Genome-Wide Analysis in Brazilian Xavante Indians Reveals Low Degree of Admixture

Characterization of population genetic variation and structure can be used as tools for research in human genetics and population isolates are of great interest. the aim of the present study was to characterize the genetic structure of Xavante Indians and compare it with other populations. the Xavante, an indigenous population living in Brazilian Central Plateau, is one of the largest native groups in Brazil. A subset of 53 unrelated subjects was selected from the initial sample of 300 Xavante Indians. Using 86,197 markers, Xavante were compared with all populations of HapMap Phase III and HGDP-CEPH projects and with a Southeast Brazilian population sample to establish its population structure. Principal Components Analysis showed that the Xavante Indians are concentrated in the Amerindian axis near other populations of known Amerindian ancestry such as Karitiana, Pima, Surui and Maya and a low degree of genetic admixture was observed. This is consistent with the historical records of bottlenecks experience and cultural isolation. By calculating pair-wise F-st statistics we characterized the genetic differentiation between Xavante Indians and representative populations of the HapMap and from HGDP-CEPH project. We found that the genetic differentiation between Xavante Indians and populations of Ameridian, Asian, European, and African ancestry increased progressively. Our results indicate that the Xavante is a population that remained genetically isolated over the past decades and can offer advantages for genome-wide mapping studies of inherited disorders.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)INCT- Obesidade e DiabetesUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Disciplina Endocrinol, Escola Paulista Med, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Sch Med, Lab Genet & Mol Cardiol, Inst Heart, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Social Med, Ribeirao Preto, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Disciplina Endocrinol, Escola Paulista Med, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Obesity and its relationship with cardiovascular risk factors in a Japanese-Brazilian population

OBJETIVO: Descrever associações entre excesso de peso e obesidade abdominal com fatores de risco cardiovascular na população nipo-brasileira de Mombuca, Guatapará, SP. MÉTODOS: Participaram do estudo 131 indivíduos com descendência japonesa (69,2% da primeira e 30,8% da segunda geração), com idade > 20 anos, correspondendo a 66,8% da população residente dessa faixa etária. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionários padronizados e foram realizados exames clínicos e laboratoriais. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de sobrepeso foi de 29,6% entre os homens e de 25,6% entre as mulheres e a de obesidade foi de 46,3% entre os homens e de 39,0% entre as mulheres. Entre os homens a prevalência de obesidade abdominal foi de 55,6% e entre as mulheres de 20,8%. O índice de massa corpórea foi associado independentemente com triglicérides, circunferência abdominal e idade; a pressão arterial sistólica com a circunferência abdominal. CONCLUSÃO: O presente estudo enfatiza a necessidade de medidas de intervenção para a prevenção da obesidade na população nipo-brasileira de Mombuca.OBJECTIVE: To describe associations of weight excess and abdominal obesity with cardiovascular risk factors in a Japanese-Brazilian population from Mombuca, Guatapará, SP. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 131 individuals of Japanese ancestry (69.2% first and 30.8% second generation), aged 20 years or more, corresponding to 66.8% of the resident population from this age group. Data were collected through standardized questionnaires and laboratory and physical examinations were performed. RESULTS: Prevalence of overweight and obesity was 29.6% and 46.3% in men and 25.6% and 39.0% in women, respectively. The prevalence of abdominal obesity was 55.6% in men and 20.8% in women. Body mass index was independently associated with triglycerides, waist circumference and age; systolic blood pressure with waist circumference. CONCLUSIONS: Data from the present survey highlight the necessity of interventions to prevent obesity in the Japanese-Brazilian population from Mombuca

Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Resection Of Pituitary Adenomas: Preliminary Evaluation Of Consecutive Cases.

Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery has gained increasing acceptance by otolaryngologists and neurosurgeons. In many centers throughout the world, this technique is now routinely used for the same indications as conventional microsurgical technique for pituitary tumors. To present a surgical experience of consecutive endoscopic endonasal trans-sphenoidal resections of pituitary adenomas. In this study, consecutive patients with pituitary adenomas submitted to endoscopic endonasal pituitary surgery were evaluated regarding the rate of residual tumor, functional remission, symptoms relief, complications, and tumor size. Forty-seven consecutive patients were evaluated; 17 had functioning adenomas, seven had GH producing tumors, five had Cushing's disease, and five had prolactinomas. Of the functioning adenomas, 12 were macroadenomas and five were microadenomas; 30 cases were non-functioning macroadenomas. Of the patients with functioning adenomas, 87% improved. 85% of the patients with visual deficits related to optic nerve compression progressed over time. Most of the patients with complaints of headaches improved (76%). Surgical complications occurred in 10% of patients, which included with two carotid lesions, two cerebrospinal fluid leaks, and one death of a patient with a previous history of complications. Endoscopic endonasal pituitary surgery is a feasible technique, yielding good surgical and functional outcomes, and low morbidity.80146-5

