Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0020538 (hypertension)
170,190 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Accumulated evidence from experimental and epidemiological studies indicates that there is a low risk of degenerative diseases, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cataract, stroke and, in particular, cancers in people with a high intake of fruit and vegetables. This protective effect is assumed to be associated mainly with the antioxidant activities of either individual or interacting bioactive components present in the fruits and vegetables, and with other biochemical and physical characteristics of the identified and unknown bioactive components. The implicated bioactive components present in citrus fruits include vitamin C, beta-carotene, flavonoids, limonoids, folic acid, and dietary fibre. A high intake of citrus fruits may reduce the risk of degenerative diseases.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2002
PMID:Anticancer and health protective properties of citrus fruit components. 1189 Jun 43

The existing acquisition cost for essential drugs in the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Tuvalu, is sufficiently high to compromise equitable access to quality drug therapy. The difficulty of access is further compounded by problems of distance from drug manufacturers and suppliers, associated with inadequate transport and communication links. In some of the Small Island States of the Pacific, internal distribution challenges further reduce access to drugs for those people who live on the outer islands. Two management processes to address these problems which have successfully been used in the past, are the establishment of an essential drug list to guarantee consistent appropriate treatment, and the introduction of pooled or bulk purchasing in order to achieve economies of scale. The major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the South Pacific include diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. These diseases, in association with life-style factors of obesity and smoking result in significant morbidity and mortality. This paper demonstrates that collaboration in drug purchasing of a defined list of essential drugs for hypertension would be beneficial in the South Pacific, and that the process is a model for achievement of rational drug treatment for NCDs in isolated small economies.
Pac Health Dialog 2001 Mar
PMID:From policy to action: access to essential drugs for the treatment of hypertension in the Small Island States (SIS) of the South Pacific. 1201 10

South Asian countries have a high prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in line with their economic development. India, in particular, has a high burden of CHD. Hence, the aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of CHD risk factors in a semiurban population of Andhra Pradesh, India, in different socioeconomic status (SES) groups. Information was collected on socioeconomic status, physical activity, cigarette smoking, body mass, blood pressure (BP) and serum lipid profiles among a healthy sample of 440 men and 210 women with an age range of 20-70 years. Mean levels of serum cholesterol (SC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) and skinfold ratio were found to be higher among women, whereas triglycerides (TG), systolic BP and diastolic BP were higher in men. No statistically significant differences in body mass index (BMI) or pulse rate were observed between the sexes. In men, a significant positive rank correlation (rho = P < 0.05) was observed between SES and SC, TG, systolic and diastolic BP, pulse rate and BMI, but in women, the same trend was found only with SC, TG, skinfold ratio and age. The prevalence (age standardized to the world population of Segi, 95% CI) of obesity was 14.37% (11.06-17.68), hypertension 13.13% (9.11-17.15), hypercholesterolemia 18.56% (13.88-23.24), hypertriglyceridemia 45.98% (36.47-55.49) and low HDLC 31.01% (24.25-37.77). In both sexes, the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and sedentary life style increased among higher SES groups (P < 0.05). Also, an increase in the level of social class was positively associated with mean levels of serum cholesterol and triglycerides in both men and women. The results demonstrate that higher SES groups have greater prevalence of CHD risk factors than lower SES groups. Preventive measures are required to reduce the risk factors among higher SES groups.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2002
PMID:Socioeconomic status and the prevalence of coronary heart disease risk factors. 1207 88

Ethnic groups in affluent environments experience higher rates of metabolic diseases than their native counterparts. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of metabolic risk factors in Ghanaians in Sydney, and to investigate the relationship with dietary and lifestyle factors. Cross-sectional design with anthropometry, blood pressure, plasma lipids, glucose and insulin concentrations were measured on two occasions on each subject. Dietary information was obtained by three 24-h dietary recalls. Adults (45 male, 35 female) were recruited from a local association in Sydney, Australia. Overweight was observed in a large proportion of subjects (71% and 66% of men and women, respectively), with 18% of men and 26% of women classified as obese. Abdominal overweight was seen in 63% and 74% of men and women, respectively. Abdominal obesity was seen in 20% of men and 49% of women. Hypertension was detected in 40% of men and 17% of women, 16% of men and 6% of women were diagnosed with definite hypertension. Seventy-one per cent of men and 29% of women were classified as hypercholesterolaemic and 67% of men and 23% of women had elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In men, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and hypertriacylglycerolaemia affected 18% and 13%, respectively. Fasting hyperinsulinaemia was observed in 14% and 9% of men and women, respectively. The majority of subjects (73%) sustained one or more metabolic risk factors. Dietary fat contributed 33% and 35% of total energy intake in men and women, respectively, saturated fat contributing 11% in both sexes. A high prevalence of overweight, diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia exists in this population, particularly in men, highlighting the need for intervention.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2002
PMID:Cross-sectional study of diet and risk factors for metabolic diseases in a Ghanaian population in Sydney, Australia. 1223 Feb 35

