Multiple Ethnicities Research Articles

To what extent should waterpipe tobacco smoking become a public health priority?

Waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) popularity is increasing world-wide, and health effects are emerging in the light of evidence that WTS is perceived by users as less harmful than cigarette smoking. However, there remains a paucity of available evidence from which to draw firm conclusions about its public health significance. This narrative review aims to summarize WTS literature to date to inform tobacco control specialists and health-care professionals about this phenomenon and help them to assess whether or not WTS should become a public health priority. Standard electronic databases as well as conference proceedings and personal libraries were searched in English, French and Arabic with inclusive terminology for the variety of names given to WTS. Waterpipe smoke contains significant levels of toxins, some of which are known to be carcinogenic to humans. Recent epidemiological trends have established an increasing prevalence of WTS in the Middle East and the United States, particularly among adolescents. It is used commonly across multiple ethnicities and both genders with less of a social gradient than cigarette smoking. Attitudes and beliefs have been researched widely and several reasons for believing it is less harmful than cigarette smoking include water filtration and social acceptability. A wide range of diseases have been associated with WTS, but research in this area is relatively underdeveloped and a better evidence base is needed. Worryingly, the waterpipe industry, including waterpipe cafes, operates in an almost completely unregulated market and employs deceptive marketing techniques to attract new users. Waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) appears to be on the increase, especially among younger users, and therefore represents a potential public health concern. While legislators should consider enforcing and extending existing tobacco laws to a growing WTS industry, further research is required to fill gaps in the literature and provide evidence-based interventions for tobacco control specialists and health-care professionals.

Webs of Influence and Highways of Re-Colonization: The Case of Professional Bodies

Webs of Influence and Highways of Re-Colonization: The Case of Professional Bodies

Comprehensive assessment of tibial plateau morphology in total knee arthroplasty: Influence of shape and size on anthropometric variability

Better understanding of proximal tibia morphology can lead to improvements in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) through development of tibial tray families that adequately reflect the diversity of global anatomy using an appropriate number of components. We quantified variations in proximal tibial morphology at the TKA level and characterized differences attributable to gender and ethnicity. Virtual TKA was performed on digital models of 347 tibiae, spanning both genders and multiple ethnicities. The geometry of the resection profile was quantified using both a comprehensive set of morphological measurements (reflecting size and shape) and principal component analysis (PCA). The dominant statistical modes of variation were associated primarily with size (plateau dimensions, radii, and area), with lesser contributions associated with asymmetry and aspect ratios. Medial and lateral AP dimensions were strongly correlated with plateau ML width, with minimal differences in correlations due to gender or ethnicity. In conclusion, clinically relevant differences in proximal tibia morphology at the level of TKA resections across genders and multiple ethnicities can be attributed largely to variations in overall proximal tibial size, not gender- or ethnic-specific shape variations.

Between Ideology and Spectatorship: The "Ethnic Harmony" of the Manchuria Motion Picture Corporation, 1937-1945

Following the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War in 1937, the Manchuria Motion Picture Corporation (Man'ei) was established in Manchukuo. Aiming to be the "Hollywood of the Orient," Man'ei operated as the only legitimate film corporation in Manchukuo, and its activities included all aspects of local film production, distribution, and exhibition. Studies of Man'ei have tended to describe its activities as part of the colonial project unilaterally implemented by Japanese officials and ideologues. However, the negotiations and contestations involved in the Man'ei project render any simple interpretations impossible, especially within the broader historical and political context of the Japanese empire. This article explores how the theme of "ethnic harmony" ( minzoku kyōwa ) became the core issue for Man'ei and how its attempted filmic expressions ended up uncovering the complexity and predicament involved in the problem of spectatorship. Li Xianglan (Ri Kōran), Manei's best-received transcolonial movie star at the time, represented the multiple ethnicities of Manchukuo; however, it is less well known that her "mainland romance films" were considered inappropriate for audiences in Manchukuo (Mankei). This article will complicate earlier assumptions and show that the theme of "ethnic harmony" came to be marginalized, while entertainment films presumably acceptable to the Mankei audience came to centrally preoccupy the feature films of Man'ei.

