Associations between glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies,oxidative stress markers,and cognitive capacity in adolescents who stutter

In this study, we amid to evaluate the correlation between the change in the expressed levels of anti-GAD antibodies titers, oxidative stress markers, cytokines markers, and cognitive capacity in adolescents with mild stuttering. Eighty participants (60 male/20 female) with the age range of 10–18 years with moderate stutteringparticipated in this study. To assess the stuttering and cognitive function, stutteringseverity instrument (SSI-4; 4th edit.)and the LOTCA-7 scores assessment were applied respectively in all subjects. In addition, serum GAD antibodies, cytokines like TNF-α, CRP,and IL-6 withtotal antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide as oxidative stress markers were estimated using calorimetry and immunoassay techniques.The results showed that good cognitive capacity was reported in about 56.25 % of the study population (n = 45) with a 117.52 ± 6.3 mean LOTCA-7 score. However, abnormal cognitive function was identified in 43.75 % of the study population (n = 35); they were categorized into moderate (score 62–92, n = 35), and poor (score 31–62; n = 10). There were significant associations between cognitive capacity reported and all biomarkers. The expression of GAD antibodies is significantly associated with the degree of cognitive capacity among students with stuttering. Significant association with the reduction (P = 0.01) in LOTCA-7 score domains, particularly orientation, thinking operations, attention, and concentration among students with variable cognitive capacity compared to controls. In addition, the expressed higher GAD antibodies in students with moderate and poor cognitive capacity showed to be significantly correlated with both elevated concentrations of cytokines; TNF-α, CRP, and IL-6, and the reduction of TAC and nitric oxide (NO) respectively. This study concludes that abnormality of cognitive capacity showed to be associated with higher expression of GAD antibodies, cytokines, and oxidative stress in school students with moderate stuttering.     

Stunting,IQ, and final school attainment in the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey birth cohort

School attainment is an important aspect of human capital, and a key determinant of long-term health and well-being. Early life deprivation and poor nutritional status are well known predictors of school entry and progression. We examine the persistence of early life influences and subsequent socioeconomic disadvantage (SED) across the multiple school continuation decisions that lead to final school attainment. Using data from a Philippine birth cohort followed for 35 years, we model 6 continuation decisions: Did not complete elementary school, elementary graduate only (completed grade 6), some secondary schooling, high school graduate, some postsecondary schooling, and college graduate, as well as total years of schooling. We estimate the association of school attainment with early life length for age Z-score (LAZ at 2 years of age) and cognitive development (IQ) as well as underlying indicators of SED and other family influences through early adulthood. The analysis sample includes >1900 participants in the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey. Females completed, on average, one year more schooling than males, and twice as many females as males were college graduates (29.1 vs 15.0 %). LAZ and one standard deviation of IQ were each independently associated with 0.4 more years of attained schooling. A path model demonstrated strong direct associations of SED with years of schooling as well as indirect associations through LAZ and IQ. Sequential logits used to estimate continuing education decisions show persistent associations of early life LAZ and IQ and schooling even after accounting for changing SED of households over the schooling life course. Filipino parents had high but often unmet educational aspirations for their children because of the child’s loss of interest in school and perceived financial barriers. Results further emphasize the importance of early life SED as a key risk factor for suboptimal school attainment.     

Screening for obesity in the offspring of first-cousin consanguineous couples: A Phase-I study in Saudi Arabia

Consanguineous or cousin marriages are very common in Saudi Arabia. However, owing to limited studies and insufficient knowledge about genetic diseases/disorders, many couples are unaware of the increased health risks for their offspring. Among the inherited and complex diseases from parents’ consanguinity, obesity is common; therefore, we examined the prevalence of obesity in the offspring of first-cousin consanguineous couples in Saudi Arabia. In this questionnaire-based study, 657 individuals (mean age = 18.7 ± 10.2 years; age range = 2–65 years) who were residing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia participated. Among them, almost 90% were native Saudis. Participants mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.5 ± 9.1 kg/m2. Sex- stratified demographic details confirmed a significant association between age and BMI (p < .001). We confirmed that adolescents and adults were more prone to develop obesity. Adults and non-Saudi participants were three times more likely to develop obesity if they had first-cousin consanguineous parents than those who did not. Of the 30% of participants who were obese, 100 will be selected for Phase II, in which we plan to perform exome sequencing.     

