scholarly journals The genetic legacy of continental scale admixture in Indian Austroasiatic speakers

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Tätte ◽  
Luca Pagani ◽  
Ajai K. Pathak ◽  
Sulev Kõks ◽  
Binh Ho Duy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Asians ◽  
Asian Population ◽  
South Asian Population ◽  
Southeast Asians ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Genome Wide Data ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Source Populations ◽  
Austroasiatic Languages

AbstractSurrounded by speakers of Indo-European, Dravidian and Tibeto-Burman languages, around 11 million Munda (a branch of Austroasiatic language family) speakers live in the densely populated and genetically diverse South Asia. Their genetic makeup holds components characteristic of South Asians as well as Southeast Asians. The admixture time between these components has been previously estimated on the basis of archaeology, linguistics and uniparental markers. Using genome-wide genotype data of 102 Munda speakers and contextual data from South and Southeast Asia, we retrieved admixture dates between 2000 – 3800 years ago for different populations of Munda. The best modern proxies for the source populations for the admixture with proportions 0.78/0.22 are Lao people from Laos and Dravidian speakers from Kerala in India, while the South Asian population(s), with whom the incoming Southeast Asians intermixed, had a smaller proportion of West Eurasian component than contemporary proxies. Somewhat surprisingly Malaysian Peninsular tribes rather than the geographically closer Austroasiatic languages speakers like Vietnamese and Cambodians show highest sharing of IBD segments with the Munda. In addition, we affirmed that the grouping of the Munda speakers into North and South Munda based on linguistics is in concordance with genome-wide data.

scholarly journals Autoimmune encephalitis in a South Asian population

BMC Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nilanka Wickramasinghe ◽  
Dhanushka Dasanayake ◽  
Neelika Malavige ◽  
Rajiva de Silva ◽  
Thashi Chang
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
South Asians ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Autoimmune Encephalitis ◽  
Asian Population ◽  
South Asian Population ◽  
Clinical Presentations

Abstract Background Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is now considered a main, potentially curable cause of encephalitis, but remains conspicuously underreported from South Asia. We studied the clinical characteristics in relation to their antibody status and outcomes of patients presenting with AE in Sri Lanka. Methods Patients admitting to government hospitals who were clinically suspected of AE by an on-site neurologist were prospectively recruited over a period of 12 months. Sera and cerebrospinal fluid were tested for NMDAR, AMPAR1, AMPAR2, LGI1, CASPR2, GABARB1/B2 antibodies (Ab) using commercial cell-based assays. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were compiled into an investigator-administered proforma. Patients were reviewed at 1 year follow up either in person or via telephone. Results One-hundred and forty-two patients from 21 of 25 districts in Sri Lanka (median age = 20.5 years; range 1–86 years; females = 61.3%) were recruited. Of them, 65 (45.8%; median age = 19 years; range 1–86 years; females = 64.6%) fulfilled diagnostic criteria for probable NMDAR-antibody encephalitis (NMDARE) and 6 (4.2%; median age = 44 years; range 28–71 years; females = 83.3%) limbic encephalitis (LE). Abnormal behaviour (95.3%), seizures (81.5%) and movement disorders (69.2%) were the most frequent clinical manifestations of probable NMDARE. NMDAR-antibodies were detectable in 29 (44.6%) and not detectable in 36 in CSF of probable-NMDARE patients. Abnormal EEG was more frequent (p = 0.003) while a worse outcome (OR = 2.78; 95% CI = 0.88–9.09) and deaths (OR = 2.38; 95% CI = 0.67–8.33) were more likely in antibody-negative than antibody-positive probable-NMDARE. Most patients with LE had amnesia (50%) and/or confusion (100%) with agitation (83.3%) and seizures (100%) but none had detectable antibodies to any of the antigens tested. Conclusions NMDARE is the commonest type of AE among South Asians as is the case worldwide. Clinical presentations of NMDARAb-positive and NMDARAb-negative AE patients do not significantly differ but EEG may be a useful marker of an autoimmune basis for psychiatric symptoms.

scholarly journals Nutrition in an ethnically diverse society: what are some of the key challenges?

2011 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 252-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ala Szczepura
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
South Asian ◽  
South Asians ◽  
Asian Population ◽  
Minority Populations ◽  
Diverse Population ◽  
South Asian Population ◽  
Ethnic Minority Populations

The role of nutrition is especially important in certain ‘lifestyle’ diseases that impact disproportionately on ethnic minority populations. The aim of this paper is to review the evidence of risk, health outcomes and interventions for certain diseases that affect the UK's largest ethnic minority group (South Asians) in order to help professionals better address the needs of this diverse population. Research evidence is presented on factors influencing access to services by ethnic minority populations and the changing UK policy background for public health and preventive care. The available research base on obesity, diabetes and CVD is discussed. Conditions such as type 2 diabetes, which are more prevalent among the South Asian population, are associated with poorer health outcomes and appear to exhibit links to diet and nutrition that start in childhood or even before birth; all making preventive care important. Obesity is a major risk factor and it appears that BMI thresholds may need to be lower for South Asians. Targeted interventions to improve diet and outcomes in the South Asian population also appear promising. Recent moves to promote access to evidence of ethnicity and health and to improve the cultural competence of organisations are discussed. Health professionals will increasingly need to promote lifestyle changes in a manner that meets the needs of a diverse population in order to address future public health challenges. Nutritionists and other professionals will need to ensure that interventions are culturally appropriate and involve engagement with extended family members and communities.

