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Biomedical subjects

B Zinman

Publications and source records attributed to B Zinman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Variable association between genetic variation in the CYP7 gene promoter and plasma lipoproteins in three Canadian populations.

The promoter sequence variant -278A in the CYP7 gene, which encodes cholesterol 7-alpha hydroxylase, was previously reported to be associated with reduced plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration. We tested for association of CYP7-278A with plasma lipoprotein traits in samples taken from three distinct Canadian populations: 594 Alberta Hutterites, 325 Ontario Oji-Cree and 190 Keewatin Inuit. The CYP7-278A allele frequencies in these three groups were 0.708, 0.466 and 0.490, respectively. The frequencies of CYP7-278A/A homozygotes were 0.481, 0.215 and 0.247, respectively. In the Hutterites, CYP7-278A was associated with reduced plasma HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein AI concentration. In the Oji-Cree, CYP7-278A was not significantly associated with any plasma lipoprotein trait. In the Inuit CYP7-278A was associated with elevated plasma total and LDL-cholesterol. There was no consistent relationship between the population mean plasma LDL-cholesterol concentration and the population CYP7-278A frequency. Our findings suggest that the common -278A promoter variant of CYP7 was inconsistently associated with variation in plasma LDL- and HDL-cholesterol in samples from three independent populations. The inconsistencies could be due to differences in genetic background or to unspecified environmental or genetic factors.

Adult↗

Association of a single nucleotide polymorphism in CPB2 encoding the thrombin-activable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAF1) with blood pressure.

Thrombin-activable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a hepatically secreted zymogen, whose substrates include bradykinin. The CPB2 gene encoding TAFI is a candidate gene for blood pressure. A recently identified single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the CPB2 coding region, designated as 1057C > T, results in an amino acid change at TAFI residue 325 (Ile > Thr325). We found that the genotype based on this SNP was significantly associated with blood pressure in aboriginal Canadians. Specifically, analysis of variance showed that homozygotes for CPB2 1057T had significantly lower diastolic blood pressure than subjects with other CPB2 genotypes. CPB2 genotype accounted for approximately 3% of the total variation in diastolic blood pressure. consistent with the expected magnitude of a modest genetic effect in a complex trait such as blood pressure. Although the mechanism underlying the association is unclear, the findings are of interest because TAFI may provide a link between coagulation and blood pressure regulation.

Adolescent↗

Intensive insulin therapy with insulin lispro: a randomized trial of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion versus multiple daily insulin injection.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate glycemic control, hypoglycemic events, and quality of life in patients treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) and multiple daily insulin injection (MDI), with insulin lispro as the principal insulin. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This clinical trial enrolled 27 patients with type 1 diabetes. They were randomly assigned to CSII (n = 13) or MDI (n = 14) treatment regimens. Glycemic control (HbA(1c) level) was the primary outcome and was measured monthly for 9 months. Secondary outcomes were patient reports of hypoglycemic events (recorded monthly for 9 months) and quality of life assessed at 9 months using the Diabetes Quality of Life (DQOL) questionnaire. RESULTS: A significant decrease in HbA(1c) from baseline was shown for both groups. However, the overall treatment effect (CSII - MDI) for HbA(1c) was +0.08% (95% CI -0.23 to +0.39, P > 0.10). This was significantly less than the a priori limit of +/-0.5% (P = 0.004). The relative treatment effect ([CSII - MDI]/MDI) for the overall number of hypoglycemic events was +9% (95% CI -37 to +87, P > 0.10). There were no statistically significant differences between treatment groups for any of the DQOL subscales. CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant differences in glycemic control, reported hypoglycemic events, or quality of life were found in this study. Furthermore, a clinically significant difference of more than +/-0.5% HbA(1c) between the two regimens can be confidently ruled out. We conclude that the choice of intensive insulin therapy should be a matter of patient preference, consistent with lifestyle.

