The M129V polymorphism of codon 129 in the prion gene (PRNP) in the Danish population

Since variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) was described for the first time in 1995 and fears of an epidemic ensued, the assumed culprit the prion protein (PrP) and its precursor the prion-gene (PRNP) have been subjects to intense studies. Several polymorphisms in PRNP modify disease probability and phenotype. Importantly, two common variants of codon 129 in PRNP code for methionine (Met) or valine (Val), respectively. All hitherto known cases of vCJD have been Met/Met homozygotes. The aim of this study was to investigate the susceptibility to vCJD in the Danish population by determining the distribution of the codon 129 polymorphism. The occurrence of three other relevant polymorphisms were investigated: An alanine (Ala) silent mutation on codon 117, an aspargine-serine (Asn-Ser) mutation on codon 171 and deletions or insertions in the moeity known as the octapeptide region of PRNP. DNA was isolated from 352 samples and alleles were detected by allele specific real-time PCR and/or restriction endonuclease treatment followed by agarose gelelectrophoresis. The distribution of the genotypes at codon 129 was found to be Met/Met 35%, Met/Val 48% and Val/Val 17%. The other polymorphisms were found to be very rare. These data are similar to British data; but differ from the Finnish, Slovakian, Turkish and Japanese distributions, where the Met allele is more abundant. The genetic results indicate that the Danish population is vulnerable to vCJD to the same degree as the British. In Finland, Slovakia, Turkey and Japan the higher frequency of the Met allele may increase the vulnerability to vCJD.     

A study of colo-rectal carcinoma in the Asian and European populations in the city of Leicester from 1981 to 1991

For many years clinical reports have suggested that colo-rectal cancer is uncommon in the Asian population resident in England and a report in 1990 confirmed this in Asians living in Bradford. This study aims to establish the incidence of colo-rectal cancer in the Asian population resident in the city of Leicester during the 11 y period 1 January 1981-31 December 1991. The relative frequency of colo-rectal carcinoma in Asians compared to Europeans over the period studied was 0.16 (Asian/European, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.04-0.75). This difference was statistically significant and further analysis showed that there was a real trend with an increased relative frequency amongst the younger age groups. Although there was a significantly lower incidence of colo-rectal carcinoma in the Asian population in Leicester city over the period studied it is unknown whether this is due to environmental or genetic factors. During the next decade it is likely to become clearer as to whether this difference will persist or whether there will be an increase in the incidence of colo-rectal carcinoma in Asians in Leicestershire.     

Noncommunicable diseases and risk factors in adult populations of several Pacific Islands: results from the WHO STEPwise approach to surveillance

Objective: To provide an overview of the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors in several Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs), in accordance with global NCD targets. Methods: For six risk factors, data for adults (aged 25–64 years) from published reports of the World Health Organization STEPwise approach to NCD surveillance, or methodologically similar surveys, were collated, age standardised and compared across fifteen PICTs. Results: In the majority of PICT populations, more than half of male current drinkers drank heavily and more than 40% of men and 20% of women were current smokers. In 10 populations, about 50% or more of women were insufficiently physically active. Prevalence of hypertension and diabetes exceeded 20% and 25%, respectively, in several populations. Near or more than half of men and women in all populations were overweight; in most, more than one‐third of both sexes were obese. Conclusions: The prevalence of NCDs and risk factors varies widely between PICTs and by sex. The evidence shows the high and alarming present and future burden of NCDs in the region. Implications: Strengthened political commitment and increased investment are urgently required to tackle the NCD crisis, successfully achieve targets and ensure continuing sustainable development in the Pacific islands.     

Occupation and ischemic heart disease in the European community: A comparative study of occupations at potential high risk

Four longitudinal studies of mortality and morbidity by occupation based on individual record linkage of information and two cross-sectional studies of mortality were compared in order to identify occupations at high risk of ischemic heart disease. In more than one country an increased risk of ischemic heart disease was found in drivers of buses, taxies, and lorries, in bakers, in naval officers and fishermen, in hotel and restaurant workers, in senior police, customs, and other uniformed men, in barbers and hairdressers, in warehouse and wholesale staff, as well as in laboratory assistants and in radio and telegraph operators. Occupations found at high risk in Denmark were also found at high risk in Great Britain and Italy. These occupations may be at genuine high risk. None of these groups work day-work only and several of the groups have psychologically demanding work but unsatisfactory decision authority. Identification of occupations at high risk may help to develop focused preventive strategies. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Divine targets: youth at the centre of Catholic and Pentecostal responses to HIV and AIDS in Brazil

