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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1979

Diet and urinary steroids in black and white North American men and black South African men.

Urinary steroid hormone content was determined in Black and White North American men and in rural Black South African men between 40 and 55 years of age and in Black South African men over 60 years of age when maintained on their customary diets or when transferred to a vegetarian or Western diet, respectively. When eating their customary diets, Black South African men had lower levels of urinary estrogens and androgens than did Black and White North American men. The total androgen content decreased significantly in Black North American men on the vegetarian diet and increased in Black South African men fed a Western diet. Urinary excretion of estrogens was higher in older than in younger rural Black South African men. Data indicated that a vegetarian diet modified androgen and estrogen metabolism in North American men and that a Western diet was associated with higher levels of urinary steroid hormones in young Black South African men. Diet-related changes in steroid metabolism in rural Black South African men were age dependent. The relationship of the increased urinary excretion of steroid hormones in Black South African men, a low-risk group fed a Western diet, and the decreased excretion in Black and White North American men, high-risk groups fed a vegetarian diet, to the development of prostatic cancer remains to be clarified.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Cell cations and blood pressure in US whites, US blacks, and west African blacks.

Differences in cell cation metabolism have been previously demonstrated between blacks and whites in the US. To investigate a potential racial/genetic basis for these differences we studied red cell sodium content (Nai) and platelet cytosolic calcium (Cai) in a group of US whites (n = 26), US blacks (n = 20) and West African blacks (n = 26) residing in Chicago, IL. Participants in all groups were primarily health professionals. The West Africans had lived in Africa until at least age 21 and subsequently resided in the US for an average of 19 months. Immunological markers were used to estimate European gene admixture among the US blacks. Red cell Nai was significantly lower in US whites (7.72 +/- 2.49 mEq/l cells) compared to both the US blacks and West African blacks (9.98 +/- 2.36 and 10.60 +/- 2.80, respectively; P less than 0.01) and Cai was higher in whites than among US blacks (P less than 0.05). No differences were noted in blood pressure (BP) levels among the three racial groups. A linear correlation existed between Nai and both systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) (r = 0.378 and 0.339, respectively; P less than 0.01), which was strongest among the blacks, particularly the US blacks (SBP vs. Nai, r = 0.716, P less than 0.01). Approximately 20% European gene admixture was present among the US blacks. Based on these findings, it would appear that, compared to US whites, higher levels of RBC Nai are common to black persons native to the US and West Africa.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Black-on-black homicide: Kansas City's response.

In many metropolitan areas, homicide continues to be the scourge of black Americans despite increasing awareness of the overrepresentation of blacks among victims and perpetrators. The risk of being a homicide victim among black males is so high that the Department of Health and Human Services has set a priority of reducing the risk to 60 per 100,000 by 1990. The recent escalation in the number of homicides in the United States associated with drugs makes attainment of that goal unlikely. In Kansas City, a black community grassroots organization, the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime, commissioned a multidisciplinary task force to study black-on-black homicide in 1986. The report generated by this task force identified factors placing Kansas Citians at high risk of being homicide victims or perpetrators, including being black, male, unemployed, between the ages 17-29, a high school nongraduate, frequently involved in or around violence, and having prior arrests on weapons charges. One hundred recommendations were made, of which 12 were targeted for immediate implementation. These included increasing public awareness of the incidence of black-on-black homicide, involvement of black men in role model programs for young black males, training in anger control and alternatives to violence for those identified as being at high risk for homicide, and providing a role for ex-offenders in violence prevention. Working with community organizations has inherent strengths and weaknesses for public health workers. However, such a group can successfully impact the affected community in ways which would be difficult for traditional resources.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Diurnal blood pressure variation and cardiac mass in American blacks and whites and South African blacks.

American blacks exhibit higher nocturnal blood pressure than American whites with similar daytime pressure. To determine whether this represents a true racial difference, as opposed to a consequence of different environmental factors, we measured ambulatory blood pressure, cardiac left ventricular mass, and urinary electrolyte excretion in 22 South African blacks (15 women, aged 36 +/- 12 years) and age, sex, and daytime mean pressure-matched American blacks and whites. While all three groups exhibited similar daytime blood pressure, American blacks displayed significantly higher nighttime mean blood pressure. Both African blacks and American whites experienced the same fall in nighttime blood pressure. Left ventricular mass index was highest in American blacks and lowest in South African blacks. Urine sodium excretion was similar in all groups, but both black populations excreted significantly less potassium than American whites. The data suggest that the differences in diurnal blood pressure rhythm between American blacks and whites do not represent a true racial difference, but more likely are environmental in origin. Furthermore, since both black populations had similar cation excretion rates, yet differed in blood pressure pattern and cardiac mass, divergence in dietary sodium or potassium intake cannot explain the ethnic group differences in the United States.

