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PubMed2006

The applicability of the Asian modified criteria of the metabolic syndrome in the Korean population.

BACKGROUND: We compared the metabolic profiles and risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Koreans with non-diabetic metabolic syndrome (MetS). [We applied four criteria of MetS: the NCEP criteria, the Asian modified NCEP (a-NCEP) criteria, the WHO criteria and the Asian modified WHO (a-WHO).] METHODS: The study group composed of 2724 subjects enrolled in the cardiovascular genome center. There were 728 patients with significant CAD. The different criteria of the MetS were applied for the study population. RESULTS: Among the 2724 participants, 522 (19.2%) met the NCEP criteria, 796 (29.2%) met the a-NCEP criteria, 361 (13.3%) met the WHO criteria and 576 (21.1%) met the a-WHO criteria. The clinical parameters, lipid profile, apoA1 and apoB level were not different between the participants classified as MetS by using the different criteria. The odds ratio for CAD prediction were not significantly different according to the metabolic criteria (odd ratio: 1.755 [95% CI: 1.423-2.163] in NCEP criteria, 2.120 [1.763-2.549] in a-NCEP criteria, 1.854 [1.466-2.343] in WHO criteria, 2.205 [1.810-2.687] in a-WHO criteria). The serum level of apoA1 and apoB showed strong correlations with MetS classified by all criteria and the HOMA index and insulin level showed better correlations with WHO-MetS criteria. CONCLUSIONS: All the MetS criteria showed similar metabolic profiles and all four criteria had similar predictive value for CAD. Conventional MetS criteria, applied to the non-diabetic Asian population, may underestimate the population at risk. Our data suggests that the Asian modified criteria will decrease the risk for underdiagnosis while demonstrating similar metabolic profiles and CAD risk compared to the conventional criteria.

Coronary Artery Disease↗
PubMed2004

Comparative endocrinology of cycling and non-cycling Asian (Elephas maximus) and African (Loxodonta africana) elephants.

