Biomedical subjects

C L Hanis

Publications and source records attributed to C L Hanis.

63 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Diabetes alert study: weight history and upper body obesity in diabetic and non-diabetic Mexican American adults.

History of adult weight gain and fat patterning is compared in Mexican American diabetics and age and sex matched non-diabetics. Diabetics differed little from non-diabetics in overall body fatness at the time of the examination. However, history of adult weight gain and current fat patterning were very different. Diabetics were heavier than non-diabetics at age 18. They subsequently gained weight faster and attained a substantially higher weight, at an earlier age, than non-diabetics. Discriminant function analysis was used to test for differences in patterning. Diabetics tend to have more trunk fat, as reflected particularly in the subscapular skinfold, and less lower extremity (leg) fat. Fat patterning in this population does not appear to be influenced by age when weight gain occurred, but is related to diabetic status, especially in women.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Gene diversity and estimation of genetic admixture among Mexican-Americans of Starr County, Texas.

The Mexican-Americans of Starr County, Texas, classified by sex and birthplace, were studied to determine the extent of genetic variation and contributions from ancestral populations such as Spanish, Amerindian and West African. Using 21 genetic marker systems, genetic distance and diversity analyses indicate that subpopulations of Mexican-Americans in Starr County are similar, and that more than 99% of the total gene diversity (HT) can be attributed to individual variation within the population. Genetic admixture analysis shows the predominant influence comes from the Spanish, a lesser contribution from Amerindians and a slight one from the West Africans. The contribution of the ancestral population to various subpopulations of the Mexican-Americans of Starr County is similar. The Mexican-Americans of Starr County are similar to the Mexican population from northeastern Mexico. The history of admixture is apparently old enough to have brought the entire Mexican-American gene pool to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There is no non-random association of alleles among the genetic marker systems considered in the present study, in spite of the fact that this population is of admixed origin. These results, in aggregate, suggest genetic homogeneity of the Mexican-Americans of Starr County, Texas, and point towards the utility of this population for genetic and epidemiological studies.

Africa↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Lipoprotein and apolipoprotein levels among Mexican-Americans in Starr County, Texas.

Mexican-Americans represent the single largest component of the US Hispanic population and have been shown to bear a disproportionate burden of chronic disease. A representative sample of 1,004 Mexican-Americans aged 15-74 years from Starr County, Tex., was recruited for this study. Each subject was provided a detailed physical evaluation that included measurement of fasting levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and its subfractions (HDL2 and HDL3) alpha- and beta-lipoprotein cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Apolipoproteins A-I, A-II, B, C-II, C-III, and E were determined for approximately 550 of these individuals. Age- and sex-specific mean levels and percentile cut points are presented. The distributions of lipoproteins are quite similar to those of the general population except for consistently higher triglycerides in males and females and lower HDL cholesterol levels in females. These findings are consistent with the high frequency of obesity. Comparative age- and sex-specific data for the apolipoproteins are not widely available. Where such data exist, apolipoprotein levels observed in the Mexican-American population tend to be similar to or lower than the comparative data.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of the apolipoprotein E polymorphism on levels of lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins among Mexican-Americans in Starr County, Texas.

Genetic variability has been implicated as a significant contributor to the variation in levels of lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins (apos) through a variety of direct and indirect investigations. Among the direct investigations, apo E has been shown to be polymorphic and to explain a small but statistically significant proportion of the variability in cholesterol. The apo E polymorphism was typed in 964 randomly selected Mexican-Americans from Starr County, Tex., and its effects determined on levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, total high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, subfractions (HDL2 and HDL3), alpha- and beta-lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and apos A-I, A-II, B, C-II, C-III, and E. Effects are reported for the entire sample and in each of three groups, namely, premenopausal females, postmenopausal women, and males. In the entire sample, significant effects were observed on cholesterol, beta-lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL, apo B, and apo E. There is evidence for significant physiological interaction of the apo E polymorphism effect in females by menopausal status. This is most evident for apo E levels, in which 5.9% of the variability in the entire sample is explained by the apo E polymorphism. In premenopausal females, however, the polymorphism accounts for 27.5% of the variability. In postmenopausal women and males, there is no significant effect. It is shown that the apo E polymorphism can be treated as a two-locus, two-allele system. Doing so identifies substitutions in amino acid position 158 as the mediators of most of the observed effects of this polymorphism.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Gender and treatment differences in knowledge, health beliefs, and metabolic control in Mexican Americans with type 2 diabetes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to describe metabolic control, knowledge, and health beliefs of Mexican Americans with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: The study site was Starr County, Texas, a border community located on the Rio Grande River and bordering northern Mexico. Of the total sample of 360 persons, 252 agreed to participate in this intervention study and were randomized either to the treatment group or the control group that waited 1 year to begin the intervention. RESULTS: The majority of individuals were Spanish-speaking females with a mean age of 54 years and a mean diabetes duration of 8 years. For those treated with diet only, males exhibited higher fasting blood glucose levels than females. Gender effects were seen for cholesterol level, with females exhibiting higher levels than males. Males expressed stronger perceptions of control and social support for diet. Bivariate relationships were found between acculturation and diabetes knowledge. The health belief subscales of control and impact on job together explained 16% of the variance in HbA1c values. CONCLUSIONS: Males and females held differing beliefs about ability to control their diabetes and degree of social support for diet. The impact of gender differences on ability to integrate diabetes self-care and on effectiveness of diabetes programs has not been determined but should be considered in future research.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A community-based, culturally sensitive education and group-support intervention for Mexican Americans with NIDDM: a pilot study of efficacy.

