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PubMed1994

Trace element concentrations in hair of subjects from two South Pacific Islands, Atafu (Tokelau) and Kitava (Papua New Guinea).

The concentrations of trace elements in hair were measured in 108 healthy subjects (60 males and 48 females, mean age 46-years) resident on Atafu (Tokelau) and in 83 subjects (63 males and 20 females, mean age 26-years) living on Kitava island (Papua New Guinea). On Kitava, a traditional subsistence lifestyle uninfluenced by Western dietary habits is still maintained, but on Atafu the dietary habits have been modified by the inclusion of such imported foods as rice, flour, sugar and canned meat and fish. The concentrations of zinc and magnesium in hair were significantly higher in the Kitava than in the Atafu subjects, whereas those of copper were similar in both groups, and those of selenium, mercury, lead and cadmium were higher in Atafu subjects. The levels of serum copper, magnesium and selenium concentrations in Kitava subjects were not so low as to indicate any trace element deficiency. The higher hair content of mercury, lead and cadmium found among Atafu subjects might be due to consumption of marine foods contaminated with metals, consumption of canned foods, or frequent cigarette smoking, though it is difficult to single out any specific factor.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Oral and dental health status in a population of schoolchildren aged 5 to 15 years in Wallis].

This study was performed in 1992 with three aims: to assess precisely the prevalence of dental carries in the child population of Wallis Island; to evaluate the need for dental care; and create a database allowing the oro-dental status to be followed and the effectiveness of preventive programmes to be assessed. The total population of the Wallis Islands according to the 1990 (the most recent) census was 8,973 living in twenty villages. The population was classified into four ethnic groups: Wallisian (94.4%), Futunian (1.2%), European (3.9%) and miscellaneous (0.5%). The lifestyle of the population is traditional and there is virtually no manufacturing, overseas trade or tourism. The population of Wallis Island is young, with 56.6% of the population under 20 years old. Almost all the children attended school from the age of 6 to the age of 19 [3]. Half the Island's children (n = 1407) between the ages of 5 and 15 years old were classified into 11 age groups and were examined. Children from all schools were included in the study group which was representative of the child population of Wallis Island (94.4% were Wallisian) (table 1). The study was performed according to the 1988 WHO guidelines [4] and Cahen [5]. At age 5, a mean of 3.26 teeth had erupted. The permanent dental set (other than the 3rd molars) were present by age 12 years in virtually all cases. The percentage that had carrie-free permanent teeth were 89.9% at age 5, 59.9% at age 6, 22% at age 12 and only 13.4% at age 15.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

VNTR alleles associated with the alpha-globin locus are haplotype and population related.

The human alpha-globin complex contains several polymorphic restriction-enzyme sites (i.e., RFLPs) linked to form haplotypes and is flanked by two hypervariable VNTR loci, the 5' hypervariable region (HVR) and the more highly polymorphic 3'HVR. Using a combination of RFLP analysis and PCR, we have characterized the 5'HVR and 3'HVR alleles associated with the alpha-globin haplotypes of 133 chromosomes, and we here show that specific alpha-globin haplotypes are each associated with discrete subsets of the alleles observed at these two VNTR loci. This statistically highly significant association is observed over a region spanning approximately 100 kb. With the exception of closely related haplotypes, different haplotypes do not share identically sized 3'HVR alleles. Earlier studies have shown that alpha-globin haplotype distributions differ between populations; our current findings also reveal extensive population substructure in the repertoire of alpha-globin VNTRs. If similar features are characteristic of other VNTR loci, this will have important implications for forensic and anthropological studies.

Alleles↗
PubMed1994

Risk factors for asthma symptoms in Kawerau children.