Adolescent↗

Physical activity, physical fitness, and insulin and glucose concentrations in an isolated Native Canadian population experiencing rapid lifestyle change.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the relation of physical activity and physical fitness to insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in isolated subarctic Native Canadian populations. The purpose of this effort was to examine the relation between activity and fitness and obesity and glucose concentrations in such a unique population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This study describes 530 men and women from the community of Sandy Lake, Ontario, located in the boreal forest region of central Canada. Fasting blood glucose and insulin concentrations were determined after an overnight fast. Past year physical activity levels were assessed using a modified version of an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Maximal oxygen uptake, a measure of cardiovascular fitness, was estimated using a submaximal step test. RESULTS: Total (leisure and occupational) physical activity and physical fitness were significantly associated with fasting insulin concentrations after adjusting for age, BMI or percent body fat, waist circumference, and fasting glucose concentration in men but not in women. The relations between physical activity, fitness, and fasting glucose concentrations were not as strong or as consistent as they were when fasting insulin concentration was the dependent variable. CONCLUSIONS: In this isolated Native Canadian community, both physical activity and fitness were independently associated with fasting insulin concentrations, suggesting a beneficial role of physical activity/fitness on insulin sensitivity that is separate from any influence of activity on body composition. The fact that this relation was found in men but not in women is most likely explained by issues related to the measurement of activity and fitness in this study and the fact that the women in this population appear to be less active than the men.

Adolescent↗

Simple screening tests for peripheral neuropathy in the diabetes clinic.

OBJECTIVE: The utility of rapid and reliable sensory tests appropriate for the diagnosis of neuropathy in the diabetes clinic, rather than as prognostic tools for the prediction of foot complications, has been unclear because of limitations inherent in previous studies. Although clinical practice guidelines recommend annual screening for neuropathy, they are unable to support specific recommendations for screening maneuvers because of a lack of evidence for the validity of screening tests in the medical literature. The objective of this study was to assess the operating characteristics of four simple sensory screening maneuvers as compared with standardized electrophysiological tests in the diagnosis of distal symmetrical polyneuropathy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We assessed four simple tests (the 10-g Semmes-Weinstein monofilament examination [SWME], superficial pain sensation, vibration testing by the on-off method, and vibration testing by the timed method) in 478 subjects with independent blinded evaluations compared against the criterion standard of nerve conduction studies. We present receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and sensitivity and specificity values for each test. RESULTS: The four simple screening maneuvers reveal similar operating characteristics. Cutoff points by ROC curve analyses reveal that a positive or abnormal test is represented by five incorrect responses of eight stimuli applied. A negative or normal test is represented by one or fewer incorrect responses of eight stimuli applied. By these criteria, the point estimates of the positive likelihood ratios for vibration testing by the on-off method, vibration testing by the timed method, the SWME, and superficial pain sensation test are 26.6, 18.5, 10.2, and 9.2, respectively. The point estimates of the negative likelihood ratios are 0.33, 0.51, 0.34, and 0.50, respectively The screening tests showed comparable sensitivity and specificity results. The 10-g SWME, superficial pain test, and vibration testing by the on-off method are rapid, each requiring approximately 60 s to administer. The timed vibration test takes longer, and the interpretation is more complicated. The combination of two simple tests (e.g., the 10-g SWME and vibration testing by the on-off method) does not add value to each individual screening test. CONCLUSIONS: Annual screening for diabetic neuropathy should be conducted using superficial pain sensation testing, SWME, or vibration testing by the on-off method. The reported operating characteristics for each sensory modality can be applied to positive findings on the physical examination of individual patients to predict the likelihood of neuropathy.

Adult↗

Cross-sectional and prospective associations between proinsulin and cardiovascular disease risk factors in a population experiencing rapid cultural transition.

