Genetic variation and pesticide exposure influence blood DNA methylation signatures in females with early-stage Parkinson's disease

Although sex, genetics, and exposures can individually influence risk for sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD), the joint contributions of these factors to the epigenetic etiology of PD have not been comprehensively assessed. Here, we profiled sex-stratified genome-wide blood DNAm patterns, SNP genotype, and pesticide exposure in agricultural workers (71 early-stage PD cases, 147 controls) and explored replication in three independent samples of varying demographics (n = 218, 222, and 872). Using a region-based approach, we found more associations of blood DNAm with PD in females (69 regions) than in males (2 regions, Δβadj| ≥0.03, padj ≤ 0.05). For 48 regions in females, models including genotype or genotype and pesticide exposure substantially improved in explaining interindividual variation in DNAm (padj ≤ 0.05), and accounting for these variables decreased the estimated effect of PD on DNAm. The results suggested that genotype, and to a lesser degree, genotype-exposure interactions contributed to variation in PD-associated DNAm. Our findings should be further explored in larger study populations and in experimental systems, preferably with precise measures of exposure.

The efficacy of narrative exposure therapy in a sample of Iranian women exposed to ongoing intimate partner violence-A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

The mental health needs of women affected by intimate partner violence (IPV) and living under continuous domestic violence are currently not well understood. The present study investigates the feasibility and efficacy of narrative exposure therapy (NET), compared with commonly used counselling (treatment-as-usual, TAU), in a group of currently IPV-affected women in Tehran, Iran.

METHOD

Forty-five IPV-affected women with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were randomized to 10 to 12 sessions of either NET (n = 24) or TAU (n = 21). Primary outcome measures, including PTSD, depression, and perceived stress symptoms, were examined at pretreatment and 3- and 6-month follow-ups. IPV experiences, general lifetime traumatic events, childhood adversities, borderline symptoms, and daily functioning impairment were also inspected.

RESULTS

NET participants showed a significantly greater symptom reduction in comparison with the TAU group in PTSD, depression, and perceived stress at both follow-ups. Improvement in daily functioning and reduction of IPV experiences and borderline symptoms at 3- and 6-month follow-ups were pronounced but not significantly different between the two treatment groups.

CONCLUSION

IPV-affected women living under continuous threat and violence would benefit from trauma-focused interventions such as NET.

An xQTL map integrates the genetic architecture of the human brain's transcriptome and epigenome

We report a multi-omic resource generated by applying quantitative trait locus (xQTL) analyses to RNA sequence, DNA methylation and histone acetylation data from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of 411 older adults who have all three data types. We identify SNPs significantly associated with gene expression, DNA methylation and histone modification levels. Many of these SNPs influence multiple molecular features, and we demonstrate that SNP effects on RNA expression are fully mediated by epigenetic features in 9% of these loci. Further, we illustrate the utility of our new resource, xQTL Serve, by using it to prioritize the cell type(s) most affected by an xQTL. We also reanalyze published genome wide association studies using an xQTL-weighted analysis approach and identify 18 new schizophrenia and 2 new bipolar susceptibility variants, which is more than double the number of loci that can be discovered with a larger blood-based expression eQTL resource.

Type I interferon signaling genes in recurrent major depression: increased expression detected by whole-blood RNA sequencing

A study of genome-wide gene expression in major depressive disorder (MDD) was undertaken in a large population-based sample to determine whether altered expression levels of genes and pathways could provide insights into biological mechanisms that are relevant to this disorder. Gene expression studies have the potential to detect changes that may be because of differences in common or rare genomic sequence variation, environmental factors or their interaction. We recruited a European ancestry sample of 463 individuals with recurrent MDD and 459 controls, obtained self-report and semi-structured interview data about psychiatric and medical history and other environmental variables, sequenced RNA from whole blood and genotyped a genome-wide panel of common single-nucleotide polymorphisms. We used analytical methods to identify MDD-related genes and pathways using all of these sources of information. In analyses of association between MDD and expression levels of 13 857 single autosomal genes, accounting for multiple technical, physiological and environmental covariates, a significant excess of low P-values was observed, but there was no significant single-gene association after genome-wide correction. Pathway-based analyses of expression data detected significant association of MDD with increased expression of genes in the interferon α/β signaling pathway. This finding could not be explained by potentially confounding diseases and medications (including antidepressants) or by computationally estimated proportions of white blood cell types. Although cause-effect relationships cannot be determined from these data, the results support the hypothesis that altered immune signaling has a role in the pathogenesis, manifestation, and/or the persistence and progression of MDD.

