Study shows link between African –American Ethnicity, Alcoholism and Immune Disorder
According to a medical site, long term alcohol dependence is known to compromise the immune system.Many alcoholics have more health problems than most people in general,but African – American alcoholics seem to be at greater risk for number of infectious diseases.A study carried out and published in April 2000 that issued Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research has proved an association between African –American ethnicity, long term dependence,and immune-disease risk.
A professor of Psychiatry at San Diego Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of California,by the name ,Michael Irwin,who is lead author of the study said: “ We know from epidemiological data that African – American alcoholics are at greater risk for certain infectious diseases such as tuberculosis , hepatitis C and HIV.”He added that African-American alcoholics also had increased mortality rates.
According to this study done among veterans with alcoholic liver disease,Afro-Americans were 2.4 times more likely to have hepatitis C.
This study examined the effects of chronic alcoholism on three aspect of immune system: 1- To measure the activity level of “Natural killer cells”which are the cells that kill the infected cells . 2-To test the response level of killer cells by artificial stimulation.
3-To look at the production of two types of hormone-like proteins called cytokine that regulate the intensity and duration of immune responses.
According to study IL-6 ,that is an inflammatory cytokine that turns on the immune system , in African-American alcoholists are lower than others,so it was the result of declining of their natural killer cells; but in opposite their IL-10 ,that is an inhibitory cytokine which turns off the immune system, were higher and this is the reason of risk.
“ There are increasing suggestions that many biological functions differ among ethnic groups , by gender,by age, and so on.Depending on your demographical background, your baseline biological constitutions could respond to something that’s toxic to the immune system—like alcohol – in different ways.”said Dr. Schleifer,chair of the Department of Psychiatry at University of New Jersey.He adds “…Ultimatly,what we want to be able to do is not simply make general conclusion , but be able to identify particular individuals at greatest risk so that we can intervene.”
What has made me mindfull right now is that if poor African –Americans knew about the fates would expect them in this world ( Slavery,Discrimination,Humiliation and now this …)they would petition to God not to bear them to this damn world !! what do you think ?!

A report about cholesterol control among American ethnic groups

According to researchers about controlling "bad" LDL cholesterol among ethnic groups , non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics who qualify for cholesterol-lowering drug treatment are controlled less than others. This is reported by American Heart Association's scientific sessions.
The researchers examined the cholesterol levels of 6,704 of the 6,814 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) funded by National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. This study seeks to discover if any differences exist between ethnic groups in the development of heart disease.
According to the results these striking differeneces were found :
1- Hispanics 36 percent less than other non-Hispanics were controlled cholesterol.
2- Chinese Americans and non-Hispanic Whites were not seen so different in this control.
3- Compared with non-Hispanic Whites , Chinese Americans were 21 percent less qualified for Drug Therapy.
4- 22 percent of all participatshad cholesterol level s for which doctors recommend medication.
5- Men were 28 percent more than women qualified for drug therapy,but 22 percent received treatment.
6- Among those who met the recommendation for drug therapy , men were 30 percent less than women to have their cholesterol under control.
Among all ethnic groups studied ,only one in five Americans who qualify to take drugs to lower their high cholesterol levels have their LDL cholesterol under control.
Mesa researchers enrolled study participants in 2001 and 2002 in six metropolitan areas such as : Baltimor , Chicago,los Angeles, Minneapolis-st.paul, New York city and Winston-Salem,N.C. The was done among diverse ethnic groups.
David C. Goff, M..D., Ph.D. , the professor of public heaith science and internal medicin in Winston-Salem N.C. says " This study is the first large-scale, comparative evaluation of cholesterol treatment and control in four major U.S. ethnic groups,"
He at first explains about standard rate of cholesterol in blood and the age of participants (45 to 84) who had no symptoms of cardiovascular disease. By complete health survey,physical exam and laboratory tests,he and his colleagues found some participants needed treatment guidelines that were commonly known as ATPIII ( The Adult Treatment Panel of the National Heart , Lung, and Blood).
ATPIII recommends treatment based on a person's blood level of LDL cholesterol, for some less than 100 milligrams per deciliter,for others 130 or for still others 160 mg/dl .
Mr. Goff emphasizes on people 's important role in controlling their blood cholesterol to prevent risks,but new findings by NHANES IV among blacks ,Whites,and Mexican Americans show lower rates of control among blacks and Mexican American than Whites.

Seeking a Share of Power in Charles County
Washington post

As number of blacks increase in some counties,they want to participate more in their counties’ affairs.For example, in Charles county population has grown 25 percent from 2000 to 2003. Now there ,the African American have formed 30 percent of the county’s population , according to census.
In comparison to past, the blacks in this county are not bonded to a certain neighborhood. Edith Patterson who has come here 31 years ago satisfies this fact. However , in political issue, this county has never had a black county commissioner or state legislator, so the county’s black leaders intend to clear the barriers.According to demographers and census , the face of Charles county has started to change.Many new families who have come here are professional. More than half of black households have incomes above $50000. Seventy percent of them are married couples with children. The demographers say that blacks came here to avoid poverty. Most of them want bigger houses, better neighborhood,good schools like any middle class people.Also the African American seek for higher political position not only in county and state but also in government.For example,a democrat delegate, Van T. Mitchell resigned to become deputy secretary of the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. A controversy on replacing him happened among commissioners.The blacks accused the white member of county’s commission to bias a white for election but Patterson, herself as candidate for the position, called this claim absurd, because in some communities like school board and party control committee have some black members.
Yet,the Ku Klux Klan rally among themselves to plan agaist blacks to make barriers for them not to get more power.
It remindes old black figures the time when they were being blocked from some public places or picking up by school bus and …
One of them says: “ Things haven’t changed that much here.I see them ( The KKK members ) kind of going backwards.”

start with name of allah .The course american ethnicity deals with analyzing the life of ethnic groups in united stated of America .These groups including Mexican ,Asian,african american and indians.I hope to be successful in this term with this course.