Interplay of Mediterranean-diet adherence, genetic factors, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease risk in Korea.

BACKGROUNDS: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has gained attention owing to its severe complications. This study aimed to explore the interaction between Mediterranean-diet (MD) adherence, genetic factors, and MASLD risk in a Korean population. METHODS: In total, 33,133 individuals aged 40 years and older from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) were analyzed. Participants were assessed for MASLD based on criteria and MD adherence measured by the Korean version of the Mediterranean-Diet Adherence Screener (K-MEDAS). Individuals were categorized into two groups based on their MD adherence: high adherence (K-MEDAS > 6) and low adherence (K-MEDAS < 5). Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes were obtained using the Korea Biobank array. Logistic regression was used to examine the single-marker variants for genetic associations with MASLD prevalence. RESULTS: Individuals were categorized into MASLD (10,018 [30.2%]) and non-MASLD (23,115 [69.8%]) groups. A significant interaction was observed between the rs780094 glucokinase regulatory protein (GCKR) gene and K-MEDAS on MASLD (p < 10 - 2 ). Of individuals with K-MEDAS > 6, those carrying the minor allele (C) of the GCKR gene rs780094 exhibited a lower risk of MASLD compared to those without the allele (odds ratio [OR] = 0.88 [0.85-0.91], p-value = 5.54e-13). CONCLUSION: The study identified a significant interaction involving the rs780094 variant near the GCKR gene, with carriers of the minor allele exhibiting a lower MASLD risk among those adhering well to the MD. Dietary habits influence the MASLD risk associated with the rs780094 allele, emphasizing the need for personalized nutrition recommendations.

Genome-wide association of individual vulnerability with alcohol-associated liver disease: A Korean genome and epidemiology study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The quantity of alcohol leading to alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) varies individually. Genetic backgrounds contributing to the divergence in individual susceptibility to alcohol-induced liver damage have not been elucidated in detail. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Based on the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study Health Examination (KoGES_HEXA) cohort data, 21,919 participants (40-79 years old) were included and divided into cases and controls based on the ALD diagnostic criteria proposed by the American College of Gastroenterology. Data generated by a genome wide-association study were analyzed using logistic regression to assess the risk of ALD development in nondrinkers, light drinkers, and heavy drinkers. We detected three loci, gamma-glutamyltransferase 1 (GGT1), zinc protein finger 827 (ZNF827) and HNF1 homeobox A (HNF1A), which were significantly associated with ALD risk. The GGT1 rs2006227 minor allele was strongly associated with all groups. Among the minor alleles of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in HNF1A, rs1183910 had the strongest association with a protective effect from ALD in light drinkers. However, this association was not observed in heavy drinkers. Five SNPs on chromosome 11 showed suggestive significance in protective effects against ALD. CONCLUSIONS: SNPs, including HNF1A rs1183910 minor allele, are the most promising genetic candidates for protection against ALD. The expression of genes contributing to ALD development may be altered by the amount of alcohol consumed.

Serum leptin level and incidence of CKD: a longitudinal study of adult enrolled in the Korean genome and epidemiology study(KoGES).

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease(CKD) is a major public health issue and is highly prevalent in the general population. Leptin is an adipose tissue-derived endocrine factor that has been associated with several metabolic factors involved in cardiovascular diseases. Several studies have investigated the association between leptin and renal diseases so far. But the results are conflicting between the studies. The objective of our study was to verify the direct association of serum leptin level with CKD development. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 2646 adult aged 40-70 without CKD in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study(KoGES) across South Korea from November 2005 to February 2012. The primary outcome was the development of CKD as defined by National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI). Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was done to assess the independent associations, for with the incident of CKD as the dependent variable, in tertiles of leptin values. RESULTS: Among 1100 men and 1546 women with 2.8 mean years of follow-up, incidence of CKD was 18(1.63%) for men and 50(3.23%) for women. In the multivariate logistic regression models, individuals in the highest serum leptin tertile showed significant associations with risk of CKD after adjustment compared to the lowest tertiles in the population. The crude odds ratio for trend was 2.95(p = 0.004) for men. After adjusting for age, baseline eGFR variables showed correlation with statistical significance (OR for trend = 2.25, p = 0.037) for men. The same trends were also seen observed in all population and women also, but no statistical significance was found. CONCLUSIONS: Higher plasma leptin levels are associated with the incidence of CKD, independent of traditional factors such as age, baseline eGFR. Our results suggest that leptin may partly explain part of the reported association between obesity and kidney disease.

