Maternal testosterone levels are associated with C-peptide levels in the Mexican American subset of the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) Study cohort.

Altered sex hormone levels are thought to play an important role in adult-onset diseases including obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. They contribute to these complex diseases through changes in their availability, which is influenced, in part, by binding proteins. Insulin resistance, which is characteristic of these diseases, along with increased insulin secretion, is a physiologic change that occurs normally during pregnancy. To determine the relationship between insulin resistance and sex hormone levels, we examined the associations of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and testosterone with measures of glycemia and insulinemia in a healthy pregnant population. We measured fasting serum SHBG and testosterone levels in 215 Hispanic mothers of Mexican ancestry from the HAPO Study cohort and tested for associations between SHBG and testosterone levels and maternal plasma glucose and C-peptide. After adjusting for confounding variables, serum total testosterone (TT) was positively associated with fasting C-peptide (0.18 µg/l higher for TT higher by 1 SD, p=0.001) and 1-h C-peptide (0.79 µg/l higher for TT higher by 1 SD, p<0.001). Free testosterone (FT) was also positively associated with fasting C-peptide (0.19 µg/l higher for FT higher by 1 SD, p<0.001), and 1-h C-peptide (0.83 µg/l higher for FT higher by 1 SD, p<0.001). Although these findings are from a single cohort, this study provides evidence for an association between testosterone and C-peptide during pregnancy in a nondiabetic Hispanic obstetric population.

Blood pressure in four remote populations in the INTERSALT Study.

Four remote population samples (Yanomamo and Xingu Indians of Brazil and rural populations in Kenya and Papua New Guinea) had the lowest average blood pressures among all 52 populations studied in INTERSALT, an international cooperative investigation of electrolytes and blood pressure. Average systolic blood pressure was 103 versus 120 mm Hg in the remaining INTERSALT centers; diastolic blood pressure in these four population samples averaged 63 versus 74 mm Hg in the 48 other centers. There was little or no upward slope of blood pressure with age; hypertension was present in only 5% of the rural Kenyan sample and virtually absent in the other three centers. Also in marked contrast with the rest of the centers was level of daily salt intake, as estimated by 24-hour urinary sodium excretion. Median salt intake ranged from under 1 g to 3 g daily versus more than 9 g in the rest of INTERSALT populations. Average body weight was also low in these four centers, with no or low average alcohol intake, again unlike the other centers. The association within these four centers between the above variables and blood pressure was low, possibly reflecting their limited variability. While several other INTERSALT centers also had low average body weight or low prevalence of alcohol drinking, when this was accompanied by much higher salt intake (7-12 g salt or 120-210 mmol sodium daily), hypertension prevalence ranged from 8% to 19%. These findings confirm previous reports that in populations with a low salt intake, there is little or no hypertension or rise of blood pressure with age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Prevalence of intestinal parasites in Latino residents of Chicago.

In 1970, 250,000 Spanish-speaking persons resided in Chicago, 80,000 of whom were Puerto Rican. Because migration to Chicago is constantly occurring from areas where intestinal parasites are endemic, a survey was conducted in a predominantly Puerto Rican neighborhood to determine the prevalence of these parasites and to provide impetus for further case finding and treatment programs. The survey was part of an epidemiologic and cutreach workers going door-to-door obtained histories, hematocrits, and single stool specimens from 358 individuals. An overall intestinal parasite prevalence rate of 18.6% (67 persons) was found. Specific rates were Trichuris trichiura 13.9% (50 cases), hookworm 6.6% (24 cases), Giardia lamblia (3.9% (14 cases), and Strongyloides stercoralis 1.7% (6 cases). There were no cases of Ascaris lumbricoides or ENTAMOEBA HISTOLYTICA, Although several nonpathogenic protozoa were found. The most affected age groups were 15--24 years followed by 5--14. Two of the Giardia cases were individuals never out of the continental United States. An incidental finding was a high rate of low hematocrit readings not correlated with the parasite findings.