Studying polymorphic variants of the NAT2 gene (NAT2*5 and NAT2*7) in Nenets populations of Northern Siberia.

BACKGROUND: N-acetyltransferase 2 plays a crucial role in the metabolism of a wide range of xenobiotics, including many drugs, carcinogens, and other chemicals in the human environment. The article presents for the first time data on the frequency of two important "slow" variants of NAT2 gene (NAT2*5, rs1801280 and NAT2*7, rs1799931), which significantly affect the rate of xenobiotics acetylation, among representatives of indigenous populations of Forest and Tundra Nenets in Northern Siberia. The aim of this study was to identify the frequencies of these variants and compare them with frequencies in other ethnic populations. RESULTS: NAT2*5 (T341C) genotyping revealed frequencies of 28,0% and 38,6% for Tundra and Forest Nenets, respectively. The frequencies of NAT2*7 (G857A) variant were 9,8% and 8,2% for Tundra and Forest Nenets, respectively. Polymorphic variants frequencies for Nenets are intermediate between those in populations of Europeans and Asians. These results can probably be explained by the presence of both European and Asian components in Nenets gene pools. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study expand the knowledge of NAT2 polymorphism in world populations. These data may also help assess the genetic predisposition of Nenets to multifactorial diseases associated with polymorphism in the NAT2 gene and, in general, contribute to the development of personalized medicine in reference to native people of Siberia.

[The study of the association between rs2228570 polymorphism of VDR gene and vitamin D blood serum concentration in the inhabitants of the Russian Arctic].

Genetic factor plays a significant role in nutrient deficiency development, including vitamins, by present time the association between several genetic polymorphisms and vitamin deficiency in the different regions of the world has been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between VDR FokI polymorphism and vitamin D sufficiency in the population of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District of the Russian Federation. The group of participants included 172 people, among them 133 women and 39 men aged 20 to 75 years old. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood and genotyped for the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of FokI T/C: (rs2228570) using allele-specific amplification, results were detected in real time using TaqManprobes complementary DNA polymorphic sites. The concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was measured by ELISA. The decreased level of 25(OH)D in blood serum (<20 ng/ml) occurred in 38.2% of the population surveyed, and 25(OH)D blood level in the alien population of the region was significantly lower than that in the indigenous population. Genetic peculiarities of the inhabitants of the Arctic zone were identified by comparison with the inhabitants of the European part of the Russian Federation. Allele C frequency of VDR rs2228570 polymorphism in the alien population was 71.1%, higher than in indigenous population (50.0%) while in the inhabitants of the European part of Russia it was 57.8%. Vitamin D blood level was statistically significantly lower in all homozygous C allele carriers than in genotype TT carriers, and vitamin D deficit frequency was 2.3 fold higher (48.4 vs. 21.1%, p<0.05). In the group of indigenous people of this region vitamin D levels in carriers of CC and CT genotype were also significantly lower than that of TT genotype carriers. The incidence of vitamin D deficiency in homozygous carriers of the allele C (45.5%) was 5.5 fold higher than among TT genotype carriers (p<0.01), and 1.6 fold higher than that in CT genotype carriers (p>0.05). Thus, the association between C allele presence of rs2228570 polymorphism of VDR gene and a deficiency of vitamin D (reduced levels of 25 (OH)D in blood serum) has been revealed.

Sea ice, rain-on-snow and tundra reindeer nomadism in Arctic Russia.

Sea ice loss is accelerating in the Barents and Kara Seas (BKS). Assessing potential linkages between sea ice retreat/thinning and the region's ancient and unique social-ecological systems is a pressing task. Tundra nomadism remains a vitally important livelihood for indigenous Nenets and their large reindeer herds. Warming summer air temperatures have been linked to more frequent and sustained summer high-pressure systems over West Siberia, Russia, but not to sea ice retreat. At the same time, autumn/winter rain-on-snow (ROS) events have become more frequent and intense. Here, we review evidence for autumn atmospheric warming and precipitation increases over Arctic coastal lands in proximity to BKS ice loss. Two major ROS events during November 2006 and 2013 led to massive winter reindeer mortality episodes on the Yamal Peninsula. Fieldwork with migratory herders has revealed that the ecological and socio-economic impacts from the catastrophic 2013 event will unfold for years to come. The suggested link between sea ice loss, more frequent and intense ROS events and high reindeer mortality has serious implications for the future of tundra Nenets nomadism.

