Polymorphism in TGFB1 is associated with worse non-relapse mortality and overall survival after stem cell transplantation with unrelated donors.

Transforming growth factor beta-1, encoded by the TGFB1 gene, is a cytokine that plays a central role in many physiological and pathogenic processes. We have sequenced TGFB1 regulatory region and assigned allelic genotypes in a large cohort of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients and donors. In this study, we analyzed 522 unrelated donor-patient pairs and examined the combined effect of all the common polymorphisms in this genomic region. In univariate analysis, we found that patients carrying a specific allele, 'p001', showed significantly reduced overall survival (5-year overall survival 30.7% for p001/ p001 patients vs. 41.6% others; P=0.032) and increased non-relapse mortality (1-year nonrelapse mortality: 39.0% vs. 25.4%; P=0.039) after transplantation. In multivariate analysis, the presence of a p001/ p001 genotype in patients was confirmed as an independent factor for reduced overall survival [hazard ratio=1.53 (1.04-2.24); P=0.031], and increased non-relapse mortality [hazard ratio=1.73 (1.06-2.83); P=0.030]. In functional experiments we found a trend towards a higher percentage of surface transforming growth factor beta-1-positive regulatory T cells after activation when the cells had a p001 allele (P=0.07). Higher or lower production of transforming growth factor beta-1 in the inflammatory context of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may influence the development of complications in these patients. Findings indicate that TGFB1 genotype could potentially be of use as a prognostic factor in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation risk assessment algorithms

Methodology for selecting atmospheric monitoring sitesin urban areas affected by emissions from mobile sources

El monitoreo atmosférico es una de las etapas fundamentales en la identificación de estrategias para minimizar, prevenir y controlar los impactos de la dispersión de contaminantes en el aire, sobre la salud pública y el ambiente. Por tanto, el objetivo principal de este articulo consiste en proponer una metodología para la selección de  sitios de monitoreo atmosférico en zonas urbanas afectadas por las emisiones de fuentes móviles. Primeramente se identificaron los sitios que presentaban mayor flujo vehicular y se priorizaron teniendo presente  los siguientes  criterios  de selección: seguridad, influencia de otras fuentes, facilidad del montaje de los equipos,  accesibilidad al sitio, identificación de barreras y obstáculos,  registro histórico de datos  y grado de concentración  usando el software CALINE 3.La modelación agrupo datos característicos de las vías, meteorológicos y de flujo vehicular de un año típico de la zona en estudio.   A cada uno de estos parámetros le es asignada una valoración cuantitativa, la cual define los sitios donde se realizará el monitoreo. Como resultados se desarrolló una guía para seleccionar los lugares en donde se puedan desarrollar campañas de monitoreo atmosférico asociadas a fuentes móviles. La metodología fue aplicada en la ciudad de Cartagena de Indias haciendo uso del modelo de calidad del aire CALINE3.Atmospheric monitoring is one of the fundamental steps in identifying strategies to minimize, prevent and control the impact of the dispersion of pollutants in the air, on public health and the environment. Therefore, the main objective of this article is to propose a methodology for selecting air monitoring sites in urban areas affected by emissions from mobile sources. First, the places with the highest vehicular flow were identified and prioritized according to the following selection criteria: safety, influence of other sources, ease of assembly of equipment, accessibility to the site, identification of barriers and obstacles, historical record of data and degree concentration of the pollutant: in this case carbon monoxide, using CALINE 3 software. The modeling grouped characteristic data related with roads, meteorology and vehicular flow of a typical year of the zone under study. A quantitative assessment is assigned to each of these parameters, which defines the sites where the monitoring will be performed. As a result, it was developed a guide to select those places where atmospheric monitoring campaigns related with mobile sources can be held. This methodology was applied in the city of Cartagena de Indias by using air quality model for assessment, CALINE

Methodology for selecting atmospheric monitoring sitesin urban areas affected by emissions from mobile sources

