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Ankylosing spondylitis and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis in Kuwait: a comparison between Arabs and South Asians.

The objectives of this study were to describe and compare the clinical characteristics of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis (USpA) in Middle East Arab (MEA) and South Asian (SA) patients diagnosed in our unit. Fifty-eight consecutive patients diagnosed with SpA were studied after classifying them into MEA and SA. They were further classified as per disease diagnosis. Excluding three patients with miscellaneous ethnicity, there were 29 MEA and 26 SA patients. Seventy-two percent of MEA patients were males (vs 92% of SA patients). Of the 29 patients with MEA ethnicity, 17 had AS and 9 had USpA. Of the 26 patients with SA ethnicity, 10 had AS and 14 had USpA. Fifty-nine percent of MEA patients had AS (vs 39% of SA patients). Mean age at onset in AS patients was similar in the two ethnic groups. However, in patients with USpA, mean age at onset was somewhat lower at 21.8 years in the MEA group compared with 29.4 years in the SA group. Family history in first-degree relatives was significantly more common in MEA patients. Weight loss, inflammatory spinal pain, gluteal pain, and enthesopathy were equally common in both ethnic groups. Knee, ankle, and metatarsophalangeal joint involvement was less common in MEA patients. There were no significant differences in the occurrence of syndesmophytes, bamboo spine, and sacroiliitis in the two ethnic groups. HLA-B27 positivity rates in MEA patients were 87% for AS and 67% for USpA compared to 75 and 71%, respectively, in SA patients. It is concluded that some significant new findings have arisen from this study: the majority of MEA patients presented with AS, whereas the majority of SA patients had a picture of USpA. Family history was more common in MEA patients. Peripheral arthritis was less common in MEA patients. Worldwide, this is the first study to show that there are significant differences in the clinical expression of the various SpA in MEA patients compared to SA patients.

Adolescent↗

Intimate partner violence associated with poor health outcomes in U.S. South Asian women.

To assess the associations between Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) victimization and health outcomes of South Asian women in Greater Boston. To explore the nature of the health experiences of victimized women in this population. Cross-sectional surveys with a community-based sample of women in relationships with males (n = 208) assessed demographics, IPV history, and health. In-depth interviews were conducted with a separate sample of women with a history of IPV (n = 23). Quantitative data were assessed by logistic regression, qualitative data by a grounded theory approach. Twenty-one percent of the quantitative sample reported IPV in the current relationship. Abused women were significantly more likely than those with no history of IPV in their current relationship to report poor physical health (95% CI = 1.3-12.0), depression (95% CI = 1.8-9.3), anxiety (95% CI = 1.3-6.4), and suicidal ideation (95% CI = 1.9-25.1). Qualitative subjects described how victimization resulted in injury and chronic health concerns and how IPV-induced depression and anxiety affected their sleep, appetite, energy, and wellbeing. Experiences of IPV are related to increased poor health among South Asian women. This elevated risk demands intervention. Healthcare providers should be trained to screen and refer South Asian patients for partner violence.

Adolescent↗

Nucleotide sequences and functions of the Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 genes isolated from salivary gland lymphoepithelial carcinomas.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is associated with salivary gland lymphoepithelial carcinoma (SLEC) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). EBV is a ubiquitous herpes virus world wide, but EBV-associated SLEC and NPC are prevalent in restricted regions such as south areas of China, Southeastern Asia and Greenland (Eskimos). To examine whether particular EBV variants play roles in the development of SLEC and NPC, we isolated the complete EBV LMP1 genes from 12 paraffin-embedded biopsy samples of SLECs isolated from China, Taiwan and Russia, and compared these LMP1 genes with those of NPC (CAO) and the prototype B95-8 EBV. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that SLECs LMP1 is more similar to that of CAO than that of prototype B95-8. The analysis also identified several conserved (67-100%) variations in SLEC-LMP1 and CAO-LMP1 distinct from B95-8-LMP1. These included 10-amino acid deletion, 5-amino acid deletion and 12-single amino acid variations. A SLEC-LMP1 gene with the aforementioned conserved variations inhibited the growth of an embryonic kidney cell line (293T), highly activated the NF-kappaB pathway, and these activities were equivalent to those of B95-8 and CAO. These findings suggest that the biological functions of SLEC-LMP 1 are similar to those of B95-8-LMP1 and CAO-LMP1, and that these amino acid variations including the well-known 10-aa deletion did not affect these two prominent activities. While the present results could not uncover functional differences between SLEC-LMP1 and B95-8-LMP1, the nucleotide sequences and the molecular clone of LMP1 directly isolated from SLEC patients will be a useful tool to identify the high-pathogenic EBV strain(s), associated with SLEC and NPC.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Gender differences in socioeconomic returns to family migration in Malaysia: the role of family decision making versus labor market stratification.

