Anthropological studies of human skeletal remains from Cook Islands, Polynesia —Prehistoric skulls from Pukapuka atoll—

Anthropological surveys of the Pukapuka Atoll, the Northern Cook Islands, discovered several intements dated around 1500 B.P, from which twenty-five interred human remains were retrieved. This study describes several features revealed from analyses on the skulls of 6 males.

Preterm low birth weights associated with periodontal disease in the Fiji Islands

AIM: To determine any association between pre-term low birth weight (PTLBW) neonates and periodontal disease during the mother's pregnancy. DESIGN: A multi-centered prospective case cohort study. SETTING: Ante-natal clinics at the Colonial War Memorial and Lautoka Hospitals, Fiji from 1st January to 30th June 2004. PARTICIPANTS: 670 multiethnic pregnant women. METHODS: Participants were interviewed to identify confounding variables--medical conditions, smoking, alcohol consumption, maternal age and history of preterm birth. Oral examination was conducted and included the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN). Delivery outcome was recorded for each woman. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 25.80 +/- 5.56 years. 1.9% (n=13) women delivered preterm babies. More than 50% of this group displayed moderate to severe periodontitis compared with 13% of women who had a normal delivery. Preterm birth was also associated with the mother having had a previous preterm birth and who was more likely to be Indo-Fijian (p < 0.01). There was no significant association with where the mother lived; however, rural women with PTLBW babies had more severe periodontal disease (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: There is a highly significant association between pre-term birth and moderate to severe periodontal disease (p = 0.0001).     

Familial aggregation of Parkinson's disease in the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands are a geographic population isolated in the North Atlantic with a high prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD). Although environmental risk factors are well described, the familial aggregation of PD on the Islands has yet to be explored. Complete ascertainment of all patients with PD was performed, including 217 cases and 251 control subjects. All patients were neurologically assessed and diagnosed using UK Brain Bank criteria and Hohn and Yahr staging. Comprehensive genealogical and detailed cartographic analyses were performed. Relative risk and risk ratios were calculated with respect to the general population. Patients with PD in the Faroes have a higher age at symptom onset and diagnosis than for neighboring countries. Clinically, patients are similar; however, they are more likely to have affected relatives than randomly selected control subjects, matched by sex and age. Disease is most prevalent within two geographic regions. Overall, the relative risk for PD was 2.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2‐4.3; P = 0.008) for siblings and 1.4 (95% CI, 1.01‐1.99, P = 0.04) for first cousins. The etiology and excess prevalence of PD on the Faroes is complicated. Regional and familial clustering, and subsequent segregation analysis, suggests the disease best fits a genetic etiology with limited support for an environmental contribution. Pedigree‐based analysis of PD on the Faroe Islands which has few founders and a relatively homogeneous background may elaborate on these possibilities and their joint contribution. © 2015 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society     

Ten-year trends in compliance with the current Spanish nutritional objectives in Balearic Islands adult population (2000–2010)

ObjectiveThe Balearic Islands, a well-known Spanish tourist destination for Europeans, is undergoing profound social events, which are reflected in the current food patterns of this population. The aim of this study was to assess 10-year trends (2000–2010) in compliance with the current Spanish nutritional objectives among the adult population of the Balearic Islands.MethodsTwo independent cross-sectional dietary surveys were carried out among the adult population (16–65 y) of the Balearic Islands in 2000 (n = 1200) and 2010 (n = 1350). Dietary habits were assessed by means of two non-consecutive 24-h diet recalls.ResultsThe proportion of adults complying with the nutritional objectives for consumption of dietary fiber, folate, saturated fatty acids, cholesterol, carbohydrate, and fruit has increased over the 10-y span. In 2009 and 2010, 25% of participants met the nutritional objectives for folate, calcium, monounsaturated fatty acid, cholesterol, and fruit. These results are not affected by age, occupational status, or birthplace.ConclusionsThe percentage of compliers with the Spanish nutritional objectives has increased for 6 to 11 items over the 10-y period. A reduction in saturated fatty acid and cholesterol intake, and an increase in dietary fiber, carbohydrate, fruit, vegetables, folate, and calcium intake should be recommended.     

