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PubMed2002

Lifelong vegetarianism and risk of breast cancer: a population-based case-control study among South Asian migrant women living in England.

To investigate the role of lifelong vegetarianism on the aetiology of female breast cancer, we conducted a population-based case-control study among South Asian migrant women from the Indian subcontinent resident in England. A total of 240 South Asian breast cancer cases were identified from 2 cancer registries during 1995-1999. For each case, 2 age-matched South Asian controls were randomly selected from the age-sex register of the case practice. Lifelong vegetarians had a slight reduction, although not statistically significant, in the odds of breast cancer relative to lifelong meat-eaters, which persisted after adjustment for socio-demographic and reproductive variables [odds ratio (OR)=0.77; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.50-1.18]. Analysis by food group revealed no linear trend in the odds of breast cancer with increasing consumption of meat (p=0.10) but the odds were higher for women in the top 75%. In contrast, there were strong inverse trends in the odds of breast cancer with increasing intake of vegetables (p=0.005), pulses (p=0.007) and fibre [non-starch polysaccharides, NSP (p=0.02)], with women in the highest 25% of intake of these foods having about 50% of the odds of those in the lowest ones. Adjustment for intake of vegetables and pulses reverted the odds of breast cancer in lifelong vegetarians relative to lifelong meat-eaters (OR=1.04; 95% CI=0.65-1.68) and attenuated the quartile-specific estimates for meat intake, whereas the inverse trends in the odds of breast cancer with intake of vegetables and pulses remained after adjustment for type of diet or meat intake. These findings suggest that lifelong vegetarianism may be associated with a reduction in the risk of breast cancer through its association with a higher intake of vegetables and pulses. Although it is not possible to exclude the possibility that lifelong meat abstention may also play a role, the findings provide evidence that a diet rich in vegetables and pulses, such as those typically found in South Asian diets, may be protective against this cancer.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1990

Albumin--vitamin D-binding protein haplotypes in Asian-Pacific populations.

We have determined the various haplotypic combinations between alleles as well as restriction fragment length polymorphisms of two linked genetic markers, albumin and vitamin D-binding protein or group-specific component, in a number of Asian-Pacific populations. Using the partial maximum likelihood method, we constructed a phylogenetic network from the haplotype frequencies to assess relationships among the populations sampled. No systematic linkage disequilibrium was detected between most of the combinations, suggesting a lack of operation of any selection pressure at the two loci. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed the known interrelationships among various populations in the Asian-Pacific region. The Australian aborigines clustered closely with the non-Austronesian-speaking highlanders from Papua New Guinea, as expected. Similarly, the Austronesian-speaking Polynesians, Micronesians, and the Southeast Asians branched off together as a separate group. The position of the Austronesian-speaking Tolais from New Britain with respect to other populations from the Southwest Pacific was anomalous. The Tolais revealed a strong affinity with the Australian aborigines, which is inexplicable. The populations from China formed a tight cluster with other populations from the Asian-Pacific region. Genetic interrelationships of these populations with the white Australians were remote, which is in accordance with the known affinities of various human racial groups.

Alleles↗
PubMed1987

The HLA-D associations of type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes in Punjabi Asians in the United Kingdom.

Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes is less common in Asian Indians than in white Caucasoids. Forty-five Punjabi Asians with Type 1 diabetes and 96 racially matched control subjects were HLA-DR typed. DR3 was increased in diabetic patients vs control subjects (82% vs 38%, p less than 10(-5)) with relative risk 7.7 and etiological fraction 0.72. DR4 was increased in diabetic patients vs control subjects (31% vs 7%, p less than 0.003) with relative risk 5.7 and etiological fraction 0.26. DR2 showed a negative association (relative risk 0.19, etiological fraction -0.28), as did DR7 (relative risk 0.21, etiological fraction -0.33). HLA-DQ beta-chain gene probing using restriction enzyme BamHI in 43 diabetic patients and 90 control subjects showed that the DR1-associated 6.2 and 3.2 kb fragments were less common in diabetic patients than in the control subjects (12% vs 36%, p less than 0.02). A 12 kb fragment was associated with DR4 in both diabetic patients and control subjects. DR3 is the major susceptibility factor for Type 1 diabetes in Punjabi Asians and DR4 is a second marker. Gene probing indicates that the same DR4 subset is associated with the condition as in white Caucasoids. DR1 and its associated DQ beta restriction fragments are reduced in Asian Type 1 diabetic patients making it unlikely that DR1 haplotypes carry a predisposing factor in this racial group. We conclude that the genetic component of Type 1 diabetes in Punjabis shows differences from that of the white Caucasoid population and that the lower frequency of DR4 in this population may contribute to the lower prevalence of Type 1 diabetes.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗
PubMed1991

Sexual practices of heterosexual Asian-American young adults: implications for risk of HIV infection.

