Marriage-migration characteristics of the urban and rural populations of Udmurtia

Marriage records of six raions (districts) of Udmurtia and the city of Glazov (a total of 10518 records) have been used to calculate marriage-migration parameters. The endogamy indices of the rural and urban Udmurt populations are 0.59 (from 0.48 to 0.76 in individual districts) and 0.29, respectively, and those of the rural and urban Russian populations are 0.33 and 0.47, respectively. The mean ethnic assortativeness values are 1.05 and 0.89 for the rural and urban Udmurt populations, respectively, and 2.13 and 1.44 for the rural and urban Russian populations, respectively. The parameters of isolation by distance for the rural Udmurt population are the following: σ = 52.4, a = 0.00035, and b = 0.012; those for the urban Udmurt population are 54.1, 0.00020, and 0.010, respectively.     

Genetic structure of the Udmurt population

Integrated study of the genetic structure of the Udmurt population with respect to different genetic systems has been performed. Data on the genes of genetic diseases, abiotic parameters analyzed by population statistic methods, and DNA polymorphism are summarized. The populations of six raions (districts) of Udmurt Republic (the Mozhga, Malaya Purga, Sharkan, Debesy, Igra, and Glazov raions) have been studied. The total population studied was 267 655 people (an urban population of 150 119 people and a rural population of 117 536 people), including 155 346 Udmurts. The population structure has been studied in six districts on the basis of the vital statistics, Crow’s indices, Malecot’s isolation by distance parameters, ethnically assortative marriage parameters, endogamy indices, inbreeding-endogamy (ie) indices, and frequencies of the genotype and allele frequencies of four DNA markers (17 alleles). The prevalences of hereditary diseases have been calculated for different population groups: urban and rural populations, Udmurts and other ethnic groups. These groups, especially the urban and rural populations, substantially differed from one another in the prevalences of autosomal dominant (AD) and autosomal recessive (AR) diseases. The correlation between the prevalence of AD and AR diseases and the ie index is positive and significant. The spectrum of hereditary diseases detected in six districts of Udmurtia comprises 149 diseases (80, 57, and 12 AD, AR, and X-linked diseases, respectively). Accumulation of individual diseases in districts of Udmurtia and accumulation of diseases in Udmurtia as compared to regions studied earlier has been found. Cluster analysis of the frequencies of genes of AD and AR diseases and DNA markers has determined the gene geographic position of Udmurts.     

Genetic structure of the Udmurt population

Integrated study of the genetic structure of the Udmurt population with respect to different genetic systems has been performed. Data on the genes of genetic diseases, abiotic parameters analyzed by population statistic methods, and DNA polymorphism are summarized. The populations of six raions (districts) of Udmurt Republic (the Mozhga, Malaya Purga, Sharkan, Debesy, Igra, and Glazov raions) have been studied. The total population studied was 267,655 people (an urban population of 150,119 people and a rural population of 117,536 people), including 155,346 Udmurts. The population structure has been studied in six districts on the basis of the vital statistics, Crow's indices, Malecot's isolation by distance parameters, ethnically assortative marriage parameters, endogamy indices, inbreeding-endogamy (ie) indices, and frequencies of the genotype and allele frequencies of four DNA markers (17 alleles). The prevalences of hereditary diseases have been calculated for different population groups: urban and rural populations, Udmurts and other ethnic groups. These groups, especially the urban and rural populations, substantially differed from one another in the prevalences of autosomal dominant (AR) and autosomal recessive (AR) diseases. The correlation between the prevalence of AD and AR diseases and the ie index is positive and significant. The spectrum of hereditary diseases detected in six districts of Udmurtia comprises 149 diseases (80, 57, and 12 AD, AR, and X-linked diseases, respectively). Accumulation of individual diseases in districts of Udmurtia and accumulation of diseases in Udmurtia as compared to regions studied earlier has been found. Cluster analysis of the frequencies of genes of AD and AR diseases and DNA markers has determined the gene geographic position of Udmurts.     