OBJECTIVE: To examine cross-sectional and prospective associations between proinsulin and cardiovascular disease risk factors using data from a population-based study of type 2 diabetes among Native Canadians. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Between 1993 and 1995, 72% of eligible members of a Native Canadian community participated in a baseline diabetes prevalence survey. Fasting samples were collected for glucose, C-peptide, proinsulin, lipids, and apolipoproteins. A 75-g oral glucose tolerance test was administered, and a second sample for glucose was drawn after 120 min. Blood pressure and waist circumference were determined. In the present study, subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) (n = 505) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (n = 74) were included in cross-sectional analyses. In 1998, 95 individuals who had IGT or NGT at baseline with an elevated 2-h glucose concentration (> or = 7.0 mmol/l) participated in a follow-up evaluation using the protocol used at baseline. Cross-sectional and prospective associations between proinsulin and cardiovascular risk factors were assessed using correlation and multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS: After adjustment for covariates including age, sex, C-peptide, waist circumference, and glucose tolerance status, fasting proinsulin concentration was significantly associated with concurrently measured lipid and apolipoprotein concentrations (triglycerides: r = 0.18, P < 0.0001; total cholesterol: r = 0.10, P = 0.02; LDL cholesterol: r = 0.11, P = 0.01; HDL cholesterol: r = -0.16, P = 0.0002; apolipoprotein (apo) B: r = 0.17, P < 0.0001; apoAI: r = -0.11, P = 0.008). In the adjusted prospective analysis, baseline triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and apoB were associated with changes over time in proinsulin (r = 0.23, P = 0.04; r = -0.30, P = 0.01; r = 0.23, P = 0.04; respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm previously reported cross-sectional associations between proinsulin and lipid concentrations. In addition, an unexpected association between baseline lipids and proinsulin change was documented.

Adult↗

Insulin pump therapy and rapid acting insulin: what have we learned?

Approximately 80 years after the discovery and first human use of insulin, we are still striving to replace insulin in a physiological manner. The development of insulin analogues with superior pharmacokinetics has made mimicking of meal and basal insulin requirements by subcutaneous injection more feasible. Administration by continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) has provided additional flexibility in meal timing and modifying basal insulin replacement in response to circadian rhythms. Several studies have documented improved glycaemic control with CSII using a rapid-acting analogue such as insulin lispro, compared with regular human insulin. Lower postprandial glucose peaks and improved HbA1c levels were seen with insulin lispro by CSII. In addition, the frequency of hypoglycaemia was significantly reduced and the counter-regulatory hormone responses were maintained. The use of insulin lispro in CSII, compared with regular human insulin, resulted in improved hepatic glucose output in response to glucagon. The potential for problems of hyperglycaemia and ketoacidosis with interruption of insulin delivery by CSII has been studied. One study showed accelerated development of hyperglycaemia and ketosis with insulin lispro compared with regular human insulin while another showed no difference but return to normal glycaemia was faster when insulin lispro was administered. The use of CSII in the US has grown from 6,600 in 1990 to over 100,000 patients currently. With improved insulins, better methods of delivery and advances in glucose monitoring we will continue progress towards physiological insulin replacement and reduce the long-term complications of diabetes.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗

A comparative study of insulin lispro and human regular insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and secondary failure of oral hypoglycemic agents.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of insulin lispro (LP) and human regular insulin (HR) when given twice daily with NPH insulin on glycemic control (HbA1c), daily blood glucose profiles and rates of hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after failure to respond to sulfonylurea drugs. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A 5.5-month randomized, open-label, parallel study of 148 patients receiving either LP (n = 70) or HR (n = 78). Eight-point blood glucose profiles and HbA1c measurements were collected at baseline, 1.5, 3.5 and 5.5 months. RESULTS: Two-hour post-breakfast and 2-hour post-supper blood glucose levels (means [and standard errors]) were significantly lower for LP than for HR at the end point (9.5 [0.4] mmol/L v. 10.9 [0.4] mmol/L and 8.4 [0.4] mmol/L v. 9.7 [0.4] mmol/L, respectively, p = 0.02 in both cases). HbA1c improved from 10.5% (0.2%) (LP) and 10.3% (0.2%) (HR) to 8.0% (0.1%). Hypoglycemia rates were similar during the day; however, there was an overnight trend to reduced rates with LP (0.08 [0.03] episodes/30 d v. 0.16 [0.04] episodes/30 d, p = 0.057). Quality-of life assessment showed significant improvement (p < 0.05) in the diabetes-related worry scale for LP subjects whereas HR subjects slightly worsened. CONCLUSIONS: With traditional twice-daily insulin administration algorithms, LP improves 2-hour postprandial glucose levels, quality of life and overnight hypoglycemia rates while delivering an equivalent level of glycemic control (HbA1c) compared with HR to insulin-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes who require insulin.

