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Robust Association (robust + association)
Selected AbstractsProgression through early drinking milestones in an adolescent treatment sampleADDICTION, Issue 3 2010Kristina M. Jackson ABSTRACT Aims Research using nationally representative and community samples demonstrates a robust association between early onset of drinking and increased likelihood of numerous adverse outcomes. However, little is known about the subsequent drinking that occurs early in the drinking career. The present study dissects the transition from any alcohol use to treatment entry by taking a fine-grained approach to examining the attainment and progression of drinking events in a sample of adolescents in substance use treatment. Design/Setting Data were taken from the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study for Adolescents (DATOS-A), a multi-site, community-based study of adolescents entering treatment. Participants Respondents included 3331 youth aged 12,18 years (mean = 15.75) admitted to treatment in 1993,95 (74% male, 52% white, 24% African American, 20% Hispanic). Measurements Age of attainment was obtained for five drinking-related milestones, including first drink of alcohol, first time drunk, first monthly drinking, first drank five or more drinks/day on a weekly basis and first drank five or more drinks/day on a daily basis. Findings Most milestones were attained at a very early age, and average progression through adjacent drinking events was relatively swift, Movement through early drinking milestones was accelerated in girls and white youth. Youth who reported their first drink at an early age (age 10 or younger) showed slower progression, suggesting the existence of distinct processes underlying early use and drinking transitions within an individual. Conclusions This study provides data relevant to understanding drinking progression/natural history in a large clinical sample, especially for differences by gender and ethnicity. The findings have implications for the identification of intermediate stages that might benefit from selected intervention programs. [source] Early weaning and alcohol disorders in offspring: biological effect, mediating factors or residual confounding?ADDICTION, Issue 8 2009Rosa Alati ABSTRACT Aims This study explores associations between early weaning and alcohol use disorders in youth and mechanisms by which these associations may operate. Design We used data from the Mater University Study of Pregnancy and its outcomes, an Australian birth cohort study based in Brisbane. Setting and participants: This study is based on a subsample of 2370 participants for whom complete data were available at age 21 years. Length and method of breastfeeding were assessed at 6 months. Measurements Alcohol use disorders were assessed at age 21 using the life-time version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview,computerized version (CIDI-Auto). We adjusted for maternal age, marital status, education, alcohol, tobacco use, anxiety, depression and maternal attitudes towards the baby. Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) and Intellect Quotient (IQ) were measured with the Child Behaviour Checklist (5 years) and the Ravens SM (14 years), respectively. Findings Those who had been weaned within 2 weeks of being born and breastfed at regular intervals were at increased risk of meeting criteria for alcohol use disorders at age 21 [odds ratio (OR) 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.07, 2.72]. Conclusion This study confirms a small but robust association between early weaning and increased risk of alcohol use disorders. [source] A cross-national meta-analysis of alcohol and injury: data from the Emergency Room Collaborative Alcohol Analysis Project (ERCAAP)ADDICTION, Issue 9 2003Cheryl J. Cherpitel ABSTRACT Aims, To examine the relationship of acute alcohol consumption with an injury compared to a non-injury event in the emergency room across ERs in five countries. Design, Meta-analysis was used to evaluate the consistency and magnitude of the association of a positive blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at the time of arrival in the ER and self-reported consumption within 6 hours prior to the event with admission to the ER for an injury compared to a non-injury, and the extent to which contextual (socio-cultural and organizational) variables explain effect sizes. Findings, When controlling for age, gender and drinking five or more drinks on an occasion at least monthly, pooled effect size was significant and of a similar magnitude for both BAC and self-reported consumption, with those positive on either measure over half as likely again to be admitted to the ER with an injury compared to a medical problem. Effect sizes were found to be homogeneous across ERs for BAC, but not for self-report. Trauma center status and legal level of intoxication were positively predictive of self-reported consumption effect size on injury. Conclusions, These data suggest a moderate, but robust association of a positive BAC and self-report with admission to the ER with an injury, and that contextual variables