Background: Although asthma is highly prevalent among certain Hispanic subgroups, genetic determinants of asthma and asthma-related traits have not been conclusively identified in Hispanic populations. A study was undertaken to identify genomic regions containing susceptibility loci for pulmonary function and bronchodilator responsiveness (BDR) in Costa Ricans.
Methods: Eight extended pedigrees were ascertained through schoolchildren with asthma in the Central Valley of Costa Rica. Short tandem repeat (STR) markers were genotyped throughout the genome at an average spacing of 8.2 cM. Multipoint variance component linkage analyses of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) and FEV(1)/ forced vital capacity (FVC; both pre-bronchodilator and post-bronchodilator) and BDR were performed in these eight families (pre-bronchodilator spirometry, n = 640; post-bronchodilator spirometry and BDR, n = 624). Nine additional STR markers were genotyped on chromosome 7. Secondary analyses were repeated after stratification by cigarette smoking.
Results: Among all subjects, the highest logarithm of the odds of linkage (LOD) score for FEV(1) (post-bronchodilator) was found on chromosome 7q34-35 (LOD = 2.45, including the additional markers). The highest LOD scores for FEV(1)/FVC (pre-bronchodilator) and BDR were found on chromosomes 2q (LOD = 1.53) and 9p (LOD = 1.53), respectively. Among former and current smokers there was near-significant evidence of linkage to FEV(1)/FVC (post-bronchodilator) on chromosome 5p (LOD = 3.27) and suggestive evidence of linkage to FEV(1) on chromosomes 3q (pre-bronchodilator, LOD = 2.74) and 4q (post-bronchodilator, LOD = 2.66).
Conclusions: In eight families of children with asthma in Costa Rica, there is suggestive evidence of linkage to FEV(1) on chromosome 7q34-35. In these families, FEV(1)/FVC may be influenced by an interaction between cigarette smoking and a locus (loci) on chromosome 5p.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/thx.2006.067934 | DOI Listing |
PLoS Negl Trop Dis
January 2025
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil.
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is primarily associated with non-human-primates (NHPs) in Africa, which also infect humans. Since its introduction to Brazil in 2014, CHIKV has predominantly thrived in urban cycles, involving Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Limited knowledge exists regarding CHIKV occurrence and implications in rural and sylvatic cycles where neotropical NHPs are potential hosts, from which we highlight Leontopithecus chrysomelas (Kuhl, 1820), the golden-headed lion tamarin (GHLT), an endangered species endemic to the Atlantic Forest (AF) in Southern Bahia State, Brazil.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLOS Glob Public Health
January 2025
MSD LATAM, San José, Costa Rica.
Varicella presents a public health challenge in Guatemala, with limited evidence regarding its impact; vaccine is currently absent from the national immunization program. Generating local data on the economic and health burden can support immunization policies. This study describes the use of hospital resources, costs of care, clinical and demographic characteristics, and complications in children with varicella.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
Biology School, University of Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, 11501-20260, Costa Rica.
Plasmids play a crucial role in facilitating genetic exchange and enhancing the adaptability of microbial communities. Despite their importance, environmental plasmids remain understudied, particularly those in fragile and underexplored ecosystems such as the deep-sea. In this paper we implemented a bioinformatics pipeline to study the composition, diversity, and functional attributes of plasmid communities (plasmidome) in 81 deep-sea metagenomes from the Tara and Malaspina expeditions, sampled from the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans at depths ranging from 270 to 4005 m.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFQual Life Res
January 2025
Health Services Research Group, Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
Purpose: To systematically review qualitative studies on outcomes, needs, experiences, preferences, concerns and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people surviving cancer in Europe in the last decade.
Methods: Protocol registered ( https://www.crd.
Int J Prison Health (2024)
January 2025
Department of Pharmacy, Universidad de Ciencias Medicas, San Jose, Costa Rica.
Purpose: This paper aimed to the enhancement of health-care services at a female penitentiary center in Costa Rica by implementing good documentation practices (GDocP) and good storage and distribution practices (GSDP) among the staff responsible for medications (SRM).
Design/methodology/approach: The methodology used in this project was qualitative, as it sought to deepen and reinforce the knowledge of the SRM about GDocP and GSDP in the Vilma Curling CAI to achieve its implementation. Additionally, different questionnaires were applied to measure the initial level of knowledge of GDocP and GSDP and the new skills acquired by the SRM at the end of the project.
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