The polymorphic variants of HLA-linked genetic markers GLO, Bf, C2 and C4 were determined in Koreans. The GLO2 allele was found at a similar frequency as compared with other orientals and at higher frequency than in Caucasians. The gene frequencies of BfS and BfF showed different figures from those in other orientals and were similar to Caucasians. The C2C allele was the highest variant as in other populations. The rare variant C2A was not observed in this study. The common variants of C4A alleles are C4A*3 and C4A*4. Among the C4B variants, C4B*1, C4B*2 and C4B* QO are common in that order. Several undefined electrophoretic variants C4A and C4B were observed in this study. These findings suggest that the frequencies of various HLA-linked genetic markers can be used in anthropological studies.
Caucasoid Race ; Comparative Study ; Genetic Markers* ; HLA Antigens/genetics* ; Human ; Korea ; Mongoloid Race* ; Polymorphism (Genetics)

Body mass is a major factor in determining blood pressure levels in children. We compared associations of body mass with blood pressure in 121 white and 91 black children in Bogalusa, Louisiana with that of 370 children in Kangwha, Korea. All children were seven years old at entry into the study and were followed for three years. Korean children were shorter (p< 0.001) thinner (p<0.0001), and had a lower body mass index (p< 0.01) than white or black children. At age seven, systolic blood pressure levels were 2 approximately 5 mm Hg lower, but at age 10, they were 2 approximately 5 mm Hg higher in Korean than white or black children. The increases in blood pressure levels from age seven to ten years were much greater in Korean than black or white children, while changes in height, weight, and body mass index were generally less. Change in blood pressure level was positively associated with change in body mass index for systolic (but not diastolic) levels; however, the association was no stronger for Korean than for U.S. children, except for Korean males vs Bogalusa black males. Cross-cultural studies of other factors, such as diet and physical activity, may explain these differences.
Analysis of Variance ; *Blood Pressure ; *Body Mass Index ; Caucasoid Race ; Child ; Female ; Human ; Korea ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Negroid Race ; Regression Analysis ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. ; United States

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HFE), which affects 1 in 400 and has an estimated carrier frequency of 1 in 10 individuals in Western population, results in multiple organ damage caused by iron deposition, and is treatable if detected early. C282Y mutation in HFE gene has been known to be responsible for the most hereditary hemochromatosis cases and 5-10% of white subjects are heterozygous for this mutation. However, the prevalence of hemochromatosis in the Asian population was reported to be very low and ethnic heterogeneity has been suspected. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of heterozygosity and homozygosity for the C282Y HFE gene mutations in 502 unrelated Koreans. Results revealed that none of them had the mutant gene, suggesting a significant ethnic difference when compared with Caucasians. Our study excluded underlying possibility of hereditary hemochromatosis in Korean which could mimic the findings of alcoholic liver disease with iron overload or liver cirrhosis with chronic hepatitis C.
Alleles ; Caucasoid Race/genetics* ; DNA Primers ; Genetic Screening ; Genotype ; HLA Antigens/genetics ; Hemochromatosis/genetics* ; Hemochromatosis/ethnology* ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/genetics ; Human ; Korea/epidemiology ; Mongoloid Race/genetics* ; Point Mutation* ; Prevalence

This case report compared the effectiveness of resin infiltration technique (Icon, DMG) with microabrasion (Opalustre, Ultradent Products, Inc.) in management of white spot lesions. It demonstrates that although neither microabrasion nor resin infiltration technique can remove white spot lesions completely, resin infiltration technique seems to be more effective than microabrasion. Therefore resin infiltration technique can be chosen preferentially for management of white spot lesions and caution should be taken for case selection.
Dental Caries ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Humans

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

This study was conducted out to select a silkworm variety suitable for synnemata production of Isaria tenuipes. Four kinds of the mulberry silkworm varieties, Bombyx mori, were hybridized using a Japanese parental line and a Chinese parental line, and used to test for synemata formation in I. tenuipes. The larval period of normal silkworms was 22 hr longer than the silkworms inoculated with this fungus. Among the silkworm varieties tested, Hachojam had the shortest larval period with 23.02 days. The non-cocooning silkworm had a shorter larval period than the cocoon producing silkworms. The pupation rate of normal silkworms was about 9% higher than that of silkworms sprayed with I. tenuipes. Hachojam had the highest infection rate at 99.8%, but no significant difference was observed for the infection rate by silkworm variety. The production of synnemata was the best in JS171 x CS188 with an incidence rate of 99.3%, followed by Hachojam, and Chugangjam. The synnemata produced from Hachojam were the heaviest and showed white or milky-white in color.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bombyx ; Breeding ; Chimera ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Fungi ; Humans ; Incidence ; Morus ; Parents

INTRODUCTIONThe analysis of amino acids in plasma and urine was introduced in Singapore when a laboratory for the investigation of inherited metabolic disorders was established by the Ministry of Health. Reference ranges are required for interpreting test results and making diagnoses. Initially, reference ranges established for Caucasians were used as there were no local data and we were unable to find data obtained by the same analytical method for Asian populations. This was not considered an ideal and long-term solution, as Singaporeans may have amino acid concentrations quite different from those of Caucasians due to genetic factors, dietary difference, environment, and other influences. This study was therefore undertaken when a number of healthy laboratory personnel volunteered to provide specimens for the study.

