The purpose of the present study was to examine whether differences exist between reports of parental stress in Mexican American and Caucasian mothers of children with ADHD. A second purpose was to examine whether there were child and family characteristics that made unique contributions to levels of parenting stress in Mexican American parents of children with ADHD. A third purpose was to examine the role that level of acculturation plays in the Mexican American mothers' reports of stress. Dependent measures used in this study include the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).

Motivation: C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and other risk factors such as cortisol and obesity in the diagnosis of cardiovascular dysfunction (CVD) in African and Caucasian women has become increasingly imperative when one considers the escalation of hypertension among these groups. Recent studies have explored some aspects of these risk factors and the roles that they play within hypertension and possible future risk for cardiovascular disease. Hs-CRP has been associated with the increased prevalence of hypertension and obesity. Cortisol per se has also been linked with the development of both hypertension and the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal cortex (HPA) response. Nevertheless, the exact mechanism remains rather uncertain due to conflicting outcomes of research within different ethnic groups. Several recent investigations have, however, linked hypocortisolism with both urbanisation and a subsequent increased likelihood of hypertension within African women as they have presented increased vascular blood pressure responses. Conversely, Caucasian women have displayed an increased central cardiac reactivity. The lack of data regarding the relationship between the above-mentioned parameters within both African and Caucasian women serves as the motivation for conducting this study. Objective: To investigate hs-CRP, cortisol and hypertension as contributors to the increased likelihood of cardiovascular dysfunction in both African and Caucasian women within South Africa. hs-CRP use this through whole document please Methodology: The manuscript presented in Chapter 2 has been compiled using data obtained from the POWIRS (Profiles of Obese Women with Insulin Resistance Syndrome) study. Apparently healthy African (N=102) and Caucasian (N=115) women, matched for age and body mass index, were recruited from the North-West Province of South Africa for participation within this study. Subjects were divided into normotensive (NT) and hypertensive (HT) groups according to the mean resting cardiovascular values that were taken using a Finometer device. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and cortisol blood serum values were determined by immunochemistry and ELISA analyses. Significant differences within each ethnic group and between each of the groups (NT and HT) were determined by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), for anthropometric, cardiovascular, hs-CRP and cortisol variables, while adjusting for cardiovascular covariates (age, smoking and alcohol consumption). Partial correlations analyses were used to examine the relationship between hs-CRP, cortisol, anthropometric and cardiovascular parameters adjusting for cardiovascular covariates. Logistic regression analyses was used within each ethnic group to determine the relationship between anthropometric, cardiovascular, hs-CRP and cortisol as independent variables and hypertension as dependent variable. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the North-West University and all subjects gave informed consent in writing. For a more detailed description of the subjects, study design and analytical procedures please refer to the Materials and Methods section within Chapter 2 of this dissertation. Results and Conclusion: Both ethnic groups presented higher hs-CRP and lower cortisol levels compared to normal values. Lower waist circumference (WC) and cortisol as well as higher blood pressure (BP) and vascular values were evident in Africans compared to Caucasians. Both HT ethnic groups were older and more visceral obese compared to their NT counterparts. HT Caucasians indicated higher central adrenergic responses whilst HT Africans showed vascular adrenergicresponses. Only NT Africans had lower cortisol values than NT Caucasians but the Africans (NT and HT) responded with higher diastolic blood pressure responses compared to their Caucasian counterparts. Moreover, hs-CRP within African women significantly correlated with all BP and obesity variables whilst hs-CRP only associated with stroke volume (SV) and compliance (Cw) within HT Caucasian women. Cortisol in both ethnic groups was strongly associated with vascular BP responses. Only BP contributed to the higher prevalence of HT in both ethnic groups. In conclusion, these results suggest the possible diverse roles of HPA axis dysregulation associated with higher inflammatory responses. This happens in conjunction with cardiac and vascular responses within more obese Caucasian and especially African women, respectively. / MSc (Physiology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009