Association of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase gene polymorphism with obesity and lipid metabolism in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

The prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is higher than that among typically developing children and adolescents. However, very few studies have explored the genetic factors associated with obesity in children and adolescents with ASD. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the associations between 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) gene polymorphisms and obesity among children and adolescents with ASD. The study participants consisted of 33 children and adolescents with ASD and 271 age- and sex-matched typically developing controls. We compared the metabolic traits (body mass index, blood pressure, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, and fasting glucose levels) between the ASD and control group. Furthermore, we assessed the genotypes of rs12654264 in the HMGCR gene within the participants with ASD, and compared metabolic traits among the different allele subgroups. The mean body mass index (BMI) and triglyceride level of the ASD group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Within the ASD group, the triglyceride level of participants with rs12654264-T alleles was significantly higher than that of participants with A-alleles. A pattern of increasing values in the BMI and fasting glucose was also observed in participants with T allele. This is the first study to show that obesity in children and adolescents with ASD is associated with the cholesterol synthesis pathway. Future studies are needed to further clarify the molecular mechanisms by which the HMGCR gene influences metabolic traits.

Lifestage Sex-Specific Genetic Effects on Metabolic Disorders in an Adult Population in Korea: The Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.

Although many genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have evaluated the association with metabolic disorders, the current study is the first attempt to analyze the genetic risk factors for various metabolic disorders according to sex and age groups of the life course in Korean adults. A total population of 50,808 people were included in this GWAS. The genetic traits for eight metabolic phenotypes were investigated in peri-, and postmenopausal women compared to a younger group or men of corresponding age groups. The metabolic phenotypes include general obesity, abdominal obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypo-high-density lipoprotein cholesterolemia, and metabolic syndrome. In the total participants, GWAS results for eight metabolic phenotypes found 101 significant loci. Of these, 15 loci were the first reported to be associated with the risk of metabolic disorder. Interestingly, some of the significant loci presented the association with the various phenotypes, which presented when there was a correlation between phenotypes. In addition, we analyzed divided by gender and age (young adult, peri-menopausal group, older adult), and specifically identified specific loci in peri-menopausal women. Meanwhile, several genetic factors associated with metabolic disorders were newly reported in our study. In particular, several genes were significantly associated with one of the metabolic phenotypes in only a single specific group. These findings suggest that menopausal transition rather than aging itself potentiates the influence of genetic risks on metabolic disorders. In addition, some genetic loci with low frequencies may play a role in the metabolic disturbances in a specific sex and age group. The genetic traits derived from our study may contribute to understanding the genetic risk factors for metabolic disorders in the Korean population.

Identification of susceptibility loci for cardiovascular disease in adults with hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), and dyslipidemia (DL) are well-known risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but not all patients develop CVDs. Studies have been limited investigating genetic risk of CVDs specific to individuals with metabolic diseases. This study aimed to identify disease-specific and/or common genetic loci associated with CVD susceptibility in chronic metabolic disease patients. METHODS: We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of a multiple case-control design with data from the City Cohort within Health EXAminees subcohort of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES_HEXA). KoGES_HEXA is a population-based prospective cohort of 173,357 urban Korean adults that had health examinations at medical centers. 42,393 participants (16,309 HTN; 5,314 DM; 20,770 DL) were analyzed, and each metabolic disease group was divided into three CVD case-controls: coronary artery disease (CAD), ischemic stroke (IS), and cardio-cerebrovascular disease (CCD). GWASs were conducted for each case-control group with 7,975,321 imputed single nucleotide polymorphisms using the Phase 3 Asian panel from 1000 Genomes Project, by logistic regression and controlled for confounding variables. Genome-wide significant levels were implemented to identify important susceptibility loci. RESULTS: Totaling 42,393 individuals, this study included 16,309 HTN (mean age [SD], 57.28 [7.45]; 816 CAD, 398 IS, and 1,185 CCD cases), 5,314 DM (57.79 [7.39]; 361 CAD, 153 IS, and 497 CCD cases), and 20,770 DL patients (55.34 [7.63]; 768 CAD, 295 IS, and 1,039 CCD cases). Six genome-wide significant CVD risk loci were identified, with relatively large effect sizes: 1 locus in HTN (HTN-CAD: 17q25.3/CBX8-CBX4 [OR, 2.607; P = 6.37 × 10-9]), 2 in DM (DM-IS: 4q32.3/MARCH1-LINC01207 [OR, 5.587; P = 1.34 × 10-8], and DM-CCD: 17q25.3/RPTOR [OR, 3.511; P = 1.99 × 10-8]), and 3 in DL (DL-CAD: 9q22.2/UNQ6494-LOC101927847 [OR, 2.282; P = 7.78 × 10-9], DL-IS: 3p22.1/ULK4 [OR, 2.162; P = 2.97 × 10-8], and DL-CCD: 2p22.2/CYP1B1-CYP1B1-AS1 [OR, 2.027; P = 4.24 × 10-8]). CONCLUSIONS: This study identified 6 susceptibility loci and positional candidate genes for CVDs in HTN, DM, and DL patients using an unprecedented study design. 1 locus (17q25.3) was commonly associated with CAD. These associations warrant validation in additional studies for potential therapeutic applications.

