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White Subjects (white + subject)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	92%

Selected Abstracts

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Comparison of Black and White Subjects

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 7 2002
Keith Meetze MD
Abstract Objective To determine if the severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) differs by racial group. Study Design Cross-sectional retrospective review. Setting University-based sleep disorders laboratory. Methods The study reviewed the results of 280 adult (>18 y) patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome by overnight polysomnogram between July 1, 1999, and June 30, 2000. Factors analyzed included age, sex, race, presence of hypertension, body mass index (kg/m2), respiratory disturbance index (RDI), and lowest oxygen saturation level. Results Blacks with OSA are significantly more obese and have significantly higher rates of hypertension than white subjects with OSA. Black females with OSA are significantly younger than white females at the time of diagnosis (P = .005). Black males with OSA have significantly lower oxygen saturations than white males (P = .025). Conclusion Black males who present to the otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon for evaluation of sleep-disordered breathing may be at increased risk of severe OSA. [source]

Polymorphism in the Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Gene Is Associated With Alcoholism in Spanish Men

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 10 2000
Isabel J. Pastor
Background: A polymorphism located in intron 2 of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN) gene recently has been associated with the development of hepatic fibrosis in Japanese alcoholics. In the present study, we analyzed whether there is an association between this polymorphism, alcoholism, and alcoholic liver disease in a Spanish male population of alcoholics. Methods: The IL1RN genotype was assessed by polymerase chain reaction by using oligonucleotides that flank a variable nucleotide tandem repeat polymorphism located in intron 2 of this gene in 90 male alcoholic patients from Spain; 30 alcohol-dependent men, 30 alcohol abusers, and 30 alcoholics with liver cirrhosis. We also studied 40 healthy subjects. Results: The distribution of the IL1RN allelic frequencies in Spanish healthy subjects is similar to that previously reported in White subjects. However, the A1 allele is overrepresented in Spanish alcoholics when compared with healthy subjects. No significant differences in allelic frequencies were observed between alcoholics with liver cirrhosis and alcoholics without liver disease or between alcohol-dependent subjects and alcohol abusers. Conclusion: The presence of the A1 allele of the IL1RN gene is associated with a higher risk of alcoholism in Spanish men. [source]

Are there ethnic differences in sleep architecture?

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2002
Judi Profant
The possibility of ethnic differences in sleep architecture was initially examined in conjunction with studies of sleep apnea (study 1). This possibility was then examined in another cohort of patients to determine whether the results might generalize (study 2). Polysomnography was obtained in both cohorts as part of larger protocols investigating sympathetic nervous system activity, blood pressure, and sleep. Sleep monitoring took place in an inpatient clinical research center of a university hospital. Study 1 focused on sleep apnea physiology and involved volunteers with sleep apnea who were otherwise healthy. Study 2 focused on differences in stress reactivity between American Black and White subjects and involved hypertensive and normotensive volunteers who were otherwise healthy. Analyses include 61 participants from study 1 and 35 participants from study 2. Ethnicity in both cohorts was determined by self-report. Participants in both studies were monitored during sleep with traditional polysomnography including electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), electrooculography (EOG), and oximetry. In Study 1, Blacks had longer TST (P < 0.01), more REM sleep (P < 0.05), and less WASO (P < 0.05) than Whites. After controling for RDI, Blacks had longer TST and spent a smaller percentage of time in deep sleep (P < 0.05). In study 2, Blacks had longer TST and REM sleep, lower percent deep sleep, and lower percent deep sleep controling for RDI (P < 0.05). In two separate studies, Blacks had longer TST, more minutes of REM, and lower percentage deep sleep. These findings suggest possible ethnic differences in sleep architecture. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 14:321,326, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Studies of associations between the Arg389Gly polymorphism of the ,1 -adrenergic receptor gene (ADRB1) and hypertension and obesity in 7677 Danish white subjects

DIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 4 2007
A. P. Gjesing
Abstract Aims, Activation of the ,1 -adrenergic receptor (ADRB1) causes increased lipolysis in adipose tissue and enhances cardiac output. Analysis of the association of the functional ADRB1 Arg389Gly variant with obesity and hypertension has given ambiguous results. To clarify the potential impact of this variant on obesity and hypertension in the general population, we examined the Arg389Gly variant in a relatively large-scale population-based study. Methods, Case-control studies and quantitative trait analyses were carried out in 7677 Danish Caucasians who were genotyped for the Arg389Gly variant (dbSNP rs1801253) using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Results, A weak association between the Gly allele of the Arg389Gly variant and obesity was observed when comparing cases (n = 1540) defined as body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2 with control subjects (n = 6108) defined as BMI , 30 kg/m2 for both allele frequencies (P = 0.05) and genotype distribution (P = 0.05). Case-control studies (cases n = 2518; control n = 3981) examining the effect on hypertension showed no association with allele frequencies (P = 0.3) or genotype distribution (P = 0.5); however, in the quantitative trait analyses, individuals carrying the Gly allele had slightly but significantly lower diastolic (Arg/Arg = 81.9 mmHg vs. Gly-allele carriers = 81.5 mmHg) and systolic (Arg/Arg = 129.4 mmHg vs. Gly-allele carriers = 128.8 mmHg) blood pressure as well as a lower mean arterial blood pressure. Conclusion, Our results suggest that the Arg389Gly polymorphism does not have any clinically important impact on the pathogenesis of obesity in Danish white subjects. Furthermore, despite the observed minor influence on blood pressure, this variant is most likely not to be a major contributor to the development of hypertension. [source]

Differences in Services Utilization Between White and Mexican American DUI Arrestees

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 1 2001
Cheryl J. Cherpitel
Background: Hispanics traditionally have been considered an underserved population in relation to medical care and related services utilization. Methods: Selected health and social services utilization (both alcohol-specific and non-alcohol-specific) during the last year was compared between a sample of 249 Mexican American (half of whom were born in Mexico) and 250 white participants interviewed in all five DUI (driving under the influence) treatment programs in one northern California county. Results: Among those who met DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence and/or alcohol abuse, 49% of the white subjects compared with 59% of the Mexican American subjects reported no utilization, 77% of whites and 82% of Mexican Americans reported no utilization in which drinking was a factor, and 70% of whites and 80% of Mexican Americans reported no contact with an alcohol program. Mexican Americans were also significantly less likely to report contact with more than one program, and among Mexican Americans, those born in Mexico were significantly less likely to report utilization than those born in the U.S. Conclusions: The data suggest that despite the higher rates of heavy drinking found among Mexican American DUI arrestees (especially those born in Mexico) in this sample, Mexican Americans with an alcohol use disorder are less likely to use health and social services than whites, and this may be related to country of birth and related variables that include health insurance. Significance: The data suggest that DUI programs may offer one of the few opportunities Me-ican American problem drinkers have of establishing contact with the health and social service system and, as such, would be well positioned to also offer other types of alcohol-related health and social services and referrals to this underserved population. These findings have implications for intervention efforts for problem drinking and prevention of DUI among Me-ican Americans, which are a rapidly growing ethnic minority in California. [source]

Antibody response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in children with cystic fibrosis

PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
Lucimar G. Milagres PhD
Abstract Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most frequent life threatening autosomal recessive disease in white subjects. The primary cause of morbidity and mortality in children with CF is chronic pulmonary infection, mainly caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of the measurement of antibodies to P. aeruginosa in diagnosing lung infection by the bacteria in CF patients. We assessed P. aeruginosa antibody titers in CF patients from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, using cell lysate antigens as well as recombinant PcrV, a Type III Secretion System protein. Sputum (more than 70% of the specimens) or oropharyngeal swabs were obtained whenever patients were regularly followed for their pulmonary disease. Blood samples were obtained with an average interval of 6 months for a period of 2 years. The ELISA cut-offs were assigned as the positive 95% confidence interval of the mean antibody levels from non-fibrocystic controls. Our data showed that most CF patients (81%) of whom were not chronically infected by P. aeruginosa (Groups I and II), had their first serology positive for rPcrV. Cell-lysate ELISA was able to detect P. aeruginosa antibodies before positive culture in the first serum sample of 44% of the patients from Groups I and II. When serum reactivity to rPcrV and cell lysate were combined, 94% of CF patients from Groups I and II (n,=,16) had the first serology positive for P. aeruginosa over a mean time of 20 months before the first isolation of P. aeruginosa. In conclusion, longitudinal P. aeruginosa serology should become part of respiratory care follow-up, in conjunction with other lung parameter functions. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009; 44:392,401. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Scalp dermoscopy of androgenetic alopecia in Asian people

