Cytomegalovirus Infection and Its Relationship with Leukocyte Telomere Length: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background. Telomeres undergo shortening with each cell division, which could be accelerated by infection. The association between virus infection and telomere length is poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the putative associations between leukocyte telomere length (TL), cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, and C-reactive protein (CRP) in a national representative sample of noninstitutionalized population. Methods. We analyzed data that was collected in a cross-sectional setting, where 3,987 participants were enrolled with available data on telomere length. The association between telomere length with previous CMV infection and CRP was analyzed using multivariable linear regression models. We further tested if obesity, measured by body mass index (BMI), and smoking could modify this relationship. Results. In total, around 46% percent of the study population were men and 54% were women. Average ages were 35.1 years for men and 35.0 years for women. One unit increase of CMV antibody IgG titer was associated with -0.07 (95% confidence interval: -0.12, -0.01) unit decrease of leukocyte TL when sex was adjusted for. After additionally adjusting for BMI and smoking status, the magnitude of the association was only slightly decreased to -0.06 (95% confidence interval: -0.11, -0.01). The effect sizes were comparable after additionally adjusting for CRP. These analyses imply that previous CMV infection affects leukocyte TL through pathways other than CRP. Conclusions. Previous CMV infection was associated with shorter leukocyte TL. This association was independent of CRP.

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Health and nutrition literacy in adults: Links with lifestyle factors and obesity

Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.3233/mnm-200471 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 361-370

Author(s):

Maria Michou ◽

Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos ◽

Christos Lionis ◽

Vassiliki Costarelli

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Linear Regression ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Lifestyle Factors ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cross Sectional

BACKGROUND: Low Health Literacy (HL) and Nutrition Literacy (NL) are associated with serious negative health outcomes. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate certain lifestyle factors and obesity, in relation to HL and NL. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban area of the Attica region, in Greece. The sample consisted of 1281 individuals, aged ≥18 years. HL, NL sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle factors (physical activity, smoking status, alcohol consumption,) were assessed. Mann-Whitney U, the Kruskall Wallis, Pearson chi-square tests and multiple linear regression models were used. RESULTS: Linear regression analysis has shown that smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity, were associated with HL levels (–1.573 points for ex-smokers in comparison to smokers, p = 0.035, –1.349 points for alcohol consumers in comparison to non-consumers, p = 0.006 and 1.544 points for physically active individuals to non-active, p = 0.001). With respect to NL levels, it was also not associated with any of these factors. Obesity was not associated with HL and NL levels. CONCLUSIONS: Certain lifestyle factors, including physical activity, are predicting factors of HL levels, in Greek adults. The results contribute to the understanding of the relationship between lifestyle factors and HL and should be taken into account when HL policies are designed.

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Leukocyte Telomere Length in Relation to 17 Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Cross-Sectional Study of US Adults

PLoS Medicine ◽

10.1371/journal.pmed.1002188 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. e1002188 ◽

Cited By ~ 60

Author(s):

David H. Rehkopf ◽

Belinda L. Needham ◽

Jue Lin ◽

Elizabeth H. Blackburn ◽

Ami R. Zota ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Telomere Length ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Disease Risk ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Leukocyte Telomere Length ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional

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The role of education in the association between self-rated health and levels of C-reactive protein: a cross-sectional study in rural areas of China

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027659 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. e027659 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Raoping Tu ◽

Kuan-Yu Pan ◽

Guoxi Cai ◽

Taro Yamamoto ◽

Hui-Xin Wang

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Protein A ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Sectional Study ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Self Rated Health

ObjectivesThis study aims to examine the association between self-rated health (SRH) and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) among adults aged 45 to 101 years old in rural areas of China, and to explore the role of education in the association.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingThe study population was derived from two databases in China: Nanping project (NP) and the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).ParticipantsThere were 646 participants from a rural area of Nanping (NP) and 8555 rural participants from a national representative sample of China (CHARLS).MethodsCRP was measured using a high sensitivity sandwich enzyme immunoassay in the NP and immunoturbidimetric assay in the CHARLS. SRH was assessed by SRH questionnaires and categorised into good and poor. Education was measured by the maximum years of schooling and dichotomised into illiterate and literate. Multivariate linear regression models were used to study the associations.ResultsCompared to people with good SRH, those with poor SRH had higher levels of CRP in NP (β=0.16, 95% CI −0.02 to 0.34) and in CHARLS (β=0.07, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.11) after adjusting for potential confounders. Similar findings were observed in the pooled population (β=0.08, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.12), especially in men (β=0.13, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.20) and in literate people (β=0.12, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.18).ConclusionPoor SRH may be a predicator of elevated levels of CRP among middle-aged and older people in rural areas, especially in men and literate people.

