Associations of SNPs in ADIPOQ and subclinical cardiovascular disease in the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA).

Circulating adiponectin is associated with both clinical and subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD). Variants of the adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) are associated with clinical CVD, but little is known about associations with subclinical CVD. We studied the association of 11 ADIPOQ single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with common and internal carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), presence of coronary artery calcification (CAC), and CAC scores (in those with CAC) in 2,847 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms on chromosome 9p21.3 with platelet reactivity: a potential mechanism for increased vascular disease.

Background: Genome-wide association studies have identified a locus on chromosome 9p21.3 to be strongly associated with myocardial infarction/coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke. To gain insights into the mechanisms underlying these associations, we hypothesized that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in this region would be associated with platelet reactivity across multiple populations.

Association of the vitamin D metabolism gene CYP24A1 with coronary artery calcification.

Objective: The vitamin D endocrine system is essential for calcium homeostasis, and low levels of vitamin D metabolites have been associated with cardiovascular disease risk. We hypothesized that DNA sequence variation in genes regulating vitamin D metabolism and signaling pathways might influence variation in coronary artery calcification (CAC).

Methods And Results: We genotyped single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in GC, CYP27B1, CYP24A1, and VDR and tested their association with CAC quantity, as measured by electron beam computed tomography.

Serum magnesium and risk of sudden cardiac death in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.

Background: We hypothesized that serum magnesium (Mg) is associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD).

Methods: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study assessed risk factors and levels of serum Mg in a cohort of 45- to 64-year-old subjects in 1987-1989 (n = 14,232). After an average of 12 years of follow-up, we observed 264 cases of SCD, as determined by physician review of all suspected cases.

Risk factor differences for aortic versus coronary calcified atherosclerosis: the multiethnic study of atherosclerosis.

Objective: The goal of this study was to compare and contrast coronary artery calcium (CAC) with abdominal aortic calcium (AAC) in terms of their associations with traditional and novel cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.

Methods And Results: We measured both AAC and CAC using computed tomography scans in 1974 men and women aged 45 to 84 years from a multiethnic cohort. Traditional and novel CVD risk factors were examined separately in relation to AAC and CAC, using logistic regression for qualitative categorical comparisons and multiple linear regression for quantitative continuous comparisons.

Statistical modeling of Agatston score in multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA).

The MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) is an ongoing study of the prevalence, risk factors, and progression of subclinical cardiovascular disease in a multi-ethnic cohort. It provides a valuable opportunity to examine the development and progression of CAC (coronary artery calcium), which is an important risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease. In MESA, about half of the CAC scores are zero and the rest are continuously distributed.

Cancer-related fatigue and rehabilitation: a randomized controlled multicenter trial comparing physical training combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy with physical training only and with no intervention.

Background: Research suggests that cancer rehabilitation reduces fatigue in survivors of cancer. To date, it is unclear what type of rehabilitation is most beneficial.

Objective: This randomized controlled trial compared the effect on cancer-related fatigue of physical training combined with cognitive behavioral therapy with physical training alone and with no intervention.

Safety of laparoscopy versus laparotomy in early-stage endometrial cancer: a randomised trial.

Background: The standard surgery for early-stage endometrial cancer is total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, which is associated with substantial morbidity. Total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is less invasive and is assumed to be associated with lower morbidity, particularly in obese women. This study investigated the complication rate of TLH versus TAH in women with early-stage endometrial cancer.

Associations between genetic variants in the ACE, AGT, AGTR1 and AGTR2 genes and renal function in the Multi-ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background/aims: Some studies suggest that polymorphisms in angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensinogen (AGT), angiotensin II type I receptor (AGTR1) and angiotensin II type II receptor (AGTR2) genes may contribute to renal function variation.

Methods: Genotyping for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these candidate genes was performed in 2,847 participants from four racial/ethnic groups (African American, Chinese, White and Hispanic) without known cardiovascular disease in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. SNP and haplotype analyses were performed to determine associations between genotypes and cross-sectional renal function measurements, including urine albumin excretion (UAE) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using serum creatinine and cystatin C.

Cropland carbon fluxes in the United States: increasing geospatial resolution of inventory-based carbon accounting.

Net annual soil carbon change, fossil fuel emissions from cropland production, and cropland net primary production were estimated and spatially distributed using land cover defined by NASA's moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) and by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) cropland data layer (CDL). Spatially resolved estimates of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) were developed. The purpose of generating spatial estimates of carbon fluxes, and the primary objective of this research, was to develop a method of carbon accounting that is consistent from field to national scales.

Abdominal adiposity in rheumatoid arthritis: association with cardiometabolic risk factors and disease characteristics.

Objective: Abdominal adiposity, especially visceral adiposity, is emerging as a recognized cardiometabolic risk factor. This study was undertaken to investigate how abdominal fat is distributed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and its RA-related determinants.

Methods: Men and women with RA were compared with non-RA controls from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

An assessment of clinical interchangeability of TEG and RoTEM thromboelastographic variables in cardiac surgical patients.