Up to 14% of Asian and 29% of African elephants in captivity are not cycling normally or exhibit irregular cycles based on progestin profiles. To determine if ovarian acyclicity is related to other disruptions in endocrine activity, serum pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, and ovarian hormones in weekly samples collected for 6-25 months were compared between normal cycling (n=22 each species) and non-cycling (n=6 Asian; n=30 African) elephants. A subset of cycling females (n=4 Asian, 7 African) also were blood sampled daily during the follicular phase to characterize the peri-ovulatory period. In normal cycling females, two leutinizing hormone (LH) surges were observed 3 weeks apart during a normal follicular phase, with the second inducing ovulation (ovLH). Serum FSH concentrations were highest at the beginning of the non-luteal phase, declining to nadir concentrations within 4 days of the ovLH surge. FSH remained low until after the ovLH surge and then increased during the luteal phase. A species difference was noted in prolactin secretion. In the African elephant, prolactin was increased during the follicular phase, but in Asian elephants concentrations remained stable throughout the cycle. Patterns of thyroid hormones (thyroid-stimulating hormone, TSH; free and total thyroxine, T4; free and total triiodothyronine, T3) and cortisol secretion were not affected by estrous cycle stage or season in cycling elephants. In non-cycling elephants, there were no fluctuating patterns of LH, FSH, or prolactin secretion. Overall mean concentrations of all hormones were similar to those in cycling animals, with the exception of FSH, prolactin, and estradiol. Mean serum FSH concentrations were lower due to females not exhibiting normal cyclic increases, whereas serum estradiol was higher overall in most acyclic females. Prolactin concentrations were significantly increased in 11 of 30 non-cycling females, all of which were African elephants. In sum, while there were no consistent endocrine anomalies associated with ovarian acyclicity, hyperprolactinemia may be one cause of ovarian dysfunction. The finding of elevated estrogens in some acyclic females also deserves further investigation, especially determining how it relates to reproductive tract pathologies.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Relationship of diet, abdominal obesity, and physical activity to plasma lipoprotein levels in Asian Indian physicians residing in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship of total fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate and energy intake, leisure-time activity, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and body mass index to the prevalence of atherogenic plasma triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in Asian Indians living in the United States. High plasma TG and low HDL-C levels have been documented in Asian Indians worldwide. DESIGN: This exploratory study examined medical history, demographics, anthropometrics, plasma lipids levels, food intake frequency, and self-reported leisure-time activity. SUBJECTS: 153 Asian Indian male physicians (mean age=47 years) were recruited at two annual national conferences of the American Association of Physicians from India, with free medical assessments as incentives. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Correlational and multiple regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Subjects' diets averaged 56% energy from carbohydrate, 32% from total fat, and 8% from saturated fat. High total fat intake was associated with high WHR (r=.21, P<.01) and high total carbohydrate intake (grams per day) was associated with high TG level (r=.24, P<.05). Leisure-time activity averaged 136 minutes/week and negatively correlated with total plasma cholesterol level (r=.22, P<.01) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (r=.25, P<.001). APPLICATIONS: Dietitians should recommend moderate dietary carbohydrate intake and meal patterns with energy distributed throughout the day, in addition to decreasing fat consumption, to Asian Indian clients at risk for coronary artery disease. High carbohydrate intake and uneven diurnal distribution (no breakfast and large evening meals) are associated with high TG and low HDL-C levels in this population.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Postprandial lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity in young Northern Europeans, South Asians and Latin Americans in the UK.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the higher susceptibility to coronary heart disease and diabetes in South Asian immigrants to the United Kingdom compared with the Caucasian population may reflect insulin resistance and altered postprandial lipid metabolism. We also wished to study Latin Americans, an ethnic group that has not been previously studied in the United Kingdom. The intention was to carry out a detailed study in a relatively small number of subjects to provide essential baseline information for larger epidemiological studies. Postprandial lipaemia was measured in 25 subjects (eight South Asians, eight Latin Americans and nine Northern Europeans) who resided in the United Kingdom. Results from the postprandial studies were correlated to insulin sensitivity measured by the insulin tolerance test, food intake, anthropometry and adipose tissue fatty acid composition. In South Asians, postprandial glucose and insulin concentrations were greater than in the other groups (P<0.01 and <0.05, respectively), although there were no differences in postprandial triacylglycerol concentrations or in insulin sensitivity assessed with the insulin tolerance test. The decreased glucose tolerance in this group could not be explained by differences in percentage body fat, body mass index, or by dietary intake measured by food records or adipose tissue fatty acid composition. We conclude that postprandial lipaemia is not affected in young South Asians compared to Northern Europeans although glucose intolerance is detectable. The results from the present study should help in the design of further postprandial lipid studies in different ethnic groups.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2003

Asia-Pacific mussel watch: monitoring contamination of persistent organochlorine compounds in coastal waters of Asian countries.

Contamination of persistent organochlorines (OCs) such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), DDT and its metabolites (DDTs), HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane) isomers (HCHs), chlordane compounds (CHLs), and HCB (hexachlorobenzene) were examined in mussels collected from coastal waters of Asian countries such as Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Far East Russia, Singapore, and Vietnam in 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2001 to elucidate the contamination status, distribution and possible pollution sources and to assess the risks on aquatic organisms and human. OCs were detected in all mussels collected from all the sampling sites investigated. Considerable residue levels of p,p(')-DDT and alpha-HCH were found in mussels and the concentrations of DDTs and HCHs found in mussels from Asian developing countries were higher than those in developed nations suggesting present usage of DDTs and HCHs along the coastal waters of Asian developing countries. On the other hand, lower concentrations of PCBs detected in mussels from Asian developing countries than those in developed countries indicate that PCBs contamination in mussels is strongly related to industrial and activities. To our knowledge, this is a first comprehensive report on monitoring OCs pollution in the Asia-Pacific region.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Neuroendocrine-associated behavioral patterns in the male Asian elephant (Elephas maximus).

