Genetic adult lactase persistence is associated with risk of Crohn's Disease in a New Zealand population

Background: Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is an infective agent found in ruminants and milk products, which has been suggested to increase the risk of gastrointestinal inflammation in genetically susceptible hosts. It is hypothesized that lactase persistence facilitates exposure to such milk products increasing the likelihood of adverse outcomes. Individuals either homozygous or heterozygous for the T allele of DNA variant, rs4988235, located 14kb upstream from the LCT locus, are associated with having lactase persistence. The aim of this study was to determine whether lactase persistence as evident by the T allele of rs4988235 is associated with Crohn's Disease (CD) in a New Zealand population. Findings: Individuals homozygous for the T allele (T/T genotype) showed a significantly increased risk of having CD as compared with those homozygous for the C allele (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.03-2.51). Additionally, a significant increase in the frequency of the T allele was observed in CD patients (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.05-1.61, p = 0.013), indicating that the T allele encoding lactase persistence was associated with an increased risk of CD. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that lactase persistence as evident by the presence of the T allele of rs4988235 is associated with risk of CD in this New Zealand Caucasian population

Ny in vitro-analys prövad: Blödningstid fortfarande bästa metod för test av den primära hemostasen

The need is great for a simple, cheap and readily accessible method for the evaluation of primary hemostasis in work-ups at both out-patient clinics and units caring for surgical or intensive care patients. PFA-100 is a recently introduced instrument for in vitro testing of platelet function. We report experiences from Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo of PFA-100 measurements performed on samples from healthy controls and from patients with von Willebrand disease or platelet disorders. It is shown that the PFA-100 system has a high sensitivity for von Willebrands disease, while the sensitivity for hereditary platelet dysfunction is low. In its present design this new device could not replace the template bleeding time as a screening test for primary hemostasis

Serum levels of brominated flame retardants (BFRs : PBDE, HBCD) and influence of dietary factors in a population-based study on Swedish adults

The aim of this study was to investigate associations between serum concentrations of brominated flame retardants and personal characteristics, including diet, in adults participating in a population-based study in Sweden 2010-11. Moreover, observed concentrations were used in a health risk assessment, using published health-based reference values. Serum samples of 170 adult individuals of both sexes were analyzed for 10 PBDE congeners and HBCD by GC-MS. When including concentrations between LOD and LOQ, highest median serum concentration was observed for BDE-153 (1.2 ng/g serum lipid), followed by BDE-209 (0.95 ng/g lipid), BDE-47 (0.49 ng/g lipid) and BDE-100 (0.21 ng/g lipid). Median concentration of HBCD was 0.10 ng/g lipid. A few markedly elevated concentrations of BDE-209, HBCD (77-78 ng/g lipid) and BDE-47 (44 ng/g lipid) were observed. The only statistical significant findings were higher BDE-153 concentrations in men than in women, and positive associations between serum BDE-153 concentrations and consumption of fish (total), beef, mutton and poultry. PBDE concentrations were in accordance with concentrations reported in other European countries but generally lower than those found in North America. Median PBDE serum concentrations observed in adults from Sweden suggest sufficient health protection, when compared with published health-based reference values, although some outliers with high serum concentrations had lower safety margins

Perfluoroalkyl acid levels in first-time mothers in relation to offspring weight gain and growth

We investigated if maternal body burdens of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) at the time of delivery are associated with birth outcome and if early life exposure (in utero/nursing) is associated with early childhood growth and weight gain. Maternal PFAA body burdens were estimated by analysis of serum samples from mothers living in Uppsala County, Sweden (POPUP), sampled three weeks after delivery between 1996 and 2011. Data on child length and weight were collected from medical records and converted into standard deviation scores (SDS). Multiple linear regression models with appropriate covariates were used to analyze associations between maternal PFAA levels and birth outcomes (n=381). After birth Generalized Least Squares models were used to analyze associations between maternal PFAA and child growth (n=200). Inverse associations were found between maternal levels of perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), and birth weight SDS with a change of -0.10 to -0.18 weight SDS for an inter-quartile range (IQR) increase in ng/g PFAA. After birth, weight and length SDS were not significantly associated with maternal PFAA. However, BMI SDS was significantly associated with PFOA, PFNA, and PFHxS at 3 and 4years of age, and with PFOS at 4 and 5years of age. If causal, these associations suggest that PFAA affects fetal and childhood body development in different directions