Dietary factors and risks for prostate cancer among blacks and whites in the United States

Research on siblings of children with cancer during the past 40 years has clearly shown that the childhood cancer experience is a stressor that may increase subjective feelings of stress by well siblings and in some cases lead to decreased psychosocial competencies and increased psychopathologies. Research has expanded from identifying psychosocial problems experienced by the sibling after the patient's death to identifying stressors during the illness experience. More recent studies have been targeted at identifying what action siblings take to cope with the stressors imposed since the cancer diagnosis and have addressed what interventions pediatric oncology nurses use in clinical practice to provide support to siblings of children with cancer. The current state of this body of literature, a review of 18 studies, is presented in this article along with a critique of the research studies and suggestions for future research.     

Childspacing intervals and abortion among blacks and whites: a brief report

Although physical, psychological, and social problems for children born to women denied abortion have been identified, little attention has been paid to the role that close childspacing might play in contributing to those problems. Small childspacing intervals (less than two years) have been linked to numerous physical, psychological, and social problems for mother and child. Using secondary analysis, this study examines the characteristics of 596 mothers who sought abortions in 1987 by race and age. Nearly 25% of these mothers had at least one child under two years of age. Abortion patients with such young children were more likely to be Black and have low incomes than abortion patients with older children. More than half of the mothers studied had more than two children. The findings suggest that a substantial number of children born to women denied access to abortion would be closely spaced, with the resulting adverse health consequences falling more heavily on subpopulations of abortion patients already at higher risk for negative perinatal and neonatal outcomes.     

Comparative psychological studies of Negroes and whites in the United States.

In the areas of psychophysical, psychomotor, and intellectual functions as well as temperament traits, the problems of separating genetic and environmental contributions to performance have not been solved. In terms of the first 3 functions studies published between 1943-58 reveal a general superiority of whites in comparison with Negroes, though the differences are smaller among young children. Likenesses, on temperament traits appear more extensive than differences, although on certain tests Negroes have displayed a greater tendency toward neuroticism. (248 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Opposing national stroke mortality trends in Poland and for African Americans and whites in the United States, 1968 to 1994

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The United States (US) has experienced declines in stroke mortality in contrast to the increases reported for Poland. As part of the Poland and US Agreement on Cardiovascular and Cardiopulmonary Research, stroke mortality trends in Polish and US subpopulations were compared in the context of cross-population differences in competing causes of death and determinants of stroke. METHODS: Age-adjusted annual stroke, cardiovascular disease (CVD), non-CVD, and all-cause mortality rates were determined for men and women aged 35 to 64 and 65 to 74 years from 1968 to 1994 for African Americans and US whites and in Poland. Mean annual percent changes of mortality rates were estimated during 1968 to 1980 and 1981 to 1994 with the use of piecewise log-linear regression. RESULTS: US stroke mortality rates declined 3.7% to 4.8% annually during 1968 to 1980 and 2.0% to 3.1% during 1981 to 1994, with similar declines in each ethnic, gender, and age group. Polish rates increased 3.3% to 5.5% annually for all age-gender groups in Poland during 1968 to 1980. Polish men aged 35 to 64 experienced increasing rates during 1981 to 1994 (1.6% annually), while Polish women and older men experienced slight declines or little change. Only Polish men aged 35 to 64 years exhibited increases in stroke, CVD, and non-CVD mortality rates during both time intervals. CONCLUSIONS: Poland and the US experienced opposing stroke mortality rate trends between 1968 and 1994. These national and ethnic trends occurring in just one generation suggest major effects of lifestyle, socioenvironmental, and/or medical care determinants.     

Trends in alcohol consumption patterns among whites, blacks and Hispanics: 1984 and 1995

OBJECTIVE: To report national trends in alcohol consumption patterns among whites, blacks and Hispanics between 1984 and 1995, in relation to the recent decline in per capita consumption in the United States. METHOD: Data were obtained from two nationwide probability samples of U.S. households, the first conducted in 1984 and the second in 1995. The 1984 sample consisted of 1,777 whites, 1,947 blacks and 1,453 Hispanics; the 1995 sample consisted of 1,636 whites, 1,582 blacks and 1,585 Hispanics. On both occasions, interviews averaging 1 hour in length were conducted in respondents' homes by trained interviewers. RESULTS: Between 1984 and 1995, the rate of abstention remained stable among whites but increased among blacks and Hispanics. Frequent heavy drinking decreased among white men (from 20% to 12%), but remained stable among black (15% in both surveys) and Hispanic men (17% and 18%). Frequent heavy drinking decreased among white women (from 5% to 2%), but remained stable among black (5% in both surveys) and Hispanic women (2% and 3%). White men and women were two times more likely to be frequent heavy drinkers in 1984 than in 1995. CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in per capita consumption in the U.S. is differentially influencing white, black and Hispanic ethnic groups. The stability of rates of frequent heavy drinking places blacks and Hispanics at a higher risk for problem development than whites. This finding is, therefore, a concern to public health professionals and others interested in the prevention of alcohol-related problems among ethnic groups in the United States.     

