Middle Eastern Origin Research Articles

Prominent nose, its modalities and their treatment

Size of the nose varies in the different parts of the world, and perception of what is the aesthetically acceptable nose shows large differences depending on the ethnic background, type of the society, gender and age. Nose which is generally larger than the average nose in a given society, particularly regarding the height of its nasal bridge, could be defined as a prominent nose. Photographs of the 414 consecutive patients who underwent rhinoplasty by the author during the years 2014 and 2015 were reviewed. Attention was directed to the following outer features: overall length, height and width of the nose, nasofrontal angle, nasolabial angle, nose-lip and nose-chin relations, shape and position of the chin and the evaluation of the respiratory function. Among determinants was formula of Goode, which delineates the approximate relationship between tip projection and nasal length. A total of 144 patients, 112 females and 31 males, who fulfilled criteria of prominent nose were selected for the further analysis. A total of 70% of the patients were of Middle-Eastern origin. The following four types of prominent nose were recognised: (1) short prominent nose, or tension nose was present in 38 patients. It has overprojecting dorsum, which usually forms a hump. Nasolabial angle is obtuse, and nasal spina is frequently overgrown. The rate of functional problems is quite high due to the overdevelopment and subsequent deviation of the septal cartilage. (2) Long prominent nose, present in 96 patients, usually has an arched dorsum, sharp NL angle and drooping tip. (3) Long nose depending on the height of the dorsum in the lateral projection can be the low long nose and it was seen in four patients, or when the nose is both long and the tip is overprojecting, it is called Pinocchio nose and it was present in eight patients. (4) Rhinomegaly is the term describing nose which is very large in all dimensions, the height, length and width and was also seen in eight patients. Prominent nose has several modalities and each of them requires different techniques applied during the surgical intervention. Both aesthetic and functional topics are frequently present, and multiple nasal structures, both external and internal, are commonly involved. In the aesthetically pleasing Caucasian nose, Goode’s ratio should equal 0.55 to 0.60. If there is before operation unrecognised deviation from this norm, which is also persistent after the rhinoplasty, the final result will be substandard. Level of Evidence IV, risk / prognostic study.

The Effect of Family History of Diabetes and Middle Eastern Background on Abdominal Obesity is Modified by Gender: A Population based Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Abdominal obesity is on the increase worldwide and ethnic minority groups are at high risk. However, studies of the underlying causes are scarce. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of abdominal obesity and to identify metabolic, lifestyle and socio-demographic risk factors associated with abdominal obesity in male and female residents of Malmo, a city in southern Sweden, comparing those born in Iraq with those born in Sweden. Method: We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study from 2010 to 2012. Both male and female residents of Malmo, aged 30-75 years, born in Iraq (n=1387) or Sweden (n=749), underwent a physical examination. Fasting blood samples were drawn and socio-demography and lifestyle were characterized using questionnaires. Associations with abdominal obesity were assessed by logistic regression analysis. Results: Abdominal obesity (waist circumference ≥80 cm in women and ≥94 cm in men) was highly prevalent and was most common in Iraqi-born women (Iraqi-born women 89.2% vs. Swedish women 73.1%, p<0.001, Iraqi-born men 70.2% vs. Swedish men 63.6%, p<0.003). Furthermore, family history of diabetes was more prevalent in participants born in Iraq than those born in Sweden (53.6% vs.28.5%, p<0.001). Based on the total study population, female gender, Middle Eastern background, family history of diabetes and depression conveyed higher odds of abdominal obesity. Family history of diabetes and Middle Eastern origin conveyed higher odds of abdominal obesity in females than in males (Pinteraction: Female gender*Family history=0.023; Pinteraction: Female gender*Middle Eastern origin =0.011). Conclusion: Abdominal obesity is highly prevalent irrespective of Middle Eastern or Caucasian background but most prevalent in Iraqi-born women. Our findings suggest that factors related to heritage such as genetics and traditional lifestyles, influence excess risk in Middle Eastern females in particular, which should be taken into consideration when planning preventive actions. Keywords: Abdominal obesity; Migration; Middle East; Family history of diabetes; Gender Abbreviations: BMI: Body Mass Index; CVD: Cardiovascular Disease; FPG: Fasting Plasma Glucose; HAD scale: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; IDF: International Diabetes Federation; OGTT: Oral Glucose Tolerance Test; PA: Physical Activity; The MEDIM study: The Impact of Migration and Ethnicity on Diabetes in Malmo; T2D: Type 2 Diabetes; WHO: World Health Organization (Less)

The Range and Impact of Postmigration Stressors During Treatment of Trauma-Affected Refugees.

