scholarly journals Ethnicity and multiple sclerosis - moving beyond preconceptions

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Jacobs ◽  
◽  
Ruth Dobson
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
African American ◽  
Ethnic Variation ◽  
Black British ◽  
Disease Biology

Historically, multiple sclerosis (MS) was thought to be substantially more common in individuals from European ancestral backgrounds. Recent studies have challenged this preconception, with a concerning increase in incidence in Black British and African American individuals. In this review we provide a brief overview of the evidence for ethnic variation in MS risk, summarise potential explanations for this variation, and illustrate how these observations could be used to provide potential insights into disease biology.

scholarly journals “He Was Shot because America Will Not Give Up on Racism”: Martin Luther King Jr. and the African American Civil Rights Movement in British Schools

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-31
Author(s):  
MEGAN HUNT ◽  
BENJAMIN HOUSTON ◽  
BRIAN WARD ◽  
NICK MEGORAN
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Civil Rights ◽  
Civil Rights Movement ◽  
Martin Luther ◽  
British History ◽  
Race And Racism ◽  
Freedom Struggle ◽  
Black British ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Martin Luther King

This article examines how Martin Luther King Jr. and the movement with which he is often synonymous are taught in UK schools, as well as the consequences of that teaching for twenty-first-century understandings of Britain's racial past and present. The UK's King-centric approach to teaching the civil rights movement has much in common with that in the US, including an inattention to its transnational coordinates. However, these shared (mis)representations have different histories, are deployed to different ends, and have different consequences. In the UK, study of the African American freedom struggle often happens in the absence of, and almost as a surrogate for, engagement with the histories of Britain's own racial minorities and imperial past. In short, emphasis on the apparent singularity of US race relations and the achievements of the mid-twentieth-century African American freedom struggle facilitates cultural amnesia regarding the historic and continuing significance of race and racism in the UK. In light of the Windrush scandal and the damning 2018 Royal Historical Society report on “Race, Ethnicity and Equality in UK History,” this article argues both for better, more nuanced and more relevant teaching of King and the freedom struggle in British schools, and for much greater attention to black British history in its own right.

scholarly journals Fine-Mapping Array Design for Multi-Ethnic Studies of Multiple Sclerosis

Genes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 903
Author(s):  
Ashley H. Beecham ◽  
Jacob L. McCauley
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
African American ◽  
Fine Mapping ◽  
Genetic Associations ◽  
Genotyping Array ◽  
Locus Heterogeneity ◽  
Base Content ◽  
Risk Variants ◽  
Mapping Array ◽  
Causal Variants

While approximately 200 autosomal genetic associations outside of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) have been identified for multiple sclerosis (MS) risk in European populations, causal variants identified at the majority of these associated loci have been much more elusive. We propose that knowledge gained from replication efforts in Hispanic and African American populations can be utilized to more efficiently fine-map these risk loci. To this end, we have customized a genotyping array by adding ~20,000 bead types (~17,000 variants) to the base content of the Ilumina Infinium expanded multi-ethnic genotyping array and the Infinium ImmunoArray-24 v2 BeadChip. These custom bead types were chosen to allow for the detection of causal variation (1) in the presence of allelic and locus heterogeneity, by incorporating regulatory and coding variation within 1-Mb of previously identified risk variants and (2) in the absence of allelic and locus heterogeneity by incorporation of variants using linkage disequilibrium criteria, which are based on knowledge of replication status in Hispanic and African American study samples. This array has been designed to maximize fine-mapping potential for currently identified MS susceptibility loci, particularly in multi-ethnic populations. The strategies described here could be additionally informative for fine-mapping of other disease phenotypes.

The Prevalence of Sexual Abuse Among Adolescents in School

2003 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 266-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Saewyc ◽  
Sandra Pettingell ◽  
Lara L. Magee
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
African American ◽  
Native American ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Asian American ◽  
School Nurses ◽  
Ethnic Variation ◽  
History Of ◽  
Asian American Youth