Steroid-responsive behaviors have been reported in various species; however, the reports thus far on the male Asian elephant (bull) during musth are few in number and most have been conducted on single captive animals for short time periods. The purpose of this investigation was to perform a longitudinal study on steroid-responsive behavior in 3 male Asian elephants from a captive herd of 11 male Asian elephants in Nepal. Male Asian elephants were 18, 25, and 43 years old. The animals had serum collected for 11 months and were observed on a daily basis for aggressive behavior according to the Species Survival Plan (SSP) collection protocol on SSP data sheets. Testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were measured in each animal by radioimmunoassay. Testosterone levels rose during musth 26-fold compared to nonmusth, and DHT was elevated 12-fold in musth. Maximal aggressive behavior episodes occurred during peak elevations of T and DHT, with correlation coefficients of 0.82 and 0.89, respectively. Therefore, we suggest that the aggressive episodes are dependent on elevated circulating androgens acting on androgen-responsive neural tissues.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

"Classical" and "Asian" variants of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated in South East England 1977-1980.

Strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were divided into 'classical' and 'Asian' types according to their susceptibility to thiophen-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide (TCH). A study of 6638 new cases of tuberculosis showed that there was a much higher incidence of non-pulmonary disease among Asian than among European patients, and that the TCH-sensitive 'Asian' type of organism was much commoner among the former. There was, however, no correlation between the site of disease and the type of organism. Resistance to antituberculosis drugs was more frequent among strains from Asian patients but there was no correlation between such resistance and susceptibility to TCH. No evidence was therefore found to link differences in the clinical features of tuberculosis in the two populations of patients to the type to organism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Lay diagnosis and health-care-seeking behaviour for chest pain in south Asians and Europeans.

BACKGROUND: South Asian people in the UK experience greater delays than Europeans in obtaining appropriate specialist management for heart disease, but the causes are not known. We investigated whether south Asians and Europeans interpret and act upon anginal symptoms differently. METHODS: We randomly selected 2000 people from general practitioners' (family physicians) lists in London, UK, to receive a questionnaire that included a short fictional case history of an individual with possible anginal pain and asked how respondents would react to experiencing it. A second questionnaire seeking information on medical history, attitudes to health, and demography was sent later. The main outcome measure was the proportion who said they would seek immediate care (hospital emergency department or general practitioner) for the pain described in the case scenario. FINDINGS: The rate of response to both questionnaires was 60.2% (903 of 1500 who received both), 553 responders were of European origin, 124 were Hindu, and 235 were Sikh. There were no differences between the ethnic groups in the proportion identifying the pain as cardiac, but south Asians would be more anxious about the pain than would Europeans. Of the men, 55 (23%) Europeans, 20 (38%) Hindus, and 52 (47%) Sikhs said they would seek immediate care (p < 0.0001 for heterogeneity); of women, 77 (24%), 25 (35%), and 58 (46%), respectively, would seek immediate care (p < 0.0001). After adjustment for confounding variables the odds ratio for seeking immediate care in Hindus compared with Europeans was 2.67 (95% CI 1.49-4.73) and that for Sikhs compared with Europeans was 3.18 (1.98-5.12). INTERPRETATION: Hindus and Sikhs reported a greater likelihood of seeking immediate care for anginal symptoms than Europeans; this finding indicates that barriers to cardiology services for south Asians are unrelated to difficulties in interpretations of symptoms or willingness to seek care. Improvement of awareness of heart disease may not decrease delays in obtaining care. Service-related explanations must be explored, such as general practitioners' difficulties in arriving at a diagnosis or differences in management because of ethnic origin.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Social mobility and self-reported limiting long-term illness among West Indian and South Asian migrants living in England and Wales.