Trauma-affected refugees commonly experience postmigration stressors, which can compound conflict-related emotional distress. Our study aimed to assess clinician-rated frequency and types of postmigration stressors deemed to be interfering with the treatment of refugees attending a service for trauma-related mental distress. A total of 116 patients completed 6 months of multidisciplinary treatment. Clinician-rated postmigration stressors were registered at each session. Outcome measures were Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and Global Assessment of Functioning, function (GAF-F) and symptom. Postmigration stressors were deemed to impact on 39.1% of treatment sessions with medical personnel. Issues related to work, finances, and family were the most frequently identified stressors. Postmigration stressors interfering with treatment were more common among male refugees, those living alone, those from Middle Eastern origin, and persons with low baseline GAF-F. Explicitly identifying and, where possible, dealing with postmigration stressors may assist in averting their interference with the treatment of distress in refugees.

Neonatal hemolytic anemia does not always indicate thalassemia: a case report

BackgroundCongenital erythropoietic porphyria is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that affects heme-porphyrin synthesis. This disorder is due to the genetic defect of uroporphyrinogen III cosynthase. This defect results in the accumulation of high amounts of uroporphyrin I in all tissues, leading to clinical manifestations ranging from mild to severe chronic damage of the skin, cartilage and bone. Hypertrichosis, erythrodontia and reddish-colored urine are often present, as well as hemolytic anemia accompanied by hepatosplenomegaly.Case presentationHere, we present a case of a 5-year-old male child of Middle Eastern origin who had been diagnosed as having alpha thalassemia and was undergoing chronic blood transfusions. He later presented with hypopigmented skin lesions and atrophy post-photosensitivity, persistent red-colored urine and hepatosplenomegaly. Laboratory investigations showed a high level of porphyrin metabolites in his plasma and erythrocytes. As a result, he was diagnosed as having Congenital erythropoietic porphyria.ConclusionHere, we diagnose a case of congenital erythropoietic porphyria which was initially missed, although the clinical features were clear (red-colored urine, hepatosplenomegaly and hemolytic anemia were present since birth, and skin manifestations appeared at the age of 22 months after being exposed to sunlight). After a DNA test was performed, the patient was initially diagnosed as having alpha thalassemia. We identified two causes of hemolytic anemia (congenital erythropoietic porphyria and alpha thalassemia) in this patient. The diagnosis of congenital erythropoietic porphyria was missed up until the child turned 5 years old. To our knowledge, this is the first case of hemolytic anemia to be reported with a diagnosis of both congenital erythropoietic porphyria and alpha thalassemia.