also appear to play a role in the alcohol,injury nexus. [source] Ala394Thr polymorphism in the clock gene NPAS2: A circadian modifier for the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphomaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 2 2007Yong Zhu Abstract Circadian disruption is theorized to cause immune dysregulation, which is the only established risk factor for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Genes responsible for circadian rhythm are also involved in cancer-related biological pathways as potential tumor suppressors. However, no previous studies have examined associations between circadian genes and NHL risk. In this population-based case control study (n = 455 cases; 527 controls), we examined the only identified nonsynonymous polymorphism (Ala394Thr; rs2305160) in the largest circadian gene, neuronal PAS domain protein 2 (NPAS2), in order to examine its impact on NHL risk. Our results demonstrate a robust association of the variant Thr genotypes (Ala/Thr and Thr/Thr) with reduced risk of NHL (OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.51,0.85, p = 0.001), especially B-cell lymphoma (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.47,0.80, p ,, 0.0001). These findings provide the first molecular epidemiologic evidence supporting a role of circadian genes in lymphomagenesis, which suggests that genetic variations in circadian genes might be a novel panel of promising biomarkers for NHL and warrants further investigation. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The influence of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic and Pacific Oceans on precipitation variability over Southern Central South America on seasonal time scalesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2004Guillermo J. Berri Abstract This paper studies the temporal and spatial patterns of precipitation anomalies over southern central South America (SCSA; 22,40°S and 54,70°W), and their relationship with the sea-surface temperature (SST) variability over the surrounding tropical and subtropical Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The data include monthly precipitation from 68 weather stations in central,northern Argentina and neighbouring Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, and monthly SSTs from the NOAA dataset with a 2° resolution for the period 1961,93. We use the method of canonical correlation analysis (CCA) to study the simultaneous relationship between bi-monthly precipitation and SST variability. Before applying the CCA procedure, standardized anomalies are calculated and a prefiltering is applied by means of an empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. Thus, the CCA input consists of 10 EOF modes of SST and between 9 and 11 modes for precipitation and their corresponding principal components, which are the minimum number of modes necessary to explain at least 80% of the variance of the corresponding field. The results show that November,December presents the most robust association between the SST and SCSA precipitation variability, especially in northeastern Argentina and southern Brazil, followed by March,April and May,June. The period January,February, in contrast, displays a weak relationship with the oceans and represents a temporal minimum of oceanic influence during the summer semester. Based on the CCA maps, we identify the different oceanic and SCSA regions, the regional averages of SST and precipitation are calculated, and linear correlation analysis are conducted. The periods with greater association between the oceans and SCSA precipitation are November,December and May,June. During November,December, every selected region over SCSA reflects the influence of several oceanic regions, whereas during May,June only a few regions show a direct association with the oceans. The Pacific Ocean regions have a greater influence and are more widespread over SCSA; the Atlantic Ocean regions have an influence only over the northwestern and the southeastern parts of SCSA. In general, the relationship with the equatorial and tropical Atlantic and Pacific Oceans is of the type warm,wet/cold,dry, whereas the subtropical regions of both oceans show the opposite relationship, i.e. warm,dry/cold,wet. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Deletion of the ,7 Nicotinic Receptor Subunit Gene Results in Increased Sensitivity to Several Behavioral Effects Produced by AlcoholALCOHOLISM, Issue 3 2005Barbara J. Bowers Background: The finding that most people with alcoholism are also heavy smokers prompted several research groups to evaluate the effects of ethanol on neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) function. Data collected in vitro indicate that physiologically relevant concentrations of ethanol inhibit the functional activation of homomeric ,7 nAChRs, which are one of the most abundant nAChR subtypes expressed in the mammalian brain. The studies outlined here used ,7 gene knockout (null mutant) mice to evaluate the potential role of ,7 nAChRs in modulating selected behavioral and physiological effects produced by ethanol. Methods: Current evidence indicates that many responses