scholarly journals Protocol for a longitudinal twin birth cohort study to unravel the complex interplay between early-life environmental and genetic risk factors in health and disease: the Chongqing Longitudinal Twin Study (LoTiS)

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e017889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Tong ◽  
Li Wen ◽  
Yinyin Xia ◽  
Pamela Leong ◽  
Lan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Birth Cohort Study ◽  
Clinical Trial Registry ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Intermediate Phenotypes ◽  
Genes And Environment ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Longitudinal Twin Study

IntroductionNon-communicable diseases (NCD) now represent the major burden of adverse health in most countries. It is clear that much of the risk of such conditions begins very early in life, potentially in utero. Given their complex aetiology, an understanding of the origins of NCD requires an in-depth analysis of the interplay between genetic variation and environment, preferably over time. For decades, twin studies have played a key role in understanding such traits. Their strength lies in the ability to disentangle genetic and environmental factors that contribute to a phenotype. This is done by comparing genetically identical monozygotic (MZ) with dizygotic twins, who share on average 50% of genetic variation, or by comparing MZ twins within a pair. This study aims to determine the relative contributions of genes and environment to early-onset intermediate phenotypes related to later adult onset disease (such as growth and neurodevelopment) and to identify specific biomarkers and time points for emergence of phenotypes from infancy, largely independent of underlying genetic factors.Methods/designThe Chongqing Longitudinal Twin Study (LoTiS) will recruit 300 women pregnant with twins, enriched for MZ pregnancies, with follow-up to 3 years of age. Data collection will be undertaken at key time points in gestation (×3), at delivery and postnatally (×9). Maternal and infant biospecimens including blood, urine, hair, nails and buccal swabs along with measures such as fetal scans and body measurements will be collected. Additional information from questionnaires and medical records includes pregnancy, diet, sociodemographics, maternal stress, and infant growth and neurodevelopment.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Chongqing Medical University (record no: 201530) and has been registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registry no: ChiCTR-OOC-16008203). Results of the recruitment and all subsequent analyses will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberChiCTR-OOC-16008203; Results.

scholarly journals Babytwins Study Sweden (BATSS): A multi-method infant twin study of genetic and environmental factors influencing infant brain and behavioral development

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terje Falck-Ytter ◽  
Linnea Hamrefors ◽  
Monica Siqueiros Sanchez ◽  
Ana Maria Portugal ◽  
Mark Taylor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Phenotypic Trait ◽  
Twin Design ◽  
Developmental Neuroscience ◽  
Genes And Environment ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Longitudinal Twin Study

ABSTRACTTwin studies can help us understand the relative contributions of genes and environment to phenotypic trait variation including attentional and brain activation measures. In terms of applying methodologies like electroencephalography (EEG) and eye tracking, which are key methods in developmental neuroscience, infant twin studies are almost non-existent. Here we describe the Babytwins Study Sweden (BATSS), a multi-method longitudinal twin study of 177 MZ and 134 DZ twin pairs (i.e. 622 individual infants) covering the 5 - 36 month time period. The study includes EEG, eye tracking and genetics, together with more traditional measures based on in-person testing, direct observation and questionnaires. The results show that interest in participation in research among twin parents is high, despite the comprehensive protocol. DNA analysis from saliva samples was possible in virtually all participants, allowing for both zygosity confirmation and polygenic score analyses. Combining a longitudinal twin design with advanced technologies in developmental cognitive neuroscience and genomics, BATSS represents a new approach in infancy research, which we hope to have impact across multiple disciplines in the coming years.

scholarly journals The Babytwins Study Sweden (BATSS): A Multi-Method Infant Twin Study of Genetic and Environmental Factors Influencing Infant Brain and Behavioral Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 217-227
Author(s):  
Terje Falck-Ytter ◽  
Linnea Hamrefors ◽  
Monica Siqueiros Sanches ◽  
Ana Maria Portugal ◽  
Mark Taylor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Phenotypic Trait ◽  
Twin Design ◽  
Developmental Neuroscience ◽  
Genes And Environment ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Longitudinal Twin Study