Automating the Study of Population Variation of Electrocardiographic Features

Automating the Study of Population Variation of Electrocardiographic Features

Topographies of Anticolonialism: The Ecopoetical Sublime in the Caucasus from Tolstoy to Mamakaev

Topographies of Anticolonialism: The Ecopoetical Sublime in the Caucasus from Tolstoy to Mamakaev

Obesity and asthma: location, location, location

There is a worldwide epidemic of obesity. In the USA, the prevalence of obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg·m−2, has increased among adults aged 20–74 yrs from ∼15% in the late 1970s to ∼35% in 2010. Another third of the population is overweight (BMI ≥25 to <30 kg·m−2). The obesity epidemic has impacted both developed and developing nations throughout the world. The World Health Organization estimates that worldwide, ∼2 billion people are either obese or overweight. Obesity is a well-established risk factor for type 2 diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Obesity is also an important risk factor for asthma. In the late 1980s, two large surveys were published that examined the impact of obesity on the prevalence of chronic diseases [1, 2]. Both reported an increased prevalence of asthma in the obese and/or overweight. These studies received relatively little attention until ∼10 yrs later, when reports began to emerge describing associations between obesity and asthma in adults and children of multiple ethnicities throughout the world [3]. These association studies were limited by their inability to address the direction of causality and were initially interpreted as indicating a more sedentary lifestyle in asthmatics (due to respiratory symptoms during exercise) resulting in more obesity. It was not until publication of the first prospective analysis of the relationship between obesity and asthma in 1999 [4] that obesity really began to be appreciated as a major risk factor for asthma. The authors followed almost 86,000 initially nonasthmatic females over a 4-yr period. They observed that after adjustment for several factors, including exercise, initial BMI correlated strongly with the risk of new-onset asthma. Subsequently, several other prospective studies confirmed these …

Prevalence ofBRCA1andBRCA2Germline Mutations in Breast Cancer Women of Multiple Ethnic Region in Northwest China

PurposeThe aim of this study is to further understand the status of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation among Chinese high-risk breast cancer patients in multiple-ethnic regions of China.MethodsA total of 79 blood samples of high-risk breast cancer patients from Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region were analyzed by PCR-DHPLC sequencing analysis.ResultsAnalysis with full length of the two genes identified a total of 6 deleterious mutations (2073delA, 2394C-T [Q759X] and IVS16+1G>A in BRCA1; 1627A-T [K467X], 6873delCTCC and 9481delA in BRCA2) in this cohort. The prevalence of BRCA1/2 germline mutation was about 7.6% (6/79) in the Xinjiang multiple ethnic region of China. Among them, 3 novel deleterious mutations, 2073delA in BRCA1 (Han ethnic Chinese) and BRCA2 variants 6873delCTCC and 9481delA (both are Kazakh ethnic Chinese), were identified and they had never been reported in breast cancer information core (BIC) database before. 2394C-T (Q759X) and IVS16+1G>A, in BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants 1627A-T were previously reported in other populations but not Chinese. Among 6 of the BRCA-related tumors, three BRCA1- and one BRCA2-associated tumors were in triple negative (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 negative expressed) status and exhibited a high tumor grade. So far none of these 6 deleterious mutations were reported in ethnic Han Chinese.ConclusionBRCA germline mutation in Chinese multiple ethnicity region may exhibit different genotypes compared to ethnic Han Chinese in other regions. These differences may arise from interaction of genetic background and environmental factors.