This study explored the focus on youth in Catholic and Evangelical Pentecostal discussions about and responses to HIV and AIDS in Brazil. Key informant, oral history and in-depth interviews revealed a disconnect between young people's views of themselves as leaders in their religious institutions' responses to HIV and other social problems, and adult religious leaders' views of young people as vulnerable and in need of being ‘saved’. Religious leaders presented young people as institutional commodities, emphasizing their symbolic value as signs of the health and future of their churches. We explore the unofficial exchange between religious institutions and young people, who benefited from the leadership opportunities and communities provided by their churches and youth groups. We discuss the political economy of youth in religious institutions' responses to HIV and AIDS within the context of Brazil's high levels of religious mobility as well as the broader, global commodification of spirituality and religion.     

Responding to pandemics and other disease outbreaks in homeless populations: A review of the literature and content analysis

Considering the recent COVID-19 pandemic, we recognised a lack of synthesis amongst the available literature pertaining to the intersections of homelessness and pandemic response and planning. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to identify relevant peer-reviewed literature in this area to thematically produce evidence-based recommendations that would inform community planning and response amongst homeless populations. Although this review is inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, our intention was to produce relevant recommendations to for all current and future outbreaks and pandemics more generally. Our search criteria focused on pandemics and rapid-spread illnesses such as contagious respiratory diseases with contact spread and with an emphasis on individuals experiencing homelessness. Content analysis methods were followed to extract and thematically synthesise key information amongst the 223 articles that matched our search criteria between the years of 1984 and 2020. Two reviewers were assigned to the screening process and used Covidence and undertook two rounds of discussion to identify and finalise themes for extraction. This review illustrates that the current breadth of academic literature on homeless populations has thus far focused on tuberculosis (TB) rather than diseases that are more recent and closely related to COVID-19—such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) or H1N1. Our thematic content analysis revealed six themes that offer tangible and scalable recommendations which include (1) education and outreach, (2) adapting structure of services, (3) screening and contract tracing, (4) transmission and prevention strategies, (5) shelter protocols and (6) treatment, adherence and vaccination. The breadth and depth of reviews such as these are dependent on the quantity and quality of the available literature. Therefore, the limited existing literature outside of tuberculosis specific to homelessness in this review illustrates a need for more academic research into the intersections of pandemics and homelessness—particularly for evaluations of response and planning. Nonetheless, this review offers timely considerations for pandemic response and planning amongst homeless populations during the current COVID-19 pandemic and can facilitate future research in this area.     

Particulate air pollution and susceptibility to the development of pulmonary tuberculosis disease in North Carolina: an ecological study

Although Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), environmental factors may influence disease progression. Ecologic studies conducted in countries outside the USA with high levels of air pollution and PTB have suggested a link between active disease and ambient air pollution. The present investigation is the first to examine the ambient air pollution-PTB association in a country, where air pollution levels are comparatively lower. We used Poisson regression models to examine the association of outdoor air pollutants, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 with rates of PTB in North Carolina residents during 1993–2007. Results suggest a potential association between long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) and PTB disease. In view of the high levels of air pollution and high rates of PTB worldwide, a potential association between ambient air pollution and tuberculosis warrants further study.     

Trends in per Capita Food and Protein Availability at the National Level of the Southeast Asian Countries: An Analysis of the FAO’s Food Balance Sheet Data from 1961 to 2018

