Mixed-ethnicity face shape and attractiveness in humans.

Many studies show agreement within and between populations and cultures for general judgments of facial attractiveness. Studies that have examined the attractiveness of specific traits have also highlighted cross-cultural differences for factors such as symmetry, averageness, and masculinity. One trait that should be preferred across cultures is heterozygosity. Indeed, several studies suggest that mixed ethnicity, in terms of appearing to possess a mixture of traits from different human population groups, may be found attractive, which could reflect preferences for heterozygosity. We examined preferences for manipulated face shape associated with different populations in both Europeans (Britain) and Africans (Guinea-Bissau). We found that mixed-ethnicity face shapes were more attractive than enhanced single-ethnicity face shape across both populations. These results are consistent with evolutionary theories suggesting individuals should prefer heterozygosity in partners because facial cues to mixed-ethnicity are likely to indicate diverse genes compared to cues that indicate a face belongs to a single particular culture or population.

First report of sylvatic DENV-2-associated dengue hemorrhagic fever in West Africa.

Dengue virus (DENV) circulates in human and sylvatic cycles. Sylvatic strains are both ecologically and evolutionarily distinct from endemic viruses. Although sylvatic dengue cycles occur in West African countries and Malaysia, only a few cases of mild human disease caused by sylvatic strains and one single case of dengue hemorrhagic fever in Malaysia have been reported. Here we report a case of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) with thrombocytopenia (13000/µl), a raised hematocrit (32% above baseline) and mucosal bleeding in a 27-year-old male returning to Spain in November 2009 after visiting his home country Guinea Bissau. Sylvatic DENV-2 West African lineage was isolated from blood and sera. This is the first case of DHF associated with sylvatic DENV-2 in Africa and the second case worldwide of DHF caused by a sylvatic strain.

Kiyang-yang, a West-African postwar idiom of distress.

In 1984, a healing cult for young barren women in southern Guinea Bissau developed into a movement, Kiyang-yang, that shook society to its foundations and had national repercussions. "Idiom of distress" is used here as a heuristic tool to understand how Kiyang-yang was able to link war and post-war-related traumatic stress and suffering on both individual and group levels. An individual experience born from a traumatic origin may be generalized into an idiom that diverse sectors of society could embrace for a range of related reasons. We argue that, for an idiom to be understood and appropriated by others, there has to be resonance at the level of symbolic language and shared experiences as well as at the level of the culturally mediated contingent emotions it communicates. We also argue that through its symbolic references to structural causes of suffering, an idiom of distress entails a danger for those in power. It can continue to exist only if its etiology is not exposed or the social suffering it articulates is not eliminated. We finally argue that idioms of distress are not to be understood as discrete diagnostic categories or as monodimensional expressions of "trauma" that can be addressed.

Inherited hemoglobin disorders in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa: a population study.

The determination of the prevalence of inherited hemoglobin (Hb) disorders in endemic areas is important in order to develop programs for their control and management. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of inherited Hb diseases in Guinea-Bissau which is situated on the west coast of Africa, between Senegal and Guinea. One thousand and fifty-seven blood samples were collected and analyzed with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for detection of beta-thalassemia (thal) and Hb variants, and by gap polymerase chain reaction (gap-PCR) for the detection of deletions in the alpha-globin genes. We found 4.7% children were heterozygous for Hb S [beta6(A3)Glu-->Val, GAG -->GTG], 0.2% were homozygous for Hb S, and 0.3% were heterozygous for Hb C [beta6(A3)Glu-->Lys, GAG -->AAG]. One child had heterozygous beta+-thal, 13.8% were heterozygous for the -alpha3.7 deletion, 1.5% were homozygous for the -alpha3.7 deletion, and 1.5% were heterozygous for the -alpha4.2 deletion. We recommend national screening programs to focus primarily on sickle cell disease, since beta-thal is rare, and the observed alpha-thal deletions are of minor genetic importance.

MtDNA profile of West Africa Guineans: towards a better understanding of the Senegambia region.

The matrilineal genetic composition of 372 samples from the Republic of Guiné-Bissau (West African coast) was studied using RFLPs and partial sequencing of the mtDNA control and coding region. The majority of the mtDNA lineages of Guineans (94%) belong to West African specific sub-clusters of L0-L3 haplogroups. A new L3 sub-cluster (L3h) that is found in both eastern and western Africa is present at moderately low frequencies in Guinean populations. A non-random distribution of haplogroups U5 in the Fula group, the U6 among the "Brame" linguistic family and M1 in the Balanta-Djola group, suggests a correlation between the genetic and linguistic affiliation of Guinean populations. The presence of M1 in Balanta populations supports the earlier suggestion of their Sudanese origin. Haplogroups U5 and U6, on the other hand, were found to be restricted to populations that are thought to represent the descendants of a southern expansion of Berbers. Particular haplotypes, found almost exclusively in East-African populations, were found in some ethnic groups with an oral tradition claiming Sudanese origin.

Asymptomatic homozygous deletional beta(0)-thalassemia in an African individual.

Homozygosity or compound heterozygosity for beta(0)-thalassemia mutations most commonly results in a transfusion-dependent thalassemia major phenotype. In this report, we describe a 55-year-old male, from Guinea-Bissau, that had been asymptomatic and never transfused until being admitted to hospital with anemia, fever, splenomegaly, and asthenia. Following hospital admission, HIV-2 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections were diagnosed, and biochemical and molecular studies revealed homozygosity for beta(0)-thalassemia. At the molecular level, this is the first description of homozygosity for the beta(0)-Black 1,393-bp deletion. In this case, the complete absence of beta-globin gene expression seems to be compensated by an unusually high fetal globin gene expression (Hb F 96%). Beta-globin haplotyping results were compatible with the propositus being homozygous for the Black 2 haplotype and for the absence of the XmnI polymorphism at -158 of (G)gamma-globin gene (-/-). Co-inheritance of genetic factors usually associated with high Hb F levels was not detected. Otherwise, the propositus is a heterozygote for the alpha-globin gene 3.7-kb deletion that is a beneficial modulating factor but not sufficient to explain this extremely mild phenotype. This unusual genotype/phenotype association is discussed in terms of the mechanisms underlying hemoglobin switching during development.