AbstractTwin studies can help us understand the relative contributions of genes and environment to phenotypic trait variation, including attentional and brain activation measures. In terms of applying methodologies such as electroencephalography (EEG) and eye tracking, which are key methods in developmental neuroscience, infant twin studies are almost nonexistent. Here, we describe the Babytwins Study Sweden (BATSS), a multi-method longitudinal twin study of 177 MZ and 134 DZ twin pairs (i.e., 622 individual infants) covering the 5−36 month time period. The study includes EEG, eye tracking and genetics, together with more traditional measures based on in-person testing, direct observation and questionnaires. The results show that interest in participation in research among twin parents is high, despite the comprehensive protocol. DNA analysis from saliva samples was possible in virtually all participants, allowing for both zygosity confirmation and polygenic score analyses. Combining a longitudinal twin design with advanced technologies in developmental cognitive neuroscience and genomics, BATSS represents a new approach in infancy research, which we hope to have impact across multiple disciplines in the coming years.

scholarly journals The Value of Twins for Health and Medical Research: A Third of a Century of Progress

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Craig ◽  
Lucas Calais-Ferreira ◽  
Mark P. Umstad ◽  
Dedra Buchwald
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Medical Research ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Twin Research ◽  
Study Designs ◽  
Genetic Contributions

AbstractIn 1984, Hrubec and Robinette published what was arguably the first review of the role of twins in medical research. The authors acknowledged a growing distinction between two categories of twin studies: those aimed at assessing genetic contributions to disease and those aimed at assessing environmental contributions while controlling for genetic variation. They concluded with a brief section on recently founded twin registries that had begun to provide unprecedented access to twins for medical research. Here we offer an overview of the twin research that, in our estimation, best represents the field has progress since 1984. We start by summarizing what we know about twinning. We then focus on the value of twin study designs to differentiate between genetic and environmental influences on health and on emerging applications of twins in multiple areas of medical research. We finish by describing how twin registries and networks are accelerating twin research worldwide.

Two Cohort and Three Independent Anonymous Twin Projects at the Keio Twin Research Center (KoTReC)

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 202-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juko Ando ◽  
Keiko K. Fujisawa ◽  
Chizuru Shikishima ◽  
Kai Hiraishi ◽  
Mari Nozaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Research Center ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Twin Research ◽  
Genes And Environment

The Keio Twin Research Center has conducted two longitudinal twin cohort projects and has collected three independent and anonymous twin data sets for studies of phenotypes related to psychological, socio-economic, and mental health factors. The Keio Twin Study has examined adolescent and adult cohorts, with a total of over 2,400 pairs of twins and their parents. DNA samples are available for approximately 600 of these twin pairs. The Tokyo Twin Cohort Project has followed a total of 1,600 twin pairs from infancy to early childhood. The large-scale cross-sectional twin study (CROSS) has collected data from over 4,000 twin pairs, from 3 to 26 years of age, and from two high school twin cohorts containing a total of 1,000 pairs of twins. These data sets of anonymous twin studies have mainly targeted academic performance, attitude, and social environment. The present article introduces the research designs and major findings of our center, such as genetic structures of cognitive abilities, personality traits, and academic performances, developmental effects of genes and environment on attitude, socio-cognitive ability and parenting, genes x environment interaction on attitude and conduct problem, and statistical methodological challenges and so on. We discuss the challenges in conducting twin research in Japan.

Etiology of the Stability of Reading Difficulties: The Longitudinal Twin Study of Reading Disabilities

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 434-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raven L. Astrom ◽  
Sally J. Wadsworth ◽  
John C. DeFries
Keyword(s):  
Twin Study ◽  
Reading Difficulties ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Initial Time ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Reading Deficits ◽  
Reading Measures ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Longitudinal Twin Study

AbstractResults obtained from previous longitudinal studies of reading difficulties indicate that reading deficits are generally stable. However, little is known about the etiology of this stability. Thus, the primary objective of this first longitudinal twin study of reading difficulties is to provide an initial assessment of genetic and environmental influences on the stability of reading deficits. Data were analyzed from a sample of 56 twin pairs, 18 identical (monozygotic, MZ) and 38 fraternal (dizygotic, DZ), in which at least one member of each pair was classified as reading-disabled in the Colorado Learning Disabilities Research Center, and on whom follow-up data were available. The twins were tested at two time points (average age of 10.3 years at initial assessment and 16.1 years at follow-up). A composite measure of reading performance (PIAT Reading Recognition, Reading Comprehension and Spelling) was highly stable, with a stability correlation of .84. Data from the initial time point were first subjected to univariate DeFries-Fulker multiple regression analysis and the resulting estimate of the heritability of the group deficit (h2g) was .84 (± .26). When the initial and follow-up data were then fitted to a bivariate extension of the basic DF model, bivariate heritability was estimated at .65, indicating that common genetic influences account for approximately 75% of the stability between reading measures at the two time points.

