Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Javier Mendoza-Revilla, Juan Camilo Chacon-Duque, Macarena Fuentes-Guajardo, Louise Ormond, Ke Wang, Malena Hurtado, Valeria Villegas, Vanessa Granja, Victor Acuna-Alonzo, Claudia Jaramillo, William Arias, Rodrigo Barquera, Jorge Gomez-Valdes, Hugo Villamil-Ramirez, Caio C. Silva de Cerqueira, Keyla M. Badillo Rivera, Maria A. Nieves-Colon, Christopher R. Gignoux, Genevieve L. Wojcik, Andres Moreno-Estrada, Tabita Hunemeier, Virginia Ramallo, Lavinia Schuler-Faccini, Rolando Gonzalez-Jose, Maria-Catira Bortolini, Samuel Canizales-Quinteros, Carla Gallo, Giovanni Poletti, Gabriel Bedoya, Francisco Rothhammer, David Balding, Matteo Fumagalli, Kaustubh Adhikari, Andres Ruiz-Linares, Garrett Hellenthal
Summary: In this study, researchers developed a novel statistical model specific to admixed populations and used it to detect signals of selection in Latin American cohorts. The study found selection signals related to immune response and energy metabolism.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ryan K. Waples, Aviaja L. Hauptmann, Inge Seiding, Emil Jorsboe, Marit E. Jorgensen, Niels Grarup, Mette K. Andersen, Christina V. L. Larsen, Peter Bjerregaard, Garrett Hellenthal, Torben Hansen, Anders Albrechtsen, Ida Moltke
Summary: The study found that about 25% of the genetic ancestry of the present-day Greenlandic population comes from Europe, predominantly Danish, with substantial admixture occurring within the last few generations.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Marianne Rodrigues Fernandes, Juliana Carla Gomes Rodrigues, Olalla Maronas, Ana Latorre-Pellicer, Raquel Cruz, Joao Farias Guerreiro, Rommel Mario Rodriguez Burbano, Paulo Pimentel de Assumpcao, Andrea Ribeiro-dos-Santos, Sidney Emanuel Batista dos Santos, Angel Carracedo, Ney Pereira Carneiro dos Santos
Summary: This study investigated 117 polymorphisms in 35 pharmacogenes in Native American populations in the Brazilian Amazon region and compared the results with continental population data from the 1000 Genomes Project. The study found statistical differences in genotypes and phenotypes of some CYP family genes among the Native American populations, with the discriminant analysis showing genetic similarity between the NAM group and populations from East Asia, America, and South Asia.
PHARMACOGENOMICS & PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Khai C. Ang, Victor A. Canfield, Tiffany C. Foster, Thaddeus D. Harbaugh, Kathryn A. Early, Rachel L. Harter, Katherine P. Reid, Shou Ling Leong, Yuka Kawasawa, Dajiang Liu, John W. Hawley, Keith C. Cheng
Summary: This study focused on a Native American population with high Native American genetic ancestry, aiming to investigate the impact of this ancestry on skin color variation. The results showed that Native American genetic ancestry had the greatest effect on reducing skin pigmentation, while genetic mutations from European and African ancestries had smaller effects. However, the specific genetic variants responsible for light skin in Native American/East Asian populations remain to be identified.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Shreya Rao, Matthew W. Segar, Adam P. Bress, Pankaj Arora, Wanpen Vongpatanasin, Vijay Agusala, Utibe R. Essien, Adolfo Correa, Alanna A. Morris, James A. de Lemos, Ambarish Pandey
Summary: The study found that among self-identified Black individuals in the SPRINT trial, trajectories of blood pressure, kidney function, and left ventricular mass over time did not differ across tertiles of West African ancestry proportion. A higher proportion of West African ancestry was associated with a slightly lower risk for cardiovascular events. These results suggest that nonbiological factors may play a larger role than genetic ancestry in contributing to existing disparities in hypertension control and cardiovascular risk.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Klodian Dhana, Lisa L. Barnes, Xiaoran Liu, Puja Agarwal, Pankaja Desai, Kristin R. Krueger, Thomas M. Holland, Shannon Halloway, Neelum T. Aggarwal, Denis A. Evans, Kumar B. Rajan
Summary: The study found that the APOE ε 4 allele is associated with cognitive decline, but adherence to a healthy lifestyle can slow down this decline in individuals carrying this gene. Both African Americans and European Americans showed a trend of slower cognitive decline when following a healthy lifestyle.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Felix J. M. King, Cuthbert B. Banga, Carina Visser
Summary: The study on native Mozambican cattle populations revealed low genetic diversity and varying degrees of admixture among the populations, as well as a decrease in effective population size over time. These findings will aid in formulating management and conservation strategies for indigenous Mozambican cattle populations.