El monitoreo atmosférico es una de las etapas fundamentales en la identificación de estrategias para minimizar, prevenir y controlar los impactos de la dispersión de contaminantes en el aire, sobre la salud pública y el ambiente. Por tanto, el objetivo principal de este articulo consiste en proponer una metodología para la selección de  sitios de monitoreo atmosférico en zonas urbanas afectadas por las emisiones de fuentes móviles. Primeramente se identificaron los sitios que presentaban mayor flujo vehicular y se priorizaron teniendo presente  los siguientes  criterios  de selección: seguridad, influencia de otras fuentes, facilidad del montaje de los equipos,  accesibilidad al sitio, identificación de barreras y obstáculos,  registro histórico de datos  y grado de concentración  usando el software CALINE 3.La modelación agrupo datos característicos de las vías, meteorológicos y de flujo vehicular de un año típico de la zona en estudio.   A cada uno de estos parámetros le es asignada una valoración cuantitativa, la cual define los sitios donde se realizará el monitoreo. Como resultados se desarrolló una guía para seleccionar los lugares en donde se puedan desarrollar campañas de monitoreo atmosférico asociadas a fuentes móviles. La metodología fue aplicada en la ciudad de Cartagena de Indias haciendo uso del modelo de calidad del aire CALINE3.Atmospheric monitoring is one of the fundamental steps in identifying strategies to minimize, prevent and control the impact of the dispersion of pollutants in the air, on public health and the environment. Therefore, the main objective of this article is to propose a methodology for selecting air monitoring sites in urban areas affected by emissions from mobile sources. First, the places with the highest vehicular flow were identified and prioritized according to the following selection criteria: safety, influence of other sources, ease of assembly of equipment, accessibility to the site, identification of barriers and obstacles, historical record of data and degree concentration of the pollutant: in this case carbon monoxide, using CALINE 3 software. The modeling grouped characteristic data related with roads, meteorology and vehicular flow of a typical year of the zone under study. A quantitative assessment is assigned to each of these parameters, which defines the sites where the monitoring will be performed. As a result, it was developed a guide to select those places where atmospheric monitoring campaigns related with mobile sources can be held. This methodology was applied in the city of Cartagena de Indias by using air quality model for assessment, CALINE

Functional upgrading in China’s export processing sector

Functional upgrading occurs when a firm acquires more sophisticated functions within an existing value chain. In this paper, we analyze if there is evidence of this type of upgrading in China’s export processing regime by investigating dynamics in the relative prevalence of Import & Assembly (IA) versus Pure Assembly (PA) processing trade over the period 2000-2013. Firms in both regimes provide similar manufacturing services to foreign companies, but IA firms also conduct the sophisticated tasks of quality control, searching, financing and storing imported materials. Consistent with a trend of functional upgrading, we show that the share of IA trade in total processing trade has increased rapidly during the period 2000-2006, both overall and within product categories. Furthermore, we find that this trend has gone hand in hand with improvements in a sector’s labor productivity and unit values. Against expectations, we find that this process has slowed down notably during the period 2006-2013.status: publishe

Differential admixture, human leukocyte antigen diversity, and hematopoietic cell transplantation in Latin America: challenges and opportunities

- Introduction - HCT activity and donor resources in Latin America - Donor availability and genetic diversity - Differential admixture and genetic diversity in Latin Americans - HLA diversity and differential admixture in Latin American countries: two case studies -- Case 1: Costa Rica and Nicaragua -- Case 2: Mexico - HLA diversity and differential admixture in Latin American stem cell donor registries - HLA diversity and HCT development in Latin America: challenges and opportunitie