Arch form in American blacks and whites with malocclusions

Single nerve lesion or mononeuropathy caused by extrinsic compression of hematoma or hemarthrosis is consistently reported for hemophilic patients. To study the manifestation of peripheral nerve lesions, an extensive nerve conduction study of peripheral nerves and specific nerves in correlation with clinical involvement was carried out on 126 hemophilic patients. We found 24 patients with 34 peripheral nerve lesions. The frequency of nerve lesion positively correlated with the severity of hemophilia (p < 0.01) and increasing age (p < 0.05). Nerve lesions occurred more commonly in lower extremities than in upper extremities. The femoral nerve was most commonly involved. Seven patients were identified to have mononeuropathy multiplex with 2 or more nerve lesions involving more than one extremity. All of these patients had chronic condition. Our findings suggest that mononeuropathy multiplex may occur in hemophilic patients.     

Changes in drinking problems among whites, blacks, and Hispanics: 1984-1992

This paper reports changes in drinking problems among Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics between 1984 and 1992. A probability sample including 1,777 Whites. 1,947 Blacks, and 1,453 Hispanics in the United States adult household population was interviewed in 1984. In 1992 a subsample consisting of 788 Whites, 723 Blacks, and 703 Hispanics was reinterviewed. Results show a decrease in problem prevalence among Whites, stability among Blacks, and an increase among Hispanics. Problem incidence was higher among Hispanics than among Whites and Blacks, put problem remission was higher among Whites. Women had a lower problem incidence but a higher problem remission than men, independent of ethnicity. The two best predictors of problem status in 1992 were reporting a problem in 1984 and reporting a high level of consumption in 1984.     

Community occupational structure, medical and economic resources, and coronary mortality among U.S. blacks and whites, 1980-1988

Through cooperation between the German Contact Dermatitis Research Group (DKG) and the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK), results of standardized patch tests performed by the participating centres are centrally recorded in Germany. For this study, data from 24 departments of dermatology (19678 patients) were evaluated retrospectively and separately for 1995 and 1996. With decreasing frequency, nickel, fragrance mix, balsam of peru, and thimerosal yielded positive reactions most often; surprisingly high numbers of positive reactions were also seen with amerchol L-101 and palladium. Differentiated lists of allergens were compiled for 1995, referring to subgroups of patients (defined by gender, age, localization of eczema, geographical region, occupation, sensitization) and particular problems. In men, percentages of positive reactions were markedly lower for nickel, fragrance mix and balsam of peru than in women. Younger patients reacted more often to thimerosal and older ones to topical medical preparations. Medical allergens were also often positive in patients with leg eczema, whereas occupational allergens were found more frequently in patients with hand eczema. A comparison of positive reactions obtained in distinct geographical regions was problematic because of differences between test populations. The spectrum of allergens found in office workers was similar to that of the whole test population. Patients with positive reactions to nickel and fragrance mix had more positive reactions to unrelated allergens than the total test population. Sex- and age-adjusted frequencies of sensitization revealed a decrease in reactions to nickel and an increase in reactions to mercury allergens from 1995 to 1996. The clinical relevance of mercury reactions was often not apparent. Differentiated lists of allergens can be used to improve the quality of diagnostic and prophylactic procedures in allergic contact dermatitis.     

Comparative psychological studies of Negroes and whites in the United States: A clarification.

Dreger and Miller (see 35: 4875) criticize a paper by Pasamanick (see 21: 948) in terms of sampling and skin color estimates. This paper is an answer to these criticisms and a general discussion of the issues involved. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparative psychological studies of Negroes and whites in the United States: A reclarification.