Dynamics of the genetic demographic structure of the Kursk province population: migration processes

Marriage records from parish books of the second half of the 19th century and marriage records of 1967-1970 and 1993-1995 obtained from registry offices were used to analyze the dynamics of genetically significant parameters of migration and marriage structure with respect to spouses' birthplaces in populations of different hierarchical levels in the Kursk oblast. It was found that, among the persons contracting marriage (both males and females), the proportions of those who were born in the same population and those who were born in any population of the Kursk oblast decreased by about one third and one fifth, respectively, for the 130-year period. In rural and small urban populations, the coefficients of marriage migration in the 19th century were an order of magnitude lower than in the 20th century. The immigration to urban populations was maximum in the late 1960s (m = 0.745 in small towns and m = 0.680 in Kursk), and that to rural populations, in the 1990s (m = 0.344). In both urban and rural populations, the mean distance between the spouses' birthplaces has increased by several times for the period studied. The endogamy level has decreased approximately twofold: from 0.797 to 0.380 in Kursk, from 0.897 to 0.419 in small towns, and from 0.958 to 0.440 in rural districts. The marriage assortativeness with respect to birthplace was maximum in the late 19th century (K = 0.393-0.491) and minimum in the 1960s (K = 0.155-0.246). The increase in genetic diversity of the urban population of the Kursk oblast due to migration has been slowing down since the late 20th century, whereas the outbreeding level is still increasing in rural populations.     

The marriage migration characteristics of the Rostov oblast population

Marriage records have been used to study the marriage migration structure of five raions of the Rostov oblast. The mean ethnic marriage assortativeness in the Russian and Ukrainian rural populations are 1.16 and 1.6, respectively. The endogamy index of the urban population varies from 0.19 to 0.34; and that of the rural population, from 0.21 to 0.54. Malecot's isolation by distance parameters have been calculated. Genetic landscapes have been constructed.     

Dynamics of the Genetic Demographic Structure of the Kursk Oblast Population: Migration Processes

Marriage records from parish books of the second half of the 19th century and marriage records of 1967–1970 and 1993–1995 obtained from registry offices were used to analyze the dynamics of genetically significant parameters of migration and marriage structure with respect to spouses' birthplaces in populations of different hierarchical levels in the Kursk oblast. It was found that, among the persons contracting marriage (both males and females), the proportions of those who were born in the same population and those who were born in any population of the Kursk oblast decreased by about one third and one fifth, respectively, for the 130-year period. In rural and small urban populations, the coefficients of marriage migration in the 19th century were an order of magnitude lower than in the 20th century. The immigration to urban populations was maximum in the late 1960s (m = 0.745 in small towns and m = 0.680 in Kursk), and that to rural populations, in the 1990s (m = 0.344). In both urban and rural populations, the mean distance between the spouses" birthplaces has increased by several times for the period studied. The endogamy level has decreased approximately twofold: from 0.797 to 0.380 in Kursk, from 0.897 to 0.419 in small towns, and from 0.958 to 0.440 in rural districts. The marriage assortativeness with respect to birthplace was maximum in the late 19th century (K = 0.393–0.491) and minimum in the 1960s (K= 0.155–0.246). The increase in genetic diversity of the urban population of the Kursk oblast due to migration has been slowing down since the late 20th century, whereas the outbreeding level is still increasing in rural populations.     

Genetic epidemiological study of monogenic hereditary diseases in the Republic of Tatarstan: Population dynamic factors determining the differentiation of the load of hereditary diseases in five districts

A genetic epidemiological study has been performed in five districts of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia: Arsky, Atninsky, Kukmorsky, Buinsky and Drozhzhanovsky raions. The total size of the population surveyed is 188397 people. Tatars accounted for 77.13% of the population analyzed (145466 people) and were represented by two main ethnic groups: Kazan Tatars and Mishars. The medical genetic study encompassed the total population of the districts, irrespective of ethnicity, and was carried out according to the standard protocol developed in the Laboratory of Genetic Epidemiology of the Research Center for Medical Genetics of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. After segregation analysis, the prevalence rates of the main types of monogenic hereditary disorders (MHDs), i.e., autosomal dominant (AD), autosomal recessive (AR), and X-linked diseases, have been calculated for the total population of the five districts and for Tatars alone. The prevalence rates of AD, AR, and X-linked diseases considerably vary in different subpopulations. The largest difference in the MHD prevalence rate has been found between the rural and urban populations. The overall prevalence rate of MHDs was one patient per 293 urban residents and populations and one patient per 134 rural residents, with a wide variation between subpopulations, from 1: 83 people in the rural population of Atninsky raion to 1: 351 people in the town of Kukmor. Comparison of the MHD prevalence rate in Tatars with those in populations surveyed earlier has shown that the characteristics of the load of MHDs in the Tatar population are similar to those in some districts of the republics of Bashkortostan, Udmurtia, Mari El, and Chuvachia. In Russian populations of European Russia, the MHD prevalence rates are substantially lower. Correlation analysis has shown high (r = 0.5?C0.9) significant correlations between the local inbreeding (a), the im index, the random inbreeding (F _ST), and the AD and AR prevalence rates in the Tatar population. This analysis has demonstrated that genetic drift is the main population dynamic factor determining the MHD load in the Tatar population.     