Antecedents Impact on Brand Loyalty in Cosmetics Industry

This study aimed to examine antecedents’ impact on brand loyalty in a highly competitive of cosmetics industry dealing with a mass majority of younger consumers. The study also addressed the relationship between perceived value and customer satisfaction on the effect of brand loyalty. Women or men purchasing and personally using cosmetic products were participants of this study. Data gathered from a total sample of 200 women or men from multiple ethnicities such as Malayans, Chinese and Indians were used for the statistical analysis. It was collected from main shopping mall centers in Klang Valley. Multiple regression analysis was applied to test relationship between brand loyalty, perceived value and customer satisfaction. Besides that, it tested perceived value, corporate image and service quality and customer satisfaction relationships. The results demonstrated that the perceived value and customer satisfaction had significant influence on brand loyalty; particularly, overall customer satisfaction did influence loyalty intention. As a matter of fact, by maintaining and strengthening its images and values, brand would be positively positioned in the minds of consumers.

Genetic analysis of NFE2L2 promoter variation in Taiwanese Parkinson's disease

Oxidative stress has been reported as one of the pathogeneses of Parkinson's disease (PD). Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of the target genes involved in antioxidant pathway. The promoter polymorphisms of the Nrf2-encoding gene, NFE2L2, have been shown to affect the promoter activity. Inconsistent findings of the associations between NFE2L2 promoter polymorphisms and PD have been reported in a multiple candidate gene study, a whole-genome association study, and a case–control study in multiple ethnicity groups. This study enrolled a total of 1006 individuals composed of 480 PD patients and 526 controls to evaluate if there was an association of the NFE2L2 promoter polymorphisms with PD susceptibility in the Taiwan population. Three promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs35652124, rs6706649, and rs6721961 were examined using polymerase chain reaction and restriction analysis. The associations of each of the SNPs and the haplotypes constructed by the variations with PD susceptibility were examined. In spite of adequate statistic power, we observe no association of the three SNPs and their haplotypes with PD in a Taiwanese population. One of the reasons for the association disparity may include the genomic differences in ethnicities and environmental factors in different geographical regions.

HLA Genotype and Carbamazepine-Induced Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions: A Systematic Review

Carbamazepine (CBZ) therapy is associated with cutaneous adverse reactions in up to 10% of patients. Predisposition to these hypersensitivity reactions has been linked to the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotype. This systematic review determines the strength of these associations and accuracy of proposed genetic screening. We determined that carriage of HLA-B*1502 in Asian patients was associated with a pooled odds ratio (OR) of 113.4 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 51.2-251.0, P < 1 × 10(-5)) for CBZ-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). A total of 461 patients would need to be screened for HLA-B*1502 to prevent one episode of SJS/TEN. HLA-A*3101 is significantly associated with all phenotypes of CBZ hypersensitivity in multiple ethnicities with a pooled OR of 9.5 (95% CI = 6.4-13.9, P < 1 × 10(-5)). Between 47 and 67 patients would need to be tested for HLA-A*3101 to prevent one episode of hypersensitivity. Our findings suggest that HLA testing before carbamazepine therapy would be effective at identifying individuals at risk of hypersensitivity and applicable to multiple populations providing hope for prevention in the future.

The Relationship between Computer and Internet use and Performance on Standardized Tests by Secondary School Students with Visual Impairments

Introduction The study presented here explored the relationship between computer and Internet use and the performance on standardized tests by secondary school students with visual impairments. Methods With data retrieved from the first three waves (2001–05) of the National Longitudinal Transition Study–2, the correlational study focused on secondary school students with a primary disability of visual impairment who were capable of taking standardized tests. The unweighted sample sizes ranged from 210 to 280. The relationships between using a computer for homework and for the Internet and students’ performance on standardized tests on synonyms and antonyms, comprehension of passages, calculation, applied problems, science, and social studies were investigated using multiple regression analyses, with other variables held constant, including gender, severity of vision loss, household income, multiple disability status, and race or ethnicity. Results When gender, the severity of vision loss, household income, multiple disability status, and race or ethnicity were held constant, using a computer for the Internet had a significant positive relationship with students’ performances on the passage comprehension test (p = .034), calculation test (p = .027), and science test (p = .000). However, using a computer for homework had no significant relationship with students’ performances in any of the six tests that were examined. Discussion Students who used a computer for the Internet scored significantly higher than did those who did not on the passage comprehension, calculation, and science tests. But students who used a computer for homework performed at the same level as those who did not on all six tests that were examined. Implications for practitioners Internet use by secondary school students with visual impairments may be beneficial to the students’ performance on passage comprehension, calculation, and science tests and therefore should be encouraged. Special assistance for students from low-income families, whose rate of Internet use was significantly lower than those from high-income families, should be considered.