Punishment on the Frontlines of Public Service Delivery

In the wake of neoliberal public policy reforms, public welfare programs have become more directive in setting behavioral expectations for clients and more punitive in responding to client noncompliance. Many public welfare programs give public employees discretionary authority to dispense sanctions when clients do not follow or comply with the policies and procedures required to receive the welfare benefits. At the same time, research shows that public employees’ use of discretion in decision-making that affects clients can occasionally be marked by nontrivial racial biases and disparities. Combining these insights and drawing on the Racial Classification Model (RCM) for a theoretical model, this article examines how public employees’ decisions to sanction clients are shaped by client ethnicity in the Scandinavian welfare state of Denmark. With Danish employment agencies as our empirical setting, we present findings from two complimentary studies that expand our understanding of the scope conditions of the RCM. In Study 1, we present survey experimental evidence that municipal employment caseworkers are more likely to recommend sanctions for clients of ethnic minority (Middle-Eastern origin) than for clients of the ethnic majority (Danish origin). In Study 2, we triangulate the findings from Study 1 with analyses of agency-level administrative data from the national employment program. Demonstrating how client ethnicity shapes caseworkers’ decisions to sanction in a non-U.S. context adds important knowledge about the generalizability of both the RCM and extant empirical research on racial disparity in public employee decision-making to different subjects and settings. Moreover, we use the survey experiment to investigate how three caseworker characteristics–gender, ethnicity, and work experience–condition the relationship between client ethnicity and caseworkers’ decision to sanction clients. While previous research has extended the RCM with insights on the moderating effects of client characteristics, we thus contribute with new knowledge about the moderating effects of caseworker characteristics. We find no moderation effects for caseworker gender or ethnicity, but work experience appears to diminish the influence of client ethnicity on the caseworkers’ sanctioning decision. Overall, our studies offer support that ethnic minority clients (clients of Middle-Eastern origin) are more likely to be punished for infraction of policy than ethnic majority clients (clients of Danish origin)–and that caseworker work experience mitigates part of this bias. We discuss the implications of these findings for future public administration research and policy.

Exploring Factors Influencing Childhood Obesity Prevention Among Migrant Communities in Victoria, Australia: A Qualitative Study.

Despite the availability of numerous obesity prevention initiatives in developed countries including Australia, rising childhood obesity levels have been found among migrant communities which contribute to widening obesity-related disparities in these countries. We sought to understand the factors influencing the participation of migrant communities in childhood obesity prevention initiatives. We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews among 48 migrant parents from African, Middle Eastern, Indian and Vietnamese origins living in disadvantaged areas of Victoria, Australia to explore their views on childhood obesity and its prevention. Thematic analysis showed low obesity literacy among migrant communities, cultural influences negatively impacting their healthy lifestyle behaviours and cultural, family-level and community-level barriers impacting their participation in childhood obesity prevention initiatives. There is an urgent need to improve obesity literacy among migrant communities using bicultural workers in order to improve their responsiveness to childhood obesity prevention initiatives. Health interventionists are urged to incorporate culturally-mediated influences in the design of obesity prevention programs to achieve energy balance and maintain healthy weight among migrants. Such culturally appropriate approaches have the potential of reducing the widening ethnic-related obesity disparities in Australia.

Discovering the Unexpected with the Utilization of NGS in Diagnostics of Non-syndromic Hearing Loss Disorders: The Family Case of ILDR1-Dependent Hearing Loss Disorder

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a heterogeneous family of hearing disabilities with congenital (including genetic) as well as acquired etiology. Congenital SNHL of genetic etiology is further sub-divided into autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive and X-linked SNHL. More than 60 genes are involved in the etiology of autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) commonly manifesting as heterogeneous pre-lingual profound to severe non-progressive clinical phenotype. ILDR1-dependent ARNSHL (DFNB42, OMIM: # 609646) is a very rare sub-type of hearing disability, with unknown prevalence, caused by function-damaging genetic variants in ILDR1 gene reported in families of Middle-Eastern origin. ILDR1 (Immunoglobulin-Like Domain-containing Receptor 1) is involved in the development of semicircular canal, tricellular tight junction and auditory hair cells. An apparently non-consanguineous family of European ancestry with two affected siblings with profound progressive hearing loss characterized in their infancy and successfully treated with cochlear implants (CI) is presented. Genetic analysis of common ARNSHL genetic causes in the population of origin was negative, thus the next-generation sequencing (NGS) and family segregation analysis to identify underlying causative genetic variant was performed. Unexpectedly and atypical for the population of origin a homozygous non-sense variant ILDR1 c.942C > A (p.Cys314Ter) inherited from both heterozygous parents was identified in both patients. Contrary to the commonly reported phenotype, indices of a progressive hearing loss and potential compensatory mechanism of vestibular function were revealed with the analysis of clinical data. The utilization of NGS was demonstrated as an invaluable tool for the detection of atypical rare variants in diagnostics of unidentified hearing loss disorders.