Gender-Associated Perceptions of Barriers and Motivators to Physical Activity Participation in South Asian Punjabis Living in Western Canada

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 686-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina M. Caperchione ◽  
Shirley Chau ◽  
Gordon J. Walker ◽  
W. Kerry Mummery ◽  
Cally Jennings
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
South Asian ◽  
South Asians ◽  
Asian Population ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
South Asian Population ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Chi Square Analysis ◽  
Barriers And Motivators

Background:Gender is a sociocultural factor known to impact the physical activity (PA) behaviors of South Asians. The purpose of this research was to examine gender-associated perceptions of barriers and motivators for PA in a South Asian population living Canada.Methods:A random sample (N = 204) of South Asian Punjabi adults (18yrs+) completed a computer assisted telephone interview concerning their perceptions to PA participation. Content analysis was used to identify relevant main themes and chi-square analysis was used to calculate gender differences.Results:Results indicated that women more often reported a lack of time due to work and family (χ2 = 7.284, df = 1, P = .007) and a lack of motivation (χ2 = 4.982, df = 1, P = .026), yet men more often reported climate (χ2 = 7.045, df = 1, P = .008) as a barrier. Regarding motivators, men more often reported prevention and reduction of disease (χ2 = 4.451, df = 1, P = .034) and watching others perform (χ2 = 10.827, df = 1, P = .001); however, reducing weight gain (χ2 = 4.806, df = 1, P = .028) and looking like others (χ2 = 4.730, df = 1, P = .029) were reported more often by women.Conclusions:Gender-associated differences concerning PA are present in this population and must be considered in the design and implementation of effective interventions.

Abstract P472: Addressing Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease in South Asian San Joaquin Population

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 141 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maha Siddiqui
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
At Risk ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Low Income ◽  
South Asians ◽  
Asian Population ◽  
The South ◽  
South Asian Population ◽  
Asian Community ◽  
South Asian Community

Introduction: South Asians have a higher death rate than any other population for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and high blood pressure (HBP). San Joaquin has a growing rate of South Asians immigrants who may be at risk for CVD. Objectives: Trainees conducted hypertension and CVD screenings at South Asians religious organizations to reduce the risk of CVD and spread awareness about the factors that lead to CVD and its implications in the South Asians population due to environmental racism in the most underserved county for health care, San Joaquin. Methods: I trained low-income minority high school students to conduct weekly blood pressure screenings and serve as a health technology coach by each student monitoring 2 hypertensive patients of 48 hypertensive or at risk hypertensive and low-income San Joaquin residents and constantly stressed, and at risk for CVD. CVD screenings were conducted at all San Joaquin gurdwaras and mosques to spread awareness about heart health and track hypertension in the South Asians community. Findings: -61.7% of the South Asian population of San Joaquin are at risk for CVD -3.3% of the South Asian population of San Joaquin are hypotensive -28.6% of the South Asian population of San Joaquin are Stage 1 hypertensive -29.7% of the South Asian population of San Joaquin are Stage 2 hypertensive -38.3% of the South Asian population of San Joaquin have normal blood pressure but consume red meat more than 4 times a month Direct Outcomes of Events: -Development of self-advocacy in the South Asian community. Community members became activists for their own heart health. -Increased participation of youth, in an otherwise adult dominant environment (i.e. the mosques and gurdwaras). -Increased awareness of CVD, hypertension, hypotension, and periodontal disease (PD) among the South Asian community. -Increased participation by youth and adults on activities such as games, challenges and information booths dispensing awareness on CVD and PD. -Increased interaction between community members of different religions, creed, and socioeconomic backgrounds. -Awareness, education among the South Asian community for better heart and oral health -Diagnoses and referrals of suspected cases of hypertension and CVD -Improved patient-provider trust -San Joaquin high school students trained for community outreach events and determined to address CVD. -Youth learned the value of empathy, multiculturalism, and service to disadvantaged communities through the program and volunteering.

scholarly journals Oral Health Beliefs, Attitudes, and Practices of South Asian Migrants: A Systematic Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 1952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehak Batra ◽  
Sabrina Gupta ◽  
Bircan Erbas
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Health Beliefs ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
South Asians ◽  
Country Of Origin ◽  
Asian Population ◽  
South Asian Population ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
The Uk