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Telomere Length in Patients with Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia

10.21203/rs.2.17677/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nithita Nanthatanti ◽

Adisak Tantiworawit ◽

Pokpong Piriyakhuntorn ◽

Thanawat Rattanathammethee ◽

Sasinee Hantrakool ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Iron Overload ◽

Telomere Length ◽

Major Complication ◽

Single Copy ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hemoglobin Level ◽

Cellular Damage ◽

Repair System ◽

Leukocyte Telomere Length ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract Background: Thalassemia is a hereditary hemolytic anemia with a severity ranging from mild, non-transfusion dependent to severe chronic anemia requiring lifelong transfusion. Transfusional iron overload is a major complication in patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT). Telomeres are sequences of nucleotides forming the end caps of chromosomes that act as a DNA repair system. Iron overload in thalassemia can cause increased oxidative stress which leads to cellular damage and senescence. This may result in telomere length shortening. The degree of telomere length shortening may reflect the severity of thalassemia. Methods: This research aimed to study the leukocyte telomere length in patients with TDT in comparison to non-thalassemic individuals and to identify the clinical and laboratory parameters that are associated with telomere length. We conducted a cross-sectional study in patients with TDT aged ≥18 years. Leukocyte telomere length was measured by real-time quantitative PCR. Results: Sixty-five patients with TDT were enrolled onto the study. There were 37 female patients (54.4%). The median age was 27 (18-57) years, and mean pre-transfusion hemoglobin level was 7.1±1.07 g/dL. The mean telomere to single copy gene (T/S) ratios of patients with TDT and the controls were 0.72±0.18 and 0.99±0.25, respectively (p <0.0001). There was a significant correlation between the T/S ratio and age (p = 0.0002), and hemoglobin level (p = 0.044). There was no correlation between telomere length and other factors. Conclusions: Our study showed that TDT patients had shorter leukocyte telomere length compared with controls. Leukocyte telomere shortening in TDT was an aging-dependent process and associated with lower hemoglobin level.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Leukocyte Telomere Length in Relation to 17 Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Cross-Sectional Study of US Adults.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.727041882.793531842 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Jing-Dong Jackie Han

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Telomere Length ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Disease Risk ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Leukocyte Telomere Length ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional

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Periconceptional environment predicts leukocyte telomere length in a cross-sectional study of 7–9 year old rural Gambian children

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-66729-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kim Maasen ◽

Philip T. James ◽

Andrew M. Prentice ◽

Sophie E. Moore ◽

Caroline H. Fall ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Telomere Length ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Leukocyte Telomere Length ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional

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Associations between dietary inflammatory index and inflammatory markers in the Asklepios Study

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s000711451400395x ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 113 (4) ◽

pp. 665-671 ◽

Cited By ~ 188

Author(s):

Nitin Shivappa ◽

James R. Hébert ◽

Ernst R. Rietzschel ◽

Marc L. De Buyzere ◽

Michel Langlois ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Inflammatory Markers ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Lipid Lowering ◽

Dietary Inflammatory Index ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Inflammatory Index ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Dietary Index

Previous research has shown that nutrients and certain food items influence inflammation. However, little is known about the associations between diet, as a whole, and inflammatory markers. In the present study, we examined the ability of a FFQ-derived dietary inflammatory index (DII) to predict inflammation. Data from a Belgian cross-sectional study of 2524 generally healthy subjects (age 35–55 years) were used. The DII is a population-based, literature-derived dietary index that was developed to predict inflammation and inflammation-related chronic diseases. The DII was calculated from FFQ-derived dietary information and tested against inflammatory markers, namely C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6, homocysteine and fibrinogen. Analyses were performed using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for energy, age, sex, BMI, smoking status, education level, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, blood pressure, use of oral contraceptives, anti-hypertensive therapy, lipid-lowering drugs and physical activity. Multivariable analyses showed significant positive associations between the DII and the inflammatory markers IL-6 (>1·6 pg/ml) (OR 1·19, 95 % CI 1·04, 1·36) and homocysteine (>15 μmol/l) (OR 1·56, 95 % CI 1·25, 1·94). No significant associations were observed between the DII and the inflammatory markers CRP and fibrinogen. These results reinforce the fact that diet, as a whole, plays an important role in modifying inflammation.