This study examined the relationship between social mobility and self-reported limiting long-term illness (LLTI) in West Indian and South Asian migrants in England and Wales present at the 1971, 1981 and 1991 Censuses in the Office for National Statistics Longitudinal Study. Most people remained in the same social position regardless of migrant status and those who remained most disadvantaged reported more LLTI than those who remained least disadvantaged. Amongst those who were mobile, upward mobility was more common than downward mobility for South Asians and West Indians but not for all other study members. The findings for the impact of downward mobility on LLTI were particularly striking. Migrants who were downwardly mobile reported more LLTI than all other study members. All other study members who were downwardly mobile reported more LLTI than people who remained in the least disadvantaged group they left but less than those who remained in the most disadvantaged group they joined. Downwardly mobile South Asians reported more LLTI than those of the least disadvantaged group but this was not significantly different from the most disadvantaged group they joined. Downwardly mobile West Indians reported also more LLTI than the least disadvantaged group they left but, in contrast, to the South Asians this appeared to be more than that of the disadvantaged group they joined. Empirical studies are needed to understand the context of social mobility and how this affects health-related behaviours and specific diseases among migrants. In a situation where migrants do not have established economic or social support, the loss of resources or self-esteem could have a disproportionate negative effect on their health.

Asia, Southeastern↗
PubMed1998

Social class and health: the puzzling counter-example of British South Asians.

British South Asians (with ancestry from the Indian subcontinent) provided a puzzling exception to the British class gradient in mortality during the 1970s. On the assumption that class gradients in health are produced mainly by gradients in standard of living, this might be due to a break in the relation of class to standard of living (change in class structure), or by a break in the relation of standard of living to patterns of health behaviour and health risk (change in class lifestyles). Data on these characteristics are available from the West of Scotland Twenty-07 Study, where 159 South Asians aged 30-40 (mean age 35) were sampled alongside 319 of the general population in Glasgow. As regards changes in class structure, results indicate that the underclass thesis, which suggests that ethnic minorities are forced into less eligible jobs or into a separate labour market or into unemployment, resulting in a standard of living below that of the general population, still holds good for British South Asians in categories from social class III non-manual downwards. It does not hold good for owners of small businesses, where Sikhs and Hindus in particular have a standard of living equivalent to general population counterparts. However, prosperity is not predictable from levels of education in the subcontinent and from this and other signs it appears that a wholesale redistribution of class chances is occurring among British South Asians, disrupting inter-and intra-generational continuities in the relation between class and standard of living. There is little sign of change in class lifestyles, i.e. in the relation between standard of living and health behaviour or health risk. As yet, though, the new distribution of standard of living is affecting patterns of health behaviour and health risk more strongly than symptom experience or chronic illness, suggesting that a class gradient in health will re-emerge.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The status of the Japanese and East Asian bats of the genus Myotis (Vespertilionidae) based on mitochondrial sequences.

The genus Myotis includes the largest number of species in the family Vespertilionidae (Chiroptera), and its members are distributed throughout most of the world. To re-evaluate the phylogenetic position of East Asian Myotis species with respect to Myotis species worldwide, we analyzed mitochondrial gene sequences of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 and cytochrome b from 24 East Asian individuals as well as 42 vespertilionid bats determined previously. The results suggest that: (1) some individuals having the same species name in Europe and Japan do not form a monophyletic clade, indicating that some bat species exhibit morphological convergence, (2) Japanese Myotis mystacinus forms a sister relationship with Myotis brandtii (Palaearctic), and both species are included in the American clade implying that an ancestor of these species originated in North America, and (3) the Black whiskered bat, Myotis pruinosus, is endemic to Japan and forms sister relationships with Myotis yanbarensis and Myotis montivagus collected from Okinawa (Japan) and Selangor (Malaysia), respectively, implying that M. pruinosus originated from the south. The systematics of Japanese and East Asian Myotis bats were revisited by considering their phylogenetic relationships. Our study provides the first extensive phylogenetic hypothesis of the genus Myotis that includes East Asian and Japanese species.

