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Validity of body composition methods across ethnic population groups.

Most in vivo body composition methods rely on assumptions that may vary among different population groups as well as within the same population group. The assumptions are based on in vitro body composition (carcass) analyses. The majority of body composition studies were performed on Caucasians and much of the information on validity methods and assumptions were available only for this ethnic group. It is assumed that these assumptions are also valid for other ethnic groups. However, if apparent differences across ethnic groups in body composition 'constants' and body composition 'rules' are not taken into account, biased information on body composition will be the result. This in turn may lead to misclassification of obesity or underweight at an individual as well as a population level. There is a need for more cross-ethnic population studies on body composition. Those studies should be carried out carefully, with adequate methodology and standardization for the obtained information to be valuable.

Adipose Tissue↗

[Polychlorinated biphenyl serum levels in two Italian population groups: sex pattern and correlation with age].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the congener-specific concentrations and patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls in the Italian general population. DESIGN: Two population groups were selected and monitored for the determination of up to 60 congeners in human serum. A very detailed questionnaire was administered to each participant to collect information concerning demographic, lifestyle, and medical factors. Statistical analyses were performed to examine the relationships between PCB serum levels and age. SETTING: Northern and Central Italy. PARTICIPANTS: 162 subjects from Novafeltria, Central Italy and 164 subjects from Pavia, Northern Italy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Serum concentrations of both coplanar and non-coplanar PCB congeners. Relationship between PCB levels and age. RESULTS: The mean concentration of total PCBs was found to be 2.48 and 3.93 microg/l for Novafeltria and Pavia, respectively. As waited, the most abundant congeners were CB-153, CB-138, CB-180, and CB-170. Age resulted to be the most significant determinant of PCB levels. Slight differences in the congener profile were observed in the two population groups. CONCLUSIONS: As expected, a strong correlation between age and PCB levels has been observed. It is remarkable that the correlation increased with increasing chlorination in both the population groups. Associations with other variables, such as gender, food and alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking, appeared to be inconsistent.

Adult↗

Genetic variation observed at three tetrameric short tandem repeat loci HumTHO1, TPOX, and CSF1PO--in five ethnic population groups of northeastern India.

This paper portrays the genetic variation observed at three tetrameric short tandem repeat (STR) loci HumTHO1, TPOX, and CSF1PO in five ethnic population groups from northeastern India. The study also specifies the suitability of use of these markers for forensic testing. The populations studied included three tribal groups (Kuki, Naga and Hmar), one Mongoloid caste group (Meitei), and a religious caste group (Manipuri Muslims). The loci were highly polymorphic in the populations, and all loci met Hardy-Weinberg expectations. No evidence for association of alleles among the loci was detected. The probability of match for the three loci of the most frequent genotype in the five population groups ranged between 2.6 x 10(-4) and 6.6 x 10(-5). The average heterozygosity among the population groups was approximately 70% with the overall extent of gene differentiation among the five groups being high (Gst = 0.046). Genetic affinity among the populations reveal very close association between the Kuki, Hmar, Naga, and Meitei. The Manipuri Muslims, despite being found in the same region, have had no admixture with these populations and maintain a substantial distance with the other groups. The genetic polymorphism data suggest that the studied systems can be used for human identity testing to estimate the frequency of a multiple locus STR DNA profile in population groups of northeastern India.

DNA Fingerprinting↗

Human mtDNA hypervariable regions, HVR I and II, hint at deep common maternal founder and subsequent maternal gene flow in Indian population groups.

We have analysed the hypervariable regions (HVR I and II) of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in individuals from Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar (BI) and Punjab (PUNJ), belonging to the Indo-European linguistic group, and from South India (SI), that have their linguistic roots in Dravidian language. Our analysis revealed the presence of known and novel mutations in both hypervariable regions in the studied population groups. Median joining network analyses based on mtDNA showed extensive overlap in mtDNA lineages despite the extensive cultural and linguistic diversity. MDS plot analysis based on Fst distances suggested increased maternal genetic proximity for the studied population groups compared with other world populations. Mismatch distribution curves, respective neighbour joining trees and other statistical analyses showed that there were significant expansions. The study revealed an ancient common ancestry for the studied population groups, most probably through common founder female lineage(s), and also indicated that human migrations occurred (maybe across and within the Indian subcontinent) even after the initial phase of female migration to India.

