Asian Indian Males Research Articles

HLA-B27 association with uveitis in an Asian Indian population.

Uveitis refers to diseases characterized by intraocular inflammation of the uveal tract. Anterior uveitis is a common ocular disease characterized by inflammation of the iris and the ciliary body. To establish the frequency of HLA-B27-positive uveitis in Asian Indian population, study their clinical profile and compare it with other reports in literature. We retrospectively reviewed medical data of 89 patients of uveitis referred for HLA B27 typing with predominantly ocular symptoms during the period from April 2006-October 2010. All patients were tested for complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, infectious diseases serology, HLA-B27 typing, and prepared radiographs of the sacroiliac joints and lumbar spine if required. The HLA-B27 positive rate was 56.2% among patients and 3% for control samples. Most of the patients were in the age group of 41-50 years with a male predominance. HLA-B27 was seen to be associated with acute anterior uveitis in Asian Indian males and the test is important for confirmation of diagnosis, prognostication and also for planning the treatment.

Association of Three Lipoprotein Lipase Polymorphisms with Coronary Artery Disease in Chinese and Asian Indians

We evaluated the impact of three polymorphisms in the lipoprotein lipase gene (LPL) on coronary artery disease (CAD) susceptibility in Chinese and Asian Indian males residing in Singapore. A total of 1201 CAD patients and 841 healthy controls were recruited. The HindIII/H- and 447X alleles are associated with decreased CAD risk in both Chinese (p=0.025, 0.001, respectively) and Indians (p=0.0014, 0.008, respectively). The same effect of PvuII/P- allele was observed only in Indians (p=0.049). The most common haplotype, P+H+S, was significantly increased CAD risk in both ethnic groups (p=0.0096, 0.0011, respectively).

Investigation of hepatic gluconeogenesis pathway in non-diabetic Asian Indians with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using in vivo (31P) phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy

ObjectiveTo study hepatic gluconeogenesis pathway in non-diabetic Asian Indian males having non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using in vivo (31P) phosphorous magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and correlate these data with anthropometry and insulin resistance. Research design and methodsForty non-diabetic patients with NAFLD and 20 healthy controls were divided into (i) obese with NAFLD (group I, n=20), (ii) non-obese with NAFLD (group II, n=20) and (iii) non-obese without NAFLD (group III, n=20). Anthropometric and biochemical profiles, short insulin tolerance test (SITT), liver ultrasound, and 31P MRS (to determine hepatic gluconeogenesis metabolite; phosphomonoesters (PMEs), inorganic phosphate (Pi) and their ratios with respect to ATP) were done. ResultsInsulin resistance (Kitt value) was highest in group I (p<0.05; compared to other two groups), but was also higher in group II as compared to group III (p=ns). The values of PME/Pi, PME/γATP, PME/βATP, PME/tATP ratios were higher (p<0.05) in group I compared to other two groups. Interestingly, non-obese subjects with NAFLD also showed more derangements of hepatic gluconeogenesis metabolites than non-obese subjects without NAFLD. Positive correlation was observed between PME and other ratios in relation to body mass index, waist circumference, body fat percentage and fasting serum insulin levels in all the three groups. ConclusionsDerangements in hepatic gluconeogenesis as assessed non-invasively using 31P MRS, was observed in obese and non-obese, non-diabetic Asian Indians with NAFLD. Further research is warranted whether this investigation in NAFLD subjects could be developed as a non-invasive tool to assess those predisposed to develop hyperglycemia.

A pilot investigation of the effects of stress on neuropsychological performance in Asian-Indians in the United States.

The present study evaluated the effects of stress and the ethnicity of the examiner on neuropsychological performance in a sample of Asian-Indian males in the United States. Participants were 60 Asian-Indian college students randomly assigned to one of four conditions in a 2 x 2 factorial design. The first factor was level of stress induction and the second was ethnicity of examiners. Results suggested that both stress inducing instructions and examiner ethnicity impacted highly demanding tasks, while moderately difficult tasks were less sensitive to ethnicity of the examiner. Results also indicate that examiners should recognize the potential impact of ethnicity and heightened level of stress when administering and interpreting neuropsychological measures.