Adaptation, Biological↗
PubMed2003

Two Corbicula (Corbiculidae: Bivalvia) mitochondrial lineages are widely distributed in Asian freshwater environment.

We investigated the biogeography of Asian Corbicula using mitochondrial gene sequence variation for Corbicula members sampled from 24 localities of eight Asian regions. A total of 210 individuals were genetically characterized by examining sequence variations of a 614 bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene. Phylogenetic analyses of the COI dataset revealed that Corbicula members are subdivided into two well-supported clades: estuarine and freshwater. A robust dichotomy between the Japanese/Korean (Corbicula japonica) and Chinese (Corbicula fluminalis) estuarine forms was evident, suggesting that these two regional populations represent a deep phylogeographic split. Our mitochondrial gene tree showed that among the freshwater members, two Corbicula mitochondrial lineages are the most common, having attained extensive geographic distribution in the Asian freshwater environment. While the present study provides significant biogeographic information on Asian Corbicula, a comprehensive phylogenetic study by cross-referencing the mitochondrial-based Corbicula phylogeny with nuclear gene data is required to fully understand the evolutionary origin(s) of triploidy/clonality in this genus.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

A prelimary study of a health-promoting lifestyle among South Asian women in Taiwan.

The purpose of this study was to determine and understand the predicting factors of a health-promoting lifestyle (HPL) in Southeast Asian women in Taiwan. One hundred and five Southeast Asian women in Tainan were recruited. Face-to-face interviews with structured questionnaires were used for data collection. The findings showed that, among the six dimensions of HPL, subjects scored highest in self-actualization and lowest in health responsibility. Subjects who could read and write Chinese had a more positive HPL; stepwise regression analysis revealed that the ability to read Chinese could explain 26.2% of the total variance of HPL in Southeast Asian women. The results of this study can help health care professionals understand the HPL and to design appropriate health-promoting educational programs to improve the well-being and overall quality of life of Southeast Asian women in Taiwan.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Polymorphism of the human ABO-Secretor locus (FUT2) in four populations in Asia: indication of distinct Asian subpopulations.

The polymorphic alleles of the human ABO-Secretor locus (FUT2 or Se) show high heterogeneity and overt ethnic specificity. To provide additional data for analysis to elucidate the origins of populations, we have investigated the allelic polymorphism of FUT2 in 40 unrelated Tibetan and 53 Tamang individuals from Nepal, 42 Indonesian individuals from Surabaya, and 55 Uygur individuals from Urumqi, using DNA sequencing. In Tibetan, Tamang and Indonesian populations, the frequency of a nonfunctional allele, se 357,385, which is found only in Asian populations, was 0.638, 0.509 and 0.631, respectively. In Uygur, the se 428, which is common in Caucasian populations, and the se 357,385 consisting of two common nonfunctional FUT2 alleles, had frequencies of 0.3 and 0.145, respectively. The fixation index (F ST) based on genetic differentiation was obtained pairwise among the four populations in this study and six populations in our previous studies. The results suggested that genetic differentiation among Tibetan, Tamang, Indonesian and East Asian populations is very low, while the distribution feature of the FUT2 alleles in the Uygur population implied an admixture of European with Asian. The distribution of nonfunctional alleles at the FUT2 locus provided further evidence of human migration among the Asian populations.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1994

Cross protection against Taenia taeniaeformis in rats vaccinated with non-viable oncospheres of Asian Taenia or T. saginata.

It was determined to examine whether rats injected with non-viable oncospheres of Asian Taenia or Taenia saginata became resistant to challenge infection with eggs of Taenia taeniaeformis, since (a) metacestodes of Asian Taenia and T. taeniaeformis develop in the liver of pigs and rats, respectively, and (b) Asian Taenia and T. saginata have human origins. Rats injected intravenously or subcutaneously with complete Freund's adjuvant with non-viable oncospheres of Asian Taenia showed statistically significant resistance to challenge infection with eggs of T. taeniaeformis, whereas those injected with non-viable oncospheres of T. saginata did not show any resistance.