Evolutionary pressures have probably amplified the mechanisms for minimizing the impact of environmental factors through compensatory maternal mechanisms. Nevertheless, experimentally there are clear long-term programming effects of manipulations to the maternal diet on the likelihood of neural-tube defects associated with folate deficiency The fat/lean ratios of the newborn, and subsequent development, seem to be linked to amino acid or folate supply. An altered balance in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which experimentally has profound effects on brain development, is induced by low-protein maternal diets. Such diets are linked to a reduced pancreatic capacity for insulin production and to an altered hepatic architecture, with a change in the control of glucose metabolism. Human studies suggest that what happens in pregnancy is modified by the child's diet in the first months of life. Low birthweight is linked to early stunting, and predisposes to abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome in later life. Metabolic syndrome amplifies the risks of diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease and probably some cancers. Mothers with gestational diabetes are themselves prone to early type 2 diabetes and produce heavier babies prone to childhood obesity and adolescent type 2 diabetes. There is increasing evidence of an intergenerational effect, with big babies being prone to excess weight gain, which then, in girls, predisposes them to diabetes in pregnancy, which, in turn, promotes an accelerating cycle of early diabetes in subsequent generations. Essential fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins are important, but we need early interventions and monitoring systems to justify coherent policies.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2002
PMID:Will feeding mothers prevent the Asian metabolic syndrome epidemic? 1249 42

There is evidence in Australia that 1st generation Greek Australians (GA), despite their high prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (e.g. obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, smoking, hypertension, sedentary lifestyles) continue to display more than 35% lower mortality from CVD and overall mortality compared with the Australian-born after at least 30 years in Australia. This has been called a 'morbidity mortality paradox' or 'Greek-migrant paradox'. Retrospective data from elderly Greek migrants participating in the International Union of Nutrition Sciences Food Habits in Later Life (FHILL) study suggests that diets changed on migration due to the: (i) lack of familiar foods in the new environment; (ii) abundant and cheap animal foods (iii) memories of hunger before migration; and (iv) status ascribed to energy dense foods (animal foods, white bread and sweets) and 'plumpness' as a sign of affluence and plant foods (legumes, vegetable dishes, grainy bread) and 'thinness' as a sign of poverty. This apparently resulted in traditional foods (e.g. olive oil) being replaced with 'new' foods (e.g. butter), 'traditional' plant dishes being made more energy dense, larger serves of animal foods, sweets and fats being consumed, and increased frequency of celebratory feasts. This shift in food pattern contributed to significant weight gain in GA. Despite these potentially adverse changes, data from Greece in the 1960s (seven countries study) and from Australia in the 1990s (FHILL study) has shown that Greek migrants have continued to eat large serves of putatively protective foods (leafy vegetables, onions, garlic, tomatoes, capsicum, lemon juice, herbs, legumes, fish) prepared according to Greek cuisine (e.g. vegetables stewed in oil). Furthermore, GA were found to return to the traditional Greek food pattern with advancing years. We suspect that these factors may explain why GA have recently been found to have over double the circulating concentrations of antioxidant carotenoids, especially lutein, compared with Australians of Anglo-Celtic ancestry. This in turn may have helped to make the CVD risk factors 'benign' and reduce the risk of death. This raises the question whether specific dietary guidelines need to be developed for recent migrants to Australia, encouraging them to retain the best of their traditional cultures and include the best of the mainstream culture.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2002
PMID:Morbidity mortality paradox of 1st generation Greek Australians. 1249 49

To study the association between the changes of weight, family history and hypertension at different ages, a pair-matched case-control study was conducted in the outpatient service of department of internal medicine in Binjiang Hospital of Tianjin from 1994 to 1996. The cases were selected from 312 patients with hypertension diagnosed during 1994-1996 and identified newly in the survey. The controls were selected from other outpatients of no cardiovascular disease histories matched by age and sex. The conditional logistic regression model was used. The cases and controls were divided into two age groups under 59 years old, 60 and older. History of hypertension in the first degree-relatives was linked to hypertension, but family history of hypertension of groups under age 59, and at 60 and older was mainly hypertension history of parents and siblings, respectively. Other risk factors of developing hypertension were higher weight or body mass index (kg/m2) in the survey, higher degree of weight gain in comparison with the basic weight and early age at beginning weight gain in all two groups. However, the risk of developing hypertension for increasing weight and obesity increased with advancing age groups. The study further indicates that controlling body weight, decreasing the degree of weight gain, and delaying the beginning age of weight gain all contribute to the lower risk of suffering from hypertension and were effective measures of hypertension of the prevention and cure.
Asia Pac J Public Health 2001
PMID:A case-control for the association between change in weight, family history and hypertension at different ages. 1259 6

WHO's Declaration of the "Health for All" (HFA) goal was pronounced in 1978 in Alma Ata, and it was planned that HFA would be achieved through primary health care programmes and approaches by 2000. However, it is now 2002 and despite the technological advancements in medicine, science, and ICT, Health for All is far from reality. Instead, more and more conflicts are emerging with lethal consequences, such as, bioterrorism, biological agent abuse, global-terrorism, and environmental destruction is occurring at a greater scale that we have witnessed before. We may have the latest technology and knowledge today, but ironically, we are using them to inflict more suffering and pain in the world. In the Asia-Pacific, the past 30 years has seen dramatic advancement and lifestyle changes. We are now paying a high price for such progress in terms of risk factors to the health of the population, such as, ageing diseases, obesity, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and related conditions. The social, political, economic and environmental factors appeared to have deterred and negated WHO's HFA goal to attain basic human rights and health care for all. The HFA will not be achieved in the future if we do not learn from history and start taking measures now.
Asia Pac J Public Health 2002
PMID:Future health: coping with change. 1259 18

