The largest disparities for health indicators were not associated with any particular population classification, whether defined on the basis of race/ethnicity, education, or income. CONCLUSIONS: To eliminate disparities, we need a means to assess disparities across many types of health indicators. Furthermore, for a given health indicator, disparities may differ for populations defined on the basis of race/ethnicity, education, income, and so on. The ID is a simple method for summarizing disparities across groups within a population that can be applied across health indicators regardless of magnitude, over time to monitor trends, and across different populations.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1997

The interrelationship between income, health and employment status.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that the relatively strong association between income and health compared to that between education/occupation and health, can partly be interpreted in terms of an association between employment status and health. METHODS: Health indicators used were the prevalence of one or more chronic conditions, and perceived general health. Data were generated from a postal survey, part of the baseline data collection of a Dutch prospective cohort study on socioeconomic inequalities in health. RESULTS: After controlling for differences in other socioeconomic indicators, the association between income and health was found to be stronger than that between occupation or education and health. Most of the difference in strength was found to be due to employment status, especially among men. Controlling for employment status, and controlling for the distribution of those with a long-term work disability in particular, reduced the risks of lower income groups, whereas the risks of lower educational and occupational groups hardly changed. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the relatively strong association between income and health can for a large part be interpreted in terms of an interrelationship between employment status, income and health. More specifically, it is largely due to the concentration of the long-term disabled in lower income groups. This indicates the importance of the selection mechanism, as these groups are excluded from paid employment because of their health status, leading to a lowering of income. However, income was still found to be related to perceived general health after controlling for employment status especially among women. This suggests that an explanation in terms of an effect of material factors on health may also be important.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

The association between income, education, control over life and health in a large urban population of Poland.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of our study was to examine the relation of income, education and control over life with health self-evaluation and chronic diseases, e.g., hypertension, back illness, hypercholesterolemia, gastritis, coronary heart disease, and diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data were collected in Lódź, a large industrial city of Poland, between 2001 and 2002, as a part of the Countrywide Integrated Noncommunicable Diseases Intervention Programme. The surveys were directed at random samples of the adult population, 1837 men and women aged 18-64 years. A questionnaire completed during a doctor's visit was used for data collection. RESULTS: All chronic illnesses were age-related. A strong association was also seen between chronic illnesses and poor control over life. People who reported poor control over life were more likely to suffer from any of the studied chronic illnesses; this relationship was mostly pronounced in case of gastritis. The incidence of coronary heart disease and back illnesses was very strongly related with low education, whereas low income with hypertension, back illnesses and coronary heart disease, however this relation was not so strongly manifested. Seventy percent of the study population rated their health as "good" and 30% as "poor". The worst results of health self-evaluation were found in older people with low education, low income, poor control over life and chronic illnesses. CONCLUSIONS: Poor control over life was associated with chronic illnesses. Our study suggest that higher education and higher income in the period of socioeconomic changes are the explanatory variables for good health.

Adult↗