The Marriage Migration Characteristics of the Rostov Oblast Population

Marriage records have been used to study the marriage migration structure of five raions of the Rostov oblast. The mean ethnic marriage assortativeness in the Russian and Ukrainian rural populations are 1.16 and 1.6, respectively. The endogamy index of the urban population varies from 0.19 to 0.34; and that of the rural population, from 0.21 to 0.54. Malecot’s isolation by distance parameters have been calculated. Genetic landscapes have been constructed.__________Translated from Genetika, Vol. 41, No. 7, 2005, pp. 981–985.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kriventsova, El’chinova, Amelina, Zinchenko.     

Burden of hereditary diseases in residents of the Mari El Republic]

A summary of the medical genetic studies of the Marii El population is presented. A total of 276,900 people, 110,894 and 166,006 urban and rural inhabitants, respectively, were examined. Regarding the ethnic composition, the studied population was mostly Mari (61.96%) and Russian (32.04%). Medical genetic examination revealed 480 subjects from 260 families with autosomal dominant (AD) diseases, 234 subjects from 184 families with autosomal recessive (AR) diseases, and 49 subjects from 41 families with x-linked diseases. Segregation analysis revealed a good agreement between the expected and observed segregation frequencies for families with AR and AD diseases and allowed the frequency of hereditary diseases in the urban and rural, as well as the Russian and Mari, populations, to be estimated. The total frequency of AD diseases in Maris was approximately twice as high as in Russians (1.99 and 0.97%, respectively); substantial differences between district populations were found. The total frequency of AR diseases was also two times higher in Maris than in Russians (1.00 and 0.54%, respectively). The frequencies of AR and AD diseases in different districts were correlated with the levels of random and local inbreeding, population size, and the index of maximum selection.     

Epidemiology of monogenic hereditary diseases in Rostov oblast: Population dynamic factors determining the differentiation of the load of hereditary diseases in eight districts

A genetic epidemiological study has been carried out in eight raions (districts) of Rostov oblast (region) of Russia: Tsimlyansk, Volgodonskoi, Tselina, Egorlykskaya, Millerovo, Tarasovskaya, Rodionovo-Nesvetaiskaya, and Matveevo-Kurgan raions. The population structure (the parameters of the isolation by distance model, ethnic assortative marriage, random inbreeding (F _ST), endogamy index, and ie) and the genetic demographic characteristics of the regional population (vital statistics, Crow’s index, and its components) have been analyzed. The total sample size was 320 925 subjects (including 114 106 and 206 816 urban and rural residents, respectively). The load of the main types of Mendelian diseases (autosomal dominant (AD), autosomal recessive (AR), and X-linked diseases) has been calculated for the total sample from eight districts and separately for the urban and rural populations. Substantial differences between individual districts in the AD and AR genetic loads have been found, especially upon separation into urban and rural samples. The results of correlation analysis suggest that migration and genetic drift are the main factors of genetic differentiation of populations with respect to the prevalence of hereditary diseases.     

Migration rates as inferred from the 2002 Russian census

Migration rates in the modern Russian population have been studied on the basis of the results of the 2002 census. The migration rate at the population level corresponding to a city or rural administrative district is m = 0.443. The migration rate for women (m(F) = 0.463) is 11% higher than for men (m(M) = 0.418); the migration rate for urban populations (m(U) = 0.459) is 15% higher than for rural populations (m(R) = 0.398). The geographic variation of migrations has been studied; the geographic distributions of the migration rates for rural, urban, male, and female populations are presented. Comparison of migrations in the rural population of Russia at two temporal cross-sections (1970 and 2002) has shown that the geographic structure of migrations has remained the same in many respects. The ecological factor has remained the main determinant of the migration geography, which is expressed in the relationship of the settled way of life with the forest-steppe and broad-leaved forest landscapes.     

Population genetic study of the Alatyr region of the Republic of Chuvashiia

Population genetic characteristics were estimated in the Alatyr' raion (administrative district) of the Republic of Chuvashia, which has long been populated by three ethnic groups. The ethnic assortativeness values in the town of Alatyr' and the rural area of the district were 1.17 and 1.21, respectively, for Russians; 1.14 and 4.82, respectively, for Chuvashes; and 1.33 and 2.45, respectively, for Mordovians. Wright's statistics were as follows: Fst = 0.00358, Fit = 0.00178, and Fis = 0.00134. The migration indices were 0.0264 for Alatyr' and 0.0178 for the district. The endogamy indices for the total and the Russian populations of Alatyr' were 0.47 and 0.53, respectively. The parameters of isolation by distance were a = 0.000189 and b = 0.00959 for the urban and a = 0.000318 and b = 0.00919 for the rural area. Schemes of the genetic landscape were constructed. The influence of the polyethnic composition on the genetic structure of the population is discussed.     