Prevalence and geographic distribution of haemophilia in Costa Rica

Haemophilia is the most frequent hereditary haemorrhagic illness and it is due to the deficiency of coagulation factors VIII (haemophilia A, HA) or IX (haemophilia B, HB). The prevalence of this disease varies according to the country, those having better survival rates having also higher prevalences. Specifically in Costa Rica, there are around 130 HA and 30 HB families. This study reports the prevalence and a spatial distribution analysis of both types of the disease in this country. The prevalence of haemophilia in this country is 7 cases per 100 000 men, for HA it is 6 cases per 100 000 and for HB it is 1 case per 100 000 male inhabitants. The prevalence of this disease is low when compared with other populations. This low prevalence could be due to the many patients that have died because of infection with human immunodeficiency virus during the 1980s. The prevalence of haemophilia in Costa Rica is almost one half of that present in developed countries. Nevertheless, the ratio between HA and HB follows world tendency: 5 : 1. In this study, nationwide geographical distribution maps were drawn in order to visualize the origin of severe cases and how this influences the pattern of distribution for both types of haemophilia. By means of these maps, it was possible to state that there is no association between the sites of maximum prevalence of mutated alleles and ethnicity. With this study, haemophilia prevalence distribution maps can be used to improve efforts for the establishment of hemophilia clinics or specialized health centers in those areas which hold the highest prevalences in this country. Also, this knowledge can be applied to improve treatment skills and offer the possibility of developing focused genetic counseling for these populations.La hemofilia es la enfermedad hereditaria más frecuente. enfermedad hemorrágica y se debe a la deficiencia de los factores de coagulación VIII (hemofilia A, HA) o IX (hemofilia B, HB). La prevalencia de esta enfermedad varía según el país, aquellos que tienen mejores tasas de supervivencia teniendo también prevalencias más altas. Específicamente en Costa Rica, existen alrededor de 130 HA y 30 familias HB. Este estudio reporta la prevalencia y un análisis de distribución espacial de ambos tipos de enfermedad en este país. La prevalencia de hemofilia en este país es de 7 casos por 100.000 hombres, para HA es de 6 casos por 100.000 y para HB es 1 caso por 100.000 habitantes masculinos. La prevalencia de esta enfermedad. es baja en comparación con otras poblaciones. Esta baja prevalencia podría deberse a Los numerosos pacientes que han muerto a causa de la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana. durante la década de 1980. La prevalencia de la hemofilia en Costa Rica es casi la mitad de que el presente en los países desarrollados. Sin embargo, la relación entre HA y HB sigue tendencia mundial: 5: 1. En este estudio, a nivel nacional Se elaboraron mapas de distribución geográfica. para visualizar el origen de los casos graves y cómo esto influye en el patrón de distribución para ambos tipos de hemofilia. Por A través de estos mapas se pudo constatar que no existe asociación entre los sitios de prevalencia máxima de alelos mutados y etnia. Con este estudio, la hemofilia Los mapas de distribución de prevalencia se pueden utilizar para mejorar los esfuerzos para el establecimiento de la hemofilia clínicas o centros de salud especializados en aquellas zonas que presentan las mayores prevalencias en este país. Además, este conocimiento se puede aplicar para mejorar las habilidades de tratamiento y ofrecer la posibilidad de desarrollar enfoques asesoramiento genético para estas poblaciones.Universidad Nacional, Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa RicaEscuela de Ciencias Biológica

Genetic diversity of HLA system in two populations from Quintana Roo, Mexico: Cancún and rural Quintana Roo

We studied HLA class I (HLA-A, -B) and class II (HLA-DRB1, -DQB1) alleles by PCR-SSP based typing in 98 Mexicans from the state of Quintana Roo living in the city of Cancún (N = 48) and rural communities (N = 50), to obtain information regarding allelic and haplotypic frequencies and their linkage disequilibrium. We found that the most frequent haplotypes in Quintana Roo include ten Native American and two European haplotypes. Admixture estimates revealed that the main genetic components in Quintana Roo are Native American (80.85 ± 3.70 by ML; 60.20 of Native American haplotypes) and European (15.19 ± 14.25 by ML; 26.02 of European haplotypes), and a less prominent African genetic component (3.96 ± 10.75 by ML; 6.63 of African haplotypes)

Genetic diversity of HLA system in two populations from Puebla, Mexico: Puebla city and rural Puebla

We studied HLA class I (HLA-A, -B) and class II (HLA-DRB1, -DQB1) alleles by PCR-SSP based typing in 2827 Mexicans from the state of Puebla living in the city of Puebla (N = 1994) and rural communities (N = 833), to obtain information regarding allelic and haplotypic frequencies. We found that the 16 most frequent haplotypes in Puebla are all of them Native American. Admixture estimates revealed that the main genetic components in the state of Puebla are Native American (72.21 ± 1.25 by ML; 63.30 of Native American haplotypes) and European (21.05 ± 1.92 by ML; 23.86 of European haplotypes), and a less prominent African genetic component (6.74 ± 2.20 by ML; 6.20 of African haplotypes)