Background: Bedside thromboelastography is increasingly used, but an assessment of the clinical interchangeability of the 2 major systems, TEG (Hemoscope) and RoTEM (Pentapharm), has not been performed.

Methods: We measured blood samples from 46 cardiac surgical patients after induction of anesthesia with kaolin TEG(R) (kaoTEG), native TEG(R) (natTEG), intrinsic RoTEM (inTEM), and extrinsic RoTEM (exTEM). Each measurement consisted of reaction time (R), coagulation time (K), maximum amplitude (MA), and angle (alpha).

Monitoring stress and recovery: new insights for the prevention of injuries and illnesses in elite youth soccer players.

Objective: Elite youth soccer players have a relatively high risk for injuries and illnesses due to increased physical and psychosocial stress. The aim of this study is to investigate how measures to monitor stress and recovery, and its analysis, provide useful information for the prevention of injuries and illnesses in elite youth soccer players.

Methods: 53 elite soccer players between 15 and 18 years of age participated in this study.

In-vitro orthodontic bond strength testing: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: The aims of this study were to systematically review the available literature regarding in-vitro orthodontic shear bond strength testing and to analyze the influence of test conditions on bond strength.

Methods: Our data sources were Embase and Medline. Relevant studies were selected based on predefined criteria.

Development of dribbling in talented youth soccer players aged 12-19 years: a longitudinal study.

The aims of the current study were to assess the development and determine the underlying mechanisms of sprinting and dribbling needed to compete at the highest level in youth soccer. Talented soccer players aged 12-19 years (n = 267) were measured on a yearly basis in a longitudinal study over 7 years, resulting in 519 measurements. Two field tests, the Shuttle Sprint and Dribble Test and the Slalom Sprint and Dribble Test, were assessed.

Factors associated with phantom limb pain: a 31/2-year prospective study.

Objective: To analyse the prevalence of phantom (limb) pain over time and to analyse factors associated with phantom (limb) pain in a prospective cohort of amputees.

Design: A multicentre longitudinal study.

Patients: One hundred and thirty-four patients scheduled for amputation were included.

Elevated urinary free and deconjugated catecholamines after consumption of a catecholamine-rich diet.

Context: The biochemical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma depends on the demonstration of elevated levels of catecholamines (i.e. epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine) and their metabolites.

Genome-wide association study identifies GPC5 as a novel genetic locus protective against sudden cardiac arrest.

Background: Existing studies indicate a significant genetic component for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) provide an unbiased approach for identification of novel genes. We performed a GWAS to identify genetic determinants of SCA.

Methodology/principal Findings: We used a case-control design within the ongoing Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study (Oregon-SUDS).

Behavioural problems in young children with language problems.

Objective: Analysis of behavioural problems in young children with language problems.

Materials And Methods: From 38 children diagnosed with a language problem, the opinion of the parents about the behaviour of their child, scored by the Child Behaviour Checklist 1.5-5 was compared with the behavioural problems in the Dutch population with the Chi-square test.

Association of scavenger receptor class B type I polymorphisms with subclinical atherosclerosis: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background: Little is known about the association of scavenger receptor class B type I (SCARB1) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and subclinical atherosclerosis, particularly in subjects of different racial/ethnic backgrounds. We examined this relationship in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Methods And Results: Forty-three SCARB1-tagging SNPs were genotyped.

Left ventricular structure and function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective: Heart failure is a major contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but little is known about myocardial structure and function in this population. This study was undertaken to assess the factors associated with progression to heart failure in patients with RA.

Methods: With the use of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, measures of myocardial structure and function were assessed in men and women with RA enrolled in the Evaluation of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease and Predictors of Events in Rheumatoid Arthritis study, a cohort study of subclinical cardiovascular disease in patients with RA, in comparison with non-RA control subjects from a cohort enrolled in the Baltimore Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Increased prevalence of carotid artery atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis is artery-specific.

Objective: Cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality are increased in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Prior investigations of the association of RA with measures of carotid atherosclerosis have yielded conflicting results. We compared carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) of both the common carotid (CCA) and proximal internal carotid (bulb-ICA) arteries, and plaque prevalence, between RA and non-RA participants.

The analysis of longitudinal quality of life measures with informative drop-out: a pattern mixture approach.

Purpose: The analysis of longitudinal health-related quality of life measures (HRQOL) can be seriously hampered due to informative drop-out. Random effects models assume Missing At Random and do not take into account informative drop-out. We therefore aim to correct the bias due to informative drop-out.

Self-assessed tactical skills in elite youth soccer players: a longitudinal study.

Self-assessed tactical skills were investigated among 191 youth soccer players from ages 14 through 18 playing in different field positions. On a yearly basis, all players completed the Tactical Skills Inventory for Sports with scales for attacking and defensive situations and for declarative and procedural knowledge. A model to assess whether tactical skills change over time in each field position was developed using multilevel analysis.

COL4A1 is associated with arterial stiffness by genome-wide association scan.

Background: Pulse wave velocity (PWV), a noninvasive index of central arterial stiffness, is a potent predictor of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Heritability and linkage studies have pointed toward a genetic component affecting PWV. We conducted a genome-wide association study to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with PWV.