A functional SNP upstream of the beta-2 adrenergic receptor gene (ADRB2) is associated with obesity in Oceanic populations.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a growing health concern in the Oceanic populations. To investigate the genetic factors associated with adult obesity in the Oceanic populations, the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the beta-2 adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) gene with obesity was examined in 694 adults living in Tonga and Solomon Islands. RESULTS: A screening for variation in 16 Oceanic subjects detected 17 SNPs in the entire region of ADRB2, of which nine SNPs including two non-synonymous ones, rs1042713 (Arg16Gly) and rs1042714 (Gln27Glu), were further genotyped for all subjects. The rs34623097-A allele, at a SNP located upstream of ADRB2, showed the strongest association with risk for obesity in a logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, and population (P=5.6 × 10(-4), odds ratio [OR]=2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.5-4.2). The 27Glu was also significantly associated with obesity in the single-point association analysis (P=0.013, OR=2.0, 95%CI=1.2-3.4); however, this association was no longer significant after adjustment for rs34623097 since these SNPs were in linkage disequilibrium with each other. A copy of the obesity-risk allele, rs34623097-A, led to a 1.6 kg/m(2) increase in body mass index (BMI; defined as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) (P=0.0019). A luciferase reporter assay indicated that rs34623097-A reduced the transcriptional activity of the luciferase reporter gene by approximately 10% compared with rs34623097-G. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated that rs34623097 modulated the binding affinity with nuclear factors. An evolutionary analysis implies that a G>A mutation at rs34623097 occurred in the Neandertal genome and then the rs34623097-A allele flowed into the ancestors of present-day humans. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that rs34623097-A, which would lead to lower expression of ADRB2, contributes to the onset of obesity in the Oceanic populations.

Variation in malaria endemicity in relation to microenvironmental conditions in the Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea.

For 197 adults and adolescents in four villages of three small islands in the Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea, antimalarial antibody titers were examined using the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and malaria parasites were detected by the microtiter plate hybridisation (MPH) method using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. The parasite rate (either Plasmodium falciparum or P. vivax, or both) averaged 39.2%, varying from 31.1% to 44.8% among the four villages due to natural and artificial microenvironmental conditions related to breeding sites of mosquitoes (Anopheles farauti). The lack of flat zones owing to geomorphological formation contributed to the lowest parasite rate in the extremely small island. However, human-modified environments such as a wet-land (naturally formed but artificially reformed) and an open well played significant roles in other inter-village differences. The present findings imply significant roles of microenvironment in diversified malaria prevalence and suggest some ways of mitigation of malarial hazards.

Studies of ovulation in the perfused ovary of the fowl (Gallus domesticus).

A system was developed for the in-vitro perfusion of the fowl ovary. The ovaries were isolated 16-18 h before expected ovulation of the first follicle of a clutch sequence and perfused at 41 degrees C with Eagle's culture medium containing L-thyroxine and insulin. The efferent perfusion pressure was maintained at 30-40 mmHg. This model was used to investigate the mechanism of ovulation. Addition of LH (1 U) to the perfusate induced ovulation (46%) but LH (1 U) + FSH (1 U) was more effective (88%; P less than 0.05). Progesterone at 100 micrograms alone also induced ovulation (80%). Clomiphene prevented gonadotrophin-induced ovulation. These results suggest that progesterone may act directly on the ovary as a final hormone to induce ovulation in the domestic fowl.

A study on the impression materials using for the mannequin practice.

The mannequin exercises which are practiced in clinical exercises of dental colleges are getting more important these days. It is necessary to compare the difference between the efficiency of a mannequin and a living body. When making a partial denture using the simulation model, it is very important to know what kind of impression materials you are able to use or the accuracy of those impression materials. A study on a simulation model is used for making a partial denture. Choosing some sort of impression materials and treatment positions have the possibility to exert influence on impression taking through the process from impression taking to model making. At first, to find the impression materials which are able to take the impression of simulation model's simulate mucous membrane, choose nine impression materials and examined them. Then, examine the effective relationship between the impression taking and the mannequin's head and back position. Establish a mannequin's head and back inclination from four positions. Cut the acquired four models at the same location and examine them. The following results were obtained. 1. Of the impression materials used, with the exception of Flexicon and Rapid, there was no adhesiveness observed with the artificial mucosa. In addition, in the case of Exaflex Injection, Regular and Putty, there were noninduration sections among the sections that contacted with the artificial mucosa. 2. Regarding the effect of the bodily position, changes in the impression were observed for the upper jaw in the case of the median sagittal section C and the lateral section S. This was particularly frequent on the palate in the molar region.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Two-dimensional echocardiographic recognition of dilated cardiomyopathy: comparison with postmortem studies].