Identifi cation of the Underlying Genetic Factors of Skin Aging in a Korean Population Study.

Genetic polymorphisms may affect the molecular mechanisms underlying determination of skin type. So far, several genetic studies have been reported; however, very few studies have been conducted to examine the relationship between genotype and skin phenotypes. In this study, the genome sequences of individuals tested for five cosmetic characteristics (wrinkles, moisture content, pigmentation, oil content, and ensitivity) were determined, and we also conducted five genome-wide association studies (GWASs) to identify predictive markers. Some single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within those genes were more frequent in individuals exhibiting stronger traits. GWASs revealed that two genome-wide significant SNPs within FCRL5 and OCA2 genes were associated with wrinkles and pigmentation, respectively (p < 5 × 10-8), and that genomewide SNPs in 21 genes (wrinkles: FCRL5, REEP3, ADSS, and SPTLC1; moisture: TBX4, TRPM3, CEMIP2, CTSH, and TTC39C; pigmentation: OCA2, NCLN, TNS1, CDC42BPA, HS3ST4, and UNCX; oil: SYN2, CNDP1, GAS6, INSR, and TNFRSF19; and sensitivity: CREB5) might be associated with five skin phenotypes. Among these, a genome-wide significant SNP (rs117381658) and the SNP located downstream of FCRL5, which encodes a member of the immunoglobulin receptor family, were associated with an increased risk of wrinkles (p = 1.52 × 10-8). The other genome-wide significant SNP (rs74653330) was associated with a decreased risk of pigmentation (p = 1.04 × 10-8), which is located in the coding region of OCA2 that encodes for a transporter of melanin. Our study reports genetic factors associated with skin cosmetology parameters in the Korean population. We hope our findings will provide a foundation for further genetic and molecular studies related to custom cosmetics. Based on these findings, the industry will be able to provide consumers with ingredients capable of palliating the lack of function associated in genes with SNPs.

Genome-wide association study of electrocardiographic parameters identifies a new association for PR interval and confirms previously reported associations.

Previous reports have described several associations of PR, QRS, QT and heart rate with genomic variations by genome-wide association studies (GWASs). In the present study, we examined the association of ∼2.5 million SNPs from 2994 Japanese healthy volunteers obtained from the JPDSC database with electrocardiographic parameters. We confirmed associations of PR interval, QRS duration and QT interval in individuals of Japanese ancestry with 11 of the 45 SNPs (6 of 20 for QT, 5 of 19 for PR and 0 of 6 for QRS) observed among individuals of European, African and Asian (Indian and Korean) ancestries. Those results indicate that many of the electrocardiographic associations with genes are shared by different ethnic groups including Japanese. Possible novel associations found in this study were validated by Korean data. As a result, we identified a novel association of SNP rs4952632[G] (maps near SLC8A1, sodium-calcium exchanger) (P = 7.595 × 10(-6)) with PR interval in Japanese individuals, and replication testing among Koreans confirmed the association of the same SNP with prolonged PR interval. Meta-analysis of the Japanese and Korean datasets demonstrated highly significant associations of SNP rs4952632[G] with a 2.325-ms (95% CI, 1.693-2.957 ms) longer PR interval per minor allele copy (P = 5.598 × 10(-13)). Cell-type-specific SLC8A1 knockout mice have demonstrated a regulatory role of sodium-calcium exchanger in automaticity and conduction in sinoatrial node, atrium and atrioventricular node. Our findings support a functional role of sodium-calcium exchanger in human atrial and atrioventricular nodal conduction as suggested by genetically modified mouse models.

