scholarly journals Contributions of common genetic variants to specific languages and to when a language is learned

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick C. M. Wong ◽  
Xin Kang ◽  
Hon-Cheong So ◽  
Kwong Wai Choy
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Musical Training ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Language Functions ◽  
Common Genetic Variants ◽  
Linguistic Functions ◽  
L1 And L2 ◽  
Chinese And English ◽  
Larger Sample

AbstractResearch over the past two decades has identified a group of common genetic variants explaining a portion of variance in native language ability. The present study investigates whether the same group of genetic variants are associated with different languages and languages learned at different times in life. We recruited 940 young adults who spoke from childhood Chinese and English as their first (native) (L1) and second (L2) language, respectively, who were learners of a new, third (L3) language. For the variants examined, we found a general decrease of contribution of genes to language functions from native to foreign (L2 and L3) languages, with variance in foreign languages explained largely by non-genetic factors such as musical training and motivation. Furthermore, genetic variants that were found to contribute to traits specific to Chinese and English respectively exerted the strongest effects on L1 and L2. These results seem to speak against the hypothesis of a language- and time-universal genetic core of linguistic functions. Instead, they provide preliminary evidence that genetic contribution to language may depend at least partly on the intricate language-specific features. Future research including a larger sample size, more languages and more genetic variants is required to further explore these hypotheses.

Genetic Variation: Impact on Folate (and Choline) Bioefficacy

2010 ◽  
Vol 80 (45) ◽  
pp. 319-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allyson A. West ◽  
Marie A. Caudill
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Metabolism ◽  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Plasma Homocysteine ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Gene Interactions ◽  
Dietary Folate ◽  
Methyl Donors ◽  
Common Genetic Variants ◽  
One Carbon Metabolism ◽  
The Impact

Folate and choline are water-soluble micronutrients that serve as methyl donors in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine. Inadequacy of these nutrients can disturb one-carbon metabolism as evidenced by alterations in circulating folate and/or plasma homocysteine. Among common genetic variants that reside in genes regulating folate absorptive and metabolic processes, homozygosity for the MTHFR 677C > T variant has consistently been shown to have robust effects on status markers. This paper will review the impact of genetic variants in folate-metabolizing genes on folate and choline bioefficacy. Nutrient-gene and gene-gene interactions will be considered along with the need to account for these genetic variants when updating dietary folate and choline recommendations.

scholarly journals Common genetic variants and pathways in diabetes and associated complications and vulnerability of populations with different ethnic origins

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Samad Shoily ◽  
Tamim Ahsan ◽  
Kaniz Fatema ◽  
Abu Ashfaqur Sajib
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Differential Distribution ◽  
East Asians ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Common Genetic Variants ◽  
Haplotype Frequencies ◽  
Variant Alleles

AbstractDiabetes mellitus is a complex and heterogeneous metabolic disorder which is often pre- or post-existent with complications such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, inflammation, chronic kidney disease, diabetic retino- and nephropathies. However, the frequencies of these co-morbidities vary among individuals and across populations. It is, therefore, not unlikely that certain genetic variants might commonly contribute to these conditions. Here, we identified four single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs5186, rs1800795, rs1799983 and rs1800629 in AGTR1, IL6, NOS3 and TNFA genes, respectively) to be commonly associated with each of these conditions. We explored their possible interplay in diabetes and associated complications. The variant allele and haplotype frequencies at these polymorphic loci vary among different super-populations (African, European, admixed Americans, South and East Asians). The variant alleles are particularly highly prevalent in different European and admixed American populations. Differential distribution of these variants in different ethnic groups suggests that certain drugs might be more effective in selective populations rather than all. Therefore, population specific genetic architectures should be considered before considering a drug for these conditions.

scholarly journals Common genetic variants and modifiable risk factors underpin hypertrophic cardiomyopathy susceptibility and expressivity

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew R. Harper ◽  
◽  
Anuj Goel ◽  
Christopher Grace ◽  
Kate L. Thomson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy ◽  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Modifiable Risk Factors ◽  
Common Genetic Variants

Engagement and Outcomes Associated with Contextual Annotation Features of a Digital Health Solution

2020 ◽  
pp. 193229682097640
Author(s):  
Michelle Dugas ◽  
Weiguang Wang ◽  
Kenyon Crowley ◽  
Anand K. Iyer ◽  
Malinda Peeples ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Digital Health ◽  
Data Entry ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Note Taking ◽  
Potential Benefits

Background: Digital health solutions targeting diabetes self-care are popular and promising, but important questions remain about how these tools can most effectively help patients. Consistent with evidence of the salutary effects of note-taking in education, features that enable annotation of structured data entry might enhance the meaningfulness of the interaction, thereby promoting persistent use and benefits of a digital health solution. Method: To examine the potential benefits of note-taking, we explored how patients with type 2 diabetes used annotation features of a digital health solution and assessed the relationship between annotation and persistence in engagement as well as improvements in glycated hemoglobin (A1C). Secondary data from 3142 users of the BlueStar digital health solution collected between December 2013 and June 2017 were analyzed, with a subgroup of 372 reporting A1C lab values. Results: About a third of patients recorded annotations while using the platform. Annotation themes largely reflected self-management behaviors (diet, physical activity, medication adherence) and well-being (mood, health status). Early use of contextual annotations was associated with greater engagement over time and with greater improvements in A1C. Conclusions: Our research provides preliminary evidence of the benefits of annotation features in a digital health solution. Future research is needed to assess the causal impact of note-taking and the moderating role of thematic content reflected in notes.

