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R E Laporte

Publications and source records attributed to R E Laporte.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Epidemiologic study of head injuries in Taipei City, Taiwan].

This study was designed to examine the descriptive epidemiology of head injuries in an urban population in the Taiwan area, Taipei City, during the period from July 1, 1987 to June 30, 1988. Clinical records reviewed included emergency room (ER) charts, inpatient charts of 19 major hospitals, death registration forms and medical examiners' reports in this city. A formulated definition was used to identify patients with head injuries. A total of 4,692 cases were collected, which included 4,319 hospital inpatients and 373 non-hospital deaths. The average incidence rate for head injury was 180/100,000 per year, 246/100,000 for males and 111/100,000 for females. The highest incidence rate was observed in the elderly group followed by the age group of 20-29 years. Sixty eight percent of the head injuries were caused by traffic accidents, 59.7 percent of which were involved in motorcycle rides. This rate was higher than those in any western reports. Among the 10-39 age group, the head injuries caused by traffic accidents were mainly due to motorcycle accidents. However, most of the children and the elderly who were injured were either pedestrians or bicycle riders. The average mortality rate was 23/100,000 per year, 34/100,000 for males and 12/100,000 for females. Initially the Glasgow Coma Scale was used in assessing the severity of head injuries. Seventy-two percent of the cases were considered mild, and 28 percent moderate to severe in degree, including 609 deaths.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[An epidemiological study of head injury in Hualien County, Taiwan].

An epidemiological study of head injuries in Hualien County, Taiwan, was undertaken from July 1, 1987 to June 30, 1988. Clinical records, including emergency room (ER) charts, inpatient charts from the four major hospitals and coroner or medical examiner reports in this county, were reviewed. A formulated definition was used in identifying patients with head injury. A total of 1,183 cases were identified. They included 975 hospital inpatients and 208 nonhospital deaths. The age-adjusted incidence rate for head injuries was 333/100,000 for all, 450/100,000 for males and 194/100,000 for females, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.32. The cumulative incidence rate from 0 to 69 years of age was 27.6% for males and 13.7% for females. The highest incidence rate was observed in the elderly group, whereas in other published reports the highest occurrence has been noted in the young adult group. An extraordinary 82% of the head injuries were associated with traffic accidents, 71% of which directly involved motorcycle riders. The age-adjusted mortality rate was 89/100,000 per year, 127/100,000 for males and 44/100,000 for females. The cumulative mortality rate was 8.7% for males and 3.2% for females. These are the highest rates ever reported. Sixty percent of the 1,183 patients had a moderate to severe injury or were dead. In the remaining 40%, the injury was considered mild. The elderly group presented with the highest percentage of moderate to severe degrees of injury, as well as mortality. Among traffic accident victims, those from motorcycle accidents and pedestrians had the highest percentage of severe head injuries.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Physical activity by socioeconomic status in two population based cohorts.

In the current study, we examined physical activity in two population based cohorts of Allegheny County. Pennsylvania, which differed markedly in their socioeconomic status (SES), in order to evaluate the relationship of SES to physical activity patterns. A total of 917 individuals participated in a prevalence survey administered during a home visit in 1981. All of the participants were white. Households were randomly selected. An overall response rate of 84% was achieved. Activity was assessed using the Paffenbarger survey, which included the number of blocks walked, stairs climbed, sports and recreational activities, and hours spent in vigorous, moderate, and light activities. In both high and low SES individuals, activity was inversely associated with age and was higher in males than in females. The relationship of physical activity to SES differed depending on the dimension of activity assessed. Participation in sports was reported more frequently in high status males and females. SES was a significant predictor of walking activity in females, with low status females reporting more walking. The number of hours spent in moderate activities was greater, but the number of hours spent in light activities was lower, in low status males. There was little difference by SES in the composite activity score, average annual kilocalories per week. In summary, our research suggests that SES can impinge differently on separate manifestations of activity, and future research needs to identify how SES affects activity.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1989

Analyses on possible heterogeneity of IDDM based on presence of islet cell cytoplasmic antibody at diagnosis.

In a large, representative sample of newly-diagnosed IDDM patients, using a highly sensitive assay to detect islet cell cytoplasmic antibodies (ICA), no marked differences were found between ICA+ and ICA- patients on various clinical, genetic, immunologic, and epidemiologic characteristics. In particular, there was no evidence for associations between ICA status at diagnosis and either sex, race, family history of IDDM, HLA-DR phenotype, antibody titers to Coxsackie B viruses, immunoglobulin levels, C-peptide and glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations, or insulin requirements. The most significant relationship was between the presence of ICA and a young age at diagnosis; however, the large overlap between the distributions of the ages at onset for ICA+ and ICA- groups on this variable suggests that this association is of limited importance. These data suggest that the presence or absence of ICA at diagnosis may not be useful in defining possible subtypes of IDDM.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Chronic low level physical activity as a determinant of high density lipoprotein cholesterol and subfractions.

