Y chromosomal DNA variation in East Asian populations and its potential for inferring the peopling of Korea

We have examined variations of five polymorphic loci (DYS287, DXYS5Y, SRY465, DYS19, and DXYS156Y) on the Y chromosome in samples from a total of 1260 males in eight ethnic groups of East Asia. We found four unique haplotypes constructed from three biallelic markers in these samples of East Asians. The Japanese population was characterized by a relatively high frequency of either the haplotype I-2b (−/Y2/T) or II-1 (+/Y1/C). These dual patterns of the distribution of Y chromosomes (I-2b/II-1) were also found in Korea, although they were present at relatively low frequencies. The haplotype II-1 was present in Northeast Asian populations (Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and Mongolians) only, except for one male from the Thai population among the Southeast Asian populations (Indonesians, Philippines, Thais, and Vietnamese). The Japanese were revealed to have the highest frequency of this haplotype (27.5%), followed by Koreans (2.9%), Mongolians (2.6%), and mainland Chinese (2.2%). In contrast, the frequency of the haplotype I-2b was found to be 17.1% in the Japanese, 9.5% in Indonesian, 6.3% in Korean, 3.8% in Vietnamese, and 2.7% in Thai samples. These findings suggested that the chromosomes of haplotype I-2b were likely derived from certain areas of Northeast Asia, the region closest to Southeast Asia. Phylogenetic analysis using the neighbor-joining tree also reflected a general distinction between Southeast and Northeast Asian populations. The phylogeny revealed a closer genetic relationship between Japanese and Koreans than to the other surveyed Asian populations. Based on the result of the dual patterns of the haplotype distribution, it is more likely that the population structure of Koreans may not have evolved from a single ancient population derived from Northeast Asians, but through dual infusions of Y chromosomes entering Korea from two different waves of East Asians. Received: October 13, 1999 / Accepted: November 12, 1999     

Two-dimensional echocardiographic preoperative prediction of prosthetic aortic valve size

Aortic root diameter was measured by two-dimensional (2DE) and M-mode echocardiography in 20 adult patients (aged 29 to 69 years) undergoing aortic valve replacement in order to predict prosthetic aortic valve size. Eight patients had predominantly aortic stenosis, six had chronic aortic regurgitation, and six had acute severe aortic regurgitation secondary to infective endocarditis. 2DE measurements of aortic anulus diameter, as determined from the parasternal long-axis view, demonstrated a high correlation with actual prosthetic valve size implanted at surgery (r = 0.89, p less than 0.001, SEE 0.68 mm). 2DE exactly predicted actual prosthetic valve size in 12 of 20 patients (60%), was within 1 mm of prosthetic valve size in 6 of 20 patients (30%), and was within 2 mm of prosthetic valve size in two patients. In contrast, M-mode echocardiography failed to significantly predict aortic valve size (r = 0.14) because of its lack of two-dimensional anatomic orientation. Thus 2DE can safely and accurately predict preoperatively prosthetic aortic valve size and thereby be of great value in helping to avoid the problem of prosthesis-patient mismatch.     

Interrelatinoship between alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists and histamine in canine airways

To determine the interrelationship between adrenergic receptors in airway smooth muscle and histamine-induced airway constriction, we studied the responses of 26 parasympathectomized dogs to selective and mixed alpha- and beta-adrenergic stimulation in situ by means of an isometric tracheal smoth-muscle preparation. Intra-arterial (IA) phenylephrine (PE) caused dose-related tracheal contraction beginning at 10^?8 mol; maximal active tension was 9.47 ± 2.2 gm F/cm (mean ± SD) at 10^?5 mol. Pretreatment with propranolol augmented tracheal contraction to PE (maximum 35.5 ± 3.2 gm F/cm). The contractile resposne to PE was blocked with a dose of phentolamine (200 μg/kg IA), which did not alter the respionse to acetylcholine. Isoproterenol (ISO) caused dose-related tarcheal relaxation beginning at 4.2 × 10^?11 mol (maximum 43.2 ± 19.6 gm F/cm). Norepinephrine (NE) also caused tracheal relaxation beginning at 1.2 × 10^?6 mol, which was less than relaxation caused by ISO. Prestimulation with histamine did not augment the contractile response to PE but reduced maximal tracheal relaxation to NE (p < 0.001). It is concluded that selective alpha-adrenergic stimulation causes tracheal contraction. However, nonselective stimulation results in tracheal relaxation, even with a weak beat-agonist such as NE. Histamine does not augment alpha-adrenergic contraction as previously suggested but causes physiologic antagonism of beta-adrenergic relaxation of tracheal muscle.     

