| 1. |
- Locke, Adam E, et al.
(author)
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Genetic studies of body mass index yield new insights for obesity biology.
- 2015
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In: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 518:7538, s. 197-401
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Obesity is heritable and predisposes to many diseases. To understand the genetic basis of obesity better, here we conduct a genome-wide association study and Metabochip meta-analysis of body mass index (BMI), a measure commonly used to define obesity and assess adiposity, in up to 339,224 individuals. This analysis identifies 97 BMI-associated loci (P < 5 × 10(-8)), 56 of which are novel. Five loci demonstrate clear evidence of several independent association signals, and many loci have significant effects on other metabolic phenotypes. The 97 loci account for ∼2.7% of BMI variation, and genome-wide estimates suggest that common variation accounts for >20% of BMI variation. Pathway analyses provide strong support for a role of the central nervous system in obesity susceptibility and implicate new genes and pathways, including those related to synaptic function, glutamate signalling, insulin secretion/action, energy metabolism, lipid biology and adipogenesis.
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| 3. |
- Shungin, Dmitry, et al.
(author)
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New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.
- 2015
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In: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 518:7538, s. 187-378
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms.
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| 4. |
- Dormandy, J. A., et al.
(author)
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Secondary prevention of macrovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes in the PROactive Study (PROspective pioglitAzone Clinical Trial In macroVascular Events): a randomised controlled trial
- 2005
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In: Lancet. - 1474-547X. ; 366:9493, s. 1279-89
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Patients with type 2 diabetes are at high risk of fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction and stroke. There is indirect evidence that agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) could reduce macrovascular complications. Our aim, therefore, was to ascertain whether pioglitazone reduces macrovascular morbidity and mortality in high-risk patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We did a prospective, randomised controlled trial in 5238 patients with type 2 diabetes who had evidence of macrovascular disease. We recruited patients from primary-care practices and hospitals. We assigned patients to oral pioglitazone titrated from 15 mg to 45 mg (n=2605) or matching placebo (n=2633), to be taken in addition to their glucose-lowering drugs and other medications. Our primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause mortality, non fatal myocardial infarction (including silent myocardial infarction), stroke, acute coronary syndrome, endovascular or surgical intervention in the coronary or leg arteries, and amputation above the ankle. Analysis was by intention to treat. This study is registered as an International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial, number ISRCTN NCT00174993. FINDINGS: Two patients were lost to follow-up, but were included in analyses. The average time of observation was 34.5 months. 514 of 2605 patients in the pioglitazone group and 572 of 2633 patients in the placebo group had at least one event in the primary composite endpoint (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.80-1.02, p=0.095). The main secondary endpoint was the composite of all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and stroke. 301 patients in the pioglitazone group and 358 in the placebo group reached this endpoint (0.84, 0.72-0.98, p=0.027). Overall safety and tolerability was good with no change in the safety profile of pioglitazone identified. 6% (149 of 2065) and 4% (108 of 2633) of those in the pioglitazone and placebo groups, respectively, were admitted to hospital with heart failure; mortality rates from heart failure did not differ between groups. INTERPRETATION: Pioglitazone reduces the composite of all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes who have a high risk of macrovascular events.
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| 5. |
- Martinello, K. A., et al.
(author)
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Hypothermia is not therapeutic in a neonatal piglet model of inflammation-sensitized hypoxia-ischemia
- 2022
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In: Pediatric Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0031-3998 .- 1530-0447. ; 91:6, s. 1416-1427
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Perinatal inflammation combined with hypoxia-ischemia (HO exacerbates injury in the developing brain. Therapeutic hypothermia (HT) is standard care for neonatal encephalopathy; however, its benefit in inflammation-sensitized HI (IS-HI) is unknown. METHODS: Twelve newborn piglets received a 2 mu g/kg bolus and 1 mu g/kg/h infusion over 52 h of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). HI was induced 4 h after LPS bolus. After HI, piglets were randomized to HT (33.5 degrees C 1-25 h after HI, n = 6) or normothermia (NT, n = 6). Amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) was recorded and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was acquired at 24 and 48 h. At 48 h, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive brain cell death, microglial activation/proliferation, astrogliosis, and cleaved caspase-3 (CC3) were quantified. Hematology and plasma cytokines were serially measured. RESULTS: Two HT piglets died. aEEG recovery, thalamic and white matter MRS lactate/N-acetylaspartate, and TUNEL-positive cell death were similar between groups. HT increased microglial activation in the caudate, but had no other effect on glial activation/ proliferation. HT reduced CC3 overall. HT suppressed platelet count and attenuated leukocytosis. Cytokine profile was unchanged by HT. CONCLUSIONS: We did not observe protection with HT in this piglet IS-HI model based on aEEG, MRS, and immunohistochemistry. immunosuppressive effects of HT and countering neuroinflammation by LPS may contribute to the observed lack of HT efficacy. Other immunomodulatory strategies may be more effective in IS-HI.