Mortality by country of birth in the Nordic countries \u2013 a systematic review of the literature

BackgroundImmigration to the Nordic countries has increased in the last decades and foreign-born inhabitants now constitute a considerable part of the region’s population. Several studies suggest poorer self-reported health among foreign-born compared to natives, while results on mortality and life expectancy are inconclusive. To date, few studies have summarized knowledge on mortality differentials by country of birth. This article aims to systematically review previous results on all-cause and cause-specific mortality by country of birth in the Nordic countries.MethodsThe methodology was conducted and documented systematically and transparently using a narrative approach. We identified 43 relevant studies out of 6059 potentially relevant studies in August 2016, 35 of which used Swedish data, 8 Danish and 1 Norwegian.ResultsOur findings from fully-adjusted models on Swedish data support claims of excess mortality risks in specific categories of foreign-born. Most notably, immigrants from other Nordic countries, especially Finland, experience increased risk of mortality from all causes, and specifically by suicide, breast and gynaecological cancers, and circulatory diseases. Increased risks in people from Central and Eastern Europe can also be found. On the contrary, decreased risks for people with Southern European and Middle Eastern origins are found for all-cause, suicide, and breast and gynaecological cancer mortality. The few Danish studies are more difficult to compare, with conflicting results arising in the analysis. Finally, results from the one Norwegian study suggest significantly decreased mortality risks among foreign-born, to be explored in further research.ConclusionsWith new studies being published on mortality differentials between native and foreign-born populations in the Nordic countries, specific risk patterns have begun to arise. Regardless, data from most Nordic countries remains limited, as does the information on specific causes of death. The literature should be expanded in upcoming years to capture associations between country of birth and mortality more clearly.

Higher body mass index in 16-19 year-old Jewish Adolescents of North African, Middle Eastern and European Origins is a Predictor of Acute Myeloid Leukemia: a cohort of 2.3million Israelis.

Studies evaluating adolescent risk factors for developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are virtually nonexistent. We assessed adolescent predictors of AML in adults, with a main focus on adolescent BMI. The study included 2,310,922 16-19-year-old Jewish Israeli adolescents (mean age 17.3 ± 0.4, 59.5% male), called up for an obligatory health examination. Sociodemographic and health data, including measured weight and height, were gathered. Body mass index (BMI) was examined both as a continuous variable and grouped according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification and US-CDC percentiles. Bone-marrow-biopsy-verified AML cases diagnosed up to 31 December 2012 were identified by linkage to the Israel national cancer registry. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional-hazards models were used to model time to diagnosis. During 47million person years of follow-up, 568 AML cases were identified (crude incidence rate 1.21/100,000 person years). There was a multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.041 (95% CI 1.015-1.068, p = 0.002) per unit BMI. The association was evident in those of Middle Eastern, North African, and European origin. A graded association was evident across the overweight and obese WHO grouping. With the US-CDC grouping, excess risk was evident in overweight but not in obese adolescents, although a test for trend in percentiles was significant (p = 0.004). Borderline associations were noted for origin (p = 0.065) (higher in the predominantly Ashkenazi European origin), sex (higher in women: HR = 1.24 (95% CI 0.99-1.55), and stature (HR = 1.013, 95% CI 1.000-1.026, per cm). Higher BMI in adolescence was associated with increased AML incidence in adulthood in this multiethnic population.

Did Ottoman Sultans Ban Print?

This paper argues that the study of Ottoman printing developed from the European experience of print, and that this history continues to impact contemporary scholarship on the topic unduly. To illustrate this point, the paper provides a factual overview for incidents of printing among Ottomans and compares them to their historiographical portrayal. It then goes on to chart the life-cycle of the rumor that two Ottoman sultans banned print as it originated in early modern Europe, was adopted by nineteenth century Ottomans, and stabilized through twentieth century historians. The primary sources are texts of early modern European and Ottoman origin, and contemporary western and Middle Eastern origin.

The Prevalence of Hjortsjo Crook Sign of Right Posterior Sectional Bile Duct and Bile Duct Anatomy in ERCP.