Genetic epidemiological study of Bashkortostan Republic: The effect of genetic structure of population on the load of monogenic hereditary diseases

Here we present the data obtained during medical genetic examination of the population of five districts of Bashkortostan Republic (Burzyanskii, Baimakskii, Abzelilovskii, Salavatskii, and Arkhangelskii) populated with 168050 persons including 135748 Bashkirs. The study involved all the population of the districts including each ethnic group and was conducted according to standard protocol developed in the Laboratory of Genetic Epidemiology, Medical Genetic Research Center, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. Based on segregation analysis, the values of prevalence rates of the major types of Mendelian pathology (AD, AR, and X-linked diseases) was calculated in five regions of the Republic as well as for Bashkirs alone. Significant differences in the prevalence rates of AD and AR pathologies between individual districts, in particular upon division in rural and urban population, was observed. The prevalence rates comparison of monogenic hereditary pathology among Bashkirs compared to other previously examined populations have shown that the patterns of the hereditary disease load in the inspected districts of Bashkortostan were similar to that observed in the population of some districts in Udmurtia, Marii El and Chuvashiya. Russian European populations have shown significantly lower load of hereditary diseases. Correlation analysis of local inbreeding, endogamy and prevalence rates of AD and AR pathologies has shown that development of hereditary diseases load is significantly affected by gene drift.     

Genetic epidemiological study of populations in three regions of Chuvashia Republic

Comprehensive population genetic and medical genetic studies were performed in three raions (districts) of Chuvashia. The population of these districts is more than 90% Chuvash. About 70% of the families that completed reproduction had two or three children. The proportion of families with four or more children was 18%. The duration of generation was 27.6 years. The differential fertility and differential mortality indices in the Chuvash population were estimated at 0.33 and 0.076, respectively. The total index of differential selection was 0.403, which is typical of modern urbanized populations. Mean values of local inbreeding calculated from Malecot's model of isolation by distance were 0.00124 and 0.00377 for the urban and rural populations, respectively, of the districts studied. The prevalence rates of autosomal dominant (AD), autosomal recessive (AR), and X-linked diseases were found to be 0.47, 0.52, and 0.35 per 1000, respectively, in the urban population and 1.62, 1.14, and 0.31 per 1000, respectively, in the rural population. Significant correlation between the local inbreeding and prevalence rates of AD and AR diseases was found. A total of 43 AD and 43 AR diseases were identified. Some of them were not found in previous studies on other populations.     

Genetic Epidemiological Study of Three District Populations in Chuvashia

Comprehensive population genetic and medical genetic studies were performed in three raions (districts) of Chuvashia. The population of these districts is more than 90% Chuvash. About 70% of the families that completed reproduction had two or three children. The proportion of families with four or more children was 18%. The duration of generation was 27.6 years. The differential fertility and differential mortality indices in the Chuvash population were estimated at 0.33 and 0.076, respectively. The total index of differential selection was 0.403, which is typical of modern urbanized populations. Mean values of local inbreeding calculated from Malecot's model of isolation by distance were 0.00124 and 0.00377 for the urban and rural populations, respectively, of the districts studied. The prevalence rates of autosomal dominant (AD), autosomal recessive (AR), and X-linked diseases were found to be 0.47, 0.52, and 0.35 per 1000, respectively, in the urban population and 1.62, 1.14, and 0.31 per 1000, respectively, in the rural population. Significant correlation between the local inbreeding and prevalence rates of AD and AR diseases was found. A total of 43 AD and 43 AR diseases were identified. Some of them were not found in previous studies on other populations.     

Analysis of the Alu insertion polymorphism in urban and rural populations of Siberia]

Polymorphic Alu-repeat loci of human genome are commonly used as effective genetic markers in population and evolution studies. In this work, the data on genetic structure of two Russian populations from Siberia obtained via analysis of five polymorphic Alu repeats are presented. The urban population was characterized by a slightly higher level of genetic diversity compared to the rural population. The value of genetic differentiation coefficient for the populations studied was 0.57%, pointing to the absence of genetic subdivision within the urban and rural populations. Phylogenetic analysis of these populations, together with literature data, shows that, with respect to the markers examined, the gene pool structure of Russian population is similar to that of other Caucasoid populations.     

