Fumarolic Minerals: An Overview of Active European Volcanoes

The fumarolic mineralogy of the Icelandic active volcanoes, the Tyrrhenian volcanic belt (Italy) and the Aegean active arc (Greece) is investigated, and literature data surveyed in order to define the characteristics of the European fumarolic systems. They show broad diversity of mineral associations, with Vesuvius and Vulcano being also among the world localities richest in mineral species. Volcanic systems, which show recession over a longer period, show fumarolic development from the high-temperature alkaline halide/sulphate, calcic sulphate or sulphidic parageneses, synchronous with or immediately following the eruptions, through medium-temperature ammonium minerals, metal chlorides, or fluoride associations to the late low-temperature paragenesis dominated by sulphur, gypsum, alunogen, and other hydrous sulphates. The situation can be different in the systems that are not recessing but show fluctuations in activity, illustrated by the example of Vulcano where the high-temperature association appears intermittently. A full survey of the mineral groups and species is given in respect to their importance and appearance in fumarolic associations

Genome-wide search for breast cancer linkage in large Icelandic non-BRCA1/2 families

Abstract Introduction: A significant proportion of high-risk breast cancer families are not explained by mutations in known genes. Recent genome-wide searches (GWS) have not revealed any single major locus reminiscent of BRCA1 and BRCA2, indicating that still unidentified genes may explain relatively few families each or interact in a way obscure to linkage analyses. This has drawn attention to possible benefits of studying populations where genetic heterogeneity might be reduced. We thus performed a GWS for linkage on nine Icelandic multiple-case non-BRCA1/2 families of desirable size for mapping highly penetrant loci. To follow up suggestive loci, an additional 13 families from other Nordic countries were genotyped for selected markers. Methods: GWS was performed using 811 microsatellite markers providing about five centiMorgan (cM) resolution. Multipoint logarithm of odds (LOD) scores were calculated using parametric and nonparametric methods. For selected markers and cases, tumour tissue was compared to normal tissue to look for allelic loss indicative of a tumour suppressor gene. Results: The three highest signals were located at chromosomes 6q, 2p and 14q. One family contributed suggestive LOD scores (LOD 2.63 to 3.03, dominant model) at all these regions, without consistent evidence of a tumour suppressor gene. Haplotypes in nine affected family members mapped the loci to 2p23.2 to p21, 6q14.2 to q23.2 and 14q21.3 to q24.3. No evidence of a highly penetrant locus was found among the remaining families. The heterogeneity LOD (HLOD) at the 6q, 2p and 14q loci in all families was 3.27, 1.66 and 1.24, respectively. The subset of 13 Nordic families showed supportive HLODs at chromosome 6q (ranging from 0.34 to 1.37 by country subset). The 2p and 14q loci overlap with regions indicated by large families in previous GWS studies of breast cancer. Conclusions: Chromosomes 2p, 6q and 14q are candidate sites for genes contributing together to high breast cancer risk. A polygenic model is supported, suggesting the joint effect of genes in contributing to breast cancer risk to be rather common in non-BRCA1/2 families. For genetic counselling it would seem important to resolve the mode of genetic interaction

Fourteen sequence variants that associate with multiple sclerosis discovered by meta-analysis informed by genetic correlations

To access publisher's full text version of this article, please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field or click on the hyperlink at the top of the page marked FilesA meta-analysis of publicly available summary statistics on multiple sclerosis combined with three Nordic multiple sclerosis cohorts (21,079 cases, 371,198 controls) revealed seven sequence variants associating with multiple sclerosis, not reported previously. Using polygenic risk scores based on public summary statistics of variants outside the major histocompatibility complex region we quantified genetic overlap between common autoimmune diseases in Icelanders and identified disease clusters characterized by autoantibody presence/absence. As multiple sclerosis-polygenic risk scores captures the risk of primary biliary cirrhosis and vice versa (P = 1.6 x 10(-7), 4.3 x 10(-9)) we used primary biliary cirrhosis as a proxy-phenotype for multiple sclerosis, the idea being that variants conferring risk of primary biliary cirrhosis have a prior probability of conferring risk of multiple sclerosis. We tested 255 variants forming the primary biliary cirrhosis-polygenic risk score and found seven multiple sclerosis-associating variants not correlated with any previously established multiple sclerosis variants. Most of the variants discovered are close to or within immune-related genes. One is a low-frequency missense variant in TYK2, another is a missense variant in MTHFR that reduces the function of the encoded enzyme affecting methionine metabolism, reported to be dysregulated in multiple sclerosis brain.Swedish Research Council Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation AFA Foundation Swedish Brain Foundatio

