title: Comparison of arteriosclerosis, neoplasms and diabetes as the three main killers of man in the industrialized world.
abstract: Arteriosclerosis, neoplasms and diabetes are the three main killers in the industrialized world, complemented by infectious and parasitic diseases in the less developed countries. Neoplasms, the second most frequent killer in the industrialized world, exhibit the highest diversity of pathologic structures involved. Arteriosclerosis, the first killer in the industrialized world, is more complex, dealing with aberrations of the arterial wall. In contrast to neoplasms, cases are restricted to a closed circulatory system as noted in the various phyla. Neoplasms are also known from the kingdom of plants and fungi, whereas arteriosclerosis is restricted to specific animal phyla, at least theoretically. Even more restricted is the distribution of diabetes which is known only in certain vertebrates. All three disease groups have a substantial impact on man's health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore 21201.
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bauer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000662:veterinary; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D012307:Risk Factors; D013045:Species Specificity