Sexual abuse is a profound stressor that complicates the development and health of adolescents, yet its prevalence has been difficult to estimate among adolescents in school populations. This study explored the prevalence of both incest and nonfamily abuse in 2 cohorts of adolescents in Minnesota in the 1990s (1992: N = 77,374; 1998: N = 81,247). Findings indicate that sexual abuse was reported by both boys and girls and among students of all ethnic groups. Approximately 10% of adolescents reported sexual abuse in each cohort, with girls 5 times more likely to report abuse than boys. Ethnic variation was minor, with African American, Native American, and Hispanic teens slightly more likely to report abuse than White or Asian American youth. School nurses should routinely assess for a history of sexual abuse in adolescents and should be prepared to provide support and referral for abused students and their families.). Findings indicate that sexual abuse was reported by both boys and girls and among students of all ethnic groups. Approximately 10% of adolescents reported sexual abuse in each cohort, with girls 5 times more likely to report abuse than boys. Ethnic variation was minor, with African American, Native American, and Hispanic teens slightly more likely to report abuse than White or Asian American youth. School nurses should routinely assess for a history of sexual abuse in adolescents and should be prepared to provide support and referral for abused students and their families.

scholarly journals Muscle Dysfunction and Walking Impairment in Women with Multiple Sclerosis

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 249-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Bradley Willingham ◽  
Deborah Backus ◽  
Kevin K. McCully
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
African American ◽  
Muscle Function ◽  
Oxidative Capacity ◽  
Muscle Endurance ◽  
Muscle Dysfunction ◽  
Walk Test ◽  
Muscle Oxidative Capacity ◽  
6Mwt Distance ◽  
Edss Score

Abstract Background: Recent evidence suggests that skeletal muscle dysfunction is involved in disability progression in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the relationship between muscle dysfunction and walking impairments in MS remains unclear. Thus, the cross-sectional relationships between muscle-specific oxidative capacity and walking endurance in women with MS were evaluated. Methods: Twenty women with MS (11 African American, 9 white) were tested. Muscle oxidative capacity of the medial gastrocnemius was measured using near-infrared spectroscopy after electrical stimulation. Muscle endurance was evaluated using accelerometer-based mechanomyography during electrical stimulation. Muscle strength was measured during maximal voluntary plantarflexion using handheld dynamometry. Walking function was measured using the Timed 25-Foot Walk test and the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Results: Reduced muscle oxidative capacity (R2 = 0.68–0.71, P < .01) and muscle endurance (R2 = 0.59–0.78, P < .01) were associated with lower Timed 25-Foot Walk time and 6MWT distance. Muscle strength was weakly correlated to 6MWT distance (R2 = 0.21, P = .02). No differences in muscle function or clinical outcome measures were found between African American and white subgroups. Women with moderate-to-severe disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] score, 5.0–6.5) had significantly reduced muscle oxidative capacity, muscle endurance, and walking ability compared with women with mild disability (EDSS score, 2.5–4.5). Conclusions: Reductions in muscle function in people with MS are related to declines in walking function across all levels of disability. Muscle dysfunction is not differentially related to walking impairment in African American and white women with MS.

scholarly journals Minority Health Disparities in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Metropolitan, Single-Center Retrospective Analysis

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1987-1987
Author(s):  
Keri R. Maher ◽  
Ian M. Bouligny
Keyword(s):  
Overall Survival ◽  
Acute Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Log Rank Test ◽  
Disease Biology ◽  
Acute Myeloid