We aimed to analyze the temporal trends in the per capita food (kcal/day/person) and protein (g/day/person) availability at the national level in the Southeast Asian (SEA) countries from 1961 to 2018. To avoid intercountry variations and errors, we used a dataset derived from the FAO’s old and new food balance sheets. We used the joinpoint model and the jump model to analyze the temporal trends. The annual percentage change (APC) was computed for each segment of the trends. Per capita food and protein availability in the SEA countries increased significantly by 0.8% per year (54.0%) and 1.1% per year (85.1%), respectively, from 1961 to 2018. During the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s the per capita food availability in mainland SEA did not change significantly and was less than 2200 kcal/person/day. Since the early 1990s, food availability increased appreciably in the mainland SEA countries, except for Cambodia, which has experienced the increasing trend from the late 1990s. Distinct from the mainland, maritime SEA countries showed an up–down–up growth trend in their per-capita food availability from 1961 to 2018. Food-availability growth slowed down for Brunei (since the mid-1980s) and Malaysia (since mid-the 1990s) whereas it increased for Indonesia (1.5% per year), Timor-Leste (0.9% per year), and the Philippines (0.8% per year). Per capita protein availability trends in the mainland SEA countries were similar to the countries’ per capita food availability trends. Since the late 1980s, Thailand and since the late 1990s, other mainland SEA countries experienced a significant growth in their per capita protein availability. Since the late 1990s, per capita protein availability in Vietnam increased markedly and reached the highest available amount in the SEA region, following Brunei and Myanmar. Per capita protein availability increased almost continuously among the maritime SEA countries, except for Timor-Leste. Marked inequality did exist between maritime and mainland SEA countries in per capita food-availability growth till the mid-1990s. Considerable increases in per capita food availability have occurred in most of the SEA countries, but growth is inadequate for Timor-Leste and Cambodia.     

Rapid and multiregional adaptation to host partial resistance in a plant pathogenic oomycete: Evidence from European populations of Plasmopara viticola,the causal agent of grapevine downy mildew

Crop pathogens evolve rapidly to adapt to their hosts. The use of crops with quantitative disease resistance is expected to alter selection of pathogen life-history traits. This may result in differential adaptation of the pathogen to host cultivars and, sometimes, to the erosion of quantitative resistance. Here, we assessed the level of host adaptation in an oomycete plant pathogenic species. We analysed the phenotypic and genetic variability of 17 Plasmopara viticola isolates collected on Vitis vinifera and 35 isolates from partially resistant varieties (Regent and genotypes carrying the Rpv1 gene). Cross-inoculation experiments assessed two components of aggressiveness and a life-history trait of the pathogen: disease severity, sporangial production and sporangia size. The results contribute evidence to the emergence of P. viticola aggressive isolates presenting a high level of sporulation on the partially resistant Regent. By contrast, no adaptation to the Rpv1 gene was found in this study. The erosion of Regent resistance may have occurred in less than 5 years and at least three times independently in three distant wine-producing areas. Populations from resistant varieties showed a significant increase in sporangia production capacity, indicating an absence of fitness costs for this adaptation. The increase in the number of sporangia was correlated with a reduction in sporangia size, a result which illustrates how partial plant disease resistance can impact selection of the pathogen’s life-history traits. This case study on grapevine downy mildew shows how new plant pathogen populations emerge in agro-ecosystems by adapting to partial host resistance. This adaptive pattern highlights the need for wise management of plant partial disease resistance to ensure its sustainability over time.     

Reactive changes in the blood of smokers and the development of arterial diseases and COPD, a review: evidence of associations between changes and subsequent disease with implications for the evaluation of harmful effects of cigarettes, and for susceptibility to the chronic effects of inhaled pollutants

The review examines the effects of smoking on blood parameters, concentrating on those seen as responses or reactions to the insult of smoking, and finds evidence that smoking causes chronic leucocytosis, macrocytosis and raised haematocrit, raised plasma fibrinogen concentration, reduction of the serum ratio of high to low density lipoprotein (HDL/LDL ratio), and platelet changes. Each of the changes resolved on "quitting", though for fibrinogen the evidence was indirect. Reports that elevations of the white cell count (WCC), and plasma fibrinogen and reduction of the HDL/LDL ratio each predict myocardial infarction, and that higher haematocrit increases the risk of cerebro-vascular incidents are reviewed, with reports of associations with other forms of arterial disease and COPD, and of their significance for the prognosis of established disease. After noting pathological mechanisms which implicate each of these factors, and platelets, in reactions likely to contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, infarction, arterial spasm, and/or lung damage, the author concludes that the evidence in man, backed up by experimental data, provides very strong support for the view that elevations of WCC, haematocrit, plasma fibrinogen and reduction of the HDL/LDL ratio represent (or are closely associated with) intermediate causal mechanisms through which smoking induces arterial disease and probably lung disease, and that experimental evidence indicates that platelet changes and macrocytosis also contribute. Differences in the extent of these responses to smoking could be valuable in differentiating the relative harmfulness of different types of cigarette (or of other inhaled pollutants) in terms of these diseases, and in predicting the susceptibility of individuals to these smoking-related diseases.