Adult↗

PubMed1977

A comparison of HLA data of the North American black with African black and North American caucasoid populations.

For purposes of genetic comparison, the available HLA data on United States and African Black, together with United States Caucasoid populations, are summarized. Antigen frequencies and pairwise linkage disequilibria are presented for the HLA-A, -B and -C loci in Black populations typed for the 1975 Histocompatibility Testing Workshop. The Black population samples comprise 356 North American Blacks and 411 African Blacks of whom 222 were Bantu. These are compared with a sample of 503 American Caucasoids. All significant linkage disequilibria between the A and B loci found in North American Blacks were also present in the North American Caucasoids. Between the B and C loci, Bw35 and Cw4 were in strong linkage disequilibrium in all groups. Significantly stron association between the A and C loci (Aw28 with Cw3) were observed only in the African Blacks. There were unique disequilibria both in the American Caucasoids and African Blacks. Although the frequencies of many antigens in U.S. Blacks lie between those in Africans and U.S. Caucasoids, there are exceptions such as Aw33, Bw35, Cw4.

Africa↗

PubMed1989

Sexual conquest and patterns of black-on-black violence: a structural-cultural perspective.

In this article the structural-cultural perspective is offered as an alternative theoretical model to explain the etiology of specific patterns of black-on-black violence that occur as a result of lower-class black male adherence to norms that emphasize sexual conquest. The theory is a multifactor argument that assumes that there are specific types of black-on-black violence occur because of black exposure to racially induced structural pressures and dysfunctional cultural adaptations to those pressures. Because few studies examine the intrapersonal and interpersonal dynamics of black-on-black violence, this discussion of the structural-cultural perspective is grounded on findings and inferences from product (Wolfgang-type) studies of criminal violence and ethnographic accounts of lower-class black communities throughout the United States.

Black or African American↗

PubMed1988

Colour-black pattern reversal visual evoked potentials (colour-black-PVEPs): neurobiological aspects and clinical applicability of a new method.

The new method of Colour-Black-PVEPs was applied to 67 healthy subjects with normal colour vision who were subdivided into age groups (= AG) I (N = 40: 18-30 years) and AG II (N = 27: 31-60 years): 1. For the N80-, P100- latencies and the N80P100-amplitudes of all Colour-Black-PVEPs we obtained age-, sex- and eye-matched normative data. 2. The female subjects of AG I showed shorter (p less than or equal to 0.05 resp. 0.002) P100-latencies and higher (p less than or equal to 0.02 resp. 0.0001) N80P100-amplitudes in the Colour-Black-PVEPs than the male subjects. In AG II, however, the Colour-Black-PVEPs did not show any more sex-differences for the P100-latencies, whereas the N80P100-amplitudes remained significantly higher for the females. 3. In the Colour-Black-PVEPs the N80- and P100-latencies did not reveal age-dependent changes. The N80P100-amplitudes, however, decreased with increasing age, but this was significant for the females only. 4. The head sizes, although decreasing with age, were in both age groups significant smaller for the females only. 4. The head sizes, although decreasing with age, were in both age groups significant smaller for the females. Therefore, head size alone could not fully explain the sex-differences in the Colour-Black-PVEPs and their age-dependent changes. 5. In both age groups, the N80--and P100-latencies increased significantly for both sexes from the Green-Black- and Red-Black-PVEPs to the Blue-Black-PVEPs. The N80P100-amplitudes decreased in the same sequence. This method may become a valuable tool in the investigation of neurophysiological and ophthalmoneurological aspects of human colour vision.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Anthropometry in blacks: applicability of generalized skinfold equations and differences in fat patterning between blacks and whites.

To test the accuracy of generalized skinfold (SF) equations in blacks and to compare fat patterning in black and white adults, percent body fat (%BF) was assessed in 90 blacks and 89 whites by deuterium oxide dilution (D2O) and by generalized SF equations [Durnin and Womersely (DW), and Jackson and Pollock and Jackson et al (JP)] by using two calipers (Lange and Holtain). In blacks, JP significantly underpredicted (2.95%) and DW overpredicted (1.74%) D2O %BF with the Lange caliper. With the Holtain caliper DW successfully predicted D2O %BF (r = 0.91, SEE = 3.8%). In whites, DW overpredicted D2O %BF more than in blacks (4.94% vs 1.74%). Lower triceps-subscapular and thigh-subscapular skinfold-thickness ratios in black females and lower suprailiac-subscapular ratios in black males and females were found. It was concluded that blacks may have more visceral and upper-body fat deposition.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1985

Black and white psychiatrists: therapy with blacks.