THE JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2009
Shigeki INUI
ABSTRACT Although dermoscopy is used mainly for diagnosing pigmented skin lesions, this device has been reported to be useful in observing alopecia areata and frontal fibrosing alopecia. Herein, we investigated the dermoscopic features and their incidence of androgenetic alopecia (AGA; n = 50 men) and female AGA (FAGA; n = 10 women) in Asian people. More than 20% hair diameter diversity (HDD), which reportedly is an early sign of AGA and corresponds to hair follicle miniaturization, was observed in the affected area of all AGA and FAGA cases, suggesting that HDD is an essential feature to diagnose AGA and FAGA. Peripilar signs, corresponding to perifollicular pigmentation, were seen in 66% (33/50) of AGA and 20% (2/10) of FAGA women. This incidence in the present study was lower than previously reported in white subjects possibly because the Asian skin color conceals slight peripilar pigmentation. Yellow dots were observed in 26% (13/50) of AGA and 10% (1/10) of FAGA cases and the number of yellow dots in AGA and FAGA was limited to 10 on the overall hair loss area. Yellow dots possibly indicate the coincidence of AGA and enlargement of the sebaceous glands caused by common end-organ hypersensitivity to androgen. In conclusion, dermoscopy is useful to diagnose AGA and FAGA and provides insights into the pathogenesis of AGA. [source]

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Comparison of Black and White Subjects

The FAS ,670A>G polymorphism influences susceptibility to systemic sclerosis phenotypes

ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 12 2009
J. Broen
Objective To investigate the possible role of the FAS ,670A>G functional polymorphism in the genetic predisposition to systemic sclerosis (SSc) susceptibility or clinical phenotype. Methods A total of 2,900 SSc patients and 3,186 healthy controls were included in this study. We analyzed the genotype and allele frequencies of the FAS ,670A>G polymorphism in 9 distinct ethnic cohorts, including 6 cohorts of European ancestry (a Spanish cohort of 228 SSc patients and 265 controls, a Dutch cohort of 203 SSc patients and 277 controls, a German cohort of 313 SSc patients and 247 controls, an Italian cohort of 323 SSc cases and 89 controls, a British cohort of 269 SSc patients, and a Swedish cohort of 182 patients) and 3 distinct ethnic cohorts from the US (a cohort of 1,047 white patients and 692 controls, a cohort of 159 Hispanic patients and 137 controls, and a cohort of 176 black SSc patients and 194 controls). Genotyping was performed using a TaqMan 5, allelic discrimination assay. Results In the British, Italian, and American white cohorts we observed an association of the FAS ,670G allele with limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) (odds ratios [ORs] 1.25, 1.43, and 1.18, respectively). A meta-analysis comprising all 9 cohorts revealed an association of both the FAS ,670G allele (OR 1.10) and the FAS ,670GG genotype (OR 1.13) with the lcSSc phenotype. In a meta-analysis including only white subjects, both the FAS ,670G allele and the FAS ,670GG genotype remained associated with lcSSc (allele OR 1.12; genotype OR 1.16). In addition, a recessive model of the ,670GG genotype exhibited a strong association with SSc, lcSSc, and anticentromere antibody,positive lcSSc (OR 1.23, OR 1.33, and OR 1.45, respectively). Conclusion Our data show that the FAS ,670A>G polymorphism plays a role in lcSSc susceptibility. A similar trend has been observed in other autoimmune diseases. [source]

Association of biomarkers with pre,radiographically defined and radiographically defined knee osteoarthritis in a population-based study

ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 5 2009
Jolanda Cibere
Objective To evaluate 10 biomarkers in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),determined, pre,radiographically defined osteoarthritis (pre-ROA) and radiographically defined OA (ROA) in a population-based cohort of subjects with symptomatic knee pain. Methods Two hundred one white subjects with knee pain, ages 40,79 years, were classified into OA subgroups according to MRI-based cartilage (MRC) scores (range 0,4) and Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) grades of radiographic severity (range 0,4): no OA (MRC score 0, K/L grade <2), pre-ROA (MRC score ,1, K/L grade <2), or ROA (MRC score ,1, K/L grade ,2). Urine and serum samples were assessed for levels of the following biomarkers: urinary biomarkers C-telopeptide of type II collagen (uCTX-II), type II and types I and II collagen cleavage neoepitopes (uC2C and uC1,2C, respectively), and N-telopeptide of type I collagen, and serum biomarkers sC1,2C, sC2C, C-propeptide of type II procollagen (sCPII), chondroitin sulfate 846 epitope, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein, and hyaluronic acid. Multicategory logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association of OA subgroup with individual biomarker levels and biomarker ratios, adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index. Results The risk of ROA versus no OA increased with increasing levels of uCTX-II (odds ratio [OR] 3.12, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.35,7.21), uC2C (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.04,4.37), and uC1,2C (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.06,4.04), and was reduced in association with high levels of sCPII (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.30,0.94). The risk of pre-ROA versus no OA increased with increasing levels of uC2C (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.05,4.01) and uC1,2C (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.12,3.77). The ratios of type II collagen degradation markers to collagen synthesis markers were better than individual biomarkers at differentiating the OA subgroups, e.g., the ratio of [uCTX-II][uC1,2C] to sCPII was associated with a risk of ROA versus no OA of 3.47 (95% CI 1.34,9.03) and a risk of pre-ROA versus no OA of 2.56 (95% CI 1.03,6.40). Conclusion Different cartilage degradation markers are associated with pre-ROA than are associated with ROA, indicating that their use as diagnostic markers depends on the stage of OA. Biomarker ratios contrasting cartilage degradation with cartilage synthesis are better able to differentiate OA stages compared with levels of the individual markers. [source]

