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Biomedical subjects

A J Boyce

Publications and source records attributed to A J Boyce.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Variation in blood pressure in a New Guinea population.

The contributions of age and anthropometric, biochemical and socio-economic variables to blood pressure variation in the population of Karkar Island, Papua New Guinea are examined. Blood pressure does not change with age in males; in females there is a decline from ages 21 to 40 and an increase (in systolic pressure) thereafter. Body weight and skinfold thicknesses decline with age in females; arm circumferences decline in both sexes. There were no age effects on serum cholesterol or serum sodium. Variation in ponderal index and subcutaneous fat contribute to variation in blood pressure. The correlations of blood pressure with physique are more important in males and the particular variables concerned suggest a nutritional basis. The socio-economic variables examined showed little variation and this was not associated with variation in blood pressure.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Evidence for an association between ABO blood group and goitre.

A medical and genetic study on KarKar Island, Papua New Guinea revealed a significant association between ABO blood group status and susceptibility to goitre with O individuals more susceptible than non-O. The association is found in a number of separate villages on the island which indicates that it is not due simply to chance concordance in geographical patterns of genetic and disease variations.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1976

Associations between polymorphic variety and disease susceptibility in two New Guinea populations.

During the Australian/British IBP studies on KarKar Island and at Lufa in the Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, information was collected on the epidemiology and genetic constitution of the same subjects. Advantage of this special situation has been taken to determine whether any associations exist between the genetic markers and the disease states. Those found and which appear real include Rhesus D(u) with proteinuria; MN with splenomegaly and hepatomegaly; Ss with parotid enlargement; acid phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogense and haemoglobin J- Tongariki with presence of malarial parasites; phosphoglucomutase with proteinuria and parotid enlargement; haptoglobin with proteinuria and with splenomegaly and hepatomegaly. These associations are discussed in terms of the probabilities of their arising from heterogeneity in population structure, linkage disequilibrium and pleiotropy.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1976

Associations between polymorphic variety and anthropometric and biochemical variation in two New Guinea populations.

During International Biological Programme studies in Papua New Guinea, on Karkar Island and at Lufa in the Eastern Highlands, information on anthropometric, biochemical and genetic characteristics was collected from the same individuals. Use has been made of this special situation to investigate whether any associations exist between genetic markers and anthropometric and biochemical variation. Those found, and which satisfy criteria established to help in distinguishing real from chance associations, include: P with haemoglobin concentration and serum albumin and cholesterol levels; acid phosphatase with serum albumin level and haemoglobin concentration; anhaptoglobinaemia and serum globulin level; haemoglobin J-Tongariki with serum phosphorus level. The associations are discussed in terms of their arising from the direct result of environmental factors modifying gene expression, chance concordance of environmental and genetic variation, or pleiotropy.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1975

Body composition changes during lactation in a New Guinea population.

Some body composition changes during lactation in women of Karkar Island, Papua New Guinea, suggest that body fat reserves, measured by changes in weight, diminish during the course of lactation and that subcutaneous fat reserves diminish with parity. The data are discussed in terms of the possible nutritional control of fertility of women in a subsistence economy.

Body Composition↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diachronic patterns of dental hypoplasias and vault porosities during the predynastic in the Naqada region, Upper Egypt.

The diachronic pattern of the frequencies of linear enamel hypoplasias and porotic hyperostosis was studied in temporally separated samples of adult predynastic Egyptian remains from the Naqada region, Upper Egypt. The samples covered a period of increasing population density and social complexity as well as decreasing Nile flooding in Egypt. First and second molars were evaluated for hypoplasias in material from the Naqada I, II, and III periods; sample sizes were 13, 30, and 25, respectively, for the first molar, and 11, 28, and 24 for the second molar. Cranial vaults were examined for porotic hyperostosis using several approaches; sample sizes were 26, 66, and 51 for Naqada I, II and III, respectively. Linear regression showed a decreasing trend for several variables: for the individual frequency of first molar hypoplasias (rho = 0.025), the vault porosity score, which indicates the severity of the lesions (rho < 0.001), and the extent score, which indicates the number of superior vault bones having porosities (rho < 0.001). Logistic regression showed a temporal decline in the percentage of crania per sample having any vault porosities and only higher grade lesions (rho < 0.012 and rho < 0.003, respectively). Lesions of the second molar showed no directional trend. The results contrast with the common observation that these skeletal markers usually increase in contexts of increasing population density and social complexity.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

High frequencies of alpha-thalassaemia are the result of natural selection by malaria.

The frequency of alpha+-thalassaemia, but not other unlinked DNA polymorphisms, exhibits an altitude- and latitude-dependent correlation with malaria endemicity throughout Melanesia, supporting the hypothesis that protection against this parasitic disease is the major factor responsible for the high frequencies of haemoglobinopathies in many parts of the world.

Altitude↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Associations between anthropometric variables and reproductive performance in a Papua New Guinea highland population.

Associations between anthropometric variation and reproductive performance have important ecological and evolutionary implications. Bivariate associations between measures of reproductive performance (live births and offspring still living at the time of interview) and 24 anthropometric variables were examined in 150 females, aged 21-44 years, from the Eastern Highlands district of Papua New Guinea. Where significant linear or curvilinear associations with age existed, the reproductive and anthropometric variables were age-corrected. Linear, quadratic and cubic regressions were computed for each bivariate regression of age-corrected reproductive variable on age-corrected anthropometric trait. Positive linear regressions were found in the cases of body weight, triceps skinfold and head breadth. Positive cubic regressions were found in the cases of upper arm circumference, calf circumference, bicondylar femur and wrist breadth. It is suggested that these associations may reflect important ecological factors which influence both anthropometric and reproductive variation. U-shaped associations were found in the cases of wrist breadth and bicondylar femur. Inverted U-shaped associations were found for stature, sitting height, bizygomatic diameter and morphological face height. These curvilinear associations may be interpreted in terms of natural selection, and suggest that stature and sitting height may be undergoing stabilizing selection in this population.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anthropometric variation between migrants and non-migrants: Orkney Islands, Scotland.

Anthropometric measurements on a non-migrant sample consisting of 174 males and 148 females aged 21 to 75 resident in the Orkney Islands are compared with measurements on 91 males and 96 females who migrated as adults to the Aberdeen area of Scotland. Covariance analysis, adjusting for age effects, reveals differences in a number of anthropometric variables, with migrants showing smaller dimensions in several cases. For most variables the differences are more marked in females. Significantly smaller values are found in upper arm circumference, bicondylar humerus and head breadth in female migrants, and in bicondylar humerus in male migrants. Biacromial and head length dimensions are significantly greater in female migrants. There is no significant effect of duration of residence in the new environment on the anthropometric values of migrants.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Parotid gland enlargement and female reproductive performance in a Papua New Guinea highland population.

Swelling of the parotid salivary glands is commonly observed among males and females of highland Papua New Guinea. Evidence suggests that the condition is related to the highlanders' high starch consumption in the form of sweet potato. In this paper we regard parotid enlargement as an indicator of high energy intake and test its association with two measures of reproductive performance, the number of live births and living offspring, in a sample of 274 women from Lufa in the Eastern Highlands District of Papua New Guinea. Multiple regression analysis including maternal age showed that parotid enlargement is positively correlated with both measures of reproductive performance. Given that parotid gland enlargement in this population is due to persistent starch consumption, and that the condition represents above average energy intake, these results suggest that increases in energy intake relate to increases in reproductive performance in this sample of highland females.

Adult↗