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Y Friedlander

Publications and source records attributed to Y Friedlander.

150 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of smoking and physical activity on serum uric acid in a Jerusalem population sample.

In 932 adult males and 531 adult females, we found large independent correlations of serum uric acid (SUA) with body mass and serum creatinine. In males, but not in females, SUA was lower in smokers than in non-smokers and in men who reported themselves to be physically active, compared to non-active men. After controlling for confounding variables by multiple regression analysis, we found that smoking remained a significant predictor of SUA in males (P = 0.003) but the effects of reported physical activity dropped to borderline significance (P = 0.056). In females, no significant relationship of SUA with reported physical activity was seen. These results, the first from an unselected free-living Israeli population, are generally in agreement with previously reported studies.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Familial resemblance of alcohol consumption levels in Jewish families.

The role of genetic and environmental factors determining the variability in alcohol consumption levels was investigated in 68 families ascertained through heroin-dependent Jewish male probands. Sibling correlations for peak weekly alcohol consumption ranged from 0.22 to 0.32, with limited changes on adjustment for sex, age and environmental variables. The parent-child correlations were relatively low. Segregation analysis indicated that a major effect of a non-transmitted environmental factor explained the mixture of distributions. There was no evidence for a polygenic effect on alcohol consumption in the families. When segregation models were fitted to sex, age and environment-adjusted alcohol levels, the mixed environment model was rejected, whereas the mixed genetic model was not. These findings are consistent with two previously published segregation analyses of alcohol dependence, and further highlight the heterogeneous aetiology and transmission of alcohol consumption and alcohol dependence.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of weight loss in moderate obesity on plasma lipoprotein and apolipoprotein levels and on high density lipoprotein composition.

Plasma lipids, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein levels were determined in seven women and seven men with moderate obesity before, during 7 weeks of continuous weight loss (10.4% to 9.6% of body weight, 1000 kCal/day diet), and after 3 months at a stable, reduced weight. Plasma triglyceride levels decreased by 30.4% in men and by 39.4% in women (p less than 0.0001) after 1 week of caloric restriction and remained at this level throughout the study period. The plasma cholesterol decreased by 19.0% in men (p less than 0.001) and by 10.9% in women (p less than 0.01) in the period of active weight loss, but returned to prediet values after stabilization at a leaner body mass. Similar changes were observed in LDL cholesterol levels. No change in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels occurred during active weight reduction, but after 3 months at a reduced weight, a significant increase in HDL cholesterol was evident, and the ratio of HDL cholesterol to plasma cholesterol increased over prediet values (p less than 0.001), women). Separation of HDL subpopulations by zonal ultracentrifugation before and after weight reduction revealed that HDL2 increased slightly in men and decreased slightly in women. In both genders, HDL3 tended to decrease after weight reduction. Plasma levels of apolipoprotein A-I decreased during active weight loss, but this was significant only in women (p less than 0.05). After 3 months of reduced weight, plasma apo A-I increased to prediet levels. No significant changes in plasma apo A-II or apo E were noted.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Developmental dyscalculia is a familial learning disability.

Whereas current evidence attests to a genetic component in the etiology of dyslexia and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), little is known about the role of genetics in developmental dyscalculia (DC). The objective of this study was to determine the familial aggregation of DC. Siblings and parents of children with DC were assessed for arithmetic, reading and attention disorders. The criteria for DC were an IQ higher than 85, poor performance in arithmetic, and a significant discrepancy between arithmetic achievement and IQ. The study group was composed of 39 children with DC, 21 mothers, 22 fathers, 90 siblings, and 16 second-degree relatives. We found that 66% of mothers, 40% of fathers, 53% of siblings, and 44% of second-degree relatives had DC. The intraclass correlation between the sib pairs was .27. A 95% confidential interval (CI) for the prevalence of DC among siblings of DC probands (see Note 1) ranged from 40% to 64%, indicating a familial prevalence almost tenfold higher than expected for the general population. IQ and attention problems were not risk factors for DC. We conclude that DC, like other learning disabilities, has a significant familial aggregation, suggesting a role for genetics in the evolution of this disorder.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychosocial factors among members of religious and secular kibbutzim.

Mortality in 11 secular kibbutzim between 1970 and 1985 was nearly twice that of 11 matched religious kibbutzim. A cross-sectional study was undertaken in 1991 in 10 of these settlements, 5 religious and 5 secular, to determine whether differences in risk factors could explain the unequal survival. These comprised physical, physiologic and biochemical measurements, health-relevant behaviors and psychosocial variables. This report addresses the psychosocial aspect of the study, which included assessment of sense of coherence, hostility, satisfaction with self, work-related stress, social supports and social contacts using self-administered questionnaires. The response rate among the sample of men and women, aged 35-64 years, was 76% (437 respondents, 208 men and 229 women). Analysis of variance and logistic regression (the latter comparing the upper or lower fourths of the distribution vs. the rest) were used. Religious kibbutz members reported a higher sense of coherence (odds ratio = 1.58, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.46) and a lower level of hostility (odds ratio = 0.49, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.75) than their secular counterparts. Findings for satisfaction with self and work-related stress were inconsistent; there were significant interactions between religious affiliation, sex and age. Younger women reported less satisfaction with self and higher work-related stress than the other age-sex groups in both types of kibbutz. There was no difference in social support or frequency of social contact between religious and secular kibbutzim. Voluntary work was more frequent among the religious kibbutzim. The findings are consistent with an interpretation that Jewish religious observance may enhance the formation of certain protective personality characteristics. Membership in a cohesive religious kibbutz community may increase host resistance to stressors and thereby promote overall well-being and a positive health status. This could reflect an interplay of individual and collective attributes of religion.

Adaptation, Psychological↗