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Biomedical subjects

L Epstein

Publications and source records attributed to L Epstein.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Variations in mortality of the coloured, white and Asian population groups in the RSA, 1978-1982. Part IV. Respiratory diseases.

Respiratory diseases are major causes of death in South Africa. The reported mortality rates (MRs) for: (i) pneumonia and influenza; (ii) chronic obstructive lung disease and allied conditions; (iii) pulmonary tuberculosis; and (iv) carcinoma of the lung and bronchus over a 5-year period are examined in relation to age, sex, ethnic group and year. Such data have not previously been reported in South Africa. MRs for all respiratory diseases (except lung carcinoma) were substantially higher in coloureds than in whites or Asians. In each ethnic group and for each disease category, MRs for males were higher than for females, especially in those over the age of 24 years. For all, except lung carcinoma, MRs were highest at the extremes of life. Changes in respiratory disease MRs over the 5-year period were examined by calculating the age standardised MRs for each condition in each of the 5 years. There was a clear decline in the MR for pneumonia over this period in all groups. The MR for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rose in all groups, except Asian females. Similarly, the MR for carcinoma increased in all groups, except white females. The MR for tuberculosis was highest in coloured males (10 times greater than in Asian males and 100 times greater than in white females). The pattern of respiratory disease MRs in white South Africans is very similar to that in the USA, whereas in coloureds MRs for infectious diseases remain high and are added to by the burden of cigarette smoking-related deaths.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Variations in mortality of the coloured, white and Asian population groups in the RSA, 1978-1982. Part I. All causes.

Previous reports, based largely on the 1970 census and the 8th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, (ICD-8) have suggested that marked differences in mortality exist between population groups in the RSA. In this article the ICD-9 classification of causes of death and 1980 census are used to assess whether the trends have continued through to the present time. Total mortality data in the RSA for whites, coloureds and Asians for the 5-year period 1978-1982 are presented. The 1980 national census provided the denominator population data. Annual age- and sex-specific mortality rates were higher for coloureds than for whites or Asians, the differences being most marked in childhood. There appears to have been little change in total standardised mortality rates among whites over the 5-year period, while increases have occurred among coloureds of both sexes and among Asian males. Analysis of proportional mortality stresses the relatively large proportion of deaths accounted for by external causes and infections among coloureds and by cardiovascular diseases among whites and Asians. There is an urgent need for the health services to take note of these data in order to provide for the varied needs of the population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Variations in mortality of the coloured, white and Asian population groups in the RSA, 1978-1982. Part II. Cerebrovascular disease.

An analysis was undertaken of mortality from cerebrovascular disease in the RSA between 1978 and 1982 in whites, coloureds and Asians. This article details the age-specific mortality rates for each group and also comparisons between groups based on age-standardised mortality rates. Marked differences are seen between the various population groups, the rates for Asians and coloureds (particularly females) far exceeding that for whites. Comparison of these data with those published previously by Wyndham suggest that while mortality from this cause may be falling among whites and Asians, the rate is remaining relatively static in the coloured population.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Variations in mortality of the coloured white and Asian population groups in the RSA, 1978-1982. Part III. Rheumatic heart disease.

An analysis was undertaken of mortality from rheumatic heart disease in the RSA between 1978 and 1982 in whites, coloureds and Asians. This article details the age-specific mortality rates (MRs) for each group and also comparisons between groups based on age-standardised MRs. The rates for Asians and coloureds markedly exceed those for whites, particularly in the lower age groups (under 45 years).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Serum antibodies to HTLV-I in human demyelinating disease.

Serum HTLV-I antibodies were measured in 17 MS patients and 2 closely matched control groups by 2 different independent assays. A highly sensitive particle agglutination test was used to detect HTLV-I core protein antigens and an immunoblot assay with E. coli-expressed P21E transmembrane protein was employed to detect antibodies to HTLV-I evelope antigens. No serologic evidence of prior HTLV-I infection in our population of multiple sclerosis (MS) or Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) patients was found.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Blood pressure measurement in children aged 6 to 15 years--the Nahariya Study.

