Regulatory rare variants of the dopaminergic gene ANKK1 as potential risk factors for Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by cerebral dopamine depletion that causes motor and cognitive deficits. The dopamine-related gene ANKK1 has been associated with neuropsychiatric disorders with a dopaminergic deficiency in the striatum. This study aims to define the contribution of ANKK1 rare variants in PD.

Identification process in mass graves from the Spanish Civil War II.

The identification process of a mass grave from the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) is presented. The presumed location of the grave, as well as the presumed number and identities of the persons buried in the grave were obtained exclusively from witnesses' and relatives' testimonies. In agreement with the testimonies, the grave was located at the indicated location and five skeletons were exhumed.

Forensic analysis of dog (Canis lupus familiaris) mitochondrial DNA sequences: an inter-laboratory study of the GEP-ISFG working group.

A voluntary collaborative exercise aiming at the mitochondrial analysis of canine biological samples was carried out in 2006-2008 by the Non-Human Forensic Genetics Commission of the Spanish and Portuguese Working Group (GEP) of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG). The participating laboratories were asked to sequence two dog samples (one bloodstain and one hair sample) for the mitochondrial D-loop region comprised between positions 15,372 and 16,083 using suggested primers and PCR conditions, and to compare their results against a reference sequence. Twenty-one participating laboratories reported a total of 67.

Hypertension and health-related quality of life: an epidemiological study in patients attending hospital clinics in China.

Objective: To examine the relationship between hypertension and health-related quality of life in patients attending hospital clinics in China.

Design And Methods: A cross-sectional survey. Patients over the age of 35 years attending outpatient clinics in 18 hospitals of eight major cities of northern and southern China were interviewed between June and July, 1999.

The 2000-2001 GEP-ISFG Collaborative Exercise on mtDNA: assessing the cause of unsuccessful mtDNA PCR amplification of hair shaft samples.

We report the results of Spanish and Portuguese working group (GEP) of International Society of Forensic Genetics (ISFG) Collaborative Exercise 2001-2002 on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis. 64 laboratories from Spain, Portugal and several Latin-American countries participated in this quality control exercise. Five samples were sent to the participating laboratories, four blood stains (M1-M4) and a sample (M5) consisting of two hair shaft fragments.

Awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in patients attending hospital clinics in China.

Objectives: To determine awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in patients attending hospital clinics in China.

Design: A cross-sectional survey.

Patients And Setting: Patients over the age of 35 years, who were attending outpatient clinics in 18 hospitals of eight major cities of Northern and Southern China, were interviewed face-to-face between June and July 1999.