Algorithms↗

Genetic variation in LMNA modulates plasma leptin and indices of obesity in aboriginal Canadians.

We previously showed that a rare mutation in LMNA, which encodes lamins A and C, underlies autosomal dominant Dunnigan-type familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD). Because FPLD is an extreme example of genetically disturbed adipocyte differentiation, it is possible that common variation in LMNA is associated with obesity-related phenotypes. We therefore analyzed the relationships between the common LMNA 1908T/C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and plasma leptin and anthropometric indices in 306 nondiabetic Canadian Oji-Cree. We found that subjects with the LMNA 1908T/1908T genotype had significantly higher plasma leptin than the subjects with either the 1908C/1908T or 1908C/1908C genotypes, after adjustment for age and sex. Physical indices of obesity, such as body mass index, percent body fat, and ratio of waist-to-hip circumference, were also higher among Oji-Cree subjects with the LMNA 1908T/1908T genotype than the subjects with either the 1908C/1908T or 1908C/1908C genotypes. The results suggest that common genetic variation in LMNA may be an important determinant of plasma leptin and obesity-related quantitative traits.

Adult↗

Increasing rates of ischemic heart disease in the native population of Ontario, Canada.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of ischemic heart disease (IHD) has been declining in North America since the 1960s. Over this time, Native populations, which have traditionally had low rates of IHD, have undergone striking lifestyle changes that may have had health consequences. In this context, IHD trends in the Native communities of Ontario, Canada, were evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To assess trends in admission rates for IHD in the Native population of Ontario compared with the general population of Ontario. METHODS: A comprehensive administrative database of all hospital admissions in Ontario 1981 to 1997, was used. Age- and sex-adjusted rates of hospital admissions with IHD-related diagnostic or procedure codes were determined in all residents of Ontario communities that had regular census participation and at least 95% of their population claiming Native origins (N=16,874 in 1991). Comparison was made with all residents of the surrounding northern Ontario region (N=822,450) and of the whole province (N = 10,084,885). RESULTS: In 1981, the rate of IHD admissions was similar in all groups, at 99 to 124 per 10,000 persons. By 1997, it decreased to 82 per 10,000 in the province (slope, -1.09; 95% confidence interval, -1.26 to -0.91), with a similar trend in northern Ontario. However, in the Native communities, it increased to 155 per 10,000 (slope, 5.6; 95% confidence interval, 3.8-7.5). A similar trend was seen for acute myocardial infarction admissions, a more precisely coded subset of IHD. Spurious causes of increasing rates were ruled out. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalizations for IHD have doubled in the Native population despite declining rates in the general population. These findings document an alarming trend in Native health and support the need for further research and targeted intervention.

Hospitalization↗

Disparity between association and linkage analysis for HNF1A G319S in type 2 diabetes in Canadian Oji-Cree.

