Single nucleotide polymorphism and lifestyle-related diseases in the Asia-Pacific region: comparative study in Okinawa, Palau and Thailand.

Genetic differences between Asians and Caucasians may be involved in the rapid increase in lifestyle-related diseases in the Asia-Pacific region that has coincided with Westernisation of diets in the region. In the present study, we assessed correlation between 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and chronic disease risk factors in age-matched and population-based groups in four Asian-Pacific locations: Okinawa, Palau and Thailand (two areas). The following allelic SNP profiles significantly differed (p<0.01) among the four populations, in both men and women: uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), uncoupling protein 3 promoter (UCP3p), leptin receptor (LEPR) exon 6, and angiotensinogen (AGTa-20c). Multiple regression analyses showed significant associations between SNPs and clinical data. For men, these associations were between beta3 adrenergic receptor (beta3AR) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p<0.01), UCP3p and total cholesterol (p<0.01), UCP2 and age (p<0.05), and AGTa-20c and age (p<0.01). For women, these associations were between LEPR exon 14 and body mass index (BMI) (p<0.05), UCP2 and systolic blood pressure (p<0.05), UCP3p and DBP (p<0.05), UCP2 and DBP (p<0.01), apolipoprotein E (ApoE)nd total cholesterol (p<0.01), beta3AR and triglyceride (p<0.05), AGTa-20c and triglyceride (p<0.05), and UCP2 and age (p<0.05). These results illustrate the interrelationships among SNPs and risk factors in the Asia-Pacific including China and Japan.

Uncoupling protein 3 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma2 contribute to obesity and diabetes in palauans.

We examined the genetic contribution of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the energy metabolism-related genes, including beta 3 adrenergic receptor (beta3AR), apolipoprotein E (apo-E), promoter of uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3-p), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 (PPARgamma2) and leptin receptor (LEPR) to metabolic disorders, in 118 inhabitants of Palau. The data were statistically analyzed and ethnically compared to correlate SNPs and their metabolic parameters. UCP3-p (P < 0.01) and PPARgamma2 (p = 0.05) correlated with plasma HbA1c, and UCP3-p correlated with fasting blood glucose (P < 0.01) in males, but not in females. UCP3-p correlated with body fat (%) (P < 0.01) in females, but not in males. Plasma leptin levels and apo-E were correlated in both groups. The frequency of SNPs for PPARgamma2, LEPR, and UCP3-p are significantly different between Palauans and Caucasians.

Monolingual monologue: regional issues of professional communication from Pacific Health Dialog.

The Pacific Health Dialog (PHD) is a Journal of Community Health and Clinical Medicine with a Pacific. focus. A analysis of all nine PHD issues from 1994 to 1998 was made for origin of author and content. Tally sheets were used to compile data from which the tables were constructed. The results showed that of the 15,000 journals printed 70% were distributed to Pacificans. There were 287 items published by 489 authors of which 37% were Pacificans who were also the first or only author in 37% (excluding the authors of book reviews, editorials reprints, letters and abstracts). The contents of PHD have all been written in English even though the policy allows for any major Pacific language. Therefore a monolingual journal has emerged in spite of a multilingual policy. There has been minimal dialogue or discussion in PHD and not much of the content has been challenged, so the papers have become monologues by the authors. Thus we have a monolingual monologue. PHD is donor dependent with a hand to mouth existence. Funding covers only part of the expenditure and the balance comes from a 'labour of love' from many people. Despite this, PHD continues to grow. The development of PHD has demonstrated that a participatory media can increase the Pacificans role in health information dissemination throughout the Pacific. Many of the Pacific authors (73.5%) have never published previously. Since 1994 PHD has come a long way and contributed much to pacific based research. It addresses a wide variety of topics and problems and not just the need for medical information. PHD has become the prototype for regional health communication in terms of participation, ownership, development, maintenance and its use of 'labour of love' resources.

Telemedicine demonstration projects in the Western Pacific.

Telemedicine demonstration projects in the Western Pacific are attempting to provide distance medical consulting and distance medical education for the isolated health-care workforce of the region. The Picasso Phone system is a low-cost telemedicine system which requires only the standard telephone network for its operation, needs little additional equipment and is user-friendly. The demonstration projects have shown the utility of the system in both international, inter-island and on-island communications. All demonstration activities used the various existing island telephone systems. With the adaptation of such a user-friendly telemedicine system as the Picasso Phone system to the Peacesat public-interest educational network, the capacity of the telemedicine network will expand to include isolated islands with Peacesat capacity which do not have access to the commercial island telephone systems.

Otitis media in the Republic of Palau. A case-series study.

Race is a known epidemiologic determinant for the development of otitis media. This study assessed the severity of otitis media in a subpopulation (N = 73; mean age, 13.2 years) receiving care from the ear clinic in the Republic of Palau, a US Trust Territory, through a questionnaire and an otologic examination. The mean age of patients with otorrhea (2.5 years) was found to be significantly different from the mean age at which they began to swim (4 years). Otitis media-related sequelae were found to involve more than half of ears or subjects examined. No statistical difference was noted when various patient characteristics were compared with the severity of disease. Our clinical impression is that this subpopulation is severely affected by otitis media and its sequelae. Prospective studies are required to identify risk factors present in the population at large.

Prevalence of otitis media in selected populations on Pohnpei: a preliminary study.

There are no previously published studies on the prevalence of otitis media in Micronesia. As part of an Otitis Media Workshop to train health care workers from the Federated States of Micronesia in the identification and treatment of otitis media, 5-point prevalence studies were conducted to explore the prevalence of otitis media in infants, Head Start, elementary and secondary age students. The results showed an especially high prevalence among the visualized tympanic membranes of the well infants, with 46-47% of the infants showing evidence of otitis media. Of the 1338 ears visualized, 985 or 74% were within the range of normal. Two-hundred and sixteen, or 16% showed evidence of extensive past or mild present disease, with the remaining 10% showing active disease. There were a total of 31 perforations among the 779 persons examined between the ages of two months and twenty-five years, representing 4% of the ears examined. The perforation rate for this population was 39.79 per 1000. The results are discussed as well as their implications for developing areas with limited resources for primary, secondary and tertiary health care.