Aboriginal Males Research Articles

Elevated Serum Creatine Kinase (CK-MM) in Petrol Sniffers Using Leaded or Unleaded Fuel

This study examined blood lead and creatine kinase levels in a group of 24 Australian Aboriginal males admitted to the hospital for treatment of severe petrol sniffing related illness after using only leaded petrol and 27 sniffers, 16 ex-sniffers and 13 non-sniffers from an isolated Aboriginal community using only unleaded petrol. Creatine kinase levels (which were nearly all creatine kinase-skeletal muscle isoenzyme indicating skeletal muscle damage) were correlated with blood lead levels and were elevated in active sniffers of leaded petrol on admission to hospital but were also increased in those sniffing unleaded petrol in the remote community. After fourteen days in hospital, median creatine kinase levels of leaded petrol sniffers dropped rapidly to levels similar to those of ex-sniffers and non-sniffers while median blood lead levels decreased but still remained higher than the other three groups. The data suggest that elevated creatine kinase associated with petrol sniffing may be due to compounds in petrol other than the lead additives, possibly volatile hydrocarbon components. Elevated creatine kinase may be useful in detecting current petrol sniffing activity, particularly in locations using unleaded petrol.

Patterns of mortality in Western Australian aboriginals, 1983-1989.

The ratios of age-standardized mortality rates of Aboriginals to non-Aboriginals in Western Australia during the period 1983-1989 were 2.6 for males and 3.0 for females. Mortality rates experienced by Aboriginals were much higher in all age categories except 75+ years and for most major diseases except neoplasms. The peaks of all-cause age-specific mortality rate ratios (RR) for Aboriginal males and females were 10.2 (at 40-44 years) and 10.0 (at 35-39 years), respectively. These excess mortalities were mainly due to circulatory diseases, injury and poisoning, respiratory diseases and, in females, to digestive diseases and genitourinary diseases. The highest age-standardized, cause-specific RR for Aboriginal males were for mental disorders (10.3), injury and poisoning (8.9) and genitourinary diseases (8.6); for females the highest RR were for genitourinary diseases (16.9), endocrine, nutritional and metabolic (mainly diabetes mellitus) (12.3), and for infectious and parasitic diseases (7.5).

Food habits in Aborigines and persons of European descent of southeastern Australia

As part of a study of risk factors for glucose intolerance and heart disease in Australian Aborigines and persons of European descent, we elicited the prevalence of food habits that may be associated with high fat and high salt intakes. Interview data were gathered from population-based samples in country towns and visitors to an Aboriginal health service in a state capital city, all in southeastern Australia. Among persons aged 13 years and over, the frequency of eating takeaway food as a meal was categorised as monthly or less, weekly, more than once per week, and daily or more often. The prevalence of eating such meals was higher among city Aborigines than those living in the country town; the prevalence was lowest among the country-town Europeans (chi 2 = 184, 6 df, P < 0.001). The prevalence of adding salt during cooking and food consumption was higher among Aborigines compared with Europeans. Among country-town Aboriginal males aged 35 or under, 25 of 40 (63 per cent) added salt to cooked food 'most of the time', compared with 66 of 185 (36 per cent) Europeans (chi 2 = 9.8, P = 0.002). Among Aboriginal females, 47 of 64 (64 per cent) were in the highest category of salt use, compared with 35 of 190 (18 per cent) of Europeans (chi 2 = 66.3, P < 0.001). About one-third of country-town Aboriginal males used dripping to fry food, but in the other ethnicity, gender and location groups, vegetable oil was the most frequent choice. The main differences in food habits were associated with ethnicity, rather than location.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hyperinsulinaemia and obesity in Aborigines of south-eastern Australia, with comparisons from rural and urban Europid populations