Aim The frequency of the Right Posterior Sectional Bile Duct (RPSBD) hump sign in cholangiogram when it crosses over the right portal vein known as Hjortsjo Crook Sign and the bile duct anatomy are studied. Knowledge of the implication of positive sign can facilitate safe resection for both bile duct and portal vein. Methods Prospectively, we included 237 patients with indicated ERCP during a period from March 2010 to January 2015. Results The mean age (±SD) and male to female ratio were 38.8 (±19.20) and 1 : 1.28, respectively. All patients are Arab from Middle Eastern origin, had biliary stone disease, and underwent diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP. Positive Hjortsjo Crook Sign was found in 17.7% (42) of patients. The sign was found to be equally more frequent in Nakamura's RPSBD anatomical variant types I, II, and IV in 8.4% (20), 6.8% (16), and 2.1% (5), respectively, while rare anatomical variant type III showed no positive sign. Conclusion Hjortsjo Crook Sign frequently presents in RPSBD variation types I, II, and IV in our patients.

X-ray fluorescence analysis of Pb, Fe and Zn in kohl

Kohl, a facial salve used in ancient times as a symbol of affluence, now enjoys more widespread traditional followings, for cosmetic, religious and supposed medicinal purposes. Popularly used by women and men of all ages, particularly those of North African, Middle Eastern, Southern Asia, Japanese and Chinese origins, it is also known to be used on neonates and children from such populations. With small-scale producers of kohl possessing a growing awareness of the adverse market impact of products that contain (lead) Pb and other toxicity related elements, some claim their products to be Pb-free, offering an apparent change from the more traditional galena-based (lead sulphide) media. Among the published physiological effects of exposure to Pb is that it replaces Ca in bones and teeth, making them weak and fragile, other impacts including nephrotoxicity, also linked with increased Pb blood levels in studies in Oman, Canada, Saudi Arabia, India and Pakistan. Current study involves XRF analysis of Pb, Fe and Zn concentrations in 135 samples of kohl from nine randomly selected suppliers (15 samples of each brand being represented). In pursuit of this, use was made of an in-house assembled facility comprising compact high-performance components, the arrangement offering sufficient sensitivity for the purposes of present study. In most of the samples investigated in the present study observation has been made of concentrations of Pb at elevated levels, quantification of those levels also demonstrating a need to address self-attenuation by the Pb itself. Significant concentration of Fe have also been found in several of the samples.

Prevalence of EGFR and ALK Mutations in Lung Adenocarcinomas in the Levant Area - a Prospective Analysis

Background:A significant percentage of lung adenocarcinomas have a driver mutation. To date, there has been no assessment of the prevalence of such mutations in a Middle Eastern population. The present multicenter prospective study of formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues from patients diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma was performed to assess the prevalence of EGFR and ALK mutations in the Levant.Methods:Patients of Middle Eastern origin with lung adenocarcinomas at 10 sites in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq were prospectively enrolled. Tumors were tested for EGFR by PCR and for EML4-ALK translocation by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).Results:A total of 210 patients were enrolled, 139 (66.2%) males and 71 females (33.8%), with a mean age of 63.4 years. EGFR testing of 205 (97.6%) demonstrated the wild type in 173 (84.4%) and mutated forms in 32 (15.6%). Some 46.9% of EGFR positive patients were non-smokers and 62.5% were females as opposed to 22.4% and 33.8%, respectively, in the general population. As for the EML4-ALK translocation, testing in 157 (74.8%) cases gave negative results in 154 (98.1%), only 3 being positive (1.9%), 2 being females and 2 non-smokers.Conclusion:Our study established a 15.6% EGFR mutation rate in lung adenocarcinomas with ALK translocation mutations in only 1.9%, as compared to a 15-20% and 5%, respectively, in the Western literature.

