Background: Helminth infection cause bad impacts on human health, especially for children.Helminth infection directly related to poverty, bad hygiene, low quality water supply, people awareness... Objective: To investigate the current situation of soil transmitted helminth infection in Son La province. Subject and Method: A total sample of 7,150 fecal specimen collected from72 hamlets, 18 communes in 6 districts of Mai Son, Muong la, Thuan Chau, Song Ma, Quynh Nhai and Yen Chau were examined for soil-transmitted helminths. Result: A cumulative infection rate of 93.45% was found, of which Ascaris: 85.85%, Trichuris: 24.52%, and hookworm: 18.92%. No different' infection rate was found between males and females but it was higher with ages. The prevalence of Trichuris and hookworm was higher in adults against children and higher with the older ages. The infection of Trichuris and hookworm in adults was higher than that in children. The single helminth infection rate was 82.17%, and mixed infection of two species was 15.9% and three species 0.43%. The helminth infection among Sinh MUD ethnic group: 97.2%, Thai ethnic group: 96.6%, La Ha ethnic group: 85%, Kinh ethnic group: 80.62%, and H'mong ethnic group: 45.96%. The hookworm infection rate of Kinh and H'mong groups was found higher that of the others ethnic groups. KAP surveys were conducted with 2,188 households showing a high latrine coverage of 90.6%, of which 92.9% of latrines were self-made. The more was the rate of self-made latrine, the higher was the helminth infection. Conclusion: Low awareness and knowledge of the local people on helminth infection was found so as they do not know how to prevent from helminth.
Helminth infection ; ethnic group ; Son La province

In this study of the physical anthropological characteristics of the Akha and Lahu in northern Thailand, whose customs are similar to the Koreans, the authors examined the finger and palm prints of the Akha (male 107, female 114) and Lahu (male 92, female 101) using qualitative methods, and compared them with those of various ethnic groups including Koreans. The results were as follows : The whorl types (Akha 57.7%, Lahu 58.1%) were the most common finger prints, followed by ulnar loop types (Akha 39.7%, Lahu 38.7%), arch types (Akha 2.6%, Lahu 2.8%), and radial loop types (Akha 1.7%, Lahu 1.2%). Of the palm print types, 9-7-5 (Akha 32.7%, Lahu 21.3%) and 7-5-5(Akha 25.4%, Lahu 21.3%) were most common, followed by 11-O-7 (Akha 2.0%, Lahu 11.3%), 9-O-5 (Akha 1.5%, Lahu 10.0%), 11-9-7 (Akha 6.0%, Lahu 5.7%), 7-5-4 (Akha 7.0%, Lahu 2.2%). The finger and palm print patterns of the Akha and Lahu did not correspond closely to the patterns of those classified as White, Negro, or Oriental, although they were closest to the patterns of the latter, particularly Chinese (rather than Korean or Japanese).
African Continental Ancestry Group ; Anthropology ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Dermatoglyphics ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Fingers* ; Humans ; Thailand*

This review provides an overview of the literature on aspects of reproductive endocrinology wherein Asian men may differ from Caucasian, notably, prostatic neoplasm and the sensivity to pharmacological regimens of male contraception. Both genetic and environmental factors, such as nutrition, might be relevant. Asian men residing in Asia seem to be relatively protected from clinical prostatic neoplasm while the prevalence of preclinical prostatic neoplasm is not different. Migration to an area with a higher prevalence reduces this difference but does not undo it. With regard to prostatic neoplasm the following factors have been considered as relevant in Asian men: 1) a reduction in 5 alpha-reductase level, 2) decreased levels of androgenic ketosteroid precursors of 5 alpha-reduced androgen metabolites, 3) the decreased presence of a P53 mutation, 4) a higher CAG-repeat length of the androgen receptor, 5) a possible higher level of physical activity, 6) differences in sexual activity. Furthermore, Asian men respond to a higher degree with azoospermia in response to contraceptive steroids. Possible explanations offered for the more pronounced response to contraceptive steroids are: 1) differences in testicular structure and decreased spermatogenic potential, 2) an earlier and more marked suppression in LH secretion by exogenous androgens. The differences may be due to genetical and/or environmental factors influencing the peripheral testosterone metabolism. Dietary factors such as the higher intake of phytoestrogens in Asians might exert effects on 5 alpha-reductase activity and/or on sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels, thus having an impact on the biological efficacy of circulating androgens.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Environment ; Ethnic Groups ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Humans ; Male ; Reproduction ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVE: To explore the distribution characteristics of main antigen gene frequencies of Duffy,Diego,Kidd,Dombrock,MNS,Lutheran,Kell,Colton,Scianna,Yt,Knops and Indian in red blood cell blood group system of Li nationality in Hainan Province. METHODS: Antigens in twelve rare blood group systems of 214 Li people in Hainan Province were genotyped and analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP). RESULTS: The gene frequency of antigens in twelve rare blood group systems of 214 Li people in Hainan Province including: the gene frequency of Duffy blood group system: fy CONCLUSION The genetic distribution and genetic status in twelve rare blood group systems of Li nationality in Hainan Province are relatively stable. The gene distribution of Duffy, Diego, Kidd, Drombrock, MNS and Lutheran blood group systems are polymorphic and show unique distribution characteristics compared with other regions and different nationalities. The gene frequency distribution of Kell、Colton、Scianna、Yt、Knops、Indian blood group systems are monomorphic.
Blood Group Antigens/genetics* ; Ethnic Groups ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Kidd Blood-Group System ; Polymorphism, Genetic