Physical activity has been associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease. A mechanism for the reduced risk may be through increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and subfractions, in particular HDL2-C. Research associated with increased physical activity investigating HLD-C have assessed the effects of intense aerobic activity. The current research evaluated the relationship between low intensity, long duration activity to HDL-C and subfractions in 35 active postal carriers. Measurements of physical activity via the Large Scale Integrated monitor and reported miles walked, and lipoproteins were assessed at 3-month intervals over a 1-year period. Reported miles walked/day (5.3) was significantly correlated with HLD2-C (r = 0.50, P = 0.003) and approached significance for HDL-C (r = 0.29, P = 0.06). The Large Scale Integrated measures were correlated with HDL-C (r = 0.44, P = 0.008) and HDL2-C (r = 0.44, P = 0.007). Controlling for either age, alcohol consumption, body mass index, or leisure time activity did not reduce the relationship between reported miles walked or Large Scale Integrated readings and HDL2-C, suggesting that the increased HDL-C was the result of long duration, low intensity physical activity.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1984

Relation between plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and sex hormone concentrations in men.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is inversely associated with risk of heart attack. Sex hormones have been suggested as possible factors contributing to the gender difference of coronary heart disease risk. Little is known about how endogenous sex hormone concentration might be related to HDL cholesterol. The relation was examined in 225 men participating in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial. Plasma testosterone concentration was positively correlated with HDL cholesterol and the change in testosterone concentration was also positively correlated with change in HDL cholesterol. The relation between testosterone and HDL cholesterol could not be fully explained by age, relative weight, alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking in the cross-sectional study. However, when this relation was examined longitudinally, the partial correlation between changes in testosterone and HDL cholesterol did not quite achieve statistical significance (0.05 less than p less than 0.10). The biologic process that relates HDL cholesterol to testosterone is not known. The results suggest an inverse relation between plasma estradiol concentration and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, but no statistical significant correlation with HDL cholesterol. In addition, there was no association noted in the current research between estradiol concentrations and the known determinants of HDL cholesterol.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

The Pittsburgh insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) morbidity and mortality study. Mortality results.

A follow-up study of 1966 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) who were diagnosed at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP) between 1950 and 1981 has been completed. The mean age of the population at follow-up was 21.2 yr with a mean duration of IDDM of 12.9 yr. Nine percent of the patients were deceased, a sevenfold excess in mortality compared with the U.S. population. The relative increase in mortality was greater for females than males and greater for blacks than whites. Before age 20, the primary excess in mortality was at onset of IDDM, or within 6 mo after onset, and was due to acute diabetic complications. After age 20, the annual mortality risk was approximately 2%, which was more than 20 times greater than for the U.S. population. Renal disease was responsible for the majority of these deaths. There was a reduced risk of dying for diabetic patients who were diagnosed between 1966 and 1971 compared with patients diagnosed during earlier years.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Incidence of childhood diabetes did not increase in Estonia during 1980-89.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the temporal variation in the incidence of Type 1 diabetes in Estonia for 1980-89. Data were taken from the Estonian Childhood Type 1 Diabetes Register. "Poisson" regression modelling was completed with GLIM software adjusting for age and ethnic groups. No calendar period effect was found, either when allowing for distinct period effects, or looking for trends. No urban-rural difference was detected in the incidence of childhood onset Type 1 diabetes. In conclusion, our analysis provides evidence that the incidence of childhood Type 1 diabetes was relatively stable in Estonia during the past decade in contrast to some other Baltic countries where a significant increase has been reported.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Telepreventive medicine.

There have been dramatic improvements in health during the past 50 years, and public health measures have made a major contribution. Much of public health consists of information transfer. The application of telecommunications technology to public health and preventive medicine would enhance our ability to transmit information and improve global health. The idea of telemedicine has received considerable attention but has not thus far included preventive medicine. We have outlined a global electronic health network with seven main components: connectivity, telemonitoring of disease, "distance education" for public health workers, electronic connection of nongovernment organizations, a combined degree in public health and communications, an electronic scientific research server, and a home page on the World Wide Web. A commitment to the integration of telecommunications and public health holds great promise for improving the health status of the world's population.

Computer Communication Networks↗