Genetic contributions to the association between height and intelligence: Evidence from Dutch twin data from childhood to middle age

A positive association between intelligence (IQ) and height has been reported previously. It is generally assumed that this association reflects the effect of childhood environment on IQ, but there is still little research supporting directly this hypothesis. We studied the association between height and IQ in 209 Dutch twin pairs at the ages of 5, 7, 10 and 12 years, 208 twin pairs at 16 and 18 years of age and 567 twin pairs and their siblings in adulthood. The heritability of height was high in all cohorts and across all ages (a² = 0.93 − 0.96). In adulthood, heritability was also high for full-scale IQ (FSIQ: a² = 0.83–0.84) and somewhat lower for verbal IQ (VIQ: a² = 0.66–0.84). In early childhood, the heritability was lower, and common environmental factors had a substantial effect on FSIQ and VIQ. A positive association of height and IQ was found in early childhood and adolescence. In adulthood, a correlation was found between height and FSIQ in young adulthood and between height and VIQ in middle age. All correlations could be ascribed to genetic factors influencing both height and IQ. Thus, these results show that the association between height and IQ should not be directly regarded as evidence for childhood living conditions affecting IQ, but the effect of genetic factors affecting independently or interacting with environmental factors should be considered as well.     

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection among an Afro-descendant community in Brazil

Furnas dos Dionísios is an Afro-Brazilian black community whose descendants were mainly fugitive slaves that established themselves in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil. The population is comprised mainly of low socioeconomic individuals who are engaged in agricultural activities. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis B (HB) and its correlation with epidemiological data obtained from the community. The studied population totaled 260 individuals with ages varying from 1 to 79 years (median 20). One hundred thirty-three (51.2%) were females and 127 (48.8%) were males. A high prevalence for anti-HBc was observed (42.7%), with present infection detected in 9.2% of the subjects who were also HB surface antigens (HBs Ag) positive; 27.3% were anti-HBc and anti-HBs reactive, and 6.2% had anti-HBc as only marker. The prevalence for anti-HBc was proportional to age, reaching its highest peak in age categories greater than 50. No serological marker was detected in children under the age of 2 years, however anti-HBc was present in 12 subjects with ages between 2 and 14 years, of these 8 (7.4%) were HBsAg positive. Among individuals over the age of 15 years, 99 were anti-HBc reactive, of these 16 (10.5%) were also HBsAg positive, thus suggesting an increased prevalence of HBV carriers among children and adolescents. The risk factors observed in this community that were significantly associated with anti-HBc positivity were age (over 20 years) and having an anti-HBc positive mother. Both HBeAg and anti-HBe were detected in 44.4% of the samples tested. HBsAg subtypes found in the studied population were adw2 (77.7%) and ayw2 (23.3%). While intrafamilial transmission was most likely responsible for HBV infection among children, other routes such as sexual contact might be considered for individuals with ages over 15 years.     

Evidence for a major gene influence on persistent developmental stuttering

Stuttering is a complex developmental speech disorder of unknown etiology. There is a substantial aggregation of stuttering in families, suggesting a genetic component to the disorder. However, the exact mode of transmission is still unknown. An earlier study of 56 multigenerational pedigrees ascertained through single adult probands (38 males and 18 females) found that biological relatives of persistent developmental stutterers have an approximately 10-fold higher risk than in the general population; risk is higher for male relatives, and proband's sex does not affect recurrence and relative risks. In the present paper we conduct a complex segregation analysis of the same data, using the logistic regression model of the SAGE software. Based on the comparisons of model likelihoods, the Mendelian model was selected over all other nongenetic models and the general transmission model. This model was further refined into the most parsimonious model, which shows an autosomal dominant major gene effect influenced by two covariates: sex and affection status of parents. With this model applied to 47 informative multiplex pedigrees, a power calculation based on linkage simulation produced an average lod score of 6.8 for 10-cM density genome scan markers. These results give impetus for a genomewide linkage analysis of susceptibility to persistent developmental stuttering.     

Identification of an autosomal recessive stuttering locus on chromosome 3q13.2–3q13.33

Stuttering is a common speech disorder with substantial genetic contributions. To better understand the genetic factors involved in stuttering, we performed a genome-wide linkage study in a newly-ascertained consanguineous stuttering family from Pakistan. A linkage scan in this family using parametric linkage analysis revealed significant linkage only on chromosome 3q13.2–3q13.33, with a maximum two-point LOD score of 4.23 under an autosomal recessive model of inheritance.     