Motivation: C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and other risk factors such as cortisol and obesity in the diagnosis of cardiovascular dysfunction (CVD) in African and Caucasian women has become increasingly imperative when one considers the escalation of hypertension among these groups. Recent studies have explored some aspects of these risk factors and the roles that they play within hypertension and possible future risk for cardiovascular disease. Hs-CRP has been associated with the increased prevalence of hypertension and obesity. Cortisol per se has also been linked with the development of both hypertension and the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal cortex (HPA) response. Nevertheless, the exact mechanism remains rather uncertain due to conflicting outcomes of research within different ethnic groups. Several recent investigations have, however, linked hypocortisolism with both urbanisation and a subsequent increased likelihood of hypertension within African women as they have presented increased vascular blood pressure responses. Conversely, Caucasian women have displayed an increased central cardiac reactivity. The lack of data regarding the relationship between the above-mentioned parameters within both African and Caucasian women serves as the motivation for conducting this study. Objective: To investigate hs-CRP, cortisol and hypertension as contributors to the increased likelihood of cardiovascular dysfunction in both African and Caucasian women within South Africa. hs-CRP use this through whole document please Methodology: The manuscript presented in Chapter 2 has been compiled using data obtained from the POWIRS (Profiles of Obese Women with Insulin Resistance Syndrome) study. Apparently healthy African (N=102) and Caucasian (N=115) women, matched for age and body mass index, were recruited from the North-West Province of South Africa for participation within this study. Subjects were divided into normotensive (NT) and hypertensive (HT) groups according to the mean resting cardiovascular values that were taken using a Finometer device. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and cortisol blood serum values were determined by immunochemistry and ELISA analyses. Significant differences within each ethnic group and between each of the groups (NT and HT) were determined by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), for anthropometric, cardiovascular, hs-CRP and cortisol variables, while adjusting for cardiovascular covariates (age, smoking and alcohol consumption). Partial correlations analyses were used to examine the relationship between hs-CRP, cortisol, anthropometric and cardiovascular parameters adjusting for cardiovascular covariates. Logistic regression analyses was used within each ethnic group to determine the relationship between anthropometric, cardiovascular, hs-CRP and cortisol as independent variables and hypertension as dependent variable. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the North-West University and all subjects gave informed consent in writing. For a more detailed description of the subjects, study design and analytical procedures please refer to the Materials and Methods section within Chapter 2 of this dissertation. Results and Conclusion: Both ethnic groups presented higher hs-CRP and lower cortisol levels compared to normal values. Lower waist circumference (WC) and cortisol as well as higher blood pressure (BP) and vascular values were evident in Africans compared to Caucasians. Both HT ethnic groups were older and more visceral obese compared to their NT counterparts. HT Caucasians indicated higher central adrenergic responses whilst HT Africans showed vascular adrenergicresponses. Only NT Africans had lower cortisol values than NT Caucasians but the Africans (NT and HT) responded with higher diastolic blood pressure responses compared to their Caucasian counterparts. Moreover, hs-CRP within African women significantly correlated with all BP and obesity variables whilst hs-CRP only associated with stroke volume (SV) and compliance (Cw) within HT Caucasian women. Cortisol in both ethnic groups was strongly associated with vascular BP responses. Only BP contributed to the higher prevalence of HT in both ethnic groups. In conclusion, these results suggest the possible diverse roles of HPA axis dysregulation associated with higher inflammatory responses. This happens in conjunction with cardiac and vascular responses within more obese Caucasian and especially African women, respectively. / MSc (Physiology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009

The objectives of this thesis are: a) To examine racial/ethnic differences in coronary artery calcification (CAC) and CAD, between symptomatic South Asians and Caucasians, matched for age, gender and conventional cardiovascular risk factors, b) To assess, using a meta-analysis model, the natural history of and stability of measurements of coronary artery calcium scoring (CACs) based on data collected from two large published trials: St Francis and EBEAT, c) To investigate the prevalence of coronary artery calcification in individuals with CT evidence for AVC, mitral valve calcification (MAC) or of both of them (AVC+MAC), d) To assess any potential association between premature CAD (<55 years in first-degree male relatives and <65 years in first-degree female relatives) and CAC in a large cohort of asymptomatic individuals. We found that coronary artery calcification is more extensive and diffuse in symptomatic patients of South Asian ethnic origin as compared to Caucasians, despite similar conventional risk factors for CAD. This is more evident in those >50 years of age, suggesting potential genetic or other risk factors yet to be determined. The natural history of coronary artery calcification was overtime progression in the majority of subjects, irrespective of gender. The higher variability in RCA measurements could be related to the low baseline CACs or exaggerated movement of the right side atrioventricular ring, whereas those for LCA brances are influenced by the branch allocation of the CACs. Valve calcification is not isolated but involve also and the coronary arteries. The presence of calcification in the aortic valve or combined aortic and mitral valves predicted coronary artery calcification. Additionally patients in whom both valves have become calcified tend to have severe coronary artery calcification. And finally, there is no relationship between the prevalence and extent of coronary artery calcification and the presence of family history of coronary heart disease in asymptomatic individuals with none of the conventional risk factors for atherosclerosis.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to examine any differences that may exist among demographic variables such as gender, age, and race in regard to internalization of society and media messages leading to body dissatisfaction that may lead to disordered eating behaviors such as preoccupation with weight, dieting, and eating restraint. A total of 324 participants completed the demographic questionnaire, the Multidimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire, the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire for women, the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-Revised-Male-Version for men, and Rotter’s Internal-External (I-E) Locus of Control Scale. The results of this study found, as predicted, that Caucasians reported higher internalization, higher body dissatisfaction, and higher preoccupation with weight, dieting, and eating restraint than African Americans. This study showed no differences regarding men’s and women’s internalization or body dissatisfaction but did reveal that women reported higher preoccupation with weight, dieting, and eating restraint than men. Regarding age, this study found that age did not predict internalization, body dissatisfaction, or preoccupation with weight, dieting, and eating restraint.