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of providing a diabetes patient education and group-support intervention that was directed by a Mexican-American clinical nurse specialist (CNS), dietitian, and community worker; consistent with national standards; and designed for the Mexican-American culture. In a rural Texas-Mexico border community, subjects with diabetes were randomly selected to participate in the intervention, and a family member of each subject participated as a support person. The intervention involved 8 weeks of educational sessions with instruction on nutrition, blood glucose self-monitoring, exercise, and other diabetes self-management topics, and provided group support. Group discussion was facilitated using a series of Spanish-language videotapes that had been developed and previously tested in the target Mexican-American community. Results suggested statistically significant improvements in diabetes knowledge, fasting blood sugar levels, and glycosylated hemoglobin levels. The study documented the feasibility and potential benefits of the intervention.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Symptom-related self-care of Mexican Americans with type 2 diabetes: preliminary findings of the Starr County Diabetes Education Study.

Starr County, Texas, a Texas-Mexico border community, was the site of a study involving culturally-appropriate education and group support for Mexican Americans with type 2 diabetes. Data were collected from 63 subjects on frequency of diabetes-related symptoms during the previous month and on self-care symptom treatments. On average, subjects were 57-year-old females, diagnosed with diabetes for 10 years, and exhibiting HbA1c levels of 12.5%. Almost 50% experienced excessive urination, excessive thirst, shakiness/nervousness, and numbness and/or tingling in their extremities. More than 50% of those who experienced symptoms did not view them as serious. Only one subject checked blood sugar levels when symptoms occurred. Significantly higher mean glycosylated hemoglobin levels were found for individuals who experienced dizziness and/or chest pain compared with those who did not. A variety of self-care treatments were employed, including over-the-counter medications and home remedies.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Culturally competent diabetes education for Mexican Americans: the Starr County Study.

PURPOSE: Few culturally competent health programs have been designed for Mexican Americans, a group that bears a disproportionate burden of Type 2 diabetes. In Starr County, a Texas-Mexico border community, investigators designed and tested a culturally competent intervention aimed at improving the health of this target population. The purpose of this article is to describe the development process of this diabetes education and support group intervention. METHODS: The development stages were (1) community assessment, (2) intervention design, (3) selection or development of outcomes, (4) pilot testing, and (5) a randomized clinical investigation. RESULTS: Focus group participants identified knowledge deficits regarding diabetes and self-management strategies, and suggested characteristics of an effective intervention for Mexican Americans. Outcome measures included metabolic control indicators, a newly developed knowledge instrument, and an existing health belief instrument. Preliminary analyses indicated that the intervention was successful in significantly improving metabolic control in the target population. CONCLUSIONS: Developing successful diabetes interventions for minority groups requires a number of stages, careful planning, assessment of cultural characteristics of the target population, and a systematic approach to implementation.

Clinical Competence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of a culturally appropriate intervention to increase physical activity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a culturally appropriate intervention to increase activity in overweight Mexican American women. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to a physical activity program or wait-list control. RESULTS: Treated participants were not more active than controls at 6 or 12 months. In addition, we found no significant differences in the proportion of individuals who met an objective criterion for physical activity from baseline to 6 months in the treatment or control groups. CONCLUSION: The intervention did not increase physical activity in this population. Differences in baseline activity and contamination of the control group may partially account for the outcome.

Adolescent↗