Quality of Life and the Associated Psychological Factors in Caregivers of Children with PKU

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of this study was to investigate the association of psychological factors and life stressors with quality of life in caregivers of children with PKU.

METHODS

Participants were caregivers of children with PKU who were referred to a child and adolescent consultation-liaison psychiatry clinic for a clinical follow up. Their demographic characteristics were recorded at first. WHOQOL-BREF and Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS) were used to assess quality of life, depression, anxiety and stress in participants. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-11.5 statistical software.

RESULTS

A total number of 49 caregivers were enrolled for the study. The mean age of participants and their children were 35.63±8.82, and 9.84±6.62 respectively. Of the participants, 59.2% were mothers and 40.8% were fathers. Of the children, 51% were girls and 49% were boys. According to the results, 57.1, 50.1 and 57.1 percent of the participants had mild to severe levels of depression, anxiety and stress scores respectively. The most associated factors with quality of life were as follows: caregivers' occupation; anxiety; and depression mean scores.

CONCLUSION

Results of the current study showed that caregivers of children with PKU have lower levels of quality of life in comparison with the general population; and the most correlated factors with quality of life were the caregivers' occupation (especially unemployment), and high levels of depression and anxiety.

A neural network based approach for inference and verification of transcriptional regulatory interactions

In this paper, we present a comprehensive neural network based modeling and validation framework for reverse engineering gene regulatory interactions. We employ two approaches, Gene Set Stochastic Sampling and Sensitivity Analysis, to infer these interactions. We first apply these methods to a simulated artificial dataset to ensure their correctness and accuracy. True biological interactions are then modeled by analyzing a rat hippocampus development dataset. Finally, we present a thorough computational methodology to test the validity and robustness of the inferred regulations through novel assemblies of relevant testing datasets.

Antihypertensive and antihyperlipidemic effects of Achillea wilhelmsii

Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch (Asteraceae) is widely found in different parts of Iran. This plant is full of flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones, which have been shown to be effective in lowering blood lipids and hypertension. We conducted a double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial to study the antihyperlipidemic and antihypertensive effects of Achillea drops. We randomly selected 120 men and women, aged 40-60 years, and divided them in two distinct groups of moderate hyperlipidemic and primary hypertensive subjects. They were treated either with hydroalcoholic extract or with placebo in the form of 15-20 drops twice daily for more than 6 months. Blood pressure and serum lipids (total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol) were measured in the groups for 3 periods of 2 months each. The mean and standard deviation of alternations in these variables between the group taking placebo and that taking drugs was calculated by Student's t-test. The results showed a significant decrease in triglycerides after of 2 months while decreases in triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were significant after 4 months. Levels of HDL-cholesterol were significantly increased after 6 months' treatment. A significant decrease was observed in diastolic and systolic blood pressure after 2 and 6 months, respectively (p < 0.05).

Influence of acebutolol and metoprolol on cardiac output and regional blood flow in rats

Beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs are widely used as effective antihypertensive and antianginal agents. We have determined the effect of beta-blockade in the rat to ascertain whether there are differences between metoprolol (MET) and acebutolol (AC) with respect to regional blood flow (RBF). Both AC and MET were administered as a single or multiple intravenous (iv) doses in Sprague-Dawley rats. Microspheres labelled with (85)Sr and (141)Ce were used to measure cardiac output (CO) and RBF before and after drug administration. CO and RBF were measured 1 and 10 min after the i.v. administration of AC (30 mg/kg) and MET (10 mg/kg). After acute administration of MET, CO decreased by 65% and 31% after 1 and 10 min measurements, respectively. These values were 54% and 28% for AC as compared with baseline values. After chronic administration of either AC or MET, however, there were no significant reductions in CO as compared with saline. Both MET and AC significantly reduced RBF in most organs either after 1 or 10 min measurements when compared with the baseline values. It is concluded that both AC and MET reduced CO and RBF after acute administration. The CO and RBF however, returned to normal after chronic administration.

