Admixture Mapping of Coronary Artery Calcified Plaque in African Americans With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The presence and severity of coronary artery calcified plaque (CAC) differs markedly between individuals of African and European descent, suggesting that admixture mapping (AM) may be informative for identifying genetic variants associated with subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD)

Gaucher Disease and the Synucleinopathies

Several recent observations suggest a connection between Gaucher disease, the inherited deficiency of glucocerebrosidase, and the synucleinopathies. Rare patients have been observed who develop both Gaucher disease and parkinsonism. Autopsy studies on these subjects reveal synuclein-positive Lewy bodies and inclusions. An increased incidence of synucleinopathies also has been noted in relatives of Gaucher probands. In complementary studies, screening of patients with parkinsonism has identified a greater than expected frequency of glucocerebrosidase mutations. These glucocerebrosidase mutation carriers have a wide spectrum of associated parkinsonian phenotypes, ranging from classic L-dopa-responsive Parkinson disease to a phenotype more characteristic of Lewy body dementia. Despite this association, the vast majority of Gaucher carriers and patients with Gaucher disease never develop parkinsonism. However, mutations in this gene are likely to be a contributing risk factor in subjects otherwise prone to developing synucleinopathies

Chimerism involving a RB1 pathogenic variant in monochorionic dizygotic twins with twin-twin transfusion syndrome

We report the first case of blood chimerism involving a pathogenic RB1 variant in naturally conceived monochorionic-dizygotic twins (MC/DZ) with the twin-twin-transfusion syndrome (TTTS), presumably caused by the exchange of stem-cells. Twin A developed bilateral retinoblastoma at 7 months of age. Initial genetic testing identified a de novo RB1 pathogenic variant, with a 20% allelic ratio in both twins' blood. Subsequent genotyping of blood and skin confirmed dizygosity, with the affected twin harboring the RB1 pathogenic variant in skin and blood, and the unaffected twin carrying the variant only in blood

Association of Daily Alcohol Intake, Volumetric Breast Density, and Breast Cancer Risk.

High alcohol intake and breast density increase breast cancer (BC) risk, but their interrelationship is unknown. We examined whether volumetric density modifies and/or mediates the alcohol-BC association. BC cases (n = 2233) diagnosed from 2006 to 2013 in the San Francisco Bay area had screening mammograms 6 or more months before diagnosis; controls (n = 4562) were matched on age, mammogram date, race or ethnicity, facility, and mammography machine. Logistic regression was used to estimate alcohol-BC associations adjusted for age, body mass index, and menopause; interaction terms assessed modification. Percent mediation was quantified as the ratio of log (odds ratios [ORs]) from models with and without density measures. Alcohol consumption was associated with increased BC risk (2-sided Ptrend = .004), as were volumetric percent density (OR = 1.45 per SD, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.36 to 1.56) and dense volume (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.24 to 1.37). Breast density did not modify the alcohol-BC association (2-sided P > .10 for all). Dense volume mediated 25.0% (95% CI = 5.5% to 44.4%) of the alcohol-BC association (2-sided P = .01), suggesting alcohol may partially increase BC risk by increasing fibroglandular tissue