In this article the author examines gender differences in the effect of family migration on socioeconomic attainment in Malaysia. The analysis discerns the relative importance of gender roles in household migration decisions, compared to gender stratification in the labor market. The Malaysian economy has undergone rapid industrialization and great structural changes which have opened up new economic opportunities, particularly for women. Despite the somewhat advantaged position of women compared to men in the Malaysian labor market, the author finds that men experience much greater socioeconomic gains than women from family migration. Hence indicating that family migration decisions in Malaysia, rather than optimizing family gains, compensate for the gender effect in the labor market. However, the gains of Malaysian men are more assured when they move alone. Data for the study come from the second round of the Malaysian Family Life Survey.

Asia↗

A comparison of four methods for projecting households.

"The purpose of this paper is to extend the headship rate method for projecting households to encompass both sexes. Four models are considered that explicitly incorporate the impact of changes in the number of men and women on the number and joint age distribution of husband-wife households. The models are applied to the Philippines using data from the 1988 National Demographic Survey to project households to 2010. The models are also evaluated by 'backcasting' and comparing the results with special tabulations from the 1970 and 1980 censuses and the 1975 National Demographic Survey."

Age Distribution↗

The transmigration programme in Indonesian national development strategy: current status and future requirements.

The author reviews the Indonesian transmigration program. He notes that over four million people moved in the period from the program's 1904 inception through mid-1986. "Despite considerable success the programme has been plagued by numerous problems. These include inadequate income levels, improper site selection, poor matching of settlement models to the specific sites, environmental deterioration, migrant adjustment, land conflicts and financing." Current efforts to improve existing settlements, encourage spontaneous migraton, and involve the private sector are also described.

Asia↗

Urbanization within the Indonesian economy: a policy dilemma.

"Most Third World countries have serious problems relating to rapid urban growth but attempts to solve urban problems have generally failed. This paper looks at the urban issues of one country, Indonesia, and the attempts by the Indonesian government to control rural to urban migration. Contradictions between macroeconomic and urban policies, however, have undermined government programmes."

Asia↗

Age at marriage in Malaysia: a hazard model of marriage timing.

"This paper estimates a proportional hazards model for the timing of age at marriage of women in Malaysia. We hypothesize that age at marriage responds significantly to differences in male and female occupations, race, and age. We find considerable empirical support for the relevance of economic variables in determining age at marriage as well as evidence of strong differences in marriage patterns across races."

Age Factors↗

Safety assessment of (-)-hydroxycitric acid and Super CitriMax, a novel calcium/potassium salt.

(-)-Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is a principle constituent (10-30%) of the dried fruit rind of Garcinia cambogia, a plant native to Southeastern Asia. The dried rind has been used for centuries throughout Southeast Asia as a food preservative, flavoring agent and carminative. Extensive experimental studies show that HCA inhibits fat synthesis and reduces food intake. The objective of this review is to systematically review the available safety/toxicity literature on HCA to determine its safety in-use. The primary mechanism of action of HCA appears to be related to its ability to act as a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme ATP-citrate lyase, which catalyzes the conversion of citrate and coenzyme A to oxaloacetate and acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA), primary building blocks of fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis. Super CitriMax, a novel calcium/potassium-HCA extract (HCA-SX), is considerably more soluble and bioavailable than calcium-based HCA ingredients. Acute oral toxicity studies in animals demonstrate that CitriMax (50% HCA as calcium salt) has a low acute oral toxicity. In a subchronic study in rats, the gavage administration of HCA-SX at doses up to 2500 mg/kg/day for a period of 90 days caused a significant decrease in body weight and reduction in feed consumption without any adverse effects. The structure, mechanism of action, long history of use of HCA and other toxicity studies indicate that HCA-SX is unlikely to cause reproductive or developmental effects. HCA-SX was not mutagenic in the presence or absence of metabolic activation in Ames genotoxicity assays in strains TA98 and TA102. HCA-SX-induced increases in number of revertants in other strains (TA100 and TA1535 in the absence of metabolic activation and in strain TA1537 in the presence of metabolic activation) but these were not considered as biologically indicative of a mutagenic effect. In several, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials employing up to 2800 mg/day HCA, no treatment-related adverse effects were reported. There is sufficient qualitative and quantitative scientific evidence, including animal and human data suggesting that intake of HCA at levels up to 2800 mg/day is safe for human consumption.