This study sought to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, using data collected from 4,541 adults aged 20 years and over covered in the Fifth National Nutrition Survey conducted in 1998. The metabolic variables analyzed were: total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c, triglycerides and fasting blood glucose. In addition, measurements of obesity such as body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference (WC) as well as blood pressure were taken. Comparing the mean metabolic characteristics of the non-obese, total obese and the android obese, results showed significant differences in almost all the variables except for the HDL-c. By gender, non-significant differences were observed between males and females in the non-obese group in terms of the BMI and glucose levels and in the android group, in terms of total cholesterol. In all three groups, the biggest difference was observed in the mean triglycerides, where males had significantly higher mean than the females. Comparing adults with >125 mg/dl fasting blood sugar (FBS) there were higher rates of hypertension, high waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high LDL-c, low HDL-c, among the overweight and obese than among those with normal BMI. In general, the proportion of subjects with co-morbid factors increased with higher levels of FBS, except for high cholesterol wherein no pattern was established. The highest prevalence of high FBS was found in both males (35.8%) and females (14.5%) with the following combined characteristics: high BMI, high WHR and high WC. Males with co-existing high BMI, high WHR, and high WC were observed to have the highest prevalence rate of hypertension (66.5%). Among females, the highest prevalence rate of hypertension (37.9%) was seen among those with high fasting blood sugar. The proportion of subjects with hypertension generally increased with age irrespective of the BMI status. One of the significant correlates of high FBS is waist-hip ratio. Males with WHR of equal or greater than 1 have almost six times the risk of having high FBS, while females with WHR of equal or greater than 0.85 have five times the risk of having high FBS compared to those with normal WHR. Among females with triglyceride levels of equal or greater than 200 mg/dL, the risk of having high FBS is five times compared to those with triglyceride levels below 200 mg/dL. Univariate analysis to see the effect of the type of obesity to dyslipidaemia and hypertension revealed that females with high waist circumference generally provided greater risk compared to those who were overweight and obese as well as those with android obesity. For males, high waist circumference had greater risk of developing high triglyceride and high LDL-c. Android obese males had greater risk to high FBS. The results showed that the prevalence rate of metabolic syndrome is 0.28%, based on the number of individuals with the following characteristics: high FBS, hypertensive, android obese, with body mass index (BMI) of > or =25.0 and high WC. Females had a higher rate than males - almost twice. Considering that metabolic syndrome, with its co-morbidity factors is prevalent among some Filipino adults aged 20 years and over, it is recommended that health programs geared towards minimizing the morbid risk factors be properly developed, promoted and fully implemented.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2003
PMID:Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Filipino adults aged 20 years and over. 1450 89

Regions are significant for the way we understand and strategize food for health and economic development. They generally represent various food cultures and opportunities for food exchange based on proximity, historical linkages and complementarities. The example of North and West Africa represents an intersection of some of the most original of human eating experiences out of Africa and the enrichment of these by Arab traders, through the exchange of products, ideas, observations, beliefs and technologies. All of these will have encouraged diversity in food intake. However food diversity and, with it, biodiversity may not always have been recognized as important, and, therefore, secured and protected. Ultimately, food diversity cannot be sustained unless the food chain and the technologies to support it are environmentally appropriate. Cooking, without renewable energy sources, is a critical example. Additionally, human settlement has always required an adequate, a dependable and a safe water supply, although this same settlement tends to compromise these water characteristics. Water is a major factor in food diversity, whether as a source of aquatic food, or the basis of food production and preparation. The extent to which food diversity for human health is required will depend on the food component (essential nutrient and phytochemical) density of the foods represented. For example, fish, fresh lean meat, eggs and seed foods (grains, pulses, nuts) will reduce the requirement. Regional food diversity can support food diversity at the community level--where otherwise it might be fragile--by shared learning experiences, and by trade. Diversity can also be captured and enshrined in recipes with composite ingredients and by traditional emblematic foods--like soups and pies; and it provides the basis for food culture and cuisine. The evidence for food diversity (or variety) as a major factor in health has grown substantially over the last few years--as integrative indices of health like "maternal nutrition" and "successful pregnancy" (for example, through the inclusion of a variety of food sources of folate, increasing the bioavailability of iron, and the sustainable intakes of quality food protein and essential fatty acids); "adult mortality rates"; other "specific disease incidences" (like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and bone health) for "risk factors for disease" (like hypertension and abdominal fatness); and for "wellbeing" (palatable, enjoying and neurologically relevant food stuffs). Thus, there is an ongoing need to promote and maintain food diversity at the regional level and between communities.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2003
PMID:Regional food diversity and human health. 1450 94


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