Epidemiologic patterns of reported AIDS cases suggest that at present Asian Americans in the United States are an ethnic minority group at lower risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection than blacks, Hispanics, or whites. Yet little is known empirically about the sexual behaviors of Asian Americans. The present study explores rates of sexual activity and patterns of sexual behavior in a sample of young, unmarried, heterosexual Asian Americans. Results suggest that previously reported sexual conservatism within this ethnic group may be limited to the initiation of sexual activity. Once sexually active, behaviors appear to be similar to their non-Asian counterparts and facilitative of HIV infection should the virus become widely distributed within the young, heterosexual population. This underscores the need for HIV prevention interventions directed toward this ethnic minority group despite current low rates of HIV infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

DNA polymorphisms in the psi beta 1- and beta-globin gene regions in Asian macaques.

DNA polymorphisms in the psi beta 1-beta-globin gene region in nine Asian macaques (Macaca fuscata, M. mulatta, M. nemestrina, M. cyclopis, M. fascicularis, M. arctoides, M. radiata, M. maura, and M. assamensis) were examined using several restriction endonucleasese and the human psi beta 1, delta IVS2, and beta IVS2 probes. The BamHI site 3' to the beta-globin gene was polymorphic in M. fuscata and M. mulatta, while the HincII site and the EcoRI site in the psi beta 1-globin gene region was highly polymorphic in M. fuscata and M. mulatta, respectively. These polymorphic sites also seem to be present in other Asian macaques. The present study of the polymorphism at the BamHI site 3' to the beta-globin gene in Asian macaques supports, at the nuclear DNA level, the idea that the fascicularis group including M. fuscata, M. mulatta, M. cyclopis, and M. fascicularis is different from other Asian macaque groups.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Homogeneity of common cosmopolitan inversion frequencies in Southeast Asian Drosophila melanogaster.

East Asian Drosophila melanogaster are known for great variation in morphological and physiological characters among populations, variation that is believed to be maintained by genetic drift. To understand the genetic properties of Asian D. melanogaster populations, we initiated a population genetic study of chromosome inversion polymorphisms in hitherto unanalysed population samples from Southeast (SE) Asia. We generally found a high frequency of each of the four common cosmopolitan inversions in comparison to populations from Africa, Asia, and Australia. In contrast to the great phenotypic variation among Asian populations, however, we could not detect differences in inversion frequencies among populations. Furthermore, we observed neither correlations of inversion frequencies with population latitude and longitude, nor evidence for linkage disequilibrium between different inversion loci. We propose two explanations for the observed genetic homogeneity among these SE Asian D. melanogaster populations: (i) the observed pattern simply reflects the retention of ancestral polymorphisms originating from a panmictic population that was once present on a large single landmass (Sundaland), and/or is a consequence of high recent gene flow between populations; and (ii) it is caused by selective forces (e.g. balancing selection).

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Anomalies associated with oesophageal atresia in Asians and Europeans.

Oesophageal atresia (OA) is often associated with anomalies of other systems. The genetic contribution to the formation of the VACTERL association is not clear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence of associated anomalies in two different racial populations. The associated anomalies in neonates with OA managed in an Asian and a European paediatric surgical centre from 1982 to 1998 were reviewed. Non-Asian and non-European patients were excluded from the respective centres. The incidence of anomalies was compared using Fisher's exact test, taking #E5/E5# below 0.05 as statistically significant. Forty-eight consecutive Asian (25 boys and 23 girls) and 34 consecutive European patients (20 boys and 14 girls) were included in the analysis. The percentage of patients with at least one associated anomaly was 50% and 74% in the Asian and European populations, respectively, which was significantly different (#E5/E5#=0. 04). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of associated cardiovascular (29% vs 39%), anorectal (11% vs 18%), and musculoskeletal (16% vs 22%) anomalies, duodenal atresia (4% vs 3%), or Down's syndrome (3% vs 6%) between the two populations. However, the European patients had a significantly higher incidence of urogenital (UG) anomalies (26% vs 4%, #E5/E5#=0.006), the most common being agenesis (n=4) and dysplasia (n=3) of one or both kidneys. Hereditary factors may influence the incidence of associated anomalies in children with OA, particularly of the UG system. However, environmental factors cannot be excluded.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1990

Relationship between plasma cholesterol and coronary artery disease in Asians.

Cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were measured in 150 male survivors of first myocardial infarction and in 115 age and ethnic matched healthy controls. The total cholesterol concentration was higher in whites than in respective Asian groups and higher in patients than in controls (P less than 0.001). The ratio of cholesterol to HDL cholesterol was significantly higher in patients (P less than 0.001) and in both ethnic groups was a powerful independent predictor of cases. In Asians, the extent of coronary atheroma assessed by arteriography 2-12 weeks after infarction correlated independently with the total cholesterol concentration (P = 0.03). Thus, in Asian men, the lower level of total cholesterol compared to whites may be misleading. In Asian men the extent of atheroma correlated with the total cholesterol concentration and the relative risk of infarction increased with the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol. At a given level of cholesterol different ethnic groups may be at differing levels of cardiac risk and the cholesterol ratio may be a more appropriate means of inter-ethnic comparison.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Apolipoprotein B gene polymorphisms are associated with lipid levels in men of South Asian descent.

Three polymorphic sites of the apolipoprotein B gene - the insertion/deletion signal peptide, XbaI and EcoRI sites - were examined in a sample of 107 healthy men and in 46 men with evidence of coronary heart disease selected from a large population survey of South Asians aged 40-69 in London, U.K. There were no significant differences in allele frequencies between cases and controls. Frequencies of the ins (insertion) and X- (absence of XbaI cutting site) alleles were higher in South Asians than in Europeans studied previously (South Asians versus Europeans ins: 0.80 vs. 0.68, P less than 0.025; X-: 0.71 vs. 0.47-0.56, P less than 0.001). The del allele was associated with higher levels of total cholesterol (P less than 0.05) and the X+ allele with lower levels of HDL cholesterol (P less than 0.05), and thus both polymorphisms were associated with differences in the ratio of HDL cholesterol to total cholesterol (ins/del, P less than 0.01; XbaI, P less than 0.001). Mean waist-hip girth ratio was lower in the 10 men homozygous for the X+ allele than in the 42 men with X-/X+ and 55 men with X-/X- genotypes; the means (+/- SEM) were 0.92 +/- 0.02, 0.97 +/- 0.01 and 0.96 +/- 0.01 respectively (P = 0.03). These data suggest that genetic variation in linkage disequilibrium with the XbaI and ins/del polymorphisms of the apo B gene contributes to the determination of total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels and possibly to obesity in South Asians.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Ethnic differences in self poisoning: a comparative study between an Asian and white adolescent group.

A preliminary retrospective case note study is presented comparing various characteristics of self poisoning between a White and an Asian group of adolescents. A group of 38 Asian and 34 White adolescents of ages 17 years and below, was studied. The results showed that the sex ratio of both samples was similar. Also, "Culture Conflict" was implicated in slightly more of the Asian female self poisoning as compared to the males. Asian females used "non ingestants" significantly more than their White counterparts, and significantly more described their overdose as "accidental". Significantly more White females were in care at the time of the overdose.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

The growing prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes in migrant Asian populations and its implications for Asia.

Many of the prevalence studies of diabetes in Asian populations are reviewed. When compared to Whites, Asians have an even greater predominance of non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM) over insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM). Diabetes prevalence is higher among migrant Asians than in their homelands, and is often higher than in the majority population of their new homes. It is hypothesized that when a vulnerable population experiences environmental influences accompanying 'westernization', insulin resistance and eventually glucose intolerance develop. Asians are postulated to be a vulnerable ethnic group. Since many portions of Asia are also becoming westernized, it is postulated that insulin resistance and glucose intolerance will become more common in Asia. If this prediction is correct, then NIDDM will be a major health problem in Asia in the near future.

Asia↗
PubMed1982

Early postnatal weight gain: comparisons between Asian and Caucasian infants.