scholarly journals The Southern California Twin Register at the University of Southern California: III

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 336-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura A. Baker ◽  
Catherine Tuvblad ◽  
Pan Wang ◽  
Karina Gomez ◽  
Serena Bezdjian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Southern California ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
University Of Southern California ◽  
Participation Rates ◽  
Externalizing Psychopathology ◽  
Longitudinal Twin Study ◽  
Behavior Characteristics ◽  
The University

The Southern California Twin Register at the University of Southern California (USC) was initiated in 1984 and continues to provide an important resource for studies investigating genetic and environmental influences on human behavior. This article provides an update on the current register and its potential for future twin studies using recruitment through school district databases and voter records. An overview is also provided for an ongoing longitudinal twin study investigating the development of externalizing psychopathology from childhood to young adulthood, the USC Study of Risk Factors for Antisocial Behavior. Characteristics of the twins and their families are presented, including recruitment and participation rates, as well as attrition analyses and a summary of key findings to date.

scholarly journals The Brisbane Longitudinal Twin Study: Pathways to Cannabis Use, Abuse, and Dependence Project—Current Status, Preliminary Results, and Future Directions

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan A. Gillespie ◽  
Anjali K. Henders ◽  
Tracy A. Davenport ◽  
Daniel F. Hermens ◽  
Margie J. Wright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Externalizing Disorders ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Drug Use Disorders ◽  
Longitudinal Twin Study

We describe the data being collected from the Brisbane Longitudinal Twin Study in Australia as part of the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-funded project, Pathways to Cannabis Use, Abuse and Dependence. The history, recruitment, assessment, and retention of twin families in this project are described in detail, along with preliminary findings and plans for future research. The goal of this NIDA project is to make a significant contribution to the discovery of quantitative trait loci influencing cannabis use disorders. Although the focus is cannabis use, abuse, and dependence in young adults, measures of comorbid illicit drug use disorders are also being collected. In addition, a variety of internalizing and externalizing disorders are being assessed, funded by support from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. Because these same twins have participated in numerous twin studies since 1992, future plans will include linking different phenotypes to investigate relationships between drug use, psychiatric disorders, and psychological phenotypes within cross-sectional and longitudinal or developmental frameworks.

scholarly journals Construction of the National Brain Tumor Registry of China for better management and more efficient use of data: a protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e040055
Author(s):  
Liwei Zhang ◽  
Wang Jia ◽  
Nan Ji ◽  
Deling Li ◽  
Dan Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumor ◽  
Clinical Research ◽  
Brain Tumour ◽  
Brain Tumours ◽  
Benefit Sharing ◽  
Data Quality Control ◽  
Clinical Trial Registry ◽  
Discharge Data ◽  
Tumor Registry ◽  
Depth Analysis

IntroductionBrain tumours encompass a complex group of intracranial tumours that mostly affect young adults and children, with a high incidence rate and poor prognosis. It remains impossible to systematically collect data on patients with brain tumours in China and difficult to perform in-depth analysis on the status of brain tumours, medical outcomes or other important medical issues through a multicentre clinical study. This study describes the first nation-wide data platform including the entire spectrum of brain tumour entities, which will allow better management and more efficient application of patient data in China.Methods and analysisThe National Brain Tumor Registry of China (NBTRC) is a registry of real-word clinical data on brain tumours. It is established and managed by the China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases and administered by its scientific and executive committees. The 54 participating hospitals of the NBTRC are located in 27 provinces/municipalities, performing more than 40 000 brain tumour surgeries per year. The data consist of in-hospital medical records, images and follow-up information after discharge. Data can be uploaded in three ways: the web portal, remote physical servers and offline software. The data quality control scheme is seven-dimensional. Each participating hospital could focus on a single pathology subtype and public subtypes of brain tumour for which they expect to conduct related multicentre clinical research. The standardised workflow to conduct clinical research is based on the benefit-sharing mechanism. Data collection will be conducted continuously from 1 February 2019 to 31 January 2024.Ethics and disseminationInformed consent will be obtained from all participants. Consent for the adolescents’ participation will be also obtained from their guardians via written consent. The results will be published in professional journals, in both Chinese and English.Trial registration numberChinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900021096).

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