Animals↗

Estimation of internal radiation dose to the adult Asian population from the dietary intakes of two long-lived radionuclides.

Daily dietary intakes of two naturally occurring long-lived radionuclides, 232Th and 238U, were estimated for the adult population living in a number of Asian countries, using highly sensitive analytical methods such as instrumental and radiochemical neutron activation analysis (INAA and RNAA), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The Asian countries that participated in the study were Bangladesh (BGD), China (CPR), India (IND), Japan (JPN), Pakistan (PAK), Philippines (PHI), Republic of Korea (ROK) and Vietnam (VIE). Altogether, these countries represent more than 50% of the world population. The median daily intakes of 232Th ranged between 0.6 and 14.4 mBq, the lowest being for Philippines and the highest for Bangladesh, and daily intakes of 238U ranged between 6.7 and 62.5 mBq, lowest and the highest being for India and China, respectively. The Asian median intakes were obtained as 4.2 mBq for 232Th and 12.7 mBq for 238U. Although the Asian intakes were lower than intakes of 12.3 mBq (3.0 ug) 232Th and 23.6 mBq (1.9 ug) 238U proposed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) for the ICRP Reference Man, they were comparable to the global intake values of 4.6 mBq 232Th and 15.6 mBq 238U proposed by the United Nation Scientific Commission on Effects of Radiation (UNSCEAR). The annual committed effective doses to Asian population from the dietary intake of 232Th and 238U were calculated to be 0.34 and 0.20 microSv, respectively, which are three orders of magnitude lower than the global average annual radiation dose of 2400 microSv to man from the natural radiation sources as proposed by UNSCEAR.

Adult↗

Characterization of H5N1 influenza A viruses isolated during the 2003-2004 influenza outbreaks in Japan.

In Japan, between the end of December 2003 and March 2004, four outbreaks of acute, highly transmissible and lethal disease occurred in birds in three prefectures separated by 150-450 km, involving three chicken farms and a group of chickens raised as pets. The cause of each outbreak was an H5N1 influenza A virus-the first highly pathogenic virus to be isolated from the outbreaks in Japan since 1925. The H5N1 virus was also isolated from dead crows, apparently infected by contact with virus-contaminated material. These H5N1 viruses were antigenically similar to each other, but could be differentiated from other H5 viruses, including those isolated from Hong Kong in 1997 and 2003, by use of a panel of monoclonal antibodies in hemagglutination inhibition assays. Genetically, the H5N1 viruses in Japan were closely related to each other in all genes and were genetically closely related to a single isolate of genotype V that was isolated in 2003 in the Guandong Province of mainland China (A/chicken/Shantou/4231/2003). The virulence of the index isolate (A/chicken/Yamaguchi/7/2004) was studied in chickens and mice. Chickens intravenously or intranasally inoculated with the isolate died within 1 or 3 days of inoculation, respectively. In mice, although this virus replicated well in the lung without prior adaptation and spread to the brain, the dose lethal to 50% of the mice was 5 x 10(5) 50% egg infectious doses (EID50), which is less pathogenic than the Hong Kong 1997 H5N1 viruses isolated from humans. Our findings indicate that the H5N1 viruses associated with the influenza outbreaks in chickens in Japan were genotypically closely related to an H5N1 virus isolated from chicken in China in 2003 (genotype V), but were different from those prevalent in southeastern Asia in 2003-2004 (i.e., genotype Z) and that these highly pathogenic viruses can be transmitted to crows, which are highly susceptible to these viruses.

Animals↗