The frequencies of Kidd blood group antigens and phenotypes among Saudi blood donors in Southwestern Saudi Arabia

BackgroundThe patients who require transfusion are prevalent in the Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. Therefore, it is essential to know the frequency of blood group antigens in such a population. The Kidd blood group system (JK) has two antithetical antigens, Jk^a and Jk^b. Antibodies to these antigens may result in delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions. The present study investigated the frequencies of Jk^a and Jk^b and the phenotypes among Saudi blood donors living in the Jazan Province.MethodsOne hundred and forty-three samples from anonymous Saudi volunteer blood donors in the Jazan Province were serotype to detect Jk^a and Jk^b using gel card technology and determine the phenotypes of the JK blood group system.ResultsThe prevalence of Jk^a and Jk^b antigens were 90.64% (n = 126) and 69.40% (n = 93), respectively. The JK phenotypes were 34.96% Jk(a + b ? ) (n = 51), 12.59% Jk(a ? b + ) (n = 18), 52.45% Jk(a + b + ) (n = 75), and 0% Jk(a ? b ? ). The frequencies of the JK phenotypes in the Jazan population were significantly different from those in the Asian population (P < 0.05).ConclusionsWe reported the frequencies of the Jk^a and Jk^b antigens and the distribution of the JK phenotypes in a group of Saudi blood donors in the Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. The phenotype Jk(a + b + ) was the most common among the study population. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the significance of identifying the frequency of JK antigens and phenotypes in the provinces of Saudi Arabia.     

Lifetime exposure to environmental lead and children's intelligence at 11-13 years: the Port Pirie cohort study.

OBJECTIVE--To examine the association between environmental exposure to lead and children''s intelligence at age 11-13 years, and to assess the implications of exposure in the first seven years of life for later childhood development. DESIGN--Prospective cohort study. SUBJECTS--375 children born in or around the lead smelting town of Port Pirie, Australia, between 1979 and 1982. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Children''s intelligence quotient (IQ) measured at 11-13 years of age. RESULTS--IQ was inversely associated with both antenatal and postnatal blood lead concentrations. Verbal, performance, and full scale IQ were inversely related to blood lead concentration with no apparent threshold. Multivariate analyses indicated that after adjustment for a wide range of confounders, the postnatal blood lead concentrations (particularly within the age range 15 months to 7 years) exhibited inverse associations with IQ. Strong associations with IQ were observed for lifetime average blood lead concentrations at various ages. The expected mean full scale IQ declined by 3.0 points (95% confidence interval 0.07 to 5.93) for an increase in lifetime average blood lead concentration from 0.48 to 0.96 mumol/l (10 to 20 micrograms/dl). CONCLUSION--Exposure to environmental lead during the first seven years of life is associated with cognitive deficits that seem to persist into later childhood.     

Deleterious effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism in vitiligo patients

Vitiligo is a rare skin condition caused by an immune reaction. Vitiligo can occur anywhere on the body. This proposed explanation of vitiligo makes it clear that vitiligo is not linked to any other autoimmune diseases. The polymorphisms of some genes present in the immune system play a major function in susceptibility of vitiligo. Meta-analysis studies have shown that the Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion and deletion polymorphism is closely associated with vitiligo in many ethnicities. The connection between ACE gene and vitiligo is connected through the auto immune diseases and there are no genetic polymorphism studies have been carried out with ACE gene with vitiligo in the Saudi population. Previous studies show that vitiligo patients are more likely to also have an autoimmune disorder. The current study aims to investigate the I/D polymorphism in the ACE gene with diagnosed patients with vitiligo subjects. This is a case-control study carried out in the Saudi population with 100 vitiligo cases and 100 healthy controls. Genotyping was performed through polymerase chain reaction followed by 3% agarose gel electrophoresis. Genotype and allele frequencies were carried out with genetic mode of inheritances. Statistical analysis was performed considering p < 0.05 as significant association. There was a substantial difference in allele frequency distribution between vitiligo patients and healthy controls (OR-1.70 (95%CI: 1.14–2.53); p = 0.008). Additionally, DD genotype (OR-4.71 (95%CI: 1.42–15.61); p = 0.008) and recessive model (OR-2.66 (95%CI: 1.41–5.02); p = 0.002) was strongly associated. Both dominant and co-dominant showed the negative association (p > 0.05) when compared between the vitiligo cases and controls. The correlation between age and genotyping was performed with Anova analysis and current study results confirmed the substantial link between 11 and 20 years (p = 0.01) and 31–40 years (p = 0.04) with the defined age groups. In conclusion, in Saudi populations, the ACE gene I/D polymorphism was identified as being correlated with vitiligo. This is the first study in Saudi Arabia to report the risk factors of vitiligo with the ACE gene polymorphism.     

