bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of poverty on the prevalence of diabetes and its complications in urban southern India
Authors: Ramachandran A. , Snehalatha C. , Vijay V. , King H. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractAim The impact of poverty on the profile of diabetes and its complications was studied.Methods A comparative study of low income group (LIG) (family income Rs. < 30 000/annum (approx. £432) and high income group (HIG) (family income Rs. ≥ 60 000/annum (approx. £864) subjects of ≥ 40 years was done in Madras, India. By screening 1748 LIG subjects (M/W 844/904) 301 diabetic subjects were identified and 218 underwent tests for diabetic complications. Population data available in 635 (M/W 309/326) HIG subjects from the survey were used for comparison of glucose tolerance profile. Complications were studied in 221 diabetic HIG subjects.Results Age‐standardized prevalences of diabetes (12.6% vs. 25.5%; χ2 = 56.9, P < 0.0001) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (8.9% vs. 19.0%) were significantly lower (χ2 = 57.7; P < 0.0001) in the LIG. Hypertension was more common in LIG (53.7% vs. 40.0% in HIG; χ2 = 34.9; P < 0.0001). LIG subjects were more physically active; 73.8% did not go to school. Parameters significantly associated with diabetes were body mass index (BMI), age, higher income, waist–hip ratio and physical inactivity. Higher income, BMI and age were associated with IGT. Diabetic LIG subjects had a higher prevalence of cardiac disease, neuropathy and cataract and a lower prevalence of retinopathy than HIG subjects. The risk variables such as hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, smoking and alcohol consumption were more in the LIG group.Conclusions The urban poor in the developing world has a lower prevalence of diabetes than the urban poor in developed societies. However, they have higher rates of complications of diabetes.
Coefficient of failure: a methodology for examining longitudinal β‐cell function in Type 2 diabetes
Authors: T. M. Wallace , D. R. Matthews 
Published: March 2003

AbstractAims We describe a new method, the determination of the coefficient of failure, which allows the assessment of β‐cell failure from any index of glycaemia. Previous methods using glycaemic thresholds and calculating time‐to‐failure have systematic deficiencies relating to bias, reproducibility and statistical power. Analyses using threshold methodologies and conventional survival analysis have an intrinsic disadvantage in that they use categorical data and thus make no allowance for near‐failure, or progression towards failure. In contrast, the coefficient of failure includes all data in the analysis and takes into account improvement of glycaemia as well as deterioration of glycaemia.Methods We describe the use of a ‘coefficient of failure’ defined as the slope of the least‐squares regression line of a glycaemic index vs. time calculated for each individual patient on constant monotherapy. We exemplify the method using HbA1c levels from data from patients on chlorpropamide (n = 64) or glibenclamide (n = 65) monotherapy in the Oxford cohort of the UKPDS.Results Chlorpropamide‐treated patients showed a mean coefficient of failure of 0.34 HbA1c%/year (0.44%/year sd) and glibenclamide‐treated patients 0.50 HbA1c%/year (0.50%/year sd) (P = 0.046; unpaired two‐tailed t‐test). Kolmogorov–Smirnov testing demonstrated that the coefficients did not differ significantly from a normal distribution (chlorpropamide P = 0.12; glibenclamide P = 0.13).Conclusions The coefficient of failure gives an estimate of β‐cell failure using any index of glycaemia. The coefficient is not constrained by predetermined glycaemic thresholds for failure and it allows the rate of decline in β‐cell function to be determined on any therapy or combination of therapies.
Age of onset possibly associated with the degree of heteroplasmy in two male siblings with diabetes mellitus having an A to G transition at 3243 of mitochondrial DNA
Authors: Kato Y. , Miura Y. , Inagaki A. , Itatsu T. , Oiso Y. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractWe describe two male siblings with diabetes mellitus caused by mitochondrial 3243 mutation. The level of heteroplasmy in peripheral blood leucocytes was determined by a last‐cycle hot PCR method. The younger brother, who had 39% heteroplasmy, developed diabetes at age of 25, and demonstrated a lean body habitus and blunted insulin secretion. The elder brother, who had 22% heteroplasmy, was diagnosed at the age of 42. The younger brother showed a higher increment of serum lactate after exercise. In these siblings the level of heteroplasmy in their peripheral blood leucocytes appeared to be associated with age of onset of diabetes.