In parallel experiments designed to find the genetic determinants of type 2 diabetes in Oji-Cree, we identified several linked chromosomal regions, using genomic scanning, in addition to a private diabetes-associated mutation, namely HNF1A G319S, using candidate gene sequencing. The genome scan did not identify the region harboring HNF1A as being linked with diabetes. Also, the HNF1A mutation, when used directly in sib-pair linkage analysis, was not linked with diabetes. However, HNF1A G319S was very strongly associated with diabetes, predicted the clinical severity of diabetes, and performed well as a diagnostic predictive test for diabetes in the Oji-Cree. Despite the failure of linkage analysis to identify HNF1A as a determinant of type 2 diabetes, we feel justified in interpreting that G319S has a very important pathogenic role in Oji-Cree diabetes, based upon the highly suggestive association studies. The probable etiologic heterogeneity of type 2 diabetes in the Oji-Cree created a situation in which association analysis was much more sensitive to detect a relationship between HNF1A S319 and diabetes than was linkage analysis. The effectiveness of linkage analysis will probably be limited in study samples that have an even greater complexity of genetic background and/or disease etiology. Thus, the absence of linkage does not always mean that a genomic variant is not an important determinant of a complex disease. Furthermore, our experience confirms the value of using several complementary strategies to identify susceptibility genes for a complex disease.

Alleles↗

Gender, obesity, hepatic nuclear factor-1alpha G319S and the age-of-onset of type 2 diabetes in Canadian Oji-Cree.

Among the Oji-Cree of northern Ontario, women have both a higher prevalence and an earlier onset of type 2 diabetes compared to men. We studied the relationship between HNF1A S319 and both the presence of and the age-of-onset of type 2 diabetes in women and men separately. We found that: 1) in women, there was a significant difference in the mean age-of-onset of type 2 diabetes according to HNF1A genotype; and 2) in men, there was no difference in the mean age-of-onset of type 2 diabetes according to HNF1A genotype. The findings indicate that HNF1A S319 is associated with increased susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in both men and women, but with earlier age-of-onset in women only. One factor that might account for the gender difference in the onset of HNF1A S319-associated type 2 diabetes is the greater prevalence and severity, and earlier onset of, obesity among female Oji-Cree.

Adolescent↗

Overweight among children and adolescents in a Native Canadian community: prevalence and associated factors.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of pediatric obesity in North America is increasing. Native American children are at especially high risk. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to evaluate the prevalence of pediatric overweight and associated behavioral factors in a Native Canadian community with high rates of adult obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. DESIGN: Height and weight were measured in 445 children and adolescents aged 2-19 y. Fitness level, television viewing, body image concepts, and dietary intake were assessed in 242 subjects aged 10-19 y. Overweight was defined as a body mass index > or =85th percentile value for age- and sex-specific reference data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Multiple logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with overweight, with adjustment for age and sex. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of overweight in subjects aged 2-19 y was significantly higher than NHANES III reference data [boys: 27. 7% (95% CI: 21.8, 34.5); girls: 33.7% (95% CI: 27.9, 40.1)]. In the subset aged 10-19 y, > or =5 h television viewing/d was associated with a significantly higher risk of overweight than was < or =2 h/d [odds ratio (OR) = 2.52; 95% CI: 1.06, 5.98]. Subjects in the third and fourth quartiles of fitness had a substantially lower risk of overweight than did those in the first quartile [third quartile compared with first quartile: OR = 0.24 (95% CI: 0.09, 0.66); fourth quartile compared with first quartile: OR = 0.13 (95% CI: 0.03, 0. 48)]. Fiber consumption on the previous day was associated with a decreased risk of overweight (OR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.99 for each 0.77 g/MJ increase in fiber intake). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric overweight is a harbinger of future diabetes risk and indicates a need for programs targeting primary prevention of obesity in children and adolescents.

