Growth references for height, weight and body mass index of twins aged 0-2.5 years

Aim: To determine the size of the growth deficit in Dutch monozygotic and dizygotic twins aged 0-2.5 years as compared to singletons and to construct reference growth charts for twins. Methods: Growth of twins was studied using longitudinal data on over 4000 twins aged 0-2.5 years of the Netherlands Twin Register. The LMS method was used to...

Genome-wide association of major depression: Description of samples for the GAIN Major Depressive Disorder Study: NTR and NESDA biobank projects

To identify the genomic regions that confer risk and protection for major depressive disorder (MDD) in humans, large-scale studies are needed. Such studies should collect multiple phenotypes, DNA, and ideally, biological material that allows gene expression analysis, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic studies. In this paper, we briefly...

Genetic influences on fibrinogen, tissue plasminogen activator-antigen and von Willebrand factor in males and females

Differences in genetic influence on death from CHD between males and females have been reported. Haemostatic factors have consistently been associated with risk for coronary heart disease (CHD), but sex differences in genetic architecture have not been studied. This study in middle-aged twins investigates whether there are sex differences in...

Groeidiagrammen voor lengte, gewicht en 'body mass index' van tweelingen in de peutertijd [Growth charts for height, weight and body-mass index of twins during infancy]

Objective. To determine the magnitude of the growth retardation in Dutch monozygotic and dizygotic twins during infancy in comparison with the Dutch reference growth charts for general population infants from 1997 and to construct reference growth charts for twins. Design. Descriptive. Method. The growth of twins was studied using longitudinal...

Genetics of dizygotic twinning: A feasibility study for a biobank

To locate the genes that make a substantial contribution to variation in natural dizygotic twinning in humans, large-scale studies are needed. New studies should not stop at DNA genotyping, but collect material that allow gene-expression analysis, transcriptomics, proteomics and endocrinology. In this article we describe a pilot study to examine...

Genetic study of the height and weight process during infancy

Longitudinal height and weight data from 4649 Dutch twin pairs between birth and 2.5 years of age were analyzed. The data were first summarized into parameters of a polynomial of degree 4 by a mixed-effects procedure. Next, the variation and covariation in the parameters of the growth curve (size at one year of age, growth velocity, deceleration...

Evidence for a QTL on chromosome 19 influencing LDL cholesterol levels in the general population

The genetic basis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) with its complex etiology is still largely elusive. Plasma levels of lipids and apolipoproteins are among the major quantitative risk factors for CVD and are well-established intermediate traits that may be more accessible to genetic dissection than clinical CVD end points. Chromosome 19 harbors...

Two-locus linkage analysis applied to putative quantitative trait loci for lipoprotein(a) levels

Plasma levels of lipoprotein(a) - Lp(a) - are associated with cardiovascular risk (Danesh et al., 2000) and were long believed to be influenced by the LPA locus on chromosome 6q27 only. However, a recent report of Broeckel et al. (2002) suggested the presence of a second quantitative trait locus on chromosome 1 influencing Lp(a) levels. Using a...

Genetic analysis of indicators of cholesterol synthesis and absorption: Lathosterol and phytosterols in Dutch twins and their parents

Significant familial aggregation was observed for plasma levels of lathosterol (an indicator of whole-body cholesterol synthesis) and plant sterols campesterol and β-sitosterol (indicators of cholesterol absorption) in 160 Dutch families consisting of adolescent mono- and dizygotic twin pairs and their parents. For lathosterol a moderate genetic...

The association between birth weight and plasma fibrinogen is abolished after the elimination of genetic influences

Low birth weight is associated with an increased risk of atherothrombosis, which may be related in part to the association between low birth weight and high plasma fibrinogen. The association between birth weight and fibrinogen may be explained by intrauterine, socio-economic or genetic factors. We examined birth weight and fibrinogen in 52...