A randomized control trial of the effect of negotiated telephone support on glycaemic control in young people with Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Howells L. , Wilson A. C. , Skinner T. C. , Newton R. , Morris A. D. , Greene S. A. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractAim To evaluate changes in self‐efficacy for self‐management in young people with Type 1 diabetes participating in a ‘Negotiated Telephone Support’ (NTS) intervention developed using the principles of problem solving and social learning theory.Methods One‐year RCT with 79 young people (male 39; mean age ± sd 16.5 ± 3.2 years, duration 6.7 ± 4.4 years, HbA1c 8.6 ± 1.5%) randomized into: Group 1 (control group), continued routine management, n = 28; Group 2, continued routine management with NTS, n = 25; Group 3, annual clinic with NTS, n = 26. Outcome measures: HbA1c, self‐efficacy, barriers to adherence, problem solving, and diabetes knowledge.Results There were no differences between the groups at baseline. Participants in Groups 2 and 3 received an average of 16 telephone calls/year (range 5–19), median duration 9 min (2–30), with a median interval of 3 weeks (1–24) between calls. Significant correlations were found between age and average length of call (r = 0.44, P < 0.01) and frequency of contact (r = 0.36, P < 0.05). Social and school topics were discussed frequently. After 1 year, while the participants in the two intervention groups showed significant improvements in self‐efficacy (P = 0.035), there was no difference in glycaemic control in the three groups. Barriers to insulin use adherence were a significant predictor of HbA1c (P < 0.001) after controlling for baseline.Conclusions NTS is an effective medium to deliver a simple theory‐based psychological intervention to enhance self‐efficacy for diabetes self‐management. Reduced clinic attendance, combined with NTS, did not result in a deterioration of HbA1c. Intensive personal support needs to be combined with intensive diabetes therapy to improve glycaemic control in this age group.Diabet. Med. 19, 643–648 (2002)
Increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Oman
Authors: Al‐Lawati J. A. , Al Riyami A. M. , Mohammed A. J. , Jousilahti P. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractAims To determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and impairedfasting glucose by age, gender, and by region and compare resultswith the 1991 survey; and estimate previously undiagnosed diabetesmellitus in the Omani population.Methods Cross‐sectional survey containing a probability random sample of5838 Omani adults aged ≥ 20 years. Diabetesand impaired fasting glucose (IFG) were assessed by fasting venous plasmaglucose using 1999 World Health Organization's diagnosticcriteria (normoglycaemia < 6.1 mmol/l, IFG ≥ 6.1 but < 7 mmol/l,and diabetes ≥ 7 mmol/l). The 1991 surveywas reanalysed using the same diagnostic criteria, and results werecompared.Results In 2000, the age‐adjusted prevalence of diabetes among Omanis aged30–64 years reached 16.1% (95% confidenceinterval (CI) 14.7–17.4) compared with 12.2% (95% CI11.0–13.4) in 1991. IFG was found among 7.1% (95% CI6.2–8.1) of males and 5.1% (95% CI 4.4–6.0)of females. Generally, diabetes was more common in urban then ruralregions. Only one‐third of diabetic subjects knew that they haddiabetes. Nearly half of the study population had a body mass index > 25 kg/m2.Conclusions The prevalence of diabetes is high in Oman and has increasedover the past decade. The high rate of abnormal fasting glucosetogether with high rates of overweight and obesity in the population makeit likely that diabetes will continue to be a major health problem inOman. Primary prevention programmes are urgently needed to counteract majorrisk factors that promote the development of diabetes.Diabet. Med. 19, 954–957 (2002)