Identification of three novel genetic variations associated with electrocardiographic traits (QRS duration and PR interval) in East Asians.

The electrocardiogram has several advantages in detecting cardiac arrhythmia-it is readily available, noninvasive and cost-efficient. Recent genome-wide association studies have identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms that are associated with electrocardiogram measures. We performed a genome-wide association study using Korea Association Resource data for the discovery phase (Phase 1, n = 6805) and two consecutive replication studies in Japanese populations (Phase 2, n = 2285; Phase 3, n = 5010) for QRS duration and PR interval. Three novel loci were identified: rs2483280 (PRDM16 locus) and rs335206 (PRDM6 locus) were associated with QRS duration, and rs17026156 (SLC8A1 locus) correlated with PR interval. PRDM16 was recently identified as a causative gene of left ventricular non-compaction and dilated cardiomyopathy in 1p36 deletion syndrome, which is characterized by heart failure, arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. Thus, our finding that a PRDM16 SNP is linked to QRS duration strongly implicates PRDM16 in cardiac function. In addition, C allele of rs17026156 increases PR interval (beta ± SE, 2.39 ± 0.40 ms) and exists far more frequently in East Asians (0.46) than in Europeans and Africans (0.05 and 0.08, respectively).

Habitual dietary intake of ß-carotene, vitamin C, folate, or vitamin E may interact with single nucleotide polymorphisms on brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in healthy adults.

PURPOSE: The interaction between genetics and diet may explain the present disagreement in the protective role of vitamin intake on cardiovascular disease. We cross-sectionally assessed the interaction of habitual dietary intake of ß-carotene, vitamin C, folate, and vitamin E with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a measure of arterial stiffness. METHODS: Dietary intakes of ß-carotene, vitamin C, folate, and vitamin E were quantified by a food frequency questionnaire in 3198 healthy men and women (≥ 40 years) from the Korea Multi-Rural communities Cohort study. baPWV was measured, and 19 SNPs were genotyped. The associations and interactions between dietary vitamin intake, SNP genotype, and baPWV were assessed using general linear models. RESULTS: In both men and women, dietary intake of ß-carotene, vitamin C, folate, or vitamin E and baPWV were not directly associated. Vitamin C, folate, and vitamin E intake had an interaction with rs4961 (ADD1) genotype on baPWV in men. rs4961 also interacted with folate intake on baPWV in women. In women, rs10817542 (ZNF618) and rs719856 (CD2AP) had an interaction with ß-carotene and folate intake and rs5443 (GNB3) had an interaction with vitamin E intake on baPWV. In general, minor allele homozygotes with low vitamin intake had higher baPWV than other subgroups. Results were similar when supplement users were excluded. CONCLUSIONS: Higher intake of dietary vitamin C, folate, and vitamin E may be related to high baPWV in healthy Korean men who are minor allele homozygotes of rs4961. In healthy Korean women, dietary folate, ß-carotene, and vitamin E intake may affect baPWV differently according to rs4961, rs10817542, rs719856, or rs5443 genotype. Greater dietary intake of these nutrients may protect those that are genetically vulnerable to stiffening of the arteries.

A common variant in SLC8A1 is associated with the duration of the electrocardiographic QT interval.

Prolongation of the electrocardiographic QT interval, a measure of cardiac repolarization, predisposes one to ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Since NOS1AP, a regulator of neuronal nitric oxide synthase, was discovered in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) as a novel target that modulates cardiac repolarization, several loci have been linked to the QT interval in studies (QTGEN and QTSCD) of European descendents. However, there has been no GWAS of the QT interval in Asian populations. We conducted a GWAS with regard to the QT interval in Korea Association Resource (KARE [n = 6,805]) cohorts. Replication studies in independent populations of Korean (n = 4,686) and Japanese (n = 2,687) groups validated the association between a SNP, rs13017846, which maps to near SLC8A1 (sodium/calcium exchanger 1 precursor, overall p = 8.0 × 10(-14)), and the QT interval. The minor allele frequency (MAF) of rs13017846 varies widely between ethnicities-0.053 in Europeans (HapMap CEU [Utah residents with ancestry from northern and western Europe from the Centre d'Étude du Polymorphisme Humain collection] samples) versus 0.080 in Africans (HapMap YRI [Yoruba in Ibadan, Nigeria] samples)-whereas a MAF of 0.500 has been reported in Asians (HapMap HCB [Han Chinese in Beijing, China] and JPT [Japanese in Tokyo, Japan] samples). This might explain why this locus has not been identified in Europeans in previous studies.