A total of 5,323 school students aged 6 to 15 years in the city of Nahariya, Israel, had their blood pressure measured during the 1981-82 school year. Height, weight, sex, region of birth and parent's region of birth were also recorded. Charts containing selected percentiles of blood pressure were developed, and distribution curves were drawn. Mean systolic blood pressure increased with age in both sexes. The diastolic pressure, however, remained unchanged. The mean systolic pressures were slightly higher than those found in Bogalusa and than the pooled means published in the recent report of the Task Force on Blood Pressure Control in Children, but lower than those of most other studies. The diastolic pressures were higher than those of the Bogalusa study; they were slightly higher than the pooled means reported by the Task Force for children aged 6 to 9, and for above these ages they were lower by 3 to 7 mm Hg. The selected percentiles of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in both sexes were lower than those in the charts published initially by the Task Force in 1977 but were very close to those published in their second report in 1987. The mean blood pressure levels were not associated with the parents' region of birth. A highly significant correlation between systolic blood pressure and body mass (as expressed by weight or Quetelet's index) was found.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Behavioral risk factors in adolescence as a basis for health planning.

Adolescence has been described as the age when the population is at its peak of health and physical performance. While this may be correct, it is also the age at which the future adult's state of health may be strongly influenced by behavior. It is therefore possible that the identification of behavior patterns that pose a risk to the adolescent (either immediately or for the later development of disease) could form the basis for logical health planning for this age-group. A model has been developed that itemizes the major behavioral risk factors in adolescence and indicates the possibilities for intervention. This model includes the following behavior characteristics: violent behavior (leading to accidents, etc.), cigarette smoking, drug use, sexual intercourse without contraception, the imbibing of alcoholic beverages, the taking of medicines without medical advice, and over- and undereating. The relevance of certain of these practices to the high school dropout phenomenon as a major social problem is emphasized. It is suggested that, on the basis of the model and of knowledge of certain demographic characteristics, risk groups can be identified and relevant health and welfare services planned.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Health-related behavior of adolescents: change over time.

A longitudinal study of the changes in health-related behavior in Israeli adolescents was undertaken in a large, comprehensive secondary school. The incidence of starting to smoke and its relationship to the development of sexual behavior was assessed. Smoking, use of drugs, sexual behavior, and drinking of alcoholic beverages at the age of 16 years was related to dropout from secondary school during the 2-year study period. The possibility of developing a model of adolescent risk behavior and its relevance to planning of health and educational services is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

The family medicine team as providers of home dialysis care in kibbutzim in Israel.

Sixteen patients with terminal renal failure who live in kibbutzim in Israel were interviewed. Over 50% of these patients receive dialysis treatment in their home kibbutz under the supervision of the family medicine team as compared with only 12.4% of all dialysis patients in the country who are treated at home. The implications of dialysis in the kibbutz are discussed, particularly the relevance of the overall responsibility of the kibbutz for all its members' needs in the provision of dialysis facilities. The relevance of community-based dialysis in general is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Orchiectomy does not selectively increase adrenal androgen concentrations.

Prostatic carcinoma is androgen dependent and, therefore, treated by orchiectomy. However, adrenal androgen secretion remains intact after orchiectomy, and several investigators even reported an increase in serum adrenal androgen concentrations after orchiectomy. Such an increase in androgen secretion theoretically could promote tumor recurrence. To investigate this question, we obtained multiple blood samples from 10 men before, within 1 week after, and up to 6 months after orchiectomy for prostatic carcinoma. Serum testosterone concentrations became unmeasurable (less than 40 ng/dl) after orchiectomy. Three of the 10 patients had transient increases of at least 50% in both serum dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) and cortisol after orchiectomy, presumably due to surgical stress, but mean serum DHA and DHA sulfate (DHAS) did not increase in the group as a whole. Subsequently, serum DHA and DHAS concentrations were similar to preoperative values in all patients. Therefore, we find no evidence to support the hypothesis that adrenal androgen concentrations increase after orchiectomy.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1984

Prevalence of diabetes among ethnic groups in Jerusalem. The Kiryat Hayovel Community Health Study.

The prevalence of diabetes was determined in a community health survey in the Kiryat Hayovel neighborhood of west Jerusalem. The prevalence rates of diabetes among 4,938 people aged greater than or equal to 15 years were 5.8% in men and 4.6% in women, with a male/female age-adjusted ratio of 1.15. One-third of the diabetics were first diagnosed in this study. In both sexes, the rates increased steeply with age. A higher prevalence rate of diabetes was found in Jews of North African origin, especially in men, than in the other ethnic origin groups. These ethnic differences in men do not appear to be explained by differences in body mass.

Adolescent↗