Possible influence of age on the expression of the heterozygous cerumen phenotype

The relationship of cerumen (earwax) phenotype and age was examined in 2,618 women. An increasing proportion of white women with dry or unclassifiable cerumen was found with advancing age, ranging from 2.0% in women under 30 years to 13.3% in women 70 years and older. No statistically significant change with age was found in other racial groups. It is suggested that the increase of dry or unclassifiable cerumen in white women represents a change in the expressivity of alleles that determine cerumen type occurring with advancing age in women who are heterozygous for the trait.     

Cerumen types and PTC-tasting in the Seminole indians of Florida

Of 100 Seminole Indians of Florida examined for cerumen, 44 had the dry type, 37 were wet, 10 were beady, and nine were indeterminate or absent. All except one of 53 Indians tested for PTC-tasting was a taster.     

Genetic geography of inherited dimorphism of ear wax by its consistency

Data on cerumen types were collected in three population groups of Pamir mountain region. The observed frequencies of dominant w and recessive d alleles which determine wet and dry types of ear wax are equal, accordingly: in Khuf population (Western Pamir) to 0.6603 and 0.3397; in Pastkhuff population (Western Pamir) to 0.6078 and 0.3922; in Kirghizes of Central Pamir to 0.3606 and 0.6394. We present data on cerumen types in 23 populations of the USSR also. The world information on distribution cerumen types was summed up (over 80 populations). No connection of gene frequencies of cerumen with natural abiotic factors of environment was revealed. Strong correlation of the genes described with mongoloid peculiarities was established: epicanthus r = 0.718, the haplotype Gmz, a, b, 0, 3, 5, s, t (Gm(1, 11, 13, 15, 16) r = 0.522.     

中国九个人群耵聍的遗传多态性

报道了九个人群的耵聍位点基因。计算表明中国各族人群在耵聍位点上的遗传分化程度非常大,固定指数F_(ST)=0.22。本文根据耵聍基因频率在我国和邻近地区的分布趋势,认为亚洲东北地区应是干型基因的起源地,目前世界上耵聍位点基因频率分布格局主要是基因扩散的结果,而非选择作用造成的。     

Breast Cancer Incidence in Black and White Women Stratified by Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor Statuses

Background

There is increasing evidence that breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease presented by different phenotypes and that white women have a higher breast cancer incidence rate, whereas black women have a higher mortality rate. It is also well known that white women have lower incidence rates than black women until approximately age 40, when rate curves cross over and white women have higher rates. The goal of this study was to validate the risk of white and black women to breast cancer phenotypes, stratified by statuses of the estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors.

Methodology/Principal Findings

SEER17 data were fractioned by receptor status into [ER+, PR+], [ER−, PR−], [ER+, PR−], and [ER−, PR+] phenotypes. It was shown that in black women compared to white women, cumulative age-specific incidence rates are: (i) smaller for the [ER+, PR+] phenotype; (ii) larger for the [ER−, PR−] and [ER−, PR+] phenotypes; and (iii) almost equal for the [ER+, PR−] phenotype. Clemmesen''s Hook, an undulation unique to women''s breast cancer age-specific incidence rate curves, is shown here to exist in both races only for the [ER+, PR+] phenotype. It was also shown that for all phenotypes, rate curves have additional undulations and that age-specific incidence rates are nearly proportional in all age intervals.

Conclusions/Significance

For black and white women, risk for the [ER+, PR+], [ER−, PR−] and [ER−, PR+] phenotypes are race dependent, while risk for the [ER+, PR−] phenotype is almost independent of race. The processes of carcinogenesis in aging, leading to the development of each of the considered breast cancer phenotypes, are similar in these racial groups. Undulations exhibited on the curves of age-specific incidence rates of the considered breast cancer phenotypes point to the presence of several subtypes (to be determined) of each of these phenotypes.     

Cerumen types in Eskimos

High frequencies of dry type cerumen were found in Eskimos of the Nome and Bethel areas of Alaska, supporting the assumption of decreasing frequency of dry cerumen with increasing distance from the Bering Strait.     

