Association between TNF-α promoter G-308A and G-238A polymorphisms and obesity

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), an adipokine, is produced in adipocytes, and the elevation of its levels has been linked to obesity and insulin resistance in some population. In this study the relationship between TNF-α promoter gene polymorphism and obesity in an Iranian population has been studied. Subjects were randomly selected from Tehran Cohort Lipid and Glucose Study. Adult participants placed in three groups according to their body mass index (BMI): BMI < 25, 25 ≤ BMI < 30, BMI ≥ 30 and under-18 subjects placed in two groups, under 85th percentile BMI and above 85th percentile. Finally, 244 persons were selected for G-308A and G-238A polymorphisms analysis. The FBS, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride, cholesterol levels and blood pressure and HOMA of all subjects were measured. The polymorphism −308 and −238 were revealed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP; NCOI and MSPI) after the promoter site was amplified by PCR. The allele frequency of TNF-α polymorphism was in the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. There was no relation between BMI and the frequency of this allele. The fact that there is no association between G-308A and G-238A TNF-α promoter polymorphisms and obesity probably shows that it is not an important risk factor for obesity and consequently for cardiovascular disease

The relationship between MnSOD Val16Ala gene polymorphism and the level of serum total antioxidant capacity with the risk of chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetic patients: A nested case-control study in the Tehran lipid glucose study

Background: Several studies have shown significant associations between manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) Val16Ala polymorphism and diabetic complications, but this association has not been explored in relation with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level changes in diabetic condition and may play important role in onset or progression of the disease and its complications. The present study investigated the association of MnSOD Val16Ala polymorphism and serum TAC with the risk of CKD in T2DM patients. Methods: This nested case-control study included 280 type 2 diabetic patients with CKD and 280 age, sex and diabetes duration-matched control subjects selected from the participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. MnSOD val16Ala (rs4880) SNP was genotyped by the Tetra-Primer ARMS-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Serum TAC was measured using ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA statistical package v.12.0 or SPSS (Version 22.0). Results: The Ala allele of the MnSOD Val16Ala polymorphism was associated with a lower risk of CKD (odds ratio (OR), 0.55; 95 confidence interval (CI), 0.36-0.84; P = 0.006). Median serum TAC in CKD group was 920 μmol/L and was significantly lower (p < 0.001) compared to the control group (1045 μmol/L). Using an adjusted conditional logistic regression, we didn't observe any significant interaction between MnSOD Val16Ala SNP with quartiles of serum TAC in relation to CKD. Conclusion: A significant association was found between the MnSOD Val16Ala polymorphism and CKD, but this association is not affected by serum TAC level in T2DM patients. © 2018 The Author(s)

The relationship between MnSOD Val16Ala gene polymorphism and the level of serum total antioxidant capacity with the risk of chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetic patients: A nested case-control study in the Tehran lipid glucose study

Background: Several studies have shown significant associations between manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) Val16Ala polymorphism and diabetic complications, but this association has not been explored in relation with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level changes in diabetic condition and may play important role in onset or progression of the disease and its complications. The present study investigated the association of MnSOD Val16Ala polymorphism and serum TAC with the risk of CKD in T2DM patients. Methods: This nested case-control study included 280 type 2 diabetic patients with CKD and 280 age, sex and diabetes duration-matched control subjects selected from the participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. MnSOD val16Ala (rs4880) SNP was genotyped by the Tetra-Primer ARMS-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Serum TAC was measured using ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA statistical package v.12.0 or SPSS (Version 22.0). Results: The Ala allele of the MnSOD Val16Ala polymorphism was associated with a lower risk of CKD (odds ratio (OR), 0.55; 95 confidence interval (CI), 0.36-0.84; P = 0.006). Median serum TAC in CKD group was 920 μmol/L and was significantly lower (p < 0.001) compared to the control group (1045 μmol/L). Using an adjusted conditional logistic regression, we didn't observe any significant interaction between MnSOD Val16Ala SNP with quartiles of serum TAC in relation to CKD. Conclusion: A significant association was found between the MnSOD Val16Ala polymorphism and CKD, but this association is not affected by serum TAC level in T2DM patients. © 2018 The Author(s)

Halal dating: changing relationship attitudes and experiences among young British Muslims

Young Muslims in the UK are making space to gain greater control over their personal lives through the diction of ‘halal’ and ‘haram’ when reflecting on and negotiating personal relationships. This article explores the significance of ‘halal dating’ within the lived experiences and sexual relationships of young British Muslims. It draws upon 56 in-depth interviews conducted with young (16–30 years) British Muslims of Pakistani heritage. This research shows that, contrary to popular stereotype and widespread expectations, many young British Muslims do date, or have dated. By entertaining the idea that certain forms of dating may be halal, these young Muslims are finding and claiming agency to make relationship choices of their own