A Longitudinal Twin Study of the Direction of Effects between ADHD Symptoms and IQ

While the negative association between ADHD symptoms and IQ is well documented, our knowledge about the direction and aetiology of this association is limited. Here, we examine the association of ADHD symptoms with verbal and performance IQ longitudinally in a population-based sample of twins. In a population-based sample of 4,771 twin pairs, DSM-IV ADHD symptoms were obtained from the Conners’ Parent Rating Scale-Revised. Verbal (vocabulary) and performance (Raven’s Progressive Matrices) IQ were assessed online. ADHD symptom ratings and IQ scores were obtained at ages 12, 14 and 16 years. Making use of the genetic sensitivity and time-ordered nature of our data, we use a cross-lagged model to examine the direction of effects, while modelling the aetiologies of the association between ADHD symptoms with vocabulary and Raven’s scores over time. Although time-specific aetiological influences emerged for each trait at ages 14 and 16 years, the aetiological factors involved in the association between ADHD symptoms and IQ were stable over time. ADHD symptoms and IQ scores significantly predicted each other over time. ADHD symptoms at age 12 years were a significantly stronger predictor of vocabulary and Raven’s scores at age 14 years than vice versa, whereas no differential predictive effects emerged from age 14 to 16 years. The results suggest that ADHD symptoms may put adolescents at risk for decreased IQ scores. Persistent genetic influences seem to underlie the association of ADHD symptoms and IQ over time. Early intervention is likely to be key to reducing ADHD symptoms and the associated risk for lower IQ.     

Investigating prevalence of dental anomalies in Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia through digital orthopantomogram

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of dental anomalies in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia using the digital Orthopantomography (OPG).MethodsA retrospective radiographic study was performed in which digital OPGs of 1189 subjects, ages ranging between 7 and 65 years were reviewed, and 1104 fulfilled inclusion criteria. Statistical analysis was performed. The OPGs were reviewed for congenitally missing teeth, impactions, ectopic eruption, supernumerary teeth, odontomas, dilacerations, taurodontism, dens in dente, gemination and fusion.ResultsOPGs of 1104 patients with mean age 35.32 ± 16.63 were included. The total prevalence of developmental anomalies in this study was 36.3% (401/1104). Male and female subjects with anomalies were 133 (33.2%) and 268 (66.8%) respectively. The prevalence of dilacerated teeth 300 (30.2%), congenitally missing teeth was 246 (24.7%), supernumerary teeth 18 (1.8%), talon cusp and taurodontism were seen in one patient each 1 (0.1%). Of these, a total of 15 (1.5%) anomalies were noted in pediatric patients.ConclusionsDilaceration was the most prevalent anomaly (30.2%) in the studied sample followed by congenitally missing teeth (23.4%). Talon cusp, concrescence/fusion, and taurodontism were the least prevalent anomalies.     

松嫩平原两个趋异类型羊草无性系种群特征的比较研究

松嫩平原上羊草(Leymus chinensis(Tzvel.)Tzvel.)有两个趋异类型:灰绿型和黄绿型。两个类型羊草的分蘖节一般均存活2～4年,最多可存活5年;根茎一般存活2～3年,最多可存活4年。两个类型无性系种群的分蘖株均为增长型的年龄结构类型。种群根茎的累积长度,灰绿型为18035cm/m~2,黄绿型为21218cm/m~2,其中,均以1、2龄占绝对比重。两个类型均以1龄分蘖株生产力最大,至3龄分蘖株明显减小;各龄根茎的生物量随着年龄的增加呈直线下降;1龄根茎的营养繁殖力甚强,至8月中旬所形成的芽数均已远远多于地上全部分蘖株数;2龄根茎尚存在较小的营养繁殖潜力,3、4龄根茎均已丧失了营养繁殖力。两个类型羊草无性系种群都是通过根茎芽补充更新。     

Children Domestic Accidents Profile in Jazan Region,a call for new policies to improve safety of home environment

