PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W S Laughlin

Publications and source records attributed to W S Laughlin.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1988

Genetic variation in the Aleuts of the Pribilof Islands and the Eskimos of Kodiak Island.

A sample of Aleuts residing in the Pribilof Islands of St. Paul (N = 163) and St. George (N = 62) and Eskimo residents of Kodiak Island (N = 294) have been typed for genetic variation at 31 discrete genetic markers. Of these, 16 were polymorphic and 15 were monomorphic. Several private polymorphisms previously reported in Eskimo or Alaskan Amerindian populations were absent in both the Aleuts and Kodiak Island Eskimos. Genetic distance analysis shows considerable genetic differentiation between Aleuts and Kodiak Island Eskimos.

Alaska↗
PubMed1985

Bone mineral and vitamin D in Aleutian Islanders.

Serum concentrations of vitamin D metabolites (chromatography) and bone mineral status (125I absorptiometry) were examined in a group of Aleutian Islanders age 40-75 from St Paul Island, Alaska. Based on 25-(OH)D (16.6 ng/ml) vitamin D status appeared adequate. However, high concentrations of 1,25-(OH)2D (44.3 pg/ml) and very low concentrations of 24,25-(OH)2D3 (0.6 ng/ml) were found. Among females, low bone mineral levels were associated with high concentrations of 1,25-(OH)2D. A low calcium intake in these Aleutians may be responsible for high concentrations of 1,25-(OH)2D and resorption of calcium from bone.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Physical growth of St. Lawrence Island Eskimos: body size, proportion, and composition.

Growth patterns of body size, proportion, and composition were analyzed in 57 male and 56 female Eskimos from St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea, ranging in age from 1.23 through 19.82 years. Age-groups means for whites and blacks of the U.S. Health Examination Survey served as reference data. Relative to HES data, the Eskimo sample were shorter with lower values for leg length, while there were no differences from the reference values for sitting height. The Eskimos also had higher values of Quetelet's Index, the sitting height/height ratio, and the upper arm muscle circumference, while there were no differences in body weight or triceps skinfold thickness. Differences from the reference data were more pronounced in males than in females. The growth patterns for size and body proportion are in conformity with known relationships between morphology and climate.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

The St. Lawrence Island Eskimos: genetic variation and genetic distance.

The Eskimos of St. Lawrence Island have been typed for genetic variation at 44 discrete genetic loci. Three private polymorphisms, at the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate mutase, peptidase B, and purine nucleoside phosphorylase loci, have been observed, which may be useful in future studies of genetic relationships between Eskimos and other circumpolar populations. Genetic distance analysis reveals a close relationship between the St. Lawrence Island Eskimos and other Eskimo populations and that the Eskimo populations form a distinct cluster from Amerindian populations. The St. Lawrence Island Eskimos appear to be more similar to Asiatic Eskimos than to other groups. Caucasian admixture in this population is estimated to be between 2 and 7%.

Alaska↗
PubMed1981

The paleopathology of an Aleutian mummy.

A multidisciplinary team examined an Aleutian mummy from the collection of the Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology of Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. The mummy, dating from the early 18th century, was of a middle-aged woman who had suffered from pulmonary and ear infections, atherosclerosis, pediculosis, and degenerative joint disease. Another finding was anthracosis, common in ancient bodies and related to indoor heating and cooking fires. Skeletal lead was not found, in contrast with the high levels seen in modern persons. No neoplasms were identified, again consistent with the results of previous studies of ancient human remains. Such comparisons of ancient and modern morbidity and mortality provide a historical perspective on the evolution and cause of human disease.

Alaska↗
PubMed1978

Distribution of albumin variants Naskapi amd Mexico among Aleuts, Frobisher Bay Eskimos, and Micmac, Naskapi, Mohawk, Omaha, and Apache Indians.

In order to help define the boundaries of the distribution of the albumin variants Naskapi and Mexico which are polymorphic among several American Indian groups, we examined sera from Micmac, Mohawk, Northwest River Naskapi, Omaha and Apache Indians, and from Aleuts and Eskimos. Sera from a total of 1,524 individuals were examined. Using a cellulose acetate membrane electrophoretic system with Tris-Citric acid at pH 5.4 we were able to distinguish normal albumin and both variants in the same run. Naskapi and Mexico variants were absent from Aleut, Eskimo, Micmac, Mohawk and Omaha samples. The albumin Naskapi variant was present in an allele frequency of 0.03 in the Naskapi Indian sample. Albumin variants Naskapi and Mexico were found in the Apache sample at frequencies of 0.016 and 0.037, respectively. This report supersedes that previously published by Schell and Agarwal ('76). Generally, within an area there is a correspondence between changes in the frequency of albumin variants and changes in the ethnic background and history of the area's populations. At the same time, when viewing widely separated areas, relationships between distant groups based on linguistic and cultural similarities are paralleled on a biologic level by the distribution of normal albumin and variant albumins.

Alleles↗