Abstract Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive bone marrow cancer affecting 20,000 adults in the United States yearly. Five-year relative survival remains poor at 29.5%, though this has been steadily increasing. There are no known differences in diagnostic rates between racial and ethnic groups. Previous work has shown being African American is an independent predictor of poorer survival - particularly in impoverished areas and those with Medicaid. We aimed to identify potential racial disparities amongst our AML population - with special attention to insurance coverage, access to care, disease biology, regimen selection, toxicities, referral for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloHSCT), and overall survival with non-Hispanic Whites as a control. Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with AML and treated at Virginia Commonwealth University/Massey Cancer Center identified by our data analytics core from June 2018 to December 2020. Data were extracted and manually verified from the electronic medical record into an AML database instrument created in RedCap. Race was determined by self-report. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed with comparisons between groups using an unpaired t-test with Welch's correction or with Fischer's exact test. Overall survival rates were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analyses and compared using log-rank test. The event date was death and patients were otherwise censored at the date of last contact. Results: Our cohort consisted of 160 patients: 26.3% African Americans, 68.8% Whites, 1.9% Hispanic/Latinos, 1.9% other or declined to state, and 1.3% were unknown. To analyze the impact of minority populations, Hispanic/Latino and "other" categories were combined with African American into a "Non-White" cohort (N = 48) and compared to the "White" cohort (N = 110). There was no baseline difference in age (p= 0.212), Charleson Comorbidity Index (CCI) at presentation (p = 0.692), or ECOG status (p = 0.920) at presentation (Table 1). Assessment of disease biology, including European Leukemia Network risk stratification (p = 0.507), presence of complex karyotype (p = 0.366) and presence of TP53 mutations (p = 0.776) did not detect a statistically significant difference between the two groups (Table 1). Choice of intensive (vs non-intensive) induction based on physician's discretion was also similar (62.5% in non-White, 68.2% in Caucasians, p = 0.583). Toxicity analysis such as ICU during induction (p = 0.519) and death within 60 days of induction (p = 0.8) showed no difference between groups. In parameters assessing access to care, non-Whites were more likely than Whites to have either Medicaid or no insurance coverage, opposed to private insurance or Medicare (p = 0.0166). Despite this, there was no difference in overall survival assessed by log-rank test (p = 0.068) across all cytogenetic cohorts or with respect to the adverse risk cohort (p = 0.143), though the non-White cohort had a mOS of 286 days (9.4 months) compared to 764 days (25.1 months) in the White cohort. Rates of being lost to follow up were not different between the two groups (p = 0.34). However, rates of alloHSCT were approaching significance with p = 0.0528 favoring Caucasians. Discussion: Our data suggest similar disease biology at presentation amongst racial and ethnic groups, as well as similar comorbidities, performance status at diagnosis, and choice of induction regimen. As previous research has shown, our minority cohort was more likely to have no insurance or Medicaid than the Caucasian population. However, this did not lead to a statistically significant overall survival difference. Rates of alloHSCT were approaching statistical significance between the groups. This suggests that improving access to transplant might be one of the more effective tools for improving outcomes in this group. Additionally, demographics in the Richmond metro area demonstrate a population of 47% African American and 48% Whites, whereas our data showed 26% African Americans and 69% Whites, with no known strong racial predilection of AML based on SEER data (46% vs 54%, respectively). Thus, concern remains that there may be a significant number of patients with AML who either do not seek care, or present in a condition where treatment is no longer possible. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Genome wide-association study identifies novel loci in the Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harini V. Gudiseva ◽  
Shefali Setia Verma ◽  
Venkata R. M. Chavali ◽  
Rebecca J. Salowe ◽  
Anastasia Lucas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Genome Wide Association Study ◽  
Open Angle Glaucoma ◽  
Retinal Ganglion ◽  
Open Angle ◽  
Chromosome 11 ◽  
Disease Biology ◽  
Genome Wide

AbstractPrimary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, disproportionately affects African Americans. Large-scale POAG genetic studies have focused on individuals of European and Asian ancestry, limiting our understanding of disease biology. Here we report genetic analysis of the largest-ever deeply phenotyped African American population (n=5950), identifying a novel POAG-associated SNP on chromosome 11 near the TRIM66 gene (rs112369934). POAG trait association also implicated SNPs in genes involved in trabecular meshwork homeostasis and retinal ganglion cell maintenance. These new loci deepen our understanding of the pathophysiology of POAG in African Americans.

scholarly journals Two genetic variants explain the association of European ancestry with multiple sclerosis risk in African-Americans

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Nakatsuka ◽  
Nick Patterson ◽  
Nikolaos A. Patsopoulos ◽  
Nicolas Altemose ◽  
Arti Tandon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
African Ancestry ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Chromosome 1 ◽  
European Ancestry ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
West Africans

Abstract Epidemiological studies have suggested differences in the rate of multiple sclerosis (MS) in individuals of European ancestry compared to African ancestry, motivating genetic scans to identify variants that could contribute to such patterns. In a whole-genome scan in 899 African-American cases and 1155 African-American controls, we confirm that African-Americans who inherit segments of the genome of European ancestry at a chromosome 1 locus are at increased risk for MS [logarithm of odds (LOD) = 9.8], although the signal weakens when adding an additional 406 cases, reflecting heterogeneity in the two sets of cases [logarithm of odds (LOD) = 2.7]. The association in the 899 individuals can be fully explained by two variants previously associated with MS in European ancestry individuals. These variants tag a MS susceptibility haplotype associated with decreased CD58 gene expression (odds ratio of 1.37; frequency of 84% in Europeans and 22% in West Africans for the tagging variant) as well as another haplotype near the FCRL3 gene (odds ratio of 1.07; frequency of 49% in Europeans and 8% in West Africans). Controlling for all other genetic and environmental factors, the two variants predict a 1.44-fold higher rate of MS in European-Americans compared to African-Americans.

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