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Archives of Disease in Childhood Sep 2020To assess evidence supporting the view that 'low fibre childhood constipation'.
OBJECTIVES
To assess evidence supporting the view that 'low fibre childhood constipation'.
DESIGN
Triangulation integrated three approaches: a systematic review NICE guideline CG99 examining effectiveness of increasing fibre; a cohort study, Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), to assess if constipation (or hard stools) can precede fibre intake at weaning; and a literature search for twin studies to calculate heredity.
SETTING
CG99 examined the literature regarding the effectiveness of increasing fibre. ALSPAC asked parents about: hard stools at 4 weeks, 6 months and 2.5 years and constipation at age 4-10 years, as well as fibre intake at 2 years. Twin studies and data from ALSPAC were pooled to calculate concordance of constipation comparing monozygotic and dizygous twin pairs.
PARTICIPANTS
CG99 reported six randomised controlled trials (RCTs). ALSPAC hard stool data from 6796 children at 4 weeks, 9828 at 6 months and 9452 at 2.5 years plus constipation data on 8401 at 4-10 years were compared with fibre intake at 2 years. Twin studies had 338 and 93 twin pairs and ALSPAC added a further 45.
RESULTS
Increasing fibre did not effectively treat constipation. Hard stools at 4 weeks predated fibre and at 6 months predicted lower fibre intake at 2 years (p=0.003). Heredity explained 59% of constipation.
CONCLUSIONS
RCTs indicate that increasing fibre is not an effective treatment for constipation in children. Hard stools can precede and predict later fibre intake. Genetic inheritance explains most childhood constipation. Extended treatment with stool softeners may improve fibre intake and limit long-term damaging sequelae of constipation.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Constipation; Dietary Fiber; Diseases in Twins; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires; Twins, Dizygotic; Twins, Monozygotic
PubMed: 32156695
DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2019-318082 -
Nutrients Nov 2022This study investigated the contribution of genetic and environmental factors to cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) by comparing disease concordance in monozygotic and...
Comparison of the Concordance of Cardiometabolic Diseases and Physical and Laboratory Examination Findings between Monozygotic and Dizygotic Korean Adult Twins: A Cross-Sectional Study Using KoGES HTS Data.
This study investigated the contribution of genetic and environmental factors to cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) by comparing disease concordance in monozygotic and dizygotic twins. This cross-sectional study analyzed 1294 (1040 monozygotic and 254 dizygotic) twin pairs (>20 years) based on the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study data (2005−2014). The odds ratios of disease concordance were calculated using binomial and multinomial logistic regression models. The occurrence of CMDs (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes, cerebral stroke, transient ischemic attack, and ischemic heart disease) and related physical and laboratory levels did not differ between the monozygotic and dizygotic twin groups. The odds for concordance of the presence/absence of CMDs and the likelihood of incident CMD within monozygotic twins were comparable to that of dizygotic twins. The absolute differences in hemoglobin A1c, insulin, low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure were lower in monozygotic twins than in dizygotic twins. Absolute differences in fasting glucose and diastolic blood pressure did not differ between groups. Although baseline levels of several laboratory parameters related to CMD showed a strong likelihood of heritability in monozygotic twins, CMD phenotype appears to be largely affected by environmental factors.
Topics: Humans; Twins, Dizygotic; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Ischemic Attack, Transient; Cholesterol, HDL; Republic of Korea
PubMed: 36432523
DOI: 10.3390/nu14224834 -
The European Respiratory Journal Apr 2020Early-life antibiotic use has been associated with the development of atopic diseases, but the aetiology remains unclear. To elucidate the aetiology, we used a...
RATIONALE
Early-life antibiotic use has been associated with the development of atopic diseases, but the aetiology remains unclear. To elucidate the aetiology, we used a discordant twin design to control for genetic and environmental confounding.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective cohort study in twins aged 3-10 years from the Netherlands Twin Register (NTR, n=35 365) and a replication study in twins aged 9 years from the Childhood and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden (CATSS, n=7916). Antibiotic use was recorded at age 0-2 years. Doctor-diagnosed asthma and eczema were reported by parents when children were aged 3-12 years in both cohorts. Individuals were included in unmatched analyses and in co-twin control analyses with disease discordant twin pairs.
