The Jewish–Arab divide in life expectancy in Israel

Life expectancy at birth in Israel in 2001 was 77.7 years for males and 81.6 years for females among Jews, and 74.5 and 77.8 years for males and females, respectively, among Israeli Arabs. In spite of vast improvements in health conditions of the two populations since Israel's statehood in 1948, persistent disparities in life expectancy between the two groups have challenged the Israeli socialized health care system. These disparities are influenced primarily by differences between the two population groups in infant and child mortality rates. This early study suggests that the distribution of life expectancy across localities in Israel reflects the distribution of those localities' socio-economic condition index (not including health and medical care), and the distribution of medical services. The positive association between life expectancy and the index is pronounced, however, only within the Jewish population but not among Arabs. While there may be no significant difference in life expectancy among Jews and Arabs living in poorer communities, there are fewer Arabs living in relatively affluent communities. Thus, persistent higher concentration of poverty among Arabs than among Jews has sufficed to maintain the gap in life expectancy between them. In addition, however, there are population-specific effects: wealth and education are more protective among Jews than among Arabs, while medical services are more protective among Arabs.     

The Frequent 5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T Polymorphism Is Associated with a Common Haplotype in Whites, Japanese, and Africans

The common 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism causes decreased activity of this enzyme and can be associated with mild-to-moderate hyperhomocysteinemia in homozygotes, particularly when there is folic acid deficiency, as well as with vascular dementia, arterial thrombosis, venous thrombosis, neural-tube defects, and fetal loss. When folic acid intake is sufficient, homozygotes for MTHFR 677T appear to be protected against colon cancer and acute lymphatic leukemia, and fetuses bearing this genotype have an augmented survival. The distribution of MTHFR 677T is worldwide, but its frequency in different populations varies extensively. In the present study, we addressed the question of whether the MTHFR 677T alteration has an ancestral origin or has occurred repeatedly. We analyzed the frequency distribution of the previously described polymorphism A1298C in exon 7 and of three intronic dimorphisms, in white Israelis (Jews and Arabs), Japanese, and Ghanaian Africans. The 677T allele was, remarkably, associated with one haplotype, G-T-A-C, in white and Japanese homozygotes. Among the Africans, analysis of maximum likelihood also disclosed an association with the G-T-A-C haplotype, although none of the 174 subjects examined was homozygous for MTHFR 677T. These results suggest that the MTHFR 677T alteration occurred on a founder haplotype that may have had a selective advantage.     

Race differences in the prevalence of the factor V Leiden mutation in Kuwaiti nationals

Factor V Leiden mutation (FVL; G1691A) is an established risk factor for venous thromboembolic disorders. FVL was reported with high prevalence in Caucasians (1–15%) but was absent in non-Caucasians like Africans and Asians. Studies reported FVL in 5–27% of Arabs and non-Arabs living in the Middle Eastern countries northern to the Arabian Peninsula, but was almost absent in Arabs in the Arabian Peninsula itself. Kuwait is an Arabic country present on the northern border of the Arabian Peninsula, and Kuwaitis are originally from Saudi Arabia (Southern to Kuwait and within the Arabian Peninsula) or from Iran and Iraq (northern to Kuwait and the Arabian Peninsula). This study was conducted to study FVL in Kuwaitis in relation to their origin. Real-time PCR was performed on DNA samples of 285 apparently healthy Kuwaitis using specially designed primers and probes for FVL. There were 109 Kuwaitis of Iranian origin, 71 of Iraqi origin and 105 of Saudi origin. FVL was present in 7 and 5 Kuwaitis of Iranian and Iraqi origin, respectively. None of the Kuwaitis of Saudi origin had the mutation. Prevalence of FVL in Kuwaitis of Iranian (6.42%) and Iraqi (7.04%) origin were statistically different from prevalence in Kuwaitis of Saudi (0%) origin (P-value < 0.05). No difference was found between females and males (P-value > 0.6). In conclusion, FVL is present in Kuwaitis of Iranian or Iraqi origin only. Therefore, testing and providing genetic consultation for FVL may be needed in those Kuwaitis only which should save time, cost and efforts. However, this assumption should be confirmed by other studies and on larger number of cases.     