High-frequency home accidents draw more attention to the protection of our home environment. WHO has reported that home deaths were among the first 20 causes of death in the 0–14 age group worldwide in 2012. This innovative research was designed to examine children under 15 years of age at home, in 2018 in the Jazan area of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected retrospectively from 19 hospitals in the Jazan area of southern Saudi Arabia during the period from September to December 2019. Data showed that, for the first time, the incidence rate of child home incidents in the Jazan area was 7.4 per 100 children in 2018. Falling, burning, swallowing foreign bodies, and domestic violence were among the most common types of injuries recorded. Home safety continued to be one of the main public health issues in the area with 29,812 home injuries in 1 year, 36.8% bone fractures, 31.6% body distortions, 9.2% distortion fractures and 5.3% child impairment. This study is a crucial step towards addressing the severity of home accidents in Saudi Arabia; troubling figures need further analysis, regular registry, informed policies and well-planned action to avoid these types of accidents.     

Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factors among Employees and Their Families of a Saudi University: An Epidemiological Study

ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence of noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk factors among Saudi university employees and their families; to estimate the cardiovascular risk (CVR) amongst the study population in the following 10years.MethodsThe NCD risk factors prevalence was estimated using a cross-sectional approach for a sample of employees and their families aged ≥ 18 years old, in a Saudi university (Riyadh in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; KSA). WHO STEPwise standardized tools were used to estimate NCD risk factors and the Framingham Coronary Heart Risk Score calculator was used to calculate the CVR.ResultsFive thousand and two hundred subjects were invited, of whom 4,500 participated in the study, providing a response rate of 87%. The mean age of participants was 39.3±13.4 years. The majority of participants reported low fruit/vegetables consumption (88%), and physically inactive (77%). More than two thirds of the cohort was found to be either overweight or obese (72%), where 36% were obese, and 59% had abdominal obesity. Of the total cohort, 22–37% were found to suffer from dyslipidaemia, 22% either diabetes or hypertension, with rather low reported current tobacco use (12%). One quarter of participants was estimated to have >10% risk to develop cardiovascular disease within the following 10-years.ConclusionThe prevalence of NCD risk factors was found to be substantially high among the university employees and their families in this study.     

Number of siblings, family background, and the process of educational attainment

The effects of number of siblings on educational attainment were analyzed in probability samples of 57,000 white men in the US. Also addressed was the relative importance of sibship size compared with father's education, father's socioeconomic status, farm background, and a broken family. The data revealed a marked linear association between sibsize and total years of education. The difference between the extremes of sibsize was more than double the racial difference and 3 times the age difference. Sibsize operates not simply by diluting parental economic resources for postsecondary education, but by impinging on education at the graded level. Males from large versus small families lose an average of 1 year of graded schooling, which implies large differences in proportions graduating from high school. Sibsize influences college attendance much less than it influences graded schooling; at higher levels of education, IQ, performance, and motivation are more decisive factors. Whereas father's education and sibsize are the most important determinants of total years of education and years of graded schooling, college schooling is more dependent on the father's socioeconomic status than other family background variables.     

Intelligence in Taiwan: Progressive Matrices means and sex differences in means and variances for 6- to 17-year-olds

Data for Raven's Progressive Matrices are reported for a sample of 6290 6- to 17-year-olds in Taiwan. The Taiwanese obtained a mean IQ of 109.5, in relation to a British mean of 100. There was no difference in mean scores of boys and girls at age 7 years. At age 10 years girls obtained significantly higher scores than boys, and at ages 13 and 16 years boys obtained significantly higher scores than girls. There was no sex difference in variance at age 7 years. At ages 10, 13 and 16 years variance was significantly greater in boys.     

Aggravated stuttering following subthalamic deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease - two cases

Stuttering is a speech disorder with disruption of verbal fluency which is occasionally present in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Long-term medical management of PD is frequently complicated by fluctuating motor functions and dyskinesias. High-frequency deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is an effective treatment of motor fluctuations and is the most common surgical procedure in PD. Here we report the re-occurrence and aggravation of stuttering following STN-DBS in two male patients treated for advanced PD. In both patients the speech fluency improved considerably when the neurostimulator was turned off, indicating that stuttering aggravation was related to neurostimulation of the STN itself, its afferent or efferent projections and/or to structures localized in the immediate proximity. This report supports previous studies demonstrating that lesions of the basal ganglia-thalamocortical motor circuit, including the STN, is involved in the development of stuttering. In advanced PD STN-DBS is generally an effective and safe treatment. However, patients with PD and stuttering should be informed about the risk of aggravated symptoms following surgical therapy.