Antimalarial activity of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in S. Tomé and Príncipe islands.

The present study investigates the antimalarial activity of 13 medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in S. Tomé and Príncipe (STP) islands in the Gulf of Guinea, aiming at identifying the most effective plants for further research. Fieldwork was carried out with the collaboration of 37 traditional healers from both islands, during an ethnobotanical study, which was conducted from 1993 to 1999. Our results indicate that the traditional healers in STP use several medicinal plants against fever and/or 'malaria' which reveal strong antiparasitic activity in vitro: four of the plant extracts have evident antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum, with IC(50) values <10 microg/ml, and also revealed hepatic schizontocidal activity (<5-35 microg/ml). In vivo, the extracts caused partial reduction of Plasmodium berghei parasitaemia in mice.

[Rheumatic fever--a review of cases]. / Febre remática--revisão casuística.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse clinical presentation of rheumatic fever (RF), with special emphasis on cardiac involvement, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings and the outcome of the cases referred to Maria Pia Children's Hospital from January 1990 to September 1999. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical files of all cases referred to pediatric cardiology clinics with the suspicion of acute RF (Group 1) or with rheumatic valvular disease and heart failure (Group 2). In group 1 we studied the following: age and sex distribution, year of diagnosis, presence of Jones criteria treatment and outcome. In group 2 we analysed provenance, age of initial onset of RF, age of cardiology referral, treatment and outcome. RESULTS: Thirteen cases were identified, 8 in groups 1 and 5 in group 2. Group 1 included 3 girls and 2 boys, mean age of 10 years. The diagnosis of RF was based in the presence of 2 major and 1 minor manifestation (4/8), 1 major and 2 minor manifestations (1/8) and chorea in 3 cases associated with clinical carditis in one and subclinical carditis in another. Colour Doppler echocardiography showed pathological mitral regurgitation jet in 6 cases, associated with aortic regurgitation in 2 and dilatation of left ventricle in 3. All were treated with penicillin associated with anti-inflammatory drugs in 5 and haloperidol in 3. Group 2 included 3 girls and 2 boys, mean age 9.56 years. Four were from African countries (Angola and Guinea), and one came from the north of Portugal. The elapsed time between the initial acute attack and cardiology referral varied from 5 months to 3 years. All presented severe mitral insufficiency associated with aortic and/or tricuspid valve lesions, and heart failure. All five underwent valve surgery. The secondary prophylaxis was recommended in every patient. There was a recurrence in a child who had interrupted chemoprophylaxis. The patients from African countries were lost for follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: RF still remains a problem in present times, with serious cardiac sequela in African countries. Colour Doppler echocardiography is a valuable tool for the detection of pathological valvular regurgitation and subclinical carditis if strict criteria are used. The need for appropriate treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis and secondary prophylaxis is emphasized.

Cancrum oris (noma) in children.

Cancrum oris, noma or gangrenous stomatitis is a disease which affects primarily undernourished and immunosuppressed young children. Frequent in underdeveloped countries, it also is seen in rare cases of patients with AIDS and leukemia in America and in Europe. Once fatal, the disease is now better understood and today the repair of its terrible sequels is looked upon as a great surgical challenge. This paper reports a case of noma in a 3-year-old black African female admitted to this Service. In an already advanced stage of this illness with severe sequelae, she presented with partial amputation of the lips (upper and lower), right cheek, right side of the nose and maxilla. The choice of treatment of the infected area and eventual reconstruction is discussed.

[Medical transfers of children from Portuguese speaking African countries]. / Transferência sanitária de crianças dos países Africanos de língua oficial Portuguesa.

We reviewed the files of children coming from Portuguese speaking African Countries, admitted to the Surgery Department of Dona Estefânia Hospital between January 1991 and January 1997. There were 108 Medical Transfers: 17 from Angola, 47 from Cape Verde, 26 from Guinea-Bissau, 16 from S. Tomé and Príncipe and none from Mozambique. The assessment of the results and the medical course of these children leads the authors to propose changes, especially in the choice of patients and in hospital assistance, in order to achieve the best ratio between costs and results.

Risk factors for HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection in pregnant women in Dakar, Senegal.

This study examines the prevalence and risk factors for Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2) infection in pregnant women in Dakar, Senegal. From April 1991 to January 1993, 9,518 pregnant women were interviewed and serologically tested for antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2; 26 (0.3%) were HIV-1 seropositive, 44 (0.5%) were HIV-2 seropositive, two (0.02%) were dually seropositive, and 9,448 (99.3%) were seronegative. Guinea-Bissau nationality and age > 25 years were associated with HIV-2 infection, whereas parity < or = 2 was associated with HIV-1 infection. Among women who gave birth to live infants, shorter length of union with the partner and having been married more than once were associated with HIV-2 infection, whereas age < or = 25 years was associated with HIV-1 infection. Information gained by this study may help target intervention strategies for preventing maternal HIV infection and understanding biological differences between the two viruses.

Six new isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) and the molecular characterization of one (HIV-2CAM2).

We report the isolation of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) from each of six West Africans with AIDS-related complex or AIDS. One isolate (HIV-2CAM2) was molecularly cloned and shown by restriction mapping to differ in seven out of 22 sites from the prototype HIV-2ROD. Nevertheless, by a number of serological criteria these isolates are all clearly HIV-2.