DNA, Mitochondrial↗

[The estimated risk of coronary heart disease in four working population groups: the Rome Project of Coronary Heart Disease Prevention (author's transl)].

Within four middle-aged population groups enrolled in the Rome Project of Coronary Heart Disease Prevention, a theoretic estimation of coronary heart disease (CHD) incidence in 5 years has been made on the basis of some risk factors (age, systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol, smoking habit, physical activity at work, body mass index), employing four different solutions of the multiple longistic function (MLF) derived from previous population studies and a simple risk score adopted by the WHO European Collaborative Group to which this study belongs. The use of different MLF solutions provides rather different levels of estimated incidence, but the ranking and the relative risk between population groups are substancially constant and little dependent on the different solutions. Moreover, an acceptable similarity has been found in terms of estimated risk between the pool of the treatment and that of the control population groups (ratio between 0.97 and 1.09). A reasonable hypothesis indicates that in the absence of preventive action the annual incidence of severe CHD (hard criteria) should be around 6 per 1,000. The estimation of the relative risk within single population groups allows to identify strata of people with different risk, which suggests, again in the absence of any preventive action, a concentration of 25-30% of all new cases of disease in a 10% of the population and about 40-45% in a 20% of the same.

Adult↗

Prevalence of colonization with vancomycin-resistant enterococci in various population groups in Berlin, Germany.

In order to prevent the spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), the epidemiology of this micro-organism must be defined. The prevalence of colonization with VRE in various population groups in Berlin was investigated and the risk factors associated with VRE colonization assessed. In a cross-sectional study, rectal swabs were taken from seven population groups (healthy students, outpatients, home nursing patients, normal care and critical care patients of a community hospital and university hospital). Every one completed a questionnaire (age, gender, previous hospital stays, antibiotic therapy). Rectal swabs were examined for the presence of normal gut flora and VRE. All VRE isolates were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). VRE colonization prevalence ranged from 0.9% (students) to 4.2% (nursing-home patients) in non-hospitalized subjects; in hospitalized patients prevalence ranged from 1.8% (regular care ward of a community hospital) to 16.3% (ICU patients of a university hospital). Location (university hospital, OR = 3.5) and age (> or = 60 years, OR = 2.2) were independent risk factors for VRE colonization. Within one population group, isolates with identical PFGE patterns were found in up to three people; one strain was found in four subjects belonging to different groups. Our findings suggest that VRE are imported from the community into hospitals with subsequent spread within the institution.

Adult↗

Poliomyelitis Lansing antibodies in three population groups in Israel.

A study has been made of the age-distribution of neutralizing antibodies against the Lansing strain of poliomyelitis in three groups of the population of Israel. Two groups were chosen from the local population, and the third consisted of new immigrants from Yemen. Altogether 392 sera were examined, and the distribution of Lansing antibodies was found to be similar in the three groups. In the Yemen group and in one of the Israeli groups, 50% or more of the sera examined contained Lansing antibodies from the age of two years onwards; while in the second Israeli group this figure was reached at the age of three years. In the higher age-groups, 90-100% of the sera were Lansing positive. A correlation existed between the age specific rates of poliomyelitis during the 1950 epidemic in Israel and the age-distribution of Lansing antibodies found in this study. Comparative figures for Egypt and other parts of the world are discussed.

Age Distribution↗

Immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) values in a few population groups.

Certain significant differences were found between the mean IgG levels in four different population groups. No differences were found in the IgA and IgM classes. The highest IgG levels were found in food workers and the lowest levels in coal-miners working at the face. Surface mine employees and employees just taken on for underground work had intermediate values. On dividing the population groups into age sub-groups, significant differences were found between some of the latter. Physical stress, differences in exposure to infections, the influence of the macro- and micro-climate and spontaneous and controlled selection for given occupations are regarded as possible causes of the observed differences.

Adult↗

Reference values of coplanar and non-coplanar PCBs in serum samples from two Italian population groups.

