Black girls on average enter puberty first, followed by Mexican American and then white girls.

Using data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994), the authors examined the relation between periodontal health and cardiovascular risk factors: serum total and high density lipoprotein cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and plasma fibrinogen. A total of 10,146 participants were included in the analyses of cholesterol and C-reactive protein and 4,461 in the analyses of fibrinogen. Periodontal health indicators included the gingival bleeding index, calculus index, and periodontal disease status (defined by pocket depth and attachment loss). While cholesterol and fibrinogen were analyzed as continuous variables, C-reactive protein was dichotomized into two levels. The results show a significant relation between indicators of poor periodontal status and increased C-reactive protein and fibrinogen. The association between periodontal status and total cholesterol level is much weaker. No consistent association between periodontal status and high density lipoprotein cholesterol was detectable. Similar patterns of association were observed for participants aged 17-54 years and those 55 years and older. In conclusion, this study suggests that total cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen are possible intermediate factors that may link periodontal disease to elevated cardiovascular risk.

Objective-To estimate the size of the association between serum concentration of low density lipoprotein cholesterol and mortality from ischaemic heart disease.Design-Prospective study of total serum cholesterol concentration and mortality from ischaemic heart disease in 21515 men (538 deaths) and study of total cholesterol concentration measured on two occasions an average of three years apart in 5696 men in whom low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration was also measured on the second occasion.Subjects-Men who attended the medical centre of the British United Provident Association (BUPA) in London between 1975 and1982. Main outcome measure-The difference in mortality from ischaemic heart disease for a 06 mmol/I difference in concentration oflow density lipoprotein cholesterol after adjustment for, firstly, regression dilution bias, which arises from the random fluctuation of serum cholesterol concentration in people over time, and, secondly, the surrogate dilution effect, which arises because differences in total cholesterol concentration between people reflect smaller differences in low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration.Results-The observed difference in mortality from ischaemic heart disease associated with a difference of 0-6 mmoIl in total serum cholesterol concentration was 17% but increased to 24% after correction for the regression dilution bias and to 27% (95% confidence interval 21% to 330/%) after adjustment for both sources of underestimation, which provides an estimate of the difference in mortality for a true difference of 0-6 mmoVI in low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration. The association was greater at younger ages. The estimated decrease in mortality from all causes was 6% before and 100/0 (1% to 17%) after adjustment for the two sources of underestimation. There was no excess mortality from any cause associated with low cholesterol concentration.

Periodontal disease is an important risk factor for total CVA and, in particular, nonhemorrhagic stroke.

No abstract

Abstract-Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a positive relationship between heavy alcohol use and hypertension, but few studies have directly addressed the role of drinking pattern. This study was designed to investigate the association of current alcohol consumption and aspects of drinking pattern with hypertension risk in a sample of 2609 white men and women from western New York, aged 35 to 80 years, and free from other cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension was defined by systolic blood pressure Ն140 Key Words: alcohol Ⅲ hypertension, alcohol-induced Ⅲ blood pressure Ⅲ epidemiology T he relationship between heavy alcohol consumption and blood pressure elevation is well documented. 1,2 In the majority of studies, the assessment of alcohol has been focused primarily on average quantity of alcohol consumed during a period of time. The many different and complex components of drinking, such as the frequency and setting of consumption, have not been sufficiently addressed. It has been suggested that the way in which alcohol is consumed may have important implications for health and, in particular, for cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors. [3][4][5][6] Few studies have specifically evaluated the possible effect of pattern of alcohol consumption on blood pressure elevation; 7-9 the majority of these studies have given attention to the role of drinking frequency, however, providing conflicting results. Only a study on a large sample of Italian men and women has examined the association between drinking pattern in relation to food consumption and hypertension risk, reporting a higher prevalence of hypertension in individuals consuming wine outside meals compared with drinkers of wine with meals. 7 This study was thus conducted to investigate the relationship between pattern of alcohol use and hypertension risk in a general-population sample of men and women. In particular, in addition to the amount of alcohol consumed, our study focused on frequency of drinking and in relation to food consumption and beverage preference (beer, wine, and liquor).

BackgroundThyroid hormone plays a crucial role in the growth and function of the central nervous system. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships between the status of subclinical thyroid conditions and cognition among adolescents in the United States.MethodsStudy sample included 1,327 adolescents 13 to 16 years old who participated in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Serum thyroxine (T4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured and subclinical hypothyroidism, subclinical hyperthyroidism, and euthyroid groups were defined. Cognitive performance was assessed using the subscales of the Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised (WRAT-R) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R). The age-corrected scaled scores for arithmetic, reading, block design, and digit span were derived from the cognitive assessments.ResultsSubclinical hypothyroidism was found in 1.7% and subclinical hyperthyroidism was found in 2.3% of the adolescents. Cognitive assessment scores on average tended to be lower in adolescents with subclinical hyperthyroidism and higher in those with subclinical hypothyroidism than the score for the euthyroid group. Adolescents with subclinical hypothyroidism had significantly better scores in block design and reading than the euthyroid subjects even after adjustment for a number of variables including sex, age, and family income level.ConclusionSubclinical hypothyroidism was associated with better performance in some areas of cognitive functions while subclinical hyperthyroidism could be a potential risk factor.

This study investigated the associations between serum C-reactive protein and fasting blood levels of insulin, glucose, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1998-1994) were used. Study subjects included 2,466 men and 2,876 women who were > or = 17 years and nondiabetics with an overnight fast for blood draw. C-reactive protein was categorized into low (<0.3 mg/dl), moderate (0.3-0.9 mg/dl), and high (> or = 1.0 mg/dl) levels. Mean levels of insulin, glucose, and HbA1c were compared across C-reactive protein levels after adjustment for age, ethnicity, education, poverty index, cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and leisure time physical activity. For men with low (n = 1,818), moderate (n = 493), and high (n = 155) C-reactive protein, the adjusted means of insulin were 9.4, 11.7, and 10.5 microunits/ml (p < 0.01); glucose, 99.8, 101.6, and 100.6 mg/dl (p > 0.05); and HbA1c, 5.4%, 5.5%, and 5.5% (p < 0.05). For women with low (n = 1,816), moderate (n = 776), and high (n = 282) C-reactive protein, the adjusted means of insulin were 8.7, 11.2, and 13.7 microunits/ml (p < 0.01); glucose, 95.3, 97.9, and 105.2 mg/dl (p < 0.01); and HbA1c, 5.3%, 5.4%, and 5.6% (p < 0.01). In conclusion, elevated C-reactive protein was associated with higher insulin and HbA1c among men and women and with higher glucose levels among women only. These results suggest a possible role of inflammation in insulin resistance and glucose intolerance.