Smaller genetic risk in catabolic process explains lower energy expenditure, more athletic capability and higher prevalence of obesity in Africans

Lower energy expenditure (EE) for physical activity was observed in Africans than in Europeans, which might contribute to the higher prevalence of obesity and more athletic capability in Africans. But it is still unclear why EE is lower among African populations. In this study we tried to explore the genetic mechanism underlying lower EE in Africans. We screened 231 common variants with possibly harmful impact on 182 genes in the catabolic process. The genetic risk, including the total number of mutations and the sum of harmful probabilities, was calculated and analyzed for the screened variants at a population level. Results of the genetic risk among human groups showed that most Africans (3 out of 4 groups) had a significantly smaller genetic risk in the catabolic process than Europeans and Asians, which might result in higher efficiency of generating energy among Africans. In sport competitions, athletes need massive amounts of energy expenditure in a short period of time, so higher efficiency of energy generation might help make African-descendent athletes more powerful. On the other hand, higher efficiency of generating energy might also result in consuming smaller volumes of body mass. As a result, Africans might be more vulnerable to obesity compared to the other races when under the same or similar conditions. Therefore, the smaller genetic risk in the catabolic process might be at the core of understanding lower EE, more athletic capability and higher prevalence of obesity in Africans.     

Comparison of fibreoptic endoscopy in acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage in Africans and Europeans.

The results of endoscopy in acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage were compared in a group of 138 Africans and one of 84 Europeans. Contrary to widely held clinical opinion, the incidence of gastric and duodenal ulceration was similar in the two races. Peptic ulcers were the main source of bleeding in both groups and were surprisingly more common than varices in the Africans. Bleeding from varices, however, was far more common in the Africans than in the Europeans. Stomal ulcers were confined to Europeans. Gastric erosions, often attributed to herbal medicines, were more common in the Africans but the difference was not significant. The study was not designed to determine reduced mortality since the introduction of endoscopy, but management, especially in the Africans, was aided by early recognition of haemorrhage from oesophageal varices and acute gastric erosions.     

Relation of risk of systemic lupus erythematosus to west African admixture in a Caribbean population

Risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is higher in people of west African descent than in Europeans. The objective of this study was to distinguish between genetic and environmental explanations for this ethnic difference by examining the relationship of disease risk to individual admixture (defined as the proportion of the genome that is of west African ancestry); 124 cases of SLE and 219 matched controls resident in Trinidad were studied. Analysis of admixture was restricted to 52 cases and 107 controls who reported no Indian or Chinese ancestry. These individuals were typed with a panel of 26 single-nucleotide polymorphisms and five insertion/deletion polymorphisms chosen to have large allele frequency differentials between west African, European and Native American populations. A Bayesian model for population admixture, individual admixture and locus ancestry was fitted by Markov chain simulation. Mean west African admixture (M) was 0.81 in cases and 0.74 in controls (P=0.01). The risk ratio for SLE associated with unit change in M was estimated as 32.5 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 2.0-518. Adjustment for measures of socioeconomic status (household amenities in childhood and years of education) altered this risk ratio only slightly (adjusted risk ratio: 28.4, 95% CI 1.7-485). These results support an additive genetic model for the ethnic difference in risk of SLE between west Africans and Europeans, rather than an environmental explanation or an "overdominant" model in which risk is higher in heterozygous than in homozygous individuals. This conclusion lays a basis for localizing the genes underlying this ethnic difference in risk of SLE by admixture mapping.     

Oxygen free radical scavenger enzyme polymorphisms in systemic sclerosis

We performed a case-control study of polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoenzymes and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in black South Africans with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The frequency of the GSTM1*B phenotype was significantly decreased in the overall SSc group compared with controls (OR=0.19, p(corr)<.05), implying a possible protective effect against development of the disease. There was also a trend toward increased MnSODAla allele and phenotype frequencies in the diffuse cutaneous SSc subset compared with controls (OR=2.11 and 3.15, respectively, p(corr)<.1). Our findings provide new data on the distribution of GST and MnSOD polymorphisms in healthy Africans and further evidence that genetic factors may have a contributory role to play in predisposing to oxidative stress in SSc.     

Infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus type 2 in the USSR

The serological study of 20 sera, showing atypical reaction with HIV-1 in the immunoblotting assay, for the presence of HIV-2 infection revealed some cases of this infection among Africans who had arrived to the USSR from Western Africa (5 cases) and Burundi (1 case); besides, in 1 case HIV-2 infection was detected in a Soviet female citizen having had many sexual partners among foreigners.     