This paper is one of a series of reports on the findings of a survey on psychotherapy with nonpsychotic black patients and black and white psychiatrists. The responses of the two groups of psychiatrists are presented and analyzed, focusing on their clinical experiences with their black patients. The differences between the two groups of psychiatrists on the presenting problems, unconscious conflicts, and role of racism with their black patients are among the clinical areas examined and discussed.The psychiatrists treated similar types of black male and female patients; however, the survey results indicate that a large proportion of white psychiatrists have little or no experience treating blacks. Although there were more similarities than differences in responses of black and white psychiatrists to clinical questions, there were differences in the frequency and order in which problems were rated. For example, both groups of psychiatrists rated developing new coping mechanisms as the most frequent problem in stages of the treatment process for both sexes. However, white psychiatrists rated a majority of the problems in stages of the treatment process as occurring more frequently than did black psychiatrists. The findings substantiate difficulties with clinical treatment by a therapist who has a racial, ethnic, or cultural background different from that of his patient.

Adult↗

PubMed1979

Marrow granulocyte reserves in black Americans. Hydrocortisone-induced granulocytosis in the "benign" neutropenia of the black.

The bone marrow granulocyte reserves of nine black patients with "benign" neutropenia were estimated by measuring the maximum neutrophil increment after the administration of hydrocortisone. Thirty control subjects, including 16 black and 14 white adults, were also studied. The mean neutrophil increment in the black patients with neutropenia was significantly less than that in the control subjects. The mean increment in the black control was also significantly less than that in the white control subjects. Four of the 16 black control subjects had neutrophil counts below 2,000/microliter; if these four are excluded from the analysis, the difference between the black and white control subjects is no longer significant. These data suggest that there is a subpopulation of healthy black adults with neutrophil counts below 2,000/microliter with reduced marrow granulocyte reserves as tested by corticosteroids. Bone marrow aspirates in four of the neutropenic patients showed normal cellularity and myeloid maturation suggesting that the lower increments are due to a difference in granulocyte release rather than to a difference in granulocyte production.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1987

Pattern reversal visual evoked potentials (white-black- and colour-black-PVEPs) in the study of eye dominance.

We investigated the influence of eye dominance scaled by 6 tests on the parameters (N80, P100 latency and N80-P100 amplitude) of the white-black-, green-black-, red-black- and blue-black-pattern visual evoked potentials (PVEPs) of 40 healthy subjects (20 males and 20 females) with normal visual acuity. The P100 latency of the white-black PVEPs was, for both sexes, shorter (P less than or equal to 0.001) in the PVEPs of the dominant eyes. This P100 latency shortening could also be verified for both right dominant and left dominant eyes with no significant difference between them. A consistent relationship, however, between the different degrees of eye dominance and the P100 latency shortening could not be established. In contrast to the P100 latency findings the N80 latencies of the white-black-PVEPs and the N80-P100 amplitudes did not show any significant differences with respect to eye dominance. Furthermore, the colour-black PVEPs did not present any differences of latency and amplitude depending on eye dominance. Thus our results give further electrophysiological evidence for eye dominance as a lateralized CNS phenomenon that is not influenced by colour.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Population genetics of alpha-1-antitrypsin polymorphism in US whites, US blacks and African blacks.

An isoelectric focusing (IEF) procedure in an ultra-narrow pH range, 4.2-4.9, has been utilized to detect alpha 1-antitrypsin or alpha 1-protease inhibitor (PI) allele products in 2 US white and 3 US black populations as well as 1 native African black population. In addition to the 3 common alleles PI*M1, PI*M2 and PI*M3, products of the 4th allele PI*M4 have been identified in US whites at low-level frequency. The presence of the PI*S, PI*Z and PI*I alleles has also been verified in our population samples. While the PI*S allele is present at a polymorphic level in US whites, it is only present sporadically in US blacks and is completely absent in African blacks. The PI*Z allele was not detected in the black populations tested. The PI allele frequency data have been used to calculate white admixture in US blacks.

Africa↗

PubMed1979

Black contributions to the early history of Western medicine: lack of recognition as a cause of black under-representation in US medical schools.

During several millenia, blacks in ancient Egypt made numerous contributions to medicine and were acknowledged as the inventors of the art of medicine. They produced the earliest physicians, medical knowledge, and medical literature. They contributed to the development of medicine in ancient Greece. Ancient writers, including Herodotus, Isocrates, and Diodorus, affirm this. Modern presentations of ancient medicine, however, deprive blacks of the knowledge of their early contributions to medicine by ignoring or subtly misrepresenting the black identity of the ancient Egyptians. Blacks are currently under-represented in US medical schools. It is proposed that the recognition of the contributions of blacks to the early history of Western medicine would inspire black students to study medicine.