Traditional Living Habits of the Taz Tundra Population: A Paleoparasitological Study.

An excavation of the Vesakoyakha II-IV and Nyamboyto I burial grounds was conducted during the 2014 field season, and soil samples from intact burials dating from the 19th and 20th centuries, respectively, were analyzed to determine interactions between parasites and host/vectors. Considering the discovery of Diphyllobothrium sp. and Taenia sp. eggs in soil samples from the pelvic region, diphyllobothriasis was the most frequent helminthic infection among the Taz Nenets. The Nyamboyto Nenets mainly consumed uncooked fish, while the Vesakoyakha Nenets had a bigger variety in food choices, including reindeer meat. Nenets children were given raw fish from early childhood. The paleoparasitological results corroborate rare ethnographic records about the consumption of uncooked reindeer cerebrum which led to beef tapeworm helminthiases. This is the first parasitological report of helminthic diseases among the Taz Nenets, and, as such, it provides insight into their subsistence activities and food patterns and broadens our understanding of their health condition.

[N-aсetyltransferase (NAT2) gene polymorphism and gene network analysis]. / Polimorfizm variantov gena N-atsetiltransferazy 2 (NAT2) i analiz gennoi seti.

To search for new targets of therapy, it is necessary to reconstruct the gene network of the disease, and identify the interaction of genes, proteins, and drug compounds. Using the online bioinformatics tools we have analyzed the current data set related to the metabolism of xenobiotics, mediated by the N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) gene. The study of allelic polymorphism of the NAT2 gene has a prognostic value, allowing to determine the risk of a number of oncological diseases, the degree of increased risk due to smoking and exposure to chemical carcinogens, including drugs. The aim of this study was to determine the frequencies of two important "slow" variants of the NAT2 gene (NAT2*5, rs1801280 and NAT2*7, rs1799931), which significantly affected the rate of xenobiotic acetylation among the indigenous Nenets population of Northern Siberia. The obtained frequencies of polymorphic variants among the Nenets occupy an intermediate value between those for Europeans and Asians, which might indicate specific features of adaptation. We present a model of the distribution of two polymorphic variants of the NAT2 gene involved in the biotransformation of xenobiotics to study the characteristics of their metabolism in the indigenous inhabitants of Yamal.

Changing diets and traditional lifestyle of Siberian Arctic Indigenous Peoples and effects on health and well-being.

The diet of Indigenous Peoples of North-Western Siberia is characterized by a significant proportion of traditional foods. Eating local products provides a ready-made set of macro- and microelements necessary for life in the challenging conditions of the Arctic. Currently, high consumption of traditional foods is typical in the season of fishing or reindeer slaughter, while out of season the consumption of easily digestible carbohydrates increases. Due to climate change, seasonal fishing and traditional migration routes are disrupted and, therefore, the consumption of traditional foods is decreasing. During 5 years of expeditions, we performed a cross-sectional screening of 985 Indigenous People from three districts of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. We analyzed the seasonality of acquisition and consumption of local reindeer and fish products and studied the traditional food storage among 90 Indigenous fishermen and hunters, who exploit cryostorage. As diet affects health, we studied the benefits of local food. The duration of the consumption season is decreasing and therefore the amount of consumption of local food is decreasing as well. This has adverse effects on health with increasing hypertension dissemination. The creation of stocks of fish and reindeer meat in villages and their year-round sale to the population is a necessary step for ensuring the food security and health of the inhabitants in the region.

Features of Occupational Health Risks in the Russian Arctic (on the Example of Nenets Autonomous Okrug and Chukotka Autonomous Okrug).