动态监测血清降钙素原水平在优化全身性感染患者抗菌治疗策略中的价值

目的:评估动态监测血清降钙素原水平(PCT)在优化全身性感染患者抗菌治疗策略中的价值。方法:选取2015年4月~2015年12月全身性感染患者85例,随机分为常规组42例和PCT组43例。常规组按照《抗菌药物临床应用指导原则(2015年版)》决定抗生素疗程;PCT组在抗生素治疗后第3、5、7、10、14 d监测血清PCT水平,若PCT0.25 ng/mL停用抗生素、PCT≥0.25 ng/mL继续使用抗生素。分别比较两组患者间一般情况、传统全身炎症性反应指标及抗生素使用的种类、时间、费用以及预后的差异。结果:两组患者间治疗前后传统全身炎症性反应指标无明显差异(P0.05);两组患者间常用的抗生素种类并无明显统计学差异(P0.05);PCT组患者抗生素使用的天数为(9.9±3.9)d,明显少于常规组的(13.9±5.2)d,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);PCT组患者抗生素日均费用为(422.39±139.9)元,明显低于常规组的(514.78±155.2)元,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);两组患者间停用抗生素后14天后全身感染复发率以及28天病死率无明显统计学差异(P0.05)。但PCT组患者总住ICU时间明显少于常规组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:动态监测血清PCT水平在优化全身性感染患者抗菌治疗策略中具有重要价值。     

Human leukocyte antigen B58 supertype and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in native Africans

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I alleles can be grouped into supertypes according to their shared peptide binding properties. We examined alleles of the HLA-B58 supertype (B58s) in treatment-na?ve human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive Africans (423 Zambians and 202 Rwandans). HLA-B and HLA-C alleles were resolved to four digits by a combination of molecular methods, and their respective associations with outcomes of HIV-1 infection were analyzed by statistical procedures appropriate for continuous or categorical data. The effects of the individual alleles on natural HIV-1 infection were heterogeneous. In HIV-1 subtype C-infected Zambians, the mean viral load (VL) was lower among B*5703 (P = 0.01) or B*5703-Cw*18 (P < 0.001) haplotype carriers and higher among B*5802 (P = 0.02) or B*5802-Cw*0602 (P = 0.03) carriers. The B*5801-Cw*03 haplotype showed an association with low VL (P = 0.05), whereas B*5801 as a whole did not. Rwandans with HIV-1 subtype A infection showed associations of B*5703 and B*5802 with slow (P = 0.06) and rapid (P = 0.003) disease progression, respectively. In neither population were B*1516-B*1517 alleles associated with more favorable responses. Overall, B58s alleles, individually or as part of an HLA-B-HLA-C haplotype, appeared to have a distinctive impact on HIV-1 infection among native Africans. As presently defined, B58s alleles cannot be considered uniformly protective against HIV/AIDS in every population.     

Blood Group Antigens C,Lub and P1 May Have a Role in HIV Infection in Africans

Background

Botswana is among the world’s countries with the highest rates of HIV infection. It is not known whether or not this susceptibility to infection is due to genetic factors in the population. Accumulating evidence, however, points to the role of erythrocytes as potential mediators of infection. We therefore sought to establish the role, if any, of some erythrocyte antigens in HIV infection in a cross-section of the population.

Methods

348 (346 HIV-negative and 2 HIV-positive) samples were obtained from the National Blood Transfusion Service as residual samples, while 194 HIV-positive samples were obtained from the Botswana-Harvard HIV Reference Laboratory. Samples were grouped for twenty three antigens. Chi-square or Fischer Exact analyses were used to compare the frequencies of the antigens in the two groups. A stepwise, binary logistic regression was used to study the interaction of the various antigens in the light of HIV-status.

Results

The Rh antigens C and E were associated with HIV-negative status, while blood group Jk^a, P₁ and Lu^b were associated with HIV-positive status. A stepwise binary logistic regression analysis yielded group C as the most significant protective blood group while Lu^b and P₁ were associated with significantly higher odds ratio in favor of HIV-infection. The lower-risk-associated group C was significantly lower in Africans compared to published data for Caucasians and might partially explain the difference in susceptibility to HIV-1.

Conclusion

The most influential antigen C, which also appears to be protective, is significantly lower in Africans than published data for Caucasians or Asians. On the other hand, there appear to be multiple antigens associated with increased risk that may override the protective role of C. A study of the distribution of these antigens in other populations may shed light on their roles in the HIV pandemic.     