RESULTS
Early-life antibiotic use was associated with increased risk of asthma (NTR OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.28-1.41; CATSS OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.34-1.56) and eczema (NTR OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.03-1.13; CATSS OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.14) in unmatched analyses. Co-twin analyses in monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs showed similar results for asthma (NTR OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.20-1.98; CATSS OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.28-3.13), but opposing results for eczema in the NTR (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.80-1.25) and the CATSS (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.12-2.49). The risk of asthma increased for antibiotics prescribed for respiratory infections (CATSS OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.34-1.56), but not for antibiotics commonly used for urinary tract/skin infections (CATSS OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.88-1.17).
CONCLUSION
Children exposed to early-life antibiotic use, particularly prescribed for respiratory infections, may be at higher risk of asthma. This risk can still be observed when correcting for genetic and environmental factors. Our results could not elucidate whether the relationship between early-life antibiotic use and eczema is confounded by familial and genetic factors.
Topics: Adolescent; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Asthma; Child; Child, Preschool; Eczema; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Netherlands; Retrospective Studies; Sweden
PubMed: 32139457
DOI: 10.1183/13993003.02021-2019 -
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology... Feb 2020Inter-individual differences in cortisol production and metabolism emerge with age and may be explained by genetic factors.
CONTEXT
Inter-individual differences in cortisol production and metabolism emerge with age and may be explained by genetic factors.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors to inter-individual differences in cortisol production and metabolism throughout adolescence.
DESIGN
Prospective follow-up study of twins.
SETTING
Nationwide register.
PARTICIPANTS
218 mono- and dizygotic twins (N = 109 pairs) born between 1995 amd 1996, recruited from the Netherlands Twin Register. Cortisol metabolites were determined in 213, 169, and 160 urine samples at the ages of 9, 12, and 17, respectively.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The total contribution of genetic factors (broad-sense heritability) and shared and unshared environmental influences to inter-individual differences in cortisol production and activities of 5α-reductase, 5β-reductase, and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases and cytochrome P450 3A4.
RESULTS
For cortisol production rate at the ages of 9, 12, and 17, broad-sense heritability was estimated as 42%, 30%, and 0%, respectively, and the remainder of the variance was explained by unshared environmental factors. For cortisol metabolism indices, the following heritability was observed: for the A-ring reductases (5α-and 5β-reductases), broad-sense heritability increased with age (to >50%), while for the other indices (renal 11β-HSD2, global 11β-HSD, and CYP3A4), the contribution of genetic factors was highest (68%, 18%, and 67%, respectively) at age 12.
CONCLUSIONS
The contribution of genetic factors to inter-individual differences in cortisol production decreased between 12 and 17y, indicative of a predominant role of individual circumstances. For cortisol metabolism, distinct patterns of genetic and environmental influences were observed, with heritability that either increased with age or peaked at age 12y.
Topics: 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; 3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase; Adolescent; Biosynthetic Pathways; Child; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Male; Netherlands; Oxidoreductases; Prospective Studies; Quantitative Trait, Heritable; Registries; Twins, Dizygotic
PubMed: 31608377
DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgz016 -
International Dental Journal Feb 2024The aim of this research was to collate and analyse the data on the oral health knowledge and the related habits of a Hungarian cohort of monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic...
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this research was to collate and analyse the data on the oral health knowledge and the related habits of a Hungarian cohort of monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins using the newly developed World Health Organisation Oral Health Questionnaire for Adults (Annex 7).
METHOD
A total of 15 sets of MZ twins and 14 sets of DZ twins (58 individuals) aged between 18 and 71 years were enrolled in the study. Each participant had to fill out a web-based questionnaire which comprised 23 questions (Google Forms). The data were collated and the oral health/hygiene habits of MZ and DZ twins were compared.
RESULTS
No significant differences were detected between MZ and DZ twins with regards to their daily tooth-cleaning habits or the tooth-cleaning products used by the 2 groups. For instance, when asked how often they clean their teeth, 80% of MZ twins and 71% of DZ twins responded similarly. Further, both groups provided similar responses when questioned about the use of fluoride toothpaste, frequency of dental visits, and dental counselling received as well as a number of other parameters such as snacking of sweets and fear of visiting dentists.
