Iconometrographics in evolutionary biology

The essential dialogue between Apollinian and Dionysiac poles required for the advance of music and art was likened to the scientific debate between «justifiers» and «innovators». The use of ratios and simple algorithms was indicted as being retrogressive in terms of modern microcomputer technology and iconometrographic models. Three examples were used to illustrate the approach in the resolution of complex data sets comparing samples: (1) 45,XO with a 46,XY controls, (2) sexual dimorphism in young adults and (3) Black and White Olympic athletes. The iconometrographic approach was proposed as a primary orientation in human biology, particularly in secular trend studies concerned with the recognition and assessment of complex evolutionary trends.     

Assessment of Global Coronary Heart Disease Risk in Overweight and Obese African‐American Women

Objective : To examine, with the use of national guidelines, coronary heart disease (CHD) risk with increasing BMI for primary prevention in urban African‐American women. Research Methods and Procedures : Participants were recruited for CHD risk factor screening from 20 churches as part of a larger study of nutrition and fitness (Project Joy). All participants had a demographic, smoking and medical history assessment, and the following measurements were taken: weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid levels, and glucose. Three methods of defining risk, the Framingham Point Scoring System, a count of risk factors, and the presence of the multiple metabolic syndrome, based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III Report and BMI classes established by the Clinical Guidelines, were used. Results : A total of 396 women were eligible. Participants were 40 to 80 years of age and had marked excess prevalence of overweight and obesity (84%); 55% were obese. There was a linear increase in risk factors as BMI increased. Lipids did not differ significantly among BMI classifications. Seventeen percent of women had multiple metabolic syndrome. Eight percent and 16% of women in the normal and overweight BMI classes, respectively, had two or more modifiable risk factors. There was no difference in number of modifiable risk factors among the obese classes. The Framingham Point Scoring System assigned a <10% risk of a hard CHD event in 10 years to 97% of the women. Discussion : National risk assessment guidelines for primary prevention of CHD may not be adequate for overweight and obese urban African‐American women and require further study.     

The effect of VDR gene polymorphisms and vitamin D level on blood pressure,risk of preeclampsia,gestational age,and body mass index

We investigated the influence of vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms and vitamin D level on the blood pressure and the risk of preeclampsia. In a case-control study, 200 pregnant women, including 100 individuals with preeclampsia along with 100 healthy pregnant women, were studied for VDR FokI, TaqI, and BmsI polymorphisms and serum 25 (OH)-D level using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method and commercial kit, respectively. The mean level of 25 (OH)-D in preeclamptic patients was significantly lower (16.6 ± 4.2 ng/mL, P < 0.001) compared with controls (19.6 ± 3.8 ng/mL). Among all women, a significantly higher systolic blood pressure and before-pregnancy body mass index and also lower gestational age were observed in the presence of 25 (OH)-D level < 20 ng/mL compared with the 20 to 30 ng/mL. A significantly higher frequency of VDR FokI C allele in preeclamptic patients (83%) than controls (74%) was associated with a 1.72-fold increased risk of preeclampsia. In all the studied individuals, the systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly higher in the presence of the FokI CC genotype compared with the TC and TT+TC genotypes. Neither VDR Taq1 nor VDR BmsI was associated with the risk of preeclampsia. The haplotype FokI C, TaqI C and BmsI A (CCA) compared with haplotype CTG increased the risk of preeclampsia by 1.4-fold (P = 0.33). Our study suggests an association between VDR FokI polymorphism and an insufficient serum level of 25 (OH)-D with the risk of preeclampsia and also the influence of insufficient 25 (OH)-D level and VDR FokI polymorphism on maternal factors, including blood pressure.     

Personality disorders and body weight

We examine the impact of Axis II personality disorders (PDs) on body weight. PDs are psychiatric conditions that develop early in life from a mixture of genetics and environment, are persistent, and lead to substantial dysfunction for the affected individual. The defining characteristics of PDs conceptually link them with body weight, but the direction of the relationship likely varies across PD type. To investigate these links, we analyze data from Wave II of the National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions. We measure body weight with the body mass index (BMI) and a dichotomous indicator for obesity (BMI ≥ 30). We find that women with PDs have significantly higher BMI and are more likely to be obese than otherwise similar women. We find few statistically significant or economically meaningful effects for men. Paranoid, schizotypal, and avoidant PDs demonstrate the strongest adverse impacts on women's body weight while dependent PD may be protective against elevated body weight among men. Findings from unconditional quantile regressions demonstrate a positive gradient between PDs and BMI in that the effects are greater for higher BMI respondents.     