Working in the Arctic increases the risk of occupational diseases, which is especially important in the context of acute shortage of manpower in the region. The purpose of the study was to comparatively evaluate the working conditions and occupational pathology in Nenets Autonomous Okrug (NAO) and Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (ChAO) of Russia. We analyzed the results of socio-hygienic monitoring "Working Conditions and Occupational Morbidity" in 2008-2018. Despite similar climatic and socio-economic conditions, significant differences exist in the health risks of the working populations of the two regions. In NAO two-thirds of workers were employed at facilities with satisfactory sanitary and epidemiological well-being, while in ChAO only 13% of workers had such conditions. In NAO, almost all occupational diseases (93.2%) were due to exposure to noise among civil aviation workers. In ChAO, health problems mainly occurred among miners (81.5%). The most common of these were noise effects on the inner ear (35.2%), chronic bronchitis (23.1%), and mono- and polyneuropathies (12.5%). In 2008-2018, the occupational pathology risk in ChAO was higher than in NAO: RR = 2.79; CI 2.09-3.71. Thus, specificity of technological processes and forms of labor organization create significant differences in health risks for workers. It is necessary to use modern mining equipment to decrease the occupational morbidity in ChAO. In NAO, this effect can be achieved by updating the fleet of civil aviation.

Indigenous women's reproductive health in the Arctic zone of Western Siberia: challenges and solutions.

In the Russian Arctic, alarming trends (shortage of nomadic Indigenous women, high reproductive loss, child mortality rates) indicate long-term changes towards demographic decline. This study aimed at comparing some indicators of the reproductive health (childbirth rates, number of pregnancies, pregnancy loss) of Indigenous and non-Indigenous women in the exploration of cultural and social factors influencing reproductive behaviour. A multidisciplinary approach draws on methods of medicine, sociology and health economics. It includes data of the women's reproductive health collected from surveys of 879 women (of whom 627 were Indigenous) during expeditions to the settlements and the tundra of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug in 2013-2019. In the tundra, 66.7% of registered Indigenous women's pregnancies resulted in childbirth, 7.8% in induced abortions, 25.5% in spontaneous miscarriage. More than three children were delivered by 59.1% of Indigenous women. Most Indigenous families suffered from high pregnancy loss. Marriage between close relatives was 27.0%. Child mortality equalled 24.4%, three times higher than in the population of the settlements and eight times higher than in families immigrating from other regions. The survival of Indigenous peoples significantly depends on women's reproductive health and sufficient medical service that requires targeted policy.

Temporal and structural genetic variation in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) associated with the pastoral transition in Northwestern Siberia.

Just as the domestication of livestock is often cited as a key element in the Neolithic transition to settled, the emergence of large-scaled reindeer husbandry was a fundamental social transformation for the indigenous peoples of Arctic Eurasia. To better understand the history of reindeer domestication, and the genetic processes associated with the pastoral transition in the Eurasian Arctic, we analyzed archaeological and contemporary reindeer samples from Northwestern Siberia. The material represents Rangifer genealogies spanning from 15,000 years ago to the 18th century, as well as modern samples from the wild Taimyr population and from domestic herds managed by Nenetses. The wild and the domestic population are the largest populations of their kind in Northern Eurasia, and some Nenetses hold their domestic reindeer beside their wild cousins. Our analyses of 197 modern and 223 ancient mitochondrial DNA sequences revealed two genetic clusters, which are interpreted as representing the gene pools of contemporary domestic and past wild reindeer. Among a total of 137 different mitochondrial haplotypes identified in both the modern and archaeological samples, only 21 were detected in the modern domestic gene pool, while 11 of these were absent from the wild gene pool. The significant temporal genetic shift that we associate with the pastoral transition suggests that the emergence and spread of reindeer pastoralism in Northwestern Siberia originated with the translocation and subsequent selective breeding of a special type of animal from outside the region. The distinct and persistent domestic characteristics of the haplotype structure since the 18th century suggests little genetic exchange since then. The absence of the typical domestic clade in modern nearby wild populations suggests that the contemporary Nenets domestic breed feature an ancestry from outside its present main distribution, possibly from further South.