TROPICAL ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Brian Martin Babigumira, Johann Soelkner, Gabor Meszaros, Christina Pfeiffer, Craig R. G. Lewis, Emily Ouma, Maria Wurzinger, Karen Marshall
Summary: Pig herds in Africa are a mix of local ecotypes and commercial breeds, with contributions from exotic breeds and local bloodlines. The genomic background of smallholder pigs in Uganda includes old British and modern pig ancestries, with low levels of recent inbreeding. Further research is needed to determine the best levels of admixture for these pigs by linking genotypes and phenotypic records.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Moritz Saxenhofer, Anton Labutin, Thomas A. White, Gerald Heckel
Summary: By studying genomic polymorphisms in a natural rodent host, a strong genetic barrier to the transmission of European Tula orthohantavirus (TULV) was identified. The genetic variation explained a significant proportion of clade-specific TULV infections, with associated genes related to immune response and membrane transport functions. This study highlights the importance of natural hybrid zones for understanding evolutionary divergence and detecting evolving genetic barriers for specialized parasites.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Diane Lopez, Lauren Chacon, Denise Vasquez, Louis D. Brown
Summary: The study showed that the Healthy Fit intervention was most effective among less acculturated individuals, suggesting that acculturation plays a role in the efficacy of nutrition and exercise interventions for Hispanic populations. Acculturation was not associated with lower BMI or BFP at baseline, but did predict changes in body composition over time. The findings indicate that Hispanics should not be treated as a homogeneous subgroup.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Olusola A. Omisakin, Hyojun Park, Max T. Roberts, Eric N. Reither
Summary: The study analyzed trends in life expectancy and the causes of death contributing to Native American-White longevity gaps in the Four Corners states from 1999 to 2017. While the gaps narrowed between 2001 and 2012, they widened in the following years. The primary contributors to the life expectancy disadvantage among Native American males were motor vehicle accidents, liver disease, and diabetes.
Article
Communication
Rachel Ellenwood, Amanda D. D. Boyd, Zoe Higheagle Strong
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact on Native American people and communities in the US. Despite this, Native Americans have high vaccination rates. Our research offers insights into Native American perspectives on COVID-19 and vaccinations through in-depth interviews. By combining Indigenous perspectives of risk and the Health Belief Model, we provide a comprehensive understanding of how Native Americans perceive vaccines. We discuss the importance of tribal sovereignty in developing culturally appropriate and trusted health communication strategies.
SCIENCE COMMUNICATION
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Hassan Ashktorab, Adeleye Folake, Antonio Pizuorno, Gholamreza Oskrochi, Philip Oppong-Twene, Nuri Tamanna, Maryam Mehdipour Dalivand, Lisa N. Umeh, Esther S. Moon, Abdoul Madjid Kone, Abigail Banson, Cassandra Federman, Edward Ramos, Eyitope Ola Awoyemi, Boubini Jones Wonni, Eric Otto, Guttu Maskalo, Alexandra Ogando Velez, Sheldon Rankine, Camelita Thrift, Chiamaka Ekwunazu, Derek Scholes, Lakshmi Gayathri Chirumamilla, Mohd Elmugtaba Ibrahim, Brianna Mitchell, Jillian Ross, Julencia Curtis, Rachel Kim, Chandler Gilliard, Joseph Mathew, Adeyinka Laiyemo, Angesum Kibreab, Edward Lee, Zaki Sherif, Babak Shokrani, Farshad Aduli, Hassan Brim
Summary: The study revealed a higher mortality rate among African Americans in COVID-19, with age and shortness of breath being key determinants. Elevated liver enzymes, ferritin, procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein were associated with poor prognosis, but gastrointestinal symptoms did not affect the outcome.
WORLD JOURNAL OF CLINICAL CASES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lehti Saag, Sergey V. Vasilyev, Liivi Varul, Natalia Kosorukova, Dmitri Gerasimov, Svetlana Oshibkina, Samuel J. Griffith, Anu Solnik, Lauri Saag, Eugenia D'Atanasio, Ene Metspalu, Maere Reidla, Siiri Rootsi, Toomas Kivisild, Christiana Lyn Scheib, Kristiina Tambets, Aivar Kriiska, Mait Metspalu
Summary: The study reveals that Eastern hunter-gatherer ancestry was present in northwestern Russia around 10,000 BCE. With the arrival of agriculture, individuals from the Fatyanovo Culture were genetically similar to other Corded Ware cultures, indicating a possible migration from modern-day Ukraine where these ancestries coexisted around 3000 BCE.