Defective in vitro production of anti-Plasmodium falciparum antibodies in some malaria-immune subjects

The cell requirements for immunoglobulin (Ig) and Plasmodium falciparum-specific antibody production in the presence of schizont-enriched malaria antigen (M.Ag) were studied in vitro. Cell donors were healthy immune adult Africans and Europeans who had experienced single P. falciparum acute infection. In the presence of M.Ag a dose-dependent increase in polyclonal IgM and IgG levels was observed with T/B cell cultures from 4/4 European and from 4/14 African donors (high-Ig producers). In 10/14 Africans M.Ag failed to induce significant Ig production (low-Ig producers). No differences in Ig levels between high- and low-Ig producers were observed in the presence of pokeweed mitogen (PWM). The addition of CD8+T cells to CD4+T/B cell cultures significantly suppressed the Ig production in PWM- but not in M.Ag-activated cultures. High levels of P. falciparum-specific antibodies were found in M.Ag-activated cultures from high-Ig producer Africans but not in cultures from Europeans or from low-Ig producer Africans. The in vitro production reflected differences in plasma levels of specific antibodies.     

Genetic transferrin types and iron-binding: a comparative study of a European and an African population sample

Summary Two population samples, one from Europe and one from Africa, were analyzed for the distribution of genetic transferrin (TF) types, serum concentrations of TF, serum iron concentrations and free iron-binding capacities. In Europeans the distribution of the TF alleles was C1=0.816, C2=0.143, C3=0.037 and B₂=0.004. In black Africans the allele frequencies were: C1, 0.823; C2, 0.104; and D₁=0.073; TF^*C3 was absent. The mean serum concentrations were 362±88 mg/dl in Europeans and 528±176 mg/dl in Africans; this difference was statistically significant. The concentration of serum imunoglobulins was also elevated in black Africans although their health was reported to be normal. The serum iron concentrations in Africans were decreased; the free ironbinding capacity of TF was, thus, increased; the free ironbinding capacity of TF was, thus, increased. In both population samples there was a tendency for slightly higher TF concentrations in the TF C1 subtype than the TF C2 subtype. This correlation was not statistically significant. Analysis of a larger sample is required to establish this relationship.     

Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism reveals a genetic differentiation between ethnic groups in the population of Jerba

Jerba is an island situated in the South-East of Tunisia were some ethnic groups (Arabs, Berbers, Blacks, Jewishs and others) cohabit for centuries. The religion and cultural differences have represented an obstacle to a mixture between these groups. In order to evaluate the genetic differentiation between the muslim groups (Arabs, Berbers and Blacks), we have analysed the polymorphism of a mitochondrial DNA coding region. The cytochrome oxydase coding region (COII) was amplified by PCR in 57 Arabs, 42 Berbers and 16 Blacks. The amplified products were analysed by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP). Genetic distances were calculated by using the AMOVA program. The values of these distances were significantly different between Arabs and Blacks, and between Berbers and Blacks but not between Arabs and Berbers. So That, to refine the evaluation of genetic diversity between Arabs and Berbers, we have analysed the polymorphism of a second mitochondrial coding region which encodes for the fifth unit of NADH deshydrogenase (ND5). Eleven haplotypes were defined from the resulting data of mitochondrial COII and ND5 polymorphism and a significant genetic distance between Arabs and Berbers was computed.     

Skeletal muscle characteristics in sedentary black and Caucasian males

Twenty-three male Black African and 23 male Caucasian subjects, ascertained as sedentary, participated in this study designed to determine whether there were differences in skeletal muscle histochemical and biochemical characteristics between racial groups. Muscle fiber type proportions (I, IIa, and IIb), fiber areas and activities of several enzyme markers of different energy metabolic pathways were determined from a biopsy of the vastus lateralis. Results indicated that Caucasians had a higher percent type I (8%, P less than 0.01) and a lower percent type IIa (6.7%, P less than 0.05) fiber proportions than Africans. No significant differences were observed between the two racial groups in the type IIb fiber proportion or in the three fiber type areas. Enzymes catalyzing reactions in phosphagenic [creatine kinase (CK)] and glycolytic [hexokinase (HK), phosphofructokinase (PFK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)] metabolic pathways had significantly higher activities (about 30-40%) in the Black African group than in the Caucasian group (P less than 0.01). No significant difference was noted in the activities of oxidative enzymes [malate dehydrogenase (MDH), oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (OGDH), and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HADH)]. Consequently, the PFK/OGDH ratio was significantly elevated in Africans (P less than 0.05). The racial differences observed between Africans and Caucasians in fiber type proportion and enzyme activities of the phosphagenic and glycolytic metabolic pathways may well result from inherited variation. These data suggest that sedentary male Black individuals are, in terms of skeletal muscle characteristics, well endowed for sport events of short duration.     