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Neutrophil Gelatinase–Associated Lipocalin in Peritoneal Effluent: Evaluation in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients in Basal Condition

Peritoneal Dialysis International ◽

10.3747/pdi.2011.00288 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 379-381 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Francesca Martino ◽

Ilenia Filippi ◽

Davide Giavarina ◽

Gianpaolo Amici ◽

Massimo de Cal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Peritoneal Dialysis ◽

Residual Renal Function ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hydration Status ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Dialysis Adequacy ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Neutrophil Gelatinase

PurposeIn the present study, we assessed expression of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in peritoneal effluent (pNGAL) from peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, and we evaluated factors that might affect its level in basal conditions.MethodsOur cross-sectional study included all 69 patients on PD at our institution. We evaluated patient history, hydration status, residual renal function, indices of dialysis adequacy, peritoneal transport type, serum C-reactive protein, ferritin, serum NGAL (sNGAL) and pNGAL. Univariate and multivariate linear regression models were used to evaluate predictors of pNGAL.ResultsOf the study patients, 39 (56.5%) were men, and 54 (78.3%) were on continuous ambulatory PD. Median age in the group was 61 years [interquartile range (IQR): 46.5 - 71 years]. Median sNGAL was 487 ng/mL (IQR: 407 - 586 ng/mL), and median pNGAL was 35 ng/mL (IQR: 21 - 46 ng/mL). dNGAL correlated directly with weekly dialytic clearance of creatinine (ρ = 0.291, p = 0.02) and with sNGAL (ρ = 0.269, p = 0.031). The same variables were also independent predictors of pNGAL (β = 0.30 and 0.29 respectively, both p < 0.05) in multivariate analysis.ConclusionsIn our analysis, basal levels of pNGAL were influenced by sNGAL and by dialytic clearance of creatinine.

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Leukocyte Telomere Length Is Not Reduced in Children and Adults with Cystic Fibrosis but Associates with Clinical Characteristics—A Cross-Sectional Study

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10040590 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 590

Author(s):

Aleksandra Glapa-Nowak ◽

Shivaprakash Jagalur Mutt ◽

Aleksandra Lisowska ◽

Ewa Sapiejka ◽

Joanna Goździk-Spychalska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cystic Fibrosis ◽

Telomere Length ◽

Clinical Characteristics ◽

Inhaled Corticosteroids ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Length Variation ◽

Leukocyte Telomere Length ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Adult Status ◽

The Moment

We hypothezied that telomere length is considerably altered in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients compared to healthy subjects (HS), and that leukocyte telomere length variation reflects the severity of CF. Relative telomere length (RTL) was assessed by qPCR in 70 children aged 5–10 (34 CF; 36 HS) and 114 adults aged 18–45 (53 CF; 61 HS). Telomere length was similar in CF and HS (median (interquartile range): 0.799 (0.686–0.950) vs. 0.831 (0.707–0.986); p = 0.5283) both in children and adults. In adults, women had longer telomeres than men (0.805 (0.715–0.931) vs. 0.703 (0.574–0.790); p = 0.0002). Patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids had a shorter RTL compared to those without steroid therapy (0.765 (0.664–0.910) vs. 0.943 (0.813–1.191); p = 0.0007) and this finding remained significant after adjusting for gender, age, BMI, and child/adult status (p = 0.0003). Shorter telomeres were independently associated with the presence of comorbidities (0.763 (0.643–0.905) vs. 0.950 (0.783–1.130); p = 0.0006) and antibiotic treatment at the moment of blood sampling (0.762 (0.648–0.908) vs. 0.832 (0.748–1.129); p = 0.0172). RTL correlated with number of multiple-day hospitalizations (rho = −0.251; p = 0.0239), as well as number of hospitalization days (rho = −0.279; p = 0.0113). Leukocyte RTL in children and adults with CF was not shorter than in healthy controls, and did not seem to have any potential as a predictor of CF survival. However, it inversely associated with the investigated clinical characteristics.

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