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| 6. |
- Olson, Linus, et al.
(author)
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Comparison of Three Hypothermic Target Temperatures for the Treatment of Hypoxic Ischemia : MRNA Level Responses of Eight Genes in the Piglet Brain
- 2013
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In: Translational Stroke Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1868-4483 .- 1868-601X. ; 4:2, s. 248-257
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hypothermia can reduce neurodevelopmental disabilities in asphyxiated newborn infants. However, the optimal cooling temperature for neuroprotection is not well defined. We studied the effects of transient piglet brain hypoxic ischemia (HI) on transcriptional activity of eight genes and if mRNA level alterations could be counteracted by whole body cooling to 35, 33. 5 or 30 °C. BDNF mRNA was globally upregulated by the insult, and none of the cooling temperatures counteracted this change. In contrast, MANF mRNA was downregulated, and these changes were modestly counteracted in different brain regions by hypothermic treatment at 33. 5 °C, while 30 °C aggravated the MANF mRNA loss. MAP2 mRNA was markedly downregulated in all brain regions except striatum, and cooling to 33. 5 °C modestly counteract this downregulation in the cortex cerebri. There was a tendency for GFAP mRNA levels in core, but not mantle regions to be downregulated and for these changes to be modestly counteracted by cooling to 33. 5 or 35 °C. Cooling to 30 °C caused global GFAP mRNA decrease. HSP70 mRNA tended to become upregulated by HI and to be more pronounced in cortex and CA1 of hippocampus during cooling to 33. 5 °C. We conclude that HI causes alterations of mRNA levels of many genes in superficial and deep piglet brain areas. Some of these changes may be beneficial, others detrimental, and lowering body temperature partly counteracts some, but not all changes. There may be general differences between core and mantle regions, as well as between the different cooling temperatures for protection. Comparing the three studied temperatures, cooling to 33. 5 °C, appears to provide the best cooling temperature compromise.
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| 10. |
- Conway, Patrick L. J., et al.
(author)
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Thermodynamic modelling to predict phase stability in BCC + B2 Al–Ti–Co–Ni–Fe–Cr high entropy alloys
- 2022
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In: Materials Chemistry and Physics. - : Elsevier. - 0254-0584 .- 1879-3312. ; 276
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper examines the potential of thermodynamic modelling as a simple and inexpensive means for assessing phase stability in a series of non-equiatomic high entropy alloys and compares with CALPHAD calculations to demonstrate an appropriate level of simplifying assumptions. The modelling was motivated by alloys from the Al–Ti–Co–Ni–Fe–Cr system, which were produced by iteratively following the natural compositional segregation of the two-phase BCC + B2 microstructure present in a Al2TiCoNiFeCr alloy after casting and heat treatment. This produced a range of multicomponent B2-type alloys with different volume fractions of a BCC secondary phase. The solubility limits and traditional empirical thermodynamic driving forces for phase stability were investigated to explain the formation of the two phases. Limitations of prior semi-empirical models are highlighted, with advancements demonstrated by accounting for contributions from the effect of ordering on configurational entropy, the difference in enthalpy from intermetallic compounds, and thermal influences on both entropy and enthalpy. The new models are compared against the current leading thermodynamic modelling approach, CALPHAD, with excellent correlation. This work outlines a methodology to predict and design phase constitution in future high-performance BCC + B2 alloys and, more generally, it demonstrates the value of models with temperature-dependent thermodynamic quantities for exploring new, complex compositional regions.
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