Antibacterial resistance in Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS) from healthy carriers and tonsillitis patients and association with antibacterial sale in the Faroe Islands

The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial resistance of Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS), and correlate the findings with the sales of erythromycin and tetracycline. General practitioners in the Faroe Islands were recruited to send oropharyngeal swabs. From an ongoing pneumococcal study, nasopharyngeal swabs were sampled from healthy children 0–7 years of age. Erythromycin susceptibility data from Iceland were obtained from the reference laboratory at the Landspitali University Hospital. Susceptibility testing in the Faroe Islands and Iceland was performed according to CLSI methods and criteria. The resistance rate to erythromycin and tetracycline found in patients in the Faroe Islands in 2009/2010 was 6% and 30% respectively. Tetracycline resistance in patients declined significantly from 2009 to 2010 (37–10%, p‐value = 0.006 < 0.05) and differed significantly between age groups (p‐value = 0.03 < 0.05). In Iceland, there was a peak in erythromycin resistance in 2008 (44%) and a substantial decrease in 2009 (5%). Although the prevalence of erythromycin and tetracycline resistance in the Faroe Islands and Iceland may be associated with antimicrobial use, sudden changes can occur with the introduction of new resistant clones.     

Dengue Virus Type 3, South Pacific Islands, 2013

After an 18-year absence, dengue virus serotype 3 reemerged in the South Pacific Islands in 2013. Outbreaks in western (Solomon Islands) and eastern (French Polynesia) regions were caused by different genotypes. This finding suggested that immunity against dengue virus serotype, rather than virus genotype, was the principal determinant of reemergence.     

Pancreatic Cancer in the Faroe Islands: An Epidemiologic Study of Patients with Pancreatic Cancer in the Faroe Islands 1972–82

An epidemiologic study of pancreatic cancer was performed in the Faroe Islands, which have 44,000 inhabitants. All the patients with this diagnosis in the period 1972–82 were reviewed. The material comprised 57 patients. The diagnosis was confirmed microscopically in 67%, by explorative laporatomy in 28%, and by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in 5% of the patients. The average annual age-standardized incidence per 100,000 inhabitants (world standard) was 10.7 among men and 7.9 among women. The incidence of pancreatic cancer on the Faroe Islands is at the same high level as in the other Scandinavian countries, suggesting that industrial pollution has no pathogenic role. Nor could diseases or environmental, occupational, or familial factors be identified in the development of pancreatic cancer. High intake of lipids, available carbohydrates, and alcohol can be a contributory cause of developing pancreatic cancer.     

Haemophilus ducreyi Associated with Skin Ulcers among Children,Solomon Islands

During a survey of yaws prevalence in the Solomon Islands, we collected samples from skin ulcers of 41 children. Using PCR, we identified Haemophilus ducreyi infection in 13 (32%) children. PCR-positive and PCR-negative ulcers were phenotypically indistinguishable. Emergence of H. ducreyi as a cause of nongenital ulcers may affect the World Health Organization’s yaws eradication program.     

幽门螺杆菌诱导胃上皮细胞白细胞介素-8基因转录的信号转导机制

背景:亚洲与欧美国家的幽门螺杆菌(H.pylori)细胞毒素相关基因致病岛(cogPAI)存在地域差异,但此种差异与胃上皮细胞白细胞介素(IL)-8基因转录信号转导机制之间的关系尚不明确.目的:探讨我国H.pylori菌株诱导胃上皮细胞IL-8基因转录的信号转导机制.方法:以DNA杂交法分析长海医院5株临床分离H.pylori菌株的cagPAI状态.将含IL-8报告基因的人胃上皮细胞系L5F11分别与5株H.pylori共培养,或与各蛋白激酶(PK)抑制剂预作用1 h后再行共培养,用液体闪烁计数仪测定L5H11细胞的荧光素酶活性(IL-8基因转录),用酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)检测IL-8蛋白浓度.结果:在所分离的5株临床H.pylori菌株中,4株具有完整的cag PAI,1株cag PAI部分丢失.蛋白酪氨酸激酶(PTK)抑制剂除莠霉素A不仅能显著抑制H.pylori诱导的L5F11细胞的荧光素酶活性(P＜0.05或P＜0.01),而且能抑制其IL-8蛋白的分泌(P＜0.05或P＜0.01);PKG抑制剂KT5823和PKC抑制剂抑激酶素C对H.pylori诱导的IL-8基因转录和蛋白分泌均无影响.结论:与欧美国家的H.pylori菌株一样,本研究临床分离的H.pylori菌株亦通过PTK途径诱导胃上皮细胞IL-8基因转录.