Oral health is a burden among all populations and is linked with major chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. Migrants, in particular South Asians, have poor oral health which requires further understanding to better inform oral health interventions by targeting specific aspects of this heterogenous South Asian population. This review is undertaken to systematically synthesize the evidence of oral health understandings, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, practices, and behaviors of South Asian migrants residing in high-income countries. A comprehensive systematic search of seven electronic databases and hand-searching for peer-reviewed studies was conducted. All study designs were included, and quality assessment conducted. Of the 1614 records identified, 17 were included for synthesis and 12 were quantitative in design. These studies were primarily conducted in the UK, USA, Canada, and Europe. South Asian migrants had inadequate oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices—influenced by culture, social norms, and religiosity. In the absence of symptoms, preventive oral hygiene practices were limited. Barriers to access varied with country of origin; from lack of trust in dentists and treatment cost in studies with India as the country of origin, to religiosity, among poorer nations such as Bangladesh. Fewer studies focused on recent arrivals from Bhutan or the Maldives. Culturally and socially appropriate strategies must be developed to target oral health issues and a “one-size” fits all approach will be ineffective in addressing the needs of South Asian migrants.

scholarly journals Caucasian and south Asian men show equivalent improvements in surrogate biomarkers of cardiovascular and metabolic health following 6-weeks of supervised resistance training

F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 1334
Author(s):  
Allan Knox ◽  
Nicholas Sculthorpe ◽  
Fergal Grace
Keyword(s):  
Resistance Exercise ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Metabolic Response ◽  
South Asians ◽  
Fasting Blood Glucose ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Asian Population ◽  
Metabolic Health ◽  
The South ◽  
South Asian Population

Background: The South Asian population have greater cardiovascular risk than their age-matched Caucasian counterparts, characterized by unfavorable biomarkers. South Asians may also be partially resistant to the pleiotropic benefits of physical activity on cardiovascular health. There is a current absence of studies that compare markers of cardio-metabolic health between Caucasians and South Asians employing resistance exercise. This study set out to compare the response in biomarkers of cardio-metabolic health in Caucasians and South Asians in response to resistance exercise.Methods: Caucasian (n=15, 25.5 ± 4.8 yrs) and South Asian (n=13, 25.4 ± 7.0 yrs) males completed a 6-week progressive resistance exercise protocol. Fasting blood glucose, insulin, and their product insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglycerides (TRIGS), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), asymmetric dimythylarginine (ADMA), L-arginine (L-ARG) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were established at baseline and following resistance exercise.Results: There were significant improvements in fasting glucose, TC, LDL, HDL and VEGF in both groups following resistance exercise (p<0.05, for all). No change was observed in insulin, HOMA-IR, TRIGS, ADMA, L-ARG following resistance exercise (p>0.05, in both groups). CRP increased in the South Asian group (p<0.05) but not the Caucasian group (p>0.05)Conclusions: The cardio-metabolic response to resistance exercise is comparable in young Caucasian and South Asian males though inflammatory response to exercise may be prolonged in South Asians.

European multiple sclerosis risk variants in the south Asian population

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 1536-1540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lekha Pandit ◽  
Maria Ban ◽  
Ashley Harris Beecham ◽  
Jacob L McCauley ◽  
Stephen Sawcer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
South Asians ◽  
Asian Population ◽  
The South ◽  
Single Nucleotide Variants ◽  
South Asian Population ◽  
Risk Variants ◽  
Increased Risk

Background: In less than a decade, genomewide association studies have identified over 100 single-nucleotide variants that are associated with increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis. However, since these studies have focused almost exclusively on European populations, it is unclear what role these variants might play in determining risk in other ethnic groups. Objective: To assess the effects of European multiple sclerosis–associated risk variants in the south Asian population. Methods: Using a combination of chip-based genotyping and next-generation sequencing, we have assessed 109 European-associated variants in a total of 270 cases and 555 controls from the south Asian population. Results: We found that two-thirds of the tested variants (72/109) showed over representation of the European risk allele in south Asian cases ( p < 0.0003). In the rest of the Immunochip array, the most associated variant was rs7318477 which maps close to TNFSF13B, the gene for the B-cell-related protein BAFF. Conclusion: Our data indicate substantial overlap in genetic risk architecture between Europeans and south Asians and suggest that the aetiology of the disease may be largely independent of ethnicity.

scholarly journals The promise of disease gene discovery in South Asia

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Nakatsuka ◽  
Priya Moorjani ◽  
Niraj Rai ◽  
Biswanath Sarkar ◽  
Arti Tandon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Asia ◽  
Disease Burden ◽  
South Asians ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Disease Genes ◽  
Ashkenazi Jews ◽  
Disease Gene Discovery ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Genome Wide Data ◽  
Founder Events

The more than 1.5 billion people who live in South Asia are correctly viewed not as a single large population, but as many small endogamous groups. We assembled genome-wide data from over 2,800 individuals from over 260 distinct South Asian groups. We identify 81 unique groups, of which 14 have estimated census sizes of more than a million, that descend from founder events more extreme than those in Ashkenazi Jews and Finns, both of which have high rates of recessive disease due to founder events. We identify multiple examples of recessive diseases in South Asia that are the result of such founder events. This study highlights an under-appreciated opportunity for reducing disease burden among South Asians through the discovery of and testing for recessive disease genes.

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