116-P

Aim Hema-Quebec enrolls around 2000 new potential stem cell donors in its registry every year with the goal of increasing its proportion for ethnic diversity. In 2011, the ethnic and mixed (multiple ethnicity) donors of the Hema-Quebec registry represented less than 8% of the registry, although the ethnicity of the population in urban centers reached more than 16%. An effort is made to increase not only the non Caucasian contribution, but also some of the European groups which can arbor particular alleles and haplotypes. We report here the identification of a gene recombination within Exon 2 of the DRB1 allele in a donor with Slavic origin. Methods The HLA-A, -B, -C and -DRB1 were first analysed by SSO in low resolution and then sequenced by using PCR reactions of exons 2, 3 and 4 for locus C, exons 2 and 3 for A, B and DQB1, exon 2 for DRB1. The new DRB1 allele couldn’t be typed by SSO Luminex and could neither be confirmed by SSP since no reactivity pattern was available for this new allele. Results The HLA-DRB1 SBT analysis of the donor sample demonstrated a modified sequence with a series of substitutions at the beginning of exon 2 of the DRB1 ∗ 03:01. These modifications were identified as being the first part of the DRB1 ∗ 08 exon 2. The donor’s family members were also analysed to trace back the origin of this recombination. The recombinant DRB1 allele was confirmed by another ASHI laboratory. When analyzed by SSO and SSP, the mutation could not be seen and no final typing could be obtained. Conclusions Isolated mutations occur frequently as well as crossing over between loci, mainly A and C. In contrast, recombination within an exon is a rare and exciting event. This example is a good one which plays in favor of the orientation taken by Hema-Quebec to increase the HLA diversity of the stem cell donor registry, not only by increasing the ethnic diversity of the donor pool, but also by targeting populations and groups of different origins susceptible to have particular haplotypes and alleles.

Phasing of Many Thousands of Genotyped Samples

Haplotypes are an important resource for a large number of applications in human genetics, but computationally inferred haplotypes are subject to switch errors that decrease their utility. The accuracy of computationally inferred haplotypes increases with sample size, and although ever larger genotypic data sets are being generated, the fact that existing methods require substantial computational resources limits their applicability to data sets containing tens or hundreds of thousands of samples. Here, we present HAPI-UR (haplotype inference for unrelated samples), an algorithm that is designed to handle unrelated and/or trio and duo family data, that has accuracy comparable to or greater than existing methods, and that is computationally efficient and can be applied to 100,000 samples or more. We use HAPI-UR to phase a data set with 58,207 samples and show that it achieves practical runtime and that switch errors decrease with sample size even with the use of samples from multiple ethnicities. Using a data set with 16,353 samples, we compare HAPI-UR to Beagle, MaCH, IMPUTE2, and SHAPEIT and show that HAPI-UR runs 18× faster than all methods and has a lower switch-error rate than do other methods except for Beagle; with the use of consensus phasing, running HAPI-UR three times gives a slightly lower switch-error rate than Beagle does and is more than six times faster. We demonstrate results similar to those from Beagle on another data set with a higher marker density. Lastly, we show that HAPI-UR has better runtime scaling properties than does Beagle so that for larger data sets, HAPI-UR will be practical and will have an even larger runtime advantage. HAPI-UR is available online (see Web Resources).

Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Management of Childhood Asthma in the United States

Objectives. We examined racial and ethnic differences in the management of childhood asthma in the United States and the extent that care conformed to clinical best practices. Methods. Two years of pooled data from the National Health Interview Survey were analyzed using logistic regression. The sample included all children between ages 2 and 17 years who had asthma currently and had been diagnosed with asthma by a doctor or health professional (n = 1757; 465 African-American, 212 Mexican-American, 190 Puerto Rican and other Hispanic, 806 white, non-Hispanic, and 84 children of other and multiple races and ethnicities). Results. African-American children with asthma were significantly less likely than white, non-Hispanic children to have taken preventive asthma medication, but more likely to have had an asthma management plan. Mexican-American and Puerto Rican and other Hispanic children did not differ significantly from white, non-Hispanic children in either receiving preventive asthma medication or having an asthma management plan. Caregivers of African-American and Puerto Rican and other Hispanic children were more likely to report that they or their child had taken a course or class on how to manage their child’s asthma. We did not find racial or ethnic differences in the extent children used quick-relief asthma medication or received advice about reducing asthma triggers in their home, school, or work environments. Conclusions. This work highlights a need for more research on racial and ethnic differences in asthma management. Implications for public health responses and racial and ethnic disparities in asthma morbidity are discussed.

Genetic markers of ovarian follicle number and menopause in women of multiple ethnicities

Oocyte loss has a significant impact on fertility and somatic health. Yet, we know little about factors that impact this process. We sought to identify genetic variants associated with ovarian reserve (oocyte number as measured by antral follicle count, AFC). Based on recently published genome-wide scans that identified loci associated with age of menopause, we also sought to test our hypothesis that follicle number and menopausal age share underlying genetic associations. We analyzed menopause-related variants for association with follicle number in an independent population of approximately 450 reproductive-aged women of European and African ancestry; these women were assessed for AFC, anthropometric, clinical, and lifestyle factors. One SNP strongly associated with later menopausal age in Caucasian women (+1.07 ± 0.11 years) in previous work was also associated with higher follicle counts in Caucasians (+2.79 ± 1.67 follicles) in our study. This variant is within the Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 8 (MCM8) gene, which we found was expressed within oocytes in follicles of the human ovary. In genome-wide scans of AFC, we also identified one marginally genome-wide and several nominally significant SNPs within several other genes associated with follicle number in both ethnic groups. Further, there were overlapping variants associated with multiple ovarian reserve markers (AFC, serum hormone levels, menopausal age). This study provides the first evidence for direct genetic associations underlying both follicle number and menopause and identifies novel candidate genes. Genetic variants associated with ovarian reserve may facilitate discovery of genetic markers to predict reproductive health and lifespan in women.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00439-012-1184-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Demystifying ethnic/sex differences in kidney function: Is the difference in (estimating) glomerular filtration rate or in serum creatinine concentration?

BackgroundThe recent evaluation of the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation for estimating the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in multiple ethnicities has raised the question on how well this equation performs for African-American and Asian subjects. There is no doubt that serum creatinine (Scr) concentration differs between ethnicities and sexes. We show that creatinine-based equations for white populations may be inaccurate for estimating GFR in other ethnic/gender groups, especially in populations from Asia. MethodsThis study presents a mathematical analysis of the CKD-EPI-equation complemented with a literature review of median and reference values for IDMS-standardized Scr-concentrations for multiple ethnicities. ResultsThe study shows that at equal eGFR-CKD-EPI-values, the ratio of Scr between females and males equals 0.79 and between other ethnicities/sexes and white males is constant too. From this information, it is possible to calculate mean Scr-values that correspond very well with literature values directly obtained from Scr-distributions in healthy white males and females and in black males, but the discrepancy is larger for other populations. ConclusionsOur results confirm the criticism that has been raised for using the CKD-EPI-equation for these ethnicities. An alternative eGFR-model is proposed based on a population-normalized Scr that needs further validation.

Incidence of Red Cell Alloantibody among the Transfusion Recipients of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre.