Spousal order of migration, gender, and hospitalization among immigrants in Denmark

2020 ◽  
pp. 140349482094472
Author(s):  
Jennifer Caputo ◽  
Angela Carollo ◽  
Eleonora Mussino ◽  
Linda Juel Ahrenfeldt ◽  
Rune Lindahl-Jacobsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Event History ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Migration Patterns ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Married Men ◽  
Married Individuals ◽  
Gendered Migration ◽  
Study Base

Background: Certain migration contexts that may help clarify immigrants’ health needs are understudied, including the order in which married individuals migrate. Research shows that men, who are healthier than women across most populations, often migrate to a host country before women. Using Danish register data, we investigate descriptive patterns in the order that married men and women arrive in Denmark, as well as whether migration order is related to overnight hospitalizations. Methods: The study base includes married immigrants who lived in Denmark between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 2014 ( N = 13,680). We use event history models to examine the influence of spousal migration order on hospitalizations. Results: The order that married individuals arrive in Denmark is indeed highly gendered, with men tending to arrive first, and varies by country of origin. Risk of hospitalization after age 50 does not depend on whether an individual migrated before, after, or at the same time as their spouse among either men or women. However, among those aged 18+, men migrating before their wives are more likely to experience hospitalizations within the first 5 years of arrival. Conclusions: These findings provide the first key insights about gendered migration patterns in Denmark. Although spousal order of migration is not related to overnight hospitalization among women, our findings provide preliminary evidence that men age 18+ who are first to arrive experience more hospitalization events in the following 5 years. Future research should explore additional outcomes and whether other gendered migration contexts are related to immigrants’ health.

scholarly journals Replication of Established Common Genetic Variants for Adult BMI and Childhood Obesity in Greek Adolescents: The TEENAGE Study

2013 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 268-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioanna Ntalla ◽  
Kalliope Panoutsopoulou ◽  
Panagiota Vlachou ◽  
Lorraine Southam ◽  
Nigel William Rayner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Common Genetic Variants

scholarly journals Detection of human elastase isoforms by the ScheBo Pancreatic Elastase 1 Test

2017 ◽  
Vol 312 (6) ◽  
pp. G606-G614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Zsófia Tóth ◽  
András Szabó ◽  
Eszter Hegyi ◽  
Péter Hegyi ◽  
Miklós Sahin-Tóth
Keyword(s):  
Test Performance ◽  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Molecular Targets ◽  
Exocrine Function ◽  
Clinical Test ◽  
Critical Determinant ◽  
Pancreatic Elastase ◽  
Elastase 1 ◽  
Common Genetic Variants ◽  
Pancreatic Elastase 1

Determination of fecal pancreatic elastase content by ELISA is a reliable, noninvasive clinical test for assessing exocrine pancreatic function. Despite the widespread use of commercial tests, their exact molecular targets remain poorly characterized. This study was undertaken to clarify which human pancreatic elastase isoforms are detected by the ScheBo Pancreatic Elastase 1 Stool Test and whether naturally occurring genetic variants influence the performance of this test. Using recombinantly expressed and purified human pancreatic proteinases, we found that the test specifically measured chymotrypsin-like elastases (CELA) 3A and 3B (CELA3A and CELA3B), while CELA2A was not detected. Inactive proelastases, active elastases, and autolyzed forms were detected with identical efficiency. CELA3B elicited approximately four times higher ELISA signal than CELA3A, and we identified Glu154in CELA3B as the critical determinant of detection. Common genetic variants of CELA3A and CELA3B had no effect on test performance, with the exception of the CELA3B variant W79R, which increased detection by 1.4-fold. Finally, none of the human trypsin and chymotrypsin isoforms were detected. We conclude that the ScheBo Pancreatic Elastase 1 Stool Test is specific for human CELA3A and CELA3B, with most of the ELISA signal attributable to CELA3B.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The ScheBo Pancreatic Elastase 1 Stool Test is widely used to assess pancreatic exocrine function, yet its molecular targets have been poorly defined. We demonstrate that, among the human pancreatic proteinases, the test measures the elastase isoform CELA3B and, to a lesser extent, CELA3A. Genetic variants of the human CELA3 isoforms have no significant effect on test performance.

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