Craniovertebral junction malformation in Northeastern Brazil: the myth of the Dutch colonization / Malformação da junção craniovertebral no Nordeste do Brasil: o mito da colonização Holandesa

The high prevalence of craniovertebral junction malformation in Northeastern Brazil is historically associated with brachycephalic biotype (flat head), also common in this region. It has been postulated that this trait was introduced to this region by the Dutch during the colonial period in Brazil's history. Based on the confrontation of this paradigm against some historical facts, the authors concluded that the brachycephalic phenotype was inherited from prehistoric ancestors (Amerindians) who were already living in this region when white European men arrived.

A alta prevalência de malformação da junção craniovertebral no Nordeste do Brasil é historicamente associada ao biótipo braquicefálico (cabeça chata), também comum nessa região. Postula-se que essa característica tenha sido introduzida na região pelos holandeses durante o período colonial da história do Brasil. Com base na confrontação desse paradigma com alguns fatos históricos, os autores concluem que o fenótipo braquicefálico foi herdado de ancestrais pré-históricos (ameríndios) que já habitavam a região no momento da chegada do homem branco europeu.

Nevos melanocíticos numa comunidade de origem predominantemente holandesa no Brasil (1999-2007) / Melanocytic nevi in a Brazilian community of predominantly Dutch descent (1999-2007)

FUNDAMENTOS: Estudos epidemiológicos têm demonstrado relação significativa entre nevos melanocíticos e melanoma cutâneo. OBJETIVO: Acompanhar o desenvolvimento de nevos melanocíticos nos alunos de uma escola composta, majoritariamente, por descendentes de holandeses e a influência do meio ambiente sobre esses indivíduos com características fenotípicas semelhantes às de seus antepassados. MÉTODOS: Em 1999, iniciou-se estudo coorte para contagem de nevos melanocíticos nos 282 alunos entre três e 17 anos, sendo 53,9 por cento meninos. Após cinco anos, realizou-se novo exame em 148 alunos entre oito e 22 anos, dos quais 49,3 por cento eram meninos. Analisou-se a relação da idade, sexo, fotótipo, cor dos olhos, cor dos cabelos e etnia dos alunos e dos pais com a presença de nevos melanocíticos no início e no final do estudo. RESULTADOS: Houve aumento significativo de nevos melanocíticos e nevos displásicos no reexame. Os meninos tiveram mais nevos melanocíticos (áreas cobertas e expostas) do que as meninas. A análise de probabilidade para razão de risco revelou que os meninos têm mais chance de desenvolver nevos melanocíticos do que as meninas, assim como os de etnia não miscigenada e miscigenada e com cabelos claros têm mais que os alunos de outras etnias e com cabelos escuros. Os que apresentam fotótipo I são mais propensos a desenvolver nevos melanocíticos nas áreas cobertas do que os que têm fotótipos II e III. CONCLUSÕES: Os dados demonstram que os indivíduos de etnia holandesa tiveram maior probabilidade de desenvolver nevos melanocíticos do que os outros grupos étnicos.

BACKGROUNDS: Epidemiological studies have shown a significant relationship between melanocytic nevi and cutaneous melanoma. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the development of melanocytic nevi in the pupils of a school composed primarily of children of Dutch descent and to assess the effect of environmental factors on these individuals whose phenotypic characteristics were similar to those of their ancestors. METHODS: In 1999 a cohort study was initiated to count the number of melanocytic nevi in 282 pupils of 3 to 17 years of age, 53.9 percent of whom were boys. Five years later a repeat exam was conducted in 148 students of 8 to 22 years of age, 49.3 percent of whom were males. The association between the age, skin phototype, eye color, hair color and ethnic group of the pupils and their parents and the presence of melanocytic nevi was analyzed at the beginning and at the end of the study. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in cases of melanocytic nevi and dysplastic nevi at the follow-up examination. The number of melanocytic nevi was greater in boys than in girls in both covered and exposed areas of skin. Likelihood analysis calculated using the odds ratio showed that boys were more likely to develop melanocytic nevi than girls and that the children of non-mixed and mixed race with lighter hair were more likely to develop melanocytic nevi than those of other ethnic groups and those with dark hair. Children with skin phototype I were more likely to develop melanocytic nevi in covered areas of skin compared to those with skin types II or III. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that individuals of Dutch descent were more likely to develop melanocytic nevi than individuals of other ethnic origins.

Truncal adiposity is present at birth and in early childhood in South Indian children.

OBJECTIVES: Muscle-thin but adipose ('thin-fat') body composition of south Asian adults contributes to their high risk of type 2 diabetes. Studies in Pune, India showed that this phenotype is present at birth. We aimed to determine if south Indian babies have a 'thin-fat' phenotype and if this persists in childhood. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Holdsworth Memorial Hospital, Mysore, India. SUBJECTS: Children (n = 663) whose mothers were recruited from the antenatal clinics. METHODS: Weight, length, head, mid-upper-arm, abdominal circumferences; triceps and subscapular skinfolds were measured at birth, one and four years, and compared with white Caucasian babies born in Southampton, UK (birth), and UK and Dutch growth standards (one and four years). RESULTS: Mysore babies were lighter (2983 g vs 3472 g; -1.10 SD, CI -1.16, -1.02) and smaller in all body measurements than UK neonates (P < 0.001). The deficit was greatest for mid-upper-arm (-1.07 SD), head (-0.89 SD) and abdominal circumferences (-0.73 SD), and least for length (-0.25 SD) and subscapular skinfold thickness (-0.19 SD). Predictors of skinfold thickness were maternal body mass index (P < 0.001) and socio-economic status (P = 0.05). At four years, subscapular skinfold thickness was larger than UK (+0.18 SD, CI +0.11, +0.25; P < 0.001) and Dutch standards (+0.61 SD, CI +0.51, +0.71; P < 0.001), despite all other body measurements remaining smaller. Predictors of 4-year skinfold thickness were neonatal skinfold thickness (P = 0.001) and maternal insulin concentrations (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Mysore newborns have a 'thin-fat' phenotype. This may reflect the action of genes and/or the 'maternal environment'. The phenotype persists in childhood, and may be the forerunner of a diabetogenic adult phenotype.