Project description:ObjectiveTo investigate the gut microbiota differences of obese children compared with the control healthy cohort to result in further understanding of the mechanism of obesity development.MethodsWe evaluated the 16S rRNA gene, the enterotypes, and quantity of the gut microbiota among obese children and the control cohort and learned the differences of the gut microbiota during the process of weight reduction in obese children.ResultsIn the present study, we learned that the gut microbiota composition was significantly different between obese children and the healthy cohort. Next we found that functional changes, including the phosphotransferase system, ATP-binding cassette transporters, flagellar assembly, and bacterial chemotaxis were overrepresented, while glycan biosynthesis and metabolism were underrepresented in case samples. Moreover, we learned that the amount of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus increased among the obese children during the process of weight reduction.ConclusionOur results might enrich the research between gut microbiota and obesity and further provide a clinical basis for therapy for obesity. We recommend that Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus might be used as indicators of healthy conditions among obese children, as well as a kind of prebiotic and probiotic supplement in the diet to be an auxiliary treatment for obesity.
Project description:Background. Insulin induced gene 2 (INSIG2) encodes a protein that has a biological effect on regulation of adipocyte metabolism and body weight. This study aimed to investigate the association of INSIG2 gene -102G>A polymorphism with obesity related phenotypes in Chinese children and test gender-specific effects. Methods. The 2,030 independent individuals aged from 7 to 18 years, including 705 obese cases and 1,325 nonobese controls, were recruited from local schools. We measured the obesity-related phenotypes and detected the serum lipids. We genotype -102G>A polymorphism by using the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Results. In all individuals, we found that the GG/GA genotype of INSIG2 -102G>A polymorphism was associated with risk of severe obesity (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.11-2.36, and P = 0.012) under the dominant model. The association with severe obesity existed only in boys (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.15-3.17, P = 0.012). The GG/GA genotype of -102G>A polymorphism was also associated with higher waist circumference (β = 2.61 cm, P = 0.031) in boys. No similar association was found in girls. The polymorphism was not associated with other obesity-related phenotypes, neither in all individuals nor in gender-specific population. Conclusions. This study identified a gender-specific effect of INSIG2 -102G>A polymorphism on risk of severe obesity and waist circumference in Chinese boys.
Project description:Neuroblastoma (NB) is a kind of childhood cancer that is a prevailing and deadly solid neoplasm among pediatric malignancies. The transcriptional output of MIR938 is capable of participating in the posttranscriptional modulation of gene expression, whereby it exerts its regulatory effect by modulating both the stability and translation of target mRNAs. Previous studies showed that MIR938 was associated with many cancers. Hence, functional genetic variants in the MIR938 can be attributed to NB risk. We recruited 402 neuroblastoma patients and 473 controls from the Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University and genotyped one MIR938 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs2505901 T>C). There were significant associations between the rs2505901 T>C and NB risk [CC vs. TT: adjusted odds ratio (OR)=1.90, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.02-3.55, P=0.045; CC vs. TT/TC: adjusted OR=2.02, 95% CI=1.09-3.75, P=0.026]. This analysis of genotypes revealed that T>C increased the risk of NB. Some borderline significant different relationships were observed in the stratified analyses: age≤18 months (adjusted OR=2.95, 95% CI=0.92-9.51, P=0.070), male sex (adjusted OR=2.19, 95% CI=0.95-5.08, P=0.067), and clinical stage III+IV (adjusted OR=2.12, 95% CI=0.98-4.56, P=0.055). This study revealed that the MIR938 rs2505901 T>C polymorphism may be a potential risk factor for neuroblastoma in Chinese children. In the long term, conducting large and diverse sample studies from different ethnicities will indeed be crucial in determining the role of MIR938 polymorphisms in NB risk. By including individuals from various ethnic backgrounds, researchers can account for potential genetic variations that may exist between populations.
Project description:ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the association of dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) polymorphism and alleviation of obesity in children and adolescents after 8-year follow-up.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included obese children and adolescents with a follow-up period of 8 years. Baseline clinical characteristics and DRD2 polymorphisms (including rs1076562, rs2075654, and rs4586205) were extracted from medical records. A follow-up visit was performed in May 2017 to collect related data including height, weight, diet compliance, and exercise compliance.ResultsOne hundred and nine obese children and adolescents were included in the current study. Among three DRD2 single nucleotide polymorphisms, only rs2075654 had a statistically significant association with alleviation of obesity, as the alleviation rate for minor allele carriers (68.6% for TC+TT) was higher compared to the major allele homozygote (43.3% for CC). After adjusting for all related factors, the hazard ratio of rs2075654 minor allele carriers for the alleviation of obesity was 3.34 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.30‒8.58).ConclusionsThe rs2075654 polymorphism of DRD2 is related to long-term obesity alleviation in obese Chinese children and adolescents.
