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Journal of Clinical Medicine Apr 2024: Lipids influence brain function and mental health. Understanding the role of apolipoproteins in affective disorders could provide valuable insights and potentially...
: Lipids influence brain function and mental health. Understanding the role of apolipoproteins in affective disorders could provide valuable insights and potentially pave the way for novel therapeutic approaches. We examined the apolipoprotein E genotype and ApoE-levels, lipid profiles, and the correlation with cognition in 204 monozygotic (MZ) twins with unipolar or bipolar disorder in remission or partial remission (affected, AT), their unaffected co-twins (high-risk, HR), and twins with no personal or family history of affective disorder (low-risk, LR). The APOE genotype was not associated with affective disorders. No significant group differences in ApoE levels were found between the three risk groups. Post hoc analysis group-wise comparisons showed higher ApoE levels in the AT than HR twins and in the concordant AT twin pairs relative to the discordant twin pairs. Within the discordant twin pairs, higher ApoE levels were observed in the affected twins (AT = 39.4 mg/L vs. HR = 36.8 mg/L, = 0.037). The present study could benefit from a larger sample size. We did not assess dietary habits. The results did not support our main hypothesis. However, exploratory post hoc analysis suggests a role for plasma ApoE and triglycerides in affective disorders. Future research is needed.
PubMed: 38673634
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13082361 -
PloS One 2024Neighbourhood deprivation has been found to be associated with many health conditions, but its association with low back pain (LBP) and arthritis is unclear. This study...
OBJECTIVE
Neighbourhood deprivation has been found to be associated with many health conditions, but its association with low back pain (LBP) and arthritis is unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between neighbourhood deprivation with LBP and arthritis, and its potential interaction with individual socioeconomic status (SES) on these outcomes.
METHODS
Monozygotic (MZ) twins from the Washington State Twin Registry were used to control for genetic and common environmental factors that could otherwise confound the purported relationship. Multilevel models were employed to examine the association between neighbourhood deprivation as well as individual-level SES with LBP/arthritis, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and residence rurality.
RESULTS
There were 6,380 individuals in the LBP sample and 2,030 individuals in the arthritis sample. Neighbourhood deprivation was not associated with LBP (P = 0.26) or arthritis (P = 0.61), and neither was its interaction with individual-level SES. People without a bachelor's degree were more likely to report LBP (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.26-1.65) or both LBP and arthritis (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.14-2.45) than those with a bachelor's degree, but not for arthritis alone (P = 0.17). Household income was not significantly associated with LBP (P = 0.16) or arthritis (p = 0.23) independent of age, sex, and BMI.
CONCLUSION
Our study did not find significant associations between neighbourhood deprivation and the presence of LBP or arthritis. More research using multilevel modelling to investigate neighbourhood effects on LBP and arthritis is recommended.
Topics: Humans; Low Back Pain; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Adult; Arthritis; Residence Characteristics; Twins, Monozygotic; Social Class; Washington; Aged
PubMed: 38669221
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298356 -
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2024This study examined brain functional connectivity (FC) changes associated with possible anomalous interactions between sensorily isolated monozygotic (MZ) twins. Brain...
This study examined brain functional connectivity (FC) changes associated with possible anomalous interactions between sensorily isolated monozygotic (MZ) twins. Brain FC was estimated using the Steady State Visual Evoked Potential-Event Related Partial Coherence (SSVEP-ERPC) methodology. Five twin pairs served twice as participants, with an average interval between sessions of 67 days. In each recording session, one twin, the Sender, viewed a randomized set of 50 general images and 50 personally relevant images, while the other twin, the Receiver, viewed a static personally relevant image for the entire duration of the session. Images appeared on the Sender screen for 1.0 s, with the interval between successive images varied randomly between 4.0 and 8.0 s. Receiver FC changes were calculated based on the appearance times of the images as viewed by the Sender. It was hypothesized that anomalous interactions would be indicated by statistically significant Receiver FC changes when those changes are determined using the Sender image appearance times. For each twin serving as Receiver, FC components were separately analyzed for the 50 general and the 50 personal images, yielding 38 observations (19 twin pairs by 2 conditions). The hypothesis was confirmed in that 11 of the 38 observations yielded statistically significant Receiver FC increases or decreases at the < 0.01 level only when trials were synchronized to the Sender image appearance times. Overall, this effect was significant at the = 4 × 10 Df = 175. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting statistically significant FC changes indicative of anomalous interactions between two sensorily isolated individuals.
PubMed: 38660011
DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1388049 -
Clinical Kidney Journal Apr 2024Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is characterized by diverse clinicopathological phenotypes. Herein we present a follow-up study of previously reported identical twin...
Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is characterized by diverse clinicopathological phenotypes. Herein we present a follow-up study of previously reported identical twin sisters with IgAN. The older sister exhibited more severe kidney histopathology and proteinuria and a lower birthweight than did her younger sister, and only the older sister experienced two childbirths. These raised concerns regarding her kidney outcomes. However, with timely multidisciplinary treatments, the older sister's kidney function remained preserved after 20 years of IgAN history. Our findings indicate the significant contribution of environmental/epigenetic factors to IgAN progression and the need for tailored medical care corresponding to life events.
PubMed: 38633839
DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfae073 -
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental... 2024The decline in muscle strength and function with aging is well recognized, but remains poorly characterized at the molecular level. Here, we report the epigenetic...