CONCLUSIONS
Our pilot analysis of the questionnaire responses from MZ and DZ twins in Hungary did not indicate any significant differences in their oral care habits in general. Further studies with a large cohort are required to confirm or refute our findings.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Adolescent; Young Adult; Middle Aged; Aged; Twins, Dizygotic; Pilot Projects; Hungary; Oral Health; Habits
PubMed: 37482503
DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2023.06.012 -
Italian Journal of Pediatrics Sep 2022The majority of studies are limited to adverse perinatal outcomes and poor cognitive abilities in the short term in discordant monochorionic twins.
BACKGROUND
The majority of studies are limited to adverse perinatal outcomes and poor cognitive abilities in the short term in discordant monochorionic twins.
METHODS
To determine whether small and large discordant dizygotic twins differ in physical growth and intelligence development and weight and height from birth up to 6 years of age were measured in 34 dizygotic twin pairs with ≥ 20% birth weight discordance. Mental developmental index (MDI) and psychomotor developmental index (PDI) were calculated at 1 year, while the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV (WISC-IV) full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ) was assessed at the age of 6.
RESULTS
The difference in height and weight in each stage differed significantly from birth to 72-months-old (P < 0.05), although there was disappointing catch-up growth in smaller twins. PDI but not MDI at 1 year of age was significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.05), and smaller twins experienced higher psychomotor retardation rates (P < 0.05). Also, the influence of height and weight on PDI was statistically significant (P < 0.05). No significant difference was detected in the WISC-IV full-scale IQ at the age of 6; however, the full-scale IQ may be affected by the history of suffocation and the S/D value (P = 0.011, P = 0.022).
CONCLUSIONS
Intrauterine fetal growth and development lead to birth weight differences in twins and sustain an impact on the children's physical growth in height and weight from birth to preschool age, causing psychomotor developmental differences at 1 year of age. However, the differences in psychomotor development decrease gradually by the age of 6.
Topics: Birth Weight; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Intelligence; Parturition; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Twins, Dizygotic
PubMed: 36064427
DOI: 10.1186/s13052-022-01354-y -
European Journal of Human Genetics :... Feb 2020Insights into individual differences in gene expression and its heritability (h) can help in understanding pathways from DNA to phenotype. We estimated the heritability...
Insights into individual differences in gene expression and its heritability (h) can help in understanding pathways from DNA to phenotype. We estimated the heritability of gene expression of 52,844 genes measured in whole blood in the largest twin RNA-Seq sample to date (1497 individuals including 459 monozygotic twin pairs and 150 dizygotic twin pairs) from classical twin modeling and identity-by-state-based approaches. We estimated for each gene h, composed of cis-heritability (h, the variance explained by single nucleotide polymorphisms in the cis-window of the gene), and trans-heritability (h, the residual variance explained by all other genome-wide variants). Mean h was 0.26, which was significantly higher than heritability estimates earlier found in a microarray-based study using largely overlapping (>60%) RNA samples (mean h = 0.14, p = 6.15 × 10). Mean h was 0.06 and strongly correlated with beta of the top cis expression quantitative loci (eQTL, ρ = 0.76, p < 10) and with estimates from earlier RNA-Seq-based studies. Mean h was 0.20 and correlated with the beta of the corresponding trans-eQTL (ρ = 0.04, p < 1.89 × 10) and was significantly higher for genes involved in cytokine-cytokine interactions (p = 4.22 × 10), many other immune system pathways, and genes identified in genome-wide association studies for various traits including behavioral disorders and cancer. This study provides a thorough characterization of cis- and trans-h estimates of gene expression, which is of value for interpretation of GWAS and gene expression studies.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Female; Gene-Environment Interaction; Genome-Wide Association Study; Genotype; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Quantitative Trait Loci; Quantitative Trait, Heritable; RNA-Seq; Twins, Dizygotic; Twins, Monozygotic
PubMed: 31558840
DOI: 10.1038/s41431-019-0511-5 -
Journal of Diabetes Investigation Jun 2021The association between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in twin pregnancies remains unclear. This study was undertaken to...