Animals↗
PubMed1970

A comparison of monovalent Hong Kong influenza virus vaccine with vaccines containing only pre-1968 Asian strains in adult volunteers. A report to the Medical Research Council Committee on Influenza and other Respiratory Virus Vaccines.

A total of 1601 adult industrial workers were vaccinated with either monovalent inactivated vaccine of the Hong Kong strain of influenza A virus, or with polyvalent vaccine containing only pre-1968 Asian viruses. Serological investigations on a random sample of volunteers showed that 53/56 (95%) given Hong Kong vaccine developed a significant rise in specific haemagglutination-inhibiting antibody; final titres were 1/48 or greater in 39 (70%) and the GMT (geometric mean titre) was 96.5. After polyvalent Asian vaccine, 40/67 (60%) also produced antibody against Hong Kong virus, but only 21 (31%) had final titres of 1/48 or above, and the GMT rose only to 14.1. An intranasal spray of the Hong Kong vaccine in addition to injected Asian vaccine gave no additional increase in antibody.Each type of vaccine stimulated a recall of pre-existing antibody against Asian viruses. The possible significance of heterologous responses to the two vaccines is discussed.The incidence of clinical influenza in the trial population was sporadic, and the infection rates were too low to allow any accurate estimate of the protective efficiency of the two vaccines.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

GP consultation as a factor in the low rate of mental health service use by Asians.

Patients attending five Health Centres in areas of NW London with a high Asian population were asked to complete a questionnaire screening for non-psychotic psychiatric illness and to state why they had come to see their doctor. The GPs were also asked to rate the purpose of the consultation for those patients who scored above the cut-off point on the questionnaire. The screening questionnaire revealed equivalent rates of non-psychotic psychiatric morbidity in the White and Asian samples and no differences in the way their symptoms were presented. The differences that did emerge showed that Asian patients scoring above the cut-off for psychiatric caseness were more likely to state that they were consulting their GP about a physical problem and GPs were more likely to identify psychiatric morbidity in White than Asian patients who exceeded the cut-off threshold. The results suggest the possibility of an interaction between the ways in which patients experience and communicate psychological distress, their ethnic origin, and their GP's mode of responding.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Psychological distress among British South Asians: the contribution of stressful situations and subcultural differences in the West of Scotland Twenty-07 Study.

BACKGROUND: This paper seeks to explain an excess of psychological distress previously found among groups of British South Asians (with ancestry from the Indian subcontinent) living in Glasgow, compared with the general population. The excess was found on a psychosomatic measure and a measure of self-assessed distress but not on a clinically validated measure (the General Health Questionnaire or GHQ). The paper investigates whether South Asians are subject to stressful situations to which the GHQ is less sensitive than the other two measures. METHODS: Random samples of 159 South Asians aged 30-40, mean age 35, and 319 from the general population, all aged 35, were interviewed in Glasgow, using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), a psychosomatic symptom scale (PSS) and a self-assessment of distress. Subcultural groupings were differentiated by South Asian origin, English fluency, religion, and gender. Stressful situations assessed were experience of assault, stress/dissatisfaction with work, overcrowding, low standard of living, absence of family and absence of confidants. RESULTS: The GHQ-12 was less sensitive to certain stressful situations than the other two measures. The PSS and/or self-assessed distress were more sensitive to low standard of living, self-rated stress in work around the house and possibly experience of assault. In a combined analysis, the relation between distress on the PSS or self-assessed measure and subcultural groupings became nonsignificant, while the relation between distress and key stressful situations remained significant. CONCLUSIONS: The greater distress of women, Muslims and limited English speakers is largely explained by the stressful situations they experience. The GHQ-12 under-estimates distress related to situations experienced particularly by ethnic minorities and by women.

Adult↗