Polymorphisms of the TUB Gene Are Associated with Body Composition and Eating Behavior in Middle-Aged Women

BACKGROUND: The TUB gene, encoding an evolutionary conserved protein, is highly expressed in the hypothalamus and might act as a transcription factor. Mutations in TUB cause late-onset obesity, insulin-resistance and neurosensory deficits in mice. An association of common variants in the TUB gene with body weight in humans has been reported. METHODS/FINDINGS: The aim was to investigate the relationship of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the TUB gene (rs2272382, rs2272383 and rs1528133) with both anthropometry and self-reported macronutrient intake from a validated food frequency questionnaire. These associations were studied in a population-based, cross-sectional study of 1680 middle-aged Dutch women, using linear regression analysis. The minor allele C of the rs1528133 SNP was significantly associated with increased weight (+1.88 kg, P = 0.022) and BMI (+0.56 units, P = 0.05). Compared with non-carriers, both AG heterozygotes and AA homozygotes of the rs2272382 SNP derived less energy from fat (AG: -0.55+/-0.28%, P = 0.05, AA: -0.95+/-0.48%, P = 0.047). However, both genotypes were associated with an increased energy intake from carbohydrates (0.69+/-0.33%, P = 0.04 and 1.68+/-0.56%, P = 0.003, respectively), mainly because of a higher consumption of mono- and disaccharides. Both these SNPs, rs2272382 and rs1528133, were also associated with a higher glycemic load in the diet. The glycemic load was higher among those with AG and AA genotypes for the variant rs2272382 than among the wild types (+1.49 (95% CI: -0.27-3.24) and +3.89 (95% CI: 0.94-6.85) units, respectively). Carriers of the minor allele C of rs1528133 were associated with an increased glycemic load of 1.85 units compared with non-carriers. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic variation of the TUB gene was associated with both body composition and macronutrient intake, suggesting that TUB might influence eating behavior

Glycemic index and glycemic load in relation to changes in body weight, body fat distribution, and body composition in adult danes

Background: A diet with a high glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) may promote overconsumption of energy and increase the risk of weight gain. Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the relation between GI and GL of habitual diets and subsequent 6-y changes in body weight, body fat distribution, and body composition in a random group of adult Danes. Design: A prospective cohort study was conducted in a subsample of men and women from the Danish arm of the Monitoring Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease study. The subsample comprised 185 men and 191 women born in 1922, 1932, 1942, or 1952. A baseline health examination and a dietary history interview were carried out in 1987 and 1988; a follow-up health examination was performed in 1993 and 1994. Results: Positive associations between GI and changes in body weight (BW), percentage body fat (%BF), and waist circumference (WC) were observed in women after adjustment for covariates. Significant GI x sex x physical activity interactions for BW, %BF, and WC were observed, and the associations in the sedentary women were particularly positive. No significant associations with GI were observed in men, and no significant associations with GL were observed in either sex. Conclusions: High-GI diets may lead to increases in BW, body fat mass, and WC in women, especially in sedentary women, which suggests that physical activity may protect against diet-induced weight gain. No associations with GI were observed in men, which suggests sex differences in the association between GI and obesity development

National Database of Geriatrics

Pia Nimann Kannegaard,1 Kirsten L Vinding,2 Helle Hare-Bruun3 1Copenhagen University Hospital, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, Herlev-Gentofte, Geriatric Medical Unit, Capital Region of Denmark, Hellerup, 2Lillebaelt Hospital, Department of Medicine, Region of Southern Denmark, Kolding, 3Registry Support Centre (East) – Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Capital Region of Denmark, Glostrup, Denmark Aim of database: The aim of the National Database of Geriatrics is to monitor the quality of interdisciplinary diagnostics and treatment of patients admitted to a geriatric hospital unit. Study population: The database population consists of patients who were admitted to a geriatric hospital unit. Geriatric patients cannot be defined by specific diagnoses. A geriatric patient is typically a frail multimorbid elderly patient with decreasing functional ability and social challenges. The database includes 14–15,000 admissions per year, and the database completeness has been stable at 90% during the past 5 years. Main variables: An important part of the geriatric approach is the interdisciplinary collaboration. Indicators, therefore, reflect the combined efforts directed toward the geriatric patient. The indicators include Barthel index, body mass index, de Morton Mobility Index, Chair Stand, percentage of discharges with a rehabilitation plan, and the part of cases where an interdisciplinary conference has taken place. Data are recorded by doctors, nurses, and therapists in a database and linked to the Danish National Patient Register. Descriptive data: Descriptive patient-related data include information about home, mobility aid, need of fall and/or cognitive diagnosing, and categorization of cause (general geriatric, orthogeriatric, or neurogeriatric). Conclusion: The National Database of Geriatrics covers ~90% of geriatric admissions in Danish hospitals and provides valuable information about a large and increasing patient population in the health care system. Keywords: quality, research, geriatrics, interdisciplinary, Denmar