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor promoter polymorphisms and the clinical expression of scleroderma

ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 11 2006
Sou-Pan Wu
Objective To investigate the potential association between functional polymorphisms in the gene for the innate mediator, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), and the clinical expression of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods Genomic DNA samples and clinical data were collected from the Scleroderma Family Registry and DNA Repository at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. A total of 740 subjects were studied; 203 of them had diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc), 283 had limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc), and the remaining 254 healthy subjects served as controls. Association analyses were performed on the whole data set and on patient and sex subsets. Significant relationships were determined between clinical variables and MIF polymorphisms for each disease subtype in the studied groups. Results The frequency of the ,173*C MIF allele, which was previously reported to be associated with high production of MIF, was lower in the lcSSc group (12.6%) than in the dcSSc (19.2%) or control (18.5%) groups (P = 0.010 and P = 0.011, respectively). Haplotype analysis for 2 closely linked polymorphisms in the MIF promoter showed that in white subjects with lcSSc or dcSSc, the lcSSc population had a significantly lower representation of the high-expression MIF haplotype defined by ,173*C and ,794 with 7 CATT repeats (C7) (P = 0.015, odds ratio 1.94 [95% confidence interval 1.14,3.32]). Fibroblasts encoding the C7 MIF haplotype were observed to produce more MIF upon in vitro stimulation than those with a non-C7 haplotype. Conclusion Functional promoter polymorphisms in the MIF gene affect the clinical presentation of SSc. The proinflammatory haplotype defined by C7 is underrepresented in patients with lcSSc. [source]

Effect of dosing frequency on the safety and efficacy of imiquimod 5% cream for treatment of actinic keratosis on the forearms and hands: a phase II, randomized placebo-controlled trial

BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
K. Gebauer
Summary Background, Clinical studies in cutaneous conditions other than actinic keratosis (AK) have revealed that the safety and efficacy profile of imiquimod is influenced by dosing frequency. Objectives, To evaluate dosing frequency response of imiquimod 5% for treatment of AK. Methods, This was a phase II, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Adults with , 10 but , 50 clinical AKs, one of which was histologically confirmed, were randomized (4 : 1) to 2,6 packets of imiquimod or placebo cream applied to the dorsum of the forearms and hands once daily 2, 3, 5 or 7 times per week for 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was complete clearance of AKs in the treatment area at 8 weeks post-treatment. Results, One hundred and forty-nine (94 men and 54 women) white subjects, with a mean ± SD age of 71 ± 10·2 years, were enrolled. Twenty-eight subjects (18·8%) discontinued from study: 0%, 3·1%, 6·9%, 30·0% and 33·3% withdrew for local skin reactions or adverse events in the combined placebo, and in the imiquimod 2, 3, 5 or 7 times per week groups, respectively. Seven serious adverse events occurred; none was related to the study drug. Median baseline lesions ranged from 38 to 40 for the treatment groups. Complete clearance was achieved in 0%, 3·2%, 6·9%, 3·3% and 6·7% of subjects, and partial clearance (, 75% lesion reduction) in 0%, 22·6%, 24·1%, 20·0% and 36·7% of subjects for the placebo and imiquimod 2, 3, 5 or 7 times per week regimens, respectively. Conclusions, Imiquimod 5% applied more frequently than 3 times per week to AKs was not well tolerated. Complete clearance rates were low; however, partial clearance rates increased with increased dosing frequency (P = 0·002). [source]