Project description:Hepatic lipase (LIPC) is a key rate-limiting enzyme in lipoprotein catabolism pathways involved in the development of obesity. The C-514T polymorphism in the promoter region is associated with decreased LIPC activity. We performed a case-controlled study (850 obese children and 2119 controls) and evaluated the association between LIPC C-514T polymorphism, obesity and plasma lipid profile in Chinese children and adolescents. Additionally, we conducted a meta-analysis of all results from published studies as well as our own data. A significant association between the polymorphism and obesity is observed in boys (P = 0.042), but not in girls. And we observed a significant relationship of the polymorphism with total cholesterol (TC) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) independent of obesity in boys. The T allele carriers have higher levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in obese boys, and triglyceride (TG), TC and LDL-C in non-obese girls (all P < 0.05). In the meta-analysis, under dominant model the T allele increased body mass index (BMI) level in boys, while it decreased BMI in girls, and increased the levels of TC both in the overall and subgroups, TG and HDL-C in the overall and boys, and LDL-C in the overall (all P < 0.05). Our results suggest that the T allele might carry an increased risk of obesity in Chinese boys. The meta-analysis suggests that T allele acts as a risk allele for higher BMI levels in male childhood, while it is a protective allele in female childhood. And the polymorphism is associated with the levels of plasma lipids, which may be modulated by obesity and gender.
Project description:A genome-wide association study (GWAS) in the Han Chinese population had found that single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on the CMTM7 gene rs347134 was significantly associated with Body Mass Index (BMI). In the present study, the association of the rs347134 SNP with obesity and its interaction with dietary patterns (DPs) were explored in Han Chinese children. This cross-sectional study group included 1292 children, in whom obesity-related indicators were evaluated, the rs347134 SNP was genotyped by improved Multiple Ligase Detection Reaction (iMLDR), and the DPs were identified by principal component factor analysis. The GG genotype exhibited higher odds of general overweight/obesity (P = 0.038) and central obesity (P = 0.039) than AA+GA genotypes in boys. Four DPs of boys were identified: healthy balanced (HBDP), nuts and sweets-based (NSDP), animal food-based (AFDP), and wheaten and dairy-based (WDDP). Boys with the GG genotype were significantly more inclined to AFDP (P = 0.028) and had a shorter sleep duration (P = 0.031). Significant interactions were observed; boys with the GG genotype displayed a higher LDL in AFDP (P = 0.031) and higher FBG in NSDP (P = 0.038), respectively. Our findings indicate for the first time that the GG genotype of CMTM7 rs347134 is potentially a novel obesity risk factor for Han Chinese male children and is associated with dietary patterns more or less.
Project description:BackgroundWilms' tumor (WT) is the most common malignant renal tumor in children. Previous studies suggested the reversion-inducing, cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) down-regulation might have a role in numerous human cancers. The current study was done to investigate the associations of RECK single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the WT susceptibility in Chinese children.Material and methodsWe analyzed 2 SNPs (rs10972727 and rs11788747) in a total of 97 WT children and 194 healthy matched controls (1:2 ratio) by real-time PCR and PCR-RFLP genotyping analysis.ResultsWe found that the G allele of rs11788747 in the RECK gene was significantly associated with WT in Chinese children (OR=0.7, 95% CI: 0.45-0.99; P=0.042); as with another SNP rs10972727, however, no statistically significant difference was detected. Further analysis showed there was also a statistically significant difference in genotype frequencies between terminal tumor stage (P=0.026) and metastatic groups (P=0.002).ConclusionsThe present data indicate that there is a significant association between mutant G of rs11788747 in RECK and WT risk. G carriers with advanced tumor stage or with metastasis might have an increased risk of WT.
Project description:Obesity develops early in childhood and is accompanied by early signs of adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction and metabolic disease in children. In order to analyse the molecular processes during obesity-related AT accumulation in children, we investigated genome-wide expression profiles in AT samples, isolated adipocytes, and stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells and assessed their relation to obesity as well as biological and functional AT parameters. We detected alterations in gene expression associated with obesity and related parameters, i.e., BMI SDS, adipocyte size, macrophage infiltration, adiponectin, and/or leptin. While differential gene expression in AT and adipocytes shared an enrichment in metabolic pathways and pathways related to extracellular structural organisation, SVF cells showed an overrepresentation in inflammatory pathways. In adipocytes, we found the strongest positive association for epidermal growth factor-like protein 6 (EGFL6) with adipocyte hypertrophy. EGFL6 was also upregulated during in vitro adipocyte differentiation. In children, EGFL6 expression was positively correlated to parameters of AT dysfunction and metabolic disease such as macrophage infiltration into AT, hs-CRP, leptin levels, and HOMA-IR. In conclusion, we provide evidence for early alterations in AT gene expression related to AT dysfunction in children and identified EGFL6 as potentially being involved in processes underlying the pathogenesis of metabolic disease.
Project description:Eating faster is related to more energy intake, but less is known about the relationships between children's eating speed, food intake and adiposity, especially in high school children. This study aimed to investigate the associations of eating speed with general and abdominal obesity among Chinese children basing on a national survey. A total of 50,037 children aged 7-17 years were enrolled from 7 provinces in China in 2013. Anthropometric indices were objectively measured. Data on eating speed were collected by questionnaires. Increasing trends across the slow, medium, and fast eating speed group were observed in the prevalence of general obesity (7.2%, 10.0% and 15.9%), abdominal obesity (16.1%, 21.8%, and 29.4%) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) ≥ 0.5 (11.1%, 14.8%, and 22.0%). Compared with medium eating speed, fast eating speed was positively associated with obesity, abdominal obesity, and WHtR ≥ 0.5 (odds ratios [ORs]: 1.51~1.61), while slow eating speed was negatively associated with these outcomes (ORs: 0.65~0.75). Increased trends of consumption of fruits, meat/meat conducts, sugar-sweetened beverages, fried food, and fast food were observed in pace with increasing eating speed (P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that eating speed is positively associated with childhood general and abdominal obesity, which may be an important, modifiable factor to prevent childhood obesity.