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- Thorgeirsson, T. E., et al.
(author)
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A rare missense mutation in CHRNA4 associates with smoking behavior and its consequences
- 2016
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In: Molecular Psychiatry. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1359-4184 .- 1476-5578. ; 21:5, s. 594-600
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using Icelandic whole-genome sequence data and an imputation approach we searched for rare sequence variants in CHRNA4 and tested them for association with nicotine dependence. We show that carriers of a rare missense variant (allele frequency = 0.24%) within CHRNA4, encoding an R336C substitution, have greater risk of nicotine addiction than non-carriers as assessed by the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (P = 1.2 x 10(-4)). The variant also confers risk of several serious smoking-related diseases previously shown to be associated with the D398N substitution in CHRNA5. We observed odds ratios (ORs) of 1.7-2.3 for lung cancer (LC; P = 4.0 x 10(-4)), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; P = 9.3 x 10(-4)), peripheral artery disease (PAD; P = 0.090) and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs; P = 0.12), and the variant associates strongly with the early-onset forms of LC (OR = 4.49, P = 2.2 x 10(-4)), COPD (OR = 3.22, P = 2.9 x 10(-4)), PAD (OR = 3.47, P = 9.2 x 10(-3)) and AAA (OR = 6.44, P = 6.3 x 10(-3)). Joint analysis of the four smoking-related diseases reveals significant association (P = 6.8 x 10(-5)), particularly for early-onset cases (P = 2.1 x 10(-7)). Our results are in agreement with functional studies showing that the human alpha 4 beta 2 isoform of the channel containing R336C has less sensitivity for its agonists than the wild-type form following nicotine incubation.
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- Honkamaki, J., et al.
(author)
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Age- and gender-specific incidence of new asthma diagnosis from childhood to late adulthood
- 2019
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In: Respiratory Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0954-6111 .- 1532-3064. ; 154, s. 56-62
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Asthma is currently divided into different phenotypes, with age at onset as a relevant differentiating factor. In addition, asthma with onset in adulthood seems to have a poorer prognosis, but studies investigating age-specific incidence of asthma with a wide age span are scarce. Objective: To evaluate incidence of asthma diagnosis at different ages and differences between child- and adult-diagnosed asthma in a large population-based study, with gender-specific analyzes included. Methods: In 2016, a respiratory questionnaire was sent to 8000 randomly selected subjects aged 20-69 years in western Finland. After two reminders, 4173 (52.3%) subjects responded. Incidence rate of asthma was retrospectively estimated based on the reported age of asthma onset. Adult-diagnosed asthma was defined as a physician-diagnosis of asthma made at >= 18 years of age. Results: Among those with physician-diagnosed asthma, altogether, 63.7% of subjects, 58.4% of men and 67.8% of women, reported adult-diagnosed asthma. Incidence of asthma diagnosis was calculated in 10-year age groups and it peaked in young boys (0-9 years) and middle-aged women (40-49 years) and the average incidence rate during the examined period between 1946 and 2015 was 2.2/1000/year. Adult-diagnosed asthma became the dominant phenotype among those with physician-diagnosed asthma by age of 50 years and 38 years in men and women, respectively. Conclusions: Asthma is mainly diagnosed during adulthood and the incidence of asthma diagnosis peaks in middle-aged women. Asthma diagnosed in adulthood should be considered more in clinical practice and management guidelines.
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- Schuyler, Alexander J, et al.
(author)
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Quantitative Binding Assay for Measuring Specific IgG Antibodies to Alpha-Gal Using the Neoglycoprotein Gal-alpha-1,3-Gal-beta-1,4-Glcnac-Human Serum Albumin
- 2015
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In: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Elsevier. - 0091-6749 .- 1097-6825. ; 135:2, s. AB188-AB188
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Tick bites are known to induce IgE production to alpha-gal. Elevated alpha-gal IgG1 compared to natural alpha-gal IgG2 production has been reported in alpha-gal IgE+ subjects. We here report further investigation of the relationship between alpha-gal IgG and both reactions to red meat and exposure to ticks. Methods: IgG from serum was absorbed onto recombinant Protein G-Sepharose and incubated with radiolabeled allergen. The radioactivity of bound allergen was measured using a gamma counter. A control curve was generated in parallel to assign unitage. Additional testing of serum immunoglobulins was performed via ImmunoCAP and nephelometry. Results: Alpha-gal IgG was measured in a Northern Sweden cohort and in subjects presenting to allergy clinics in Virginia with delayed reactions to red meat. Alpha-gal IgG was significantly higher in alpha-gal IgE+ subjects versus alpha-gal IgE- subjects, and longitudinal serology in several alpha-gal IgE+ subjects demonstrates parallel alpha-gal IgE and IgG response trends. Among the alpha-gal IgE+ subjects, alpha-gal IgG was higher in those with alpha-gal IgE:total IgE ratios >25%, but was not related to reported severity to red meat. Compared to the alpha-gal IgE- subjects in Virginia, alpha-gal IgG was lower in the group from Northern Sweden, where alpha-gal IgE-mediated hypersensitivity is absent and ticks are rare. Conclusions: Alpha-gal IgG is strongly related to alpha-gal IgE and is significantly lower in prevalence and titer in subjects without tick exposure. The absence of a relationship between alpha-gal IgG and severity of reactions to red meat suggests that the alpha-gal syndrome may not be a suitable candidate for conventional immunotherapy.
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