Article
Physiology
Qingmei Wang, Junwei Qian, Haoran Pan, Qianqian Ju
Summary: Background: Recent studies have shown a decline in students' fitness levels, which is important for their overall health and academic performance. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body composition and upper limb physical fitness in Chinese students and identify the factors contributing to low physical fitness levels. The results showed an increase in male students' Body-Mass-Index (BMI) and a decrease in upper limb physical fitness. Body composition was found to be a predictor of upper limb physical fitness, and students with better body composition had higher grip strength, drape height, and anaerobic power.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neuroimaging
David A. Raichlen, Yann C. Klimentidis, Pradyumna K. Bharadwaj, Gene E. Alexander
BRAIN IMAGING AND BEHAVIOR
(2020)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Sandra L. Koch, Corey Liebowitz, Mark D. Shriver, Nina G. Jablonski
Summary: This study provides evidence for the accuracy of microscopical hair comparisons among experienced hair examiners, with the findings indicating that shorter hairs and hairs from unfamiliar populations may impact the results. Additionally, the reliability of ancestry determinations is not yet clear, but existing categories are only somewhat related to current ethnic and genetic variation.
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Julie D. White, Karlijne Indencleef, Sahin Naqvi, Ryan J. Eller, Hanne Hoskens, Jasmien Roosenboom, Myoung Keun Lee, Jiarui Li, Jaaved Mohammed, Stephen Richmond, Ellen E. Quillen, Heather L. Norton, Eleanor Feingold, Tomek Swigut, Mary L. Marazita, Hilde Peeters, Greet Hens, John R. Shaffer, Joanna Wysocka, Susan Walsh, Seth M. Weinberg, Mark D. Shriver, Peter Claes
Summary: A multivariate genome-wide association study identifies 203 signals associated with facial variation, enriched for enhancer activity in cranial neural crest cells and craniofacial tissues. Multiple regions carry multiple signals, suggesting potential coordinated genetic actions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Omid Ekrami, Peter Claes, Ellen Van Assche, Mark D. Shriver, Seth M. Weinberg, Mary L. Marazita, Susan Walsh, Stefan Van Dongen
Summary: The study found no correlation between fluctuating asymmetry and masculinity in men, but a weak but significant correlation was found between fluctuating asymmetry and femininity in women. This suggests a possible link between genetic quality, asymmetry, and femininity, but further research is needed to explore this relationship.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Karlijne Indencleef, Hanne Hoskens, Myoung Keun Lee, Julie D. White, Chenxing Liu, Ryan J. Eller, Sahin Naqvi, George L. Wehby, Lina M. Moreno Uribe, Jacqueline T. Hecht, Ross E. Long, Kaare Christensen, Frederic W. Deleyiannis, Susan Walsh, Mark D. Shriver, Stephen Richmond, Joanna Wysocka, Hilde Peeters, John R. Shaffer, Mary L. Marazita, Greet Hens, Seth M. Weinberg, Peter Claes
Summary: This study identified genetic loci associated with non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate by comparing distinctive facial features between unaffected relatives of individuals with the condition and controls. The findings suggest a shared genetic architecture between normal facial development and orofacial clefting, supporting the hypothesis of underlying genetic susceptibility to cleft lip in the larger population.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Sahin Naqvi, Yoeri Sleyp, Hanne Hoskens, Karlijne Indencleef, Jeffrey P. Spence, Rose Bruffaerts, Ahmed Radwan, Ryan J. Eller, Stephen Richmond, Mark D. Shriver, John R. Shaffer, Seth M. Weinberg, Susan Walsh, James Thompson, Jonathan K. Pritchard, Stefan Sunaert, Hilde Peeters, Joanna Wysocka, Peter Claes
Summary: A multivariate genome-wide association study has identified shared developmental axes between face and brain shaping each other during early embryogenesis. However, this interaction does not seem to impact later brain development related to cognitive function.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kristin E. Morrill, Melissa Lopez-Pentecost, Lupita Molina, Jeanne L. Pfander, Melanie D. Hingle, Yann C. Klimentidis, Cynthia A. Thomson, David O. Garcia
Summary: Obesity rates among Hispanic women in the U.S. are disproportionately high, calling for more research on effective weight loss interventions; current studies on weight loss interventions in this population are mostly pilot studies, highlighting the need for more RCTs to robustly test intervention effects.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Melissa A. Furlong, Gene E. Alexander, Yann C. Klimentidis, David A. Raichlen
Summary: In high-pollution areas, there is an interaction between physical activity and air pollution in their associations with brain volumes. Physical activity is associated with beneficial outcomes in gray matter volume and white matter hyperintensity volume, while air pollution is associated with detrimental outcomes in gray matter volume. The associations between air pollution and white matter hyperintensity volume are exacerbated by physical activity, and the beneficial associations of physical activity with white matter hyperintensity volume are attenuated by air pollution.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Alexis C. Wood, Amit Arora, Michelle Newell, Victoria L. Bland, Jin Zhou, Nicola Pirastu, Jose M. Ordovas, Yann C. Klimentidis
Summary: This study aimed to identify genetic loci associated with risk across seven continuous cardiometabolic disorder-related traits. Four loci were found to be associated with risk in a consistent manner across these traits.