Letting the Sun in: Redeveloping a Derelict Office Building in Chicago

Obtaining community development bank support for renovating a derelict city-owned building in Chicago's South Side was just part of the challenge. Despite being seasoned residential real estate investors, a couple must nonetheless overcome many hurdles: Obtaining bank financing, participating in extensive city project review and approval, meeting elaborate labor requirements, and attaining Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, among others. Excerpt UVA-ENT-0156 Rev. Dec. 7, 2012 LETTING THE SUN IN: REDEVELOPING A DERELICT OFFICE BUILDING IN CHICAGO The yellow taxi pulled over to the curb, and Clarence Hall climbed into the back seat, sliding over to allow his wife, Lisa, to enter. The driver, of Middle Eastern origin, glanced in his rear-view mirror expectantly. “Cafe Trinidad, 75th Street, please,” Clarence said. . . .

High Ancient Genetic Diversity of Human Lice, Pediculus humanus, from Israel Reveals New Insights into the Origin of Clade B Lice.

The human head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis, is subdivided into several significantly divergent mitochondrial haplogroups, each with particular geographical distributions. Historically, they are among the oldest human parasites, representing an excellent marker for tracking older events in human evolutionary history. In this study, ancient DNA analysis using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), combined with conventional PCR, was applied to the remains of twenty-four ancient head lice and their eggs from the Roman period which were recovered from Israel. The lice and eggs were found in three combs, one of which was recovered from archaeological excavations in the Hatzeva area of the Judean desert, and two of which found in Moa, in the Arava region, close to the Dead Sea. Results show that the head lice remains dating approximately to 2,000 years old have a cytb haplogroup A, which is worldwide in distribution, and haplogroup B, which has thus far only been found in contemporary lice from America, Europe, Australia and, most recently, Africa. More specifically, this haplogroup B has a B36 haplotype, the most common among B haplogroups, and has been present in America for at least 4,000 years. The present findings confirm that clade B lice existed, at least in the Middle East, prior to contacts between Native Americans and Europeans. These results support a Middle Eastern origin for clade B followed by its introduction into the New World with the early peoples. Lastly, the presence of Acinetobacter baumannii DNA was demonstrated by qPCR and sequencing in four head lice remains belonging to clade A.

Safety and Efficacy of Sofosbuvir Based Regimens for Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 4: A Community Based Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction: limited data exists on efficacy of short course therapy with peg interferon, ribavirin and sofosbuvir for chronic hepatitis C genotype 4 infection. We assessed the efficacy and tolerability of combination regimens involving sofosbuvir in patients infected with chronic hepatitis C genotype -4 in a retrospective cohort study. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 37 patients with chronic hepatitis c genotype 4 treated between Jan 2013 to June 2015. Twenty-nine of the 37 patients were treated with Peg-Interferon 180mcg subcutaneously weekly with daily weight based ribavirin in combination with fixed dose sofosbuvir for 12 weeks. Three patients each received interferon free sofosbuvir + ribavirin and ledipasvir + sofosbuvir (Harvoni) regimens. Two patients were treated with simeprevir and sofosbuvir at standard doses. Results: Majority of the patients (N=33) were from Middle eastern or Egyptian origin. Eighty percent (N=30) were men and 19% (N=7) were women. Among all patients, 37% (N=14) were treatment experienced and 13% (N=5) had cirrhosis at baseline. Nine patients were co infected with human immunodeficiency virus. End of treatment was not recorded in one patient and sustained virologic response was not available for 4 patients. Two patients discontinued the treatment due to adverse reactions. Excluding patients, who discontinued treatment regimen and who don't have documented ETR and 12 week SVR rate, overall end of treatment response and sustained virologic response rate at 12 weeks post treatment were 100% (34/34) and 93.5% respectively (29/31). Hundred percent of the patients treated with interferon, ribavirin and sofosbuvir, attained 12 week sustained virologic response. One of the two patients who relapsed after treatment was treated with sofosbuvir and ribavirin and the other patient received simeprevir and sofosbuvir regimen. Most common adverse reactions were leukopenia (27%), followed by fatigue (21%), anemia (19%) and thrombocytopenia (16%). One patient developed severe skin reaction after 4 weeks of treatment and the other patient decompensated with esophageal variceal bleeding and both discontinued the treatment.Figure 1Figure 2Conclusion: Our results suggest that short course treatment with peg interferon, ribavirin with direct acting antiviral agent sofosbuvir still a suitable option for treating patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 4 with excellent sustained virologic response and acceptable adverse events.