The main goal of this study is to establish the reference values of individual Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in non-occupationally exposed subjects. Since the PCB pattern in human serum is related to the living area, two different population groups from North and Central Italy, were compared. Serum concentrations of both coplanar and non-coplanar PCB congeners were measured by using gas chromatography coupled with low-resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC-LRMS). A fast and reliable method for the determination of 60 congeners had been previously validated. Its reliability was further verified by using high-resolution mass spectrometry. Thirty-one congeners out of 60 were found at detectable concentrations in at least one sample. The mean value for total PCBs was found to be 2.48 and 3.93 microg/L for the two population groups. Eight dioxin-like PCBs were detected. In accordance with the findings from the literature, the most abundant congeners were found to be 153, 138, 180, and 170. Both univariate and multivariate analysis showed that age is a significant determinant of PCB concentrations. The correlation increased with increasing chlorination. Slight differences in the PCB pattern were observed in the two population groups.

Adult↗

Immune responses to bile-tolerant helicobacter species in patients with chronic liver diseases, a randomized population group, and healthy blood donors.

Bile-tolerant Helicobacter species such as Helicobacter pullorum, Helicobacter bilis, and Helicobacter hepaticus are associated with hepatic disorders in animals and may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic liver diseases (CLD) in humans. Antibody responses to cell surface proteins of H. pullorum, H. bilis, and H. hepaticus in serum samples from patients with CLD, a randomized population group, and healthy blood donors were evaluated by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results were compared with the antibody responses to Helicobacter pylori. For analysis of a possible cross-reactivity between bile-tolerant Helicobacter species and H. pylori, sera from a subpopulation of each group were absorbed with a whole-cell extract of H. pylori and retested by ELISA. Results before absorption showed that the mean value of the ELISA units for H. pullorum was significantly higher in patients with CLD than in healthy blood donors (P = 0.01). Antibody reactivity to cell surface protein of H. hepaticus was also significantly higher in the CLD patients than in the healthy blood donors and the population group (P = 0.005 and P = 0.002, respectively). Following the absorption, antibody responses to H. pullorum decreased significantly in all three groups (P = 0.0001 for CLD patients, P = 0.0005 for the population group, and P < 0.0001 for the blood donors), indicating that cross-reactivity between H. pylori and other Helicobacter spp. occurs. The antibody responses to H. hepaticus and H. bilis in CLD patients remained high following absorption experiments compared to ELISA results before absorption. The significance of this finding requires further investigations.

Adult↗

Life satisfaction of persons with spinal cord injury compared to a population group.

Life satisfaction is thought to be the subjective part of quality of life, i.e. the feelings of the persons concerned about their functioning and circumstances. In this study, life satisfaction of spinal cord-injured persons living in the community is compared to life satisfaction of a population group. Respondents were a nationwide sample of 318 persons with spinal cord injury (response 60%) and 507 inhabitants of a large city in The Netherlands (response 42%). Life satisfaction was measured using the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire, containing one question about general life satisfaction and eight questions about domain-specific life satisfaction. Mean scores of general life satisfaction and of satisfaction with self-care ability, leisure situation, vocational situation and sexual life were lower in persons with spinal cord injury than in the population group, but satisfaction with family life was higher. However, differences in general life satisfaction, satisfaction with leisure situation and with vocational situation could be attributed to differences in the composition of both groups. Satisfaction with self-care ability was lower in persons with tetraplegia than in persons with paraplegia, but we found no differences in other questions. Several relationships between life satisfaction and age and marital status existed, but they were more pronounced in the population group than in the group of persons with spinal cord injury. Time after injury and cause of injury were not related to life satisfaction variables. Uniformity in measurement instruments would facilitate comparisons between studies.

Adolescent↗

Proliferative activity of normal and neoplastic colonic mucosa in population groups with high and low risk for colorectal carcinoma.