Danish Gynecological Cancer Database

Sarah Mejer Sørensen,1 Signe Frahm Bjørn,1 Kirsten Marie Jochumsen,2 Pernille Tine Jensen,2 Ingrid Regitze Thranov,1 Helle Hare-Bruun,3 Lene Seibæk,4 Claus Høgdall1 1Department of Gynecology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; 3Research Centre for Prevention and Health, The Capital Region of Denmark, Glostrup, Denmark; 4Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark Aim of database: The Danish Gynecological Cancer Database (DGCD) is a nationwide clinical cancer database and its aim is to monitor the treatment quality of Danish gynecological cancer patients, and to generate data for scientific purposes. DGCD also records detailed data on the diagnostic measures for gynecological cancer. Study population: DGCD was initiated January 1, 2005, and includes all patients treated at Danish hospitals for cancer of the ovaries, peritoneum, fallopian tubes, cervix, vulva, vagina, and uterus, including rare histological types. Main variables: DGCD data are organized within separate data forms as follows: clinical data, surgery, pathology, pre- and postoperative care, complications, follow-up visits, and final quality check. DGCD is linked with additional data from the Danish "Pathology Registry", the "National Patient Registry", and the "Cause of Death Registry" using the unique Danish personal identification number (CPR number). Descriptive data: Data from DGCD and registers are available online in the Statistical Analysis Software portal. The DGCD forms cover almost all possible clinical variables used to describe gynecological cancer courses. The only limitation is the registration of oncological treatment data, which is incomplete for a large number of patients. Conclusion: The very complete collection of available data from more registries form one of the unique strengths of DGCD compared to many other clinical databases, and provides unique possibilities for validation and completeness of data. The success of the DGCD is illustrated through annual reports, high coverage, and several peer-reviewed DGCD-based publications. Keywords: quality, research, gynecological cancer, operation, pathology, follow-u

Television and food in the lives of young children

Several mechanisms have been proposed behind the associations between screens and overweight including sedentary behaviour, eating while viewing, and exposure to commercials. Aspects of this association as underlying social factors and the possible confounding factors of social norms in the family that can affect children’s lifestyle have received less attention. TV commercials for food and beverages have been extensively studied and it is important to study the appearance of food in children’s TV programmes in a similar way. The general aim of this thesis is to examine the associations between young children’s screen habits, food habits and anthropometry as well as to analyse food and beverages in children’s television programmes in public service television in Sweden. Data from the European research project Identification and prevention of dietary and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants (IDEFICS) has been used in Papers I-III and 25 hours of children’s TV programmes have been analysed for Paper IV. The main findings indicate that children’s TV viewing and total screen time was found to be associated with their increased sweet drink consumption, BMI and waist to height ratio, according to cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. The association between TV viewing and sweetened beverage consumption was found to be independent of parental norms regarding sweetened beverages. Exposure to commercial TV was associated with consuming sweetened beverages more frequently independently of TV viewing time. One in five foods appearing in the sample of children’s TV programmes was for high-calorie and low-nutrient foods, often appearing with children. The results indicate that it is possible to affect children’s food habits by influencing their TV habits, and that public service television has the potential to improve the way food and eating are depicted in children’s TV programmes