Common variants near CAV1 and CAV2 are associated with primary openangle glaucoma.

l e t t e r s We conducted a genome-wide association study for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in 1,263 affected individuals (cases) and 34,877 controls from Iceland. We identified a common sequence variant at 7q31 (rs4236601[A], odds ratio (OR) = 1.36, P = 5.0 × 10 −10 ). We then replicated the association in sample sets of 2,175 POAG cases and 2,064 controls from Sweden, the UK and Australia (combined OR = 1.18, P = 0.0015) and in 299 POAG cases and 580 unaffected controls from Hong Kong and Shantou, China (combined OR = 5.42, P = 0.0021). The risk variant identified here is located close to CAV1 and CAV2, both of which are expressed in the trabecular meshwork and retinal ganglion cells that are involved in the pathogenesis of POAG. Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, affecting approximately 70 million people 1 . It is a chronic degenerative optic neuropathy with progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells and axons resulting in a corresponding thinning of the neuroretinal rim of the optic nerve and a characteristic visual field defect. It is distinct from other forms of optic neuropathy in that the neuro retinal rim of the optic nerve retains its normal pink color as it becomes progressively thinner, leading to an enlarged opticnerve cup. POAG is the most common form of glaucoma. Excluding rare primary juvenile glaucoma with age of onset between 10 and 35 years, POAG is arbitrarily divided into highpressure glaucoma (defined as ≥22 mmHg) and normalpressure glaucoma. POAG is thought to have a multifactorial etiology, with the main risk factors being age, elevated intraocular (IOP) pressure, family history, race, central corneal thickness (CCT), hypertension, diabetes and myopia. The familiality of POAG has been known for decades, and studies have revealed three to ninefold greater risk of POAG in firstdegree relatives of POAG cases than in the population in general 2 . Common variants near CAV1 and CAV2 are associated with primary openangle glaucom

18 Eye Clinic

We conducted a genome-wide association study for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in ,263 affected individuals (cases) and 34,877 controls from Iceland. We identified a common sequence variant at 7q3 (rs423660[A], odds ratio (OR) = .36, P = 5.0 × 0 −0 ). We then replicated the association in sample sets of 2,75 POAG cases and 2,064 controls from Sweden, the UK and Australia (combined OR = .8, P = 0.005) and in 299 POAG cases and 580 unaffected controls from Hong Kong and Shantou, China (combined OR = 5.42, P = 0.002). The risk variant identified here is located close to CAV1 and CAV2, both of which are expressed in the trabecular meshwork and retinal ganglion cells that are involved in the pathogenesis of POAG. Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, affecting approximately 70 million people 1 . It is a chronic degenerative optic neuropathy with progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells and axons resulting in a corresponding thinning of the neuroretinal rim of the optic nerve and a characteristic visual field defect. It is distinct from other forms of optic neuropathy in that the neuro retinal rim of the optic nerve retains its normal pink color as it becomes progressively thinner, leading to an enlarged opticnerve cup. POAG is the most common form of glaucoma. Excluding rare primary juvenile glaucoma with age of onset between 10 and 35 years, POAG is arbitrarily divided into highpressure glaucoma (defined as ≥22 mmHg) and normalpressure glaucoma. POAG is thought to have a multifactorial etiology, with the main risk factors being age, elevated intraocular (IOP) pressure, family history, race, central corneal thickness (CCT), hypertension, diabetes and myopia. The familiality of POAG has been known for decades, and studies have revealed three to ninefold greater risk of POAG in firstdegree relatives of POAG cases than in the population in general 2 . Common variants near CAV1 and CAV2 are associated with primary openangle glaucom