South Asians and Cardiovascular Risk

Case presentation: A 36-year-old nonsmoking, normotensive South Asian man presented to the emergency department of a community hospital with retrosternal chest pain of &60 minutes’ duration. His 12-lead ECG demonstrated 10 mm of ST-segment elevation in leads V2 through V6, and he received fibrinolytic therapy within 90 minutes of symptom onset. His pain resolved, but his ST segments only partially normalized; he had a peak creatine kinase of 4564 IU/L, and he showed signs of early heart failure. LDL cholesterol was 135 mg/dL, HDL 32 mg/dL, triglycerides 20 mg/dL, and total cholesterol 206 mg/dL; his body mass index (BMI) was 24 kg/m2. Cardiac catheterization demonstrated severe and diffuse triple-vessel disease, including occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending artery, as well as moderate left ventricular dysfunction. While in the hospital, he was diagnosed with new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus and subsequently underwent uncomplicated coronary bypass surgery. South Asians are individuals whose ethnic roots originate from the Indian subcontinent, a large geographic area that includes India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Collectively, South Asians represent one fifth of the global population. In North America, more than 2 million South Asians reside in the United States and almost 1 million in Canada. It is important to recognize that the term “South Asian” refers to a heterogeneous population, with important differences in diet, culture, and lifestyle among different South Asian populations and religions. Multiple studies of migrant South Asian populations have, however, confirmed a 3- to 5-fold increase in the risk for myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death as compared with other ethnic groups.1–3 In an analysis of age-standardized coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in Canada over a 15-year period, South Asians had the highest CHD mortality compared with individuals of Chinese and European descent.4 In …

Subclinical inflammation and soleus muscle intramyocellular lipids in healthy Asian Indian males

The relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of subclinical inflammation, and intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) content, a novel correlate of insulin resistance, has not previously been investigated. We estimated IMCL content in soleus muscle in 30 healthy Asian Indian males using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS), and correlated it with body mass index (BMI), measures of abdominal obesity, percentage of body fat (%BF), serum lipoproteins, fasting and post-oral glucose load serum insulin levels and other surrogate markers of insulin resistance. Soleus muscle IMCL content was significantly correlated with age (rho=0.64, P<0.001), BMI (rho=0.41, P<0.05), %BF (rho=.53, P<= 0.01), waist circumference (rho=0.45, P<0.05) and waist-to-hip circumference ratio (rho=0.58, P<0.01) but did not correlate significantly with insulin resistance measured by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) or CRP levels. CRP levels did not correlate with the HOMA-IR value. Soleus muscle IMCL content correlated significantly with measures of generalized and abdominal obesity but not with insulin sensitivity or CRP levels in healthy Asian Indian males. Studies are needed in other ethnic groups to corroborate these data.

ω-3 fatty acids and selenium as coronary heart disease risk modifying factors in Asian Indian and Chinese males

Objective Asian Indian men are reported to have a higher incidence of coronary heart disease than men of other ethnic groups worldwide. Among the many hypotheses, one possible risk factor may be related to their dietary habits. This study estimated the plasma concentrations of fatty acids, antioxidant vitamins, and selenium in Indians and Chinese of Singapore. Methods The study population consisted of 145 Indian men and 147 Chinese men ages 26 to 79 y from a cross-sectional survey, the National University of Singapore Heart Study. Results Our findings indicated that Indians had lower plasma concentrations of docosahexanoic acid (3.07% versus 3.54%, P < 0.001), α-linolenic acid (0.48% versus 0.57%, P < 0.001), and total ω-3 fatty acids (4.71% versus 5.27%, P < 0.001) than did the Chinese. Arachidonic acid was higher in Indians (4.83%) than in the Chinese (4.51%, P = 0.007). The ratio of ω-3 acid to ω-6 fatty acid was also lower in Indians (0.15) than in the Chinese (0.16, P = 0.007). There were no significant differences in the concentrations of monounsaturated fatty acids, but saturated fatty acids were higher in Indians (39.17%) than in the Chinese (38.28%, P < 0.001). Analysis of vitamins A, C, and E showed no significant differences between Indians (0.67, 5.72, and 13.04 mg/L, respectively) and Chinese (0.68, 6.48, and 12.71 mg/L, respectively); however, serum concentration of selenium in Indians (117.49 μg/L) was significantly lower than in the Chinese (126.72 μg/L, P < 0.001). Conclusion The results suggest that lower plasma concentrations of ω-3 fatty acids and selenium and higher concentrations of arachidonic acid and saturated fatty acids in Indians may reflect lower intakes of marine foods and, as a consequence, higher susceptibility to coronary heart disease.