Acute effect of orlistat on post‐prandial lipaemia and free fatty acids in overweight patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Tan K. C. B. , Tso A. W. K. , Tam S. C. F. , Pang R. W. C. , Lam K. S. L. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractAims Post‐prandial lipaemia is prolonged and exaggerated in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, with an accumulation of atherogenic triglyceride‐rich lipoprotein remnants. We postulate that orlistat, a gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor, may cause changes in post‐prandial lipoprotein metabolism by reducing dietary triglyceride absorption.Methods The acute effect of a single dose of 120 mg orlistat on post‐prandial glucose, lipids, remnant lipoproteins and free fatty acids (FFA) was evaluated in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled cross‐over study of 63 overweight patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (body mass index 30.4 ± 3.8 kg/m2). Either a single dose of orlistat or placebo was given before a standard mixed meal containing 70 g of fat and plasma triglyceride (TG), remnant‐like particles cholesterol (RLP‐C) and FFA were sampled at 2‐h intervals for 8 h. RLP‐C was measured by an immunoseparation assay and FFA by an enzymatic colorimetric method.Results The concentrations of plasma TG (P < 0.0001), RLP‐C (P = 0.003), and FFA (P < 0.0001) were significantly lower at 2 h after orlistat compared with placebo. Both plasma RLP‐C (P = 0.04) and FFA (P < 0.0001) remained lower after orlistat than placebo at 4 h. The incremental area under the curve (iAUC) above baseline fasting level for both TG and RLP‐C was significantly more reduced after orlistat than placebo (iAUC‐TG 5.8 (3.7–8.2) mmol/l × h−1 vs. 5.7 (4.1–10.9), respectively, P = 0.04; iAUC‐RLP‐C: 0.53 (0.23–1.04) mmol/l × h−1 vs. 0.56 (0.35–1.40), respectively, P = 0.02). The test meal was well tolerated by all subjects, with only three subjects reporting faecal urgency after orlistat.Conclusions Orlistat has a beneficial effect on post‐prandial lipaemia in overweight Type 2 diabetic patients and lowers plasma TG, RLP‐C and FFA in the early post‐prandial period.Diabet. Med. 19, 944–948 (2002)
Geographic variation in reef‐fish assemblages along the Brazilian coast
Authors: Floeter Sergio R. , Guimarães Ricardo Z. P. , Rocha Luiz A. , Ferreira Carlos Eduardo L. , Rangel Carlos A. , Gasparini João Luiz 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe species composition of reef‐fish assemblages from nine Brazilian major coastal sites and four oceanic islands are compared. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was utilized to identify groups of sites based on similarity of composition, and to correlate environmental trends with such groups. Five distinct groups of sites were recognized: (1) the South and South‐eastern coastal reefs (from Guarapari Islands to Santa Catarina, the southernmost Brazilian reefs); (2) the North‐eastern coast (extending from the Manuel Luis Reefs to Abrolhos Archipelago); (3) Trindade Island; (4) Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas; and (5) St Paul’s Rocks. Water temperature, coral richness, distance from mainland, primary production and shelf width strongly correlated with the diversity and composition of the reef sites.
Modern pollen samples from alpine vegetation on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Yu Ge , Tang Lingyu , Yang Xiangdong , Ke Xiankun , Harrison Sandy P. 
Published: March 2003

Abstract

A set of 316 modern surface pollen samples, sampling all the alpine vegetation types that occur on the Tibetan Plateau, has been compiled and analysed. Between 82 and 92% of the pollen present in these samples is derived from only 28 major taxa. These 28 taxa include examples of both tree (AP) and herb (NAP) pollen types.
Most of the modern surface pollen samples accurately reflect the composition of the modern vegetation in the sampling region. However, airborne dust‐trap pollen samples do not provide a reliable assessment of the modern vegetation. Dust‐trap samples contain much higher percentages of tree pollen than non‐dust‐trap samples, and many of the taxa present are exotic. In the extremely windy environments of the Tibetan Plateau, contamination of dust‐trap samples by long‐distance transport of exotic pollen is a serious problem.