Europeans have a high incidence of colorectal cancer in comparison to Africans. Lack of detectable sequence adenoma-colorectal carcinoma in Africans may suggest the development of adenocarcinoma is de novo. The aim of this study is to assess colonic mucosal proliferative activity in various pathological conditions of diverse population groups. Materials included routinely processed tissue specimens from consecutively resected well- and moderately differentiated colorectal adenocarcinomas from 32 rural Africans (South Africa) and 27 urban Europeans (Poland) and from apparently normal rectal mucous membrane from the age and sex matched each population group (28 and 25 samples respectively). In addition, 32 resected adenomatous polyps were examined in Europeans as well. The MIB 1 monoclonal antibody was used to assay the expression of Ki67 antigen in routinely processed tissue specimens. Proliferative activity in colonic carcinomas was scored by the percentage of positively stained cells. Labelling indices were estimated in 5 crypt compartments in apparently normal colonic mucosa adjacent and distant to the tumour, in mucosal samples of controls from both population groups and in adenomatous polyps from Europeans. The mean age of African patients with adenocarcinoma was markedly lower than in European counterparts (48.6 yrs vs. 66.4 yrs). The overall proliferative activity in cancerous tumours of Africans was higher than in Europeans. The labelling indices were lower in all compartments in normal colonic mucosa in Africans. Overall increase of the labelling indices in adjacent and distant to the tumour mucosa noted when compared to the mucosa of healthy individuals. No such differences were detected between indices in the mucosa adjacent and the mucosa distant to the tumour. Proliferative activity in the mucosa adjacent to adenoma was also higher than in normal mucosa from healthy individuals. Adenomas with marked dysplasia showed higher and diffuse proliferative activity, when regular adenomas shown superficial labelling only. Relatively young age, lack of detectable evidence of adenoma-carcinoma sequence and low proliferative activity in all compartments of mucosa from healthy individuals indicate different etiopathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma in rural Africans.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Population group differences in trends in stroke mortality in Israel.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In Israel, stroke is the third most common cause of death. In 1997 stroke accounted for 2905 deaths (8.1% of total), 1390 of them among men (7.5% of total; crude mortality rate of 48.3/100 000) and 1515 among women (8.6% of total; crude rate of 51.7/100 000). This report presents trends on stroke mortality by population group and estimates of morbidity in Israel. METHODS: Data on stroke mortality in Israel during 1969-1997 were obtained from the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Age-specific and age-adjusted mortality rates were calculated for the 2 main population groups. Data on morbidity were obtained form the 1996/1997 National Health Survey. Hospitalization rates due to stroke are based on the national hospitalization data. RESULTS: A monotonic decrease in stroke mortality is evident in Jews during 1969-1997 in both sexes. Age-adjusted mortality rates declined by 62.5% for Jewish men and by 73.4% for Jewish women during 1969-1997. Among Arabs, there was a general decreasing trend in the mortality for both sexes during 1973-1997. The main difference in population group mortality trends was found in the group aged >/=75 years: a statistically significant decrease in mortality rates for Jews is evident, while no decrease is apparent for Arabs. On the basis of available data for 1990, an estimated 13 000 patients with stroke were hospitalized during 1997. CONCLUSIONS: During the last 25 years, age-adjusted stroke mortality in Israel has declined substantially, but the decline has been much greater among Jews than Arabs. The group aged >/=75 years shows the greatest difference in trends between Jews and Arabs. This finding may be explained by differences in risk factor distribution and case fatality rates.

Acute Disease↗

Population genetic analysis among five Indian population groups using six microsatellite markers.

Genetic variation at six tetranucleotide microsatellites (HUMTHO1, HUMVWA, F13A01, D3S1359, D12S66, and D12S67) has heen determined in five endogamous ethnic population groups of India belonging to two major linguistic families. The populations analyzed were Konkanastha Brahmins and Marathas (Maharashtra state) from the Indo-Aryan linguistic family and Nairs, Ezhavas, and Muslims (Kerala state) from the Dravidian family. All six loci show high gene diversity, ranging from 0.63 +/- 0.04 to 0.84 +/- 0.02. The average GST value observed was 1.7%, indicating that the differences between the populations account for less than 2% of the diversity, while the genetic variation is high within the five population groups studied (>98%). The phylogenetic tree fails to show any clear cluster. The absence of any cluster along with low average GST is suggestive of substantial genetic similarity among the studied populations, in spite of clear geographical, linguistic, and cultural barriers. This similarity indicates either a greater gene flow between these groups or, alternatively, may reflect a recent evolution for them, considering that the Indian caste system evolved only about 3000 years ago.

