Background: Recent genomic analyses suggest that the current North African gene pool was mainly influenced by population flow coming from the East that altered the genetic structure of autochthonous Berber populations. Such genetic flow has not been extensively addressed yet using North African populations of Middle-eastern origin as reference.
Aim: To discern the Middle-eastern component in the genetic background of Tunisian Arabs and evaluate the extent of gene flow from the Middle East into North African autochthonous Berber populations.
Subjects And Methods: This study has examined 113 Tunisians of well-known Arabian origin from Kairouan region, using 15 autosomal Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) loci.
Results: No deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed and all loci presented high levels of heterozygosity. Principal coordinate and STRUCTURE analyses were consistent in clustering together North African and Middle Eastern populations, likely reflecting the recent gene flow from the East dating back to the Arab conquest period. This demographic migration and the Arabisation process that submerged the original Berber language and customs seems to have be accompanied by substantial gene flow and genetic admixture.
Conclusion: This study represents an additional step to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the complex demographic history of North African populations.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2016.1205135 | DOI Listing |
Blood Adv
January 2025
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina, United States.
A wealth of research focused on African American populations has connected rs2814778-CC ("Duffy-null") to decreased neutrophil (neutropenia) and leukocyte counts (leukopenia). While it has been proposed that this variant is benign, prior studies have shown that the misinterpretation of Duffy-null associated neutropenia and leukopenia can lead to unnecessary bone marrow biopsies, inequities in cytotoxic and chemotherapeutic treatment courses, under-enrollment in clinical trials, and other disparities. To investigate the phenotypic correlates of Duffy-null status, we conducted a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) across more than 1,400 clinical conditions in All of Us, the Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Biobank, and the Million Veteran Program.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImplement Sci Commun
January 2025
Center for Health Equity Research, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 333 South Columbia Street, MacNider Hall Ste 323, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
Background: African Americans experience cardiovascular disease (CVD) disparities, and the burden is greatest in the rural south. Although evidence-based CVD prevention and management programs have been tailored to this context, implementation has been limited and not sustained long-term. To understand how to implement and sustain evidence-based CVD programs at scale, we must explore the perspectives of organizations serving rural African American communities and situate findings within foundational Implementation Science frameworks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Palliat Care
January 2025
College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Objectives: Palliative care (PC) is an interdisciplinary approach aimed at improving the physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being of patients and families affected by life-threatening diseases. This study aimed to investigate the need for PC among critically ill patients and their quality of life (QOL) in low-income groups in Bangladesh.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at four healthcare facilities from March to April 2023, involving 553 registered patients with advanced chronic conditions.
S Afr J Psychiatr
December 2024
Department of Internal Medicine, Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services, Bamenda, Cameroon.
Background: Post-stroke depression (PSD) negatively impacts the physical and mental well-being of stroke survivors. However, data on the prevalence and risk factors of PSD in African countries such as Cameroon are limited.
Aim: This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with PSD among stroke survivors at a hospital in Cameroon and inform clinical practice.
Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc
January 2025
Wildlife Observatory of Australia (WildObs), Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation (QCIF), Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia.
Camera traps are widely used in wildlife research and monitoring, so it is imperative to understand their strengths, limitations, and potential for increasing impact. We investigated a decade of use of wildlife cameras (2012-2022) with a case study on Australian terrestrial vertebrates using a multifaceted approach. We (i) synthesised information from a literature review; (ii) conducted an online questionnaire of 132 professionals; (iii) hosted an in-person workshop of 28 leading experts representing academia, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and government; and (iv) mapped camera trap usage based on all sources.
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