AIMS: To study risk factors for asthma prevalence in Kawerau children aged 8-13 years. METHODS: Questionnaires on asthma symptoms and risk factors were completed in 1992 by parents of 708 Kawerau schoolchildren aged 8-13 years, a response rate of 82.0%; for a subgroup of children, stored serum samples from a 1984 survey were also analysed. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of current wheeze (21.3%) was similar to that observed in other New Zealand surveys. The prevalence of current wheeze was elevated in males (odds ratio (OR) = 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.5), in those who had been passively exposed to cigarette smoke from the primary caregiver (OR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.0-2.1), in those who had had pets in the home at age 0-5 years (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-2.9) and in those with one or more birth parents with asthma (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.4-3.1); current wheeze was less common in those with older children living in the same household (for 2 or more older children in the same household, OR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.2-1.0). In a small nested case-control study it was found that current wheeze was more common in those with high levels of IgE (OR = 6.4, 95% CI 1.3-36.4) or low levels of selenium (OR = 3.1, 95% CI 0.9-11.8) in stored serum collected 8 years previously. There was no difference in the proportions with current wheeze, or with diagnosed asthma between Maori and European children, but Maori children were more likely to have current frequent nocturnal wheeze (OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.0-5.1), current severe wheeze (OR = 1.8, 95% CI 0.8-3.7) or to have been admitted to hospital with asthma (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-4.8). Passive exposure to tobacco smoke was more common among Maori children, but this only partially accounted for the greater asthma severity in Maori children, and the lower prescribing of prophylactic medications in this group may also have contributed. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple factors were associated with asthma symptoms in children in this age-group, including a family history of asthma, male gender, environmental tobacco smoke, environmental allergen exposure, atopy, and low selenium status. Further studies are required to assess the relative contributions of these factors to the prevalence of asthma in New Zealand.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Ethnic differences in diabetes knowledge and education: the South Auckland Diabetes Survey.

AIM: To compare the knowledge of diabetes, and diabetes education provision/preferences among European, Maori and Pacific Islands diabetic patients in south Auckland. METHOD: The 331 European, 86 Maori and 123 Pacific Islands patients who were interviewed attended local diabetes services and a stratified subsample of general practitioners. Interviews included closed and open questions of diabetes knowledge, age, sex, diabetes treatment, employment status, weekly household income, school/further education received and the actual and preferred format of diabetes education. RESULTS: Pacific Islands patients knew least, and Europeans most, about diabetes from both open and closed diabetes knowledge questions. The majority of Pacific Islands patients could not name the nature, symptoms or complications of diabetes. This was unaffected by duration of diabetes, place of birth or time in New Zealand, although insulin treated Pacific Islands patients knew more than noninsulin treated patients (closed score 71 SD (4)% vs 61 SD (2)% p < 0.05). Pacific Islands patients were least likely to have received diabetes education (European 69%, Maori 70%, Pacific Islands 49%, p < 0.001). Knowledge scores were higher in those who had received education at diagnosis. Europeans were least likely to want further education (Europeans 52%, Maori 69%, Pacific Islands 63%, p < 0.01). The preferred sources for ongoing education were the lay educator/diabetes nurse specialist service (Europeans 28%, Maori 37%, Pacific Islands 76%), and the hospital based clinic among Europeans (27%) and Maori (36%). No Pacific Islands patients preferred a hospital based ongoing education service, while few diabetic patients of any ethnic group preferred to receive education via their general practitioner. In all ethnic groups, patients wanting more education knew more than those who did not. CONCLUSION: The local delivery of diabetes education is uneven. Among Pacific Islands people, it is grossly inadequate. In order for all patients to receive such education, the diabetes services need to be better coordinated and integrated with primary health care.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Satisfaction with access to general practitioner services in south Auckland.

AIMS: To describe satisfaction with access to general practitioner services in south Auckland. METHODS: A random population survey of established residents was undertaken with the sample drawn from electoral rolls. A questionnaire was administered face-to-face by trained interviewers. Satisfaction was graded using a five point scale, with standard "smiley faces" as visual cues. RESULTS: Overall satisfaction levels are high, ranging from 3.00 to 4.41 out of a maximum of 5. The lowest satisfaction is reported with charges (3.00), home visiting (3.31), weekend services (3.39), after hours services (3.48), and waiting times (3.55). Satisfaction is lowest amongst Polynesians and the 18-29 age group. CONCLUSIONS: General practitioners could increase patient satisfaction with access by reducing patient charges and waiting times, and by improving access to services not provided at their usual premises during normal hours. Further research is needed into reasons for low satisfaction in the nonEuropean and younger age groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Multivariate quantitative genetic simulations in anthropology with an example from the South Pacific.

Computer simulation is a commonly used tool both in genetic epidemiology and in anthropological genetics. We describe here various methods for simulating multivariate quantitative genetic evolution and apply these methods in an analysis of craniometrics from two Pacific island samples. The results of this application indicate that the two samples (one from the Tolai and one from the Moriori) are significantly different, even when allowing for founder effect, intense selection on founders, and genetic drift. The simulation methods we describe and use are commonly applied in animal breeding studies and are much more efficient and general than the multilocus gene-dropping technique usually used in anthropological genetics simulations.

Animals↗