Adiponectin, insulin resistance, and C-reactive protein in postpubertal Asian Indian adolescents

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels are closely associated with adiposity and predict coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, relationships of CRP to adiponectin and other markers of insulin resistance have been inadequately researched in children. We measured fasting serum levels of adiponectin, insulin, hs-CRP, and lipoproteins, and recorded the anthropometric profile and percentage of body fat (%BF; bioimpedance method) in 62 (36 normal weight, 26 overweight) healthy, urban, postpubertal Asian Indian males (aged 14 to 18 years). Serum levels of adiponectin were lower ( P = not significant [NS]), whereas those of fasting insulin ( P = .01) and hs-CRP ( P = .02) were higher in overweight subjects. Adiponectin levels inversely correlated with body mass index (BMI; r = −0.26, P < .05), %BF ( r = −0.24, P < .05), fasting insulin ( r = −0.32, P < .05) and insulin resistance measured by the homeostasis model of assessment (HOMA-IR; r = −0.31, P < .05), but not with hs-CRP levels. Fasting insulin and hs-CRP levels correlated significantly with BMI, %BF, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip circumference ratio (W—HR), and triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness. The correlation of adiponectin with insulin sensitivity was independent of abdominal obesity, but became nonsignificant after controlling for BMI and %BF. Further, BMI was an independent predictor of adiponectin levels and the ratio of adiponectin and %BF was an independent predictor of fasting insulin levels. Although adiponectin levels did not correlate with hs-CRP levels, we observed dichotomous relationships of adiponectin and hs-CRP levels with generalized and abdominal obesity, respectively. We conclude that generalized obesity affects the adiponectin—insulin relationship in postpubertal Asian Indian males; however, the relationship of adiponectin with hs-CRP needs further evaluation.

1047-183 Impaired reverse cholesterol transport in Asian Indian males compared with females assessed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

1047-183 Impaired reverse cholesterol transport in Asian Indian males compared with females assessed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

APOE polymorphism and lipid profile in three ethnic groups in the Singapore population

Background: Serum lipid concentrations are modulated by environmental factors such as exercise, alcohol intake, smoking, obesity and dietary intake and genetic factors. Polymorphisms at the Apolipoprotein E ( APOE) locus have consistently shown a significant association with total and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C). However, their impact on HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) may be population dependent. Having three major ethnic groups within a similar social environment allows us to study the role of genetics and their interactions with lifestyle factors on the serum lipid profile and coronary risk in Asians. Methods: This study included 1740 males (1146 Chinese, 327 Malays and 267 Asian Indians) and 1950 females (1329 Chinese, 360 Malays and 261 Asian Indians) with complete data on anthropometric indices, fasting lipids, smoking status, alcohol consumption, exercise frequency and genotype at the APOE locus. Results: Malays and Asian Indians were more obese compared with the Chinese. Smoking was uncommon in all females but Malay males had significantly higher prevalence of smokers. Malays had the highest LDL-C whilst Indians had the lowest HDL-C, The ε3 allele was the most frequent allele in all three ethnic groups. Malays had the highest frequency of ε4 (0.180 and 0.152) compared with Chinese (0.085 and 0.087) and Indians (0.108 and 0.075) in males and females, respectively. The ε2 allele was the least common in Asian Indians. Total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-C was highest in ε4 carriers and lowest in ε2 carriers. The reverse was seen in HDL-C with the highest levels seen in ε2 subjects. The association between ethnic group and HDL-C differed according to APOE genotype and gender. Asian Indians had the lowest HDL-C for each APOE genotype except in Asian Indian males with ε2, where HDL-C concentrations were intermediate between Chinese and Malays. Conclusion: Ethnic differences in lipid profile could be explained in part by the higher prevalence of ε4 in the Malays. Ethnicity may influence the association between APOE genotypes and HDL-C. APOE genotype showed no correlation with HDL-C in Malay males whereas the association in Asian Indians was particularly marked. Further studies of interactions between genes and environmental factors will contribute to the understanding of differences of coronary risk amongst ethnic groups.