to ethanol are not genetically correlated. Therefore, the authors measured the effects of acute administration of ethanol on several behaviors that are altered by both ethanol and nicotine: two tests of locomotor activity, acoustic startle, prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle, and body temperature. Ethanol-induced durations of loss of righting reflex and ethanol elimination rates were also determined. These studies used null mutant (,7,/,) and wild-type (,7+/+) mice. Results: Relative to ,7+/+ mice, ,7,/, mice were more sensitive to the activating effects of ethanol on open-field activity, ethanol-induced hypothermia, and duration of loss of the righting response. Deletion of the ,7 gene did not influence the effects of ethanol on Y-maze crossing or rearing activities, acoustic startle, or prepulse inhibition of startle. Gene deletion did not alter ethanol metabolism. Conclusions: These results indicate that some but not all of the behavioral effects of ethanol are mediated in part by effects on nAChRs that include the ,7 subunit and may help to explain the robust association between alcohol consumption and the use of tobacco. [source] Genetic variants and haplotypes of lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 and their influence on cardiovascular disease (The Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health Study)JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 1 2009M. M. HOFFMANN Summary.,Background:, There is increasing evidence that lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (LpPLA2) is associated with cardiovascular disease. However, it is still unclear whether LpPLA2 is simply a marker or has a causal role as either a pro- or anti-atherogenic factor. Methods:, We analyzed the association of five polymorphisms (,1357G>A, ,403T>C, Arg92His, Ile198Thr, Ala379Val) and related haplotypes at the PLA2G7 locus with angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD), plasma LpPLA2 activity, and long-term survival in 3234 patients scheduled for coronary angiography. Results:, The promoter variant ,403C and His92 were associated with a decrease and Val379 with an increase in plasma LpPLA2 activity. Both coding variants revealed a clear gene-dose effect. Interestingly, the rare Thr198 allele, which was not associated with any change in plasma LpPLA2 activity, was more frequent in subjects without CAD (P = 0.009), with an adjusted odds ratio for CAD of 0.69 (95% CI: 0.49,0.96; P = 0.029). None of the analyzed variants showed any robust association with all-cause or cardiovascular mortality. Conclusion:, Irrespective of the significant association between some variants with plasma LpPLA2 activity, it is still unclear whether these polymorphisms or haplotypes are associated with the risk and outcome of cardiovascular disease in Caucasians. [source] Association analysis of MAPT H1 haplotype and subhaplotypes in Parkinson's diseaseANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 2 2007Cyrus P. Zabetian MD Objective An inversion polymorphism of approximately 900kb on chromosome 17q21, which includes the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) gene defines two haplotype clades, H1 and H2. Several small case,control studies have observed a marginally significant excess of the H1/H1 diplotype among patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and one reported refining the association to a region spanning exons 1 to 4 of MAPT. We sought to replicate these findings. Methods We genotyped 1,762 PD patients and 2,010 control subjects for a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that differentiates the H1 and H2 clades. We also analyzed four SNPs that define subhaplotypes within H1 previously reported to associate with PD or other neurodegenerative disorders. Results After adjusting for age, sex, and site, we observed a robust association between the H1/H1 diplotype and PD risk (odds ratio for H1/H1 vs H1/H2 and H2/H2, 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.25,1.69; p = 8 × 10,7). The effect was evident in both familial and sporadic subgroups, men and women, and early- and late-onset disease. Within H1/H1 individuals, there was no significant difference between cases and control subjects in the overall frequency distribution of H1 subhaplotypes. Interpretation Our data provide strong evidence that the H1 clade, which contains MAPT and several other genes, is a risk factor for PD. However, attributing this finding to variants within a specific region of MAPT is premature. Thorough fine-mapping of the H1 clade in large numbers of individuals is now needed to identify the underlying functional variant(s) that alter susceptibility for PD. Ann Neurol 2007 [source] Confirmation of an association between rs6822844 at the Il2,Il21 region and multiple autoimmune diseases: Evidence of a general susceptibility locusARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 2 2010Amit K. Maiti Objective Autoimmune diseases often have susceptibility genes in common, indicating similar molecular mechanisms. Increasing evidence suggests that rs6822844 at the IL2,IL21 region is strongly associated with multiple autoimmune