In order to examine a way of utilizing the papers published in the field of oral &maxillofacial surgery, the subjects and the references from total 3,392 papers. ; 263 papers in the KJOMS(Journal of Korean Association of Oral &Maxillofacial Surgeons. vol. 17-21), 237 papers in the KJMPRS(Journal of Korean Academy of Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Vol 13-17), 1,233 papers in the JJOMS (Journal of Japanese Association of Oral &Maxillofacial Surgeons. vol 37-41), 1,212 papers in the AJOMS(Journal of American Association of Oral &Maxillofacial Surgeons. vol 49-53), and 447 papers in the International JOMS(Official publication of the International association of Oral &Maxillofacial Surgeons vol 20-25) have been analyzed. The results were as follows: 1. The subjects of KJOMS and KJMPRS were composed of various 28 items. Among 15 main subjects excluding the minor subjects below 1%, there were Aquired deformity &-Reconstruction (17.4%), Jaw deformity (14.2%), Trauma (14.2%) and Malignant tumor (10.8%). 2. The main subjects of JJOMS were Malignant tumor (22.8%) and Benign tumor (20.6%), In AAOMS, Trauma (13.0%), Jaw deformity (13.0%), and malignant tumor 12.4%) were main subjects. In IJOMS Malignant tumor (16.1%), Acquired deformity &Reconstruction (13.0%), and Trauma (10.3%) were main subjects. 3. IN KJOMS and KJMPRS, Scientific and Clinical articles was 63.5% and Case reports was 36.5%. But scientific and Clinical articles was 43.4% and Case reports was 56.6% in JJOMS, 47.1% and 52.9% in AAOMS, 50.1% and 49.9% in IJOMS. 4. The number of institutes in KJOMS and KJMPRS was 46. The main 6 institute published the 57.4% of total articles. In IJOMS, Nationality of the author was composed of 42 nations. West Europe Area published 52.8% of total articles, and The dominant nation of the author were West Germeny (16.3%), U.K. (12.1%), and Japan (11.6%). 5. Authors cited 30.4 references per articles in average, but only 2.7 domestic articles was cited in KJOMS and KJMPRS. It was 17.4 references, but 9.3 domestic articles was cited. In AJOMS and IJOMS, were 19.5 and 18.0 references.
Academies and Institutes ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Ethnic Groups ; Europe ; Humans ; Japan ; Jaw ; Plastics ; Publications

In planning a model-based phylogenic study for highly related ethnic data, the SNP marker number is an important factor to determine for relationship inferences. Genotype frequency data, utilizing a sub sampling method, from 63 Pan Asian ethnic groups was used for determining the minimum SNP number required to establish such relationships. Bootstrap random sub-samplings were done from 5.6K PASNPi SNP data. DA distance was calculated and neighbour-joining trees were drawn with every re-sampling data set. Consensus trees were made with the same 100 sub-samples and bootstrap proportions were calculated. The tree consistency to the one obtained from the whole marker set, improved with increasing marker numbers. The bootstrap proportions became reliable when more than 7,000 SNPs were used at a time. Within highly related ethnic groups, the minimum SNPs number for a robust neighbor-joining tree inference was about 7,000 for a 95% bootstrap support.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Consensus ; Ethnic Groups ; Genotype ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVES: Cholesterol interacts with serotonin and it has been found to be associated with some clinical symptoms of mood disorders. There is a paucity of data on first onset bipolar patients and from Asian population. In this study, we compared the total choelsterol (TC) level between the bipolar I patients with a single manic episode (BPSM) and the normal controls, and investigated the relationship between the TC level and treatment response in the BPSM. METHODS: Twenty-five BPSM and thirty normal controls were enrolled in this study. The pretreatment and posttreatment TC levels in the BPSM were measured and comapred to that of normal controls. Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) was used for assessing symptom severity in the BPSM. RESULTS: The TC level was significantly lower in the BPSM than in the controls. There were negative correlations between the YMRS scores and the pretreatment TC level in the BPSM. The posttreatment TC level was significantly higher than the pretreatment TC level in the BPSM. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the TC level can be changed after treatment in bipolar manic patients, although more studies involving different ethnic groups will be needed. Further longitudinal studies will be needed to examine the change of total cholesterol level according to the clinical course of bipolar disorder.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bipolar Disorder ; Cholesterol* ; Ethnic Groups ; Humans ; Mood Disorders ; Serotonin