Analysis of marital migrations in two regions in the Sakh republic (Iakutiia)

The marital migration structure of two ouluses (administrative districts) of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) that have long been populated by three ethnic groups were studied on the basis of marriage records. Population genetic characteristics were calculated for each ethnic group. The ethnic assortativeness values were 30.9 in Evens, 1.36 and 4.46 in Russians, and 1.03 and 4.51 in Yakuts. The endogamy indices for the oulus and republican ethnic populations, respectively, were 0.83 and 1.0 in Evens, 0.41 and 0.99 in Yakuts, and 0.08 and 0.14 in Russians. The parameters of isolation by distance were the following: a = 0.0013 and b = 0.0020 in the Gornyi oulus; a = 0.0048 and b = 0.0014 in the Krest-Khaldzhai rural municipality; a = 0.0086 and b = 0.0095 in the Topolinoe rural municipality; and a = 0.0106 and b = 0.0013 in the Megino-Aldan rural municipality.     

Demographic Parameters of Rural and Urban Adult Resident Canada Geese in Georgia

ABSTRACT In many urban metropolitan areas, resident Canada goose (Branta canadensis) populations have grown to nuisance levels in spite of increasing harvest opportunity. To document differences in demographic parameters between urban and rural geese, I estimated probabilities of survival, recapture, recovery, and fidelity for adult resident Canada geese between 2001 and 2006 using banding, live recapture, and dead recovery data from 2 distinct banding locations in Georgia, USA. Adult survival rates were higher for urban geese (0.958, SE = 0.020) than for rural geese (0.682, SE = 0.049). Using estimated recovery probabilities of 0.505 (SE = 0.107) for urban and 0.463 (SE = 0.045) for rural geese, along with current estimates of crippling loss and reporting rate, the estimated mean harvest rate for urban geese was 0.029 (SE = 0.006) and for rural geese was 0.202 (SE = 0.020). Fidelity rates were similar between urban (0.730, SE = 0.033) and rural geese (0.713, SE = 0.069). This information suggests that urban segments of the Canada goose population have substantially higher survival than rural geese and are harvested at a very low rate, and that liberalizing hunting regulations may have little impact on Georgia's urban goose population. Wildlife managers may need to consider options other than sport hunting to control nuisance goose populations in urban areas.     

Population demographic structure of the city of Ulan Ude: Ethnic composition and age at marriage

The marriage structure of the population of Ulan Ude, the capital of Buryat Republic, which is characterized by a mixed ethnic composition, has been studied. Differences between Ulan Ude districts in a number of genetic demographic parameters have been found. In ethnic terms, the city district populations differ from one another in the number of ethnic groups and the proportions of the largest groups (Russians and Buryats). In the total Ulan Ude population, the proportions of Russian men and women among persons contracting marriages are 71.44 and 73.79%, respectively; those of Buryat men and women are 23.36 and 22.79%, respectively. The total proportion of all other ethnic groups among both men and women contracting marriages is no more than 5.2%. The mean ages at first marriage in both indigenous and immigrant populations of Ulan Ude are relatively old; these values are 25.9 and 24.72 years for Buryat men and women and 24.86 and 22.69 for non-indigenous men and women, respectively.     

Renal bioaccumulation of trace elements in urban and rural Sri Lankan populations: A preliminary study based on post mortem tissue analysis

IntroductionEnvironmental pollution, especially by toxic trace elements, is a global health concern. Heavy metals such as Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As) and Lead (Pb) are associated with numerous disorders and are considered by some as an aetiological factor for the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKDu¹) epidemic in Sri Lanka. This study explores patterns of bioaccumulation of six trace elements in kidneys obtained during forensic autopsies from urban and rural regions in Sri Lanka.MethodsKidney samples obtained from one urban district (n = 13) and three rural districts (n = 18) were lyophilized, microwave digested and profiled by ICP-MS techniques.Results and DiscussionThe mean age of the sampled population was 47.9 ± 11.3 yrs. Median (IQR) for Cd, As, Pb, Cr, Zn and Se were, 14.67(8.04–22.47) μg/g, 0.44(0.29–0.56) μg/g, 0.11(0.07–0.30) μg/g, 0.15(0.1096–0.3274), 25.55(17.24–39.35) μg/g and 0.52(0.37−0.84) μg/g, respectively. Cd, Zn and Se levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) among the urban samples compared to that of the rural group. Zn and Se levels were higher among younger age groups. As, Pb and Cr did not show any significant differences between the two cohorts nor any correlations with age.ConclusionThis population-specific baseline study provides an insight into the differences in exposure to toxic trace elements and essential elements between urban and rural populations. Residents in CKDu affected rural districts did not appear to be at risk of toxic heavy metal exposure, however their renal bioaccumulation of nephroprotective essential elements was lower than urban residents.