Diabetes is more common in Aborigines than in other Australian populations, even in groups that have lived in contact with Europids for 150 years. Prevalence data on hyperinsulinaemia and obesity from urbanized banized south eastern Australian Aborigines are presented with Europid comparisons. Aborigines had higher mean insulin levels than Europids. In females, mean fasting insulin was 15.5 mU/l in Aborigines, compared with 9.5 mU/l in Europids ( P < 0.001). The means for males were 15.1 mU/l (Aborigines) and 8.3 (Europids) ( P < 0.005). Obesity was more prevalent in Aborigines. In Aboriginal females aged 25–64 years, 41 108 (38%) had BMI >; 30.0, compared with 37 208 (18%) Europids ( P < 0.001). In males, the difference in the prevalence of obesity in Aborigines ( 17 69 , 25%) and Europids ( 34 195 , 17%) was not statistically significant. Waist-hip ratio was significantly greater among Aboriginal females (mean 0.87 in persons aged 25–64 years) than among Europids (mean 0.81, P < 0.001). In males, the mean ratio in Aborigines and Europids was the same (0.94). Abdominal obesity was most prevalent among Aboriginal females. For females aged 20–49 years, 83 110 (75%) Aborigines had a waist-hip ratio > 0.80, compared with 71 165 (43%) Europids ( P < 0.001). Being overweight or obese is perceived with least accuracy by Aboriginal males of the four ethnicity/gender groups. Comparisons with national data suggest a gradient in the prevalence of obesity, lowest in urban groups, more in the country, and higher still among Aborigines, which is in reciprocal order to socio-economic status. In multivariate analyses, the association of BMI with insulin was highly significant. Hyperinsulinaemia in an Aboriginal group after many years of contact with Europids may result from environmental as well as genetic influences. Relative hyperinsulinaemia is not found among those Aborigines who have developed glucose intolerance, which could be explained by earlier pancreatic exhaustion in this group.

Adolescent Drug Use in Cross-Cultural Perspective

An analysis is made of adolescent hallucinogenic plant ingestion during initiation rituals among Australian Aboriginal males, Tshogana Tsonga females and among Chumash youth of Southern California. This use pattern contrasts with abusive patterns of drug abuse found among American adolescents. Findings indicate the existence of managed altered states of consciousness in the tribal societies studied, where plant hallucinogens are given by elders to youth as part of an intensive, short-term socialization for religious and pedagogical purposes. The use of hypersuggestibility as a cultural technique to “normalize” youth in the tribal societies under study is analyzed in contrast to the role of pathology of drug ingestion patterns among American adolescents.

A New Inherited Abnormality of Thyroxine-Binding Globulin (TBG-San Diego) With Decreased Affinity for Thyroxine and Triiodothyronine*

Evaluation of a family in which males were clinically euthyroid despite having low serum total T4 (TT4) and free T4 index (FT4I) values revealed the presence of a new inherited T4-binding globulin (TBG) variant (TBG-San Diego). Two brothers had low TT4 (39 and 49 nmol/L; normal range, 64-154 nmol/L) and FT4I (4.0 and 4.4; normal range, 6.0-10.5) values, while their grandfather, despite treatment with T4, had a low TT4 (53 nmol/L) and normal FT4I (7.2) in the presence of suppressed TSH (less than 0.1 mU/L). When measured by RIA, the mean TBG concentration (TBG-RIA) of the three affected males was low normal [160 +/- 56 (+/- SD) nmol/L; normal range, 151-253]. Their TBG-binding capacity measured by a T4 binding assay at saturation (TBG-CAP) was similar, giving a mean TBG-RIA/TBG-CAP ratio not significantly different from 1.0. In these males, the TBG affinity for T4 (Ka = 0.48 +/- 0.04 x 10(10) mol-1) was less than that in subjects with the common type TBG (TBG-C; Ka = 1.10 +/- 0.14 x 10(10) mol-1; P less than 0.0001) and similar to that in Aboriginal males from Australia with the variant TBG-A (0.52 +/- 0.10 x 10(10) mol-1). TBG affinity for T3 in the affected males (Ka = 0.68 +/- 0.05 x 10(9) mol-1) was less than that in subjects with TBG-C (1.39 +/- 0.12 x 10(9) mol-1; P less than 0.00001), but greater than that in males with TBG-A (0.44 +/- 0.03 x 10(9) mol-1; P less than 0.0005). The rate of TBG denaturation at 56 C was increased in the affected males (t1/2 = 28.4 and 26.9 min) compared to that in subjects with TBG-C (t1/2 = 54.1 +/- 7.1 min), but was lower than that in males with TBG-A (t1/2 = 20.8 +/- 1.9). A value intermediate between those in affected males and normal subjects was found in serum from an obligatory heterozygote. Microheterogeneity on isoelectric focusing was normal. The exact nature of this structural TBG variant is not yet known. The presence of a TBG mutant should be considered in healthy, clinically euthyroid patients with low serum TT4 and free T4 index values, especially when such low values are found in several members of the same family.

The Use of Imprisonment on Groote Eylandt

The island of Groote Eylandt, in the Gulf of Carpentaria off the coast of East Arnhem Land, has a rate of imprisonment far higher than that prevailing in other local government areas of the Northern Territory and more than 25 times the national rate. Groote Eylandt prisoners are predominantly young, unmarried, Aboriginal males who are likely to be unemployed, have low levels of educational achievement, are highly likely to have been in prison previously, are dealt with by the Magistrates Court for offences involving property or alcohol and are likely to serve actual prison terms of under one year. This paper suggests that the use of correctional facilities in Darwin and elsewhere has little deterrent effect for these offenders and recommends the establishment of a small correctional facility on Groote Eylandt.