diseases in individuals of European descent. This study was undertaken to attempt to replicate the association between rs6822844 and 6 different immune-mediated diseases in non-European populations, and to perform disease-specific and overall meta-analyses using data from previously published studies. Methods We evaluated case,control associations between rs6822844 and celiac disease (CD) in subjects from Argentina; rheumatoid arthritis (RA), type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM), primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in subjects from Colombia; and Behçet's disease (BD) in subjects from Turkey. Allele and gene distributions were compared between cases and controls. Meta-analyses were performed using data from the present study and previous studies. Results We detected significant associations of rs6822844 with SLE (P = 0.008), type 1 DM (P = 0.014), RA (P = 0.019), and primary SS (P = 0.033) but not with BD (P = 0.34) or CD (P = 0.98). We identified little evidence of population differentiation (FST = 0.01) within cases and controls from Argentina and Colombia, suggesting that association was not influenced by population substructure. Disease-specific meta-analysis indicated significant association for RA (Pmeta = 3.61 × 10,6), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) (Pmeta = 3.48 × 10,12), type 1 DM (Pmeta = 5.33 × 10,5), and CD (Pmeta = 5.30 × 10,3). Overall meta-analysis across all autoimmune diseases reinforced association with rs6822844 (23 data sets; Pmeta = 2.61 × 10,25, odds ratio 0.73 [95% confidence interval 0.69,0.78]). Conclusion Our results indicate that there is an association between rs6822844 and multiple autoimmune diseases in non-European populations. Meta-analysis results strongly reinforce this robust association across multiple autoimmune diseases in both European-derived and non-European populations. [source] Cannabis and crime: findings from a longitudinal studyADDICTION, Issue 1 2010Willy Pedersen ABSTRACT Aim To examine the association between cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood, and subsequent criminal charges. Methods Data were obtained from the Young in Norway Longitudinal Study. A population-based sample (n = 1353) was followed from 13 to 27 years of age. Data were gathered on cannabis use, alcohol consumption and alcohol problems, and use of other illegal substances such as amphetamines, cocaine and opiates. In addition, extensive information on socio-demographic, family and personal factors was collected. This data set was linked to individual-level information from official Norwegian crime statistics. Findings We found robust associations between cannabis use and later registered criminal charges, both in adolescence and in young adulthood. These associations were adjusted for a range of confounding factors, such as family socio-economic background, parental support and monitoring, educational achievement and career, previous criminal charges, conduct problems and history of cohabitation and marriage. In separate models, we controlled for alcohol measures and for use of other illegal substances. After adjustment, we still found strong associations between cannabis use and later criminal charges. However, when eliminating all types of drug-specific charges from our models, we no longer observed any significant association with cannabis use. Conclusions The study suggests that cannabis use in adolescence and early adulthood may be associated with subsequent involvement in criminal activity. However, the bulk of this involvement seems to be related to various types of drug-specific crime. Thus, the association seems to rest on the fact that use, possession and distribution of drugs such as cannabis is illegal. The study strengthens concerns about the laws relating to the use, possession and distribution of cannabis. [source] What Happens When Hospital-Based Skilled Nursing Facilities Close?HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 6p1 2005A Propensity Score Analysis Objective. To assess the effects of hospital-based skilled nursing facility (HBSNF) closures on health care utilization, spending, and outcomes among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries. Data Sources. One hundred percent Medicare fee-for-service claims files for 1997,2002 were merged with Medicare Provider of Services files and beneficiary-level enrollment records. Study Design. Medicare spending, the use of postacute care, and health outcomes, were compared among hospitals that did and did not close their HBSNFs between 1997 and 2001. Hospitals were stratified according to propensity scores (i.e., predicted probability of closure from a logistic regression) and analyses were conducted within these strata. Principal Findings. HBSNF closures were associated with increased utilization of alternative postacute care settings, and longer acute care hospital stays. Because of increased use of alternative settings, HBSNF closures were associated with a slight increase in total Medicare spending. There are no statistically robust associations between HBSNF closures and changes in either mortality or