Secular trends in cardiovascular mortality in Iran, with special reference to Isfahan

OBJECTIVE

There has been a general decline in mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in most of the developed countries since the beginning of the 1970s. Still, in recent years developing countries have seen an increasing frequency in CVD mortality. However, mortality rate studies in these populations are scarce. Here we report all-cause and CVD mortality rates for men and women aged 25-74 years over a 16-year period in 24 cities in Iran with special reference to the city of Isfahan.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The study was based on national death records using the ninth international classification of diseases and age standardization was performed using the total population of Iran in 1985 as a standard. Due to limitations in available data, mortality rates for the specific categories of CVD for the whole country could not be provided. The in-hospital death rates following myocardial infarction in coronary care units (CCUs) and cardiology departments in Isfahan hospitals were also assessed. The completed medical records from hospitals or the relatives of decedents were reviewed by physicians certified in internal medicine, cardiology and neurology to assess the reliability of death certificate data regarding CVD by determining the sensitivity and specificity of the death certificates against the standard of the reviewers. The official circulatory diseases proportional mortality ratio continues to rise since 1981 with a steep increase since 1987, constituting 26.6% and 47.3% of all deaths in 1981 and 1995, respectively. Age-adjusted all-cause and CVD mortality data were decreasing since 1981 and increasing since 1990. During those years age-adjusted CVD, stroke and other CVD mortality rates were decreasing in Isfahan with a slight increase in ischaemic heart disease (IHD) death rates in both sexes. Mortality rates based on sex showed a 38% and 24.8% decline in all-cause and CVD mortality in men between 1981 to 1995, and a 35% and 34.9% decline for female mortality rates for the same period, respectively. The in-hospital death rate following myocardial infarction in Isfahan was increasing between 1993 and 1995 with a slight decrease thereafter. The results of death certification assessment showed a specificity of 0.89 and a sensitivity of 0.43 with the positive and negative predictive values of 0.82 and 0.57, respectively.

CONCLUSION

These data indicate that circulatory diseases remain a serious public health threat in Iran. It suggests the ongoing need for more regular, systematic and innovative surveillance data to improve the capability of measuring, explaining and predicting the disease trend on which the national public health policy depends.

Prevalence of hypertension and associated risk factors in Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran

A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine the mean levels of blood pressure and prevalence rates of hypertension and to identify differences in the prevalence of other risk factors in hypertensive and nonhypertensive people. A total of 8624 men and women > or = 19 years were randomly selected. Overall, 18.0% (16.8% males and 19.4% females) had systemic hypertension. The mean levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and the prevalence of hypertension increased with age, but no significant differences were found between the sexes when adjusted for body mass index. There was a high prevalence of obesity, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes mellitus among hypertensive people compared with nonhypertensive. Our study suggests that the prevalence of hypertension in Isfahan is greater than supposed.

Obstruction of upper airways complicating tracheostomy and use of neodymium Yag laser

Mucoid impaction of tracheobronchial tree is a common condition which may complicate tracheostomy. Here we describe a case of a 72-year-old man, status after tracheostomy, who presented to the hospital with an acute upper airways obstruction and respiratory arrest due to a tracheal cast. The cast was successfully dislodged by the Nd-Yag laser.

Intermediate alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency with apical lung bullae and spontaneous pneumothorax. Presence of a Z variant in an American black

A 43-year-old black man had an 18-year history of apical lung cystic-bullous disease. Following two episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax and two instances of thoracotomy for bullectomy and pleural abrasion, he was found to have an intermediate AAT deficiency with an MZ phenotype. It is believed that this is the first case of localized bullous lung disease to be reported in association with any degree of AAT deficiency. There is evidence that the cystic lesions progressed to form upper lobe bullae. It is postulated that the AAT deficiency may have played a role in this progression, as did the patient's cigarette smoking. Following two instances of surgery, CT scans of the lungs, compliance studies and complete pulmonary function tests show no further evidence of lung bullae or emphysema. The rarity of the Z variant of AAT in blacks is discussed.