The most characteristic vegetation types present on the Tibetan Plateau are alpine meadows, steppe and desert. Non‐arboreal pollen (NAP) therefore dominates the pollen samples in most regions. Percentages of arboreal pollen (AP) are high in samples from the southern and eastern Tibetan Plateau, where alpine forests are an important component of the vegetation. The relative importance of forest and non‐forest vegetation across the Plateau clearly follows climatic gradients: forests occur on the southern and eastern margins of the Plateau, supported by the penetration of moisture‐bearing airmasses associated with the Indian and Pacific summer monsoons; open, treeless vegetation is dominant in the interior and northern margins of the Plateau, far from these moisture sources.
The different types of non‐forest vegetation are characterized by different modern pollen assemblages. Thus, alpine deserts are characterized by high percentages of Chenopodiaceae and Artemisia, with Ephedra and Nitraria. Alpine meadows are characterized by high percentages of Cyperaceae and Artemisia, with Ranunculaceae and Polygonaceae. Alpine steppe is characterized by high abundances of Artemisia, with Compositae, Cruciferae and Chenopodiaceae. Although Artemisia is a common component of all non‐forest vegetation types on the Tibetan Plateau, the presence of other taxa makes it possible to discriminate between the different vegetation types.
The good agreement between modern vegetation and modern surface pollen samples across the Tibetan Plateau provides a measure of the reliability of using pollen data to reconstruct past vegetation patterns in non‐forested areas.
Above‐ground biomass estimation in closed canopy Neotropical forests using lidar remote sensing: factors affecting the generality of relationships
Authors: Drake Jason B. , Knox Robert G. , Dubayah Ralph O. , Clark David B. , Condit Richard , Blair J. Bryan , Hofton Michelle 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTAimPrevious studies have developed strong, site‐specific relationships between canopy metrics from lidar (light detecting and ranging) remote sensing data and forest structural characteristics such as above‐ground biomass (AGBM), but the generality of these relationships is unknown. In this study, we examine the generality of relationships between lidar metrics and forest structural characteristics, including AGBM, from two study areas in Central America with different precipitation patterns.LocationA series of tropical moist forest sites in Panama and a tropical wet forest in Costa Rica.MethodsCanopy metrics (e.g. canopy height) were calculated from airborne lidar data. Basal area, mean stem diameter and AGBM were calculated from measurements taken as a part of ongoing forest dynamics studies in both areas. We examined the generality of relationship between lidar metrics and forest structure, and possible environmental effects (e.g. leaf phenology).ResultsWe found that lidar metrics were strongly correlated (R2: 0.65–0.92) with mean stem diameter, basal area and AGBM in both regions. We also show that the relationships differed between these regions. Deciduousness of canopy trees in the tropical moist forest area accounted for the differences in predictive equations for stem diameter and basal area. The relationships between lidar metrics and AGBM, however, remained significantly different between the two study areas even after adjusting for leaf drop. We attribute this to significant differences in the underlying allometric relationships between stem diameter and AGBM in tropical wet and moist forests.ConclusionsImportant forest structural characteristics can be estimated reliably across a variety of conditions sampled in these closed‐canopy tropical forests. Environmental factors such as drought deciduousness have an important influence on these relationships. Future efforts should continue to examine climatic factors that may influence the generality of the relationships between lidar metrics and forest structural characteristics and assess more rigorously the generality of field‐derived allometric relationships.
Land use and cover with intensity of agriculture for Canada from satellite and census data
Authors: Kerr Jeremy T. , Cihlar Josef 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTAim To develop the first national databases on land use and agricultural land use intensity in Canada for a wide variety of environmental monitoring applications.Location Canada.Methods In this paper, we describe a new system for the construction of both land use and land use intensity (within agricultural regions) called LUCIA (land use and cover with intensity of agriculture). Our methodology combines the highly detailed Canadian Census of Agriculture and recent growing season composites derived from the SPOT4/VEGETATION sensor. Census data are of much coarser resolution than the remotely sensed data but, by removing non‐agricultural pixels from each census sampling area, we were able to refine the census data sufficiently to allow their use as ground truth data in some areas. The ‘refined’ census data were then used in the final step of an unsupervised classification of the remotely sensed data.Results and main conclusions The results of the land use classification are generally consistent with the input census data, indicating that the LUCIA output reflects actual land use trends as determined by national census information. Land use intensity, defined as the principal component of census variables that relate to agricultural inputs and outputs (e.g. chemical inputs, fertilizer inputs and manure outputs), is highest in the periphery of the great plains region of central Canada but is also very high in southern Ontario and Québec.