Adolescent↗

NAT2 polymorphism associated with plasma glucose concentration in Canadian Oji-Cree.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the Oji-Cree of Northern Ontario is among the highest of any population in the world. We previously demonstrated that markers D8S264 and D22S683 were both linked and associated with type 2 diabetes in the Oji-Cree. Among the possible candidate genes for type 2 diabetes and related traits on chromosomes 8p and 22q were NAT2 and CYP2D6, respectively. We thus explored the possible association of NAT2 and CYP2D6 alleles and diabetes-related traits in a sample of 112 Oji-Cree subjects with type 2 diabetes and 481 Oji-Cree subjects without type 2 diabetes. We found no difference in the allele and genotype frequencies of the NAT2 G191A, C282T, C481T, G590A, A803G and G857A, and the CYP2D6 G1934A polymorphisms between Oji-Cree subjects with and without type 2 diabetes. However, we found a significant association between the NAT2 C282T polymorphism and plasma fasting glucose concentration. Specifically, NAT2 282T/T homozygotes had significantly higher plasma fasting glucose than 282C/C homozygotes, and heterozygotes had intermediate levels of this trait. Thus, variation in NAT2 or CYP2D6 was not associated with the presence of type 2 diabetes, and would not be causative for this phenotype in Oji-Cree. However, NAT2 might be a 'modifier gene' affecting the level of glycaemia in non-diabetic subjects.

Adolescent↗

The private hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha G319S variant is associated with plasma lipoprotein variation in Canadian Oji-Cree.

We previously showed an extremely strong association between type 2 diabetes and a private polymorphism, namely G319S, in the hepatocyte nuclear transcription factor (HNF)-1alpha. Because HNF-1alpha is involved in the transcription of several apolipoprotein genes, we tested for an association between the private HNF1A G319S variant and plasma lipoproteins in a sample of 55 unrelated Oji-Cree subjects with type 2 diabetes and 175 unrelated Oji-Cree subjects without type 2 diabetes. In Oji-Cree subjects with type 2 diabetes, we found that the HNF1A G319S genotype was significantly associated with lower plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein (apo) B. In Oji-Cree subjects without type 2 diabetes, we found that the HNF1A G319S genotype was significantly associated with higher plasma concentrations of high density lipoprotein cholesterol and apo AI. There were no associations with plasma triglycerides or lipoprotein(a). Regression analysis indicated that the HNF1A genotype accounted for approximately 10% of the variation in the apo B-related traits in the diabetic subjects and for approximately 5% of the variation in the apo AI-related traits in the nondiabetic subjects. Furthermore, the regression model indicated that the HNF1A S319 allele affected these traits in a dominant manner in subjects with and without type 2 diabetes. These findings provide the first evidence that a rare variant in a nuclear transcription factor is associated with variation in plasma lipoprotein traits.

Adolescent↗

Common and rare ABCA1 variants affecting plasma HDL cholesterol.

Mutations in ABCA1, a member of the ATP-binding cassette family, have been shown to underlie Tangier disease (TD) and familial hypoalphalipoproteinemia (FHA), which are genetic disorders that are characterized by depressed concentrations of plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. An important question is whether common variants within the coding sequence of ABCA1 can affect plasma HDL cholesterol in the general population. To address this issue, we developed a screening strategy to find common ABCA1 variants. This strategy involved long-range amplification of genomic DNA by using coding sequences only, followed by deep sequencing into the introns. This method helped us to characterize a new set of amplification primers, which permitted amplification of virtually all of the coding sequence of ABCA1 and its intron-exon boundaries with a single DNA amplification program. With these new sequencing primers, we found 3 novel ABCA1 mutations: a frameshift mutation (4570insA, A1484S-->X1492), a missense mutation (A986D) in a TD family, and a missense mutation (R170C) in aboriginal subjects with FHA. We also used these sequencing primers to characterize 4 novel common amino acid variants in ABCA1, in addition to 5 novel common silent variants. We tested for association of the ABCA1 I/M823 variant with plasma HDL cholesterol in Canadian Inuit and found that M823/M823 homozygotes had significantly higher plasma HDL cholesterol compared with subjects with the other genotypes. The results provide proof of principle of the effectiveness of this approach to identify both rare and common ABCA1 genomic variants and also suggest that common amino acid variation in ABCA1 is a determinant of plasma HDL cholesterol in the general population.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1↗