Distribution of acetylator phenotypes in the normal Moscow city population and in chronic alcoholism

The distribution of acetylator phenotypes was studied in 169 normal individuals of Moscow Russian population and 75 inhabitants of Moscow suffering from chronic alcoholism. Polymorphism was found by means of acetylation in both groups studied. The proportion of repeatability of rapid and slow acetylators amounts to 48 and 52% among normal individuals, 44 and 56% among those who suffer from chronic alcoholism. The comparative analyses of such repeatability within the classes resulted in authentic increase of the rate of rapid acetylators among the chronic alcoholics (chi 2 = 18.32; p less than 0.01); in comparison with normal individual groups, (the modes being in classes 50-60% and 80-90%, with the antimode 70-80%), a shift of one of the modes from the 50-60% class into the 60-70% class was traced among diseased individuals. It is supposed that chronic alcohol consumption stimulates the process of acetylation; possible reasons for this stimulation are discussed.     

Distribution of human adult lactase phenotypes in the population of Austria

Summary A total of 528 unrelated, apparently healthy, adult and adolescent Austrians (270 females, 258 males, mean age 22.1 years) were examined for lactose absorption capacity employing a noninvasive field test based on breath hydrogen (H₂) determination. Subjects exhibiting a change of breath hydrogen concentration of less than 15 volumes per million (vpm) after a load of 50 g lactose (n=422) were classified as lactorse absorbers, 106 probands (20.1%) showing increases of breath hydrogen concentration between 16 and 111 vpm were diagnosed as lactose malabsorbers. The distribution of the lactase phenotypes was independent of age and sex. Intolerance symptoms after lactose administration were significantly more frequent in lactose malabsorbers. Grouping of probands according to the birth-places of their grandparents revealed significant differences in the distribution of the lactase phenotypes in East and West Austria (East 25%, West 15% lactose malabsorbers). These differences are discussed in the light of the population history of these regions.     

Distribution of alpha-1-antitrypsin phenotypes in two Dutch population groups

Summary The ₁-antitrypsin phenotypes of two Dutch population groups (consisting of 672 and 802 individuals) were determined by the isoelectric focusing technique, which due to its recent development, has been used for the first time in large-scale phenotyping.As in other population studies on the ₁-antitrypsin phenotype distribution, Pi M is the most frequently occurring allele. The two investigated groups exhibit remarkable differences, both to other studied groups as well as to each other. The most interesting results are probably the high frequencies of the alleles Pi- and of the recently discovered Pi M_N. Comparison with phenotype studies carried out in other populations is also presented.     

Correlation between acetylator phenotypes and genotypes of polymorphic arylamine N-acetyltransferase in human liver

Southern blot analysis was performed with genomic DNAs from 86 human subjects using the 32P-labeled cDNA for polymorphic arylamine N-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.5) in human liver recently cloned in our laboratory. Three types of N-acetyltransferase gene were identified. Gene 1 contains a 5.5-kilobase (kb) KpnI fragment with a BamHI site; gene 2 contains a 5.5-kb KpnI fragment without a BamHI site; and gene 3 contains a 5.0-kb KpnI fragment with a BamHI site. The combination of these three genes generated five genotypes. Acetylator phenotypes were determined in 29 healthy volunteers by isoniazid loading tests, and they were classified as rapid (10 subjects), intermediate (16 subjects), or slow (3 subjects) acetylators. Rapid acetylators were homozygotes of gene 1. Intermediate acetylators were heterozygotes of either genes 1 and 2 or genes 1 and 3. There were two exceptional cases who were classified as intermediate acetylators but were homozygotes of gene 1. Slow acetylators were either heterozygote of genes 2 and 3 or homozygotes of gene 3. These results indicate that gene 1 corresponds to high N-acetyltransferase activity, while gene 2 and gene 3 give rise to low N-acetyltransferase activity.     

Distribution of ABO and Rhesus phenotypes and genes in the population of Kursk region

The distributions of AB0 and Rhesus phenotypes and the corresponding genes in the population of Kursk oblast were studied. Based on these data, genetic differentiation of rural populations with respect to the d gene frequency was revealed. The differentiation was determined by the differences in the genetic and demographic structure of these rural populations. The frequency of homozygotes for the recessive gene d and the incidence of malformations affecting the children's viability increased with an increase in the inbreeding level of a population. Genetic distances between the population of Kursk oblast and other populations were estimated.     

Distribution of common phenotypes of sperm diaphorase (DIA3) in the Polish population.

The polymorphism of sperm diaphorase (DIA3) was investigated by isoelectric focusing in semen samples from 310 unrelated Polish males. The allele frequencies were DIA3*1 = 0.782, DIA3*2 = 0.200 and DIA3*3 = 0.018.     

Complex medico-genetic study of the population of western Siberia. III. Distribution of phenotypes and gene frequencies in the northern Khanty population

Distribution of phenotypes and gene frequencies for 5 polymorphic loci as well as frequencies of incidence of some anthroposcopic parameters in five subpopulations of the North Khanty population is presented. A comparative analysis was performed for the traits studied among the people of Finno-Ugric group and of North Asia. Wahlund's variance values point to significant subdivision of the population in question. Disruption of the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for haptoglobin locus was observed in two subpopulations. Estimates of inbreeding coefficients obtained by different ways (from gene frequencies, genealogy and isonymy) are compared.     