Little is known about the early weight gain of British born Asian babies. This study sets out to compare weight gain of 34 healthy Asian term babies with 34 white Caucasian babies over the first two months of life. The Asian infants were lighter at birth but their rate of weight gain did not differ significantly from their white Caucasian counterparts. These findings offer indirect support for the hypothesis that the smaller size at birth of Asian babies is not due to intrauterine growth retardation. Had this occurred a greater weight gain indicating 'catch-up growth would have been expected.

Africa, Eastern↗
PubMed1989

Coronary heart disease in south Asians overseas: a review.

Coronary heart disease rates have been reported in several parts of the world to be unusually high in people originating from the Indian subcontinent. High coronary disease rates appear to be common to South Asian groups of different geographical origin, religion, and language. This presents a challenge to the understanding of coronary heart disease: the high rates in South Asians are not explained on the basis of elevated serum cholesterol, smoking or hypertension. Low plasma HDL cholesterol, high plasma triglyceride levels and high prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes have been consistently found in South Asians overseas: this probably reflects an underlying state of insulin resistance. Further studies are needed to determine whether this metabolic disturbance can account for the high rates of coronary heart disease in South Asians, and to identify possibilities for prevention.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Malocclusion severity in Asian men in relation to malocclusion type and orthodontic treatment need.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to assess the severity of malocclusion in young Asian men in relation to types of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need. METHODS: Study models of 339 male army recruits (age, 17-22 years) with no history of orthodontic treatment were assessed. The peer assessment rating (PAR) index was used to determine the severity of their malocclusions. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were performed to evaluate the PAR index in relation to treatment need assessed by the dental health component (DHC) and the esthetic component (EC) of the index of orthodontic treatment need. RESULTS: The mean PAR scores were 17, 20, 28, and 18 for Class I, Class II Division 1, Class II Division 2, and Class III, respectively. PAR scores were highly correlated with DHC and EC scores (P < .001). An increase of 1 point in the PAR score significantly increased the likelihood of orthodontic treatment need for dental-health reasons or esthetic impairment (by 1.17 times [95% CI 1.13-1.21] or 1.25 times [95% CI 1.19-1.31]). The areas under the ROC curves for PAR index were 84% and 94% for the DHC and EC assessments, respectively, suggesting that PAR scores were better predicators of esthetic than dental health impairment for assessing Asian malocclusions. The optimum cutoff points were PAR scores of 17 and 20 for dental health and esthetic impairment, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Class II malocclusions were more severe than Class I or III in Asian men. Malocclusions with definite treatment need had PAR scores that were significantly greater than those with borderline, little, or no need. ROC curves showed that the PAR index had an acceptable level of validity with the professional assessment of orthodontic treatment need in Asian malocclusions. The optimum cutoff PAR scores were 17 and 20 in relation to DHC and EC assessment, respectively. The PAR index was more predictive of esthetic than dental health need.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Comparison of levels of large and small high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in Asian Indian men compared with Caucasian men in the Framingham Offspring Study.

Asian Indians have a higher incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) than do other ethnic groups, despite similar standard risk factors and lipid profiles. The large subclass of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is predominantly associated with protection against coronary artery disease. We compared various lipoprotein concentrations and sizes in 211 healthy Asian Indian men with those in 1,684 Caucasian men from the Framingham Offspring Study as measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Concentrations of HDL cholesterol were similar in the 2 groups, but concentrations of large HDL cholesterol were lower and concentrations of small HDL cholesterol were significantly higher in Asian Indian than in Caucasian men. HDL particle size was smaller in Asian Indians. Levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein particle size, and prevalence of pattern B were similar in the 2 groups.

Cholesterol, HDL↗
PubMed2004

Liquid storage of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) sperm at 4 degrees C.