Can a Multifaceted Intervention Including Motivational Interviewing Improve Medication Adherence, Quality of Life, and Mortality Rates in Older Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery? A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial with 18-Month Follow-Up.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery are required to take a complex regimen of medications for extended periods, and they may have negative outcomes because they struggle to adhere to this regimen. Designing effective interventions to promote medication adherence in this patient group is therefore important. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of a multifaceted intervention (psycho-education, motivational interviewing, and short message services) on medication adherence, quality of life (QoL), and mortality rates in older patients undergoing CABG surgery. METHODS: Patients aged over 65 years from 12 centers were assigned to the intervention (EXP; n = 144) or treatment-as-usual (TAU; n = 144) groups using cluster randomization at center level. Medication adherence was evaluated using the Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS), pharmacy refill rate, and lipid profile; QoL was evaluated using Short Form-36. Data were collected at baseline; 3, 6, and 18 months after intervention. Survival status was followed up at 18 months. Multi-level regressions and survival analyses for hazard ratio (HR) were used for analyses. RESULTS: Compared with patients who received TAU, the MARS, pharmacy refill rate, and lipid profile of patients in the EXP group improved 6 months after surgery (p < 0.01) and remained so 18 months after surgery (p < 0.01). QoL also increased among patients in the EXP group as compared with those who received TAU at 18 months post-surgery (physical component summary score p = 0.02; mental component summary score p = 0.04). HR in the EXP group compared with the TAU group was 0.38 (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that a multifaceted intervention can improve medication adherence in older patients undergoing CABG surgery, with these improvements being maintained after 18 months. QoL and survival rates increased as a function of better medication adherence. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02109523

Associations of autozygosity with a broad range of human phenotypes

In many species, the offspring of related parents suffer reduced reproductive success, a phenomenon known as inbreeding depression. In humans, the importance of this effect has remained unclear, partly because reproduction between close relatives is both rare and frequently associated with confounding social factors. Here, using genomic inbreeding coefficients (F-ROH) for >1.4 million individuals, we show that F-ROH is significantly associated (p <0.0005) with apparently deleterious changes in 32 out of 100 traits analysed. These changes are associated with runs of homozygosity (ROH), but not with common variant homozygosity, suggesting that genetic variants associated with inbreeding depression are predominantly rare. The effect on fertility is striking: F-ROH equivalent to the offspring of first cousins is associated with a 55% decrease [95% CI 44-66%] in the odds of having children. Finally, the effects of F-ROH are confirmed within full-sibling pairs, where the variation in F-ROH is independent of all environmental confounding.Peer reviewe

The genetic epidemiology of joint shape and the development of osteoarthritis

Congruent, low-friction relative movement between the articulating elements of a synovial joint is an essential pre-requisite for sustained, efficient, function. Where disorders of joint formation or maintenance exist, mechanical overloading and osteoarthritis (OA) follow. The heritable component of OA accounts for ~ 50% of susceptible risk. Although almost 100 genetic risk loci for OA have now been identified, and the epidemiological relationship between joint development, joint shape and osteoarthritis is well established, we still have only a limited understanding of the contribution that genetic variation makes to joint shape and how this modulates OA risk. In this article, a brief overview of synovial joint development and its genetic regulation is followed by a review of current knowledge on the genetic epidemiology of established joint shape disorders and common shape variation. A summary of current genetic epidemiology of OA is also given, together with current evidence on the genetic overlap between shape variation and OA. Finally, the established genetic risk loci for both joint shape and osteoarthritis are discussed

Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity and the Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Nested Case-Control Study in the Tehran Lipid Glucose Study

Objective: Dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) has been hypothesized as being involved in health promotion and disease prevention. However, data about the association of the DTAC (as estimated by ferric reducing antioxidant power) with diabetes chronic complications are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the associations between the DTAC and chronic kidney disease (CKD) risk in subjects with type 2 diabetic. Methods: The present case-control study consisted of 210 (102 cases and 108 controls) patients with type 2 diabetic who were participants of the phase 5 Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study and were classified based on their CKD status. DTAC was estimated based on the ferric reducing antioxidant power of selected foods. Dietary intake, sociodemographic data, medical history, and anthropometric measurements were collected from participants using a validated questionnaire. Results: The mean DTAC value, as well as total calorie intake, did not show significant differences between cases and controls. Conclusion: No significant association was found between DTAC and CKD in patients with type 2 diabetic. Further studies are needed to confirm the effects of DTAC on the risk of CKD. © 2018 National Kidney Foundation, Inc