rehospitalization. Conclusions. HBSNF closures altered utilization patterns, but there is no indication that closures adversely affect beneficiaries' health outcomes. [source] Am "I" more important than "we"?PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, Issue 4 2008Couples' word use in instant messages Recent studies have identified robust associations between the types of words that people use and their psychological health. This study investigated whether couples' word use in their daily instant messages (IMs) is linked to the quality and stability of their relationships. Sixty-eight dating couples in the United States submitted 10 days of IM conversations with each other, which were analyzed with a linguistic word count program. Six months later, couples indicated whether they were still dating. Pronoun use and emotion word use both were associated with relationship satisfaction and stability. These findings extend previous research showing that the frequencies of certain words that people use are associated with the quality of their social relationships. [source] The relationship between social status and atherosclerosis in male and female monkeys as revealed by meta-analysisAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 9 2009Jay R. Kaplan Abstract More than 25 years ago our laboratory reported sex-dependent relationships between social status and coronary artery atherosclerosis among cholesterol-fed cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) maintained in social groups of four to six animals each. Dominant males developed more atherosclerosis than subordinates, but only if housed in recurrently reorganized social groups. In contrast, dominant females developed significantly less atherosclerosis than subordinates, irrespective of social setting. Although we have continued to study these associations, no confirmatory investigations have been reported by other laboratories or using other atherosclerosis-susceptible monkey species. Accordingly, we conducted a meta-analysis of all relevant data sources developed in our laboratory since 1982 to determine whether the originally reported relationships between social status and atherosclerosis reflected robust associations. The sentinel (first) studies were composed of 16 females and 27 males. The current meta-analysis encompassed 419 animals (200 females and 219 males) derived from 11 separate investigations. The results confirmed that, among males, dominant individuals developed more extensive atherosclerosis than subordinates when housed in recurrently reorganized (unstable) social groups in which an estrogen-implanted female was also present. Dominant males in stable social groups tended to have less atherosclerosis than similarly housed subordinates, but this effect was not significant. On the contrary, we found that dominant females developed reliably less atherosclerosis than subordinates. Am. J. Primatol. 71:732,741, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Protection against anti,citrullinated protein antibody,positive rheumatoid arthritis is predominantly associated with HLA,DRB1*1301: A meta-analysis of HLA,DRB1 associations with anti,citrullinated protein antibody,positive and anti,citrullinated protein antibody,negative rheumatoid arthritis in four European populationsARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 5 2010Diane van der Woude Objective The protective effect of HLA,DRB1 alleles on the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of 4 European populations to investigate which HLA,DRB1 alleles are associated with protection in anti,citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA),positive RA and ACPA-negative RA. Methods Data for >2,800 patients and >3,000 control subjects for whom information on HLA,DRB1 typing and ACPA status was available were collected from 4 European countries: Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, and Spain. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) associated with the different HLA,DRB1 alleles were analyzed in a combined meta-analysis focused on protective alleles and classifications. The analysis of ACPA-positive RA was stratified for the shared epitope (SE) alleles, to correct for skewing due to this association. Results In ACPA-positive RA, the only alleles that conveyed protection after stratification for SE were HLA,DRB1*13 alleles (OR 0.54 [95% CI 0.38,0.77]). The protective effect of the allele classifications based on the DERAA and D70 sequences was no longer present after exclusion of DRB1*13 (for D70, OR 0.97 [95% CI 0.75,1.25]), indicating that DRB1*13, rather than the DERAA or D70 sequence as such, is associated with protection. Among the DRB1*13 alleles, only DRB1*1301 was associated with protection (OR 0.24 [95% CI 0.09,0.59]). Protection appeared to follow a north-to-south gradient, with the strongest association in northern European countries. In ACPA-negative RA, there were no robust associations with HLA,DRB1 alleles. Conclusion Our data do not support any of the classifications of protective alleles and indicate that protection against ACPA-positive RA is predominantly associated with HLA,DRB1*1301. [source] | ||||||||||