Pasamanick's "clarification" of Dreger and Miller's article extends the meaning of the original beyond its intent. In conjunction with Pasamanick's 1946 article it is shown that the samples of white and Negro infants are inadequate. Dreger and Miller could not have been aware of Pasamanick's 1946 reliability procedures for these were not described until his 1962 clarification. In 1962 Pasamanick's "major comparison" between white and Negro infants does not seem to be the same as it was in 1946. Contrary to Pasamanick's contention, Dreger and Miller did not attack Gesell's Developmental Schedules. Later work done by Pasamanick may substantiate his conclusions, but the criticisms of his 1946 article still hold. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Discrepancies in employer-sponsored health insurance among Hispanics, blacks, and whites: the effects of sociodemographic and employment factors

Using a nationally representative sample of employed adults from the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey (NMES), this research explores differences in the incidence and predictors of employer-sponsored health insurance among Hispanics, blacks, and whites. The data suggest that: 1) whites are most likely, and Hispanics are least likely, to have employer-sponsored medical insurance in their own name, or in the name of another individual; 2) Hispanics are most likely, and whites are least likely, to be completely uninsured; and 3) the factors which increase the odds of receiving employer-sponsored coverage in one's own name are relatively similar across racial groups, though they differ substantially in magnitude.     

Differing birth weight among infants of U.S.-born blacks, African-born blacks, and U.S.-born whites

Glomerular disease often accompanies a wide variety of liver diseases, including acute or chronic hepatitis. A striking association between hepatitis B virus and glomerulonephritis particularly membranous glomerulonephritis has been reported by various authors. It is not surprising, therefore, that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been recently associated with the development of various types of glomerulonephritis. The principal type of glomerulonephritis associated with HCV infection is either cryoglobulinemic or non-cryoglobulinemic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. However, other types of glomerular lesions were seen in the clinical course of HCV infection. We report a rare case of a 20-year-old woman who developed rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) during the course of the active HCV infection. Whether this case represents a true association or a coincidental association is not known.     

Bone marrow composition and bone microarchitecture and turnover in blacks and whites

We examined the relationship between bone histomorphometric variables versus marrow cellularity, marrow adiposity (among hemopoietic cells), and fatty degeneration (areas of only fat) of bone marrow in iliac crest bone samples from 98 normal black (n = 53) and white (n = 45) males and females. We found blacks to have greater marrow cellularity (p = 0.0001), less marrow adiposity (among hemopoietic cells, p = 0.0001), greater values for bone volume (p = 0.030), trabecular thickness (p = 0.002), and static bone turnover variables (osteoid volume, p = 0.001; osteoid surface, p = 0.001; osteoid thickness, p = 0.001; eroded surface, p = 0.0006) than whites. Marrow cellularity correlated positively with static bone turnover variables osteoid volume (r = 0.257, p = 0.011), osteoid surface (r = 0.265, p = 0.008), osteoid thickness (r = 0.217, p = 0.032), and eroded surface (r = 0.273, p = 0.007) when all 98 cases were analyzed together. These findings suggest that marrow cells may influence bone turnover. The extent of fatty degeneration, but not that of adipose tissue, increased with age in blacks (r = 0.476, p = 0.0003) and whites (r = 0.476, p = 0.001), as did bone loss. There was no racial difference in the extent of fatty degeneration. We conclude that the lesser extent of adiposity in blacks is a racial characteristic that is unaffected by aging, whereas fatty degeneration which may have partly occupied space vacated by bone loss, is an aging phenomenon, unrelated to race. Greater bone turnover in blacks may be expected to lead to more frequent renewal of fatigue-damaged bone, which together with sturdier bone structure may contribute to the lower fragility fracture rates in blacks.     

Conference report on stroke mortality in the southeastern United States

A workshop to describe and then seek possible causes for the increased stroke mortality in the southeastern United States briefly considered 30 suspected correlates and discussed in more detail the 10 thought to be most likely. Recent age-adjusted stroke mortality rates in adults from industrialized countries reveal marked geographic differences. Age-adjusted statewide stroke mortality rates also differ, and they are higher in the Southeast than elsewhere in the United States. For five southeastern coastal states in the heart of the "Stroke Belt," excess stroke mortality has been present at least since 1930. In a 20-year follow-up of 10,000 veterans, the Stroke Belt had a 25% increase in all-cause mortality and congestive heart failure. A potential cause of increased fatal stroke included hypertension, which was more frequent in the Stroke Belt. No consistent patterns of lifestyle differences or of differences in potassium or calcium intake seemed to explain the higher rates of fatal strokes in the Stroke Belt; however, detailed investigations of smaller populations in localized areas seem warranted. Some data suggest a relationship between socioeconomic status and the Stroke Belt effect. Other differences in the Southeast that could explain, at least partially, the Stroke Belt effect include presence of soft water throughout most of the area, decreased antioxidant intake, and differences in the use of medical care and in the response to antihypertensive drugs. On the basis of available information, the three most likely explanations or partial explanations for the Stroke Belt are increased levels of blood pressure, localized differences in socioeconomic status, and toxic environmental factor(s). Two major recommendations were made: (1) to encourage both patient and caregiver to use all currently available means of decreasing morbidity and mortality by controlling blood pressures at or below normal levels and by reducing other risk factors and (2) to seek precise information about relationships of identified possible causes of increased morbidity and mortality in the Stroke Belt.     