MATERIALS AND METHODSSixty healthy male and female laboratory workers not on any form of medication were recruited. They consisted of 24 males (range, 23 to 58 years) and 36 females (range, 20 to 60 years), with a mean age of 38.7 years. Non-fasting random blood and urine specimens were collected on ice. Removal of protein and peptides from heparinised plasma and urine was achieved by ultrafiltration through protein-exclusion membrane. Amino acid analysis on the ultrafiltrate was performed by a dedicated Beckman 6300 Amino Acid Analyzer using a cation exchange resin column and post-column colour reaction with ninhydrin reagent. Urine creatinine was measured by a Beckman LX 20 PRO Analyzer. Results for urine amino acids were expressed as micromol/mmol of creatinine.

RESULTSReference ranges for 32 amino acids in blood plasma and 36 amino acids in urine were calculated by a non-parametric method using the SPSS statistical calculation software. The ranges cover 95% of the population and the low and high limits of each reference range represent the 2.5th percentile and 97.5th percentile of the frequency distribution respectively.

CONCLUSIONSWe observed differences in the reference ranges of several plasma and urine amino acids between Singaporean and Caucasian populations. Moreover, the list of urine amino acids for Caucasian population is incomplete. We have therefore discontinued the use of reference values established for Caucasians and adopted the results of this study for our patient diagnostic work.

Adult ; Amino Acids ; analysis ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Singapore

To investigate the distribution of variant genotypes of Fc gamma receptor IIIa (Fc gamma R IIIa) in healthy Chinese population of Zhengzhou city, genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of healthy donators. The genotypes of Fc gamma R IIIa-158 were determined by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 137 healthy people in Zhengzhou city. The results showed that frequencies of variant genotypes FF, VV and VF were 42.3%, 48.9% and 8.8% respectively. The distribution of Fc gamma R IIIa-158 in healthy Chinese population of Zhengzhou city was polymorphic and different from that of African Americans (AA) and Caucasian Americans (CA).
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, IgG ; genetics

To investigate the distribution of variant genotypes of Fc gamma receptor IIIa (Fc gamma R IIIa) in healthy Chinese population of Zhengzhou city, genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of healthy donators. The genotypes of Fc gamma R IIIa-158 were determined by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 137 healthy people in Zhengzhou city. The results showed that frequencies of variant genotypes FF, VV and VF were 42.3%, 48.9% and 8.8% respectively. The distribution of Fc gamma R IIIa-158 in healthy Chinese population of Zhengzhou city was polymorphic and different from that of African Americans (AA) and Caucasian Americans (CA).
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Genotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, IgG/*genetics ; Variation (Genetics)

Incidence was derived from published data from 2 population-based registries-the Philippine Cancer Society-Manila Cancer Registry and Department of Health-Rizal Cancer Registry, which covered 8.5 million residents (1990 census) of a 1,674 square kilometer area that comprises Metro Manila and Rizal province. Thirteen registry clerks actively sought new cancer cases in 96 hospitals and 30 Covil Registry offices. Both registries are members of the International Association of Cancer Registries and receive continuing professional assistance from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). For the period of 1988-1992 the combined age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) were: 6.8 for male nasopharynx cancer (NPC) (ranked sixth) and 3.2 among females (ranked thirteenth). NPC for both sexes were highest among Asian populations. Within the region, Philippine rates were third highest, following the Singapore Chinese and Vietnamese. Age-specific rates in males reached 10 per 100,000 at age-group 40-49 years, and 5 per 100,000 females at age-group 45-49 years, continuing to rise with increasing age. There were some significant differences in ASRs between some cities and municipalities but the differences were more striking among males as female rates were lower. Rates had increased only very slightly in the 13-year period between 1980-1992 but total cases had triples. NPC ASRs among male Filipino migrants to the USA were only half of that observed in Philippine residents, but were still higher than the rates among White residents. A similar decrease was seen among female migrants, and in Los Angeles the rates of Filipinos and non-Hispanic White females were already similar

Human ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; Transients And Migrants ; Singapore ; Philippines ; Censuses ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; International Agencies