Genetic polymorphism of delta-aminolevulinate dehydrase in several population groups in Israel

The genetic polymorphism of red cell delta aminolevulinate dehydrase (ALADH) has been investigated in several population groups in Israel: Ashkenazi Jews, non-Ashkenazi Jews from North Africa, Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Yemen and the Balkans, and Arabs. The distribution of the ALADH genes was not homogeneous (chi 2 = 36.83; d.f. = 8; p less than 0.0005). A significantly higher frequency of the ALADH2 gene was observed among the Ashkenazi Jews (0.2021) than among the non-Ashkenazi Jews and Arabs (gene frequencies 0.0825-0.1290) or all the other population samples so far studied (Liberia, Japan, Italy, Germany and Spain).     

Evaluation of ketamine systemic absorption from topical preparations. Short Communication

The aim of this study was to evaluate the systemic absorption of the topically administered ketamine using different vehicles and additives, in order to develop a transdermal therapeutic system (TTS) of this drug. After the application of different ketamine preparations (1% in hydrogel, o/w cream, or organogel) the ketamine appeared in the blood. The lowest level could be observed with o/w cream, while the highest concentration was achieved by means of the hydrogel system, however this difference was not significant. Further studies are going to be performed with higher drug concentrations for the characterization of the differences in the pharmacodynamics of the drug with different vehicles and to evaluate the correlation between the in vitro and in vivo absorption.     

Systemic candidiasis in mice immunized with Candida albicans ribosomes

In view of our previous findings that vaccination of mice with Candida albicans ribosomes protects them against experimental systemic candidiasis, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of this vaccination on the course of infection in immunized animals. Since the kidney is the maj or target in systemic candidal infection, we concentrated in this research on studying the histopathology and determining quantitatively the candidal colonization of this organ. The experiments were carried out at various time intervals after intravenous inoculation with live C. albicans. The colonization of kidneys in immunized mice was markedly lower than that in controls. The maximal difference in renal colonization between immunized and non immunized animals was observed when relatively low challenge doses were used. The inhibition of candidal multiplication in immunized mice seemed to be correlated to their increased resistance against lethal challenge, as expressed by a significantly higher survival rate. Histopathological changes and fungal elements were found in kidneys of control mice as early as 20 h post infection, while the kidneys of immunized mice did not seem affected by the disease. Moreover, even 3 days post infection, the kidneys of vaccinated animals still seemed normal. In conclusion, apparently the ribosomal vaccination leads to diminished colonization of the major site of infection in candidiasis, thus affording protection to the immunized animals against these infections.     

Comparative study of Helicobacter pylori infection in guinea pigs and mice - elevation of acute-phase protein C3 in infected guinea pigs

Eighteen Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs and 50 NMRI mice were inoculated with Helicobacter pylori and the infection followed by culture, histopathology, antibody response, and plasma levels of the acute-phase proteins albumin, C3, and transferrin for up to 7 weeks. The immune response to H. pylori surface proteins was studied by an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and Western immunoblot and the plasma levels of albumin, C3, and transferrin were analyzed by single radial immunodiffusion. Guinea pigs had a more severe gastritis and a higher EIA immune response than NMRI mice. Serum C3 levels were elevated in infected guinea pigs after 3 and 7 weeks indicating a systemic inflammatory response and a possible link between H. pylori infection and extragastric manifestations such as vasculitis associated with atherosclerosis. Serum cholesterol levels were analyzed in guinea pigs at 7 weeks and indicated a higher level in H. pylori-infected than in control animals, but this difference was not statistically significant.     

Africans in the diaspora: black-white earnings differences among America's Africans

The condition of Africans in the diaspora proffers insight into not just their adaptation to their new countries, but also the nature of racial stratification at their destinations. We examine race differences in earnings between black and white Africans in America and find sizeable differences among immigrants who have relatively similar human capital profiles. Whites have annual earnings 80 per cent higher than their black counterparts, and the gap in hourly wage is almost 48 per cent. More significantly, more than half (53 per cent) of the race difference in wages remains unexplained by earnings-related attributes such as education, occupation, and hours worked. We discuss these results against the backdrop of the ongoing debate on discrimination and the significance of race for socio-economic attainment in America.