Epidemiology of Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 Infection in Blood Donors, Israel

The prevalence of infection with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) in blood donors from Israel is 1 infection/100,000 persons. In donors originating from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America, prevalences are 7.7, 14.6, and 20.4, respectively. HTLV-1 prevalence may be high outside areas where HTLV-1 previously was known to be endemic.     

Strengthening advocacy efforts with empirical evidence: A case example of the conduct,uptake and utilisation of research in drug policy decision-making in Vietnam

During the last decade, international aid agencies and advocates have been working with Southeast Asian governments to move away from punitive responses towards people who use drugs to more public health, humane approaches. The lack of local scientific evidence about the effectiveness of different treatment approaches has made this advocacy work more challenging. This paper reflects on a generation of treatment research evidence and how it can assist advocacy efforts. The case example is the cost-effectiveness research, comparing centre-based compulsory treatment with community-based voluntary methadone maintenance treatment in Vietnam (2012–2015). Using our long-term and on-going connections with key Vietnamese decision-makers and government agencies, our collective experiences in drug policy advocacy and our unique insight into the working of government in Vietnam, we have used strategies to maximise opportunities for research to inform policy discussions. We have made an assessment here about the extent to which study findings have contributed to policy change in Vietnam and the challenges that impede progressive policy implementation. In doing this, we hope to make a contribution to the research evidence use literature.     

Sexual and bodily rights as human rights in the Middle East and North Africa

A regional workshop on sexual and bodily rights as human rights in the Middle East and North Africa was held in Malta in 2003, attended by 22 NGO representatives from Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Turkey, Pakistan and USA. The meeting aimed to develop strategies for overcoming human rights violations in the region with reference to law and social and political practices. Session topics included sexuality and gender identity; sexuality and sexual health; sexuality and comparative penal law; sexual rights in international documents; advocacy and lobbying. Sexual rights, sexual health and education, sexual violence and adolescent sexuality were explored in depth, including taboos and emerging trends. Specific areas of concern included marital rape, early marriages, temporary marriages, sexual orientation, premarital and extramarital sexuality, honour crimes, female genital mutilation, unmarried mothers, adolescent sexuality, unwanted pregnancies and safe abortion, sexuality in education and health services. An analysis of civil codes, penal codes and personal status codes indicated a clear imperative for legal reform. Participants heard about efforts to promote the right to sexual orientation which have already been initiated in Lebanon, Turkey and Tunisia. Networking within the region and with counterparts in other regions in comparable situations and conditions was deemed essential.     

Analysis of Swine Movements in a Province in Northern Vietnam and Application in the Design of Surveillance Strategies for Infectious Diseases

While swine production is rapidly growing in South‐East Asia, the structure of the swine industry and the dynamic of pig movements have not been well‐studied. However, this knowledge is a prerequisite for understanding the dynamic of disease transmission in swine populations and designing cost‐effective surveillance strategies for infectious diseases. In this study, we assessed the farming and trading practices in the Vietnamese swine familial farming sector, which accounts for most pigs in Vietnam, and for which disease surveillance is a major challenge. Farmers from two communes of a Red River Delta Province (northern Vietnam) were interviewed, along with traders involved in pig transactions. Major differences in the trade structure were observed between the two communes. One commune had mainly transversal trades, that is between farms of equivalent sizes, whereas the other had pyramidal trades, that is from larger to smaller farms. Companies and large familial farrow‐to‐finish farms were likely to act as major sources of disease spread through pig sales, demonstrating their importance for disease control. Familial fattening farms with high pig purchases were at greater risk of disease introduction and should be targeted for disease detection as part of a risk‐based surveillance. In contrast, many other familial farms were isolated or weakly connected to the swine trade network limiting their relevance for surveillance activities. However, some of these farms used boar hiring for breeding, increasing the risk of disease spread. Most familial farms were slaughtering pigs at the farm or in small local slaughterhouses, making the surveillance at the slaughterhouse inefficient. In terms of spatial distribution of the trades, the results suggested that northern provinces were highly connected and showed some connection with central and southern provinces. These results are useful to develop risk‐based surveillance protocols for disease detection in the swine familial sector and to make recommendations for disease control.