Modeling the Probability of Niche Employment: Exploring Workforce Segmentation in Metropolitan Atlanta

This paper examines employment concentrations (commonly called niches) in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. Concentration ratios (created from 1990 5% Public Use Microdata Samples) reveal niches characterized by gender, race, and ethnicity. White workers of both sexes commonly hold niches in white-collar occupations and non-Whites (Blacks, Mexicans, Koreans, Chinese, and Asian Indians) primarily occupy niches as blue-collar, or secondary service workers. Chinese, Korean and Asian Indian males are the only groups of non-Whites to hold jobs in a significant number of white-collar employment niches. Generally, non-White niches pay very little and for women, especially, niche employment is generally not very lucrative. Logistic regression models explore predictors of niche employment and indicate that the social constructs of ethnicity and race have the most substantial impact upon an individual's odds for niche employment. Human capital measures alone do not sufficiently account for niche employment, and segmentation theory best explains the phenomenon.

Risk factors and incident coronary heart disease in Chinese, Malay and Asian Indian males: the Singapore Cardiovascular Cohort Study.

This prospective study in Singapore investigated the relationships of established coronary risk factors with incident coronary heart disease (CHD) for Chinese, Malay, and Asian Indian males. A cohort (consisting of 2879 males without diagnosed CHD) derived from three previous cross-sectional surveys. Individual baseline data were linked to registry databases to obtain the first event of CHD. Hazard ratios (HR) or relative risks for risk factors were calculated using Cox's proportional hazards model with adjustment for age and ethnic group and adjustment for age, ethnic group and all other risk factors (overall adjusted). There were 24,986 person-years of follow-up. The overall adjusted HR with 95% CI are presented here. Asian Indians were at greatest risk of CHD, compared to Chinese (3.0; 2.0-4.8) and Malays (3.4; 1.9-3.3). Individuals with hypertension (2.4; 1.6-2.7) or diabetes (1.7; 1.1-2.7) showed a higher risk of CHD. High low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (1.5; 1.0-2.1), high fasting triglyceride (1.5; 0.9-2.6) and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (1.3; 0.9-2.0) showed a lesser but still increased risk. Alcohol intake was protective with non-drinkers having an increased risk of CHD (1.8; 1.0-3.3). Obesity (body mass index > or =30) showed an increased risk (1.8; 0.6-5.4). An increased risk of CHD was found in cigarette smokers of > or =20 pack years (1.5; 0.9-2.5) but not with lesser amounts. The increased susceptibility of Asian Indian males to CHD has been confirmed in a longitudinal study. All of the examined established risk factors for CHD were found to play important but varying roles in the ethnic groups in Singapore.

Asian Indian Americans in the Bay Area and the Glass Ceiling

Using the 1990 5% PUMS census data, this paper explores the glass ceiling experiences of college educated Asian Indian Americans in the Bay Area. Theoretical assumptions derived from human capital, assimilation, labor market structures, size discrimination, and cost of race perspectives are used to predict glass ceiling experiences. Separate analyses are conducted for males and females. U.S. born white males and females are used as benchmarks in the male and female models respectively. As predicted by the cost of race assumption, educated Asian Indian American males experience a net disadvantage in rising to management levels. The relative success of immigrant white males in management provides additional support for the cost of race assumption. Once Asian Indian males become managers, their economic returns are better than or commensurate with that of comparable white male managers in some sectors but not in others. Immigrant and U.S. born Asian Indian females face the glass ceiling at both levels: they are disadvantaged in becoming managers and earn less than comparable U.S. born white females once they become managers. There is no conclusive evidence to support the size discrimination hypothesis for males and females. The glass ceiling findings are interpreted using qualitative interview data from Asian Indian Americans in the Bay Area.

Family Planning and the Young Minority Male: A Pilot Project

In Los Angeles the first coordinated program the Young Inner-City Males Project sought to reach Black Spanish speaking Asian and American Indian males in relation to family life education family planning and parental responsibilities. The project developed an approach to the promotion of sexual responsibility and the reduction of repetition of unwanted out-of-wedlock pregnancy through goal-directed support and assistance to unwed fathers and potential unwed fathers aged 14-24. The Young Males Pilot Project was implemented in 1974 by Naomi Gray Associates (NGA) funded by an HEW contract. Each ethnic community has a peer outreach counselor who works within the community and with the participating delegated agency. Within 12 months approximately 1000 sexually active young men were reached through face-to-face contact with 40-50% participating in the ongoing program. 118 were surveyed as to knowledge attitude and practice of birth control venereal disease and other sexually related topics. Of those who confined their sexual partners to 1 woman 76% were 12-14 year olds; 26% were aged 15-17 and 30% were 18-20. Education about venereal disease was most relevant to the older teenager who had more than 1 partner. 79% of those aged 15-17 and 40% of those aged 18-20 had little or no knowledge of birth control.