Maternal Obesity and Breast‐feeding Practices Among White and Black Women

Despite the increase in obesity among women of reproductive ages, few studies have considered maternal obesity as a risk factor for breast‐feeding success. We tested the hypothesis that women who are obese (BMI = 30–34.9) and very obese (BMI ≥35) before pregnancy are less likely to initiate and maintain breast‐feeding than are their normal‐weight counterparts (BMI = 18.5–24.9) among white and black women. Data from 2000 to 2005 South Carolina Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) were used. The overall response rate was 71.0%; there were 3,517 white and 2,846 black respondents. Black women were less likely to initiate breast‐feeding and breast‐fed their babies for a shorter duration than white women. Compared to normal‐weight white women, very obese white women were less likely to initiate breast‐feeding (odds ratio: 0.63; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.42, 0.94) and more likely to discontinue breast‐feeding within the first 6 months (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.39, 2.58). Among black women, prepregnancy BMI was neither associated with breast‐feeding initiation nor with breast‐feeding continuation within the first 6 months. Because very obese white women are less likely to initiate or continue breast‐feeding than other white women, health professionals should be aware that very obese white women need additional breast‐feeding support. Lower rates of breast‐feeding among black women suggest that they should continue to be the focus of the programs and policies aimed at breast‐feeding promotion in the United States.     

Characterization of 2,7-anhydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid in human wet cerumen

A molecular species of sialic acid was isolated in a free form from cerumen of the wet type, but not of the dry type, by an ion-exchange column chromatography and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. Structural analysis of this sialic acid was performed by gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry with chemical ionization (CI) and electron ionization (EI). In the CI mass spectra, the protonated molecular ion of the trimethylsilyl derivative was observed at m/z 580. and that of the methyl ester-trimethylsilyl derivative was at m/z 522. In the EI mass spectrum, the methyl ester-trimethylsilyl derivative gave characteristic ions at m/z 506, 462, 418, 416, 328, 316, 238, 228, 205, 186, and 173. This mass spectrum was identical with that of 2,7-anhydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid, which was reported by Lifely and Cottee (Carbohydr. Res. 107, 187-197, 1982) as the mass spectrum of a by-product prepared from N-acetylneuraminic acid by methanolysis. These results indicate that the compound in the wet cerumen is 2,7-anhydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid. Since this sialic acid species could not be detected in cerumens of the dry type, its formation in the wet type may be controlled by an autosomal dominant gene.     

Energy-Related Indicators and Breast Cancer Risk among White and Black Women

Energy-related indicators, including physical activity, energy intake, body mass index (BMI) and adult weight change, have been linked to breast cancer risk. Very few studies of these associations have been conducted among black women, therefore we used the Nashville Breast Health Study (NBHS) to determine whether similar effects were seen in black and white women. The NBHS is a population-based case-control study of breast cancer among women age 25 to 75 years conducted between 2001 and 2010 in and around the Nashville Metropolitan area. Telephone interviews and self-administered food frequency questionnaires were completed with 2,614 incident breast cancer cases ascertained through hospitals and the statewide cancer registry, and 2,306 controls selected using random digit dialing. Among premenopausal white and black women, there was little effect of adult exercise or other energy-related indicators on breast cancer risk, regardless of tumor estrogen receptor (ER) status. The beneficial effect of adult exercise on postmenopausal breast cancer appeared to be comparable between white and black women (highest tertile relative to none - white odds ratio [OR] 0.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.6-1.0, p for trend=0.05; black OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.4-1.1, p for trend=0.07); however, among black women the reduction was limited to those with ER-positive disease. White and black women should be encouraged to engage in more physical activity to reduce their risk of postmenopausal breast cancer.     

EFFECTS OF SOIL MOISTURE CONTENT ON DRY NURSERY SEEDLING QUALITY OF LATE DOUBLE CROPPING RICE IN SOUTH CHINA

In the present paper, an experiment was conducted to study the effects of soil moisture content on dry nursery seedling quality in Guangzhou in 1995. Through comparing the difference of dry nursery seedlings and wet nursery seedlings, we found a close relationship between soil moisture content and seedling growth. The seedling emergence of dry nursery seedling was more even, tidy and faster, and the survival rate was higher than that of wet nursery seedling. Dry nursery seedlings had small plant stature, slow leaf stretching speed and low individual seedling dry weight, but had high dry/fresh weight ratio. This was abeneficial factor for seedlings to recover from transplanting shock more quickly. As com-pared with the wet nursery seedlings, dry nursery seedlings had poor rooting ability,but had more vigorous white roots and fewer rust roots. It was the possibly important reasonfor dry nursery seedlings to form strong“explosive force”.     

