Foundation Center

Obesity is a major public health crisis associated with high mortality rates. Previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) investigating body mass index (BMI) have largely relied on imputed data from European individuals. This study leveraged whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data from 88,873 participants from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) Program, of which 51% were of non-European population groups. We discovered 18 BMI-associated signals (P < 5 × 10-9). Notably, we identified and replicated a novel low frequency single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in MTMR3 that was common in individuals of African descent. Using a diverse study population, we further identified two novel secondary signals in known BMI loci and pinpointed two likely causal variants in the POC5 and DMD loci. Our work demonstrates the benefits of combining WGS and diverse cohorts in expanding current catalog of variants and genes confer risk for obesity, bringing us one step closer to personalized medicine.

Background. Despite its benefits, breastfeeding rates are declining in Western societies. As the intention to breastfeed is among the strongest predictors of breastfeeding duration, reliable tools for measuring the intention to breastfeed are needed. The Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) measures attitudes towards infant feeding and is used in various languages and across different cultural contexts. However, there has been no German version of the IIFAS (IIFAS-G) so far. The aim of this study was to investigate reliability, validity, and associations of the IIFAS-G with feeding method and breastfeeding duration. Methods. Between August and November 2022, a total of 353 mothers ( M age = 34.99 years, SD age = 4.21 years) of singleton infants (47.31% female (1 undetermined), M age = 10.84 months, SD age = 4.66 months, age range: 3-547 days) participated in an online survey. The IIFAS-G was administered as a part of a larger study on early child development and infant feeding method. Results. The translated IIFAS-G showed unsatisfactory model fit for the two factor 17-item solution. Four items showed low factor loadings. After item reduction, a 13-item two factor solution showed satisfactory model fit (CFI = .92, TLI = .90, RMSEA = .07) and high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .85). The IIFAS-G score was higher for mothers who exclusively breastfed their infants compared to mothers who additionally or exclusively fed formula. Moreover, mothers with higher IIFAS-G scores were less likely to wean their child over the course of 1;6 years (HR = .87). Conclusion. A shorter two-factor IIFAS-G is proposed to investigate attitudes towards breastfeeding and formula feeding in German-speaking mothers.

Bacteriophages in the Agtrevirus genus are known for expressing multiple tail spike proteins (TSPs), but little is known about their genetic diversity and host recognition apart from their ability to infect diverse Enterobacteriaceae species. Here we aim to determine the genetic differences that may account for the diverse host ranges of Agrevirus phages. We performed comparative genomics of 14 Agtrevirus and identified only a few genetic differences including genes involved in nucleotide metabolism. Most notably was the diversity of the tsp gene cluster, specifically in the receptor binding domains that were unique among most of the phages. We further characterized agtrevirus AV101 infecting nine diverse Extended Spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) E. coli and demonstrated that this phage encoded four unique TSPs among Agtrevirus . Purified TSPs formed translucent zones and inhibited AV101 infection of specific hosts, demonstrating that TSP1, TSP2, TSP3, and TSP4 recognize O8, O82, O153, and O159 O-antigens of ESBL E. coli , respectively. BLASTp analysis showed that the receptor binding domain of TSP1, TSP2, TSP3 and TSP4 are similar to TSPs encoded by E. coli prophages and distant related virulent phages. Thus, Agtrevirus may have gained their receptor binding domains by recombining with prophages or virulent phages. Overall, combining bioinformatic and biological data expands the understanding of TSP host recognition of Agtrevirus and give new insight into the origin and acquisition of receptor binding domains of Ackermannviridae phages. One sentence summary Agtrevirus phage AV101 express four unique tail spike proteins that recognize different O-antigens of Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase producing E. coli .

Background: The single leg squat test (SLS) is a biomechanical evaluation, simple and easily performed, and has been validated against the gold standard of 3-Dimensional (D) motion analysis [1-3]. A positive SLS test used in frontal plane biomechanical analysis can indicate poor lower extremity mechanics, reduced core strength, or hip abductor weakness indicating a higher risk for lower extremity injury [4-8]. SLS test has been studied primarily with biomechanical outcomes, and there is limited injury data to assess its predictive value in adolescents. Objective: To determine the predictive value of SLS test in predicting lower extremity injuries in adolescent, high school athletes with prospective injury data collected by athletic trainers over a one year period. Design: Longitudinal, non-randomized prospective design. Setting: Clinical and field based. Interventions: 258 adolescent athletes from Central Oregon were evaluated while performing a SLS test during initial practices or during pre-participation physicals before the start of the academic year. Injuries sustained while playing sports during the following academic year were reported to each respective high school’s certified athletic trainer and recorded on the Sportsware database. Main Outcome Measurements: SLS Test and Injury Reports. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value (NPV) of the SLS test in predicting lower extremity injuries were 66.67%, 36.59% and 95.74%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and NPV of the SLS test in predicting a lower extremity injury in a high risk group of female soccer players were 50.00%, 30.16%, and 90.48%, respectively. Conclusion: Negative SLS in 36% of athletes was consistent with a low risk of lower extremity injury with 96% NPV. The high NPV is likely related to the low prevalence of LE injury in this study population and wouldn’t translate to higher prevalence LE injury populations. Further study is needed to determine clinical utility of the SLS test.