The Roma people have a complex demographic history shaped by their recent dispersal from a South Asian origin into Europe, accompanied by continuous population bottlenecks and gene flow. After settling in the Balkans around 1,000 years ago, the Roma gradually dispersed across Europe, and approximately 500 years ago, they established in the Iberian Peninsula what is now one of the largest Roma populations in Western Europe. Focusing specifically on the Iberian Roma, we conducted the most comprehensive genome-wide analysis of European Roma populations to date. Using allele frequency and haplotype-based methods, we analysed 181 individuals to investigate their genetic diversity, social dynamics, and migration histories at both continental and local scales. Our findings demonstrate significant gene flow from populations encountered during the Roma's dispersal and confirm their South Asian origins. We show that, between the 14th and 19th centuries, the Roma spread westward from the Balkans in various waves, with multiple admixture events. Furthermore, our findings refute previous hypotheses of a North African dispersal route into Iberia and genetic connections to Jewish populations. The Iberian Roma exhibit ten times greater genetic differentiation compared to non-Roma Iberians, indicating significant regional substructure. Additionally, we provide the first genetic evidence of assortative mating within Roma groups, highlighting distinct mating patterns and suggesting a gradual shift towards increased integration with non-Roma individuals. This study significantly enhances our understanding of how demographic history and complex genetic structure have shaped the genetic diversity of Roma populations, while also highlighting the influence of their evolving social dynamics.

• MeSH
• Gene Frequency MeSH
• Genetic Variation MeSH
• Haplotypes MeSH
• Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Human Migration MeSH
• Genetics, Population * MeSH
• Roma * genetics   MeSH
• Gene Flow MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Spain MeSH

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the Roma population and compare it to the prevalence in the Caucasian population. METHODS: Using the words "Roma", "Gypsies", "Romani", and "traveler" in combination with "diabetes, "metabolic syndrome", "cardiovascular disease" and "health status" we searched the MEDLINE, Pubmed and Scopus databases for articles in English that focused on the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among Roma populations published until December 2017. RESULTS: Five studies met the inclusion criteria. The results of four of them suggested a higher prevalence of diabetes among Romani compared to Caucasians but none of them reached the standards regarding representative samples and number of cases for a conclusive result. CONCLUSION: Although some of the existing studies suggest a substantial prevalence of diabetes among Roma populations and even a higher risk of developing diabetes for Roma persons compared to Caucasians, the number of published literature on this topic remains very low and insufficient in design and number of participants to draw any conclusions.

• Keywords
• Roma ethnic, Romani, diabetes mellitus, gypsy, prevalence,
• MeSH
• White People MeSH
• Diabetes Mellitus epidemiology   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Prevalence MeSH
• Roma * MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Health Status MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Systematic Review MeSH
• Geographicals
• Europe epidemiology   MeSH

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this paper is to provide information on indoor air quality and on the quality of the broader indoor environment of the houses in Roma villages in Slovakia and Romania and to discuss possible implications for health. METHODS: Indoor air was sampled in 11 houses in a Romanian Roma village and in 19 houses in a Slovakian Roma village. Levels of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), total particulate matter (PM), temperature and humidity were measured. A questionnaire and a checklist were used to obtain additional information on the indoor environment and behavioural factors. We have sampled the same houses in winter and in summer. RESULTS: Levels of CO and CO2 were higher in winter in both countries as compared to summer. The limit value of 10 mg/m3 CO was exceeded in a few cases in both countries. In general, levels of CO, CO2 and PM were higher in Romania. Further environmental and behavioural hazards such as indoor smoking, pets inside or lack of ventilation were found. The reported self-perceived quality of the indoor environment was poor in many aspects. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings of CO, CO2 and PM levels suggest that indoor air pollution in Roma settlements has the potential to be a health threat. The fact that the inhabitants spend a relatively long time inside the houses and that a number of additional environmental and behavioural hazards were identified by our study emphasizes the importance of the indoor air quality for health and thus priority attention should be paid to these issues by health authorities and researchers. Further research is essential and study designs must consider cultural background and specific characteristics of the community, especially in order to obtain valid data on health outcomes.

• MeSH
• Housing statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Ethnicity * MeSH
• Risk Assessment MeSH
• Air Pollutants analysis   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Environmental Monitoring MeSH
• Carbon Monoxide analysis   MeSH
• Carbon Dioxide analysis   MeSH
• Particulate Matter analysis   MeSH
• Seasons MeSH
• Temperature MeSH
• Humidity MeSH
• Environmental Exposure statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Health Status MeSH
• Air Pollution, Indoor analysis   statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Geographicals
• Romania MeSH
• Slovakia MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Air Pollutants MeSH
• Carbon Monoxide MeSH
• Carbon Dioxide MeSH
• Particulate Matter MeSH