A nonsynonymous SNP in BANK1 is associated with serum LDL cholesterol levels in three Korean populations.

Serum levels of lipids, such as cholesterol and triglycerides, are heritable risk factors for cardiovascular disease and targets for therapeutic intervention. Because previous genome-wide association studies (GWASs) did not target functional genetic variants, we employed an alternate approach using nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to identify functional genetic variants associated with the regulation of serum lipid levels. We selected 3667 healthy individuals from a rural community-based cohort (CAVAS; Cardio Vascular disease Association Study) of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study project. We analyzed demographic and lifestyle information, lipid measurements and genotypes using the Illumina-1M SNP chip. For genotyping, we isolated 11 558 nonsynonymous SNPs and conducted a linear regression analysis with four lipid traits (total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterols and triglycerides). Significantly associated SNPs were validated in two independent Korean populations, Korean Association Resource (KARE) (n=4116) and Health Examinee (HEXA) (n=2178). Of the 11 558 SNPs, one SNP (rs3733197) from the CAVAS was significantly associated with serum LDL cholesterols (beta±s.e.=4.67±0.94, P-value=1.0 × 10(-6 and) Bonferroni corrected P-value=0.012). The replication results of HEXA and KARE were beta±s.e.=2.88±1.12, P-value=0.016 and beta±s.e.=1.26±0.97, P-value=0.196, respectively. An overall meta-analysis of the three data sets revealed beta=2.98±0.57, P-value=6.19 × 10(-7). The rs3733197 is located in the coding region of BANK1 (B-cell scaffold protein with ankyrin repeats 1), and the minor allele (A) resulted in the replacement of the Alanine at position 383 with Threonine.

Genomewide association study on chronic periodontitis in Korean population: results from the Yangpyeong health cohort.

AIM: This study aims to locate the genes related to periodontitis through genome-wide association study (GWAS) in Korean population. METHODS: Total of 677 adults aged 44-88 years were recruited from the Yangpyeong cohort in Korea. The participants did not have self-reported metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases or cancer. Periodontitis was assessed using alveolar bone loss from a digital panoramic radiograph and classified into three groups: normal to mild, moderate and severe periodontitis. DNA from blood samples were genotyped using the Illumina Human 1M-duo Beadchip. Multivariable logistic regression analysis in PLINK was applied to examine the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to periodontitis after controlling for various confounders. RESULTS: Associations of three SNPs suggested TENM2 (rs4242220) and LDLRAD4 (rs12969041, rs2027756) as putative risk genes of chronic periodontitis (p-values <1 × 10-5 ). The odds ratio [95% confidence interval (CI)] of TENM2 was 0.53 (0.40-0.70) for moderate periodontitis and that of LDLRAD4 was 2.86 (1.92-4.27) for severe periodontitis. Two nonsynonymous SNPs of protein coding region and seven SNPs selected from previous reports showed nominal association. CONCLUSION: Our GWAS supports a previously reported gene of TENM2 and newly suggests LDLRAD4. These two genes' role on lipid metabolism may play a part in the molecular aetiology of periodontitis.

Meta-analysis of genome-wide association study of homeostasis model assessment ß cell function and insulin resistance in an East Asian population and the European results.

