Modifying effects of resting heart rate on the association of binge drinking with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in older Korean men: the Kangwha Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Although binge drinking and high resting heart rate independently affect cardiovascular and all-cause mortality risk, the combined effect of these two risk factors and their interaction has rarely been studied. This study examined the association between binge drinking and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality and evaluated the potential modifying effect on this association of resting heart rate in Korean men. METHODS: Men aged 55 years or older in 1985 (n = 2600) were followed for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality for 20.8 years, until 2005. We estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality by binge drinking and resting heart rate using the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Heavy binge drinkers (≥12 drinks on one occasion) with elevated resting heart rate (≥80 bpm) had a HR of 2.25 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.47-3.45) for death from cardiovascular disease and 1.37 (95% CI, 0.87-2.14) for all-cause mortality compared to the reference group (non-drinking and resting heart rate 61-79 bpm). The HRs of dying from cardiovascular disease increased linearly from 1.36 to 1.52, 1.71, and 2.25 among individuals with resting heart rate greater than or equal to 80 bpm within the four alcohol consumption categories (non-drinking, non-binge, moderate binge, and heavy binge), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that, among older Korean men, heavy binge drinkers with an elevated resting heart rate are at high risk for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality

Genome-wide association analysis identifies six new loci associated with forced vital capacity

Forced vital capacity (FVC), a spirometric measure of pulmonary function, reflects lung volume and is used to diagnose and monitor lung diseases. We performed genome-wide association study meta-analysis of FVC in 52,253 individuals from 26 studies and followed up the top associations in 32,917 additional individuals of European ancestry. We found six new regions associated at genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10−8) with FVC in or near EFEMP1, BMP6, MIR129-2–HSD17B12, PRDM11, WWOX and KCNJ2. Two loci previously associated with spirometric measures (GSTCD and PTCH1) were related to FVC. Newly implicated regions were followed up in samples from African-American, Korean, Chinese and Hispanic individuals. We detected transcripts for all six newly implicated genes in human lung tissue. The new loci may inform mechanisms involved in lung development and the pathogenesis of restrictive lung disease

Uncovering the complex genetics of human temperament

Experimental studies of learning suggest that human temperament may depend on the molecular mechanisms for associative conditioning, which are highly conserved in animals. The main genetic pathways for associative conditioning are known in experimental animals, but have not been identified in prior genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of human temperament. We used a data-driven machine learning method for GWAS to uncover the complex genotypic-phenotypic networks and environmental interactions related to human temperament. In a discovery sample of 2149 healthy Finns, we identified sets of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that cluster within particular individuals (i.e., SNP sets) regardless of phenotype. Second, we identified 3 clusters of people with distinct temperament profiles measured by the Temperament and Character Inventory regardless of genotype. Third, we found 51 SNP sets that identified 736 gene loci and were significantly associated with temperament. The identified genes were enriched in pathways activated by associative conditioning in animals, including the ERK, PI3K, and PKC pathways. 74% of the identified genes were unique to a specific temperament profile. Environmental influences measured in childhood and adulthood had small but significant effects. We confirmed the replicability of the 51 Finnish SNP sets in healthy Korean (90%) and German samples (89%), as well as their associations with temperament. The identified SNPs explained nearly all the heritability expected in each sample (37-53%) despite variable cultures and environments. We conclude that human temperament is strongly influenced by more than 700 genes that modulate associative conditioning by molecular processes for synaptic plasticity and long-term memory.Peer reviewe

The Recognition of and Care Seeking Behaviour for Childhood Illness in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review