Arctic design: revisiting traditional fur clothing within the daily routine of reindeer nomads.

This research investigates the domain of indigenous fur clothing for the extreme conditions of the Arctic. The main goal is to reveal the principles of personal wellbeing through observing and analyzing traditional Nenets fur coat and footwear together with the actual experiences of making and using clothing items. For that, we draw from the existing pool of research on functional parameters tested and evaluated in a lab and our empirical data (interviews and participant observations 2013-2016), to eventually come up with two interwoven concepts of clothing based on bio- and cultural mimesis. On the one hand, traditional fur clothing is the result of the biomimetic appropriation of natural abilities of reindeer to withstand severe climates. On the other, it is the embodiment of knowledge on the environment and skills acquired through the dynamic relationship between tools, materials, and personal identities of makers and wearers. This conceptualization, we argue, provides insights into how to both support the very existence in the extreme/severe environment and contribute to personal wellbeing. We conclude by proposing directions for further research towards developing design standards for the emerging multicultural community of Arctic newcomers.

Food Sovereignty of the Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic Zone of Western Siberia: Response to COVID-19 Pandemic.

This article presents the challenges facing reindeer herding as being both a profitable business and part of the traditional culture of the nomadic Indigenous peoples in the Arctic zone of Western Siberia which addresses substantial needs of the local population. Reindeer herding products are used as traditional nutrition, and as effective preventive means and remedies for adapting to the cold and geomagnetic activity in the High North. Export trends of traditional reindeer products have decreased local Indigenous peoples' access to venison and had a negative impact on their health. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is especially urgent for the Indigenous peoples to have sufficient access to traditional food and be involved in policy decision-making to maintain this traditional business. We aim to analyze the dependencies of Indigenous peoples on the reindeer produce-exporting "food value chain" and explore how (1) the independence of reindeer herders could be increased in these export chains and (2) how provision of their products to local communities could be secured. The study takes a multidisciplinary approach based on policy and socioeconomic analyses with input from medical research. Primary sources include data collected from interviews and surveys of Indigenous peoples during expeditions to the Nyda settlement, the Nydinskaya tundra, the Tazovsky settlement, the Tazovskaya tundra, the Nakhodka tundra, the Gyda and Gydansky settlements, the Yavai-Salinskaya tundra, the Seyakha settlement, the Seyakhinskaya and Tambeyskaya tundras located along the southern coast of the Ob Bay, the northeast coast of the Yamal Peninsula, the Tazovsky and Gydansky Peninsulas, and the Shuryshkarsky district. Data were collected during the summers and winters of 2014-2020.

Self-Identity Development among Indigenous Adolescents from the Far North of Russia.

Self-identity is one of the fundamental needs of an individual. The most significant period of a person's self-identity development is adolescence. The aim of this empirical study was to examine self-identity development among indigenous adolescents from the subarctic region of Russia. We identified specific features of personal identity among Nenets adolescents as compared to Russian adolescents. We also identified the dynamics of self-identity components among Nenets girls and boys during the transition period from the age of 12-13 to 14-15 years, and discovered characteristic features of self-identity among Nenets girls and boys.

"Catching a Child": giving birth under nomadic conditions. The methods of pre- and postnatal care of the Nenets mothers and babies.

OBJECTIVES: The term "Catching a Child" is used by the Tundra Nenets people for the process of giving birth. The author is providing a description of the preparations for giving birth on the tundra in the Nenets nomadic culture, and practice of pre- and postnatal care of mothers and babies. According to the requirements of the child-care system in Russia, the authorities consider the conditions for giving birth in nomadic dwellings in the tundra as unhealthy and unsuitable because they are not considered to meet the acceptable hygienic and safety standards found in a modern well-equipped hospital. Therefore, the official policy is to get as many indigenous Nenets women as possible to give birth in their nearest hospitals and to transport them there by helicopter. METHODS: Anthropological research (four field work stages), in-depth interviews, participant observation and questionnaires. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The Tundra Nenets women are in possession of unique knowledge of pre and postnatal care. This is a system that can be categorised as IKS - indigenous knowledge system. This research area shows the efficiency of the IKS, especially in conditions of climatic changes, which are affecting the infrastructure, transportation and general health-care system in the Arctic.

