Publications by authors named "S Viali"
Sleep apnea is a global public health concern, but little research has examined this issue in low- and middle-income countries, including Samoa. The purpose of this study was to examine the sample prevalence and characteristics of sleep apnea using a validated home sleep apnea device (WatchPAT, Itamar) and explore factors that may influence sleep health in the Samoan setting. This study used data collected through the ("Good Health") study, which investigated the impact of the body mass index (BMI)-associated genetic variant rs373863828 in on metabolic traits in Samoan adults (sampled to overrepresent the obesity-risk allele of interest).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStudy Question: Can a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) help identify genetic variation or genes associated with circulating anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in Samoan women?
Summary Answer: We identified eleven genome-wide suggestive loci (strongest association signal in 19-946163-G-C [ = 2.32 × 10⁻⁷]) and seven transcriptome-wide significant genes ( [all with a < 2.50 × 10⁻⁶]) associated with circulating AMH levels in Samoan women.
Introduction: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasitic worms, transmitted via mosquito bites. Significant global efforts have led to the interruption of LF transmission, with eight of the 16 previously endemic Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) validated by WHO as having eliminated the disease as a public health problem. Post-validation surveillance (PVS) is recommended to verify the absence of a resurgence in transmission; however, there are no guidelines on how to implement such surveillance effectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study investigates how rare non-coding genetic variations affect complex traits, specifically focusing on human height by analyzing data from over 333,100 individuals across three large datasets.
- Researchers found 29 significant rare variants linked to height, with impacts ranging from a decrease of 7 cm to an increase of 4.7 cm, after considering previously known variants.
- The team also identified specific non-coding variants near key genes associated with height, demonstrating a new method for understanding the effects of rare variants in regulatory regions using whole-genome sequencing.
Field laboratory comparison of STANDARD Q Filariasis Antigen Test (QFAT) with Bioline Filariasis Test Strip (FTS) for the detection of Lymphatic Filariasis in Samoa, 2023.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis
August 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study evaluated the Q Filariasis Antigen Test (QFAT) against the current Filariasis Test Strip (FTS) for detecting Wuchereria bancrofti, the parasite causing lymphatic filariasis, in field surveys conducted in Samoa.
- Results showed that both tests had similar Ag-positivity rates (29.0% for FTS and 30.2% for QFAT) with a high concordance of 93.6%.
- The QFAT was preferred by the field team for its ease of use, smaller blood volume requirement, and better readability, indicating it could be an effective alternative for LF monitoring.