Background: Pneumonia, diarrhoea, and malaria are among the leading causes of death in children. These deaths are largely preventable if appropriate care is sought early. This review aimed to determine the percentage of caregivers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with a child less than 5 years who were able to recognise illness in their child and subsequently sought care from different types of healthcare providers. Methods and Findings: We conducted a systematic literature review of studies that reported recognition of, and/or care seeking for episodes of diarrhoea, pneumonia or malaria in LMICs. The review is registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42011001654). Ninety-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Eighteen studies reported data on caregiver recognition of disease and seventy-seven studies on care seeking. The median sensitivity of recognition of diarrhoea, malaria and pneumonia was low (36.0%, 37.4%, and 45.8%, respectively). A median of 73.0% of caregivers sought care outside the home. Care seeking from community health workers (median: 5.4% for diarrhoea, 4.2% for pneumonia, and 1.3% for malaria) and the use of oral rehydration therapy (median: 34%) was low. Conclusions: Given the importance of this topic to child survival programmes there are few published studies. Recognition of diarrhoea, malaria and pneumonia by caregivers is generally poor and represents a key factor to address in attempts to improve health care utilisation. In addition, considering that oral rehydration therapy has been widely recommended for over forty years, its use remains disappointingly low. Similarly, the reported levels of care seeking from community health workers in the included studies are low even though global action plans to address these illnesses promote community case management. Giving greater priority to research on care seeking could provide crucial evidence to inform child mortality programmes

Results of detection of yield, physical and chemical characteristics and freshness of the Mongolian mare milk

To deepen understandings on changes in mare milk yield and composition along with lactation,  physico-chemical characteristics and freshness of raw mare milk this study was conducted. The first  trial on the change in mare milk yield and composition was conducted along with different lactation  period using 7 adult mares. Milk yield was determined volumetrically after 2 hour foal separation.  Hand milking with milk ejection by foal was applied. Milk yield reached at peak in August which  corresponds to around 90th days of lactation. Lactose content reaches its max value at 90th day of  lactation also and it remains as high as its peak until the milking season ends while the yield was  decreased significantly (p≤0.05). Fat and protein contents were gradually decreased to the end of  milking season. To conduct quality evaluation of raw mare milk it is vitally important to know  physico-chemical characteristics. To clarify did this second trial in comparison with cow milk.  Results were indicated that pH value is higher in mare milk and acidity and viscosity is lower in mare  milk than those in cow milk. A hygienically obtained mare milk samples were used in this experiment.  Acidity, pH and Total Bacterial Counts were monitored with the reference to raw horse milk standard  of Mongolia. The results were indicated that hygienically obtained mare milk can be kept for 12 hours  at room temp. In case of refrigerated condition it kept its acceptable freshness up 10 days of storage. &#x0D; Монгол гүүний саамны гарц, найрлага, физик-химийн шинж чанар, шинэлэг байдлыг тодорхойлсон дүн&#x0D; Хураангуй: Монгол гүүний саалийн хугацаанд (6-10-р саруудад) саамны гарц, найрлага түүний физик-химийн үзүүлэлт, хадгалалтын нөхцөл саамны шинэлэг байдалд хэрхэн нөлөөлөхийгтодорхойлох зорилгоор энэхүү судалгааны ажлыг хийж гүйцэтгэлээ. Судалгаанд 7-12 насны 7 гүүг ашиглав. Саамны гарц лактацийн 90 дэх хоногт хамгийн өндөр,120 болон 150 дах хоногуудад гарцын хэмжээ буурсан хэдий ч лактозын агууламж тогтворжиж байв. Физик-химийн зарим үзүүлэлтийг тодруулахын тулд үнээний сүүтэй харьцуулахад гүүний саам нь исгэлэн, рН, өнгө, урсанги чанар зэрэг үзүүлэлтүүдээр ялгаатай байв. Саамыг хадгалалтын хоёр өөр нөхцөл, хэмд хадгалж туршихад тасалгааны нөхцөлд 12 цаг хүртэл, хөргүүрийн нөхцөлд 10 хоног хүртэл шинэлэг байдал нь хадгалагдаж чадаж байлаа.&#x0D; Түлхүүр үг: Хадгалалт, саамны өнгө, саамны уураг, саамны лактоз</jats:p