Performance of blacks and whites in computerized versus manual testing environments.

Discusses the problems of research on race and IQ, and describes a study which compared the results of manual and computer testing in judging the performance of blacks and whites. Ss were 10 white and 10 black male high school students. Performance by whites was the same under both procedures. Blacks performed significantly lower in manual tests, but in computerized tests their performance improved and was indistinguishable from that of whites. Theoretical reasons for these findings are discussed. It is felt that the computerized testing procedure circumvents many problems of earlier research. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Geographic variation in the decline of stroke mortality in the United States

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study examines the geographic variation in the decline of stroke mortality rates in the United States. METHODS: National Center for Health Statistics and Bureau of the Census data were used to assess regional and state level temporal trends of stroke mortality in the United States for 1970 to 1989. RESULTS: Underlying- and multiple-cause stroke mortality rates have declined fairly steadily in all regions of the United States and for all race/sex groups, although the rates of decline were greater during 1970 to 1978 than during 1979 to 1989. The declines in underlying-cause rates could not be attributed to a shift toward reporting stroke as a contributing rather than underlying cause of death, since both underlying- and multiple-cause rates declined similarly. There was significant regional variation in the rate of decline, particularly during 1979 to 1989. The South initially had the highest rates, but it experienced the most rapid decline, so that by 1989 the South no longer had the highest rates. States with the most rapid rates of decline were significantly clustered in the South and particularly the Southeast. Most of the decline in overall stroke mortality was due to declines in ischemic stroke mortality. CONCLUSIONS: During 1970 to 1989 there was significant geographic variation in the rate of decline of stroke mortality rates, with the most rapid rates of decline concentrated in the high-rate areas of the South and particularly the Southeast. As a result, there has been a decrease in interregional and interstate variation in stroke mortality rates, which is apparently not due to an artifact of changing reporting patterns.     

Differences in performance of screening instruments for problem drinking among blacks, whites and Hispanics in an emergency room population

BACKGROUND: As new methods for corneal curvature measurement have evolved, users of videokeratscopes need to know the practical limitations of these instruments. We assessed agreement between keratometry and videokeratography in measuring highly astigmatic corneas. METHODS: Two independent examiners made three keratometric and videokeratographic measurements on each of 33 corneas after penetrating keratoplasty. The non-orthogonal keratometric readings obtained with a Zeiss 10 SL/O keratometer (Carl Zeiss Ltd.) were compared to the non-orthogonal simK readings (maxK, minK) calculated by the algorithms of a TMS-1 videokeratoscope (Tomey). Measurement agreement was evaluated for steep and flat meridian power and location, and astigmatism magnitude (D). RESULTS: A systematic bias of the TMS-1 in measuring steeper than keratometry for the steep meridian was demonstrated (95% confidence interval: -0.34 to -1.20 D). The limits of agreement (d - 2SD to d + 2SD) between the two instruments were found to be unacceptable for clinical purposes in measuring steep meridian power (-3.17 to +1.63 D), flat meridian power (-4.92 to +4.48 D) and astigmatism magnitude (-5.84 to +4.87 D). Clinically acceptable differences were observed in identification of steep and flat meridian location. CONCLUSIONS: The Zeiss 10 SL/O keratometer and the TMS-1 videokeratoscope showed poor measurement agreement for irregular corneal surfaces, despite the good correlation previously shown between keratometry and videokeratography in calibrated spheres and regular corneas. The TMS-1 showed a systematic bias, measuring a greater power in the steeper meridian than the Zeiss 10 SL/O keratometer. It is suggested that the two instruments cannot be used interchangeably in comparing the curvature of corneas after penetrating keratoplasty.