Body mass index,waist circumference and employment: Evidence from older Irish adults

Data from the first wave of the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing are used to examine the relationship between fatness and obesity and employment status among older Irish adults. Employment status is regressed on one of the following measures of fatness: BMI and waist circumference entered linearly as continuous variables and obesity as a categorical variable defined using both BMI and waist circumference. Controls for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, socioeconomic characteristics in childhood and physical, mental and behavioural health are also included. The regression results for women indicate that all measures of fatness are negatively associated with the probability of being employed and that the employment elasticity associated with waist circumference is larger than the elasticity associated with BMI. The results for men indicate that employment is not significantly associated with BMI and waist circumference when these are entered linearly in the regression, but it is significantly and negatively associated with obesity defined either using BMI or waist circumference as categorical variables. The results also indicate that the negative association between obesity and employment status is larger among women. For example, the probability of being employed for the obese category defined using BMI is around 8 percentage points lower for women and 5 percentage points lower for men.     

Obesity polymorphisms identified in genome-wide association studies interact with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and modify the genetic association with adiposity phenotypes in Yup’ik people

n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have anti-obesity effects that may modulate risk of obesity, in part, through interactions with genetic factors. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified genetic variants associated with body mass index (BMI); however, the extent to which these variants influence adiposity through interactions with n-3 PUFAs remains unknown. We evaluated 10 highly replicated obesity GWAS single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for individual and cumulative associations with adiposity phenotypes in a cross-sectional sample of Yup’ik people (n = 1,073) and evaluated whether genetic associations with obesity were modulated by n-3 PUFA intake. A genetic risk score (GRS) was calculated by adding the BMI-increasing alleles across all 10 SNPs. Dietary intake of n-3 PUFAs was estimated using nitrogen stable isotope ratio (δ¹⁵N) of red blood cells, and genotype–phenotype analyses were tested in linear models accounting for familial correlations. GRS was positively associated with BMI (p = 0.012), PBF (p = 0.022), ThC (p = 0.025), and waist circumference (p = 0.038). The variance in adiposity phenotypes explained by the GRS included BMI (0.7 %), PBF (0.3 %), ThC (0.7 %), and WC (0.5 %). GRS interactions with n-3 PUFAs modified the association with adiposity and accounted for more than twice the phenotypic variation (~1–2 %), relative to GRS associations alone. Obesity GWAS SNPs contribute to adiposity in this study population of Yup’ik people and interactions with n-3 PUFA intake potentiated the risk of fat accumulation among individuals with high obesity GRS. These data suggest the anti-obesity effects of n-3 PUFAs among Yup’ik people may, in part, be dependent upon an individual’s genetic predisposition to obesity.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12263-013-0340-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

孕妇孕前体重指数与妊娠期糖代谢异常发病相关性的研究

目的：探讨孕前体重指数与妊娠期糖代谢异常发病及其临床特点的关系。方法：采用病例一对照研究的方法,对孕期在我院进行健康保健确诊为糖代谢异常并已完成分娩的孕妇130例作为病例组,同时随机抽取同期分娩的260例糖代谢正常孕妇作为对照组。用Logistic回归模型对孕前体重指数进行单因素分析;计算其相对危险度。结果：病例组孕妇孕前BMI指数大于25者占80．77％,明显高于对照组的（19．23％）,差别有统计学意义（X2=30．469,P〈0．05）。logistic回归结果显示相对于BMI小于25者。BMI〉25组发生糖代谢异常的相对危险度是3．90,95％CI为2．23—6．41。结论：孕妇孕前体重指数是妊娠期糖代谢异常的独立危险因素,因此孕前控制体重指数是降低孕期糖代谢异常发生的关键因素。     

Mammographic density and hormone receptor expression in breast cancer: the Multiethnic Cohort Study

Background: It is unclear whether mammographic breast density, a strong risk factor for breast cancer, predicts subtypes of breast cancer defined by estrogen receptor (ER) and/or progesterone receptor (PR) expression. Methods: In a nested case–control study, we compared the breast density of 667 controls and 607 breast cancer cases among women of Caucasian, Japanese, and Native Hawaiian ancestry in the Hawaii component of the Multiethnic Cohort Study. A reader blinded to disease status performed computer assisted density assessment on prediagnostic mammograms. Receptor status was obtained from the statewide Hawaii Tumor Registry. Tumors were classified into ER+PR+ (n = 341), ER−PR− (n = 50), ER+PR−/ER−PR+ (n = 64), and unstaged/unknown (n = 152). Mean percent density values were computed for women with more than one mammogram. Polytomous logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) while adjusting for confounders. Results: Mean percent density was significantly greater for ER+PR+ but not for ER−PR− tumors compared to controls after adjusting for age: 37.3%, 28.9% versus 29.4%, respectively. The overall OR per 10% increase in percent density were similar for ER+PR+ and ER+PR−/ER−PR+ tumors: 1.26 (95% CI 1.17–1.36) and 1.23 (95% CI 1.07–1.42), respectively. However, percent density was not found to be a predictor for ER−PR− tumors (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.84–1.18). The results did not differ by ethnicity, nor by menopausal status, parity, or HRT use. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that within a multiethnic population, women with higher breast density have an increased risk for ER+PR+ but not ER−PR− tumors.