OBJECTIVES: In order to investigate the effect of cultural and ethnic differences on the development of self-image, we conducted a cross-cultural study on Korean, Korean-Chinese and Chinese adolescents. METHODS: A total of 1576 Korean middle and high school students in Seoul/Choongju, 665 Korean-Chinese students and 634 Chinese students living in Yunbyun, China participated in this study. The Korean version of the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire was administered to Korean students, and the Chinese version of the questionnaire was administered to Korean-Chinese and Chinese students. The data obtained from all subjects were analyzed according to ethnicity and age variable through ANOVA. RESULTS: A significant difference across ethnicity was found in the 12 subscales and the total self-image score of OSIQ-R. Korean adolescents obtained significantly higher scores in all of the 11 subscales except the sexuality subscale than Korean-Chinese and Chinese adolescents. Korean-Chinese adolescents obtained significantly higher scores on the ethical value, idealism, family functioning, social functioning, impulse control, self-confidence and total self-image scores than Chinese adolescents, whereas Chinese adolescents obtained significantly higher scores in the subscales of emotional tone, sexuality, vocational attitudes, and self-reliance than Korean-Chinese adolescents. CONCLUSION: The results suggest the possibility that the difference in ethnicity(Korean versus Chinese), the tradition associated with each ethnic group, and the cultural-political factor(democracy versus socialism) significantly affects the development of self-image in adolescents. Although Korean-Chinese adolescents seemed to show cultural pluralism between Korean and Chinese cultures, they were similar to Korean adolescents in their tendency to respond in socially desirable ways, which suggests that although raised under the different cultural systems, traditional Korean ethical values were learned and internalized within the family.
Adolescent* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; China ; Cultural Diversity ; Ethnic Groups ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sexuality

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at comparing the mandibular arch forms of Korean and Vietnamese patients by using facial axis (FA) points on three-dimensional (3D) models. METHODS: Mandibular casts of 68 Korean (Class I malocclusion, 30; Class II malocclusion, 38) and 78 Vietnamese (Class I malocclusion, 41; Class II malocclusion, 37) patients were scanned in their occluded positions and grouped according to arch form (tapered, ovoid, and square). The FA point of each tooth was digitized on the 3D mandibular models. The measurements and frequency distributions of the arch forms were compared between the ethnic groups. RESULTS: The Vietnamese patients had significantly greater intercanine depth and intercanine and intermolar width-to-depth ratios than the Korean patients (p < 0.05). The frequency distributions of the arch forms were also significantly different (p = 0.038), but no sexual dimorphism was found. CONCLUSIONS: Vietnamese people tend to have deeper and wider arches than Korean people. The three arch forms are evenly distributed in Korean people, but Vietnamese people frequently have square arches. Clinicians should identify the correct arch form of an ethnic group before initiating orthodontic treatment.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra* ; Ethnic Groups ; Humans ; Malocclusion ; Tooth

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been emerging out of the efforts to research human diseases and ethnic disparities. A semantic network is needed for in-depth understanding of the impacts of SNPs, because phenotypes are modulated by complex networks, including biochemical and physiological pathways. We identified ethnicity-specific SNPs by eliminating overlapped SNPs from HapMap samples, and the ethnicity-specific SNPs were mapped to the UCSC RefGene lists. Ethnicity-specific genes were identified as follows: 22 genes in the USA (CEU) individuals, 25 genes in the Japanese (JPT) individuals, and 332 genes in the African (YRI) individuals. To analyze the biologically functional implications for ethnicity-specific SNPs, we focused on constructing a semantic network model. Entities for the network represented by "Gene," "Pathway," "Disease," "Chemical," "Drug," "ClinicalTrials," "SNP," and relationships between entity-entity were obtained through curation. Our semantic modeling for ethnicity-specific SNPs showed interesting results in the three categories, including three diseases ("AIDS-associated nephropathy," "Hypertension," and "Pelvic infection"), one drug ("Methylphenidate"), and five pathways ("Hemostasis," "Systemic lupus erythematosus," "Prostate cancer," "Hepatitis C virus," and "Rheumatoid arthritis"). We found ethnicity-specific genes using the semantic modeling, and the majority of our findings was consistent with the previous studies - that an understanding of genetic variability explained ethnicity-specific disparities.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Ethnic Groups ; HapMap Project* ; Humans ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide* ; Semantics*