Factor-V-Leiden Mutation in A Neonate Presenting With Arterial Ischemia

Factor V Leiden mutationis a rare cause of familial thrombophilia, more commonly seen in Caucasians. It is associated with thromboembolism in the neonatal population [1]. We report a case of a term female infant who developed an arterial ischaemicright thumb and the dorsum of the right hand several hours after birth and as part of the work up the babywas found to have Factor V Leiden Mutation (Heterozygous). Parents who are of Middle Eastern origin hadno family history of thrombophilia. The baby was born in good condition and the only significant perinatal history was gestational diabetes which is another known risk factor for neonatal thromboembolism. The neonate was successfully managed with subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin and hyperbaric topical oxygen. We think the presence of factor V Leiden associated with gestational diabetes predisposed to this rare presentation.

An Analyst by Any Other Last Name: Country Favorability and Market Reaction to Analyst Forecasts

This paper investigates whether subjective perception such as favorability influences market reactions to analyst earnings forecast revisions. Using the Gallup poll on Americans’ overall opinion about foreign countries, we find that analysts with last names associated with more favorable countries of origin elicit stronger market responses to their forecast revisions. The findings are more pronounced when firms are largely held by individual investors and when analysts have last names whose origins are easier to infer. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, analysts with Middle Eastern origins suffer a significant decline in market responses to their forecast revisions. Further, we find no systematic relation between forecast quality and favorability of analysts’ countries of origin, suggesting that our finding is unlikely to be driven by rational weighting based on forecast quality. We also find no evidence that analysts with more favorable countries of origin have better career outcomes. Taken together, our findings suggest that investors’ subjective feeling about an analyst can influence how they process the information in the analyst forecasts.

From the Editor

This issue of RoMES has been edited in a national atmosphere of anti-Muslim rhetoric, openly expressed by several candidates during the presidential primaries. Now the election campaign has moved to the appointment, by President-Elect, Donald J. Trump, of cabinet members and close advisors, many of whom share his views of the Middle East and its diverse population. And it does not look good for Muslims in America, including Muslims who are U.S. citizens. Along with Hispanics, African Americans, and Jews, Muslims—and indeed the Middle East as such—are regarded as problems that President-Elect Trump seems intent on doing something about. It is a view of Islam and the Middle East shared increasingly in word and deed by a sizeable and vocal portion of the electorate. What are we to make of the possibility of foreign and domestic policy being crafted by the likes of John R. Bolton, who associates Islam with jihadism and is an admirer of the Islamophobic writings of Robert Spencer? Will there be any tolerance in the new Trump administration of debate and the free exchange of ideas on the need for education about and understanding of the Middle East? The importance of this question relates to the growing population of naturalized and second generation citizens of Middle Eastern origins now living in the U.S. The Middle East is here, and contributing to American culture, religious life, economy, and citizenship.

The Orientalisation of North Africa: New hints from the study of autosomal STRs in an Arab population

Background: Recent genomic analyses suggest that the current North African gene pool was mainly influenced by population flow coming from the East that altered the genetic structure of autochthonous Berber populations. Such genetic flow has not been extensively addressed yet using North African populations of Middle-eastern origin as reference.Aim: To discern the Middle-eastern component in the genetic background of Tunisian Arabs and evaluate the extent of gene flow from the Middle East into North African autochthonous Berber populations.Subjects and methods: This study has examined 113 Tunisians of well-known Arabian origin from Kairouan region, using 15 autosomal Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) loci.Results: No deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed and all loci presented high levels of heterozygosity. Principal coordinate and STRUCTURE analyses were consistent in clustering together North African and Middle Eastern populations, likely reflecting the recent gene flow from the East dating back to the Arab conquest period. This demographic migration and the Arabisation process that submerged the original Berber language and customs seems to have be accompanied by substantial gene flow and genetic admixture.Conclusion: This study represents an additional step to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the complex demographic history of North African populations.