To elucidate the pathophysiology of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), the relationship of two-dimensional echocardiographic wall motion abnormalities (asynergy) to histopathological findings was evaluated in autopsied patients including seven with DCM, five with old myocardial infarction (OMI) and three with the normal heart. The DCM cases were classified morphologically in two groups, namely four of type I and II and three of type III, according to Shozawa's classification. Three short-axis views of the left ventricle were divided into 19 segments; the wall motion was assessed visually and classified as normal motion, hypokinesis, akinesis and dyskinesis. The postmortem specimens were immersed in 10% formalin; transverse sections and wall divisions were prepared corresponding to the two-dimensional echocardiographic views, and the area of each segment was determined by a computer planimetry excluding the papillary muscles and trabeculae. Fibrosis (%) was measured histologically by the point counting method with light microscopy. The results were as follows: In DCM, fibrosis (%) increased with increasing severity of asynergy: 17.1% fibrosis in normal motion; 28.7% in hypokinesis; 40.7% in akinesis and dyskinesis. In OMI, fibrosis (%) also increased with increasing severity of asynergy. On comparison of DCM with OMI, no difference was established relating to fibrosis (%) in the asynergic segments; moreover, in both groups, asynergy was detected more frequently in the segments in which fibrosis (%) exceeded 21%. On comparison of type I+II DCM with type III DCM, fibrosis (%) of type III was significantly less than that of type I+II in the same degree of asynergic segments. Moreover, fibrosis (%) of type I+II tended to be greater in the outer layer than in the inner layer, while fibrosis (%) of type III was evenly distributed throughout the myocardium, or greater in the inner layer than in the outer layer. In type I+II, wall thinning was marked with increasing severity of asynergy; in contrast, these correlations were not observed in type III. In type I+II, a higher fibrotic rate was observed in the left ventricular free wall and an abnormal Q wave appeared frequently on ECG. This tendency was not found in type III. These findings indicate that fibrosis is one of the most important factors in decreasing cardiac muscular contractility in DCM, and suggest that there is a different pathogenesis between type I+II and type III fibrosis.

Molecular polymorphism of ABO blood group gene in Austronesian and non-Austronesian populations in Oceania.

A number of archeological, linguistic, and genetic studies have been carried out on the peopling of the Pacific, while the origin of Polynesians or the Lapita people is still open to debate. The Lapita people are believed to have populated the Bismarck Archipelago more than 3600 years ago. However, their Melanesian descendants still living in the Bismarck Archipelago have not been genetically clarified yet. To address this question, polymorphism of the ABO blood group gene was investigated in the following three populations who are considered to be almost free from recent admixtures: (i) Balopa islanders as Austronesian (AN)-speaking Melanesians living in the northwestern end of the Bismarck Archipelago; (ii) Gidra as non-Austronesian (NAN)-speaking Melanesians in southwestern lowlands of Papua New Guinea; and (iii) Tongan living in Ha'apai island as AN-speaking Polynesians. Interestingly, there were marked differences in allele frequencies of ABO*A101 and ABO*A102 among the three populations. The allele frequencies of ABO*A101 and ABO*A102 were 7.9 and 19.3% in Balopa, 23.2 and 0.0% in Gidra, and 2.9 and 25.0% in Tongan. Both phylogenetic and correspondence analyses suggested that Balopa was more close to Tongan than to Gidra and that Balopa was genetically placed between Tongan and Asian populations. Our results imply that Balopa may be Melanesian descendants of the Lapita people who populated the Bismarck Archipelago.