Compared with Western populations, Asians develop diabetes at younger ages, at lower degrees of obesity. Because diabetes and the related traits are influenced by the interplay between genetic and environmental factors, it is important to understand the genetic differences between Asian and Western populations. Recently, a large-scale meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for beta cell function and insulin resistance in the European ancestry was reported by the Meta-Analyses of Glucose and Insulin-related traits Consortium (MAGIC). The MAGIC study reported 17 SNPs for homeostasis model assessments (HOMA-%B: beta cell function and HOMA-IR: insulin resistance). In this study, we tried to replicate the effects of reported SNPs by MAGIC study, which were influencing HOMAs in two Korean populations. HOMA-IR and HOMA-B were computed using two HOMA models (HOMA1 and HOMA2). The HOMA2 model has recently been updated with physiological adjustments into a computer version, providing a more accurate index. Dupuis et al. (Nat Genet 42: 105-116, 2010). In this study, we examined the reported SNPs in two Korean community-based cohorts (Ansung and Ansan). The Korean genotypes and glucose and insulin traits for 5,974 non-diabetic subjects were obtained from a previous genome-wide association study. Although we expected the HOMA2 to be suitable to replicate the results of different ethnics, our results revealed that the HOMA1 was more significantly replicated. As a result, 5 SNPs (rs10830963 in MTNR1B, rs4607517 in GCK, rs2191349 in DGKB/TMEM195, rs174550 in FADS1, rs7034200 in GLIS3) were significantly replicated with HOMA-%B, but no SNP was replicated with HOMA-IR. Two SNPs (rs560887 in G6PC, rs13266634 in SLC30A8) and one SNP (rs35767 in IGF1) showed the weak association p values (unadjusted p values lower than 0.05) for HOMA-%B and HOMA-IR, respectively. The replicated SNPs and the weakly associated SNPs were also significantly associated with the fasting glucose levels. They revealed the same direction of the effect sizes in both studies, but the effect sizes were stronger in Koreans than in MAGIC. Conclusively, our results indicated that SNPs from MTNR1B, GCK, DGKB, FADS1, and GLIS3 were consistently associated with HOMA-%B in both Korean and MAGIC populations.

Genetic Variants Linked to Myocardial Infarction in Individuals with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Their Potential Interaction with Dietary Patterns.

In recent studies, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been associated with a high risk of ischemic heart disease. This study aimed to investigate a genetic variant within a specific gene associated with myocardial infarction (MI) among patients with NAFLD. We included 57,205 participants from a Korean genome and epidemiology study. The baseline population consisted of 45,400 individuals, with 11,805 identified as patients with NAFLD. Genome-wide association studies were conducted for three groups: the entire sample, the healthy population, and patients with NAFLD. We defined the p-value < 1 × 10-5 as the nominal significance and the p-value < 5 × 10-2 as statistically significant for the gene-by-nutrient interaction. Among the significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), the lead SNP of each locus was further analyzed. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 1529 participants (2.8%) had experienced MI. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association of 102 SNPs across nine loci. Nine SNPs (rs11891202, rs2278549, rs13146480, rs17293047, rs184257317, rs183081683, rs1887427, rs146939423, and rs76662689) demonstrated an association with MI in the group with NAFLD Notably, the MI-associated SNP, rs134146480, located within the SORCS2 gene, known for its role in secreting insulin in islet cells, showed the most significant association with MI (p-value = 2.55 × 10-7). Our study identifies candidate genetic polymorphisms associated with NAFLD-related MI. These findings may serve as valuable indicators for estimating MI risk and for conducting future investigations into the underlying mechanisms of NAFLD-related MI.

The Human Genetic Differences in the Outcomes of mRNA Vaccination against COVID-19: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore how genetic variations in individuals impact neutralization activity post-mRNA vaccination, recognizing the critical role vaccination plays in curbing COVID-19 spread and the necessity of ensuring vaccine efficacy amidst genetic diversity. METHODS: In a 4-week clinical pilot study, 534 healthy subjects received their first COVID vaccine dose, followed by the second dose. Antibody levels were evaluated thrice. From this pool, 120 participants were selected and divided into high- and low-antibody groups based on their levels. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells for pilot genome-wide association studies (GWAS) conducted on a single platform. Real-time PCR was used to confirm differences in gene expression identified via GWAS analysis. RESULTS: Three SNPs exceeded the level of p < 1.0 × 10-3. The rs7795433 SNP of the HDAC9 gene (7q21.1) showed the strongest association with COVID-19 vaccination under the additive model (OR = 5.63; p = 3 × 10-5). In the PCR experiments, the AA genotype group showed that the gene expression level of HDAC9 was likely to be decreased in the low-antibody-formation group at the time of vaccination. CONCLUSION: We found that AA genotype holders (rs7795433 SNP of the HDAC9 gene) have a high probability of having a higher antibody count when vaccinated, and GG type holders have a high probability of the opposite. These findings show that the genetic characteristics of vaccinated people may affect antibody production after COVID vaccination.

Genetic Differences between Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss in a Korean Population.