The decline in muscle strength and function with aging is well recognized, but remains poorly characterized at the molecular level. Here, we report the epigenetic relationship between genome-wide DNA methylation and handgrip strength (HGS) among Chinese monozygotic (MZ) twins. DNA methylation (DNAm) profiling was conducted in whole blood samples through Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing method. Generalized estimating equation was applied to regress the DNAm of each CpG with HGS. The Genomic Regions Enrichment of Annotations Tool was used to perform enrichment analysis. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were detected using . Causal inference was performed using Inference about Causation through Examination of Familial Confounding method. Finally, we validated candidate CpGs in community residents. We identified 25 CpGs reaching genome-wide significance level. These CpGs located in 9 genes, especially , , and . Many enriched terms highlighted calcium channels, neuromuscular junctions, and skeletal muscle organ development. We identified 21 DMRs of HGS, with several DMRs within , , , and . Causal inference indicated that the DNAm of 16 top CpGs within , , , , and might influence HGS, while HGS influenced DNAm at two CpGs within and . In validation analysis, methylation levels of six CpGs mapped to and one CpG mapped to were negatively associated with HGS weakness in community population. Our study identified multiple DNAm variants potentially related to HGS, especially CpGs within and . These findings provide new clues to the epigenetic modification underlying muscle strength decline.
PubMed: 38633108
DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1378680 -
Consortium Psychiatricum Dec 2023We have described a clinical case of psychotic disorder induced by synthetic cathinones in one drug-addicted monozygotic twin. This clinical case is unique, because it...
We have described a clinical case of psychotic disorder induced by synthetic cathinones in one drug-addicted monozygotic twin. This clinical case is unique, because it offers the opportunity to observe many features of the singularity of the dependence syndrome in twin brothers: drug choice; motivation to use drugs; and the development of multiple, long-lasting psychoses in one of the brothers. We pursued a twelve-month follow-up of this case. The case substantiates the paucity of a fundamental understanding of mental disorders and highlights the importance of further research into the clinical features of drug-induced psychoses, especially those induced by novel psychoactive substances such as synthetic cathinones.
PubMed: 38618640
DOI: 10.17816/CP13619 -
ELife Apr 2024Human fetal development has been associated with brain health at later stages. It is unknown whether growth in utero, as indexed by birth weight (BW), relates...
Human fetal development has been associated with brain health at later stages. It is unknown whether growth in utero, as indexed by birth weight (BW), relates consistently to lifespan brain characteristics and changes, and to what extent these influences are of a genetic or environmental nature. Here we show remarkably stable and lifelong positive associations between BW and cortical surface area and volume across and within developmental, aging and lifespan longitudinal samples (N = 5794, 4-82 y of age, w/386 monozygotic twins, followed for up to 8.3 y w/12,088 brain MRIs). In contrast, no consistent effect of BW on brain changes was observed. Partly environmental effects were indicated by analysis of twin BW discordance. In conclusion, the influence of prenatal growth on cortical topography is stable and reliable through the lifespan. This early-life factor appears to influence the brain by association of brain reserve, rather than brain maintenance. Thus, fetal influences appear omnipresent in the spacetime of the human brain throughout the human lifespan. Optimizing fetal growth may increase brain reserve for life, also in aging.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Longevity; Fetus; Brain; Aging; Birth Weight
PubMed: 38602745
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.86812 -
Journal of Clinical Immunology Apr 2024
Topics: Humans; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Hodgkin Disease; Immunotherapy; T-Lymphocytes; Twins, Monozygotic; Cation Transport Proteins
PubMed: 38578340
DOI: 10.1007/s10875-024-01690-0 -
EBioMedicine May 2024Type 2 diabetes (T2D) susceptibility is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Previous findings suggest DNA methylation as a potential mechanism in T2D...
BACKGROUND
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) susceptibility is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Previous findings suggest DNA methylation as a potential mechanism in T2D pathogenesis and progression.
METHODS
We profiled DNA methylation in 248 blood samples from participants of European ancestry from 7 twin cohorts using a methylation sequencing platform targeting regulatory genomic regions encompassing 2,048,698 CpG sites.
FINDINGS
We find and replicate 3 previously unreported T2D differentially methylated CpG positions (T2D-DMPs) at FDR 5% in RGL3, NGB and OTX2, and 20 signals at FDR 25%, of which 14 replicated. Integrating genetic variation and T2D-discordant monozygotic twin analyses, we identify both genetic-based and genetic-independent T2D-DMPs. The signals annotate to genes with established GWAS and EWAS links to T2D and its complications, including blood pressure (RGL3) and eye disease (OTX2).
INTERPRETATION
The results help to improve our understanding of T2D disease pathogenesis and progression and may provide biomarkers for its complications.
FUNDING
Funding acknowledgements for each cohort can be found in the Supplementary Note.
Topics: Humans; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; DNA Methylation; CpG Islands; Female; Male; Genome-Wide Association Study; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Middle Aged; Epigenesis, Genetic; Otx Transcription Factors; Diabetes Complications; Gene Expression Profiling
PubMed: 38574408
DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105096 -
JAMA Psychiatry Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Male; Female; Diseases in Twins; Adult; Twins, Monozygotic; Twins, Dizygotic; Genetic Predisposition to Disease
PubMed: 38568562
DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.0299