Genes implicated in serotonergic and dopaminergic functioning predict BMI categories.

Objective: This study addressed the hypothesis that variation in genes associated with dopamine function (SLC6A3, DRD2, DRD4), serotonin function (SLC6A4, and regulation of monoamine levels (MAOA) may be predictive of BMI categories (obese and overweight + obese) in young adulthood and of changes in BMI as adolescents transition into young adulthood. Interactions with gender and race/ethnicity were also examined.

Methods And Procedures: Participants were a subsample of individuals from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), a nationally representative sample of adolescents followed from 1995 to 2002.

Interactions between genotype and retrospective ADHD symptoms predict lifetime smoking risk in a sample of young adults.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are associated with an increased risk of smoking, and genetic studies have identified similar candidate genes associated with both ADHD and smoking phenotypes. This paper addresses the question of whether ADHD symptoms interact with candidate gene variation to predict smoking risk. Participants were a subsample of individuals from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), a nationally representative sample of adolescents followed from 1995 to 2002.

Identification of genetic polymorphisms associated with risk for pulmonary hypertension in sickle cell disease.

Up to 30% of adult patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) will develop pulmonary hypertension (pHTN), a complication associated with significant morbidity and mortality. To identify genetic factors that contribute to risk for pHTN in SCD, we performed association analysis with 297 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 49 candidate genes in patients with sickle cell anemia (Hb SS) who had been screened for pHTN by echocardiography (n = 111). Evidence of association was primarily identified for genes in the TGFbeta superfamily, including activin A receptor, type II-like 1 (ACVRL1), bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2), and bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6).