Analysis and possible estimation of keyhole depths evolution, using laser operating parameters and material properties

The authors propose an analysis of the effect of various operating parameters on the keyhole depth during laser welding. The authors have developed a model that uses the analysis of the thermal field obtained in 2D geometry, which is mainly defined by the characteristic Peclet number. This allows us to show that the dependence of the aspect ratio R of the keyhole with the operating parameters of the process is a function of two parameters: a normalized aspect ratio R0, controlled by the incident laser power and the spot diameter, and a characteristic speed V0 related to the process of heat diffusion. The resulting general law R = f (R0, V/V0) appears to be very well verified by different experimental data and allows to define mean thermophysical parameters of the used materials. These data can then be used for keyhole depths prediction for any subsequent operating parameters of the same material. This model also allows us to define precisely a criterion for a keyhole threshold generation. The authors will apply the derived procedure to successfully analyze experiments on materials with very different thermophysical properties (such as steel alloys and copper), with various focal spots, incident laser powers, and welding speeds

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome using two proposed definitions in a Japanese-Brazilians community

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased risk of morbi-mortality, thus the characterization of the population magnitude of this syndrome is critical for allocating health care. However, prevalence estimates of MetS in the same population could differ depending on the definition used. Therefore, we compared the prevalence of the MetS using definitions proposed by: National Cholesterol Education Panel Revised (NCEP) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) 2009 in a Japanese-Brazilians community (131 individuals, age 57 ± 16 years, 1st and 2nd generation). All individuals went through a clinical and laboratorial evaluation for assessment of weigh, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and fasting plasma glucose. The prevalence of MetS was 26.7% (n = 35) and 37.4% (n = 49) under the NCEP and IDF definitions, respectively. Despite higher blood pressure measurements, waist circumference and serum triglyceride levels and lower HDL cholesterol levels (p < 0.01), individuals identified with MetS did not show increased blood glucose levels. IDF definition classified 14 individuals (10.7%) with MetS that were not classified under the NCEP and 35 individuals were identified with MetS by both criteria. We observed, in this group, more severe lipid disorders, compared to individuals identified only under the IDF definition, and the BMI and waist circumference (p = 0.01; p = 0.006, respectively) were lower. In conclusion, the IDF revised criteria, probably because of the ethnic specific values of waist circumference, was able to identify a larger number of individuals with MetS. However, our data suggesting that additional studies are necessary to define best MetS diagnostic criteria in this population.We are grateful to patients participating in this study and to Sebastiao L. Brandao Filho for technical assistance.This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sector

Genome-Wide Analysis in Brazilian Xavante Indians Reveals Low Degree of Admixture

Characterization of population genetic variation and structure can be used as tools for research in human genetics and population isolates are of great interest. The aim of the present study was to characterize the genetic structure of Xavante Indians and compare it with other populations. The Xavante, an indigenous population living in Brazilian Central Plateau, is one of the largest native groups in Brazil. A subset of 53 unrelated subjects was selected from the initial sample of 300 Xavante Indians. Using 86,197 markers, Xavante were compared with all populations of HapMap Phase III and HGDP-CEPH projects and with a Southeast Brazilian population sample to establish its population structure. Principal Components Analysis showed that the Xavante Indians are concentrated in the Amerindian axis near other populations of known Amerindian ancestry such as Karitiana, Pima, Surui and Maya and a low degree of genetic admixture was observed. This is consistent with the historical records of bottlenecks experience and cultural isolation. By calculating pair-wise F-st statistics we characterized the genetic differentiation between Xavante Indians and representative populations of the HapMap and from HGDP-CEPH project. We found that the genetic differentiation between Xavante Indians and populations of Ameridian, Asian, European, and African ancestry increased progressively. Our results indicate that the Xavante is a population that remained genetically isolated over the past decades and can offer advantages for genome-wide mapping studies of inherited disorders.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (Fapesp)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)INCT Obesidade e DiabetesINCT- Obesidade e Diabete

Performance of the CMS Cathode Strip Chambers with Cosmic Rays

The Cathode Strip Chambers (CSCs) constitute the primary muon tracking device in the CMS endcaps. Their performance has been evaluated using data taken during a cosmic ray run in fall 2008. Measured noise levels are low, with the number of noisy channels well below 1%. Coordinate resolution was measured for all types of chambers, and fall in the range 47 microns to 243 microns. The efficiencies for local charged track triggers, for hit and for segments reconstruction were measured, and are above 99%. The timing resolution per layer is approximately 5 ns