Suicides in the indigenous and non-indigenous populations in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Northwestern Russia, and associated socio-demographic characteristics.

BACKGROUND: To describe suicide rates in the indigenous and non-indigenous populations of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug (NAO) in 2002-2012, as well as associated socio-demographic characteristics. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective population-based mortality study. METHODS: Data from autopsy reports were used to identify 252 cases of suicide in the NAO in 2002-2012. Data on socio-demographic characteristics of these cases were obtained from passports and medical records at local primary health care units, and were then linked to total population data from the Censuses in 2002 and 2010. Suicide rates for the indigenous Nenets population and the non-indigenous population were standardized to the European standard population. The rates were also estimated according to different socio-demographic characteristics and compared by calculating relative risks. RESULTS: The crude suicide rates were 79.8 per 100,000 person-years (PYs) in the Nenets population and 49.2 per 100,000 PYs in the non-indigenous population. The corresponding standardized estimates were 72.7 per 100,000 PYs and 50.7 per 100,000 PYs. The highest suicide rates in the Nenets population were observed in the age group 20-29 years (391 per 100,000 PYs), and in females aged 30-39 years (191 per 100,000 PYs). Socio-demographic characteristics associated with high suicide rates in the Nenets population were age 20-39 years, male, urban residence, having secondary school or higher education, being an employee or employer, and being single or divorced. Males aged 20-29 years, and females aged 30-39 and aged 70 years and above had the highest suicide rates in the non-indigenous population (137.5, 21.6 and 29.9 per 100,000 PYs, respectively). The elevated suicide rates observed in the non-indigenous population were associated with male sex, rural residence, secondary school education, being an employee or employer, and being single or divorced. CONCLUSIONS: Suicide rates in the NAO were substantially higher among the indigenous Nenets population than the non-indigenous population, and were associated with different socio-demographic characteristics.

Obesity and obesity-associated cardiometabolic risk factors in indigenous Nenets women from the rural Nenets Autonomous Area and Russian women from Arkhangelsk city.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity and obesity-related conditions varies by population groups. Indigenous women of the circumpolar north are believed to be at high risk of obesity. OBJECTIVE: We studied, first the obesity prevalence in indigenous Arctic women, Nenets, compared to urban Russian women. Second, the association between obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors in the combined group of Nenets and Russian women. Third, ethnic differences in the association between obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study performed in 2008-2009. SUBJECTS: 93 Nenets women, aged 19-77 (the indigenous village, the Nenets Autonomous Area) and 132 Russian women, aged 21-72 (Arkhangelsk city). Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI)≥30 kg/m(2), waist circumference (WC)≥88 cm and or waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)≥0.85%. We assessed associations between obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors by linear and logistic regression models that included covariates of ethnicity, age, smoking and physical activity. We also tested for interaction between obesity measurements and ethnicity. RESULTS: Prevalence of obesity estimated through BMI, WC and WHR were 42.5, 45.3 and 41.9% in Nenets and 34.4, 46.4 and 29.5% in Russians, respectively, with no differences found. BMI, WC and WHR associated positively with triglycerides, fasting insulin and Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance index. In addition, BMI and WC correlated negatively with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and positively with systolic blood pressure and apolipoprotein B/apoliporotein A-I ratio. WC explained significant variation in fasting glucose (FG) level. BMI predicted type 2 diabetes history. FG level associated strongly with ethnicity and was found to be higher in Russians. CONCLUSIONS: We found no differences in prevalence of obesity between Nenets and Russian females. Obesity was associated with cardiometabolic risk factors independently of ethnicity in the sample studied. There was no link between obesity measurements and ethnicity.