The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) population in the wild has been in decline for several decades and breeding in captivity has not been self-sustaining. The use of artificial insemination (AI) can help overcome many of the difficulties associated with breeding elephants in captivity; however, the ability to store semen for extended periods of time is critical to the successful application of AI to elephants. The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of four different semen extenders and the presence of egg yolk on the viability and motility of Asian elephant semen stored at 4 degrees C. High quality ejaculates (n=4) were collected from two Asian elephant bulls by rectal massage. Aliquots of each ejaculate were extended in four different diluents (Beltsville thawing solution (BTS); Tris-citric acid (TCA)/fructose-based; Beltsville F5 (BF5); dextrose-supplemented phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)) with or without egg yolk then cooled and stored at 4 degrees C. The percentages of viable (viability) and motile (motility) sperm were evaluated at 8, 24 and 48 h following collection. The addition of egg yolk significantly reduced the percentage loss in viability from initial collection to 48 h compared to extenders without egg yolk (17.0 +/- 8.2 versus 32.6 +/- 8.9 decline in percent viable sperm in the population, respectively; P<0.05). Extender and egg yolk affected (P<0.005) total motility and percent progressively motile sperm at all evaluation times during incubation. TCA + egg yolk maintained higher (P<0.05) levels of progressive motility compared to other extenders supplemented with egg yolk. These results indicate that Asian elephant semen extended in TCA diluent supplemented with egg yolk can maintain at least 50% viability and motility when stored at 4 degrees C for 48 h.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Associations of plasma homocysteine and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism with carotid intima media thickness among South Asian, Chinese and European Canadians.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated the associations of plasma homocysteine concentration, the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T genotype and B vitamin concentration with intima media thickness (IMT) in multiethnic populations. METHODS: In the Study of Health Assessment and Risk in Ethnic groups (SHARE), we measured carotid IMT, fasting serum folate, serum B12, plasma pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP) and plasma homocysteine and determined the MTHFR C677T genotype in a cross-sectional study of 818 South Asian, Chinese and European Canadians without previous history of CVD, cancer or diabetes during 1996-1998. RESULTS: Plasma homocysteine was inversely related to serum folate, serum B12, plasma PLP, B vitamin supplement use and Chinese ethnicity, and was positively associated with hypertension, smoking, IMT, MTHFR 677T/T genotype and South Asian ethnicity. Although ethnicity was not a statistically significant modifier, among carriers of the MTHFR 677T/T genotype with serum folate < or =14 nmol/L compared to >14 nmol/L, plasma homocysteine was significantly higher among South Asians (50.9% increase, P < 0.001) and Europeans (52.4% increase, P < 0.001) but not Chinese (11.0% increase, P > 0.05). Plasma homocysteine > 11.7 micromol/L was associated with a 5.9% (95% CI: 1.9%, 10.0%) increase in IMT (approximately 0.04 mm) in the pooled-data analyses with similar increases noted in the ethnic-specific analyses. The 677T/T genotype was not associated with a significant change in IMT in the pooled-data analyses (2.7%; 95% CI: -1.7%, 7.2%) nor in ethnic-specific analyses compared to other genotypes, although there were only 63 677T/T homozygotes. CONCLUSION: The combination of lower serum folate and the MTHFR 677T/T genotype is associated with increased plasma homocysteine among South Asians and Europeans, but the association is not evident among Chinese possibly because their serum folate may not have been low enough to compromise MTHFR activity. Plasma homocysteine > 11.7 micromol/L appears to be associated with a clinically important increase in IMT.

Asia, Southeastern↗
PubMed2006

Role of metformin in the initiation of pharmacotherapy for type 2 diabetes: an Asian-Pacific perspective.

Increases in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes of 30-60% will occur in many Asian-Pacific countries by 2025, driven by urbanisation, sedentary habits and energy-rich diets. Obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and diabetes are closely interrelated. Optimal control of diabetes and associated risk factors has reduced the risk of diabetes-related complications. In the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS), metformin reduced the risk of macrovascular complications and retrospective analyses have confirmed the efficacy of metformin in improving clinical outcomes in type 2 diabetic patients with a history of cardiovascular disease. This growing body of evidence has led to the recommendation of metformin as optimum initial pharmacotherapy in overweight type 2 diabetic patients. Obesity is less prevalent in the Asian-Pacific population than in Caucasian populations. Nevertheless, metformin has multiple beneficial metabolic effects, which provide sufficient rationale for it to be recommended as the initial oral anti-diabetic pharmacotherapy, alone or in combination, irrespective of body mass index. This recommendation is consistent with global guidelines and regional recommendations for the Asian-Pacific region from the International Diabetes Federation. These recommendations can serve as templates for development of local guidelines for Asian people with diabetes, given the ethnic and cultural diversity within the region.

Asia↗