Impact of sex and chronic resistance training on human patellar tendon dry mass, collagen content, and collagen cross-linking

Collagen content and cross-linking are believed to be major determinants of tendon structural integrity and function. Sex and chronic resistance training have been shown to alter tendon function and may also alter the key structural features of tendon. Patellar tendon biopsies were taken from untrained men [n = 8, 1 repetition maximum (RM) = 53 +/- 3 kg], untrained women (n = 8, 1 RM = 29 +/- 2 kg), and resistance-trained (10 +/- 1 yr of training) men (n = 8, 1 RM = 71 +/- 6 kg). Biopsies were analyzed for dry mass, collagen content, and collagen cross-linking (hydroxylysylpyridinoline). We hypothesized that these elements of tendon structure would be lower in women than men, whereas chronic resistance training would increase these parameters in men. Tendon dry mass was significantly lower in women than men (343 +/- 5 vs. 376 +/- 8 microg dry mass/mg tendon wet wt, P < 0.01) and was not influenced by chronic resistance training (P > 0.05). The lower tendon dry mass in women tended to reduce (P = 0.08) collagen content per tendon wet weight. Collagen content of the tendon dry mass was not influenced by sex or resistance training (P > 0.05). Similarly, cross-linking of collagen was unaltered (P > 0.05) by sex or training. Although sex alters the water content of patellar tendon tissue, any changes in tendon function with sex or chronic resistance training in men do not appear to be explained by alterations in collagen content or cross-linking of collagen within the dry mass component of the tendon.     

Haptoglobin Phenotype,Preeclampsia Risk and the Efficacy of Vitamin C and E Supplementation to Prevent Preeclampsia in a Racially Diverse Population

Haptoglobin’s (Hp) antioxidant and pro-angiogenic properties differ between the 1-1, 2-1, and 2-2 phenotypes. Hp phenotype affects cardiovascular disease risk and treatment response to antioxidant vitamins in some non-pregnant populations. We previously demonstrated that preeclampsia risk was doubled in white Hp 2-1 women, compared to Hp 1-1 women. Our objectives were to determine whether we could reproduce this finding in a larger cohort, and to determine whether Hp phenotype influences lack of efficacy of antioxidant vitamins in preventing preeclampsia and serious complications of pregnancy-associated hypertension (PAH). This is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial in which 10,154 low-risk women received daily vitamin C and E, or placebo, from 9-16 weeks gestation until delivery. Hp phenotype was determined in the study prediction cohort (n = 2,393) and a case-control cohort (703 cases, 1,406 controls). The primary outcome was severe PAH, or mild or severe PAH with elevated liver enzymes, elevated serum creatinine, thrombocytopenia, eclampsia, fetal growth restriction, medically indicated preterm birth or perinatal death. Preeclampsia was a secondary outcome. Odds ratios were estimated by logistic regression. Sampling weights were used to reduce bias from an overrepresentation of women with preeclampsia or the primary outcome. There was no relationship between Hp phenotype and the primary outcome or preeclampsia in Hispanic, white/other or black women. Vitamin supplementation did not reduce the risk of the primary outcome or preeclampsia in women of any phenotype. Supplementation increased preeclampsia risk (odds ratio 3.30; 95% confidence interval 1.61–6.82, p<0.01) in Hispanic Hp 2-2 women. Hp phenotype does not influence preeclampsia risk, or identify a subset of women who may benefit from vitamin C and E supplementation to prevent preeclampsia.     

GANGLIOSIDE ABNORMALITIES IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Abstract— Gangliosides were isolated from plaque tissue and normal appearing white matter of multiple sclerosis (MS) brain. All four plaques showed decreased ganglioside concn relative to normal human white matter on a wet wt basis, but significant elevation in terms of dry wt. The wet wt and dry wt concn of MS white matter gangliosides showed smaller but statistically significant decreases below normal. Thin-layer patterns of the plaques showed several departures from normal white matter, including decrease of G₄ and G₅, and complete loss of G₇ (sialosylgalactosylceramide). Most of the plaques had significant elevation of G_2A and G_3A along with increases of the slower-migrating polysialogangliosides. An additional ganglioside was present between G₂ and G_2A which was not seen in normal white matter. The TLC pattern of MS white matter gangliosides was essentially normal. The evidence for a general decrease of acidic lipids within normal appearing white matter is discussed.     

