Early onset type 2 diabetes in Jamaica and in Mexico. Opportunities derived from an interethnic study.

Populations with Amerindian or African heritages are the one with the highest prevalence of diabetes worldwide. A large percentage of these individuals survived famine. However, the survival effect has become detrimental to their descendents living in an environment of caloric surplus.

Hypoalphalipoproteinemia in populations of Native American ancestry: an opportunity to assess the interaction of genes and the environment.

Purpose Of This Review: Our aim is to review the environmental and genetic factors associated with hypoalphalipoproteinemia in populations of Native American ancestry. We examine the strength of the association and outline the population-specific genetic factors that lead to a higher susceptibilty for this condition.

Recent Findings: Low HDL is the most common lipid abnormality in populations of Native American ancestry.

High adiponectin concentrations are associated with the metabolically healthy obese phenotype.

Context: In the ob/ob mice, keeping adiponectin concentrations in the physiological range (through overexpression of this gene in the adipose tissue) results in expansion of fat mass and protection against metabolic co-morbidities.

Objective: The aim of the study was to test in humans whether plasma adiponectin levels, similar to those found in lean subjects, are associated with the metabolically healthy obese phenotype.

Design And Setting: A cross-sectional analysis was performed of a cohort of obese and nonobese subjects aged 18-70 yr.

Genetic heterogeneity of autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia in Mexico.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and familial defective apolipoprotein B-100 (FDB) are relatively common lipid disorders caused by mutations of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and apolipoprotein B (apoB) genes, respectively. A third locus on chromosome 1p34.1-p32 was recently linked to FH and the responsible gene has been identified [protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9)].

A novel ARH splice site mutation in a Mexican kindred with autosomal recessive hypercholesterolemia.

Autosomal recessive hypercholesterolemia (ARH) is characterized by elevated LDL serum levels, xanthomatosis, and premature coronary artery disease. Three loci have been described for this condition (1p35, 15q25-q26 and 13q). Recently, the responsible gene at the 1p35 locus, encoding an LDL receptor adaptor protein (ARH) has been identified.

Familial hypercholesterolemia due to ligand-defective apolipoprotein B100: first case report in a Mexican family.

Background: Familial defective apolipoprotein B100 (FDB) is one of the known causes of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Its frequency among subjects with FH varies among ethnic groups; information on FH is insufficient for populations from Latin America. We proposed to describe prevalence of FDB in a cohort of Mexican FH probands (n = 30).