Black or African American↗

PubMed1992

Preventing AIDS among black gay men and black gay and heterosexual male intravenous drug users.

The black population is disproportionately affected by acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Among those black people most at risk of becoming infected with the human immunodeficiency virus are black men who use intravenous drugs and black men who are gay. This article explores the complex cultural, economic, and social factors obstructing the reduction of the AIDS rate among these men. Implications and recommendations are made for developing effective AIDS prevention efforts by highlighting race-specific resources and supports for high-risk black men.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1988

The help-seeking behavior of black Americans. A summary of findings from the National Survey of Black Americans.

In 1977, the National Institute of Mental Health funded the National Survey of Black Americans (NSBA). The NSBA was an omnibus, nationally representative sample (N = 2,107) of adult black Americans that explored numerous issues relevant to black quality of life. One topic that has received much attention is where blacks go for help during periods of crisis. This article provides a brief summary of NSBA findings on the use of informal help, professional help, and insurance coverage. Suggestions for future research directions for those interested in the help-seeking behavior of black Americans are provided.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1985

Fine structural aspects of the black thyroid induced by minocycline, and the effects of a low iodine diet, propylthiouracil, thyroxine tablet and TSH, on the black discoloration of the rat thyroid.

Fine structural aspects of the effect of minocycline, an antibiotic of the tetracycline group, on the rat thyroid were studied. In all the rats administered minocycline (100 mg/kg/day) for 21 days, diffuse black discoloration of the thyroid gland occurred. However, when the rats were fed on a low iodine diet, given propylthiouracil (PTU) or thyroxine tablet with minocycline the black pigmentation of the thyroid gland did not take place. On the other hand, black discoloration of the thyroid was accelerated in the rats administered TSH and minocycline simultaneously. Ultrastructurally, numerous dense bodies containing highly electron-dense deposits were seen in the supranuclear region of the follicular epithelial cells of the black thyroid. These dense bodies, which showed positive acid phosphatase activity, are considered to be lysosomes containing minocycline or its derivatives. It is speculated that minocycline is taken up into follicular epithelial cells with iodine, and that the black discoloration of the thyroid gland is intimately related to iodine metabolism.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Survival rates with coronary artery disease for black women compared with black men.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of gender on the prognosis of coronary heart disease among black patients. DESIGN: Cohort study based on a consecutive sample from a hospital registry, with a mean follow-up of 4 years. SETTING: An inner-city public hospital in Chicago, Ill. PATIENTS: The study included 1719 consecutive black patients (780 men and 939 women) who had any one of the following events: cardiac catheterization for presumed coronary heart disease, hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction, or coronary artery bypass grafting. RESULTS: Hospital and operative mortality rates following acute myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass grafting were similar between the two sexes. The relative risks for cardiac death in women vs men were 0.88 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60 to 1.28), 0.79 (95% CI, 0.53 to 1.17), and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.34 to 1.85) for coronary artery disease, acute myocardial infarction, and coronary artery bypass grafting, respectively, after adjusting for age, history of diabetes, hypertension, angina pectoris and myocardial infarction, number of diseased vessels, and ejection fraction. Compared with patients of the same sex with normal angiograms, relative risk estimates were 5.0, 10.1, and 6.3 for women and were 1.8, 4.0, and 2.0 for men in the same three groups of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Survival with coronary artery disease in black women is similar to that observed in black men, but relative to members of the same sex without the disease, the prognosis for women is considerably worse than for men.

Black or African American↗

PubMed1990

Perspectives of hypertension in black patients: black vs. white differences.

Hypertension is a major disease in the black population of sub-Saharan Africa and the U.S. The prevalence of hypertension varies from 1-30% of the adult population. Differences in blood pressure (BP) between black and white patients have been documented. In this review, genetic, endocrine, and environmental characteristics, renal physiology, and cardiac function are reviewed. Racial differences in renal physiology and socioeconomic status seem to account for BP differences. Black hypertensive patients in sub-Saharan Africa are prone to cerebral hemorrhage, malignant hypertension leading to uremia, and congestive heart failure, whereas coronary artery disease is uncommon. Responses to hypotensive agents like beta-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are poor unless these agents are combined with a thiazide diuretic. Black hypertensive patients respond best to diuretics, vasodilators, or calcium channel blockers. A profiled approach to the treatment of hypertension is suggested.

Black People↗