Studies on androgenetic alopecia (AGA or patterned hair loss (PHL)) have suggested different underlying pathological mechanisms between males and females. While many genetic factors for male hair loss have been identified through genome-wide association studies (GWASs), the genetic determinants of female hair loss remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed approximately 1000 individuals (436 males and 568 females) to identify sex-specific genetic factors. We conducted three independent GWASs for the total, male-only, and female-only groups, identifying three novel loci (rs7814359, rs2163085, and rs4793158 of the TSNARE1, FZD1, and GJC1 genes, respectively). rs7814359 showed a significant genome-wide association with AGA in the combined sex group and a weak association in both the male-only and female-only groups. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2163085 showed a significant genome-wide association with AGA in the combined group and notable significance in females. The rs4793158 SNP showed a suggestive association with AGA in both the combined and female-only groups. TSNARE1, related to rs7814359, is involved in vesicle transport. FZD1 is a key regulator of the Wnt signaling pathway. GJC1 is a gap junction protein. The associations of FZD1 and GJC1 with female-specific AGA suggest that sex hormones, such as estrogen, may influence FPHL through these genes. These findings will contribute to our understanding of the sex-specific pathophysiology of AGA.

Testing the Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Using Fitbit Devices: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Background: Sleep disorders and insomnia are prevalent worldwide, with negative health outcomes. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a widely used self-report assessment tool for evaluating sleep quality, comprising seven subdomains. The Korean version of the PSQI (PSQI-K) has been tested for reliability and validity in small sample sizes but lacks large-scale validation using objective measures. Methods: This study was conducted with 268 Korean adults attending health check programs. Participants completed the PSQI-K questionnaire and wore Fitbit devices (Fitbit Inc., USA) to ascertain sleep parameters. Reliability was analyzed using the Cronbach's α coefficient, and construct validity was determined through factor analysis. Criteria validity was assessed by correlating their index scores with Fitbit sleep parameters. We identified the optimal cutoff for detecting sleep disorders. Results: The Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.61, indicating adequate internal consistency. Factor analysis revealed three factors, explaining 48.2% of sleep quality variance. The index scores were negatively correlated with Fitbit sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and number of awakenings (P<0.05). The optimal cutoff point for identifying sleep disorder groups was ≥6. Conclusion: The PSQI-K demonstrated good reliability and validity when correlated with Fitbit sleep parameters, offering a practical screening tool for identifying sleep disorders among Korean adults. Cutoff scores can help identify patients for sleep interventions. However, further large-scale studies are required to validate these findings.

Water intake and obesity: By amount, timing, and perceived temperature of drinking water.

Water intake has been suggested to be associated with weight control, but evidence for optimal water intake in terms of amount, timing, and temperature is sparse. Additionally, genetic predisposition to obesity, which affects satiety and energy expenditure, might interact with water intake in regulating individual adiposity risk. We conducted a cross-sectional study recruiting 172 Korean adults. Information on water intake and lifestyle factors was collected through self-reported questionnaires, and height, weight, and waist circumference (WC) were measured by researchers. The oral buccal swab was performed for genotyping of FTO rs9939609, MC4R rs17782313, BDNF rs6265 and genetic risk of obesity was calculated. Linear regression was performed to estimate mean difference in body mass index (BMI) and WC by water intake and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI). As a sensitivity analysis, logistic regression was performed to estimate odds ratio (OR) of obesity/overweight (BMI of ≥23kg/m2; WC of ≥90cm for men and of ≥80cm for women) and its 95% CI. Drinking >1L/day was significantly associated with higher BMI (mean difference: 0.90, 95% CI 0.09, 1.72) and WC (mean difference: 3.01, 95% CI 0.62, 5.41) compared with drinking ≤1L/day. Independent of total water intake, drinking before bedtime was significantly associated with lower BMI (mean difference: -0.98, 95% CI -1.91, -0.05). The results remained consistent when continuous BMI and WC were analyzed as categorical outcomes. By perceived temperature, drinking >1L/day of cold water was associated with higher BMI and WC compared with drinking ≤1L/day of water at room-temperature. By genetic predisposition to obesity, a positive association between water intake and WC was confined to participants with low genetic risk of obesity (P interaction = 0.04). In conclusion, amount, timing, and perceived temperature of water intake may be associated with adiposity risk and the associations might vary according to genetic predisposition to obesity.