Tooth wear rates among contemporary Australian Aborigines.

Most reports of Aboriginal tooth wear have been descriptive, and few have dealt with the question of wear rate. This study records cusp heights of dental casts taken from individuals during a growth study of Aboriginal children from ages six to 18. Their rates of wear were greater than those of Europeans, and the most rapid rate was recorded among Aboriginal males. These differences are due to the quantity of dietary abrasives.

Climatic droplet keratopathy and pterygium.

The association of various personal, occupational and environmental factors with climatic droplet keratopathy and pterygium was examined in a group of Australian Aborigines. Climatic droplet keratopathy was seen especially in aboriginal males who had worked as stockmen for more than 20 years. Although no definite association with a single causal factor could be made, there is circumstantial evidence for the importance of ultraviolet radiation. Pterygium was more commonly seen in those who worked outside, and it was positively correlated with lower latitudes and high ultraviolet levels.

Aetiology of climatic droplet keratopathy and pterygium.

The association of various personal, occupational, and environmental factors with climatic droplet keratopathy and pterygium was examined in a group of Australian Aborigines. Climatic droplet keratopathy was seen especially in aboriginal males who had worked as stockmen for more than 20 years. Although no definite association with a single causal factor could be made, there is circumstantial evidence for the importance of ultraviolet radiation. Pterygium was more commonly seen in those who worked outside, and it was positively correlated with lower latitudes and high ultraviolet levels.

Prevalence and causes of blindness in Australian aborigines.

A descriptive epidemiological survey of monocular and binocular blindness in Australian Aborigines was undertaken. A case-control study was also performed using age and sex matched sighted controls to allow investigation of personal and environmental factors which may contribute to blindness. The prevalence rate of binocular blindness in the Australian Aboriginal males and females was 11/1000; and the monocular blindness rates were 24/1000 for males and 18/1000 for females. The prevalence of blindness was strongly age-related; over the age of 60 years, 21.5% of males and 17.5% of females were binocularly blind, and 25.5% of males and 18.5% of females were monocularly blind. Half of the blindness was caused by cataracts, one-third by corneal disease, and one-twelfth by the loss of the globe. Trachoma and trauma were positively associated with blindness. Employment seemed to reduce the likelihood of blindness, with the exception of the Aboriginal males who had been employed as stockmen and who had a high rate of blindness. Less than 10% of blindness was attributable to degenerative or retinal disorders.

Assessment of protein reserves (cellular mass) in Aboriginal children

The body protein reserves, assessed indirectly by the measurement of intracellular water, was determined in free-living Aboriginal children and adolescents located in Central and Northwestern Australia. Fifty one individuals were studied—31 males and 20 females. Significant reductions were observed in intracellular water or cell mass relative to the cube of body length for Aboriginal females when compared to a control female group. Only marginal or borderline differences for the same parameters were observed when Aboriginal males were compared with controls. Comparison of Aboriginal females with Aboriginal males demonstrated significant reductions in cell mass (intracellular water) relative to body length cubed in the female. This finding in the Aboriginal female is of concern because many become pregnant in the early teenage years. Evidence was found during the course of this study that plasma zinc concentrations were frequently low. This led to a concomitant study on serum and plasma trace metals in two Aboriginal settlements (364 individuals) to be published in a subsequent paper.

Linguistic Determinants of Choice-Reaction Time among Aborigines and White Australians

Aboriginal and white Australian adolescent males classified stimuli along a specifically Aboriginal or a moiety dimension of dual organization and a colour dimension. A 2 x 2 randomized factorial design with simple reaction time (SRT) as the covariate showed that Aborigines recorded significantly greater choice-reaction times (CRT) on both CRT tasks. A significant culture x task interaction was in the opposite direction to the suggestion that moiety classification would favour Aborigines in a CRT task. Codability was slightly related to CRT for the white Australian group.

Comparative dermatoglyphics of Australian Europeans, Australian Aborigines, Punjabis and part-Aboriginals.

Multivariate analysis has been used to demonstrate genetic differences between Australian Europeans, Australian Aborigines, Punjabi Indians and part-Aborigines using 15 dermatoglyphic features. These populations can be graphically represented and the distance between any two groups measured in arbitrary units can be tested for its significance. Significant differences have been found between part-Aborigines and the parent populations and between Lardiil aboriginal males and Punjabi males.