Cerumen phenotypes in certain populations of Eurasia and Africa

Cerumen polymorphism was studied in several populations of Eurasia and Africa. The frequencies of dry cerumen were shown to be high in Mongoloid populations and low among Europoids. Intermediate frequencies were found among peoples of subequatorial Africa. Special attention is paid to the potential for using this marker in population and anthropological studies.     

Cerumen types in two Eskimo communities

Data on cerumen types were collected from two separate samples of Alaskan Eskimos. The observed frequency of the recessive dry allele further documents the existence of a genetic cline for earwax types in this region and world populations.     

Phosphorus supply and the growth of frequently defoliated white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in dry soil

A previous study found that increased phosphorus (P) supply to frequently defoliated white clover plants, growing in a low-P, dry soil, alleviated water stress symptoms and increased plant recovery on rewatering. In this study we determined how these stresses influence white clover growth. Measurements were made of the leaf canopy, stolon infrastructure and root system of the white clover plants growing in a low-P soil. Treatments included the factorial combination of four levels of P supply, two defoliation frequencies and two soil water treatments. White clover growth declined markedly when P-deficient plants were exposed to frequent defoliation and dry soil conditions. Leaf area was more affected than other parameters, in that the combination of stresses reduced leaf area to 2% of maximum observed for infrequently defoliated plants growing in high-P soil, with adequate water. Increased P supply generally increased the growth of all plant parts. Frequently defoliated plants growing in dry soil produced similar or greater leaf mass and leaf area as plants from similar treatments growing in wet soil, when the P supply increased to 50 mg P kg-1 soil. Higher P rates were able to negate the effect of dry soil on these frequently defoliated plants, as a result of larger water and P uptake. Also, the frequently defoliated plants with restricted root growth did not respond to a small increase in P supply (17 mg P kg-1 soil) for the leaf growth, irrespective of whether they were growing in wet or dry soil. Infrequently defoliated plants with greater root growth, compared to frequently defoliated plants, more than doubled their leaf mass with this P treatment.     

Preliminary Evidence of the Importance of ENSO in Modifying Food Availability for White‐tailed Deer in a Mexican Tropical Dry Forest1

The influence of El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on rainfall and its possible effect on availability of food for white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in a tropical dry forest in the Pacific coast of Mexico was studied. From 1977 to 2003 there were three significant El Niño and La Niña events. During El Niño years rainfall decreased during the wet season ( June to October) and increased during the dry season (November to May), with the opposite effect during La Niña years. Plant diversity was monitored in permanent plots during the wet and dry seasons of 1989–1993. The results provide evidence that ENSO events affect deer food availability, particularly in the dry season.     

Prevalence of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in wild shrimp Penaeus monodon in the Philippines

Prevalence of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodology on DNA extracted from the gills of wild black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon collected from 7 sampling sites in the Philippines. These 7 sampling sites are the primary sources of spawners and broodstock for hatchery use. During the dry season, WSSV was detected in shrimp from all sites except Bohol, but during the wet season it was not detected in any site except Palawan. None of the WSSV-PCR positive shrimp showed signs of white spots in the cuticle. Prevalence of WSSV showed seasonal variations, i.e. prevalence in dry season (April to May) was higher than in the wet season (August to October). These results suggest that WSSV has already become established in the local marine environment and in wild populations of P. monodon. Thus, broodstock collected during the dry season could serve as the main source of WSSV contamination in shrimp farms due to vertical transmission of the virus in hatcheries.     

Study on some genetic traits of Tibetans at Chandragiri, District Ganjam, Orissa

The incidence of ABH secretion, dry cerumen, ear-lobe attachment, hand clasping, arm-folding, and digital hair, occipital hair whorl and relative length of first and second toes is reported for Tibetan refugees. In those traits for which comparative data are available, they resemble Mongoloid rather than Caucasoid populations.     

Postmastectomy breast reconstruction in Connecticut: trends and predictors.

Using the population-based Connecticut Tumor Registry, postmastectomy breast reconstruction was examined in the 10,756 breast cancers in Connecticut women (including 10,133 in white women and 554 in black women) diagnosed from 1988 to 1995. Reconstruction increased from 6.4 percent of cancers in 1988 to 9.1 percent in 1991, but it declined to 4.7 percent of cancers in 1992 (when the Food and Drug Administration instituted a restriction on the use of silicone gel implants); by 1995, the rate had recovered to 8.5 percent. Reconstruction was negatively associated with age, poverty rate of the census tract of residence, and black (versus white) race; these associations require further study.