Depression Mediates Association Between Perceived Ethnic Discrimination and Elevated Blood Glucose Levels Among Sub-Saharan African Migrants in Australia.

Depression and perceived ethnic discrimination (PED) are both implicated in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk in some migrant populations. The role of these factors remains understudied in sub-Saharan African migrants, who comprise a significant at-risk group for T2DM in Australia. To assess interactions between PED, depression scores and elevated blood glucose levels among sub-Sahara African immigrants in North-Eastern Australia. Face to face surveys were used to assess PED and depressive tendencies in a purposive sample of 170 adults (aged ≥18 year). Fasting blood glucose levels (FBGL) were measured at the time of interviews. Prevalence of elevated FBGL (≥6.1 mmol/L), PED and severe depression (SD) were: 17.6% (n = 30), 14.7% (n = 25) and 18.8% (n = 32), respectively. Prevalence of elevated FBGL, PED and SD were all higher in males than females. The highest prevalence of elevated BGL, PED and SD each occurred in the 40-50 year age group. Strong positive correlations of both high level PED and SD with elevated FBGL were observed. There was also a strong positive association between PED and SD. Depression score was found to mediate partially the strong association between PED and elevated FBGL (ß-value for PED dropped from ß = 0.452 to ß = 0.246, p < 0.01 and the associated between FBGL and SD remained strong ß = 0.554, p < 0.01). The strong association between elevated FBGL and PED seems to be moderated by SD, indicating that interventions to attenuate depression and PED may be a useful adjunct to diabetes prevention programs in this population. Interventions targeted to specific age groups may also be warranted.

Acculturation and Perceived Ethnic Discrimination Predict Elevated Blood Glucose Level in Sub-Saharan African Immigrants in Australia.

Sub-Saharan African migrants experience significant sociocultural challenges, including those related to acculturation and perceived ethnic discrimination (PED), in addition to increased risk of non-communicable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Although acculturation and PED are each established risk factors for elevated blood glucose level (EGBL) and T2DM, they have not been studied in relation to EBGL risk in a single model. This study aimed to investigate associations between acculturation, PED and EBGL in a sub-Saharan African migrant population in Australia. Face to face survey using a purposive sampling method was used to collect data from 170 adults, aged 18-72 years. A large proportion (41.8%) of the study group was in the integration mode of acculturation, which strongly correlated positively with EBGL/T2DM, although traditional mode correlated inversely with EBGL/T2DM. PED correlated positively with EBG/LT2DM. Immigrants manifesting the integration mode were 4.2 times more likely to have EBGL/T2DM than other acculturation modes. Multiple linear regression showed that the association between integration mode and EBGL/T2DM was mediated by PED. The apparent interaction between PED and acculturation in relation to EBGL/T2DM risk suggests that interventions to lower T2DM risk in this population may benefit from incorporating strategies to address these two important health determinants.

Obesity, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure amongst recently arrived Sudanese refugees in Queensland, Australia.

The study assessed the prevalence of obesity and related conditions among Sudanese adult migrants living in Brisbane, Australia. Data were obtained on 314 Sudanese immigrants aged 18-70 years. Measured body mass index (BMI) and self-reported diabetes and hypertension were obtained. More than half (51%) of participants were overweight or obese, 6.4% reported having type 2 diabetes while 12.4% had hypertension. The full adjusted regression model explained 28.1% of the variance in BMI. Odds of reporting type 2 diabetes increased with age, BMI and were greater among participants rating health as poor/fair than those rating as good/very good/excellent. Odds of high blood pressure increased with age, BMI, and were higher among participants rating health as poor/fair than those as good/very good/excellent. Health promotion programs to prevent weight gain in this subpopulation will significantly reduce inequalities related to type 2 diabetes and improve cardio-vascular outcomes.

Studies on novel D-ring substituted steroidal pyrazolines as potential anticancer agents.

An efficient and facile synthesis of 17-pyrazolinyl derivatives of pregnenolone and their evaluation as potential anticancer agents against various human cancer cell lines are reported. The scheme involves the transformation of the starting pregnenolone acetate into pregnenolone, conversion of pregnenolone to the corresponding benzylidine derivatives and finally the conversion of this derivative to the stable steroidal 17-pyrazoline. Various compounds 4b, 4c, 4e, 4f, 4h and 4j showed significant cytotoxic activity especially against HT-29, HCT-15, 502713 cell lines.