NUTRITION METABOLISM AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yann C. Klimentidis, Zhao Chen, Manuel L. Gonzalez-Garay, Dionysios Grigoriadis, Ege Sackey, Alan Pittman, Pia Ostergaard, Karen L. Herbst
Summary: This study used bioelectrical impedance analysis and anthropometric data to identify potential genetic risk factors for lipedema. Genome-wide association study identified several significant loci associated with lipedema, and two of them were replicated in an independent study. Follow-up analyses suggested enrichment of genes expressed in blood vessels and adipose tissue. These findings provide a starting point for better understanding the genetic and physiological basis of lipedema.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Obed A. Garcia, Kendall Arslanian, Daniel Whorf, Serena Thariath, Mark Shriver, Jun Z. Li, Abigail W. Bigham
Summary: In order to study the host risk factors for infectious disease in Mesoamerican populations, we analyzed 857,481 SNPs using the Affymetrix 6.0 genotyping array to identify signatures of natural selection in immune response genes. Three statistical tests were applied and paired with locus-specific branch length (LSBL) to determine significance. Our findings revealed significant windows of XP-EHH/LSBL and iHS/LSBL, including immune response loci associated with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) signaling pathway. These results indicate that the immune system of Mesoamerican populations has been influenced by exposure to infectious diseases and provide insights into the host response to modern diseases.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tina Lasisi, James W. Smallcombe, W. Larry Kenney, Mark D. Shriver, Benjamin Zydney, Nina G. Jablonski, George Havenith
Summary: Humans have a unique feature of having a naked body with hair-covered scalp among mammals. The morphology of human scalp hair varies significantly among populations, but its functional role and evolutionary implications have not been studied. This study investigates the potential evolutionary function of human scalp hair and its morphology by examining heat fluxes in controlled environments with different hair types and a naked scalp. The findings suggest that hair significantly reduces solar radiation influx to the scalp, decreases the potential of evaporative heat loss, and reduces the amount of sweat required for thermal regulation, especially tightly curled hair offers increased protection against heat gain.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Boris Cheval, Liza Darrous, Karmel W. W. Choi, Yann C. C. Klimentidis, David A. A. Raichlen, Gene E. E. Alexander, Stephane Cullati, Zoltan Kutalik, Matthieu P. P. Boisgontier
Summary: Physical activity and cognitive functioning have a strong association, but the causal relationships between them are still unclear. Using Latent Heritable Confounder Mendelian Randomization (LHC-MR), this study found evidence that increased moderate and vigorous physical activity can lead to improved cognitive functioning. However, there was no causal effect of average physical activity on cognitive functioning, and no evidence of a reverse causal effect.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Mario Jesus Trejo, Kristin E. Morrill, Yann C. Klimentidis, David O. Garcia
Summary: This study investigated the associations between SNPs in six genes related to NAFLD and hepatic steatosis in Mexican-origin adults living in Southern Arizona. The results showed that except for PNPLA3, SNPs in LYPLAL1, GCKR, PPP1R3B, TM6SF2, and MBOAT7 were not significantly associated with hepatic steatosis. Further research is needed to explore additional SNPs that may be associated with NAFLD in this population.
ANNALS OF HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Omid Ekrami, Peter Claes, Mark D. Shriver, Seth M. Weinberg, Mary L. Marazita, Susan Walsh, Stefan Van Dongen
Summary: The study found that women's sociosexual orientation is positively correlated with masculinity preference, while the use of hormonal contraception reduces this preference. Other covariates had minimal impact on women's preference for masculinity in men.
ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