The genetic characteristics of the osteoporosis phenotype
Authors: MacGregor A. J. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractOsteoporosis fits well into the category of complex disease with multiple genes and environmental factors likely to be involved in its development. The osteoporosis phenotype itself comprises a number of component parts, aspects of which are captured differently by a range of different clinical and laboratory measurements. This review discusses the nature of the genetic factors that underlie this complex phenotype and considers approaches that take into account this complexity in modelling the effects of specific genes.
The genetics of type 2 diabetes: the consequences of complexity
Authors: McCarthy Mark 
Published: March 2003

AbstractType 2 diabetes affects a significant proportion of the World’s population and shows strong familial association. A richer molecular understanding of the aetiological mechanisms is a prerequisite for the development of improved therapeutic and preventative options to ameliorate the burden of disease. The genome‐scale analyses now possible should allow the major susceptibility genes for type 2 diabetes to be identified, provided due respect is paid to the inevitable complexities associated with the genetic analysis of multifactorial traits.
A test for linkage and association in general pedigrees
Authors: Kaplan Norman L. , Monks Stephanie A. , Martin Eden R. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractFamily‐based tests of linkage disequilibrium are usually based on nuclear family data including affected individuals and their parents or their unaffected siblings. A problem with these tests is that they are not valid tests of association when data from related nuclear families from larger pedigrees are used. One way to ensure validity when testing for association is to select a single nuclear family from each extended pedigree in the sample. When data are available for larger pedigrees, it would be desirable to have a valid test of linkage disequilibrium that can use all potentially informative data. In this paper we present such a test: the Pedigree Disequilibrium Test (PDT). The PDT can use data from related nuclear families from extended pedigrees and remains valid when there is population substructure. Power simulations demonstrate that, when extended pedigree data are available, gains in power can be obtained by using the PDT rather than existing methods that only use a subset of the data. The PDT can also be more powerful than current methods when the data consist of a sample of independent nuclear families or sibships.
The power of genome‐wide sib pair linkage scans for quantitative trait loci using the new Haseman–Elston regression method
Authors: Sham P. C. , Zhao J. H. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractPower calculations for linkage analysis are typically conducted on the assumption of a single locus that affects the trait. Here we report a simple procedure for conducting a power analysis for a genome‐wide linkage scan of a quantitative trait under the influence of multiple loci. This procedure is designed for sib pair data analysed by the new Haseman–Elston regression method. The results show that samples as large as 10 000 sib pairs will often not allow quantitative trait loci (QTLs) to be clearly identified. Instead, linkage genome scan using sib pairs must be regarded as a blunt screening tool that will help to focus attention to 10%, or more, of the genome.
Physical mapping of the MEGF1 gene, human homologue of the Drosophila tumour suppressor gene fat, to the critical region of the 5q‐syndrome
Authors: Fidler Carrie , Nakayama Manabu , Jabs Ethylin Wang , Cheng Jan‐Fang , Strickson Amanda , Ohara Osamu , Wainscoat James S. , Boultwood Jacqueline 
Published: March 2003

AbstractIntroduction  The 5q‐syndrome is a myelodysplastic syndrome with the 5q deletion as the sole karyotypic abnormality. The MEGF1 gene is the human homologue of the Drosophilafat tumour suppressor gene.Results  We have mapped this gene to the 3 Mb critical region of the 5q‐syndrome within 5q31–32, using gene dosage analysis. Fine physical mapping of the MEGF1 gene within this genomic interval was then performed by screening YAC and BAC contigs spanning the critical region using PCR amplification. The MEGF1 gene maps between the genes for SPARC and Annexin‐6 at 5q32, and is flanked by the genetic markers D5S2146 and D5S2077. We have demonstrated the expression of MEGF1 in a range of haematological tissues using RT‐PCR analysis.Discussion  Genomic localization, expression and predicted function would suggest that the MEGF1 gene represents a candidate gene for the 5q‐syndrome.