Alleles↗

Genetic variation at minisatellite loci D1S7, D4S139, D5S110 and D17S79 among three population groups of eastern India.

Genetic variation at four minisatellite loci D1S7, D4S139, D5S110 and D17S79 in three predominant population groups of eastern India, namely Brahmin, Kayastha and Garo, are reported in this study. The Brahmin and Kayastha are of Indo-Caucasoid origin while the Garo community represents the Indo-Mongoloid ethnic group. The methodology employed comprised generation of HaeIII-restricted fragments of isolated DNA, Southern blotting, and hybridization using chemiluminescent probes MS1, pH30, LH1 and V1 for the four loci. All four loci were highly polymorphic in the population groups. Heterozygosity values for the four loci ranged between 0.68 and 0.95. Neither departure from Hardy Weinberg expectations nor evidence of any association across alleles among the selected loci was observed. The gene differentiation value among the loci is moderate (GST = 0.027). A neighbour-joining tree constructed on the basis of the generated data shows very low genetic distance between the Brahmin and Kayastha communities in relation to the Garo. Our results based on genetic distance analysis are consistent with results of earlier studies based on serological markers and linguistic as well as morphological affiliations of these populations and their Indo-Caucasoid and Indo-Mongoloid origin. The minisatellite loci studied here were found to be not only useful in showing significant genetic variation between the populations but also to be suitable for human identity testing among eastern Indian populations.

Asian People↗

Red cells, serum iron and total iron-binding capacity in three population groups in Natal.

Male blood donors from three population groups (Indian, Black, White) who showed neither microcytosis nor levels of serum ferritin or transferrin saturation suggestive of iron deficiency were matched in 3's 1 from each population, for age, number of previous blood donations, and serum ferritin. Three groups of individuals of similar iron status were thus obtained, in whom mean serum iron and total iron-binding capacity as well as red cell indices were compared. The Indian group had smaller red corpuscles, and more of them, than either of the other groups; they also had significantly higher mean total iron-binding capacity. The Black group had a lower mean level of serum iron than the other two, coupled with a total iron-binding capacity greater than in the Whites but less than in the Indians; as a result, both the Indian and Black groups had a lower mean transferrin saturation than the White. The mean level of haemoglobin was significantly lower in the Black group than in the other two. It is unlikely that any of these differences is due to iron deficiency.

Black or African American↗

Validity of total and segmental impedance measurements for prediction of body composition across ethnic population groups.

OBJECTIVES: To test the impact of body build factors on the validity of impedance-based body composition predictions across (ethnic) population groups and to study the suitability of segmental impedance measurements. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SETTINGS: Ministry of Health and School of Physical Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. SUBJECTS: A total of 291 female and male Chinese, Malays and Indian Singaporeans, aged 18-69, body mass index (BMI) 16.0-40.2 kg/ m2. METHODS: Anthropometric parameters were measured in addition to impedance (100 kHz) of the total body, arms and legs. Impedance indexes were calculated as height2/impedance. Arm length (span) and leg length (sitting height), wrist and knee width were measured from which body build indices were calculated. Total body water (TBW) was measured using deuterium oxide dilution. Extra cellular water (ECW) was measured using bromide dilution. Body fat percentage was determined using a chemical four-compartment model. RESULTS: The bias of TBW predicted from total body impedance index (bias: measured minus predicted TBW) was different among the three ethnic groups, TBW being significantly underestimated in Indians compared to Chinese and Malays. This bias was found to be dependent on body water distribution (ECW/TBW) and parameters of body build, mainly relative (to height) arm length. After correcting for differences in body water distribution and body build parameters the differences in bias across the ethnic groups disappeared. The impedance index using total body impedance was better correlated with TBW than the impedance index of arm or leg impedance, even after corrections for body build parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that ethnic-specific bias of impedance-based prediction formulas for body composition is due mainly to differences in body build among the ethnic groups. This means that the use of 'general' prediction equations across different (ethnic) population groups without prior testing of their validity should be avoided. Total body impedance has higher predictive value than segmental impedance.

Adolescent↗