W. M. Ringsdorf

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN BLOOD GLUCOSE REGULATION

To investigate the influence of environment on the level of blood glucose, 639 adult subjects were studied, in three groups. One‐third consisted of married women; one‐third consisted of their husbands; and one‐third consisted of unrelated females (randomly drawn) age‐paired to the wives. Blood glucose concentration was measured by the Dextrostix method.

YOUNGER AT HEART: A STUDY OF THE P-R INTERVAL

With advancing age, the electrocardiographic P‐R interval lengthens. The question arises as to whether this characteristic of the aging process can be regarded as normal or as physiologic. Two hundred and fifty dentists and their wives were studied, before and after an improved dietary regimen. Comparisons were made with Lepeschkins data on 872 “normal” persons. On the assumption that normal is synonymous with average, there is normally an increase in the length of the P‐R interval. However, the data in this report suggest that a progressively longer P‐R interval with time is not physiologic. Moreover, the trend can be reversed by dietary means. Thus people can be made “younger at heart.”

Predictive medicine. X. Physical activity.

Physical activity is a factor in preventing disease. Examples are given of the relationships to age, clinical and biochemical states, electrocardiographic signs, and the consumption of coffee/tea, alcohol, tobacco, and vitamin supplements. Physical activity is a cardinal feature of any predictive medicine program.

PREDICTIVE MEDICINE. V. LINEAR VERSUS CURVILINEAR FUNCTIONS

In predictive medicine it is essential to regard the relationship between biochemical and clinical patterns as a curvilinear (parabolic) function involving a trichotomous system rather than the traditional dichotomous system. The parabolic pattern is a function of age and also of the range of values chosen to describe “normo‐,” “hypo‐” and “hyper‐” for the biochemical measurement in question.

PREDICTIVE MEDICINE. II. EXPERIMENTAL MODELS

Abstract: Attempts to predict disease susceptibility have led to the development of proneness profiles. The diagnostic factors include age, sex, weight, blood pressure, blood biochemical values, and dietary habits.

PREDICTIVE MEDICINE. VI. PHYSIOLOGIC VERSUS NORMAL VALUES

A technique is outlined for the establishment of physiologic ranges of blood glucose and serum cholesterol. Standards for health should be based upon observations in subjects who are relatively free of signs and symptoms. The results may call for reappraisal of some accepted physiologic values.

Alveolar bone loss as a prognostic sign of diabetes in patients of the 60-plus age group.

Abstract: This study was undertaken in 19 presumably healthy elderly persons, to see if there was any relationship between alveolar bone loss and carbohydrate metabolism. In 9 of the subjects, alveolar bone loss, as determined by periapical radiography of the anterior teeth and graded on a 7‐point scale, was correlated with carbohydrate metabolism as judged from the results of the conventional glucose tolerance test. In the other 10 subjects, alveolar bone loss, estimated on a percentage basis, was correlated with carbohydrate metabolism judged according to the results of the cortisone glucose tolerance test. Within the limits of this study, there appeared to be a relationship between bone loss and blood glucose concentration. The subjects with the greatest bone loss had the highest blood glucose levels.

FAMILIAL FACTORS IN PSYCHIC ADJUSTMENT

To investigate the influence of environment upon the psychic (emotional) state, 150 adult subjects were studied, in three groups. One‐third consisted of married women; one‐third consisted of their husbands; and one‐third consisted of unrelated females (randomly drawn) age‐paired to the wives. Psychic state was determined by a simple self‐administered controlled association test (Cornell Word Form‐2).

Carbohydrate metabolism and cervical (uterine) carcinoma

Abstract The classical glucose tolerance test was per[ormed on 26 ambulatory, nonhospitalized, biopsy-proved squamous cell cervical carcinoma patients and compared with similar testing of 26 age- and sex-paired individuals without cancer. Three items deserve special mention. First, the [requency of glycosuria in the cancer group is approximately fourfold that observed in the noncancer persons. Second, the frequency of elevated blood glucose levels in the cancer group is approximately twofold that in the noncancer group. Third, the mean blood glucose values at every temporal point are statistically higher in the oncologic group versus those without cancer.

Predictive medicine. XII. The oral cavity.

The state of the oral cavity affects general health, and vice versa. Nevertheless, rarely, if ever, are the oral tissues considered in multiple testing programs. Predictive medicine programs differ, in that they include signs and symptoms referable to the oral cavity. Representative data indicate, for example, that alveolar bone loss proceeds at a much slower rate in persons with good oral hygiene and efficient carbohydrate metabolism.