Risk factors and adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes for women with dichorionic twin pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus: A retrospective cross-sectional study.
AIMS/INTRODUCTION
The association between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in twin pregnancies remains unclear. This study was undertaken to highlight risk factors for GDM in women with dichorionic (DC) twins, and to determine the association between GDM DC twins and adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in a large homogeneous Taiwanese population.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out on 645 women with DC twins, excluding pregnancies complicated by one or both fetuses with demise (n = 22) or congenital anomalies (n = 9), who gave birth after 28 complete gestational weeks between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2018. Univariable and multiple logistic regression analyses were carried out.
RESULTS
Maternal age >34 years (adjusted odds ratio 2.52; 95% confidence interval 1.25-5.07) and pre-pregnancy body mass index >24.9 kg/m (adjusted odds ratio 2.83, 95% confidence interval 1.47-5.46) were independent risk factors for GDM in women with DC twins. Newborns from women with GDM DC twins were more likely to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (adjusted odds ratio 1.70, 95% confidence interval 1.06-2.72) than newborns from women with non-GDM DC twins. Other pregnancy and neonatal outcomes were similar between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Advanced maternal age and pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity are risk factors for GDM in women with DC twins. Except for a nearly twofold increased risk of neonatal intensive care unit admission of newborns, the pregnancy and neonatal outcomes for women with GDM DC twins are similar to those for women with non-GDM DC twins.
Topics: Adult; Body Mass Index; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes, Gestational; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Logistic Models; Maternal Age; Obesity, Maternal; Odds Ratio; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnancy, Twin; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Taiwan; Twins, Dizygotic
PubMed: 33064935
DOI: 10.1111/jdi.13441 -
Nutrients Sep 2022We explored the genetic and environmental inter-relationships among osteoporosis, fracture, arthritis, and bone mineral density concordance in monozygotic twins compared...
Comparison of the Coincidence of Osteoporosis, Fracture, Arthritis Histories, and DEXA T-Score between Monozygotic and Dizygotic Twins: A Cross-Sectional Study Using KoGES HTS Data.
We explored the genetic and environmental inter-relationships among osteoporosis, fracture, arthritis, and bone mineral density concordance in monozygotic twins compared to those in dizygotic twins. This cross-sectional research assessed data of 1032 monozygotic and 242 dizygotic twin pairs aged >20 years included in the Healthy Twin Study data of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study between 2005 and 2014. Outcomes of interest included illness concordance and absolute differences in dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) T-scores. We found comparable concordances of osteoporosis, fractures, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis between monozygotic and dizygotic twins. Medical histories of osteoporosis, fractures caused by accident or falling, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis were not distinct between monozygotic and dizygotic twins. Accidental fracture occurrence in both monozygotic twins showed significantly lower odds than that in dizygotic twins. Genetic influence on liability to fracture risk might thus be maintained. DEXA T-scores for bone mineral density indicated more comparable tendencies within monozygotic twin pairs than within dizygotic ones, suggesting the relative importance of genetic contribution to bone mineral density. The relative importance of genetic factors in bone mineral density is sustained between monozygotic twins; overt disease expression of osteoporosis, fractures, or arthritis may be affected by environmental factors.
Topics: Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diseases in Twins; Fractures, Bone; Humans; Osteoarthritis; Osteoporosis; Twins, Dizygotic
PubMed: 36145209
DOI: 10.3390/nu14183836 -
Molecular Genetics and Metabolism... Dec 2020FUT8-CDG is a severe multisystem disorder caused by mutations in , encoding the α-1,6-fucosyltransferase. We report on dizygotic twins with FUT8-CDG presenting with...
FUT8-CDG is a severe multisystem disorder caused by mutations in , encoding the α-1,6-fucosyltransferase. We report on dizygotic twins with FUT8-CDG presenting with dysmorphisms, failure to thrive, and respiratory abnormalities. Due to the severe phenotype, oral L-fucose supplementation was started. Glycosylation analysis using mass spectrometry indicated a limited response to fucose therapy while the clinical presentation stabilized. Further research is needed to assess the concept of substrate supplementation in FUT8-CDG.
PubMed: 33312876
DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgmr.2020.100680