Advanced Statistical Methods in Biometric Research.

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(12)61229-X.pdf

Global epidemiology of sickle haemoglobin in neonates: a contemporary geostatistical model-based map and population estimates.

Glucose-6-phosphate deficiency is the most prevalent enzyme deficiency, with an estimated 400 million people affected worldwide. This inherited deficiency causes neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and chronic hemolytic anemia. Although most affected individuals are asymptomatic, exposure to oxidative stressors such as certain drugs or infection, can elicit acute hemolysis. To characterize the global prevalence of G6PD deficiency, we conducted a systematic review of the G6PD deficiency literature, drawing studies from various databases, including MEDLINE/Pubmed and Biosis. Selected studies included cross-sectional and longitudinal studies published between 1960 and 2008. Additionally, meta-analytic procedures were employed to assess the degree of heterogeneity amongst prevalence estimates and, where appropriate, pool them. The searches yielded a total of 280 prevalence estimates, corresponding to 88 countries. The highest prevalence rates were reported among Sub-Saharan African countries, even after adjusting for assessment method. Meta-analysis revealed a high degree of heterogeneity for regional and global prevalence estimates. This heterogeneity in reported estimates appeared to be due to differences in G6PD deficiency assessment and diagnostic procedures. The magnitude and variation in global, regional, and country-level prevalence rates of G6PD deficiency are of public health import, particularly in planning programs to improve neonatal health and in the distribution of various medications, especially antimalarial drugs, as G6PD deficiency is most prevalent in malaria-endemic areas.

/pdf/the-global-prevalence-of-glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase-ejdrzw5q9l.pdf

The global prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/1/6059/515.3.full.pdf

Handbook of Enzyme Electrophoresis in Human Genetics

It has been 100 years since the first report of sickle haemoglobin (HbS). More than 50 years ago, it was suggested that the gene responsible for this disorder could reach high frequencies because of resistance conferred against malaria by the heterozygous carrier state. This traditional example of balancing selection is known as the 'malaria hypothesis'. However, the geographical relationship between the transmission intensity of malaria and associated HbS burden has never been formally investigated on a global scale. Here, we use a comprehensive data assembly of HbS allele frequencies to generate the first evidence-based map of the worldwide distribution of the gene in a Bayesian geostatistical framework. We compare this map with the pre-intervention distribution of malaria endemicity, using a novel geostatistical area-mean comparison. We find geographical support for the malaria hypothesis globally; the relationship is relatively strong in Africa but cannot be resolved in the Americas or in Asia.

/pdf/global-distribution-of-the-sickle-cell-gene-and-geographical-53pvwwy722.pdf

Global distribution of the sickle cell gene and geographical confirmation of the malaria hypothesis

Ten different population groups of Assam – Brahmins, Kalitas, Kaibartas, Rajbanshis, Muslims, Ahoms, Chutias, Kacharis, Karbis and Sandwals – have been typed for haptoglobin and for transferrin (Tf) a

Investigations on the variability of haptoglobin, transferrin and Gc polymorphisms in Assam, India.

Over 900 individuals from ten endogamous groups in the Indian states of Maharashtra and West Bengal were studied for G-6-PD deficiency and haemoglobin variants. The incidence of G-6-PD varied from nil to 17.3%, while that of Hb-S varied from nil to 22.3%. In general, the tribal populations of Maharashtra are characterized by the presence of a high incidence of both Hb-S and G-6-PD deficiency. The caste Hindus showed an absence of Hb-S and rather low G-6-PD deficiency. Immigrant Parsis possessed the highest incidence of G-6-PD deficiency (17.3%).

/pdf/red-cell-glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase-deficiency-and-1q9yejajia.pdf

Red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and haemoglobin variants among ten endogamous groups of Maharashtra and West Bengal

many archaeologists favour a first settlement of Hawaii from the Marquesas, Hawaiian traditions relating to \"Kahiki\" are interpreted as evidence of possible secondary settlement from Tahiti. These, however, may actually record much more recent contacts of a kind which is apparently predictable from study of variables affecting inter-island voyaging frequency. By European contact, small and isolated Easter Island may already have experienced some decline in social complexity, while large and more recently settled New Zealand was perhaps still at a relatively early stage of elaboration. It is interesting, also, to consider whether social development in New Zealand was following a different path from that of its eastern Polynesian ancestry, partly because of greater isolation from it. Given that New Zealand was probably settled only i,ooo years ago, a curious absence in its archaeological record is some more conspicuous variant of the eastern Polynesian marae. By contrast with eastern Polynesia, however, when history interrupted prehistory in the region centred on Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji, elements of political integration and social complexity were still (or once again) being expressed through the added dimension of overseas voyaging. A sphere of Tongan influence was expanding, and this marks a trend which, in one region, may have begun to reverse the contraction of Polynesian interaction that followed colonisation.

Anthropometric Variation in India: A Statistical Appraisal

SummaryPhenotype and gene frequencies for four blood group systems (ABO, MN, Rh and P) and haptoglobin among five endogamous groups of Delhi, India, are reported.All the systems are polymorphic in all the population groups. The average heterozygosity per locus is high (in the range 48–52 per cent) for all the groups.The extent of genic variability among the groups in terms of net codon differences per locus has been studied; the heterogeneity within the groups is large as compared to the between-group heterogeneity.There is no definite clustering of the groups with respect to their biological rank.

Serological and biochemical investigations among five endogamous groups of Delhi, India

The nature and extent of dermatoglyphic variation in northwest India is examined with the help of 28 quantitative variables-20 finger ridge counts and 8 palmar pattern ridge counts-among 12 endogamous populations. These populations represent the entire spectrum of ethnic and socioeconomic variation of the region and are presently distributed in three different states-Rajasthan, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh. Of a total sample of 1,160 adult males, about 100 from each group were considered. Multiple discriminant analysis and R-matrix analysis were used to derive population relationships and patterns of external gene flow, respectively. Published data on genetic markers were reanalyzed to make the comparative evaluation of the patterns with reference to dermatoglyphs. Both the discriminant analysis and the F(ST) from R-matrix analysis suggest highly significant discrimination among the northwestern groups, whether one uses only 20 finger ridge count variables or all 28 variables, including the 8 palmar pattern ridge counts. The 8 palmar variables add very little to the variation explained by the 20 finger ridge count variables. F(ST) values suggest that the populations of Punjab are most homogeneous and those of Himachal Pradesh most heterogeneous. However, the levels of differentiation are similar for dermatoglyphs and genetic markers. The pattern of external gene flow as inferred through R-matrix analysis is consistent with the breeding and population structure of the groups, although genetic markers portray a relatively more realistic picture. Overall, the patterns of variation observed in dermatoglyphs and genetic markers are consistent with different dimensions of population structure; whereas dermatoglyphs conform more to the geographic pattern and less to ethnic resemblance, the reverse is true in the case of genetic markers. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 12:315-326, 2000. Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Kailash C. Malhotra

Papers

Investigations on the variability of haptoglobin, transferrin and Gc polymorphisms in Assam, India.

Red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and haemoglobin variants among ten endogamous groups of Maharashtra and West Bengal

Anthropometric Variation in India: A Statistical Appraisal

Serological and biochemical investigations among five endogamous groups of Delhi, India

Quantitative dermatoglyphics and population structure in Northwest India.