Antibodies to the hepatitis A virus in the healthy population of Moscow

Serum specimens collected from 1002 persons in Moscow were tested for the presence of antibodies to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV antibodies) by solid-phase enzyme immunoassay. The prevalence of these antibodies increased progressively with age from 10% in children aged 5-9 years to over 90% in the age groups of 40-49 years and over, the 50% immunity level being established at the age of 18 years. 79% of infants under 1 year were found to be immune, which was obviously due to the placental transfer of antibodies from mother to child. In a considerable part of seropositive persons over 30 years high or medium antibody titers were detected. These age groups showed a stable proportion of the low, medium and high level of anti-HAV antibodies. The prevalence of such antibodies was not related to sex. The presence of an ample amount of anti-HAV antibodies was determined in all of 18 tested lots of commercial serum immunoglobulin obtained from 3 different manufacturers.     

N-Acetyltransferase phenotypes in Iraqi and British population

The paper reports the N-acetyltransferase results from three population groups and discusses some of the reasons for the current interest in this system as well as the implication for some of the observed geographical differences.     

Distribution profile of paraoxonase phenotypes among the Gujaratis

BACKGROUND:

Paraoxonase (PON1) can hydrolyze organophosphate pesticides (OP) and has a key role in the susceptibility of human in OP toxicity. The human-enzyme shows polymorphism and variations in the distribution profile of its phenotypes among different ethnic groups have been observed.

AIMS:

To see the distribution pattern of total PON1 activity in 45 healthy attendants of poisoning cases; 121 healthy unrelated farm-labours and 59 normal subjects of trauma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The PON1 activities from serum/plasma samples of these healthy normal individuals were estimated with/without addition of 1M NaCl in order to determine salt-stimulated and basal activity. The PON 1 phenotypes were determined on the basis of percent activation of enzyme activity.

RESULTS:

Tri-modal distribution of basal PON1 activity was observed among all these individuals. 52.0% of the individuals belonged to Phenotype A, 46.6% to phenotype AB while 1.4% to Phenotype B with gene frequency of allele-A and allele-B being 0.753 and 0.247 respectively in excellent agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

CONCLUSION:

Maximum number of individuals belonged to phenotype-A (low PON1 activity) showing potential vulnerability towards Op-poisoning.     

The Distribution of Microscopic Fungi along Moscow Roads

The distribution of microscopic fungi in soils and surface air along some Moscow roads was studied from 1994 through 2000 at several distances (0, 5, 10, and 20 m) from the roads. Soil fungal complexes in roadside zones with different levels of pollution from automobile engines were found to differ in their composition, species structure, and biomorphology. Relatively far from the roads, the content of fungal mycelium diminished, while that of fungal spores increased. Close to the roads, fungal complexes in soil and surface air were dominated by dark melanin-containing fungi. The microscopic fungal complexes of soil and surface air along the roadsides were similar but differed in the relative abundance of some species.     

Distribution of microscopic fungi along Moscow roads]

The distribution of microscopic fungi in soils and surface air along some Moscow roads was studied from 1994 through 2000 at several distances (0, 5, 10, and 20 m) from the roads. Soil fungal complexes in roadside zones with different levels of pollution from automobile engines were found to differ in their composition, species structure, and biomorphology. Relatively far from the roads, the content of fungal mycelium diminished, while that of fungal spores increased. Close to the roads, fungal complexes in soil and surface air were dominated by dark melanin-containing fungi. The microscopic fungal complexes of soil and surface air along the roadsides were similar but differed in the relative abundance of some species.     

Distribution of alpha-1-antitrypsin phenotypes in Sweden

The distribution of phenotypes of alpha-1-antitrypsin (Pi) in 1,062 unrelated Swedes was determined by isoelectric focusing with carrier ampholytes. The frequencies calculated were: PiM1 = 0.6940, PiM2 = 0.1384, PiM3 = 0.1139, PiZ = 0.0231, PiS = 0.0245, PiF = 0.0038, Pivar = 0.0024. A mother-child material consisting of 194 pairs is also presented.     

Alpha-1-antitrypsin phenotypes in a population of Jordan

Frequencies of the three common subtypes of PI M were studied in a Jordanian population. In comparison with other populations, PI*M3 was found to be low (0.038) and PI*M2 rather high (0.155).     

Distribution of adult lactase phenotypes in the Tuareg of Niger.

The adult lactase phenotype, lactose absorber or malabsorber, was determined using the lactose tolerance test with breath hydrogen assay in a group of Tuareg, a traditionally nomadic pastoralist population in the central Sahara. Out of a total of 118 subjects, 103 (87.3%) were lactose absorbers and 15 (12.7%) lactose malabsorbers. The frequency of the "lactase suppression gene" in this population sample was .357 (SD .043). The low frequency of lactase suppression in the Tuareg supports the hypothesis of natural selection in favor of the "lactase persistence gene" in milk-dependent nomadic pastoralist.     

Population frequency of neural tube defects in the population of the city of Moscow]

A sample investigation was carried out in 14 maternity homes of Moscow during 1970--1976 in order to determine the population incidence of defects of the neural tibe. Among 282336 newborns 220 probands with these anomalies were found including 11 with syndromes of non-multifactorial etiology. The total incidence of multifactorial forms was 0.74 +/- 0.10 per 1000 newborns, the incidence of the anencephaly was 0.33 +/- 0.07% and the frequency of the spina bifida was 0.41 +/- 0.07% respectively. The sex ratio 0.61 among probands was statistically significantly different from that normal among newborns. An insignificant increase of the incidence of the defects was observed during the autumn and winter seasons. No correlation was observed between the mother's age, the birth order and the incidence of the neural tube defects.