Red blood cell alloimmunization is a common complication among the transfusion recipients. In Malaysia, multiple ethnicity causes genetic heterogeneity among the population which in turn can cause a wide variation of antibody. The objective of this study was to analyse the red cell alloantibody detected during the pre-transfusion testing. This was a cross-sectional study done in the blood bank of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre during the period of January-December 2010. The data was retrieved from the hospital laboratory information system. A total of 24,263 patients' blood samples were subjected for pre-transfusion testing. Antibody screening was done using an indirect antiglobulin test method. The positive samples were further identified for antibody specificity. Antibody screening tests were positive in 184 patients out of 24,263 samples with the incidence of 0.76%. Autoantibodies and alloantibodies were detected in 39/184 (21.2%) and 140/184 (76.1%) of the patients respectively. In five patients (2.7%) the antibody specificity remained undetermined. Total 161 alloantibodies were identified. The suspected Anti-Mia alloantibody was observed most frequently (49/161, 30.4%) followed by anti-E (30/161, 18.6%) and anti-D (22/161, 13.7%). Anti-E and anti-c were the most common combination of multiple alloantibodies. In view of the high incidence of suspected Anti-Mia antibodies, more efforts are needed to look into the techniques for confirmation of the Anti-Mia antibodies. Besides that, we suggested that all multiply transfused patients should be phenotyped for the Rh system and to supply Rh phenotype specific blood in order to limit alloimmunization.

Fasting Glucose GWAS Candidate Region Analysis Across Ethnic Groups in the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Genetic variants associated with fasting glucose in European ancestry populations are increasingly well understood. However, the nature of the associations between these single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and fasting glucose in other racial and ethnic groups is unclear. We sought to examine regions previously identified to be associated with fasting glucose in Caucasian genome-wide association studies (GWAS) across multiple ethnicities in the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Nondiabetic MESA participants with fasting glucose measured at the baseline exam and with GWAS genotyping were included; 2,349 Caucasians, 664 individuals of Chinese descent, 1,366 African Americans, and 1,171 Hispanics. Genotype data were generated from the Affymetrix 6.0 array and imputation in IMPUTE. Fasting glucose was regressed on SNP dosage data in each ethnic group adjusting for age, gender, MESA study center, and ethnic-specific principal components. SNPs from the three gene regions with the strongest associations to fasting glucose in previous Caucasian GWAS (MTNR1B / GCK / G6PC2) were examined in depth. There was limited power to replicate associations in other ethnic groups due to smaller allele frequencies and limited sample size; SNP associations may also have differed across ethnic groups due to differing linkage disequilibrium patterns with causal variants. rs10830963 in MTNR1B and rs4607517 in GCK demonstrated consistent magnitude and direction of association with fasting glucose across ethnic groups, although the associations were often not nominally significant. In conclusion, certain SNPs in MTNR1B and GCK demonstrate consistent effects across four racial and ethnic groups, narrowing the putative region for these causal variants.

Stronger Association of Common Variants in TCF7L2 Gene with Nonobese Type 2 Diabetes in the Latvian Population

Polymorphisms in the gene coding for transcription factor 7 like 2 (TCF7L2) are recognized as the strongest common genetic risk factors for type 2 diabetes (T2D) across multiple ethnicities. This study was conducted to evaluate an association between TCF7L2 variants and diabetes susceptibility in the population of Latvia. We genotyped 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) rs7901695, rs7903146, rs11196205 and rs12255372 in 1 093 controls and 1 043 diabetic subjects. Association with T2D was found for 3 SNPs rs7901695, rs7903146 and rs12255372 in the whole sample (under an additive genetic model, the adjusted odds ratios (OR) were 1.26, 95% CI [1.08-1.48], P=0.003; OR=1.32, 95% CI [1.12-1.55], P=0.001 and OR=1.35, 95% CI [1.15-1.60], P=0.0004 respectively). In addition observed effects on T2D susceptibility for analysed SNPs were higher among subjects with BMI under 30 kg/m². The impact of TCF7L2 variation on T2D risk in Latvian population is compatible with that demonstrated by a range of studies conducted in various ethnic groups.